Voice bridge for relay center

• US 5,081,673 A
• Filed: 11/16/1990
• Issued: 01/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ultratech Incorporated (Veeco Instruments Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Kevin Colwell, Robert M. Engelke
• Inventors: Engelke, Robert M., Colwell, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woo, Stella L.
• Application Number:
  US07/616,720
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 379/52, 379/93, 379/96, 379/97, 379/98, 379/214, 340/825.19
• US Class Current: 379/93.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2475 for a hearing impaired user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision

Abstract

A relay center has a first telephone line (12) and a second telephone line (14). Data signals may be carried on the first telephone line (12) and received into a modem (20). A terminal or computer (22) then receives the data signals and converts the signals into readable characters viewable on a display (26). An operator then reads messages formed by the characters and voices them into a telephone (28) connected to the second telephone (14). The operator may also receive spoken words through the telephone (28) and transcribe via a keyboard (24) for transmission of data signals by the modem (20) and carried on the first telephone line (12). Upon a command received through the first telephone line (12) or made by the operator, a voice bridge (10) may be established which establishes a direct vocal link from either the first telephone line (10) to the second telephone line (12) or from the second telephone line (12) to the first telephone line (14 ). A second command disconnects the telephone (28) from the second telephone line (14) to prevent the operator from hearing the audio sounds carried by the voice bridge (10).

Claims

1. A voice bridge for a relay center, the voice bridge comprising:

(a) a first telephone line;

(b) a modem capable of receiving and transmitting data signals over the first telephone line;

(c) a terminal having a keyboard and a display, the terminal converting the data signals received by the modem into readable characters and projecting the characters upon the display, and the terminal transmitting data signals that are entered upon the keyboard through the modem;

(d) a telephone that connects with a second telephone line, the telephone being positioned in such proximity to the keyboard and the display that an operator may read the characters exhibited on the display and voice any message formed by the characters into the telephone and the operator may transcribe any vocal message received on the telephone into the keyboard;

(e) means for detecting data signals on the first telephone line to discriminate voice signals from data signals on the first telephone line; and

(f) means responsive to the detecting means for switching the first telephone line from a first mode not connected with the second telephone line to a second mode connected with the second telephone line when the detecting means detects voice signals on the first telephone line, so that in the second mode, voice signals are passed directly between the first and second telephone lines.

2. The voice bridge of claim 1 wherein the means for switching the first telephone line from a connection with the modes to a connection with the second telephone line is activated when data signals over the first telephone line are terminated.

3. The voice bridge of claim 1 further comprising a reverse switch that, when activated, delects from a connection that passes voice signals from the first telephone line to the second telephone line or a connection that passes voice signals from the second telephone line to the first telephone line.

4. The voice bridge of claim 3 w herein the reverse switch is activated by a signal sent over the first telephone line.

5. The voice bridge of claim 3 wherein the reverse switch is activated by data signals entered upon the keyboard.

6. A voice bridge for a relay center, the voice bridge comprising:

(a) a first telephone line;

(b) a modem capable of receiving and transmitting data signals over the first telephone line;

(c) a terminal having a keyboard and a display, the terminal converting the data signals received by the modem into readable characters and projecting the characters upon the display, and the terminal transmitting data signals that are entered upon the keyboard through the modem;

(d) a telephone that connects with a second telephone line, the telephone being positioned in such proximity to the keyboard and the display that an operator may read the characters exhibited on the display and voice any message formed by the characters into the telephone and the operator may transcribe any vocal message received on the telephone into the keyboard;

(e) means for detecting data signals on the first telephone line to discriminate voice signals from data signals on the first telephone line;

(f) first means responsive to the detecting means for switching the first telephone line from a first mode not connected to the second telephone line to a second mode connection with the second telephone line so that in the second mode voice signals are passed through the first and second telephone lines; and

(g) second means for switching, the second means for switching disconnecting the telephone from the second telephone line when the voice signals of a sufficient pre-selected level are transferred between the first and second telephone lines.

7. The voice bridge of claim 6 wherein the voice signals are carried from the first telephone line to the second telephone line and the voice signals are carried on the first telephone line.

8. The voice bridge of claim 6 wherein the voice signals are carried from the second telephone line to the first telephone line and the voice signals are carried on the second telephone line.

9. The voice bridge of claim 6 wherein the second means for switching is activated by a signal sent over the first telephone line.

10. The voice bridge of claim 6 wherein the second means for switching is activated by data signals entered upon the keyboard.

11. A voice bridge for a relay center, the voice bridge comprising:

(a) a first telephone line;

(b) a modem capable of receiving and transmitting data signals over the first telephone line;

(c) a terminal having a keyboard and a display, the terminal converting the data signals received by the modem into readable characters and projecting the characters upon the display, and the terminal transmitting data signals that are entered upon the keyboard through the modem;

(d) a telephone that connects with a second telephone line, the telephone being positioned in such proximity to the keyboard and the display that an operator may read the characters exhibited on the display and voice any message formed by the characters into the telephone and the operator may transcribe any vocal message received on the telephone into the keyboard;

(e) a detector connected to the first telephone line detecting data signals on the first telephone line and discriminating voice signals from data signals on the first telephone line; and

(f) a switch connected and operated by the detector to switch the first telephone from a first mode not connected with the second telephone line to a second mode connected with the second telephone line so that in the second mode voice signals from the second telephone line are passed to the first telephone line.

12. The voice bridge of claim 11 wherein the switch switching the first telephone line from a connection with the modem to the connection with the second telephone line is activated when data signals over the first telephone line are terminated.

13. A voice bridge for a relay center, the voice bridge comprising:

(a) a first telephone line;

(b) a modem capable of receiving and transmitting data signals over the first telephone line;

(c) a terminal having a keyboard and a display, the terminal converting the data signals received by the modem into readable characters and projecting the characters upon the display, and the terminal transmitting data signals that are entered upon the keyboard through the modem;

(d) a telephone that connects with a second telephone line, the telephone being positioned in such proximity to the keyboard and the display that an operator may read the characters exhibited on the display and voice any message formed by the characters into the telephone and the operator may transcribe any vocal message received on the telephone into the keyboard;

(e) a detector connected to the first telephone line detecting data signals on the first telephone line and discriminating voice signals from data signals on the first telephone line;

(f) a switch connected and operated by the detector to switch the first telephone line from a first mode not connected with the second telephone line to a second mode connected with the second telephone line so that in the second mode voice signals from the second telephone line are passed to the first telephone line; and

(g) a second switch connected to disconnect the telephone from the second line when voice signals of a sufficient level are transferred from the first telephone line to the second telephone line.

14. A method of forming a voice bridge in a relay center, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving data signals over a first telephone line;

(b) converting the data signals into readable characters and projecting the characters upon a display;

(c) reading and voicing any messages formed by the characters into a telephone that connects with a second telephone line;

(d) detecting data signals received over the first telephone line to discriminate between voice signals and data signals on the first telephone line; and

(e) switching the first telephone line from a mode that receives data signals and does not pass the data signals to the second telephone line to a mode where voice signals on the first telephone line are connected to the second telephone line when voice signals are being received on the first telephone line.

15. A method of forming a voice bridge in a relay center, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving data signals over a first telephone line;

(b) converting the data signals into readable characters and projecting the characters upon a display;

(c) reading and voicing any messages formed by the characters into a telephone that connects with a second telephone line;

(d) detecting data signals received over the first telephone line to discriminate between voice signals and data signals on the first telephone line; and

(e) switching the first telephone line from a mode that receives data signals and does not pass the data signals to the second telephone line to a mode where voice signals on the first telephone line are connected with the second telephone line when the data signals are terminated as detected in the detecting step.

16. A method of forming a voice bridge in a relay center, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving data signals over a first telephone line;

(b) converting the data signals into readable characters and projecting the characters upon a display;

(c) reading and voicing any messages formed by the characters into a telephone that connects with a second telephone line;

(d) detecting data signals received over the first telephone line to discriminate between voice signals and data signals on the first telephone line;

(e) switching the first telephone line from a mode that receives data signals and does not pass the data signals to the second telephone line to a mode where voice signals on the first telephone line are connected to the second telephone line depending on whether voice signals or data signals are being received on the first telephone line;

(f) detecting the level of voice signals on the first telephone line; and

(g) disconnecting the telephone from the second telephone line when the voice signals of the first telephone line are of a sufficient pre-selected level.

17. A method of forming a voice bridge in a relay center, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving data signals over a first telephone line;

(b) converting the data signals into readable characters and projecting the characters upon a display;

(c) reading and voicing any messages formed by the characters into a telephone that connects with a second telephone line;

(d) detecting data signals received over the first telephone line to discriminate between voice signals and data signals on the first telephone line;

(e) switching the first telephone line from a mode that receives data signals and does not pass the data signals to the second telephone line to a mode where voice signals on the first telephone line are connected to the second telephone line depending on whether voice signals or data signals are being received on the first telephone line;

(f) detecting the level of voice signals on the second telephone line; and

(g) disconnecting the telephone from the second telephone line when the voice signals of the second telephone line are of a sufficient pre-selected level.