Patents by Inventor Huifang Wang

Huifang Wang has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7493210
    Abstract: A method for navigating in a vehicle includes the steps of identifying navigation information for at least one destination. The navigation information is stored in at least a first memory remote from the vehicle. The navigation information is transferred from the first memory to a navigation device in the vehicle. The vehicle can then be navigated to the destination using the navigation device and the navigation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Amado Nassiff, Huifang Wang, Steven G. Woodward
  • Patent number: 7200555
    Abstract: A novel apparatus and method for correcting speech recognized text in a predominantly speech-only environment for use with a device having only a limited or no display device available. The method is preferably implemented by a machine readable storage mechanism having stored thereon a computer program, the method comprising the following steps. First, audio speech input can be received and speech-to-text converted to speech recognized text. Second, a first speech correction command for performing a correction operation on speech recognized text stored in a text buffer can be detected in the speech recognized text. Third, if a speech correction command is not detected in the speech recognized text, the speech recognized text can be added to the text buffer. Fourth, if a speech command is detected in the speech recognized text, the detected correction speech command can be performed on speech recognized text stored in the text buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara E. Ballard, James R. Lewis, Kerry A. Ortega, Ronald E. Van Buskirk, Huifang Wang
  • Publication number: 20060190432
    Abstract: In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for graphically distinguishing levels from a multidimensional database. Levels from a multidimensional database are distinguished, such as by associating two or more of database's levels with a plurality of different visual indicators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Huifang Wang, Lina Clover, Walden Crabtree, Douglas Dotson
  • Patent number: 7010490
    Abstract: A method and system for completing user input in a speech recognition system. The method can include a series of steps which can include receiving a user input. The user input can specify an attribute of a selection. The method can include comparing the user input with a set of selections in the speech recognition system. Also, the method can include limiting the set of selections to an available set of selections which can correspond to the received user input. The step of matching a received user spoken utterance with the selection in the available set of selections also can be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Larry A. Brocious, Jonathan L. Gabel, David C. Loose, Ronald E. VanBuskirk, Huifang Wang, Steven G. Woodward
  • Patent number: 7010489
    Abstract: A method for guiding text-to-speech output timing with speech recognition markers can include the following steps. First, tokens can be retrieved in a TTS system. The tokens can include words, phrase markers, punctuation marks and meta-tags. Second, phrase markers can be identified among the retrieved tokens. Third, words can be identified among the retrieved tokens. Fourth, the TTS system can TTS play back the identified words. Finally, during the TTS playback of the words, the TTS system can pause in response to the identification of the phrase markers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Mahcines Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Lewis, Kerry A. Ortega, Huifang Wang
  • Patent number: 6826306
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically providing quality assurance for user enrollment in a recognition system. Advantageously, the quality a new enrollment (i.e., a newly trained user-dependent prototype) is assessed before the new enrollment is accepted in place of a current enrollment. This quality check is performed by decoding stored user test data using the new enrollment, comparing the decoding results of the new enrollment to the known script used to generate the test data to obtain an accuracy score for the new enrollment, and then comparing the accuracy score for the new enrollment with an accuracy score of a previous qualified enrollment (or, in the case where there is no previous, qualified enrollment, to the accuracy of the speaker independent model). If the decoding results of the new enrollment are acceptable, the new enrollment will be used for recognition; otherwise it will be rejected and discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Lewis, Julia E. Maners, Kerry A. Ortega, Michael P. Perrone, Eugene H. Ratzlaff, Jayashree Subrahmonia, Ron Van Buskirk, Huifang Wang
  • Patent number: 6757656
    Abstract: A method for concurrent presentation of multiple audio information sources. In the method, audio information from at least two audio information sources is concurrently presented, and a user speech selection of one of the audio information sources is accepted. At least one of the audio information sources can then be reconfigured. The reconfiguration audibly distinguishes the user selected audio information source from other audio information sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Qing Gong, James R. Lewis, Ronald E. Vanbuskirk, Huifang Wang
  • Patent number: 6741963
    Abstract: A method and a system for improving recall of speech data in a computer speech system can include a plurality of speech cache management steps including providing a speech cache, receiving a speech system input and identifying a speech event in the received speech system input, the speech event comprising speech data. Subsequently, the speech data can be compared to pre-determined speech cache entry criteria; and, if the speech data meets one of the pre-determined entry criteria, at least one entry can be added to the speech cache, the at least one entry corresponding to the speech data. Additionally, the speech data can be compared to pre-determined speech cache exit criteria; and, if the speech data meets one of the pre-determined exit criteria, at least one entry can be purged from the speech cache, the at least one entry corresponding to the speech data. The entry criteria can include frequently used speech data, recently used speech data, and important speech data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Badt, Peter J. Guasti, Gary R. Hanson, Amado Nassiff, Edwin A. Rodriguez, Harvey M. Ruback, Carl A. Smith, Ronald E. VanBuskirk, Huifang Wang, Steven G. Woodward
  • Patent number: 6738742
    Abstract: A computer system has a notification manager for playing a message to a user by selecting one of a plurality of audio notifications. The method includes the step of setting a priority level for each notification arriving into a queue. The notification is inserted into a position in the queue based upon the priority level of the notification, such that the audio notifications at the queue top have a generally higher priority than audio notifications at the queue bottom. The notification at the top of the queue can be selected if the priority level of the notification is greater than a predetermined gate level. Once a notification is selected, a message corresponding to the selected notification is played to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Badt, Peter J. Guasti, Gary R. Hanson, Amado Nassiff, Edwin A. Rodriguez, Harvey Ruback, Carl A. Smith, Ronald E. Vanbuskirk, Huifang Wang, Steven G. Woodward
  • Publication number: 20040015947
    Abstract: A method for changing client software on a network comprising the steps of: connecting a plurality of information processing systems by a network; running a first software application with a first version on at least one of the information processing systems; running a second software application with a second version on at least one of the information processing systems; querying the second application over the network to determine if the version of second application is newer than the first application. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an information processing system and computer readable storage medium is disclosed for carrying out the above method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: QING GONG, HUIFANG WANG
  • Patent number: 6675142
    Abstract: A transcription system (100) includes a computer (102), a monitor (104), and a microphone (110). Via the microphone, a user of the system provides input speech that is received and transcribed (204) by the system. The system monitors (205) the accuracy of the transcribed speech during transcription. The system also determines (210) whether the accuracy of the transcribed speech is sufficient and, if not, automatically activates (214) a speech recognition improvement tool and alerts (212) the user that the tool has been activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry A. Ortega, Hans Egger, Arthur Keller, Ronald E. VanBuskirk, Huifang Wang, James R. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20030130850
    Abstract: A computer system has a notification manager for playing a message to a user by selecting one of a plurality of audio notifications. The method includes the step of setting a priority level for each notification arriving into a queue. The notification is inserted into a position in the queue based upon the priority level of the notification, such that the audio notifications at the queue top have a generally higher priority than audio notifications at the queue bottom. The notification at the top of the queue can be selected if the priority level of the notification is greater than a predetermined gate level. Once a notification is selected, a message corresponding to the selected notification is played to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Badt, Peter J. Guasti, Gary R. Hanson, Amado Nassiff, Edwin A. Rodriguez, Harvey Ruback, Carl A. Smith, Ronald E. Vanbuskirk, Huifang Wang, Steven G. Woodward
  • Patent number: 6560574
    Abstract: A method for enrolling a user in a speech recognition system, without requiring reading, comprises the steps of: generating an audio user interface having an audible output and an audio input; audibly playing a text phrase; audibly prompting the user to speak the played phrase; repeating the steps of audibly prompting the user not to speak, audibly playing the phrase and audibly prompting the user to speak, for a plurality of further phrases; and, processing enrollment of the user based on the audibly prompted and subsequently spoken phrases. A graphical user interface can also be generated for: displaying text corresponding to the phrases and to the audible prompts; displaying a plurality of icons for user activation; and, selectively distinguishing different ones of the icons at different times by at least one of: color; shape; and, animation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Lewis, Huifang Wang, Ron Van Buskirk, Kerry A. Ortega
  • Patent number: 6542868
    Abstract: A computer system has a notification manager for playing a message to a user by selecting one of a plurality of audio notifications. The method includes the step of setting a priority level for each notification arriving into a queue. The notification is inserted into a position in the queue based upon the priority level of the notification, such that the audio notifications at the queue top have a generally higher priority than audio notifications at the queue bottom. The notification at the top of the queue can be selected if the priority level of the notification is greater than a predetermined gate level. Once a notification is selected, a message corresponding to the selected notification is played to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Badt, Peter J. Guasti, Gary R. Hanson, Amado Nassiff, Edwin A. Rodriguez, Harvey Ruback, Carl A. Smith, Ronald E. Vanbuskirk, Huifang Wang, Steven G. Woodward
  • Patent number: 6535848
    Abstract: A transcription system (100, 200) includes multiple recording devices (110, 210) that individually record and store (516), into multiple files, digital data representing speech uttered by multiple speakers. In a preferred embodiment, time stamps are stored (514) along with the speech. A transcription computer (120, 230) enables a user to select (602) which of multiple files the user would like to have transcribed, and to associate (604) a speaker ID to each of the multiple files. The transcription computer then transcribes (1006) phrases within the multiple files, and stores (1008) those phrases in a sequential order, based on the time stamps. The user may also cause an offset time for each file to be adjusted (606, 916), thus affecting the ultimate sequential order of the transcribed phrases. After transcription, the user may edit (1104) the time stamps, speaker IDs, and/or phrases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry A. Ortega, James R. Lewis, Ronald Vanbuskirk, Huifang Wang
  • Patent number: 6523004
    Abstract: In a computer system having a list based natural discourse application adapted for speech recognition. In response to a first user element request, the system searches a list of elements to generate a list of matches which contain elements which satisfy the element request. The system calculates the time required to read out the match list common levels, the time required to read out all matches, and the time required to iteratively query the user as to which matches of one of said common levels to read out. The system then reads out the match list using the method having the lowest calculated time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald E. Vanbuskirk, Keith P. Loring, Huifang Wang
  • Publication number: 20030033081
    Abstract: A method for navigating in a vehicle includes the steps of identifying navigation information for at least one destination. The navigation information is stored in at least a first memory remote from the vehicle. The navigation information is transferred from the first memory to a navigation device in the vehicle. The vehicle can then be navigated to the destination using the navigation device and the navigation information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Amado Nassiff, Huifang Wang, Steven G. Woodward
  • Patent number: 6505155
    Abstract: In a computer speech user interface, a method and computer apparatus for automatically adjusting the content of feedback in a responsive prompt based upon predicted recognition accuracy by a speech recognizer. The method includes the steps of receiving a user voice command from the speech recognizer; calculating present speech recognition accuracy based upon the received user voice command; predicting future recognition accuracy based upon the calculated present speech recognition accuracy; and, generating feedback in a responsive prompt responsive to the predicted recognition accuracy. For predicting future poor recognition accuracy based upon poor present recognition accuracy, the calculating step can include monitoring the received user voice command; detecting a reduced accuracy condition in the monitored user voice command; and, determining poor present recognition accuracy if the reduced accuracy condition is detected in the detecting step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Vanbuskirk, Huifang Wang, Kerry A. Ortega, Catherine G. Wolf
  • Patent number: 6489978
    Abstract: A method, information processing system and computer readable storage medium for presenting a graphical menu item on a display. The graphical menu is displayed by receiving a time delay selected by an end-user; presenting to the end-user a graphical menu item wherein at least one menu item has a selectable option state; receiving input from the end-user for changing the option state on at least one menu item; and waiting an amount of time greater than the time delay before removing the graphical menu item from the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Qing Gong, Huifang Wang
  • Publication number: 20020103644
    Abstract: A method and system for completing user input in a speech recognition system. The method can include a series of steps which can include receiving a user input. The user input can specify an attribute of a selection. The method can include comparing the user input with a set of selections in the speech recognition system. Also, the method can include limiting the set of selections to an available set of selections which can correspond to the received user input. The step of matching a received user spoken utterance with the selection in the available set of selections also can be included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Larry A. Brocious, Jonathan L. Gabel, David C. Loose, Ronald E. VanBuskirk, Huifang Wang, Steven G. Woodward