Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for active noise cancellation. In one embodiment, a method for recognizing user speech in an audio signal received by a media system (where the audio signal includes user speech and ambient audio output produced by the media system and/or other devices) includes canceling portions of the audio signal associated with the ambient audio output and applying speech recognition processing to an uncancelled remainder of the audio signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing speech recognition using observable and meaningful relationships between words within a single utterance and using a structured data source as a source of constraints on the recognition process. Results from a first constrained speech recognition pass can be combined with information about the observable and meaningful word relationships to constrain or simplify subsequent recognition passes. This iterative process greatly reduces the search space required for each recognition pass, making the speech recognition process more efficient, faster and accurate.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for active noise cancellation. In one embodiment, a method for recognizing user speech in an audio signal received by a media system (where the audio signal includes user speech and ambient audio output produced by the media system and/or other devices) includes canceling portions of the audio signal associated with the ambient audio output and applying speech recognition processing to an uncancelled remainder of the audio signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for speaker recognition is provided. One embodiment of a method for determining whether a given speech signal is produced by an alleged speaker, where a plurality of statistical models (including at least one support vector machine) have been produced for the alleged speaker based on a previous speech signal received from the alleged speaker, includes receiving the given speech signal, the speech signal representing an utterance made by a speaker claiming to be the alleged speaker, scoring the given speech signal using at least two modeling systems, where at least one of the modeling systems is a support vector machine, combining scores produced by the modeling systems, with equal weights, to produce a final score, and determining, in accordance with the final score, whether the speaker is likely the alleged speaker.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing speech recognition using a dynamic vocabulary. Results from a preliminary speech recognition pass can be used to update or refine a language model in order to improve the accuracy of search results and to simplify subsequent recognition passes. This iterative process greatly reduces the number of alternative hypotheses produced during each speech recognition pass, as well as the time required to process subsequent passes, making the speech recognition process faster, more efficient and more accurate. The iterative process is characterized by the use of results from one or more data set queries, where the keys used to query the data set, as well as the queries themselves, are constructed in a manner that produces more effective language models for use in subsequent attempts at decoding a given speech signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a method and system for a biometric similarity based game. In one embodiment, photographs of the game players are compared to a celebrity's photograph and the player whose photograph is most similar to that of the celebrity is deemed to be the winner. In another embodiment, voice samples of the players are compared to a celebrity's voice samples and the player whose voice-sample is most similar to that of the celebrity is deemed to be the winner.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for adapting original musical tracks for karaoke use. In one embodiment, an original musical track is separated into vocal elements and non-vocal elements. The vocal elements are aligned with corresponding text transcriptions (e.g., text-based lyrics), and the aligned text-based lyrics are then displayed to a user while the non-vocal elements are simultaneously played in a manner that is synchronous with the display of the lyrics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing speech recognition using observable and meaningful relationships between words within a single utterance and using a structured data source as a source of constraints on the recognition process. Results from a first constrained speech recognition pass can be combined with information about the observable and meaningful word relationships to constrain or simplify subsequent recognition passes. This iterative process greatly reduces the search space required for each recognition pass, making the speech recognition process more efficient, faster and accurate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for fusion of recognition results from multiple types of data sources. In one embodiment, the inventive method implementing a first processing technique to recognize at least a portion of terms contained in a first media source, implementing a second processing technique to recognize at least a portion of terms contained in a second media source that contains a different type of data than that contained in the first media source, and adapting the first processing technique based at least in part on results generated by the second processing technique.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing speech recognition using a dynamic vocabulary. Results from a preliminary speech recognition pass can be used to update or refine a language model in order to improve the accuracy of search results and to simplify subsequent recognition passes. This iterative process greatly reduces the number of alternative hypotheses produced during each speech recognition pass, as well as the time required to process subsequent passes, making the speech recognition process faster, more efficient and more accurate. The iterative process is characterized by the use of results from one or more data set queries, where the keys used to query the data set, as well as the queries themselves, are constructed in a manner that produces more effective language models for use in subsequent attempts at decoding a given speech signal.