Abstract: A concentrator which can be used for Internet telephone. A terminal is connected to a terminal interface. A line interface is connected to Internet by using a network such as a public line. A communication function unit controls the input/output of a voice signal in the terminal interface and the line interface, and of an Internet Protocol (IP) packet. A conversion unit converts the IP packet and the voice signal to each other. A memory stores the IP address of the concentrator. A connection establishing unit establishes the connection between a terminal and another terminal by allowing the communication function unit to transmit an IP datagram including the IP address of the concentrator to the network. A determining unit determines whether or not the terminal connected to the terminal interface is capable of the IP communication.

Abstract: A speech recognition apparatus and method learns in advance a plurality of kinds of noises that can occur in the environment of use to determine a plurality of noise HMMs, synthesizes these noise HMMs into one noise HMM, generates a NOVO-HMM by executing NOVO (voice mixed with noise) conversion for a speech HMM of a reference pattern by using this composite noise HMM, and uses this NOVO-HMM for a speech recognition processing. Since a plurality of noises are incorporated in the NOVO-HMM generated in this manner, the speech can be recognized with high accuracy even when the noise changes.