Abstract:
An interface device that enables a severely handicapped individual to control a telephone to place and terminate calls and to carry on a conversation regardless of whether the individual can speak or use his or her hands. A personal computer is programmed to display a menu for the handicapped individual to read wherein a selectable area of the menu is active for a period of time. After the period of time, the next selectable area of the menu is active for another period of time. The program makes each menu selection active in a predetermined order. A sensor that detects voluntary motion of the handicapped individual is connected to a transducer that converts the motion detected into a computer input, such as a mouse “click,” which selects the active area on the menu. Advantageously, the process may begin again or may move to another menu, depending upon the item selected.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This patent application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/459,330, filed Apr. 1, 2003; the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to the field of telephone devices, and, more specifically, to a device that enables a handicapped individual to communicate via telephone.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Using a telephone is something most people take for granted. The variety and quantity of telephony devices and telephone networks (e.g., landline, wireless, Internet, etc.) in use today illustrates how ubiquitous our need for communication is. Telephones are used to communicate emergency situations to the proper authorities, communicates needs, communicate other information and just to communicate. There is one segment of the population, however, that cannot communicate using commonly-available telephony devices.  
         [0004]     Many individuals have one or more handicaps that prevent them from using common, everyday telephony devices. Over the past few years, some telephony devices that work in the context of the existing telephone network were developed to meet certain, specific needs. For example, telephones with large buttons are available for those with poor eyesight or difficulty in eye-hand coordination. Telephone devices for the deaf (“TDD&#39;s” as they are called in the art) provide a display and a keyboard to facilitate communication for the hearing impaired, speech impaired or both. These devices are a sample of currently available special-needs telephones. These devices, however, generally only assist an individual with one or a limited number of handicaps. Individuals with multiple handicaps, severe handicaps or both still cannot use these devices.  
         [0005]     Therefore, a problem exists in the current art to facilitate telephonic communication for the severely handicapped. These individuals have the same needs to call for emergencies, call for needs and just to communicate as the rest of the population but have no means to use any of the available telecommunications networks.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     This problem is solved and a technical advance is achieved in the art by an interface device that enables a severely handicapped individual to control a telephone to place and receive calls on any of the telephone networks and to carry on a conversation regardless of whether the individual can speak or use his or her hands. A computer, such as a personal computer (widely known as a “PC”) is programmed to display a menu for the handicapped individual to read, Unlike prior art menus, however, a selectable area of the menu is highlighted or “active” for a period of time. After the period of time, the next selectable area of the menu is active for another period of time (which is referred to herein as “scanning”). Thus, this program scans each entry, making each menu selection active in a predetermined order for a period of time. Advantageously, this order may be sequentially.  
         [0007]     A sensor detects voluntary motion of the handicapped individual and is connected to a transducer that converts the motion detection to a computer input. According to this exemplary embodiment of this invention, the input acts in the same manner as a mouse “click,” which selects the active area on the menu. Advantageously, the scanning may begin again or another menu may be presented, depending upon the item selected.  
         [0008]     In one exemplary embodiment, this invention provides a personal computer (“PC”) connected to a telephone network (i.e., the public switched telephone network, a wireless telephone network, an Internet telephony network, etc.) via a voice modem. The PC is confided to control the modem to dial a call, transmit voice messages and then terminate the call. In this exemplary embodiment of this invention, the voice message is synthesized speech derived from text selected or input by the handicapped individual.  
         [0009]     Accordingly, a first menu is displayed to the individual. This menu presents selectable preset (“speed calling”) telephone numbers and individual numbers that can be selected to build a telephone number. When the telephone number is complete, a telephone call may be automatically placed over a telephone network or may be placed when another menu selection is made (e.g., “dial” is selected).  
         [0010]     The PC then displays a different screen that presents a menu of phrases, words and letters to the individual. The individual selects a word or phrase and the PC causes a text-to-speech unit to speak the selected word or phrase through the modem. Further, the individual may build words by selecting individual letters. Each letter appears in a box on the screen when it is selected. When the word is complete, the user selects the word, which is then sent to the text-to-speech unit. When the individual is finished with the call, he or she can select a disconnect menu entry, which controls the modem to end the call.  
         [0011]     Advantageously, each item on each menu is active for a predetermined period of time. The period of time is variable, depending upon the individual&#39;s ability to read the item, process this information and make a selection. The layout of the menu may be set up to group like words and numbers or in any manner that is most easily understood by the individual. The sensor may be a piezo-electric transducer in contact with a voluntary muscle. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     A more complete understanding of this invention may be obtained from a consideration of this specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a general system for implementing an exemplary embodiment of this invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the operative components of a typical PC on which an exemplary embodiment of this invention may be implemented;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a computer screen shot of a first menu according to an exemplary embodiment of this invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a computer screen shot of a screen shot to inform that user that dialing is in progress;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a computer screen shot of a second menu according to an exemplary embodiment of this invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a computer screen shot of a menu according to another exemplary embodiment of this invention; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a computer screen shot of a menu according to a further exemplary embodiment of this invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of this invention. In this illustrative example, a handicapped individual too is seated in a wheelchair  102  in front of a personal computer (“PC”)  104 , which comprises a monitor  106  and a processing unit  108 . PC  104  is connected to the public switched telephone network (“PSTN”)  110  via a regular telephone line  112 , as is known in the art. PSTN  110  comprises equipment such as telephone call switching and transmission equipment, as is well known in the art and is therefore not further described. For purposes of describing an exemplary embodiment of this invention, a destination telephone  114  is illustrated herein as a standard, landline telephone connected to PSTN  110  via another telephone line  116 .  
         [0021]     While this invention is described in the context of a wireline telephony network, a telephone interface for the handicapped according to this invention may also be implemented in a wireless network, an Internet telephony network or any combination of landline, wireless and Internet networks. While this invention is illustrated as implemented on PC  104 , a telephone interface for the handicapped according to this invention may also be implemented on a laptop computer, on a dedicated telephony interface that integrates all of the characteristics of this invention into one unit or in any combination of computers and telephone instruments. While the destination telephone  114  is illustrated herein as a landline telephone, this invention is compatible with any telephony instrument that can send and receive calls, including, but not limited to, wireless telephones and Internet telephones. While this invention is illustrated as having a monitor  106 , a large screen television set or projector may be useful to enlarge the image adequately for the individual  100 . Additionally, destination telephone  114  can also comprise another telephone interface for the handicapped as described herein.  
         [0022]     For purposes of this specification, the pronouns used for the handicapped individual  100  are “he,” “him” and “his.” These pronouns are not to be deemed to limit the gender of the users of this invention. Instead, these pronouns are used herein in the inclusive sense of “he or she,” “him or her” and “his or hers.” 
         [0023]     In the context of  FIG. 1 , individual  100  cannot voluntarily control the movement of his hands and cannot speak intelligibly. Individual  100  can understand communication and can move at least one voluntary muscle at will. In this instance, individual  100  can control a muscle in his forehead  120 . A sensor  122  is placed in contact with the voluntary muscle in the individual&#39;s forehead  120  and is connected to a sensor switch  124 . Sensor  122  and sensor switch  124  cooperate to generate a signal when individual  100  moves the voluntary muscle in his forehead  120 . The sensitivity of sensor  122  may be adjusted to the ability of individual  100 . While this invention is described in connection with a voluntary muscle in the individual&#39;s forehead  120 , sensor  122  may be in contact with any voluntary muscle, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art after studying this specification.  
         [0024]     Sensor switch  124  generates an electrical signal, which is used as input to a switch interface  125 . Switch interface  125  generates an input signal that is recognizable by PC  104 . The input signal may be a “mouse click,” an “enter key,” a “right click,” or any other input signal. According to one embodiment of this invention, sensor  122  and transducer  124  may be the sane or similar to the 722WB Sensor Switch, manufactured by Don Johnston Incorporated, Volo, II., having a web site at http:/www.donjohnston.com. The specifications for this sensor switch are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. PC  104  can thus be controlled by individual  100  voluntarily moving his forehead  120 .  
         [0025]     PC  104  displays a series of screens on monitor  106 . These screens, as will be discussed further, below, have areas that are periodically “active.” For purposes of describing this invention, the menu is “scanned” by making areas of the menu periodically active. Thus, when an area that the individual  100  wants to select is active, individual  100  moves his forehead muscle  120 , which causes a sensor  122  to produce a signal, transducer  124  to translate that signal into a mouse click (for example), which selects the area.  
         [0026]     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , a block diagram of the operative components of processing unit  108  of PC  104  is shown. At the heart of processing unit  108 , a central processing unit  202  controls and coordinates the system, as is known in the art. Central processing unit  202  is illustrated here as connected to a main bus  204 . Main bus  204  is, advantageously, a PCI bus.  
         [0027]     A sound card  206  is connected to bus  204 . Sound card  206  provides sound output to the individual  100  via speakers, headphone or other audio device. Sound card  206  may optionally provide text-to-speech translation, either alone or in conjunction with central processing unit  202 , voice modem  208  or both. Sound car suitable for this purpose are widely available and therefore not further discussed.  
         [0028]     A voice modem  208  is also connected to bus  204 . Voice modem  208  provides an interface between processing unit  108  and the PSTN  110  via telephone line  112 . Voice modem  208  provides control of telephone line  112  (i.e., off-hook, on-hook, dual-tone, multi-frequency signaling, etc.) as is known in the art. For purposes of providing outgoing speech and hearing incoming speech (and other signals), voice modem  208  can be independently connected to sound card  106  via connector  210 . Suitable voice modems (also called “voice/fax/modems”) are also well known in the art.  
         [0029]     I/O interface  210  is illustrated herein as connected to bus  204 . I/O interface  210  receives the input signals from transducer  124  and delivers the input to central processing unit  202 . I/O interface  210  comprises, for example, a PS2 interface or a USB interface. Other types of I/O interfaces may be appropriate, depending upon the transducer  124 . Further, I/O interface  210  may be connected to central processing unit  202  in any manner, not necessarily by bus  204 .  
         [0030]     Video card  212  is also illustrated as connected to bus  204 . Video card  212  receives video output and delivers it to monitor  106 , as is known in the art. Video card  212  may be any suitable commercially available video card, whether connected to bus  204  as illustrated or connected in another manner.  
         [0031]     An exemplary embodiment of the operation of the present invention is now described in the context of the telephone interface for the handicapped as described in  FIG. 1  in conjunction with the screen shots of FIGS.  3  though  5 . The handicapped individual  100  is moved into proximity of PC  104  so that he can read monitor  106  and sensor  122  is placed on his forehead  120 . The sensor  122  is attached, in the exemplary embodiment, with medical tape. Other means for holding sensor  122  in proximity to forehead  120  can also include a harness, a head band or other removable appliance.  
         [0032]     PC  104  is started and a program operating this invention is initiated.  FIG. 3  is a screen shot of a first screen  300  that individual  100  sees upon initialization. First screen  300  comprises a picture that is similar to the familiar touch-tone telephone keypad. Further, first screen  300  follows familiar principals of most PC interfaces. Each key that can be active is shown in black. Keys that cannot be active are shown in grey (“greyed out” as used in the art).  
         [0033]     Moving from top to bottom in the example of  FIG. 3 , an Answer key  302  is illustrated as greyed out and therefore not selectable. This key becomes active when there is an incoming call. Likewise, an Options key  304  is also greyed out and not selectable. A status box  306  shows the current status of telephone line  112 . A Status Log  308  provides a history file to aid Me individual  100  in keeping track of what he is doing and has done so for.  
         [0034]     A keypad  310  provides selectable numbers “1” through “0” and other telephony functions. These other functions include speed dial key  312 , which is shown herein labeled with the name of a person (illustrated herein as “Suhail Ali”) to speed dial, Comma  314  to provide a pause in dialing (as is known in the art), a Dial key  316  to dial a number after it is entered, an Exit key  318  to quit the program and a Delete key  320  to delete the last selection. A Hang Up key  322  is shown greyed out, indicating that it is not active. When a call is in process, the Hang Up key  322  is activated.  
         [0035]     An entry box  324  shows the individual  100  what he selected so far. Finally, an instruction box  328  provides the individual  100  with instructions as to what he can do.  
         [0036]     Importantly, and in accordance with this exemplary embodiment of this invention, each active key is highlighted for a predetermined period of time, which is referred to herein as “scanning.” In the example of  FIG. 3 , the number 3 key is highlighted. Highlighting of keys may be in numeric order, left-to-right, top-to-bottom or in any order that is most intelligible to individual  100 . The predetermined period of time may also be adjustable to meet the needs of the individual  100 . It is not unusual that someone with multiple handicaps may be slow in recognizing when a desired key is highlighted. In accordance with experimentation, it is desirable to have each key highlighted for at least five seconds.  
         [0037]     Further, highlighting is illustrated herein as a dark box. Other ways of highlighting will be apparent to one skilled in the art after studying this specification. For example, an active key may have a contrasting color relative to the background. An active key my also be enlarged to aid in identification.  
         [0038]     As each key is highlighted, individual  100  may select the key by moving the voluntary muscle, such as the forehead  120  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Sensor  122  senses this movement and generates a signal. Transducer  124  sends a computer-recognizable signal to PC  104 . The action associated with the highlighted key is thus executed. In the example of  FIG. 3 , the “3” key is selected and would then be displayed in box  324 . When an entire telephone number is in box  324 , (for example, the telephone number of telephone  114 ) individual  100  selects the Dial key  316 , which causes PC  104  to dial the telephone number shown in box  324  via modem  208 .  
         [0039]     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , a screen shot of the dialing options screen  400  is shown. Screen  400  may be displayed when the options key  304  is selected. Screen  400  may also be displayed when dial key  316  is selected as a confirmation or feedback screen that a call is in progress. An OK key  402  may be selectable to confirm the dialing selection. Further, a cancel key  404  provides individual  100  with an opportunity to cancel the call if, for example, a wrong number was entered. The active keys are scanned in accordance with the description of  FIG. 3 , above.  
         [0040]     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , a screen shot of a communication screen  500  according to another aspect of the current invention is shown. Communication screen  500  generally provides words, phrases and an alphabet keypad that individual  100  may use to select outgoing speech. For example, a first key  502  contains the phrase “Hi, this is Walter, I use a robotic voice so please don&#39;t hang up.” This phrase is used, for example, as the first statement after a call is completed.  
         [0041]     In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 5 , scanning first proceeds down the left column. The keys “A-H”  504 , “I-P”  506 , “Q-Z”  508  and Words  510  are highlighted and active periodically. The system illustrated in  FIG. 5  provides an expeditious method of grouping letters, words and phrases so that individual  100  does not have to wait for every key on the screen to become active. When a key in the left column  511  is selected, the horizontal line of keys is then scanned. For example, when A-H key  504  is selected, the line of keys A through H, space (represented by an underscore) and back are scanned. A back key  512  is provided at the end of each line to end horizontal scanning and restart vertical scanning in the left column  511 .  
         [0042]     As a letter, word or phrase is selected, it is displayed in box  520 . The speak key  522 , delete key  524  and return key  526  are also periodically scanned. These keys control what happens with the words entered into display box  520 . An instruction box  528  informs individual  100  of what actions he might take.  
         [0043]     When the speak key  522  is selected, the contents of display box  520  are delivered to a text-to-speech engine, which provides verbal output through voice modem  208  and onto telephone line  112 . The user of telephone  114  hears the synthesized speech and can then respond. Advantageously, the synthesized speech is also delivered to sound card  206  and played on an audio device that individual can hear in order to provide feedback. Further, anything said by the user of telephone  114  is played on the same audio device.  
         [0044]     To end the call, individual  100  selects the return key  526 , which changes the screen back to the screen of  FIG. 3 . The individual  100  then selects Hang Up key  322 , which causes voice modem  208  to send an on-hook signal to PSTN  110  and disconnects the call.  
         [0045]     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , a screen shot  600  of another exemplary embodiment of a telephone dialing key pad is shown. As in the previous screens, each key is scanned, and thus highlighted and active for a predetermined period of time. Individual  100  selects an active key as described above. A bar  602  at the bottom of screen  600  indicates when a click is received. Mouse pointer  604  is programmed to remain in box  602 . Further, if individual  100  can use a mouse to a limited extent, he can click on the bar  602  at the bottom of the screen when the desired key is highlighted.  
         [0046]     Turning now to  FIG. 7 , a screen shot  700  of another exemplary embodiment of a communication screen is shown. On this screen, letters and numbers are grouped according to usage. Thus, letters that are likely to be used together are generally in the same group.  
         [0047]     To choose a letter or common word, the keys  10 ,  20 ,  30 , etc. are scanned. The user selects one of the keys. The keys within the selected category are then scanned for selection. Words and phrases to be communicated are displayed in display box  704 . In this manner, individual  100  may be able to build his sentences more expeditiously.  
         [0048]     It is to be understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the present invention and that many variations of the above-described embodiment can be devised by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that such variations be included within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.