Device Independent Text Captioned Telephone Service

• US 20080187108A1
• Filed: 04/14/2008
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ultratech Incorporated (Veeco Instruments Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ultratech Incorporated (Veeco Instruments Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vitek, Troy D., Colwell, Kevin R., Engelke, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,416,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/52
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2475 for a hearing impaired user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/14 Delay circuits; Timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42391 where the subscribers are hearing-impaired persons, e.g. telephone devices for the deaf
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus for commencing a caption assisted telephone call using a combination of a first party telephone terminal and a first party Network appliance, the method comprising the steps of connecting the first party Network appliance to a relay, using the first party Network appliance to specify a first party call back telephone number, using the relay to dial the first party call back telephone number, specifying a confirmation activity that must be performed via the first party telephone terminal in order to continue a telephone call process, when the first party telephone terminal is answered, monitoring activities via the first party telephone terminal and when the confirming activity occurs, continuing the telephone call process.

Claims

1. A method of commencing a caption assisted telephone call using a combination of a first party telephone terminal and a first party Network appliance, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting the first party Network appliance to a relay;

(b) using the first party Network appliance to specify a first party call back telephone number;

(c) using the relay to dial the first party call back telephone number;

(d) specifying a confirmation activity that must be performed via the first party telephone terminal in order to continue a telephone call process;

(e) when the first party telephone terminal is answered, monitoring activities via the first party telephone terminal; and

(f) when the confirming activity occurs, continuing the telephone call process.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of specifying a confirmation activity includes presenting instruction via the first party Network appliance specifying confirming information to be entered via the first party telephone terminal, the step of monitoring including monitoring information input via the first party telephone terminal.

3. The method of claim 2 further including the step of also presenting information via the first party telephone terminal indicating that the call is a caption assisted telephone call.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the confirming instruction instructs the first party to press at least one specific dual-tone multi frequency (DTMF) button on the first party telephone terminal.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the first party Network appliance includes a display screen and wherein the step of presenting a confirmation instruction includes presenting instructions via the display screen.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of monitoring for the confirming activity continues until one of the confirming activity occurs and a time out period expires and, when the time out period expires prior to the confirming activity occurring, the method further includes the step of disconnecting from the first party telephone terminal.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the confirming activity includes the first party speaking a specific phrase into the first party telephone terminal.

8. The method of claim 1 further including using the first party Network appliance to specify a second party target telephone number, the step of continuing the telephone call process including calling the second party target telephone number.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the confirming activity requires the first party to enter a second party target telephone number via at least one of the first party Network appliance and the first party telephone terminal.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of using the first party Network appliance to specify a second party target telephone number includes specifying the second party target telephone number prior to using the relay to dial the first party call back telephone number.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the Network appliance is a wireless device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the wireless device includes the telephone associated with the first party call back telephone number.

13. A method of commencing a caption assisted telephone call using a combination of a first party telephone terminal and a first party Network appliance, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting the first party Network appliance to a relay;

(b) using the first party Network appliance to specify a first party call back telephone number and a second party target telephone number;

(c) using the relay to dial the first party call back telephone number;

(d) presenting a confirmation instruction to the first party via the first party Network appliance instructing the first party to enter confirming information via the first party telephone terminal;

(e) monitoring information input via the first party telephone terminal; and

(f) when the confirming information is entered, continuing the telephone call process.

14. The method of claim 13 further including the step of also presenting instruction via the first party telephone terminal indicating that the call is a caption assisted telephone call.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the confirming instruction instructs the first party to press at least one specific dual-tone multi frequency (DTMF) button on the first party telephone terminal.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of monitoring information continues until one of the confirming activity occurs and a time out period expires and, when the time out period expires prior to the confirming activity occurring, the method further includes the step of disconnecting from the first party telephone terminal.

17. A system for commencing a caption assisted telephone call using a combination of a first party telephone terminal and a first party Network appliance, the system comprising:

a first party telephone terminal;

a second party telephone terminal;

a first party Network appliance; and

a relay linkable to the first and second party telephone terminals and to the Network appliance;

wherein, when the first party Network appliance communicates with the relay and provides a first party call back telephone number to commence a telephone call process, the relay dials the first party call back telephone number, monitors activities performed via the first party telephone terminal and only continues the telephone call process when a confirming activity occurs.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the relay further presents confirmation instructions via the first party Network appliance indicating a confirmation process that should be performed via the first party telephone terminal.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the relay also presents instruction via the first party telephone terminal indicating that the call is a caption assisted telephone call.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the confirming instruction instructs the first party to press at least one specific dual-tone multi frequency (DTMF) button on the first party telephone terminal.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the first party Network appliance includes a display screen and wherein the confirming instructions are presented via the display screen.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the relay monitors for confirming activity until one of the confirming activity occurs and a time out period expires and, when the time out period expires prior to the confirming activity occurring, the relay disconnects the first party telephone terminal.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein the first party Network appliance is a wireless device.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein the wireless device includes the first party telephone terminal.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein the first party telephone terminal and the first party network appliance form parts of a single communication device.

26. A system for presenting caller ID information related to a caption assisted telephone call, the system comprising:

(a) at least a first party Network appliance that includes a Network appliance display;

(b) a first party telephone service;

(b) a relay linkable to the first party Network appliance via the Internet, the relay including a processor and programmed to notify the first party that a second party is attempting to communicate with the first party by, when a second party links to the relay to commence a communication with the first party via the first party telephone service and the first party Network appliance, presenting both relay service identifying information and second party identifying information to the first party via at least one of the first party network appliance and the first party telephone service.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the relay presents the service identifying information via the telephone service and presents the second party identifying information via the first party Network appliance.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the first party is associated with a first party telephone terminal that includes a telephone display that is separate from the first party Network appliance display, the relay presenting the service identifying information via the first party telephone terminal display.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein the first party Network appliance is also used by the first party as a first party telephone terminal and wherein the relay presents the second party identifying information and also presents the service identifying information via the Network appliance display.

30. A system for presenting caller ID information related to a caption assisted telephone call, the system comprising:

(a) at least a first party Network appliance that includes a Network appliance display;

(b) a first party telephone terminal including a telephone terminal display;

(c) a relay linkable to the first party Network appliance via the Internet, the relay including a processor and programmed to notify the first party that a second party is attempting to communicate with the first party by, when a second party links to the relay to commence a communication with the first party via the first party telephone terminal and the first party Network appliance, presenting service identifying information and second party identifying information to the first party via the telephone terminal display and the Network appliance display, respectively.

31. A method for presenting caller ID information related to a caption assisted telephone call, the method for use with a first party Network appliance that includes a Network appliance display, a first party telephone service and a relay linkable to the first party Network appliance via the Internet, the relay including a processor, the method comprising the steps of:

when a second party links to the relay to commence a communication with the first party via the first party telephone service and the first party Network appliance;

(i) presenting relay service identifying information to the first party via at least one of the first party network appliance and the first party telephone service; and

(ii) presenting second party identifying information to the first party via at least one of the first party network appliance and the first party telephone service.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the step of presenting relay service identifying information to the first party includes presenting the relay service identifying information via the telephone service and the step of present second party identifying information includes presenting the second party identifying information via the first party Network appliance display screen.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the first party is associated with a first party telephone terminal that includes a telephone display that is separate from the first party Network appliance display, the relay presenting the service identifying information via the first party telephone terminal display.

34. The system of claim 31 wherein the first party Network appliance is also used by the first party as a first party telephone terminal and wherein the relay presents the second party identifying information and also presents the service identifying information via the Network appliance display.

35. A method for facilitating an emergency voice call using a first party Network appliance that communicates via an Internet protocol (IP) and that has an IP address, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting the first party Network appliance to a relay;

(b) using the first party Network appliance to specify a target telephone number;

(c) recognizing the target telephone number as an emergency telephone number;

(d) assigning a temporary telephone number to the first party where calls to the temporary telephone number are routed to the relay; and

e) storing the temporary telephone number with the IP address of the first party Network appliance in a database accessible by the relay.

36. The method of claim 35 further including the steps of using the emergency telephone number to establish a first communication with an emergency service provider and presenting the temporary telephone number to the emergency service provider.

37. The method of claim 36 further including the steps of, subsequent to the first communication, the emergency service provider using the temporary telephone number to link to the relay and commence a second communication, when the service provider links to the relay, the relay using the temporary telephone number to identify the IP address of the first party Network appliance and establishing communication with the first party via the first party Network appliance.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the step of storing further includes storing a call back telephone number that is associated with the first party with the temporary telephone number and the IP address of the first party Network appliance.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein, when the service provider links to the relay, the relay further uses the temporary telephone number to identify the call back number associated with the first party and further establishes communication with the first party via the call back telephone number.

40. The method of claim 35 wherein the temporary telephone number is unassigned to the first party after expiration of a preset period.

41. The method of claim 39 further including the step of, subsequent to expiration of the preset period, assigning the temporary telephone number to second party that uses a second party Network appliance to specify an emergency telephone number.

42. A method for facilitating an emergency voice call using a first party Network appliance that communicates via an Internet protocol (IP) and that has an IP address, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting the first party Network appliance to a relay;

(b) using the first party Network appliance to specify a target telephone number;

(c) recognizing the target telephone number as an emergency telephone number;

(d) assigning a temporary telephone number to the first party where calls to the temporary telephone number are routed to the relay;

(e) storing the temporary telephone number with the IP address of the first party Network appliance and a first party call back number usable to place a telephone call to the first party in a database accessible by the relay;

(f) using the emergency telephone number to establish a first communication with an emergency service provider and presenting the temporary telephone number to the emergency service provider.

43. The method of claim 42 further including the steps of, subsequent to the first communication, the emergency service provider using the temporary telephone number to link to the relay and commence a second communication, when the service provider links to the relay, the relay using the temporary telephone number to identify the IP address of the first party Network appliance and the first party call back number and establishing communication with the first party via the first party Network appliance and the first party call back telephone number.

44. A method for facilitating a voice call using a first party Network appliance that communicates via an Internet protocol (IP) and that has an IP address, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting the first party Network appliance to a relay;

(b) using the first party Network appliance to specify a target telephone number;

(c) assigning a temporary telephone number to the first party where calls to the temporary telephone number are routed to the relay; and

e) storing the temporary telephone number with the IP address of the first party Network appliance in a database accessible by the relay.

45. The method of claim 44 further including the steps of using the telephone number to establish a first communication with a second party and presenting the temporary telephone number to the second party.

46. The method of claim 45 further including the steps of, subsequent to the first communication, the second party using the temporary telephone number to link to the relay and commence a second communication, when the second party links to the relay, the relay using the temporary telephone number to identify the IP address of the first party Network appliance and establishing communication with the first party via the first party Network appliance.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the step of storing further includes storing a call back telephone number that is associated with the first party with the temporary telephone number and the IP address of the first party Network appliance.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein, when the second party links to the relay, the relay further uses the temporary telephone number to identify the call back number associated with the first party and further establishes communication with the first party via the call back telephone number.

49. The method of claim 45 wherein the temporary telephone number is unassigned to the first party after expiration of a preset period.

50. The method of claim 44 further including the step of determining that the target telephone number corresponds to an emergency service provider and wherein the step of assigning a temporary telephone number to the first party includes assigning a temporary telephone number only when the target telephone number corresponds to the an emergency service provider.

51. A telephone call captioning system comprising:

a first party Network appliance linked to a network for communicating via an Internet protocol (IP) and having a first party IP address;

a first party telephone associated with a first party call back telephone number;

a second party telephone associated with a second party telephone number;

a database;

a relay linked to the Network and the database, the relay including a processor and programmed to perform the steps of, when the first party Network appliance is linked to the relay to commence a communication with a second party;

(i) receiving a target telephone number associated with a second party;

(ii) assigning a temporary telephone number to the first party where calls to the temporary telephone number are routed to the relay; and

e) storing the temporary telephone number with the IP address of the first party Network appliance and the first party telephone number in the database for subsequent access by the relay.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein the relay processor is further programmed to perform the steps of using the emergency telephone number to establish a first communication with a second party and presenting the temporary telephone number to the second party.

53. The system of claim 52 further including the steps of, subsequent to the first communication, the second party using the temporary telephone number to link to the relay and commence a second communication, when the second party links to the relay, the relay using the temporary telephone number to identify the IP address of the first party Network appliance and the first party call back number and establishing communication with the first party via the first party Network appliance and the call back number.

54. The system of claim 51 wherein the relay processor unassigns the temporary telephone number from the first party after expiration of a preset period.

55. A method for use with an Internet appliance that is linkable to a call assist relay via the Internet to facilitate communication with a first party via the Internet appliance, the Internet appliance communicating via an Internet protocol (IP), the method for facilitating an activity when a communication is attempted with the Internet appliance and the Internet appliance is de-linked from the relay, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a database that is accessible to the relay, the database including instructions regarding activities to be performed when a communication is attempted with the Internet appliance and the Internet appliance is de-linked from the relay;

monitoring communications at the relay and, when a second party attempts to communicate with the Internet appliance;

(i) determining that the Internet appliance is de-linked from the relay; and

(ii) commencing a terminating action related to the communication.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the step of commencing a terminating activity includes presenting an audible message to the second party indicating that the communication cannot be completed.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein the step of commencing a terminating activity further includes receiving a spoken message from the second party and commencing transcription of the spoken message into a text message.

58. The method of claim 57 further including the step of, at a time subsequent to the transcription when the first party links to the relay, presenting an indication that a transcribed message exists for the first party and allowing the first party to view the text message.

59. The method of claim 55 wherein the first party is also associated with a first party call back telephone number, the database also storing the first party call back telephone number, the step of commencing a terminating action including accessing the first party call back telephone number in the database, calling the first party call back telephone number and presenting information to the first party via a first party telephone indicating that a communication has been attempted.

60. The method of claim 59 further including the steps of, when the first party telephone remains unanswered for a time out period, receiving a spoken message from the second party and commencing transcription of the spoken message into a text message.

61. The method of claim 55 wherein the step of providing a database includes the steps of, via the Internet appliance, providing an interface screen to the first user including a plurality of different possible terminating activities, receiving at least one terminating activity selection via the interface screen and storing the terminating activity selection for subsequent use.

62. The method of claim 55 wherein the first party is also associated with additional contact information for electronically communicating with the first party, the database also storing the additional contact information associated with the first party, the step of commencing a terminating action including accessing the additional contact information associated with the first party in the database, attempting to link to the first party via the additional contact information and presenting information to the first party indicating that a communication has been attempted via the first party Internet appliance.

63. A method of controlling use of a caption assisted telephone call relay by a first party, the first party using a combination of a first party telephone terminal and a first party Network appliance to facilitate communication, the first party Network appliance communicating via an Internet protocol (IP) and having an IP address, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) prescribing a single first party call back number for the first party to communicate via the relay;

(b) storing the first party call back number and the first party Network appliance IP address in a database accessible to the relay;

(c) connecting the first party Network appliance to the relay;

(d) specifying a target telephone number associated with a second party;

(e) via the relay;

(i) identifying the first party Network appliance IP address;

(ii) accessing the database and identifying the first party call back number; and

(iii) using the first party call back number to establish a communication link between the first and second parties.

64. A system for facilitating an activity when a communication is attempted and unsuccessful in a call assist environment, the system comprising:

a first party Network appliance linked to a network to communicate via an Internet protocol (IP) and having an IP address;

a relay linked to the network and usable to commence a communication with the first party Network appliance, the relay including a processor that runs a program to perform the steps of;

providing an interface to a first party via the first party Network appliance enabling the first party to select one of a plurality of different options for activities to be performed when a communication is attempted with the first party Network appliance when the first party Network appliance is de-linked from the relay;

accepting the first party selection and storing the selection in the database as instructions regarding activities to be performed when a communication is attempted with the Network appliance and the Network appliance is de-linked from the relay;

monitoring communications at the relay and, when a second party attempts to communicate with the first party Network appliance;

(i) determining that the Network appliance is de-linked from the relay; and

(ii) accessing the database and identifying the first party selection; and

(iii) commencing the first party selection to terminate the communication.

65. The method of claim 64 wherein the first party selection includes presenting an audible message to the second party indicating that the communication cannot be completed.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein the first party selection includes receiving a spoken message from the second party and commencing transcription of the spoken message into a text message.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein the processor further runs the program to perform the step of, at a time subsequent to the transcription when the first party links to the relay, presenting an indication that a transcribed message exists for the first party and allowing the first party to view the text message.

68. The method of claim 64 wherein the first party is also associated with a first party call back telephone number, the database also storing the first party call back telephone number, the first party selection including commencing a terminating action by accessing the first party call back telephone number in the database, calling the first party call back telephone number and presenting information to the first party via a first party telephone indicating that a communication has been attempted.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein the processor further performs the steps of, when the first party telephone remains unanswered for a time out period, receiving a spoken message from the second party and commencing transcription of the spoken message into a text message.

70. The method of claim 64 wherein the first party is also associated with additional contact information for electronically communicating with the first party, the database also storing the additional contact information associated with the first party, the first party selection including commencing a terminating action by accessing the additional contact information associated with the first party in the database, attempting to link to the first party via the additional contact information and presenting information to the first party indicating that a communication has been attempted via the first party Internet appliance.

71. A method of commencing a caption assisted telephone call using a combination of a first party telephone terminal and a first party Network appliance, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting the first party Network appliance to a relay;

(b) using the first party Network appliance to specify a first party call back telephone number;

(c) using the relay to dial the first party call back telephone number;

(d) using at least one of the first party telephone and the first party Network appliance to specify a confirmation activity that must be performed in order to continue a telephone call process,

where the first party telephone is used to specify the confirmation activity, the confirmation activity having to be performed using at least one of the first party telephone terminal and the first party Network appliance; and

where the first party Network appliance is used to specify the confirmation activity, the confirmation activity having to be performed using at least the first party telephone;

(e) when the first party telephone terminal is answered, monitoring activities via at least one of the first party telephone terminal and the first party Network appliance; and

(f) when the confirming activity occurs, continuing the telephone call process.