Abstract: An information and communication system uses an web page like environment or “Personal Space” to integrate a plurality of communication and monitoring functions. Home or enterprise automation components are linked together via wired or unwired network links and accessed via the Personal Space. Communications services are accessed through a wide variety of devices and facilitated by the Personal Space. Databases are built and used to customize user services. User profiles and system use patterns are compared and analyzed to continuously improve system performance.

Abstract: A real-time networked telephony or computer system has a feature complex and/or applications that offer a class of features to a subscriber, including call information, and permits the subscriber to manage incoming and existing calls through available features accessed using spoken utterances. A speech processing unit coupled to the system interprets a subscriber's spoken utterances without requiring the subscriber to train the system to recognize his or her voice. The interpretation of spoken utterances is enabled by a system state database that is maintained at the speech processing unit and comprises a database of the possible system slates, including possible call flows for a call, and a database associated with the system state database comprising context-specific grammar that a subscriber may recite at respective points in the call flow. The speech processing unit may also convert message signals from the network to speech which is read to the subscriber using a text to speech translator.

Abstract: A receiver for receiving wireless packetized audio signals having packet headers, and packet payloads including encoded audio signals is provided. The receiver includes an audio decoder for decoding the encoded audio signals into digital audio signals, an audio error detector for detecting impulsive noise in the digital audio signals caused by corrupted payload packets, and a digital signal restoration unit for removing the impulsive noise from the digital audio signals. Further, a method of noise reduction includes the steps of receiving radio frequency packetized audio signals having packet headers, and packet payloads including encoded audio signals and demodulating the RF signals. The method further includes decoding the encoded audio signals into digital audio signals and detecting impulsive noise in the digital audio signals caused by corrupted payload packets. The method further includes removing the impulsive noise by reconstructing the corrupted digital audio signal.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely accessing configuration information is disclosed. A remote computer sends a request for configuration information from a cellular phone. The cellular phone responds to the request for configuration information by forming a data packet containing the configuration information. The data packet is sent to the remote computer where it is stored on permanent storage for later retrieval.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for visually communicating the meaning of information to the hearing impaired by associating written or spoken language to sign language animations. Such systems comprise associating textual or audio symbols with known sign language symbols. New sign language symbols can also be generated in response to information which does not have a known sign language symbol. The information can be treated as elements which can be weighted according to each element's contribution to the overall meaning of the information sought to be communicated. Such systems can graphically display representations of both known and new sign language symbols to a hearing impaired person.

Abstract: A receiver for receiving wireless packetized audio signals having packet headers, and packet payloads including encoded audio signals is provided. The receiver includes an audio decoder for decoding the encoded audio signals into digital audio signals, an audio error detector for detecting impulsive noise in the digital audio signals caused by corrupted payload packets, and a digital signal restoration unit for removing the impulsive noise from the digital audio signals. Further, a method of noise reduction includes the steps of receiving radio frequency packetized audio signals having packet headers, and packet payloads including encoded audio signals and demodulating the RF signals. The method further includes decoding the encoded audio signals into digital audio signals and detecting impulsive noise in the digital audio signals caused by corrupted payload packets. The method further includes removing the impulsive noise by reconstructing the corrupted digital audio signal.

Abstract: A virtual coach is provided in the form of a master communications device and one or more player associated communications devices. The master communication device includes a processor which receives information on game play conditions and/or player and game object locations, analyzes the information, and formulates an appropriate coaching instruction which is transmitted to one or more selected players.

Abstract: A system and method for information searching comprising determination of, in fine granularity, a Community of Interest (COI), further data mining in search results, using at least one of COI and expert preferences to identify important knowledge, formulation and manipulation of results, and summarization of search results into a document like entity with dynamic attributes described. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and method for providing interactive dialogue and iterative search functions to find information on a large network of servers such as the world wide web.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for providing a wireless system for placing orders at a vendor transaction facility, for example, a fast food restaurant. A local temporary communications link is established between a personal communications device carried by a customer and a vendor transaction facility and customer ordering is done over the communications link before the customer reaches the vendor facility, so that an order is placed and a transaction completed before the customer reaches the vendor facility. As a result, only order fulfillment is necessary when the customer reaches the vendor facility.

Abstract: A communications system is provided in which a short message service (SMS) message is sent from a calling telephone device to a called telephone device which contains caller identification information and an associated annunciation message. The called telephone stores the annunciation message in association with the identification information. The annunciation information is used whenever an incoming telephone call is received from the calling telephone device.

Abstract: A virtual coach is provided in the form of a master communications device and one or more player associated communications devices. The master communication device includes a processor which receives information on game play conditions and/or player and game object locations, analyzes the information, and formulates an appropriate coaching instruction which is transmitted to one or more selected players.

Abstract: A real-time networked telephony or computer system has a feature complex and/or applications that offer a class of features to a subscriber, including call information, and permits the subscriber to manage incoming and existing calls through available features accessed using spoken utterances. A speech processing unit coupled to the system interprets a subscriber's spoken utterances without requiring the subscriber to train the system to recognize his or her voice. The interpretation of spoken utterances is enabled by a system state database that is maintained at the speech processing unit and comprises a database of the possible system slates, including possible call flows for a call, and a database associated with the system state database comprising context-specific grammar that a subscriber may recite at respective points in the call flow. The speech processing unit may also convert message signals from the network to speech which is read to the subscriber using a text to speech translator.

Abstract: A method for combining digital data with a perceptible program signal. The data stream is modulated onto an electromagnetic signal encoding the perceptible signal; the modulating employs a spread spectrum encoding of the data stream. The modulated program signal is transduced into perceptible form. A capture device receives the perceptible signal, and a decoder extracts the spread spectrum encoded data from the received signal. The method is particularly useful in encoding purchase information or watermarking information into the signal.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus initiates a transaction and includes an acoustic data receiver, and microphone for receiving an audio signal having encoded data that is non-discernable by a listener and is transmitted as part of the audio signal. The microphone converts the sound waves into an electrical signal. A processor receives the electrical signal and retrieves transaction data that is part of the encoded data. A filter is associated with the microphone and removes a substantial portion of a human voice signal that may have been received within the microphone. Once the transaction data is retrieved, a telephone call can be originated and at least a portion of the transaction data can be transferred to a desired destination for initiating a transaction.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus initiates a transaction and includes a capture device for capturing transaction data from marks contained on an object. The marks have a code corresponding to transaction data for initiating a transaction. The capture device includes a scanner, operable by a user, for reading marks contained on the object. A controller interprets the marks and retrieves the transaction data embedded in the marks. The capture device originates a telephone call and transfers at least a portion of the transaction data to a desired destination for initiating a transaction.

Abstract: A broadcast stream contains different types of information with the different types identified in the stream. An information processing device receives the broadcast stream and selectively captures (for future playback) only those pieces of information corresponding to one or more preselected types of information. In one embodiment, the broadcast stream is a radio broadcast and the different types are identified in digital sidebands of the radio signals. In other embodiments, the broadcast stream is embedded into audio signals or video signals using luminance or chrominance modulation or other spread spectrum techniques. A user is able to edit a personal profile that is stored in the device and contains the list of preselected types of information.

Abstract: A telecommunications system is configured for restarting a telephone call within a telephone network as the call is processed from an originating station progressively through the telephone network. The system determines that the originally dialed number is not associated with optimum processing of the call to a desired final destination. A determination based on call identifier information stored at a telephone network switch or database involves analyzing the call identifier information for caller input or indications of equipment type. A determination can also be made based on messages or data received relating to operational conditions of the switching network; or, data relating to and describing a destination, such as equipment type or services and features available.

Abstract: Calls to geographically limited toll-free telephone numbers, when originated from outside the predefined geographic region, are completed, but not at the called party's expense, by a) indicating to the caller that the telephone call, which otherwise will be blocked, will be completed on his behalf if the caller provides for payment of the cost of the call and b) completing the call if a signal is received from the caller indicating that the caller agrees to pay the cost of the call. Advantageously, the caller is not automatically charged for what he believed would be a free telephone call. The caller may pay for the call by charging it to any conventionally available account for charging telephone calls to which the caller is authorized to charge charges. If the account associated with the caller's telephone is selected by the caller for charging the call, a further test is made to determine if the ability to charge the cost of such geographically-limited toll-free calls to the account has been blocked.