Abstract: Method, apparatus and program product for generating check data for a location within an area of a workspace include receiving an identifier for a selected location that has check data associated therewith. Candidate check data for use with the selected location is generated. The candidate check data is evaluated for a match against at least one of existing check data for the selected location or check data associated with a related location. Based on the evaluation, a determination is made of whether the candidate check data is acceptable for use for the selected location.

Abstract: A self calibrating dipole microphone formed from two omni-directional acoustic sensors. The microphone includes a sound source acoustically coupled to the acoustic sensors and a processor. The sound source is excited with a test signal, exposing the acoustic sensors to acoustic calibration signals. The responses of the acoustic sensors to the calibration signals are compared by the processor, and one or more correction factors determined. Digital filter coefficients are calculated based on the one or more correction factors, and applied to the output signals of the acoustic sensors to compensate for differences in the sensitivities of the acoustic sensors. The filtered signals provide acoustic sensor outputs having matching responses, which are subtractively combined to form the dipole microphone output.

Abstract: An electrical connector for electrically connecting a terminal to a cord of a peripheral device, the electrical connector including a plug member, a lever arm pivotally attached to the plug member, and a biasing member. The plug member and lever arm each include an engagement claw adapted to engage complementary surfaces on the terminal, and the biasing member imparts a biasing force on the lever arm to force the engagement claws to close onto the complementary surfaces on the terminal. The lever arm advantageously includes a first gripping surface with a contoured concave profile for a user to apply a releasing force against the biasing force to remove the plug member from the terminal. A second surface includes a concave surface for engaging a user's finger and forming a grip bump.

Abstract: A method for assessing a performance of a speech recognition system may include determining a grade, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, wherein the grade indicates a level of the performance of the system and the grade is based on a recognition rate and at least one recognition factor. An apparatus for assessing a performance of a speech recognition system may include a processor that determines a grade, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, wherein the grade indicates a level of the performance of the system and wherein the grade is based on a recognition rate and at least one recognition factor.

Abstract: A cord assembly for an electronic device includes a cord having an insulation layer with a first end and an exterior surface, as well as at least one electrical conductor extending within the insulation layer. A strength member also extends within the insulation layer and includes a first end extending beyond the first end of the insulation layer. A securing element couples the first end of the strength member with the first end of the insulation layer along the exterior surface. The strength member is pre-tensioned to carry any additional tensile loads on the cord, at least initially. The cord assembly may also include a strain relief member molded over the first end of the strength member and the securing element.

Abstract: A communications system transmits messages via a wireless network to multiple users nearly simultaneously in real-time. Each user has a terminal that receives a message and plays the message for the user. The terminal may also wait for the user to verbally acknowledge the arrival of the message before continuing with its normally executing application. The sender of the message may track, for each intended recipient, the delivery of the message, the accessing of the message by the user, and the acknowledgement by the user that the message was understood.

Abstract: A speech recognition system receives and analyzes speech input from a user in order to recognize and accept a response from the user. Under certain conditions, information about the response expected from the user may be available. In these situations, the available information about the expected response is used to modify the behavior of the speech recognition system by taking this information into account. The modified behavior of the speech recognition system according to the invention has several embodiments including: comparing the observed speech features to the models of the expected response separately from the usual hypothesis search in order to speed up the recognition system; modifying the usual hypothesis search to emphasize the expected response; updating and adapting the models when the recognized speech matches the expected response to improve the accuracy of the recognition system.

Abstract: A headset includes an element to be held to the head of a wearer and a headband coupled to the element and configured for engaging a head of a wearer to hold the element thereon. The headband includes a plurality of headband arms coupled to pivot with respect to each other. A torsion spring is positioned between the arms and portions of the torsion spring are coupled to the arms for acting on the arms with a torsion force. An adjustment member is coupled between the torsion spring and a headband arm and is operable for adjusting the torsion force of the torsion spring to adjust the torsion force on the arms.

Abstract: A system for executing a multimodal software application includes a mobile computer device with a plurality of input interface components, the multimodal software application, and a dialog engine in operative communication with the multimodal software application. The multimodal software application is configured to receive first data from the plurality of input interface components. The dialog engine executes a workflow description from the multimodal software application by providing prompts to an output interface component. Each of these prompts includes notification indicating which of the input interface components are valid receivers for that respective prompt. Furthermore, the notification may indicate the current prompt and at least the next prompt in sequence.

Abstract: A communication system includes a voice-directed portable terminal with a voice user interface that is configured for being able to communicate with a computer system. The communication system includes a peripheral device having a cord coupled with the portable terminal and a connector adapted to disconnect from the portable terminal when a sufficient force is applied to the cord. This disengages the peripheral device from the portable terminal. The ability of the cord to break-away from the portable terminal prevents damage not only to the connector, but also to the cord, peripheral, and terminal.

Abstract: A communications system transmits messages via a wireless network to multiple users nearly simultaneously in real-time. Each user has a terminal that receives a message and plays the message for the user. The terminal may also wait for the user to verbally acknowledge the arrival of the message before continuing with its normally executing application. The sender of the message may track, for each intended recipient, the delivery of the message, the accessing of the message by the user, and the acknowledgement by the user that the message was understood.

Abstract: A communications system transmits messages via a wireless network to multiple users nearly simultaneously in real-time. Each user has a terminal that receives a message and plays the message for the user. The terminal may also wait for the user to verbally acknowledge the arrival of the message before continuing with its normally executing application. The sender of the message may track, for each intended recipient, the delivery of the message, the accessing of the message by the user, and the acknowledgement by the user that the message was understood.

Abstract: A cord assembly for an electronic device includes a cord having an insulation layer with a first end and an exterior surface, as well as at least one electrical conductor extending within the insulation layer. A strength member also extends within the insulation layer and includes a first end extending beyond the first end of the insulation layer. A securing element couples the first end of the strength member with the first end of the insulation layer along the exterior surface. The strength member is pre-tensioned to carry any additional tensile loads on the cord, at least initially. The cord assembly may also include a strain relief member molded over the first end of the strength member and the securing element.

Abstract: A method for efficient use of resources of a speech recognition system includes determining a recognition rate, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, and determining an accuracy range of the recognition rate. The method may further include adjusting adaptation of a model for the word or various models for the various words, based on a comparison of at least one value in the accuracy range with a recognition rate threshold. An apparatus for efficient use of resources of a speech recognition system includes a processor adapted to determine a recognition rate corresponding to either recognition of instances of a one word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, and an accuracy range of the recognition rate.

Abstract: A headset terminal for speech applications includes a headband assembly, an earcup assembly and a power source assembly. Processing circuitry is positioned in at least one of the earcup assembly and the power source assembly and includes speech processing circuitry for recognizing and synthesizing speech. A radio communicates with a central system to process the activity information of the headset terminal user. A rotatable microphone boom assembly includes controls mounted on opposite sides of a rotation axis to maintain a consistent orientation on the boom assembly with respect to the head of a user. The boom assembly snaps together with the earcup assembly to rotate. The headband assembly includes at least one transverse band and a sliding arm coupled to the earcup assembly for dynamically adjusting the position of the earcup assembly. A latch of the power source assembly snaps into position to secure it with the assembly and slides between latched and unlatched positions to secure a battery.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for identifying possible errors made by a speech recognition system without using a transcript of words input to the system. A method for model adaptation for a speech recognition system includes determining an error rate, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words, without using a transcript of words input to the system. The method may further include adjusting an adaptation, of the model for the word or various models for the various words, based on the error rate. Apparatus are disclosed for identifying possible errors made by a speech recognition system without using a transcript of words input to the system. An apparatus for model adaptation for a speech recognition system includes a processor adapted to estimate an error rate, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words, without using a transcript of words input to the system.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for identifying possible errors made by a speech recognition system without using a transcript of words input to the system. A method for model adaptation for a speech recognition system includes determining an error rate, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words, without using a transcript of words input to the system. The method may further include adjusting an adaptation, of the model for the word or various models for the various words, based on the error rate. Apparatus are disclosed for identifying possible errors made by a speech recognition system without using a transcript of words input to the system. An apparatus for model adaptation for a speech recognition system includes a processor adapted to estimate an error rate, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words, without using a transcript of words input to the system.

Abstract: A speech recognition system receives and analyzes speech input from a user in order to recognize and accept a response from the user. Under certain conditions, information about the response expected from the user may be available. In these situations, the available information about the expected response is used to modify the behavior of the speech recognition system by taking this information into account. The modified behavior of the speech recognition system comprises adjusting the rejection threshold when speech input matches the predetermined expected response.