Patents by Inventor Thomas B. Schalk
Thomas B. Schalk has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8019387Abstract: Voice activated dialing is described for use in a mobile telecommunications system. A voice input is received from a wireless network user. A telephone number to be dialed is determined by using speaker independent speech recognition to interpret a string of spoken digits in the voice input to determine the telephone number, or using speaker dependent speech recognition to interpret a spoken word in the voice input to determine the telephone number. A telephone call is then initiated by dialing the telephone number.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.Inventors: Bernard F. Bareis, Peter J. Foster, Thomas B. Schalk
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Patent number: 7551944Abstract: An advanced telecommunications system is provided for the recognizing of spoken commands over a cellular telephone, satellite telephone, or personal communications network. In the cellular application, for example, a Speech Recognition System interconnects either internally with or as an external peripheral to a cellular telecommunications switch. The Speech Recognition System includes an administrative subsystem, a call processing subsystem, a speaker-dependent recognition subsystem, a speaker-independent recognition subsystem, and a data storage subsystem. The Speech Recognition System also allows for increased efficiency in the cellular telephone network by integrating with the switch or switches as a shared resource. The administrative subsystem of the Speech Recognition System is used to keep statistical logs of pertinent call information. Pre-recorded instructional messages are stored in the memory of the call processing subsystem for instructing a user on his or her progress in using the system.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2002Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.Inventors: Bernard F. Bareis, Thomas B. Schalk, Peter J. Foster
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Publication number: 20090074157Abstract: Voice activated dialing is described for use in a mobile telecommunications system. A voice input is received from a wireless network user. A telephone number to be dialed is determined by using speaker independent speech recognition to interpret a string of spoken digits in the voice input to determine the telephone number, or using speaker dependent speech recognition to interpret a spoken word in the voice input to determine the telephone number. A telephone call is then initiated by dialing the telephone number.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2008Publication date: March 19, 2009Applicant: Nuance Communications, Inc.Inventors: Bernard F. Bareis, Peter J. Foster, Thomas B. Schalk
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Patent number: 7505905Abstract: A technique for improving the recognition accuracy of a speech recognizer includes deploying the speech recognizer, wherein live input data is received by the recognizer as an input for a given speaker independent adaptation algorithm associated with the speech recognizer. The algorithm enhances the accuracy of the speech recognizer without human supervision. This technique is particularly suitable for adapting a large vocabulary ASR engine.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1999Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.Inventors: Roger Scott Zimmerman, Gary Neil Tajchman, Ian Scott Boardman, Hejko Willy Rahmel, Thomas B. Schalk
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Patent number: 6922669Abstract: A highly accurate technique for recognizing spoken digit strings is described. A spoken digit string is received and analyzed by a speech recognizer, which generates a list of hypothesized digit strings arranged in ranked order based on a likelihood of matching the spoken digit string. The individual hypothesized strings are then analyzed in order beginning with the hypothesized string having the greatest likelihood of matching the spoken string to determine whether they satisfy a given constraint. The first hypothesized string in the list satisfying the constraint is selected as the recognized string.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1998Date of Patent: July 26, 2005Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Thomas B. Schalk, Roger S. Zimmerman
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Publication number: 20030154075Abstract: A highly accurate technique for recognizing spoken digit strings is described. A spoken digit string is received and analyzed by a speech recognizer, which generates a list of hypothesized digit strings arranged in ranked order based on a likelihood of matching the spoken digit string. The individual hypothesized strings are then analyzed in order beginning with the hypothesized string having the greatest likelihood of matching the spoken string to determine whether they satisfy a given constraint. The first hypothesized string in the list satisfying the constraint is selected as the recognized string.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 1998Publication date: August 14, 2003Inventors: THOMAS B. SCHALK, ROGER S. ZIMMERMAN
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Publication number: 20030087675Abstract: An advanced telecommunications system is provided for the recognizing of spoken commands over a cellular telephone, satellite telephone, or personal communications network. In the cellular application, for example, a Speech Recognition System interconnects either internally with or as an external peripheral to a cellular telecommunications switch. The Speech Recognition System includes an administrative subsystem, a call processing subsystem, a speaker-dependent recognition subsystem, a speaker-independent recognition subsystem, and a data storage subsystem. The Speech Recognition System also allows for increased efficiency in the cellular telephone network by integrating with the switch or switches as a shared resource. The administrative subsystem of the Speech Recognition System is used to keep statistical logs of pertinent call information. Pre-recorded instructional messages are stored in the memory of the call processing subsystem for instructing a user on his or her progress in using the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2002Publication date: May 8, 2003Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Bernard F. Bareis, Thomas B. Schalk, Peter J. Foster
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Patent number: 6501966Abstract: An advanced telecommunications system is provided for the recognizing of spoken commands over a cellular telephone, satellite telephone, or personal communications network. In the cellular application, for example, a Speech Recognition System interconnects either internally with or as an external peripheral to a cellular telecommunications switch. The Speech Recognition System includes an administrative subsystem, a call processing subsystem, a speaker-dependent recognition subsystem, a speaker-independent recognition subsystem, and a data storage subsystem. The Speech Recognition System also allows for increased efficiency in the cellular telephone network by integrating with the switch or switches as a shared resource. The administrative subsystem of the Speech Recognition System is used to keep statistical logs of pertinent call information. Pre-recorded instructional messages are stored in the memory of the call processing subsystem for instructing a user on his or her progress in using the system.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2000Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Bernard F. Bareis, Peter J. Foster, Thomas B. Schalk
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Patent number: 6157848Abstract: An advanced telecommunications system is provided for the recognizing of spoken commands over a cellular telephone, satellite telephone, or personal communications network. In the cellular application, for example, a Speech Recognition System interconnects either internally with or as an external peripheral to a cellular telecommunications switch. The Speech Recognition System includes an administrative subsystem, a call processing subsystem, a speaker-dependent recognition subsystem, a speaker-independent recognition subsystem, and a data storage subsystem. The Speech Recognition System also allows for increased efficiency in the cellular telephone network by integrating with the switch or switches as a shared resource. The administrative subsystem of the Speech Recognition System is used to keep statistical logs of pertinent call information. Pre-recorded instructional messages are stored in the memory of the call processing subsystem for instructing a user on his or her progress in using the system.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1997Date of Patent: December 5, 2000Assignee: Philips Electronics North America CorporationInventors: Bernard F. Bareis, Peter J. Foster, Thomas B. Schalk
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Patent number: 5845246Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for reducing the database requirements necessary for use in speaker independent recognition systems. The method involves digital processing of a plurality of recorded utterances from a first database of digitally recorded spoken utterances. The previously recorded utterances are digitally processed to create a second database of modified utterances and then the first and second databases are combined to form an expanded database from which recognition vocabulary tables may be generated.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1995Date of Patent: December 1, 1998Assignee: Voice Control Systems, Inc.Inventor: Thomas B. Schalk
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Patent number: 5659597Abstract: An advanced telecommunications system is provided for the recognizing of spoken commands over a cellular telephone, satellite telephone, or personal communications network. In the cellular application, for example, a Speech Recognition System interconnects either internally with or as an external peripheral to a cellular telecommunications switch. The Speech Recognition System includes an administrative subsystem, a call processing subsystem, a speaker-dependent recognition subsystem, a speaker-independent recognition subsystem, and a data storage subsystem. The Speech Recognition System also allows for increased efficiency in the cellular telephone network by integrating with the switch or switches as a shared resource. The administrative subsystem of the Speech Recognition System is used to keep statistical logs of pertinent call information. Pre-recorded instructional messages are stored in the memory of the call processing subsystem for instructing a user on his or her progress in using the system.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1994Date of Patent: August 19, 1997Assignee: Voice Control Systems, Inc.Inventors: Bernard F. Bareis, Peter J. Foster, Thomas B. Schalk
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Patent number: 5517558Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for enabling a caller to obtain access to services via a telephone network by entering a spoken first character string having a plurality of digits. Preferably, the method includes the steps of prompting the caller to speak the first character string beginning with a first digit and ending with a last digit thereof, recognizing each spoken digit of the first character string using a speaker-independent voice recognition algorithm, and then following entry of the last digit of the first string, initially verifying the caller's identity using a voice verification algorithm. After initial verification, the caller is again prompted to enter a second character string, which must also be recognized before access is effected.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1993Date of Patent: May 14, 1996Assignee: Voice Control Systems, Inc.Inventor: Thomas B. Schalk
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Patent number: 5499288Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for enabling a caller to obtain access to services via a telephone network by entering a spoken password having a plurality of digits. Preferably, the method includes the steps of: (1) prompting the caller to speak the password beginning with a first digit and ending with a last digit thereof, (2) recognizing each spoken digit of the password using a speaker-independent voice recognition algorithm, (3) following entry of the last digit of the password, determining whether the password is valid, and (4) if the password is valid, verifying the caller's identity using a voice verification algorithm.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1994Date of Patent: March 12, 1996Assignee: Voice Control Systems, Inc.Inventors: Alan K. Hunt, Thomas B. Schalk
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Patent number: 5365574Abstract: A method for enabling a caller to obtain access to one or more services via a telephone network by speaking a password is described. The method begins by establishing at least one predetermined threshold value for a speaker verification signal. For each spoken character of the password, the method generates a set of parameters using a voice verification feature transformation. After entry and recognition of the password, the sets of parameters are used to generate a speaker verification signal for the password. Upon the occurrence of a predetermined call condition, the predetermined threshold value is adjusted to increase the level of security in the verification algorithm. If the signal verification signal for the password has a predetermined relationship with respect to the adjusted threshold value, the caller's identity is accepted. If not, the caller may be asked to answer certain personal questions before his or her identity is accepted.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1992Date of Patent: November 15, 1994Assignee: VCS Industries, Inc.Inventors: Alan K. Hunt, Thomas B. Schalk
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Patent number: 5303299Abstract: The present invention describes a method for recognizing alphanumeric strings spoken over a telephone network wherein individual character recognition need not be uniformly high in order to achieve high string recognition accuracy. Preferably, the method uses a processing system having a digital processor, an interface to the telephone network, and a database for storing a predetermined set of reference alphanumeric strings. In operation, the system prompts the caller to speak the characters of a string, and characters are recognized using a speaker-independent voice recognition algorithm. The method calculates recognition distances between each spoken input character and the corresponding letter or digit in the same position within each reference alphanumeric string. After each character is spoken, captured and analyzed, each reference string distance is incremented and the process is continued, accumulating distances for each reference string, until the last character is spoken.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1992Date of Patent: April 12, 1994Assignee: VCS Industries, Inc.Inventors: Alan K. Hunt, Thomas B. Schalk
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Patent number: 5297183Abstract: An advanced telecommunications system is provided for the recognizing of spoken commands over a cellular telephone, satellite telephone, or personal communications network. In the cellular application, for example, a Speech Recognition System interconnects either internally with or as an external peripheral to a cellular telecommunications switch. The Speech Recognition System includes an administrative subsystem, a call processing subsystem, a speaker-dependent recognition subsystem, a speaker-independent recognition subsystem, and a data storage subsystem. The Speech Recognition System also allows for increased efficiency in the cellular telephone network by integrating with the switch or switches as a shared resource. The administrative subsystem of the Speech Recognition System is used to keep statistical logs of pertinent call information. Pre-recorded instructional messages are stored in the memory of the call processing subsystem for instructing a user on his or her progress in using the system.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1992Date of Patent: March 22, 1994Assignee: VCS Industries, Inc.Inventors: Bernard F. Bareis, Peter J. Foster, Thomas B. Schalk
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Patent number: 5297194Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for enabling a caller to obtain access to services via a telephone network by entering a spoken password having a plurality of digits. Preferably, the method includes the steps of: (1) prompting the caller to speak the password beginning with a first digit and ending with a last digit thereof, (2) recognizing each spoken digit of the password using a speaker-independent voice recognition algorithm, (3) following entry of the last digit of the password, determining whether the password is valid, and (4) if the password is valid, verifying the caller's identity using a voice verification algorithm.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1992Date of Patent: March 22, 1994Assignee: VCS Industries, Inc.Inventors: Alan K. Hunt, Thomas B. Schalk
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Patent number: 5127043Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for enabling a caller to obtain access to services via a telephone network by entering a spoken password having a plurality of digits. Preferably, the method includes the steps of: (1) prompting the caller to speak the password beginning with a first digit and ending with a last digit thereof, (2) recognizing each spoken digit of the password using a speaker-independent voice recognition algorithm, (3) following entry of the last digit of the password, determining whether the password is valid, and (4) if the password is valid, verifying the caller's identity using a voice verification algorithm.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1990Date of Patent: June 30, 1992Assignee: VCS Industries, Inc.Inventors: Alan K. Hunt, Thomas B. Schalk
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Patent number: 5125022Abstract: The present invention describes a method for recognizing alphanumeric strings spoken over a telephone network wherein individual character recognition need not be uniformly high in order to achieve high string recognition accuracy. Preferably, the method uses a processing system having a digital processor, an interface to the telephone network, and a database for storing a predetermined set of reference alphanumeric strings. In operation, the system prompts the caller to speak each character of a string, beginning with a first character and ending with a last character. Each character is then recognized using a speaker-independent voice recognition algorithm. The method calculates recognition distances between each spoken input character and the corresponding letter or digit in the same position within each reference alphanumeric string.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1990Date of Patent: June 23, 1992Assignee: VCS Industries, Inc.Inventors: Alan K. Hunt, Thomas B. Schalk
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Patent number: 4989248Abstract: A cost-effective word recognizer. Each frame of spoken input is compared to a set of reference frames. The comparison is equivalent to embodying the reference frame as an LPC inverse filter, and is preferably done in the autocorrelation domain. To avoid the instability and computational difficulties which can be caused by a high-gain LPC inverse filter, a noise floor is introduced into each reference frame sample. Thus, for each input speech frame, a scalar measures its similarity to each of the vocabulary of reference frames.To achieve connected word recognition based on this similarity measurement, a dynamic programming algorithm is used in which time warping to match a sample to a reference is in effect permitted, and in which matching is performed with unconstrained endpoints.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 1989Date of Patent: January 29, 1991Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Thomas B. Schalk, George R. Doddington