Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for configuring and managing network devices. The arrival (and departure) of devices on a network can be detected by a monitor. Upon detection, network devices can be simply and dynamically configured with little or no end-user intervention, for instance by automatically loading device drivers and allocating resources for the devices. Furthermore, network devices can be associated with other network devices such as a personal computer to facilitate seamless integration of network devices with a computer operating system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for configuring and managing network devices. The arrival (and departure) of devices on a network can be detected by a monitor. Upon detection, network devices can be simply and dynamically configured with little or no end-user intervention, for instance by automatically loading device drivers and allocating resources for the devices. Furthermore, network devices can be associated with other network devices such as a personal computer to facilitate seamless integration of network devices with a computer operating system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for configuring and managing network devices. The arrival (and departure) of devices on a network can be detected by a monitor. Upon detection, network devices can be simply and dynamically configured with little or no end-user intervention, for instance by automatically loading device drivers and allocating resources for the devices. Furthermore, network devices can be associated with other network devices such as a personal computer to facilitate seamless integration of network devices with a computer operating system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus that utilize a context-free grammar written in a markup language format. The markup language format provides a hierarchical format in which grammar structures are delimited within and defined by a set of tags. The markup language format also provides grammar switch tags that indicate a transitions from the context-free grammar to a dictation grammar or a text buffer grammar. In addition, the markup language format provides for the designation of code to be executed when particular grammar structures are recognized from a speech signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and computer-readable medium for searching for programming objects on a computer system. Under the invention, object attributes that are stored outside of a static attribute storage area are inspected during the search for programming objects.

Abstract: A computer-loadable data structure is provided that represents a state-and-transition-based description of a speech grammar. The data structure includes first and second transition entries that both represent transitions from a first state. The second transition entry is contiguous with the first transition entry in the data structure and includes a last-transition value. The last-transition value indicates that the second transition is the last transition from the first state in the data structure.

Abstract: Data associated with a function instance corresponding to a resource on one computer system is published for use on another computer system. A function instance is created on the other computer system using the published data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and computer-readable medium for searching for programming objects on a computer system. Under one aspect of the invention, optional search attributes are used to order a list of references to found programming objects. Under a second aspect of the invention, object attributes that are stored outside of a static attribute storage area are inspected during the search for programming objects. Under a third aspect of the invention, different sets of object data are allowed to reference the same programming object class, and different objects of a single programming object class may be initialized in different ways so that they exhibit different attributes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and computer-readable medium for searching for programming objects on a computer system. Under one aspect of the invention, optional search attributes are used to order a list of references to found programming objects. Under a second aspect of the invention, object attributes that are stored outside of a static attribute storage area are inspected during the search for programming objects.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus that utilize a context-free grammar written in a markup language format. The markup language format provides a hierarchical format in which grammar structures are delimited within and defined by a set of tags. The markup language format also provides grammar switch tags that indicate a transitions from the context-free grammar to a dictation grammar or a text buffer grammar. In addition, the markup language format provides for the designation of code to be executed when particular grammar structures are recognized from a speech signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus that utilize a context-free grammar written in a markup language format. The markup language format provides a hierarchical format in which grammar structures are delimited within and defined by a set of tags. The markup language format also provides grammar switch tags that indicate a transitions from the context-free grammar to a dictation grammar or a text buffer grammar. In addition, the markup language format provides for the designation of code to be executed when particular grammar structures are recognized from a speech signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides an application-independent and engine-independent middleware layer (204) between applications (202) and engines (206, 208). The middleware provides speech-related services to both applications (202) and engines (206, 208), thereby making it far easier for application vendors and engine vendors to bring their technology to consumers.

Abstract: A computer-loadable data structure is provided that represents a state-and-transition-based description of a speech grammar. The data structure includes first and second transition entries that both represent transitions from a first state. The second transition entry is contiguous with the first transition entry in the data structure and includes a last-transition value. The last-transition value indicating that the second transition is the last transition from the first state in the data structure.

Abstract: A system for allocating resources for use by devices of a computer. Device information for the devices of the computer is collected to uniquely identify the devices and to describe the device characteristics associated with the operation of those devices with the computer. A list of device configurations is constructed in response to the collection of device information. Each device is represented by at least one device configuration, which defines the resource element requirements for the corresponding device. Computer resources, which support the functions of the devices within the computer, are allocated based upon the device configurations and the availability of the desired resources. This allocation process prevents a potential conflicting use of computer resources by the installed devices.

Abstract: A computer-loadable data structure is provided that represents a state-and-transition-based description of a speech grammar. The data structure includes first and second transition entries that both represent transitions from a first state. The second transition entry is contiguous with the first transition entry in the data structure and includes a last-transition value. The last-transition value indicating that the second transition is the last transition from the first state in the data structure. A method is also provided for retrieving information from a binary grammar. The method includes receiving an index into a set of transition entries and converting the index into a memory offset relative to the beginning of the binary grammar, where the offset is based on a memory offset to the beginning of the set of transition entries, the fixed size of each transition entry and the index.

Abstract: The present invention includes a context-free grammar (CFG) engine which communicates through an exposed interface with a speech recognition engine. The context-free grammar engine, in one illustrative embodiment, handles loading and unloading of grammars, as well as maintaining a desired activation state of the grammars which are loaded. Further, the CFG engine represents all loaded grammars, and their corresponding activation states, as a single grammar to the speech recognition engine.

Abstract: The present invention provides an application-independent and engine-independent middleware layer (204) between applications (202) and engines (206, 208). The middleware provides speech-related services to both applications (202) and engines (206, 208), thereby making it far easier for application vendors and engine vendors to bring their technology to consumers.

Abstract: The present invention provides an application-independent and engine-independent middleware layer between applications and engines. The middleware provides speech-related services to both applications and engines, thereby making it far easier for application vendors and engine vendors to bring their technology to consumers.

Abstract: The present invention provides an application-independent and engine-independent middleware layer (204) between applications (202) and engines (206, 208). The middleware provides speech-related services to both applications (202) and engines (206, 208), thereby making it far easier for application vendors and engine vendors to bring their technology to consumers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method of notifying a speech related application of events generated by a speech related engine. A middleware layer receives a notification selection from the application. The notification selection is indicative of a selected notification mechanism for notifying the application of the events. The middleware component receives an event indication from the engine. The event indication is indicative of an event generated by the engine. The event indication is transferred to the application according to the selected notification mechanism.