Abstract: A more challenging tic-tac-toe game is described. This game makes use of an apparatus comprising a grid of openings configured to receive multi-sided playing pieces that each have a symbol on one side that once the playing pieces are inserted into the grid openings with the symbol not visible to the players, each player must memorize their moves to successfully place symbol playing pieces adjacently in a row or obtain tic-tac-toe. This game can be played in several different modes, including electronic versions, with varying complexity. In this game, each move, of each player, is hidden from view once a move has been made and when a player believes they have formed tic-tac-toe, the game apparatus reveals the moves and whether a player has successfully formed tic-tac-toe or not.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an impairment state of a driver in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus comprises a vehicle interface device configured to receive a first audible signal from a driver indicative of at least one word while the driver is in a non-impaired state and to determine a first total time to recite the at least the word based on the first audible signal. The vehicle interface device is further configured to command the driver to recite the at least one word to determine the impairment state of the driver and to receive a second audible signal from the driver indicative of the at least one word. The vehicle interface device is further configured to determine a second total time to recite the at least one word based on the second audible signal and to compare the first total time to the second total time.

Abstract: At least one spoken utterance and a stored vehicle acoustic impulse response can be provided to a computing device. The computing device is programmed to provide at least one speech file based at least in part on the spoken utterance and the vehicle acoustic impulse response.

Abstract: At least one spoken utterance and a stored vehicle acoustic impulse response can be provided to a computing device. The computing device is programmed to provide at least one speech file based at least in part on the spoken utterance and the vehicle acoustic impulse response.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive settings for one or more vehicle ambient lighting activation sequences. The processor is further configured to receive a signal relating to a notification for which an audio sound could be played. The processor is additionally configured to recognize that an ambient light activation has been enabled. Also, the processor is configured to output a sequence of activated ambient lights within a vehicle, based on the settings and responsive to the received signal.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive settings for one or more vehicle ambient lighting activation sequences. The processor is further configured to receive a signal relating to a notification for which an audio sound could be played. The processor is additionally configured to recognize that an ambient light activation has been enabled. Also, the processor is configured to output a sequence of activated ambient lights within a vehicle, based on the settings and responsive to the received signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an impairment state of a driver in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus comprises a vehicle interface device configured to receive a first audible signal from a driver indicative of at least one word while the driver is in a non-impaired state and to determine a first total time to recite the at least the word based on the first audible signal. The vehicle interface device is further configured to command the driver to recite the at least one word to determine the impairment state of the driver and to receive a second audible signal from the driver indicative of the at least one word. The vehicle interface device is further configured to determine a second total time to recite the at least one word based on the second audible signal and to compare the first total time to the second total time.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods, systems, and programming for producing and drawing subpixel-optimized bitmap images of shapes, such as fonts, by using non-linear color balancing. Some embodiments associate a luminosity with each subpixel of such an image as a function of (a) the percent of the subpixel's area covered by the shape and (b) the distribution to nearby subpixels of portions of the subpixel's resulting coverage value that cause color imbalance. Some embodiments distribute a subpixel's coverage value as a function of its difference from coverage values of other subpixels in the same pixel. Some embodiments draw a image comprised of pure foreground and background color pixels, as well as intermediary pixels in which subpixels are determined as a function of both foreground and background colors and color balancing. The intermediary pixels can, but need not, separate the foreground and background pixels along the direction of color balancing.

Abstract: The invention relates to the combination of speech recognition with handwriting and/or character recognition. This includes the innovation of selecting one or more best-scoring recognition candidates as a function of recognition of both handwritten and spoken representations of a sequence of one or more words to be recognized. It also includes the innovation of using character or handwriting recognition of one or more letters to alphabetically filter speech recognition of one or more words. It also includes the innovations of using speech recognition of one or more letter-identifying words to alphabetically filter handwriting recognition, and of using speech recognition to correct handwriting recognition of one or more words.

Abstract: A handheld device with both large-vocabulary speech recognition and audio recoding allows users to switch between at least two of the following three modes: (1) recording audio without corresponding speech recognition; (2) recording with speech recognition; and (3) speech recognition without audio recording. A handheld device with both large-vocabulary speech recognition and audio recoding enables a user to select a portion of previously recorded sound and have speech recognition performed upon it. A system enables a user to search for a text label associated with portions of unrecognized recorded sound by uttering the label's words. A large-vocabulary system allows users to switch between playing back recorded audio and speech recognition with a single input, with successive audio playbacks automatically starting slightly before the end of prior playback. And a cell phone that allows both large-vocabulary speech recognition and audio recording and playback.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods, systems, and programming for producing and displaying subpixel-optimized images and digital content including such images. Some embodiments access digital content represented by a mark-up language and display it with its images scaled down in a subpixel-optimized manner in a format dictated by the mark-up language. Some embodiments produce subpixel-optimized images by calculating the luminosity of a subpixel in such an image as a function of the length of a plurality of coverage lines within a window in a source image corresponding to the subpixel that is covered by source image pixels having the subpixel's color.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention involves word recognition that uses scrollable choice lists in which choices are listed in character-order. Another aspect relates to a scrollable, visually-displayed word recognition choice list, where the recognition candidates on the choice list are each associated with a choice-selecting symbol the user can use to select a desired recognition candidate by pressing an associated button, and where the same choice-selecting symbol is used for different choices displayed on the display at different times as a result of scrolling. Another aspect of the invention relates to providing a choice list of best scoring characters for a particular character position in the spelling of a filter that is used to filter word recognition. Another aspect of the invention relates to a choice list used in word recognition in which the choice list can be scrolled horizontally.

Abstract: Text-to-speech (TTS) generation is used in conjunction with large vocabulary speech recognition to say words selected by the speech recognition. The software for performing the large vocabulary speech recognition can share speech modeling data with the TTS software. TTS or recorded audio can be used to automatically say both recognized text and the names of recognized commands after their recognition. The TTS can automatically repeats text recognized by the speech recognition after each of a succession of end of utterance detections. A user can move a cursor back or forward in recognized text, and the TTS can speak one or more words at the cursor location after each such move. The speech recognition can be used to produces a choice list of possible recognition candidates and the TTS can be used to provide spoken output of one or more of the candidates on the choice list.

Abstract: A system (10) for long-range, remote keyless control of predefined functions for a vehicle (1) is provided that has a long-range wireless receiver (22) that receives transmission signals (25) from a wireless transmission source (24), such as a cellular phone network or satellite network. A wireless signal transmitter (22) is mounted on the vehicle (1) and uses the same protocol (15) as a hand-held wireless transmitter (12) to perform various vehicle functions, such as locking/unlocking doors (16), opening/closing windows and/or the trunk (18). The advantage being the low cost addition of the long-range control using the vehicle's existing short-range RF receiver and electrical infrastructure.

Abstract: The content of a document is stored in a file system, while the profile of the document is stored in a messaging system. The profile of the document is accessed upon request, and the document content is accessed based upon the content of the profile.

Abstract: An adaptive navigation system for a land vehicle is provided that incorporates learned segments of preferred routes into adaptive calculated routes. The navigation system preferably includes a global positioning system or other sources of locator system data and a data processor that may be programmed with destination data and current location data. The data storage apparatus is capable of recording current location data as the vehicle travels to a destination. The system automatically develops a database of a plurality of segments of preferred routes where those segments are different from the route normally calculated by the data processor. On future occasions when the navigation system is used, the data processor is able to incorporate segments of preferred routes in an adaptive calculated route determination when the segments are within a predetermined degree of similarity to the calculated route.

Abstract: A navigation system and method incorporating the use of a navigation system that provides alternate routes to an initially selected route based upon updated, real time parameters. The system is provided with user preference data that is used when developing the initial route and alternate routes. The system may be programmed to only provide alternate routes if a predetermined improvement in efficiency is potentially available.

Abstract: The content of a document is stored in a file system, while the profile of the document is stored in a messaging system. The profile of the document is accessed upon request, and the document content is accessed based upon the content of the profile.

Abstract: An adaptive navigation system for a land vehicle is provided that incorporates learned segments of preferred routes into adaptive calculated routes. The navigation system preferably includes a global positioning system or other sources of locator system data and a data processor that may be programmed with destination data and current location data. The data storage apparatus is capable of recording current location data as the vehicle travels to a destination. The system automatically develops a database of a plurality of segments of preferred routes where those segments are different from the route normally calculated by the data processor. On future occasions when the navigation system is used, the data processor is able to incorporate segments of preferred routes in an adaptive calculated route determination when the segments are within a predetermined degree of similarity to the calculated route.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of authenticating the identity of a first party involved in communicating over a computer network system. The method comprises the steps of: providing the first party with a first password set; providing a second party with a second password set; transmitting an authentication message based on the first password set from the first party to the second party; and authenticating the identity of the first party by the second party for further communications over the computer network if it is demonstrated, based on an analysis of the authentication message, that the first and second password sets contain at least one common password.