GB2213629A - Method and apparatus for controlling dictation on or transcription from recording units in a dictation system - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for controlling dictation on or transcription from recording units in a dictation system Download PDFInfo
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- GB2213629A GB2213629A GB8900918A GB8900918A GB2213629A GB 2213629 A GB2213629 A GB 2213629A GB 8900918 A GB8900918 A GB 8900918A GB 8900918 A GB8900918 A GB 8900918A GB 2213629 A GB2213629 A GB 2213629A
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- 238000013518 transcription Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 69
- 230000035897 transcription Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 69
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 13
- 230000001143 conditioned effect Effects 0.000 claims description 21
- 230000002401 inhibitory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 14
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 9
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 8
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 7
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000003750 conditioning effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012552 review Methods 0.000 description 2
- 241000490229 Eucephalus Species 0.000 description 1
- 108090001015 cancer procoagulant Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
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- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
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- 230000001960 triggered effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B27/00—Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
- G11B27/02—Editing, e.g. varying the order of information signals recorded on, or reproduced from, record carriers
- G11B27/022—Electronic editing of analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
- G11B27/028—Electronic editing of analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals with computer assistance
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B15/00—Driving, starting or stopping record carriers of filamentary or web form; Driving both such record carriers and heads; Guiding such record carriers or containers therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B15/00—Driving, starting or stopping record carriers of filamentary or web form; Driving both such record carriers and heads; Guiding such record carriers or containers therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function
- G11B15/02—Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
- G11B15/026—Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing by using processor, e.g. microcomputer
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B19/00—Driving, starting, stopping record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function ; Driving both disc and head
- G11B19/02—Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B27/00—Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
- G11B27/10—Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
- G11B27/34—Indicating arrangements
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- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B27/00—Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel
- G11B27/36—Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Recording Or Reproducing By Magnetic Means (AREA)
Abstract
A dictation system is disclosed having two or more recording units (12, 12', 14, 14'), each selectively operable as a dictation unit or a transcription unit, and including a selector (42, 42') for selecting a respective unit for recording or transcription. A unit selected for recording dictation is enabled if a record medium therein is ready, or initialized, for recording; otherwise the unit is enabled for transcription. While one unit operates to record dictation, the other may operate simultaneously to transcribe previously recorded dictation. In a system having at least three recording units (12, 12', 14, 14'), at least two are identified with respective, particular identities and the third is designated a spare recording unit. After a predetermined amount of dication has been recorded on any one of the identified recording units, a further dictation destined for that identified unit is recorded on the spare unit, and the identity of the spare unit is changed over to be equal to the identity of the recording unit for which dictation has been intended. In such a system, the original identities of the at least two recording units are established in the order in which those units are initialized, or made ready, for dictation. <IMAGE>
Description
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING DICATION ON OR TRANSCRIPTION FROM RECORDING UNITS IN A DICTATION SYSTEM This irrventicn relates to dictation systems AND? M@@@ particularly but not-exclusively, to a met > d zn: apparatus for #
controlling
the selection and operation of plural recording units that
may be used for simultaneous recording and transcription of
dictation or that may be used for simultaneous recording of
dictation from several dictate stations.
Historically, dictation systems have been categorized as desk-top dictating machines, cencral dictation systems or portable dictating devices. A typical
desk-top dictating machine is provided with a record medium, typically magnetic tape contained in à cartridge housing
such as a standard cassette, a minicassette, a microcassette, or the recently introduced picocassette described in our United States Patent Ft, 4, 443, 827 Connected to the desk-top dictating machine is a microphone unit having hand
controls by which the user of the machine records dictation and and controls movement of the record med urn or the purpose of reviewing dictation or rapidly advancing the record medium to a desired location. Other conventional controls
normally associated with the operation of a dictating
machine also are provided.
I,After dictation is completed, transcription
thereof respires the transfer of the record medium (or tape
cassette) from the dictating machine to a transcribing machine which must be compatible with each other (e. g. they
must accept the same type of record medium and operate at
the same record/playback speed). Typically, the
transcriptionist is provided with A head set and foot pedal
switches which are connected either directly to the
transcribing machine, or by so-called private wire
connections, or by telephone connection.
As mentioned above, when using desk-top
dictating/transcribing machines, the record medium must be
removed from one machine and loaded into the other. if the
respective machines are disposed at significantly spaced
apart locations, such as in different offices or on
different floors of an office building, this transfer of
record media is a substantial inconvenience, results in inefficient office operation and may be accompanied by loss
or misplacement of the record media. Even if the respective
machines are located in close proximity, such as in adjacent
offices, the requisite transfer of record media still may
result in marked reduction in office operation effIciency.
Central dictation systems, as are commercially
available, avoid several of the aforenoted cisadvantages attendant desk-top dictating/transcribing machines. For
example, in one type of central dictation system, a central
recorder is provided with an endless loop of magnetic tape
and includes a dictate site and a separate transcribe site,
both of which may be operated simultaneously, as described
in U, S. Patent No. 3,934,774. While such a central
recorder avoids the need to transfer a record medium from a
dictating machine to a transcribing machine, such central
recorders generally are most efficient when used with
several dictators having access to the recorder from several dictate stations.Such a central dictation system is
relatively expensive and might not be cost efficient for
office operation which the system is utilized by a
relatively small number of dictators and -transc=iptionistt.
Another type of central dictation system that
might be utilized more efficiently in a "small office"
environment, is described in U. S. Patent No. 4,071,857 and
also in copending U.S. Annlir tkn SeriaL Nor #,.212. Bxee systems are provided with a central recorder which operates
to record dictation on individual tape cassettes, a used
cassette being replaced by a fresh one to permit
transcription of the used cassette and further dictation on
the new cassette.While such a central recorder having
automatic cassette-changing capabilities reduces the amount
of cassette manipulation that is attendant the
aforementioned desk-top dictating/transcribing machines,
there is, nonetheless, a need to load a used cassette into a
separate transcribing machine to facilitate the
transcription of recorded dictation.
Therefore, there is a need for an efficient
dictation system that minimizes the necessity to transfer a
record medium from a dictating machine to a transcribing
machine, yet is capable of being accessed by several
dictators in a so-called small office environment. Although
prior art systems have been proposed in an attempt to
address the small office environment, those systems do not
offer sufficient flexibility. For example, one such prior
art system contemplates the use of separate dictating and
transcribing units mounted in side-by-side relation, with
one unit being permanently designated the dictating unit and the the other being permanently designated the transcribing
unit. Transcription still requires the transfer of a record
medium from the dictating unit to the transcribing unit.
Furthermore, use of this system to record dictation sim;;taneously from more than one dictators on different rectrd media, or cassettes, is difficult if not impossible.
In accordance with one aspect of this invention, there is provided a method of controlling recording on and transcription from at least two recording units in a dictation system, comprising the steps of:
selecting one of said two recording units for a transcription operation;
sensing which of said recording units has been selected for a transcription operation;
inhibiting the recording unit selected for a transcription operation from recording dictation;
detecting if the other of said recording units has been conditioned for a recording dictation; and
enabling said other recording unit to record dictation if said other recording unit is conditioned therefor.
Also according to the invention, there is provided a dictate/transcribe system comprising:
at least first and second recording units, each being operable as a dictation unit or a transcription unit;
selector switch means for selecting one of said recording units to operate as a transcription unit and the other to operate as a dictation unit or to select both recording units to operate as dictation units;
medium sense means for sensing the presence of a record medium ready for recording in the respective recording units;
dictate enabling means for enabling a recording unit to record dictation if a record medium ready for recording is present therein and that recording unit has been selected for operation as a dictation unit; ;
transcribe enabling means for enabling a recording unit to transcribe dictation if a record medium is present therein and that recording unit has been selected for operation as a transcription unit; and
inhibit means for inhibiting a recording unit from recording or transcribing dictation if a record medium is present therein but is not ready for recording and that recording unit has not been selected for operation as a transcription unit.
In one embodiment of this invention, if the dictator is disconnected from the recording unit on which the predetermined amount of dictation has been recorded, the disconnected recording unit is inhibited from subsequent recording; and dictation that is thereafter destined for a recording unit of the same identity is recorded on the spare unit which now has that identity.
Preferably, selector and function control switches are provided to enable at least basic operation of one or the other unit. When, for example, the first unit is selected for operation, the record medium therein may be initialized for dictation (e.g. previous dictation may be erased therefrom); and that unit then may be conditioned for use as a dictation unit. In the absence of such initialization and conditioning, the recording unit operates as a transcription unit.
In this arrangement first one recording unit may be initialized and conditioned for operation as a dictation unit and then the other recording unit may be similarly initialized and conditioned, thus permitting both units to operate as dictation units.
As yet another feature of this arrangement, a simple selector switch may be provided to select one or the other of the aforementioned two recording units for operation as a transcription unit. This obviates the need to transfer a record medium, such as a tape cassette, from the dictation unit to the transcription unit for the purpose of transcribing previously recorded dictation. The operational states of the respective units may be changed over by a simple operation of the selector switch, thereby conditioning the unit which had been operable previously as a dictation unit now to operate as a transcription unit, and to condition the unit which had been operated previously as a transcription unit now to operate as a dictation unit.A remote dictate station is connected to the unit which now is operable as a dictation unit; and, likewise, a transcribe station (e.g. headset and foot pedal) is electrically connected to the unit which now operates as a transcription unit. No physical re-wiring or interconnection are needed to effect the aforementioned connections.
When three or more recording units are provided, the identities of the respective units may be designated as a function of the order in which the respective units are initialized for operation as dictation units.
In one arrangement two of the recording units may be housed in stacked relation, one atop the other, in a common console. A single set of selector and function control switches may be provided, these switches controlling the functions of one or the other unit, depending upon which unit has been selected for transcription and which has been selected for recording. Both recording units in the aforementioned common console may be operated as dictation units, with dictation normally being recorded on the record medium of one unit until that medium has reached a predetermined recording capacity, whereupon further dictation is recorded on the record medium of the other unit.
In our UK Patent Application No 8620918 there is disclosed and claimed a dictation system, comprising: at least three recording units, each being operable to record dictation on a record medium therein; initializing switch means operable to bring the record medium ln a selected recording unit to an initial condition for subsequent recording; selector switch means for selecting a respective recording unit for initializing the record medium therein; identifying means for detecting the order in which the record media at said recording units are initialized and for designating said recording units with respective, particular identities; sense means for sensing when a predeterm#nod amount of dictation has been recorded on one of said at least three recording unit; and change-over means responsive to said sense means for changing the identity of a preselected recording unit to be equal to the identity of said one recording unit, whereby the changed over recording unit is operable to record dictation destined for recording on a recording unit having the identity of said one recording unit.
The said Application 8620918, from which the present application is divided, also claims a method of controlling the connections of respective ones of plural recording units to dictate stations in a dictation system, some of said recording units being designated with predetermined identities and at least one recording unit being designated a spare unit, said method comprising the steps of: sensing when a predetermined amount of dictation has been recorded by a recording unit which is connected to a dictate station; designating the spare recording unit with the same particular identity as that of the connected recording unit; and connecting the recording unit with the newly designated identity to a dictate station in place of said connected recording unit when a connection is to be made from a dictate station to a recording unit having said particular identity.
The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the present invention solely to the embodiments described and illustrated herein, will best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dictation system;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the dictation system which is particularly adapted for use in a small office environment and which incorporates the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a flow diagram representing one aspect of the t carsF andt d FIG. & is a flow diagram representing another aspect of this invention.
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a dictation system 10 which is comprised of two recording units 12 and 14 of substantially identical construction, these recording units being supported one atop the other in a common console or housing. Each recording unit is provided with a recordjplayback deck of conventional construction for the purpose of recording dictation on and playing back dictation from a record medium. Preferably, the record medium is a magnetic tape housed in a cassette, such as a standard cassette, a minicassette, a microcassette or a picocassette, all as mentioned above. In an alternative embodiment, the record medium may comprise a solid-state storage device in which dictation is stored in digital form.For convenience, and in order tc simplify the present explanation, the record medium is referred to herein as a cassette or a magnetic tape; but it will be appreciated that the aforementioned solid-state digital storage device also is contemplated.
Recording unit 12 includes a cassette compartment 20 for receiving a cassette and for positioning that cassette in proper disposition with respect to forward/rewind drive elements, a recordiplayback head, an erase head, a capstan and a pinch roller. the cassette compartment is protected by a door that is opened in response to the manual actuation of an Z#EOT button 22.
Recording unit 14 includes a similar cassette copartet 30 protected by a door that is opened in response to the operation of an EJECT button 32.
Recording unit 12 also is provided with an operation display 24, a node display 25 and a numerical display 26. Likewise, recording unit 14 is provided with an operation display 34, a mode display 35 and a numerical display 36. In both recording units, the operation display 24, 34 indicates the particular operation being carried out on a cassette utilized by the recording unit. For example, the operation display may indicate when a cassette is r in use", that is, when a remote dictate station is connected to that recording unit for the purpose of recording dictation on the cassette utilized therewith.The operation display also is provided with an wend zones indicator which is energized (or illuminated) when a predetermined amstant of magnetic tape remains available for recording. Fob example, if a cassette is adapted to record thirty minutes of dictation, the end zone indicator is illuminated when only three minutes of tape remains available for recording.
Other indications may be provided to apprise the user of the condition that the cassette on which dictation is being recorded soon will reach the end of its tape.
Operation display 24, 34 also includes an "operator" indicator which is illuminated when the attention of a supervisory operator is needed. For example, when dictation is recorded on a cassette that has been advanced to its very end, the "operator" indicator is illuminated.
This indicator also may be illuminated when, for example, a cassette having a tape fault condition (e. g. the tape ; therein is jammed or broken; has been loaded into the recording unit, or the recording unit has been selected for transcription or for dictation but a cassette has not been loaded therein. Other conditions recuiring the attention a a supervisory operator also may be indicated by the illumination of this "operator" indicator.
In the preferred embodiment, the respective indicators which comprise operation display 24, 34 may include LED's, LCD's or other visual indicators known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
Each recording unit 12, 14 also is provided with a mode display 25, 35, respectively. Each mode display may be formed of LtD's, L G LCD's, or the like to provide visual indications of the particular mode of operation that has been selected for the respective recording unit. For example, when the recording unit has been selected for and is enabled to operate in a dictation recording mode, the mode display may illuminate the letter tDw to indicate that the recording unit is enabled to reccrd dictation.
Alternatively, if the recording unit is selected to operate as a transcription unit, the mode display may illuminate the
letter "@" to indicate such transcription operation. Still
further, the mode display may include an off linew indicator which is illuminated when the recording unit is in
a non-operating mode in which neither dictation on nor
transcription from that unit may be effected. As will be
described below, the mode display preferably includes
identifying indicators to identify the recording unit as
unit " 2" or 3" in a multi-unit recording system.
Recording units 12 and 14 also are provided with numerical displays 26 and 36, respectively. Each numerical
display is formed of a four digit LED or LCD display (or the like) which indicates the length of dictation that has been
recorded on or transcribed from a cassette. This illcation may be illustrated in minutes and tenths of minutes, wherein, for example, a display of "035" represents three
minutes and thirty seconds of dictation. When the recording unit is operated as a transcription unit, the numerical display indicates the approximate number of lines of
typewritten material that await transcr~ tio.. in a
particular message, letter, or the like. The numerical
display also may display, as a first digit, the letter "P"
which indicates the recording of a priority message. A
message of superior importance which should be transcribed
quickly is indicated by this prefix "P". This prefix Dr may be displayed alternately with a numeral which represents
the number of priority messages remaining for transc-iption on the tape. The remaining three digits represent the approximate number of typewritten lines in the message awaiting transcri#ion. As will be explained below, a "priority" message is represented by a special prefix code
that is recorded on the tape itself, this code being sensed
by the record/transcribe electronics included in dictation
system 10.
Dictation system 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is
provided with a single keyboard that may be operated either
in conjunction with recording unit 12 or in conjunction with
recording unit 14. A unit selector switch 42 is provided
for selecting the desired recording unit to be operated.
For example, when selector switch 42 is disposed in its
first condition, that is, when the selector switch is moved to its upper position, recording unit 12 is selected for ~ operation. The recording deck included in recording unit 12
then may be operated as a function of the operation of : function control switches 50, 56, 58, 62 and 64, as will be described. Conversely, when unit selector switch 42 is disposed in its second condition, that is, when the selector ~ switch is moved to its lower:r.ost posItion, recording unit 14
is enabled for operation In response to the actuation of the
aforementioned function control switches. Unit selector
switch 42 preferably includes a third condition,
corresponding to its center position, which is used to
select recording unit 12 or recording unit 14 for operation
as a dictation unit.More particularly, if the unit
selector switch is operated from its first condition to its
third condition, recording unit 12 is selected for operation
as a dictation unit, provided that other initIalIzing parameters are established, as will be described.
Conversely, if the unit selector switch is operated from its
second condition to its third condition, recording unit 14
is selected for operation as a dictation unit, provided the a.orementioned initializing parameters have been established.
Dictation system 10 also includes a remote/local selector switch 44 which is adapted to connect matching impedances within the dictation system to be compatible with transcribe apparatus that is connected directly to the dictation system or with transcribe apparatus that is disposed at a remote location and that is connected to the dictation system via telephone lines, private wire lines, or the like.
A cassette speed selector switch 46 also is provided, this switch being selectively operable by the user of dictation system 10 to select the appropriate reccrd/playback speed of the magnetic tape upon which dictation is recorded and played back. Typically, the magnetIc tape is advanced at a speed of approxrately 2. 4 cm per second in a microcassette upon which thirty minutes of dictation may be recorded. A'te--.a- vel, and for extended play, the record/playback speed may be established at approximately 1.2 Cm per second, resulting in a capacity of sixty minutes of dictation.Cassette speed selector switch 46 is operable to select the lower or higher cassette speed, depending upon whether extended capacity is desired. St has been found, generally, that the fidelity of recorded dictation is somewhat reduced when the cassette is operated at its slower speed.
Dictation system 10 also is provided with speaker/headset selector switch 48. Although not shown and described and described in detail herein, it will be appreciated that dictation system 10 includes an integral speaker which may be connected, via suitable electronics, to the playback head of recording unit 12 or recording unit 1, depending upon whether unit selector switch 42 is disposed in its first or second condition, respectively. Reproduced audio sounds are played back via this integral speaker when speaker/headset selector site 48 is operated to select the integral speaker for reproducing such sounds.The dictation system also includes a suitable socket to which a headset 100 is connected by means of a jack 102, and this headset is connected, via suitable electronics, to the playback head of recording unit 12 or recording unit 14 in the event that speaker/headset selector switch 48 has been operated to select the headset for the reproduction of audible sounds.
The function control switches included in dictation system 10 Include a STOP switch 50. This switch is manually operable to establish a "stop", or cuiescent, mode of operation for the dictation system. Typically, switch 50 may be operated to terminate a fast-forward or rewind mode of operation which, in turn, may be selected V the operation of REWIND swath 56 or FAST-FORWARD switch ji.
The STOP switch also is operable to quiet an au- ~ e ari sound or alarm that may sound at dictation system lc.
REWIND switch 56 is adapted, when operated, to select a rewind operating mode for recording unit 12 or recording unit 14, depending upon whether unit selector switch 42 exhibits its first or second condition, as mentioned above. Likewise, the actuation of FAST-FORWARD switch 58 selects a fast forward mode of operation for the selected recording unit. When a recording unit is selected for operation as a transcription unit, the actuation of
REWIND switch 56 functions to rewind the magnetic tape while scanning that tape for the occurrence of signals representing the ends of messages that had been dictated.
Dictation system 10 includes one or more microprocessors which, when supplied with so-called chopper pulses" that are generated as the magnetic tape is moved, responds to the
occurrence of the end-of-message signals to determine the
location and length of each message. Depending upon whether
recording unit 12 or recording unit 14 has been selected as
a transcription unit, numerical display 26 or 36 indicates
the length of the particular message then in position for
transcription.
When FAST-FORWARD switch 58 is actuated, the
magnetic tape provided in the recording unit which has been
selected as a transcription unit is searched" for access to rpriorityz messages. When a priority message is
encountered, as when a recorded priority code is detected, tape movement stops and playback of that message begins
within a predetermined time (e. g. a few seconds) . If no
"priority" messages had been recorded on the tape, the Irs message which had been recorded will be played back.
Prezerably, FAST-FORWAP# switch 58 is actuated aster the magtic tape has been fully rewound (and scanned) . The
operation of FAST--ORWARD switch serves to rapidly advance the magnetic tape in the forward direction until the first
"priority" message is reached. If no "priority" codes had
been detected during the rewind operation, the actuation of FAST-FORWARD switch 58 serves merely to initiate the
playback of the first message that had been recorded.
ERASE~ switch 62, when actuated simultaneously with
the actuation of REWIND switch 56, serves to energize the
erase head included in recording unit 12 (or recording unit
14, depending upon the condition of unit selector switch 42)
to erase dictation which had been recorded previously on the
magnetic tape in that unit. For enabling a desired
recording unit to operate as a dictation unit, such
"erasure" operation (i. e. the simultaneous operation of
REWIND switch 56 and ERASE switch 62) serves to initialize the recording unit. In the absence of such ; initialization of the recording unit, that unit is jnhib#ted from operating as a dictation unit.
A CLEAR switch 64 is provided for the purpose of erasing information stored in the display memory of dictation system 10. Such information may represent the
locations of previously recorded messages, the lengths of
such messages, the location of "priority" messages, and the
like.The CLEAR switch should be actuated prior to
transcribing a newly-loaded cassette, and this switch also
should be actuated before a selected one of these recording units is conditioned as a dictation it. In this manner, information that had been derived from a previously recorded
or transcribed cassette is cleared from the display memory
and does not interfere with the display of new information
derived fror the cassette then being utilized.
Dictation system 10 also is provided with
additional controls 72, 74, 76 and 78. These controls are designated volume control ,2, tone control /4, playback
speed control 76 and backspace control 78. Each control is
constructed as a slide switch and, in one embociment, each
such switch produces an analog voltage that is used to
control, or establish, a desired volume, tone, playback
speed or backspace, respectivelp. Alternively, each slide
switch may produce a discrete digital signal, depending upon
its position, to establish a respective volume, tone,
playback speed or backspace level.Thus, the magnitude of
the audible sounds which are reproduced by the integral
speaker of dictation system 10 or by headset 100 is adjusted
by the setting of volume control 72. Likewise, the tone of
the reproduced audible sounds (i. e. the relative treble and
base level thereof) is establoshed by the setting of tone
control 74. The speed at which the tape is moved during a
transcription operation, that is, the incremental difference
between the speed selected by cassette speed selector switch
46 and the actual playback speed, is set and adjusted by
playback speed control 76. Finally, the incremental amount
of backspace that is produced when, for example, a playback
switch is released during transcription, is set and adjusted
by meansof backspace control 78.
In addition to headset 100, a conventional foot
pedal switch is connected to dictation system 10 for the purpose of controlling recording unit 12 or recording unit 14, depending upon the condition of unit selector switch 42,
for a transcription operation. yp~cRl:y, t.ne sOOt pedai switch includes a playback pedal, a rewind pedal and a fast-forward pedal, the selected operation of wh initiates a corresponding operation of the selected recording unit. hhen the playback pedal is actuated, the release thereof effects a brief rewinding of the tape by an
amount determined by the setting of backspace control 78.
Conseuently, upon the reactuation of the playback pedal,
the last few words which had been played back previously are
played back once again.
Dictation system 10 is connected by means of
private wire connections or by means of telephone
connections to one or more dictate stations 80. A suitable switch control (not shown) may be provided to interconnect
dictation system 10 with several dictate stations, the
switch serving to permit only one dictate station to be
connected to recording unit 12 or to recording unit 14, Idepending -upon which of these recording units had been selected as the dictation unit.Dictate station 8C is provided with a handset B2, similar to a convenvional telephone handset to the extent that a microphone is
provided at one end thereof and a speaker is provided at the
other end to permit dictation to be transmitted to dictation
system 10 and to permit dictation to be audibly reproduced
for review by the dictator. Handset 82 includes a dictate
control switch 84, as is conventional in telephone-type
dictate stations, this dictate control switch being operable
to initiate a record mode and a review/play mode. Since
the operation of dictate control switch 84 is conventional, ~ - further description thereof is not provided.
Dictate station 80 also is provided with a desk set 86 having a cradle 88 to receive handset 82.
i Preferakly, cradle E8 includes a switch s#r#lar to a
conventional telephone hook switch which indicates when
handset 82 is "off-hook" or "on-hook". Desk set 86 also
includes a unit selector switch 90 formed of, for example,
four separate pushbutton switches 90-1, 90-2, 9C-3 and 90-4.
Each pushbutton switch, when actuated, and sub-#ect to the
availability of a reccrding unit, connects dictate station
80 to a recording unit associated with a respective one of
the pushbutton switches. In the embodiment wherein
dictation system 10 is provided with only two recording units, pushbutton switches -90-1 and 90-2 select recording unit 12 or recording unit 14, respect#vely, for connection
to dictate station 80.If a selected recording unit is win that that is, if that recording unit has been selected for
operation as a transcription unit or if that recording unit
already is connected to another dictate station or if the selected recording unit is woff line9, the operation of the
unit selector switch is ineffective to establish a
connection between dictate station 80sand the selectec recording unit. Preferably, an "in use" indicator is provided with each unit selector switch to indicate to the user of dictate station 80 which recording units are "in use", as aforementioned.
Dictate station 80 may be used in conjunction with a dicatation system having four recording units, such as represented in FIG. 2, and fpr this reason unit selctor switch 90 has four pushbutton switches to permit the dictate station to be connected to any one of such four recording units.
Those recording units which are "in use" are indicated by respective "in use" visual indicators associated with respective ones of pushbutton switches 90-1, 90-2, 90-3 and 90-4.
Where only two recording units are provided, as iilustrated in
FIG. 1, unit selector switch 90 may be omitted or, alternatively, may have no effect upon the particular recording unit that is connected to dictate station 80 when handset 82 goes "off-hook". That is, suitable dictation system controls are provided to connect the dictate station only to the one recording unit which has been selected for operation as the dictation unit, provided that dictation unit is not already in use.In the system shown in
FIG. 1, if both recording units 12 and 14 are selected as dictation units, unit selector switch 90-1 may be operated to connect dictate station 80 to recording unit 12 and unit selector switch 90-2 may be operated to connect dictate station 80 to recording unit 14, provided such recording units are not then "in use Desk set 86 also is provided with switches 92,94, 96 and 98 which are adapted to be manually actuated to initiate the functions now to be described. PRIORITY switch 92, when actuated, serves to record the aforementioned priority code on the magnetic tape included in the recording --nit to which dictate station 80 is connected.As an
example, the priority code may comprise a predeterminec number of bursts (e. g. two bursts) of a tone signal which, when detected, is identified as the beginning of a
"priority" message.
INTERCOM switch 94, when actuated, serves to
establish a simple communication connection between handset
82 and similar communication apparatus (e. g. a similar
handset) located at the site of dictation system 10. The
dictator thus may communicate directly with the
transcriptionist or a supervisory operator at that site.
FAST-FORWARD switch 96, when actuated, initiates a
fast forward operation of the magnetic tape in the recording unit to which dictate station EO is conne#-# he tape is
driven in the fast-forward mode until the so-called "farthest advance" point (i. e. the point reached by a
dictator prior to rewinding the tape) is reached.
END switch 98, when actuated, serves to recur a predetermined tone signal on the m2snetic magn e. is expected that END switch 98 will be actuated upon the
completion of a message, such as a letter, and thus
functions to record an end-of-message tone signal on the
magnetic tape. This end-of-message tone signal is
distinguished from a so-called "secrecy tone signal that is
recorded when handset 82 is returned to cradle 88 (i. e.
is placed in its ton-hookz condition) to disconnect dictate
station 8D from dictation system 10. The recording of such
a secrecy" code is conventional in central dictation
systems and serves to signify the completion of dictation by
a dictator a*d prevents a subsequent dictator from effecting
a rewind operation of the magnetic tape to access the
message that had been recorded by thesprevious dictator.
Such a "secrecy code normally is recorded at the
end of the last-dictated message and, hence, is analogous to
the aforementioned end-of-message tone signal. However, the
end-of-message tone signal, when detected, does not prevent
the magnetic tape from being rewound further; and, thus, the
detection of the end-of-message tone signal does not prevent
the present dictator from reviewing his own previously
recorded messages.
The manner in which dictation system 10 operates
to designate one or the other recording unit as a dictation unit, or to designate both recording units as dictation
units, or to designate only one of the recording units as a
transcription unit will be described below in conjunction with the flow diagram illustrated in FIG. 4. It is
appreciated that dictation system 10 is provided with one or
more microprocessors which sense the operation of various
ones of the selector and function control switches to contrcl the operation of the dictation system.Such
microprocessors also detect the operation of dictate station 80 to effect a connection between the dictate station and a
recording unit and control the operation of the accessed
recording unit for the recording of dictation thereon.
Before describing such microprocessor control, reference is ~ made to FIG. 2 in which two dictation systems 10 and 10' are illustrated, these two dictation systems being electrically
interconnected (not shown) as well as being physically
joined in side-by-side relation.
It will be appreciated that dictation systems 10
and 10' are substantially identical; and the respective component parts which comprise dictation system 10' are identified with primed reference numerals that have been
used to identify like component parts of dictation system
10. In the intei#= of brevity, further duplicative description of dictation system 10' is not prov#dec.
When using dictation systems 10 and 10' in the
configuration illustrated in FIG. 2, each recording unit 12,
14, 12' and 14' may be designated with a particular
identity. For example, recording unit 12 may be identif < Pri as the recording unit upon which brief letters are dictated.
Any dictator may select recording unit 12 for the recording
of such brief letters by operating, for example, unit
selector switch 90-1 of his desk set 86 provided in dictate
station 80. If recording unit 12 is enabled to operate as a
dictation unit, and if this recording unit is not otherwise connected to another dictate station, a dictator may connect
his dictate station 80 to recording unit 12 by lifting handset 82 from cradle 88 and by actuating unit selector switch 90-1.
Similarly, recording unit 14 may be identified as
the recording unit upon which only priority messages are
recorded. If this recording unit is not otherwise connected
to a dictate station, any dictator in the overall system may
connect his dictate station 80 to recording unit 14 for the
purpose of recording priority messages. In a similar manner, recording unit 12' may be identified as the
recording unit by which notes or memos or legal briefs (or
any other particular type of message) are recorded. The
remaining recording unit 14' preferably is identified as a spare1 unit whose identity assumes Ii. e. is made equal to) the identity of recording unit 12, 14 or 12' whose cassette
has just been advanced into its end zone.That is, the
identity of the first recording unit 12, 14 or 12' which first reaches a predetermined recording capacity is transferred to recording unit 14'; and recording uni= 14'
then operates with its newly designated identity to record
subsequent dictation destined for a unit having that
identity. Once the cassette in the recording unit which has
reached its predetermined recording capacity is transcribed
(e. g. by selecting that recording unit for operation as a
transcription unit by operating unit selector switch 42 or
42'), that recording unit then may be designated the "spare"
unit.Alternatively, if the cassette is removed from that
recording unit for transcription by another machine (not
shown), that recording unit is designated the "spare" unit
when a fresh cassette is loaded therein and is initialized
for dictation.
The manner in which the identities of the
respective recording units are assigned will be described
below in conjunction with the flow chart shown in FIG. 4.
Suffice it to say that if recording unit 12 is idenri ied as
unit "1", recording unit 14 is identified as unit "2" and
recording unit 12' is identified as unit "3", then recording
unit 14', if enabled for dictation, is identified as the
"spare" unit. If the predeterrined recording capacity first
is reached by unit "1", then the identity of the "spare"
unit is chanced over to unit "1" and previously identified
unit "1" is rendered "off line" for further dictation. Once the cassette in previously identified unit t1" is
transcribed, or if a new cassette is loaded therein, tis
unit thereafter is identified as the "spare" unit.
Conversely, if the predetermined recording capacity first is
reached by unit "2", the identity of the "spare" unit is
changed over to unit "2" and previously identified unit "#" is rendered "off lines. Thus, it is seen that any of thee
illustrated recording units may adopt any of the
aforementioned identities "1", "2",."#" or "spare"; and as dictation progresses. the changing over of loent-tes, as
mentioned above, likewise will continue. The particular
identity of a recording
temporary; and the actual identity thereof may change
between "spare" and any of identities "1", '2" and "3".
Hence, a dictate station that is connected to unit '1" may
be connected to any one of the recording units illustrated
in FIG. 2. That is, the actuation of unit selector switch
90-1 will connect dictate station 80 to the recoiling unit
then identified as unit "1", this identity being changed
from one of the illustrated recording units to another from tie to time.
It will be appreciated that any three of the illustrated recorsing un ts, that is, those units idenfified as units "1", "2" and "3", may be connected simultaneously
to three different dictate stations for the simultaneous ~ recording of dlstat on thereon.If a dictate station remains connected to a recording unit after a predetermine amount of dictation has been recorded (i. e. when the tape
included in that recording unit has been advanced to its "end" zone), the dictate station will be connected
simultaneously to that recording unit as well as to the
"spare" unit. If dictation continues, such continued
dictation will be recorded simultaneously on both units for a brief interval of time.Thereafter, the recording unit in
which the predetermined amount of dictation has been
recorded will be disconnected from the dictate station,
leaving only the newly identified (but previously identified
"spare" unit) connected to that dictate nation. The
previously identified, but now disconnectEd, recording unit remains in an woff line" mode until the cassette therein is
transcribed or until a fresh cassettes loaded and
initialized. Thus, the previously identified recording unt is inhibited from operating as a dictation unit until it is
initialized, as mentioned above.
In the absence of a spare unit, the
aforedescribed overlapping, or extension of dictation, on
two units simultaneously is inhibited. Rather, the
recording unit having the predetermined amount of dictation
recorded thereon merely is disconnected from the dictate
station and rendered "off line" a predetermined time after
the "end zone" of its cassette has been reached. If a
"spare" unit is provided in the overall dictation system, and if the predetermined amount of dictation is recorded on unit "1" or "2" or "3", that particular identity is transferred to the "spare" unit if the dictate station is
disconnected from that unit.That is, simultaneous
recording on the newly identified "spare unit" and the
previously identified unit will not occur if the previously
identified unit is disconnected from the dictator.
Nevertheless, once d#sconnectec, the previously identified unit is inhibited from recording further dictator until the
cassette therein has been transcribed or replaced.
Although the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 is
comprised of four recording units, the present invention is
equally applicable to, for exarple, three recording units
(identified as units "1", "2" and "spare") and also to a
system system in which six or eight recording units are provided.
Furthermore, it will be appreciated that, if desired, the
"spare" unit in a 4-unit configuration may be selected as a transcription unit, thus~preventing that unit from recording dictation and from assumed the same identity as that of a
recording unit upon which a predetermined amount of dictation has been recorded.
As will be explained below, the identities "1",
"2", "3" and spare may be assigned to any of the respective recording units 12, 14, 12' and 14', depending upon the order in which the units are initialized. For
example, example, if recording unit 14 is initialized first (i. e. if
the cassette therein is the first to be erased), it is
designated unit "1". If recording unit 12' is the next to, be initialized, it is designated unit "2". If recording
unit 12 is the third recording unit to be initialized, it is
designated unit "3". Finally, when recording unit 14' is
initialized, it is designated the "spare" unit.
The manner in which the identity of a recording unit is transferred to a "spare" unit once a predetermined
amount of dictation has been recorded now will be described
in conjunction with the microprocessor flow diagram
illustrated in FIG. 3. It will be appreciated that this flow diagram represents one of several routines that may be
carried out by the microprocessor. This microprocessor ay be included in dictation system 10 or in dictation system
10' and is capable of executing other routines and
subroutines, one of such additional routines being described
below and the others forming no-part of the present
invention per se.
Upon entering the routine illustrated in FIG. 3,
inquiry first is made at 112 as to whether any of the recording units which are operating as dictation units has a
predetermined amount of dictation recorded thereon.
Assuming such recording units are identified as units "1", "2" and "3" , and further assuming that each recording unit
is adapted to record up to thirty minutes of dictation,
inquiry 112 inquires as to whether unit "1" or unit 92" or
unit "3" has twenty-seven minutes of dictation recorded
thereon. AS mentioned above, as dictation on a magnetic
tape proceeds, chopper pulses are generated as the tape is
transported. Such chopper pulses are counted, and a
predetermined count is obtained when a length of tape
corresponding to the recording of twenty-seven minutes of
dictation has been transported. The state of such a chopper
pulse use counter is examined by inquiry 112.If this inquiry
is answered in the negative, the routine cycles, as
illustrated, until this inquiry is answered in the
affirmative. At that time, instruction 114 is carried out
and the particular unit which has reached twenty-seven
minutes of dictation is identified. That is, the unit is
identified as unit "1" or unit "2" or unit "3", depending upon the particular identity thereof.
The routine then advances to instruction 116, whereupon an end zone warning signal, e. g. a suitable
warning tone, is generated and transmitted back to the
dictate station then connected to the identified unit.
Inquiry 118 then is made to determine if this dictate station has disconnected from the identified unit. If ~ inquiry 118 is answered in the affirmative, the "spare" unit
is identified, at 120, with the very same identity as the
unit which has just reached its "end zone". That is, the identity determined by instruction 114 is transferred, at
120, to the "spare unit. The routine then advances to
instruction 122, whereupon the previously identified unit is
turned off and is rendered "off line". Then, as represented
by instruction 124, the newly identified unit is conditioned for subsequent or continued operation with its new identity.
That that is, the "spare" unit now is identified as unit "1" or "2" or "3", depending upon the identity that has been
determined at instruction 114. The routine ul=ia=ely returns to inquiry 112.
If inquiry 118 is answered in the negative, that
is, if after reaching the end zone" of a cassette, dictate
station 80 remains connected to the identified recording
unit, inquiry is made at 126 to ascertain if a "spare" deck
is provided for operation as a dictation unit. If this
inquiry is answered in the affirmative, instruction 128 is
carried out to initiate the operation of this "spare" unit.
Then, as represented by instruction 130, this "spare" unit
is is identified with the same identity (i. e. as unit "1" or
"2" or "3") as has been identified at instruction 114. That
is, the spare unit is designated with the same identity as
the particular recording unit which has just reached its
"end zone".
It is appreciated that, by reason of instructions
128 and 130, the recording unit which has just reached its
"end zone" and the newly identified "spare" unit operate slnult2neosly and both record dictation that is transmttec from the dictate station that had been connected to the unit
identified by instruction 114. Inquiry is made at 132 to
determine if both units had been operated simultaneously for
a predetermined amount of time (e. g. for thirty seconds).
If this inquiry is answered in the negative, inquiry then is
made at 134 to ascertain if the dictate station has been
disconnected from theslecording units. If inquiry 134 is
answered in the negative, the illustrated routine cycles
through inquiries 132 and 134 until one of them is answered
in the affirmative. At that time, the routine advances to instruction 122, which has been discussed above. Thus, if
the dictate station has disconnected from both units before they operate simu-ltaneously for a thirty second period, or if the dictate station remains connected to botn units for
this thirty second period, the unit which has just reached
its end zone is turned off and placed in an "off lines mode.
Then, if the dictate station remains connected to the spare unit with its newly designated identity, the
dictator may continue with his dictation on the newly
identified unit, as represented by instruction 124.
Let it be assumed that a "spare" unit is not
available for dictation. For example, if the "spare" unit
had been assigned a newly designated identity previously, or
if the "spare" unit has been selected for operation as a
transcription unit, or if the "spare" unit is to line", inquiry 126 is answered in the negative. Then, although the
unit identified by instruction 114 has reached its wend
zones, dictation thereon may continue. Inquiry is made, at
136, if this continued dictation has reached the 2.5 minute
mark. If this inquiry is answered in the negative, the
illustrated routine cycles through this inquiry until either
the dictate station disconnects from this unit, as
ascertained by inquiry 137, or until dictation thereon
reaches the 29.5 minute mark.At that time, a hang-up, or
disconnect, warning signal is generated and transmitted to
the dictate station connected to this unit, as represented
by instruction 138, and the connection between that dictate station and this unit is broken, as represented by the
instruction "hang up" at 140. The illustrated routine
eventually returns to inquiry 112.
It will be appreciated that, if desired, the
particular numerical examples set out in, for instance,
inquiries 112, 132 and 136 may be varied, as desired. That is, the "end zone" region may be established as less than or
greater than twenty-seven minutes of dictation; the period
for simultaneous recording on two units may be less than or
greater than thirty seconds and the time at which the
dictate station is disconnected from the recording unit may
be any desired time after the end zone" is reached.
The manner in which the microprocessor included in
dictation system 10 (for example) operates to select
recording unit 12 or 14 for operation as a dictation unit or
a transcription unit, or for both recording units to operate
as dictation units now will be described in conjunction with
the microprocessor routine illustrated by the flow diagram shown in FIG. 4. This flow diagram also represents the
manner in which the respective recording units 12, 14, 12'
and 14' are identified as units "1", "2", "3" and "spare" to
facilitate the operation represented by the just-described flow diagram shown in FIG. 3.
Turning now to the route illustrated in FG. 4,
let it be assumed that unit selector switch 42 exhibits its ~ first condition to select recording unit 12 for keyboard
operation. Inquiry 152 first is made as to whether a
cassette has been loaded into this recording unit. As is
conventional, the recording unit may include a sensor switch
that detects the presence of a cassette loaded therein. If
this switch is actuated, inquiry 152 is answered in the aff#rmative. However, if a cassette has not been loaded
into into recording unit 12, this inquiry is answered in the
negative. Thereupon, displays 24, 25 and 26 are blanked, as
represented by instruction 154, and the illustrated routine
cycles through inquiry 152 and instruction 154 until the
presence of a cassette is detected.
When a loaded cassette is sensed in the recording unit selected by selector switch 42, incuiry 152 is answered in the affirmative and inquiry is made,# at 156, to ascertain if this recording unit has h2en selected to operate as a transcription unit. If unlit selector switch 42 exhibits itS first condition, then recording unit 12 is selected for operation as a transcription unit. Conversely, if unit selector switch 42 exhibits its second condition, then recording unit 14 is selected for operation as the transcription unit. Assuming that inquiry 156 is directed to recording unit 12, and further assuming that unit selector switch 42 exnibits its first condition, this inquiry is answered in the affirmative.Accordingly, mode display 25 is energized to indicate that recording unit 12 has been selected for operation as the transcription unit, for example, the character "T" is displayed; the "in use" indicator of operation display 24 is energized; and any attempt to connect a dictate station to recording unit 12 is me by a "busy" signal which apprises the dictator that this recording unit is in use and cannot be accessed by him for dictation. In addition, the indicator associated with unit selector switch 90-1 at all of dictate stations 80 is energized to provide a visual indication to each dictator that this unit is "busy".
Thereafter, and as represented by instruction 160, recording unit 12 is conditioned for transcription such that the foot pedal (not shown) and headset 100 connected to dictation system 10 may be operated to transcribe dictation that is recorded on the cassette included in recording unit 12.
The illustrated routine then is repeated, as represented by instruction 162, for recording unit 14. That is, inquiries 152 and 156 as well as instructions 158 and 160 are carried out to determine if a cassette is loaded into recording unit 14, if this recording unit has been
selected by unit selector switch 2 for a transcription
operation, and to provide a visual display of such a
selection, prevent a dictator from accessing this unit and
condition this unit for transcribing dictation that has been recorded on the cassette therein.
Let it be assumed that inquiry 156 is answered in
the negative. That is, it is assumed that a cassette is
loaded into recording unit 12 (as an example, reference is made to recording unit 12), but that unit selector switch 42 does not exhibit its first condition.The unit selector switch may exhibit either its second condition, whereby - recording unit 14 is selected for use as a transcription unit, or the selector switch may exhibit | its third, or "off" condition, which selects neither recording unit for a transcr#ption operation, If inquiry 156 is answered in the negative, inquiry next is made, at 164, to ascertain if the cassette
which has been loaded into recorcing unit 12 has been
erased.This inquiry is answered in the aff#rmative if E"xASE switch 62 and REWIND switch 56 had been operated
simultaneously and the cassette of recording unit 12 had
been fully rewound (while being erased). It is recalled
that such an erase operation cannot be carried out unless
unit selector switch 42 exhibits its first condition to
permit basic operations (i. e. operations triggered by the
function control switches of dictation system 10) of recording unit 12.Thus, for inquiry 164 to be answered in ; the affirmative, unit selector switch 42 would have had to 1 exhibit its first condition, the cassette loaded into recording unit 12 would had to have been erased and chen the
condition of the unit selector switch would had to have been changed from its first condition.
A positive answer to inquiry 164 leads to inquiry
168 to ascertain if unit selector switch 42 exhibits its
third, or "off" condition. It is appreciated that when
inquiry 168 is made, this unit selector switch may exhibit
either its second or its third condition. If this inquiry
is answered in the aff#rmative, recording unit 12 is
conditioned for dictation and mode display 25 is energized
to provide a suitable visual indication, for example, the
character "D" is displayed. Recording unit 12 then may be
connected to any dictate station to record dictation
therefrom. Thereafter, inquiry is made, at 1;4, to dete-,..ine if more than two recording units are included in
the dictation system.For example, this inquiry is answered in the aff#rmative in the event that the embodiment should in
FIG. 2 is present. However, assuming that the simple 2-unit configur2tlon shown in FIG. 1 is being utilized, inquiry i74
is answered in the negative and, as represented by
instruction 162, the aforedescribed routine is repeated for
recording unit 14.
If the cassette loaded into recording unit 12 had
not been erased, but unit selector switch 42 exh bits its
second or third condition, inquiries 156 and 164 both are
answered in the negative. Then, as represented by ~ insrc=ion 166, mode display 25 is energized to indicate
the "off line display. In addition, recording unit 12 is
inhibited from being connected to dictate stations. An
attempt to access this recording unit is met by a "busy" indication; and the visual indicator associated with unit
selector switch 90-1 at each dictate station 80 is energized
to indicate that recording unit 12 is not accessible for
dictation.The routine then is repeated for recording unit
14, as represented by instructlon 162.
If the cassette loaded into recording unit 12 had
been erased and if unit selector switch 42 had been changed
over from its first condition (to enable erasure of the
cassette) to its second conditIon, inquiry 156 is answered
in the negative, inquiry 164 is answered in the affIrmative and inquiry 168 is answered in the negative. Consequently,
and as represented by instruction 170, mode display 25 is.
blanked. Moreover, recording unit 12 is not made available,
at this time, for access by a dictate station.
The foregoing routine then is repeated for recording unit 14.
Thus, it be ce it should be appreciated that both recording Iiunits may be conditioned for dictation, or one may be
conditioned for dictation while the other is conditioned for i transcription. For example, after the cassette loaded into
recording unit 12 is erased, unit selector switch 42 may be
changed over to its second condition, resulting in inquiry 156 being answered in the negative, inquiry 164 being
answered in the affirmative and inquiry 168 being answered
in the negative. Then, when the illustrated routine is executed for recording unit i4, if the cassette loaded into
this recording unit is erased any then unit selector switch
42 is changed over to its third, or "off" condition, inquiry X 156 is answered in the negative and inquiries 164 and 168
both are answered in the affirmative. Subsequently, when
this routine is carried out once again for recording unit
12, inquiry 156 is answered in the negative and inquiries
164 and 168 both are answered in the affirmative. As a
result, both recor#ng unit 12 and recording unit 14 are conditioned for dictation, as represented by instruction
172, and both recording units may be accessed by respective
dictate stations.
When selecting one recording unit for dictation and the other for 'transcription, the unit which is to operate as a dictation unit should be selected first. Then, once this unit is conditioned for dictation and mode display 25 is energized to indicate the character "D", as described above, the other unit may be conditioned for transcription.
For example, if recording unit 12 is conditioned for dictation, the character "D" remains displayed and the unit may be accessed by a dictate station until unit selector switch 42 is operated to its first condition. At that time, inquiry 156 is answered in the affirmative and the character "T" is displayed by mode display 25.
The routine represented by the inquiries and nstructions extending between inquiry 152 and inquiry 174 comprises an initializing routine by which the respective recording units 12 and 14 are initialized for operation as dictation or trans on units. A similar initialIzing routine is carried out for each recording unit included in, for example, the 4-unit configuration shown in FIG. 2. Let it be assumed that three or more recording units (e. g. the 4-unit configuration shown in FIG. 2) are present in the dictation system. Let it be further assumed that one of these four recording units has been conditioned for dictation in the manner described above.Inquiry 174 then is answered in the affirmative, and inquiry next is made, at 176, to ascertain if three of the recording units in the system already had been conditioned for dictation. If this inquiry is answered in the affirmative, the initializing routine advances to instruction 192, whereupon the recording unit then being processed is designated the "spare" unit.
Thus, all four recording units have been identified, and the microprocessor advances to another routine.
However, if inquiry 176 is answered in the
negative, inquiry next is made, at 178, to determine if this
recording unit is the first unit in which the cassette has
been erased. If so, inquiry 178 is answered in the
affirmative and the initializing routine advances to
instruction 180 whereupon this recording unit is identified
as unit "1". Then, the initializing routine is repeated for
the next recording unit.
If inquiry 178 is answered in the negative, that is, if the cassette in this recording unit is not the first to have been erased, inquiry next is made at 184 to
determine if this cassette is the second cassette to be
erased. If so, the initiali2ing routine advances to instruction 186 and the recording unit in which this
cassette is located is identified as unit "2". The
foregoing initializing routine then is repeated.
If the cassette included in the recording unit
under examination is neither the first nor the second
cassette to have been erased, inquiries 17E and 184 both are
answered in the negative and inquiry is made, at 188, to
ascertain if this cassette is the third cassette to have
been erased. If so, the initializing routine advances to
instruction 190 whereupon this recording unit is identified
as unit "3". The foregoing routine then is repeated for the
last of the recording units. However, if inquiry 188 is
answered in the negative, then this recording unit is designated the "spare" unit, as represented by instruction
192.
Thus, it is seen that the identities of the
respective recording units are designated in the same order
(i. e. ~1 , "2", "3" and "spare") as the cassettes therein
are erased. The order of erasure preferably is established by the order in which a cassette is fully erased. For example, the erasure of a cassette included in recording unit 12 may be initiated before the erasure of a cassette included in recording unit 14', but the cassette in recording 14' may be rewound to its beginning prior to the complete rewinding of the cassette included in recording unit 12. As a result, the identity of recording unit 1' may be designated with a higher order than the identity of recording unit 12.That is, recording unit 14' may be designated as unit "1" while recording unit 12 may be designated as unit "2"; or recording unit 14' may be designated as unit 2 while recording unit 12 is designated as unit "3"; or recording unit 14' may be designated as unit "3" while recording unit 12 may be designated as the "spare" unit.
It will be appreciated that the identities which are established by the initízliwing routine shown ifl FIG. 4 are utilized by the routine illustrated in FIG 3.
While the present invention has been partIcularly shown and described with reference to certal"'. preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made. -Some of these changes and modifications have been mentioned above. Others will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, in place of the illustrated dictate station 80, a microphone having function control switches thereon, such as illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 4,378,577, may be used.
Also, the record medium need not be limited solely to a cassette. Other record media, including the aforementioned solid-state digital storage devices, are contemplated.
Also, the unit selector switch need not be limited solely to a 3-position switch, as represented by ch 42. A respective selector switch associated with each recording unit may be utilized, if desired, that selector switch serving to select the recording unit for operation as a dictation unit or as a transcription unit. It will be recognized that modifications in the flow diagrams illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 may be made in order to acfornmodate and be compatible with changes that may be adopted for the dictation system.Furthermore, although not illustrated in FIG. 4, the conditioning of recording unit 12 or recording unit 14 for operation as a dictation or transcriptIon unit may, if desired, require the actuation of C~AR switch 64.
The embodiments of apparatus described avoid the aforenoted disadvantages attending desk top dictating/transcribing machines and central dictation systems and provide an efficient, inexpensive dictation system that is particularly adapted for use in a small office environment.
As compared to the previous arrangements the described embodiment provides a dictation system in which the transfer of a record medium from a dictate unit to a transcribe unit is minimized if not obviated.
In addition, the dictation system is relatively flexible and may be expanded to permit several dictators to dictate simultaneously on respective record media.
Furthermore, the described systems provide a method and apparatus for controlling a dictation system of the aforementioned type in which several recording units are provided, most being designated with particular, respective identities, for selection by a dictator; and in which a spare unit subsequently is connected in place of a unit on which a predetermined amount of dictation has been recorded, the spare unit thereafter being designated with the same particular identity as the unit it replaces, thereby permitting continued dictation on a unit whose identity is desired by a dictator.
The described systems provide a method and apparatus for controlling the selection of plural recording units as dictation of transcription units and also provide a method and apparatus for selecting the identities of several recording units included in a dictation system for the purpose of permitting the connection of remote dictators to a unit having selected identity.
Claims (13)
1. A method of controlling recording on and transcription from at least two recording units in a dictation system, comprising the steps of:
selecting one of said two recording units for a transcription operation;
sensing which of said recording units has seen selected for a transcription operation; inhibiting the recoroing unit selected for a transcription operation from recording dictation; detecting if the other of said recording units has been conditioned for a recording dictation; and
enabling said other recording unit to record dictation if said other recording unit is conditioned therefor.
2. A meDcd according to claim 1 in a a recording unit is conditioned for recording dictation if previously recorded dictation has been erased therefrom.
3. A 1UW according to claim 2 herein said dic-Latim system includes at least one selector switch having two condItions to select one or the other recording unit,
4. A rr#h#i according to claim 3 wherein c=;H one recording unit is enabled to record dictation if previously
recorded dictation is erased therefrom and said selector
switch is changed over from said first condition to said
third condition; and said other recording unit is enabled to
record dictation if previously recorded dictation is erased
therefrom and said selector switch is changed over from said
second condition to said third condition.
5. A method according to claim 4 further comprising the
step of detecting the condition of said~ selector switch.
6. A method according to claim 5 further comprising the -- step of displaying which recording unit is enabled to record dictation and which recording unit is selected for a
transcription operation.
7. A # method according to claim 5: further comprising the step of displaying that a recording unit is in use either when that unit has been selected for a transcription operation or when dictation is being recorded therein
8. A method amrxH:ug to claim 5 further comprising the steps of connecting a dictate station in said dictation system to a recording unit that is enabled to record dictation; and inhibiting a dictate station from being connected to a recording unit that is not enabled to record dictation.
9. A dictate/transcribe system comprising:
at least first and second recording units, each
being operable as a dictation unit or a trans on unit;
selector switch means for selecting one of said recording units to operate as a transcription unit and the
other to operate as a dictation unit or to select both
recording units to operate as dictation units;
medium sense means for sensing the presence of a
record medium ready for recording in the respective
recording units;
dictate enabling means for enabling a recording
unit to record dictation if a record medium ready for
recording is present therein and that recording unit has
been selected for operation as a dictation unit;;
transcribe enabling means for enabling a recording
unit to transcribe dictation if a record medium is present
therein and that recording unit has been selected for
operation as a transcription unit; and
inhibit means for inhibiting a recording unit from
recording or transcribing dictation if a record medium is
present therein but is not ready for recording and that
recording unit has not been selected for operation as a
transcription unit.
10. A system according to claim 9 uMeiri mid selector switch means includes a first condition for selecting said first recording unit to operate as a transcription unit, a second condition for selecting said second recording unit to operate as a transcription unit, and a third condition for selecting whichever recording unit has a record medium ready for recording to operate as a dictation unit.
11. . A system according to claim 10 and fias =E comprising erase means for erasing information from a record medium present in the recording unit selected by said selector switch means, and erase switch means for triggering saidrase means and thereby make said record medium in said 'selected recording unit ready for recording.
12. A system according to claim ard comprised of four recording units; and further comprising means for detecting when three of said recording units are enabled to record dictation, said selector switch means being additlonal'y operative for selecting the third or fourth recording units to operate as a transcription unit; and means responsive to said erase means when said selector switch means selects said third or fourth recording unit for enabling that recording unit to operate as a dictation unit.
13. A system according to c .12 12 and further comprising identifying means for identifying tl.e numerical order in which information is erased from the record media present in respective recording units and for designating corresponding identities of said recording units.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US77129885A | 1985-08-30 | 1985-08-30 | |
GB8620918A GB2179779B (en) | 1985-08-30 | 1986-08-29 | Method and apparatus for controlling dictation on or transcription from recording units in a dictation system |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB8900918D0 GB8900918D0 (en) | 1989-03-08 |
GB2213629A true GB2213629A (en) | 1989-08-16 |
GB2213629B GB2213629B (en) | 1990-03-14 |
Family
ID=26291225
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB8900918A Expired - Fee Related GB2213629B (en) | 1985-08-30 | 1989-01-16 | Method and apparatus for controlling dictation on or transcription from recording units in a dictation system |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2213629B (en) |
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1989
- 1989-01-16 GB GB8900918A patent/GB2213629B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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GB2213629B (en) | 1990-03-14 |
GB8900918D0 (en) | 1989-03-08 |
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