Technical Summary
Video Relay Service (VRS) is a term used to describe a method by
which a hearing person can communicate with a deaf, hard of hearing
or hearing impaired user using an interpreter ("Communications
Assistant") connected via a videophone to the deaf/HoH user and an
audio telephone call to the hearing user. The CA interprets using
sign language on the videophone link and voice on the telephone link.
Often the interpreters may be employed by a company or agency termed
a "provider" in this document. The provider also provides a video
service that allows users to connect video devices to their service,
and subsequently to CAs and other deaf/HoH users. It is desirable
that the videophones used by the deaf, hard of hearing or hearing
impaired user conform to a standard so that any device may be used
with any provider and that direct video calls between deaf, hard of
hearing or hearing impaired users work. This document describes the
interface between a videophone and a provider
Working Group Summary
There was not a lot of energy in the group to move the work along. Notably, the representatives of VRS providers were reluctant to contribute and mostly offered objections. Reaching consensus under these conditions was challenging and often consensus was quite rough.
Document Quality
There is a partial implementation by Mitre. This is intended as a verification and test vehicle. They have committed to creating a full implementation when the document becomes an RFC.
But the most likely vendors are the VRS providers. They do what they are required to do by the FCC. It is expected that the FCC will mandate this and then they will implement it.
No particular reviews (that haven't already happened) are warranted.
Personnel
Paul Kyzivat is the document shepherd.
Murray Kucherawy is the responsible Area Director.