Method and system providing interpreting and other services from a remote location

• US 20050216252A1
• Filed: 03/18/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lifelinks, LLC (Arosa+LivHOME), Healinc LLC
• Original Assignee: Lifelinks, LLC (Arosa+LivHOME)
• Inventors: Uscher, Eliane R., Schoenbach, Stanley F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,566,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A method and system for providing interpreting services is disclosed. The system includes interpreting apparatus at several user sites where interpreting services are needed, such as hospitals or other health care facilities, and a central controller. A request is made from one of the user sites to the central controller and, in response, the central controller makes a link between the user site and an interpreting site. A live interpreter at the interpreting site provides interpretation through the link. The link may be used for audio, or audio and video signals.

Claims

1. A system for providing interpreting services comprising:

a user site where interpreting services are needed, each site having an interpreting apparatus including user teleconferencing means and an Internet port with a fixed IP address coupled to said teleconferencing means;

an interpreter site with Internet access means and interpreter teleconferencing means; and

a central controller receiving a request for interpreting service from one of said user sites and establishing a teleconference conversation link between said interpreter site through said interpreter teleconferencing means and the Internet access port and the user teleconferencing means to enable a conversation between said user site and said interpreter site.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said user site includes a selector for selecting an interpreting service for interpreting at least one of ASL and a foreign language.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said user and said interpreter teleconferencing means are adapted to provide voice teleconferencing.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said user and said interpreter teleconferencing means are adapted to provide voice and video teleconferencing.

5. A system for providing interpreting services comprising:

a plurality of health care facility sites, each site including an interpreting apparatus including user conferencing means and a user Internet access port with a unique IP address;

a plurality of interpreter sites, each site including interpreter conferencing means and Internet access means coupled to said interpreter conferencing means, each interpreter sites being operated by an interpreter specializing in a specific language; and

a central controller receiving a request for a interpreting services from a site for a specific language, said central controller selecting a specific interpreter site based on said request and establishing a link between user Internet access port and said interpreter Internet access means.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said interpreting apparatus includes a selector for selecting said language, and means for generating said request coupled to said selector.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said central controller includes a monitor for monitoring at least the duration of a conference on said link.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said monitor records said conference.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein said interpreting apparatus includes a videoconferencing device.

10. The system of claim 5 wherein said interpreting apparatus includes a microprocessor, a TV display, a microphone and a speaker for performing conferencing.

11. A method of providing interpreter services comprising:

providing interpreter apparatus at a plurality of user sites;

assigning a specific IP address to each user site;

sending a request for interpreting in a specific language to a central controller from a first user;

generating an Internet link by said controller between said first user and an interpreting site; and

providing live interpreting to said first user site from said interpreting site through said Internet link.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising calling said central controller from said first user to provide said request.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising generating said request from said first user site to said central controller without human intervention.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing a plurality of interpreting sites from which interpreting can be performed in different languages.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein at least two interpreting sites provide interpreting services in the same language.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein at least one interpreting site provides interpreting services in ASL.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising monitoring said interpreting sites by said central controller to determine when one of said sites is available to respond to said request.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising deciding which of two or more interpreting sites is connected to said first user site in accordance with a predetermined criteria.