Abstract: Representative embodiments of operating a secured device requiring user authentication include receiving a request from a user for operating the device without prior authentication; granting the user temporary access to the device in accordance with a security policy that specifies a predetermined time interval and/or a predetermined number of device operations within which authentication must occur to continue at least some operations of the device; computationally storing an audit trail identifying the temporary access and actions performed during the temporary access; and upon determining that authentication has not been provided within the predetermined time interval or number of device operations, preventing at least some operations of the device and updating the audit trail to specify expiration of the temporary access.

Abstract: Representative embodiments of operating a secured device requiring user authentication include receiving a request from a user for operating the device without prior authentication; granting the user temporary access to the device in accordance with a security policy that specifies a predetermined time interval and/or a predetermined number of device operations within which authentication must occur to continue at least some operations of the device; computationally storing an audit trail identifying the temporary access and actions performed during the temporary access; and upon determining that authentication has not been provided within the predetermined time interval or number of device operations, preventing at least some operations of the device and updating the audit trail to specify expiration of the temporary access.

Abstract: The method enables a user of a client (2) to invoke predefined information units in a communications network per speech input. For this purpose, a client (2) downloads a private information unit (27) that enables a speech input from a server (6), a speech recognizer (8) produces a recognition result from an uttered speech input and with the recognition result a link (44-46, 48) to an information unit is determined in a data file (5) to which information unit a word (41-43, 47) is assigned that correlates with the recognition result.

Abstract: In a method in which an information unit (4) enabling a speech input is stored on a server (5) and can be retrieved by a client (1, 2, 3) and in which the client can be coupled to one or more speech recognizers (7, 8, 9) through a communications network (6), the information unit (4) is assigned additional information (12) which is provided for determining a combination of a client (1, 2, 3) for recognizing an uttered speech signal and at least one of the speech recognizers (7, 8, 9), to dynamically assign the speech recognizers (7, 8, 9) in a communications network (6) to the information units (4) and thus ensure an acceptable processing time for the recognition of a speech input with a high recognition quality.

Abstract: A huge vocabulary speech recognition system for recognizing a sequence of spoken words, having an input means for receiving a time-sequential input pattern representative of the sequence of spoken words. The system further includes a plurality of large vocabulary speech recognizers each being associated with a respective, different large vocabulary recognition model. Each of the recognition models is targeted to a specific part of the huge vocabulary. The system comprises a controller operative to direct the input pattern to a plurality of the speech recognizers and to select a recognized word sequence from the word sequences recognized by the plurality of speech recognizers.

Abstract: The transportation costs of a mass transit system are subsidized in the following manner. A person is enabled to use a mass transport system wherein a passenger uses a transportation pass. The pass is also validated for conducting a commercial transaction outside the system. This works as an incentive for people to use the system, and enables to acquire data about the flow of passengers in the system and beyond. Commercial enterprises may benefit from the data collection, and may further subsidize the system by attracting patrons through the pass that can serve as an electronic coupon.