Abstract: A method and apparatus for speaker recognition is provided. One embodiment of a method for determining whether a given speech signal is produced by an alleged speaker, where a plurality of statistical models (including at least one support vector machine) have been produced for the alleged speaker based on a previous speech signal received from the alleged speaker, includes receiving the given speech signal, the speech signal representing an utterance made by a speaker claiming to be the alleged speaker, scoring the given speech signal using at least two modeling systems, where at least one of the modeling systems is a support vector machine, combining scores produced by the modeling systems, with equal weights, to produce a final score, and determining, in accordance with the final score, whether the speaker is likely the alleged speaker.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for finding endpoints in speech by utilizing information contained in speech prosody. Prosody denotes the way speakers modulate the timing, pitch and loudness of phones, words, and phrases to convey certain aspects of meaning; informally, prosody includes what is perceived as the “rhythm” and “melody” of speech. Because speakers use prosody to convey units of speech to listeners, the method and apparatus performs endpoint detection by extracting and interpreting the relevant prosodic properties of speech.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for adapting original musical tracks for karaoke use. In one embodiment, an original musical track is separated into vocal elements and non-vocal elements. The vocal elements are aligned with corresponding text transcriptions (e.g., text-based lyrics), and the aligned text-based lyrics are then displayed to a user while the non-vocal elements are simultaneously played in a manner that is synchronous with the display of the lyrics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for performing speech recognition using observable and meaningful relationships between words within a single utterance and using a structured data source as a source of constraints on the recognition process. Results from a first constrained speech recognition pass can be combined with information about the observable and meaningful word relationships to constrain or simplify subsequent recognition passes. This iterative process greatly reduces the search space required for each recognition pass, making the speech recognition process more efficient, faster and accurate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for fusion of recognition results from multiple types of data sources. In one embodiment, the inventive method implementing a first processing technique to recognize at least a portion of terms contained in a first media source, implementing a second processing technique to recognize at least a portion of terms contained in a second media source that contains a different type of data than that contained in the first media source, and adapting the first processing technique based at least in part on results generated by the second processing technique.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for finding endpoints in speech by utilizing information contained in speech prosody. Prosody denotes the way speakers modulate the timing, pitch and loudness of phones, words, and phrases to convey certain aspects of meaning; informally, prosody includes what is perceived as the “rhythm” and “melody” of speech. Because speakers use prosody to convey units of speech to listeners, the method and apparatus performs endpoint detection by extracting and interpreting the relevant prosodic properties of speech.