Abstract: Methods and systems, including computer program products, for speech animation. The system includes a speech animation engine and a client application in communication with the speech animation engine. The client application sends a request for speech animation to the speech animation engine. The request identifies data to be used to generate the speech animation, where speech animation is speech synchronized with facial expressions. The client application receives a response from the speech animation engine. The response identifies the generated speech animation. The client application uses the generated speech animation to animate a talking agent displayed on a user interface of the client application.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for direct synthesis of three-dimensional nano-net-structures. The method is also named thermal evaporation method, which uses metal powders as the raw materials and silicon wafer, aluminum oxide plates or other high-temperature-resistant materials as substrates. The three-dimensional nano-net-structures of single crystal metal oxides are produced on a substrate by heating the metal powders to certain temperature and then keeping for a period of time under the atmosphere of inert gas. The process of the method is simple and direct, and the cost of the raw material is low. The prepared three-dimensional nano-net-structures will have great application prospects in vacuum microelectronic device and gas sensor device.

Abstract: A system and method for uniquely identifying peers and other resources in a peer-to-peer networking environment. In one embodiment, every peer in the peer-to-peer network may have a unique peer identifier. Other peer-to-peer network resources may also have unique identifiers, including peer groups, services, applications, pipes, endpoints, content and resource advertisements. Identifiers may serve to canonically refer to resources. Identifiers may be embedded in advertisements for resources. In one embodiment, a peer identifier may identify a peer group in which the peer is a member peer. In one embodiment, a peer may have a different peer identifier for each group in which it is a member peer. In one embodiment, an identifier may be bound to a network address of the resource. If the resource changes network addresses, the identifier may be bound to the new network address. Thus, identifiers provide dynamic addressing for resources in the peer-to-peer environment.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an open network computing platform designed for peer-to-peer computing. The peer-to-peer platform may provide protocols for peer-to-peer services and applications that allow peers to discover each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups. The protocols may include a peer membership protocol, a peer discovery protocol, a peer resolver protocol, a peer information protocol, a pipe binding protocol, and a peer endpoint protocol. Services and applications that participate in the protocols may be provided to deal with higher-level concepts. Advertisements may be used to publish peer resources. The peer-to-peer platform provides the ability to replicate information toward end users and may enable peers to find content that is closest to them. The peer-to-peer protocols and unique peer identifiers may allow peer nodes to move to different locations and access services and other content independent of network physical addresses.

Abstract: Automatically searching for one or more matches to a search string includes accessing a first part and a second part of a search string. A first search space is searched for a match for the first part of the search string, and a second search space is limited based on a result of searching the first search space. The limited second search space is searched for a match for the second part of the search string. Various approaches are described for structuring a grammar of a voice recognition engine to allow efficient, quick recognition, and to enhance recognition by limiting the amount of the grammar that is searched, thus minimizing the incidence of misrecognition. Search strings can be recognized and searched using a multi-cluster approach. Recognition and searching can also be performed using a multi-level, multi-parameter cascade approach. Approaches can also be applied to recognition of other modes of input.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus, including computer program products, for interfacing communication between a warehouse management system and a portable device, the device being adapted for processing voice XML data, the method comprising: receiving, from the warehouse management system, GUI screen data comprising visual content; generating voice XML data one the basis of the visual content, the voice XML data comprising at least one portion which is representative of voice information; and transmitting the generated voice XML data to the device.

Abstract: A system and method for providing peer groups in a peer-to-peer environment. A peer group may be one or more peers in a peer-to-peer environment that share a set of network services and content. A peer group may define an implicit scope for messages originating from members peers of the peer group. A peer group may provide redundant services and content for greater reliability. In one embodiment, interaction among peers and peer groups in the peer-to-peer environment may be implemented using protocols that are platform-independent as to programming language implementations and network transports. In one embodiment, peers may discover existing peer groups and join the existing peer groups. In one embodiment, peers may create new peer groups.

Abstract: A system for synchronizing multiple modalities is described. A user may use multiple modalities, such as voice and browser, to interact with data on a network, such as the World Wide Web. All of the modalities may be synchronized so that all are updated when the user enters information in just one. A method of communicating between devices includes receiving a request for first-modality data that includes first content, and sending a message in response to receiving the request, the message including information allowing the request of second-modality data that includes second content overlapping the first content. Another method includes requesting first data for a first modality, the first data including first content, and automatically requesting second data for a second modality, wherein the second data includes second content that overlaps the first content.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using digital calendar to timely and relevantly preserve and associate personal digital creations that include all drawings, photos, videos, files, journals, and any personal thoughts documented in blogs, notes, and/or digital files in any digital formats in user specified and/or created context environment, and to freely and creatively view, edit, assemble, distribute, share, print, and publish those personal digital memory footprints stored in the context digital calendar system in both digital and non-digital ways. The context based calendar system serves as a portable digital center for planning, collecting, preserving, documenting, and publishing important events, thoughts, digital creations, and memories for a person or a group of people in addition to usual calendar functions. The system can be used as either standalone software application, or be embedded within other software applications, and/or be used as web based service(s).

Abstract: A graphical user interface may include a form with a plurality of fields, each field associated with a predetermined category. Each category may have its own, independent, discrete grammar associated therewith, and the independent grammars may be individually activated, simultaneously with their respective categories. In this way, a voice-recognition system that is inputting spoken data for each of the fields may have a restricted grammar to search when attempting to match a particular voice input with an entry for a particular field in the form. Moreover, a global grammar that is active with any one of the independent grammars may be used to move between the fields or perform other high-level functionality not associated with any one of the independent grammars.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing communications channels between and among peers in a peer-to-peer networking environment. Pipes may be used as communication channels for sending and receiving messages and other data between services or applications over input and output endpoints. Pipes may be asynchronous, unidirectional, stateless and unreliable. Bidirectional pipes may also be supported. Pipes may have ends that may be moved around and bound to different peers at different times. Point-to-point and propagate pipes may be supported. Pipes may connect peers that have a direct physical link and peers that do not have a direct link. Peers may communicate through pipes without knowing on which peer a pipe endpoint is bound. A message is sent to all peer endpoints currently connected (listening) to the pipe. The set of connected endpoints may be obtained from a pipe service using a pipe binding protocol.

Abstract: A system and method for providing rendezvous nodes in a peer-to-peer networking environment is described. Rendezvous nodes preferably cache information about network resources that may be useful to peer nodes on a peer-to-peer network. In one embodiment, a network of rendezvous nodes may help peer nodes to discover network resources over long-range on the peer-to-peer network. Network resource may include, but may not be limited to peer nodes, peer groups, services, content, and communication channels. In one embodiment, rendezvous nodes may respond to discovery query messages from peer nodes. The discovery query messages may specify desired network resource information. In one embodiment, rendezvous nodes may provide route discovery for network resources. In one embodiment, a peer node may be pre-configured with a pre-defined set of rendezvous nodes to access on startup. These bootstrapping rendezvous may help the peer node discover network resources that it needs to start up.

Abstract: A graphical user interface may include a form with a plurality of fields, each field associated with a predetermined category. Each category may have its own, independent, discrete grammar associated therewith, and the independent grammars may be individually activated, simultaneously with their respective categories. In this way, a voice-recognition system that is inputting spoken data for each of the fields may have a restricted grammar to search when attempting to match a particular voice input with an entry for a particular field in the form. Moreover, a global grammar that is active with any one of the independent grammars may be used to move between the fields or perform other high-level functionality not associated with any one of the independent grammars.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing communications channels between and among peers in a peer-to-peer networking environment. Pipes may be used as communication channels for sending and receiving messages and other data between services or applications over input and output endpoints. Pipes may be asynchronous, unidirectional, stateless and unreliable. Bidirectional pipes may also be supported. Pipes may have ends that may be moved around and bound to different peers at different times. Point-to-point and propagate pipes may be supported. Pipes may connect peers that have a direct physical link and peers that do not have a direct link. Peers may communicate through pipes without knowing on which peer a pipe endpoint is bound. A message is sent to all peer endpoints currently connected (listening) to the pipe. The set of connected endpoints may be obtained from a pipe service using a pipe binding protocol.

Abstract: A system and method for sending, resolving, and receiving queries for information on the status of network resources. A peer computing system may include one or more resolver nodes on a network for resolving queries for a resource to particular resource instances. The resolver nodes may receive query messages from peer nodes on the network. Each query message may request information about a resource implemented by one or more peer nodes on the network. The query messages may be formatted in accordance with a peer resolver protocol. The resolver node may determine a particular instance of the resource hosted on a particular peer node to receive the query. The resolver node may use a variety of criteria to determine a particular resource instance. The resolver node may forward the query message to the determined resource instance.

Abstract: Signed objects and sealed objects can be generated using embodiments of the invention. A signed object is an object that has an associated digital signature that can be used to authenticate the object. A sealed object is an object that is encrypted to limit access to only authorized entities. A signedObject class is used to create, maintain and authenticate a signed object. A sealed object is created, maintained, and authenticated using a sealedObject class. Nesting can be used to provide multiple levels of signing and/or sealing.

Abstract: A system and method for providing resources to networked devices for participating in a peer-to-peer environment. In one embodiment, a peer computing system on a network may include one or more bootstrap nodes that may provide, to devices coupled to the network, mechanisms for accessing resources for participating in the peer-to-peer environment. The bootstrap nodes may be peer nodes. The resources may give the devices access to services each of which may implement peer-to-peer platform protocols. The devices may be pre-configured to access one or more predefined peer nodes for information on bootstrap nodes. Alternatively, devices may use a bootstrapping mechanism to locate bootstrap nodes on the network.

Abstract: Methods and systems, including computer program products, for speech animation. The system includes a speech animation server and one or more speech animation clients. The speech animation server generates speech animation content that drives the expressions and behaviors of talking agents displayed by the speech animation clients. The data used by the server includes one or more references to behavioral contexts. A behaviorial context corresponds to a particular application scenario and includes a set of expressions that are appropriate to the particular application scenario. A behavioral context can also be defined as a combination of two or more other behavioral contexts. The server automatically incorporates the expressions of a particular behavioral context into any data that references the particular behavioral context.

Abstract: A particular logging framework provides empirical data on the use of a multi-modal system. The system receives user input in one of multiple modalities, and responds to the received single-modality input by updating a user interface in each of the multiple modalities. The user may respond, using an appropriate modality, to any of the multiple updated user interfaces. User inputs in each of the multiple modalities are logged and time-stamped to create an event log across all modalities for the user. Event logs may be analyzed or used to provide, for example, system improvements, technical support, replay of events, or monitoring of a user. Another logging framework logs events at a field-level from a user of a system. Another logging framework logs events from a user of a system and modifies a presentation parameter based on the logged user events, wherein content is presented to the user according to the presentation parameter.

Abstract: A system regulates access to resources requested by an operation executing on a computer. The operation invokes a plurality of methods that operate upon code during execution. The system includes a policy file, a call stack, and an execution unit. The policy file stores permissions for each of the resources. The permissions authorize particular types of access to the resource based on a source of the code and an executor of the code. The call stack stores representations of the methods and executors in an order of invocation by the operation. The execution unit grants access to the resource when the types of access authorized by the permissions of all of the methods and executors on the call stack encompass the access requested by the operation.