Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for presenting speech from a selected text that is on a computing device. This method includes presenting text on a touch-sensitive display and having that text size within a threshold level so that the computing device can accurately determine the intent of the user when the user touches the touch screen. Once the user touch has been received, the computing device identifies and interprets the portion of text that is to be selected, and subsequently presents the text audibly to the user.

Abstract: A user device provides dynamic speech processing services during variable network connectivity with a network server. The user device includes a connection determiner that monitors a level of network connectivity between the user device and the network server, a simplified speech processor that processes speech data and is initiated based on a determination by the connection determiner that the level of network connectivity between the user device and the network server is impaired, a memory that stores processed speech data processed by the simplified speech processor, and a transmitter configured to transmit the stored processed speech data. The connection determiner determines when the level of network connectivity between the user device and the network server is no longer impaired.

Abstract: A method includes initiating a call from an interactive voice response (IVR) system to a first device associated with a user in response to a request. The method includes receiving voice input data at the IVR system via the call. The method also includes performing a search of a media content database based at least partially on the voice input data. The method further includes sending search results identifying media content items based on the search of the media content database to a second device associated with the user.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and tangible computer readable-media for detecting synthetic speaker verification. The method comprises receiving a plurality of speech samples of the same word or phrase for verification, comparing each of the plurality of speech samples to each other, denying verification if the plurality of speech samples demonstrate little variance over time or are the same, and verifying the plurality of speech samples if the plurality of speech samples demonstrates sufficient variance over time. One embodiment further adds that each of the plurality of speech samples is collected at different times or in different contexts. In other embodiments, variance is based on a pre-determined threshold or the threshold for variance is adjusted based on a need for authentication certainty. In another embodiment, if the initial comparison is inconclusive, additional speech samples are received.

Abstract: A client device for providing dynamic speech processing services during variable network connectivity with a network server includes a connection monitor that monitors network connectivity between the client device and the network server. The device further includes a simplified speech processor that processes speech data and is initiated based on an assessment from the connection monitor that the network connectivity is impaired. The device further includes a speech data storage that stores processed speech data from the simplified speech processor and a transmitter that is configured to transmit the stored speech data to the network.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for presenting speech from a selected text that is on a computing device. This method includes presenting text on a touch-sensitive display and having that text size within a threshold level so that the computing device can accurately determine the intent of the user when the user touches the touch screen. Once the user touch has been received, the computing device identifies and interprets the portion of text that is to be selected, and subsequently presents the text audibly to the user.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for answering a communication notification. The method for answering a communication notification comprises receiving a notification of communication from a user, converting information related to the notification to speech, outputting the information as speech to the user, and receiving from the user an instruction to accept or ignore the incoming communication associated with the notification. In one embodiment, information related to the notification comprises one or more of a telephone number, an area code, a geographic origin of the request, caller id, a voice message, address book information, a text message, an email, a subject line, an importance level, a photograph, a video clip, metadata, an IP address, or a domain name. Another embodiment involves notification assigned an importance level and repeat attempts at notification if it is of high importance.

Abstract: A computer implemented method includes initiating a call from an interactive voice response (IVR) system to a first device associated with a user in response to a user request. The computer implemented method includes receiving voice input data at the IVR system via the call. The computer implemented method also includes performing a search of a media content database based at least partially on the voice input data. The computer implemented method further includes sending search results identifying media content items based on the search of the media content database to a second device associated with the user.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for presenting speech from a selected text that is on a computing device. This method includes presenting text on a touch-sensitive display and having that text size within a threshold level so that the computing device can accurately determine the intent of the user when the user touches the touch screen. Once the user touch has been received, the computing device identifies and interprets the portion of text that is to be selected, and subsequently presents the text audibly to the user.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) system having a controller to retrieve a user profile, cause a set-top box (STB) to present an avatar having characteristics that correlate to the user profile, receive from the STB one or more responses of the user, detect from the one or more responses a change in an emotional state of the user, adapt a search for media content according to the user profile and the detected change in the emotional state of the user, adapt a portion of the characteristics of the avatar relating to emotional feedback according to the user profile and the detected change in the emotional state of the user, and cause the STB to present the adapted avatar presenting content from a media content source identified from the adapted search for media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to present a video program to a visually impaired person are disclosed. An example method comprises detecting a text portion of a media stream including a video stream, the text portion not being consumable by a blind person, retrieving text associated with the text portion of the media stream, and converting the text to a first audio stream based on a first type of a first program in the media stream, and converting the text to a second audio stream based on a second type of a second program in the media stream.

Abstract: A client device for providing dynamic speech processing services during variable network connectivity with a network server includes a connection monitor that monitors network connectivity between the client device and the network server. The device further includes a simplified speech processor that processes speech data and is initiated based on an assessment from the connection monitor that the network connectivity is impaired.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for presenting speech from a selected text that is on a computing device. This method includes presenting text on a touch-sensitive display and having that text size within a threshold level so that the computing device can accurately determine the intent of the user when the user touches the touch screen. Once the user touch has been received, the computing device identifies and interprets the portion of text that is to be selected, and subsequently presents the text audibly to the user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to present a video program to a visually impaired person are disclosed. An example method comprises receiving a video stream and an associated audio stream of a video program, detecting a portion of the video program that is not readily consumable by a visually impaired person, obtaining text associated with the portion of the video program, converting the text to a second audio stream, and combining the second audio stream with the associated audio stream.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an avatar engine having a controller to retrieve a user profile, present a user an avatar having characteristics that correlate to the user profile, detect a change in a developmental growth of the user, adapt a portion of the characteristics of the avatar responsive to the detected change, and present the user the adapted avatar. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A device for providing dynamic speech processing services during variable network connectivity with a network server includes a connection determiner that determines the level of network connectivity of the client device and the network server; and a simplified speech processor that processes speech data and is initiated based on the determination from the connection determiner that the network connectivity is impaired or unavailable. The devices further includes a speech data storage that stores processed speech data from the simplified speech processor; and a transition unit that determines when to transmit the stored speech data and connects with the network server, based on the determination of the connection determiner.

Abstract: A computer implemented method includes initiating a call from an interactive voice response (IVR) system to a first device associated with a user in response to a user request. The computer implemented method includes receiving voice input data at the IVR system via the call. The computer implemented method also includes performing a search of a media content database based at least partially on the voice input data. The computer implemented method further includes sending search results identifying media content items based on the search of the media content database to a second device associated with the user.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable storage media for captioning a media presentation. The method includes receiving automatic speech recognition (ASR) output from a media presentation and a transcription of the media presentation. The method includes selecting via a processor a pair of anchor words in the media presentation based on the ASR output and transcription and generating captions by aligning the transcription with the ASR output between the selected pair of anchor words. The transcription can be human-generated. Selecting pairs of anchor words can be based on a similarity threshold between the ASR output and the transcription. In one variation, commonly used words on a stop list are ineligible as anchor words. The method includes outputting the media presentation with the generated captions. The presentation can be a recording of a live event.

Abstract: A device for providing dynamic speech processing services during variable network connectivity with a network server includes a connection determiner that determines the level of network connectivity of the client device and the network server; and a simplified speech processor that processes speech data and is initiated based on the determination from the connection determiner that the network connectivity is impaired or unavailable. The devices further includes a speech data storage that stores processed speech data from the simplified speech processor; and a transition unit that determines when to transmit the stored speech data and connects with the network server, based on the determination of the connection determiner.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an avatar engine having a controller to retrieve a user profile of a user, present the user an avatar having characteristics that correlate to the user profile, detect one or more responses of the user during a communication exchange between the user and the avatar, identify from the one or more responses a need to determine a medical status of the user, establish communications with a medical diagnostic system, receive physiological information associated with the user, submit the physiological information to the medical diagnostic system, receive from the medical diagnostic system a diagnostic analysis of the physiological information, and present the diagnostic analysis to at least one of the user and a medical agent of the user, wherein the user is presented the diagnostic analysis by way of the avatar. Other embodiments are disclosed.