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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Patent number: 10021229Abstract: A system and method for use with an assisted user's communication device that includes a display and a speaker, the method comprising the steps of providing a processor programmed to perform the steps of, upon placement of an emergency call to a hearing user, recognizing the call as an emergency call, automatically initiating a captioning service to provide text transcription of voice messages from the hearing user and providing some indication to the assisted user that captioning has been automatically commenced and, upon placement of a non-emergency call, only starting the captioning service after a request for the captioning service from the assisted user is received.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2016Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: ULTRATEC, INC.Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D Vitek
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Patent number: 10015311Abstract: A system and method for presenting caller ID information related to a caption assisted telephone call incorporating a first party Network appliance, a first party telephone service/terminal, and a relay linkable to the first party Network appliance via the Internet.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2014Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: ULTRATEC, INC.Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Publication number: 20170187873Abstract: 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 5, 2016Publication date: June 29, 2017Inventors: ROBERT M. ENGELKE, KEVIN R. COLWELL, TROY D. VITEK
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Publication number: 20170187874Abstract: A system and method for facilitating communicating between a hearing user and a hard of hearing user that incorporates a device including at least one communication component configured to enable the appliance to communicate with a relay, a display, and a processor. The processor is configured to enable the hard of hearing user to establish an association between an appliance and a mobile device used by the hard of hearing user. The mobile device is configured to communicate with the hearing user's 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 29, 2016Publication date: June 29, 2017Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Patent number: 9350857Abstract: A system and method for use with an assisted user's communication device that includes a display and a speaker, the method comprising the steps of providing a processor programmed to perform the steps of, upon placement of an emergency call to a hearing user, recognizing the call as an emergency call, automatically initiating a captioning service to provide text transcription of voice messages from the hearing user and maintaining the captioning service for at least a time out period irrespective of actions by the assisted user and, upon placement of a non-emergency call, only starting the captioning service after a request for the captioning service from the assisted user is received.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2014Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: ULTRATEC, INC.Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D Vitek
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Publication number: 20160105554Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2015Publication date: April 14, 2016Inventors: ROBERT M. ENGELKE, KEVIN R. COLWELL, TROY D. VITEK
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Publication number: 20150078537Abstract: A system and method for presenting caller ID information related to a caption assisted telephone call incorporating a first party Network appliance, a first party telephone service/terminal, and a relay linkable to the first party Network appliance via the Internet.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Patent number: 8917821Abstract: A system and method for presenting caller ID information related to a caption assisted telephone call incorporating a first party Network appliance, a first party telephone service/terminal, and a relay linkable to the first party Network appliance via the Internet.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Publication number: 20130308763Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Patent number: 8515024Abstract: A method of operating a captioned telephone call in which an assisted user is connected by a captioned telephone device which is connected both by one 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 call is received at the captioned telephone device on the first line, the captioned telephone device calling the relay on the second line to initiate captioning service set up prior to the call being answered, after the call is answered, the captioned telephone device passing spoken words received on the first telephone line to the second telephone line and the captioning service then providing captioning to the captioned telephone device of the spoken words transmitted on the second telephone line.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2010Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Publication number: 20130188784Abstract: A system and method for presenting caller ID information related to a caption assisted telephone call incorporating a first party Network appliance, a first party telephone service/terminal, and a relay linkable to the first party Network appliance via the Internet.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2013Publication date: July 25, 2013Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Patent number: 8416925Abstract: A method and apparatus for commencing a caption assisted telephone call using a combination of a first party telephone terminal and a first party Network appliance, the method comprising the steps of connecting the first party Network appliance to a relay, using the first party Network appliance to specify a first party call back telephone number, using the relay to dial the first party call back telephone number, specifying a confirmation activity that must be performed via the first party telephone terminal in order to continue a telephone call process, when the first party telephone terminal is answered, monitoring activities via the first party telephone terminal and when the confirming activity occurs, continuing the telephone call process.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2008Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.Inventors: Robert M Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Publication number: 20110170672Abstract: A method of operating a captioned telephone call in which an assisted user is connected by a captioned telephone device which is connected both by one 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 call is received at the captioned telephone device on the first line, the captioned telephone device calling the relay on the second line to initiate captioning service set up prior to the call being answered, after the call is answered, the captioned telephone device passing spoken words received on the first telephone line to the second telephone line and the captioning service then providing captioning to the captioned telephone device of the spoken words transmitted on the second telephone line.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Patent number: 7881441Abstract: Text captioned telephony, in which a telephone conversation is accompanied by text captions to aid in hard-of-hearing users, is implemented without the use of specialized text captioned telephone terminals by using a combination of an Internet appliance such as a computer and a telephone or by generalized voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) telephones.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2006Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek, Kurt M. Gritner
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Patent number: 7660398Abstract: Captioned telephone are devices intended to provide text captions to persons needing assistance with telephone communications. Captioned telephones provide text by using the services of a relay interposed between the assisted user and the hearing user, the relay providing the captioning for the assisted user. While captioned telephone service can be delivered over a single telephone line, if the assisted user has two telephone lines available for the captioning service, additional features and advantages are possible in the delivery of captioned telephone service to the user.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2005Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Publication number: 20080187108Abstract: A method and apparatus for commencing a caption assisted telephone call using a combination of a first party telephone terminal and a first party Network appliance, the method comprising the steps of connecting the first party Network appliance to a relay, using the first party Network appliance to specify a first party call back telephone number, using the relay to dial the first party call back telephone number, specifying a confirmation activity that must be performed via the first party telephone terminal in order to continue a telephone call process, when the first party telephone terminal is answered, monitoring activities via the first party telephone terminal and when the confirming activity occurs, continuing the telephone call process.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2008Publication date: August 7, 2008Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek
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Patent number: 7164753Abstract: A voice transcription system employing a speech engine to transcribe spoken words, detects the spelled entry of words via keyboard or voice to invoke a database of common words attempting to complete the word before all the letters have been input. This database is separate from the database of words used by the speech engine. A voice level indicator is presented to the operator to help the operator keep his or her voice in the ideal range of the speech engine.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2003Date of Patent: January 16, 2007Assignee: Ultratec, InclInventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek, Kurt M. Grittner, Jayne M. Turner, Pamela A. Frazier
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Patent number: 6934366Abstract: A relay is described to facilitate communication through the telephone system between hearing users and users who need or desire assistance in understanding voice communications. To overcome the speed limitations inherent in typing, the call assistant at the relay does not type most words but, instead, re-voices the words spoken by the hearing user into a computer operating a voice recognition software package trained to the voice of that call assistant. The text stream created by the computer and the voice of the hearing user are both sent to the assisted user so that the assisted user can be supplied with a visual text stream to supplement the voice communications. A time delay in the transmission of the voice of the hearing user through the relay is of assistance in the assisted user comprehending the communications session.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2002Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin Colwell, Troy D. Vitek, Kurt M. Gritner
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Patent number: 6882707Abstract: A training method and apparatus to train a call assistant to operate a telephone relay system for the hearing impaired that uses a re-voicing technique to produce near real-time transcription of a telephone conversation for display on a caption telephone or other device. The invention simulates an actual relay call as realistically as possible and produces a report on the skill of the particular call assistant being trained.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2001Date of Patent: April 19, 2005Assignee: Ultratec, Inc.Inventors: Robert M Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek, Kurt M. Gritner, Jayne M. Turner, Pamela A. Frazier
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Publication number: 20030212547Abstract: A voice transcription system employing a speech engine to transcribe spoken words, detects the spelled entry of words via keyboard or voice to invoke a database of common words attempting to complete the word before all the letters have been input. This database is separate from the database of words used by the speech engine. A voice level indicator is presented to the operator to help the operator keep his or her voice in the ideal range of the speech engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2003Publication date: November 13, 2003Inventors: Robert M. Engelke, Kevin R. Colwell, Troy D. Vitek, Kurt M. Grittner, Jayne M. Turner, Pamela A. Frazier