Abstract: A portable communication device (10) includes a transceiver (12 and 14), an acceleration sensor (20) coupled to the transceiver, and a processor (16) coupled to the acceleration sensor. The processor is programmed to monitor (32) an acceleration profile of the portable communication device and compare (48 and 52) the acceleration profile of the portable communication device with at least one pre-stored acceleration profile (18).

Abstract: A charging system (100) for charging electronic devices. The charging system (100) includes a power distributor (110) and a power receiver (112) in which the power distributor (110) transfers power to the power receiver (112) when the power receiver (112) engages the power distributor (110). The power receiver (112) induces a charging current in an article that is supported by the power receiver (112). The power receiver (112) can include an inductor plate (146) having a first charging coil (148), and the article can be a garment (156) having an embedded electronic device (158). The garment (156) can include a second charging coil (162), and the first charging coil (148) can induce the charging current in the second charging coil (162).

Abstract: Disclosed is a system, method, and computer program product for tracking at least one item. The method on a device includes determining a location of the device and determining whether the location of the device is within a predefined area. The method further includes determining whether the at least one item is within a range. If the at least one item is not within the range and if the location of the device is not within the predefined area, the location of the device is stored. If the device is operating in active mode, an alarm is sounded indicating that the at least one item is not within the range.

Abstract: A system (100) and method (200) for preventing unauthorized use of a device (114). The system (100) includes a biometric reader (110) and an authentication unit (112). The biometric reader (110) measures a biometric characteristic and transmits the measured biometric characteristic to the authentication unit (112) over a communications link (118). The device (114) is embedded within a garment (116), and the authentication unit (112) transmits an authorizing signal to the device (114) when the authentication unit (112) biometrically identifies a user. In one arrangement, the authentication unit (112) can include a database (134) for storing authorized biometric samples. The authentication unit (112) can compare the measured biometric characteristic with the authorized biometric samples when the authentication unit (112) receives the measured biometric characteristic from the biometric reader (110).

Abstract: A method (50) and system(10) for selectively retrieving text strings from a plurality of stored text strings contained on a data storage medium accessible by a processor (12) can include a data input device (18) providing a query to the processor. The processor can be programmed to receive (52) the query, determine a number of significant words in the query (54), determine a number of significant words in a candidate text string (56), determine a number of matches between the significant words in the query and the candidate text string (58), and compute a match score (60) for each candidate text string using the number of significant words in the query, the number of significant words in the candidate text string, and the number of matches. The system can further include a speaker (21) or a display device (22) rendering (68 or 69) at least one candidate text string having the largest match score.

Abstract: A charging system (100) for charging electronic devices. The charging system (100) includes a power distributor (110) and a power receiver (112) in which the power distributor (110) transfers power to the power receiver (112) when the power receiver (112) engages the power distributor (110). The power receiver (112) induces a charging current in an article that is supported by the power receiver (112). The power receiver (112) can include an inductor plate (146) having a first charging coil (148), and the article can be a garment (156) having an embedded electronic device (158). The garment (156) can include a second charging coil (162), and the first charging coil (148) can induce the charging current in the second charging coil (162).

Abstract: A virtual speech interface system and method (100) for controlling a client device (103) using speech commands for electronic devices that do not include integrated speech control capability includes a virtual speech interface client program (113) installed within the client device for controlling a client device application (104). A virtual speech interface server device (101) that is separate from the client device (103 is then used to interface with the client program (113). The virtual speech interface server device (101 includes at least one server (111) for sending and/or receiving command information to the virtual speech interface client program (113) for controlling the client device (103) using speech commands.

Abstract: A virtual speech interface system and method (100) for controlling a client device (103) using speech commands for electronic devices that do not include integrated speech control capability includes a virtual speech interface client program (113) installed within the client device for controlling a client device application (104). A virtual speech interface server device (101) that is separate from the client device (103 is then used to interface with the client program (113). The virtual speech interface server device (101 includes at least one server (111) for sending and/or receiving command information to the virtual speech interface client program (113) for controlling the client device (103) using speech commands.

Abstract: An application (50) utilizing a speech recognition interface (10) employs the use of verbal proxies to accomplish dynamic vocabulary updates. One or more proxies used by the application (50) are defined (60) and added to the vocabulary (38) of the speech recognition interface (10). Upon the speech recognition interface (10) receiving a speech signal (14) representative of a command containing a defined proxy, the recognized speech is converted to text by the speech recognition interface (66, 68) to generate a text version of the recognized speech (28). The application receives the text version of the recognized speech (28) and processes it in accordance with the received command (70, 72). A parsing function (52) of the application (50) receives the text version of the recognized speech and determines what proxy routine(s) of the application to send the speech information to (80, 82).

Abstract: Automatic assistance to unaided voice communication is provided by activating and deactivating a wireless communication link as needed (300). A communication device, associated with a particular individual, monitors to determine whether unaided communication occurring with another individual is satisfactory according to a predetermined criteria (310, 320, 330). The communication device automatically switches to provide aided communication, when the unaided communication is not satisfactory. Preferably, an open communication link is established between the communication device and one associated with the other individual when sound reception characteristics or separation characteristics do not meet a particular criteria (340, 350, 360, 370).

Abstract: A tracking device (100) issues an alert when an item (405) is separated from the device (100) according to programmable characteristics. The tracking device stores information pertaining to the item in a database upon receipt of a command identifying the item as eligible for tracking (510, 520). Separation characteristics between the item and the tracking device are tracked using, at least in part, information stored in the database. Preferably, the tracking device automatically registers the item in the database as a coupled item in response to the item being within a programmable range of the tracking device for at least a programmable period of time (530). The tracking device automatically issues an alert identifying the item when the separation characteristics indicates a separation that exceeds a particular threshold (540).

Abstract: An audio interface (110) provides access to a hypertext document and enables link navigation (310). The hypertext document has textual information, including one or more text-based link identifiers that represent links to information sources. The audio interface outputs the textual information of the document as speech, while distinguishing the text-based link identifiers using distinct sound characteristics (320, 330, 340, 350). Preferably, the audio interface operates to receive voice commands that specify one or more of the test-based link identifies (410). Upon receipt of such a voice command, the audio interface performs a particular action using the associated link address (420, 430).