Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicles are provided. The system includes a microphone and a processor. The microphone is configured to obtain a request from a user. The processor is configured to at least facilitate automatically generating an interpretation of the request; automatically determining an automated processing recognition score for the request; and automatically engaging a human advisor to further process the request, based on the determined automated processing recognition score.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicles are provided. The system includes a sensor, a memory, and a processor. The sensor is configured to obtain a request from a user. The memory is configured to store voice assistant data pertaining to respective skills of a plurality of different voice assistants. The processor is configured to at least facilitate: identifying a nature of the request; identifying a selected voice assistant, from the plurality of different voice assistants, having skills that are most appropriate for the request, based on the nature of the request and the voice assistant data; and facilitating communication with the selected voice assistant to provide assistance in accordance with the request.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for controlling information for a user. One or more sensors are configured to obtain one or more inputs from the user, the one or more inputs pertaining to a drawing made by the user on a display corresponding to a geographic region of interest for the user. A processor is configured to at least facilitate identifying the geographic region of interest based on the one or more inputs; and providing instructions for the providing of the information pertaining to one or more points of interest within the identified geographic region based on the one or more inputs.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a method for detecting one or more cues in conversational speech, the method including: recognizing (via a controller) a conversation between a vehicle occupant and at least one third party; reviewing silently (via the controller) the conversation in real-time; receiving (at a controller) from the vehicle occupant or the third party a speech cue made during the conversation; in response to the received speech cue, retrieving suggestion information based on the silent review of the conversation (via the controller) from one or more suggestion databases; providing (via the controller) an audio announcement of the suggestion information configured to be announced through an audio system located in a vehicle.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a system for responsive activation of a vehicle feature for a vehicle, the system includes: an audio system configured to announce information and the vehicle feature; a memory configured to include one or more executable instructions; a controller configured to execute the executable instructions, and where the executable instructions enable the controller to: receive speech inputs from a vehicle occupant located in the vehicle, the speech inputs regarding the vehicle feature; retrieve vehicle feature information from vehicle feature information databases, in response to the received speech inputs; provide audio description information for the vehicle feature information; determine whether at least one received speech input includes a feature activation request; provide vehicle feature activation information to the vehicle feature, in response to a positive determination that the at least one received speech input includes the feature activation request.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a system for responsive activation of a vehicle feature for a vehicle, the system includes: an audio system configured to announce information and the vehicle feature; a memory configured to include one or more executable instructions; a controller configured to execute the executable instructions, and where the executable instructions enable the controller to: receive speech inputs from a vehicle occupant located in the vehicle, the speech inputs regarding the vehicle feature; retrieve vehicle feature information from vehicle feature information databases, in response to the received speech inputs; provide audio description information for the vehicle feature information; determine whether at least one received speech input includes a feature activation request; provide vehicle feature activation information to the vehicle feature, in response to a positive determination that the at least one received speech input includes the feature activation request.

Abstract: A method of loading content items for accessibility by a vehicle automatic speech recognition (ASR) system. The method tracks content items requested by one or more users and prioritizes the loading of requested content items and/or selectively loads requested content items at least partially based on the interaction history of one or more users. The method may also adapt the ASR system based on the interaction history of one or more users to make preferred content items readily accessible instead of randomly accessible.

Abstract: A method is described for incorporating a new waypoint into a current trip. The method includes configuring a trip definition and thereafter determining a proposed POI based upon: the trip definition, and a collection of potential proposed POI instances. The waypoint server system processes the collection of potential proposed POI instances, to render the proposed POI, by: (1) establishing POI ratings for individual ones of the collection of potential proposed POI instances based at least in part upon: the delay factor, and an estimate of additional delay arising from adding the individual POI to the current trip route; (2) establishing a rank ordering of the individual ones of the collection of potential proposed POI instances based upon the POI ratings; and (3) rendering the proposed POI from the rank ordering of the individual ones of the collection of potential proposed POI instances.

Abstract: A system and method of adapting a speech system includes the steps of: receiving confirmation of a phonetic transcription of one or more names, receiving confirmation of a selected stored text result, and storing the phonetic transcription with the selected stored text result using an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system, a text-to-speech (TTS) system, or both.

Abstract: A method is described for incorporating a new waypoint into a current trip. The method includes configuring a trip definition and thereafter determining a proposed POI based upon: the trip definition, and a collection of potential proposed POI instances. The waypoint server system processes the collection of potential proposed POI instances, to render the proposed POI, by: (1) establishing POI ratings for individual ones of the collection of potential proposed POI instances based at least in part upon: the delay factor, and an estimate of additional delay arising from adding the individual POI to the current trip route; (2) establishing a rank ordering of the individual ones of the collection of potential proposed POI instances based upon the POI ratings; and (3) rendering the proposed POI from the rank ordering of the individual ones of the collection of potential proposed POI instances.

Abstract: A method is described for incorporating a new waypoint into a current trip. The method includes configuring a trip definition and thereafter determining a proposed POI based upon: the trip definition, and a collection of potential proposed POI instances. The waypoint server system processes the collection of potential proposed POI instances, to render the proposed POI, by: (1) establishing POI ratings for individual ones of the collection of potential proposed POI instances based at least in part upon: the delay factor, and an estimate of additional delay arising from adding the individual POI to the current trip route; (2) establishing a rank ordering of the individual ones of the collection of potential proposed POI instances based upon the POI ratings; and (3) rendering the proposed POI from the rank ordering of the individual ones of the collection of potential proposed POI instances.

Abstract: A method of loading content items for accessibility by a vehicle automatic speech recognition (ASR) system. The method tracks content items requested by one or more users and prioritizes the loading of requested content items and/or selectively loads requested content items at least partially based on the interaction history of one or more users. The method may also adapt the ASR system based on the interaction history of one or more users to make preferred content items readily accessible instead of randomly accessible.

Abstract: A method is described for incorporating a new waypoint into a current trip. The method includes configuring a trip definition and thereafter determining a proposed POI based upon: the trip definition, and a collection of potential proposed POI instances. The waypoint server system processes the collection of potential proposed POI instances, to render the proposed POI, by: (1) establishing POI ratings for individual ones of the collection of potential proposed POI instances based at least in part upon: the delay factor, and an estimate of additional delay arising from adding the individual POI to the current trip route; (2) establishing a rank ordering of the individual ones of the collection of potential proposed POI instances based upon the POI ratings; and (3) rendering the proposed POI from the rank ordering of the individual ones of the collection of potential proposed POI instances.

Abstract: An embodiment an infotainment system for an automobile includes a navigation system, an entertainment system, an audio output device and a control system coupled to the navigation system, the entertainment system and the audio output device. The control system controls access by the navigation system and the entertainment system to the audio output device and includes a conversation recognizer that determines if a conversation is being conducted. The control system of this embodiment varies operation of the audio output device in the event a conversation is being conducted.

Abstract: A system and method of adapting a speech system includes the steps of: receiving confirmation of a phonetic transcription of one or more names, receiving confirmation of a selected stored text result, and storing the phonetic transcription with the selected stored text result using an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system, a text-to-speech (TTS) system, or both.

Abstract: A communications system and method of operating a vehicle multi-tainment unit (VMU) within that communications system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (a) establishing a connection between the VMU and a mobile device; (b) retrieving from a cache associated with the VMU user data previously provided by the mobile device; (c) prior to receiving current user data from the mobile device, receiving via the connection recently-used user data from the mobile device; (d) comparing the previously-provided user data and the received recently-used data; and (e) updating the previously-provided user data based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method of managing wireless devices at a vehicle includes detecting a plurality of wireless devices at the vehicle using a short-range wireless communication protocol; determining that one of the plurality of wireless devices belongs to a preferred group of wireless devices; and creating a short-range wireless link between the wireless device belonging to the preferred group and a vehicle telematics unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for coordinating recognition of a speech utterance between a speech system of a vehicle and a speech system of a user device. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving the speech utterance from a user; performing speech recognition on the speech utterance to determine a topic of the speech utterance; determining whether the speech utterance was meant for the speech system of the vehicle or the speech system of the user device based on the topic of the speech utterance; and selectively providing the speech utterance to the speech system of the vehicle or the speech system of the user device based on the determination of whether the speech utterance was meant for the speech system of the vehicle or the speech system of the user device.

Abstract: A communications system and method of operating a vehicle multi-tainment unit (VMU) within that communications system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (a) establishing a connection between the VMU and a mobile device; (b) retrieving from a cache associated with the VMU user data previously provided by the mobile device; (c) prior to receiving current user data from the mobile device, receiving via the connection recently-used user data from the mobile device; (d) comparing the previously-provided user data and the received recently-used data; and (e) updating the previously-provided user data based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method for speech recognition includes generating a speech prompt, receiving a spoken utterance from a user in response to the speech prompt, wherein the spoken utterance includes a speech artifact, and compensating for the speech artifact. Compensating for the speech artifact may include, for example, utilizing a recognition grammar that includes the speech artifact as a speech component, or modifying the spoken utterance to eliminate the speech artifact.