Word processor for controlling an external dictating machine

Abstract

A portable word processor incorporates a keyboard for typing-in data relating to a textual document, a microprocessor for processing the data, and a microcassette recorder for storing each page of the textual data when typing of the page is complete. A half-line character display is situated on an operating panel of the word processor above the keyboard. The microprocessor includes a text buffer memory having a capacity corresponding to one page, favorably 1800 characters or 66 lines. A cassette recorder interface is included to control operation of the cassette during transfer of textual data from the text buffer memory for storage on the microcassette tape, and transfer of the data to the text buffer memory from the tape for editing and revision of the textual document. In order to facilitate use of the word processor with a dictating machine on which dictation is recorded to be transcribed on the word processor, a dictating machine interface is also included in the word processor. Control signals for controlling the dictating machine are sent over a multi-wire cable, and the operator can quickly set the dictating machine into a desired stop, forward, rewind, or fast-forward mode while typing dictation merely by actuating certain of the keys on the keyboard of the word processor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.