Claims
- 1. A media translator comprising:
speech receiving means acting to receive audio information; speech-to-text conversion means acting to convert audio information from the speech receiving means into corresponding textual information; and textual information output means acting to provide the textual information to a first instant communications client.
- 2. The media translator of claim 1 wherein the textual information output means comprises a second instant communications client for engaging in messaging communications with the first instant communications client.
- 3. The media translator of claim 1 wherein the textual information output means comprises an instant communications sender process for sending messaging communications to the first instant communications client.
- 4. The media translator of claim 1 wherein the textual information output means engages in messaging communications with the instant communications client.
- 5. The media translator of claim 1 wherein the speech receiving means acts to receive audio information from a packet data network.
- 6. The media translator of claim 1 wherein the speech receiving means acts to engage in a voice-over-packet communications session.
- 7. The media translator of claim 1 wherein the speech receiving means acts to receive a voice-over-packet data stream.
- 8. The media translator of claim 1 wherein the speech receiving means acts to receive a telephony signal.
- 9. The media translator of claim 1 wherein the speech receiving means interfaces to a telephony network.
- 10. The media translator of claim 1 wherein the speech receiving means interfaces to a device for handling telephony traffic.
- 11. The media translator of claim 1 wherein the textual information output means communicates with a voice-over-packet gateway.
- 12. The media translator of claim 1 further comprising:
means for communicating with an interactive service providing system, wherein the media translator conditionally acts to convert audio information responsive to communications with the interactive service providing system and wherein the interactive service providing system interacts with a party to determine whether the party desires to have conversion performed by the media translator.
- 13. The media translator of claim 1 wherein the speech receiving means is coupled to a telephone connection for receiving audio information from a party using a telephone.
- 14. The media translator of claim 1 wherein the speech-to-text conversion means acts to convert the audio information into the corresponding textual information in a substantially real-time manner.
- 15. The media translator of claim 1 further comprising:
a control interface means via which the media translator performs communications of control information, the control information relating to communications through at least one of the textual information receiving means, the speech receiving means, the textual information output means and the audio information output means.
- 16. The media translator of claim 15 wherein the media translator establishes communications with the instant communications client responsive to the control information.
- 17. The media translator of claim 15 wherein the control information specifies the instant communications client and the media translator selectively establishes contact with the first instant communications client responsive to the content of the control information.
- 18. The media translator of claim 15 wherein the control information comprises at least one of:
an identifier corresponding to the first instant communications client; an identifier corresponding to an voice-over-packet datastream; an IP address; an identifier corresponding to an audio information input port of the translator; an identifier corresponding to a textual information receiving port of the translator; an identifier corresponding to a textual information output port of the translator; an identifier corresponding to a session involving the translator; and an identifier corresponding to an instance of the speech-to-text translation means.
- 19. The media translator of claim 1 further comprising:
a billing system interface for communicating, with a billing system, information about activity of the media translator involving at least one of:
the receiving audio information; the converting audio information into corresponding textual information; and the providing the textual information to a first instant communications client.
- 20. The media translator of claim 1 further comprising:
a billing function for determining billable usage of the communication system related to at least one of:
the receiving audio information; the converting audio information into corresponding textual information; and the providing the textual information to a first instant communications client.
- 21. The media translator of claim 20 further comprising:
means for determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage, wherein at least one of the receiving audio information, the converting audio information into corresponding textual information and the providing the textual information to a first instant communications client is selectively performed responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.
- 22. A media translator comprising:
textual information receiving means acting to receive textual information from a first instant communications client; text-to-speech conversion means acting to convert the textual information into corresponding audio information; and audio information output means acting to provide the audio information to a first party via a telephony connection.
- 23. The media translator of claim 22 wherein the textual information receiving means comprises a second instant communications client for engaging in messaging communications with the first instant communications client.
- 24. The media translator of claim 22 wherein the textual information receiving means comprises an instant communications receiver process for receiving messaging communications from the first instant communications client.
- 25. The media translator of claim 22 wherein the textual information receiving means engages in messaging communications with the first instant communications client.
- 26. The media translator of claim 22 wherein the audio information sending means acts to send audio information via a packet data network.
- 27. The media translator of claim 22 wherein the audio information sending means acts to engage in a voice-over-packet communications session.
- 28. The media translator of claim 22 wherein the audio information sending means acts to send a voice-over-packet data stream.
- 29. The media translator of claim 22 wherein the audio information sending means acts to send a telephony signal.
- 30. The media translator of claim 22 wherein the audio information sending means interfaces to a telephony network.
- 31. The media translator of claim 22 wherein the audio information sending means interfaces to a device for handling telephony traffic.
- 32. The media translator of claim 22 wherein the audio information sending means communicates with a voice-over-packet gateway.
- 33. The media translator of claim 22 further comprising:
means for communicating with an interactive service providing system, wherein the media translator conditionally acts to convert audio information responsive to communications with the interactive service providing system and wherein the interactive service providing system interacts with a second party to determine whether the second party desires to have conversion performed by the media translator.
- 34. The media translator of claim 22 wherein the audio information sending means is coupled to the telephony connection for sending audio information to the first party using a telephone.
- 35. The media translator of claim 22 wherein the text-to-speech conversion means acts to convert the audio information into the corresponding textual information in a substantially real-time manner.
- 36. The media translator of claim 22 further comprising:
a control interface means via which the media translator performs communications of control information, the control information relating to communications through at least one of the textual information receiving means, the text-to-speech conversion means and the audio information output means.
- 37. The media translator of claim 36 wherein the media translator establishes communications with the instant communications client responsive to the control information.
- 38. The media translator of claim 36 wherein the control information identifies the first instant communications client and the media translator selectively establishes contact with the first instant communications client responsive to the content of the control information.
- 39. The media translator of claim 36 wherein the control information comprises at least one of:
an identifier corresponding to the first instant communications client; an identifier corresponding to an voice-over-packet data stream; an IP address; an identifier corresponding to a audio information output port of the translator; an identifier corresponding to a textual information receiving port of the translator; an identifier corresponding to a session involving the translator; and an identifier corresponding to an instance of the speech-to-text translation means.
- 40. The media translator of claim 22 further comprising:
a billing system interface for communicating, with a billing system, information about activity of the media translator involving at least one of receiving textual information, converting textual information to corresponding audio information and providing audio information.
- 41. The media translator of claim 22 further comprising:
a billing function for determining billable usage of the communication system related to activity of the media translator involving at least one of receiving textual information, converting textual information to corresponding audio information and providing audio information.
- 42. The media translator of claim 20 further comprising:
means for determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage, wherein the activity of the media translator is selectively performed responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.
- 43. A media translator acting to facilitate communication among a telephony connection and an instant communications client, the translator comprising:
an instant communications interface acting to conduct messaging communications involving the instant communications client; a telephony communications interface acting to communicate audio information via the telephony connection; and a media translating means acting to perform at least one of speech-to-text translation and text-to-speech translation between the audio information and the messaging communications.
- 44. A method for facilitating communications between a telephone connection and an instant communications client, the method comprising:
receiving textual information from the instant communications client; translating the textual information into corresponding audio information; and providing the audio information to be coupled to the telephone connection.
- 45. The method of claim 44 further comprising:
performing control communications, wherein the control communications affect an aspect of at least one of: the receiving textual information from the instant communications client, the translating the textual information into corresponding audio information, and the providing the audio information to be coupled to the telephone connection.
- 46. The method of claim 44 further comprising:
receiving indication that a communicating party desires to have textual information translated to audio information; and responsive to the indication, selectively performing at least one of: the receiving textual information from the instant communications client, the translating the textual information into corresponding audio information, and the providing the audio information to be coupled to the telephone connection.
- 47. The method of claim 46 further comprising:
via an interactive service providing system, interacting with the communicating party to determine whether the communicating party desires to have textual information translated to audio information.
- 48. The method of claim 44 further comprising:
indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to at least one of: the receiving textual information from the instant communications client, the translating the textual information into corresponding audio information, and the providing the audio information to be coupled to the telephone connection.
- 49. The method of claim 44 further comprising:
determining billable usage related to at least one of: the receiving textual information from the instant communications client, the translating the textual information into corresponding audio information, and the providing the audio information to be coupled to the telephone connection.
- 50. The method of claim 44 further comprising:
determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; and responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges, selectively performing at least one of: the receiving textual information from the instant communications client, the translating the textual information into corresponding audio information, and the providing the audio information to be coupled to the telephone connection.
- 51. A method for facilitating communications between a telephone connection and an instant communications client, the method comprising:
receiving audio information via the telephone connection, translating the audio information into corresponding textual information; and providing the textual information to be communicated to the instant communications client.
- 52. The method of claim 51 further comprising:
performing control communications, wherein the control communications affect a aspect of at least one of: the receiving audio information via the telephone connection, the translating the audio information into corresponding textual information, and the providing the textual information to be communicated to the instant communications client.
- 53. The method of claim 51 further comprising:
receiving indication that a communicating party desires to have textual information translated to textual information; and responsive to the indication, selectively performing at least one of: the receiving audio information via the telephone connection, the translating the audio information into corresponding textual information, and the providing the textual information to be communicated to the instant communications client.
- 54. The method of claim 53 further comprising:
via an interactive service providing system, interacting with the communicating party to determine whether the communicating party desires to have audio information translated to textual information.
- 55. The method of claim 51 further comprising:
indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to at least one of: the receiving audio information via the telephone connection, the translating the audio information into corresponding textual information, and the providing the textual information to the communicated to the instant communications client.
- 56. The method of claim 51 further comprising:
determining billable usage related to at least one of: the receiving audio information via the telephone connection, the translating the audio information into corresponding textual information, and the providing the textual information to the communicated to the instant communications client.
- 57. The method of claim 56 further comprising:
determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges; and selectively performing at least one of: the receiving audio information via the telephone connection, the translating the audio information into corresponding textual information, and the providing the textual information to the communicated to the instant communications client.
- 58. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause a communications system to perform a method for facilitating communications between a telephone connection and an instant communications client, the method comprising:
receiving textual information from the instant communications client; translating the textual information into corresponding audio information; and providing the audio information to be coupled to the telephone connection.
- 59. The computer-readable medium of claim 58 wherein the method further comprises:
performing control communications, wherein the control communications affect an aspect of at least one of: the receiving textual information from the instant communications client, the translating the textual information into corresponding audio information, and the providing the audio information to be coupled to the telephone connection.
- 60. The computer-readable medium of claim 58 wherein the method further comprises:
receiving indication that a communicating party desires to have textual information translated into audio information; and responsive to the indication, selectively performing at least one of: the receiving textual information from the instant communications client, the translating the textual information into corresponding audio information, and the providing the audio information to be coupled to the telephone connection.
- 61. The computer-readable medium of claim 60 wherein the method further comprises:
via an interactive service providing system, interacting with the communicating party to determine whether the communicating party desires to have textual information translated into audio information.
- 62. The computer-readable medium of claim 58 wherein the method further comprises:
indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to at least one of: the receiving textual information from the instant communications client, the translating the textual information into corresponding audio information, and the providing the audio information to be coupled to the telephone connection.
- 63. The computer-readable medium of claim 58 wherein the method further comprises:
determining billable usage related to at least one of: the receiving textual information from the instant communications client, the translating the textual information into corresponding audio information, and the providing the audio information to be coupled to the telephone connection.
- 64. The computer-readable medium of claim 63 wherein the method further comprises:
determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; and responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges, selectively performing at least one of: the receiving textual information from the instant communications client, the translating the textual information into corresponding audio information, and the providing the audio information to be coupled to the telephone connection.
- 65. A method for facilitating communications between a telephone connection and an instant communications client, the method comprising:
receiving audio information via the telephone connection; translating the audio information into corresponding textual information; and providing the textual information to be communicated to the instant communications client.
- 66. The computer-readable medium of claim 65 wherein the method further comprises:
performing control communications, wherein the control communications affect a aspect of at least one of: the receiving audio information via the telephone connection, the translating the audio information into corresponding textual information, and the providing the textual information to be communicated to the instant communications client.
- 67. The computer-readable medium of claim 65 wherein the method further comprises:
receiving indication that a communicating party desires to have textual information translated into audio information; and responsive to the indication, selectively performing at least one of: the receiving audio information via the telephone connection, the translating the audio information into corresponding textual information, and the providing the textual information to be communicated to the instant communications client.
- 68. The computer-readable medium of claim 67 wherein the method further comprises:
via an interactive service providing system, interacting with the communicating party to determine whether the communicating party desires to have textual information translated into audio information.
- 69. The computer-readable medium of claim 65 wherein the method further comprises:
indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to at least one of: the receiving audio information via the telephone connection, the translating the audio information into corresponding textual information, and the providing the textual information to the communicated to the instant communications client.
- 70. The computer-readable medium of claim 65 wherein the method further comprises:
determining billable usage related to at least one of: the receiving audio information via the telephone connection, the translating the audio information into corresponding textual information, and the providing the textual information to the communicated to the instant communications client.
- 71. The computer-readable medium of claim 70 wherein the method further comprises:
determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges; and selectively performing at least one of: the receiving audio information via the telephone connection, the translating the audio information into corresponding textual information, and the providing the textual information to the communicated to the instant communications client.
PRIORITY CLAIM AND CROSS-REFERENCE
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/369,271 (Atty. Docket CDR-02-002PR), filed Apr. 2, 2002, entitled “Chat-Accessible Services in a Communication System,” assigned to the assignee of the present application and incorporated herein by reference its entirety.
[0002] The present application is also related to the following co-pending applications, which are assigned to the assignee of the present application and incorporated herein by reference in their entireties:
[0003] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Docket No. CDR-02-012), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Billing System for Services Provided via Instant Communications;”
[0004] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Docket No. CDR-02-013), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Messaging Response System;”
[0005] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Docket No. CDR-02-014), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Communications Gateway with Messaging Communications Interface;”
[0006] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Docket No. CDR-02-016), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Billing System for Communications Services involving Telephony and Instant Communications;”
[0007] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Docket No. CDR-02-017), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Call Completion via Instant Communications Client;”
[0008] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Docket No. CDR-02-018), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Enhanced Services Call Completion;”
[0009] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Docket No. CDR-02-019), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Providing of Presence Information to a Telephony Services System;” and
[0010] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Docket No. CDR-02-020), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Telephony Services System with Instant Communications Enhancements.”
[0011] The present application relates to subject matter disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,351,464. The present application also relates to subject matter described in Internet Engineering Task Force document RFC 2778, “A Model for Presence and Instant Messaging” by Day M., Rosenberg, J. and H. Sugano, February 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60369271 |
Apr 2002 |
US |