Abstract: According to some embodiments of the present invention, a receiver for receiving video content over a wireless data link may include a video encoder adapted to receive data packets containing video content according to fixed data video format and to produce a video signal suitable for a video presentation device with which the receiver is functionally associated. A demodulator/decoder may be adapted to convert into data packets a signal received from a wireless transmitter functionally associated with the computer, wherein the computer may include a video format conversion module running on a central processing unit, and the module may be adapted to transcode to the fixed video data format any content which is not in the fixed video data format and which is to be transmitted to said receiver.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing a common mode (CM) electromagnetic interference (EMI) in a balanced transmission line which carries a differential signal occupying a specified frequency band is described. The apparatus includes a first Single Ended Filter (SEF) operatively associated with a first path of the balanced transmission line, and a second SEF operatively associated with a second path of the balanced transmission line, wherein a ground terminal of the first SEF and a ground terminal of the second SEF are electrically connected to a local ground. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: Teaching spoken language skills are accomplished with a computer system in which a user utterance is received into a computer system, the user utterance is analyzed according to basic sound units, a comparison is made of the analyzed user utterance and a desired utterance so as to detect any differences between the analyzed and desired utterances, for each of the basic sound units of the analyzed user utterance, any detected differences are identified for corresponding user pronunciation error, and feedback is provided to the user for the comparison.

Abstract: A language skills training system supports interactive dialogue in which a spoken user input is recorded into a processing device and then the spoken user input is analyzed for multiple phonetic criteria, wherein at least one of the phonetic criteria comprises intonation, stress, or rhythm. The system includes multiple context-based practice exercises and multiple problem-based exercises, such that each problem-based practice exercise is interactively linked to at least one of the context-based practice exercises, and relates to skills being practiced in the context-based practice exercises to which it is linked. Each of the context-based practice exercise tests user skills that are being taught in the linked problem-based exercises. If user responses indicate that the user would benefit from extra practice in particular types of language skills, then the user will be routed to one or more of the practice problem sets that involve the language skill in which the user is deficient.

Abstract: A system provides language instruction through oral production of phrases by a user by receiving a spoken input from the user and recognizing the spoken input as being one of multiple permitted input phrases having a predetermined meaning, and analyzes the spoken input so as to identify a departure of the spoken input from a desired oral production of the permitted input phrase. A system response to the spoken input may be implemented in accordance with the predetermined meaning of the permitted input phrase. The system response may be implemented according to the phrases that the system knows the user was trying to say, even while the system recognizes the departure of what the user said from the input phrase the user was attempting to say.

Abstract: A computer assisted learning environment in which an interactive dialogue occurs between a user and an instructional process of an electronic device, wherein the user performs a speaking task and the user's performance is analyzed. The user is presented with a prompt at the electronic device and, in response, produces a spoken input, which is received by the electronic device, and provided to the instructional process. The instructional process analyzes the received spoken input using speech recognition techniques and provides feedback concerning the grammar of the user input. The analysis may also include Spoken Language skills evaluation and in this case the feedback will be extended to cover these aspects as well.

Abstract: A computer assisted learning system includes a presentation device that reproduces audio information to provide an audiovisual presentation for perception by a user and includes a presentation speed selector that controls speed of the audiovisual presentation, wherein the audio information includes spoken words and the presentation speed is controlled by the speed selector in accordance with an adjustable language units per minute presentation speed of the audio information. User oral responses to trigger events are recorded, and language unit segmentation is performed to identify language units of spoken words in terms of their phonetics, pitch, duration, and energy, from which user errors in phonetics, stress, rhythm, and intonation may be identified. In another aspect of the system, corrective feedback is provided to guide the user in changing the user's oral responses to provide correct spoken responses.

Abstract: A technique to control access to computer network resources at a computer facility permits a user to interact with the computer facility through a computer node of a network, wherein the user interaction comprises language learning responses submitted to the computer facility through the computer node, and a user authentication process is performed to determine if the permitted user interaction is authorized. The user authentication process is performed with user authentication information that is obtained by the computer facility during the permitted user interaction and also with user authentication information that is extracted from the user's language learning responses. In this way, user authentication occurs without intruding into the utilization of the computer facility.

Abstract: Apparatus for interactive language training including a trigger generator for eliciting expected audio responses by a user;an expected audio response reference library containing a multiplicity of reference expected responses, the multiplicity of reference expected responses including a first plurality of reference expected responses having acceptable pronunciation and for each of the first plurality of reference expected responses having acceptable pronunciation, a second plurality of reference expected responses each having different pronunciation errors;an audio response scorer which indicates the relationship between the expected audio response provided by the user and the reference expected responses; anda user feedback interface which indicates to the user the pronunciation errors in the expected audio responses provided by the user.

Abstract: Apparatus for interactive speech training having an audio specimen generator for playing a pre-recorded reference audio specimen to a user for attempted repetition by the user and a reference audio specimen library in which reference audio specimens are stored and to which the audio specimen generator has access. The audio specimen library contains a multiplicity of recordings of speaker dependent audio specimens produced by a plurality of speech models. A speaker independent parameter database stores a plurality of speaker independent references which are different from the reference audio specimens stored in the reference audio specimen library. The speaker independent references are classified according to at least one of age, gender or dialect, but is independent of other speaker characteristics within each category. An audio specimen scorer scores a user's repetition audio specimen by comparison of at least one parameter of the user's repetition audio specimen with a speaker independent reference.

Abstract: A sound synthesizer which may be associated with a personal computer and including apparatus for employing the output of a noise generator which is cataloged to provide a multiplicity of waveforms and apparatus for receiving the multiplicity of waveforms and creating therefrom desired sound signals, thus providing a synthesized sound output.

Abstract: Apparatus and technique for ADPCM transmission of voiceband data at rates up to and including 9600 bits/s via an ADPCM system comprising an ADPCM transmitter receiving PCM encoded signals at an 8 KHz sampling rate and being operative to transmit data at a sampling rate of 6.4 KHz and a transmission rate of 5 bits per sample and an ADPCM receiver having apparatus for receiving the transmitted data from the ADPCM transmitter and being operative for providing PCM encoded signals at an 8 KHz sampling rate. The ADPCM transmitter includes an adaptive quantizer which is operative to provide an output signal I(n), employing a scale factor adapted according to a discrete function difference signal W(I) having a relationship to I(n) which typically is substantially different from that given in recommendation G.721 of the CCITT. The ADPCM transmitter also includes an adaptive predictor having predictor coefficients which are updated using a leak factor lower than that shown in recommendation G.721 of the CCITT.

Abstract: Apparatus for interactive speech training having an audio specimen generator for playing a pre-recorded reference audio specimen to a user for attempted repetition by the user and a reference audio specimen library in which reference audio specimens are stored and to which the audio specimen generator has access. The audio specimen library contains a multiplicity of recordings of speaker dependent audio specimens produced by a plurality of speech models. A speaker independent parameter database stores a plurality of speaker independent references which are different from the reference audio specimens stored in the reference audio specimen library. The speaker independent references are classified according to at least one of age, gender or dialect, but is independent of other speaker characteristics within each category.