Abstract: A virtual machine is instantiated on an M-core processor, and an N-core application is instantiated on the virtual machine such that the virtual machine emulates an N-core processor to the N-core application. Thus, the virtual machine hides difference between the N cores expected by the application and the M cores available from the processor.

Abstract: Method of recognizing phones in speech of any language. Acquire phones for all languages and a set of languages. Acquire a pronunciation dictionary, a transcript of speech for the set of languages, and speech for the transcript. Receive speech containing unknown phones. If the speech's language is unknown, compare it to the phones for all languages to determine the phones. If the language is known but no phones were acquired in that language, compare the speech to the phones for all languages to determine the phones. If phones were acquired in the speech's language but no corresponding pronunciation dictionary was acquired, compare the speech to the phones for all languages to determine the phones. If a pronunciation dictionary was acquired for the phones in the speech's language but no transcript was acquired then compare the speech to the phones for all languages to determine the phones.

Abstract: A system and method summarizes multimedia stored in a compressed multimedia file partitioned into a sequence of segments, where the content of the multimedia is, for example, video signals, audio signals, text, and binary data. An associated metadata file includes index information and an importance level for each segment. The importance information is continuous over as closed interval. An importance level threshold is selected in the closed interval, and only segments of the multimedia having a particular importance level greater than the importance level threshold are reproduced. The importance level can also be determined for fixed-length windows of multiple segments, or a sliding window. Furthermore, the importance level can be weighted by a factor, such as the audio volume.

Abstract: A decoding apparatus is provided. The decoding apparatus has a first decoding part for decoding a code word obtained by encoding an input signal using a Code-Excited Linear Prediction encoding method. A second decoding part decodes a code word obtained by encoding a signal with an encoding method other than the Code-Excited Linear Prediction encoding method. A rising-transition detection and notification part has a detection part that detects the existence of a rising-transition of amplitude of the input signal based on time variation of a gain of excitation vectors obtained by the first decoding part, and a notification part that notifies the second decoding part that the rising-transition of the amplitude exists.

Abstract: A system and method of concealing bit errors in a signal are provided. An exemplary method detects bit errors in an input signal having at least a current signal segment and a previous signal segment. The previous signal segment has a log-gain value qlg(m?1) and immediately precedes the current signal segment. The method comprises estimating a level lvl(m?1) of the input signal and determining a log-gain value qlg(m) of the current signal segment within the input signal. The method also comprises determining a difference between the gain value of the current signal segment and the previous signal segment and determining whether the difference exceeds a threshold. wherein the threshold is adaptive to the input signal level.

Abstract: A process that allocates bits for quantizing spectral components in a perceptual coding system is performed more efficiently by obtaining an accurate estimate of the optimal value for one or more coding parameters that are used in the bit allocation process. In one implementation for a perceptual audio coding system, an accurate estimate of an offset from a calculated psychoacoustic masking curve is derived by selecting an initial value for the offset, calculating the number of bits that would be allocated if the initial offset were used for coding, and estimating the optimum value of the offset from a difference between this calculated number and the number of bits that are actually available for allocation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for processing voice data from a call between a first human party and a second or more human parties and/or an automated attendant system, or between a first human party and one or more second human parties, wherein the voice data is generated from the call. The language of the first party may be recognized automatically. Further, the voice data from the call may be analyzed either fully or in part by a voice recognition system and converted into text.

Abstract: A method of providing a translation within a voice stream can include receiving a speech signal in a first language, determining text from the speech signal, translating the text to a second and different language, and encoding the translated text within the speech signal.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is disclosed which uses probabilistic techniques to map an input search string with a prestored audio file, and recognize certain portions of a search string phonetically. An improved interface is disclosed which permits users to input search strings, linguistics, phonetics, or a combination of both, and also allows logic functions to be specified by indicating how far separated specific phonemes are in time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for storing parameters of a deleted interpolation language model as parameters of a backoff language model. In particular, the parameters of the deleted interpolation language model are stored in the standard ARPA format. Under one embodiment, the deleted interpolation language model parameters are formed using fractional counts.

Abstract: A neural network can be trained for synthesizing or recognizing speech with the aid of a database produced by automatically matching graphemes and phonemes. First, graphemes and phonemes are matched for words which have the same number of graphemes and phonemes. Next, graphemes and phonemes are matched for words that have more graphemes than phonemes in a series of steps that combine graphemes with preceding phonemes. Then, graphemes and phonemes are matched for words that have fewer graphemes than phonemes. After each step, infrequent and unsuccessful matches made in the preceding step are are erased. After this process is completed, the database can be used to train the neural network and graphemes, or letters of a text can be converted into the corresponding phonemes with the aid of the trained neural network.

Abstract: In a voice-extensible markup-language-enabled voice application deployment architecture, an application logic for determining which portions of a voice application for deployment are cached at an application-receiving end system or systems has a processor for processing the voice application according to sequential dialog files of the application, a static content optimizer connected to the processor for identifying files containing static content, and a dynamic content optimizer connected to the processor for identifying files containing dynamic content. The application is characterized in that the optimizers determine which files should be cached at which end-system facilities, tag the files accordingly, and prepare those files for distribution to selected end-system cache facilities for local retrieval during consumer interaction with the deployed application.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new parameter suitable for use in non-intrusive speech quality assessment system. The invention provides a method of generating a parameter from a signal comprising a sequence of values measured from voiced portions of said signal at a sampling frequency, said parameter suitable for use in a quality assessment tool. The method includes steps of selecting portions of frequency transformed sections of the signal in dependence upon a pitch estimate; generating an average value for each portion; and generating a section parameter depending upon the difference between the averages of successive portions. Said section parameter is averaged over a number of iterations of the method to generate the new parameter of the invention.

Abstract: A data input device has an input part for inputting data and an output part for outputting a message for prompting a data input operation. The data input device has a text data input part for inputting text data, a voice data input part for inputting voice data, an input item storage part for storing an item to be inputted, and an input control part for selecting one of the text data input part and the voice data input part in accordance with the characteristics of the item to be inputted which is stored in the input item storage part.

Abstract: A system and method for reviewing inputted voice instructions in a vehicle-based telematics control unit. The system includes a microphone, a speech recognition processor, and an output device. The microphone receives voice instructions from a user. Coupled to the microphone is the speech recognition processor that generates a voice signal by performing speech recognition processing of the received voice instructions. The output device outputs the generated voice signal to the user. The system also includes a user interface for allowing the user to approve the outputted voice signal, and a communication component for wirelessly sending the generated voice signal to a server over a wireless network upon approval by the user.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, in a given computer, of identifying at least one current speaker among at least three participants of a network-based collaborating system. The participants collaborate using a plurality of computers. The method includes receiving a first speech event signal at the given computer, the first speech event signal being generated by a first computer of the plurality of computers, the first speech event signal being generated responsive to voice input by a user of the first computer. The method further includes identifying, using the given computer and responsive to the receiving the first speech event signal from the first computer, to a user of the given computer an identity of a user of the first computer as a first current speaker.

Abstract: Remote enforcement of operational protocols is provided. In a remote environment, such as that found with a police environment, voice recognition technology is used to determine the situation and invoke actions according to an appropriate protocol. Actions may be set to be mandatory or discretionary. A secure log is maintained of the actions undertaken. Actions include automatically retrieving data from a remote database, automatically communicating with another unit or headquarters, and automating devices used in the remote environment. Voice recognition technology also extracts data from the user's speech and builds variables used as parameters in performing the actions. Data is returned to the user in either audible or textual form and either played to the user on a speaker or displayed on a display device.

Abstract: For migrating a work flow in a workflow management system having at least one process instance executing an original process definition, each process instance is checked during the execution of the original process definition whether the process instance meets the migration condition. If the migration condition is met, the corresponding process instance is migrated to a modified process definition while executing the original definition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for managing intellectual property assets. In an embodiment, an intellectual property protection life cycle of an intellectual property asset is managed, and an intellectual property marketing life cycle of the intellectual property asset is managed.

Abstract: An automated system and method for customer management deploys customer databases to profile customer service requests for distribution to appropriately assigned agent representatives. The representatives adopt particular roles according to customer care volume, inquiry type, time of day and other customer management needs. Consumer profiles may be accessed in real time to combine customer care events with cross-selling and other promotions related to the consumer's transaction history and other factors.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention use a data processing system for capturing line item data. The method involves receiving claim identification information from a claimant, where the claim identification information comprises, at least, one line level; providing the client with an item tree of line item level data based on the line level and aggregating line item level data collected from the claimant; and storing the line item level data in an insurance host server.

Abstract: The invention includes a new method of creating a client-specific virtual managed care network spanning multiple states. The method seeks to maximize savings while minimizing the inconvenience and disruption to plan participants in changing health care providers. Based on the utilization or disruption data and projected future savings, one or more managed care networks is selected per state. The various managed care networks selected for each state comprise a virtual health care network for providing health care services to health care plan participants. The present invention also includes a new method of predicting future health care savings based upon the selection of a particular managed care network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for booking reservations in a booking system and synchronizing bookings among several booking systems. The system comprises at least one booking system; at least one service provider; a mediator service; a client, and at least one client terminal device that can be a mobile device and that includes a dialogue. The client uses the dialogue to enter information into the system and the mediator receives inquiries and answers from the at least one booking system, the at least one service provider, and the at least one client. The mediator transfers and adapts information between them. The method and system are particularly suited for use with mobile phone users by Small Message Service messages.

Abstract: A system and method of assessing the delivery of information technology (IT) service delivery from a providing organization to a customer. The system and method include techniques for assessing the maturity of the information technology services and for identifying factors which cause or contribute to a customer's perception of poor service. The present invention focuses on the customer and what he sees, rather than on the internal processes used by the IT organization to develop and deliver services to the customer. That is, the present invention is a system which focuses on the “delivery” aspect of IT services rather than on the “production” aspects of the IT activities within the IT shop.

Abstract: An overall plan for providing maintenance and technical services for businesses and plants, as broadly defined, includes generic procedures for the services written as a manual of standard practices. A knowledge base or experience database of data and people is utilized, and both hardware and software tools are selected and used in providing the services.

Abstract: A technique is provided for generating a hierarchy used in managing a development project by generating schedule data for a task and generating reference data for the task, wherein the reference data references tasks at other levels of a hierarchy that represents relationships among tasks for completing the project. Another technique is provided for managing a development project schedule by determining whether an update to schedule data associated with a particular task requires an update to other tasks hierarchically related to the particular task, by following references from the particular task to a parent task and from the parent task to its child tasks. Schedule data of the child tasks, for example, actual start and end dates, are compared to determine whether the parent schedule needs to be changed.

Abstract: An event invitation method according to this invention comprises the steps of acquiring position information of a customer registered in advance; judging whether or not information concerning an invitation to an event to a terminal of the customer based on at least a positional relationship between the customer and a site of the event; and sending information concerning the invitation to the event to the terminal of the customer if it is judged that the invitation to the event should be sent to the customer. With this method, for example, by sending event invitation information to customers who can reach the event site by the opening time or ending time of the event, collection of customers who attend the event and resale of canceled tickets can be performed efficiently.

Abstract: Automated system, methods, algorithms, procedures, and computer software programs and computer program products for improving and optimizing the performance of messaging campaigns, particularly for marketing campaigns in which advertisements or other messages are distributed over an interactive measurable medium such as the Internet. Analysis and Optimization method and procedure, an automated system, and system and method that exploit the underlying multi-attribute structure, as well as other features and advantages. Optimization procedures allocate the ad alternatives or other message to the customer population to optimize business objectives such as maximizing the number of positive responses received. Procedure for generating message allocations that improve and attempt to optimize the campaign performance. Methods ensure that campaign constraints are not violated.

Abstract: Computer implemented method and system for improving demand forecasting by estimating the hidden demand at an occurrence of a sellout using a single parameter probability distribution with a parameter assuming a forecasted mean demand value derived from a statistical seasonal causal time series forecasting model of count data on a new data set of sales values excluding truncated sales values at occurrences of sellouts. The present invention also provides for new more accurate performance evaluation techniques together with new performance metrics for evaluating an actual draw and for comparing a recommended draw to an actual draw.

Abstract: Various systems for collecting individual post-sale market data for products or services, and determining aggregate post-sale market data therefrom, are provided. In such systems, a sale of a product or service may trigger a third party, such as a payment provider, to arrange for the collection of individual post-sale market data from the consumer. Dependent upon the type of product or service involved, a schedule for continuously submitting post-sale market data for the product or service may be provided and the consumer may be encouraged to submit post-sale market data in accordance therewith through a variety of incentives. The received, individual, post-sale market data may be aggregated by one or more sources to determine aggregate post-sale market data for the product or service. The submitted individual data and/or the determined aggregate post-sale market data may then be provided to consumers in order to assist them in making purchasing decisions.

Abstract: A method to provide directions to customers requesting information about the location of products in a store that brings the customer into the vicinity of other products in which the customer may have an interest to purchase receives customer identification data and product selection data, determines customer interest data from the customer identification data, and generates a customer path to a location corresponding to the product selection data that includes a location corresponding to the customer interest data. A customer following the generated path comes into the vicinity of one or more products in which the customer may have an interest to purchase. A customer may enter the identification data through a keypad or through a scanning device that reads a customer token. Preferably, the customer token may be a smart card or a card bearing a magnetic stripe. A keypad or touch screen may be used to provide product selection data.

Abstract: In accordance with one described embodiment, methods, systems, and apparatus are provided for determining a progressive discount for a customer. In one example, a customer is provided with a discount that is incremented if the customer visits at least once in a pre-defined period.

Abstract: Inventory control with inventory item attributes wherein the attributes describe an inventory item, the inventory item has an RFID identification tag having an RFID identification tag code, and the inventory item attributes include an RFID identification tag code field, a control value, an acceptable control value range, and an out of range action. Detecting changes in the inventory item attributes, including reading, through an RFID reader, the RFID identification code from the RFID tag associated with the inventory item, recording detected changes in inventory item attributes, comparing the control value and the acceptable control value range, and taking action in dependence upon the result of the comparing and the out of range action.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods to support import-export transactions. More particularly, it includes methods and systems for negotiating terms for settlement of an international shipment, for advising an agreed bank that the terms have been met and for remittance from a line of credit or similar credit facility or a demand deposit account.

Abstract: An system and method for online human resource outsourcing is provided via online and through portal access such as obtained when utilizing wireless applications.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a credit card with multiple lines of credit. One of the disclosed methods include, for example, analyzing credit information of a cardholder to determine a level of risk associated with the cardholder; establishing a general purpose credit line based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder, the general purpose credit line being set as a revolving credit line; establishing a private label credit line based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder, the private label credit line being set as a revolving credit line; and issuing the credit card to the cardholder with the established general purpose credit line and private label credit line.

Abstract: A method to trade objects over a network is described. A first order for an object having at least four dimensions associated with the object is received. A memory is searched for a second order with an object having at least four dimensions. The first order is matched with the second order in accordance with the search.

Abstract: A method for trading a security in an electronic market includes entering an order at a client station for executing against any market participant that can at least in part satisfy the order, determining a threshold for executing the entered order based on an inside price of the security in the electronic market, matching a portion of the entered order at a server system against interest in the market that does not exceed the determined threshold, and returning any unmatched portion of the entered order that can not be matched by the interest in the market without exceeding the determined threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed which relate to online banking via interface surfaces printed with information and coded data. The coded data, encoded visibly or invisibly, may be queried by an appropriate sensing device. The sensing device communicates with a computer system. Together, the interface surfaces, sensing device and computer system are capable of effecting banking transactions over a network.

Abstract: A computer is adapted for use in different operating modes by configuring an output controller, such as a graphics processing unit, to screen output signals prior to presenting them to the output device. A secure environment in the output controller verifies a digital signature or a hash of the output signal to determine whether the output signal is compatible with the current mode of operation. Thus only authorized output signals are presented when the computer is operating in a limited function mode, such as when metered usage time is expired. The apparatus and method also disclose similar output signal screening for determining whether the computer should be returned from a standby, or no-metering, mode to an active, or metered mode.

Abstract: A system for determining an opening price for products traded over a distributed, networked computer system, includes a plurality of workstations for entering orders for financial products into the distributed, networked computer system and a server computer coupled to the workstations for receiving the orders. The server computer executes a server process that determines an opening price for the product. The server process identifies the oldest of interest at the most aggressive price on each side of the market and selects the older interest of the identified interest to designate as initial interest. The server process matches initial interest against all contra side interest.

Abstract: A computer is programmed to receive data concerning a current location of a vehicle, a plurality of gas prices at a plurality of gas stations, and a plurality of locations, one location for each of the plurality of gas stations. The computer is programmed to determine a first gas station of the plurality of gas stations based on the current location of the vehicle, the plurality of gas prices, and the plurality of locations such that driving the vehicle from the current location to the first gas station and then to a final destination requires a first cost of gas, which is less than or equal to the cost of gas of driving the vehicle from the current location to any other gas station and then to the final destination. The data concerning the current location of the vehicle may be received from a global positioning system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methodology to facilitate multiattribute adjustments and control associated with messages and other communications and informational items that are directed to a user via automated systems. An interface, specification language, and controls are provided for defining a plurality of variously configured groups that may attempt to communicate respective items. Controls include the specification of priorities and preferences as well as the modification of priorities and preferences that have been learned from training sets via machine learning methods. The system provides both a means for assessing parameters used in the control of messaging and communications and for the inspection and modification of parameters that have been learned autonomously.

Abstract: Disclosed is a parallel support vector machine technique for solving problems with a large set of training data where the kernel computation, as well as the kernel cache and the training data, are spread over a number of distributed machines or processors. A plurality of processing nodes are used to train a support vector machine based on a set of training data. Each of the processing nodes selects a local working set of training data based on data local to the processing node, for example a local subset of gradients. Each node transmits selected data related to the working set (e.g., gradients having a maximum value) and receives an identification of a global working set of training data. The processing node optimizes the global working set of training data and updates a portion of the gradients of the global working set of training data. The updating of a portion of the gradients may include generating a portion of a kernel matrix. These steps are repeated until a convergence condition is met.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for training a number of neural networks, by determining a first training data record, wherein the training data have a particular accuracy, generating a number of second data training records by perturbing the first training data record with a random variable, and training each of the neural networks with one of the training data records. A prognosis and an estimation of the prognosis error can be carried out by means of such a system.

Abstract: A first set of classifiers are trained to predict categories using attributes of cases. A second set of a classifiers are also trained to predict the categories using the attributes of the cases. In addition, the second set of classifiers use the predictions from at least one of the classifiers in the first set to make predictions.

Abstract: The methods/systems described herein facilitate large-scale data collection and aggregation. One exemplary system that facilitates large-scale reporting of health-related data comprises a data collection component, a database and an aggregation component. The data collection component can collect health-related data on a large-scale from a non-selected population. The database can store at least some of the health-related data. The aggregation component can facilitate automatically ascertaining at least one pattern from the health-related data at least in part by applying one or more statistical, data-mining or machine-learning techniques to the database.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a content filtering system scans an incoming data for malicious content against a portion or the entirety of its knowledge base. If the incoming data is not detected to contain malicious content, the incoming data is forwarded to a content filtering agent that may perform further scanning of the incoming data against portions of its knowledge base that were not employed by the content filtering system. This advantageously allows a complete knowledge base to be segmented, with different computers scanning an incoming data using different segments of the knowledge base. The content filtering system and content filtering agent may be antivirus programs, while the knowledge bases may be virus/pattern files, for example.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and software for recognizing and flagging a data item used by one or more application program as falling within the scope of a rule but anomalous when compared with other data items falling within the scope of the rule. The method of the present invention comprises determining a collection to which the data item belongs as defined by the rule. The collection that the data item belongs to is analyzed to calculate statistics regarding the other data items that are part of the collection. Based on the statistical calculations, it is determined whether the data item is an anomalous data item. If the data item is identified as an anomalous data item, it is flagged.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for producing a semantic representation of information in a semantic space. The information is first represented in a table that stores values which indicate a relationship with predetermined categories. The categories correspond to dimensions in the semantic space. The significance of the information with respect to the predetermined categories is then determined. A trainable semantic vector (TSV) is constructed to provide a semantic representation of the information. The TSV has dimensions equal to the number of predetermined categories and represents the significance of the information relative to each of the predetermined categories. Various types of manipulation and analysis, such as searching, classification, and clustering, can subsequently be performed on a semantic level.