System and method for enhanced telecommunications relay service with easy extension feature

• US 5,917,888 A
• Filed: 06/12/1997
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Giuntoli, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US08/873,894
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 379/52, 379/36, 379/144, 379/201, 379/265, 379/308, 379/309, 379/93.01, 379/93.17, 379/93.18, 379/93.23, 379/93.27, 340/825.19
• US Class Current: 379/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42391 where the subscribers are hearing-impaired persons, e.g. telephone devices for the deaf
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/60 Semi-automatic systems, i.e. in which the numerical selection of the outgoing line is under the control of an operator

Abstract

A system and method for easily directing a telephone call from a hearing caller using a standard telephone to a deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled person using a text telephone via a telecommunication relay system including a communications assistant. The telecommunications relay system is a central location where hearing callers dial a toil-free number and request a specific extension number. Based on that specific extension number, the system finds an associated subscriber profile that comprises the name, actual ten-digit telephone number, and service description option of the text telephone user. The telephone call is then relayed to the text telephone user after the dialing of the actual telephone number. The communications assistant then introduces the hearing caller to the text telephone user according to the specific service description option which was selected by the text telephone user when they applied for the telecommunications relay system service.

Claims

1. A method for directing a telephone call from a caller using a standard telephone to a deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled person using a text telephone, via a telecommunications relay system including a communications assistant, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) receiving a toll-free telephone call from the caller to a central location;

(2) receiving a desired extension number provided by the caller;

(3) accessing the telecommunications relay system to retrieve an associated subscriber profile corresponding to said desired extension number;

(4) displaying said associated subscriber profile to the communications assistant;

(5) automatically dialing a telephone number specified by said associated subscriber profile independent of the assistant;

(6) determining a service description option associated with said subscriber profile; and

(7) introducing said deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled person'"'"'s telecommunications relay service to the caller according to said service description option.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (6) comprises the step of determining whether said service description option is set to one of the following:

(i) standard introduction;

(ii) customized introduction; and

(iii) direct connection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (2) comprises the step of permitting said desired extension number to be received by the communications assistant who then manually enters said desired extension number into the telecommunications relay system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step (5) comprises the step of permitting the communications assistant to manually dial the telephone number specified by said associated subscriber profile.

5. A system for directing a telephone call from a caller using a standard telephone to a deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled person using a text telephone, via a telecommunications relay system including a communications assistant, comprising:

first receiving means for receiving a toll-free telephone call from the caller to a central location;

second receiving means for receiving a desired extension number provided by the caller;

third accessing means for accessing the telecommunications relay system to retrieve an associated subscriber profile corresponding to said desired extension number;

fourth displaying means for displaying said associated subscriber profile to the communications assistant;

fifth dialing means for automatically dialing a telephone number specified by said associated subscriber profile independent of the assistant;

sixth determining means for determining a service description option associated with said subscriber profile; and

seventh introducing means for introducing said deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled person'"'"'s telecommunications relay service to the caller according to said service description option.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein sixth said means for determining a service description option associated with said subscriber profile comprises means for determining whether said service description option is set to one of the following:

(i) standard introduction;

(ii) customized introduction; and

(iii) direct connection.

7. A computer program product for use with a computer comprising:

a computer usable medium having readable program code means embodied in said medium for generating object code for a computer program having executable object code, said computer program product having;

first computer readable program code means for receiving a toll-free telephone call from a caller to a central location;

second computer readable program code means for receiving a desired extension number provided by the caller;

third computer readable program code means for accessing a telecommunications relay system to retrieve an associated subscriber profile corresponding to said desired extension number;

fourth computer readable program code means for displaying said associated subscriber profile to a communications assistant; and

fifth computer readable program code means for automatically dialing a telephone number in response to receiving the extension number specified by said associated subscriber profile.