CA1308481C

CA1308481C - Method and apparatus for preventing ambiguity in displaying the number of a recorded message that has been reached

Info

Publication number: CA1308481C
Application number: CA000507523A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Jeremy Saltzman; Betsy Hipp; John J. Dwyer
Original assignee: Dictaphone Corp
Current assignee: Dictaphone Corp
Priority date: 1985-05-02
Filing date: 1986-04-24
Publication date: 1992-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 2009-10-06
Also published as: AU591489B2; GB2174835B; GB2174835A; CH671126A5; DE3614644A1; JPS61267987A; GB8610787D0; AU5707686A

Abstract

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING AMBIGUITY
IN DISPLAYING THE NUMBER OF A RECORDED
MESSAGE THAT HAS BEEN REACHED

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A method and apparatus for indicating the number of the particular message that has been reached on a bi-directionally movable record medium used with a record/playback device. A position count is incremented and decremented as the record medium moves in forward and reverse directions, respectively; and end-of-message counts representing the locations of the ends of messages relative to an arbitrary reference location of the record medium are stored. Information representing the number of each message whose end-of-message count is stored is provided; and the number of the message which has been reached is determined as a function of which stored end-of-message count is greater than the present position count and which stored end-of-message count is less than that position count. To prevent ambiguities in determining the number of the message which has been reached, as when a new, partially used record medium is loaded into the record/playback device and is reversed to a location which precedes the reference location (i. e. the starting point of the record medium when it is loaded into the device), the position count is preset to a predetermined count when the record medium is replaced.
This predetermined count is sufficient to prevent decrementing of the position count below zero, which would be interpreted as being greater than any of the stored end-of-message counts, even if the full amount of the newly-loaded record medium moves in the reverse direction.

Description

1 ~ \ 1 ~ ' :
1 BAC~GROuND OF THE INVE~TION

2 This invention relates to a display for a 8 record/playback device and, more particularly, to such a 4 display which unambiguously indicates the numker of the ~ particula~ message that has been reached on a 6 bi-directionally movable record medium.
7 The invention disclosed herein is usable with and 8 is an improvement of the invention described in co-pending 9 Canadian patent application Serial No. 469,788 filed December 11, 1984 and assi~ned to the assignee of the present invention. As 11 ¦ described therein, record/playback devices, such as 12 ¦ dictation and/or transcription machines, provide indications 1~ I of messages, such as letters, that have been recorded.
14 ¦ ¦ Typically, a predetermined signal, such as a special tone 15 ¦ signal, referred to generally as a "cue" tone, is recorded 16 under the control of the machine user at the completion of 17 I each message or letter which he dictates. Such cue tones 18 ll are utilized during transcription to control the 19 ¦¦ energization of a light element display to apprise the 20 ¦~ transcriptionist of the relative locations and lengths of 21 1i the respective messages, or letters, that have been 22 1l dictated. ~xamples of liyht element displays of the 23 ! aforementioned type are described generally in ~. S. Patents 24 I Nos. 4,051,540, 4,200,893 and 4,378,577.
2$ I In addition to, or in place of, these light element displays~ a numerical display may be provided to 27 , indicate the number of the particular message which has been æ 1. dictated or which now is in position to be played back, as 2g , during transcription or during a review of previously 80l dictated messages. One type of message-number display is 31 ¦I described in copending application Serial No. 469~788 32 1l There, when an end-of-message cue signal, referred to herein 1~ ., .
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1 as a letter cue signal, is recorded, numerical information 2 representing the number of messages that had been recorded 8 up until then is updated. This numerical information is 4 selectively accessed and displayed, thus indicating to the ~ user the number of messages, or letters, which had been 6 recorded previously. Thus, if the user has just completed 7 recording message number 3, and has signified the end of 8 that message by recording a letter cue signal, the display 9 will indi~cate "3" when the message number information is accessed. As the user then records his fourth message, 11 further access of the message number information will, 12 1 nevertheless, result in the display "3". Of course, this 1~ ¦ numerical information is updated once the next ~i. e. the 14 fourth) letter cue signal is recorded.
As also described in the aforementioned copending , 16 application, cue signals representing the location of 17 jl dictated instructions also may be recorded on the record 18 jj medium. These cue signals are referred to as instruction 19 ¦I cue signals; and the numerical display may be selectively 20 !~ controlled to indicate to the user the number of 21 ij instructions which have been recorded. ~hus, the display 22 1l control arrangement is provided with means for storing 23 1I numerical information representing the number of messages 2~ that have been recorded as well as means for storin~
numerical information representing the number of 26 instructions that have been recorded. Each type of 27 numerical information may be selectively accessed and 2~ 1i displayed.
2g 1, In the display described in the aforementioned 30ll application, a position counter is incremented and 81l~ decremented as the record medium (which, typically, is a 32 I magnetic tape) moves in the forward and reverse directions, :, 1i ~ 223~
1 ~ ~r~ 3 1 1 respectively. Cooperating with the record medium transport 2 apparatus is a pulse generator which supplies pulses to a 8 counter that provides a position count representing the 4 position of the record medium relative to a reference 6 location. As an example, if the record medium is a maynetic 6 tape bi-directionally driven between supply and take-up 7 reels, a so-called chopper wheel mechanically coupled to the 8 supply reel generates pulses at a rate corresponding to the g rotary speed of that supply reel. Hence, the position count 10 I is obtained simply by counting the chopper pulses. When a 11 letter cue signal is recorded, the count then present in the 12 position counter is stored at an addressed location in a 13 memory; and each address is used as the aforementioned 14 numerical information representing the number of the message that had just been recorded. When the tape is rewound, for 16 example, the position counter is decremented; and when the 17 ~ position count is decremented to a count e~ual to a stored 18 ii end-of-message count, the address at which that 9 ll end-of-message count is stored is utilized to display the 20 ~l number of the letter which has been reached.
21 l~ Similarly, when an instruction cue signal is ' 1, recorded, the count of the position counter is stored as an 23 , instruction count at an addressed memory location, and the 24 address of that location is used to display the number of the instruction which has been recorded. When the tape is 26 moved to a position at which the instruction cue signal is ¦
27 recorded, the address at which the instruction count is 28 I stored is used to display the number of the instruction 29 j which has been reached.
30 I It had been thought preferable to reset the 81 I aforementioned position counter each time a fresh record 32 1 medium (e. g. a fresh tape cassette) is loaded into the 1, -3-I

l dictation/transcription machine. By resetting the position 2 counter, the position count then will be incremented from a ~ reference ~0000] count as the record medium advances for the 4 purpose of dictation. Such resetting of the position count ~ to [0000] presents no problem if the tape included in the 6 freshly loaded cassette is fully Ie~ound. That i5, if the 7 reference location of the newly-loaded tape corresponds to the very beginning thereof, the position counter merely will 9 ¦ increment from its 1000O] count and, since the tape cannot lO I be rewound further, the counter cannot be decremented below 11 , its [0000] count.
12 1 However, ambiguity is introduced into the 13 1 aforementioned message number display if the fresh cassette 14 that is loaded into the dictation/transcription machine initially is positioned at some arbitrary reference 16 location. That is, if the tape therein is not fully 17 li rewound, the resetting of the position counter to ~0000]
~ does not represent the beginning of the tape. The user may l9 ¦! dictate one or more messages on the newly-loaded tape, 20 jl resulting in the storage of end-of-message counts and the 21 1I provision of numeriral information representing the number 9~ 1 of each recorded message, as in the manner mentioned above 23 ~i and as more fully disclosed in the aforementioned patent 24 application. As the tape is reve~sed, the position counter 2G is decremented; and when the position count becomes equal to 26 a stored end-of-message count, the address at which that 2~ ! end-of-message count is stored is used to display the number 28 1 f the letter that has been reached. It is possible, 29 ¦~ however, that the user may rewind the tape beyond the ~0 , arbitrary reference location thereof, that is, beyond the 81 j! starting point at which dictation commenced. The position 321'' 1 _4_ :

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~ ¦ counter then will be decremented below its [0000] count 2 ¦ which, as is typical, results in a "roll over" of the count 8 I to a maximum value, such as l9999]. Purther reversal of the 4 ¦ tape results in further decementing of the position CouJlt from 19999] towards a lower value.
6 A technique that can be used for displaying the 7 number oI the message that has been xeached on the tape is ¦ 8 based upon a comparison of the position count to the stored 9 end-of-message counts. If the position count is greater ~0 than one stored end-of-message count but is less than 11 another, the number of the message which has been reached, 12 I that is, the number of the message then juxtaposed the 1 13 ¦ record/playback transducer of the dictation/transcription 14 ¦ machine, is the number associated with the larger 15 ¦ end-of-message count (i. e. the number of the message is 16 egual to, or derived from, the address at which the larger ~ end-of-message count is st~red). Alternatively, the number 18 , of the message which is displayed may be equal to the number 13 l that is associated with the smaller stored end-of-message counts plus one (i. e. the displayed message number is equal 21 1 to 1 plus the addréss of the location at which the smaller 22 1 end-of-message count is stored).
23 i, An example of the aforementioned technique for determining the number of the message which has been reached is best understood from a numerical example. Let it be 26 assumed that the tape included in a newly-loaded cassette 27 has not been fully rewound but, nevertheless, the position 28 1 count is reset to lO000]. Let it be further assumed that a 29 il first letter cue signal is recorded at a location 30i corresponding to a position count of [950], a second letter 81 ¦I cue signal is recorded at a location corresponding to a 321j count of [1140], and the user presently is in the process of ;

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- 1 dictating a third message. The position count will be 2 greater than 11140] and, consequently, the message number 8 display, when accessed, will indicate to the user that the 4 tape presently is at a location corresponding to letter ~ 3 n, 6 This is hecause the position count is greater than the 6 last-stored end-of-message count 11140], and this stored 7 end-of-message count is associated with letter "2n. Now, if 8 the tape is rewound such that the position count is 9 decremented to a count less than [1140] but greater than a 0 I! count of [950], the message number display will indicate 11 ¦ that the tape has reached letter "2". with further reverse 12 ¦ movement of the tape, the position count continues to 1~ ¦ decrement; and when this count becomes less than 1950], the 14 ¦ message number "1" is displayed, indicating that the first 16 ¦ message which had been dictated on the tape has been reached 16 ¦ and is juxtaposed the record/playback transducer. Now, if 17 ¦I the tape is further rewound to a location which precedes the 18 1¦ reference location, that is, if the tape is rewound beyond 19 ¦, its starting point, the position count is decremented below 20 ~ [0000] and "rolls over" to a count of [9999]. This count is 21 1I greater than the largest stored end-of-message count [1140]
22 ¦i and, thus, the message number which is displayed is message æ, 1 number "3". Thus, the user is erroneously apprised that the 24 I third message (which he had been in the process of dictating) has been reached.
, ~ The foregoing explains the ambiguity which may occux when the position count normally is reset to a zero 28 1I count [0000] when a cassette is replaced, and the new - 2g j cassette has not been fully rewound prior to resetting the ~0l position count. This ambiguity may erroneously indicate to 81 l¦ the user that a particular message recorded on the tape has 1~ i ~ -6-U
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1 been reached when, in fact, the tape actually is nowhere 2 near that message.

4 Therefore, it is an object of the present 6 invention to provide an improved display which overcomes the 6 aforenot~d disadvantages and which unambiguously indicates 7 the actual number of the particular message that has been 8 reached on a record medium.
9 Another object of this invention is to-provide a message number display for unambiguously indicating the ll number of the recorded message which is juxtaposed the 12 transducer of a record/playback device.
13 A further object of this invention is to provide a 14 method and apparatus for controlling a message numoer display of a record/playbac~ device operable with a 16 I bi-directionally movable record medium, even if that medium 17 I is not initially positioned at its beginning locati~n when ~ loaded into the record/playback device.
19 ¦ An additional object of this invention is to 20 i~ provide a method and apparatus for controlling a position 21 1l counter such that it is constrained from providing counts 22 Il resulting in ambiguous indications o~ the number of the 23 1 message that has been reached on a record medium in a device 24 of the aforementioned type.
2$ Various other objects, advantages and features of 26 the present invention will become readily apparent from the 27 ensuing detailed description, and the novel features will be 28 ,' particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

80 l~ In accordance with this invention, a method and 31 li apparatus are provided for unambiguously indicating the 32 ¦, number of the particular message recorded on a I!

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1 bi-directionally movable record medium that is jw:taposed 2 the transducer of a record/playback device. A position 8 count is incremented and decremented as the record medium 4 moves in forward and reverse directions, respectively, and ~ end-of-message counts representing the location of the end 6 of a message relative to an arbitrary reference location of ~he record medium, and derived from the position count, are stored. Information representing the number of each message 9 whose end-of-message count is stored also is provided. The number of the message juxtaposed the transducer is 11 determined as a function of which stored end-of-message 12 1 count is greater than the position count and which stored 1~ ¦ end-of-message count is less than the position count. When 14 ¦ the record medium used by the device is replaced, the lb ¦ position count is preset to a predetermined count such that, 16 1 regardless of the arbitrary reference location of a new 17 I record medium that is loaded into the device, the position 18 i count will not be decremented below a count of zero when the 19 I record medium moves in the reverse direction to a location 20 , that precedes the reference location.
I As a feature of this invention, the predetermined æ I count to which the position count is preset is at least 23 I equal to the maximum position count that can be obtained if 24 the record medium is advanced from its very beginning to its 2$ very end.
Preferably, the record medium comprises a fixed 27 length of magnetic tape housed in a cassette and transported 28 between supply and take-up reels.
2g I It is a desirable feature of this invention to 30 , prevent the position count from being decremented below a ~1 1 zero count, which otherwise would result in a "rolled over"
32 ¦ count that would be yreater than any stored end-of-message i Ij -8-3~1-2 1 ¦ count and that would result i~ a~ erroneous indication of 2 ¦ the number of the message juxtaposed the transducer of the 8 ¦ record/playback device (e. g. if n messages have been 4 ¦ recorded, an erroneous indication that message number ~ ¦ "n ~ l" is juxtap~sed the transducer).
6 ¦ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ~HE DRAWINGS
7 ¦ The following detailed description, given by way 8 of example, and not intended to limit the invention solely 9 to the illustrated embodiments, should be read in 10 ¦ conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
11 ¦ PIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a front 12 ¦ view of a typical embodiment of the record/playback device 1~ in which the present invention may be used;
14 FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a memory 15 ¦ in which are stored end-of-message counts;
16 ! FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a record 17 ' medium having messages recorded thereon;
18 1, FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic representations of 19 ! memories in which end-of-message counts are stored; and !I PIG. 6 is a flow chart corresponding to the 21 ¦I programmed set of instructions that are used by processor 22 1i apparatus in accordance with the present invention to 23 ¦, control the operation of the message number display.
24 I DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED E~lBODIMENT
~he present invention, to be described, is 26 particularly adapted for use in a portable, battery-operated 27 dictate device, although so-called desk-top dictation/tran-28 I scription devices may be used with this invention. However, 29 ,l as will be apparent, this invention is equally applicable to ~0 ll a sound recorder that may be used for other applications and 81 l¦ need not be limited solely for use as a dictate machine.
321~ The record/playback device described herein preferably is .
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1¦ used with a miniature, thumb-sized, capstan-driven magnetic 2 ¦ tape cassette, such as the tape cassette described in 8 ¦ Canadian Patents 1,1~4,9~4 and 1,194t995.
4 ¦ However, it should be readily appreciated that, if desired, ~ the record/playback device described herein need not be 6 ¦ limited solely for use with magnetic tape cassettes but, 7 rather, may be used with other record media, such as 8 magnetic discs which may be rotatably driven and may be 9 selectively engaged by a magnetic head that is moved in the forward and reverse directions. Also, the record medium may 11 comprise a bubble-memory device wherein forward and reverse 12 ¦ "movements" are simulated by forward and reverse shifting of 15 ¦ "bubbles" which, as is known, represent information.
14 1 Similarly, the record medium may comprise a solid state lb ¦ memory "chip" wherein movements are simulated by shifting 16 I the addresses of locations in which digitized information is 17 ¦ written and read. As used herein, the expression ~movable 1~ i record medium" is intended to include the foregoing media 19 I and other analogous media for recording/reproducing or 20 I storing/reading information.
21 1 For convenience, the record/playback device is 22 li described herein in the context of a portable, 23 !I battery-operated dictate machine. As shown in FIG. 1, device lO is provided with a plûrality of manually operable 2$ controls, plural displays, a microphone 12 (illustrated, as 26 an example, at the upper xight-hand corner of the device) 27 and a speaker 52~ In one embodiment, the manually operable 28 I controls comprise push-button elements, each being 2g selectively operable to control or initiate a corresponding ~0 1I function. Alternatively, these controls may be formed as 81 ¦¦ touch-sensitive switches adapted to produce signals 32 ¦ representing ~he actuation .hereof when touched by the user ,, l , -10-1 ,''`'.',1"1 I
1 I o~ the device. In either embodiment, a respective signal is 2 produced in response to the operation of a corresponding ~ control element, and this signal is produced for so long as 4 that element is operated. Upon release of the element, the ~ signal l:erminates. Suitable push-buttons, switches and the 6 like for pr~viding these functions are conventional and are 7 well known.
8 The displays, identified as displays 40, 9 preferably are formed as LCD display devices which, as is conventional, require relatively little electrical energy to ll ¦ provide suitable indications; and, thus, advantageously 12 ¦ impose little drain on the electrical storage battery which lS ¦ is used to energize device 10. Alternatively, other visual 14 ¦ indicator display devices, such as LED devices, electroluminescent devices, and the like may be used to 16 implement display 40.
17 I Although not shown in FIG. 1, it will be 18 I appreciated that~ in the embodiment described herein, device 19 10 is operable with a removable record medium. As mentioned above, this record medium preferably comprises a miniature, 21 I thumb-sized tape cassette. On the reverse, or backside of ;¦ device 10 (not shown) there is provided a door to a 23 ¦ cassette-receiving compartment in which the cassette is ¦ contained for operation. A suitable switch (also not shown) 25 1 may be coupled to this door or may be contacted by a ~`26 ¦ cassette loaded into the cassette compartment so as to produce a suitable signal when the cassette is removed. As ¦ an alternative, this signal may be produced when a fresh 2g 1 cassette is loaded into the compartment. As will be 30 ! described, this signal functions as a "preset~ signal.

I

1! -11-1 :~ ` `4-',1 1 The manual controls provided with record/playoack 2 device 10 include various switches, such as pushbutton 8 switches which, for convenience, are referred to merely as 4 buttons. These buttons include a conference record button 6 22, a momentary record button 24, a stop button 26, a 6 rewind/play button 28, a cue/erase button 30, a reset/mode 7 button 32, a fast forward button 34 and a keyboard enable 8 button 36. For convenience, these elements are referred to 9 merely as buttons. In a~dition, a volume adjustment control knob 38, such as a potentiometer, also is provided.
11 Conference record button 22 and momentary record 12 button 24 are manually operable to dispose record/playback 13 device 10 in the so-called "conference record" and 14 "momentary record" modes of operation, respectively. When disposed in the conference record mode, the gain in the 16 recording electronics is increased such that device 10 can 17 ¦ be used to record a "conference" among individuals who are 18 I disposed at some distance from microphone 12. In the 19 ¦ momentary record mode, the gain of the recording electronics 20 , is reduced, thus making the pick-up sensitivity of the 21 ¦ device less sensitive. In the momentary record mode, it is 22 ¦ expected that the user will hold device 10 in close 23 ¦ proximity to his mouth. With reduced pick-up sensitivity, 24 am`oient noises will not be recoraed and, thus, such noises 2$ will not interfere with the user's dictation. ~urthermore, 26 the operation of record button 24 establishes the momentary 27 record mode for so long as this button is operated. Upon 28 release of the record button, the mode of device 10 is 2g changed over to an inactive, or stop, mode. ~owever, when conference record button 22 is operated, the conference 31 record mode is established, and this mode remains "latchedr 32 even when the conference record button is released.

Il -12-il _ . ;

1 `~ 31 1 Rewind/play button 28 is adapted, when operated, 2 to dispose device 10 in a rewind mode, whexeby the magnetic 8 tape is driven in the reverse direction at a relatively high rate of speed. Upon release of button 28, the direction in ~ which th~ tape is driven is reversed, and the rate at which 6 the tape now is moved in the forward direction iB reduced to q the speed at which information can be played ~ack. It is 8 appreciated that this speed is equal to the speed at which g the tape is driven when either conference record button 22 or momentary record button 24 is operated. Stop button 26, 11 when operated, functions to change over device 10 from an 12 active mode (e.g. record, play, etc.) to an inactive, or 18 stop mode. It is appreciated that, in this inactive or stop 14 mode, the tape is maintained stationary. I
Cue/erase button 30 is adapted, when operated 16 momentarily, to record a "cue" signal on the magnetic tape 17 and, additionally, to provide a cue indication which 18 represents the location along the tape at which the cue 19 ¦ signal is recorded. This cue indication enables the user to 20 l¦ rapidly move the tape in either the rewind or fast forward 21 modes to the location at which that cue signal is recorded.
: æ Preferably, cue indications representing "letter~ and 23 "instruction" cues, respectively, may be recorded by selectively operating the cue button. For example, the "letter" cue indication is provided, and a corresponding 26 "letter~ cue signal is recorded, upon a single momentary 27 operation of cue button 30. This designates the end of a 28 letter, or message, or segment of dictation, that has been recorded. Upon a repeated momentary operation of the cue button within a predetermined time period, for example, if 81 the cue button is operated twice within a period of 1 32 l ,:
:

1 ,""'4~''1 1 ¦ second, an "instruction" c~e is indicated and recorded to 2 ¦ designate the location of a recorded instruction.
8 ¦ As will be described below, display 40 includes a 4 ¦ plural-digit (e.g. a 3-digit) numerical display 42 which ~ ¦ normally functions as a tape counter to provide a numerical 6 ¦ indication of the amount of tape which has been transported, 7 ¦ thereby repres~nting the present position of the tape.
~ ¦ ~eset/mode button 32 is adapted, when operated,or pushed for 9 ¦ a prolonged period of time, to reset numerical display 42.
10 ¦ When the reset/mode button is operated momentarily, the 11 ¦ information displayed by numerical display 42 is changed 12 ¦ over, or toggled, to display the number of the letter, or 18 ¦ message that has been recorded~ and/or the number of the 1~ ¦ particular letter or message which is in position to be (or 15 ¦ is in the process of being) played back. Also, if device 10 _ 16 ! is in its record or fast forward or rewind mode, numerical 17 1 display 42 displays the number o~ the instruction that has lg ! been recorded or that has been reached, respectively.
19 ~ast forward button 34, when operated, functions to dispose device l~ in its fast forward mode in which the æl magnetic tape is transported at a relatively rapid speed in 22 the forward direction. In this mode, when the tape has been 23 transported to the end of a letter (or message) or to a 24 location at which an instruction had been recorded, the tape 26 transport provided in device 10 is temporarily interrupted 26 so as to npause" at that location and the number of the next 2~ letter or of the instruction which has been reached is 28 displayed. Hence, the tape may be rapidly transported to 29 the beginning of a letter or an instruction. Similarly, the tape may be rapidly transported in the reverse direction to 81 a letter or instruction upon the operation of rewindiplay 32 button 28. ~hat is, when device lO is disposed in the U
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1 ¦ rewind mode of operation, the tape is rapidly rewound until 2 ¦ the end of a letter (or message) or the location at which an 8 instruction had been recorded is reached, whereupon the tape 4 transport "pauses" thereat and the number of the next letter ~ or of the instruction is displayed.
6 ~nable button 36 functions in a manner analogous ~ to a POW~ ON switch. Device 10 is provided with a 8 ¦ programmed microprocessor which is responsive to the 9 ¦ selective actuation of the illustrated control buttons to 10 ¦ control both the operation of the device and the information 11 ¦ displayed by display 40. The manner in which this 12 ¦ microprocessor operates is described in detail in copending 13 ¦ application Serial No. 469~788- When not in use, device 10 14 and the microprocessor therein are disposed in a dormant, or non-operating condition. When the device is to be opera~ed 16 by the user, enable button 36 is operated so as to change 17 ¦ over the device from itc dormant condition to an inactive 18 ¦ mode, thus awaiting subsequent actuation of a control I 19 ¦ button. As will be described below, when device 10 is 20 ¦ disposed in its inactive mode, which corresponds to a "stop"
21 ¦ mode, both the device and the microprocessor will change 22 ¦ over to the dormant condition automatically if no active 23 ¦ mode is initiated within a predetermined time period.
æ4 ¦ Stated otherwise, when the device is disposed in its stop 25 1 mode it will revert to its dormant condition unless 26 ¦ conference record button 22, momentary record button 24, 27 ¦ rewind/play button 28 or fast forward button 34 is operated 28 ¦ within the aforementioned time period. The operation of ¦ enable button 36 will bring the microprocessor out of the ~0 1 dormant condition.

31 ¦ As mentioned above, display 40 is provided with a 32 ¦ plural-digit numerical display 42. As one example thereof, I
l -15-~ '3~8 1 ~ ) 1 ¦ numerical display 42 may be comprised of a 3-digit display, 2 ¦ each digit being represented by a 7-segment LCD element or 8 other conventional visual indication numerical display ¦ device. This numerical display is adapted to be incremented ~ ¦ and decremented as the tape is driven so as to provide a 6 ¦ numerical indication of the amcunt of tape which has been 7 ¦ transported.
8 ¦ Display 40 also is provided with a bar graph, or 9 ¦ index, display 44, a "record/play~ indicator 45, and a 10 ¦ rletter/instruction" indicator 48. Bar graph display 44 is 11 ¦ comprised of a plurality of individual elements or segments, 12 such as LCD segments, which are adapted to be selectively 13 energized to provide an indication of the approximate 14 quantity of tape which has been transported, thereby 1~ providing a bar graph display of the present position of the 16 ¦ tape. As an example, if bar graph display 44 is formed of 17 ¦ ten segments, each segment may represent approximately 10 18 I of the overall length of tape; and as successive tape is 19 1I transported in the forward direction, additional ones of 20 ¦! segments 44 are energized. Preferably, the segments which 21 11 comprise the bar graph display are selectively energized to 22 1 provide a left~to-right shiftiny effect when device 10 is 23 ,I disposed in the fast forward mode; and these segments are 24 , energized to provide a right-to-left shifting effect when 26 the device is disposed in its rewind mode.
26 "Record/play" indicator 46 is adapted to be 27 energized to display REC when device 10 is disposed in its 28 ~ record mode and to display PLAY when the device is disposed i in its playback mode. This provides the user with an ~0 indication of the particular mode of operation in which the device is disposed. "Letter/instruction" indicator 48 is ~2 1 1~ 81 1 adapted to display LTR when a letter cue signal is recorded 2 and to display INS when an instruction cue signal is 8 recorded. Also, upon the momentary operation of reset/mode 4 but~on 32, the indication LT~ is displayed together with a B numerical indication by display ~2 to indicate the number of ~ the paxticular letter then juxtaposed the recordJplayback 7 head of device 10. Additionally, when the record medium 8 with which device 10 is used is rewound or advanced rapidly 9 to the end of a previously recorded letter, or to a previously recorded instruction, the indication LTR or INS, 11 respectively, and the number of that letter or instruction 12 which has been accessed are displayed.
13 In the preferred embodiment, the record medium 14 which i5 used with device 10 is a capstan-driven cassette having a magnetic tape which extends between supply and 16 take-up reels. ~ single, bi-directional two-speed motor is 17 provided to drive the capstan and, also, to drive supply and 18 take-up reel spindles, respectively. A relatively simple 19 transmission, such as a belt-drive, is used to couple the motor to the capstan and also to the supply and take-up reel 21 spindles. Preferably, suitable clutches are provided in the 22 spindles to permit the tape to be bi-directionally driven between the reels.
24 A pinch roller is mounted on a movable device, referred to herein as an actuator, in a manner 26 similar to that described in U.S. patent 4,547,821.
27 During record and play modes of operation, the actuator is energized such that the pinch roller fully engages the capstan, thereby "pinching" the tape therebetween. The 800 capstan is driven by energizing the motor in the forward 81 direction, thereby transporting the tape from the supply 32 reel to the take-up reel. A suitable record/playback head -17- ' 1, ,~1 1 als~ i5 m~unted on the actuator so as to be in good magnetic ~ contact with the tape when the pinch roller is engaged.
$ Consequently, information may be recorded on or played back from the tape by this head.
~ As described in copending application Serial No.
6 469,788, when letter cue signals are recorded, the 7 instantaneous count of the tape counter, also referred to 8 herein as a position counter, is stored in an addressed 9 location of a letter cue memory. ~As a simplified example, the position count is stored in the fixst addressable 11 location of the letter cue memory when the first letter cue 12 signal is recorded, thus resulting in the storage of an 13 end-of-message count which represents the location of the 14 end of the first message. After the user completes his dictation of the second message, another letter cue signal 16 is recorded; and the position count is stored as an 17 end-of-message count in the second addressable location of 18 the letter cue memory. A similar operation is carried out 19 for the third, fourth, and other end-of-message counts.
Thus, the particular address at which an end-of-message 21 count is stored represents the number of the message associated with that stored end-of-message count.
23 ¦ A schematic representation of a letter cue memory 24 ¦ 14 in which are stored five separate end-of-message counts 25 ¦ is illustrated in PIG. 2. As a numerical example, position 26 ¦ count ~950] is stored at address 1, position count ~114~] is 2~ 1 stored at address 2, and so on, as illustrated.
28 ¦ As will be explained, the letter cue memory 29 ¦ location addresses serve as information representing the 80 ¦ number of the message whose end-of-message count is stored gl ¦ at that address. This information, the memory location 32 address, is used to display the number of the message then I ..
¦ lB-~ 331-2230 1 ¦ juxtaposed the transducer of the record/playback device, 2 ¦ that is, the num'oer of the message that has been reached.
8 ¦ One te~hnique for displa~ing the number of the message that 4 ¦ has been reached is aescri`oed in copending application 5 ¦ Serial No. 469,788. Another technique that can be used to 6 ¦ display the number of the message that has been reached is 7 ¦ based upon a determination of which stored end-of-message 8 ¦ count is less than the instantaneous position count and 9 ¦ which stored end-of-message count is greater than that 10 ¦ position count. If the position count is represented as x, 11 ¦ then the end-of-message counts that are stored in the 12 ¦ respective cue memory addresses are read out in sequence 13 ¦ and each end of-message count is compared to position count 14 ¦ x. When it is determined that x is greater than'the 15 ¦ end-of-message count read out of one address location but is 16 ¦ less than the end-of-message count read out from the next 17 ¦ address location, it is concluded that the number of the 18 l message then juxtaposed the transducer is the message 19 ¦ associated with the larger end-of-message count. The 2N ¦ address at which is stored this larger end-of-message count 21 is displayed as the num`oer of the message that has been 22 reached.
23 As an alternative, the difference between x and 24 1 each stored end-of-message count that is greater than x is 25 ¦ sensed and the address at which is stDred the 26 ¦ end-of-message count having the smallest difference is used 27 ¦ to indicate the number of the message that has been reached.
28 ¦ As yet another alternative, each stored 29 ¦ end-of-message count is read out from letter cue memory 14 and is compared tD x. ~he address of the memory location at ~1 which is stored the last end-of-message count that is less ~ r~ 1 331-2230 1 ¦ than x is incremented by 1 and used to display the number of 2 ¦ the message that has been reached.
8 ¦ In accordance with any of the foregoing 4 ¦ alternatives, if it is assumed that x equals [1400~, this 6 ¦ position ccunt is compared to each of the end-of-message 6 ¦ counts stored in letter cue memory 14. It is seen that, in 7 1 accordance with this example, x is greater than the 8 ¦ end-of-message count stored at address 3, but x is less than 9 ¦ the end-of-message count stored at address 4. ~ence, it is 10 ¦ concluded that some portion of message "4" is juxtaposed the 11 ¦ transducer and address 4 is displayed as the number of 12 ¦ the message which has been reached.
13 ¦ ~IG. 3 is a schematic representation of a length 14 ¦ of magnetic tape 20 upon which five messages have been 15 ¦ recorded with letter cue signals designating the ends of 16 ¦ those messages recorded at locations corresponding to 17 position counts 195D], [1140], [1375], [1590] and [1750], 18 consistent with the schematic representation of the letter 19 cue memory of PIG. 2. It is, of course, recognized that the ; position count may be an actual count that is obtained by a 21 counter which counts chopper pulses that are generated as 22 magnetic tape 20 is driven, and as described more 23 ¦ particularly in copending application Serial No.469~788.
24 ¦ Normally, when a cassette is removed from the 2$ ¦ recc~rd/playback device or when a fresh cassette is loaded 26 ¦ thereinto, the tape position counter is reset to an initial 27 ¦ count [0000]. This automatic resetting may be achieved by a 2B ¦ suitable switch that is opened upon the removal of the 29 ¦ cassette or that is closed upon the insertion of a fresh 30 ¦ cassette. Although no ambiguity in the number of the 31 ¦ message that is displayed will occur if the position counter 32 ¦ is reset to [0000] at the very beginning of the magnetic i ~ 3~

1 tape, that is, if the tape of a fresh cassette i.s fully 2 rewound before being loaded into the device, ambiguity may 8 result in the display of the message number if magnetic tape 4 20 has been partially rewound, or partially used, prior to its loading into the record/playback device. Let it be 6 assumed that, as shown in FIG. 3, an arbitrary reference .
7 location is assumed by the magnetic tape at the time that it 8 is loaded into the device. Hence, although a portion of the 9 ¦ tape already has been transported from its supply reel to 10 ¦ its take-up reel, the position counter nevertheless is reset 11 ¦ to a count of [ODOD] when the cassette is loaded into the 12 ¦ device, this count identifying the reference location of the 18 I magnetic tape, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Let it be further ~4 ¦ assumed that tape 20 is transported in the usual manner, and 15 ¦ that letter cue signals are recorded at locations 16 I represented by end-of-message counts [9S0~, [1140], and so 17 l, on, as is also illustrated.
18 ,' So long as magnetic tape 20 is not rewound to a 19 ¦~ location that precedes reference location 1000O], a proper 20 ii display of the message then juxtaposed the transducer will 21 I be pro~ided, as discussed above. ~owever, if tape 2~ is 22 I rewound sufficiently, the position count will decrement to 23 il the count 10000] and then will reach the count l9999] from 24 i which it will be further decremented. Thus, after passing 25 ¦ beyond the reference location of tape 20, the instantaneous 26 1 count of the positiDn counter will exceed the maximum 2~ ¦ end-of-message count that is stored in letter cue memory 14.
28 ¦ When this greater positioll count is compared to the 29 i end-of-message counts read out from the letter cue memory, ¦
~01I the message number determining operation will erroneously ~1 j conclude that the tape is at some position downstream of the 82 location corresponding to end-of-message count,11750], and i' I
~ 21-I ~Jl~
~ ;4~ 1 1 it will conclude that message "6" has been reached. Thus, 2 even though the tape merely has been rewound to a location 8 that precedes the reference location, the message number 4 display, if accessed, will indicate that message r6" is ~ juxtaposed the transducer.
6 The foregoinq ambiguity is removed by the present 7 invention in which, rather than reset the position counter 8 to the count ~0000] when a cassette is replaced (i. e. when 9 a previously used cassette is removed or when a fresh cassette is loadedJ, the present invention proceeds by 11 presetting the position count to a predetermined count which 12 cannot be decremented to [0000] even if the entire length of 13 tape 20 is rewound. Thus, if tape 20 had been fully wound 14 onto the take-up reel at the time it is loaded into the record/playback device, thus re~uiring the full length of 16 tape to be rewound, the preset position counter, although 17 ¦ decremented, will not be decremented below the count [0000].
18 1! Hence~ the position count will not "roll over"; and an 19 1l ambiguous indication of the number of the message that has 20 1I been reached on tape 20 will not occur.
21 1~ ~efore describing the manner in which the 22 (, microprocessor that is used with display 40 operates, 23 il reference is made to FIGS. 4 and 5 which schematically 24 represent other embodiments of a.letter cue memory 16 or a letter/instruction cue memory 18. In the FIG. 4 embodiment, 26 in addition to storing each end-of-message count at a 27 respective addressed location, the number of the message 28 whose end is represented by the stored count also is stored 2g 1, in the same ~or associated~ memory address. Thus, when an 30 ¦~ end-of-message count is read out from memory 16 r the number ~ of the letter associated with that count also is read out.
32 When using the embodiment of PIG. 4, the read-out message 1' -22-:

1 "~ '31 1 ¦ number (referred to as a letter count) may be used in place 2 ¦ f the memory address to indicate the number of the ~essage that has been reached. The schematic illustration in FIG. 5 4 of cue memory 18 is similar to that shown in FIG. 4,~except ~ that in the FI~. 5 embodiment each addressable location 6 stores, in addition to a tape count~ the number of the 7 message or instruction that is associated with that ~ape 8 ! count. For example, in the first addressable location of 9 ¦ cue memory 18, the end-of-message count 1950] is stored, lO I together with a letter count 18Ll which, in this example, ~l represents that the end of the first message is recorded at 12 position L950]. Similarly, in the second addressable l~ location of cue memory 18 is stored the count ~1140]
14 together with a letter count lBL2. This letter count lBL2 ~5 represents that the end of the second message (or l~tter~ is 16 ¦, recorded at position count [1140]. -1 17 1 The count 1l250] is stored at the third 18 ¦ addressable location of cue memory lB, and this position l9 ¦ count is associated with an instruction count 18Il which represents that the first instruction is recorded at 21 j` position 1125~}.
22 1 In similar manner, letter count lBL3 is stored at 23 ~ the same address as position count [1375], representing that 24 I the end of the third message is recorded at this position;
2$ and instruction lBI2 is recorded at the same address as 26 position count [1450], representing that this is the 27 location at which the second instruction is recorded.
2~ 1 Alternatively, the letter or instruction counts may be 29 '` stored at addresses which are associated (e. g. linked) with 80 , the addresses at which the position counts are stored. When ; 81 ll the e~bodiment shown in FIG. 5 is used, the number of the 32 ~ message that is associated with a stored end-of-message ', -23-' 1''`'''~'',~

1 ¦ count or, alternati~ely, the number of an instruction that 2 ¦ is associated with a stored position count, is read out and 8 I used to display the number of the message (or letter) or the 4 ¦ number of the instruction that has been reached. It is ~ ¦ appreciated that the number of the message or instruction is 6 ¦ determined as a function of the comparison between the 7 ¦ instantan20us position count and the counts stored in cue 8 ¦ memory lB. If one end-of-message count is greater than the 9 ¦ instantaneous position count and the next successive end-of-message is less than the position count, the message 11 number associated with the gxeater end-of-message count is 12 ¦ utilized to indicate the number of the message which has 18 ¦ been reached.
14 I Turning now to the flow chart shown in PIG. 6, it 15 ¦ will be appreciated that only the relevant portion of the 16 ¦ overall program of the microprocessor is described. This 17 ¦I microprocessor may be similar to the one described in 18 ¦~ cop~nding application Serial No.469r7E8~ and the overall 19 ,¦ proyram thereof may be similar to that shown in FIG. 2 of 20 1, that application. This overall program is referred to in 21 ~1, FIG. 6 as main loop 60. PIG. 6 also illustrates the routine æ 1, that, for example, may be en~ered from the main loop, this 23 ;, routine serving to avoid ambiguities in determining the 24 ¦ particular number of the message which is juxtaposed the 2~ ¦ record/playback transducer. The routine shown by the flow 26 I chart in FIG. 6 may be executed periodically, for example, 27 ¦ once during each cycle of main loop 60, or the routine may 28 !I be executed more or less often, as may be desired. The ' !
2g , periodicity of the execution of this routine need not be ~0 I dependent or contingent upon the occurrence of other events 81 I but, rather, may simply be designed into the microprocessor 32 program.

' -24-1.''`"'''~ .' 1 In the routine shown in FIG. 6, inquiry 62 first 2 is made as to w}-ether a cassette ~or other record medium) 8 has been removed from the record/playback device. If this ~ inquiry is answered in the aflirmative, the routine advances 6 to instruction 64 whereat the position counter is preset to 6 a predetermined count. As one numerical example, if the 7 record/playback device is used with a cassette having a 8 fixed length of tape on which thirty minutes of dictation 9 may be recorded, it is expected that less than 2,048 chopper pulses will be generated if the entire length of tape is 11 ~ transported. Thus, by presetting the position counter to a 12 , count of [2048], it is recognized that, even if the entire lS length of tape is rewound, the position counter will not be 14 decremented below the count [0000~. It is to be noted here that the position counter should have a counting capacity 16 i sufficient to be incremented to a count of [4096]. More -17 !~ generally, the position counter should be able to be 18 l incremented to a count that is twice the preset count.
19 " Hence, if a fresh cassette happens to be fully rewound ~0 1I before being loaded into the device, the counter can be ~1 il incremented from its preset count to a count of, for example 22 1 ~4096], or twice the preset count, when the entire length of 23 1, tape is transported.
24 ' After presetting the position counter, or if 25 I inquiry 6~ is answered in the negative, the routine advances 2~ ~ to inquiry 66 to determine if a chopper pulse transition has 2~ occurred. A chopper pulse transition is represented as a 2~ transition from a binary "l" level to a binary "o~, or vice 29 ' versa, in the voltage output generated from the chopper ~0 wheel that, as described above, preferably is mechanically 81 ll coupled to the supply reel drive spindle of the 32l, record/playback device. Xf a chopper pulse transition has I
!

_ . 1 ' ., ... U
~ l''`','li~il 1 not occurred, the routine returns to main loop 60. ~owever, 2 if a chopper pulse transition is present, the routine ~ advances to inquiry 68 to determine if the tape is 4 transported in the forward or reverse direction.
6 If tape is being transported in the forward 6 direction, the position counter is incremented, as at 70;
7 and this position counter is decremented, as at 72, if tape 8 is being transported in the reverse direction. After the 9 counter is incremented or-decremented, the routine advances 10 ¦ to instruction 74 (which may comprise a set of 11 ¦ instructions), whereat the position count is compared to the 12 ¦ end-of-message counts stored in the cue memory, as discussed 13 ¦ above. Then, depending upon which end-of-message count is 14 ¦ greater than the position count and which end-of-message 15 ¦ count is less than the position count, the appropriate 16 i number of the letter that has been reached is displayed, as 17 1 at 76. The routine then returns to main loop 60.
18 ! It is recognized that the position counter is 19 I preset to the predetermined count of, for example, 2,048 (or 20 1 greater), when a cassette has been removed from the 21 , record/playback device. If a cassette has not been removed, 22 1I this preset operation is not carried out. As an 23 ,1 alternative, the position counter may be preset to the 24 j predetermined count when a fresh cassette is loaded into the i 26 I device. ln either embodiment, it is sufficient if the 26 ! position counter is preset to the predetermined count before 2~ any forward movement of tape is initiated. It isl 2~ appreciated, therefore, that other means may be used to Z9 I preset the position counter accordingly. Although ~0 conventional switches or other sensing devices responsive to the removal or insertion of a cassette may be relied upon, 32,' other means, such as a forward movement sensor, a sensor .. :

l ~ ~ ~r~ l 331-2230 1 responsive to the first chopper pulse generated when t~pe 2 moves in the forward direction, a sensor responsive to a ~ control button which commands ~orward tape movement, or the 4 like, may be used.
6 While the present invention has been particularly 6 shown and described with reference to a preferred 7 embodiment, it will be readily appreciated that various 8 changes and modifications may be made without departing from g the spirit and scope of the invent1on. For example, other record media may be used with this invention, such as a 11 magnetic disk, a bubble memory, a solid-state semiconductor 12 memory, or the like. Also, the position counter may be lS preset to any desired count, provided that this count will ~4 not be decremented below a zero count if the entire length 1~ of record medium is rewound. Further, any suitable means, 16 ¦ such as, but Dot limited to, those described above may be 17 I used to preset the position counter, as when the record ~ medium is removed from or loaded into the record/playback l9 I device, or at any other suitable time. While this careful preset operation preferably should be carried out 21 I automatically, manual means may be provided for presetting 22 ~ the counter, such as, in addition to those described above, 23 ¦ the manual operation of the enable button.
24 It is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as including the foregoing as well as other 26 chaDges and modifications.

29 1' 3~
81~1 i 321j i -27-'

Claims

1. An improvement in a position counting method used with a bi-directionally movable record medium on which at least one message is recorded, the medium being loaded into a record/playback device and juxtaposed the transducer of said record/playback device, and in which the medium may not be fully rewound when loaded thereinto and advanced for a record/playback operation, said method including the steps of incrementing and decrementing a position count as said record medium moves in forward and reverse directions, respectively, from an arbitrary reference location thereof exhibited when loaded into said record/playback device, said position count being preset to a predetermined count corresponding to said arbitrary reference location; storing end-of-message position counts representing respective locations relative to said arbitrary reference location at which ends of messages are recorded; and determining which stored end-of-message position count is greater than a position count representing the present position relative to said arbitrary reference location of the record medium and which stored end-of-message position count is less than said position count; said improvement avoiding an ambiguity in determining which stored end-of-message position count is greater or less than said position count in the event that said record medium is rewound behind the arbitrary reference location thereof; said improvement comprising selecting said predetermined count to have a value great enough that, regardless of an arbitrary reference location of a new record medium loaded arbitrary reference location of a new record medium loaded into said record/playback device, said position count is not decremented below a count of zero when said record medium moves in the reverse direction to a location which precedes said reference location.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said predetermined count is at least equal to the maximum position count which would obtain if said record medium is advanced from its beginning to its end.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said position count is preset when the record medium then present in said record/playback device is removed therefrom.

4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said position count is preset when a new record medium is loaded into said record/playback device.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein at least one and typically several messages are recorded successively on said record medium, and wherein each end-of-message position count is associated with information representing the number of that message such that the number of the message juxtaposed said transducer is determined by comparing the present position count to those end-of-message position counts which are greater and less than said present position count.

6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein each end-of-message position count is stored in a respective addressable storage location, and the information representing the number of each message is the address of each said storage location.

7. The improvement of claim 5 wherein each end-of-message position count is stored in a memory, and the information representing the number of each message is numerical information appended to an associated end-of-message count.

8. In a record/playback device having a transducer for recording messages on and playing back said messages from a bidirectional movable record medium loaded into the record/playback device, which medium may not be fully rewound when loaded thereinto and advanced for a record/playback operation, apparatus including counter means for providing a position count that is incremented and decremented as said record medium moves in forward and reverse directions, respectively, from an arbitrary reference location thereof exhibited when loaded into said record/playback device;
counter preset means for presetting said counter means to a predetermined position count corresponding to said arbitrary reference location; storage means for storing the position count present when a message is ended, each stored count being an end-of-message count representing a location on the medium of the end of a message relative to said arbitrary reference location; and means for determining which end-of-message count is greater than a position count representing the present position of the record medium relative to said arbitrary reference location and which end-of-message count is less than said position count; the improvement avoiding an ambiguity in determining which stored end-of-message count is greater or less than said position count in the event that rewound behind the arbitrary reference location thereof, said record medium is wherein said improvement comprises said counter preset means presetting said counter means to said predetermined position count, said predetermined position count being selected to have a value great enough that, regardless of an arbitrary reference location of a new record medium loaded into said device, said position count is not decremented below a count of zero when said record medium moves in the reverse direction to a location which precedes said reference location.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said predetermined count is at least equal to the maximum position count to which said counter means would be incremented if said record medium is advanced from its beginning to its end.

10. The invention of claim 8 wherein said counter preset means comprises sensing means for sensing the removal of a record medium from said device; and means responsive to said sensing means for presetting said counter means.

11. The invention of claim 8 wherein said counter preset means comprises sensing means for sensing the loading of a new record medium into said device; and means responsive to said sensing means for presetting said counter means.

12. The invention of claim 8 further including means for providing message number information to identify the number of each message whose end-of-message count is stored in said storage means; and display means for displaying the number of the message juxtaposed said transducer as a function of the determination of which end-of-message counts are greater and less than said position count.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said display means includes means for determining the end-of-message count that is less than said position count by the smallest difference therebetween; and means for displaying a message number derived from the message number information which identifies the number of the message having the last-mentioned end-of-message count.

14. The invention of claim 12 wherein said storage means comprises an addressable memory having respective storage locations for storing end-of-message counts; and wherein said message number means comprises address generating means for generating memory addresses to read out the stored end-of-message counts for comparison with said position count; each address representing the number of the message whose end-of-message count is stored in the addressed location.

15. The invention of claim 12 wherein said storage means comprises an addressable memory having respective storage locations for storing end-of-message counts and message number information; and address generating means for generating memory addresses to read out the stored end-of-message counts for comparison with said position count and to read out the message number information from said storage locations, whereby the number of the first message whose end-of-message count is greater than said position count is displayed.