Abstract: A method of autonomously providing thermal comfort to an occupant in contact with a component includes the step of determining a heat flux between the component and the occupant. A heat flux inversion is determined using the heat flux. The heat flux inversion corresponds to a change in occupant thermal comfort. A thermal conditioning device is controlled based upon the heat flux inversion to maintain a desired heat flux.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and related devices may partially or fully automatically control a thermal conditioning system of a thermally-conditioned receptacle in, for example, a vehicle. Selection of a method may be based on the presence and type of beverage detection sensors. Heating or cooling modes of operation may be based on historical preferences selected by the user, such as, for example, the selection of heating an item, such as a beverage container, when the first registration of the presence of the item in the receptacle occurs after system initiation. Heating or cooling modes of operation may be based on user input via one or more user input devices.

Abstract: A seat headrest assembly (16) includes a core (54) that includes a core bottom (56). A thermal conditioning device (22) includes a housing (26) that provides a fluid passage (28) that extends to a vent (62). A heating module (36) and a blower (38) are arranged in the fluid passage. The thermal conditioning device is arranged beneath the core bottom.

Abstract: A method of autonomously providing thermal comfort to an occupant in contact with a component includes the step of determining a heat flux between the component and the occupant. A heat flux inversion is determined using the heat flux. The heat flux inversion corresponds to a change in occupant thermal comfort. A thermal conditioning device is controlled based upon the heat flux inversion to maintain a desired heat flux.

Abstract: The technology of the present application provides a speech recognition system with at least two different speech recognition engines or a single engine speech recognition engine with at least two different modes of operation. The first speech recognition being used to match audio to text, which text may be words or phrases. The matched audio and text is used by a training module to train a user profile for a natural language speech recognition engine, which is at least one of the two different speech recognition engines or modes. An evaluation module evaluates when the user profile is sufficiently trained to convert the speech recognition engine from the first speech recognition engine or mode to the natural language speech recognition or mode.

Abstract: A method of conditioning a seat includes operating a first thermal conditioning assembly in a seat back configured to support an occupant torso. The first thermal conditioning assembly provides a first heat transfer rate. A second thermal conditioning assembly is operated in a seat cushion configured to support occupant lower region. The second thermal conditioning assembly provides a second heat transfer rate simultaneously with and different than the first heat transfer rate.

Abstract: A seat headrest assembly (16) includes a core (54) that includes a core bottom (56). A thermal conditioning device (22) includes a housing (26) that provides a fluid passage (28) that extends to a vent (62). A heating module (36) and a blower (38) are arranged in the fluid passage. The thermal conditioning device is arranged beneath the core bottom.

Abstract: The technology of the present application provides a speech recognition system with at least two different speech recognition engines or a single engine speech recognition engine with at least two different modes of operation. The first speech recognition being used to match audio to text, which text may be words or phrases. The matched audio and text is used by a training module to train a user profile for a natural language speech recognition engine, which is at least one of the two different speech recognition engines or modes. An evaluation module evaluates when the user profile is sufficiently trained to convert the speech recognition engine from the first speech recognition engine or mode to the natural language speech recognition or mode.

Abstract: A thermally conditioned seat includes a seat portion constructed from a first material which includes a seat support structure that has a central support region and adjacent side bolsters laterally spaced apart from one another a width. A recess is provided in the central support region and includes an aperture. A porous material is arranged in the recess against the first material. A second material is arranged against the first material and the porous material. A cover includes an air permeable layer and an aesthetic layer that provides an exterior seating surface. The air permeable layer is arranged against the second material and the aesthetic layer has perforations. A blower is associated with the seat portion and is in fluid communication with the aperture. The blower is configured to supply a fluid through the aperture to the porous material through the recess. The fluid is configured to pass from the porous material to the air permeable layer and out the perforations.

Abstract: The technology of the present application provides a speech recognition system with at least two different speech recognition engines or a single engine speech recognition engine with at least two different modes of operation. The first speech recognition being used to match audio to text, which text may be words or phrases. The matched audio and text is used by a training module to train a user profile for a natural language speech recognition engine, which is at least one of the two different speech recognition engines or modes. An evaluation module evaluates when the user profile is sufficiently trained to convert the speech recognition engine from the first speech recognition engine or mode to the natural language speech recognition or mode.

Abstract: A method of conditioning a seat includes operating a first thermal conditioning assembly in a seat back configured to support an occupant torso. The first thermal conditioning assembly provides a first heat transfer rate. A second thermal conditioning assembly is operated in a seat cushion configured to support occupant lower region. The second thermal conditioning assembly provides a second heat transfer rate simultaneously with and different than the first heat transfer rate.

Abstract: A climate-controlled bed capable of adapting to the needs of a sleeper via a closed loop feedback control system is provided. The bed includes a thermoelectric energy source, a sensor configured to monitor a physiological temperature of a sleeper, and a control system that regulates a temperature of the bed via the thermoelectric energy source. The control system can utilize data from the sensor to determine optimal thermal needs of the sleeper. The control system can also vary the temperature of the bed during a sleep cycle based on at least one predetermined sleep factor, such as the natural circadian temperature cycle.

Abstract: A distributed dictation/transcription system is provided. The system provides a dictation manager having a data port to receive and transmit audio signals. The dictation manager includes a dictation server selector to a dictation server to transcribe the audio based on whether the dictation server already has a user profile uploaded.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for simplifying the pasting of textual transcriptions from a transcription engine into an application is described. An audio file is sent to a transcription engine. A textual transcription file of the audio file is received from the transcription engine. The textual transcription file is automatically loaded into a copy buffer. The textual transcription file is pasted from the copy buffer into an application.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data device to speech service bridge. The bridge allows packet-based devices, such as, for example, the PDA and 2.5/3G cellular phone, to access voice services.

Abstract: A dictation system that allows using trainable code phrases is provided. The dictation system operates by receiving audio and recognizing the audio as text. The text/audio may contain code phrases that are identified by a comparator that matches the text/audio and replaces the code phrase with a standard clause that is associated with the code phrase. The database or memory containing the code phrases is loaded with matched standard clauses that may be identified to provide a hierarchal system such that certain code phrases may have multiple meanings depending on the user.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data device to speech service bridge. The bridge allows packet-based devices, such as, for example, the PDA and 2.5/3G cellular phone, to access voice services.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for evaluating the performance of a user using a dictation system is provided. The system and method include receiving a text or transcription file generated from user audio. A performance metric, such as, for example, words/minute or errors is generated based on the transcription file. The performance metric is provided to an administrator so the administrator can evaluate the performance of the user using the dictation system.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for simplifying the pasting of textual transcriptions from a transcription engine into an application is described. An audio file is sent to a transcription engine. A textual transcription file of the audio file is received from the transcription engine. The textual transcription file is automatically loaded into a copy buffer. The textual transcription file is pasted from the copy buffer into an application.

Abstract: The technology of the present application provides a speech recognition system with at least two different speech recognition engines or a single engine speech recognition engine with at least two different modes of operation. The first speech recognition being used to match audio to text, which text may be words or phrases. The matched audio and text is used by a training module to train a user profile for a natural language speech recognition engine, which is at least one of the two different speech recognition engines or modes. An evaluation module evaluates when the user profile is sufficiently trained to convert the speech recognition engine from the first speech recognition engine or mode to the natural language speech recognition or mode.