Translating communication system having central translating apparatus

Claim 2

A translating communication system comprising: at least first and second communication terminal means, each said communication terminal means having a human speech input-output device for selectively converting an input human language into output speech data representing a predetermined language or converting received speech data into a human language, and each also having means for generating a format signal indicating the format of the translating communication; and central translation means having conversion functions, said central translation means receiving said format signal and said output speech data from said first and second communication terminal means, said central translation means selectively performing conversion functions on said output speech data received from the first of said at least first and second communication terminal means in accordance with said format signal from the second of said communication terminal means to render said output speech data usable by the second communication terminal means, and providing said output speech data to the second communication terminal means, where it is used to output a human language different from said human language input into the first of said first and second communication terminal means.

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1, wherein said communication terminal means each includes a speech codec having A/D and D/A converters.

Claim 4

A system according to claim 1, wherein said communication terminal means each includes network terminator means for transmitting said output speech data between said communication terminal means and said central translation means.

Claim 5

A system according to claim 2, wherein each said communication terminal means includes display means for outputting message data for carrying out a translating communication.

Claim 6

A system according to claim 4, wherein each said communication terminal means includes key-input means for inputting communication format data used by said communication terminal means to generate said format signal.

Claim 7

A system according to claim 1, wherein said conversion functions of said central translation means includes a speech analysis function, a speech segment recognition function, a word recognition function, and a translation function for selectively converting said output speech data received from one of said first and second communication terminal means into output speech data representing a prescribed language different from said predetermined language in accordance with the format signal from the other of said first and second communication terminal means.

Claim 8

A system according to claim 6, wherein said conversion functions of said central translation means further includes a rule synthesis function, and a speech synthesis function for rendering said output speech data usable by the other communication terminal means.

Claim 9

A system according to claim 7, wherein said central translation means includes data memory means for storing said output speech data.

Claim 10

A system according to claim 7, wherein said central translation means includes program memory means for storing a control program for selectively controlling each function thereof.

Claim 11

A system according to claim 6, wherein said central translation means further includes a second translation function for further converting said output speech data indicating said prescribed language into an output data indicating a preset language different from said prescribed language and said predetermined language.

Claim 12

A system according to claim 1 further including complex communication processing means for transmitting said output speech data between one of said communication terminal means and said central translation means.

Claim 13

A translating communication system comprising: a first communication group including, at least first and second communication terminal means each having a speech input-output device for selectively inputting communication data in an output human language and outputting received communication data in said input human language, first central translation means for receiving said communication data from one of said first and second communication terminal means, said first central translation means selectively assisting one of said first and second communication terminal means in rendering said communication data from one of said first and second communication terminal means usable by the other communication terminal means, and first complex communication processing means for transmitting said communication data between one of said first and seocnd communication terminal means and said first central translation means; and a second communication group including, at least third and fourth communication terminal means each having a speech input-output device for selectively inputting communication data in an input human language and outputting received communication data in said input human language, second central translation means for receiving said communication data from one of said third and fourth communication terminal means, said second central translation means selectively assisting one of said third and fourth communication terminal means in rendering said communication data from one of said third and fourth communication terminal means usable by the other communication terminal means, and second complex communication processing means for transmitting said communication data between one of said third and fourth communication terminal means and said second central translation means, said second complex communication processing means being selectively connected to said first complex communication processing means for transmitting said communication data between first and second communication groups.

Claim 14

A translating communication system comprising: a first communication group including, at least first and second communication terminal means each having a speech input-output device for selectively inputting communication data in an output human language and outputting received communication data in said input human language, first central translation means for receiving said communication data from one of said first and second communication terminal means, said first central translation means selectively assisting one of said first and second communication terminal means in rendering said communication data from one of said first and second communication terminal means usable by the other communication terminal means, and first complex communication processing means for transmitting said communication data between one of said first and seocnd communication terminal means and said first central translation means; and a second communication group including, at least third and fourth communication terminal means each having a speech input-output device for selectively inputting communication data in an input human language and outputting received communication data in said input human language, second central translation means for receiving said communication data from one of said third and fourth communication terminal means, said second central translation means selectively assisting one of said third and fourth communication terminal means in rendering said communication data from one of said third and fourth communication terminal means usable by the other communication terminal means, and second complex communication processing means for transmitting said communication data between one of said third and fourth communication terminal means and said second central translation means, said second complex communication processing means being selectively connected to said first complex communication processing means for transmitting said communication data between first and second communication groups.