Abstract: In one aspect, a method for determining validity of an identity asserted by a speaker using a voice print associated with a user whose identity the speaker is asserting, the voice print obtained from characteristic features of at least one first voice signal obtained from the user uttering at least one enrollment utterance including at least one enrollment word is provided.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for determining a validity of an identity asserted by a speaker using a voice print that models speech of a user whose identity the speaker is asserting is provided. The method comprises acts of performing a first verification stage comprising acts of obtaining a first voice signal from the speaker uttering at least one first challenge utterance; and comparing at least one characteristic feature of the first voice signal with at least a portion of the voice print to assess whether the at least one characteristic feature of the first voice signal is similar enough to the at least a portion of the voice print to conclude that the first voice signal was obtained from an utterance by the user.

Abstract: A support post or coupling for a sign post assembly having an integrated breakaway system. The post or coupling has a selected predetermined shape and is adapted for carrying an associated structure. The post or coupling includes an integral weakened region providing an area of structural weakness for allowing the support post to shear upon impact by a vehicle traveling at a minimum speed and impacting the support post from a desired impact angle. The integral weakened region is formed by reducing the cross-sectional area of a portion of the support post such that it is slightly less than the cross-sectional area of the remainder of the support post. The integral weakened region may be formed by swaging the support post, by scoring a groove within the support post, or by creating a series of dimples or perforations within the support post.

Abstract: Machine recognition of isolated word utterances is carried out by applying time-indexed feature vectors to binary decision tree classifiers. A respective classifier is provided for each target word in the vocabulary of words to be recognized. Determinants for the nodes in the classifier tree structure are formed, during a training process, as hyper-planes which perform a "mean split" between the centroids of target word and non-target word classes of feature vectors assigned to the respective nodes. The process of training the machine recognition system is facilitated by storing node-assignment data in association with training data vectors. The assignment of training data vectors to sub-nodes proceeds on a level-by-level basis in the tree structure.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods characterized by an electric neural network including a node having multipliers respectively receiving signals representing feature vector elements and signals representing weight vector elements to produce product signals, a summer to add the product signals with a bias signal and output a sum signal to a hard limiter, the hard limiter for outputting a preliminary output signal of polarity. In response to the output signal of polarity, one of at least two logic branches is enabled. In response to such enabling, weight elements are assigned to a next weight vector to be used in subsequent processing by the one of the at least two logic branches until a label is to be produced.