GB2283357A - Message handling - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic message handling apparatus (1) includes, a payment collecting device (14) and a user input unit (15) such as a keyboard mounted on a housing. A sound input device (12) receives an audio message from a user, and supplies it via a speech processor circuit (11) controlled by a computer unit (2) to be stored as a digital signal in a memory unit (23) such as a hard disc in response to a signal from the payment collecting device (14). The message may subsequently be retrieved and replayed via a sound output device (13). The user input unit (15) is used to select the recording or playback mode, and to designate mailbox numbers, identifying particular users, and possibly access codes. The apparatus may be installed in a public area, the devices (13) and (12) being built into a handset (B) attached to the housing. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRONIC MESSAGE HANDLING APPARATUS The invention relates to a message handling apparatus, more particularly to an electronic message handling apparatus that is adapted to record and play back audio messages.

Presently, bulletin boards are found in most public places, such as parking lots, restaurants and the like.

These bulletin boards are used when it is desired to leave a message for a particular receiving party. Some of the disadvantages which result from the use of the bulletin board are as follows: 1. The bulletin boards are usually blackboards or white boards. It is noted that if a blackboard is installed, the writing surface of the blackboard normally deteriorates after prolonged use, thereby making handwriting thereon illegible. Furthermore, the chalk dust which results when writing on the blackboard can cause pollution. Although a white board can overcome most of the disadvantages associated with the blackboard, the white board requires the use of a writing pen when writing thereon. Drying of the pen tip of the writing pen usually occurs if the latter was left uncovered, thereby preventing the writing of messages on the white board.

2. The message space of the bulletin board is limited. If a new message is to be written on the bulletin board, it is necessary to erase an earlier message left thereon. Ineffectiveness of the bulletin board results if an earlier message was erased before the receiving party is able to read the same. In addition, untimely erasing of the messages on the bulletin board may occur due to children playing with the latter.

3. Illiterate people are unable to use the bulletin board.

4. There is no privacy when the bulletin board is in use.

Some companies offer electronic message handling services. Telephones are required to access the systems of these companies. Furthermore, the payment of costly monthly dues are necessary in order to avail of these services.

Therefore, the main objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic message handling apparatus which is to be installed in a public area and which can overcome the drawbacks commonly associated with the conventional bulletin board.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic message handling apparatus which is easy to use and which is provided with a payment collecting device to obviate the need for paying costly monthly dues when using the same.

Accordingly, the electronic message handling apparatus of the present invention comprises a housing, a payment collecting device and a user input unit mounted operatively on the housing, the payment collecting device generating an activating signal upon collection of a proper amount of charges, a sound input device which generates analog message signals corresponding to audio message inputs thereto, a sound output device which generates audio message outputs, a speech processor circuit connected to the sound input and the sound output devices, and a computer unit mounted operatively inside the housing and connected to the user input unit, the payment collecting device and the speech processor circuit. The computer unit includes a memory unit and is activated by the activating signal from the payment collecting device.

The user input unit is operated so as to operate selectively the computer unit in a message recording mode, wherein the computer unit controls the speech processor circuit to receive and convert the analog message signals from the sound input device into corresponding digital message data and stores the digital message data in the memory unit, and in a message playback mode, wherein the computer unit provides the digital message data stored in the memory unit to the speech processor circuit and controls the speech processor circuit to convert the digital message data into analog message outputs and to provide the analog message outputs to the sound output device so as to enable the latter to generate the audio message outputs.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of an electronic message handling apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic circuit block diagram of the preferred embodiment; Figure 3 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram illustrating a speech processor circuit of the preferred embodiment; and Figure 4 is a flowchart which illustrates the operation of the preferred embodiment.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the preferred embodiment of an electronic message handling apparatus (1) according to the present invention is shown to comprise a housing (A), a speech processor circuit (11), a telephone handset (B) mounted replaceably on the housing (A), a payment collecting device (14) and a user input unit (15) mounted operatively on the housing (A) , and a computer unit (2) mounted operatively inside the housing (A). The telephone handset (B) incorporates a sound input device (12) and a sound output device (13) therein. The sound output device (13) includes a sound amplifier circuit (131) and a speaker (132). The sound input device (12) includes a microphone (121). The computer unit (2) includes a central processing unit (CPU) (21), a computer peripheral control circuit (22), a memory unit (23) and a computer expansion slot (24).

Referring to Figure 3, the speech processor circuit (11) includes a decoder circuit (111), a data buffer (113), a speech processor chip (115), such as a T6668-1 speech processor IC, a series/parallel data converter (117), and a peripheral interface circuit (119), such as an 8255 programmable peripheral interface. The decoder circuit (111) and the data buffer (113) are connected to the computer expansion slot (24). The payment collecting device (14) and the user input unit (15) are connected to the peripheral interface circuit (119). The payment collecting device (14) may be a coin receiving unit or a card receiving unit, while the user input unit (15) may be a keypad. The sound input device (12) and the sound output device (13) are connected to the speech processor chip (115).

The computer unit (2) is programmed to generate intermittently scan pulses to the peripheral interface circuit (119) via the decoder circuit (111). The computer unit (2) scans the peripheral interface circuit (119) in order to determine whether the payment collecting device (14) has generated an activating signal to verify the collection of a proper amount of charges. When the activating signal is detected, the CPU (21) controls the memory unit (23) to provide previously recorded digitized instructions to the speech processor circuit (11). The digitized instructions are converted into corresponding audio instruction outputs to instruct the user on how to operate the user input unit (15) in order to select the operating mode of the computer unit (2). The memory unit (23) may be a random access memory, a read-only memory, a floppy disk or a hard disk. The hard disk is preferred because of its high speed and large memory capacity.

The computer unit (2) is operable selectively in a message recording mode and in a message playback mode.

The user operates the user input unit (15) after being instructed to do so. The computer unit (2) is able to detect the operation of a "record message" key of the user input unit (15) via the data bus DO-D7 of the computer expansion slot (24), thereby operating the computer unit (2) in the message recording mode. At this stage, the computer unit (2) generates control signals to the decoder circuit (111) via the address bus ADO-AD9 of the computer expansion slot (24). The control signals are decoded by the decoder circuit (111) and are used to prepare the speech processor chip (115) to receive analog message signals from the microphone (121). The speech processor chip (115) converts the analog message signals into corresponding digital message data which are transmitted serially at the output pin (Dout) thereof for reception by the series/parallel data converter (117).The series/parallel data converter (117) converts the digital message data into parallel data bytes which are stored in the data buffer (113). The computer unit (2) retrieves the parallel data bytes from the data buffer (113) for storage in the memory unit (23).

The user operates a "playback message" key of the user input unit (15) in order to operate the computer unit (2) in the message playback mode. At this stage, the computer unit (2) generates control signals to the decoder circuit (111) via the address bus ADO-AD9 of the computer expansion slot (24) in order to prepare the speech processor chip (115) to receive digital message data retrieved from the memory unit (23). The digital message data from the computer unit (2) are initially stored in the data buffer (113) via the data bus DO-D7 of the computer expansion slot (24). The data buffer (113) provides the digital message data to the series/parallel data converter (117) in order to convert the same into a serial bit stream which is received by the speech processor chip (115) at the data input (Din) pin thereof.The speech processor chip (115) converts the serial bit stream input thereto into corresponding analog message outputs which are amplified by the sound amplifier circuit (131) and converted into audio message outputs by the speaker (132).

In order to reduce the time required to find a particular message, the messages may be stored in numbered mailboxes during the message recording operation. Thus, the search for a particular message is facilitated if one knows the mailbox number of the former. It is also possible to program the computer unit (2) so that more than one party shares a common mailbox.

Figure 4 is a flowchart which illustrates the operation of the preferred embodiment. When the preferred embodiment is enabled (step 41), the computer unit (2) initially detects whether the payment collecting device (14) has collected a proper amount of charges (step 42). Step 42 is repeated if no charge was collected. If a proper amount of charges was collected, the apparatus generates the previously recorded instructions (step 43). The computer unit (2) then detects whether the "#" key of the user input unit (15) was operated within a predetermined time period (step 44). The message recording operation is performed if the "#" key was not operated within the predetermined time period.The user input unit (15) is operated to enter the desired mailbox number (step 45), and a beeping sound is generated to signal the start of the recording operation (step 46). While the recording operation is ongoing, the computer unit (2) detects whether a "*" key of the user input unit (15) was operated to terminate the recording operation (step 47). If the "*" key was operated, the recording operation is terminated, and a previously recorded message of gratitude for using the apparatus of the present invention is generated (step 48). If the "*" key was not operated, the recording operation is continued until a predetermined time period has elapsed (step 49). The previously recorded message of gratitude is generated afterwards (step 48).

The message playback operation is performed if the computer unit (2) detects the operation of the "#" key of the user input unit (15) (step 44). The computer unit (2) then determines whether the user input unit (15) was operated to enter the desired mailbox number (step 50). If a mailbox number input was detected, the messages stored in the desired mailbox number are sent to the speech processor circuit (11) (step 51). If no mailbox number input was detected, all of the messages stored in the memory unit (23) are sent to the speech processor circuit (11) (step 52).In both cases, in order to facilitate the search for a particular message, the "1" key of the user input unit (15) can be operated to jump to the next message, the "2" key of the user input unit (15) can be operated to jump to a previous message, the "3" key of the user input unit (15) can be operated to repeat a selected message, and the "*" key can be operated to terminate the message playback operation.

While either of the steps 51 or 52 is ongoing, the message playback operation is terminated if the "*" key was not operated within a predetermined time period (step 53). The previously recorded message of gratitude is then generated (step 48), and the entire apparatus reverts to the initial state (step 41).

In order to prevent unauthorized parties from gaining access to private messages, the operation of the computer unit (2) may be modified by including an input code routine in the software of the latter. If no access code is affixed to the mailbox number when a message is recorded, the message can be accessed by unauthorized parties. With the addition of the input code routine, a particular message can be accessed only after the user input unit (15) has been operated to provide a proper access code. The provision of the access code can further shorten the time for searching the particular message.

In order to prevent the storage of too many messages in the memory unit (23), the computer unit (2) can be programmed so as to search and delete old messages, such as those which are at least three days old, from the memory unit (23). This operation may be done automatically every few hours.

It has thus been shown that the electronic message handling apparatus of the present invention is easy to use and can ensure that untimely loss of messages does not occur within a specified time period. Furthermore, since the present invention is a voice recorder, the need for reading and writing messages is obviated. In addition, unauthorized access to a particular message can be prevented when the present invention is in use.

Claims (4)

1. An electronic message handling apparatus, comprising a housing a payment collecting device and a user input unit mounted operatively on said housing, said payment collecting device generating an activating signal upon collection of a proper amount of charges, a sound input device which generates analog message signals corresponding to audio message inputs thereto, a sound output device which generates audio message outputs, a speech processor circuit connected to said sound input and said sound output devices, and a computer unit mounted operatively inside said housing and connected to said user input unit, said payment collecting device and said speech processor circuit, said computer unit including a memory unit and being activated by said activating signal from said payment collecting device, said user input unit being operated so as to operate selectively said computer unit in a message recording mode, wherein said computer unit controls said speech processor circuit to receive and convert said analog message signals from said sound input device into corresponding digital message data and stores said digital message data in said memory unit, and in a message playback mode, wherein said computer unit provides said digital message data stored in said memory unit to said speech processor circuit and controls said speech processor circuit to convert said digital message data into analog message outputs and to provide said analog message outputs to said sound output device so as to enable said sound output device to generate said audio message outputs.

2. The electronic message handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sound input and said sound output devices are incorporated in a telephone handset which is mounted replaceably on said housing.

3. The electronic message handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said user input unit is a keypad.

4. The electronic message handling apparatus as described substantially hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.