System, method, and apparatus for providing interpretive communication on a network

• US 7,792,676 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2001
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: KP Innovations2 LLC
• Original Assignee: KP Innovations 2, LLC (Thundershield, LLC)
• Inventors: Klinefelter, Robert Glenn, Piccionelli, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Opsasnick; Michael N
• Application Number:
  US10/057,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20020069067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,239 Days
• Field of Search: 704/271, 379/52, 340/825.19
• US Class Current: 704/271
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/55 Communication between hearing aids and external devices via a network for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention comprises a system, method, and apparatus that provides for the utilization of a relatively real-time or near real-time interpretation or translation that may be utilized preferably for a relatively short duration of time on a network. A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides online, real-time, short-duration interpreting services in a network-based format. In preferred embodiments, the interpreting system comprises at least one provider computer, such as a server, wherein the provider computer is capable of communicating with user computers via a network. In one preferred embodiment, the provider computer provides a series of web pages that allow access to the interpreting system, including, but not limited to, a request for service page, wherein a user can access the system and input a request for interpreting services. Interpreting services are then provided to a user and a third party desiring to communicate with the user via the network.

Claims

1. A method for providing communication services on a computer network, the communication services being operable with a plurality of human interpreters, having a provider computer and a user computer, wherein each of the plurality of human interpreters has a predefined set of service criteria, the method comprising:

receiving a request for communication services on the provider computer from a first user via the user computer, the first user requiring at least one of the plurality of human interpreters to facilitate communication with a second user, the request for communication services including user-selected service criteria;

comparing, on the provider computer, user-selected service criteria with the predefined set of service criterion of the one of the plurality of human interpreters to determine a degree of match;

selecting one of the plurality of human interpreters from the degree of match;

transmitting, from the user computer, information to be interpreted to the selected human interpreter; and

receiving, on the user computer, a response from the selected human interpreter, wherein the response is manually input by the selected human interpreter and corresponds to a interpretation of the transmitted information from the user computer.

2. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular telephone, a handheld device, wireless laptop, or Palm Pilot.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising producing a recordation of the communication service provided by the selected human interpreter.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an image of at least one of the first user or second user is transmitted to the at least one of the plurality of human interpreters and an image of the selected human interpreter is transmitted to the user computer, further comprising digitally modifying for transmission on the computer network the image of at least one of the first user, the second user, or the selected human interpreter.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising transmitting the request for communication services to available human interpreters of the plurality of human interpreters.