Abstract: A beamformer for outputting an enhanced signal to a speech recognition system, comprising a microphone array for receiving audio signals from a plurality of microphones, a steering module connected to the microphone array for calculating audio parameters related to the location of a talker, the steering module being subject to an inherent initial delay in calculating the parameters, a buffer module connected to the microphone array for delaying the audio signals by at least the inherent initial delay; and a beamforming part connected to the buffer module and the steering module for directing the microphone array toward the talker in response to receiving the audio parameters from the steering part, such that an enhanced signal is output for application to a speech recognition system.

Abstract: A method of manipulation of cells within a table on an interactive user display comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a subset of cells of the table as a block on the display, the block having an orientation of fields of the cells along at least one dimension; (b) determining data characteristics of the block for each the field in the direction of the orientation; (c) selecting representative data from the block for each the field in the direction of the orientation; (d) generating a first interface displaying for each the field (i) one or more of the data characteristics; and (ii) corresponding the representative data as an editable element; (e) making user desired modifications to each the editable element to form a changed elements; (f) applying corresponding modifications of each the changed element to all cells of the block in a direction perpendicular to the orientation to form an altered block; and (g) outputting the altered block to the table for display.

Abstract: A system for providing power to a local area network LAN connected device via spare wire pairs from a phantom feed LAN, the system comprising a first connector for connecting to the LAN connected device; a second connector for connecting to a LAN hub; and means for redirecting current from signaling wires of said second connector to at least one spare wire pair of said first connector.

Abstract: A method of translating a message for an intended recipient. The method includes the steps of handling at least one call to receive a message in a first language, recognizing the first language of the message, translating the message from the first language to a second message in a second language and handling the second message such that the second message is available to the intended recipient.

Abstract: There is provided a method of maintaining physical location association with an IP telephony instrument. When a change of an Ethernet MAC address on a switch port is detected, an IP telephony call controller is notified of the change. At least one information prompt is sent from the IP telephony call controller to the IP telephony instrument. A response including a physical location of the IP telephony instrument is received and the physical location associated with the IP telephony instrument is maintained.

Abstract: A voice activated language translation system that is accessed by telephones where voice messages of a caller are translated into a selected language and returned to the caller or optionally sent to another caller. A voice recognition system converts the voice messages into text of a first language. The text is then translated into text of the selected language. The text of the selected language is then converted into voice.

Abstract: A circuit for providing a secondary output voltage from an input voltage. The circuit comprises power supply circuitry for creating an unregulated DC bus voltage line, a regulator circuit connected to the DC bus voltage line for controlling a first switch in series with a transformer winding, the control circuit sampling an output voltage to control the output voltage by cycling the switch, a pulse generator circuit connected to the regulator circuit for controlling start and stop cycles of the regulator circuit, and a comparator circuit connected to the pulse generator circuit, for monitoring the secondary output voltage and disabling the pulse generator circuit during normal operation of the power supply circuit.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for establishing and maintaining communication among a community of interest, comprising a plurality of communication devices for voice communication between users of the community of interest, each of the communication devices including a display for indicating communication availability of the users, a plurality of device agents for controlling respective ones of the communication devices in establishing the voice communication and updating each the display. A plurality of user agents is provided for maintaining user preferences. The user preferences include a list of the users of the community of interest. A tuple space is provided for exchanging tuples and anti-tuples between the user agents to monitor the communication availability, in response to which respective ones of the device agents update each respective display.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling noise characteristic estimation in a conferencing system, comprising a noise characteristic estimator for estimating a noise characteristic of a signal of interest transmitted in a first direction through the conferencing system, and a first voice activity detector for detecting audio signal activity in a signal transmitted through the conferencing system in a direction opposite to the signal of interest and in response disabling the noise characteristic estimator.

Abstract: A method of identifying talker location includes picking up audio signals using a steerable microphone array and processing the picked up audio signals to determine the location of an active talker. The microphone array is then steered in the direction of the active talker and a cue is generated to identify the direction in which the microphone array has been steered.

Abstract: A flat, substantially transparent lens lying in a flat plane retains a designation card within a recess in a surface. The lens is made of flexible sheet plastic with means at either end for securing the lens in the recess. At one end, a tab is integral with the lens and has an attachment end which joins the lens. The tab extends away from the plane of the lens to a geniculation spaced from the lens plane. At the geniculation, the tab reverses direction and extends toward the lens plane to return generally to that plane, where it terminates in a finger grip.

Abstract: A system is provided for pro-actively suggesting communication features to users, comprising a tuple space for facilitating collaboration among software agents, a plurality of device agents for controlling operation of associated communication devices for respective ones of the users, and a plurality of user agents representing a plurality of users, each of the user agents (i) facilitating creation, by a user desirous of communicating, of groups of users to be communicated with, (ii) poking tuples to the tuple space indicative of each user's availability for communication; (iii) peeking anti-tuples to the tuple space for eliciting communication availability of respective ones of the users in the groups of users to be communicated with and in response causing associated device agents to display via respective ones of the devices the aforementioned availability to the user desirous of communicating, and to effect communication between the user desirous of communicating and a selected one of the respective users

Abstract: A system is provided for automatic feature enablement on the basis of a user's current location, in order to enable the most appropriate set of features. The system is implemented within a tuple space for allowing communication among system components. A location service is provided for tracking the location of a user. Policy daemons are created which contain user specified policies to select appropriate feature sets depending on the user's location. An interface is provided for specifying user preferences for features depending on location. Finally, a basic PBX feature architecture is used which consists of a database to hold individual user feature selections as a set of tuples and a call processing system which uses these feature selections.

Abstract: A support unit includes an outer panel intended to lie in a vertical plane when in use, the outer panel having a straight, horizontal lower edge. The support unit further includes an inner panel extending generally at right angles to the outer panel and connected thereto along a portion of the lower edge of the outer panel which is adjacent one end of that edge. The inner panel has structure defining a first horizontal contact plane on the upper side of the inner panel, and a second horizontal contact plane on the lower side of the inner panel. These two planes are substantially parallel. The preferred embodiment further includes a flange adjacent the mid-region of the outer panel and extending generally parallel with the two contact planes. In the preferred embodiment, the flange is flat and has a top surface which contains a hypothetical line extending at right angles to the outer panel.

Abstract: A novel cap for a telephone unit is provided to de-couple the loudspeaker diaphragm from the acoustic resonance in the enclosure and dampen the first resonant frequency of the diaphragm. The cap has a flange located at an outer edge thereof and a cavity provided in the cap. The cap cavity is sized to house an acoustical speaker that is directed outwardly through an aperture in an outer casing of the telephone unit. The flange of the cap is coupled to the outer casing so that the cap covers the aperture. A gap is provided between the cap and the outer casing.

Abstract: A support unit includes an outer panel intended to lie in a vertical plane when in use, the outer panel having a straight, horizontal lower edge. The support unit further includes an inner panel extending generally at right angles to the outer panel and connected thereto along a portion of the lower edge of the outer panel which is adjacent one end of that edge. The inner panel has structure defining a first horizontal contact plane on the upper side of the inner panel, and a second horizontal contact plane on the lower side of the inner panel. These two planes are substantially parallel. The preferred embodiment further includes a flange adjacent the mid-region of the outer panel and extending generally parallel with the two contact planes. In the preferred embodiment, the flange is flat and has a top surface which contains a hypothetical line extending at right angles to the outer panel.

Abstract: A method of locating a talker in a reverberant environment comprises receiving multiple audio signals from a microphone array that include direct path audio signal and reverberation signal components. The direct path audio signal components of the multiple audio signals are detected and are used to weight the multiple audio signals. A position estimate based on the weighted audio signals is then calculated. Periods of speech activity are detected and a final position estimate is generated during the periods of speech activity.

Abstract: A method for detecting voice activity comprises receiving audio signals on a plurality of channels and processing the audio signals on the channels to improve the signal-to-noise ratio thereof. The processed audio signals on each channel are then fed to associated voice activity detection algorithms and further processed. A voice or silence determination is then rendered based on at least the output of the voice activity detection algorithms. A voice activity detector is also provided.