Abstract: A method and system for teaching an object of a deictic reference to a machine. A processor of the machine teaches the object of the deictic reference to the machine which results in the machine learning the object. The teaching includes: the processor finds an item in a region indicated by a physical pointing gesture, by the user, that points to the object; the processor shines a laser light on the item and in response, the processor receives a negative spoken indication from the user that the item shined on by the laser light is not the object; in response to the negative spoken indication from the user, the processor interacts with the user in an iterative procedure wherein the machine learns the object in a final iteration of the procedure. The processor stores the learned object in a storage repository.

Abstract: A method and system for teaching an object of a deictic reference to a machine. A processor of the machine teaches the object of the deictic reference to the machine which results in the machine learning the object. The teaching includes: the processor finds an item in a region indicated by a physical pointing gesture, by the user, that points to the object; the processor shines a laser light on the item and in response, the processor receives a negative spoken indication from the user that the item shined on by the laser light is not the object; in response to the negative spoken indication from the user, the processor interacts with the user in an iterative procedure wherein the machine learns the object in a final iteration of the procedure. The processor stores the learned object in a storage repository.

Abstract: A machine, system and method for user-guided teaching of deictic references and referent objects of deictic references to a conversational system. The machine includes a system bus for communicating data and control signals received from the conversational system to the computer system, a data and control bus for connecting devices and sensors in the machine, a bridge module for connecting the data and control bus to the system bus, respective machine subsystems coupled to the data and control bus, the respective machine subsystems having a respective user interface for receiving a deictic reference from a user, a memory coupled to the system bus for storing deictic references and objects of the deictic references learned by the conversational system and a central processing unit coupled to the system bus for executing the deictic references with respect to the objects of the deictic references learned.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for overcoming errors in speech recognition systems. For example, a technique for processing acoustic data in accordance with a speech recognition system comprises the following steps/operations. Acoustic data is obtained in association with the speech recognition system. The acoustic data is recorded using a combination of a first buffer area and a second buffer area, such that the recording of the acoustic data using the combination of the two buffer areas at least substantially minimizes one or more truncation errors associated with operation of the speech recognition system.

Abstract: A machine, system and method for user-guided teaching and modifications of voice commands and actions to be executed by a conversational learning system. The machine includes a system bus for communicating data and control signals received from the conversational learning system to a computer system, a vehicle data and control bus for connecting devices and sensors in the machine, a bridge module for connecting the vehicle data and control bus to the system bus, machine subsystems coupled to the vehicle data and control bus having a respective user interface for receiving a voice command or input signal from a user, a memory coupled to the system bus for storing action command sequences learned for a new voice command and a processing unit coupled to the system bus for automatically executing the action command sequences learned when the new voice command is spoken.

Abstract: Computing devices are disclosed which include a digitizer and a display, wherein the digitizer and the display are mounted on opposite surfaces of the device. For example, a computing device such as portable hand held device includes a display mounted on a front surface of the device and a digitizer is mounted on a rear surface of the device, wherein the digitizer receives a pointing action to be displayed on the display and wherein locations on a digitizer surface are mapped to locations on the display surface so that a user may easily indicate locations or objects on a screen without obscuring the user's view of the screen.

Abstract: Principles of the present invention provide techniques for automatically navigating through a telephone menu system. Illustrative techniques of the invention permit a user of a telephone menu system (e.g., IVR system) to record operations needed to navigate to a particular point in a menu tree of the telephone menu system and to either gather information or perform a transaction at that menu point. The information or transaction status may be reported to the user. Part of the act of training may be the association of a command with the navigation operations, after which the automated telephone menu navigation system of the invention will repeat the procedure, in correct synchrony with the telephone menu service, when the user says the command. In addition, the techniques of the invention detect failure or loss of synchronization or changes in the telephone menu.

Abstract: A method for conversational computing includes executing code embodying a conversational virtual machine, registering a plurality of input/output resources with a conversational kernel, providing an interface between a plurality of active applications and the conversational kernel processing input/output data, receiving input queries and input events of a multi-modal dialog across a plurality of user interface modalities of the plurality of active applications, generating output messages and output events of the multi-modal dialog in connection with the plurality of active applications, managing, by the conversational kernel, a context stack associated with the plurality of active applications and the multi-modal dialog to transform the input queries into application calls for the plurality of active applications and convert the output messages into speech, wherein the context stack accumulates a context of each of the plurality of active applications.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for overcoming errors in speech recognition systems. For example, a technique for processing acoustic data in accordance with a speech recognition system comprises the following steps/operations. Acoustic data is obtained in association with the speech recognition system. The acoustic data is recorded using a combination of a first buffer area and a second buffer area, such that the recording of the acoustic data using the combination of the two buffer areas at least substantially minimizes one or more truncation errors associated with operation of the speech recognition system.

Abstract: A machine, system and method for user-guided teaching of deictic references and referent objects of deictic references to a conversational system. The machine includes a system bus for communicating data and control signals received from the conversational system to the computer system, a data and control bus for connecting devices and sensors in the machine, a bridge module for connecting the data and control bus to the system bus, respective machine subsystems coupled to the data and control bus, the respective machine subsystems having a respective user interface for receiving a deictic reference from a user, a memory coupled to the system bus for storing deictic references and objects of the deictic references learned by the conversational system and a central processing unit coupled to the system bus for executing the deictic references with respect to the objects of the deictic references learned.

Abstract: A machine, system and method for user-guided teaching and modifications of voice commands and actions to be executed by a conversational learning system. The machine includes a system bus for communicating data and control signals received from the conversational learning system to a computer system, a vehicle data and control bus for connecting devices and sensors in the machine, a bridge module for connecting the vehicle data and control bus to the system bus, machine subsystems coupled to the vehicle data and control bus having a respective user interface for receiving a voice command or input signal from a user, a memory coupled to the system bus for storing action command sequences learned for a new voice command and a processing unit coupled to the system bus for automatically executing the action command sequences learned when the new voice command is spoken.

Abstract: A conversational computing system that provides a universal coordinated multi-modal conversational user interface (CUI) 10 across a plurality of conversationally aware applications (11) (i.e., applications that “speak” conversational protocols) and conventional applications (12). The conversationally aware applications (11) communicate with a conversational kernel (14) via conversational application APIs (13). The conversational kernel 14 controls the dialog across applications and devices (local and networked) on the basis of their registered conversational capabilities and requirements and provides a unified conversational user interface and conversational services and behaviors. The conversational computing system may be built on top of a conventional operating system and APIs (15) and conventional device hardware (16). The conversational kernel (14) handles all I/O processing and controls conversational engines (18).

Abstract: Computing devices are disclosed which include a digitizer and a display, wherein the digitizer and the display are mounted on opposite surfaces of the device. For example, a computing device such as portable hand held device includes a display mounted on a front surface of the device and a digitizer is mounted on a rear surface of the device, wherein the digitizer receives a pointing action to be displayed on the display and wherein locations on a digitizer surface are mapped to locations on the display surface so that a user may easily indicate locations or objects on a screen without obscuring the user's view of the screen.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for overcoming errors in speech recognition systems. For example, a technique for processing acoustic data in accordance with a speech recognition system comprises the following steps/operations. Acoustic data is obtained in association with the speech recognition system. The acoustic data is recorded using a combination of a first buffer area and a second buffer area, such that the recording of the acoustic data using the combination of the two buffer areas at least substantially minimizes one or more truncation errors associated with operation of the speech recognition system.

Abstract: Principles of the present invention provide techniques for automatically navigating through a telephone menu system. Illustrative techniques of the invention permit a user of a telephone menu system (e.g., IVR system) to record operations needed to navigate to a particular point in a menu tree of the telephone menu system and to either gather information or perform a transaction at that menu point. The information or transaction status may be reported to the user. Part of the act of training may be the association of a command with the navigation operations, after which the automated telephone menu navigation system of the invention will repeat the procedure, in correct synchrony with the telephone menu service, when the user says the command. In addition, the techniques of the invention detect failure or loss of synchronization or changes in the telephone menu.

Abstract: A conversational computing system that provides a universal coordinated multi-modal conversational user interface (CUI) (10) across a plurality of conversationally aware applications (11) (i.e., applications that “speak” conversational protocols) and conventional applications (12). The conversationally aware maps, applications (11) communicate with a conversational kernel (14) via conversational application APIs (13). The conversational kernel (14) controls the dialog across applications and devices (local and networked) on the basis of their registered conversational capabilities and requirements and provides a unified conversational user interface and conversational services and behaviors. The conversational computing system may be built on top of a conventional operating system and APIs (15) and conventional device hardware (16). The conversational kernel (14) handles all I/O processing and controls conversational engines (18).

Abstract: A pointing device-driven interface apparatus and method for enabling a user to enter data (in the form of options) into a computer system. User data files are maintained which indicate the relative frequency with which the user has entered sequences of options. The sequences are of a predetermined length. The user data is consulted to predict the most likely options to be entered next by the user. These options are presented to the user on a template. A stroke made by the user with the pointing device is then interpreted in light of the template and a syntax of strokes. An action associated with the interpretation is then carried out. An example of the action is communicating a character to a software application, updating the sequence, and repeating the consultation, presentation, interpretation and carrying out just described.

Abstract: A user interface includes a process model unit (34) for predicting one or more allowable next states, from a current state of a process, and a display processing unit (26) for deriving, for each of the allowable next states, a representation of the allowable next state. The display processing unit has an output coupled to a display screen (30) for displaying each of the representations (30b-30g) in conjunction with a representation (30a) of a current state of the process. The user interface further includes an actuator control unit (22) that is coupled to an input mechanism whereby a user selects one of the displayed representations of one of the allowable next states. The motor control unit controls the process to cause it to enter a new current state that corresponds to the selected derived representation.

Abstract: A pen-down sense switch for electronic styli is based on three geometric principles. The first is that a regular convex surface contacts any other surface possessing a larger (or a relative negative) radius of curvature at a single point. The second principle is that rigid bodies may be translated (within limits) without changing their size or shape. The third is that given a plane with a constant radius of curvature, three points which can contact its surface will uniquely determine its position. Within the physical environment and subject to the forces which typically act on stylus switches, machined, solid metal components can be made to be a better than first-order approximation to ideal geometric objects.

Abstract: A protective reflex system for a portable computer hard disk initiates protective action before the hard disk suffers the shock of an impact in the event they fall from, for example, a user's lap. A three axis accelerometer is mounted in the portable computer. The output of the accelerometer is continuously monitored by a dedicated processor. In the event of an acceleration event within a preset range of values, the dedicated processor passes a high priority interrupt to the central processing unit of the portable computer and then proceeds to park the disk heads. Alternately, the interrupt routine of the central processing unit may also cause the park operation. In addition to park operation, a brake operation may be performed by either the dedicated processor or the central processing unit.