Abstract: A method and system of providing an interactive manual, including a speech engine to receive and process speech from a user, convert the speech into a word sequence, and identify meaning structures from the word sequence, a structured manual including information related to an operation of a device, a visual model to relate visual representation of the information, a dialog management arrangement to interpret the meaning structures in a context and to extract pertinent information and the visual representation from the structured manual and the visual model, and an output arrangement to output the information and visual representation.

Abstract: A system and method to interactively converse with a cognitively overloaded user of a device, includes maintaining a knowledge base of information regarding the device and a domain, organizing the information in at least one of a relational manner and an ontological manner, receiving speech from the user, converting the speech into a word sequence, recognizing a partial proper name in the word sequence, identifying meaning structures from the word sequence using a model of the domain information, adjusting a boundary of the partial proper names to enhance an accuracy of the meaning structures, interpreting the meaning structures in a context of the conversation with the cognitively overloaded user using the knowledge base, selecting a content for a response to the cognitively overloaded user, generating the response based on the selected content, the context of the conversation, and grammatical rules, and synthesizing speech wave forms for the response.

Abstract: A system providing three-dimensional visual navigation for a mobile unit includes a location calculation unit for calculating an instantaneous position of the mobile unit, a viewpoint control unit for determining a viewing frustum from the instantaneous position, a scenegraph manager in communication with at least one geo-database to obtain geographic object data associated with the viewing frustum and generating a scenegraph organizing the geographic object data, and a scenegraph renderer which graphically renders the scenegraph in real time. To enhance depiction, a method for blending images of different resolutions in the scenegraph reduces abrupt changes as the mobile unit moves relative to the depicted geographic objects. Data structures for storage and run-time access of information regarding the geographic object data permit on-demand loading of the data based on the viewing frustum and allow the navigational system to dynamically load, on-demand, only those objects that are visible to the user.

Abstract: A system providing three-dimensional visual navigation for a mobile unit includes a location calculation unit for calculating an instantaneous position of the mobile unit, a viewpoint control unit for determining a viewing frustum from the instantaneous position, a scenegraph manager in communication with at least one geo-database to obtain geographic object data associated with the viewing frustum and generating a scenegraph organizing the geographic object data, and a scenegraph renderer which graphically renders the scenegraph in real time. To enhance depiction, a method for blending images of different resolutions in the scenegraph reduces abrupt changes as the mobile unit moves relative to the depicted geographic objects. Data structures for storage and run-time access of information regarding the geographic object data permit on-demand loading of the data based on the viewing frustum and allow the navigational system to dynamically load, on-demand, only those objects that are visible to the user.

Abstract: A system for generating language modeling data for a speech recognition system includes an expression extractor to extract expression from domain-specific data of an existing domain using a base of linguistic knowledge, a concept structure mapper to map extracted expression to expression in a new domain using vocabulary for the new domain, a concatenation module to concatenate extracted expression with domain-general data, and a filter arrangement to identify and filter out unrealistic expression in the mapped or concatenated expression.

Abstract: Information exchange systems and methods (“IES”) are described that allow users of portable devices to initiate exchanges of information with a simple gesture. Detection of this gesture causes the host device to perform a number of actions including one or more of selecting data for an exchange transaction, identifying one or more destination devices to receive the selected data, transferring the selected data to the destination devices, and receiving complementary or corresponding data from the destination devices. The IES thus avoids the requirement for users to perform time consuming and error prone interactions involving complex operations with a device interface in order to initiate data exchanges.

Abstract: An echo-signal monitoring device having a plurality of transceiver units for transmitting signals and receiving the echoes reflected by an external object and an analyzer unit for estimating the distance from the monitoring device to the external object on the basis of the received echoes is characterized in that the device has an operating mode for calculating the relative position of the transceiver units from one another on the basis of the reflected echoes.

Abstract: A method and system to parameterize a spoken language dialog system, includes providing a storage area to store at least one parameter value, integrating a subcomponent with at least one module of the spoken language dialog system, and configuring the subcomponent to access the at least one parameter value and to adjust an operation or output of the module based on the at least one parameter value.

Abstract: A system and method to interactively converse with a cognitively overloaded user of a device, includes maintaining a knowledge base of information regarding the device and a domain, organizing the information in at least one of a relational manner and an ontological manner, receiving speech from the user, converting the speech into a word sequence, recognizing a partial proper name in the word sequence, identifying meaning structures from the word sequence using a model of the domain information, adjusting a boundary of the partial proper names to enhance an accuracy of the meaning structures, interpreting the meaning structures in a context of the conversation with the cognitively overloaded user using the knowledge base, selecting a content for a response to the cognitively overloaded user, generating the response based on the selected content, the context of the conversation, and grammatical rules, and synthesizing speech wave forms for the response.

Abstract: A method and system of providing an interactive manual, including a speech engine to receive and process speech from a user, convert the speech into a word sequence, and identify meaning structures from the word sequence, a structured manual including information related to an operation of a device, a visual model to relate visual representation of the information, a dialog management arrangement to interpret the meaning structures in a context and to extract pertinent information and the visual representation from the structured manual and the visual model, and an output arrangement to output the information and visual representation.

Abstract: A mobile device for enhanced navigation and orientation including a visualization interface, a first sensor for providing signals indicative of a movement of the mobile device, a second sensor for providing further signals indicative of a movement of the mobile device, and a processor receiving signals from the first and second sensors, calculating a position and an orientation of the mobile device from the received signals, and generating a real time simulation of an environment via the visualization interface based on the position and orientation of the mobile device. According to an embodiment, the first and second sensors are implemented as an inertial sensor and a GPS receiver, respectively.

Abstract: A system providing three-dimensional visual navigation for a mobile unit includes a location calculation unit for calculating an instantaneous position of the mobile unit, a viewpoint control unit for determining a viewing frustum from the instantaneous position, a scenegraph manager in communication with at least one geo-database to obtain geographic object data associated with the viewing frustum and generating a scenegraph organizing the geographic object data, and a scenegraph renderer which graphically renders the scenegraph in real time. To enhance depiction, a method for blending images of different resolutions in the scenegraph reduces abrupt changes as the mobile unit moves relative to the depicted geographic objects. Data structures for storage and run-time access of information regarding the geographic object data permit on-demand loading of the data based on the viewing frustum and allow the navigational system to dynamically load, on-demand, only those objects that are visible to the user.

Abstract: An echo-signal monitoring device having a plurality of transceiver units for transmitting signals and receiving the echoes reflected by an external object and an analyzer unit for estimating the distance from the monitoring device to the external object on the basis of the received echoes is characterized in that the device has an operating mode for calculating the relative position of the transceiver units from one another on the basis of the reflected echoes.

Abstract: A system for generating language modeling data for a speech recognition system includes an expression extractor to extract expression from domain-specific data of an existing domain using a base of linguistic knowledge, a concept structure mapper to map extracted expression to expression in a new domain using vocabulary for the new domain, a concatenation module to concatenate extracted expression with domain-general data, and a filter arrangement to identify and filter out unrealistic expression in the mapped or concatenated expression.

Abstract: A system providing three-dimensional visual navigation for a mobile unit includes a location calculation unit for calculating an instantaneous position of the mobile unit, a viewpoint control unit for determining a viewing frustum from the instantaneous position, a scenegraph manager in communication with at least one geo-database to obtain geographic object data associated with the viewing frustum and generating a scenegraph organizing the geographic object data, and a scenegraph renderer which graphically renders the scenegraph in real time. To enhance depiction, a method for blending images of different resolutions in the scenegraph reduces abrupt changes as the mobile unit moves relative to the depicted geographic objects. Data structures for storage and run-time access of information regarding the geographic object data permit on-demand loading of the data based on the viewing frustum and allow the navigational system to dynamically load, on-demand, only those objects that are visible to the user.

Abstract: A system providing three-dimensional visual navigation for a mobile unit includes a location calculation unit for calculating an instantaneous position of the mobile unit, a viewpoint control unit for determining a viewing frustum from the instantaneous position, a scenegraph manager in communication with at least one geo-database to obtain geographic object data associated with the viewing frustum and generating a scenegraph organizing the geographic object data, and a scenegraph renderer which graphically renders the scenegraph in real time. To enhance depiction, a method for blending images of different resolutions in the scenegraph reduces abrupt changes as the mobile unit moves relative to the depicted geographic objects. Data structures for storage and run-time access of information regarding the geographic object data permit on-demand loading of the data based on the viewing frustum and allow the navigational system to dynamically load, on-demand, only those objects that are visible to the user.

Abstract: A system providing three-dimensional visual navigation for a mobile unit includes a location calculation unit for calculating an instantaneous position of the mobile unit, a viewpoint control unit for determining a viewing frustum from the instantaneous position, a scenegraph manager in communication with at least one geo-database to obtain geographic object data associated with the viewing frustum and generating a scenegraph organizing the geographic object data, and a scenegraph renderer which graphically renders the scenegraph in real time. To enhance depiction, a method for blending images of different resolutions in the scenegraph reduces abrupt changes as the mobile unit moves relative to the depicted geographic objects. Data structures for storage and run-time access of information regarding the geographic object data permit on-demand loading of the data based on the viewing frustum and allow the navigational system to dynamically load, on-demand, only those objects that are visible to the user.

Abstract: A mobile device for enhanced navigation and orientation including a visualization interface, a first sensor for providing signals indicative of a movement of the mobile device, a second sensor for providing further signals indicative of a movement of the mobile device, and a processor receiving signals from the first and second sensors, calculating a position and an orientation of the mobile device from the received signals, and generating a real time simulation of an environment via the visualization interface based on the position and orientation of the mobile device. According to an embodiment, the first and second sensors are implemented as an inertial sensor and a GPS receiver, respectively.

Abstract: A faceplate including an antenna for receiving navigation signals, a processor electrically coupled to the antenna for determining a position, a display electrically coupled to the processor for displaying navigation information, and at least one input arrangement. The faceplate able to be installed on a front side of a vehicular electronic unit in a dashboard of a vehicle. The at least one input arrangement controlling the vehicular electronic unit when the faceplate is received on the front side of the vehicular electronic unit. A system for navigating including a handheld unit. The handheld unit includes an antenna, a processor electrically coupled to the antenna, and a display electrically coupled to the processor. A further antenna is situated on a vehicle and a receptacle is situated in a dashboard of the vehicle for receiving the handheld unit. The receptacle electrically couples the further antenna to the handheld unit when the handheld unit is received in the receptacle.

Abstract: A faceplate including an antenna for receiving navigation signals, a processor electrically coupled to the antenna for determining a position, a display electrically coupled to the processor for displaying navigation information, and at least one input arrangement. The faceplate able to be installed on a front side of a vehicular electronic unit in a dashboard of a vehicle. The at least one input arrangement controlling the vehicular electronic unit when the faceplate is received on the front side of the vehicular electronic unit. A system for navigating including a handheld unit. The handheld unit includes an antenna, a processor electrically coupled to the antenna, and a display electrically coupled to the processor. A further antenna is situated on a vehicle and a receptacle is situated in a dashboard of the vehicle for receiving the handheld unit. The receptacle electrically couples the further antenna to the handheld unit when the handheld unit is received in the receptacle.