Abstract: A method and an electronic device for providing content are provided. The electronic device includes a voice input module configured to receive a voice input, an audio output module, a display, a memory configured to store a voice recognition application which provides content in response to the voice input, and a processor configured to execute the voice recognition application and determine an output scheme of the content to be outputted through the audio output module or the display based on a status of the voice recognition application or an operating environment of the electronic device.

Abstract: Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant to explore media items are provided. In one example process, a speech input representing a request for one or more media items is received from a user. The process determines whether the speech input corresponds to a user intent of obtaining personalized recommendations for media items. In response to determining that the speech input corresponds to a user intent of obtaining personalized recommendations for media items, at least one media item is obtained from a user-specific corpus of media items. The user-specific corpus of media items is generate based on data associated with the user. The at least one media item is provided.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for determining application experience of a user based on paralinguistic information determined for the user. One embodiment presented herein includes a computer-implemented method, which includes receiving, at a computing device, one or more audio streams. Each audio stream includes audio from a user interacting with at least one page of an application. The computer-implemented method also includes generating paralinguistic information from at least one of the audio streams. The paralinguistic information characterizes acoustic aspects of the audio stream that are distinct from verbal content of the audio stream.

Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus for performing exact start and end recognition of voice based on video recognition. The method includes determining whether a speech starts based on at least one of first video and audio data before conversion into a voice recognition mode, converting into the voice recognition mode and generating second audio data including a voice command, when it is determined that speech starts, and determining whether the speech is terminated based on at least one of second video and audio data after conversion into the voice recognition mode.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for voice recognition. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving a voice input; determining a transcription for the voice input, wherein determining the transcription for the voice input includes, for a plurality of segments of the voice input: obtaining a first candidate transcription for a first segment of the voice input; determining one or more contexts associated with the first candidate transcription; adjusting a respective weight for each of the one or more contexts; and determining a second candidate transcription for a second segment of the voice input based in part on the adjusted weights; and providing the transcription of the plurality of segments of the voice input for output.

Abstract: Location-based conversational understanding may be provided. Upon receiving a query from a user, an environmental context associated with the query may be generated. The query may be interpreted according to the environmental context. The interpreted query may be executed and at least one result associated with the query may be provided to the user.

Abstract: Systems and processes for converting speech-to-text are provided. In one example process, speech input can be received. A sequence of states and arcs of a weighted finite state transducer (WFST) can be traversed. A negating finite state transducer (FST) can be traversed. A virtual FST can be composed using a neural network language model and based on the sequence of states and arcs of the WFST. The one or more virtual states of the virtual FST can be traversed to determine a probability of a candidate word given one or more history candidate words. Text corresponding to the speech input can be determined based on the probability of the candidate word given the one or more history candidate words. An output can be provided based on the text corresponding to the speech input.

Abstract: Techniques for combining the results of multiple recognizers in a distributed speech recognition architecture. Speech data input to a client device is encoded and processed both locally and remotely by different recognizers configured to be proficient at different speech recognition tasks. The client/server architecture is configurable to enable network providers to specify a policy directed to a trade-off between reducing recognition latency perceived by a user and usage of network resources. The results of the local and remote speech recognition engines are combined based, at least in part, on logic stored by one or more components of the client/server architecture.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for receiving, by a voice action system, data specifying trigger terms that trigger an application to perform a voice action and a context that specifies a status of the application when the voice action can be triggered. The voice action system receives data defining a discoverability example for the voice action that comprises one or more of the trigger terms that trigger the application to perform the voice action when a status of the application satisfies the specified context. The voice action system receives a request for discoverability examples for the application from a user device having the application installed, and provides the data defining the discoverability examples to the user device in response to the request. The user device is configured to provide a notification of the one or more of the trigger terms when a status of the application satisfies the specified context.

Abstract: Provided is a lightweight computational device that is configured to be in communication with a cloud both directly and via a smart computational device. The lightweight computational device receives a voice command from a user, wherein the lightweight computational device does not have adequate processing power to convert the voice command to a text command. The voice command is transmitted from the lightweight computational device to a smart computational device, wherein the smart computational device uses voice recognition to convert the voice command to a text command in the smart computational device, and transmits the text command for being processed by that cloud that provides at least one of voice recognition service and other services. The lightweight computational device receives a data response for the user from the cloud, via the smart computational device, based on the other services provided by the cloud.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving an audio signal and initiating speech recognition tasks by a plurality of speech recognition systems (SRS's). Each SRS is configured to generate a recognition result specifying possible speech included in the audio signal and a confidence value indicating a confidence in a correctness of the speech result. The method also includes completing a portion of the speech recognition tasks including generating one or more recognition results and one or more confidence values for the one or more recognition results, determining whether the one or more confidence values meets a confidence threshold, aborting a remaining portion of the speech recognition tasks for SRS's that have not generated a recognition result, and outputting a final recognition result based on at least one of the generated one or more speech results.

Abstract: A system for creating a synthetic voice identifier may include a plurality of synthesized voice authorization (SVA) devices and a biometric combinatory device (BCD). The SVAs may be communicatively coupled to the BCD via a network and may communicate utilizing a markup language. The SVA devices may capture an audio signal of a voice of a user, modify the audio signal with a randomized audio frequency signal to generate a modified audio signal, and communicate, the modified audio signal as a synthesized voice signal associated with the user.

Abstract: A method for evaluating voice quality includes performing human auditory modeling processing on a voice signal to obtain a first signal; performing variable resolution time-frequency analysis on the first signal to obtain a second signal; and performing, based on the second signal, feature extraction and analysis to obtain a voice quality evaluation result of the voice signal. According to the foregoing technical solutions, a problem that accuracy of a voice quality evaluation is not high can be solved. A voice quality evaluation result with relatively high accuracy is finally obtained by performing human auditory modeling processing, then converting a to-be-detected signal into a multi-resolution signal, further analyzing the time-frequency signal of variable resolution, extracting a feature corresponding to the signal, and performing further analysis.

Abstract: This is directed to processing voice inputs received by an electronic device. In particular, this is directed to receiving a voice input and identifying the user providing the voice input. The voice input can be processed using a subset of words from a library used to identify the words or phrases of the voice input. The particular subset can be selected such that voice inputs provided by the user are more likely to include words from the subset. The subset of the library can be selected using any suitable approach, including for example based on the user's interests and words that relate to those interests. For example, the subset can include one or more words related to media items selected by the user for storage on the electronic device, names of the user's contacts, applications or processes used by the user, or any other words relating to the user's interactions with the device.

Abstract: An interactive response system mixes HSR subsystems with ASR subsystems to facilitate overall capability of user interfaces. The system permits imperfect ASR subsystems to nonetheless relieve burden on HSR subsystems. An ASR proxy is used to implement an IVR system, and the proxy dynamically selects one or more recognizers from a language model and a human agent to recognize user input. Selection of the one or more recognizers is based on factors such as confidence thresholds of the ASRs and availability of human resources for HSRs.

Abstract: The present technology relates to an encoding device and a method, a decoding device and a method, and a program that enables acquisitions of high-quality sound even in a resource-poor setting. A demultiplexer demultiplexes a supplied code string, to obtain the quantized low-band spectrum, the spectral characteristic code, and the quantized expansion coefficient(s). At this point, the code string includes a single quantized expansion coefficient or quantized expansion coefficients of the respective bands in the high band depending on the spectral characteristic code. A spectral inverse quantization unit obtains the low-band spectrum by inversely quantizing the quantized low-band spectrum. An expansion coefficient inverse quantization unit obtains the expansion coefficient(s) by inversely quantizing the quantized expansion coefficient(s).

Abstract: Methods for processing a multichannel audio signal that includes transient noise signals are provided. The method includes buffering the multichannel audio signal in a subband domain, and estimating the subband frames for transient noise likelihood. A probability of transient noise for the buffered subband frames is determined and a multichannel spatial filter is applied to decompose the subband frames to transient attenuated target source and noise estimation cancelled of the target source signal. A spectral filter is applied to the target source frame to enhance the target source frame and the subband frames that are determined to have a probability of the transient noise greater than a first threshold and a probability of target source less than a second threshold are muted.

Abstract: In encoding, pitch periods for time series signals in a predetermined time interval are calculated, and a code corresponding thereto is output. In that encoding, the resolutions for expressing the pitch periods and/or a pitch period encoding mode are switched according to whether an index indicating a periodicity and/or stationarity level of the time series signals satisfies a condition indicating high or low in periodicity and/or stationarity. In that decoding, according to whether an index indicating a periodicity and/or stationarity level, the index being included in or obtained from an input code corresponding to the predetermined time interval, satisfies a condition indicating high periodicity and/or stationarity, a decoding mode for a code, included in the input code, corresponding to pitch periods is switched to decode the code corresponding to the pitch periods to obtain the pitch periods corresponding to the predetermined time interval.

Abstract: In encoding, pitch periods for time series signals in a predetermined time interval are calculated, and a code corresponding thereto is output. In that encoding, the resolutions for expressing the pitch periods and/or a pitch period encoding mode are switched according to whether an index indicating a periodicity and/or stationarity level of the time series signals satisfies a condition indicating high or low in periodicity and/or stationarity. In that decoding, according to whether an index indicating a periodicity and/or stationarity level, the index being included in or obtained from an input code corresponding to the predetermined time interval, satisfies a condition indicating high periodicity and/or stationarity, a decoding mode for a code, included in the input code, corresponding to pitch periods is switched to decode the code corresponding to the pitch periods to obtain the pitch periods corresponding to the predetermined time interval.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a network interface configured to receive, via a circuit-switched network, a packet. The packet includes a primary coding of a first audio frame, redundant coding of a second audio frame, and one or more bits that indicate signaling information. The signaling information corresponds to a decode operation of at least one of the primary coding or the redundant coding. The apparatus further includes a decoder configured to decode a portion of the packet based on the signaling information.

Abstract: In a particular aspect, an apparatus includes a first network interface. The first network interface is configured to receive a packet via a packet-switched network. The packet may include a primary coding of a first audio frame and a redundant coding of a second audio frame. The apparatus further includes a processor. The processor is configured to generate a modified packet that includes one or more bits that indicate signaling information or packet decoding information. The signaling information or packet decoding information may correspond to decoding of at least one of the primary coding or the redundant coding. The apparatus further includes a second network interface configured to transmit the modified packet via a circuit-switched network.

Abstract: This disclosure falls into the field of audio coding, in particular it is related to the field of spatial audio coding, where the audio information is represented by multiple signals, where the signals may comprise audio channels or/and audio objects. In particular the disclosure provides a method and apparatus for reconstructing audio objects in an audio decoding system. Furthermore, this disclosure provides a method and apparatus for encoding such audio objects.

Abstract: A device includes a receiver configured to receive an audio frame of an audio stream. The device also includes a decoder configured to generate first decoded speech associated with the audio frame and to determine a count of audio frames classified as being associated with band limited content. The decoder is further configured to output second decoded speech based on the first decoded speech. The second decoded speech may be generated according to an output mode of the decoder. The output mode may be selected based at least in part on the count of audio frames.

Abstract: An integrated sensor-array processor and method includes sensor array time-domain input ports to receive sensor signals from time-domain sensors. A sensor transform engine (STE) creates sensor transform data from the sensor signals and applies sensor calibration adjustments. Transducer time-domain input ports receive time-domain transducer signals, and a transducer output transform engine (TTE) generates transducer output transform data from the transducer signals. A spatial filter engine (SFE) applies suppression coefficients to the sensor transform data, to suppress target signals received from noise locations and/or amplification locations. A blocking filter engine (BFE) applies subtraction coefficients to the sensor transform data, to subtract the target signals from the sensor transform data. A noise reduction filter engine (NRE) subtracts noise signals from the BFE output. An inverse transform engine (ITE) generates time-domain data from the NRE output.

Abstract: Audio systems and methods for providing intelligible audio content within a vehicle cabin. In one example, the audio system includes a first speaker to provide first audio content to a first seating position based on an audio signal received from an audio signal source, a second speaker to provide second audio content to a second seating position, a first microphone assembly positioned to detect speech content originating at the second seating position, leaked second audio content from the second speaker, and road noise, and audio signal processing circuitry configured to determine a perturbing signal based at least in part on a combination of the first speech content, the leaked second audio content, and the road noise, and adjust the audio signal to the first speaker to compensate for an effect of the perturbing signal on the first audio content at the first seating position.

Abstract: An audio processing apparatus includes a noise component extraction unit, a removal unit, and a detection unit. The noise component extraction unit performs noise component extraction processing for extracting a noise component from sound data picked up by a sound pickup apparatus corresponding to an imaging apparatus. The removal unit removes the noise component from the sound data. The detection unit detects a condition of an imaging target from an image captured by the imaging apparatus. The noise component extraction unit performs learning processing for adapting the noise component extraction processing to the sound data picked up by the sound pickup apparatus. The noise component extraction unit changes a speed at which the noise component extraction processing is adapted to the sound data in the learning processing according to the condition of the imaging target that is detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: A method of handling telephone on-hold music, provided by a second party to a first party on a telephone connection between the first and the second party, includes detecting on-hold music, and providing, while on-hold music is detected, and to the first party, content from a source that is independent from the second party. A length of the most recently received audio signal originating from the second party is continuously stored. When on-hold music is no longer detected, voice information is retrieved from the stored length of the most recently received audio signal, providing, to the first party, content from a source that is independent from the second party is stopped, and the retrieved voice information is reproduced to the first party, wherein a time offset that corresponds to a time period required for detection of on-hold music is present.

Abstract: Methods that include depositing a first layer over the entire surface of a structure, the structure having a magnetic reader and a magnetic writer, wherein the magnetic reader and the magnetic writer are positioned adjacent to each other on a substrate and the magnetic writer includes a near field transducer (NFT); depositing a second layer over the entire surface of the first layer; depositing a photoresist material layer over the entire surface of the second layer, the photoresist material layer having a bottom surface in contact with the second layer and an opposing top surface; exposing the photoresist material layer to radiation through the bottom surface of the photoresist material layer via the NFT to form a first exposed region; and exposing the photoresist material layer to radiation through the top surface of the photoresist material layer to form a second exposed region.

Abstract: A method of forming a read head. The method includes forming first and second read sensors that are substantially trapezoidal in shape. A first read measurement is performed on a storage medium using the first read sensor. A second read measurement is performed on the storage medium using the second read sensor. Based on a comparison of the first and second read measurements to a predetermined quantity, either the first read sensor or the second read sensor is selected to be operational in a data storage device.

Abstract: In a disk drive apparatus, a first time period is determined, during which a first head driven by a first actuator will be performing a first disk access operation. A second time period is determined, during which a second head driven by a second actuator will be performing a second disk access operation. The first and second actuators are independently movable such that the first and second disk access operations are capable of being performed in parallel. If it is determined that the second disk access operation will impact servo control of the first disk access operation, at least one of the first and second disk access operations is changed to reduce the impact to the servo control of the first disk access operation.

Abstract: Gain values used by a variable gain amplifier (VGA) to read servo marks of a heat-assisted recording medium are measured. Sector-specific, repeatable gain values that indicate an expected VGA gain at a desired clearance are determined based on the measured gain values. The sector-specific, repeatable gain values are used as input to a closed-loop clearance controller together with measured values of servo VGA gain while writing data to the recording medium.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an apparatus comprising a slider. The slider comprises a substrate comprising a media-facing surface, a first side surface perpendicular to the media-facing surface, and a second side surface opposite the first side surface. A heat sink layer is formed proximate to and thermally coupled to the first side surface of the substrate. A write transducer comprises a waveguide core that at least partially extends from the top surface to the media-facing surface. The waveguide core is formed proximate to and thermally coupled to the heat sink layer. A read transducer is formed proximate to the write transducer such that the read transducer is closer to a trailing edge of the slider than the write transducer.

Abstract: A recording head includes a near-field transducer configured to heat one or more portions of a magnetic storage layer to generate a thermal profile in the magnetic storage layer. The recording head includes a write pole configured to generate a magnetization pattern, in the magnetic storage layer, that overlaps with the thermal profile in the magnetic storage layer. The write pole includes a non-uniform surface that faces the magnetic storage layer, the non-uniform surface configured to cause a portion of the magnetization pattern to be approximately linear.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes a semiconductor laser that emits a laser beam, and an object lens that concentrates the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser on an optical disc. In this optical pickup device, an optical axis of the object lens is inclined with respect to an optical axis of the laser beam that is incident on the object lens so as to generate flares caused by coma aberration on an entrance side in a forward direction of pits of the optical disc.

Abstract: A recording medium production device includes a substrate positioning pin vertically movable that performs positioning to a center-hole of a substrate; a substrate holding portion that performs positioning of substrate using the substrate positioning pin to hold the substrate; a cleaner having a gas ejection portion that ejects gas toward the surface of the substrate held by the substrate holding portion, and a gas suction portion that suctions gas; and a substrate positioning pin fixing portion that can press the substrate positioning pin downward. The fixing portion is configured so as not to contact an inner circumferential side surface of the center-hole of substrate. The substrate positioning pin fixing portion descends inside the center-hole of substrate held by the substrate, and presses and fixes the substrate positioning pin. Then the cleaner performs ejection and suction of gas.

Abstract: An information recording method of the present disclosure is an information recording method for recording information on a write-once information recording medium, including one or more recording layers, each of the recording layers being spiral-shaped on which a land track and a groove track are alternately repeated as recording tracks, each of the recording tracks being divided into blocks, each of the blocks being a minimum unit in which recording is performed. The information recording method includes: recording the information on the information recording medium in a unit of each of the blocks; and controlling recording on the information recording medium. In the control step, switching is performed whether to perform recording in a block to be recorded in which the information is to be recorded next among the blocks based on recording conditions of the recording tracks adjacent on both sides of the block to be recorded.

Abstract: A storage device includes a storage medium having a plurality of data tracks. At least one data track of the plurality of data tracks includes a number of super parity sectors. The number of super parity sectors selected for the at least one data tracks is selected based on a distance between an inner diameter of the storage medium and the data track. The number of super parity sectors provides error correction code for the at least one data track.

Abstract: A disc tray includes a bottom wall including an outer periphery and an inner rib supporter supporting the lowermost disc from below. The bottom wall is thickened from the outer periphery toward the inner rib supporter. The lowermost disc includes a data recording area, an inner rib, and an outer rib. When the lowermost disc is stationary, the outer rib of the lowermost disc and the upper surface of the bottom wall are separated by a gap. When the lowermost disc is inclined in such a manner that part of the outer rib of the lowermost disc comes into contact with the upper surface of the bottom wall, the data recording area of the lowermost disc and the upper surface of the bottom wall are separated by a gap greater than thickness of the outer or inner rib.

Abstract: A display apparatus including a display unit, adapted to playback a sequence of images, comprises: a detection configured to detect an attitude of the display apparatus or the display unit; a control unit configured to control the display unit to pause playback of the sequence of images, if the detected attitude of the display apparatus is not substantially aligned with the orientation of an image to be displayed.

Abstract: A video editing apparatus includes a storing unit, an input unit, a segment selection unit, and a generation unit. The storing unit stores video data along with video attribute information indicating, for each concept, a confidence score that the concept is included in each of segments into which the video data has been divided. The input unit inputs, as preference information, a coefficient of each concept desired to be included in summary information and a coefficient of a superordinate concept of the concept desired to be included in the summary information. The segment selection unit selects, based on the input preference information, at least one segment that matches the preference information, from among plural segments of the stored video data. The generation unit generates, based on video of the at least one selected segment, summary information representing contents of the video.

Abstract: A system for providing digital video recorder options for editing content is disclosed. In particular, the system may include receiving requests for a first version of media content and providing access to the first version of the media content. A user that accesses the first version of the media content may select a portion of the media content, and indicate whether, for example, the portion should be skipped, modified, or emphasized when the media content is accessed on a subsequent occasion. The system, based on the selection and indication, may edit the first version of the media content to create a second version of the media content. When a subsequent attempt is made to access the first version of the media content, the system may provide the user with the option to access the second version of the media content.

Abstract: A data reproduction apparatus includes a display, a touch panel, a recording unit, an output unit, a display control unit, and an output controller. The output unit outputs contents recorded in the recording unit. The display control unit controls the display to show first display and second display. The first display represents a finite time period and a reproduction point indicating a reproduction target in relation to the finite time period. The second display represents a partial period which is part of the finite time period, and the reproduction point in relation to the partial period. The output controller controls the output unit to output the contents corresponding to the reproduction point in accordance with a touch position detected by the touch panel, when the touch position is on the first display or on the second display.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide systems and/or methods of managing content in providing a playback experience associated with a portable storage medium by detecting access to a first portable storage medium with multimedia content recorded on the first portable storage medium; evaluating content on the first portable storage medium; evaluating local memory of the multimedia playback device; determining, in response to the evaluation of the content on the first portable storage medium and the evaluation of the local memory, whether memory on the local memory needs to be freed up in implementing playback of multimedia content in association with the first portable storage medium; and moving one or more contents stored on the local memory of the multimedia playback device to a virtual storage accessible by the multimedia playback device over a distributed network in response to determining that memory on the local memory needs to be freed up.

Abstract: Memories may include a first select device connected between a first access line and a second access line, and a plurality of memory cells. Each memory cell of the plurality of memory cells may be connected between the second access line and a respective third access line of a plurality of third access lines. Each memory cell of the plurality of memory cells may include a respective second select device, of a plurality of second select devices, and a respective programmable element, of a plurality of programmable elements, connected in series, and the first select device and each second select device of the plurality of second select devices may each be formed of a same type of circuit element.

Abstract: A memory includes a plurality of memory blocks, a plurality of sensing circuits, a plurality of global bit lines, a common pre-charging circuit and a selection circuit. Each global bit line of the plurality of global bit lines is coupled to at least one of the memory blocks by a corresponding sensing circuit of the plurality of sensing circuits. The common pre-charging circuit is configured to individually pre-charge each global bit line of the plurality of global bit lines to a pre-charge voltage. The selection circuit is configured to selectively couple the common pre-charging circuit to a selected global bit line of the plurality of global bit lines.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to shifting data. A number of embodiments of the present disclosure include an apparatus comprising a shift register comprising an initial stage and a final stage. The shift register may be configured such that a clock signal may be initiated at the final stage of the shift register.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a division control circuit and a latch circuit. The division control circuit may be configured to divide an external clock to generate a first preliminary divided clock and a second preliminary divided clock. The division control circuit may be configured to output the first and second preliminary divided clocks or any one of the first and second preliminary divided clocks as first and second divided clocks. The latch circuit may be configured to latch an external control signal in response to the first and second divided clocks and configured to output latched signals as first and second latch control signals.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein may refer to and may be directed to using port modes with memory. In one implementation, a memory device may include access control circuitry used to selectively activate one of a plurality of first word-lines based on first address signals from a first access port, and used to selectively activate one of a plurality of second word-lines based on assigned address signals. The access control circuitry may include address selection circuitry configured to select the assigned address signals based on a port mode signal, where the address selection circuitry selects the first address signals as the assigned address signals when the port mode signal indicates a single port mode, and where the address selection circuitry selects second address signals from a second access port as the assigned address signals when the port mode signal indicates a dual port mode.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory cell includes: a first fixed magnetic layer; a first nonmagnetic electrode disposed on the first magnetic layer; a memory storage layer disposed on the first nonmagnetic electrode; a tunnel barrier layer disposed on the memory storage layer; a second fixed magnetic layer disposed on the tunnel barrier layer; and a second nonmagnetic electrode disposed on the second fixed magnetic layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive memory device includes a substrate having a first surface which includes a first direction; and memory elements each having a switchable resistance. A first column of memory elements lined up along the first direction is different from an adjacent second column of memory elements lined up along the first direction at positions of memory elements in the first direction.