Methods, devices, and systems for remotely controlling a communication device
Systems and methods for controlling communication systems for the hearing impaired are disclosed. A portable communication device requests control over a plurality of communication devices. The portable communication device connects to and controls the plurality of communication devices. The portable communication device includes a user interface that enables a user to transfer a call from a first communication device to a second communication device.
1. A communication system, comprising:
a first communication device;
a second communication device; and
a portable communication device configured to:
connect to the first communication device through a local communication network to control the first communication device;
connect to an authentication service and send an authentication request to the authentication service to obtain permission for controlling functions of the first communication device;
receive a command from a user through a user interface and cause an ongoing call to transfer from the first communication device to the second communication device responsive to the command and to the authentication service granting permission to the portable communication device for the transferring function, wherein the user of the portable communication device is the same user of the first communication device instead of a remote agent.
2. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface of the portable communication device comprises:
a screen configured to display:
a plurality of device icons, each device icon of the plurality corresponding to one of a plurality of communication devices that are connected with the portable communication device; and
a call icon located proximate a first device icon of the plurality of device icons, the first device icon corresponding to the first communication device.
3. The communication system of claim 2 , wherein the user interface is further configured to enable the user to select the call icon and perform an act from the group consisting of:
dragging the call icon from proximate the first device icon to a location on the screen proximate a second device icon corresponding to the second communication device; and
selecting the second device icon corresponding to the second communication device during the ongoing call with the first communication device.
4. The communication system of claim 3 , wherein the user interface comprises a touch-screen interface integrated with the screen.
5. The communication system of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of device icons comprises at least one of a text block or a graphic, the at least one of the text block or the graphic configured to convey information about the plurality of communication devices that correspond to each of the plurality of device icons.
6. The communication system of claim 5 , wherein the information about the plurality of communication devices comprises at least one of an identifier, a location, or an operational state of the plurality of communication devices connected with the portable communication device.
7. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first communication device or the second communication device is a video endpoint that is specifically configured for use by a hearing impaired user to receive interpretive services from a video relay service.
8. The communication system of claim 1 , further comprising the authentication server configured to receive the authentication request sent from the portable communication device, and to grant the authentication request for the portable communication device to connect with the first communication device and the second communication device.
9. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the first communication device and the second communication device are located within a same building.
10. A method of controlling a communication system, the method comprising:
connecting a first communication device and a second communication device to a communication network;
connecting a portable communication device to at least the first communication device through a local communication network to control the first communication device;
connecting the portable communication device to an authentication service for the portable communication device to send an authentication request to the authentication service to obtain permission for controlling functions of the first communication device;
receiving a command responsive to an input from a user of the first communication device through the user interface of the portable communication device, wherein the user operating the portable communication device is the same user of the first communication device instead of a remote agent; and
transferring an ongoing call from the first communication device to the second communication device responsive to the command and to the authentication service having previously granted permission to the portable communication device for controlling functions of the first communication device.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the input from the user is received by:
sensing the user selecting a call icon on a display of the user interface, the call icon located near a first icon on the display corresponding to the first communication device; and
sensing the user dragging the call icon near to a second icon on the display, the second icon corresponding to the second communication device.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein sensing the user selecting the call icon on the display of the user interface comprises at least one of sensing the user selecting the call icon with a mouse or sensing the user touching the call icon on a touch-screen display of the user interface.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first communication device is located in a first location, and the second communication device is located in a second location remote from the first location.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein connecting the portable communication device to at least the first communication device through the local communication network including communicating with at least the first communication device using one of a transmission control protocol (TCP) and a user datagram protocol (UDP).
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein connecting the portable communication device to at least the first communication device through the local communication network occurs over at least one of a local Wi-Fi network or a Bluetooth network.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein transferring the ongoing call includes the portable communication device performing the transfer.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the portable communication device performs the transfer using at least one of a session initiation protocol (SIP) or a H323 protocol.
18. A system for assisting hearing-impaired users during calls with translation services, the system comprising:
a video relay service configured to provide the translation services during calls involving at least one hearing-impaired user;
a plurality of video communication devices configured to communicate via a communication network with the video relay service during calls to receive the translation services, the plurality of video communication devices including at least a first video communication device and a second video communication device; and
a portable communication device configured to:
connect to an authentication service through the communication network;
send an authentication request to the authentication service to obtain permission for controlling functions of the first communication device;
connect with the plurality of communication devices to control operation thereof; and
cause an ongoing call to be transferred from the first video communication device to the second video communication device responsive to an input command from a user to the portable communication device and to the authentication service having previously granted permission to the portable communication device for controlling functions of the first communication service, wherein the user of the portable communication device is the same user as the first video communication device and not a remote agent.
19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising the authentication service configured to receive the authentication request sent from the portable communication device and to verify authentication information prior to granting permission for the portable communication device to control operation of the one or more of the plurality of video communication devices.
20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising a session service configured to initiate and administer communication sessions for the plurality of video communication devices.