Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-modal messaging that enable a user to compose, send and retrieve messages, such as SMS, MMS, IM or ordinary e-mail messages, for example, using one or more I/O (input/output) modalities (e.g., speech I/O and/or GUI I/O). A method for composing messages combines the advantages of a multi-modal interface (e.g., grammar-based speech and touchscreen or similar input devices) and message templates, which allows a user to construct a message with significantly less effort in a fraction of the time required by conventional methods. The user can dictate his/her messages using speech and/or GUI input, for example, based on a library of message templates which can be personalized by the user to fit his/her social interaction needs.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of allowing a user to roam from one wireless network and interact with an Internet-based application is disclosed. The method comprises establishing a connection between a wireless mobile device and a first wireless network, wherein the connection allows the wireless mobile device to interact with an Internet-based application; tracking a state of interaction between the wireless mobile device and the Internet-based application; terminating the connection between the wireless mobile device and the first wireless network; establishing a connection between the wireless mobile device and a second wireless network; and sending, to the Internet-based application, data representing a state of interaction of the wireless mobile device with the Internet-based application prior to terminating the connection between the wireless mobile device and the first wireless network.

Abstract: In a method for correlating charges in a service layer and a network layer, first charging data is determined for a service layer based on content or a service purchased for a user. Second charging data for a network layer is determined based on transmission for the content or service. The first and second charging data, with any respective metadata, are correlated in order to generate a single bill for the user. This bill may be for the transmission as well as the purchase of the content or service. In the correlation, charges for the network layer and/or the service layer may be changed based on the correlation. For example, duplicative charges such as charging for the content and the traffic used to download the content may be correlated and one of the charges may be changed or removed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed for switching a media streaming session between a plurality of networks. In one embodiment, a method of switching networks in a media streaming session can comprise detecting a plurality of networks available for communication of streaming data. The plurality of networks can include a first network providing a first streaming session and a second network. A determination can be made as to whether to switch the first streaming session from the first network. Determining to switch the first streaming session from the first network to the second network can be based on detecting a loss of the first network, detecting a lower cost alternative to the first network, etc. In response to determining to switch the first streaming session from the first network, the first streaming session can be switched from the first network to the second network.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed for using past presence information to help determine a current presence of a principal. In one embodiment, determining presence of a principal on one or more devices or communication channels can comprise periodically querying a plurality of devices to determine a presence of the principal on one or more of the plurality of devices. An indication of the presence of the principal on the one or more of the plurality of devices can be received and presence information related to the indication of the presence of the principal on the one or more devices can be stored. A request for a presence of the principal can be received and, in response, the stored presence information can be retrieved. The stored presence information and, in some cases, current presence information can be provided in response to the request for the presence of the principal.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed for providing customization to routing of messages in a system where routing is based on stored addresses, such as, for example, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) system, to pass through a firewall. In one embodiment, a method of providing customized routing of messages to pass through a firewall can comprise receiving a message from an initiating agent to a target communication identifier at a system for signaling between endpoints. The system can have one or more stored network addresses for each of a plurality of communication identifiers. One or more network addresses for the target endpoint can be determined from the stored network addresses associated to the communication identifier. One or more policies can be applied to the one or more network addresses for the target communication identifier to route the message through the firewall.

Abstract: System and methods for synchronizing interactions between mono-mode applications, different modes of a multi-modal application, and devices having different UI modalities. In one aspect, a multi-modal shell coordinates multiple mode processes (i.e. modalities) of the same application or multiple applications through API calls, whereby each mode process registers its active commands and the corresponding actions in each of the registered modalities. The multi-modal shell comprises a registry that is implemented with a command-to-action table. With the execution of a registered command, each of the corresponding actions are triggered to update each mode process accordingly, and possible update the registry to support new commands based on the change in state of the dialog or application. In another aspect, separate applications (with UI of different modalities) are coordinated via threads (e.g., applets) connected by socket connections (or virtual socket connections implemented differently).

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for a virtual mobile service provider. In one embodiment, a method comprises providing a first mobile service enabler for a first mobile service, the mobile service enabler having a first interface using a first format for communicating with a first set of content providers; and providing a second mobile service enabler for a second mobile service, the second mobile service enabler having a second interface using the first format for communicating with a second set of content providers. The method further comprises providing a plurality of drivers, each of the drivers configured to adapt communications received from the first and second mobile service enablers to a wireless network communications format associated with a wireless network access provider in communications with the respective driver.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of allowing a user to roam from one wireless network and interact with an Internet-based application is disclosed. The method comprises establishing a connection between a wireless mobile device and a first wireless network, wherein the connection allows the wireless mobile device to interact with an Internet-based application; tracking a state of interaction between the wireless mobile device and the Internet-based application; terminating the connection between the wireless mobile device and the first wireless network; establishing a connection between the wireless mobile device and a second wireless network; and sending, to the Internet-based application, data representing a state of interaction of the wireless mobile device with the Internet-based application prior to terminating the connection between the wireless mobile device and the first wireless network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing speech-based authentication, including the determination of a target discriminant based on an identity claim and on at least one target voiceprint model relating to a target speaker, of a background discriminant based on the identity claim and on at least one background voiceprint model relating to at least one background speaker, and of a score based on the target discriminant and the background discriminant, which score is used to accept or reject the identity claim.

Abstract: A conversational computing system that provides a universal coordinated multi-modal conversational user interface (CUI) (10) across a plurality of conversationally aware applications (11) (i.e., applications that “speak” conversational protocols) and conventional applications (12). The conversationally aware maps, applications (11) communicate with a conversational kernel (14) via conversational application APIs (13). The conversational kernel (14) controls the dialog across applications and devices (local and networked) on the basis of their registered conversational capabilities and requirements and provides a unified conversational user interface and conversational services and behaviors. The conversational computing system may be built on top of a conventional operating system and APIs (15) and conventional device hardware (16). The conversational kernel (14) handles all I/O processing and controls conversational engines (18).

Abstract: An audio splitting system for sharing speech data associated with the same utterance between multiple speech technologies (consumers). In one aspect, the system comprises one or more queues for storing data, a plurality of consumers each sharing the data stored in the one or more queues and a scheduler for managing the storage of the data in the one or more queues and the consumption of the data in the one or more queues by each of the plurality of consumers. The consumers will register their data requirements and priority requests with the scheduler. The scheduler assigns each of the plurality of consumers to one or more of the queues based on the registered data requirements.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for verifying spoken passwords and sentences with small decoder complexity requirements. A proposed method permits the verbal verification of a spoken password sentence without computationally extensive large-vocabulary decoding. A decoder preferably uses target baseforms (representing the original content to be verified) together with a special set of competing simplified baseforms that may be easily constructed using finite-state grammars (FSG).

Abstract: Systems and methods for building multi-modal browsers applications and, in particular, to systems and methods for building modular multi-modal browsers using a DOM (Document Object Model) and MVC (Model-View-Controller) framework that enables a user to interact in parallel with the same information via a multiplicity of channels, devices, and/or user interfaces, while presenting a unified, synchronized view of such information across the various channels, devices and/or user interfaces supported by the multi-modal browser. The use of a DOM framework (or specifications similar to DOM) allows existing browsers to be extended without modification of the underling browser code. A multi-modal browser framework is modular and flexible to allow various fat client and thin (distributed) client approaches.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing user-confirmation of an electronic transaction and in particular, protocols for enabling electronic signatures and confirmation of electronic documents and transactions such as electronic financial transactions and credit card payment. In one aspect, a method for confirming an electronic transaction, comprises the steps of: performing an electronic transaction between a first party and a second party; sending, by the second party, a request for confirmation of the electronic transaction to a predetermined, private mailbox associated with the first party; accessing the private mailbox by the first party; and sending, by the first party, a reply message to the request for confirmation to thereby confirm authorization of the electronic transaction.

Abstract: A system and method for providing automatic and coordinated sharing of conversational resources, e.g., functions and arguments, between network-connected servers and devices and their corresponding applications. In one aspect, a system for providing automatic and coordinated sharing of conversational resources inlcudes a network having a first and second network device, the first and second network device each comprising a set of conversational resources, a dialog manager for managing a conversation and executing calls requesting a conversational service, and a communication stack for communicating messages over the network using conversational protocols, wherein the conversational protocols establish coordinated network communication between the dialog managers of the first and second network device to automatically share the set of conversational resources of the first and second network device, when necessary, to perform their respective requested conversational service.

Abstract: Application development tools and method for building multi-channel, multi-device and multi-modal applications, and in particular, to systems and methods for developing applications whereby a user can interact in parallel with the same information via a multiplicity of channels and user interfaces, while a unified, synchronized views of the information are presented across the various channels or devices deployed by the user to interact with the information. In a preferred embodiment, application frameworks and development tools are preferably based on a MVC (Model-View-Controller) design paradigm that is adapted to provide synchronized multi-modal interactions. Multi-channel authoring can be developed using a similar methodology.

Abstract: Conversational protocols for implementing distributed conversational networking architectures and/or distributed conversational applications, as well as real-time conversational computing between network-connected pervasive computing devices and/or servers over a computer network. In one aspect of the invention, a communication stack for use in a real-time distributed conversational network comprises a first layer for generating encoded audio data, a second layer for wrapping encoded audio data in a real-time encoded audio data stream, and a third layer for wrapping control messages in a real-time control data stream for real-time control of conversational distributed functions over the network.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing conversational protocols for distributed conversational networking architectures and/or distributed conversational applications, as well as real-time conversational computing between network-connected pervasive computing devices and/or servers over a computer network. The implementation of distributed conversational systems/applications according to the present invention is based, in part, on a suitably defined conversational coding, transport and control protocols. The control protocols include session control protocols, protocols for exchanging of speech meta-information, and speech engine remote control protocols.

Abstract: A system and method for providing conversational computing via a protocol for automatic dialog management and arbitration between a plurality of conversational applications, and a framework for supporting such protocol, in a multi-modal and/or multi-channel environment. A DMAF (dialog manager and arbitrator facade) interfaces with one or more applications, and a hierarchical DMA architecture enables arbitration across the applications and within the same application between various sub-dialogs.