Abstract: Speech processing tasks may be allocated at least partly to a local device (e.g., user computing device that receives spoken words) and at least partly to a remote device to determine one or more user commands or tasks to be performed by the local device. The remote device may be used to process speech that the local device could not process or understand, or for other reasons, such as for error checking. The local device may then execute or begin to execute locally determined tasks to reduce user-perceived latency. Meanwhile, the entire media input, or a portion thereof, may be sent to the remote device to process speech, verify the tasks and/or identify other user commands in the media input (or portion thereof).

Abstract: Speech processing tasks may be allocated at least partly to a local device (e.g., user computing device that receives spoken words) and at least partly to a remote device to determine one or more user commands or tasks to be performed by the local device. The remote device may be used to process speech that the local device could not process or understand, or for other reasons, such as for error checking. The local device may then execute or begin to execute locally determined tasks to reduce user-perceived latency. Meanwhile, the entire media input, or a portion thereof, may be sent to the remote device to process speech, verify the tasks and/or identify other user commands in the media input (or portion thereof).

Abstract: Avatar animation may be enhanced to reflect emotion and other human traits when animated to read messages received from other users or other messages. A message may be analyzed to determine visual features associated with data in the message. The visual features may be depicted graphically by the avatar to create enhanced avatar animation. A text-based message may include indicators, such as punctuation, font, words, graphics, and/or other information, which may be extracted to create the visual features. This information may be used to select visual features as special animation, which may be implemented in animation of the avatar. Examples of visual features include animations of laugher, smiling, clapping, whistling, and/or other animations.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to migrating an avatar from a first computing device to a second computing device during a user interaction with the avatar, such as during a user-support session with the avatar. Migration includes depicting the avatar on the first device at a first time and then terminating the avatar on the first device and displaying the avatar on a second, different device at a second time. In some embodiments, the avatar may be migrated along with content. The first device may transfer data to the second device using a peer-to-peer transfer. In some embodiments, a remote computing device may facilitate the migration of the avatar and content between devices.

Abstract: Video is processed based on the color content of a video frame. A frame-specific or sequence-specific color cube is created in order to efficiently use the available bandwidth, and to efficiently carry out conventional video operations. The color cube is a statistically tuned subset of the original color space.

Abstract: The instantaneous power consumption of an appliance is used to determine the status of the appliance, from which further actions may be taken. This invention is premised on the observation that most appliances have a characteristic power consumption pattern that can be used to determine the state of operation of the appliance. An electric coffee pot, for example, consumes high power substantially continuously during the brewing state, then reduces its power level, or power duration, or both, while keeping the pot warm, then terminates its power consumption when it is turned off. In like manner, the power consumption patterns of other appliances, such as toasters, washing machines, dryers, and so on may also be used to determine the state of each appliance. The communicated state may be used by a home-automation system to effect a variety of actions, including notifying the user, terminating the available power to the appliance, initiating an action by another appliance, and so on.

Abstract: A video or audio play-back apparatus has a variable random play option to control a degree of randomnees of the selections made from a play list.

Abstract: A system is provided which uses a camera to generate an image of an environment to be controlled by the user. The image is displayed on a display monitor of a control device. The control device allows the user to interact with a region of the image on the display monitor. The region corresponds to controllable consumer electronics (CE) equipment displayed within the image of the environment. Interaction with the region causes the CE equipment to be controlled in a pre-programmed manner.

Abstract: On a Web document a user interface element such as a link or hypertext link is associated with a first path leading to a first resource. Similarly in a list of bookmarks, a bookmark is associated with a first path leading to a first resource. If the first path is invalid, the element is associated with a valid sub-path of the first path. A visual indicator may be caused to indicate the level of validity of the first path. The first path associated with the element may be replaced by the valid sub-path. The first path may comprise a series of hierarchical locations on a network. The sub-path may be derived from the original path by going up at least one location in the series of hierarchical locations.

Abstract: A CE device has a generator for generating data to create an on-screen menu for a GUI. These data is transferred via the Internet to a remote location where the user is given visual feedback for control of the apparatus. Control is achieved via the Internet and a home server driving an IR blaster local to the apparatus.

Abstract: An image is transferred from a sender to a receiver. The image is progressively re-created at a display of the receiver. First, a low-resolution full-color representation of the image is transferred. Then, a full-resolution limited-color representation of the image is sent. The pixel values of the full-resolution representation typically represent alpha-numerical characters or edges of features. The representations are combined to create a version of the image by modifying the pixels of first representation under control of the limited-color content of the spatially corresponding pixel of the second representation. The legibility of the combined image is achieved considerably faster than with conventional techniques.