System and method for establishing a conference in two or more different languages

A system for establishing a conference in different languages comprising:

• means for receiving a request for establishing a conference between two or more communication devices each associated with one of a plurality of different languages, wherein one of said different languages represents a main language;
• means for connecting each of said communication devices associated with one of said different languages other than said main language with a communication device of an interpreter for orally translating between said one of said different languages and said main language;
• means for connecting the communication device of the interpreter associated with each one of said different languages other than said main language for communication with one or more of said communication devices associated with said main language;
• and
• means for enabling the interpreter associated with at least one of said different languages other than said main language to provide oral interpretation over a single communication with control of direction of out-going voice communication to one or more communication devices associated with said one of said different languages, or said main language.

A method for establishing a conference via communication devices associated with participants conversant in different languages comprising the steps of:

• establishing a main language circle having one or more communication devices associated with one of said different languages in which other of said one or more communication devices associated with one or more other different languages are outside of said main language circle, and when two or more communication devices are present in the main language circle said two or more communication devices are in an audio conference with each other;
• connecting each of the one or more communication devices outside of said main language circle to the main language circle via a communication device of an interpreter for orally interpreting between the different language associated with the communication device and the language of said main language circle to enable the communication device of the interpreter to receive through a single communication line both voice communication from one or more communication device in the main language circle and voice communication from the communication device outside of the main language circle, in which said connecting step is enabled by a computer system to which each of said communication devices are coupled to;
• and
• providing oral translation over a single communication line between the computer system and the communication device of the interpreter associated with at least one of one or more communication devices outside the main language circle with control of direction of out-going voice communication from the communication device of the interpreter to one of the communication device outside the main language circle connected to the communication device of the interpreter, or to one or more communication devices in the main language circle.

An apparatus for establishing an audio conference via communication devices associated with participants conversant in different languages comprising:

• means for establishing a main language circle to one or more communication devices all associated with the same one of said different languages;
• means for connecting each of the one or more communication devices associated with a different language other than said main language to a communication device of an interpreter;
• means for connecting in an audio conference said one or more communication devices in the main language circle and the communication device of the interpreter connected to each of the one or more communication devices associated with a different language other than the main language;
• and
• means for controlling the direction of out-going voice communication by the communication device of the interpreter between one of said one or more communication devices in said main circle and said one or more communication devices associated with a different language than that of the main circle utilizing a single voice communication line between the communication device of the interpreter and the computer system.

A system for conferencing in different languages comprising:

• a plurality of first communication devices associated with participants conversant in two or more languages, in which one of said languages is designated as a main language;
• a second communication device associated with an interpreter for each different language other than said main language in which the interpreter represents a person capable of orally translating between the different language and the main language;
• and
• a computer system enabling communication between different ones of said first communication devices and the second communication device for each one of said different language other than said main language, in which said computer system for each different language other than the main language
• (i) connects the second communication device associated with the interpreter for voice communication with one or more first communication devices associated with one or more participants conversant in the different language, connects the second communication device associated with the interpreter for voice communication to the one or more first communication devices associated with one or more participants conversant in the main language, in which the second communication device receives voice communication from the one or more first communication devices associated with one or more participants conversant in the different language and one or more first communication devices associated with one or more participants conversant in the main language,
• (ii) enables the second communication device to be operated by the interpreter associated with the second communication device in at least a first communication mode and a second communication mode, in which in said first mode the second communication device is connected by said computer system for outgoing voice communication from the second communication device only to one of the one or more first communication devices associated with participants conversant in the different language, and in a second mode the second communication device is connected by said computer system for outgoing voice communication from the second communication device only to one or more first communication devices associated with one or more participants conversant in the main language, and
• the second communication device associated with at least one of the different languages other than said main language is connected by a single communication line to
• said computer system and operable between said first and second communication modes said by the interpreter of the second communication device to facilitate oral translation;
• and
• two or more of said first communication devices are connected by the computer system for communication with each other in an audio conference when said two or more first communication devices are associated with participants conversant in the main language, and when only one of said first communication devices are present, said one of said first communication device is connection to said computer set via a communication line.