Abstract: A web accessibility service apparatus and method is provided. The web accessibility service apparatus and method provides accessibility tools to disabled users on a per-use basis. The provider of the accessibility tool is paid for each use of the accessibility tool to access content on the data network. The revenue may be obtained from content suppliers as consideration to the accessibility tool provider for providing another customer that otherwise may not have had access to their content. In this way, the accessibility tool is provided to the user at no cost, yet the provider of the accessibility tool is compensated for each use of their accessibility tool.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for training a speaker-dependent Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) system to a desired level of accuracy. In one aspect of the system and method, a user requests an ASR Training Center to train his or her ASR system within certain service parameters. During training, a certain level of accuracy is maintained, even during the very first session, by having a stenographer transcribe the audio material. When the user uses his or her ASR system, the stenographic transcription, rather than the ASR system transcription, is output to the user until the ASR Training Center determines that the user's ASR system has achieved the desired level of accuracy. The stenographic transcription is also used by the ASR Training Center to train the user's ASR system in a manner appropriate to that system.

Abstract: A situation controller for a vehicle. The situation controller includes a processing device and an image monitor coupled to the processing device, for monitoring images associated with one or more items within the vehicle. The situation controller also includes a device for communicating a message relating to the one or more monitored items wherein the content of the message is determined by the processing device based at least in part on the one or more monitored items. Additionally, a controller coupled to the processing device, for controlling at least one function of the vehicle in response to the one or more monitored items within the vehicle, is included.

Abstract: Generally, the present invention provides the ability to present a mixed display of a transcription to a user. The mixed display is preferably organized in a hierarchical fashion. Words, syllables and phones can be placed on the same display by the present invention, and the present invention can select the appropriate symbol transcription based on the parts of speech that meet minimum confidences. Words are displayed if they meet a minimum confidence or else syllables, which make up the word, are displayed. Additionally, if a syllable does not meet a predetermined confidence, then phones, which make up the syllable, may be displayed. A transcription, in one aspect of the present invention, may also be described as a hierarchical transcription, because a unique confidence is derived that accounts for mixed word/syllable/phone data.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for controlling at least one traffic light having a vehicle having a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting and receiving traffic control signals, and a control unit for processing traffic control signals; and a traffic control module having a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting and receiving traffic control signals, a control unit for processing traffic control signals, traffic light control logic for controlling the at least one traffic light, and means to connect to the at least one traffic light; wherein the traffic control signals control the flow of traffic about the at least one traffic light enabling a vehicle to travel from a present location to a destination passing through intersections at which traffic flow is controlled by the at least one traffic light; and also including means for controlling at least one traffic light on a selected optimal route in response to the traffic control signals.

Abstract: Information is gathered about movements of a person, which could be an adult or child. This information is mapped to one or more game controller commands. The game controller commands are coupled to a videogame, and the videogame responds to the game controller commands as it would normally.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for real time teleconferencing, where one of the participants is deaf or hearing-impaired. In one aspect of the system and method, each participant has an Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) system and a chat service system, such as AOL Instant Messenger™. Each participant may have a different type of ASR system, as well as a different type of chat service system. It is not necessary that the deaf or hearing-impaired participant have an ASR system. For each participant, the participant's ASR system transcribes the speech of the participant and provides it to the participant's chat service system, which translates the transcribed text into the chat service message in the format of the participant's chat service system.

Abstract: A situation controller for a vehicle. The situation controller includes a processing device and an image monitor coupled to the processing device, for monitoring images associated with one or more items within the vehicle. The situation controller also includes a device for communicating a message relating to the one or more monitored items wherein the content of the message is determined by the processing device based at least in part on the one or more monitored items. Additionally, a controller coupled to the processing device, for controlling at least one function of the vehicle in response to the one or more monitored items within the vehicle, is included.

Abstract: A system and method for collaborating multiple ASR (automatic speech recognition) systems. The system and method analyzes voice data on various computers having speech recognition residing thereon. The speech recognition residing on the various computers may be different systems. The speech recognition systems detect voice data and recognize their respective masters. The master computer as well as those computers which did not recognize their master may analyze the voice data (evaluate) and then integrate this analyzed voice data into a single decoded output. In this manner, many different speakers, utilizing the system and method for collaborating multiple ASR systems, may have their voice data analyzed and integrated into a single decoded output, regardless of ASR systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus improve the synchronization and presentation of an exchange of messages between two or more users during an on-line Internet messaging session. This method and apparatus discriminate which messages from a sender correspond to replies from a recipient and presents these messages in an orderly, time-sequenced fashion using color schemes or separate presentation windows which improves the overall readability and efficiency of the communication. Additionally, the method and apparatus provide a level of identity security. As a user enters messages, the typing style, speech patterns, or boimetrics of all the users are monitored and will issue warnings whenever a change is detected, possibly indicating someone other then the original user is now sending messages. Alternatively, or in addition, a user may be asked a series of random questions and another user will evaluate answers provided to those questions to determine whether a user's identity is false.

Abstract: A system for enabling the transmission of a prepared message to multiple intended recipients, wherein the information contained in the message is substantially the same as received for all the recipients but differs in parts or portions for certain recipients comprising: a module containing the entire message which includes both the common and unique information to be transmitted and the instructions for selectively providing the information to different recipients; and scheme for sending together from the module all the parts or portions of the information to all recipients, but including means responsive to the instructions, for having selectively different parts or portions of the information received by the different recipients.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for transcribing speech when a number of speakers are participating. A number of different speech recognition systems, each with a different speaker model, are executed in parallel. When the identity of all of the participating speakers is known and a speaker model is available for each participant, each speech recognition system employs a different speaker model suitable for a corresponding participant. Each speech recognition system decodes the speech and generates a corresponding confidence score. The decoded output having the highest confidence score is selected for presentation to a user. When all participating speakers are not known, or when there are too many participants to implement a unique speaker model for each participant, a speaker independent speech recognition system is employed together with a speaker specific speech recognition system.

Abstract: Information is gathered about movements of a person, which could be an adult or child. This information is mapped to one or more game controller commands. The game controller commands are coupled to a videogame, and the videogame responds to the game controller commands as it would normally.

Abstract: A method for promoting use of a product having an adaptation module is provided comprising the steps of: providing sample data of a person; accessing the sample data associated with the person; using the sample data to adapt the product to the person utilizing the adaptation module of the product; making the product available to the person; tracking use of the adapted product by the selected person; storing data in the person database as tracking data associated with the selected person; obtaining feedback data from the selected person regarding the selected person's satisfaction with the product; storing the feedback data in the person database in association with the selected person; incorporating the tracking data and the feedback data associated with the selected person into an advertisement; and advertising the product.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for educating an individual with the skills necessary to perform a new job, as well as providing the individual with practical work experience by providing the individual with work to perform, where the work is capable of being performed by someone having the individual's skill level.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for controlling at least one traffic light having a vehicle having a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting and receiving traffic control signals, and a control unit for processing said traffic control signals; and a traffic control module having a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting and receiving said traffic control signals, a control unit for processing said traffic control signals, traffic light control logic for controlling said at least one traffic light, and means to connect to said at least one traffic light; wherein said traffic control signals control the flow of traffic about said at least one traffic light enabling said vehicle to travel from a present location to a destination passing through intersections at which traffic flow is controlled by said at least one traffic light.

Abstract: A method for providing a service for a traveler to acquire at least one item at the traveler's destination, comprising the steps of receiving a request from a traveler for obtaining at least one item; providing the traveler with the option to one of rent and purchase the at least one item, arranging for the at least one item to be supplied, arranging for shipping of the at least one item to a location selected by the traveler at a time selected by the traveler; and conducting a transaction with the traveler for obtaining the at least one item.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for educating an individual with the skills necessary to perform a new job, as well as providing the individual with practical work experience by providing the individual with work to perform, where the work is capable of being performed by someone having the individual's skill level.

Abstract: Apparatus for presenting images representative of one or more words in an utterance with corresponding decoded speech includes, in one aspect, a visual detector for capturing images of body movements (e.g., lip and/or mouth movements) corresponding to the one or more words in the utterance coupled to a visual feature extractor. The visual feature extractor receives time information from an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system and operatively processes the captured images from the visual detector to generate one or more image segments based on the time information relating to one or more decoded words in the utterance, each image segment corresponding to a decoded word in the utterance. An image player coupled to the visual feature extractor presents an image segment with a corresponding decoded word.

Abstract: A method and system for forming a virtual network. The method comprises the steps of providing each of a plurality of mobile objects with a transceiver, and transmitting a cellular/radio signals from a source. At least a first of the mobile objects is located in an area where the transceiver of the first mobile object does not receive the signal directly from the source, while a second of the mobile objects is in a position where the transceiver of the second mobile object receives the signal directly from the source. The transceiver of the second mobile object is used to receive the signal directly from the source and to transmit the signal to the transceiver of the first mobile object.