Abstract: A mobile device having a time controlled electronic wallet is disclosed. The mobile device comprises a processor and an electronic wallet application that executes on the processor. The electronic wallet application enters a ready-to-pay mode, initiates a ready-to-pay timer when entering the ready-to-pay mode, transmits the confidential information when in the ready-to-pay mode based on receiving contactless communication, and leaves the ready-to-pay mode when the ready-to-pay timer expires.

Abstract: A point-of-sale terminal comprises a contactless communication transceiver configured to receive an emission containing confidential information from a portable electronic device, and an enclosure having an aperture to promote at least partial insertion of the portable electronic device. The enclosure is constructed to promote substantially confining the emission within the enclosure to reduce eavesdropping on the confidential information while promoting the transceiver receiving the emission.

Abstract: Tags, such as XML tags, are inserted into email to separate email content from signature blocks, privacy notices and confidentiality notices, and to separate original email messages from replies and replies from further replies. The tags are detected by a system that renders email as speech, such as voice command platform or network-based virtual assistant or message center. The system can render an original email message in one voice mode and the reply in a different voice mode. The tags can be inserted to identify a voice memo in which a user responds to a particular portion of an email message.

Abstract: A portable electronic device is disclosed. The portable electronic device comprises a contactless communication transceiver configured to provide payment information to a point-of-sale terminal, a first input device configured to receive inputs, and a processor. The first input device is selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a microphone, a camera, and a biometric sensor. The processor is configured to activate an electronic wallet based on inputs from at least one of the first input device and the contactless communication transceiver, to access the payment information in the electronic wallet, and to provide the payment information to the contactless communication transceiver.

Abstract: Tags, such as XML tags, are inserted into email to separate email content from signature blocks, privacy notices and confidentiality notices, and to separate original email messages from replies and replies from further replies. The tags are detected by a system that renders email as speech, such as voice command platform or network-based virtual assistant or message center. The system can render an original email message in one voice mode and the reply in a different voice mode. The tags can be inserted to identify a voice memo in which a user responds to a particular portion of an email message.

Abstract: A method for point-of-sale transactions is disclosed. The method comprises a point-of-sale terminal receiving a confidential information from a portable electronic device over a contactless communication link, the confidential information being used by the point-of-sale terminal to complete the transaction. The method also includes substantially blocking access to the contactless communication link beyond the area adjacent to the point-of-sale terminal to reduce eavesdropping on the confidential information.

Abstract: Tags, such as XML tags, are inserted into email to separate email content from signature blocks, privacy notices and confidentiality notices, and to separate original email messages from replies and replies from further replies. The tags are detected by a system that renders email as speech, such as voice command platform or network-based virtual assistant or message center. For example, the system can detect the signature block or privacy notice tags and not render the signature block or privacy notice as speech. The system can render an original email message in one voice mode and the reply in a different voice mode. The tags can be inserted to identify a voice memo in which a user responds to a particular portion of an email message. Preferably, an email server that receives and stored the email message inserts the tags into the email. Alternatively, the tags could be inserted by an email client application.

Abstract: A portable electronic device is disclosed. The portable electronic device comprises a contactless communication transceiver configured to provide payment information to a point-of-sale terminal, a first input device configured to receive inputs, and a processor. The first input device is selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a microphone, a camera, and a biometric sensor. The processor is configured to activate an electronic wallet based on inputs from at least one of the first input device and the contactless communication transceiver, to access the payment information in the electronic wallet, and to provide the payment information to the contactless communication transceiver.

Abstract: A mobile device having a time controlled electronic wallet is disclosed. The mobile device comprises a processor and an electronic wallet application that executes on the processor. The electronic wallet application enters a ready-to-pay mode, initiates a ready-to-pay timer when entering the ready-to-pay mode, transmits the confidential information when in the ready-to-pay mode based on receiving contactless communication, and leaves the ready-to-pay mode when the ready-to-pay timer expires.

Abstract: A method of a portable electronic device providing payment from an electronic wallet is provided. The method comprises prompting for input of a personal identification number (PIN) after the wallet has been opened and providing payment from the wallet after receiving the PIN, when the wallet is configured to a first level of security. The method also comprises providing payment from the wallet after the wallet has been opened, when the wallet is configured to a second level of wallet security, wherein the PIN is not contemporaneously input. The method also comprises providing payment from the wallet when the electronic portable device has been activated, when the wallet is configured to a third level of wallet security, wherein the wallet is not opened and the PIN is not contemporaneously input.

Abstract: Tags, such as XML tags, are inserted into email to separate email content from signature blocks, privacy notices and confidentiality notices, and to separate original email messages from replies and replies from further replies. The tags are detected by a system that renders email as speech, such as voice command platform or network-based virtual assistant or message center. For example, the system can detect the signature block or privacy notice tags and not render the signature block or privacy notice as speech. The system can render an original email message in one voice mode and the reply in a different voice mode. The tags can be inserted to identify a voice memo in which a user responds to a particular portion of an email message. Preferably, an email server that receives and stored the email message inserts the tags into the email. Alternatively, the tags could be inserted by an email client application.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying saving and utilizing bookmarks in a voice-command platform. The system of the invention provides a user of the voice command platform with a list of bookmark names that are appropriate for the application. Once a user selects a bookmark, the platform may determine that a voice command is a bookmark command, such as a request to save a given voice command navigation point in a centralized list of bookmarks for the user, or to recall a navigation point from the user's centralized list, and the platform may respond to the bookmark command accordingly. The system improves accuracy in the use of bookmarks by proposing bookmark names for a given navigation point that avoid confusion with established grammars.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating restoration of a voice command session. A voice command platform may send to an application server a signal indicative of a system disconnect. In response to receiving the signal indicative of the system disconnect, the application server may send information to the voice command platform. The information may allow the voice command platform to restore the voice command session with a user. The voice command platform may send the information back to the application server when the user is reconnected back to the voice command platform. Responsively, the application server may send logic executable by the voice command platform. The voice command platform may execute the logic so as to restore the voice command session with the user.

Abstract: A method for returning a phone call based on information contained in a voicemail message. The method comprises receiving the voicemail message and applying service logic to analyze the voicemail message to extract a spoken phone number included in the voicemail message. The method further comprises associating the extracted phone number with the voicemail message and, in conjunction with retrieving the voicemail message, providing a recipient of the voicemail message with an option to dial the extracted phone number.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically controlling a voice-processing mechanism in a voice command platform. The platform receives a specification during a voice command session with a user and responsively sets a mode of operation of the voice-processing mechanism. The platform can receive the specification from various sources, such as a user (e.g., as a voice command), a stored user profile record, a voice command application and/or another stored table or data source. Example modes of operation include (i) use of a designated text-to-speech engine from among multiple text-to-speech engines, (ii) use of a designated voice prompt store from among multiple voice prompt stores, (iii) muting of a speech recognition engine, and (iv) selection of a secondary phoneme dictionary for use in recognizing phonemes in incoming speech signals.

Abstract: A method and system for responding to voice commands in a voice-command platform. The platform receives a voice command during a voice command session with a user, and the platform responsively carries out a set of system-level logic. For example, the platform may determine that the voice command is an alias-grammar (whether personal to a user, or global for the platform) and may then convert the alias-grammar into an actual grammar. As another example, the platform may determine that the voice command is a bookmark command, such as a request to save a given voice command navigation point in a centralized list of bookmarks for the user, or to recall a navigation point from the user's centralized list, and the platform may respond to the bookmark command accordingly. And as yet another example, the platform may recognize a voice command that is not defined by a voice command application currently being processed but that is instead defined globally for the voice command platform.