Mark A Walter

US Patent:

8204179, Jun 19, 2012

Filed:

Apr 16, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/104202

Inventors:

Stuart O. Goldman - Scottsdale AZ, US
Mark Walter - Aurora IL, US

Assignee:

Alcatel Lucent - Paris

International Classification:

H04M 11/00

US Classification:

379 52

Abstract:

A method is provided in a telecommunications network for clandestinely providing a transmission relay service (TRS) to a called party (). The method includes: receiving a first call from a calling party (), the first call being received at a network node () serving a called party () for which the first call is intended; detecting the called party () answering the first call; and, determining whether or not to invoke a feature () supported by the network node (). If it is determined that the feature () is to be invoked, then the method further includes: reserving a bridge; placing a second call to a relay center () supporting the TRS; obtaining an acknowledgement from the relay center () that an operator () at the relay center () is ready to participate in the first call; and, in response to obtaining the acknowledgement, completing the reserved bridge between the calling party () and the relay center (), and establishing a TRS link between the relay center () and the called party ().

US Patent:

20100142683, Jun 10, 2010

Filed:

Dec 9, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/316070

Inventors:

Stuart Owen Goldman - Scottsdale AZ, US
Mark A. Walter - Aurora IL, US

International Classification:

H04M 11/00
H04N 7/14

US Classification:

379 52, 348 1401, 348E07077

Abstract:

The bandwidth use for Video Relay Service (VRS) assisted calls for hearing impaired individuals is reduced by transmitting a sequence of corresponding sign identification (ID) numbers rather than a video of the signing itself. The signs may be captured by a video camera and recognized by a previously trained sign recognition algorithm, which advantageously converts the signs to sign ID numbers for transmission. Then, at the receiving end, the sequence of ID numbers may be advantageously re-converted back into signs, which may, for example, be displayed on a video screen with use of an artificially created (e.g., a “cartoon”) image comprising (at least) a pair of hands.