Abstract: The invention concerns a method (400) and system (100) for bandwidth extension of voice for improving the quality of voice in a communication system. The method can include the steps of receiving (412) an unknown voice signal (105), identifying (414) the voice bandwidth (625) of the received unknown voice signal and establishing (418) a region of support (636) in view of the spectral content of the received voice signal. The method can further include the step of selecting (428) a combination of mapping databases (210, 212, 214) from a plurality of mapping databases. Each mapping database can be associated with a predetermined bandwidth extension range for extending the voice bandwidth.

Abstract: Solutions for receiving and transmitting variable transmission bandwidth signal are provided. A receiver comprises square-root raised cosine filter bank, each filter of the filter bank configured to filter a subband, and an adder configured to add up the output signals of one or more filters of the filter bank to obtain a sum signal, the sum of the subbands of the one or more filters being equal to the transmission bandwidth of the received signal. A transmitter comprises a transmission filter, the roll-off factor of the transmission filter being selected on the basis of the bandwidth of the signal to be transmitted.

Abstract: An encoding device (200) includes an MDCT unit (202) that transforms an input signal in a time domain into a frequency spectrum including a lower frequency spectrum, a BWE encoding unit (204) that generates extension data which specifies a higher frequency spectrum at a higher frequency than the lower frequency spectrum, and an encoded data stream generating unit (205) that encodes to output the lower frequency spectrum obtained by the MDCT unit (202) and the extension data obtained by the BWE encoding unit (204). The BWE encoding unit (204) generates as the extension data (i) a first parameter which specifies a lower subband which is to be copied as the higher frequency spectrum from among a plurality of the lower subbands which form the lower frequency spectrum obtained by the MDCT unit (202) and (ii) a second parameter which specifies a gain of the lower subband after being copied.

Abstract: Analytical processes are applied to contextual information in log data of dialog turns (user-system exchange) in a speech enabled application to diagnose speech recognition problems. Diagnosis can include inferring the semantics of a given user response. From semantic inferences an estimate of semantic recognition accuracy can also be obtained.

Abstract: A reliable full covariance matrix estimation algorithm for pattern unit's state output distribution in pattern recognition system is discussed. An intermediate hierarchical tree structure is built to relate models for product units. Full covariance matrices of pattern unit's state output distribution are estimated based on all the related nodes in the tree.

Abstract: Generic visual categorization methods complement a general vocabulary with adapted vocabularies that are class specific. Images to be categorized are characterized within different categories through a histogram indicating whether the image is better described by the general vocabulary or the class-specific adapted vocabulary.

Abstract: A system for remote assessment of a user is disclosed. The system comprises application software resident on a server and arranged to interact across a network with a user operating a client device to obtain one or more sample signals of the user's speech. A datastore is arranged to store the user speech samples in association with details of the user. A feature extraction engine is arranged to extract one or more first features from respective speech samples. A comparator is arranged to compare the first features extracted from a speech sample with second features extracted from one or more reference samples and to provide a measure of any differences between the first and second features for assessment of the user.

Abstract: A word to be recognized being spelt out by a user for determining a list of hypotheses from a vocabulary of a voice recognition system. Measures of distance for a similarity between the recognized sequence of letters and entries of the vocabulary of the voice recognition system are determined. One of the following measures is subsequently undertaken: if differences between a number of distance measurements determined are below a predeterminable first value, a request is made by the voice recognition system for the user to continue spelling out the word to be recognized. If a predeterminable measure of distance exceeds a predeterminable second value, a request is made by the voice recognition system for the user to repeat the spelling of the word to be recognized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for transmitting transactional commands and data between computer networks, and in particular a method for securely transmitting transactional commands and data between two computer networks by encoding the transaction based upon the ontology and semantics of the transaction commands. The invention establishes the process in which transactional commands are decomposed into context less text, based upon a local representation of the transaction command ontology and semantics. The invention also establishes the process for authenticating the transaction using deep knowledge of the user and business rules for the transaction. The decomposition of the transaction command and data is achieved using command semantic knowledge objects, data semantic knowledge objects and a decision cube populated as a result of an examination of the transaction command set ontology and semantics. The resultant transmission consists of a set of indexes or tags and context less data fields.

Abstract: Problems frequently occur in particular in the addition of voice enrollments (speech patterns, with which the user himself can supplement the vocabulary of the speech recognition system) to broad word lists (dynamic vocabulary). For this reason, when the speech recognition system is in an expansion mode, the speech pattern expressed by the user is associated as new voice enrollment to the existing recognizer vocabulary of the speech recognition system. Herein the assignment should however be only preliminarily in a first step. The new speech pattern is intermediate stored in a memory. The recognizer is supplied with this intermediate stored pattern for a repeated recognition process, wherein this repeated process occurs not only on the basis of the preliminarily expanded recognizer vocabulary but also on the basis of the system commands.

Abstract: Due to the large vocabulary to be recognized, it is presently not possible in many commercially available speech recognition systems to identify, with the desired good recognition results, commands in parallel to the list elements (mostly recorded as dynamic vocabulary). It is now proposed that the speech pattern supplied to the speech recognition system by the user is intermediate stored. Parallel thereto, the at least one element selected from the list by the speech recognizer is merged in a first recognition step with the system command to form a temporary recognizer vocabulary. After the production of this temporary recognizer vocabulary, subsequently the intermediate stored speech input is newly submitted to the recognizer, wherein this now forms the basis of this temporary recognizer vocabulary.

Abstract: A speech recognition method in which, upon speech recognition with use of a model composed of subwords such as triphones depending on a plurality of context, inhibiting hypotheses from extending according to the plurality of contexts so that a processing rate of the speech recognition is increased. In computing a likelihood of an acoustic model referred to upon computation of an accumulated likelihood of a hypothesis through the speech recognition, with respect to each hypothesis, at least one subword model determined depending on its context subwords is referred to, likelihoods of a speech to be recognized and acoustic models of the respective subword models are computed, and the maximum value of the computed likelihoods is set as a likelihood of an acoustic model corresponding to the hypothesis.

Abstract: Location-based technologies (e.g., global position system (GPS)) can be employed to facilitate providing multi-modal, multi-lingual location-based services. Identification of location can provide significant context as to identifying user state and intentions. Thus, location identification can facilitate providing/augmenting data and services (e.g., location-aware based suggestions, truncating contact lists based upon location, location-based reminders as a user approaches a predetermined location, truncating pre-loaded tasks, suggesting routes to accomplish pre-loaded tasks in a PIM). Still other aspects can augment GPS location identification with a compass, accelerometer, azimuth control, cellular triangulation, SPOT services of telephone, etc. Effectively, these alternative aspects can facilitate determination of a target location by detecting movement and direction of a user and/or portable device.

Abstract: This invention is utility in nature. It assigns one and only one sound to each Arabic character. It has the purpose of making words easy to spell and read. There are no exceptions in the “Pure Phonetic Orthographic System”. Once a child or adult learns the sound of each character and blend as assigned in the Pure Phonetic Orthographic System, he/she will be able to read and spell to near perfection. The current English system of spelling was developed haphazardly and is illogical in its nature. The “Pure Phonetic Orthographic System” is precise and logical. It is not meant as an adjunct to help people read using our current illogical system. This invention is meant to totally replace the current system in all written English in the United States.

Abstract: A system for communicating status data associated with a first user to a second user, for use with a first data processing system associated with a plurality of status events of the first user and comprising a first communication component for communicating status event data associated with the plurality of status events. The system comprises: a status event handler for receiving communicated status event data; a weight component for determining weight data associated with the status event data; and a second communication component for communicating the weight data to a second data processing system.

Abstract: A system for multimodal information services includes a multimodal information service mechanism for providing the multimodal information services. An information user connects to a first network through at least one communication device, the first network connecting to the multimodal information service mechanism, the information user requesting and receiving the multimodal information services from the multimodal information service mechanism through the device. An information source connects to the multimodal information service mechanism via a second network, the information source providing multimodal information to the multimodal information service mechanism to facilitate the multimodal information services.

Abstract: Radio frequency certificates of authenticity (RFCOAs) are presented. In one implementation, a scattering agent is attached to an object to provide a reproducible radio frequency (RF) fingerprint that can be used to authenticate a tag or a seal for the object. In one implementation, the RF fingerprint is measured and digitized, combined with information associated with the object to which the RFCOA is attached, and stored in a radio frequency identification (RFID) system associated with the RFCOA. A scanner receives the fingerprint and the information and authenticates the information by comparing the fingerprint against a new fingerprint obtained from the object.

Abstract: A speech recognition system (10) in a vehicle includes a microphone (16), a processing circuit (12) and a wireless transceiver (14). The microphone (16) is configured to receive a spoken command from a vehicle occupant. The processing circuit (12) is configured to determine if the speech recognition system (10) has an application configured to execute the spoken command. The processing circuit (12) is also configured to generate spoken command data based on the spoken command. The wireless transceiver circuit (14) is used to transmit the spoken command data to a remote system (28) and to receive response data from the remote system (28). The processing circuit (12) performs a function based on the response data.

Abstract: Analytical processes are applied to log data and use dialog move information such as dialog turn (user-system exchange) information to reveal and/or diagnose the most likely problems in the application.

Abstract: A voice activated control system that uses a microphone to accept verbal commands from the user to control a plurality of electronic and electric devices such as a TV, DVD player, stereo receiver, projector, security system, sprinkler system, computer and the like using their inherent control methods. This is a computer-based system with associated software, which allows input of Infrared (IR) signals, voice commands, and various typed commands or strings and stores these in a database. It then allows for the user to assign one or more commands of any stored type to a virtually unlimited number of unique voice commands for controlling the plurality electronic and electric devices. Said system controls the plurality of electronic and electric devices using their inherent control methods such as IR, Contact Closure, Serial, Ethernet, TCP/IP, USB, IEEE 1394, etc.

Abstract: In an interactive process using speech recognition together with a graphical user interface comprising a plurality of settable graphical user interface items, the recognition rate is improved by reducing recognition target vocabulary. A settable graphical user interface item not displayed on the display screen is detected, and the received speech information is recognized using a speech recognition grammar corresponding to the detected item, and data is set to the item using the recognition result.

Abstract: In the case of vary large vocabulary, such as for example a list with all cities in Germany, there is the problem, that the addition of other words, which are activated parallel to this list during recognition, leads to a higher danger of a mix-up. If the recognition result cannot be associated with sufficient confidence with an element from a vocabulary list, then the user of the system is presented with the recognition result for confirmation thereof. Prior to the presentation of the system user with the recognition result a temporary vocabulary is formed, in which first that element is removed from the vocabulary list, of which the correct recognition is to be confirmed by the user. The recognizer processes this speech input on the basis of the temporary vocabulary as well as on the basis of the system commands and selects therefrom as recognition result at least one element.

Abstract: An electronic agent for performing property-related searches and notifications based on search parameters provided by a user includes a first device configured to receive information about residential properties and a second device configured to receive information from the first device about a first property determined to be offered for sale, and determine whether the first property conforms to a differential valuation. In various embodiments, the differential valuation can be based on an offering price of the first property, an AVM generated value of the first property and one or more AVM-related user-provided parameters.

Abstract: A method of managing preset and bespoke projects efficiently within a collaborative environment that utilises intranets and or the internet to convey data and messages. In one expression of utility a method of commercialising of proposed intellectual property rights comprising five steps is disclosed. The steps are identifying and protecting intellectual property associated with the invention; developing a prototype product and or end user products based on the intellectual property rights being pursued; identifying and/or developing potential markets for the products; determining a preferred route to market for the products; and, depending on the preferred mute to market, either licensing the invention to 3rd parties and or establishing new companies to bring products to market directly. Also disclosed is a system (10) for implementing the method.

Abstract: A method of retailing comprises the steps of: providing a retail store environment configured to simulate a maternity hospital with a simulated baby delivery area; providing an on site inventory of dolls resembling human babies available for sale; providing a retail store customer with an opportunity to select desired doll characteristics; and delivering to the customer, in the simulated baby delivery area, a doll having such desired doll characteristics.

Abstract: Methods and systems of providing tracking or other services for a mailpiece in a mail system having a service provider that is in communication with one or more posts. The mailpiece includes one or more unique identifiers associated therewith, and the service provider uses the unique identifiers to identify the mailpiece and cause or facilitate the rendering of the requested service. The service may be requested after the mailpiece has been mailed, and payment for the services need not be made until after they are performed. Also, a method of providing stored mailpiece information to an interested party based on request criteria that are provided by the interested party.

Abstract: A grocery depot warehouse used to rapidly fulfill online orders while utilizing a minimal amount of warehouse space and optimizing the grocery gathering process. The aisles of the warehouse are narrow such that a one-way traffic flow is utilized in gathering the goods, which maximizes the use of floor space. Additionally, a narrow cart, approximately 24 inches in width, is used to gather the goods comprised of a tubular frame forming two tiers connected by supporting brackes, wherein the frame holds removable totes, and has two caster wheels and two central wheels. The removable totes can be used for delivery of the goods.

Abstract: The present invention provides the home inspection industry with an easily implemented method for creating and maintaining an organized history of home inspections for a particular property over time. The inspector performs an original inspection, then maintains a file of updated inspections over time. The file may be maintained on the internet or on paper. The frequency of the updates may be annual, or updates may occur more or less frequently than once per year. The marketability of the home is increased because any potential buyer for the home has access to the history of the home over several years, along with any disclosure provided by the home's current owner and the findings of the potential buyer's own due diligence on the home.

Abstract: A scale and associated methods automatically identify most frequently weighed food items for displaying the most frequently weighed food items on a display.

Abstract: A system for determining the lifecycle stage of a corporation using quantitative measures is provided. The system comprises a lifecycle model definition component. The lifecycle model definition component is configured to define one or more lifecycle models. Each lifecycle model is associated with a set of quantitative measures and a set of rules. The system further comprises a lifecycle stage inference component and a lifecycle stage determination component. The lifecycle stage inference component is configured to infer a particular lifecycle stage for the corporation based on the set of quantitative measures and the set of rules associated with each lifecycle model. The lifecycle stage determination component is configured to combine the inferences made by the lifecycle inference component to determine an overall lifecycle stage for the corporation.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating the ordering of goods and services by a user consisting of a system database for storing data received from a user and one or more service providers. The data is associated with one or more orders for goods and services submitted by said user and goods and services provided by one or more qualified service providers. Interfaces are provided for receiving and communicating the one or more orders from the user to the one or more qualified service providers. The system and method includes at least one module connected to the system database and the one or more interfaces to analyze the orders and to identify and rank at least one qualified service provider for fulfilling the one or more orders for the user.

Abstract: Interactively displaying assets in a data center. Data describing locations over time for the assets in the data center is accessed. Asset location is displayed in a graphical user interface (GUI). The asset location comprises a view of a rack in the data center. Also displayed in the GUI is an asset history related to the rack. At least one of the displaying asset location and the displaying the asset history is responsive to user selection of an element in the GUI.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process involving automatic notification to interested individuals of current real estate values. The process consists of a monitoring service entity, external data source, and end-user. The disclosed embodiments include a process whereby parties can be directly notified of real estate values or alternatively may initiate contact with the monitoring entity to receive data.

Abstract: A system and method for managing circulation of magazines or other printed items. A predetermined schedule is established for distribution of sequential issues. Actual circulation of each issue is compared to inventory, advertising or other circulation commitments for each issue. Predetermined starting and ending dates for circulation of successive issues are modified. An original circulation period may be extended, e.g. to exhaust an existing inventory of pre-printed copies of a particular issue and reduce waste and corresponding costs, or to meet a circulation/advertising commitment. Alternatively, the original circulation period may be contracted so that particular issue is prematurely replaced with a subsequent issue, e.g. when an advertising commitment has been met earlier than originally planned, thereby providing an opportunity to sell and/or collect revenues on additional advertising space in a subsequent issue.

Abstract: An integrated content production environment includes a connected services framework providing connectivity to a set of applications that produce content for the media industry. Users in their roles use the integrated environment to perform setting up, ingesting, logging, selecting, editing, reviewing, playout, distributing, and archiving activities. Notifications are dynamically triggered to users when their action is requested. The notifications may be instant messages, e-mails, voice mails, etc. Throughout the production of content, actions by both users the applications are tracked and stored in a log file for processing. The action data in the log file may include payload data from messages. When one or more applications or when one or more users of the environment have excess capacity, that capacity can be leveraged. External users can purchase or bid on the excess capacity and can then access the environment through available web services.

Abstract: An integrated content production environment includes a connected services framework providing connectivity to a set of applications that produce content for the media industry. Users in their roles use the integrated environment to perform setting up, ingesting, logging, selecting, editing, reviewing, playout, distributing, and archiving activities. Notifications are dynamically triggered to users when their action is requested. The notifications may be instant messages, e-mails, voice mails, etc. Throughout the production of content, actions by both users the applications are tracked and stored in a log file for processing. The action data in the log file may include payload data from messages. When one or more applications or when one or more users of the environment have excess capacity, that capacity can be leveraged. External users can purchase or bid on the excess capacity and can then access the environment through available web services.

Abstract: An integrated content production environment includes a connected services framework providing connectivity to a set of applications that produce content for the media industry. Users in their roles use the integrated environment to perform setting up, ingesting, logging, selecting, editing, reviewing, playout, distributing, and archiving activities. Notifications are dynamically triggered to users when their action is requested. The notifications may be instant messages, e-mails, voice mails, etc. Throughout the production of content, actions by both users the applications are tracked and stored in a log file for processing. The action data in the log file may include payload data from messages. When one or more applications or when one or more users of the environment have excess capacity, that capacity can be leveraged. External users can purchase or bid on the excess capacity and can then access the environment through available web services.

Abstract: A method of documenting occurrence of an event in a computer system includes receiving first event information forwarded upon a first event occurring in execution of a first step in a transaction process. The first event information includes a first step key, a first step type, and first time-of-occurrence information. The method includes identifying, upon receiving the first event information, an anchor step type that previously has been assigned for use in documenting the first event. The anchor step type is associated with an anchor step in the transaction process. The method includes reading, using the anchor step type, an anchor key of the anchor step in an execution log for the transaction process. The execution log is identified using the first step key. The method includes associating the anchor key with the first time-of-occurrence information. A performance measure having start and end events may be evaluated.

Abstract: The claimed invention enables digital asset management that is responsive to a user's interactions with digital assets. Based on the user's interaction, the invention generates a ranking of the digital assets that is intended to reflect the value of the digital assets to the user. The ranking is based in part on the access frequency and recency, and the number and types of uses of the digital assets. An access hierarchy is derived from the ranking that stores the digital assets so that the higher ranked digital assets are more easily accessed than the lower ranked digital assets. The digital assets can include any of digital images, audio files, and Uniform Resource Locators. The invention can also distinguish between different types of uses so that some types of uses imbue an asset with greater value than others. The types of uses include passive viewing or playback, file sharing, transport, and editing.

Abstract: An improved method for certifying service/product providers. This is accomplished by first determining the requirements of operation of such service/product provider, such as insurance coverage, bonding information and the like. These requirements are then verified as being met so that a consumer or business partner need not know or verify the requirements, or verify that the requirements have been sufficiently satisfied. Once all the requirements of the service/product provider are verified by the certifier, the service/product provider's name and other selected information can be published so that potential customers, business partners and/or employers can more easily find the service/product providers which meet not only their needs, but service/product providers which meet all of the legal and regulatory requirements that may be applicable in a given field, geographical area or other subset of the business community.

Abstract: A canonical decomposition (CD) method that includes building a multi-variate linear autoregressive (“MLAR”) model from an original data set or from a reduced set derived by data reduction methods from the original data set. The MLAR analysis is followed by seeking a coordinate transformation of the MLAR model to obtain the best possible match with one or more canonical forms representing relationships among components. For multi-variate data with a truly hierarchical structure, CD accurately extracts the underlying sources of the system.

Abstract: A method for ordering one or more consumables for a device includes selecting one or more of the consumables used in the device to order using the device and submitting the order for the selected consumables using the device to one or more suppliers. A device for ordering one or more consumables for the device includes an ordering system in the device and a communication system in the device. The ordering system providing a menu of one or more of the consumables to select to place an order. The communication system submits the order for the selected consumables when completed.

Abstract: A system for conducting large scale clinical trials has a plurality of data collection nodes for collecting data from subjects participating in the clinical trial. A data analysis facility is located remotely from the data collection nodes and the data is communicated from the data collection nodes to the data analysis facility, where it is stored and analyzed. Each data collection node may include testing and data entry facilities, e.g., in the form of photographic equipment or various diagnostic and measuring probes, such as those used to measure skin color, elasticity and moisture content. The data nodes may be operated by the participant.

Abstract: A system and method for maintaining medical order sets allows for a medical information resource provider to generate and make available order sets for use in providing medical care. Subscribers to the order sets may modify the order sets, and may receive notification when changes to the order sets and/or changes to content in the medical information resource that are relevant to the order sets occur. Subscriber-created and/or provider-created associations between order sets and content in the medical information resource may be used to identify the need to provide a notification when changes to content occur.

Abstract: A system and method for providing exercise programs, dietary foods and health and fitness information to persons desiring to improve their fitness and/or health. The system and method has a dietary and fitness/exercise plan that combines a dietary element, a fitness/exercise element and a written materials element. The dietary element provides one or more calorie-controlled foods to the user. The fitness/exercise element provides videos with one or more fitness/exercise routines for the user to follow. The written materials element provides charts, tables and graphs for the user. In the preferred embodiment, the user also has access to an online gym through the Internet or other transmission system. The online gym includes a database having a plurality of exercise video programs providing different types of fitness and exercise classes that can be accessed by registered users at a date, time and place that is convenient for the user to exercise.

Abstract: A method and device for maintaining and providing access to electronic medical records preferably utilizing multifunctional handheld tablet computers for real-time access to patients location and their records and rapidly updating those records. Using the tablets, tests can be ordered, results accessed and prescriptions sent electronically to pharmacists after being checked for allergic or drug interaction complications. Many medical providers' records on the same patient reside on a central database giving a full view of the patient's complete medical history. Privacy of patient records is assured using permission and security protocols to secure the records from unauthorized access.

Abstract: A method for maintaining and providing access to electronic medical records preferably utilizing multifunctional handheld tablet computers for real-time access to patients location and their records and rapidly updating those records. Using the tablets, tests can be ordered, results accessed and prescriptions sent electronically to pharmacists after being checked for allergic or drug interaction complications. Many medical provider's' records on the same patient reside on a central database giving a full view of the patient's complete medical history. Privacy of patient records is assured using permission and security protocols to secure the records from unauthorized access.

Abstract: A system for obtaining patient consent which includes a kiosk for determining a necessary consent form, for obtaining the necessary consent form, and for recording the consent.

Abstract: A method and computer program for evaluating the sustainability of a permanent life insurance policy involves helping a user choose a type of insurance policy that is appropriate by asking the user a series of questions relating to the person's risk and management preferences. A confidence factor is determined for an insurance policy's funding premium, wherein the confidence factor indicates a probability that the policy will sustain until a user-selected age, such as the age of one hundred. The confidence factor is determined by applying parameters of the user's policy to one thousand trial illustrations developed using performance information from actual portfolios over the last forty years, and reporting a percentage of the trial illustrations that sustained through age one hundred. If the confidence factor is unacceptably low, the user adjusts the premium and/or an investment allocation scheme to generate a new confidence factor.

Abstract: A system for detecting unreported exposures is disclosed. The system includes a load unit configured to accept state records. The system also includes a risk determination unit operatively connected to the load unit. The risk determination unit has a comparison module and a rateability module. The comparison module matches an address in the state records to a state policyholder address to find an unreported exposure. The rateability module prioritizes the unreported exposure based on its correspondence to a policyholder record. The system also includes a report unit that is operatively connected to the risk determination unit. The report unit is configured to compile an output record of one or more of the unreported exposures.