Communication apparatus

• US 7,107,219 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2001
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nemoto, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAWAN, VIJAY B
• Application Number:
  US09/682,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20020069068A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,778 Days
• Field of Search: 341 20- 22, 341/28, 400/71, 400/87, 400/109.1, 400110-111, 704/270, 704/275, 704/272, 704/271
• US Class Current: 704/271
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/007 using both tactile and audible presentation of the information
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems

Abstract

A terminal is designed so that a user who employs numerical keys, allocated for the entry of dots, can enter Braille dot combinations that are used for the input of characters. The input characters may be output as speech for feedback. Further, when a terminal accesses a server, Braille dot combinations can be entered in the above described manner, and speech can be fed back from the server. Furthermore, the server can provide a service for the user in accordance with a character string input at the terminal.

Claims

1. A communication terminal comprising:

a group of keys arranged in a multiple row, multiple column matrix;

a key detector for detecting manipulations of said keys;

a processor for performing a process in accordance with said manipulations of said keys detected by said key detector; and

a communication unit for communicating with an external unit,

wherein six keys, arranged in two columns and three rows, are allocated for dots for Braille;

wherein said processor specifies Braille dot combinations corresponding to said manipulations of said keys detected by said key detector, and converts said specified Braille dot combinations into characters that are output through said communication unit; and

wherein a first mode for allocating ordinary numbers, such as 0 to 9, or symbols, such as * and #, and a second mode for allocating dots for Braille are available for said keys, and wherein said processor can switch between said first mode and said second mode.

2. The communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein said processor can switch among said first mode, said second mode and a third mode for allocating characters for said keys.

3. A communication terminal comprising:

a group of keys arranged in a multiple row, multiple column matrix;

a key detector for detecting manipulations of said keys;

a processor for performing a process in accordance with said manipulations of said keys detected by said key detector; and

a communication unit for communicating with an external unit,

a tone generator for generating different tones for each row and column of said keys, wherein, when n keys are manipulated and said key detector has detected tones corresponding to keys of two columns and n rows, it is assumed that said keys at the locations where at said two columns and n rows intersect have been manipulated;

wherein six keys, arranged in two columns and three rows, are allocated for dots for Braille;

wherein said processor specifies Braille dot combinations corresponding to said manipulations of said keys detected by said key detector, and converts said specified Braille dot combinations into characters that are output through said communication unit.

4. A communication terminal comprising:

a group of keys arranged in a multiple row, multiple column matrix;

a key detector for detecting manipulations of said keys;

a processor for performing a process in accordance with said manipulation of said keys detected by said key detector; and

a communication unit for communicating with an external unit,

wherein six keys, arranged in two columns and three rows, are allocated for dots for Braille;

wherein said processor specifies Braille dot combinations corresponding to said manipulations of said keys detected by said key detector, and converts said specified Braille dot combinations into characters that are output through said communication unit; and

wherein, when the same key is manipulated at multiple times in said second mode said processor regards such manipulations as a single operation.

5. A portable communication terminal comprising:

a key body having operating keys on a surface; and

a display body, pivotally connected to said key body, having a display panel on a surface,

wherein said key body and said display body can be folded together so that said surface of said key body on which said operating keys are positioned and said surface of said display body on which said display panel is positioned are exposed;

a key detector for detecting manipulations of said operating keys;

a processor for performing a process in accordance with said manipulations of said operating keys detected by said key detector; and

a communication unit for outputting a signal to the outside based on the process performed by said processor,

wherein, said processor allocates six operating keys among said operating keys, arranged in two columns and three rows, for dots used to specify a Braille dot combination that corresponds to said manipulations of said operating keys detected by said key detector, and outputs a signal representing a character corresponding to said specified Braille dot combination through said communication unit as said output signal.

6. The portable communication terminal according to claim 5, further comprising:

a speech output unit for outputting speech,

wherein said processor synthesizes speech based on characters obtained by conversion, and permits said speech output unit to release said speech.

7. The portable communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein said processor allocates dots for said Braille keys in a column at one end of said key body and in a column at the other end.

8. A feedback system wherein, in accordance with an operation performed by a user terminal which has accessed a server of service provider, said server feeds back speech to said terminal;

wherein said terminal includes

operating keys for data entry by a user,

a communication unit for communicating with said server,

a signal generator far generating a signal in accordance With the manipulation of said operating keys, and for transmitting said signal through said communication unit, and

a speech output unit for outputting speech based on a feedback signal received through said communication unit; and

wherein said server includes

a reception unit for receiving said signal from said terminal,

a character converter for converting said signal received by said reception unit into a corresponding character,

a speech synthesis signal generator for generating a speech synthesis signal based on said character, and

a transmission unit for transmitting said speech synthesis signal as said feedback signal.

9. The feedback system according to claim 8, wherein based on said signal received, said character converter specifies a Braille dot combination corresponding to the manipulation of said operating keys, and converts said Braille dot combination into a corresponding character.

10. The feedback system according to claim 8, wherein said server further includes:

a speech message output unit for outputting, as a speech signal, a message requesting that said terminal enter data.

11. The feedback system according to claim 8, wherein said server further includes:

a character string generator for generating a character string by sequentially accumulating characters obtained by said character converter; and

a process execution unit for accepting a request from said user comprising said character string generated by said character string generator, and for performing a process in accordance with said request.

12. A speech feedback server comprising:

a reception unit for receiving signals from an external terminal;

a key identification unit for, based on said received signals, identifying operating keys manipulated at said external terminal;

a Braille specification unit for specifying a Braille dot combination corresponding to the manipulations of said operating keys identified by said key identification unit;

a character converter for converting said Braille dot combination specified by said Braille specification unit into a corresponding character;

a character, string generator for generating a character string by sequentially accumulating characters obtained by said character converter; and

a process execution unit for performing a process in accordance with a user'"'"'s request comprising said character string generated by said character string generator.

13. A communication terminal comprising:

a group of keys arranged in a multiple column, multiple row matrix;

a key detector for detecting manipulations of said keys;

a signal transmission unit for transmitting, to an external host server, an output signal that is consonant with said manipulations of said keys detected by said key detector;

a reception unit for receiving, from said host server, a speech response signal that is generated by said host server in accordance with a character that corresponds to a Braille dot combination obtained by conversion based on said output signal; and

a speech output unit for outputting speech based on said speech response signal.