Abstract: A greeting card having an audio recording and playback device permits recording of a karaoke-style song to be played upon opening of the greeting card. A user sings along with a permanently prerecorded, karaoke-style song that is played during a recording session. The recording device is operable in either a trial mode or a use mode. In the trial mode, a user-recorded song is played back initially for the potential purchaser but is not subsequently played back to be later heard by other potential purchasers. In the use mode, which the card may be switched to after purchase by removal of a trial mode panel from the greeting card, a user-recorded karaoke-style song is played upon subsequent openings of the card. During playback, the user-recorded song is played simultaneously with the prerecorded karaoke-style recording that was played during the recording session. Additional prerecorded messages, such as voice prompts with instructions, may also be included.

Abstract: An article carrier, such as an envelope for holding and presenting an article such as a gift card, includes an electronic device allowing for recording and re-recording of an audio stream or message to accompany the article. The electronic device includes a removable or breakable portion so that the recording may be locked to prevent re-recording.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for improving communication sound quality in a mobile terminal in order to remove a neighboring noise that occurs together with a user's voice signal in a mobile terminal by discriminating signals occurring at different distances using two microphones and removing a noise. The mobile terminal preferably includes a first microphone, a second microphone, and a voice processor. The first microphone receives a voice signal occurring at a closer distance from the mobile terminal and a voice signal occurring at a longer distance from the mobile terminal. The second microphone receives only a voice signal occurring at the long distance. The voice processor discriminates between the signal occurring at the long distance and the signal occurring at the close distance by receiving voice signals received via the first microphone and the second microphone at different phases.

Abstract: A method of automatically converting alphabetic text written in a text based language into a non-text based language. The method can include parsing the text to identify at least one word. The method also can include via a processor, identifying within a lexicon database data corresponding to the word, wherein the data corresponding to the word identifies at least one pictograph or symbol selected from a group of pictographs or symbols consisting of between twenty seven and thirty three distinct pictographs or symbols that visually look different than the text, wherein each pictograph or symbol corresponds to a unique speech sound of the text based language. The pictograph or symbol can be rendered in a view.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to the use of identity information to help avoid the occurrence of false positive speech recognition events in a speech recognition system. One embodiment provides a method comprising receiving speech recognition data comprising a recognized speech segment, acoustic locational data related to a location of origin of the recognized speech segment as determined via signals from the microphone array, and confidence data comprising a recognition confidence value, and also receiving image data comprising visual locational information related to a location of each person in an image. The acoustic locational data is compared to the visual locational data to determine whether the recognized speech segment originated from a person in the field of view of the image sensor, and the confidence data is adjusted depending on this determination.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a system and method for generating audio snippets from a subset of audio tracks. In some embodiments an audio snippet is an audio summary of a group or collection of songs.

Abstract: A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code having programming instructions tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium. The programming instructions are operable to receive an audio stream of a communication between a plurality of participants. Additionally, the programming instructions are operable to filter the audio stream of the communication into separate audio streams, one for each of the plurality of participants, wherein each of the separate audio streams contains portions of the communication attributable to a respective participant of the plurality of participants. Furthermore, the programming instructions are operable to output the separate audio streams to a storage system.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating address component synonyms. In one aspect, a method includes determining that a plurality of addresses cannot be geocoded by a geocoding system. Variants of the addresses that can be geocoded by the geocoding system are generated, wherein each variant of a respective address lacks a removed term. Name terms for each variant are provided by the geocoding system. Each removed term is associated with name terms received for all variants that lack the removed term, including determining, for each associated name term of each removed term, a count of the number of variants for which the geocoding system provided the name term. Whether a name term is an address term synonym for a removed term is determined based at least in part on the count of the number of variants.

Abstract: A speech conversion system facilitates voice communications. A database comprises a plurality of conversion heuristics, at least some of the conversion heuristics being associated with identification information for at least one first party. At least one speech converter is configured to convert a first speech signal received from the at least one first party into a converted first speech signal different than the first speech signal.

Abstract: A portable audio device suitable for reproducing MPEG encoded data includes a plurality of inputs, a data storage, a display, an audio output, at least one processor, and a battery. The plurality of inputs includes a forward input, a play control input, and a play control input. The data storage stores compressed digitized audio data. The at least one processor is responsive to selection of at least one of the plurality of inputs to convert selected compressed digitized audio data stored in the data storage for reproduction by the audio output and to provide information to the display.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, systems, apparatuses and products for reconstruction of a smooth speech signal from a stuttered speech signal. One aspect provides for accessing a stored speech signal having stuttering; identifying at least one stuttered region in the stored speech signal; modifying the at least one stuttered region in the stored speech signal; and responsive to modifying the at least one stuttered region, reconstructing a smooth speech signal corresponding to the stored speech signal. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products measure health data related to a user. A spoken phrase is received and time-stamped. The user is identified from the spoken phrase. A window of time is determined from a semantic content of the spoken phrase. A sensor measurement is received and time-stamped. A difference in time between the time-stamped spoken phrase and the time-stamped sensor measurement is determined and compared to the window of time. When the difference in time is within the window of time, then the sensor measurement is associated with the user.

Abstract: Provided are an interactive toy whose contents are updated daily, and a method of operating the interactive toy, and more particularly, to an interactive toy in which a wired or wireless communication device and a memory are installed and various contents are downloaded via a web server so as to extract conversation contents from the various contents according to date and other interactive toys and output the extracted conversation contents, and thus allow a user of the interactive toy to engage in conversations with the other users without using an additional conversation contents determining unit, and a method of operating the interactive toy.

Abstract: A method, system and machine-readable medium are provided for watermarking natural language digital text. A deep structure may be generated and a group of features may be extracted from natural language digital text input. The deep structure may be modified based, at least partly, on a watermark. Natural language digital text output may be generated based on the modified deep structure.

Abstract: A message device records and plays messages. In a first aspect, actuation is effected by way of a single control. The control generally corresponds to the whole cover. Relatedly, in a second aspect the device is extremely simple and promotes openness communication. The device can be placed or hung almost anywhere to facilitate message leaving and receiving in almost any group or organization. In one embodiment actuation is achieved by pressing on substantially any portion of the cover. In a second embodiment, a rocker configuration is implemented to actuate a record mode by pressing on one end of the cover and a play/listen mode by pressing on an opposite end. The device comprises a base, electrical components, a cover, and in some embodiments, a side wall.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides method and system for converting a free text expression of an identity to a phonetic equivalent code. The conversion follows a set of rules based on phonetic groupings and compresses the expression to a shorter series of characters than the expression. The phonetic equivalent code may be compared to one or more other phonetic equivalent code to establish a correlation between the codes. The phonetic equivalent code of the free text expression may be associated with the code of a known identity. The known identity may be provided to a user for confirmation of the identity. Further, a plurality of expressions stored in a database may be consolidated by converting the expressions to phonetic equivalent codes, comparing the codes to find correlations, and if appropriate reducing the number of expressions or mapping the expressions to a fewer number of expressions.

Abstract: Disclosed are Multipurpose Media Players that enable users to create transcriptions, closed captions, and/or logs of digitized recordings, that enable the presentation of transcripts, closed captions, logs, and digitized recordings in a correlated manner to users, that enable users to compose one or more scenes of a production, and that enable users to compose storyboards for a production. The multipurpose media players can be embodied within Internet browser environments; thereby providing high availability of the multipurpose players across software platforms, networks, and physical locations.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, systems, apparatuses and products for reconstruction of a smooth speech signal from a stuttered speech signal. One aspect provides for accessing a stored speech signal having stuttering; identifying at least one stuttered region in the stored speech signal; modifying the at least one stuttered region in the stored speech signal; and responsive to modifying the at least one stuttered region, reconstructing a smooth speech signal corresponding to the stored speech signal. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, methods performed by data processing apparatus and computer storage media encoded with computer programs for receiving information relating to (i) a communication device that has received an utterance and (ii) a voice associated with the received utterance, comparing the received voice information with voice signatures in a comparison group, the comparison group including one or more individuals identified from one or more connections arising from the received information relating to the communication device, attempting to identify the voice associated with the utterance as matching one of the individuals in the comparison group, and based on a result of the attempt to identify, selectively providing the communication device with access to one or more resources associated with the matched individual.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating an avatar based video message are provided. The apparatus and method are capable of generating an avatar based video message based on speech of a user. The avatar based video message apparatus and method displays information that corresponds to input user speech. The avatar based video message apparatus and method edits the input user speech according to a user input signal with reference to the displayed information, generates avatar animation according to the edited speech, and generates an avatar based video message based on the edited speech and the avatar animation.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method is disclosed for receiving user input at a client device, interpreting the user input to identify a selection of at least one of a plurality of web interaction modes, producing a corresponding client request based in part on the user input and the web interaction mode; and sending the client request to a server via a network.

Abstract: This invention is a method for “text morphing,” wherein text morphing involves integrating or blending together substantive content from two or more bodies of text into a single body of text based on locations of linguistic commonality among the two or more bodies of text. This method entails: identifying pairs of “Synonym-Different-Synonym” (SDS) text segments between an import body of text and an export body of text; and, for each selected pair of SDS text segments, substituting some or all of the SDS text segment from the export body of text for some or all of the SDS text segment in the import body of text. In some respects, this method is analogous to splicing and substituting gene segments with compatible starting and ending sequences, but different middle sequences. Text morphing as disclosed herein can be useful for creative ideation, product development, integrative search engines, and entertainment purposes.

Abstract: A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code having programming instructions tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium. The programming instructions are operable to receive an audio stream of a communication between a plurality of participants. Additionally, the programming instructions are operable to filter the audio stream of the communication into separate audio streams, one for each of the plurality of participants, wherein each of the separate audio streams contains portions of the communication attributable to a respective participant of the plurality of participants. Furthermore, the programming instructions are operable to output the separate audio streams to a storage system.

Abstract: An audible post-it system includes a post-it note printed with an index and an optical reading and recording device having an optical module, a switch, a storage device, an audio recording device, an audio playing device and a processor. The optical reading and recording device reads an image of the index. When the optical reading and recording device is at a recoding state, the processor receives the image of the index and obtains the index, then receives a digital audio outputted by the audio recording device to match the index with the digital audio, and stores the digital audio based on the index. When the optical reading and recording device is at a playing state, the processor receives the image of an index and retrieves the index, then reads a digital audio based on the index, and sends the digital audio to the audio playing device for playing.

Abstract: A biochemical analyzer having a microprocessing apparatus with expandable voice capacity is characterized in that a driving module is installed in a data processor and a voice carrier is replaceable. Thereby, increase or decrease of voice files can be easily done by replacing the current voice carrier with an alternative voice carrier storing desired voice files, without the need of replacing the driving module together with the voice carrier, thereby saving costs and reducing processing procedures.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus including a voice input unit adapted to input voice, an operating unit adapted to be operated by a user, a data processing unit adapted to process data according to voice inputted in the voice input unit or an operation of the operating unit, and a determination unit adapted to determine whether a subsequent process is a voice input prohibited process in the case where the subsequent process is to be conducted based on voice inputted into the voice input unit, wherein the data processing unit switches from processing according to voice inputted in the voice input unit to processing according to an operation of the operating unit in the case where the determination unit determines that the subsequent process is a voice input prohibited process.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques and systems to provide a narration of a text in multiple different languages where the portions of the text narrated using the different voices associated with different languages are selected by a user.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques and systems to provide a narration of a text in multiple different voices. Further disclosed are techniques and systems for generating an audible output in which different portions of a text are narrated using voice models associated with different characters.

Abstract: A method for narrating a digital book includes retrievably storing first data relating to narration of the digital book by a first end-user. The first data is then provided to a user device having stored thereon the digital book. Subsequently, the digital book is presented in narrated form to a second end-user via the user device. In particular, the digital book is displayed via a display portion of the user device while simultaneously providing in audible form the first data via an audio output portion of the user device.

Abstract: A device for booting a handheld apparatus by sound detection includes a base, a power-on device, a trigger switch, and an acoustic sensor. Upon the handheld apparatus being placed at the base to trigger the trigger switch, the trigger switch controls the power-on device to power on the handheld apparatus. After the handheld apparatus is powered on, the acoustic sensor detects a sound of the handheld apparatus and then controls a pressure head of the power-on device to move away. The device and its method for booting a handheld apparatus by sound detection come with the advantages of a simple and easy operation and a high efficiency.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents a useful metric for assessing the relative difficulty which non-native speakers face in pronouncing a given utterance and a method and systems for using such a metric in the evaluation and assessment of the utterances of non-native speakers. In an embodiment, the metric may be based on both known sources of difficulty for language learners and a corpus-based measure of cross-language sound differences. The method may be applied to speakers who primarily speak a first language speaking utterances in any non-native second language.

Abstract: A voice channel connection and a data channel connection are established with a structured voice interaction system. Navigation information for and provided by the structured voice interaction system is received over the data channel connection. The data channel navigation information is coordinated with navigation information provided by the structured voice interaction system over the voice channel connection.

Abstract: A mobile electronic device and associated method enable the identification of previously-entered textual objects in one or more custom wordlists to identify possible transliterations of textual inputs. Such textual objects can be stored as data in a Pinyin custom wordlist if it is in the nature of Standard Mandarin characters or it can be stored in a BoPoMoFo custom wordlist if it is in the nature of Traditional Chinese characters, or it can be stored in both if it is in the nature of both Standard Mandarin characters and Traditional Chinese characters.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include a housing, a wireless transceiver carried by the housing, an audio transducer carried by the housing, and a novelty voice alteration processor carried by the housing and coupled to the wireless transceiver and the audio transducer and configured to alter voice communications. For example, the novelty voice alteration processor may comprise a memory and a processor cooperating therewith to alter the voice communications.

Abstract: Provided in some embodiments is a computer implemented method that includes providing script data including script words indicative of dialogue words to be spoken, providing recorded dialogue audio data corresponding to at least a portion of the dialogue words to be spoken, wherein the recorded dialogue audio data includes timecodes associated with recorded audio dialogue words, matching at least some of the script words to corresponding recorded audio dialogue words to determine alignment points, determining that a set of unmatched script words are accurate based on the matching of at least some of the script words matched to corresponding recorded audio dialogue words, generating time-aligned script data including the script words and their corresponding timecodes and the set of unmatched script words determined to be accurate based on the matching of at least some of the script words matched to corresponding recorded audio dialogue words.

Abstract: An apparatus for context awareness includes: a voice-based recognition unit that recognizes a user's emotional state on the basis of a voice signal; a motion-based recognition unit that recognizes the user's emotional state on the basis of a motion; a position recognition unit that recognizes a location where the user is positioned; and a mergence-recognition unit that recognizes a user's context by analyzing the recognition results of the voice-based recognition unit, the motion-based recognition unit, and the position recognition unit. Accordingly, it is possible to rapidly and accurately accidents or dangerous contexts caused to a user.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products measure health data related to a user. A spoken phrase is received and time-stamped. The user is identified from the spoken phrase. A window of time is determined from a semantic content of the spoken phrase. A sensor measurement is received and time-stamped. A difference in time between the time-stamped spoken phrase and the time-stamped sensor measurement is determined and compared to the window of time. When the difference in time is within the window of time, then the sensor measurement is associated with the user.

Abstract: The equipment comprises at least one computer and a material features acquisition system operable to detect a plurality of material features. The features are then evaluated according to rules that capture the multidiscipline knowledge of experts and are already inputted into the computer. The computer iterations are processed until an acceptable conclusion is made regarding the condition of the material under evaluation.

Abstract: Architecture for providing and processing a dictionary in a universal format such as XML, for example. The dictionary can be authored while in the universal format, designated for use with multiple compatible applications, and compiled on-the-fly using a dictionary compiler. The dictionary can be shared and/or distributed via a web server, e-mail, and other suitable data transmission techniques. Once downloaded to the client application, the dictionary is registered with the requesting client application for use. With this model, the dictionary created by a user for a specific domain and for a specific application can be easily reused by other applications, and shared among the users belonging to the same domain.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed herein for generating a plurality of equivalent sentence patterns from a declared sentence pattern for a specific language. The declared pattern is fed into a pattern selector. The pattern selector reads a predetermined library of equivalent pattern sets and selects an equivalent pattern set for the declared pattern. The selected equivalent pattern set corresponds to the declared pattern and represents a set of equivalent declared patterns. The set of equivalent declared patterns and the declared pattern are fed to a rules generator. The rules generator outputs executable semantic pattern recognition rules. The reader module, using the generated executable semantic pattern recognition rules, reads the given information source to determine the information of interest.

Abstract: The invention provides a conversational speech analyzer which analyzes whether utterances in a meeting are of interest or concern. Frames are calculated using sound signals obtained from a microphone and a sensor, sensor signals are cut out for each frame, and by calculating the correlation between sensor signals for each frame, an interest level which represents the concern of an audience regarding utterances is calculated, and the meeting is analyzed.

Abstract: An audio system attachable to a computer includes a sound reproduction device for producing audible sound from audio signals. The sound reproduction device includes a radio tuner and a powered speaker. The audio system further includes a connector for connecting the sound reproduction device with a computer. The computer provides audio signals from a plurality of sources, the sources including a computer CD player, digitally encoded computer files stored on the computer, and a computer network connected to the computer. The sound reproduction device further includes control buttons for controlling at least one of the computer CD player, the digitally encoded computer files and the computer network.

Abstract: A voice assistant system is disclosed which directs the voice Prompts delivered to a first user of a voice assistant to also be communicated wirelessly to the voice assistant of a second user so that the second user can hear the voice Prompts as delivered to the first user.

Abstract: Audio or sound envelopes contain or are combined with a sound module for generating and playing prerecorded sound tracks upon the opening of the envelope or removal of its contents. Operation of the sound module may be activated by the opening of the envelope flap, or by removal of the envelope contents. The flap is configured with a removable strip which protects the sound module from damage before and after opening. The sound module can be replayed by repeated operation of the flap. Alternate embodiments of the audio envelopes have other structural or operational features which work in concert with the sound module.

Abstract: An audio system attachable to a computer includes a sound reproduction device for producing audible sound from audio signals. The sound reproduction device includes a radio tuner and a powered speaker. The audio system further includes a connector for connecting the sound reproduction device with a computer. The computer provides audio signals from a plurality of sources, the sources including a computer CD player, digitally encoded computer files stored on the computer, and a computer network connected to the computer. The sound reproduction device further includes control buttons for controlling at least one of the computer CD player, the digitally encoded computer files and the computer network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the automatic scoring of a vocal performance are provided. The systems and methods for providing feedback and scoring a vocal performance generally relate to receiving/processing a user's vocals, measuring the various performance qualities of the performance according stored evaluation policies and rendering a score according to stored scoring policies.

Abstract: A music player is worn on a limb of a body when in use and includes: a case; a plurality of buttons through which an instruction relating to music reproduction is given; and a band fitting portion to which a band is fittable, the band being used when the case is worn on the limb. In the music player, the case has a chamfer constituted of a plane whose line of intersection with the band is diagonal to a longitudinal direction of the band, the plural buttons are provided on an upper face of the case, an arrangement direction of the plural buttons being parallel to the plane constituting the chamfer, and the chamfer has an audio output terminal. Preferably, the chamfer has a connection terminal to which an exercise state detection sensor for detecting a state of exercise practiced by a wearer of the music player is connectable.

Abstract: A data embedding device for embedding data in a speech code obtained by encoding a speech in accordance with a speech encoding method based on a voice generation process of a human being, includes an embedding judgment unit, every speech code, judging whether or not data should be embedded in the speech code, and an embedding unit embedding data in two or more parameter codes of a plurality of parameter codes constituting the speech code for which it is judged by the embedding judgment unit that the data should be embedded.

Abstract: A self-contained wireless interactive speech recognition control device and system that integrates with automated systems and appliances to provide totally hands-free speech control capabilities for a given space. Preferably, each device comprises a programmable microcontroller having embedded speech recognition and audio output capabilities, a microphone, a speaker and a wireless communication system through which a plurality of devices can communicate with each other and with one or more system controllers or automated mechanisms. The device may be enclosed in a stand-alone housing or within a standard electrical wall box. Several devices may be installed in close proximity to one another to ensure hands-free coverage throughout the space. When two or more devices are triggered simultaneously by the same speech command, real time coordination ensures that only one device will respond to the command.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for recognizing a user's speech input. The method includes the steps for detecting the user's speech input, recognizing the user's speech input by comparing the speech input to a list of entries using language model statistics to determine the most likely entry matching the user's speech input, and detecting navigation information of a trip to a predetermined destination, where the most likely entry is determined by modifying the language model statistics taking into account the navigation information. A system and method is further provided that takes into account navigation trip information to determine the most likely entry using language model statistics for recognizing text input.