Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media for finding documents in a data store that match a natural language query submitted by a user are provided. The documents and queries are matched by determining that words within the query have the same relationship to each other as the same words in the document. Documents are semantically analyzed and words in the document are indexed along with the role the word plays in a sentence. The initial semantic role may be generalized using a role hierarchy and stored in the index along with the original role. A similar analysis may be used with the search query to find words used in the same role in both the query and the document.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for determining relevant information from a document based on document structure. A document is selected and structural elements within the document having a dominance relationship are determined. A first location within the document is selected. The structural element surrounding the first location is determined and the surrounding and non-surrounding structural elements are characterized. Additional documents are associated with the first location in the surrounding structural element based on the surrounding structural element characterization and the non-surrounding structural element characterization. Techniques for dynamically determining annotations for images based on document structure are also provided.

Abstract: A system for providing a dynamic audio-visual environment using an eSurface situated in a room environment; a projector situated for projecting images onto the eSurface; a camera situated to picture the room environment; a central processor coupled to the eSurface, the projector and the camera. The processor receives pictures from the camera for detecting the location of the eSurface; and controls the projector to aim its projection beam onto the eSurface. The eSurface is a sheet-like surface having the property of accepting optically projected image when powered, and retaining the projected image after the power is turned off.

Abstract: A physical key is used to propose an association between a guest device and user information and services. Contact-based or contact-less connectors are used to establish the proposed association between the physical key and the guest device. The proposed association then communicated to the dynamic authentication system over a first communication channel. The dynamic authentication system determines a user confirmation over a second communications channel based on a user device and previously determined associations between users, user devices and the physical key. The guest device is then authenticated for access to information and/or services associated with the user. The information retrieved from and/or transmitted to the user's personal information repository is optionally protected using various transformations.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for dynamically connecting and transforming user interface events between user and generic devices based on physical keys. A user and a user device are determined. The user device is authenticated based on a login sequence, smartcard or the like. A physical key associated with the user is physically associated with a generic device by insertion, wireless link, proximity, RFID detection and the like. The dynamic association is communicated over a first communications channel. A user device confirms the dynamic association over a second communications channel. The dynamically associated generic device communicates user interface events with the dynamic user interface proxy. The user device also communicates user interface events with the dynamic user interface proxy. The dynamic user interface proxy receives, optionally transforms and routes the user interface events associated with the user device and the generic device.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for determining predictive models of discourse functions based on prosodic features of natural language speech. Inter and intra sentential discourse functions in a training corpus of natural language speech utterances are determined. The discourse functions are clustered. The exemplary prosodic features associated with each type of discourse function are determined. Machine learning, observation and the like are used to determine a subset of prosodic features associated with each type of discourse function useful in predicting the likelihood of each type of discourse function.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media for finding documents in a data store that match a natural language query submitted by a user are provided. The documents and queries are matched by determining that words within the query have the same relationship to each other as the same words in the document. Documents are semantically analyzed and words in the document are indexed along with the role the word plays in a sentence. The initial semantic role may be generalized using a role hierarchy and stored in the index along with the original role. A similar analysis may be used with the search query to find words used in the same role in both the query and the document.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for determining and using interaction models. Discourse functions, prosodic features and turn information are determined from the speech information in a training corpus. Statistics, decision trees, rules and/or various other methods are used to determine a predictive interaction model based on the discourse functions, the prosodic features and the turn information. Predictive interaction models are optionally determined for individual users, genres, languages and/or other characteristics of the speech information. The predictive interaction model is useable to predict turns in a dialogue based on the discourse functions and prosodic features identified in the speech information. Speech information is presented and/or received based on the predictive interaction model.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for resolving ambiguity in natural language speech. Speech is recognized using automatic speech recognition. A theory of discourse analysis is determined and at least one set of candidate discourse functions is determined based on the theory of discourse analysis. Prosodic features in the speech and a correlation between the prosodic features and the discourse functions is determined. The sets of candidate discourse functions are ranked based on the prosodic features in the speech information and a correlation to the prosodic features expected for the determined discourse functions. Ambiguity is resolved between sets of candidate discourse functions based on the rank information.