Abstract: A method for the use of the white keys of a musical keyboard such as a MIDI keyboard for the playing a selected scale whereby all while keys of the keyboard are remapped to the selected scale such that adjacent keys of the keyboard can be used to play adjacent notes of the selected scale. There is also disclosed a method for providing a functional aspect to at least one black key of a musical keyboard such as a MIDI keyboard, wherein upon a key of the keyboard being pressed, a first check is conducted to determine if a user has activated the selected scale setting; and if the selected scale function has been activated, a second check is conducted to determine if the key is a black key or a white key. If the key is a black key a second lookup table is checked based on a MIDI message for the black key to determine a corresponding functional aspect corresponding to the black key.

Abstract: An alphanumeric keyboard has a plurality of alphanumeric keys and includes at least one built-in microphone. The at least one microphone is controlled by a processor such that the at least one microphone is able to be operated in an automatic mode. When in the automatic mode and an alphanumeric key is activated, the at least one microphone is deactivated for a predetermined period. The predetermined period is controlled by a timer. Also disclosed is the inclusion in the keyboard of one or more of: echo cancellation; a card reader; a wireless data receiver; and a contactless induction charger.

Abstract: A portable device comprising a casing with at least one function key, a recess in a wall of the casing for accommodating a connector when the connector is not in use, a connector cable for permanently connecting the connector to an internal circuitry of the portable device; the recess being sized, shaped and located to as to not interfere with operation of the plurality of function keys; the connector, when in the recess, having a side surface substantially coplanar with the wall. The connector and the connector cable are for enabling: data transfer both ways between the portable device and another device, and one-way power from the another device to the portable device, when the another device is a host for the portable device; and data transfer both ways between the potable device and the another device, and power both ways between the portable device and the another device, when the portable device is the host for the another device.

Abstract: A method and system for expanding the features and functions of a CD-ROM drive by facilitating communication between the drive and a host computer. The communication allows a user to control the basic functions, such as volume control, fast forwarding, and playing, from the hard buttons and knobs from the front panel of the drive without incurring conflict with the host computer. It can also allow an IRDA module to be attached to the drive to transfer IRDA data via the IDE/ATAPI port. A parameter and control pages are stored in the firmware of the CD-ROM drive. The parameter page provides parameters to define the input devices, and the control pages update the changes in the status of the input devices. The host computer reads the control pages at a predetermined interval and issues appropriate command based on the changes in the status.

Abstract: A system and method for pre-calibrating a CD-ROM drive for each CD-ROM disc inserted into the drive for maximizing the drive's performance without degradation in data transmission. When a CD-ROM disc is inserted, the disc is rotated to its maximum speed. The system reads a predetermined data segment from the inner most region of the disc. If error is detected, then the speed is lowered until no errors are encountered. The error-free speed is then chosen as the operating speed for the disc. In another embodiment, the disc is separated into multiple zones. The system calibrates each of the zones for its particular maximum error-free speed, and selects the error-free speed as the operating speed for the zone.

Abstract: The present invention implements a method of automatic speech recognition in a personal computer environment and in real time. The invention uses a wavelet transformer to decompose digitized input speech templates into coefficients assigned to fundamental building blocks, from which the original speech function can be reconstructed. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an energy vector comprising seven wavelet coefficients can represent adequately any input speech utterance. The wavelet transformer reduces greatly the number of Input speech samples needed for storage in the computer memory. Computational economy is further achieved when the present invention quantizes the plurality of energy vectors into two binary bits with reference to a predetermined parameter. In the present invention, the predetermined parameter is established as the mean of the energy vector. At the same time, the transient response of the energy vectors are also obtained.