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

• US 10,499,168 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2010
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• 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 Glen, Piccionelli, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Opsasnick, Michael N
• Application Number:
  US12/658,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20100198580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,585 Days
• Field of Search: 379 52, 34082519, 704271
• 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 communication services system operable with a plurality of human interpreters on a computer network having a provider computer, at least one user computer, and a plurality of interpreter computers, each interpreter computer having a manual input/output device for manual operation by a respective one of the human interpreters, wherein the at least one user computer is accessible by a first user and a second user, the first user and second user requiring at least one of the human interpreters to facilitate communication with other, comprising:

means for receiving and transmitting information between the provider computer and the at least one user computer, the information relating to a request for interpretive services; and

means for communication on the communication network with a human interpreter on at least one of the plurality of interpreter computers via the provider computer to request interpretation services for interpreting communications between the first user and the second user;

wherein the at least one user comprises a user computer that comprise a housing, the housing having a first side and a second side, and the user computer further comprises a first display means and a first input means for audio and visual information, the first display means and first input means residing on the first side of the housing, and a second display means separate from the first display means and a second input means for audio and visual information, the second display means and a second input means residing on the second side of the housing, and wherein the system is configured to allow the first user to access the first side of the housing of the user computer and the second user to access the second side of the housing of the user computer, to receive and transmit information between the provide provider computer and the computer.

3. A communication services system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of either the provider computer, the at least one user computer, or interpreter computer comprises a hand-held device.

4. A communication services system as claimed in claim 3, the at least one of either provider computer user computer, or interpreter computer being selected from the group consisting of portable telephones, personal appointment managers, a Palm Pilot, and a personal communication device.

5. A communication services system as ‘

claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the provider computer and the user computer comprises a hand-held device.

6. A communication services system as claimed in claim 5, the provider computer and user computer being selected from the group consisting of portable telephones, personal appointment managers, a Palm Pilot, and a personal communication device.

12. A communication services system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first side of the housing and the second side of the housing face mutually opposite directions.

2. A communication services system operable with a plurality of human interpreters on a computer network having a provider computer, at least one user computer, and a plurality of interpreter computers, each interpreter computer having a manual input/output device for manual operation by a respective one of the human interpreters, wherein the at least one user computer is accessible by a first user and a second user, the first user and second user requiring at least one of the human interpreters to facilitate communication with each other, comprising:

means for receiving and transmitting information between the provider computer and the at least one user computer, the information relating to a request for interpretive services; and

means for communication on the communication network with a human interpreter on at least one of the plurality of interpreter computers via the provider computer to request interpretation services for interpreting communications between the first user and the second user;

wherein the at least one user computer comprises a plurality of user computers, each of the plurality of user computers having means for receiving and transmitting information between the provider computer and each other one of the plurality of user computers, wherein each of the plurality of user computers is in electronic communication with each other and with the provider computer;

wherein the plurality of user computers comprise a first user computer and a second user computer, wherein the fast user computer and second user computer are contained within a single housing, the housing having a first side and a second side, the first user computer having a first means for manual input/output of audio and visual information, wherein the first means for manual input/output of the audio and visual information for the first user computer resides on the first side of the housing and wherein the second user computer having a second means for manual input/output of audio and visual information separate from the first means for manual input/output of audio and visual information, wherein the second means for manual input/output of the audio and visual information for the second user computer resides on the second side of the housing, and wherein the system is configured to allow the first user to access the first user computer to receive or transmit information between the provider computer and the first user computer at the same time that the second user is able to access the second user computer to receive or transmit information between the provider computer and the first user computer.

7. A communication services system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the user computers each comprise a hand-held device.

13. A communication services system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first side of the housing and the second side of the housing face mutually opposite directions.

8. A communication services system operable with a plurality of interpreters on a computer network having a provider computer, and a plurality of interpreter computers, wherein the at least one interpreter to facilitate communication between a first user and a second user comprising:

at least one user computer configured to receive and transmit information from and to the provider computer, the information relating to a request for interpretive services for interpreting communications between the first user and the second user, the at least one user computer further configured to receive interpretation services from a selected one of the interpreter computers that is selected based on the information;

the at least one user computer comprising a housing having a first side and a second side, at least one first input device and first display device configured to allow the first user to input and output audio and visual information wherein the at least one first input device and first display device resides on the first side of the housing, at least one second input device and second display device configured to allow the second user to input and output audio and visual information wherein the at least one second input device and second display device resides on the second side of the housing;

wherein the first and second input devise and first and second display devices are arranged on the housing to allow the first user to allow the first user to access the at least one first input device and first display device at the same time that the second user is able to access the at least one second input device and second display device.

9. A communication services system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one user computer comprises a portable, hand-held device.

10. A communication services system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one user computer is configured to transmit interpreter selection information to the provider computer, the information relating to criteria for selecting an appropriate interpreter for the interpretation services.

11. A communication services system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one user computer is a portable, wireless network communication device that accesses the communication network from a location that is remote to the provider computer and the plurality of interpreter computers, to receive and transmit the information from and to the provider computer and to receive the interpretation services over the communication network.

14. A communication services system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first side of the housing and the second side of the housing face mutually opposite directions.

15. A communication services system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first input device comprises a first camera carried in the housing, and wherein the second input device comprises a second camera carried in the housing.

16. A communication services system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first input device comprises a first camera held by the housing and directed to input visual information from the first side of the housing, and wherein the second input device comprises a second camera held by the housing and directed input visual information from the second side of the housing.

17. A communication services system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first input device comprises a first microphone held by the housing and directed to input audio information from the first side of the housing, and wherein the second input device comprises a second microphone held by the housing and directed to input audio information from the second side of the housing.

18. A communication service device operable with a communication network, comprising:

at least one user communication device configured to receive and transmit information over the communication network;

the at least one user communication device comprising a housing having a first side and a second side, at least one first input device and first display device configured to allow the at least one user to input and output visual information wherein the at least one first input device and first display device resides on the first side of the housing, at least one second input device configured to input visual information wherein the at least one second input device resides on the second side of the housing;

wherein the first and second input devices and first display devices are carried by the housing in an orientation to allow the at least one user to access the at least one first input device and first display device from the first side of the housing at the same time as the at least one second input device from the second side of the housing.

19. The communication service device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first side of the housing and the second side of the housing face mutually opposite directions.

20. The communication services device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first input device comprises a first camera, and where the second input device comprises a second camera.

21. The communication services device as claimed in claim 19 includes, a second display device residing on the second side of the housing.