Abstract: Techniques for performing health and fitness monitoring via long-term temporal analysis of biometric data are provided. In one embodiment, a computing device can receive biometric data for a user that is captured via a biometric authentication system. The computing device can further extract one or more features from the biometric data pertaining to the user's health, fitness, or personal appearance and can analyze the one or more features in view of previous features extracted from previous biometric data for the user. The computing device can then determine a health or fitness status (or change in status) of the user based on that analysis.

Abstract: Techniques for enabling automated blind spot viewing in a vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, a computer system within the vehicle can determine that a driver of the vehicle is gazing at a side view mirror. The computer system can then automatically facilitate viewing of objects in the driver's blind spot in response to the determination.

Abstract: Techniques for securely processing voice queries are provided. In one embodiment, a computing device can receive speech data corresponding to a voice query uttered by a user and, in response to the speech data, determine the user's identity and a query type of the voice query. The computer device can further retrieve a first security level associated with the user's identity and a second security level associated with the query type. The computing device can then determine, based on the first security level and the second security level, whether the voice query should be processed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an acoustic input signal at a speech recognizer. A user is identified that is speaking based on the acoustic input signal. The method then determines speaker-specific information previously stored for the user and a set of responses based on the recognized acoustic input signal and the speaker-specific information for the user. It is determined if the response should be output and the response is outputted if it is determined the response should be output.

Abstract: Techniques for unobtrusively verifying the identity of a user of a computing device are provided. In one embodiment, the computing device can establish one or more verification models for verifying the user's identity, where at least a subset of the one or more verification models is based on enrollment data that is collected in an unobtrusive manner from the user. The computing device can then verify the user's identity using the one or more verification models.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method receives an acoustic input signal at a speech recognizer configured to recognize the acoustic input signal in an always on mode. A set of responses based on the recognized acoustic input signal is determined and ranked based on criteria. A computing device determines if the response should be output based on a ranking of the response. The method determines an output method in a plurality of output methods based on the ranking of the response and outputs the response using the output method if it is determined the response should be output.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an acoustic input signal at a speech recognizer. A user is identified that is speaking based on the acoustic input signal. The method then determines speaker-specific information previously stored for the user and a set of responses based on the recognized acoustic input signal and the speaker-specific information for the user. It is determined if the response should be output and the response is outputted if it is determined the response should be output.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward systems, methods and devices for improving information access to and device control in a home automation environment. Functionality of multiple household device, such as lights, sound, entertainment, HVAC, and communication devices can be activated via voice commands. The voice commands are detected by a nearby control device and relayed via a network communication medium to another control device to which the desired device or system that the user wants to operate is connected. Each control device, disposed throughout the home, can detect a voice command intended for another control box and household device and relay the voice command to the intended control box. In such systems, a user can initiate a telephone call by saying a voice command to a local control box that will forward on the control signal to a mobile phone connected to another control box.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an acoustic input signal at a speech recognizer. A user is identified that is speaking based on the acoustic input signal. The method then determines speaker-specific information previously stored for the user and a set of responses based on the recognized acoustic input signal and the speaker-specific information for the user. It is determined if the response should be output and the response is outputted if it is determined the response should be output.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes a method comprising receiving an acoustic input signal and processing the acoustic input signal with a plurality of acoustic recognition processes configured to recognize the same target sound. Different acoustic recognition processes start processing different segments of the acoustic input signal at different time points in the acoustic input signal. In one embodiment, initial states in the recognition processes may be configured on each time step.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes a method comprising receiving an acoustic input signal and processing the acoustic input signal with a plurality of acoustic recognition processes configured to recognize the same target sound. Different acoustic recognition processes start processing different segments of the acoustic input signal at different time points in the acoustic input signal. In one embodiment, initial states in the recognition processes may be configured on each time step.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention improve content selection systems and methods using speech recognition. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a speech recognition method comprising receiving location parameters from a global positioning system, retrieving location data using the location parameters, and configuring one or more recognition sets of a speech recognizer using the location data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention improve content manipulation systems and methods using speech recognition. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method comprising configuring a recognizer to recognize utterances in the presence of a background audio signal having particular audio characteristics. A composite signal comprising a first audio signal and a spoken utterance of a user is received by the recognizer, where the first audio signal comprises the particular audio characteristics used to configure the recognizer so that the recognizer is desensitized to the first audio signal. The spoke utterance is recognized in the presence of the first audio signal when the spoken utterance is one of the predetermined utterances. An operation is performed on the first audio signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward systems, methods and devices for improving information access to and device control in a home automation environment. Functionality of multiple household device, such as lights, sound, entertainment, HVAC, and communication devices can be activated via voice commands. The voice commands are detected by a nearby control device and relayed via a network communication medium to another control device to which the desired device or system that the user wants to operate is connected. Each control device, disposed throughout the home, can detect a voice command intended for another control box and household device and relay the voice command to the intended control box. In such systems, a user can initiate a telephone call by saying a voice command to a local control box that will forward on the control signal to a mobile phone connected to another control box.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method receives an acoustic input signal at a speech recognizer configured to recognize the acoustic input signal in an always on mode. A set of responses based on the recognized acoustic input signal is determined and ranked based on criteria. A computing device determines if the response should be output based on a ranking of the response. The method determines an output method in a plurality of output methods based on the ranking of the response and outputs the response using the output method if it is determined the response should be output.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an acoustic input signal at a speech recognizer. A user is identified that is speaking based on the acoustic input signal. The method then determines speaker-specific information previously stored for the user and a set of responses based on the recognized acoustic input signal and the speaker-specific information for the user. It is determined if the response should be output and the response is outputted if it is determined the response should be output.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention improve content manipulation systems and methods using speech recognition. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method comprising configuring a recognizer to recognize utterances in the presence of a background audio signal having particular audio characteristics. A composite signal comprising a first audio signal and a spoken utterance of a user is received by the recognizer, where the first audio signal comprises the particular audio characteristics used to configure the recognizer so that the recognizer is desensitized to the first audio signal. The spoke utterance is recognized in the presence of the first audio signal when the spoken utterance is one of the predetermined utterances. An operation is performed on the first audio signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention improve methods of performing speech recognition using human gestures. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a speech recognition method comprising detecting a gesture, selecting a first recognition set based on the gesture, receiving a speech input signal, and recognizing the speech input signal in the context of the first recognition set.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the interaction between a user and a small electronic device such as a Bluetooth headset are described. The use of a voice user interface in electronic devices may be used. In one embodiment, recognition processing limitations of some devices are overcome by employing speech synthesizers and recognizers in series where one electronic device responds to simple audio commands and sends audio requests to a remote device with more significant recognition analysis capability. Embodiments of the present invention may include systems and methods for utilizing speech recognizers and synthesizers in series to provide simple, reliable, and hands-free interfaces with users.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method determines an event at a mobile device and a movement value for a speed of movement of the mobile device based on the event. The movement value is compared to a threshold. If the movement value has passed the threshold, the method enables a mode such that the mobile device is configured to announce information to a user of the mobile device and configured to receive an audible command from the user of the mobile device.