Abstract: An apparatus and method for selective distributed speech recognition includes a dialog manager (104) that is capable of receiving a grammar type indicator (170). The dialog manager (104) is capable of being coupled to an external speech recognition engine (108), which may be disposed on a communication network (142). The apparatus and method further includes an audio receiver (102) coupled to the dialog manager (104) wherein the audio receiver (104) receives a speech input (110) and provides an encoded audio input (112) to the dialog manager (104). The method and apparatus also includes an embedded speech recognition engine (106) coupled to the dialog manager (104), such that the dialog manager (104) selects to distribute the encoded audio input (112) to either the embedded speech recognition engine (106) or the external speech recognition engine (108) based on the corresponding grammar type indicator (170).

Abstract: This coordinated floor and packet scheduling for Push-to-X over Cellular (PoC) services delays a packet data slot assignment until after a PoC floor has been granted (272) by a PoC server (251). By reducing the time period between slot assignment and floor grant, this method reduces the wasting of packet data network resources while the communication device (211) is waiting for a PoC floor grant. Setting up a Push-to-X over Cellular (PoC) call session includes an originating communication device (211) transmitting a PoC floor request message (270) to a PoC server (251), the PoC server (251) sending a PoC floor grant message (272) with treatment type “floor grant” to a packet control function, (232), the packet control function (232) assigning packet data slots to the originating communication device and setting up an active packet data session (280), and communicating a PoC floor grant and packet data slot assignment message (285) to the originating communication device (211).

Abstract: A communication system provides for an active handoff of a voice call between a packet switched network and a circuit switched network. An active handoff from the packet switched network to the circuit switched network is accomplished by multicasting the call over forward links of both networks during the handoff. An active handoff from the circuit switched network to the packet switched network is accomplished by multicasting the call over reverse links of both networks during the handoff. The former handoff further may be facilitated by routing the call for each network through a same packet data control switch, and the latter handoff further may be facilitated by routing the call for each network through a same mobile switching center. In order for a subscriber unit to operate concurrently in both networks, the subscriber unit may comprise multiple transceivers or a single transceiver that is rapidly switched between the networks.

Abstract: A communication system provides for an active handoff of a voice call between a packet switched network and a circuit switched network. An active handoff from the packet switched network to the circuit switched network is accomplished by multicasting the call over forward links of both networks during the handoff. An active handoff from the circuit switched network to the packet switched network is accomplished by multicasting the call over reverse links of both networks during the handoff. The former handoff further may be facilitated by routing the call for each network through a same packet data control switch, and the latter handoff further may be facilitated by routing the call for each network through a same mobile switching center. In order for a subscriber unit to operate concurrently in both networks, the subscriber unit may comprise multiple transceivers or a single transceiver that is rapidly switched between the networks.

Abstract: A communication system provides for an active handoff of a voice call between a packet switched network and a circuit switched network. An active handoff from the packet switched network to the circuit switched network is accomplished by multicasting the call over forward links of both networks during the handoff. An active handoff from the circuit switched network to the packet switched network is accomplished by multicasting the call over reverse links of both networks during the handoff. The former handoff further may be facilitated by routing the call for each network through a same packet data control switch, and the latter handoff further may be facilitated by routing the call for each network through a same mobile switching center. In order for a subscriber unit to operate concurrently in both networks, the subscriber unit may comprise multiple transceivers or a single transceiver that is rapidly switched between the networks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multi-modal communication includes a controller (236) operably coupled to at least one multi-modal session proxy server (226). On a per multi-modal session basis, the controller (236) provides the multi-modal session proxy server (226) with a multi-modal proxy identifier (138). The multi-modal proxy identifier (138) is then provided to at least one browser with a per session multi-modal proxy evaluator (220) having a browser proxy identifier (140) wherein the browser proxy identifier (140) is evaluated in view of the multi-modal proxy identifier (138). The multi-modal session proxy server (226) then receives an information request (231) from the browser with per session multi-modal proxy evaluator (220) wherein the requested information is fetched from a content server (240).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multi-modal communication includes a controller (236) operably coupled to at least one multi-modal session proxy server (226). On a per multi-modal session basis, the controller (236) provides the multi-modal session proxy server (226) with a multi-modal proxy identifier (138). The multi-modal proxy identifier (138) is then provided to at least one browser with a per session multi-modal proxy evaluator (220) having a browser proxy identifier (140) wherein the browser proxy identifier (140) is evaluated in view of the multi-modal proxy identifier (138). The multi-modal session proxy server (226) then receives an information request (231) from the browser with per session multi-modal proxy evaluator (220) wherein the requested information is fetched from a content server (240).

Abstract: Session Inter-Device (SID) mobility networks (50, 100, 150) are described in which a seamless transfer of a communication session from a first device (56. 106, 116) to a second device (66, 116, 166) can be achieved without interrupting the active session. According to the SID mobility network (50), the transfer can be accomplished by transferring away from the Transferring Node or first device (56) the IP address associated with the active session (58) so that the network (50) will route the session to the desired Target Node or second device (66). The Transferring Node (56) transfers its IP address (58) to the Agent (60) and stops requesting data packets addressed to its IP address (58). The Agent (60) then begins to request and eventually receive the packets addressed to the Transferring Node's IP address (58). The Agent (60) then transfers the packets to the Target Node (66).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multi-modal communication includes a controller (236) operably coupled to at least one multi-modal session proxy server (226). On a per multi-modal session basis, the controller (236) provides the multi-modal session proxy server (226) with a multi-modal proxy identifier (138). The multi-modal proxy identifier (138) is then provided to at least one browser with a per session multi-modal proxy evaluator (220) having a browser proxy identifier (140) wherein the browser proxy identifier (140) is evaluated in view of the multi-modal proxy identifier (138). The multi-modal session proxy server (226) then receives an information request (231) from the browser with per session multi-modal proxy evaluator (220) wherein the requested information is fetched from a content server (240).

Abstract: A communication system provides separate subscription keys for a non-subscriber version of a broadcast-multicast flow and a subscriber-only version of the flow, thereby controlling who may store or render the flow. In one embodiment, separate subscription keys may be assigned to a same broadcast-multicast flow. The communication system may then switch the keys used to encrypt the flow, or may use different keys to encrypt different copies of the flow, in order to allow at least non-subscribers to view one version of the flow and only subscribers to view another version of the flow. In another embodiment, the communication system may assign a group subscription key to a group of broadcast-multicast flows that is separate from the keys assigned to each individual flow. The group subscription key may then be used to encrypt a non-subscriber version of any broadcast-multicast flow in the group of broadcast-multicast flows.

Abstract: A dispatch based call system configured to contact a call center using a single unique name or number. Multiple users are able to simultaneously dispatch the single generic call center number and communicate with a unique end station or individual at the call center. A user, or subscriber unit, when dispatching a call communicates initially with the service provider infrastructure. The infrastructure then establishes communication with the call center. The call center determines the identifier of an available end station and the subscriber is subsequently connected to the available end station.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of storing streaming media in a memory associated with a wireless communication device in response to receiving a communication request. A wireless transmission of the media streaming session content can be received at the wireless communication device. The media streaming session content can be played at the wireless communication device while receiving the media streaming session content. A communication request can be received. Subsequent media streaming session content can be stored in a memory associated with the wireless communication device in response to receiving the communication request.

Abstract: A method and apparatus maintains, during non-session conditions and on a per user basis, concurrent multimodal session status information of user agent programs configured for different concurrent modality communication during the same session, and re-establish a concurrent multimodal session in response to accessing the concurrent multimodal session status information.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for adaptive broadcast transmission. A broadcast transmission can be received. Insufficiency of a broadcast channel quality can be determined. A negative acknowledgement signal can be sent on a common uplink channel in response to determining the broadcast channel quality is insufficient. The negative acknowledgement signal can be received on the common uplink channel at another location, the negative acknowledgement signal indicating broadcast channel quality is insufficient. The broadcast channel quality can be adjusted in response to receiving the negative acknowledgement signal.

Abstract: An apparatus, architecture and method for floor control in a Push-to-Talk system. A mobile station (203) may transmit a floor request message or messages and request multiple floors. Each floor may correspond to a media type having multiple media streams. A PoC server (201) assigns a priority to media types and/or media streams such that for example, a mobile station (203) may have a floor to transmit a video clip having audio and video streams to a talk group (207), and a member of the talk group may have a floor to transmit audio voice commentary on the media to the talk group (207). The embodiments of the present invention enable multimedia communication use cases without the need for duplication of the state machine at each node, thereby conserving resources.

Abstract: A system and method for multi-level distributed speech recognition includes a terminal (122) having a terminal speech recognizer (136) coupled to a microphone (130). The terminal speech recognizer (136) receives an audio command (37), generating at least one terminal recognized audio command having a terminal confidence value. A network element (124) having at least one network speech recognizer (150) also receives the audio command (149), generating a at least one network recognized audio command having a network confidence value. A comparator (152) receives the recognized audio commands, comparing compares the speech recognition confidence values. The comparator (152) provides an output (162) to a dialog manager (160) of at least one recognized audio command, wherein the dialog manager then executes an operation based on the at least one recognized audio command, such as presenting the at least one recognized audio command to a user for verification or accessing a content server.

Abstract: A system and method for processing information about an incident is provided. The system comprises two or more communication devices (104, 112-126) in communication with each other and a central authority (128) capable of receiving data from the communication devices. Each communication device (104, 112-126) includes a media sensor (222) to collect data relating to an incident event (102). One communication device (104), in response to a user activation input, transmits a request signal to one or more other communication devices (112-126). Any communication device (112-126) that receives the request signal may collect data relating to the incident event (102) in response to the request signal. The central authority (128), after receiving the data collected by the wireless communication devices (104, 112-126), performs an action in response to receiving the data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selective speech recognition includes receiving a media file (112) having a media type indicator (114). The method and apparatus further includes a browser (104) that receives the media file and a speech recognition engine selector (106) that receives the media type indicator from the browser (104). The selected speech recognition engine selector (106) then selects either a first speech recognition engine (108) or a second speech recognition engine (110), in response to the media type indicator. The method and apparatus further includes an audio receiver (102) that receives an audio input (116) which is provided to the enabled first speech recognition engine (108) or the second speech recognition engine (110), thereupon allowing for the reduction in power consumption by disabling a speech recognition engine (108 or 110) until actively selected by the speech recognition engine selector (106).

Abstract: A multimodal network element facilitates concurrent multimodal communication sessions through differing user agent programs on one or more devices. For example, a user agent program communicating in a voice mode, such as a voice browser in a voice gateway that includes a speech engine and call/session termination, is synchronized with another user agent program operating in a different modality, such as a graphical browser on a mobile device. The plurality of user agent programs are operatively coupled with a content server during a session to enable concurrent multimodal interaction.

Abstract: A method of locking a communication device based on proximity includes a step of providing (202) a location device that is positioned on the person of an authorized user of the communication device. The communication device and the location device are initialized (204) to define proximity locking rules. Signals are transmitted (206) by the location device and detected (208) by the communication device to determine proximity (210). If the devices are found to not be in proximity to each other, at least one function of the communication device is locked (211) from use, to prevent unauthorized use of the communication device if it were to be lost or stolen.