Distributed dictation/transcription system

A method of distributed dictation and transcription performed using at least one processor associated with a dictation manager, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving an audio signal from a user operating a client station;
• identifying a user profile stored in a memory of the dictation manager associated with the user of the received audio signal;
• determining whether the identified user profile of the user has been previously provided to any of a plurality of servers coupled to the dictation manager;
• selecting the dictation server to be one of the any dictation servers if it is determined that the identified user profile has been previously provided to any of the plurality of servers;
• causing the audio signal to be converted into a textual data signal by transmitting the received audio signal to the selected dictation server and receiving from the selected dictation server transcription textual data;
• and
• transmitting transcription textual data to the client station.

A system to provide a client station with a distributed dictation and transcription service comprising:

• at least one dictation manager adapted to have a network connection to at least one client station, the network connection comprising at least one of a data port to receive audio signals from the at least one client station, to transmit textual data to the at least one client station, and to receive textual data from the at least one client station;
• at least one dictation server comprising at least one transcription engine that is adapted to transform audio signals of dictated words to textual data signals;
• at least one network connection between the at least one dictation manager and the at least one dictation server adapted to transmit audio signals and textual data signals between the at least one dictation manager and the at least one dictation server;
• the at least one dictation manager comprising a processor with a means for selecting one of the at least one dictation servers to transform audio signals of dictated words to textual data signals;
• and
• a memory containing at least one user profile and information indicating which of the at least one dictation servers has been provided the at least one user profile and wherein the information is used by the means for selecting to assist in selecting the one of the at least one dictation servers.