WO1999041747A1

WO1999041747A1 - Item of media with voice data storage capacity

Info

Publication number: WO1999041747A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/002765
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zbigniew Karwowski
Original assignee: Zbigniew Karwowski
Priority date: 1998-02-11
Filing date: 1999-02-10
Publication date: 1999-08-19
Also published as: AU2594699A

Abstract

An item of media with voice data storage capacity includes an item of media stock and a data storage device. The item of media stock has at least one region within which the data storage device is positioned. The item of media stock is configured such that a data writing mechanism is able to write voice data to the data storage device and such that a data reading mechanism is able to read voice data from the data storage device.

Description

-1-

ITEM OF MEDIA WITH VOICE DATA STORAGE CAPACITY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an item of media with voice data storage capacity and, more particularly, pertains to an item of media with a data storage device which is configured to facilitate a transfer of voice data between the data storage device and a data reading mechanism and/or data writing mechanism. Description of the Related Art

Items of media, for purposes of this disclosure, generally include those items upon which text, illustrations or other indicia are or can be printed. Exemplary items of media, or items of media stock, include stationary, sheets of note paper, notes from a pad of notes where each note includes an adhesive portion, cards (such as postcards, personal cards, business cards and sports cards), labels, and pages from a book. While information embodied in the text, illustrations or other indicia is conveyed to a person who reads or views these items of media, there are many situations where it would be desirable to append additional information or data such as an audio recording to these items. OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide such an item of media with data storage capacity. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide an item of media stock with a storage device for audio or voice data.

It is another object to provide an item of media stock with an integrally formed data storage device including a plurality of parallel data storage regions.

It is another object to provide an item of media stock with a data storage device, with the item of media stock configured such that a data recording mechanism is able to write voice data to the data storage device.

It is another object to provide an item of media stock with a data storage device, with the item of media stock configured such that a data reading mechanism is able to read voice data from the data storage device.

In accordance with a specific illustrative embodiment of the present invention, an item of media with voice data storage capacity includes: an item of media stock with a plurality of regions; and a data storage device positioned within one of the regions, with the data storage -2-

device being configured such that voice data can be written to the data storage device and read from the data storage device.

In another aspect of the present invention, an item of media with data storage capacity includes: an item of media stock including a data storage device, the item of media stock being configured such that a data writing mechanism is able to write voice data to the data storage device.

In another aspect of the present invention, an item of media with data storage capacity includes: an item of media stock including a data storage device, the item of media stock being configured such that a data reading mechanism is able to read voice data from the data storage device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary preferred item of media, in the form of a sheet of note paper from a pad of notes where each note includes an adhesive portion, with data storage capacity according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a back view of the item of media of FIG. 1 showing its adhesive portion; FIG. 3 is a front view of an alternative exemplary preferred item of media, in the form of a piece of writing material, with data storage capacity according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is a back view of the item of media of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a second alternative exemplary preferred item of media, in the form of a post card, with data storage capacity according to the present invention; FIG. 6 is a back view of the item of media of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a third alternative exemplary preferred item of media, in the form of a card or photograph, with data storage capacity according to the present invention; FIG. 8 is a back view of the item of media of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an exemplary preferred embodiment of a recorder/player unit according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a graph over time of a voice signal showing signal cut-off points at which a header and tail are placed by a processor of the recorder/player unit of FIG. 9; -3-

FIG. 11 is a front view of a data storage device of one of the items of media, the data storage device being in the form of parallel magnetic tracks;

FIG. 12 is a front view of a data storage device of one of the items of media, the data storage device being in the form of concentric magnetic tracks; FIG. 13 is a front view of a data storage device as in FIG. 11 additionally showing a bank of magnetic heads of the recorder/player unit moving across the magnetic tracks;

FIG. 14 is a front view of a data storage device as in FIG. 12 additionally showing a bank of magnetic heads of the recorder/player unit moving across the magnetic tracks;

FIG. 15 is front view of a clamping mechanism of the recorder/player unit of FIG. 9 in its unlocked position;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the clamping mechanism of FIG. 15; FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional, side view of the clamping mechanism of FIG. 15; FIG. 18 is front view of a clamping mechanism of the recorder/player unit of FIG. 9 in its locked position; FIG. 19 is a side view of the clamping mechanism of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional, side view of the clamping mechanism of FIG. 18; FIG. 21 illustrates the sequential storage of voice samples in the controller memory of the recorder/player unit of FIG. 9;

FIG. 22 illustrates a sequential accessing of stored voice samples from the controller memory of the recorder/player unit of FIG. 9;

FIG. 23 illustrates the data transfer over time for a forward read or write of the magnetic heads of the recorder/player unit of FIG. 9;

FIG. 24 illustrates the data transfer over time for a backward read or write of the magnetic heads of the recorder/player unit of FIG. 9; FIG. 25 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary preferred system for recording voice data to and playing voice data back from a data storage device on an item of media;

FIG. 26 is a high-level electrical schematic of the interconnections between the electronics, user input mechanisms and data transfer unit of the recorder/player unit of FIG. 9; FIG. 27 is a flowchart of a diagnostic software module executed by a processor of the recorder/player unit of FIG. 9;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a keys and sensors monitoring software module executed by a processor of the recorder/player unit of FIG. 9; -4-

FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a voice recording and silence removal software module executed by a processor of the recorder/player unit of FIG. 9;

FIG. 30 is a flowchart of a voice slicing software module executed by a processor of the recorder/player unit of FIG. 9; FIG. 31 is a flowchart of a voice writing software module executed by a processor of the recorder/player unit of FIG. 9;

FIG. 32 is a flowchart of a voice reading software module executed by a processor of the recorder/player unit of FIG. 9;

FIG. 33 is a flowchart of a voice reconstruction software module executed by a processor of the recorder/player unit of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 34 is a flowchart of a voice de-noising and voice playback software module executed by a processor of the recorder/player unit of FIG. 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGs. 1-8 show exemplary preferred items of media with data storage capacity. A note 50 is the item of media shown in front and back views in FIGs. 1 and 2, respectively. The note 50 includes a plurality of regions which, in the illustrated embodiment, include a text region 52, a write protected region 54, an adhesive region 56, and a data storage device region 58. An exemplary preferred note 50 comprises a sheet of note paper from a pad of notes where each note includes an adhesive material 60 within the adhesive region 56. Another exemplary preferred note 50 comprises a label.

In a preferred embodiment, a data storage device 62, such as a magnetic strip or tracks, is positioned within the data storage device region 58. Although the text region 52 and data storage region 58 do not overlap in FIGs. 1 and 2, it should be understood that they may. In fact, the regions in FIGs. 1-8 are not necessarily mutually exclusive and may overlap, or intersect each other as appropriate.

Referring to FIGs. 3 and 4, a piece of writing material 70 includes a plurality of regions which, in the illustrated embodiment, include a text region 52, a write protected region 54, and a data storage device region 58. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the region 54 comprises a second recording area thereby providing a material 70 with "double- sided" storage capacity. The piece of writing material 70 comprises, for example, a sheet of note paper, stationery, a page of a book, or a label. A data storage device 62 is positioned within the data storage device region 58. -5-

Referring to FIGs. 5 and 6, a post card 72 includes a plurality of regions which, in the illustrated embodiment, include a text region 52, a data storage device region 58, an illustration region 74, an address region 76, and a postage region 78. A data storage device

62 is positioned within the data storage device region 58. An illustration (or non-text indicia) 80 is positioned or imprinted within the illustration region 74.

Referring to FIGs. 7 and 8, a card 90 includes a plurality of regions which, in the illustrated embodiment, include a data storage device region 58 and a pattern region 92. The card 90 comprises, for example, a personal card, business card or index card. A data storage device 62 is positioned within the data storage device region 58. A pattern 94 is positioned within the pattern region 92 and comprises, for example, text, non-text indicia, a logo, an illustration, a photograph, or a combination of these elements.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a preferred item of media further includes a support member 96 secured to the note 50. The support member 96 provides structural support to the data storage region 58 when the note 50 is inserted into a mechanism adapted to either write data to or read data from the data storage device 62. The support member 96 comprises, for example, metal or plastic attached to or formed within the note 50. Although only the note 50 is shown as including the support member 96, any of the items of media 50, 70, 72, 90 may include such a support member or support members. The support member 96 can be positioned at different places on the note 50. It is also contemplated that the support member 96 can be detachably secured to the note 50.

Referring to FIG. 4, a preferred item of media further includes a magnet 98 secured (e.g., glued) to the piece of writing material 70. Although only the piece of writing material 70 is shown as including the magnet 98, any of the items of media 50, 70, 72, 90 may include a magnet. FIG. 9 shows an exemplary preferred embodiment of a recorder/player unit 100 according to the present invention. The recorder/player unit 100 comprises a housing 102 supported by foldable legs 104, a speaker 106 fitted within an aperture in the front of the housing 102, a control panel 108 and an insertion slot 110 configured as shown. A note 50 is shown partially inserted into the insertion slot 110. The housing 102 and its insertion slot 110 are preferably configured such that a portion of the note 50 including the adhesive region 56 remains outside of the housing 102 when the note 50 is fully inserted into the slot 110. -6-

This prevents the adhesive region 56 from catching on the housing 102 and enables a user of the recorder/player unit 100 to easily remove the note 50 from the unit 100 after use.

The illustrated recorder/player unit 100 is configured to both record data to and read data from the data storage device 62 of the note 50. To this end, the recorder/player unit 100 further comprises a write button 112 and a read button 114 which are depressed to initiate these functions. More specifically, the write button 112 is employed to transfer data from a memory device within the recorder/player unit 100 to the data storage device 62. The read button 114 effects a transfer of data from the data storage device 62 to the memory device within the recorder/player unit 100 and execution of a software program which processes the data to generate signals which drive an acoustic transducer of the recorder/player unit 100 to audibly reproduce voice data. The scope of the present invention additionally contemplates a simplified unit 100 which only records or only reads.

When a user wishes to record a voice sequence to the memory device within the recorder/player unit 100, a record button 116 on the control panel 108 is depressed. A conventional acoustic transducer is provided in a microphone 118 positioned at the front side of the housing 102. The recorder/player unit 100 also includes an external microphone input 120 which provides an input for a signal which overrides the signal generated by the microphone 118. Alternatively, the signal input provided at the external microphone input 120 could be superimposed over the signal generated by the microphone 118. A recording indicator 122 comprising, for example, a light emitting diode (LED), is illuminated when the recorder/player unit 100 is recording.

The control panel 108 additionally includes a rewind button 124, play button 126, fast forward button 128, pause button 130 and stop button 132 which respectively initiate their named functions. When a user wishes to play back a voice sequence which is stored in the memory device within the recorder/player unit 100, the play button 126 is depressed. The recorder/player unit 100 also includes a power supply input 134, an ON/OFF switch and indicator 136 and an external headphone jack 137.

A key aspect of the present invention is that a preferred embodiment of the recorder/player unit 100 includes a communication port which provides an electrical signal interface or communication link between a controller within the recorder/player unit 100 and a processor external thereto. In the illustrated embodiment, a serial port 138 provides this communication link. It should be appreciated that any type of communications port is -7-

considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the communication link can be at least partially wireless, e.g., via wireless modem. Also, a preferred embodiment of the recorder/player unit 100 has a housing 102 which is sized to be fitted into a card slot of a computer such as a standard PCMCIA card slot of a personal computer (PC). Electronics within the recorder/player unit 100 respond to all of the user input mechanisms and control communications between the unit 100 and any external processors.

FIG. 26 is a high-level electrical schematic showing the interconnections between the electronics, user input mechanisms, and a data transfer unit 140 of the recorder/player unit 100. That data transfer unit 140 is positioned within the housing 102 and is electrically connected via lines 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156 to electronics 142 which include a controller. Generally, the data transfer unit 140 is adapted to record slices of data on the data storage device 62 in response to control signals generated by the electronics. The data transfer unit 140 is also adapted to read the data slices from the data storage device 62 in response to the control signals generated by the electronics.

The recorder/player unit 100 includes at least one media detection sensor 158 positioned at a bottom portion of the insertion slot 110 for detecting when an item of media has been fully inserted into the slot 110. An exemplary media detection sensor 158 comprises a conventional U-shaped optical sensor. Two such sensors 158 are shown in FIG. 26 positioned at the left and right of the bottom portion of the insertion slot 110.

The recorder/player unit 100 also includes a bank of data transfer heads 160 and a drive unit 162 to which the heads 160 are secured. The data transfer heads 160 preferably comprise a plurality of conventional magnetic heads. Alternatively, the data transfer heads 160 can comprise a plurality of lasers. The drive unit 162 includes drive electronics 164 and an actuator motor 166 which is mechanically coupled to the bank of data transfer heads 160. The drive unit 162 comprises, for example, a Type KR2001A/B mechanism produced by PHK in Tokyo, Japan. The motor 166 comprises, for example, a DC MicroMotors Series 2842 motor produced by MicroMo Electronics in Clearwater, Florida.

The data transfer heads 160 are driven, in response to the control signals at lines 146, 148, along a plurality of predetermined paths. The data transfer unit 140 is positioned within the housing 102 adjacent to the insertion slot 110 and the data storage devices 62 are positioned on the items of media 50, 70, 72, 90 such that the plurality of paths overlay a -8-

plurality of data storage tracks which comprise, for example, magnetic strips or strips of a material sensitive to a laser beam. The magnetic data storage tracks can store data in analog or digital forms.

FIG. 11 shows an exemplary preferred data storage device 62, a magnetic strip, with a plurality of parallel magnetic regions 170 within the strip. As shown in FIG. 13, a bank of magnetic heads 160 is configured to be driven by the drive unit 162 along a plurality of parallel paths which overlay the plurality of parallel magnetic regions 170. FIG. 12 shows an alternative exemplary preferred data storage device 62' with a plurality of concentric magnetic regions 172 formed thereon. As shown in FIG. 14, a bank of magnetic heads 160 is configured to be driven by the drive unit 162 along a plurality of concentric paths which overlay the plurality of concentric magnetic regions 170. In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of paths are fixed in position relative to each other, the housing 102, the data storage device 62 (when the item of media is secured within the housing 102), or a combination of the above. The "slicing" concept is a key aspect of the present invention and is complemented by the division of the data storage device 62 into parallel or concentrically arranged regions of magnetic material. Each slice of data is recorded to and/or read from a single region of the data storage device 62 during a single pass of an element, e.g., write/read head, of the data transfer unit 140 across the data storage device 62, thereby eliminating the need for a long magnetic strip.

Another key aspect of the present invention is that the data transfer unit 140 and, more particularly, the drive unit 162, is configured to be driven bi-directionally along the paths. The bi-directional movement of the heads 160 provides for energy savings (longer battery life for a battery run unit) because the heads do not have to be driven to a particular end of a drive path prior to a write or read operation. To this end, the recorder/player unit 100 further includes a pair of position sensors 174 (FIG. 26) for providing an indication of position of an element of the data transfer unit 140. More specifically, the conventional position sensors 174 are positioned within the housing 102 in a manner appropriate to determine which end of a data storage track the heads 160 are positioned over. Referring to FIG. 13, this allows for detection of either a left write/read start position within a first region 176 or a right write/read start position within a second region 178. A record/read region 180 lies between the acceleration/deceleration regions 176, 178. -9-

Each data storage track has a limited amount of data storage capacity. As shown in FIG. 26, the user inputs and indicators, which are connected to the electronics 142 via I/O cable 182, also include a remaining data storage capacity indicator 184. An exemplary indicator 184 comprises a plurality of LEDs 186 which are illuminated depending upon an amount of remaining data storage capacity in the data storage device 62. For example, the "10 SEC LED" is illuminated after ten seconds of "data storage capacity" has elapsed.

FIG. 25 is a functional block diagram of the recorder/player unit 100. The illustrated unit 100 is particularly tailored to an application where an audio sequence is processed and recorded on a data storage device as data slices and where the data slices are read from the data storage device and processed to generate a reconstructed audio sequence. It should be understood, however, that the subject invention is not limited audio signals. The principles disclosed herein are similarly applicable to other signals and data, e.g., video signals.

The electronics of the recorder/player 100 comprise a controller 200, controller memory 201, voice acquisition electronics 202, sound reproduction electronics 204, a magnetic heads write/read interface 206, a user interface 208, and an external communications interface 210 functionally interconnected as shown in FIG. 25. The controller 200 preferably comprises a conventional digital signal processor (DSP) (such as the ADSP-21061 manufactured by Analog Devices) or other processor suitable for providing control signals to the data transfer heads 160 and the drive electronics 164. The voice acquisition electronics 202 include a conventional digital-to-analog (D/A) converter and function to receive an analog voice signal from the microphone 118 and convert the signal to digitized data, or more particularly, a sequence of digitized voice data. Alternatively, digital voice or other data can be directly provided to the controller 200 from an external PC via the external communications interface 210. The sound reproduction electronics 204 comprise a conventional digital-to-analog

(D/A) converter and function to receive the reconstructed digitized data from the controller 200 and convert the data to an analog signal which, after appropriate amplification, filtering, etc., is used to drive an acoustic transducer such as the speaker 106.

A key aspect of the present invention is that storage capacity is saved by processing the digitized data in real time to remove gaps of silence longer than a predetermined minimum length of time. The signal amplitude threshold corresponding to silence and the aforementioned minimum length of time are selected in view of optimizing the performance -10-

of the recorder/player unit 100 for a typical application. It should be appreciated that these values can be adjusted as necessary depending upon the application and the nature of the digitized data being processed.

After the processed digitized data is stored in the controller memory 201 (FIG. 25), software executed by the controller 200 divides the voice sequence into data slices and adds header and tail signals to each slice. FIG. 10 is a graph over time of a voice signal showing signal cut-off points 212, 214 at which a header and tail are respectively placed by the controller 200 of the recorder/player unit 100.

FIGs. 21 and 22 illustrate the sequential storage of voice samples in and accessing of voice samples from the controller memory 201.

FIG. 23 illustrates the data transfer over time for a forward read or write by the magnetic heads 160. FIG. 24 illustrates the data transfer over time for a backward read or write of the magnetic heads 160. The operation of the controller 200 is now discussed in greater detail with reference to FIGs. 27-34. Generally, the controller 200 is programmed to execute a variety of software programs or modules. FIG. 27 is a flowchart of a diagnostic software module 220 which is executed by the controller 200. At executable block 222, a diagnostic software check is performed. If an error is detected at decisional block 224, a recovery procedure block 226 is executed as shown. FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a keys and sensors monitoring software module 230 which is executed by the controller 200. At block 232, data acquisition of signals from the user input mechanisms and of the sensor interrupts is performed. Next, conventional debounce prevention processing is performed at executable block 234. At block 236, the acquired data is then stored in a memory device, or the data is used to update an appropriate register, memory, or the like.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a voice recording and silence removal software module 240 which is executed by the controller 200. When the record button 116 is depressed, the controller 200 at executable block 242 receives the digitized voice stream from the voice acquisition electronics 202 and processes the digitized voice stream to remove intervals of silence as discussed above. Next, the controller 200 executes block 244 thereby implementing de-noise processing to remove noise and disturbances. The de-noise processing includes Kalman filtering, adaptive filtering and intelligent noise detection -11-

features such as those provided in "DART", a digital audio restoration software program available from DARTECH, LLC, 7600 France Avenue South, Suite 550, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55435-5939. After the de-noise processing is completed, a conventional data compression processing step is performed at executable block 246. It should be understood that the most important aspect of the voice recording and silence removal software module 240 is executable block 242 where the intervals of silence are removed. Executable block 244 is optional and may be eliminated to reduce cost, particularly in those applications where a high fidelity recording is not needed. Similarly, executable block 246 is optional and may be eliminated to reduce cost, particularly in those applications where only a small amount of data needs to be recorded or when the data storage device 62 has a large amount of data storage capacity.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart of a voice slicing software module 250 which is executed by the controller 200. At executable block 252, the digitized voice data is divided into data slices of a predetermined length. Preferably, each data slice is not so large as to consume the data capacity of a single track on the data storage device 62. Thereafter, the header and tail signals are added to each slice at executable block 254 and the resulting data is stored in the controller memory 201.

Referring to FIG. 9, the functions controlled by the buttons on the control panel 108 should not be confused with the functions controlled by the write and read buttons 112, 114. The buttons on the control panel 108 allow the user to record a voice message to the controller memory 201 independent of whether an item of media is inserted into the housing

102. Only when the user is satisfied with the recorded message, is the record button 112 pressed to transfer the data in the DSP memory 201 to the data storage device 62 as described below. FIG. 31 is a flowchart of a voice writing software module 260 which is executed by the controller 200. After the write button 112 is depressed, a write interrupt signal is received by the controller 200 at executable block 262. At executable block 264, the data slices stored in the DSP memory 201 are transferred to the data transfer heads 160 and control signals are provided to the drive unit 162 as discussed above. In an exemplary preferred embodiment, approximately 60 seconds of speech are recorded in the DSP memory 201 in 2 seconds when the write button 112 is actuated. -12-

The recorder/player unit 100 can be modified such that a plurality of digitized and processed voice sequences can be stored in the controller memory 201. This modification facilitates the appending of several messages into a single message. For example, a voice message from person A and the dictated comments of person B are appended together to form a voice message to be sent to person C. Such a modification also enables a user to create a library of favorite or frequently used voice messages or provides for voice message archiving. To this end, saved voice messages can be downloaded from the controller memory 201 to an external processor via the serial port 138.

The controller 200 is also programmed to read the data slices from the data storage device 62, to generate reconstructed digitized voice data, and to control the audio reproduction of the reconstructed voice sequence.

An item of media that has a message recorded on its data storage device 62 (e.g., a photograph with dictated remarks from the photographer) is inserted into the insertion slot 110 when it's voice message is to be read and transferred into the controller memory 201. This reading function is accomplished by the software module described below.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart of a voice reading software module 270 which is executed by the controller 200. After the item of media is inserted into the insertion slot 110, the user depresses the read button 114. The resulting read interrupt is received at executable block 272 and processed by the controller 200. At executable block 274, the controller 200 provides signals to the drive unit 162 which controls the position of the data transfer heads 160 while they read the data slices on the data storage device 62. The data slices read from the data storage device 62 are then stored in the DSP memory 201. Actuation of the read button 114 also causes software to be executed by the controller 200 which processes the data slices to generate signals which drive the sound reproduction electronics 204, as discussed below with reference to FIGs. 33 and 34. Thus, a user effects reading, processing and audible reproduction of the data slices by depressing the read button 114.

The play button 126 is depressed when the user wishes to reconstruct and play back the digitized voice sequence from the data stored in the DSP memory 201. Accordingly, the play button 126 effects a subset of the operations initiated by the read button 114. The software executed by the controller 200 to accomplish these functions is described below.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart of a voice reconstruction software module 280 which is executed by the controller 200. At block 282, a conventional decompression processing step -13-

is executed. Next, the headers and tails are removed from each data slice at executable block 284. At block 286, the voice slices are concatenated together to restore or reconstruct the original sequence of recorded voice.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart of a voice de-noising and voice playback software module which is executed by the controller 200. The optional de-noise processing at executable block 292 includes Kalman filtering, adaptive filtering and intelligent noise detection features such as those provided in the "DART" digital audio restoration software program mentioned previously. At block 294, the controller 200 provides the reconstructed voice sequence to the sound reproduction electronics 204. It should be understood that digitized data, at various stages of the processing in FIGs. 27-34, is stored in the controller memory 201. Furthermore, the recorder/player unit 100 can be modified to include a write protect feature responsive, for example, to a hole punched in the item of media.

Another key aspect of the present invention is that the recorder/player unit 100 includes a clamping mechanism 400 (FIGs. 15-20) adapted to receive and secure an item of media in a substantially fixed position relative to the housing 102. The term "substantially fixed" means sufficiently stable so that with a particular combination of electronics 142, data transfer heads 160, drive electronics 164 and items of media, an acceptably low incidence or number of data errors is observed. The clamping mechanism 400 described below is mechanically coupled to the housing 102 and is optimized to secure an item of media which is planar or substantially planar. It should be appreciated, however, that appropriate modifications to the insertion slot 110 and the clamping mechanism 400 can be made to accommodate items of media that are not substantially planar.

FIGs. 15-17 show the clamping mechanism 400 in its unlocked position. The clamping mechanism 400 comprises a frame 402 with a gasket 404 secured thereto, a clamp member 406 with a cushioning pad 408 secured thereto, and a spring 410 positioned between the frame 402 and the clamp member 406. The frame 402 and the clamp member 406 are interfitted as shown and the spring 410 exerts an unlocking force which tends to push the frame 402 and the clamp member 406 apart.

As shown in FIG. 17, the item of media 50 fits between a gap 411 which is formed between the surfaces 404, 406 when the clamping mechanism 400 is in its unlocked position. The clamping mechanism 400 additionally includes means for bring the surfaces 404, 406 toward each other, as shown in FIGs. 18-20, to clamp the item of media 50 therebetween. -14-

The aforementioned means for bringing the surfaces toward each other generates a locking force and comprises, for example, an overcenter locking mechanism 412. An exemplary overcenter locking mechanism 412 includes a short link 414, long link 416, and link pin 418 configured as best shown in FIGs. 15 and 16. When the overcenter locking mechanism 412 is actuated, either by a motor or otherwise, the clamping mechanism 400 is put into its locked position as shown in FIGs. 18-20. In the locked position, the heads 160 are contacting the data storage device 62 at contact point 420 (FIG. 20) and the gasket 404 is holding the item of media 50 in a substantially fixed position relative to the housing 102 to better facilitate the writing of data to and the reading of data from the data storage device 62. Referring to FIGs. 16 and 19, the clamping mechanism 400 further comprises a clamping mechanism engagement sensor 420 for detecting when the clamping mechanism 400 is engaged, or in its locked position.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.

Claims

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I CLAIM: 1. An item of media with voice data storage capacity comprising: an item of media stock with a plurality of regions; and a data storage device positioned within one of said regions, said data storage device being configured such that voice data can be written to said data storage device and read from said data storage device.

2. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 1 wherein said item of media stock is substantially planar.

3. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 1 wherein said item of media stock comprises a sheet of writing material.

4. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 3 wherein said sheet includes an adhesive portion.

5. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 3 wherein said sheet is from a notepad.

6. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 1 wherein said item of media stock comprises a card.

7. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 6 wherein said card comprises a postcard.

8. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 6 wherein said card comprises a business card.

9. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 1 wherein said item of media stock comprises a label. -16-

10. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 1 wherein said item of media stock comprises a page of a book.

11. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 1 wherein said item of media stock comprises a photograph.

12. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 1 further comprising:

a magnet secured to said item of media stock.

13. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 1 further comprising:

a support member secured to said item of media stock.

14. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 1 wherein said plurality of regions comprise a text region upon which text is printed.

15. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 1 wherein said plurality of regions comprise an illustration region within which an illustration or non-text indicia is positioned.

16. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 1 wherein said plurality of regions comprise a data storage device region within which the data storage device is positioned.

17. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 1 wherein said plurality of regions comprise an adhesive region including an adhesive material.

18. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 1 wherein said data storage device comprises at least one magnetic strip. -17-

19. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 1 wherein said data storage device comprises a plurality of parallel magnetic regions.

20. The item of media with voice data storage capacity of claim 1 wherein said data storage device comprises a plurality of concentric magnetic regions.

21. An item of media with voice data storage capacity comprising: an item of media stock including a data storage device, said item of media stock being configured such that a data writing mechanism is able to write voice data to said data storage device.

22. An item of media with voice data storage capacity comprising: an item of media stock including a data storage device, said item of media stock being configured such that a data reading mechanism is able to read voice data from said data storage device.