Internet-based and network-based relay center access for the hearing and speech impaired

1. A method for providing telephone call message translation via a relay center having a message translator for translating messages between parties of a telephone call from text to speech and from speech to text, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a full-duplex text communication link between at least a first party of a number of parties of the telephone call and the message translator via an Internet Protocol connection;

providing a voice communication link between at least a second party of the number of parties of the telephone call and the message translator; and

providing a communication link between a conference bridge and the message translator, thereby allowing the first party to participate in a conference call with at least the second party via the full-duplex text communication link.

2. The method for providing telephone call message translation via a relay center as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the full-duplex text communication link between at least the first party of the telephone call and the message translator is provided by:

providing a terminal device having communication capability to the first party of the telephone call;

the message translator effecting a dial out from the relay center to the terminal device of the first party; and

establishing a full-duplex text connection between the relay center and the terminal device to complete the full-duplex text communication link.

3. The method for providing telephone call message translation via a relay center as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the full-duplex text communication link between at least the first party of the telephone call and the message translator is provided by:

providing a server having communication capability over an Internet Protocol connection;

providing an Internet Protocol connection capable communication device to the first party of the telephone call;

establishing a full-duplex text Internet Protocol connection from the first party of the telephone call to the server;

establishing a full-duplex text connection between the server and the relay center; and

through a switching device at the relay center, directing the full-duplex text connection to an available message translator to complete the full-duplex text communication link.

4. The method for providing telephone call message translation via a relay center as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the voice communication link between at least the second party of the number of parties of the telephone call and the message translator is provided by:

identifying to the message translator a telephone number of the second party to be called;

the message translator effecting a dial out from the relay center to the second party at the identified telephone number and establishing a dial-up connection to complete the voice communication link.

5. The method for providing telephone call message translation via a relay center as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the voice communication link between at least the second party of the number of parties of the telephone call and the message translator is provided by:

dialing out from the second party to the relay center and establishing a dial-up connection between the second party and the relay center, and

through a switching device at the relay center, directing the dial-up connection to an available message translator to complete the voice communication link.

6. The method for providing telephone call message translation via a relay center as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the full-duplex text communication link between at least the first party of the telephone call and the message translator is provided by:

providing a server having communication capability over an Internet Protocol connection;

providing an Internet Protocol connection capable communication device to the first party of the telephone call;

the message translator establishing a full-duplex text connection between the relay center and the server, and

establishing a full-duplex text Internet Protocol connection from the server to the first party of the telephone call to complete the full-duplex text communication link.

7. The method for providing telephone call message translation via a relay center as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the full-duplex text communication link between at least the first party of the telephone call and the message translator comprises a real-time exchange of messages.

8. A system for providing telephone call message translation, the system comprising:

a relay center having a message translator for translating messages between a number of parties of a telephone call from text to speech and from speech to text;

at least one terminal device having Internet Protocol connection capability for use by at least a first party of the telephone call;

a server having a front end interface for establishing an Internet Protocol full-duplex text connection to the terminal device and a back end interface for establishing a full-duplex text connection to the relay center; and

a conference bridge coupled with the relay center to allow the first party to participate in a conference call via the full-duplex text connections.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the front end of the server comprises a web server; and wherein the back end of the server comprises an access server.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the relay center further comprises at least one dial-up telephone interface for effecting a dial-up connection between the message translator of the relay center and at least a second party of the telephone call.

11. The system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the relay center further comprises a switching device for directing a full-duplex text connection from the server to an available message translator.