CA2267336A1 - Transceiver for various information formats - Google Patents

Transceiver for various information formats Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2267336A1
CA2267336A1 CA002267336A CA2267336A CA2267336A1 CA 2267336 A1 CA2267336 A1 CA 2267336A1 CA 002267336 A CA002267336 A CA 002267336A CA 2267336 A CA2267336 A CA 2267336A CA 2267336 A1 CA2267336 A1 CA 2267336A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
messages
transmitted
ter
telephone
text
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002267336A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Daniel Lecomte
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Alcatel Lucent SAS
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2267336A1 publication Critical patent/CA2267336A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/247Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
    • H04M1/2474Telephone terminals specially adapted for disabled people
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/247Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/253Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04QSELECTING
    • H04Q11/00Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems
    • H04Q11/04Selecting arrangements for multiplex systems for time-division multiplexing
    • H04Q11/0428Integrated services digital network, i.e. systems for transmission of different types of digitised signals, e.g. speech, data, telecentral, television signals
    • H04Q11/0435Details
    • H04Q11/0471Terminal access circuits
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/253Telephone sets using digital voice transmission
    • H04M1/2535Telephone sets using digital voice transmission adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2250/00Details of telephonic subscriber devices
    • H04M2250/74Details of telephonic subscriber devices with voice recognition means
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04QSELECTING
    • H04Q2213/00Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
    • H04Q2213/13003Constructional details of switching devices
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04QSELECTING
    • H04Q2213/00Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
    • H04Q2213/1305Software aspects
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04QSELECTING
    • H04Q2213/00Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
    • H04Q2213/13093Personal computer, PC
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04QSELECTING
    • H04Q2213/00Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
    • H04Q2213/13103Memory
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04QSELECTING
    • H04Q2213/00Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
    • H04Q2213/13106Microprocessor, CPU
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04QSELECTING
    • H04Q2213/00Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
    • H04Q2213/13175Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04QSELECTING
    • H04Q2213/00Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
    • H04Q2213/13209ISDN
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04QSELECTING
    • H04Q2213/00Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
    • H04Q2213/1322PBX
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04QSELECTING
    • H04Q2213/00Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
    • H04Q2213/13299Bus
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04QSELECTING
    • H04Q2213/00Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
    • H04Q2213/13336Store & forward, messaging systems
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04QSELECTING
    • H04Q2213/00Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
    • H04Q2213/13375Electronic mail
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04QSELECTING
    • H04Q2213/00Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
    • H04Q2213/13378Speech recognition, speech analysis
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04QSELECTING
    • H04Q2213/00Indexing scheme relating to selecting arrangements in general and for multiplex systems
    • H04Q2213/13389LAN, internet

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
  • Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)
  • Small-Scale Networks (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a device, for example in the form of a telephone, capable of transmitting and receiving information in various formats. The device (TER) has a network interface (NET) for receiving and adapting various information formats. Language information can optionally be converted into text information and vice versa. Said device (TER) is capable of transmitting and receiving both language amd text information.

Description

TRANSCEIVER FOR VARIOUS INFORMATION FORMATS
This invention relates to an apparatus for reproducing messages of different formats transmitted over a communications network and for sending messages of different formats over a communications network. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus for reproducing messages coming from, and for sending messages over, the Internet or the World Wide Web (WWW) or the integrated services digital network (ISDN).
Computer-telephone-integration (CTI) applications, i.e., PC-assisted telephony, are known in the art.
Systems capable of turning a PC into a telephone look as follows, for example:
The PC is connected to a telephone via the V.24 interface. From the telephone, or rather from the So bus, a connection is established to an ISDN
communications system. The latter, in turn, connects the PC and the telephone to the public network.
Another possibility is to connect the PC directly to the public network via an ISDN card and the So bus.
To implement the telephone function in the PC, a telephone is connected to the a/b interface. A
headphone and a microphone are provided for listening to messages via the PC and for entering voice messages into the PC. The basis for such an integration is the Telephony Application Programming Interface (TAPI), a uniform interface for telecommunications programs.
Under TAPI, applications can cooperate with arbitrary hardware, such as modems, ISDN cards, or private branch exchanges. For the telephone technology, too, a wide variety of offers is available. This includes analog telephone technology as well as ISDN or ATM.
Accordingly, TAPI represents a uniform programming interface which provides a uniform user interface independently of the communications hardware and the method of transmission, such as ISDN or GSM.
Furthermore, TAPI permits mixed transmission of data and speech and incorporates a fax/data/phone mode switch for differentiating incoming calls.
This so-called Internet telephony, which permits connections to be established at low cost, but with a.
relatively low quality, will in future be equipped with so-called voice gateways. Then, the called party will no longer need an Internet connection for his PC
(from: "Der PC als Telefon", "Funkschau 12/96", pages 24 - 31).
Further prior-art solutions describe how a personal computer can be converted into an added-feature telephone.~The reasons for the use of CTI are as follows.
Through the use of computer-assisted telephony, the customer can be offered improved services. In such an application, a personal computer, referred to herein as "PC", is converted into an added-feature telephone through the use of particular interfaces and software (from: "Der Personal-Computer als Komforttelefon", "Funkschau 14/96", pages 74 - 81).
The above-described prior-art solutions use particular interfaces and software for converting a PC into an added-feature telephone. Prerequisites for this are that both a PC with a certain capacity and an interface to a telephone network are present. Such a solution offers a great number of service features and is user-friendly, but requires considerable space for the installation of a PC. It is not possible to move around during "telephoning", and in order to simply receive a message, a program must be started, which requires certain basic knowledge. In professional applications in an office environment, such a PC in combination with an added-feature telephone facilitates work, but at home, this is rather impractical.
The invention has for its object to provide a terminal which enables a user in his private environment to receive and transmit messages of different formats.
According to the invention, this object is attained by the teaching of claim 1.
One advantage of the invention is that the user of such an apparatus can both receive and transmit messages of different formats. By "messages of different formats", a message from the Internet, e.g., an E-mail, and a voice message is understood, for example. The user can thus change in an advantageous manner between text messages and voice messages, which he can review in any form desired by him. Another advantage is that for such an application, no PC need be installed, and no complex software need be started on the PC to make a telephone call. Nevertheless, a similar function can be implemented with such an apparatus in a simple manner.
Further advantageous aspects of the invention are defined in the subclaims.
A particular advantage arises from subclaim 3, according to which the transmitted voice messages or the transmitted text messages are stored in associated memories, so that they can be reviewed at a later time or be converted to a different format. This increases the flexibility of the system in an advantageous manner.
The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, whose single figure is a block diagram of the apparatus in accordance with the invention.
An apparatus TER for reproducing messages of different formats transmitted over a communications network NN
comprises an interface S for interfacing the apparatus TER to the communications network NN. The communications network NN is, for example, the integrated services digital network (ISDN). The interface S is connected, for example by a telephone wire 3, to a further interface circuit 4, which contains a modem, for example. The apparatus TER
further includes a circuit 5 which serves to supply power to the interface S. This may be a simple battery, for example. The interface S and the interface circuit 4 provide the connection between the communications network NN and a microcontroller ~cC.
The microcontroller ~C contains a read-only memory.
Connected to the microcontroller are further, nonvolatile memory devices MEM1, MEM2, for example EPROMs or flash EPROMs.
The interface circuit 4 for adapting messages of the communications network to the microcontroller ~C will hereinafter be referred to as "modem". This modem serves mainly to connect the apparatus TER to the Internet or to the World Wide Web. This means that the modem is capable of handling different bit rates, e.g., 28,000 b/s. The modem may also take the form of a digital interface of the ISDN type.
The apparatus TER for reproducing transmitted messages of different formats further includes a device NET for adapting the transmitted messages of different formats to the apparatus.
Furthermore, the apparatus TER comprises a voice recognition unit REC for recognizing a voice message.
Associated with the voice recognition unit REC is a unit for converting the voice message to text. The apparatus TER further includes a text-to-speech unit SYN. A loudspeaker L is provided for outputting the speech, and a monitor MON is provided for displaying the text.
Since this apparatus TER also serves to send spoken messages over the communications network to another user, a microphone M is provided.
In a further development of the apparatus TER, a touch-sensitive monitor TC may be provided for entering data. Means NAV may be provided which permit a cursor to be moved on a monitor and on a menu offered thereon. To control such an apparatus TER, an infrared detector INF may be provided for initiating and terminating functions.
The apparatus TER is used for the transmission of, e.g., E-mails or voice messages. Under the communications network NN, a message distribution network is provided for the E-mails. This may be a message distribution network of the Internet type, but it can also be expanded into a message distribution network according to the World Wide Web (WWW) format.
The apparatus TER can be designed in the form of an added-feature telephone and should offer a11 service features of such a telephone. Such service features can also be made available via a card, such as a PCMCIA card. To that end, a device PCMCIA is provided in the apparatus for inserting the card.

Claims (5)

Claims
1. An apparatus (TER) for reproducing messages of different formats transmitted over a communications network (NN) and for sending messages of different formats over the communications network (NN), comprising:

an interface (S) for interfacing the apparatus (TER) to the communications network (NN);

a device (NET) for adapting the transmitted messages of different formats to the apparatus;

a voice recognition unit (REC) for recognizing a voice message, a unit for converting the voice message into text, and a monitor (MON) for displaying the text; and a unit (SYN) for converting a text message into speech, and a loudspeaker (L) for outputting the speech.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transmitted messages of different formats are messages of a message distribution network and messages of a telecommunications network.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising a first memory (MEM1) for storing transmitted voice messages and a second memory (MEM2) for storing transmitted text messages.
4. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 which is implemented in the form of a telephone.
5. Use of the apparatus claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 for reproducing transmitted messages from the Internet and for reproducing messages from a digital telephone network.
CA002267336A 1996-07-26 1997-07-31 Transceiver for various information formats Abandoned CA2267336A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP96440057A EP0821538B1 (en) 1996-07-26 1996-07-26 Apparatus for transmitting and receiving messages with different formats
PCT/EP1997/004183 WO1999007131A1 (en) 1996-07-26 1997-07-31 Transceiver for various information formats

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2267336A1 true CA2267336A1 (en) 1999-02-11

Family

ID=26070235

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002267336A Abandoned CA2267336A1 (en) 1996-07-26 1997-07-31 Transceiver for various information formats

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0821538B1 (en)
AU (1) AU747487B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2267336A1 (en)
DE (1) DE59607536D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2162004T3 (en)
WO (1) WO1999007131A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0821538B1 (en) * 1996-07-26 2001-08-22 Alcatel Apparatus for transmitting and receiving messages with different formats
US7272564B2 (en) * 2002-03-22 2007-09-18 Motorola, Inc. Method and apparatus for multimodal communication with user control of delivery modality

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2183880A (en) * 1985-12-05 1987-06-10 Int Standard Electric Corp Speech translator for the deaf
US5091931A (en) * 1989-10-27 1992-02-25 At&T Bell Laboratories Facsimile-to-speech system
JPH03283852A (en) * 1990-03-30 1991-12-13 Nec Corp Telephone system
JPH06319005A (en) * 1993-01-13 1994-11-15 Canon Inf Syst Inc Method and equipment for alloting message
JP3138370B2 (en) * 1993-09-09 2001-02-26 株式会社日立製作所 Information processing device
US5475738A (en) * 1993-10-21 1995-12-12 At&T Corp. Interface between text and voice messaging systems
JP3449774B2 (en) * 1994-03-09 2003-09-22 株式会社リコー Voice recording / reproducing apparatus and facsimile apparatus having the same
JP3777638B2 (en) * 1995-12-18 2006-05-24 ソニー株式会社 Call system terminal device and call method
US5724410A (en) * 1995-12-18 1998-03-03 Sony Corporation Two-way voice messaging terminal having a speech to text converter
EP0821538B1 (en) * 1996-07-26 2001-08-22 Alcatel Apparatus for transmitting and receiving messages with different formats

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2162004T3 (en) 2001-12-16
AU747487B2 (en) 2002-05-16
WO1999007131A1 (en) 1999-02-11
EP0821538B1 (en) 2001-08-22
DE59607536D1 (en) 2001-09-27
EP0821538A1 (en) 1998-01-28
AU4013197A (en) 1999-02-22

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FZDE Discontinued