System for enabling TDD communication in a telephone network and method for using same
First Claim
1. An automatic relay system (ARS) for enabling communication between a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) user and a voice telephone user through a public telephone network, the system comprising:
- an interactive voice response (IVR) system coupled to the public telephone network for enabling network users to interact with the ARS;
a TDD resource coupled to the IVR for sending and receiving communications in TDD format; and
a converter coupled to the TDD resource for converting messages between TDD format and text format; and
a speech processor coupled to the converter, wherein the IVR system determines a path in the network to a target message recipient and establishes a network connection for the transmission of translated messages.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for enabling telephone network subscribers using a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) to communicate with other network subscribers lacking such a device. The TDD user dials a number that connects them with an automatic relay switch (ARS). The ARS determines the intended recipient of the call and establishes a connection to them. The TDD user then transmits a message in TDD format to the ARS, which converts it into an ASCII text file that is in turn provided to a text-to-speech (TTS) engine that synthesizes a voice message from the text file. The voice message is then sent to the non-TDD-enabled subscriber. The ARS then preferably prompts the non-TDD-enabled subscriber to enter a response. The response may be made by voice communication or by using the telephone keypad to send dual-tone multi-frequency tones back to the ARS according to instructions that were provided to the called party for this purpose. The instructions may take the form of a menu of options that is either standard or customized according to instructions previously received from the TDD user. The ARS process the response, converting it to a TDD format and transmitting it back to the TDD user.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An automatic relay system (ARS) for enabling communication between a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) user and a voice telephone user through a public telephone network, the system comprising:
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an interactive voice response (IVR) system coupled to the public telephone network for enabling network users to interact with the ARS;
a TDD resource coupled to the IVR for sending and receiving communications in TDD format; and
a converter coupled to the TDD resource for converting messages between TDD format and text format; and
a speech processor coupled to the converter, wherein the IVR system determines a path in the network to a target message recipient and establishes a network connection for the transmission of translated messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of enabling TDD communications in a telephone network, the method comprising:
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providing an ARS accessible to a TDD;
receiving a TDD request in the ARS to set up a call to a specified voice subscriber;
determining in the ARS a path in the network to the voice subscriber;
automatically establishing a connection with the voice subscriber;
receiving a message in TDD format from the TDD;
translating the received message into a speech format; and
transmitting the translated message to the voice subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
determining whether the voice subscriber is available; and
transmitting a TDD notification to the TDD if the voice subscriber is not available.
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12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising prompting the TDD to specify an alternate voice subscriber.
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13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising automatically selecting an alternate voice subscriber.
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14. The method according to claim 9, wherein translating the message comprises:
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converting the TDD message to ASCII format; and
providing the ASCII formatted message to a TTS engine for conversion to speech format.
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15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising transmitting to the voice subscriber a prerecorded message providing instruction on how to respond to the speech format message.
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16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the instruction includes a plurality of options from which the voice subscriber may select by causing a DTMF tone to be generated by a voice telephone.
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17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:
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receiving a DTMF tone from the voice subscriber;
formulating a TDD response message corresponding to the responsive DTMF tone;
transmitting the TDD response message to the TDD.
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Specification