MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE FOR HEARING AND/OR SPEECH IMPAIRED USER

• US 20120329518A1
• Filed: 09/11/2012
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: GARG, NEERAJ
• Granted Patent: US 9,172,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72478 for hearing-impaired users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72481 for visually impaired users

Abstract

A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing and transceiver carried by the housing for transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals carrying communications data of speech. A processor is coupled to the transceiver for processing the communications data as speech that is transmitted and received to and from the transceiver. A keyboard and display is carried by the housing and connected to the processor. A speech-to-text and text-to-speech module converts communications data as speech received from the transceiver to text that is displayed on the display and converting text that is typed by a user on the keyboard in the communications data as speech to be transmitted from the transceiver as an RF signal.

Claims

1-36. -36. (canceled)

27. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver;

a keyboard;

a display; and

a processor configured to

convert speech data received from the RF transceiver to text displayed on the display,

convert text input at the keyboard into speech data transmitted from the RF transceiver, and

generate a visual supplement for the text displayed on the display.

28. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 27, further comprising an indicating light;

and wherein the processor is configured to generate the visual supplement for the text displayed on the display, as a light pattern via the indicating light.

29. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 27, further comprising a plurality of different colored indicating lights;

and wherein the processor is configured to generate the visual supplement for the text displayed on the display, as a light pattern via the plurality of different colored indicating lights.

30. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 27, wherein the processor is configured to generate the visual supplement for the text displayed on the display, as a virtual attendant displayed on the display.

31. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 30, wherein the virtual attendant displays at least one of sign language patterns and lip motion.

32. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 27, further comprising a camera;

and wherein the processor is configured to convert images of user sign language from the camera to supplement speech data transmitted from the RF transceiver.

33. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 27, wherein the processor is configured for displaying a set up screen having a selectable handicap option for enabling the speech-to-text and text-to-speech conversions.

34. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 33, wherein the selectable handicap option comprises a default setting.

35. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 27, further comprising a first key;

and wherein the processor is configured to operate the RF transceiver to transmit speech data indicative of a greeting in a telephone call in response to the first key.

36. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 27, further comprising a second key;

and wherein the processor is configured to operate the RF transceiver to transmit speech data indicative of a ending a telephone call in response to the second key.

37. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 27, further comprising a speaker;

and wherein the processor is configured to output audio speech from the speaker in addition to the speech as text on the display.

38. The mobile wireless communications device according to claim 27, wherein the display and the keyboard are integrated together.

39. A method of operating a mobile wireless communications device comprising:

operating a processor to;

convert speech data received from a radio frequency (RF) transceiver to text displayed on a display,

convert text input at a keyboard into speech data transmitted from the RF transceiver, and

generate a visual supplement for the text displayed on the display.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein operating the processor to generate the visual supplement for the text displayed on the display, comprises operating at least one indicating light.

41. The method according to claim 39, wherein operating the processor to generate the visual supplement for the text displayed on the display, comprises operating a plurality of different colored indicating lights.

42. The method according to claim 39, wherein using the processor to generate the visual supplement, for the text displayed on the display, comprises generating a virtual attendant displayed on the display.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein the virtual attendant displays at least one of sign language patterns and lip motion.

44. A non-transitory computer readable medium which when executed on a processor of a mobile wireless communications device causes steps comprising:

converting speech data received from a radio frequency (RF) transceiver to text displayed on a display;

converting text input at a keyboard into speech data transmitted from the RF transceiver; and

generating a visual supplement for the text displayed on the display.

45. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 44, wherein generating the visual supplement for the text displayed on the display comprises operating at least one indicating light.

46. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 44, wherein generating the visual supplement for the text displayed on the display comprises operating a plurality of different colored indicating lights.

47. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 44, wherein generating the visual supplement for the text displayed on the display comprises generating a virtual attendant displayed on the display.

48. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 47, wherein the virtual attendant displays at least one of sign language patterns and lip motion.