Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a feedback mechanism that informs a user of a communication device to adjust the volume, pitch, tone or other characteristic of his voice so as to compensate for noise in the surrounding environment. The feedback mechanism includes feedback circuitry that analyzes audio signals from the microphone and preferably from one or more additional environmental noise sensors. From the analysis, the feedback circuitry determines characteristics of the user's voice and characteristics of the environmental noise, and provides an analysis of how the user might modify his voice to best compensate for environmental noise. This analysis results in an indication to the user, such as through a vibration, a sound, or graphical indication on the device, which tells the user whether and to what extent the user should adjust a characteristic of his voice to best overcome such environmental noise.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and electronic device for optimizing content acquisition are disclosed. A memory may store usage of a previous set of media content by the mobile device. An input/output device may receive a request for a current set of media content. A processor may create a user profile based on the usage and provides a first recommendation of a first digital rights agreement based on the user profile.

Abstract: An electronic device and a method are for responding to an incoming call. The response is performed by receiving the incoming call, analyzing features within the incoming call to determine a stress level, presenting an intervention alert when the stress level meets a defined criterion, and holding the incoming call to allow a user to answer the incoming call. In some embodiments, presence of a suppressed mode is determined prior to receiving the incoming call and the steps of analyzing features and holding the incoming call are performed only when suppressed mode is determined to be present.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a feedback mechanism that informs a user of a communication device to adjust the volume, pitch, tone or other characteristic of his voice so as to compensate for noise in the surrounding environment. The feedback mechanism includes feedback circuitry that analyzes audio signals from the microphone and preferably from one or more additional environmental noise sensors. From the analysis, the feedback circuitry determines characteristics of the user's voice and characteristics of the environmental noise, and provides an analysis of how the user might modify his voice to best compensate for environmental noise. This analysis results in an indication to the user, such as through a vibration, a sound, or graphical indication on the device, which tells the user whether and to what extent the user should adjust a characteristic of his voice to best overcome such environmental noise.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing feedback to the user of a voice dialog system. The apparatus includes a voice dialog processing module for receiving speech input from a user and conducting a dialog with the user. The voice dialog processing module determines dialog status data and passes it to a status processing module which determines a facial or body expression corresponding to the dialog status data. An avatar display device displays to the user an avatar that depicts the facial or body expression.

Abstract: A method (100) or system (600) of facilitating goal based calendar management can include creating a calendar item (106) from a user entry (102) and an external entry (104), determining (108) if the calendar item is a policy related item, extracting policy attributes (110) for the calendar item, determining (112) if an action is required based on the policy attributes, the user entry, and the external entry, and executing the action based on the policy attributes. The method can further include presenting (114) a suggested action based on the policy attributes and accepting an entry (116) corresponding to the suggested action. The method can further present a modification of the external entry based on the policy attributes and accept an entry corresponding to the modification of the external entry. The method can also present an action related to a common context as a result of an analysis of the attributes.

Abstract: A digital processing platform having a modifiable calendar as corresponds to a source user receives (101) a calendar update as corresponds to the source user. An opportunity is then provided (102) to the user to permit the user to select recipient users to receive that calendar update. Upon then receiving (103) information in this regard that identifies at least one recipient user who is to receive the calendar update, the calendar update (sans the modifiable calendar itself) is transmitted (104) to the identified recipient user. A receiving digital processing platform can then provide (302) a recipient user with an opportunity to select a particular treatment of that calendar update with respect to their own modifiable calendar. This can comprise adding the calendar update to the modifiable calendar, adding the calendar update as a for-informational-purposes-only item to the modifiable calendar, and/or refusing to add the calendar update to the modifiable calendar.

Abstract: Inputs from a plurality of information sources including in-vehicle sensors (11, 12, and 13) are collected by a processing unit (14) to provide an integrated consideration of such inputs specific to the characteristics of the current driver. This integrated consideration is then used to source a couching output that is suitable for a driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: In-vehicle resources (wherein the resources each provide a common category of capacity to effect a processor effected activity) are leveraged by selecting the processor activity, selecting for at least one vehicle, a plurality of in-vehicle resources, and parsing facilitation of the processor effected activity by parsing the common category of capacity across the plurality of in-vehicle resources.

Abstract: Substantive informational conflicts as between navigation information provided by an in-vehicle navigation unit (101) and an in-vehicle roadside information service receiver (107) are detected (203). When detected, information from one source or the other is modified (207). Such modification can include alteration and/or deletion of one information item or the other. The modification can alleviate the conflict and/or otherwise provide alternative information to a user of the vehicle to support journey goals.

Abstract: In-vehicle resources (wherein the resources each provide a common category of capacity to effect a particular desired activity) are leveraged by selecting, for at least one vehicle, a plurality of in-vehicle resources, selecting at least one activity, and parsing facilitation of the at least one activity across the plurality of in-vehicle resources.

Abstract: Substantive informational conflicts as between navigation information provided by an in-vehicle navigation unit (101) and an in-vehicle roadside information service receiver (107) are detected (203). When detected, information from one source or the other is modified (207). Such modification can include alteration and/or deletion of one information item or the other. The modification can alleviate the conflict and/or otherwise provide alternative information to a user of the vehicle to support journey goals.