Abstract: At least one computer-mediated communication produced by or received by an author is collected and parsed to identify categories of information within it. The categories of information are processed with at least one analysis to quantify at least one type of information in each category. A first output communication is generated regarding the at least one computer-mediated communication, describing the psychological state, attitudes or characteristics of the author of the communication. A second output communication is generated when a difference between the quantification of at least one type of information for at least one category and a reference for the at least one category is detected involving a psychological state, attitude or characteristic of the author to which a responsive action should be taken.

Abstract: The present invention is a tree ordering component within a sentence realization system which receives an unordered syntax tree and generates a ranked list of alternative ordered syntax trees from the unordered syntax tree. The present invention also includes statistical models of constituent structure employed by the tree ordering component in scoring the alternative ordered trees.

Abstract: Topicality scores are determined for a number of phrasal expressions in documents. Phrasal expressions may be noun phrases, with or without corresponding prepositional phrases, subject-verb pairs, and verb-object pairs. The documents describe some topic or multiple topics. Techniques can be used to determined how the phrasal expression compares with the topic or topics being described in the documents. Specificities are determined for the phrasal expressions. Techniques may be used to determine whether phrasal expressions are more or less specific than other phrasal expressions. An order is determined for the phrasal expressions by using the topicality scores and the specificities. The order may be represented as a phrasal expression tree, for example. The phrasal expression tree may be displayed to a user, and the user can navigate through the phrasal expression tree, and therefore through the one or more documents.

Abstract: A method and system providing a statistical representation from rule-based grammar specifications. The language model is generated by obtaining a statistical representation of a rule-based language model and combining it with a statistical representation of a statistical language model for use as a final language model. The language model may be enhanced by applying smoothing and/or adapting for use as the final language model.

Abstract: Various embodiments directed to performing speech recognition over a data channel are described. One or more embodiments may comprise encoding voice information to be communicated over a voice channel using a voice compression algorithm, switching from said voice channel to a data channel, encoding voice information to be communicated over said data channel using said voice compression algorithm used for said voice channel, and communicating encoded voice information over said data channel. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: An automatic speech recognition system comprising a speech decoder to resolve phone and word level information, a vector generator to generate information vectors on which a confidence measure is based by a neural network classifier (ANN). An error signal is designed which is not subject to false saturation or over specialization. The error signal is integrated into an error function which is back propagated through the ANN.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a fast paired method of 1-D cyclic convolution. A method includes calculating a paired transform of a signal, grouping components of the paired transform to form a plurality of splitting-signals, shifting the plurality of splitting signals, multiplying the plurality of splitting signals by a plurality of corresponding Fourier transforms, and calculating an inverse paired transform of the plurality of splitting signals.

Abstract: Wideband extension of telephone speech for higher perceptual quality. A method for extending the frequency range of a speech signal using wideband extension method with an inverse filter and a synthesis filter where both filters receive LPC coefficients from an LPC estimator. The wideband LPC coefficients are obtained from wideband LSFs. The wideband LSFs are obtained by appending highband LSFs, created by applying a matrix to narrowband LSFs, and lowband LSFs, created by dividing the narrowband LSFs by two. The matrix used to create the highband LSFs is selected from a predetermined list of matrices. The selection is based on either wideband or narrowband reflection coefficients extracted from the narrowband speech signal.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a ring tone for an electronic device takes as input a phrase sung in a human voice and transforms it into a control signal controlling, for example, a ringer on a cellular telephone. Time-varying features of the input signal are analyzed to segment the signal into a set of discrete notes and assigning to each note a chromatic pitch value. The set of note start and stop times and pitches are then translated into a format suitable for controlling the device.

Abstract: A text message is first parsed into its constituent semantic components such as header fields and body components. Then, different compression methods may be performed on each semantic component depending on the importance of the semantic component, the context of the semantic component, the characteristics of the semantic component, and whether or not the semantic component uses natural language expressions. For example, it is determined what compression method, if any, is to be performed on the semantic component. Each semantic component may be compressed individually. Since text compression takes the unique features of each semantic component into consideration rather than considering the text message as a monolithic text unit, a more intuitive text compression results.

Abstract: There is provided a method of updating a noise state of a voice activity detector (VAD) for indicating an active voice mode and an inactive voice mode. The method comprises receiving an input signal having a plurality of frames, determining an elapsed time since the last update of the noise state, updating the noise state of the VAD if the elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time, determining an average minimum energy based on two or more of the plurality of frames, determining a current minimum energy based on a current frame of the plurality of frames, updating the noise state of the VAD if the average minimum energy is less than the current minimum energy, and updating the noise state of the VAD if the average minimum energy is greater than the current minimum energy plus a first predetermined value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transmitter and a receiver for speech coding and decoding by using an additional bit allocation method. The transmitter and the receiver according to the present invention realize a voice communication service of high quality by using additional bits permitted in system requirements while using a conventional speech coder as it is. In addition, the transmitter and the receiver according to the present invention have an advantage in that they enable insertion of additional quantization blocks while not changing the structure of the conventional standard speech coder, since they allocate additional bits by applying a multi-stage quantization procedure not in a speech signal domain but in a parameter domain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus determine a channel response for an alternative sensor using an alternative sensor signal, an air conduction microphone signal. The channel response and a prior probability distribution for clean speech values are then used to estimate a clean speech value.

Abstract: A system and method is described for transcribing a recorded message automatically from a voicemail message system or an answering machine. The designated message may be automatically transcribed and forwarded to various archival devices, such as a printer, a facsimile machine, computer memory storage, or email. Thus, the system and method of the present invention automates the transcription process of a recorded message eliminating the need for a person to transcribe the message.

Abstract: An audio processing system and method for providing synchronized display of recognized text from an original audio file and playback of the original audio file. The system includes a speech recognition module, a silence insertion module, and a silence detection module. The speech recognition module generates text and audio pieces. The silence insertion module, aggregates the audio pieces into an aggregated audio file. The silence detection module converts the original audio file and the aggregated audio file into silence detected versions. Silent and non-silent blocks are identified using a threshold volume. The silence insertion module compares the silence detected original and aggregated audio files, determines the differences in position of non-silence elements and inserts silence within the audio pieces accordingly. The characteristics of the silence inserted audio pieces are used to synchronize the display of recognized text from an original audio file and playback of original audio file.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for building a training set for an automated speech recognition-based system, which determines the statistically optimal number of frequently requested responses to automate in order to achieve a desired automation rate. The invention may be used to select the appropriate tokens and responses to train the system and to achieve a desired “phrase coverage” for all of the many different ways human beings may phrase a request that calls for one of a plurality of frequently-requested responses. The invention also determines the statistically optimal number of tokens (spoken requests) required to train a speech recognition-based system to achieve the desired phrase coverage and optimal allocation of tokens over the set of responses that are to be automated.

Abstract: A speaker of encoded speech data recorded in a semiconductor storage device in an IC recorder is to be retrieved easily. An information receiving unit 10 in a speaker retrieval apparatus 1 reads out the encoded speech data recorded in a semiconductor storage device 107 in an IC recorder 100. A speech decoding unit 12 decodes the encoded speech data. A speaker frequency detection unit 13 discriminates the speaker based on a feature of the speech waveform decoded to find the frequency of conversation (frequency of occurrence) of the speaker in a preset time interval. A speaker frequency graph displaying unit 14 displays the speaker frequency on a picture as a two-dimensional graph having time and the frequency as two axes.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and apparatus are provided to facilitate the recognition of the content of a body of speech data. In one embodiment, a method for analyzing verbal communication is provided, comprising acts of producing an electronic recording of a plurality of spoken words; processing the electronic recording to identify a plurality of word alternatives for each of the spoken words, each of the plurality of word alternatives being identified by comparing a portion of the electronic recording with a lexicon, and each of the plurality of word alternatives being assigned a probability of correctly identifying a spoken word; loading the word alternatives and the probabilities to a database for subsequent analysis; and examining the word alternatives and the probabilities to determine at least one characteristic of the plurality of spoken words.

Abstract: A method and computer-readable medium are provided that determine predicted acoustic values for a sequence of hypothesized speech units using modeled articulatory or VTR dynamics values and using the modeled relationship between the articulatory (or VTR) and acoustic values for the same speech events. Under one embodiment, the articulatory (or VTR) dynamics value depends on articulatory dynamics values at pervious time frames and articulation targets. In another embodiment, the articulatory dynamics value depends in part on an acoustic environment value such as noise or distortion. In a third embodiment, a time constant that defines the articulatory dynamics value is trained using a variety of articulation styles. By modeling the articulatory or VTR dynamics value in these manners, hyper-articulated, hypo-articulated, fast, and slow speech can be better recognized and the requirement for the training data can be reduced.

Abstract: Words of an input string are morphologically analyzed to identify their alternative base forms and parts of speech. The analyzed words of the input string are used to compile the input string into a first finite-state network. The first finite-state network is matched with a second finite-state network of multiword expressions to identify all subpaths of the first finite-state network that match one or more complete paths in the second finite-state network. Each matching subpath of the first finite-state network and path of the second finite-state network identify a multiword expression in the input string. The morphological analysis is performed without disambiguating words and without segmenting the input string into sentences in the input string to compile the first finite-state network with at least one path that identifies alternative base forms or parts of speech of a word in the input string.

Abstract: A method for recognizing an audio sample locates an audio file that most closely matches the audio sample from a database indexing a large set of original recordings. Each indexed audio file is represented in the database index by a set of landmark timepoints and associated fingerprints. Landmarks occur at reproducible locations within the file, while fingerprints represent features of the signal at or near the landmark timepoints. To perform recognition, landmarks and fingerprints are computed for the unknown sample and used to retrieve matching fingerprints from the database. For each file containing matching fingerprints, the landmarks are compared with landmarks of the sample at which the same fingerprints were computed. If a large number of corresponding landmarks are linearly related, i.e., if equivalent fingerprints of the sample and retrieved file have the same time evolution, then the file is identified with the sample.

Abstract: A method that allows two or more APs (application programs) to use a sound card and an AP to select an input device of the sound card regardless of a mixer device of the sound card is disclosed. A connecting module 31 is disposed among a sound card 17, a HDD 13, and an NIC 19. Switches 32 and 33 are disposed in parallel to the connecting module 31. In other words, an audio signal that is input form the sound card 17 is supplied to the NIC 19 through the switch 32. In addition, the audio signal is supplied to the HDD 13 through the switch 33. The switch 32 is equivalent to a concept of an application interface for starting and stopping a sending operation for an audio signal supplied from the sound card 17 to the network 111. The switch 33 is equivalent to a concept of an application interface for starting and stopping a saving operation for an audio signal supplied from the sound card 17 to the HDD 13.

Abstract: Prior to embedding a watermark in an audio signal, a spectral representation of the audio signal and a spectral representation of the watermark signal are determined. The spectral representation of the watermark signal is then processed on the basis of a psychoacoustic masking threshold of the audio signal. The processed watermark signal is combined with the audio signal to obtain an audio signal bearing a watermark.

Abstract: A dialog supporting apparatus which can support an on-going dialog so that the dialog is smoothly completed. The dialog supporting apparatus includes an utterance receiving unit which receives an utterance of a dialog participant and outputs utterance information, an utterance processing unit which translates the utterance identified by the utterance information, an utterance output unit which outputs the translated utterance information, a dialog history database, an utterance prediction unit which generates a first utterance prediction information based on the first utterance prediction information and the second utterance prediction information.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a segmentation method, which divides an input audio stream into segments containing different homogeneous signals. The main objective of this method is localization of segments with stationary properties. This method seeks all no-stationary points or intervals in the audio stream and creates a list of segments. The obtained list of segments can be used as an input data for the following procedures, such as classification, speech/music/noise attribution and so on. The proposed segmentation method is based on the analysis of audio signal statistical features variation and comprises three main stages: stage of first-grade characteristics calculation, stage of second-grade characteristics calculation and stage of decision-making.

Abstract: Many compressed audio or video frames contain silence (if audio), or a blank image (if video); these essentially information content free (e.g. silent if audio or blank if video) frames can be both detected whilst still in compressed form and then used to carry the additional data. In an MPEG implementation, subbands associated with silent frames are rendered digitally silent and then used to carry PAD (Programme Associated Data).

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for determining whether to market an intellectual property asset, where the intellectual property asset is based at least in part on an innovation developed for an internal need. In an embodiment, a description of an intellectual property asset is received, and an assessment of the marketability of the intellectual property asset is generated based at least in part on the description of an intellectual property asset and a marketing criterion.

Abstract: A method and system for providing real estate information to users, tailored to requirements and fields relating to the location of the property. A single repository, such as a database or database farm, is used with middle tier software on servers on a network, such as the Internet, to provide information to users via user terminals coupled to the network, for particular properties, and to receive information for properties for addition to the database. Information and fields specific to locations are input to the system via a system operator. User terminals utilize either downloaded software to interact with the middle tier, or a network browser. In one variation, the middle tier software is based upon an open standard, such as an open Application Program Interface standard, so as to allow access for a variety of terminal types and software.

Abstract: Techniques are described for using predictive pricing information for items to assist in evaluating buying and/or selling decisions in various ways, such as on behalf of end-user item acquirers and/or intermediate item providers. The predictive pricing for an item may be based on an analysis of historical pricing information for that item and/or related items, and can be used to make predictions about future pricing information for the item. Such predictions may then be provided to users in various ways to enable comparison of current prices to predicted future prices. In some situations, predictive pricing information is used to assist customers when purchasing airline tickets and/or to assist travel agents when selling airline tickets. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A system and methods for generating a profile concerning the prescription therapy practices of physicians in a therapeutic area of interest. A plurality of historical de-identified patient prescription records are analyzed, and the records are categorized based on changes in the dosage or the prescription product between prescriptions for a particular de-identified patient. The prescriptions may be categorized based on the duration between the due date of a prescription and the date the prescription was filled. This information may be summarized for each physician for each product in the therapy area of interest.

Abstract: A medical payment system is described in which a provider of medical goods and/or services submits, via telephone or other communications medium, a request for payment amount determination for a patient encounter. A price determination system determines which of a plurality of fee schedules negotiated by the provider applies to the patient encounter and calculates, based at least in part on information entered by the provider, a payment amount for the encounter, which it communicates to at least the provider. In one embodiment, the provider receives the payment amount information while the patient is at the point of service. In one embodiment, the provider may use the system to submit a claim for payment by at least one responsible party.

Abstract: Methods and systems for requesting and delivering supporting documents to an insurance carrier to enable the carrier to process an insurance claim for services rendered by a physician provider. Hard copies of supporting documents are converted to electronic images that are accessible by the carrier through the Internet, thereby eliminating the need for communication between the provider and the carrier through regular mail. The images are indexed based upon the insurance claim, the provider, the patient, and/or the carrier to enable the carrier to access the images associated with a specific insurance claim efficiently. In addition, the insurance claim can be pre-adjudicated prior to delivering the claim to the carrier for processing and can be approved and paid before the carrier processes the claim.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for providing reduced insurance premiums to an insured entity and a reduced risk of loss to an insuring entity. A program containing certain program requirements for the insured entity is created, and procedures are designed for the insured entity to meet these predetermined program requirements. The proximity in meeting these program requirements are monitored and then communicated to an interested third party, such as the insurer. Thus, the present invention by monitoring the insured entity, and communicating information relating to the insured entity to the insuring entity, allows the insuring entity to reduce the insurance costs to the insured entity if such monitoring results in favorable information for the insurer.

Abstract: A method of providing insurance (including professional malpractice liability insurance) to consumers against unfavorable outcomes resulting from services, and a method of rating risks associated with services. In the first preferred embodiment, a policy limit is chosen by a patient (or other consumer), a premium based on the policy limit is paid by the patient, and if malpractice is committed by a health care provider (or other professional), the patient is compensated up to the amount of the policy limit. The patient signs an agreement that the liability of the health care provider for malpractice will not exceed the policy limit. Only then are medical services provided. Risk factors are evaluated for the patient, the doctor, hospital or other health care provider, and the procedures that are to be performed, and are used to determine the amount of the premium, taking into account the policy limit chosen by the patient.

Abstract: Techniques for processing flexible-date queries are described. Techniques include a interface to enter a flexible date query including a description of a traveler's desired stay at a destination. A user receives a set of solutions that satisfy the flexible date query in the form of a calendar. The set of solutions can be stored in a database for eventual retrieval of a subset of the set of solutions to render to a user.

Abstract: Method, system, and storage medium for facilitating supplier auditing functions in a communications network environment. The method includes receiving a request from a user system associated with an enterprise system to initiate an activity. The activity includes scheduling an audit for performing an initial or ongoing qualification of a supplier enterprise. The method also includes retrieving data from at least one database by the enterprise system. The data corresponds to the activity selected. The method further includes transmitting the data to the user system. The enterprise system includes a quality information network application for executing activity options.

Abstract: An automated optimization system for generating training plans for airline pilots covering both pilot transitions and assignment to training classes for pilots who have received a system bid award, wherein such training plans are generated in less than one hour by first solving a MIP Model of the training/transition problem with an LP relaxation to determine a first level of feasibility, and then solving the MIP Model for an optimized feasible solution from which the training plan is derived.

Abstract: An enterprise strategy management system includes a first software module adapted to formulate a strategy description based on an assessment of environmental data, a second software module adapted to align the strategy description with available enterprise resources and deploy strategy implementation responsibilities, and a third software module adapted to measure the execution of the strategy and identify opportunities to optimize strategic performance. The first, second and third software modules are adapted to implement a continuous strategy management cycle, and may be executed in any order. In one embodiment, the first software module is an STRATEGY FORMULATION module, the second software module is an STRATEGY ALIGNMENT module and the third module is an STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION module. The STRATEGY FORMULATION module includes software components for assessing environmental data, formulating and analyzing strategic alternatives and determining and approving a final, multi-level strategy description.

Abstract: A method, computer system, computer program product, and signal embodied on a carrier wave for scheduling delivery of material to a manufacturer with a plurality of manufacturing lines. Each manufacturing line may include at least one operation, and deliveries are made according to the material requirements for the operation. Parts and/or raw materials are requested and delivered to an operation of at least one operation on a manufacturing line in the factory from in-house and external inventory based upon the work scheduled for that operation. Deliveries are scheduled continuously to allow changes in truck arrival schedules from material sources and changes in material requirements. Requests for materials to be delivered are delayed until the last possible moment for making the request to allow for these changes and to ensure that inventory is stored at a manufacturing line and/or operation for minimum time prior to the time the material is needed.

Abstract: Provided herein are data structures, processes and systems to facilitate scheduling of complex work orders to a mobile workforce. Complex work orders are comprised of several distinct sub-orders that require coordinated scheduling because the start of one sub-order is dependent on the start or completion of another. The data structure provided herein identifies a set of member sub-orders required for completing complex work orders and relates those sub-orders to one another by precedence criteria that establish which sub-orders are dependent on which other sub-orders. This data structure is used in computer processes integrated with workforce management systems to permit such systems to schedule and/or assign individual work orders in a coordinated manner to satisfy the precedence criteria.

Abstract: A workflow system controls work which includes a plurality of works. A stagnated work in a stagnation state is grasped, and processing priorities of works having a relation to the stagnated work are established in accordance with the relation. Particularly, a processing priority of a work, of which the processing progress is influenced due to the stagnated work in the stagnation state, is established to be lower.

Abstract: A method and system for developing a requirement specification by a consultant for a client. The method includes communication between the client and consultant to determine a set of engagement requirements that both the client and consultant deem to be important. A corresponding set of practices to be applied to the set of requirements is selected. An objective determination is made as to whether the set of practices satisfies the set of requirements in the context of the business environment of the client.

Abstract: A method for providing a collaborative production scheduling system uses the internet and allows a supplier and its customers to interact with a data set that contains forecast information relating to products manufactured by the supplier and purchased by the customers. An initial forecast is provided by the supplier for each of a plurality of customers and those forecasts are made available for access by the customers. Each of the customers of the supplier is allowed to review and access the data contained in the forecast schedule at predetermined periods of time (e.g. monthly) and for preselected durations (e.g. fifteen days). During those times, all of the customers of the supplier can amend the predetermined forecast schedule based on their own estimates of their future demand for the suppliers products. The supplier then can accumulate the information obtained from its customers and schedule production at its own facilities in order to appropriately meet the anticipated demand of its customers.

Abstract: The invention includes three primary methodical tools. The first tool implements a job recruiting toolkit. The second tool implements a method of generating referrals based upon a virtual community of people who relate to the job description. The third tool implements an enterprise recruitment toolkit.

Abstract: A general customer logs in to the system, proceeds from the main menu to the merchandise selection menu, and selects the merchandise he wants to purchase. At that time he refers to the information concerning the combinations of the merchandise he desires and the merchandise combinations. These pieces of information are provided by charisma customers selected from among general customers. A charisma customer has a privilege such as a preferential purchase of merchandise at a low price, but in return he has an obligation to feed information concerning merchandise back to the system, namely the party selling the merchandise. The general customer can make an accurate purchase of the merchandise he wants to purchase based upon useful information provided from the charisma customers.

Abstract: Sales associated with service providers are increased using an opportunistic approach based on an unexpected change in a schedule or services (time, location). Windows of opportunity (time, physical location) are automatically identified, and once such a window of opportunity is detected, the people affected directly from the change of a schedule are identified. This information is then used by service providers to act quickly in order to enhance sales. Both service providers and consumers setup a personalized profile in a database, and the system uses a matching process to match related service providers to the consumers' preferences.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing a business comprising generating a matrix for analysis and planning that utilizes trend changes in the Average Selling Price (ASP) of End-User Products (EUP) and the trend changes in the OEM price of specific components used in the EUP to provide quantifiable “fact based” analysis, quantification, planning, and measurable actions for developing profitable business plans and tracking their progress against the business objectives.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating new communications services are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention is a method for developing an application strategy, which can be used to develop a new communications service of the invention. The method includes the steps of analyzing limitations of an existing communications network, interpreting market forces associated with the communications network, understanding customer needs in using the communications network, and defining an application strategy to meet the customer needs. The method includes an analysis of interactions among communications networks, communications applications, and communications devices. Preferably, two or more communications networks are included to provide the communications service.

Abstract: A market selection optimization method comprising the steps of assigning product offers to consumers in the presence of multiple constraints, such that each consumer is assigned at least one product offer; determining a difference in expected profitability associated with the assigned product offer and a different product offer for each consumer; sorting the consumers according to the respective difference in expected profitabilities associated with the product offers; and reassigning the product offers to the sorted consumers in accordance with the respective difference in expected profitabilites. The result of this process is a selection of marketing offers that optimizes expected revenues.

Abstract: A computer based method for acquiring life history information from an applicant for employment to minimize positive response bias and enhance the veracity of the acquired life history information. A question collection related to at least one life event is presented to the applicant. The question collection is comprised of a revealed stem question and at least one hidden branch question, the hidden branch question being related to the stem question. Based on the stem question response, the method automatically determines whether to present at least one hidden branch question to the applicant. If a hidden branch question is presented to the applicant, the applicant's response is received and stored in the computer database. The response to the stem question and the response to the hidden branch question are predictive of a predefined negative outcome for the applicant.