Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method including: (i) obtaining an ordered set of points in a two-dimensional space; (ii) obtaining, for each point in the ordered set of points, a width value; (iii) determining a plurality of left points and a plurality of right points in the two-dimensional space, wherein each point in the ordered set of points corresponds to a left point in the plurality of left points and a right point in the plurality of right points such that the left and right points are separated by the width value obtained for the point in the ordered set of points; and (iv) determining a left curve and a right curve defining boundaries of a virtual brushstroke in the two-dimensional space.

Abstract: A unified clustering tree (500) generates phoneme clusters based on an input sequence of phonemes. The number of possible clusters is significantly less than the number of possible combinations of input phonemes. Nodes (510, 511) in the unified clustering tree are arranged into levels such that the clustering tree generates clusters for multiple speech recognition models. Models that correspond to higher levels in the unified clustering tree are coarse models relative to more fine-grain models at lower levels of the clustering tree.

Abstract: A unified clustering tree (500) generates phoneme clusters based on an input sequence of phonemes. The number of possible clusters is significantly less than the number of possible combinations of input phonemes. Nodes (510, 511) in the unified clustering tree are arranged into levels such that the clustering tree generates clusters for multiple speech recognition models. Models that correspond to higher levels in the unified clustering tree are coarse models relative to more fine-grain models at lower levels of the clustering tree.

Abstract: A transcription tool [115] includes a graphical user interface [209] that displays the waveform of an input audio signal to a user. The user may define speaker turn segments using the displayed waveform. The graphical user interface further displays a transcription section [302] that includes a textual representation of speech that was transcribed by the user and a graphical representation of annotation information [314] relating to the transcribed text. The user may enter the annotation information on-the-fly while transcribing the text using predefined keyboard shortcut commands or other mechanisms. The graphical user interface may further display a structured representation section [303] that may present the transcribed text as a hierarchical tree structure.

Abstract: A personal information manager (PIM) [100] stores user personal data. The PIM may be a personal computer like box located in the home of the user. The PIM includes an audio interface [108] and a visual interface [110]. Users may equivalently interact and manage their data through the audio interface or the visual interface. Accordingly, the user has full access to the PIM whenever the user can establish a voice or data connection.

Abstract: A speech system includes a Language Component Manager (LCM) [116] that functions as middleware between language and technology components [117] and a high-level application [115]. In aggregate, the LCM, the language and technology component, and the high-level application form a speech system. The components of the speech system may be distributed. All data and messages in the speech system pass through the LCM. A configuration file defines relationships, such as message and data paths, for the speech system.

Abstract: An automated meeting facilitator [109] manages and archives a telemeeting. The automated meeting facilitator includes a multimedia indexing section [220], a memory section [230], and a server [240]. The automated meeting facilitator may connect to meeting participants [102] through a network. The multimedia indexing section [220] generates rich transcriptions of the telemeeting and stores documents related to the telemeeting. Through the rich transcription, the automated meeting facilitator is able to provide a number of real-time search and assistance functions to the meeting participants.

Abstract: A transcription tool assists a user in transcribing audio. The transcription tool includes an audio classification component that classifies an incoming audio stream based on whether portions of the audio stream contain speech data. The transcription tool plays the portions of the audio that contain speech data back to the user and skips the portions of the audio that do not contain speech data. Using a relatively simple command set, the user can control the transcription tool and annotate transcribed text.

Abstract: A system alerts a user of detection of an item of interest in real time. The system receives a user profile that relates to the item of interest. The system obtains real time data corresponding to information created in multiple media formats. The system determines the relevance of the real time data to the item of interest based on the user profile and alerts the user when the real time data is determined to be relevant.