Abstract: Techniques for improving the efficiency of foreign accent/language communications processing are disclosed. For example, in one aspect of the invention, a technique for processing a call received by a call center, includes the following steps/operations. A call is obtained. Then, at least one of an accent and a language spoken by a caller making the call is identified. The call is then directed to an appropriate operator at a first level of the call center based on at least one of the automatically identified accent and the automatically identified language. The techniques may also include multiple-purpose editing, automated translation, and restating methodologies.

Abstract: Resolving an ambiguous input. When an ambiguous user input is received, the user input is displayed, for example, in a way that either the ambiguity is resolved or the ambiguity is indicated to the user by unique and distinctive graphical indications. Then, after waiting either for a time to receive a corrective input from the user or for a predetermined time, the display of the user input is faded.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for controlling operation of a cursor on a display screen of a computer system. In the operation of the computer system, one or more areas on the display screen are designated as user interface areas for receiving input from a user via a Graphical User Interface. The preferred method of this invention comprises the steps of, for each of the user interface areas, designating an area on the display screen as an associated cursor-auto area; and the user applying input to the computer system to move the cursor on the display screen and into one of the cursor-auto areas. When the cursor moves into said one of the cursor-auto areas, the computer system automatically performs a predefined operation to associate visually the cursor with the user interface area associated with said one of the cursor-auto areas.

Abstract: An audio system and method. The audio system comprises a sensing device and a memory device. The memory device comprises a list of groups of gesture types. A first specified audio sound is stored within the memory device. A user programs a first association between the first specified audio sound and a first specified gesture received by the sensing device. The first specified gesture is associated with a first group from the list of groups. The first association is stored within the memory device. The audio file is amplified by the audio system. The user uses the sensing device to perform the first specified gesture. The audio system recognizes the first specified gesture as a gesture from the first group. The audio system enables and amplifies the first specified audio sound and integrates the first specified audio sound with the audio file.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting and storing communications preferences of recipients and delivering communications to a recipient in accordance with the recipient's preferences is disclosed herein. Preferably, the communications preferences consist of at least one mail formatting preference and at least one sending preference. The system automatically formats a message in accordance with the intended recipient's communications preferences stored in a profile table. In an alternative embodiment, the system provides for a prompting function that can alter the communications preferences in the event that a particular preference must be changed. This prompting function is also useful if recipient does not have a corresponding profile in the profile table.

Abstract: An audio system and method. The audio system comprises a sensing device and a memory device. The memory device comprises a list of groups of gesture types. A first specified audio sound is stored within the memory device. A user programs a first association between the first specified audio sound and a first specified gesture received by the sensing device. The first specified gesture is associated with a first group from the list of groups. The first association is stored within the memory device. The audio file is amplified by the audio system. The user uses the sensing device to perform the first specified gesture. The audio system recognizes the first specified gesture as a gesture from the first group. The audio system enables and amplifies the first specified audio sound and integrates the first specified audio sound with the audio file.

Abstract: Techniques for improving the efficiency of foreign accent/language communications processing are disclosed. For example, in one aspect of the invention, a technique for processing a call received by a call center, includes the following steps/operations. A call is obtained. Then, at least one of an accent and a language spoken by a caller making the call is identified. The call is then directed to an appropriate operator at a first level of the call center based on at least one of the automatically identified accent and the automatically identified language. The techniques may also include multiple-purpose editing, automated translation, and restating methodologies.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for globalizing handling of service management items. The techniques include obtaining a service management item in a language convenient to a first of two or more actors, translating the service management item into a language-neutral format to obtain a language-neutral service management item, applying one or more annotators to the service management item, translating the language-neutral service management item into a language convenient to a second of two or more actors acting on the service management item, and routing the translated service management item to the second of two or more actors. Techniques are also provided for generating a database of service management items in a language-neutral format.

Abstract: An ASR-aided transcription system with segmented feedback training is provided, the system including a transcription process manager configured to extract a first segment and a second segment from an audio input of speech uttered by a speaker, and an ASR engine configured to operate in a first speech recognition mode to convert the first speech segment into a first text transcript using a speaker-independent acoustic model and a speaker-independent language model, operate in a first training mode to create a speaker-specific acoustic model and a speaker-specific language model by adapting the speaker-independent acoustic model and the speaker-independent language model using either of the first segment and a corrected version of the first text transcript, and operate in a second speech recognition mode to convert the second speech segment into a second text transcript using the speaker-specific acoustic model and the speaker-specific language model.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for virtual communities that enables the establishment of rules created by members of the society in accordance with the existing rule creation restrictions and, that provides a mechanism for validating and accepting of the rules established inside the society. The system, method and computer program product further provides a mechanism that enables the establishment of rules created by members of the virtual society themselves, that allows for the self-evolution of the virtual societies.

Abstract: Techniques for improving the efficiency of foreign accent/language communications processing are disclosed. For example, in one aspect of the invention, a technique for processing a call received by a call center, includes the following steps/operations. A call is obtained. Then, at least one of an accent and a language spoken by a caller making the call is identified. The call is then directed to an appropriate operator at a first level of the call center based on at least one of the automatically identified accent and the automatically identified language. The techniques may also include multiple-purpose editing, automated translation, and restating methodologies.

Abstract: A method for improving spoken language includes accepting a speech input from by a speaker using a language, identifying the speaker with a predetermined speaker category and correcting an error in the speech input using an error model that is specific to the speaker category.

Abstract: An intelligent imaging system, includes an image generator that projects multiple angle views of a user, a plurality of cameras for capturing a plurality of images of the user, an image processing unit, a style advisor, and a control mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for editing timed and annotated data, the method comprising the steps of acquiring a multimedia data stream, segmenting the multimedia stream into respective audio/video audio data streams, wherein the playback times of the audio/video data streams are synchronized. Playback time annotation indicators are associated with the time synchronized audio/video data streams, wherein discrete playback time annotation indicators of the video data stream segments correlate with discrete playback time annotation indicators of the audio data stream segments, and a transcript of the audio data stream is created.

Abstract: A unified approach that permits the consideration of different issues and problems that affect driving safety. Particularly, there is proposed herein the creation of a driver safety manager (DSM). The driver safety manager embraces numerous different factors, multimodal data, processes, internal and external systems and the like associated with driving.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for virtual communities that enables the establishment of rules created by members of the society in accordance with the existing rule creation restrictions and, that provides a mechanism for validating and accepting of the rules established inside the society. The system, method and computer program product further provides a mechanism that enables the establishment of rules created by members of the virtual society themselves, that allows for the self-evolution of the virtual societies.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for augmenting audio/visual broadcasts (e.g., movies) with non-textual annotations that are designed to assist an individual to interpret or otherwise understand the content of the audio/visual broadcast. For example, the non-textual annotations can be in the form of visual cues, audio cues, tactile cues, olfactory cues, and/or other types of non-textual cues that assist persons with certain types of sensory deficiencies or cognitive disabilities to understand and interpret the content of a broadcast.

Abstract: A synchronization system and method. Text data is received by a computing device. The text data is associated with audio/video data. The audio/video data is generated during a related performance. The audio/video data and the text data are discrete data. The text data is synchronized to correspond with the audio/video data during the performance. The synchronized text data is displayed by the computing device during the performance.

Abstract: An association system and method. The distribution system comprises a computing system connected to a video input apparatus. The video input apparatus is adapted to send image data to the computing system. An exercise routine is developed for a user of the computing system. A first function to be performed by the computing system is associated with a first specified physical movement to be performed by the user of the computing system. The first specified physical movement is part of the exercise routine. The user performs the first specified physical movement. The first specified physical movement is detected by the video input apparatus. A first image of the first specified physical movement is transmitted by the video input apparatus to the computing system. The computing system performs the first function.

Abstract: An audio system and method. The audio system comprises a sensing device and a memory device. The memory device comprises a list of groups of gesture types. A first specified audio sound is stored within the memory device. A user programs a first association between the first specified audio sound and a first specified gesture received by the sensing device. The first specified gesture is associated with a first group from the list of groups. The first association is stored within the memory device. The audio file is amplified by the audio system. The user uses the sensing device to perform the first specified gesture. The audio system recognizes the first specified gesture as a gesture from the first group. The audio system enables and amplifies the first specified audio sound and integrates the first specified audio sound with the audio file.