Sign language interpretation system and a sign language interpretation method

A sign language interpretation system which interconnects a videophone terminal for deaf-mute persons used by a deaf-mute person capable of using sign language, a videophone terminal for non-deaf-mute persons used by a non-deaf-mute person incapable of using sign language, and a videophone terminal for sign language interpreters used by a sign language interpreter in order to provide sign language interpretation in a conversation between a deaf-mute person and a non-deaf-mute person over a videophone, said sign language interpretation system comprising:

• communications means individually equipped with a line interface for deaf-mute persons to which a deaf-mute person terminal is to be connected, a line interface for non-deaf-mute persons to which a non-deaf-mute person terminal is to be connected, and a line interface for sign language interpreters to which a sign language interpreter terminal is to be connected, said communications means includes a function to simultaneously perform:
• a function to synthesize at least a video from said line interface for non-deaf-mute persons and a video from said line interface for sign language interpreters and transmit the resulting video to said line interface for deaf-mute persons;
• a function to transmit at least a video from said line interface for deaf-mute persons and an audio from said line interface for sign language interpreters to said line interface for non-deaf-mute persons;
• and a function to transmit at least a video from said line interface for deaf-mute persons and an audio from said line interface for non-deaf-mute persons to said line interface for sign language interpreters;
• and
• connection means equipped with a sign language interpreter registration table in which the terminal number of a sign language interpreter is registered, said connection means including:
• a function to accept a call to said line interface for deaf-mute persons or said line interface for non-deaf-mute persons and connect the calling terminal;
• a function to prompt said calling terminal to enter the terminal number of the called terminals;
• a function to extract the terminal number of a sign language interpreter from said sign language interpreter registration table;
• a function to call and connect the sign language interpreter terminal by using said extracted terminal number of the sign language interpreter from said line interface for sign language interpreters;
• and a function to call and connect the called terminal by using said acquired called terminal number, from said line interface for the non-deaf-mute person terminal in case said calling terminal is connected to the line interface for deaf-mute persons, or from said line interface for the deaf-mute person terminal in case said calling terminal is connected to the line interface for non-deaf-mute persons.

A method for providing sign language interpretation in a conversation between a deaf-mute person and a non-deaf-mute person over a videophone, said method interconnecting a videophone terminal for deaf-mute persons used by a deaf-mute person capable of using sign language, a videophone terminal for non-deaf-mute persons used by a non-deaf-mute person incapable of using sign language, and a videophone terminal for a sign language interpreter used by the sign interpreter, said method individually equipped with a line interface for deaf-mute persons to which a deaf-mute person terminal is to be connected, a line interface for non-deaf-mute persons to which a non-deaf-mute person terminal is to be connected, and a line interface for sign language interpreters to which a sign language interpreter terminal is to be connected, said method comprising:

• a step of simultaneously performing steps of:
• synthesizing at least a video from said line interface for non-deaf-mute persons and a video from said line interface for sign language interpreters and transmitting the resulting video to said line interface for deaf-mute persons;
• transmitting at least a video from said line interface for deaf-mute persons and an audio from said line interface for sign language interpreters to said line interface for non-deaf-mute persons;
• and transmitting at least a video from said line interface for deaf-mute persons and an audio from said line interface for non-deaf-mute persons to said line interface for sign language interpreters;
• and
• said method is equipped with a sign language interpreter registration table where the terminal number of a sign language interpreter is registered, said method including steps of:
• accepting a call to said line interface for deaf-mute persons or said line interface for non-deaf-mute persons and connecting the calling terminal;
• prompting said calling terminal to enter the terminal number of the called terminal;
• extracting the terminal number of a sign language interpreter from said sign language interpreter registration table;
• calling and connecting the sign language interpreter terminal by using said extracted terminal number of the sign language interpreter from said line interface for sign language interpreters;
• and
• calling and connecting the called terminal by using said acquired called terminal number, from said line interface for the non-deaf-mute person terminal in case said calling terminal is connected to the line interface for deaf-mute persons, or from said line interface for the deaf-mute person terminal in case said calling terminal is connected to the line interface for non-deaf-mute persons.