IP Text Relay for Hearing Impaired Users
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication devices for the hearing impaired, such as TTY devices, rely on outdated protocols like BAUDOT and are limited by geographic boundaries, failing to provide effective real-time text transcription over global networks.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing IP communication to transmit and receive voice and text between hearing impaired and hearing individuals, where a transceiving device connects to both phones, enabling real-time text transcription of voice communications over a global network, using IP phones, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Symbian, and other devices, with an operator or software assisting in transcription.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If TTY devices use BAUDOT protocol for communication, then text transmission between devices is achieved, but communication is limited by geographic boundaries and lacks real-time capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the communication protocol parameter from BAUDOT to IP protocol, enabling transition from legacy TTY systems to modern internet-based communication. This parameter change allows hearing impaired users to communicate globally in real-time through IP phones and other internet-connected devices, resolving the geographic and real-time limitations of BAUDOT protocol while maintaining text transmission capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the communication system universal by implementing IP protocol support across multiple device types including IP phones, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Symbian, and Java devices. This multi-functionality approach allows the same IP-based text relay system to work across diverse platforms and geographic locations, eliminating the geographic boundaries that limited TTY devices while preserving text-based communication for hearing impaired users
2Adaptability or versatility
If real-time text transcription is implemented over IP network, then geographic boundaries are overcome, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communications assistant as an intermediary component that handles the complex real-time transcription task. The assistant receives voice communications over IP network, transcribes them to text in real-time, and delivers the text to the hearing impaired user's device. This intermediary approach enables global real-time communication capability while managing system complexity by dedicating a specialized component to handle the transcription burden
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the communication system into distinct functional components: IP-based voice communication module, real-time transcription module (communications assistant), and text delivery module. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the IP module handles global connectivity, the transcription module handles real-time text conversion, and the delivery module handles device compatibility - thereby achieving global real-time communication while managing overall system complexity through modular architecture
Data Source
AI summary
An IP text relay is described herein, to facilitate communication through the use of VOIP or internet telephone system between people of hearing impaired and non hearing impaired. This service and device will enable users to communicate with users of hearing via assistance of an operator who will transcribe.