Caption Relay for Non-Caption Devices via Second Device Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Devices lacking captions capability, such as certain desk phones and PSTN devices, cannot receive captions during calls or meetings, limiting accessibility for communication over networks like PSTN and VoIP.
Innovation Solution
A system that identifies and joins a capable second device to a call to receive captions, based on factors like distance, display quality, status, and user preferences, using a separate channel to provide synchronized textual representations of audio, generated by a captions server, to ensure captions are available for users of devices without native captioning capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a device without captions capability is used for a call, then the device can be used for basic voice communication, but captions are not available for the call
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows a device without captions capability to participate in calls while enabling captions through another device. The call system becomes universal, supporting both captioned and non-captioned devices, allowing the same call infrastructure to serve diverse device capabilities without requiring each device to have captions functionality built-in.
Solution Approach 2:
A second device with captions capability acts as an intermediary to provide captions for the first device without captions capability. The captions server and call system mediate between the two devices, allowing the captioned device to receive and display captions that are then associated with the non-captioned device's call experience.
2Reliability
If captions are enabled for a call, then accessibility is improved, but additional system components and processing are required
Solution Approach 1:
The captions server acts as an intermediary component that handles the complex processing of generating and delivering captions. By separating the captions generation function from the call devices, the system maintains reliability and accessibility while managing complexity in a dedicated service rather than in each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the captions functionality from the call functionality. The call can be conducted on any device while captions are provided separately through a capable device and the captions server. This segmentation allows the call system to remain simple while the captions system provides accessibility independently.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are associated with a user, then caption delivery flexibility is improved, but device selection and management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback mechanisms to automatically select the appropriate second device for delivering captions. Based on device status, availability, and user preferences, the system determines which device should receive and display captions, reducing the manual selection burden on users while maintaining flexibility in device choices.
Solution Approach 2:
Users can pre-configure their devices and preferences for caption delivery before making a call. The system stores information about which devices are capable of displaying captions and user preferences for caption delivery. When a call is made, the system uses these pre-configured settings to automatically determine the best device for caption delivery without requiring real-time user intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A call is conducted with a first device of a user, the first device lacking captions capability. A second device of the user is identified for receiving captions for the call from among a plurality of second devices of the user based on one or more from a group of distances of the second devices to a location of the first device, display quality of the second devices, status of the second devices, and user preferences for the second devices. An identified second device is joined to the call to receive the captions during the call conducted with the first device.