A METHOD FOR RECORDING RECEIVED SOUND SIGNALS IN A TELEPHONE

PROCEDE D'ENREGISTREMENT ET DE CONSERVATION DE SIGNAUX SONORES RECUS ET, EVENTUELLEMENT, DE SIGNAUX D'IMAGE, EN ASSOCIATION AVEC UN APPAREIL TELEPHONIQUE

English Abstract

A method for recording and storing received signals, e.g. sound signals, in
connection with a telephone apparatus receiving said signals from a remote
apparatus. The telephone apparatus also receives information about the
telephone number of the remote apparatus, to which it is interconnected
through a telephone network, with the purpose of being capable of playing back
the stored signals at a later stage. It is intended to indicate a new method
for simplified storing of information which, upon being played back, can
identify the caller when the calling telephone number is received over the
telephone line. The recording of e.g. sound signals (voice) from said remote
apparatus and/or the telephone apparatus called, starts when a telephonic
connection has been established with a remote apparatus, and stops after a
predetermined time, whereupon the telephone number of the remote apparatus is
stored searchably in the data storage medium.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé d'enregistrement et de conservation de signaux reçus, par exemple des signaux sonores, en association avec un appareil téléphonique recevant lesdits signaux à partir d'un appareil à distance. L'appareil téléphonique reçoit également des informations relatives au numéro de téléphone de l'appareil à distance, auquel il est relié par l'intermédiaire d'un réseau téléphonique, dans le but de pouvoir reproduire les signaux conservés, à un moment ultérieur. L'invention concerne un nouveau procédé de conservation simplifiée d'informations, lesquelles, lors de leur reproduction, peuvent identifier l'appelant lorsque le numéro de téléphone appelant est reçu via la ligne téléphonique. L'enregistrement, par exemple des signaux sonores (vocaux) à partir de l'appareil à distance et/ou de l'appareil téléphonique appelé, commence lorsqu'une connexion téléphonique a été établie avec un appareil à distance, et cesse après un moment déterminé, le numéro de téléphone de l'appareil à distance étant alors conservé dans le support de conservation de données de manière à pouvoir y être recherché.

Claims

1
Claim
1. A method for recording and storing received sound signals
and, possibly, picture signals in connection with a telephone
apparatus or a telephone exchange adapted to receive said
signals from a remote apparatus, and wherein the telephone
apparatus or telephone exchange further is adapted to receive
information about the telephone number of the remote
apparatus, the telephone apparatus and the remote apparatus
being connected to a telephone network, with the purpose of
later playing back stored sound signals in a
loadspeaker/handset, possibly playing back stored picture
signals on a graphic display screen, when the telephone
apparatus is called from the remote apparatus, the telephone
apparatus or the telephone exchange being assigned a data
storage medium and a data processor which is adapted to
search in the data storage medium for telephone numbers
received via the telephone line, and to play back stored
sound signals belonging thereto, possible picture signals, if
the telephone number exists in the data storage medium, and
wherein the data processor further is adapted to store
searchable telephone numbers and recordings in the data
storage medium belonging thereto, characterized
in that recording of sound signals from remote apparatus
and/or telephone apparatus called, possibly picture signals,
starts when a telephonic connection has been established with
a remote apparatus, possibly first when suitable sound
signals (voice) have been received from the remote apparatus,
and wherein recording stops after a predetermined time,
whereupon the telephone number of the remote apparatus is
stored searchably in the data storage medium and is connected
to the recording, which is also stored.

Description

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A METHOD FOR RECORDING AND STORING RECEIVED SOUND SIGNALS
AND, POSSIBLY, PICTURE SIGNALS IN CONNECTION WITH A TELEPHONE
APPARATUS
The invention relates to a method for recording and storing
received sound signals and, possibly, picture signals in con-
nection with a telephone apparatus or a telephone central of-
fice adapted to receive said signals from a remote apparatus,
and where the telephone apparatus or telephone central office
further is adapted to receive information about the telephone
1o number of the remote apparatus, the telephone apparatus and
the remote apparatus being connected to a telephone network,
with the purpose of later to play back stared sound signals
in a loadspeaker/handset, possibly to play back stored pic-
ture signals on a graphic display screen when the telephone
1s apparatus is called from the remote apparatus, the telephone
apparatus or the telephone central office being assigned a
data storage medium and a data processor adapted to search in
the data storage medium for telephone numbers received via
the telephone line, and to play back stored sound signals be-
zo longing thereto, possibly picture signals if the telephone
number exists in the data storage medium, and where the data
processor further is adapted to store searchable telephone
numbers and recordings in the data storage medium belonging
thereto.

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When a telephone apparatus signalises a call through a sound
or light signal, it is often desirable to be capable of iden-
tifying from where the call comes.
Digitised telephone systems, such as ISDN and mobile tele-
phones of GSM type, may show the number of the calling appa-
ratus in a character window. The calling telephone number can
also be transferred on analog communication. Telephone num-
bers can be difficult to remember, and it is previously known
that a telephone apparatus can connect an identified number
io to an electronically stored telephone list and show a name in
the character window instead of the number.
Known apparatus have a plurality of disadvantages. First, one
has to maintain a telephone list oneself. Secondly, the call
can not be identified without studying the character window,
this being a disadvantage where several people have a common
telephone apparatus, such as the case would be in most homes.
It is known to associate an identified calling telephone num-
ber to a voice message stored in a data storage medium, and
play back the voice message in a loadspeaker, in order to
2o thereby facilitate the identification of a call.
From International patent application W095/05045 it is previ-
ously known a telephone apparatus adapted to play back stored
messages instead of ring sound. A disadvantage of this known
solution is that storing speaking messages is bothersome,
storing being carried out upon a signal from the caller or
upon a signal from the receiver. Of course, these measures
also require relatively complex and expensive equipment.
The object of the invention is to provide a method for sim-
plified storing of information which, upon playing back, can
3o identify the caller when the calling telephone number is re-
ceived over the telephone line.

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According to the invention, automatic recording of sound,
possible picture, is carried out from the first seconds of a
telephone connection with a remote apparatus. Voices are
relatively easy to identify and, additionally, the caller
will most often introduce himself/herself early in a tele-
phone conversation. If a recording is not already associated
to the actual remote apparatus, the calling telephone number
is automatically stored searchably in a data storage medium
and associated to the recording belonging thereto, the latter
1o also being stored.
Concretely, this is carried out in that recordings of sound
signals from the remote apparatus and/or the receiving tele-
phone apparatus, possibly picture signals, or display of text
extracted from the stored voice message by means of voice-to-
text-decoding, start upon the establishment of a telephonic
connection with a remote apparatus, possibly first when suit-
able sound signals (voice] are received from the remote appa-
ratus, and wherein recording stops after a predetermined
time, whereupon the telephone number of the remote apparatus
2o is searchably stored in the data storage medium and associ-
ated to the recording, which is also stored.
When calling telephone number, as previously known, is iden-
tified upon a call, it is searched in the data storage medium
for the telephone number. If the telephone number exists in
the data storage medium, the stored sound recording belonging
thereto is played back in an amplifier, and a picture is,
possibly, displayed on a graphic display screen.
The conversation may also be announced in that a stored re-
cording is converted into text by means of a speech recogni-
3o tion program in a computer. Thereupon, the text may be dis-
played.
The playback may be automatic, e.g. in association with ring
signals, or playback may be activated manually, prior to a

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possible reply to the call. Sound recording can be played
back through a separate loadspeaker, or through the handset.
Necessary duration of a recording can be determined in sev-
eral ways, and the telephone apparatus may advantageously be
such adapted that the duration can be adjusted. This function
can be present in a central, in other external equipment or
within the telephone apparatus itself.