Abstract: A geographic zone base (ZB) radio voice/text chat group communication system where users register to become subscribers of the communication system and join various zone based chat groups to become members of such groups. Any member can broadcast to all listening members of the chat group who, along with the member, are physically located within the geographic zone defined for the chat group. A chat group is created by a subscriber or by the communication system that operates and manages the chat groups. The communication system, in managing the chat groups, is coupled to a communication network (e.g., a cellular communication network) via the Internet and allow users of the cellular communication network to become members and participate in the ZB radio chat groups through the use of their cellular phones to transmit messages to the communication system via the Internet for broadcasting to their respective chat groups.

Abstract: A communication system comprising a server capable of establishing telephone communications between at least two users of a communication network and transcribe audio and/or voice communication signals of either or both users of a telephone call established by the server and the transcription is done in accordance with user selectable feature information entered by the users during a registration procedure to the communication system at a website residing in a registration server in communication with the communication system. The communication system may be part of the PSTN or the Internet or both.

Abstract: A two-way automatic transcription telephone, which can operate over analog and/or digital networks and, during a telephone call, is able to automatically transcribe in real time incoming voice signals and/or outgoing voice signals of the telephone into associated text that can be displayed on a display of the telephone. The incoming and outgoing voice signals are transcribed based on settings received by the telephone via its input keyboard or touch screen input.

Abstract: An Automatic Channel Selective Transcription Engine (ACSTE) is provided that is capable of establishing a telephone call that provides automatic transcription of the voice signals of the different parties to the telephone call even during periods, in the telephone call, where two or more of the parties are speaking simultaneously. The ACSTE has access to the transmit voice signals of each of the parties to the telephone call. Each of the transmit voice signals is transmitted through its respective transmit voice channel. The transmit voice signals are processed, isolated and transcribed automatically to become associated text signals, which are transmitted over text channels to corresponding parties to the telephone call.

Abstract: A Transcription Engine is able to broadcast over the Internet streaming text associated with the broadcast to registered and authenticated end users who may be hearing impaired or may have difficulty understanding the language used in the broadcast. The end users' understanding of the information being broadcast is improved because of the availability of the associated text. The Transcription Engine comprises an authentication server, a database server and a Transcription server. End users are first registered automatically at a website associated with the Transcription Engine. End users can then login and are authenticated automatically by the Transcription Engine prior to being given access to a live or recorded broadcast of associated broadcast. The end users obtain access to the associated text broadcast via the Internet after having been authenticated by the Transcription Engine.

Abstract: IP text relay or phone captioning is described herein, to facilitate communication through the use of traditional phone or VOW or internet telephone system between people of hearing impaired and those who can hear. This service and device will enable users to communicate with users of hearing via assistance of an operator who will transcribe the call, while also receiving the Caller ID of the calling party and not the relay center.