Interactive conversational speech communicator method and system

• US 6,993,474 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2001
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David G. Curry, Jason R. Curry
• Original Assignee: David G. Curry, Jason R. Curry
• Inventors: Curry, Jason R., Curry, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lerner, Martin
• Application Number:
  US09/859,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20020173965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• Field of Search: 704/2, 704/3, 704/8, 704/270, 704/277, 345/733, 345/750, 345/761, 345/171
• US Class Current: 704/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/58 Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation

Abstract

The invention relates to a compact and portable interactive system for allowing person-to-person communication in a typed language format between individuals experiencing language barriers such as the hearing impaired and language impaired. According to the present invention, the sComm system includes a custom laptop configuration having a display screen and one keyboard on each side of the laptop; and data translations means for translating the original typed data from a first language to a second language. The display screen will further have a split configuration, i.e., a double screen, either top/bottom or left/right depicting chat boxes, each chat box dedicated to a user. The sComm system will be able to support multilingual text-based conversations. In particular, a user will be able to translate, using existing translating technology, the typed text into other languages including, but not limited to, English, Spanish, Chinese, German and French. As such, one chat box can display a text in a first language and the other chat box can display the same text but in a second language.

Claims

1. A method for providing multilingual text-based dialogue between two opposing communicants facing each other in a self-contained portable environment, the method comprising:

selecting a dialogue language for each of the two opposing communicants using input devices positioned opposed to one another;

receiving text-based data based on the dialogue language from at least one of the two communicants;

transmitting the text-based data to an opposing display in the opposing communicant'"'"'s selected language; and

displaying the text-based data in the selected languages;

wherein the self-contained portable environment is characterized by a compact folding laptop-like configuration with at least one display for each of the two opposing communicants, said displays being erected upright when in use, and said self-contained portable environment being foldable into a compact configuration whereby said displays are disposed between said opposing input devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying the text-based data step includes displaying the text in dialogue boxes arranged in side-by-side or top-bottom configuration.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting a dialogue language step includes selecting of at least one of English, Spanish, French, German and Chinese.

4. A system for multilingual text-based dialogue between two opposing communicants facing each other in a self-contained portable environment, the system comprising:

an I/O interface for selecting a dialogue language for each of the two opposing communicants, said I/O interface including input devices positioned opposed to one another, and connected so as to allow two communicants to face one another and input text-based data;

a dialogue processor for receiving the inputted text-based data based on the dialogue language from at least one of the two communicants;

a first display screen for displaying text-based data entered by at least one of the two communicants;

a translation control processor for translating the text-based data to the opposing communicant'"'"'s selected language for display to the opposing communicant; and

a second display screen for displaying the text-based data to the other communicant in the selected language selected by the other communicant;

wherein said first and second display screens are erected substantially upright when said system is in operation, and wherein said system is foldable into a compact configuration wherein said first and second display screens are disposed between said opposing input devices.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the display displays the text in dialogue boxes arranged in side-by-side or top-bottom configurations.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the I/O interface can be used to select at least one of English, Spanish, French, German and Chinese.