Abstract: Objects, such as documents, are classified according to a taxonomy. The taxonomy includes nodes, corresponding to object classes, arranged in a hierarchy. Class keywords are associated with the nodes. Search strings are formed for the classes by traversing the taxonomic branches and concatenating the keywords associated with the classes. For each object to be classified, a search engine is used to perform searches on the object using the search strings. The searches produce search scores for each search string. Each object is classified by identifying the class(es) corresponding to the highest search score(s) for the object, and classifying the object into the identified class(es).

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for automating the process of configuring a telephone system. More specifically, the techniques disclosed herein enable a telephone system to monitor the behavior of users of that system and to configure the users' preferences based on their observed behavior. For example, the system may observe that a particular user frequently dials a particular telephone number manually. In response to this observation, the system may automatically configure the frequently-dialed telephone number as a speed dial number for that user. As a result, the user may dial the number in the future by pressing a speed dial button rather than by entering the number manually. Such an automatic configuration process may enable the telephone system to be adapted to its users' needs more quickly and accurately, and with less effort on behalf of the users, than is possible using conventional systems that require their users to perform configuration manually.

Abstract: A user uses a portable electronic device to select an image representative of a brand. In response to the user's selection of the image representative of the brand, the device automatically presents the user with an image of a map that indicates a current location of the device and shows one or more images representative of brand purchase sites where the selected brand may be accessed by the user.

Abstract: Facts are extracted from speech and recorded in a document using codings. Each coding represents an extracted fact and includes a code and a datum. The code may represent a type of the extracted fact and the datum may represent a value of the extracted fact. The datum in a coding is rendered based on a specified feature of the coding. For example, the datum may be rendered as boldface text to indicate that the coding has been designated as an “allergy.” In this way, the specified feature of the coding (e.g., “allergy”-ness) is used to modify the manner in which the datum is rendered. A user inspects the rendering and provides, based on the rendering, an indication of whether the coding was accurately designated as having the specified feature. A record of the user's indication may be stored, such as within the coding itself.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for managing Presentation Time in a digital rendering system for presentation of temporally-ordered data when the digital rendering system includes a Variable Rate Presentation capability. In one embodiment, Presentation Time is converted to Data Time, and Data Time is reported instead of Presentation Time when only one time can be reported. In another embodiment, a predetermined one of Presentation Time and Data Time is returned in response to a request for a Current Time.

Abstract: An error detection and correction system extracts editing patterns and derives correction rules from them by observing differences between draft documents and corresponding edited documents, and/or by observing editing operations performed on the draft documents to produce the edited documents. The system develops classifiers that partition the space of all possible contexts into equivalence classes and assigns one or more correction rules to each such class). Once the system has been trained, it may be used to detect and (optionally) correct errors in new draft documents. When presented with a draft document, the system identifies first content (e.g., text) in the draft document and identifies a context of the first content. The system identifies a correction rule based on the first content and the first context. The system may use a classifier to identify the correction rule. The system applies the correction rule to the first content to produce second content.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for automatically generating structured documents based on speech, including identification of relevant concepts and their interpretation. In one embodiment, a structured document generator uses an integrated process to generate a structured textual document (such as a structured textual medical report) based on a spoken audio stream. The spoken audio stream may be recognized using a language model which includes a plurality of sub-models arranged in a hierarchical structure. Each of the sub-models may correspond to a concept that is expected to appear in the spoken audio stream. Different portions of the spoken audio stream may be recognized using different sub-models. The resulting structured textual document may have a hierarchical structure that corresponds to the hierarchical structure of the language sub-models that were used to generate the structured textual document.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for automatically de-identifying spoken audio signals. In particular, techniques are disclosed for automatically removing personally identifying information from spoken audio signals and replacing such information with non-personally identifying information. De-identification of a spoken audio signal may be performed by automatically generating a report based on the spoken audio signal. The report may include concept content (e.g., text) corresponding to one or more concepts represented by the spoken audio signal. The report may also include timestamps indicating temporal positions of speech in the spoken audio signal that corresponds to the concept content. Concept content that represents personally identifying information is identified. Audio corresponding to the personally identifying concept content is removed from the spoken audio signal. The removed audio may be replaced with non-personally identifying audio.

Abstract: A positive contrast agent composition containing meglumine diatrizoate, sodium diatrizoate, simethicone, famotidine and aspartame in predetermined amounts that is orally administered to a patient for clinical evaluations of appendicitis wherein a positive contrast effect is achieved. Methods of use include orally administering individual doses of the composition approximately 50 minutes prior to appendix visualization using computerized axial tomography.

Abstract: A cable is disclosed which include a first connector, a second connector, a primary flexible cable segment coupled to the first connector at a first location on the primary flexible cable segment and to the second connector at a second location on the primary flexible cable segment, and a third connector coupled to the primary flexible cable segment at a third location between the first and second locations on the primary flexible cable segment.

Abstract: A transfer function is provided for use with computer pointing devices such as trackpads. The transfer function includes a first component having characteristics of a positional transfer function and a second component having characteristics of a velocity-based transfer function. The first (positional) component and the second (velocity-based) component of the transfer function are blended so that the transfer function exhibits purely positional behavior in response to a first range of inputs and exhibits combined positional and velocity-based behavior in response to a second range of inputs. The first range of inputs may, for example, correspond to a region in the input coordinate space that is bounded by a circle having a predetermined threshold radius.

Abstract: An electronic device having one or more integral connectors is disclosed. The connector includes an electromagnetically-shielded cavity defined by an outer shell integrally formed in the housing and having a cross-sectional profile of a plug to which the connector may mate. The connector also includes a tongue integrally formed in and extending from a component (such as a printed circuit board) of the electronic device and protruding into the cavity. The tongue may have one or more electrical contacts on one or both sides. The connector may also include one or more snap features for retaining a mated plug at a predetermined force. The connectors may conform to one or more connector standards, such as the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard and/or the IEEE 1394 (FireWire®) standard. Devices incorporating such integral connectors may be smaller and manufactured less expensively than devices having conventional, non-integral, connectors.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a plow protection device is disclosed. Such a device may, for example, protect a plow against substantial damage from impact with an obstruction such as a utility cover. In various embodiments of the present invention, the plow protection device multiplies velocity, distance, and kinetic energy at the point of impact between the plow and the obstruction to lift the plow's cutting edge up and away from the obstruction and the road or other plowing surface. By actively lifting the cutting edge over the impacted obstruction, embodiments of the present invention thereby limit the duration and severity of impact and minimize the resulting stresses. In another aspect of the present invention, a wear protector is provided to protect one or more components of the present invention and/or plow from wear due to friction with the plowing surface.

Abstract: A core component is disclosed which includes a processing module and a touch screen. The core component may operate by itself in a first mode to perform functions similar to that of a conventional personal digital assistant (PDA). In particular, the touch screen may both provide visual output and receive input from a user's finger when the core component operates in the first mode. When the core component is connected to another component including a display screen, the core component may operate in a second mode in which input received through the touch screen is provided to the other component. For example, the movement of a user's finger may control the position of a cursor displayed on a screen of the other component so that the core component exhibits the behavior of a trackpad when operating in the second mode.

Abstract: Method for managing Presentation Time in a digital rendering system for presentation of temporally-ordered data when the digital rendering system includes a Variable Rate Presentation capability. In a particular, one embodiment of the present invention is a method for converting Presentation Time to Data Time, and for reporting Presentation Time when only one time can be returned.

Abstract: A bi-directional DC-to-DC power converter is provided. The power converter has three modes of operation: (1) a step-down mode, in which the power converter converts power in a first direction (such as from a high-voltage power bus to a low-voltage power bus), and (2) a step-up mode, in which the power converter converts power in the opposite direction (such as from the low-voltage power bus to the high-voltage power bus), and (3) an off mode, in which no power is transferred. A single power converter may therefore be used to replace both a conventional step-down converter and a conventional step-up converter. The power converter may provide a battery charge-control functionality, and may be used to charge a battery that may, for example, provide a source of power to a component of an electrical device.