Abstract: A communication system includes a server and a client that transmits messages to the server. The messages include data and descriptive tags and may be in XML format. The server initiates a negotiation with the client relating to message format switching. If the client indicates that the client can accept message format switching, the server instructs the client to switch further messages to a simpler message format including solely data.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for computer generated voice in an interactive voice response system (IVR). A user will normally be able to identify the pre-recorded segments from the synthesized ones played by the IVR. According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a method of processing voice prompts in an IVR. The method can include: identifying a set of voice prompts within an application for output in a single voice, the set having a pre-recorded voice prompt and a computer generated voice prompt; providing reference voice characteristics formed from the pre-recorded voice prompt; and playing the computer generated voice prompt using the reference voice characteristics whereby the computer generated voice prompt sounds like the pre-recorded voice prompt.

Abstract: A parser is generated for parsing a marked up document. A template of a sample marked up document chosen by a user is extracted. The template comprises elements of the structural markup of the sample document with their data contents removed. The parser for parsing a marked up document is generated. The parser is generated in the form of code based on the extracted template in such a manner that the parser is adapted to extract any elements and associated data content of the marked up document to be parsed corresponding to the elements of the extracted template.

Abstract: A distributed voice recognition system (500) and method employs principles of bottom-up (i.e., raw input) and top-down (i.e., prediction based on past experience) processing to perform client-side and server-side processing by (i) at the client-side, replacing application data by a phonotactic table (504); (ii) at the server-side, tracking separate confidence scores for matches against an acoustic model and comparison to a grammar; and (iii) at the server-side using a contention resolver (514) to weight the client-side and server-side results to establish a single output which represents the collaboration between client-side processing and server-side processing.

Abstract: A method and system for processing a free format short message service (SMS) text message for alerting a mobile phone's user to significant information in the message received by the mobile phone from a sender. Program code stored in memory on the mobile phone executes the method on a processor. A theme, a rheme, at least one structural component, and a sentence type of the normalized message are generated from which a FEATURE FACTOR priority is determined. Semantic content of the normalized message is determined from which an EMOTIONAL FACTOR priority is determined. A TOTAL PRIORITY computed as a sum of the FEATURE FACTOR priority and the EMOTIONAL FACTOR priority is determined to exceed a predetermined threshold, from which it is determined that the received message is significant, which triggers overriding default handset settings of the mobile phone and alerting the user that the received message is significant.

Abstract: A method and system for processing a fixed format short message service (SMS) text message for alerting a user of a mobile phone to significant information in the message received by the mobile phone. Program code stored in memory on the mobile phone executes the method on a processor. A value of each preset variable of at least two preset variables is retrieved from the memory on the mobile phone. The mobile phone receives the message from a sender. The message is ascertained to be significant by ascertaining that the received message passes at least one test. Each test utilizes at least one aspect of the received message and the retrieved value of at least one preset variable. Responsive to the ascertaining, default handset settings of the mobile phone are overridden and the user is alerted by an audio tone or vibration that the received message is significant.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, and computer program product uses at least one of a plurality of message transmitters to achieve high availability message transmission. The plurality of message transmitters are each operable to transmit a message to a subscriber. In accordance with a determination, for example, of the value of the connections, the message is copied and transmitted to the plurality of the message transmitters so that at least one of the plurality of message transmitters transmits the copy to the subscriber. The at least one message transmitter may be selected by analyzing the message and determining an associated rule based on characteristics of the message.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating appropriate confirmatory prompts in a speech-enabled, interactive computer system. The method can be incorporated in an interactive voice response system that includes receiving an input audio stream over a voice channel from a users, performing keyword recognition on received input audio as subsequent input audio is being received, and prompting the user with an acknowledgement of the keyword or keywords as subsequent input audio is being received. In another aspect of the method, the volume of the speech input can be continuously monitored. In a further aspect of the method, recognition results and associated confidence values can be combined to select different confirmatory prompts, and the volume is tailored to be the same as, louder than or quieter than the volume of the speech input, so that different types of confirmation can be automatically generated to produce a natural speech-enabled interface.

Abstract: Accesses to locally-relevant and contextually-relevant services information within a mobile communications environment are enabled. The solutions include an improved location determination in which a first mobile communications device processes location information broadcast by other devices via short-range wireless signals to determine its approximate location. The described solutions include a context-based selection of the most relevant of a set of locally-available services, including filtering services according to whether the first mobile device is currently moving and filtering according to a personal profile of the device user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating appropriate confirmatory prompts in a speech-enabled, interactive computer system. The method can be incorporated in an interactive voice response system that includes receiving an input audio stream over a voice channel from a users, performing keyword recognition on received input audio as subsequent input audio is being received, and prompting the user with an acknowledgement of the keyword or keywords as subsequent input audio is being received. In another aspect of the method, the volume of the speech input can be continuously monitored. In a further aspect of the method, recognition results and associated confidence values can be combined to select different confirmatory prompts, and the volume is tailored to be the same as, louder than or quieter than the volume of the speech input, so that different types of confirmation can be automatically generated to produce a natural speech-enabled interface.

Abstract: A method for developing vaccines and treatments against pathogens associated with biological warfare, cardiac disease, cancer, and emerging infectious diseases is to analyze the sequences of proteases of the pathogens and determine which peptide antigens will be useful in treating or preventing the effects of one or more pathogens as vaccines or to provide passive immunity. The sequences of the selected proteases are used to screen the genomes of other pathogens to produce broad spectrum vaccines and treatments that target one or several pathogens. Amino acid sequences of the peptide antigens and immunogenic compositions comprising them are also contemplated.

Abstract: An interactive voice response system which statistically analyses word usage in speech recognition results to select prompts for use in the interaction. A received voice signal is converted to text and calculating factors such as context and task word ratios and word rate. These factors are used to make dialogue decisions as to the whether to use expert, intermediate, or novice prompts depending on whether the factor falls below, inside or above a threshold range.

Abstract: A voice processing system includes a speech recognition facility with barge-in. The system plays out a prompt to a caller, who starts to provide their spoken response while the prompt is still being played out. The system performs speech recognition on this response to determine a corresponding text, which is then subjected to lexical analysis. This tests whether the text satisfies one or more conditions, for example, including one or more words from a predefined set of task words. If this is found to be the case, the playing out of the prompt is terminated (i.e. barge-in is effected); otherwise, the playing out of the prompt is continued, essentially as if the caller bad not interrupted.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for computer generated voice in an interactive voice response system (IVR). A user will normally be able to identify the pre-recorded segments from the synthesized ones played by the IVR. According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a method of processing voice prompts in an IVR. The method can include: identifying a set of voice prompts within an application for output in a single voice, the set having a pre-recorded voice prompt and a computer generated voice prompt; providing reference voice characteristics formed from the pre-recorded voice prompt; and playing the computer generated voice prompt using the reference voice characteristics whereby the computer generated voice prompt sounds like the pre-recorded voice prompt.

Abstract: A voice processing system 10 is connected to the telephone network 110, and runs one or more applications 220 for controlling interaction with calls to or from the telephone network. The system records audio segments by first and second speakers, and extracts the vocal characteristics of each speaker. Then, when an audio segment recorded by the first speaker is played back, the system can apply to it the vocal characteristics of the second speaker, thereby making it sound as if the second speaker had recorded the segment.

Abstract: This invention relates to an interactive voices recognition system and in particular relates to speech recognition processing within an interactive voice response (IVR) system. One problem with speech recognition in an IVR is that two time intensive tasks, the speech recognition and forming a response based on the result of the recognition are performed one after the other. Each process can take up time of the order of seconds and the total time of the combined processes can be noticeable for the user. There is disclosed a method for processing in an interactive voice processing system comprising: receiving a voice signal from user interaction; extracting a plurality of formant values from the voice signal; calculating an average of the formants; locating look ahead text associated with a closest reference characteristic as an estimate of the full text of the voice signal. Thus the invention requires only acoustic analysis of a first portion of a voice signal to determine a response.

Abstract: Extraction of articulatory factors from an acoustic signal to distinguish between different languages and further identify the original accent of a foreign speaker. Previous language identification systems require identification of the individual phonemes which is not ideal for interactive voice response systems which do not have speech recognition capability. A method of determining a language set for use in an interactive voice response system including the steps of providing a plurality of samples from a voice signal, calculating a first and second format frequency for each sample, calculating a first factor based on the average first and second format frequency for the plurality of samples, finding a nearest matching reference to the first factor, and selecting a corresponding language set to the nearest matching reference.

Abstract: A voice processing system receives spoken input from a user, which is then subjected to speech recognition to convert the spoken input into a text equivalent. At least two information elements are identified in the text equivalent, each having an associated uncertainty. The system selects a prompt according to which information element has the greatest uncertainty, and this is then played out to the user. Typically the outgoing prompt is arranged to emphasise, via word order, volume, or some other mechanism, the information element in greatest doubt, thereby bringing it to the particular attention of the user, should correction be required.

Abstract: Speech encoding in a client server system such as a laptop, personal data assistant or mobile phone communicating with an interactive voice response telephony application. A method of communication with a speech enabled remote telephony device such as a mobile phone is described comprising the following steps. Receiving user speech input into the mobile phone as part of a dialogue with an interactive voice response telephony application. Performing speech recognition to convert the speech into text and converting the text into tones such as DTMF tones. Transmitting the DTMF tones over the voice channel to an interactive voice response (IVR) telephony application an allowed response feature converts the users response to a known valid response of the IVR application. A language conversion feature allows a person in one language to speak in that language to an IVR application operating in a different language.

Abstract: A voice processing system receives spoken input from a user, which is subjected to speech recognition to convert the spoken input into a text equivalent. The semantic and/or prosodic properties of the spoken input are then analysed, and based on the results of this analysis, it is determined whether or not the user input has effectively completed. Thus for example if a semantic analysis indicates that the user is no longer saying anything useful, then the system may decide to interrupt the user and play a further prompt to him or her, clarifying what extra input is required.