Abstract: Tonal correction of speech is provided. Received speech is analyzed and compared to a table of commonly mispronounced phrases. These phrases are mapped to the phrase likely intended by the speaker. The phrase determines to be the phrase the user likely intended can be suggested to the user. If the user approves of the suggestion, tonal correction can be applied to the speech before that speech is delivered to a recipient.

Abstract: The VoIP quality speech process is activated when a subscriber accesses a speech quality sensitive resource or in response to an activation of the feature by the subscriber, or when it is determined that the originating subscriber terminal device requires the transmission of high quality speech signals. A transmit buffer, associated with the port circuit that serves the originating device, stores a predetermined number of packets as they are transmitted from the originating device. In the case of lost or damaged packets, the VoIP quality speech system activates the transmit buffer to retransmit the missing or damaged packet to the destination device. Intelligent buffer management is provided, where the destination device can regulate the size of the transmit buffer as well as the size of its jitter buffer.

Abstract: The VoIP quality speech process is activated when a subscriber accesses a speech quality sensitive resource or in response to an activation of the feature by the subscriber, or when it is determined that the originating subscriber terminal device requires the transmission of high quality speech signals. A transmit buffer, associated with the port circuit that serves the originating device, stores a predetermined number of packets as they are transmitted from the originating device. In the case of lost or damaged packets, the VoIP quality speech system activates the transmit buffer to retransmit the missing or damaged packet to the destination device. Intelligent buffer management is provided, where the destination device can regulate the size of the transmit buffer as well as the size of it's jitter buffer.

Abstract: Teletype (TTY, also known as Telecommunication Device for the Deaf, or TDD) transmissions are moded. The same sequence of tones may code for a letter or for a figure. When a TTY device is transmitting to a text-based Internet Protocol display device, via a TTY-to-text conversion gateway, the text will not be displayed properly if the TTY device and gateway are out of mode synchronization. To fix the problem, either a signal received from the destination terminal causes the gateway to change its conversion mode from letter to figure or vice versa, or a signal input by the end user or automatically generated by the destination terminal causes the destination terminal to display the other character than the received letter or figure that is coded to the same TTY tone sequence.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for reliably transmitting characters encoded as audible signals using voice over Internet protocol communication systems. According to an embodiment of the present invention, tones within a sequence of tones encoding a textual character are transmitted using two data packets. The first data packet includes a segment of time having a starting boundary that is synchronized with the start of the encoded tone and extending for a time period equal to about one-half the total time period of the tone. The second packet encodes the remaining half of the audible tone. At the receiving end, data packets encoding a textual character are ordered according to the position occupied by the data encoded by the packet within the sequence of tones. If any unpaired packets of data are detected at the receiving end, the characteristics of the packets that are unpaired are copied into the time slot that would have been occupied by the missing packet.

Abstract: A visually-impaired person possessing a GPS-equipped cellular phone, or other mobile communications device, who wants to know their location, uses the cellular phone to call a location-announcement service. In response, the service queries the GPS receiver for the person's geographical coordinates, translates the coordinates into user-friendly information that is readily understandable by the person, and announces the user-friendly information to the person via the cellular phone, all without human involvement.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a telecommunication device, usable with standard telecommunication equipment, that automatically resets one or more acoustic parameters to predetermined levels prior to the initiation of the next communication session.

Abstract: The present invention provides an indication to the user of a voice communication system that an echo at the user's location has been detected by the system. In response to receiving this indication of echo, users may take any of several actions to reduce the echo, such as changing the position of the microphone or changing their own position with respect to the microphone. The need for potentially expensive echo-canceling hardware and software is reduced because the actions to eliminate the echo are performed by the user. The echo detector in the present invention may be implemented as part of a voice terminal, or as part of a communication switch or server that is used in conjunction with a voice terminal.

Abstract: The variable sidetone system provides an enhanced method for inducing the subscriber maintain the amplitude of their voice at an appropriate level by exaggerating the amplitude characteristics of the sidetone returned to the subscriber. Rather than have the sidetone level linked to the amplitude of the subscriber's voice signal in a linear non-adjustable 1:1 relationship (as is done in the prior art), the present variable sidetone system implements an adjustable relationship between the amplitude of the subscriber's voice signal and sidetone levels, thereby allowing the variable sidetone system to provide the necessary acoustic feedback to subscribers to maintain the subscriber's voice signal within the predetermined bounds of the voice encoder.

Abstract: The variable sidetone system provides an enhanced method for inducing the subscriber maintain the amplitude of their voice at an appropriate level by exaggerating the amplitude characteristics of the sidetone returned to the subscriber. Rather than have the sidetone level linked to the amplitude of the subscriber's voice signal in a linear non-adjustable 1:1 relationship (as is done in the prior art), the present variable sidetone system implements an adjustable relationship between the amplitude of the subscriber's voice signal and sidetone levels, thereby allowing the variable sidetone system to provide the necessary acoustic feedback to subscribers to maintain the subscriber's voice signal within the predetermined bounds of the voice encoder.

Abstract: The present invention provides an indication to the user of a voice communication system that an echo at the user's location has been detected by the system. In response to receiving this indication of echo, users may take any of several actions to reduce the echo, such as changing the position of the microphone or changing their own position with respect to the microphone. The need for potentially expensive echo-canceling hardware and software is reduced because the actions to eliminate the echo are performed by the user. The echo detector in the present invention may be implemented as part of a voice terminal, or as part of a communication switch or server that is used in conjunction with a voice terminal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for reliably transmitting characters encoded as audible signals using voice over Internet protocol communication systems. According to an embodiment of the present invention, tones within a sequence of tones encoding a textual character are transmitted using two data packets. The first data packet includes a segment of time having a starting boundary that is synchronized with the start of the encoded tone and extending for a time period equal to about one-half the total time period of the tone. The second packet encodes the remaining half of the audible tone. At the receiving end, data packets encoding a textual character are ordered according to the position occupied by the data encoded by the packet within the sequence of tones. If any unpaired packets of data are detected at the receiving end, the characteristics of the packets that are unpaired are copied into the time slot that would have been occupied by the missing packet.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a telecommunication device, usable with standard telecommunication equipment, that automatically resets one or more acoustic parameters to predetermined levels prior to the initiation of the next communication session.

Abstract: A compact, miniature instrument for providing biofeedback information of interest to a user. The instrument is comprised of a wrist-watch size unit, which includes a temperature sensor for sensing the user's external skin temperature and a finger-mountable unit, which includes a heart beat sensor for sensing the user's heart beat. Processing circuitry is provided for computing various biofeedback parameters of interest to the user, including pulse rate, time rate of change in pulse rate and time rate of change in external skin temperature. Timekeeping circuitry is provided for keeping track of various time-related parameters, such as time of day and calendar date. A display is provided for selectively displaying biofeedback and time-related information to the user.