1. A method for determining a reading voltage for reading data out of a non-volatile semiconductor memory, wherein the semiconductor memory comprises a plurality of memory cells grouped in a first memory area and a second memory area, the method comprising the steps of:
storing a given number of \u201c0\u201ds into the second memory area;
storing an equal number of \u201c0\u201ds and \u201c1\u201ds in the memory cells of the first memory area;
reading the memory cells of the first memory area using an initial first reading voltage;
adjusting the first reading voltage and re-reading the memory cells of the first memory area until an equal number of \u201c0\u201ds and \u201c1\u201ds are read out of the memory cells of the first memory area, thus obtaining a final first reading voltage;
determining an initial second reading voltage on the basis of the final first reading voltage;
reading the memory cells of the second memory area using the initial second reading voltage;
adjusting the second reading voltage and re-reading the memory cells of the second memory area until the number of \u201c0\u201ds read is equal to the number of \u201c0\u201ds stored in the second memory area, thus obtaining a final second reading voltage; and
using the final second reading voltage as a reading voltage for reading the memory cells of the semiconductor memory.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of storing an equal number of \u201c0\u201ds and \u201c1\u201ds in the memory cells of the first memory area comprises the step of storing a binary number and its complement in the first memory area.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the binary number is related to the number of \u201c0\u201ds stored in the second memory area.
4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the binary number is related to the number of read or erase cycles that the semiconductor memory has been subjected to.
5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the binary number is related to the age of the semiconductor memory.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of reading the memory cells of the first memory area comprises the step of reading the memory cells of the first memory area simultaneously.
7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the initial first reading voltage corresponds to an upper permissible reading voltage of the memory cells.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of adjusting the first reading voltage comprises the step of decreasing the first reading voltage by first voltage steps.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining an initial second reading voltage comprises the step of decreasing the final first reading voltage by a second voltage step.
10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of adjusting the second reading voltage comprises the step of decreasing the second reading voltage by third voltage steps.
11. A method for determining a reading voltage for reading data out of a non-volatile semiconductor memory, wherein the semiconductor memory comprises a plurality of memory cells grouped in a first memory area and a second memory area, the method comprising the steps of:
storing a given number of \u201c0\u201ds into the second memory area;
storing an equal number of \u201c0\u201ds and \u201c1\u201ds in the memory cells of the first memory area;
determining a first reading voltage at which an equal number of \u201c0\u201ds and \u201c1\u201ds are read out of the memory cells of the first memory area;
determining, based on the first reading voltage, a second reading voltage at which an equal number of \u201c0\u201ds read is equal to the number of \u201c0\u201ds stored in the second memory area; and
using the second reading voltage as a reading voltage for reading the memory cells of the semiconductor memory.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of storing an equal number of \u201c0\u201ds and \u201c1\u201ds in the memory cells of the first memory area comprises the step of storing a binary number and its complement in the first memory area.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the binary number is related to the number of \u201c0\u201ds stored in the second memory area.
14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the binary number is related to the number of read or erase cycles that the semiconductor memory has been subjected to.
15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the binary number is related to the age of the semiconductor memory.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A transcription system for providing real-time access to a transcript being developed from spoken words, said system comprising:
a transcription terminal for recording spoken words as units of transcribed text;
a conversion unit for translating said units of transcribed text into a generally accurate transcript of said spoken words and converting said transcript into a signal to be transmitted to an authorized receiving unit over a communication link; and
a presentation object to be transmitted to said authorized receiving unit for presenting said transcript of said spoken words.
2. The transcription system according to claim 1 further comprising a wireless access point for transmitting said signal over a wireless communication link.
3. The transcription system according to claim 2, wherein said wireless communication link is selected from a group consisting of a radio-frequency link, infrared link, and an ultrasonic link.
4. The transcription system according to claim 2 further comprising an encryption object to encrypt said signal for wireless transmission in a manner that minimizes unauthorized interception of said transcript by unauthorized receiving units.
5. The transcription system according to claim 4, wherein said encryption object encrypts said signal according to a Wireless Encryption Protocol.
6. The transcription system according to claim 1, wherein the presentation object comprises image display logic, audio playback logic, or both.
7. The transcription system according to claim 6, wherein said computer readable logic is an applet that is executable within a JAVA-enabled web browser.
8. The transcription system according to claim 1, wherein said presentation object comprises computer readable logic transmitted by said conversion unit in response to a request from said authorized receiving unit.
9. The transcription system according to claim 1, wherein said transcription terminal is one or more of a group consisting of a stenographic machine, an audio recorder, and a video recorder.
10. The transcription system according to claim 1, wherein said conversion unit comprises a portable digital computer provided with CAT software for translating said units of transcribed text into said generally accurate transcript of said spoken words.
11. The transcription system according to claim 1 further comprising an encryption object to encrypt said signal for transmission in a manner that prevents unauthorized receiving units from translating said signal into said transcript.
12. The transcription system according to claim 11, wherein said encryption object encrypts said signal according to at least one of 64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption.
13. A method for providing real-time access to a transcript of spoken words, said method comprising the steps of:
recording said spoken words as units of transcribed text;
translating said units of transcribed text into a generally accurate transcript of said spoken words;
converting said transcript of said spoken words into a signal to be transmitted to an authorized receiving unit over a communication link;
transmitting a presentation object to said authorized receiving unit for presenting said transcript; and
transmitting said signal.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said steps of transmitting said presentation object and said signal include the step of transmitting said presentation object and said signal over a wireless communication link.
15. The method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of encrypting said signal.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said step of encrypting said signal comprises encrypting said signal according to at least one of a 64-bit and a 128-bit wireless encryption protocol.
17. The method according to claim 13, wherein said step of recording said spoken words is performed with at least one recording device selected from the group consisting of a stenographic machine, an audio recorder, and a video recorder.
18. The method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of identifying said authorized receiving unit as being authorized to receive said transcript.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said step of identifying said authorized receiving unit comprises the steps of:
suppressing transmission of an automatically assigned network identifier over said communication link;
manually assigning a network identifier that is to be used to identify a recipient as having authorization to receive said transcript; and
comparing an identifier entered by said recipient at a receiving unit with said manually assigned network identifier.
20. The method according to claim 13, wherein said steps of transmitting said presentation object and said signal comprise transmitting said presentation object and said signal over a wireless communication link.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said step of transmitting said presentation object and said signal over a wireless communication link comprises the steps of:
diverting said presentation object and said signal from a communication port of a conversion unit to a network port of said conversion unit;
transmitting said presentation object and said signal from said conversion unit through said network port to a wireless access point; and
broadcasting said presentation object and said signal from said wireless access point to a dedicated network address.
22. The method according to claim 13, wherein said steps of transmitting said presentation object and said signal include transmitting said presentation object and said signal to a wide area network.
23. A transcription system for providing real-time access to a transcript being developed from spoken words, said system comprising:
a transcription terminal for recording spoken words as units of transcribed text;
a conversion unit for translating said units of transcribed text into a generally accurate transcript of said spoken words and converting said transcript into serial data; and
a wireless access point for transmitting said serial data to an authorized receiving unit over a wireless communication link.
24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said serial data is diverted within said conversion unit to be transmitted from a network port of said conversion unit.
25. The system according to claim 23, wherein said serial data is to be transmitted to a dedicated network address from where it can be retrieved by said authorized receiving unit operatively connected to said network.
26. The system according to claim 23 further comprising a presentation object to be transmitted from said conversion unit to said authorized receiving unit over said wireless communication link.
27. The system according to claim 23 further comprising a serial communication port provided to said conversion unit and data-diversion software comprising computer readable logic for redirecting said serial data from said serial communication port to said network port.
28. The system according to claim 27, wherein said network port is a TCPIP compliant port.
29. The system according to claim 23 further comprising a serial communication port provided to said conversion unit, wherein
said wireless access point is operatively coupled to said serial communication port to transmit said serial data over said wireless communication link.
30. A method for providing real-time access to a transcript being developed from spoken words, said method comprising the steps of:
recording said spoken words as units of transcribed text;
translating said units of transcribed text into a generally accurate transcript of said spoken words and converting said transcript into serial data; and
transmitting said serial data from a wireless access point over a wireless communication link to be received by an authorized receiving unit.
31. The method according to claim 30 further comprising the steps of:
redirecting said serial data within a conversion unit from a serial communication port of said conversion unit to a networking port of said conversion unit; and
transmitting said serial data from said network port to said wireless access point over a communication link.
32. The method according to claim 31, wherein said networking port is a TCPIP compliant port.
33. The method according to claim 30 further comprising the steps of:
providing a communication link between a serial communication port of a conversion unit and said wireless access point; and
transmitting said serial data from said serial communication port to said wireless access point over said communication link.
34. The method according to claim 33, wherein said step of providing said communication link between said serial communication port and said wireless access point comprises the step of operatively connecting said wireless access point to said serial communication port with a serial cable.
35. A transcription system for providing real-time access to a transcript being developed from spoken words, said system comprising:
a transcription terminal for recording spoken words as units of transcribed text;
a conversion unit for translating said units of transcribed text into a generally accurate transcript of said spoken words and converting said transcript into a signal;
a security object that prevents an automatically assigned network identifier from being transmitted to a network including at least one authorized receiving unit; and
a manually assigned network identifier to be entered at a receiving unit to verify authorization of said receiving unit to receive said transcript of said spoken words.
36. The system according to claim 35, wherein said security object includes computer readable logic for suppressing transmission of said automatically assigned network identifier.
37. The system according to claim 35, wherein said automatically assigned network identifier is a service set identifier.
38. The system according to claim 35 further comprising a presentation object to be transmitted to said authorized receiving unit.
39. The system according to claim 35 further comprising a wireless access point operatively connected to said conversion unit for transmitting said signal to said authorized receiving unit over a wireless communication link.
40. The system according to claim 39, wherein said wireless communication link is a wireless local area network.
41. The system according to claim 40, wherein said wireless access point transmits said signal to a dedicated network address.
42. The system according to claim 35, wherein said manually assigned network identifier is to be entered at said authorized receiving unit to join said network.
43. The system according to claim 35, wherein said network is a wide area network.
44. A method for providing real-time access to a transcript being developed from spoken words, said method comprising the steps of:
recording said spoken words as units of transcribed text;
translating said units of transcribed text into a generally accurate transcript of said spoken words;
converting said transcript into a signal;
suppressing transmission of an automatically generated network identifier to a network;
manually assigning a network identifier that is to be entered at a receiving unit to verify authorization of said receiving unit to receive said transcript; and
transmitting said signal upon verifying authorization of said receiving unit to receive said transcript.
45. The method according to claim 44 further comprising the step of transmitting a presentation object to said receiving unit upon verifying said authorization of said receiving unit to receive said transcript.
46. A transcription system for providing real-time access to a transcript being developed from spoken words, said system comprising:
means for recording spoken words as units of transcribed text;
means for translating said units of transcribed text into a generally accurate transcript of said spoken words in real time;
means for converting said transcript into a signal to be transmitted over a communication link to an authorized receiving unit; and
means for presenting said transcript, wherein said presentation means is to be transmitted over said communication link to said authorized receiving unit.
47. A transcription system for providing real-time access to a transcript of spoken words, said system comprising:
a recorder for recording spoken words as units of transcribed text;
a conversion unit provided with a communication port and a network port, wherein
said conversion unit translates said units of transcribed text into a generally accurate transcript of said spoken words and converts said transcript into serial data to be transmitted over a communication link to an authorized receiving unit;
a transmitter for transmitting said serial data over a wireless communication link to a dedicated network address from where it can be received by an authorized receiving unit.
48. A method of providing a transcription system for real-time network access to a transcript of spoken words, the method comprising the steps of:
recording spoken words as units of transcribed text by use of a recording device;
translating said units of transcribed text into a generally accurate transcript of said spoken words and converting said transcript into a signal;
generating a network identifier for receiving units to receive said transcript, and preventing said network identifier from being transmitted to a network without first verifying authorization of said receiving unit to receive said transcript of said spoken words based on a manually assigned identifier.