Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for coordinating recognition of a speech utterance between a speech system of a vehicle and a speech system of a user device. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving the speech utterance from a user; performing speech recognition on the speech utterance to determine a topic of the speech utterance; determining whether the speech utterance was meant for the speech system of the vehicle or the speech system of the user device based on the topic of the speech utterance; and selectively providing the speech utterance to the speech system of the vehicle or the speech system of the user device based on the determination of whether the speech utterance was meant for the speech system of the vehicle or the speech system of the user device.

Abstract: A communications system and method of operating a vehicle multi-tainment unit (VMU) within that communications system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (a) establishing a connection between the VMU and a mobile device; (b) retrieving from a cache associated with the VMU user data previously provided by the mobile device; (c) prior to receiving current user data from the mobile device, receiving via the connection recently-used user data from the mobile device; (d) comparing the previously-provided user data and the received recently-used data; and (e) updating the previously-provided user data based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method for speech recognition includes generating a speech prompt, receiving a spoken utterance from a user in response to the speech prompt, wherein the spoken utterance includes a speech artifact, and compensating for the speech artifact. Compensating for the speech artifact may include, for example, utilizing a recognition grammar that includes the speech artifact as a speech component, or modifying the spoken utterance to eliminate the speech artifact.

Abstract: A hands-free system for a vehicle is provided, where the hands-free system sends and receives communication from a personal electronic device. The hands-free system includes a vehicle control module that is in communication with at least one vehicle system for determining if the vehicle is in a condition to receive input regarding operation, a display, and a hands-free control module. The hands-free control module is in communication with the display and the vehicle control module. The hands-free control module is in communication with the personal electronic device for sending and receiving an external communication from the personal electronic device. The hands-free control module has a memory and a message delivery filter algorithm.

Abstract: A method and system of managing a vehicle fleet is provided. The method includes providing an electronic device, a computing device, and a vehicle that is associated with the vehicle fleet. The electronic device is located within a proximate distance from the vehicle and the computing device is located remotely from the vehicle. The electronic device is associated with a driver identifier. The method includes sending a data signal from the electronic device to the computing device indicating the driver identifier. The method further includes matching the driver identifier with a specific driver profile that is saved on a database of the computing device. The specific driver profile includes information associating the vehicle with the driver identifier. The method includes sending information regarding the specific driver profile from the database to a vehicle control module, where the vehicle control module associated with the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in adjusting a controllable system based on a user-communication input, such as non-detailed or indiscriminate input. The apparatus includes a processor and a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations for determining an objective system command, corresponding to the user input, for use in adjusting the controllable system.

Abstract: A vehicle having an item detection system is provided having at least one indicator for selectively emitting an alarm when activated, a vehicle alarm control module, at least one radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tag, and a radio frequency (“RF”) interrogator. The vehicle alarm control module is in communication with the at least one indicator and includes control logic for sending an activation data signal to the at least one indicator to selectively activate the at least one indicator. The RFID tag is configured for receiving a query RF signal and transmitting a reply RF signal upon receipt of the query RF signal. The RF interrogator is in communication with the vehicle alarm and is located within a specified distance of the RFID tag. The RF interrogator has a processor, and includes control logic for transmitting the query RF signal to the RFID tag.

Abstract: A system and method for adapting a speech recognition and generation system. The system and method include providing a speech recognition and generation engine that processes speech received from a user and providing a dictionary adaptation module that adds out of vocabulary words to a baseline dictionary of the speech recognition and generation system. Words are added by extracting words that are encountered and adding out of vocabulary words to the baseline dictionary of the speech recognition and generation system.

Abstract: A method and system can control a speech recognition system in a vehicle. The method includes monitoring adaptive feature data about interactions between a user and the speech recognition system. The method includes determining a first group of samples of the adaptive feature data and creating a control chart based on the first group of samples. The control chart includes a control limit. The method further includes determining a second group of samples of the adaptive feature data after creating the control chart. Furthermore, the method includes calculating an arithmetic mean of each sample of the second group of samples to determine a sample mean, comparing the sample mean to the control limit in order identify unexpected performance of the speech recognition system. The method includes adjusting the speech recognition system based on the identified unexpected performance if the unexpected performance is identified.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adapting a speech system. In one example a method includes: processing a spoken command with one or more models of one or more model types to achieve model results; evaluating a frequency of the model results; and selectively updating the one or more models of the one or more model types based on the evaluating.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adapting a speech system. In one example a method includes: logging speech data from the speech system; processing the speech data for a pattern of a user competence associated with at least one of task requests and interaction behavior; and selectively updating at least one of a system prompt and an interaction sequence based on the user competence.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adapting a speech system of a vehicle. In one example a method includes: logging data from the vehicle; logging speech data from the speech system; processing the data from the vehicle and the data from the speech system to determine a pattern of context and a relation to user interaction behavior; and selectively updating a user profile of the speech system based on the pattern of context.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adapting a speech system. In one example a method includes: logging speech data from the speech system; detecting a user characteristic from the speech data; and selectively updating a language model based on the user characteristic.

Abstract: A speech recognition method includes receiving input speech from a user, processing the input speech using a first grammar to obtain parameter values of a first N-best list of vocabulary, comparing a parameter value of a top result of the first N-best list to a threshold value, and if the compared parameter value is below the threshold value, then additionally processing the input speech using a second grammar to obtain parameter values of a second N-best list of vocabulary. Other preferred steps include: determining the input speech to be in-vocabulary if any of the results of the first N-best list is also present within the second N-best list, but out-of-vocabulary if none of the results of the first N-best list is within the second N-best list; and providing audible feedback to the user if the input speech is determined to be out-of-vocabulary.

Abstract: A vehicle system for providing a reminder that at least one mobile electronic device is being left in an interior cabin of a vehicle after a vehicle access event is provided. The vehicle system includes at least one indicator, a vehicle access system, and a control module. The indicator provides notification that the at least one mobile electronic device is being left in the interior cabin of the vehicle after the vehicle access event. The vehicle access system determines a vehicle access event. The control module is in communication with the at least one indicator and the vehicle access system. The control module includes a control logic for establishing a connection between the at least one mobile electronic device and the control module.

Abstract: A speech recognition method includes the steps of receiving input speech containing vocabulary, processing the input speech with a grammar to obtain N-best hypotheses and associated parameter values, and determining whether a first-best hypothesis of the N-best hypotheses is confusable with any vocabulary within the grammar. The first-best hypothesis is accepted as recognized speech corresponding to the received input speech if the first-best hypothesis is not determined to be confusable with any vocabulary within the grammar. Where the first-best hypothesis is determined to be confusable, at least one parameter value of the first-best hypothesis can be compared to at least one threshold value, and accepting the second-best as the recognized speech, if its confidence score is within certain lower and upper threshold values and is not confusable with the first-best.

Abstract: A vehicle system for providing a reminder that at least one mobile electronic device is being left in an interior cabin of a vehicle after a vehicle access event is provided. The vehicle system includes at least one indicator, a vehicle access system, and a control module. The indicator provides notification that the at least one mobile electronic device is being left in the interior cabin of the vehicle after the vehicle access event. The vehicle access system determines a vehicle access event. The control module is in communication with the at least one indicator and the vehicle access system. The control module includes a control logic for establishing a connection between the at least one mobile electronic device and the control module.

Abstract: Implementing a resource tracking service includes searching a database in response to a request for a resource from a first vehicle, retrieving a record from the database that is identified with the resource, the record mapped to a second vehicle. Implementing a resource tracking service also includes determining a geographic location of the second vehicle, and populating a navigation system map at the first vehicle with an icon reflecting the geographic location of the second vehicle.

Abstract: A method of circumstantial speech recognition in a vehicle. A plurality of parameters associated with a plurality of vehicle functions are monitored as an indication of current vehicle circumstances. At least one vehicle function is identified as a candidate for user-intended ASR control based on user interaction with the vehicle. The identified vehicle function is then used to disambiguate between potential commands contained in speech received from the user.

Abstract: A method and system of managing a vehicle fleet is provided. The method includes providing an electronic device, a computing device, and a vehicle that is associated with the vehicle fleet. The electronic device is located within a proximate distance from the vehicle and the computing device is located remotely from the vehicle. The electronic device is associated with a driver identifier. The method includes sending a data signal from the electronic device to the computing device indicating the driver identifier. The method further includes matching the driver identifier with a specific driver profile that is saved on a database of the computing device. The specific driver profile includes information associating the vehicle with the driver identifier. The method includes sending information regarding the specific driver profile from the database to a vehicle control module, where the vehicle control module associated with the vehicle.