Telephonic communications – Audio message storage – retrieval – or synthesis – Dynamic audio signal recording or reproduction
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-24
2001-08-21
Tsang, Fan (Department: 2645)
Telephonic communications
Audio message storage, retrieval, or synthesis
Dynamic audio signal recording or reproduction
C379S067100, C379S077000, C379S088240
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278770
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
the present invention relates to a voice information service system wherein voice information recorded in the system is reproduced to be served to a user through a telephone network according to selection of the user, and particularly relates to an operation method for selecting an item of the voice information to be served.
In conventional voice information service systems, a different information number is assigned to each item of voice information prepared in the systems, so that a user can designate a desired information number by way of a DTMF (dual Tone Multi-Frequency) code by pushing numeral keys of a telephone, directly or according to a guidance, for obtaining necessary information.
As a prior art of application of the DTMF code, there is a communication system disclosed in a Japanese utility model application laid open as a provisional Publication No. 90357/88. In this prior art, one of various functions of the communication system, which is provided with telephone keys, is selected by pushing a sequence of the telephone keys including an asterisk key, sharp key and ten keys.
However, both in the conventional voice information systems and in the above prior art, the user's designation is discriminated only with the DTMF code itself, that is, only according to kinds and order of telephone keys manipulated by the user.
Therefore, for entering a desired DTMD code, it is necessary for the user to push an intending key or keys in correct order by selecting them among the telephone keys. this is inconvenient for a cordless telephone such as a mobile phone which is in widespread use.
In order to enter a DTMF code by way of the cordless telephone, wherein the telephone keys are unitized in a handset, the user is forced to put the handset away from his ear for selecting the intended keys to be pushed, and again to put the handset to his ear for receiving the voice information. Furthermore, this “off-ear” handset manipulation may be forced several times, especially when the necessary voice information is to be selected by entering the DTMF codes in accordance with a guidance, resulting in mis-receiving of the voice information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, a primary object. of the present invention is to provide a voice information service system wherein designation of the desired item of the voice information can be easily performed even with a cordless telephone, and an operation method to be applied therein.
In order to achieve the object, a voice information service system of the invention comprises:
a communication control section for controlling call processing and voice communication procedure;
a voice information control section for controlling registration and reproduction of the voice information;
a DTMF input timing detector for detecting input timing of one of specific DTMF codes entered by the user during the voice information of a first information number that is being served to the user, and calculating an effective passage time which is necessary for reproducing the voice information of the first information number from a start of a message until a specific DTMF code is entered;
an information number setting section for determining a second information number of the voice information to be reproduced instead of the voice information of the first information number together with a beginning point wherefrom the voice information of the second information number is to be reproduced for the user, according to the effective passage time of the voice information, the first information number and a specific DTMF code entered by the user; and
a voice information storing section for storing the voice information.
Therefore, the user can operate the voice information service system of the invention without putting his handset away from his ear even with a cordless telephone, since it can be manipulated by pushing only predetermined specific telephone keys such as the asterisk key and the sharp key.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4899369 (1990-02-01), Kondziela
patent: 5056086 (1991-10-01), Libonati
patent: 5163084 (1992-11-01), Kim et al.
patent: 5530950 (1996-06-01), Medan et al.
patent: 5751790 (1998-05-01), Makihata
patent: 63-90357 (1988-06-01), None
patent: 1-294527 (1989-11-01), None
ISBN 0-936648-60-0, Newton, Harry, Newton's Telecom Dictionary, 8th edition, Flatiron Publishing, Inc., Printed at Bookcrafters, Chelsea, MI, USA, copyright 1994, p. 935.*
PN 101-1327-001 Version 2, Octel User Reference Manual for voice information processing, Octel Communications Corp., 1001 Murphy Ranch Road, Milpitas, CA, USA 95035-7912, copyright 1994.
Escalante Ovidio
Foley & Lardner
NEC Corporation
Tsang Fan
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