Abstract: A method and system for presenting an icon on a computer graphic display, the icon being responsive to the type of link area on the computer graphic display. The link area on the computer graphic display is described by link instructions embedded in display format instructions, such as HTML format documents. The visually representative icon is displayed when a cursor, such as that controlled by a mouse, is positioned over the link area. The link instructions support services types such as telephone services, facsimile services, financial services, video services, help services and game services. The link instructions for the new services are described in new URL types or through scripting tools such as Active-X or JAVA scripts. The icons provide a visual representation of the service such as a telephone for telephone services; a dollar sign for financial services; or a video screen for video services.

Abstract: An individual's speech sample, obtained for the purpose of speaker verification, is used to create a "protected" model of the speech. The protected model, which is stored in a database in association with a personal identifier for that individual, is arranged so that the characteristics of the individual's speech cannot be ascertained from the protected model, without access to an encryption key or other secured information stored in the system.

Abstract: The user interface in an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system is dynamically controlled, based upon the level of confidence in the results of the ASR process. In one embodiment, the system is arranged to distinguish error prone ASR interpretations from those likely to be correct, using a degree of confidence in the output of the ASR system determined as a function of the difference between the confidence in the "first choice" selected by the ASR system and the confidence in the "second choice" selected by the ASR system. In this embodiment, the user interface is arranged so that the explicit verification steps taken by the system as a result of uncertain information is different from the action taken when the confidence is high. In addition, different treatment can be provided based upon the "consequences" of misinterpretation as well as the historical performance of the system with respect to the specific user whose speech is being processed.

Abstract: In a speaker verification system, a method of compensating for differences in speech samples obtained during registration and those obtained during verification due to the use of different types of microphones is provided by filtering at least one of the samples such that the similarities of the two samples are increased. The filtered sample is used within the speaker verification matching process. A two-way comparison is disclosed in which both a verification speech sample and a reference sample are filtered with nonlinear microphone characteristics such as carbon microphone characteristics. A four-way comparison is also disclosed in which patterns produced from unfiltered verification and reference samples and patterns produced from the filtered verification and reference samples are compared to identify a match. A score is determined for each comparison. The comparison having the best score is used to determine if a match has occurred.