Network communication system

• US 7,295,663 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas J. Mclaughlin
• Original Assignee: NXi Communications, Inc. (NexTalk)
• Inventors: McLaughlin, Thomas J., Nelson, Ronald J., Messinger, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Quynh H.
• Application Number:
  US11/209,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20060058049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 379/52, 379/88.12, 379 9301- 9304, 379/93.09, 379/93.15, 379/93.21, 379/93.28, 379/100.12, 379/100.13, 379/142.01, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 375/222, 375/225
• US Class Current: 379/212.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/16 Half-duplex systems; Simplex/duplex switching; Transmission of break signals non-automatically inverting the direction of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42391 where the subscribers are hearing-impaired persons, e.g. telephone devices for the deaf
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0012 Details of application programming interfaces [API] for telephone networks; Arrangements which combine a telephonic communication equipment and a computer, i.e. computer telephony integration [CPI] arrangements

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a network communication system that provides textual communication and call transferring between nodes. The system further allows simultaneous notification of multiple nodes of an incoming call. The system includes a local computer that may also serve as a node in the system. A call may originate with the local computer or be generated by a remote device that is in communication with the local computer. The local computer generates a call indicator that is transmitted to one or more nodes simultaneously. Selection of the nodes may be based on user intervention or by predefined groupings. Each node receiving a call indicator is configured to generate a ring message in response. The ring message is displayed on an output device to alert a node user to the incoming call. In response to the ring message, a node user may choose to accept or decline the call. A node user'"'"'s responses to the call indicator are transmitted to the local computer. Once the local computer receives an acceptance from a node, the local computer transmits call data representative of the call to the accepting node.

Claims

1. A method for transferring a call across a network system, comprising:

receiving a text call from a remote text device;

generating a call indicator indicative of a the text call;

transmitting the call indicator across the network system to a node;

generating response data indicative of non-acceptance of the text call by the node;

transmitting the response data to the remote text device;

receiving a text message from the remote text device; and

transmitting the text message to the node.

2. A network communication system to enable text call transfer, comprising:

a modem to receive a call and maintain a connection with a remote TDD device to receive text characters;

a local computer in electrical communication with the modem to receive the text characters from the modem while the connection is maintained, the local computer capable of selecting a node to receive text characters;

a node in electrical communication with the local computer and including an output device for displaying text characters, the node receiving the text characters from the local computer and generating response text characters for transmission to the remote TDD device while the connection is maintained to thereby enable real time communication between the node and the remote modem; and

a network server in electrical communication with the local computer and the node to regulate data transfer.

3. The network communication system of claim 2, wherein the local modem is capable of communicating through TDD, ITU, and VOICE signals.

4. The network communication system of claim 2, wherein the output device visually displays a ring box indicative of an attempt by the local computer to establish real time communication between the node and the remote modem.

5. The network communication system of claim 4, wherein the ring box includes an identifier to identify the remote modem attempting to establish real time communication.

6. The network communication system of claim 2, wherein the node includes a light that is operated to indicate an attempt by the local computer to establish real time communication between the node and the remote modem.

7. The network communication system of claim 2, wherein the local computer includes an output device for displaying text characters transmitted from the remote modem and the node and wherein the local computer is to generate and transmit text characters in real time to the node and to the remote modem.

8. The network communication system of claim 2 further comprising a network modem in electrical communication with the node, wherein the network modem is to establish a connection with a remote device, and wherein the network modem transmits text characters received from the remote TDD device to the remote device to thereby enable communication between the remote TDD device and the remote device.

9. The network communication system of claim 2, wherein the node displays the text characters on the output device such that text characters received by the node are vertically synchronized with the generated response text characters to reflect the real time generation of the textual characters and maintain the relative timing of the communication between the node and the remote TDD device.

10. A method for enabling text call transfer, comprising:

establishing a connection between a remote TDD device and a modem;

transmitting text characters from the remote TDD device to the modem;

transmitting the text characters from the modem to a local computer while maintaining the connection;

selecting a node on a network in electrical communication with the local computer to receive the text characters;

transmitting the text characters from the local computer to the node while maintaining the connection;

the node displaying the text characters on an output device; and

the node generating and transmitting response text characters to the remote TDD to thereby provide real time communication between the node and the remote TDD device.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the node displaying a ring box on the output device indicative of an attempt by the local computer to establish real time communication between the remote TDD device and the node.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the ring box includes an identifier to identify the remote modem.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

displaying text characters generated by the remote TDD device;

displaying response text characters generated by the node; and

synchronizing the display of the text characters to thereby reflect the real time generation of the text characters and maintain the relative timing of the communication between the node and the remote TDD device.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

the node transmitting text characters to a network modem;

the network modem establishing communication with a remote device;

the network modem transmitting the text characters to the remote device to thereby enable communication between the remote TDD device and the remote device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the node includes a light and further comprising operating the light to provide a visual indication of an attempt by the local computer to establish real time communication between the node and the remote modem.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

the modem receiving a text message and from the remote TDD device;

the local computer receiving the text message and instruction from the modem; and

the local computer transmitting the text message to the node based on the instruction.

17. A network communication system to enable the taking of text messages, comprising:

a modem to receive a text communication including text characters and instruction from a remote device;

a local computer in electrical communication with the modem to receive the text characters and instruction from the modem and to generate and transmit a text message to a node in compliance with the instruction;

a node in electrical communication with the local computer and including an output device for displaying text characters, the node receiving the text message from the local computer; and

a network server in electrical communication with the local computer and the node to regulate data transfer.

18. The network communication system of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of nodes and wherein the text message is transmitted to specified nodes based on the instruction.

19. The network communication system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of nodes are organized into departments and wherein the text message is transmitted to a department based on the instruction.

20. The network communication system of claim 17, wherein the remote device is a modem.

21. The network communication system of claim 17, wherein the remote device is a TDD device.

22. The network communication system of claim 17, wherein the node is a pager.

23. The network communication system of claim 17, wherein the node is a facsimile device.

24. The network communication system of claim 17, wherein the node includes a voice mail account to receive a text message converted to a voice message.

25. The network communication system of claim 17, wherein the node includes a light that is operated to indicate receipt of the text message.

26. A method for taking text messages in a network communication system, comprising:

the network communication system receiving a text communication including text characters and instruction from a remote device;

a local computer generating a text message that includes the text characters;

selecting a node within the network communication system to receive the text message in compliance with the instruction;

transmitting the text message to the node;

storing the text message within the node; and

the node displaying the text message.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

selecting a plurality nodes in compliance with the instruction;

transmitting the text message to the plurality of nodes; and

storing the text message within each of the plurality of nodes.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising organizing the plurality of nodes into a department.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the remote device is a modem.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the remote device is a TDD device.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the node is a pager.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the node is a facsimile device.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the node includes a voice mail account to receive a text message converted to a voice message.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the node includes a light and further comprising operating the light to provide a visual indication of receipt of the text message.

35. A network communication system to enable the taking of text messages, comprising:

a modem to receive a text communication including text characters and instruction from a remote device, the instruction including a destination and a delivery method;

a local computer in electrical communication with the modem to receive the text characters and instruction from the modem and to generate a text message, and transmit the text message to the destination in compliance with the instruction; and

a node in electrical communication with the local computer, the node receiving and displaying the text message.

36. The network communication system of claim 35, wherein the destination is an email account, the delivery method is email delivery, and the email account is accessible by the node.

37. The network communication system of claim 35, wherein the destination is a facsimile number, the delivery method is facsimile forwarding, and the node is a facsimile device.

38. The network communication system of claim 35, wherein the destination is a pager number and the delivery method is pager deliver.

39. The network communication system of claim 35, further comprising a plurality of nodes that are configured to access the destination.

40. The network communication system of claim 39, wherein the plurality of nodes are organized into departments.

41. The network communication system of claim 35, wherein the remote device is a modem.

42. The network communication system of claim 35, wherein the remote device is a TDD device.

43. The network communication system of claim 35, wherein the node includes a voice mail account to receive a text message converted to a voice message.

44. The network communication system of claim 35, wherein the node includes a light that is operated to indicate receipt of the text message.

45. A method for taking text messages in a network communication system, comprising:

the network communication system receiving a text communication comprising text characters and instruction, including a destination and a delivery method, from a remote device;

a local computer generating a text message that includes the text characters;

selecting a destination to receive the text message in compliance with the instruction;

transmitting the text message to the destination in compliance with the delivery method; and

a node of the network communication system accessing the destination, receiving the text message, and displaying the text message.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the destination is an email account, the delivery method is email delivery, and the email account is accessible by the node.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the destination is a facsimile number, the delivery method is facsimile forwarding, and the node is a facsimile device.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the destination is a pager number and the delivery method is pager deliver.

49. The method of claim 45, further comprising a plurality of nodes which are configured to access the destination.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the plurality of nodes are organized into departments.

51. The method of claim 45, wherein the remote device is a modem.

52. The method of claim 45, wherein the remote device is a TDD device.

53. The method of claim 45, wherein the node includes a voice mail account to receive a text message converted to a voice message.

54. The method of claim 45, wherein the node includes a light and further comprising operating the light to provide a visual indication of receipt of the text message.

55. A method for providing a text message conversion of a voice message for a user in a network communication system, comprising:

the network communication system receiving a voice message;

connecting the network communication system to a relay service;

transmitting the voice message to the relay service;

the network communication system receiving a text message from the relay service, wherein the text message is transcribed based on playback of the voice message; and

transmitting the text message to node within the network communication system.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising receiving playback commands from the relay service and wherein transmitting the voice message to the relay service is performed in accordance with the playback commands.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the playback commands are DTMF tones.

58. The method of claim 55, wherein transmitting the voice message to the relay service includes establishing communication between the network communication system and the relay service through a simultaneous voice and data modem connection.

59. The method of claim 55, wherein transmitting the voice message to the relay service includes establishing communication between the network communication system and the relay service through a 2-line VCO connection.

60. The method of claim 55, wherein transmitting the voice message to the relay service includes establishing communication between the network communication system and the relay service through a non-carrier based connection.

61. The method of claim 55, further comprising storing the voice message within the network communication system as an audio file.

62. The method of claim 55, further comprising the network communication system accessing a voice mail system to check for a voice message stored within the voice mail system.

63. A network communication system for providing a text message conversion of a voice message for a user, comprising:

a modem to receive a voice message, to transmit the voice message to a relay service, to receive a text message based on playback of the voice message, and to receive playback commands;

a local computer in electrical communication with the modem to receive and store the voice message, playback the voice message in accordance with playback commands, and transmit the text message;

a node in electrical communication with the local computer and including an output device for displaying text characters, the node to receive the text message from the local computer; and

a network server in electrical communication with the local computer and the node to regulate data transfer.

64. The network communication system of claim 63, wherein the playback commands are DTMF tones.

65. The network communication system of claim 63, wherein the modem is further to transmit the voice message to the relay service through a simultaneous voice and data modem connection.

66. The network communication system of claim 63, wherein the modem is further to transmit the voice message to the relay service through a 2-line VCO connection.

67. The network communication system of claim 63, wherein the modem is further to transmit the voice message to the relay service through a non-carrier based connection.