TELEPHONE-BASED SYSTEM WHICH PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO DISABLED PERSONS IN THE USE OF OFFICE EQUIPMENT

摘要

The invention relates to office equipment and, in particular, to the design of a telephone-based system which enables disabled persons to obtain assistance in using existing and future office equipment without the need for said equipment to be re-designed or adapted for said purpose. According to the invention, a disabled user uses a telephone in order to obtain assistance and operate the office equipment. More specifically, the user rings a number in order to obtain assistance in relation to the equipment. The software program answers the telephone and uses the calling telephone number in order to identify the equipment or requests the equipment identification number from the user. Using the equipment identification as a code, the software program subsequently checks a database in order to find the network address of the printer or the office equipment that the user wishes to use. Moreover, the software program uses the network address of the equipment in order to receive messages relating to the state of the equipment and to send control messages to the equipment. The software program presents the information to the user in the form of voice messages. The user indicates his/her options or commands for the equipment using the telephone keys, voice commands or by pressing the buttons on the office equipment. In response to the interaction with the user, the software program transmits messages to the office equipment.