CAPTIONED TELEPHONE SERVICE

• US 20130308763A1
• Filed: 07/25/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ultratech Incorporated (Veeco Instruments Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ultratech Incorporated (Veeco Instruments Incorporated)
• Inventors: Engelke, Robert M., Colwell, Kevin R., Vitek, Troy D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,587,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• 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

Abstract

A method of operating a captioned telephone call in which an assisted user is connected by a captioned telephone device that is connected both by a first line to a remote user and a second line to a relay providing captioning for a conversation, the method comprising the steps of: when a start of an incoming call is detected by the captioned telephone device on the first line, the captioned telephone device automatically calling the relay on the second line to initiate captioning service set up; the captioned telephone device passing spoken words received on the first line to the second line; and the relay then providing text captions of the spoken words back to the captioned telephone device on the second line.

Claims

1. A method of operating a captioned telephone call in which an assisted user is connected by a captioned telephone device that is connected both by a first line to a remote user and a second line to a relay providing captioning for a conversation, the method comprising the steps of:

when a start of an incoming call is detected by the captioned telephone device on the first line, the captioned telephone device automatically calling the relay on the second line to initiate captioning service set up;

the captioned telephone device passing spoken words received on the first line to the second line; and

the relay then providing text captions of the spoken words back to the captioned telephone device on the second line.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of initiating captioning service set up further comprises assigning a call assistant.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of initiating captioning service set up further comprises assigning a call assistant after a predetermined period.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of initiating captioning service set up further comprises assigning a call assistant after the assisted user answers the call.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of initiating captioning service set up further comprises assigning a call assistant when the assisted user answers the call.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined condition is the expiration of a predetermined period.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined condition is the assisted user answering the call.

6. A method of operating a captioned telephone call in which an assisted user is connected by a captioned telephone device that is connected both by a first line to a remote user and a second line to a relay providing captioning for a conversation, the method comprising the steps of:

when a call is received at the captioned telephone device on the first line, the captioned telephone device automatically calling the relay on the second line to establish an interconnection to the relay;

linking the call to an assigned call assistant after a predetermined condition is satisfied;

the captioned telephone device passing spoken words received on the first line to the second line; and

the relay then providing text captions of the spoken words back to the captioned telephone device on the second line.

9. A method of operating a captioned telephone call in which an assisted user is connected to a relay providing captioning for a conversation by a captioned telephone device, the method comprising the steps of:

the captioned telephone device automatically detecting a connection with at least one of a first line and a second line;

the captioned telephone device automatically setting up to support one-line captioning if only the first line is connected to the captioned telephone device and automatically setting up to support two-line captioning if both the first line and the second line are connected to the captioned telephone device; and

the relay then providing text captions of the spoken words back to the captioned telephone device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the captioned telephone device passing spoken words received on the first line to the second line.