Patent US6404872B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6404872B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for altering a speech signal during a telephone call
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1997-09-25
•
Granted: 2002-06-11
•
Expires: 2017-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A network that establishes a telephone call between a calling party and a called party and alters speech signals generated by the calling party during the telephone call. The network includes a network node that is coupled to the transmit channel of the calling party and the receive channel of the called party. The network node is programmed to receive a request to establish the telephone call from the calling party and receive a selection of a speech signal alteration from the calling party. The network node initiates the telephone call to the called party. Further, the network node alters the speech signal of the calling party based on the speech signal alteration selection.
Inventors
- 👤 Randy G. Goldberg
- 👤 Kenneth H. Rosen
- 👤 Richard M. Sachs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/40; H04M3/42; H04M3/487; H04M3/493
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of establishing a telephone call between a calling party and a first called party through a network, wherein the calling party generates a speech signal, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a request to establish the telephone call from the calling party; receiving, in said network, a selection of a first speech signal alteration from the calling party; initiating the telephone call to the first called party; and altering the speech signal in the network based on the first speech signal selection, wherein the altered speech signal is used to produce speech sounding different from speech of the calling party.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of establishing a telephone call between a calling party and a first called party through a network, wherein the calling party generates a speech signal, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a request to establish the telephone call from the calling party; receiving, in said network, a selection of a first speech signal alteration from the calling party; initiating the telephone call to the first called party; and altering the speech signal in the network based on the first speech signal selection, wherein the altered speech signal is used to produce speech sounding different from speech of the calling party.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of sending the altered speech signal based on the first speech signal alteration to the first called party.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of converting the speech signal from analog to digital before altering the speech signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of converting the speech signal from digital to analog after altering the speech signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the telephone call is further between a second called party, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a selection of a second speech signal alteration from the calling party; initiating the telephone call to the second called party; and altering the speech signal based on the second speech signal alteration selection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 5 , further comprising the step of sending the altered speech signal based on the second speech signal alteration to the second called party.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the altering step comprises the step of degrading the speech signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the altering step comprises the step of enhancing the speech signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the calling party generates the speech signal using a first voice, wherein the altering step comprises the step of modifying the speech signal to reproduce a second voice that differs from the first voice.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the network is a Public Switched Telephone Network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of presenting a menu of one or more speech signal alterations to the calling party.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
92 words
A network for transmitting a speech signal generated by a first telephone during a telephone call between the first telephone and a second telephone, said network comprising: a network node having a processor coupled to a transmit channel of the first telephone and a receive channel of the second telephone; wherein said processor is programmed to alter the speech signal based on a speech signal alteration selection received from the first telephone, and the altered speech signal is used to produce speech sounding different from speech used to produce the speech signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
A network for transmitting a speech signal generated by a first telephone during a telephone call between the first telephone and a second telephone, said network comprising: a network node having a processor coupled to a transmit channel of the first telephone and a receive channel of the second telephone; wherein said processor is programmed to alter the speech signal based on a speech signal alteration selection received from the first telephone, and the altered speech signal is used to produce speech sounding different from speech used to produce the speech signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The network of claim 12 , wherein said processor is programmed to: receive a request to establish the telephone call from the first telephone; and initiate the telephone call to the second telephone.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
The network of claim 13 , wherein said processor is programmed to: present a menu of one or more speech signal alterations to the first telephone; and receive a selection of a first speech signal alteration from the first telephone, wherein the speech signal is altered based on the first speech signal alteration selection; and send the altered speech signal based on the first speech signal alteration to the second telephone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The network of claim 12 , wherein the speech signal is in digital form when it is within the network.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The network of claim 15 , wherein the speech signal is in analog form when it is generated by the first telephone.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
The network of claim 14 , wherein the telephone call is further between a third telephone, and wherein said network node is programmed to: receive a selection of a second speech signal alteration from the first telephone; initiate the telephone call to the third telephone; alter the speech signal based on the second speech alteration; and send the altered speech signal based on the second speech signal alteration to the third telephone.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein said network node is a telephone switch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein said network is a Public Switched Telephone Network.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of altering a speech signal generated by one party during a telephone call between a plurality of parties through a network, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a signal from the one party to alter the speech signal; digitizing the speech signal; and altering the speech signal in the network based on a preselected speech signal alteration identifier from the one party, wherein the altered speech signal is used to produce speech sounding different from speech of the one party.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of altering a speech signal generated by one party during a telephone call between a plurality of parties through a network, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a signal from the one party to alter the speech signal; digitizing the speech signal; and altering the speech signal in the network based on a preselected speech signal alteration identifier from the one party, wherein the altered speech signal is used to produce speech sounding different from speech of the one party.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein the one party is a calling party.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein the one party is a called party.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein the signal is a touch-tone.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein the signal is a portion of the digitized speech signal.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of altering a speech signal generated by a called party during a telephone call between a calling party and the called party, said method comprising the steps of: storing a speech signal alteration identifier in a network node local to the called party; initiating the telephone call; and altering the speech signal based on the speech signal alteration identifier, wherein the altered speech signal is used to produce speech sounding different from speech of the called party.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of altering a speech signal generated by a called party during a telephone call between a calling party and the called party, said method comprising the steps of: storing a speech signal alteration identifier in a network node local to the called party; initiating the telephone call; and altering the speech signal based on the speech signal alteration identifier, wherein the altered speech signal is used to produce speech sounding different from speech of the called party.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 25 , wherein the called party stores the speech signal alteration identifier.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein said step of altering the speech signal is in response to receiving an automatic number identification.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3976839A
Cited
US3651268A
Cited
US4241235A
Cited
US5113449A
Cited
US4742550A
Cited
US5278943A
Cited
US5386493A
Cited
US5515296A
Cited
US5692213A
Cited
US6064737A
Cited
US5787151A
Cited
US5933808A
Cited
US5943648A
Cited
US6035273A
Cited
US5911129A
Cited
US6018710A
Cited
US5884972A
Cited
US5812126A
Cited
US5991385A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-06-10 | 2005-12-10 | 2006-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-10 | 2009-12-10 | 2010-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-10 | 2013-12-10 | 2014-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |