Abstract: Systems and methods are described for speech systems that utilize an interaction manager to manage interactions—also known as dialogues—from one or more applications. The interactions are managed properly even if multiple applications use different grammars. The interaction manager maintains an interaction list. An application wishing to utilize the speech system submits one or more interactions to the interaction manager. Interactions are normally processed in the order in which they are received. An exception to this rule is an interaction that is configured by an application to be processed immediately, which causes the interaction manager to place the interaction at the front of the interaction list of interactions. If an application has designated an interaction to interrupt a currently processing interaction, then the newly submitted application will interrupt any interaction currently being processed and, therefore, it will be processed immediately.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the dynamic volume control, an indication that a user desires to input oral data to a system through one or more microphones of the system is received. In response to receipt of the indication, a volume level for audible signals output by one or more speakers of the system is automatically adjusted. In accordance with another aspect of the dynamic volume control, an indication that a communications source is about to output data through one or more speakers of a system is received. In response to receipt of the indication, a volume level for audible signals output by the one or more speakers is automatically adjusted based at least in part on a current volume setting. The volume level for the audible signals can be determined based on one or more of a variety of different parameters.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a speech system that manages multiple grammars from one or more speech-enabled applications. The speech system includes a speech server that supports different grammars and different types of grammars by exposing several methods to the speech-enabled applications. The speech server supports static grammars that do not change and dynamic grammars that may change after a commit. The speech server provides persistence by supporting persistent grammars that enable a user to issue a command to an application even when the application is not loaded. In such a circumstance, the application is automatically launched and the command is processed. The speech server may enable or disable a grammar in order to limit confusion between grammars. Global and yielding grammars are also supported by the speech server. Global grammars are always active (e.g., “call 9-1-1”) while yielding grammars may be deactivated when an interaction whose grammar requires priority is active.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the dynamic volume control, an indication that a user desires to input oral data to a system through one or more microphones of the system is received. In response to receipt of the indication, a volume level for audible signals output by one or more speakers of the system is automatically adjusted. In accordance with another aspect of the dynamic volume control, an indication that a communications source is about to output data through one or more speakers of a system is received. In response to receipt of the indication, a volume level for audible signals output by the one or more speakers is automatically adjusted based at least in part on a current volume setting. The volume level for the audible signals can be determined based on one or more of a variety of different parameters.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect, a portable computing device determines a type of an appliance in which the portable computing device is docked. The portable computing device identifies, based on the type of the appliance, a user interface configuration for the portable computing device, and configures the user interface of the portable computing device in accordance with the identified user interface configuration. In accordance with another aspect, a car stereo includes a docking station into which an off-the-shelf handheld computer can be docked. The car stereo also includes an input/output (I/O) component that allows the car stereo to communicate with the handheld computer when the handheld computer is docked in the docking station of the car stereo. In accordance with another aspect, an appliance in which a portable computing device can be docked is an integrated vehicle stereo and portable computing device docking station.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a speech system that includes one or more speech controls incorporated into one or more speech-enabled applications that run on the speech system. The controls allow applications to be developed with minimal programming effort to incorporate common speech-enabled application functions. A question control provides a customizable template for requesting information from a user. An announcer control allows a speech-enabled application to provide a user with information without having to re-create an entire announcer process each time it is used. A command control provides a simple way to attach command and control functions to speech-enabled applications. A word trainer control provides a way to associate user-selected voice tags with certain information. Providing the controls for use with speech-enabled applications ensures standardized user interfaces across multiple speech-enabled applications.

Abstract: A portable electronic device that automatically detects its mode of use and alters a characteristic of its user interface to match the mode of use. A mobile telephone is described as an example of a portable electronic device. The telephone is equipped with a proximity sensor that may indicate whether the telephone is held close or far from the user's face. Based on the proximity to the user's face, gains in the audio interface are adjusted. The gain is reduced when the device is held close to a user's face and increased when the device is moved away from the user's face. This approach is well suited for use in connection with portable devices that use voice command interfaces.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for speech systems that utilize an interaction manager to manage interactions—also known as dialogues—from one or more applications. The interactions are managed properly even if multiple applications use different grammars. The interaction manager maintains an interaction list. An application wishing to utilize the speech system submits one or more interactions to the interaction manager. Interactions are normally processed in the order in which they are received. An exception to this rule is an interaction that is configured by an application to be processed immediately, which causes the interaction manager to place the interaction at the front of the interaction list of interactions. If an application has designated an interaction to interrupt a currently processing interaction, then the newly submitted application will interrupt any interaction currently being processed and, therefore, it will be processed immediately.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a speech system that includes one or more speech controls incorporated into one or more speech-enabled applications that run on the speech system. The controls allow applications to be developed with minimal programming effort to incorporate common speech-enabled application functions. A question control provides a customizable template for requesting information from a user. An announcer control allows a speech-enabled application to provide a user with information without having to re-create an entire announcer process each time it is used. A command control provides a simple way to attach command and control functions to speech-enabled applications. A word trainer control provides a way to associate user-selected voice tags with certain information. Providing the controls for use with speech-enabled applications ensures standardized user interfaces across multiple speech-enabled applications.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a speech system that manages multiple grammars from one or more speech-enabled applications. The speech system includes a speech server that supports different grammars and different types of grammars by exposing several methods to the speech-enabled applications. The speech server supports static grammars that do not change and dynamic grammars that may change after a commit. The speech server provides persistence by supporting persistent grammars that enable a user to issue a command to an application even when the application is not loaded. In such a circumstance, the application is automatically launched and the command is processed. The speech server may enable or disable a grammar in order to limit confusion between grammars. Global and yielding grammars are also supported by the speech server. Global grammars are always active (e.g., “call 9-1-1”) while yielding grammars may be deactivated when an interaction whose grammar requires priority is active.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect, a portable computing device determines a type of an appliance in which the portable computing device is docked. The portable computing device identifies, based on the type of the appliance, a user interface configuration for the portable computing device, and configures the user interface of the portable computing device in accordance with the identified user interface configuration. In accordance with another aspect, a car stereo includes a docking station into which an off-the-shelf handheld computer can be docked. The car stereo also includes an input/output (I/O) component that allows the car stereo to communicate with the handheld computer when the handheld computer is docked in the docking station of the car stereo. In accordance with another aspect, an appliance in which a portable computing device can be docked is an integrated vehicle stereo and portable computing device docking station.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements are provided to verify if a requesting computer application is authorized to change a controlled parameter associated with a computer controlled device and/or function. To accomplish this, one or verification functions are employed to analyze a security code or absence thereof, as identified by a requesting application. If the security code, which may be encrypted, matches a known or calculated valid security code, then the requesting application is deemed to be authorized to change the controlled parameter and/or modify certain limitations associated with an acceptable range for the controlled parameter. If the security code does not match a known or calculated valid security code, then the requesting application is deemed to be unauthorized to change the controlled parameter outside of a previously established acceptable range for the controlled parameter.

Abstract: A wireless cassette adapter in the form of an audio cassette that can be inserted into an audio cassette player provides an audio interface for wireless mobile devices to existing audio systems. A wireless interface is established by the wireless cassette adapter to one or more wireless mobile devices and receives audio (including voice) data from the wireless mobile devices. The cassette adapter processes the audio data and transfers the data in analog format to the cassette player which is connected to an existing audio system which plays audio data from the wireless mobile device. Furthermore, the cassette adapter receives voiceinput that is transmitted to the wireless mobile device as part of a telephone call or in performance of voice recognition performed at the wireless mobile device.

Abstract: Systems and method for canceling a speech interaction session are disclosed. In one exemplary implementation a method of canceling a speech interaction session, comprises receiving a signal indicating that a predetermined switch has been set to a first state, monitoring a time parameter indicative of the time the switch remains in the first state, and canceling the speech interaction session if the time parameter exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing a standard list function to create a graphical user interface list and list manager while allowing the graphical user interface to vary by appearance. An application developer can include a list manager control in an application. Properties are set that link the list manager to display controls, a data source and a scrolling behavior source. The list manager provides the appropriate content to the display controls in response to user selections of the display controls. The display controls and a user interface that contains them may vary without altering the basic functionality of the list manager.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile device interface and adaptation system that includes one or both of an adapter and a host device. In certain implementations, the adapter is designed to attach to a mobile device, and has one or more electrical contacts to interface with one or more electrical contacts of the mobile device when the adapter is attached to the mobile device. The adapter further has a connector portion that is electrically coupled to the one or more electrical contacts of the adapter. The host device has a connector portion that is a mate to the connector portion of the adapter. The connector portion of the host device has one or more electrical contacts to interface with one or more electrical contacts of the connector portion of the adapter when the adapter and host device are connected using the connector portions of the adapter and host device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing a standard list function to create a graphical user interface list and list manager while allowing the graphical user interface to vary by appearance. An application developer can include a list manager control in an application. Properties are set that link the list manager to display controls, a data source and a scrolling behavior source. The list manager provides the appropriate content to the display controls in response to user selections of the display controls. The display controls and a user interface that contains them may vary without altering the basic functionality of the list manager.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the number of clients that can access a server in a server-client network are described. A communications filter driver resides on the server and monitors network communications to determine a unique network address of each client that attempts to access the server. A table of clients that have accessed the server is stored at the server. When a client attempts to access the server, the server allows the client to access the server if the network address of the client is listed in the table. If the network address of the client is not listed in the table, the server determines if a client limit has been met or exceeded. If the limit has not been met, the client is allowed to access the server and the Internet address of the client is added to the table. If the limit has been reached, the server determines if the client is a client that has previously accessed the server under a different network address.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the number of clients that can access a server in a server-client network are described. A communications filter driver resides on the server and monitors network communications to determine a unique network address of each client that attempts to access the server. A table of clients that have accessed the server is stored at the server. When a client attempts to access the server, the server allows the client to access the server if the network address of the client is listed in the table. If the network address of the client is not listed in the table, the server determines if a client limit has been met or exceeded. If the limit has not been met, the client is allowed to access the server and the Internet address of the client is added to the table. If the limit has been reached, the server determines if the client is a client that has previously accessed the server under a different network address.