WO1998019443A2

WO1998019443A2 - Circuit device for recording and transmitting coded messages

Info

Publication number: WO1998019443A2
Application number: PCT/IT1997/000264
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maurizio Ravaldini
Original assignee: Maurizio Ravaldini
Priority date: 1996-10-29
Filing date: 1997-10-24
Publication date: 1998-05-07
Also published as: ITBO960549A0; ITBO960549A1; WO1998019443A3; IT1288141B1

Abstract

This invention falls into the field of devices for recording and transmitting signals, in particular it regards a circuit device for recording and transmitting coded messages, capable of transmitting and receiving messages via telephone lines, storing them in memory supports and transferring the messages to a self-fed digital reader which can be detached from the device and used to listen to the messages even at a short or long distance.

Description

Description "CIRCUIT DEVICE FOR RECORDING AND TRANSMITTING CODED MESSAGES" Technical Field This invention falls into the technical field of reproduction and transmission devices, in particular it regards a circuit device for recording and transmitting coded messages. Background Art It is a well-known fact that messages, communications or data often have to be transmitted within the framework of commercial activities, and that the telephone line is the most used means as it is the most wide-spread and capillary network in any national territory. At present, messages can be sent by electronic post, by fax or transmitted to an answering machine if installed. In private use, personal messages are usually left on an answering machine as this means guarantees greater privacy. Alternative solutions, which could be "recycled" as a means of remote reproduction and transmission of codifiable messages aimed at guaranteeing easy diffusion together with a high degree of confidentiality, do not exist. This invention essentially aims at solving the above- mentioned problems by supplying a circuit device for recording and transmitting coded messages, which combines a simple circuit with easy diffusion through existing means and guarantees a high degree of reliability and confidentiality of the information processed.

This target and others, which will be explained in detail in the following description, have been reached with the circuit device for recording and transmitting coded messages according to the description given in the first and the subsequent claims .

Other characteristics and advantages will be explained in detail by describing one preferable but not restrictive embodiment of a circuit device for recording and transmitting coded messages according to the invention.

Disclosure of invention

The following description refers to the enclosed drawing, which should be understood as an example and not limited to it.

With reference to Fig.l, position (1) indicates a medium frequency sound generator connected to an automatic answering machine (2) in the circuit, which allows the transmission of a message of courtesy on a special store

(3) by using a small keyboard (4) and by pressing the desired keys.

A medium frequency sound decoder (5) receives the multifrequency input signals both from the local keyboard (4) and the keyboard of a normal telephone (27) or directly from a telephone line (26) when set to the reception state. An encoder-decoder (6) is capable of interpreting the signals .

A display (7) visualises all the functions.

These functions can be selected by means of a function selector (8) which allows the transmission of commands to the various sections of the device in question, so that the desired effect is obtained.

The stores (14), (15) and (16), with their controller

(12), allow the storage of signals to be sent to a self- fed digital reader (23) which is interfaced with a special analogue-digital and digital-analogue converter suitable for converting the signals processed.

As regards the selection of messages with a sound track, it is possible to select, by means of a message generator (22) , various pieces of background music, as shown in

Fig.l, in particular the sub-blocks from (28) to (35), each of which is a store where one particular tune has been stored.

The device is started with an activator (10) and the message can be recorded with a microphone (25) which uses the preliminary amplification of a microphone amplifier

(13) to record a vocal signal on a recorder (19), mixing it with the musical signals originating from the message generator (22) , so that it can be heard with a loudspeaker which reproduces the message directly recorded by recorder 19 and sent to a digital transcription machine (21) . A low frequency mixer allows the signals composing the message to be sent to the telephone network. Having described the comprehensive structure of the device, its functions will now be explained. This device meets the requirement of recording a vocal signal and sending it to a user capable of receiving it with a similar receiving device through a normal telephone line. The message is sent out in encoded form to ensure that it is absolutely confidential, and is decoded during reception.

The message recorded with the transmitting means and the message received with the receiver can both be transferred to the above-mentioned reader (23) supplied with independent feeding and suitable connection. Reader 23 is a digital mini-transcription machine which can be detached and carried by the user anywhere he wishes .

The entire circuit of reader 23 is fed by a battery which can be recharged, and is therefore independent of any system to which it should be connected.

The device in Fig. 1, indicated as a whole with position no.36, can be connected to a telephone line (26) in various ways . The first type is a common connection using a plug to connect it to the telephone line (26) and an output socket to connect device 36 to a telephone (27). The second type of connection allows the transfer of data and/or messages and is activated, like an answering machine, by moving the microphone (25) and the loudspeaker (24) of device 36 close to the handset of a telephone (27) . In this way, the block acting as an automatic answering machine and the storage block (3) to store the so-called message of courtesy are not activated.

The third type is an integrated fixed connection with which the whole device (36) can be installed inside the telephone; in this case, the keyboard (4) and the medium frequency sound generator (1) are excluded and all function controls are operated directly using the telephone keyboard (27).

In fact, function selector 8 is a programming means composed of a programmable microprocessor allowing the selection of functions and the activation of those parts of the circuit necessary for carrying out one specific function.

Function selector 8 receives the input signals from decoder 5 which receives multifrequency sounds directly from keyboard 4, or from the telephone keyboard (27) , or directly from the telephone line (26) .

With this embodiment, recording is made by activating the starting block consisting of actuator 10,; in this way, the user can listen to one of the eight sound tracks, indicated as sub-blocks 28 - 35 of message generator 22, by selecting the preferred piece of music. By pressing the record key on keyboard 4, the basic message starts, a timer (11) is activated and then the digital recorder (19) starts recording. The microphone amplifier (13) is also activated so that the local message can be entered through the microphone (25).

The output signal of the microphone amplifier (13) makes it possible to lower the level of the basic message with a voice softener (17); the signals originating from these two sources are then mixed in a circuit block (18) and sent to the digital recorder (19). Thanks to loudspeaker 24, it is now possible to listen to what is being recorded by means of the digital transcription machine (21) . The message is stored in the stores (14) , (15) and (16) and, thanks to controller 12, it is possible to make a copy of the same message in the three stores (14), (15) and (16), so that data can be drawn from two reserve stores, should one store be damaged or erased. This guarantees that the stored message is safely protected. The message is then transmitted, by means of converter 20, to reader 23 which can be detached and carried anywhere the user wishes . The stored message is sent through a telephone line (26) and is accomplished provided that a twin device (36) in the reception state is present on the other end of the line. Thanks to an automatic answering machine (2), the receiver guarantees that the message is stored in the stores (14), (15) and (16) respectively, and then signals the ready position; the familiar "beep" ensures that the entire sequence has been stored.

In this way the invention reaches the purposes proposed. Indeed, with this device (36) it is possible to transmit and receive messages and, for example, it is possible to send a message of courtesy when sending a present and flowers to someone. Vocal greetings can therefore accompany the present. This type of embodiment of the invention could imaginatively be used in the so-called Interflora service; when a florist sends flowers from one place to another, instead of the usual greetings card, he can use a telephone line, supplied with the device (36), to send a vocal message to the addressee who hears the recorded message of the sender together with background music on the other end of the line; this would be a pleasant surprise to the addressee.

A similar message can be sent for the occasion of fairs or similar and, besides vocal messages, messages containing only data can also be transmitted. Naturally, other variants of the parameters and circuit are possible, but still remain within the range of this invention.

Brief description of drawings Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the complete device according to the invention.

Position (1) indicates a medium frequency sound generator connected to an automatic answering machine (2) in the circuit, which allows the transmission of a message of courtesy on a special store (3) by using a small keyboard (4) and by pressing the desired keys. A medium frequency sound decoder (5) receives the multifrequency input signals both from the local keyboard (4) and the keyboard of a normal telephone (27) or directly from a telephone line (26) when set to the reception state. An encoder- decoder (6) is capable of interpreting the signals. A display (7) visualises all the functions. These functions can be selected by means of a function selector (8) which allows the transmission of commands to the various sections of the device in question, so that the desired effect is obtained. The stores (14), (15) and (16), with their controller (12), allow the storage of signals to be sent to a self-fed digital reader (23) which is interfaced with a special analogue-digital and digital- analogue converter suitable for converting the signals processed. As regards the selection of messages with a sound track, it is possible to select, by means of a message generator (22), various pieces of background music, in particular the sub-blocks from (28) to (35), each of which is a store where one particular tune has been stored. The device is started with an activator (10) and the message can be recorded with a microphone (25) which uses the preliminary amplification of a microphone amplifier (13) to record a vocal signal on a recorder (19) , mixing it with the musical signals originating from the message generator (22), so that it can be heard with a loudspeaker which reproduces the message directly recorded by recorder 19 and sent to a digital transcription machine (21) . The device, indicated as a whole with position no.36, can be connected to a telephone line (26) in various ways. By pressing the record key on keyboard 4, the basic message starts, a timer (11) is activated and then the digital recorder (19) starts recording. The output signal of the microphone amplifier (13) makes it possible to lower the level of the basic message with a voice softener (17); the signals originating from these two sources are then mixed in a circuit block (18) and sent to the digital recorder (19) . Thanks to loudspeaker 24, it is now possible to listen to what is being recorded by means of the digital transcription machine (21) .

The message is transmitted, by means of converter 20, to reader 23 which can be detached and carried anywhere the user wishes.

Claims

1) Circuit device for recording and transmitting coded messages, characterised by the fact that it comprises programming means connected to sound producing, recording and message storing means in the circuit, which, in turn, are connected to a telephone line and to self-fed digital transcription machines and readers which can be detached from the above- mentioned device;

2) Device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said programming means consists of a programmable microprocessor which selects the functions;

3) Device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said production means consist of a digital transcription machine connected to loudspeakers and to low-frequency mixers, so that musical signals, originated from the stores especially prepared for this purpose, can be superposed on vocal messages entered with a microphone;

4) Device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said device is supplied with a set of three stores, one main and two secondary stores, on which the above-mentioned messages can be stored, the stores being controlled by a controller which allows the transfer from one memory to another when one or two of them are damaged;

5) Device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said memories are connected to a self-fed digital reader by means of an analogue- digital and digital-analogue converter for transmitting and storing the stored message on the said reader;

6) Device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that it is connected to a telephone line by means of a decoder and a sound generator to activate the signals and the functions selected;

7) Device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that it has an output connection to the telephone, which can be used to send messages of courtesy and to receive such a message;

8) Device according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said device comprises an automatic answering machine to receive messages. 9) Device according to the above claims, characterised by all the features claimed as described and shown on the tables and enclosed documentation.