Abstract: An apparatus for reducing audio interference produced by a transducer (18) in response to an audio signal has a first input for receiving the audio signal and a second input (22) for receiving sound signals. The audio interference affects a speech recognition system (34). The second input provides a possibly contaminated signal representing the sound signals. The sound signals comprise a desired audio signal, and possibly comprise the audio interference. An interference reduction device (30) is coupled to the first and second inputs, for transforming the possibly contaminated signal into features that are substantially free from the effects of the audio interference.

Abstract: An individual desiring to operate a pager via voice commands sends a message to a repository of voice recognition codebooks requesting access to a particular codebook. The repository device(s) respond by transmitting the codebook of that individual to at least one pager, which stores the codebook therein. In a second embodiment, each individual operating a pager by voice commands is provided with a codebook module, which contains suitable memory storage having at least that operator's codebook stored therein. By inserting the codebook module (or card) into the pager, that pager becomes at least partially controllable by the voice commands of that operator. The codebook module may be easily removed to permit the communication device to be rapidly reprogrammed by inserting the codebook of another operator.

Abstract: To program a communication device to respond to voice commands, an individual desiring to operate the communication device sends a message to a repository of voice recognition codebooks. The repository device(s) responds by transmitting the codebook of that individual to at least one communication device, which stores the codebook therein. Thereafter, the communication device may respond to the voice commands of that individual.