Captioned Telephone Automatic Relay Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing captioned telephone systems require manual intervention by a call assistant to set up captioning services, which can be cumbersome and not as seamless as conventional telephone services for users who are hard of hearing.
Innovation Solution
A method for operating a captioned telephone call using a device connected to two telephone lines, where the device initiates a call on one line to a relay for captioning setup without requiring the call assistant to hear the voice of the assisted user, allowing for automatic and seamless captioning service similar to conventional calls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a call assistant manually sets up captioning services, then the service can be provided to deaf or hard of hearing users, but the process becomes cumbersome and requires manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated call setup where the captioned telephone device autonomously dials the relay, stores the called number, and initiates captioning services without requiring a call assistant to manually intervene. The device performs self-service operations including automatic number storage and automated relay connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing the dialed number in memory before actually placing the call. This preliminary storage action allows the device to later retrieve and dial the stored number automatically, eliminating the need for manual call setup assistance.
2Reliability
If the call assistant needs to hear the user's voice to set up captioning, then accurate captioning can be provided, but this interferes with other household members' ability to participate in calls
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the voice transmission function from the call setup process. Instead of requiring the call assistant to hear and process the user's voice for setup, the device automatically dials the relay and transmits only necessary setup information, separating the voice communication function from the call establishment function.
Solution Approach 2:
The captioned telephone device acts as an intermediary between the user and the relay service. It automatically manages the connection setup, number storage, and relay dialing, eliminating the need for the call assistant to directly interact with or hear the user's voice while still enabling accurate captioning services.
3Speed
If the device immediately dials after the user inputs a number, then the call can be placed quickly, but the captioning service cannot be properly set up
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary actions by storing the dialed number in memory immediately when the user inputs it, but delays actual dialing until the relay connection is established. This preliminary storage action preserves call speed while ensuring proper captioning setup can occur before the actual call is placed.
Solution Approach 2:
The call setup process is segmented into distinct phases: number input and storage, relay connection establishment, and actual call dialing. This segmentation allows the device to store the number immediately (maintaining speed) while separating the dialing action until captioning services are properly configured (ensuring reliability).
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a captioned telephone call in which an assisted user is connected by a captioned telephone device which is connected both by one line to a remote user and a second line to a relay providing captioning for a conversation, the method comprising the steps of, when a call is received at the captioned telephone device on the first line, the captioned telephone device calling the relay on the second line to initiate captioning service set up prior to the call being answered, after the call is answered, the captioned telephone device passing spoken words received on the first telephone line to the second telephone line and the captioning service then providing captioning to the captioned telephone device of the spoken words transmitted on the second telephone line.