Abstract: A method and apparatus for selective distributed speech recognition includes an embedded speech recognition engine (104) and a dialog manager (102), such as a browser, coupled to the embedded speech recognition engine (104). The method and apparatus further includes the dialog manager (102) being operably couple able to at least one external speech recognition engine (106), such as a WLAN speech recognition engine (108) or a network speech recognition engine (110). The method and apparatus further includes preference information (114), environment information (112) and a speech input (116) all provided to the dialog manager (102). The dialog manager (102), in response to the preference information (114) and the environment information (112), provides the speech input (116) to the embedded speech recognition engine (104), the WLAN speech recognition engine (108) or the network speech recognition engine (110).

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: A method of determining a location relevant to a user of a communication device is provided. The method involves determining general location information of the location relevant to the user and determining a list of location parameters from the general location information. Specific location of the communication device is also determined. The location relevant to the user is then determined by comparing the list of location parameters with the specific location information. Systems and programs for using the method are also provided.

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 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: A method and system for multi-modal communication has a terminal (102) with at least one input component (108) and at least one output component (112) coupled to a gateway (104) having a dialog manager (114). The system and method further has a content server (106) coupled to the dialog manager (114) wherein the content server (106) provides the dialog manager (114) with an encoded control command. Moreover, at least one input component (108) and at least one output component (112) are coupled to a control unit (110). The dialog manager (114) decodes the encoded control command, producing and providing a decoded control command to the control unit (110). In response to the decoded control command, the control unit (110) modifies at least one of the input components (108) and/or at least one of the output components (112).

Abstract: A method and apparatus, during a session, analyze fetched modality specific instructions for at least one modality associated with a first user agent program to determine if the modality specific instructions include a concurrent multimodal tag (CMMT); and if detected, provide modality specific instructions for at least a second user agent program operating in a different modality, based on the concurrent multimodal tag. Synchronization of output from the first and second user agent programs is carried out based on the modality specific instructions.

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 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: 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 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 multimodal communication system and method creates and accesses a multimodal profile (114) that contains at least multimodal preference information (202), such as desired input modality and a desired output modality for a given multimodal communication session. The multimodal profile (114) may also include at least one identifier (204) associated with the multimodal preference information (202). A multimodal communication apparatus (102) includes a multimodal profile generator (110) that accesses and/or generates a multimodal profile (114). A multimodal communication apparatus configuration controller (112) which is operatively responsive to the accessed multimodal preference information (124) from a given user profile, configures the multimodal communication apparatus (102) and/or a network element for the multimodal communication session based on the accessed multimodal preference information (124) in the multimodal profile.

Abstract: A method for storing geographic information at a communication node is provided. Geographic data is received and an authentication request to a geographic authentication database in communication with the communication node is transmitted. An authentication response is then received and the geographic data is stored in a storage database in communication with the communication node. Systems and programs for storing geographic information are also provided.

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: 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: 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 of determining a location relevant to a user of a communication device is provided. The method involves determining general location information of the location relevant to the user and determining a list of location parameters from the general location information. Specific location of the communication device is also determined. The location relevant to the user is then determined by comparing the list of location parameters with the specific location information. Systems and programs for using the method are also provided.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for selecting and executing an action in a communication node, wherein the communication node has access to at least a schedule database and a rules database. The method includes receiving an incoming communication and determining a priority of the communication, the priority being based on one or more of a caller identity, a device identity and an input priority value. The status of the subscriber is determined based on preexisting subscriber location and status information stored in the schedule database. The rules database is accessed, the rules database having a preexisting rule set of the subscriber. Responsive to the preexisting rule set, an action is selected based on a comparison of the communication priority and the subscriber status. The action is executed by the system.

Abstract: A method of identifying a route is provided. A route is described, for example by inputting a first location and a second location. A route-identifier is defined for the route, wherein the route-identifier identifies a route between the first location, which may for example be the starting location, and the second location, which may for example be the ending location. The route identifier is stored. The route identifier may be used to retrieve the route information. Methods and programs for identifying a route are also provided.

Abstract: A method for storing geographic information at a communication node is provided. Geographic data is received and an authentication request to a geographic authentication database in communication with the communication node is transmitted. An authentication response is then received and the geographic data is stored in a storage database in communication with the communication node. Systems and programs for storing geographic information are also provided.