Abstract: A digital speech enabled middleware module is disclosed that facilitates interaction between a large number of client devices and network-based automatic speech recognition (ASR) resources. The module buffers feature vectors associated with speech received from the client devices when the number of client devices is greater than the available ASR resources. When an ASR decoder becomes available, the module transmits the feature vectors to the ASR decoder and a recognition result is returned.

Abstract: A digital speech enabled middleware module is disclosed that facilitates interaction between a large number of client devices and network-based automatic speech recognition (ASR) resources. The module buffers feature vectors associated with speech received from the client devices when the number of client devices is greater than the available ASR resources. When an ASR decoder becomes available, the module transmits the feature vectors to the ASR decoder and a recognition result is returned.

Abstract: A magnifying assembly for use in enlarging information disposed on a container. In a preferred embodiment, the magnifying assembly comprises a container holder assembly for holding the container; and a magnifying lens coupled to the container holder assembly, wherein the magnifying lens is movable towards and away from the container while the container remains held by the container holder assembly; whereby information disposed on the container appears enlarged when viewed through the magnifying lens.

Abstract: A frequency hopping pattern of a frequency hopping signal is detected by use of spectrogram-generating software in a digital storage oscilloscope. By using a spectrogram, a hopping pattern can be determined without having to demodulate the signal, recover the phase or frequency of the carrier, determine optimal sample timing, or determine system timing. A block of data that contains at least one repetition of the hopping pattern in analyzed with respect to known hopping patterns as well as with respect to the duration in time of the relevant symbols of that data.

Abstract: Speech recognition models are dynamically re-configurable based on user information, application information, background information such as background noise and transducer information such as transducer response characteristics to provide users with alternate input modes to keyboard text entry. Word recognition lattices are generated for each data field of an application and dynamically concatenated into a single word recognition lattice. A language model is applied to the concatenated word recognition lattice to determine the relationships between the word recognition lattices and repeated until the generated word recognition lattices are acceptable or differ from a predetermined value only by a threshold amount. These techniques of dynamic re-configurable speech recognition provide for deployment of speech recognition on small devices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants as well environments such as office, home or vehicle while maintaining the accuracy of the speech recognition.

Abstract: Speech recognition models are dynamically re-configurable based on user information, application information, background information such as background noise and transducer information such as transducer response characteristics to provide users with alternate input modes to keyboard text entry. Word recognition lattices are generated for each data field of an application and dynamically concatenated into a single word recognition lattice. A language model is applied to the concatenated word recognition lattice to determine the relationships between the word recognition lattices and repeated until the generated word recognition lattices are acceptable or differ from a predetermined value only by a threshold amount. These techniques of dynamic re-configurable speech recognition provide for deployment of speech recognition on small devices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants as well environments such as office, home or vehicle while maintaining the accuracy of the speech recognition.

Abstract: A magnifying assembly for use in enlarging information disposed on a container. In a preferred embodiment, the magnifying assembly comprises a container holder assembly for holding the container; and a magnifying lens coupled to the container holder assembly, wherein the magnifying lens is movable towards and away from the container while the container remains held by the container holder assembly; whereby information disposed on the container appears enlarged when viewed through the magnifying lens.

Abstract: A tripod attachment assembly for attaching to a pair of binoculars, the tripod attachment comprising a support assembly; a coupling assembly releasably coupleable to the support assembly, for coupling the binoculars to the support assembly; and a locking assembly for releasably locking the coupling assembly to the support assembly. In the preferred embodiment, the coupling assembly is magnetically coupleable to the support assembly.

Abstract: A handheld magnifier comprising a handle; a magnifying lens; and a coupler for releaseably coupling the magnifying lens to the handle; wherein the coupler is coupled to the magnifying lens and comprises at least a first finger and a second finger; and the handle has a first receptacle for receiving the first finger of the coupler and a second receptacle for receiving the second finger of the coupler; wherein the fingers and the receptacles are coordinatingly configured so that the coupler is insertable into the handle when oriented such that the first finger is alignable with and insertable into the first receptacle and the second finger is alignable with and insertable into the second receptacle; and the first finger is not insertable into the second receptacle and/or the second finger is not insertable into the first receptacle.

Abstract: A system and method of updating automatic speech recognition parameters on a mobile device are disclosed. The method comprises storing user account-specific adaptation data associated with ASR on a computing device associated with a wireless network, generating new ASR adaptation parameters based on transmitted information from the mobile device when a communication channel between the computing device and the mobile device becomes available and transmitting the new ASR adaptation data to the mobile device when a communication channel between the computing device and the mobile device becomes available. The new ASR adaptation data on the mobile device more accurately recognizes user utterances.

Abstract: A retractable hanging apparatus that includes an engagement structure, such as a bar, upon which an article is hung or secured, with the engagement structure being suspended by one or more lines that are attached to a roller assembly rotatably mounted between two brackets. The roller assembly may be mounted to brackets alone or disposed inside a housing structure. The line or lines are secured to a roller assembly so that the article may be lowered to a particular height or may be elevated as desired. A braking system for preventing sudden retraction of the lines also is described.

Abstract: A frequency hopping pattern of a frequency hopping signal is detected by use of spectrogram-generating software in a digital storage oscilloscope. By using a spectrogram, a hopping pattern can be determined without having to demodulate the signal, recover the phase or frequency of the carrier, determine optimal sample timing, or determine system timing. A block of data that contains at least one repetition of the hopping pattern in analyzed with respect to known hopping patterns as well as with respect to the duration in time of the relevant symbols of that data.

Abstract: Speech recognition models are dynamically re-configurable based on user information, application information, background information such as background noise and transducer information such as transducer response characteristics to provide users with alternate input modes to keyboard text entry. Word recognition lattices are generated for each data field of an application and dynamically concatenated into a single word recognition lattice. A language model is applied to the concatenated word recognition lattice to determine the relationships between the word recognition lattices and repeated until the generated word recognition lattices are acceptable or differ from a predetermined value only by a threshold amount. These techniques of dynamic re-configurable speech recognition provide for deployment of speech recognition on small devices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants as well environments such as office, home or vehicle while maintaining the accuracy of the speech recognition.

Abstract: A retractable hanging apparatus that includes an engagement structure, such as a bar, upon which an article is hung or secured, with the engagement structure being suspended by one or more lines that are attached to a spring-biased roller assembly rotatably mounted between two brackets. The roller assembly may be mounted to brackets alone or disposed inside a housing structure. The lines are secured to a roller assembly so that the article may be lowered to a particular height or may, through a short but gentle pull of the engagement means, be elevated as desired. A braking system for preventing sudden retraction of the lines is also described.

Abstract: The invention concerns a localization and communication methods and system between mobile stations and a central server through a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless radio-frequency transmitting access points (APQ-AP4), among which a first access point is chosen to perform the communication, comprising the steps of measuring the signal strengths received by said station from the plurality of access points; storing each measured strength with an address identifying the corresponding connected access point; comparing said stored strengths to values of a predetermined table of signal strength thresholds affected to access points, defining one or more event zones (EVA, EVB) each comprising one or more attenuation ranges of one or more access points; and considering the station as located in a given event zone if the measured strength corresponding to an access point defining that event zone is comprised in the attenuation range of that access point.

Abstract: A retractable hanging apparatus that includes an engagement structure, such as a bar, upon which an article is hung or secured, with the engagement structure being suspended by one or more lines that are attached to a spring-biased roller assembly rotatably mounted between two brackets. The roller assembly may be mounted to brackets alone or disposed inside a housing structure. The lines are secured to a roller assembly so that the article may be lowered to a particular height or may, through a short but gentle pull of the engagement means, be elevated as desired. A braking system for preventing sudden retraction of the lines is also described.

Abstract: Methods and systems remotely monitor a current value of a meter display. A picture of the display is taken with a camera equipped portable communication device. The picture is sent through the portable communication device and associated infrastructure to a processing system. The processing system receives and stores the picture, and optionally verification data, imaging location data, and other data, in a datastore. The processing system processes the picture to obtain a current value of the meter and authenticates the sender and/or the meter using the verification data and/or location data.

Abstract: The invention concerns a localization and communication methods and system between mobile stations and a central server through a wireless network comprising a plurality of wireless radio-frequency transmitting access points (AP1-AP4), among which a first access point is chosen to perform the communication, comprising the steps of measuring the signal strengths received by said station from the plurality of access points; storing each measured strength with an address identifying the corresponding connected access point; comparing said stored strengths to values of a predetermined table of signal strength thresholds affected to access points, defining one or more event zones (EVA, EVB) each comprising one or more attenuation ranges of one or more access points; and considering the station as located in a given event zone if the measured strength corresponding to an access point defining that event zone is comprised in the attenuation range of that access point.