Patent Document

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/819,096, filed Mar. 18, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,090, which are expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to signal processing apparatus, more particularly but not exclusively to apparatus for providing access to telephone and internet systems. 
     Telephony apparatus and apparatus for providing access to the internet and more particularly E-mail services are well-known, telephony services being able to provide an interchange of information orally/aurally whereas E-mail services provide a means for interchanging information visibly. 
     It is an inherent disadvantage of telephony and E-mail systems that they lack flexibility in terms of the medium of expression and accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide apparatus which may be used to give greater flexibility in the use of such communication systems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention in a first aspect, there is provided a processing apparatus comprising means of processing data received from a network link; means for conversion of data from text to speech format and vice versa; means for processing the data or the converted data for aural reception; means for processing the data or the converted data for visual reception; control means for selecting a reception mode for the data and instructing conversion of the data if the data is in an incorrect format. 
     Preferably the processing apparatus further includes apparatus for aural reception and transmission of the data which may be portable and may comprise a keypad for generating telephone and appliance control signals, a speaker for aural output and a microphone for oral input. Most preferably, the oral reception and transmission apparatus is in the form of a telephone handset using a cordless radio frequency link. 
     Preferably the network link of the processing apparatus is a link to a telephone network. 
     According to the invention in a second aspect, there is provided signal processing apparatus comprising means for processing data received from a network link; means for conversion of data from a text format to a speech format and vice versa; means for connection to an audio transceiver; means for connection to a video receiver; means for connection to a text input device; control means for selectively instructing conversion of the signal by the data conversion means and instructing output of the signal or the converted signal to the respective audio or video receiver connection means. 
     Preferably the signal processing apparatus further comprises means for connection to a text input device and the data processing means is further for processing a data transmission signal to be transmitted over the network link and the control means is further for receiving an audio input signal from the audio transceiver connection means or a text input signal from the text input device connection means, selectively converting the input signal to a text or audio signal and transmitting the input signal or the converted input signal to the data processing means for transmission over the network link to a pre-determined destination. 
     The signal processing apparatus may further comprise an audio transceiver which may be in the form of a telephone handset. 
     The data processing means may comprise internet connection means for transmitting, receiving and processing E-mail messages and the video receiver connection means may comprise a video processor connected to the data processing means for processing the E-mail messages for video display. 
     The data conversion means may comprise a text to speech processor and a speech to text processor and may include a modem for connection to the telephone network. 
     The signal processing apparatus preferably further comprises digital message storing means for storing an aural message and the control means may further be for instructing output of the message as an audio signal to the data processing means for transmission over the network link. The stored message may be a pre-recorded message or the control means may further be for instructing selective conversion and storage of the data signal as the message. 
     The signal processing apparatus may further be for instructing selective conversion and storage of the data signal as a text signal and subsequently instructing output of the text signal to the data processing means for transmission over the network link to a predetermined destination. 
     According to the invention in a third aspect, there is provided signal processing apparatus comprising: signal processing means comprising means for connection to an audio transceiver; means for connection to a text input device; means to conversion of an audio signal to a text signal and vice versa; data processing means for processing a data transmission signal to be transmitted over the network link and; control means for receiving an audio input signal from the audio transceiver connection means or a text input signal from the text input device connection means, selectively converting the input signal to a text or audio signal and transmitting the input signal or the converted input signal to the data processing means for transmission over the network link to a predetermined destination. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of signal processing apparatus of the invention showing transfer of data and control signals between a network, a console unit, a portable unit, a television, a keyboard and a mouse. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the various components of the console unit. 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the various components of the portable unit. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In FIG. 1, a console unit  40  communicates with a portable unit  80 . The console unit  40  has a protective housing (not shown) but the portable unit  80  is preferably in the external form of a multi-purpose telephone handset, for example as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,649. 
     The console unit  40 , as depicted in FIG. 2, is powered by regulated power supply  14  and facilitates transfer of data and control signals to and from a generic network link  32 . Data and control signals from the generic network link  32  are processed by an appropriate network interface box  13  before being received by the console unit  40  for processing. In a first preferred form, network link  32  is a link to a conventional telephone network and accordingly network interface box  13  represents a modem. The data received from network link  32  may contain information pertaining to E-mail messages or conventional telephone signals. 
     For E-mail transfer, in response to a user request or after a predetermined time interval, the microcontroller  2  instructs dial-out to a remote server to perform the necessary steps to retrieve E-mail messages from the server in the conventional manner. The received messages are processed by serial interface module  12  in a conventional manner and sent to internet protocol controller  1  to be converted to text format. The E-mail data received by internet protocol controller  1  on conversion to text can, on instruction by microcontroller  2 , be sent to text-to-speech processing module  6 . Text-to-speech processing module  6  is a digital signal processor programmed with known techniques and converts the text containing the incoming E-mail message to analog or digitized speech. The incoming E-mail can, therefore, be in text format at the internet protocol controller  1  and/or analog/digitized speech format at the text-to-speech processing module  6 . 
     Microcontroller  2  in console unit  40  is supported by memory storage  11 . Memory storage  11  provides random access memory (RAM) for use by microcontroller  2  in a conventional manner. Memory storage  11  also provides firmware, through read-only memory (ROM), for operating microcontroller  2  and for processing data and signals received by console unit  40 . Programs resident in memory storage  11  together with instructions from microcontroller  2  determine the format of the data, that is text or analog/digitized speech. and various alternatives for informing a user of the system, of incoming E-mail messages. 
     In a first alternative, the user can be informed of incoming E-mail messages by programming microcontroller  2  to instruct telephony function module  3 , Which establishes communication links with the telephone network via the modem, to dial-out a programmed telephone number at which the user may be contacted. Microcontroller  2  then instructs digital answering machine  15 , which is capable of storing speech, to send a programmed speech message, via telephony function module  3  and network link  32 , alerting the user of incoming E-mail messages. Alternatively microcontroller  2  can instruct text-to-speech processing module  6  to convey the incoming E-mail message in analog speech format to the user via telephony function module  3  and network link  32 . 
     In a second alternative, a user may program the microcontroller  2  to send incoming E-mail messages on conversion to text, to video processor  8  for further conversion to appropriate video signals for display on a conventional television set or video monitor  9 . The user may then read the messages on the television set or video monitor  9  when convenient. The user may also instruct microcontroller  2  to store incoming E-mail messages in memory storage  11  in text format for later retrieval by the user on television set or video monitor  9 . 
     In a third alternative, the user may be informed of incoming E-mail messages by programming microcontroller  2  to forward the messages to communication module  17 . Communication module  17  modulates the incoming E-mail messages, in analog/digitized speech format, for transmission by transceiver unit  4  to portable unit  80 . 
     FIG. 3 depicts portable unit  80  which is powered by a battery  24  via battery management module  19 . Transceiver unit  28  in the portable unit  80  receives the modulated analog/digitized speech containing the incoming E-mail messages and further processing is determined by microcontroller  27 . 
     Microcontroller  27  is supported by memory  18  in a manner similar to microcontroller  2  and memory storage  11  in console unit  40 . Microcontroller  27  can be programmed to instruct communication module  29  to demodulate the analog/digitized speech containing incoming E-mail messages. Communication module  29  then ensures that the speech containing the E-mail messages is in analog format before conveying it to the user through speaker  22 . 
     Alternatively microcontroller  27  is programmed by the user to activate mechanical vibrator  25  and/or buzzer  26  to notify the user of incoming E-mail messages. 
     The user may also dictate an E-mail message using portable unit  80  or a conventional telephone/mobile phone. If portable unit  80  is used for dictation of an E-mail message, the outgoing E-mail message in speech format is sent from microphone  23  to communication module  29  where it is modulated and transmitted to console unit  40  by transceiver unit  28 . Transceiver unit  4  receives the modulated outgoing E-mail message and sends it to communication module  17  where it is demodulated and sent to digital answering machine  15  to be digitized and compressed. The compressed digitized speech containing the outgoing E-mail message is the n sent to speech-to-text processing module  5  to be converted to text. Speech-to-text processing module is a digital signal processor programmed with known software, such as Dragon Dictate® for conversion of compressed digitized speech to text. On conversion to text, the outgoing E-mail message is sent out to the remote server via internet protocol controller  1 , serial interface module  12  and the network link  32 . 
     If a conventional telephone/mobile phone is used for dictation of an E-mail message by a remote user, the outgoing E-mail message, received as a telephone message in speech format, is received by telephony function module  3  in console unit  40  through network link  32  and sent to digital answering machine  15  to be compressed and digitized. The compressed digitized speech containing the outgoing E-mail message is then converted to text by speech-to-text processing module  5  and sent out to the remote user via internet protocol controller  1 , serial interface module  12  and network link  32 , as before. 
     The actuation of keys on the keypad of a conventional telephone/mobile phone or keys on keypad  21  of portable unit  80 , in a predetermined manner identifiable by microcontroller  2 , sends control signals to console unit  40  to inform microcontroller  2  if the speech being sent is conventional telephone speech or speech containing an outgoing E-mail message to be suitably processed. In the case of an E-mail message, such keys also can send recipient identification information, such as an abbreviated dial code that the handset or the microcontroller  2  can look up in memory to determine the E-mail address or a handset which allows the alpha-numeric characters to be input from the keypad through alternative key functions may be used. A possible format for such a message would be: 
     # # Dictated E-mail message # *Direct entry or memory recall of E-mail address*# Alternatively, dedicated function keys on keypad  21  in portable unit  80  may be actuated specifically to send control signals to console unit  40 , to inform microcontroller  2  if the speech signals being sent is conventional telephone speech or speech containing an outgoing E-mail message to be suitably processed. 
     When the data received through network link  32  contains signals pertaining to conventional telephony, such as audio and control signals, telephony function module  3  establishes a communication link With network link  32  via network interface box  13  and informs microcontroller  2 . Programs resident in memory storage  11  and instructions from microcontroller  2  then determine how the telephone signals are processed. 
     In a first alternative, a system user can be informed of incoming telephone calls by programming microcontroller  2  to instruct telephony function module  3 , after receipt of an incoming call, to dial-out a programmed telephone number at which the user may be contacted. Digital answering machine  15  then sends a programmed speech message, via telephony function module  3  and network link  32 , notifying the user of new telephone calls. 
     In a second alternative, the telephone signals may be relayed to the portable unit  80  held by the user, in the usual way. This is achieved by programming microcontroller  2  to instruct communication module  17  to modulate the telephone signals and send them to transceiver unit  4 . The telephone signals are then transmitted by transceiver unit  4  to portable unit  80  where they are received by transceiver unit  28 , sent to microcontroller  27  and demodulated by communication module  29 . The user may then take the telephone call listening through speaker  22  and speaking through microphone  23 , the speech signals being modulated by communication module  29  and transmitted to console unit  40  by transceiver unit  28 . 
     Transceiver unit  4  in console unit  40  receives the telephone signals and sends them to communication module  17  for demodulation. The telephone signals are then sent out to network link  32  via telephony function module  3 . Telephone control signals from keypad  21  may be sent in a similar way to initiate a call and send control instructions. 
     In a third alternative, a user may program microcontroller  2  to instruct digital answering machine  15  to digitize and compress the incoming telephone message and sent this to microcontroller  2 . Microcontroller  2  then forwards the compressed digitized speech signals to speech-to-text processing module  5  where they are converted to text before being stored in memory storage  11 . The telephone message in text format is then retrieved from memory storage  11 , converted to appropriate video signals by video processor  8  and may be read by the user on television set or video monitor  9 . 
     Portable unit  80  can also be used as a remote control for television set  9 . The keys on keypad  21  in portable unit  80  can be actuated to generate television control signals which are then sent by microcontroller  27  to console unit  40  upon modulation. Transceiver unit  4  in console unit  40  then receives the television control signals which are then demodulated by communication module  17  and forwarded to video processor  8  by microcontroller  2 . The television set  9  is then controlled by the television control signals sent by video processor  8  which receives television signals from television antenna  34 . Dedicated function keys on keypad  21  or a predetermined sequence of undedicated keys may be actuated to send control signals to console unit  40  to inform microcontroller  2  of arriving television signals to be suitably processed. 
     Console unit  40  and portable unit  80  are preferably equipped with liquid crystal display (LCD) screens/light emitting diodes (LEDs)  10  and  20  respectively which can be used to display information such as date, time and number of E-mail and telephone messages. Console unit  40  preferably also provides for a keypad and mouse interface module  16  which interfaces with keyboard and mouse unit  7 . The keyboard and mouse may be used to instruct microcontroller  2  to set defaults for treatment of incoming and outgoing telephone and e-mail messages, as well as sending e-mail messages in a conventional manner. 
     The embodiment of the invention described is not to be construed as limitative. For example, although shown using a radio frequency communication link between console unit  40  and portable unit  80 , the invention is equally of use with an infra-red or hard-wired communication link. Furthermore, network link  32  may be a Local Area Network (LANl) link and accordingly network interface box may be a suitable card such as an Ethernet® card and internet protocol controller may be replaced by an appropriate LAN protocol controller. As such it is to be understood that various modifications could be made to the embodiment described without departing from the scope of the invention and that the invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Category: 5