Audio/telecommunications system to assist in speech and cognitive skills development for the verbally handicapped
First Claim
1. An interface electronic circuit control unit system for use by a human user to establish bidirectional telephonic communications with a remote central computer system with a speech synthesizer running an interactive software program for applications for speech and cognitive skills development, comprisingbi-directional telephone interface circuit means for receiving incoming dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) control signals and synthesized voicing from a standard telephone network as well as allowing dual-tone multi-frequency control signals to be transmitted from said interface electronic circuit to said telephone network,pre-amplifier and power amplifier circuit means with an input operatively connected to said bi-directional telephone interface circuit for receiving said dual-tone multi-frequency control signals and synthesized voicing from said central computer system, amplifying said dual-tone multi-frequency control signals and synthesized voicing into amplified dual-tone multi-frequency control signals and synthesized voicing and applying said amplified dual-tone multi-frequency signals and synthesized voicing to an audio speaker and an audio output jack,dual-tone multi-frequency tone decoding circuit means with an input operatively connected to said bi-directional telephone interface circuit for receiving and decoding said dual-tone multi-frequency control signals from said central computer system into decoded dual-tone multi-frequency control signals, latching said decoded dual-tone multi-frequency control signals into a binary code, and decoding said binary code into a single bit for output prompting control,dual-tone multi-frequency tone generating circuit means with an output operatively connected to said bi-directional telephone interface circuit for generating dual-tone multi-frequency tones from touch sense switch inputs, buffering said touch sense switch inputs and decoding said touch sense switch inputs into dual-tone multi-frequency control tones that are sent to said central computer system,audio threshold level detection circuit means with an input operatively connected to said pre-amplifier circuit for detecting the presence of a said dual-tone multi-frequency control signal or synthesized voicing from said central computer system, as amplified by said pre-amplifier means, and an output operatively connected to said dual-tone multi-frequency tone generating circuit for inhibiting the output of dual-tone multi-frequency tones from said dual-tone multi-frequency tone generating circuit upon audio detection,indicating means consisting of flashing lights or beepers operatively connected to an output of said dual-tone multi-frequency tone decoding circuit for prompting said human user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control unit device and system is provided that allows a verbally handicapped person or normal young child to interact with a remote speech development computer system to assist in the development of verbal communications and cognitive skills. The electronic circuit of the control unit provides an interface to a standard telephone network that allows communications with the remote computer system. The remote computer system consists of a high quality speech synthesizer with a telephone interface, a personal computer, and a controlling software program that contains the speech development exercises. The control unit electronic circuit further provides audio reproduction of the synthesized voice of the remote computer, DTMF (dual tone multiple frequency) tone decoding to control output devices as commanded by the remote computer, and DTMF tone encoding to allow input devices to send signals to the program on the remote computer. The verbally handicapped person interacts with the system through two switch pads on the control unit or through an expansion switch board that interfaces to an expansion port on the control unit. The keypad on a standard DTMF telephone is used by a speech pathologist or therapist to setup and control the speech and cognitive skills development programs.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An interface electronic circuit control unit system for use by a human user to establish bidirectional telephonic communications with a remote central computer system with a speech synthesizer running an interactive software program for applications for speech and cognitive skills development, comprising
bi-directional telephone interface circuit means for receiving incoming dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) control signals and synthesized voicing from a standard telephone network as well as allowing dual-tone multi-frequency control signals to be transmitted from said interface electronic circuit to said telephone network, pre-amplifier and power amplifier circuit means with an input operatively connected to said bi-directional telephone interface circuit for receiving said dual-tone multi-frequency control signals and synthesized voicing from said central computer system, amplifying said dual-tone multi-frequency control signals and synthesized voicing into amplified dual-tone multi-frequency control signals and synthesized voicing and applying said amplified dual-tone multi-frequency signals and synthesized voicing to an audio speaker and an audio output jack, dual-tone multi-frequency tone decoding circuit means with an input operatively connected to said bi-directional telephone interface circuit for receiving and decoding said dual-tone multi-frequency control signals from said central computer system into decoded dual-tone multi-frequency control signals, latching said decoded dual-tone multi-frequency control signals into a binary code, and decoding said binary code into a single bit for output prompting control, dual-tone multi-frequency tone generating circuit means with an output operatively connected to said bi-directional telephone interface circuit for generating dual-tone multi-frequency tones from touch sense switch inputs, buffering said touch sense switch inputs and decoding said touch sense switch inputs into dual-tone multi-frequency control tones that are sent to said central computer system, audio threshold level detection circuit means with an input operatively connected to said pre-amplifier circuit for detecting the presence of a said dual-tone multi-frequency control signal or synthesized voicing from said central computer system, as amplified by said pre-amplifier means, and an output operatively connected to said dual-tone multi-frequency tone generating circuit for inhibiting the output of dual-tone multi-frequency tones from said dual-tone multi-frequency tone generating circuit upon audio detection, indicating means consisting of flashing lights or beepers operatively connected to an output of said dual-tone multi-frequency tone decoding circuit for prompting said human user.
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8. A method for allowing a human user to interact with a control unit to access a remote central computer system with a speech synthesizer running an interactive software program for applications for speech and cognitive skills development through a standard telephone communications network comprising the steps of:
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receiving dual-tone multi-frequency control signals, audio messages and voicing through said control unit from said remote central computer system consisting of said speech synthesizer with a telephone interface under the control of an application program residing on a personal computer, transmitting dual-tone multi-frequency control signals from said control unit to said remote central computer system to identify responses by said human user and to setup application exercises using a standard dual-tone multi-frequency telephone, controlling of a dual output audio system by said control unit that allows said human user to hear audio instructions from one audio speaker and personalized voice responses through a separate audio speaker, activating said control unit indicating means consisting of one of two flashing prompting lights under program control to prompt the appropriate action to be taken by said human user, and sounding an indicating means consisting of one of two pulsating prompting beepers that correspond to the appropriate action to be taken by said human user, and interfacing through said control unit expansion port, to up to sixteen inputs and outputs for increased application program capability and flexibility. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification