Patents by Inventor Troy D. Vitek
Troy D. Vitek has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240073311Abstract: An assisted user's (AU's) captioning device for assisting an AU during a call with a hearing user (HU) wherein the hearing user uses a HU's communication device, the captioning device comprising a display screen and a processor linked to the display screen, the processor programmed to perform the steps of upon receiving a call, automatically determining if the call is from one of a first set of HUs, upon determining that the call is from one of the first set of HUs, automatically initiating captioning and presenting captions of an HU voice signal during at least a portion of the call, and upon determining that the call is not from one of the first set of HUs, starting the call without captioning and providing an option to the AU to initiate captioning during the call.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Patent number: 11825008Abstract: An assisted user's (AU's) captioning device for assisting an AU during a call with a hearing user (HU) wherein the hearing user uses a HU's communication device, the captioning device comprising a display screen and a processor linked to the display screen, the processor programmed to perform the steps of upon receiving a call, automatically determining if the call is from one of a first set of HUs, upon determining that the call is from one of the first set of HUs, automatically initiating captioning and presenting captions of an HU voice signal during at least a portion of the call, and upon determining that the call is not from one of the first set of HUs, starting the call without captioning and providing an option to the AU to initiate captioning during the call.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2023Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Publication number: 20230208962Abstract: An assisted user's (AU's) captioning device for assisting an AU during a call with a hearing user (HU) wherein the hearing user uses a HU's communication device, the captioning device comprising a display screen and a processor linked to the display screen, the processor programmed to perform the steps of upon receiving a call, automatically determining if the call is from one of a first set of HUs, upon determining that the call is from one of the first set of HUs, automatically initiating captioning and presenting captions of an HU voice signal during at least a portion of the call, and upon determining that the call is not from one of the first set of HUs, starting the call without captioning and providing an option to the AU to initiate captioning during the call.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Patent number: 11611644Abstract: A system and method for use with an assisted user's communication device that includes a display. The method includes providing a user communication device including a processor that is programmed to perform the step of, upon disconnection of an emergency call to a hearing user in which a captioning service has provided text transcription of voice messages from the hearing user, maintaining a link to the captioning service for a predetermined period of time. The processor also is programmed to perform the step of recognizing the call as an emergency call upon placement of the call, and the captioning service is automatically initiated upon the processor performing that recognition.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2022Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Publication number: 20220150352Abstract: A communication system and method for displaying text captions corresponding to voice communications between an assisted user's mobile wireless device and a separate hearing user's device includes at least one communication component configured to enable the appliance to communicate with a relay, a display, and a processor operably coupled to the at least one communication component and the display. The processor is configured to enable the assisted user to establish an association between the appliance and the mobile device, receive text originating at the relay, the text corresponding to a transcript of the hearing user's voice signal originating at the hearing user's device, and cause text captions corresponding to the received text to be displayed on the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2022Publication date: May 12, 2022Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Patent number: 11272047Abstract: A system and method for use with an assisted user's communication device that includes a display. The method includes providing a user communication device including a processor that is programmed to perform the step of, upon disconnection of an emergency call to a hearing user in which a captioning service has provided text transcription of voice messages from the hearing user, maintaining a link to the captioning service for a predetermined period of time. The processor also is programmed to perform the step of recognizing the call as an emergency call upon placement of the call, and the captioning service is automatically initiated upon the processor performing that recognition.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2020Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Patent number: 11258900Abstract: A communication system and method for displaying text captions corresponding to voice communications between an assisted user's mobile wireless device and a separate hearing user's device includes at least one communication component configured to enable the appliance to communicate with a relay, a display, and a processor operably coupled to the at least one communication component and the display. The processor is configured to enable the assisted user to establish an association between the appliance and the mobile device, receive text originating at the relay, the text corresponding to a transcript of the hearing user's voice signal originating at the hearing user's device, and cause text captions corresponding to the received text to be displayed on the display.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2019Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Publication number: 20220053091Abstract: A method of operating a captioned telephone call in which an assisted user's (AU's) captioned device is connected by a first line to a hearing user's (HU's) device and by a second line to a relay providing captioning for a conversation is disclosed. The method includes capturing an AU's voice signal via a microphone, transmitting the voice signal from the captioned device to the HU's device on the first line, obtaining a combined voice signal including both users' voice signals from the first line at the captioned device, cancelling the AU's voice signal from the combined signal to generate an independent HU voice signal, broadcasting the HU's voice signal via a speaker, transmitting the independent HU's voice signal to the relay, receiving captions at the captioned device from the relay corresponding to the HU's voice signal, and presenting the captions as text on a display screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2021Publication date: February 17, 2022Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Patent number: 11190637Abstract: A method of operating a captioned telephone call in which an assisted user's (AU's) captioned device is connected by a first line to a hearing user's (HU's) device and by a second line to a relay providing captioning for a conversation is disclosed. The method includes capturing an AU's voice signal via a microphone, transmitting the voice signal from the captioned device to the HU's device on the first line, obtaining a combined voice signal including both users' voice signals from the first line at the captioned device, cancelling the AU's voice signal from the combined signal to generate an independent HU voice signal, broadcasting the HU's voice signal via a speaker, transmitting the independent HU's voice signal to the relay, receiving captions at the captioned device from the relay corresponding to the HU's voice signal, and presenting the captions as text on a display screen.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2020Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.Inventors: Robert M Engelke, Kevin R Colwell, Troy D Vitek
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Patent number: 11005991Abstract: A captioning system includes an assisted user's communication system, including a display screen, a microphone, a speaker, an input device for specifying a calling number of a hearing user's communication device, and a processor linked to the display screen microphone, speaker and input device. The processor is programmed to perform the steps of: (i) upon entry of a calling number via the input device, scanning the calling number, (ii) identifying a type of the calling number; (iii) where the type is a first type, performing a first process to initiate a remote captioning service; and (iv) where the type is a second type, performing a second process to initiate a remote captioning service where the second process is different than the first process.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.Inventors: Robert M Engelke, Kevin R Colwell, Troy D Vitek
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Patent number: 10972604Abstract: A communication system and method for displaying text captions corresponding to voice communications between an assisted user's mobile wireless device and a separate hearing user's device includes at least one communication component configured to enable the appliance to communicate with a relay, a display, and a processor operably coupled to the at least one communication component and the display. The processor is configured to enable the assisted user to establish an association between the appliance and the mobile device, receive text originating at the relay, the text corresponding to a transcript of the hearing user's voice signal originating at the hearing user's device, and cause text captions corresponding to the received text to be displayed on the display.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2019Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Publication number: 20210067629Abstract: A method of operating a captioned telephone call in which an assisted user's (AU's) captioned device is connected by a first line to a hearing user's (HU's) device and by a second line to a relay providing captioning for a conversation is disclosed. The method includes capturing an AU's voice signal via a microphone, transmitting the voice signal from the captioned device to the HU's device on the first line, obtaining a combined voice signal including both users' voice signals from the first line at the captioned device, cancelling the AU's voice signal from the combined signal to generate an independent HU voice signal, broadcasting the HU's voice signal via a speaker, transmitting the independent HU's voice signal to the relay, receiving captions at the captioned device from the relay corresponding to the HU's voice signal, and presenting the captions as text on a display screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: ROBERT M ENGELKE, KEVIN R COLWELL, TROY D VITEK
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Patent number: 10771604Abstract: A system and method for use with an assisted user's communication device that includes a display. The method includes providing a user communication device including a processor that is programmed to perform the step of, upon disconnection of an emergency call to a hearing user in which a captioning service has provided text transcription of voice messages from the hearing user, maintaining a link to the captioning service for a predetermined period of time. The processor also is programmed to perform the step of recognizing the call as an emergency call upon placement of the call, and the captioning service is automatically initiated upon the processor performing that recognition.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2020Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: ULTRATEC, INC.Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Patent number: 10587751Abstract: A method of operating a captioned telephone call in which an assisted user is connected by a captioned telephone device that is connected both by a first line to a remote user and a second line to a relay providing captioning for a conversation, the method comprising the steps of: when a start of an incoming call is detected by the captioned telephone device on the first line, the captioned telephone device automatically calling the relay on the second line to initiate captioning service set up; the captioned telephone device passing spoken words received on the first line to the second line; and the relay then providing text captions of the spoken words back to the captioned telephone device on the second line.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2013Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.Inventors: Robert M Engelke, Kevin R Colwell, Troy D Vitek
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Publication number: 20200076946Abstract: A captioning system includes an assisted user's communication system, including a display screen, a microphone, a speaker, an input device for specifying a calling number of a hearing user's communication device, and a processor linked to the display screen microphone, speaker and input device. The processor is programmed to perform the steps of: (i) upon entry of a calling number via the input device, scanning the calling number, (ii) identifying a type of the calling number; (iii) where the type is a first type, performing a first process to initiate a remote captioning service; and (iv) where the type is a second type, performing a second process to initiate a remote captioning service where the second process is different than the first process.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2019Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventors: ROBERT M. ENGELKE, KEVIN R. COLWELL, TROY D. VITEK
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Patent number: 10542131Abstract: A system and method for use with an assisted user's communication device that includes a display. The method includes providing a user communication device including a processor that is programmed to perform the step of, upon disconnection of an emergency call to a hearing user in which a captioning service has provided text transcription of voice messages from the hearing user, maintaining a link to the captioning service for a predetermined period of time. The processor also is programmed to perform the step of recognizing the call as an emergency call upon placement of the call, and the captioning service is automatically initiated upon the processor performing that recognition.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2018Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Publication number: 20190394329Abstract: A communication system and method for displaying text captions corresponding to voice communications between an assisted user's mobile wireless device and a separate hearing user's device includes at least one communication component configured to enable the appliance to communicate with a relay, a display, and a processor operably coupled to the at least one communication component and the display. The processor is configured to enable the assisted user to establish an association between the appliance and the mobile device, receive text originating at the relay, the text corresponding to a transcript of the hearing user's voice signal originating at the hearing user's device, and cause text captions corresponding to the received text to be displayed on the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2019Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Publication number: 20190394330Abstract: A communication system and method for displaying text captions corresponding to voice communications between an assisted user's mobile wireless device and a separate hearing user's device includes at least one communication component configured to enable the appliance to communicate with a relay, a display, and a processor operably coupled to the at least one communication component and the display. The processor is configured to enable the assisted user to establish an association between the appliance and the mobile device, receive text originating at the relay, the text corresponding to a transcript of the hearing user's voice signal originating at the hearing user's device, and cause text captions corresponding to the received text to be displayed on the display.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2019Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Patent number: 10491746Abstract: A method of operating a captioned telephone call in which an assisted user is connected by a captioned telephone device that is connected both by a first line to a remote user and a second line to a relay providing captioning for a conversation, the method comprising the steps of: when a start of an incoming call is detected by the captioned telephone device on the first line, the captioned telephone device automatically calling the relay on the second line to initiate captioning service set up; the captioned telephone device passing spoken words received on the first line to the second line; and the relay then providing text captions of the spoken words back to the captioned telephone device on the second line.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2015Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.Inventors: Robert M Engelke, Kevin R Colwell, Troy D Vitek
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Patent number: 10469660Abstract: A communication system and method for displaying text captions corresponding to voice communications between an assisted user's mobile wireless device and a separate hearing user's device includes at least one communication component configured to enable the appliance to communicate with a relay, a display, and a processor operably coupled to the at least one communication component and the display. The processor is configured to enable the assisted user to establish an association between the appliance and the mobile device, receive text originating at the relay, the text corresponding to a transcript of the hearing user's voice signal originating at the hearing user's device, and cause text captions corresponding to the received text to be displayed on the display.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2016Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: ULTRATEC, INC.Inventors: Robert M Engelke, Kevin R Colwell, Troy D Vitek