Network communication system - Patent Review 6181736

What is claimed is:

1. A network communication system for transferring a text call to a node user from a local user to thereby allow communication between a remote user of a remote modem and the node user, the network communication system comprising:

an automated local modem for establishing a modem carrier connection with the remote modem;

an automated computer in electrical communication with the automated local modem;

a local computer in electrical communication with the automated computer and having an output device for displaying textual characters;

a node in electrical communication with the local computer and comprising an output device for displaying textual characters; and

a network server in electrical communication with the automated computer, local computer, and the node to regulate data transfer, wherein the automated local modem establishes a modem carrier connection with the remote modem to receive data comprising textual characters, wherein the automated local modem converts the data into a format suitable for the automated computer, wherein the automated computer transmits the data to the local computer while the modem carrier connection between the automated local modem and the remote modem is maintained, wherein the local computer selects a node and data is transferred to the node, wherein the node generates and transmits response data comprising textual characters to the automated computer and to the automated local modem for transmission of the response data from the automated local modem to the remote modem to thereby enable real time communication between the node and the remote modem.

2. The network communication system of claim 1 wherein the local modem is capable of communicating through TDD, ITU, and VOICE signals.

3. The network communication system of claim 1 wherein a ring box is visually displayed on the output device of the node prior to real time communication to signal an attempt by the local computer to establish real time communication between the node and the remote modem.

4. The network communication system of claim 3 wherein the ring box comprises an identifier to identify the remote modem attempting to establish real time communication.

5. The network communication system of claim 4 wherein the local computer sends an inquiry to the remote modem, wherein the remote user enters a textual response, and wherein the textual response is displayed as the identifier on the ring box visually displayed on the output device of the node.

6. The network communication system of claim 1 wherein the local computer comprises an output device for displaying textual characters transmitted from the remote modem and the node and wherein the local computer is capable of generating and transmitting data comprising textual characters in real time to the node and to the remote modem.

7. The network communication system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of additional nodes, each additional node having an output device and in electrical communication with the local computer and the node, wherein a certain number of the additional nodes are selected for real time communication, wherein each additional node receives data comprising textual characters from the local computer and the node for display on the output device, wherein each additional node is capable of transmitting data comprising textual characters to the local computer and the node to thereby enable real time communication between the node, each additional node, and the remote modem.

8. The network communication system of claim 7 wherein the node and a certain number of the additional nodes are selected for real time communication and wherein a ring box is visually displayed on the output device of the node and additional nodes prior to real time communication to signal an attempt by the local computer to establish real time communication between the node, additional nodes, and the remote modem.

9. The network communication system of claim 1 further comprising a network modem in electrical communication with the node, wherein the network modem is in communication with a remote device, and wherein the network modem formats data received from the remote modem in a format suitable for transmission from the network modem to the remote device to thereby enable communication between the remote modem and the remote device.

10. The network communication system of claim 1 wherein the server recognizes the remote modem as an additional node of the network communication system.

11. The network communication system of claim 1 wherein the node formats the display on the output device into different windows on the display screen, wherein textual characters from the node are displayed in one window and textual characters from the remote modem are displayed in another window, and wherein the textual characters of one window are synchronized with the textual characters of the other window to thereby reflect the real time transmission of the textual characters and maintain the relative timing of the communication between the node and the remote modem.

12. The network communication system of claim 11, wherein the node maintains the windows vertically to one another, and wherein the textual characters of one vertical window are substantially in line with the textual characters of the other vertical window in the event of simultaneous communication to maintain the relative timing of the communication between the node and the remote modem.

13. A method for transferring a remote modem text call from a first node on a network to a second node on the network to thereby enable a remote modem user to communicate with a second node user, the method comprising:

establishing a modem carrier connection between the remote modem and an automated station comprising a local modem;

transmitting data comprising textual characters from the remote modem to the automated station;

reformatting the data for compatible transmission of the data from the automated station to a first node across the network;

transmitting the data from the automated station to the first node while maintaining the modem carrier connection between the remote modem and the local modem;

selecting the second node and transmitting the data to the second node;

displaying the textual characters on an output device in electrical communication with the second node;

the second node generating and transmitting response data comprising textual characters to the automated station; and

the automated station transmitting the response data to the remote modem to provide real time communication between the second node and the remote modem.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of displaying a ring box on the output device of the second node to signal an attempt by the first node to establish real time communication between the remote modem and the second node.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the ring box comprises an identifier comprising a manually entered response from the remote user to identify the remote modem attempting to establish real time communication.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

formatting the display on the output device of the second node into separate windows;

displaying textual characters generated by the second node in one window;

displaying textual characters received from the remote modem in another window; and

synchronizing the textual characters of one window with the textual characters of the other window to thereby reflect the real time generation of the textual characters and maintain the relative timing of the communication between the second node and the remote modem.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of synchronizing the textual characters further includes maintaining the windows vertically to one another and maintaining the textual characters of one vertical window substantially in line with the textual characters of the other vertical window in the event of simultaneous communication to maintain the relative timing of the communication between the second node and the remote modem.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the first node comprises an output device and further comprising the steps of:

the first node displaying textual characters received from the second node and the remote modem; and

the first node generating and transmitting data comprising textual characters to the second node and to the remote modem.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

selecting a certain number of additional nodes having output devices; and

transmitting data from the second node to each selected additional node to thereby enable real time communication between the second node and each additional node.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

the second node transmitting data to a network modem in electrical communication with the second node;

the network modem establishing communication with a remote device;

the network modem formatting the data in a format suitable for transmission from the network modem to the remote device; and

the network modem transmitting the data to the remote device to thereby enable communication between the remote modem and the remote device.

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BACKGROUND

1. The Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a network communication system and, more specifically, to local area and wide area networks incorporating an ITU/TDD/VOICE modem.

2. The Background Art

The "plain old telephone system" (POTS) has been in development since the late 1800's. Another term for POTS is "public switched telephone network" (PSTN). In general, the term PSTN will mean any medium of communication in which at least part of the link is analog, and not digital, in nature. The PSTN was first developed in the late 1800's to allow for person to person communications by voice over long distances. The invention of computers made it useful to exchange digital data over the PSTN. In the 1950's, "modems" were developed for that purpose. A modem accepts digital data, modulates it into a form suitable for transmission over the PSTN such that a corresponding receiving modem can demodulate the signal back into the original digital data.

Computer networks have become very popular in allowing computers to communicate and transmit data across local area networks (LAN) and wide area networks (WAN). The Internet itself could be considered to be a WAN. A LAN or WAN link is digital in nature and conforms to a known protocol such as NETBIOS, TCP/IP, SPX/IPX, etc. over a communication media such as Ethernet, Token Ring, or higher speed media.

Several modem protocols of the format "V dot" protocol include the V.32, V.34, and V.70 protocol. All such "V dot" protocols are promulgated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the governing body for modem standards based in Geneva Switzerland. The earlier "Bell" standards, such as Bell 103, Bell 212, etc., are similar but earlier modem standards adopted in the United States prior to the U.S.'s joining of the ITU. The full specifications of any ITU standard may be obtained from the ITU.

The well known "2500" series analog phones will connect directly to the PSTN but not directly to a LAN or WAN. In the PSTN, often the link from a business or residence to the "CO" (central office) is analog, although much of the rest of the PSTN is becoming digital. Modems such as V.32, V.34, etc. are designed to operate on an analog or mixed analog/digital link. The term PSTN in the below discussion will sometimes include PBX or key phone systems or links as found in many organizations. Examples of such PBX or key systems include AT&T's "Merlin" -or "Partner Plus" systems, Nortel's SL1, SL100, or Northstar systems, and so on. PBX or key systems will often connect directly to analog lines from the PSTN, although digital connections, such as Ti lines, are common. A voice caller on a PBX or key system is able to call and converse with an analog 2500 series phone whereas such a phone will not connect directly to a LAN or WAN network.

Modems provide a means for the deaf or speech impaired to communicate over the telephone system, since typed characters can be sent over the PSTN via modem and read by another modem user. However, standard modems have evolved with poor provision for communications by the deaf or speech impaired and are largely unsuitable for this purpose. Standard modems were developed primarily for computer to computer communications. For example, most standard modems have a "carrier" which is a constant audible signal. If this signal is lost because the call is placed on hold, a standard modem will generally hang up and cannot reestablish the connection with a different modem. Modems are very inflexible in their protocol requirements and will not operate properly or will abort the call if the protocol settings are wrong.

In the late 1960's, three deaf engineers developed a new type of very simple modem called a TDD or "telecommunication device for the deaf", sometimes called a TTY. A TDD is typically a stand alone modem system with an integral keyboard and display that allows typed characters to be exchanged with another TDD over the PSTN. Because of its simple protocol requirements, the TDD is robust and easy to use. Consequently, the TDD is, in many respects, more suitable than are standard modems for communications by the deaf.

The International Telecommunications Union ("ITU") (formerly known as the CCITT) has been active in setting various modulation standards for modems. Examples of ITU standards are V.21, V.22, V.22 Bis, V.32, V.32 Bis, and V.34. In the United States, prior to the adoption of ITU standards, various "Bell standards" were established. Examples of Bell standards are Bell 103 and Bell 212. As used herein, an "ITU modem" is a modem that may operate using an ITU modulation/demodulation protocol (or standard). Typically, ITU modems may also operate in at least one Bell modulation/demodulation protocol. A "Bell modem" may operate in a Bell modulation/demodulation protocol. Most modems currently being sold in the United States are ITU modems that are capable of transmitting and receiving in various ITU modulation/demodulation protocols as well as Bell modulation/demodulation protocols. The term "ASCII modem" is sometimes used to refer to an ITU or Bell modem.

A standard modem is a modem that runs all or some of the modem standards passed by the ITU (International Telecommunications Union), or the earlier "Bell" protocols such as Bell 103, Bell 212A, etc. Modem standard modems will typically support protocols such as Bell 103, V.34 (28,800 bps), V.32 bis (14,400 bps), V.22 bis (2400 bps), and so on. As used here, it is assumed that a "standard modem" does not support one or more of the modem protocols used by the deaf, such as 45 or 50 bps Baudot, EDT (European Deaf Telephone), the DTMF text telephones used in Europe, or etc. As used herein, a "standard modem" is a modem other than a TDD that follows an established protocol such as an ITU or Bell modulation/demodulation protocol and transmits and/or receives data over a communication medium. The communication medium may be a telephone system (such as the PSTN), private branch exchange (PBX), or other media such as microwave link, coax, or fiber optic cable. ITU modems and Bell modems are examples of standard modems.

Differences between standard modems and TDDs include: (1) TDDs encode text characters with the generally obsolete five bit Baudot code, while most modems and desktop computers in the United States today use an ASCII encoding, also known as the ANSI X3.4-1977 or ASCII-77 encoding, (2) TDDs do not provide for parity bits, (3) TDDs in the United States transmit/receive only at 45.45 bits per second, and (4) TDDs use frequency shift keying modulation/demodulation at frequencies of 1400 and 1800 Hz. Because TDDs do not use ITU modulation and protocol schemes, TDDs and ITU modems are incompatible and cannot communicate with each other.

Dual purpose modems have been developed that can communicate with both TDDs and ITU modems. Some of these dual purpose modems have the capability to determine whether incoming and outgoing signals are in TDD format or standard modem format.

The deaf or speech impaired find many products, methods, or techniques used in modem communications to be difficult or impossible to use. These problems are made even more evident with the integration of networks into communication technology. The descriptions contained here will show how new techniques and technologies can provide improved communications for the deaf and/or speech impaired. The innovations described herein are primarily directed to the adaptation of TDD, VOICE, and ITU signals with modem and network technology to assist the deaf and/or speech impaired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one presently preferred embodiment, the invention incorporates an ITU/TDD/VOICE modem that is connected to a communications medium (such as a telephone line) and is connected to or internal to a local computer. The ITU/TDD/VOICE modem allows transmission and reception of ITU, TDD, and voice signals over the telephone line to and from a remote device. Examples of remote devices include a remote TDD and a remote ITU modem (which typically connects to or is internal to a remote computer). The ITU/TDD/VOICE modem may operate in various modes including (1) a computer communications mode and (2) a stand alone mode. During computer communications mode, the ITU/TDD/VOICE modem is controlled by the local computer. During stand alone mode, the ITU/TDD/VOICE modem operates independently of the local computer. The stand alone mode may further include an answering machine mode and/or a prestored outgoing message mode.

The ITU/TDD/VOICE modem includes various other features including one or more of the following: a particular utilization of the transmit/receive LED's in TDD mode; the ability to reacquire a new ITU or TDD connection from TDD mode (i.e., reacquisition mode); techniques for minimizing answer tone duration; techniques for modem status query; techniques for silencing Baudot or ITU modulation during voice carry over or hearing carry over; uses for audio-in and audio-out connectors.

Different embodiments of the invention may include some but not others of the various modes and features. The various modes and features may be employed in various combinations. For example, ITU modem that does not have TDD capabilities, may include answering machine mode, prestored outgoing message mode, and other features described herein. An ITU/TDD modem need not include voice capabilities. An ITU/VOICE modem need not include TDD capabilities.

In computer communications mode the ITU/TDD/VOICE modem may be in electrical communication with a local computer. The local computer may, in turn, be in electrical communication with a network. As such, the local computer is treated as a node on the network. The network may be a conventional local area network serviced by a server and containing one or more nodes. The ITU/TDD/VOICE modem allows a local user of the local computer to communicate with a remote device. The local computer further comprises unique modem control and network software for enabling communication between the remote device and one or more nodes on the network.

Most remote modems connecting to a network will not tolerate a call transfer where the call is placed on hold and transferred to another extension in the network. The present invention avoids this problem to facilitate textual communication between a remote device and one or more nodes.

Call transferring begins with a remote text user using a remote device dials into the ITU/TDD/VOICE modem. At this point the remote user is able to converse in real time with the local computer user through transmission of textual characters. If the remote text user wishes to textually communicate with a node on the network, the local computer formats the data into a network compatible format for transmission to the node. The local computer transmits the data to the node while communication between the ITU/TDD/VOICE modem and the remote device is maintained. Thus, the modem link or connection from the ITU/TDD/VOICE modem to the remote device is never interrupted. There are various techniques to alert a node or department that a call transfer is being attempted.

Once the remote device is connected to the network, the network may treat the remote device as an additional node. Thus, the remote device may be privileged to some or all of the network services. Furthermore, the remote device may be allowed to utilize a network modem for connection to a second remote device.

Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide textual communication and call transferring from a remote device to a network to facilitate communication for the deaf and/or speech impaired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram representation of the communication system in accordance with one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention including a network and a modem.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic block diagram representation of a preferred embodiment of an ITU/TDD/VOICE modem.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention described herein may include hardware and features discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,222 issued Nov. 11, 1997 which is incorporated herein by reference.

Referring to FIG. 1, the network communication system 10 includes a modem 12 which may be a standard modem. Alternatively, the modem 12 may be embodied as an ITU/TDD modem which is defined herein as a modem compatible with standard modems and one or more of the `text telephone` standards