Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus for programmed audio annotation comprises a user's computer system having a display and a modem associated therewith, and a host computer system having an audio synthesizer unit and a memory unit associated therewith. The modem of the user's system and the audio synthesizer unit of the host system are coupled telephonically. An application program is executed on the user's computer system. The application program generates a sequence of screens for display to the user. Associated with each such screen is a digital word that is provided as part of a command to the modem. In response to such command, the modem transmits a dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) signal which is received by the audio synthesizer unit of the host computer system. The memory unit of the host computer system contains digitized audio data corresponding to audio messages associated with each of the display screens of the application program. The audio synthesizer unit receives the DTMF signal and converts it to a digital address specifying a location in the memory unit. The specified digitized audio data is retrieved and is provided to the audio synthesizer unit which then synthesizes an audio signal. This audio signal is transmitted telephonically to the modem in the user's computer system where the signal is converted to an audible sound by the modem's internal speaker. Accordingly, the user hears the audible sound associated with a visual screen substantially concurrently with the display thereof.

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First Claim