Abstract: A system for generating a 3D reflective surface map includes a positioning system, one or more antennas co-located with the positioning system, and a processing system. The positioning system calculates a position estimate. The one or more antennas co-located with the positioning system are configured to receive at least one reflected global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal associated with a respective GNSS satellite and wherein a pseudo-range to the GNSS satellite is determined based on the reflected GNSS signal. The processing system is configured to receive the position estimate and the pseudo-ranges calculated with respect to each reflected GNSS signal, wherein the processing system maps a reflective surface based on the calculated pseudo-range provided by the reflected GNSS signals, the position estimate, angle-of-arrival of each reflected GNSS signal, and known satellite location of each respective GNSS satellite.

Abstract: A system for generating a 3D reflective surface map includes a positioning system, one or more antennas co-located with the positioning system, and a processing system. The positioning system calculates a position estimate. The one or more antennas co-located with the positioning system are configured to receive at least one reflected global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal associated with a respective GNSS satellite and wherein a pseudo-range to the GNSS satellite is determined based on the reflected GNSS signal. The processing system is configured to receive the position estimate and the pseudo-ranges calculated with respect to each reflected GNSS signal, wherein the processing system maps a reflective surface based on the calculated pseudo-range provided by the reflected GNSS signals, the position estimate, angle-of-arrival of each reflected GNSS signal, and known satellite location of each respective gnss satellite.

Abstract: A system for generating a 3D reflective surface map includes a positioning system, one or more antennas co-located with the positioning system, and a processing system. The positioning system calculates a position estimate. The one or more antennas co-located with the positioning system are configured to receive at least one reflected global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal associated with a respective GNSS satellite and wherein a pseudo-range to the GNSS satellite is determined based on the reflected GNSS signal. The processing system is configured to receive the position estimate and the pseudo-ranges calculated with respect to each reflected GNSS signal, wherein the processing system maps a reflective surface based on the calculated pseudo-range provided by the reflected GNSS signals, the position estimate, angle-of-arrival of each reflected GNSS signal, and known satellite location of each respective GNSS satellite.

Abstract: A method of optimizing a sensor antenna for a vehicle (10) includes operating a sensor antenna using a first predetermined antenna beam pattern from a plurality of predetermined antenna beam patterns. A map location of a vehicle is determined, and a second predetermined antenna beam pattern is selected from the plurality of predetermined antenna beam patterns based upon the map location of the vehicle (10). The second predetermined antenna beam pattern is then used with the vehicle sensor (14).

Abstract: A system for generating a 3D reflective surface map includes a positioning system, one or more antennas co-located with the positioning system, and a processing system. The positioning system calculates a position estimate. The one or more antennas co-located with the positioning system are configured to receive at least one reflected global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal associated with a respective GNSS satellite and wherein a pseudo-range to the GNSS satellite is determined based on the reflected GNSS signal. The processing system is configured to receive the position estimate and the pseudo-ranges calculated with respect to each reflected GNSS signal, wherein the processing system maps a reflective surface based on the calculated pseudo-range provided by the reflected GNSS signals, the position estimate, angle-of-arrival of each reflected GNSS signal, and known satellite location of each respective gnss satellite.

Abstract: A system and method for generating an acoustic database for a particular narrator that does not require said narrator to recite a pre-defined script. The system and method generate an acoustic database by using voice recognition or speech-to-text algorithms to automatically generate a text script of a voice message while simultaneously or near-simultaneously sampling the voice message to create the acoustic database. The acoustic database may be associated with the narrator of the voice message by an identifier, such as a telephone number. The acoustic database may then be used by a text-to-speech processor to read a text message when the narrator is identified as the sender of the text massage, providing an audio output of the contents of the text message with a simulation of the sender's voice. The user of the system may be provided an audio message that sounds like the originator of the text message.

Abstract: A control assembly adapted for automotive applications provides operator inputs and displays and includes a uniface ornamental escutcheon defining a central display area and a plurality of operator input devices at least partially circumscribing the display area. Each operator input device includes a faux control member integrally formed within the escutcheon and having beveled circumferential contours mimicking a discrete displacable control element. At least one substrate extends rearwardly from and closely conforms with a rear surface of the escutcheon, and is positioned to transect a plurality of adjacent faux control members. At least one capacitance sensor is associated with each faux control member and is carried on a forward facing edge of the substrate. As a result, each operator input device is touch sensitive to manual operator selection of input devices by touching the exposed face of the escutcheon to effect a desired switching function.

Abstract: A system is provided for controlling personalized settings in a vehicle. The system includes a microphone for receiving spoken commands from a person in the vehicle, a location recognizer for identifying location of the speaker, and an identity recognizer for identifying the identity of the speaker. The system also includes a speech recognizer for recognizing the received spoken commands. The system further includes a controller for processing the identified location, identity and commands of the speaker. The controller controls one or more feature settings based on the identified location, identified identity and recognized spoken commands of the speaker. The system also optimizes the grammar comparison for speech recognition and the beamforming microphone array used in the vehicle.

Abstract: A system is provided for controlling personalized settings in a vehicle. The system includes a microphone for receiving spoken commands from a person in the vehicle, a location recognizer for identifying location of the speaker, and an identity recognizer for identifying the identity of the speaker. The system also includes a speech recognizer for recognizing the received spoken commands. The system further includes a controller for processing the identified location, identity and commands of the speaker. The controller controls one or more feature settings based on the identified location, identified identity and recognized spoken commands of the speaker. The system also optimizes on the beamforming microphone array used in the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method of navigating audio compact discs utilizing voice commands. The system includes both in-vehicle components and off-vehicle components. In the vehicle are the compact disc player and a processor associated with the player and an optional local database of data relating to compact discs, such as the song titles, track numbers, etc. Off the vehicle is at least one remotely located database of compact disc information which is searched by the processor via a link, such as a wireless network or the Internet. The user would insert a compact disc and describe the desired song, with the processor searching the databases for data relating to the compact disc and a matching description of the song to be played. When a match is found, the song is played and if no match is found, then the system defaults to conventional navigation controls.

Abstract: An improved application processing system (18A, 18B, 18C, 18D, 18E) which utilizes both on-board components and off-board components connected via wireless data transfer devices (62, 64). On-board the vehicle is a user interface, or a microphone (22), which receives data in the form of human speech from the user (20), and components for digitization (56) and feature extraction (58) of the data with the data then being sent to an off-board processing system (66), which may include a speech recognition system (72) and a voice-enabled program application (74). After the data has been processed by the off-board system (66), the data is retransmitted to the on-board system, where the processed data (76) is converted from text to speech (78), reconstructed as speech (79), or displayed. The display or speech is then distributed to the drive or occupants by a radio (80), handheld device, or a display unit (84).

Abstract: An alert system 12 and a method for operating the same including a condition information receiver 28, which receives condition data 14 and generates a condition information signal 30, is provided. The condition alert system 12 also includes a positioning system receiver 27 receiving position data 17 and generating a position signal 29 in response to the position data 17. A system controller 31 is electrically coupled to the condition information receiver 28, the positioning system receiver 27, and an indicator 23. The system controller 31 indicates a condition alert signal via the indicator 23 in response to the condition information signal 30 and the position signal 29.

Abstract: A method and system communicates alert information to a driver of a vehicle about emergency vehicles, stopped school buses, active railroad crossings and the like (i.e., hazards) which may be relevant to the driver. The hazard (e.g., an ambulance) determines its location and transmits its coordinates to a tracking station which relays the information to a wireless data delivery center (e.g., FM radio station). The data delivery center broadcasts an alert signal containing the hazard coordinates to all the receiving vehicles in the area. A receiving vehicle determines its own location and processes the alert signal to determine if the hazard is relevant to the receiving vehicle or the driver. If the hazard is relevant, the system alerts the driver, suggests actions to be taken, or otherwise communicates the hazard information to the driver.

Abstract: A voice-interactive docking station is provided for use with a portable computing device. The portable computing device includes at least one information management application and a corresponding database for storing the data associated with the information management application. The docking station generally includes a speech input device for receiving speech input, a speech recognizer for translating the speech input into voice command data, and an interface application for interacting with the applications residing on the portable computing device. In particular, the interface application, in response to voice command data, accesses the data associated with the information management application residing on the portable computing device. The docking station may further include a text-to-speech synthesizer for converting output data from the interface application into speech output data, and an audio system for generating audio output from the speech output data.

Abstract: Voice access is provided to information stored in a dynamic database located within an external data source. A communication link is provided between the external data source and a voice capable device, which includes a speech recognition application and a grammar generation application. Text data is then retrieved from the dynamic database located within the external data source. The text data is then organized into new grammars, which are then converted into phonetic transcriptions. The new and existing grammars are then available to the speech recognition application to facilitate speech recognition.

Abstract: A speech recognition driven system provides a speech model based on a biometric signature. Initially, the speech recognition driven system receives a biometric signature from a user of the system. Based upon the received biometric signature, the system selects a speech model. The selected speech model is utilized to determine whether a voice input provided by the user corresponds to a speech selectable task that is recognized by the speech recognition driven system. When the voice input provided by the user corresponds to the speech selectable task, the system causes the speech selectable task to be performed. In one embodiment, the biometric signature is an image of the user's face. When face recognition technology is implemented, the image of the user's face is utilized to select a speech model.

Abstract: A proximity-based control system includes a stationary networked device, a control device and a wireless mobile device. The control device is coupled to and controls a networked device, according to a control routine that executes on the control device. The wireless mobile device is in communication with the control device, which initiates a function to be performed by the networked device according to the location and travel direction of the mobile device.