Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a channel detector is disclosed that includes a programmable look-up table (LUT) to relate user bits to channel bits. The programmable LUT is adapted to be implemented on a state trellis of arbitrary radix. The channel detector further includes a sectional precoder coupled to a channel and having access to the programmable LUT. The sectional precoder is adapted to map channel bits to user bits and vice versa using a programmable LUT.

Abstract: In an automatic speech recognition system, a feature extractor extracts features from a speech signal, and speech is recognized by the automatic speech recognition system based on the extracted features. Noise reduction as part of the feature extractor is provided by feature enhancement in which feature-domain noise reduction in the form of Mel-frequency cepstra is provided based on the minimum means square error criterion. Specifically, the devised method takes into account the random phase between the clean speech and the mixing noise. The feature-domain noise reduction is performed in a dimension-wise fashion to the individual dimensions of the feature vectors input to the automatic speech recognition system, in order to perform environment-robust speech recognition.

Abstract: A method is provided for configuring the service quality profile of a given flow at the access node of a packet communication network to which is connected to the gateway of a receiving user of the flow. The method includes a step where the gateway determines on its own a service quality profile to be associated with the flow, that is triggered upon reception of a packet from the access node, and a step where the service quality profile thus determined is sent to the access node. The profile is used by the access node for transmitting packets intended for the gateway and belonging to the flow in question.

Abstract: A method of providing automatic reading tutoring is disclosed. The method includes retrieving a textual indication of a story from a data store and creating a language model including constructing a target context free grammar indicative of a first portion of the story. A first acoustic input is received and a speech recognition engine is employed to recognize the first acoustic input. An output of the speech recognition engine is compared to the language model and a signal indicative of whether the output of the speech recognition matches at least a portion of the target context free grammar is provided.

Abstract: Testing or diagnostics are performed on an electric vehicle. The vehicle is operated and current flow through a system of the vehicle is monitored. A voltage related to the system is also monitored. Diagnostics are provided based upon the monitored voltage and the monitored current.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for preparing a product for fermentation comprising the steps: i. sterilizing and expanding a substrate to obtain a sterile expanded substrate, ii. cooling and inoculating the sterile expanded substrate by contacting the sterile expanded substrate with a cooling medium and an inoculum to obtain a cooled inoculated substrate. The expansion step can be performed using techniques from the state of the art known as popping or puffing. The method can be performed in standard equipment and is very flexible in its use. Furthermore, the method allows reducing the time and energy necessary to obtain a product for fermentation, such as solid state fermentation.

Abstract: Apparatus for preparing food, comprising a food preparation chamber with an air-permeable bottom wall and an upper air discharge opening, a fan for moving hot air successively through the bottom wall, the food preparation chamber and the discharge opening, an air guide for returning the air from the discharge opening towards the bottom wall separate from the food preparation chamber, a heat radiating element positioned in the upper part of the food preparation chamber and an air guide member below the food preparation chamber. The air guide member is provided for directing the air flow essentially upwards into food present in the food preparation chamber.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a metal gate work function of an NMOS device comprises: depositing a layer of metal nitride film or metal film on a high K dielectric as a metal gate electrode by a physical vapor deposition process; implanting elements such as Tb, Er, Yb or Sr into the metal gate electrode by an ion implantation process; performing a high temperature annealing so that the doped metal ions are driven to and accumulate on the interface between the metal gate electrode and the high K gate dielectric, or form dipoles by an interface reaction on the interface between the high K gate dielectric and SiO2. The method is capable of adjusting the metal gate work function, and is well-compatible with CMOS process.

Abstract: A method is provided for locating a radiocommunication device in a radiocommunication network comprising a plurality of distinct geographical cells. The device comprises a radiocommunication module allowing reception of radiocommunication carriers. Each carrier is associated with a cell of the network and is defined by a frequency and a cell identifier. The module performs the following steps: obtaining initialization information comprising a predetermined list of N1 reference carriers; selecting N carrier(s) from among the N1 reference carriers; for each carrier selected, determining the cell identifier, termed the current cell identifier, associated with the selected carrier, on the basis of system information messages conveyed by the carrier; and obtaining an item of information regarding the location of the radiocommunication device, on the basis of the current cell identifier or identifiers.

Abstract: Hidden Markov Model (HMM) parameters are updated using update equations based on growth transformation optimization of a minimum classification error objective function. Using the list of N-best competitor word sequences obtained by decoding the training data with the current-iteration HMM parameters, the current HMM parameters are updated iteratively. The updating procedure involves using weights for each competitor word sequence that can take any positive real value. The updating procedure is further extended to the case where a decoded lattice of competitors is used. In this case, updating the model parameters relies on determining the probability for a state at a time point based on the word that spans the time point instead of the entire word sequence. This word-bound span of time is shorter than the duration of the entire word sequence and thus reduces the computing time.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data in a mobile radio communication cellular network, wherein setting up, maintaining and terminating a data communication channel between a caller and a called party located in the cellular network are implemented by the exchanges of signaling messages. A caller and/or a called party each is located in a local zone of the cellular network. The method includes: a first detecting phase if the caller and the called party of the communication are located in the same local zone of the cellular network, according to a detection strategy including a step of analyzing all or a portion of the signaling messages; and then triggering a local loopback operation of all or a portion of the data exchanged between the caller and the called party, in the case where the detecting phase confirms the local nature of the communication between the caller and the called party.

Abstract: This disclosure pertains to a method and apparatus to permit changing a filter on the input line to a vacuum deposition chamber without breaking or reducing the vacuum for the deposition chamber and other components in the deposition system. Isolation valves are provided at the inlet and outlet of the filter so the filter can be isolated from the source of vacuum and the deposition chamber for removal and replacement of the filter.

Abstract: A method of manipulating allogeneic cells for use in allogeneic cell therapy protocols is described. The method provides a composition of highly activated allogeneic T-cells which are infused into immunocompetent cancer patients to elicit a novel anti-tumor immune mechanism called the “Mirror Effect”. In contrast to current allogeneic cell therapy protocols where T-cells in the graft mediate the beneficial graft vs. tumor (GVT) and detrimental graft vs. host (GVH) effects, the allogeneic cells of the present invention stimulate host T-cells to mediate the “mirror” of these effects. The mirror of the GVT effect is the host vs. tumor (HVT) effect. The “mirror” of the GVH effect is the host vs. graft (HVG) effect. The effectiveness and widespread application of the anti-tumor GVT effect is limited by the severe toxicity of the GVH effect. In the present invention, the anti-tumor HVT effect occurs in conjunction with a non-toxic HVG rejection effect.

Abstract: A method and system provide a speech input mode which dynamically reports partial semantic parses, while audio captioning is still in progress. The semantic parses can be evaluated with an outcome immediately reported back to the user. The net effect is that task conventionally performed in the system turn are now carried out in the midst of the user turn thereby presenting a significant departure from the turn-taking nature of a spoken dialogue.

Abstract: A swatch and sign holder includes a base, a sign and a cover. The base includes a front face having a front surface, a back surface and at least one through slot extending from the front surface to the back surface. The sign includes a front surface, a back surface, at least one through slot extending from the front surface to the back surface and indicia printed on the front surface of the sign. The back surface of the sign engages into contact with the front surface of the front face. The cover secures the sign to the front face of the base. Each through slot of the front face and each through slot of the sign align with each other to receive a fabric swatch.

Abstract: A peripheral device is connectable to a computer having one of a first interface and a second interface. The first interface communicates with the peripheral device over a differential data connection having a first data conductor and a second data conductor. The second interface communicates with the peripheral device over a clock conductor and a single ended data connection which includes a data conductor. The peripheral device has first and second communication conductors. The peripheral device includes an interface detection component coupled to the first and second communication conductors and configured to detect which of the first and second interfaces the peripheral device is connected to.