US 6,389,114 B1 · Method and apparatus for relaying communication

Abstract

The invention provides a telecommunication relay device that relays communication from a first party to at least one second party. The first party and the second party may use terminals of different types such as telephone stations, text telephones, two-way pagers, personal digital assistants with communication capabilities, data network terminals, etc. The telecommunication relay device converts text received from text terminals into voice for voice terminals and converts voice to text and vice versa. The telecommunication relay device also permits the first party to leave messages for other parties. For example, the first party may send an e-mail message using a telephone station or receive an e-mail using a telephone station. In addition, the telecommunication relay device may open a private chat room to allow communication between data network terminals and telephone stations, for example. The telecommunication relay device may also provide conferencing capability where the conferees may use different type terminals.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method for relaying communication between a first party using a first terminal of a first type and at least a second party using a second terminal of a second type, the first type being different than the second type, the method comprising:

receiving a first contact from the first party;
at least one of leaving a first message for the second party, outputting a second message received from the second party, or initiating a second contact to the second party;
and
leaving a third message for the second party if the second party does not answer the second contact, wherein the first message is saved without conversion, wherein if the second party answers the second contact, the method further comprising:
converting first information received from the first terminal into second information;
outputting the second information to the second terminal;
converting third information received from the second terminal into fourth information;
and
outputting the fourth information to the first terminal, wherein all conversions are performed automatically by a conversion device.

6 more elements

A telecommunication relay device that relays communication between a first party using a first terminal of a first type and at least a second party using a second terminal of a second type, the first type being different than the second type, the device comprising:

a memory;
and
a controller coupled to the memory receiving a first contact from the first party, the controller at least one of leaving a first message for the second party, outputting a second message from the memory received from the second party, or initiating a second contact to the second party, and leaving a third message for the second party if the second party does not answer the second contact, saving the first message without conversion, wherein if the second party answers the second contact, the controller converting first information received from the first terminal into second information, outputting the second information to the second terminal, converting third information received from the second terminal into a fourth information, and outputting the fourth information to the first terminal, wherein all conversions are performed automatically by a conversion device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for relaying communication

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for relaying communication

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22