Patent Publication Number: US-2005129186-A1

Title: Audio recording system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention relates to an audio recording system, and more specifically to a software and hardware package used to record audio data picked up from a telephone and/or from an ambient environment which audio data is fed into a computer.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The need to record audio data such as a conversation on a phone, has become increasingly important for legal purposes, security reasons, and for documentation reasons. However, while voice recording systems have been in use for some time, the present voice recording systems are limited in their ability to transfer, sort, and manipulate the recordings.  
      Computers systems however, provide the ability to store and manipulate vast amounts of data in a short period of time. Again, while computers have been utilized in many data transferring applications, present voice recording systems fail to provide the ability to manipulate the recordings or provide adequate sorting features. Therefore, an audio recording system that may be used in connection with a computer system to take advantage of the data processing capabilities of the computer system is greatly desired.  
      In many instances it is desirable to append additional information to a particular recording that may be related to or may help to cross-reference the information to another recording, or that may facilitate further manipulation, transferring or filing of the recording.  
      It is further desired then, to provide an audio recording system that facilitates ease of manipulation, sorting, storing and transferring of the audio recordings.  
      It is still further desired to provide a recording system that facilitates the appending of comments and/or notes to audio recording.  
      Still further, in many instances, it is desired to have an audio recording system that is small in size, and virtually maintenance-free. For instance, many existing voice recording systems provide power for the system via batteries or through an electrical connection with a cable. Batteries however must be changed over time and it may be undesirable in certain circumstances to have to run an electrical cable to the audio recording device depending upon the location of the device and the application.  
      It is yet further desired then to provide an audio recording system that is light-weight and does not require the use of batteries or a power cord to provide power to the recorder itself.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The audio data recording system according to the present invention is configured to achieve these desired objectives. In one advantageous embodiment the audio data recording system may comprise, a hardware and software system for digital recording and storage of audio data to a computer through the Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection. The audio data recorder may provide a plurality of inputs for capturing for instance, audio signals. The audio signal may be an analog signal which is converted to a digital signal, compressed and formatted into a standard audio format, and finally transferred through a USB connection to a computer for storage and/or further manipulation. Alternatively, the system may capture a digital signal and convert the digital signal to PCM and wave format. An example of this could be for instance, recording audio on a voice over IP and/or digital key systems. The audio data recording system may also perform the reverse function of taking a formatted digital file, transferring it through the USB connection to the audio data recorder, which in turn converts that to an analog signal that is then played through a handset of the telephone. Alternatively, the audio data recording system may further be utilized to play a recorded digital file through speakers provided with the computer.  
      In one advantageous embodiment, the audio data recording system comprises hardware in the form of an audio recorder that is connected to for instance, a telephone, the telephone earpiece, to for instance, a USB port located on a computer, and software running on the computer for data manipulation of the recorded audio data. The audio data recording system may be provided with in this embodiment, caller identification.  
      In one particularly advantageous embodiment, the hardware or audio data recorder does not require use of batteries or an electrical power cord to supply electrical power to the device as electrical power may be provided from the computer through the USB connection.  
      The audio data recorder may be provided with three jack connections: one for connecting to the computer USB port; the second for connecting to a handset cord of the telephone; and the third for connecting to the telephone itself. The audio data recorder may further provided with an additional Input/Output jack to connect to a standard phone headset if desired. A further configuration is provided allowing the audio data recorder to connect directly to an analog telephone line.  
      In still another advantageous embodiment, the audio data audio recording system may connect to the computer through the UBS connector. Upon connection and loading the software, the audio data recording system may activate the appropriate driver software to effectively provide the device with a plug-and-play solution.  
      In yet another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the audio recorder may comprise LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) and push switches. One of the LEDs may for instance, indicate when the voice recorder has power applied to it and is on, i.e. when the audio recorder is connected to the USB port of the computer.  
      The push button switches may be used to operate the audio recorder with the LEDs corresponding to the push button switches. Each will illuminate to show for instance, which switch or function has been activated at any one time.  
      In one advantageous embodiment, the switches may be used and may comprise the following: (1) Record Room—used to record audio data directly picked up by the device, such as a conversation held in the room the device is located; (2) Record Phone—used to record a telephone conversation; (3) Play/Stop—used to playback a recording; (4) FF/Rewind/Scroll—allows user to review the recording, where the push button may be configured such that for instance, pushing the left side of the button will rewind or pushing the right side of the button will FF and/or scroll the recorded messages.  
      A microphone is provided in the audio recorder itself that may be used for instance, to record a room conversation. Also provided on the audio recorder is an interface for a headset, which in one advantageous embodiment may comprise a 2.5 mm headset input. It is further contemplated that the Record Room function may further be expanded to record audio data remote to the audio device, such as a conversation in another room or location with the audio feed being sent to the audio recorder. It is further contemplated that it may be desirable to record audio data in multiple remote locations from the audio recording device, which then may be equipped with the ability to select which remote location the user desires to record. It is contemplated that the system may be configured to automatically record audio data based upon voice detection, and/or a room or space may be monitored and automatically recorded and/or set to an event i.e. an alarm at a remote location,  
      It is still further contemplated that the system may be provided with a mechanism to detect and report the disconnection of for instance, the audio recorder. This may be accomplished by means of for instance, electronic circuitry and/or software that identifies the disconnection of the device from the computer, telephone, the line or any combination thereof. It is further contemplated that upon disconnection an event or alarm may be activated.  
      The audio data recording system is functional in a “stand alone” mode, in which it is connected directly to the phone and the computer, or in a “hub mode” in which it is connected to a computer hub rather than directly to the computer itself. In the hub mode, a single computer may be connected to multiple individual voice recorders. Recorded files maybe stored in individual user folders on the computer with each voice recorder operating independent from each other. In still another advantageous embodiment, the user may have the ability to record and play multiple audio data files simultaneously.  
      In yet another advantageous embodiment, the audio data recording system may be used in what is referred to as “enterprise mode” that facilitates a plurality of audio recorders to be connected to a plurality of individually networked computers. The recorded files may be centrally located to the enterprise allowing a system administrator maximum capabilities for reviewing and organizing the recorded information. The system administrator may for instance, search and listen to all recordings by date, time, client, agent, type of call book mark or comments added to the recorded file. A system administration screen further provides the ability to monitor the status of each device. In another advantageous embodiment, the system uses a database, such as an SQL database configuration to track and organize the recorded conversations. A further function that may be provided is the ability to transfer files via software, such as TCP/IP to a central server location. The TCP/IP communication may be used to maintain a real time status of each of the voice recorders within the network.  
      In still another advantageous embodiment, the audio data recording system allows users more than one interface to the recording device.  
      In yet another advantageous embodiment, the audio data recording system comprises a three interface element.  
      The first mode may comprise for instance, an icon mode or a so-called “systray” mode, where the software is minimized to an icon in the icon of the operating system. In the normal wait state the icon may be illustrated as yellow in color. In a record condition the color of the icon may change for instance, to red. While during playback mode the icon may for instance, be shown as green in color.  
      A second mode may comprise for instance, a so-called “small footprint” mode where the software displays a small interface that gives the user the ability to select record and/or play modes, and record and/or play files with reviewing capabilities.  
      Still further, a third mode may comprise for instance, a so-called “full size” mode that allows a user to have access to the maximum capabilities of the audio recording system so as to adjust configurations and to review and organize the recordings.  
      In one configuration, the audio data recording system may be configured to record a conversation from the telephone and play the recording back through the speakers of the computer. In another configuration, the audio data recording system may be configured to record from the microphone attached to either the voice recorder and/or the computer and then play the recording back through the speakers of the computer. The audio data recording system may further be configured to play through the voice recorder which may then allow a user to privately review the recording in the handset of the telephone.  
      The software may still further allow the user to set comments and bookmarks on the recordings for quick and easy retrieval to specific locations of the recordings. A user whom for instance, is reviewing a recording may create a bookmark that references a specific location within a recording. The user may then be allowed to input a written description for the bookmark.  
      A comment, like a bookmark, allows the user to reference a specific location within a recording but allows the user more space to describe the comment. The software allows a caller to for instance, quickly search for a call by single button clicks or by input filter(s).  
      The invention and its particular features and advantages will become more apparent from the following description considered with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one advantageous embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of another advantageous embodiment of the present invention according to  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of still another advantageous embodiment of the present invention according to  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 4  is an illustration the software display for the audio recording device according to  FIG. 1  in the icon mode.  
       FIG. 5  is an illustration the software display for the audio recording device according to  FIG. 1  in the “small footprint” mode.  
       FIG. 6  is an illustration the software display for the audio recording device according to  FIG. 1  in the “full size” mode.’ 
       FIG. 7  is an illustration of still another advantageous embodiment of the audio recording device software display showing the bookmarks feature.  
       FIG. 8  is an illustration of yet another advantageous embodiment of the audio recording device software display showing the comment feature. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  illustrates audio data recording system  10  including audio data recorder  12  which is shown in a “stand alone” mode being connected directly to a telephone  14  and telephone earpiece  16 . The telephone is connected to a telephone line to send and received audio signals. Audio data recorder  12  is further connected to a computer  18  via for instance, a USB connection  20 . Audio data recorder  12  may in one advantageous embodiment, be powered by computer  18  through the USB connection  20 . Software  22  is installed on computer  18  for management and manipulation of recorded audio files.  
      The computer  18  may be or include, for instance, a personal computer running the Microsoft Windows® 95, 98, 2000, Millenium®, NT®, Windows CE®, Palm® OS, Unix®, Linux®, Solaris®, OS/2@, BeOS®, MacOS® or any other operating system or platform. Computer  18  may also be or include any microprocessor-based machine such as for instance, an Intel® x86-based device or Motorola 68K or PowerPC device, microcontroller or other general or special purpose device operating under programmed control.  
      It should be noted that while audio data recorder  12  is shown in  FIG. 1  as having only one input, audio data recorder  12  may include a plurality of inputs for capturing audio signals, which may in one embodiment comprise analog audio signals. Once gathered by audio data recorder  12 , the audio signal is converted to a digital signal via an A/D converter (not shown) in audio data recorder  12 , is compressed and formatted into a standard audio format, and is finally transferred to computer  12  for storage and/or further manipulation. The audio data recording system  10  may also perform the reverse function of taking a formatted digital file, transferring it through for instance, the USB connection from computer  18  to the audio data recorder  12 , which in turn converts the digital signal to an analog signal that may be played through telephone earpiece  16 . Alternatively, the audio data recording system  10  may further be utilized to play a recorded digital file through speakers (not shown) provided with computer  18 . It is still further contemplated that audio data recorder  12  may be utilized to record digital signals and convert them to PCM and wave format.  
      Audio data recorder  12  may also comprise one or more switches/LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes)  13 . In one advantageous embodiment, five (5) LEDs are utilized in connection with four (4) switches such as is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . One of the LEDs may for instance, indicate when the audio data recorder  12  is powered, i.e. when the audio data recorder  12  is connected to computer  18  via for instance, the USB port. It is still further contemplated that audio data recorder  12  may be provided with circuitry and/or software to detect and report on any disconnection of audio data recorder  12  from for instance, computer  18 , telephone earpiece  16  and/or the telephone line.  
      Still further, the switches/LEDs  13  may be used to operate audio data recorder  12 , with the remaining four switches/LEDs being paired to each other respectively such that they provide a visual indication as to which switch has been activated.  
      The four switches may include the following functionality: (1) Record Room—which is used to record audio data directly picked up by the device, such as for instance, a conversation taking place in the vicinity of audio data recorder  12 ; (2) Record Phone—which may be used to record a telephone conversation; (3) Play/Stop—which may be used to playback an audio data recording; (4) FF/Rewind/Scroll—which will allow a user to review the recording, where the push button may be configured such that for instance, pushing the left side of the button will rewind or pushing the right side of the button will FF and/or scroll the recorded messages.  
      While manual switches may be provided for functionality, it is further contemplated that audio data may be automatically recorded based on voice recognition or that a location may be monitored and automatically recorded and/or set an event such as setting off an alarm at a remote location.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates an alternative embodiment of audio data recording system  10 . In this embodiment, audio data recording system  10  is configured in “hub mode” in which audio data recording device  12  is connected to computer hub  24  rather than directly to the computer  18  itself. The system  10  further includes multiple audio data recorders ( 12 ′,  12 ″,  12 ′″) connected to computer hub  24  via USB connections ( 20 ′,  20 ″,  20 ′″). Computer hub  24  is in turn connected to computer  18  via USB connection  20  as previously described in connection with  FIG. 1 . It should be noted that while three (3) audio data recorders are illustrated, any number of audio data recorders may be connected as desired.  
      In this embodiment, it should be noted that recorded files may be stored for instance, in individual user folders on computer  18  with each audio data recorder ( 12 ′,  12 ″,  12 ′″) operating independent from each other. It may further be desired by the user to record and play multiple audio data files, such as conversations, simultaneously.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates another alternative embodiment of audio data recording system  10  configured in “enterprise mode” where a plurality of audio data recorders to be connected to a plurality of individually networked computers. In this embodiment, audio data recording system  10  comprises audio data recorders ( 12 ′,  12 ″,  12 ′″) connected to computers ( 18 ′,  18 ″,  18 ′″) via USB connections ( 20 ′,  20 ″,  20 ′″). Computers ( 18 ′,  18 ″,  18 ′″) are in turn connected to server  30  via network connections ( 28 ′,  28 ″,  28 ′″). It should be noted that while three (3) voice recorders and computers are illustrated as connected to server  30 , any number may be connected as desired.  
      In this embodiment, it may be advantageous to centrally locate the recorded files from the various audio data recorders ( 12 ′,  12 ″,  12 ′″) allowing a system administrator maximum capabilities for reviewing and organizing the recorded information. The system administrator may for instance, search and listen to all recordings by date, time, client, agent, type of call book mark or comments added to the recorded file. A system administration screen further provides the ability to monitor the status of each device. It is further contemplated that the system may utilize any database such as an SQL database configuration to track and organize the recorded conversations. A further function that may be provided is the ability to transfer files to a central server via for instance a TCP/IP connection. The TCP/IP communication may be used to maintain a real time status of each of the voice recorders within the network.  
      Network connections ( 28 ′,  28 ″,  28 ′″) joining the computers ( 18 ′,  18 ″,  18 ′″) and the server  30  may be or include any one or more of, for instance, the Internet, an intranet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network) or a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network), a frame relay connection, an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) connection, a synchronous optical network (SONET) connection, a digital T1, T3 or E1 line, Digital Data Service (DDS) connection, DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) connection, an Ethernet connection, an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) connection, FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) or CDDI (Copper Distributed Data Interface) connections.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 4-6 , audio data recording system  10  comprises three different interfaces variously illustrated in  FIGS. 4, 5  and  6  respectively.  
      For instance,  FIG. 4  is a view of the interface of software  22  operating on computer  18  according to  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment software  22  is operating in the “systray” mode and is displayed as a minimized icon that may reside on a computer desktop.  
      In the normal wait state the “systray” icon may be illustrated as yellow in color. Alternatively, in a record condition the color of the icon may change for instance, red. While during playback mode the icon may be shown as green.  
       FIG. 5  is a view of the interface of software  22  according to  FIG. 1  operating in the “small footprint” mode and is displayed with a minimal number of functions available to the user including the ability to select record and/or play modes, and record and/or play files with reviewing capabilities.  
       FIG. 6  is a view of the interface of software  22  according to  FIG. 1  operating on computer  18  in the “full size” mode and is displayed with a maximum number of functions available to the user so as to adjust configurations and to review and organize the recordings.  
      The software  22  may still further allow the user to set comments and bookmarks on the recordings for quick and easy retrieval to specific locations of the recordings as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . A user may review a recording and generate a bookmark that references a specific location within a specific recording. The user may then input a written description for the bookmark to provide a key or note relating to the bookmark.  
       FIG. 7  is a view of the interface according to  FIG. 6  further including a file list shown on the lower left, and a bookmark list shown on the lower right. In this embodiment software  22  is operating in the “full size” mode and further displays an example of bookmarking a recording. For instance, in this example a bookmark has been placed within the recording at exactly 1 minute and 50 seconds into the recording and is referenced as “best buy” shown on the bookmark list.  
       FIG. 8  is a view of the interface according to  FIG. 6  further including a file list shown on the lower left, and a comment list shown on the lower right. As in  FIG. 7 , in this embodiment software  22  is operating in the full size mode and displays various examples of attaching comments to recordings. For instance, in this example a number of comments have been attached to the selected recording.  
      A comment, like a bookmark, allows the user to reference a specific location within a recording but allows the user more space to describe the comment. The software allows a caller to for instance, quickly search for a call by single button clicks or by input filter(s).  
      Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular arrangement of parts, features and the like, these are not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements or features, and indeed many other modifications and variations will be ascertainable to those of skill in the art.