Distributed speech recognition system with multi-user input stations

A method of generating a text document, comprising the steps of:

• logging on to a voice input station connected to a server computer;
• downloading acoustic reference files from the server computer to the voice input station, the downloaded acoustic reference files having been generated in a speech recognition training mode and being applicable to a particular author;
• dictating into the voice input station to generate a voice data file;
• and
• applying a speech recognition algorithm to the voice data file at the voice input station by using the downloaded acoustic reference files to generate a text document.

A method of generating a text document, comprising the steps of:

• dictating into a voice input station to generate a voice data file, the voice input station connected to a server computer, the voice data file being generated at a first data rate;
• applying a speech recognition algorithm to the voice data file at the voice input station to generate a text document;
• transcoding the voice data file at the voice input station from the first data rate to a second data rate which is lower than the first data rate;
• and
• uploading the text document and the transcoded voice data file from the voice input station to the server computer.

A central dictation system comprising:

• a server computer;
• a plurality of voice input stations;
• and
• a data communication network connecting the voice input stations to the server computer;
• wherein the voice input stations are programmed to generate text documents by performing speech recognition with respect to speech signals inputted into the voice input stations,
• said speech recognition being performed by using acoustic reference files downloaded to the voice input stations from the server computer, the downloaded acoustic reference files having been generated in a speech recognition training mode and being applicable to a particular author.