VOICE ENABLED SYSTEM FOR REMOTE ACCESS OF INFORMATION

An arrangement for remotely retrieving information from a computer memory over an audio channel includes an audio channel such as a telephone line. A user speaks a command into the audio channel, and it is received at the other end, which is within a private network. Within the private network, the user is authenticated, as by evaluation of a code number or by voice signature. Once authenticated, the user's spoken command is applied to a speech recognition arrangement, also within the private network, which converts the spoken command into a computer-executable command. The executable command is applied to the appropriate network memory, and the computer file is retrieved. The retrieved file is applied to a firewall in order to block transmission of any information from the private network which is deemed to be inappropriate for transmission over the audio channel, or which should not leave the private network in computer-readable form. If not blocked, the file is applied to a text-to-speech converter within the-private network, and converted into speech. The speech signals representing the retrieved information are applied to the second end of the audio channel, and transmitted to the user. Thus, computer-readable files do not leave the private network. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the information is e-mail.