Telephone system integrated text based communication apparatus and systems to establish communication links to TDD and/or TTY devices and other telephone and text server systems

摘要

An integrated text based TTY system comprises a telephone network, a private branch exchange ("PBX"), a voice mail system, and a text server, all in communication with one another. The telephone network and the PBX are adapted to receive a TTY call from a calling party from a TTY device to a called party. The PBX is also in communication with a telephone to which the called party has access. The called party has access to the terminal device that is in communication with the text server via a network. The text server uses a identification information associated with the TTY call that identifies the called party, so that the text server can check a database of individuals able to receive the TTY call to determine whether the called party is in the database and is able to receive the TTY call. If the called party is in the database and is able to receive the TTY call, the text server notifies the called party that the TTY call is waiting, and, if the called party desires, then the text server establishes an interactive communication link between the calling party and the called party via the network and the terminal device. The text server may also check a voice mail database of all parties having access to the voice mail system and, if the called party is not in the database, then the text server instructs the voice mail system to check the voice mail database to determine whether the called party is in the voice mail database and is able to receive the TTY call.