Abstract: In an information processing apparatus, a command definition management unit obtains command definition information, and based thereon, generates speech recognition dictionaries in an XML parser unit and a speech recognition dictionary unit. The speech recognition dictionaries are then stored in a command definition storage unit. With reference to the speech recognition dictionaries, a speech recognition management unit recognizes a speech command transmitted from an input unit, and outputs candidate control commands to a control command determination unit. The control command determination unit determines a control command corresponding to the speech command, with reference to a control command history storage unit as required, and outputs to an IEEE 1394 AV/C command conversion unit. The IEEE 1394 AV/C command conversion unit converts the control command into an AV/C command, and outputs to a target node.

Abstract: A disk reproducing apparatus includes a variable gain amplifier (VCA) (32), and the VCA applies a radial push-pull signal including an address signal and an FCM leakage-in signal to a switch (38). The switch outputs only the address signal to a peak-hold circuit (40) on the basis of an FCM mask signal from a mask signal generation circuit (36). The peak-hold circuit generates a peak-hold signal of the address signal so as to be output to a DSP (30), and the DSP controls a gain of the VCA on the basis of the peak-hold signal. Then, the radial push-pull signal in which the gain is controlled on the basis of the address signal is applied to an address detection circuit (42), and the address signal is detected therein.

Abstract: Intelligibility of a human voice projected by a loudspeaker in an environment of high ambient noise is enhanced by processing a voice signal in accordance with the frequency response characteristics of the human hearing system. Intelligibility of the human voice is derived largely from the pattern of frequency distribution of voice sounds, such as formants, as perceived by the human hearing system. Intelligibility of speech in a voice signal is enhanced by filtering and expanding the voice signal with a transfer function that approximates an inverse of equal loudness contours for tones in a frontal sound field for humans of average hearing acuity.

Abstract: According to the invention, a method for detecting speech activity for a signal is disclosed. In one step, a plurality of features is extracted from the signal. An active speech probability density function (PDF) of the plurality of features is modeled, and an inactive speech PDF of the plurality of features is modeled. The active and inactive speech PDFs are adapted to respond to changes in the signal over time. The signal is probability-based classifyied based, at least in part, on the plurality of features. Speech in the signal is distinguished based, at least in part, upon the probability-based classification.

Abstract: A method, system, computer program product, and method of doing business by providing improved audio compression wherein an audio stream is securely transformed to an encoded text stream (such as an ASCII, EBCDIC, or Unicode text stream). One or more components which are involved in the transformation process are authenticated. A unique identifier of each such component is included within cryptographically-protected information that is provided for the encoded text stream. A digital signature is preferably used for the cryptographic protection, thereby digitally notarizing the encoded text stream. The authenticity and integrity of the encoded text stream can therefore be verified. In preferred embodiments, the authenticated identities of components performing the transformation can also be determined from the cryptographically-protected information.

Abstract: A system and method of providing sender-customization of multi-media messages through the use of emoticons is disclosed. The sender inserts the emoticons into a text message. As an animated face audibly delivers the text, emoticons associated with the message are started a predetermined period of time or number of words prior to the position of the emoticon in the message text and completed a predetermined length of time or number of words following the location of the emoticon. The sender may insert emoticons through the use of emoticon buttons that are icons available for choosing. Upon sender selections of an emoticon, an icon representing the emoticon is inserted into the text at the position of the cursor. Once an emoticon is chosen, the sender may also choose the amplitude for the emoticon and increased or decreased amplitude will be displayed in the icon inserted into the message text.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical recording medium and an optical disk device realizing prevention of crosswrite and uniformity of playback signals and capable of easily securing compatibility with a read only disk. It provides an optical recording medium on which light LB condensed by a lens (12, 14) having a numerical aperture of 0.85±0.

Abstract: Methods for storing data are provided. Preferably, the method includes the steps of: providing a data storage device, and preventing an emitter associated with a first data cluster of the data storage device from writing data to another one of the data clusters. Data storage devices also are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical recording medium and an optical disk device realizing prevention of crosswrite and uniformity of playback signals and capable of easily securing compatibility with a read only disk. It provides an optical recording medium on which light LB condensed by a lens (12, 14) having a numerical aperture of 0.85±0.

Abstract: A tracking control method measures an optimum offset by measuring a light beam irradiation state of a light beam while offsetting a tracking target position of the light beam on a recording medium so that an optimum light beam irradiation state is obtained at the tracking target position, and carries out a tracking control by setting the measured optimum offset.

Abstract: A method and computer-readable medium are provided for identifying clean signal feature vectors from noisy signal feature vectors. The method is based on variational inference techniques. One aspect of the invention includes using an iterative approach to identify the clean signal feature vector. Another aspect of the invention includes using the variance of a set of noise feature vectors and/or channel distortion feature vectors when identifying the clean signal feature vectors. Further aspects of the invention use mixtures of distributions of noise feature vectors and/or channel distortion feature vectors when identifying the clean signal feature vectors. Additional aspects of the invention include using a variance for the noisy signal feature vector conditioned on fixed values of noise, channel transfer function, and clean speech, when identifying the clean signal feature vector.

Abstract: A method and system for responding to voice commands in a voice-command platform. The platform receives a voice command during a voice command session with a user, and the platform responsively carries out a set of system-level logic. For example, the platform may determine that the voice command is an alias-grammar (whether personal to a user, or global for the platform) and may then convert the alias-grammar into an actual grammar. As another example, the platform may determine that the voice command is a bookmark command, such as a request to save a given voice command navigation point in a centralized list of bookmarks for the user, or to recall a navigation point from the user's centralized list, and the platform may respond to the bookmark command accordingly. And as yet another example, the platform may recognize a voice command that is not defined by a voice command application currently being processed but that is instead defined globally for the voice command platform.

Abstract: A method and system for optimizing performance of a read buffer and a write buffer in a disc media having a feature requiring apparently simultaneous reading and writing. The method includes alternately writing data to the disc media from the write buffer during a write time tW and reading data from the disc media to the read buffer during a read time tR. The read time and the write time are generally separated by a jump time tJ. The write time is selectively controlled so that it is optimized in accordance with respect to the front end read speed, the decoding bit rate, the front end write speed of the recordable media device and the encoding bit rate.

Abstract: A method and system for use in a natural language understanding system for including grammars within a statistical parser. The method involves a series of steps. The invention receives a text input. The invention applies a first context free grammar to the text input to determine substrings and corresponding parse trees, wherein the substrings and corresponding parse trees further correspond to the first context free grammar. Additionally, the invention can examine each possible substring using an inventory of queries corresponding to the CFG.

Abstract: Systems and methods for voice synthesis are disclosed for providing a synthesized voice message that is consonant with the taste of a customer and a program storage device readable by machine to perform method steps for voice synthesis. In accordance with an order from a customer received via a network, a service provider generates voice synthesis data, based on voice characteristic data for a speaker chosen by the customer, that is produced for a sentence input by the customer, and prepares to deliver the voice synthesis data to the customer. At this time, a transaction number is provided for the order received from the customer, and subsequently, when the transaction number is presented by the customer, the generated voice synthesis data are delivered to the customer. The customer then loads the received voice synthesis data into a device that reproduces the voiced sentence.

Abstract: Drive means for performing a behavior based on a behavioral model prescribing a behavior is controlled, and the behavioral model is changed depending on a predetermined stimulus. Therefore, by giving the stimulus, the behavioral model can be freely changed, and a mechanical device, etc. having an improved amusing element can be realized.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system to improve speech recognition using an existing audio realization of a spoken text and a true textual representation of the spoken text. The audio realization and the true textual representation can be aligned to reveal time stamps. A speech recognition can be performed on the audio realization to provide a hypothesis textual representation for the audio realization. The aligned true textual representation can be compared with the hypothesis textual representation. Single word pairs from the true and the hypothesis textual representations can be selected where the representations are different. Similarly, single word pairs can be selected from each representation where the representations are identical. A word or pronunciation database can be updated using the selected single word pairs together with the corresponding aligned audio realization.

Abstract: Methods and systems for creating a comfortable, user-friendly environment that allows a hearing impaired user to identify who is speaking and preferably what is being said during interactions with other individuals, e.g., at any form of meeting. In accordance with the invention, it is determined whether or not someone is speaking. If yes, then the speaker's position is identified. It is also determined whether the speaker is in the range of view for the user's display. If yes, an illuminated dot is projected above the speaker on a wearable display to show the user where the speaker is located. If no, a directional arrow is projected on the display to indicate to the user which way he should look to see the current speaker.

Abstract: A technique for separating an acoustic signal into a voiced (V) component corresponding to an electrolaryngeal source and an unvoiced (U) component corresponding to a turbulence source. The technique can be used to improve the quality of electrolaryngeal speech, and may be adapted for use in a special purpose telephone. A method according to the invention extracts a segment of consecutive values from the original stream of numerical values, and performs a discrete Fourier transform on the this first group of values. Next, a second group of values is extracted from components of the discrete Fourier transform result which correspond to an electrolaryngeal fixed repetition rate, F0, and harmonics thereof. An inverse-Fourier transform is applied to the second group of values, to produce a representation of a segment of the V component. Multiple V component segments are then concatenated to form a V component sample stream.

Abstract: A speech-driven control device for a media system includes a housing; a controller; a first communication port to enable communication of instructions between a data processing system and the controller; and a second communication port to enable communication of instructions between a media device and the controller. The controller includes a speech recognition system to recognize human speech and to convert the human speech into a first set of commands and into a second set of commands. The first set of commands provides instructions to the data-processing system to enable speech driven control of a media presentation. The second set of commands provides instructions to the media device to enable speech driven control of a functionality of the media device.