Abstract: A method to provide an order for a user to select goods includes automatically prompting a user via a voice command to collect an item from an order placed by a customer, and in response to receiving the input from an electronic device indicating that the item is unavailable, automatically prompting the user via a voice command to collect a substitute item designated, receiving an input indicating that the substitute item has been collected, followed by electronically notifying the customer that the substitute item has been collected instead of the original item. In another aspect, a voice-enabled click and collect system includes a remote server in communication with a mobile device, configured to prompt a user to collect an item, communicate the item unavailability to the remote server, receive instructions from the remote server, prompt the user to collect the substitute item, and notify the customer.

Abstract: A method of characterizing inventory items to a planogram includes receiving images of view of a scene with inventory items and corresponding indicia using an imaging device; receiving utterances (such as spoken description of inventory items) from a user using a voice recognition system; identifying inventory items in the scene and a corresponding identification code based at least in part on the images and at least in part on the utterances; identifying a plurality of attributes corresponding to the inventory items; and characterizing the inventory items to a planogram based on the respective identification code and plurality of attributes.

Abstract: A method for text-to-speech (TTS) pronunciation correction includes initiating a correction of a pronunciation error produced by a TTS system; receiving an input from a user for the correction of the pronunciation error; and updating the pronunciation based on the input provided by the user. The user input can include providing one or more voice recording entries, a manual entry from a keyboard, and/or choosing an entry from a predetermined list of phonetic strings. The method can also include pronouncing the corrected pronunciation entry back to the user. The user input can be further used for correction of similar syllables, words, and/or phrases.

Abstract: A method of characterizing inventory items to a planogram includes receiving images of view of a scene with inventory items and corresponding indicia using an imaging device; receiving utterances (such as spoken description of inventory items) from a user using a voice recognition system; identifying inventory items in the scene and a corresponding identification code based at least in part on the images and at least in part on the utterances; identifying a plurality of attributes corresponding to the inventory items; and characterizing the inventory items to a planogram based on the respective identification code and plurality of attributes.

Abstract: A method for text-to-speech (TTS) pronunciation correction includes initiating a correction of a pronunciation error produced by a TTS system; receiving an input from a user for the correction of the pronunciation error; and updating the pronunciation based on the input provided by the user. The user input can include providing one or more voice recording entries, a manual entry from a keyboard, and/or choosing an entry from a predetermined list of phonetic strings. The method can also include pronouncing the corrected pronunciation entry back to the user. The user input can be further used for correction of similar syllables, words, and/or phrases.

Abstract: A method to provide an order for a user to select goods includes automatically prompting a user via a voice command to collect an item from an order placed by a customer, and in response to receiving the input from an electronic device indicating that the item is unavailable, automatically prompting the user via a voice command to collect a substitute item designated, receiving an input indicating that the substitute item has been collected, followed by electronically notifying the customer that the substitute item has been collected instead of the original item. In another aspect, a voice-enabled click and collect system includes a remote server in communication with a mobile device, configured to prompt a user to collect an item, communicate the item unavailability to the remote server, receive instructions from the remote server, prompt the user to collect the substitute item, and notify the customer.

Abstract: A compliance method involves, for example, storing actual product placement data describing a display arrangement of actual product placements; at one or more programmed processors: comparing the actual product placement data with planned product placement as defined in a planogram; creating a set of one or more instructions for rearrangement of the actual product placement to bring the actual product placement in the display arrangement into compliance with the planned product placement as defined in the planogram; and outputting the set of instructions.

Abstract: A method for assessing a performance of a speech recognition system may include determining a grade, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, wherein the grade indicates a level of the performance of the system and the grade is based on a recognition rate and at least one recognition factor. An apparatus for assessing a performance of a speech recognition system may include a processor that determines a grade, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, wherein the grade indicates a level of the performance of the system and wherein the grade is based on a recognition rate and at least one recognition factor.

Abstract: A method for assessing a performance of a speech recognition system may include determining a grade, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, wherein the grade indicates a level of the performance of the system and the grade is based on a recognition rate and at least one recognition factor. An apparatus for assessing a performance of a speech recognition system may include a processor that determines a grade, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, wherein the grade indicates a level of the performance of the system and wherein the grade is based on a recognition rate and at least one recognition factor.

Abstract: A method for assessing a performance of a speech recognition system may include determining a grade, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, wherein the grade indicates a level of the performance of the system and the grade is based on a recognition rate and at least one recognition factor. An apparatus for assessing a performance of a speech recognition system may include a processor that determines a grade, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, wherein the grade indicates a level of the performance of the system and wherein the grade is based on a recognition rate and at least one recognition factor.

Abstract: A method for assessing a performance of a speech recognition system may include determining a grade, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, wherein the grade indicates a level of the performance of the system and the grade is based on a recognition rate and at least one recognition factor. An apparatus for assessing a performance of a speech recognition system may include a processor that determines a grade, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, wherein the grade indicates a level of the performance of the system and wherein the grade is based on a recognition rate and at least one recognition factor.

Abstract: A method for assessing a performance of a speech recognition system may include determining a grade, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, wherein the grade indicates a level of the performance of the system and the grade is based on a recognition rate and at least one recognition factor. An apparatus for assessing a performance of a speech recognition system may include a processor that determines a grade, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, wherein the grade indicates a level of the performance of the system and wherein the grade is based on a recognition rate and at least one recognition factor.

Abstract: A method of improving the useful life of a sign or display is provided. In this method, a sign or display comprising two images and an intervening opaque layer is provided. When the quality of the first of the images to be shown has degraded to an unacceptable degree, the sign or display is reversed to show the second image, which has been at least partially protected from environmental degradation by the intervening opaque layer.

Abstract: A method for assessing a performance of a speech recognition system may include determining a grade, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, wherein the grade indicates a level of the performance of the system and the grade is based on a recognition rate and at least one recognition factor. An apparatus for assessing a performance of a speech recognition system may include a processor that determines a grade, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words among a set of words, wherein the grade indicates a level of the performance of the system and wherein the grade is based on a recognition rate and at least one recognition factor.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for identifying possible errors made by a speech recognition system without using a transcript of words input to the system. A method for model adaptation for a speech recognition system includes determining an error rate, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words, without using a transcript of words input to the system. The method may further include adjusting an adaptation, of the model for the word or various models for the various words, based on the error rate. Apparatus are disclosed for identifying possible errors made by a speech recognition system without using a transcript of words input to the system. An apparatus for model adaptation for a speech recognition system includes a processor adapted to estimate an error rate, corresponding to either recognition of instances of a word or recognition of instances of various words, without using a transcript of words input to the system.