Audio communication system

Abstract

A communication device capable of receiving, processing and sending analog signals, characterized in that the device is coupled to the audio input/output ports of a built-in or external sound board attached to a computer, through standard audio plugs. The device may be installed as a stand-alone unit between the audio board and a telephone line, or as a part of the audio board. During its operation the device is constantly under the control of software operating in the computer side. Signals entering through the audio inport and are digitized, filtered, and analyzed by software modules, and the software then manages the information-outputs information and/or saves voice message messages, etc. in accordance with the contents of these signals.

1. An apparatus for bi-directional analog communication of telephone data with a host computer, the host computer having an A/D converter for converting analog data received from the apparatus to digital data and a D/A converter for converting digital data to analog data to be sent to the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a data access arrangement having a telephone line interface for connection to a telephone line, the data access arrangement also having a bi-directional interface, the data access arrangement outputting signals responsive to signals received from the telephone line interface to the bi-directional interface;  
 an audio mixer connected to the bi-directional interface of the data access arrangement for receiving the signals output to the bi-directional interface by the data access arrangement, wherein the audio mixer has a first analog output for connection with the host computer, for forwarding signals received by the bi-directional interface of the audio mixer to the host computer, the audio mixer additionally having a second analog output;  
 a DTMF decoder connected to the second analog output of the audio mixer, the DTMF decoder for generating a signal representative of a DTMF signal in response to receiving a DTMF signal from the audio mixer; and  
 a logical unit operatively connected to the DTMF decoder for receiving the signal generated by the DTMF decoder, the logical unit being coupled to the data access arrangement to provide instructions to the data access arrangement.  
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the audio mixer additionally comprises a first analog input to receive signals from the host computer. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the audio mixer sends DTMF signals received over the first analog input of the audio mixer to the DTMF decoder via the second analog output. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the audio mixer sends signals received over the first analog input of the audio mixer to the data access arrangement via the bi-directional interface. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the audio mixer is adapted to receive power from the host computer via the first analog input. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the data access arrangement is configured to receive power from a telephone line connected to the telephone line interface when said telephone line is “OFF-HOOK”. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the instructions that the logical unit provides to the data access unit includes an instruction to seize a telephone line. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the instructions that the logical unit provides to the data access unit includes an instruction to release a telephone line. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the audio mixer additionally comprises a speaker, and wherein signals received from the bi-directional interface with the data access arrangement are sent to the speaker. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the audio mixer additionally comprises a microphone, and wherein the audio mixer forwards signals received from the microphone to the bi-directional interface. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the data access arrangement sends signals received from the audio mixer to the telephone line interface. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the data access arrangement sends a telephone ring signal received at the telephone line interface to the audio mixer via the bi-directional interface, and the audio mixer forwards the telephone ring signal to the host computer via the first analog output. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a host computer, the host computer having an A/D converter for converting analog data received from the audio mixer to digital data. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a host computer, the host computer having an A/D converter for converting analog data received from the audio mixer to digital data, the host computer also having a D/A converter for converting digital data to analog data to be sent to the audio mixer. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the host computer has a bus, the A/D converter is adapted to receive analog signals from the audio mixer and convert it to digital data on the bus. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the D/A converter is adapted to convert digital data received on the bus to analog data, and transmit the analog data on the audio mixer. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising host software, the host software configured to transmit DTMF signals via the D/A converter, the DTMF signals including an instruction that the data access arrangement seize the telephone line. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising host software, the host software configured to monitor the digital representation of the analog data received by the A/D converter and transmit DTMF signals via the D/A converter instructing the data access arrangement seize the telephone line in response to a digital representation of a telephone ring. 
     
     
       19. A system for providing telephone communications in cooperation with a host computer, wherein said host computer generates and processes signals including audio and control signals, said system comprising:
   a data access arrangement having a telephone line interface and a second interface, said data access arrangement for interfacing signals at said telephone line interface with signals at said second interface;        a mixer adapted to receive a plurality of input signals and provide said input signals to said host computer, wherein said input signals include audio signals received from said second interface, said mixer adapted to receive audio signals from said host computer and provide a plurality of output signals, wherein said output signals include audio signals transmitted to said second interface;        a DTMF decoder for receiving at least one of the control signals and for generating a first signal representative of a DTMF signal in response thereto; and        a logical unit for receiving said first signal, said logical unit coupled to said data access arrangement to control operations of said system according to said first signal.     
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19  wherein said system provides a type of telephone service according to a type of software installed in said host computer. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 19  wherein said logical unit controls operations of said data access arrangement according to said control signals. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 19  wherein said control signals define signaling operations on said telephone line. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 19  wherein said input signals and said output signals comprise analog signals and said host computer transmits and receives digital signals, said system further comprising a digital to analog and analog to digital converter for converting between said digital signals and analog signals. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 19  wherein said telephone line interface connects to at least one telephone. 
     
     
       25. A system for interfacing to a telephone in cooperation with a host computer, wherein said host computer generates and processes signals including audio and control signals, said system comprising:
   a data access arrangement having a telephone interface and a second interface, said data access arrangement for interfacing signals at said telephone interface with signals at said second interface;        a mixer adapted to receive a plurality of input signals and provide said input signals to said host computer, wherein said input signals include audio signals received from said second interface, said mixer adapted to receive audio signals from said host computer and provide a plurality of output signals, wherein said output signals include audio signals transmitted to said second interface;        a DTMF decoder for receiving at least one of the control signals and for generating first signals representative of DTMF signals in response thereto; and        a logical unit for receiving said first signals, said logical unit coupled to said data access arrangement to control operations of said system according to said first signals.     
     
     
       26. A system for providing telephone communications in conjunction with a host computer, wherein said host computer generates and processes signals including audio and control signals, said system comprising:
   a first interface for audio signals and control signals that are routed between said computer and said system;        a second interface for audio signals that are routed to or from a data access arrangement;        a DTMF decoder for receiving at least one of the control signals and for generating first signals representative of DTMF signals in response thereto;        a logical unit for receiving said first signals from said computer via said first interface, said logical unit coupled to said second interface to control operations of said data access arrangement according to said first signals; and        an audio mixer adapted to receive a plurality of input signals and provide said input signals to said computer via said first interface, wherein said input signals include audio signals received from said second interface, said audio mixer adapted to receive audio signals from said computer via said first interface and provide a plurality of output signals, said output signals including audio signals transmitted to said second interface.     
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 26  further comprising a data access arrangement having a telephone line interface and a system interface, said system interface adapted to be connected to said second interface, said data access arrangement for interfacing signals at said telephone line interface with signals at said system interface. 
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 26  further comprising a data access arrangement having a telephone interface and a system interface, said system interface adapted to be connected to said second interface, said data access arrangement for interfacing signals at said telephone interface with signals at said system interface. 
     
     
       29. An audio device for providing telephone communications in conjunction with a host computer, wherein said host computer generates and processes signals including audio and control signals, said audio device comprising:
   a first interface for audio signals and control signals that are routed between said computer and said audio device;        a second interface for audio signals that are routed between said audio device and a data access arrangement;        a DTMF decoder for receiving at least one of the control signals and for generating first signals representative of DTMF signals in response thereto;        a logical unit for receiving said first signals from said computer via said first interface, said logical unit coupled to said second interface to control operations of said data access arrangement according to said first signals; and        an audio mixer adapted to receive a plurality of input signals and provide said input signals to said computer via said first interface, wherein said input signals include audio signals received from said second interface, said audio mixer adapted to receive audio signals from said computer via said first interface and provide a plurality of output signals, said output signals including audio signals transmitted to said second interface.     
     
     
       30. A board for providing telephone communications in conjunction with a host computer, wherein said host computer generates and processes signals including audio and control signals, said board comprising:
   a first interface for audio signals and control signals that are routed between said computer and said board;        a second interface for audio signals that are routed to or from a data access arrangement;        a DTMF decoder for receiving at least one of the control signals and for generating first signals representative of DTMF signals in response thereto;        a logical unit for receiving said first signals from said computer via said first interface, said logical unit coupled to said second interface to control operations of said data access arrangement according to said first signals; and        an audio mixer adapted to receive a plurality of input signals and provide said input signals to said computer via said first interface, wherein said input signals include audio signals received from said second interface, said audio mixer adapted to receive audio signals from said computer via said first interface and provide a plurality of output signals, said output signals including audio signals transmitted to said second interface.     
     
     
       31. The board of  claim 30  further comprising a data access arrangement having a telephone line interface and a board interface, said board interface adapted to be connected to said second interface, said data access arrangement for interfacing signals at said telephone line interface with signals at said board interface. 
     
     
       32. The board of  claim 30  further comprising a data access arrangement having a telephone interface and a board interface, said board interface adapted to be connected to said second interface, said data access arrangement for interfacing signals at said telephone interface with signals at said board interface. 
     
     
       33. An audio board for providing telephone communications in conjunction with a host computer, wherein said host computer generates and processes signals including audio and control signals, said audio board comprising:
   a first interface for audio signals and control signals that are routed between said computer and said audio board;        a second interface for audio signals that are routed to or form a data access arrangement;        a DTMF decoder for receiving at least one of the control signals and for generating first signals representative of DTMF signals in response thereto;        a logical unit for receiving said first signals from said computer via said first interface, said logical unit coupled to said second interface to control operations of said data access arrangement according to said first signals; and        an audio mixer adapted to receive a plurality of input signals and provide said input signals to said computer via said first interface, wherein said input signals include audio signals received from said second interface, said audio mixer adapted to receive audio signals from said computer via said first interface and provide a plurality of output signals, said output signals including audio signals transmitted to said second interface.     
     
     
       34. The audio board of  claim 33  further comprising a data access arrangement having a telephone line interface and a board interface, said board interface adapted to be connected to said second interface, said data access arrangement for interfacing signals at said telephone line interface with signals at said board interface. 
     
     
       35. The audio board of  claim 33  further comprising a data access arrangement having a telephone interface and a board interface, said board interface adapted to be connected to said second interface, said data access arrangement for interfacing signals at said telephone interface with signals at said board interface. 
     
     
       36. A communication system comprising:
   a host computer for executing software programs that provide host - based audio signal processing services, wherein said host computer transmits and receives audio signals and control signals according to said host - based audio signal processing services;        a data access arrangement having a telephone line interface and a second interface, said data access arrangement for interfacing signals at said telephone line interface with signals at said second interface;        a mixer adapted to receive a plurality of input signals and provide said input signals to said host computer, wherein said input signals include audio signals received from said second interface, said mixer adapted to receive audio signals from said host computer and provide a plurality of output signals, wherein said output signals include audio signals transmitted to said second interface;        a DTMF decoder for receiving at least one of the control signals and for generating first signals representative of DTMF signals in response thereto; and        a logical unit for receiving said first signals, said logical unit coupled to said data access arrangement to control operations of said system according to said first signals.     
     
     
       37. A method for providing telephone communications in cooperation with a host computer, said method comprising the steps of:
   processing an audio signal by said host computer;        generating a control signal by said host computer according to said processing step;        sending said control signal to a DTMF decoder and providing first signals representative of DTMF signals in response to the control signal to a logical unit;        controlling a data access arrangement with said logical unit according to said control signal;        routing said audio signal through a mixer; and        interfacing said audio signal to a telephone line using said data access arrangement.     
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 37  further comprising the step of installing software into said host computer to select a host- based audio signal processing operation to be provided by said system.   
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 37  further comprising the step of decoding said control signal from said host computer and providing a decoded control signal to said logical unit. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 37  further comprising the step of controlling, by said logical unit, operations of said data access arrangement according to said control signal. 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 37  further comprising the step of defining a signaling operation on said telephone line according to said control signal. 
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 37  wherein said signal interfaced to said telephone line comprises an analog signal and said host computer transmits and receives digital signals, said method further comprising the steps of converting a digital signal received from said host computer to an analog signal and converting an analog signal being sent to said host computer to a digital signal. 
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 37  wherein said processing step comprises performing at least one of an answering machine, a fax, a modem, a record greeting, a voice mail, a speakerphone, a call screening, a message forwarding, a hold, a music on hold, a mute microphone, a dial from directory, a dial manual, an auto dial and repeat, a go- off - hook, or a go - on - hook operation.   
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 37  wherein said telephone line connects to at least one telephone.