Automated order entry recording method and apparatus

摘要

A system and method for recording voice messages received in an automated message exchange system. Voice messages are digitized by the message exchange system at the time they are received. At a convenient time determined by the computer of the message system, such digitized voice messages are converted back to a verbal audio signal for recording on a conventional cassette tape recorder. Other digital information stored in the message exchange system may also be verbalized for recording on the tape recorder in association with the corresponding voice message. An interface unit starts the cassette tape recorder when the message exchange system is ready to begin taping a message, conveys a signal to the message exchange system confirming that the tape recorder is operating properly, and then conveys the verbal audio signal to be recorded from the message exchange system to the cassette tape recorder. In addition, the interface unit has alarm circuitry to provide both a visual and audible indication to an attendant if the tape cassette is full or if the tape recorder has malfunctioned. Verbal messages recorded on the cassette are then transcribed into text or a machine-readable format off-line from the message exchange system.