Method and system for unifying phonebook for varied hearing disabilities

• US 7,142,643 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sorenson Ip Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sorenson Communications Incorporated
• Inventors: Brooksby, Scot Lorin
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Stella
• Application Number:
  US11/015,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20060133583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 379/52, 379/93.15, 379/90.01, 379/355.03
• US Class Current: 379/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2475 for a hearing impaired user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata

Abstract

A network device, relay service, system and method for electronic communication between a hearing-capable user and a hearing-impaired user are disclosed, which includes a network device for use by a hearing-impaired user to communicate with a first voice phone of a called or hearing-capable user via a relay service. An electronic phonebook within the network device is configured to store at least one entry that includes a phone number of the first voice phone and a relay service type identifier designating a request for a specific level of interpretive services by said relay service. The phone number and the relay service type identifier are passed to a relay service and the relay service is configured to provide varying levels of interpretive services. A voice carry-over interpretive service is initiated when the relay service type identifier designates a request for the voice carry-over interpretive service.

Claims

1. A network device for use by a hearing-impaired user to communicate with a first voice phone of a called user via a relay service, comprising:

an electronic phonebook configured to store therein at least one entry, the at least one entry including a phone number of the first voice phone and a relay service type identifier designating a request for a specific level of interpretive services by the relay service; and

a control process configured to be responsive to selecting one of the at least one entry from the electronic phonebook and to pass the phone number of the first voice phone of a called party and the relay service type identifier of the one of the at least one entry to the relay service.

2. The network device of claim 1, further comprising a stored VCO callback number of a second voice phone of the hearing-impaired user.

3. The network device of claim 2, wherein the control process is further configured for passing the stored VCO callback number of the second voice phone of the hearing-impaired user to the relay service when the relay service type identifier designates a request for a voice carry-over interpretive service from the relay service.

4. The network device of claim 1, further comprising a display configured to present one of a video image or text-based image originating from the relay service when the relay service provides relay services of the specific level of interpretive services.

5. The network device of claim 1, wherein the phone number of the at least one entry is a network address of the first voice phone of the called party.

6. A relay service for providing a variety of interpretive services between a hearing-impaired user and a hearing-capable user, comprising:

control logic configured to be responsive to a request for interpretive services including a phone number of a first voice phone of the hearing-capable user and a relay service type identifier designating a request for a specific level of interpretive services; and

interpreter services configurable according to the relay service type identifier.

7. The relay service of claim 6, wherein the control logic is further configured to be responsive to a stored VCO callback number of a second voice phone of the hearing-impaired user and establish a voice conference with the hearing-impaired user over the second voice phone and hearing-capable user over the first voice phone.

8. The relay service of claim 6, wherein the control logic is further configured to present one of a video image or text-based image when the interpreter services provides interpretive services of the specific level.

9. The relay service of claim 6, wherein the phone number of the at least one entry is a network address of the first voice phone of a called party.

10. A communication system for communicating between a hearing-impaired user and a hearing-capable user, comprising:

a first voice phone for use by the hearing-capable user;

a network device for use by the hearing-impaired user to communicate with the first voice phone of the hearing-capable user, including an electronic phonebook configured to store therein at least one entry, the at least one entry including a phone number of the first voice phone and a relay service type identifier designating a request for a specific level of interpretive services, the network device further including a control process configured to be responsive to selecting one of the at least one entry from the electronic phonebook and to pass the phone number of the first voice phone of the hearing-capable user and the relay service type identifier of the one of the at least one entry; and

a relay service coupled via a network to the network device and the first voice phone, the relay service configured to provide a variety of interpretive services between the hearing-impaired user and the hearing-capable user.

11. The communication system of claim 10, further comprising a second voice phone of the hearing-impaired user and wherein the network device, further comprises a stored VCO callback number of the second voice phone of the hearing-impaired user.

12. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the control process is further configured for passing the stored VCO callback number of the second voice phone of the hearing-impaired user to the relay service when the relay service type identifier designates a request for a voice carry-over interpretive service from the relay service.

13. The communication system of claim 10, wherein the network device further comprises a display configured to present one of a video image or text-based image originating from the relay service when the relay service provides relay services of the specific level of interpretive services.

14. The communication system of claim 10, wherein the phone number of the at least one entry is a network address of the first voice phone of the called party.

15. A method for electronic communication with a

hearing-impaired user and a called user, comprising:

selecting an entry from an electronic phonebook within a network device, the entry including a phone number of the called user and a relay service type identifier;

passing the phone number of the called user and the relay service type identifier to a relay service, the relay service configured to provide varying levels of interpretive services; and

initiating voice carry-over interpretive service at the relay service when the relay service type identifier designates a request for the voice carry-over interpretive service.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying the relay service type identifier with the phone number of the called user for selection by the hearing-impaired user.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising initiating a video relay service at the relay service when the relay service type identifier designates a request for the video relay service.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising passing a stored VCO callback number of the hearing-impaired user to the relay service when the relay service type identifier designates a request for the voice carry-over interpretive service.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising initiating a voice conference with the hearing-impaired user according to the stored VCO callback number, the relay service and the called party when the relay service type identifier designates a request for the voice carry-over interpretive service.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising associating a relay service type identifier with the entry in the electronic phonebook, the relay service type identifier identifying a level of interpretive services requested by the hearing-impaired user.