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 one of a plurality of servers has an affinity for the identified user, wherein the affinity is determined in part by whether one of the plurality of servers is maintaining the identified user profile;
• if it is determined that one of the plurality of servers has an affinity for the identified user based on whether the identified user profile is maintained by one of the plurality of servers, than selecting the one server having the affinity to transcribe the received audio signal;
• causing the received audio signal to be transmitted to the one server wherein the received audio signal is converted into a textual data signal.

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

• at least one dictation manager connected to at least one client station via a connection, the 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;
• a plurality of homogeneous dictation servers comprising at least one transcription engine that transforms audio signals of dictated words to textual data signals;
• at least one connection between the at least one dictation manager and the plurality of homogeneous dictation servers configured to transmit audio signals and textual data signals between the at least one dictation manager and the plurality of homogeneous dictation servers;
• the at least one dictation manager comprising a processor with a means for selecting one of the plurality of homogeneous dictation servers to transform audio signals of dictated words to textual data signals wherein the means for selecting comprises a means for determining whether a user profile is stored in any of the plurality of homogeneous dictation servers;
• and
• a memory containing at least one user profile.