Abstract: A telecommunication system incorporates individual station instruments simplified by wireless operation, voice dialing, prepaid and custom-programmed operating characteristics, all enabled by cooperative operation with supporting central equipment. Wireless operation of the central equipment involves a multiple port wireless platform along with other units for interfacing a multitude of mobile station instruments simultaneously for interactive audio communication to: program the operating characteristics as with respect to language, out call, anti-fraud and available data, as well as to regulate, control, monitor and record operations of the instruments, and bridge communication with selected remote terminals through the public switched telephone network. Message capability, rapid dialing, emergency abort to an operator station and security features supplement the basic system.

Abstract: A network for providing a telecommunications service with automatic speech recognition to a telecommunications user, including a switch in communication with a telecommunications device associated with the telecommunications user for detecting a terminating trigger specific to the telecommunications service in response to an incoming communication to the telecommunications device from a calling party, and an intelligent resource server in communication with the switch for receiving the incoming communication from the switch, for placing an outgoing communication to the telecommunications device via the switch, the outgoing communication including an audible message identifying the calling party, and for automatically recognizing a predetermined keyword spoken by the telecommunications user in response to the outgoing communication.

Abstract: A cellular system for handling outgoing calls from a mobile station (1) including, a network element (8) being capable of recognizing voiced commands and names, and has in memory a database of telephone numbers corresponding to an array of names. The mobile station (1) connects to the network element (8) and the mobile station user communicates the desired outgoing call function to the network element (8) by voice. This desired outgoing call function may be communicated while the mobile station (1) is engaged in using supplementary services provided by the network element (8), at any operation point in those services. The network element (8) evaluate the voice communication, retrieves any corresponding information, including telephone numbers, and communicates the necessary information need by the mobile station (1) to carry out the desired function to the mobile station (1).

Abstract: A telecommunication system serves individual programmed instruments by wireless operation, voice dialing and, prepaid operation. The central equipment involves a multiple port wireless platform along with computing capability for interfacing a multitude of mobile station instruments simultaneously for interactive audio communication. Depending on programmed operation, the central equipment may receive vocal instruction data from individual instruments, both to bridge connections to other telephone terminals, and to provide a geographic information service. Specific information on physical locations is addressed and fetched on the basis area and target location characteristics.

Abstract: A telecommunication system incorporates individual station instruments simplified by wireless operation, voice dialing, prepaid accounting and out-call operation, all enabled by cooperative system operation including supporting central equipment. Wireless operation of the central equipment involves a multiple port wireless platform along with other units for interfacing a multitude of mobile station instruments simultaneously for interactive audio communication to, regulate control, monitor and record operations of the instruments, and bridge communication with selected remote terminals through the public switched telephone network. Message capability, emergency abort to an operator station and security features supplement the basic system. Communication is controlled for the individual instruments to be either voice or dial-up signals. Voice recognition units alternatively are located in the central equipment and/or the individual station instruments and controlled accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for setting user communication parameters for a voice communication between a calling party and a called party, whereby at least one of the calling party and the called party include at least a first user and a second user. In the present invention, after a voice communication is established between the parties, a user communication parameter of the first user is set if the first user is determined to be a registered user in accordance with the first user's identification. If the first user passes the communication to the second user, the communication parameter is changed to that of the second user by determining the second user's identification. The present invention also provides a method and apparatus for setting user communication parameters based on priority information of the users if the first and second users are in the communication simultaneously.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for determining an area code during voice activated dialing. Initially, utterances are received from the user during a session via a speech recognition portal. Such utterances are indicative of a third party. A speech recognition process is then performed on the utterances to interpret the utterances. A phone number is then identified based on the utterances. It is then determined whether the phone number includes an area code. If it is determined that the phone number does not include an area code, the area code is inferred. The inferred area code may then be outputted to the user. The user is then prompted to confirm the inferred area code. The phone number is then dialed with the inferred area code upon the receipt of confirmation from the user.

Abstract: Whether a call is placed after waiting for confirmation operation or without waiting for confirmation operation upon completion of speech recognition is selected. Data is initialized in the standby state, and upon instruction of speech recognition, speech recognition is done. The speech recognition result is displayed, and when a speech recognition key is operated without any confirmation operation, speech recognition is redone without setting the standby state.

Abstract: A method of operating a telecommunications network (10) for providing a voice-activated telephone directory is disclosed. The directory is toll-free to the caller and accessible via a heavily advertised, easily remembered access number wherein the caller is quickly and automatically connected to the selected business.

Abstract: A telephone system is described in which subscriber telephones store appearance models for the appearance of a party to the telephone call, from which it synthesises a video sequence of that party from a set of appearance parameters received from the telephone network. The appearance parameters may be generated either from a camera associated with the user's phone or may be generated from text or speech signals input by that party.

Abstract: Multiple processing stages are provided with different vocabulary databases to improve processing time, efficiency, and accuracy in speech recognition. The entire vocabulary is divided into smaller vocabulary subsets, which are associated with particular keywords. A small vocabulary subset is generated or retrieved based on certain information, such as a calling party's locality. A user is prompted to provide input information, such as the locality in which a business whose phone number is requested is located, in the form of a spoken utterance to the system. If the utterance matches one of the entries in the initial small vocabulary subset, then the utterance is considered to be recognizable. If the utterance is not recognizable when compared to the initial small vocabulary subset, then the utterance is stored for later use. The user is then prompted for a keyword related to another subset of words in which his initial utterance may be found.

Abstract: The device has a voice and/or manual user interface for accessing its functions. The functions are accessible through a hierarchy of menus in which the branches can be short-circuited by voice instructions referred to as voice short-cuts. According to the invention, means are provided for storing the sequences of interactions performed by the user and for detecting the cases in which a voice short-cut could have been used instead of the sequence of interactions. In this case, a message is sent to the user in order to inform him or her of the existence of the detected voice short-cut. The invention also relates to a process for aiding with learning the voice instructions of the device using the means above.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing communication services such as voice dialing services are described. In one Centrex based voice dialing embodiment, voice dialing service subscribers are given access to personal voice dialing records including calling entries via the Internet as well as via telephone connections. Each calling entry normally includes the name and, optionally nickname, of a party to be called. It also includes one or more telephone numbers associated with each name. Different telephone number identifies, e.g. locations, can be associated with different names. A user can create or update entries in a voice dialing directory using text conveyed over the Internet or speech supplied via a telephone connection. In order to facilitate updating and maintenance of voice dialing directories over the Internet speaker independent (SI) speech recognition models are used.

Abstract: Hands free voice dialing telephony devices that can perform relatively simple speech recognition, e.g., to recognize one or a few words corresponding to a command to initiate voice dialing, are described. Speech recognition models stored in the telephony devices can be relatively small and may be either of a speaker dependent or speaker independent type. In response to detecting a command to perform a voice dialing operation the telephony device establishes a connection with a voice dialing intelligent peripheral (IP). The IP includes far greater speech recognition capabilities than the individual telephone devices and is responsible for supporting voice dialing operations associated with a plurality of voice dialing service subscribers. The IP performs speech recognition on speech provided by individual telephony devices and outputs telephone numbers corresponding to recognized spoken names.

Abstract: An arithmetic processing device for inter-object data communication has an object manager for connecting objects so as to enable exchange of data between the objects, and a connection data supplying unit for supplying the object manager with connection data necessary for achieving the connection between the objects. Disclosed also are an inter-object communication method and a robot incorporating the arithmetic processing device. The robot may be designed to enable a user to replace parts thereof, thus changing the robot configuration. The robot preferably includes a part detection unit for detecting parts attached to the robot, and outputting a part detection result in accordance with the detection. An information storage unit stores information corresponding to the part detection result for each configuration obtained by replacement of the parts.

Abstract: The present invention is a system that uses a limited text input entry device to narrow the possibilities for the selection of a phonetically based name used in a voice dialer. The user enters a DTMF signature of a name using only one key for each letter of the name. The signature is used by a dictionary to generate likely possibilities for the word. The user is asked whether the name is the name entered via playing the name to the user. If the user confirms the choice, the phonetic representation is stored along with a corresponding telephone number. If the played word does not match, a word generator generates additional likely possibilities from the signature. A speech recognizer picks the best representation from the dictionary and generator words based on a spoken version of the name. A first name and last name procedure, in which the first and last name signatures produce separate candidate lists, is used to provide an entry to an address book for voice dialing.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system provide for caller input rate control for automatic speech recognition (ASR) components within interactive communication systems. The various embodiments provide a concentrator functionality to increase the capacity of ASR systems, and provide a delay functionality to continue to provide service to callers during congestion or overload conditions. The delay functionality provides various associated delay modes, including the insertion of silent periods within messages or prompts played to a caller, and providing increased message duration. The preferred method embodiment determines a usage level of a plurality of ASR input channels, and when the usage level is greater than a first predetermined threshold, provides an associated delay mode for a message output on an output channel of the plurality of output channels.

Abstract: An action editing window (200) is formed as a time table of a two-dimensional time line style, made up by a horizontal time axis and a vertical channel. Within the time line table, respective constituent elements of an action of a robot, such as a time ruler (201), a keyframe channel (202), a motion channel (203), a sound channel (204) or an LED operation channel (205), are chronologically displayed. A user is able to edit as synchronization between the respective components of the action is checked. This supports the creation and the editing of a series of commands and data stating a pattern of robot movements.

Abstract: A system and method for providing easy access to messaging services in a telecommunications network having office switches that are used by different providers of telephone and messaging services. The system uses a supplementary services database to maintain customer records including whether the customer uses messaging services and whether the customer subscribes to a short dialing sequence service for access to the messaging services. The customer is connected to the central office switch, which analyzes the dialing sequences generated by the customer. When the customer attempts access to the messaging services, the customer dials a short dialing or message sequence, such as *XX. The central office switch triggers a query to the supplementary services database for a call forwarding number to the messaging service used by the customer when the selected short dialing sequence is recognized by the switch.

Abstract: A method of creating a page usage record is provided. An input signal is received. A page usage record is created in response to the input signal. An event jacket is created. The event jacket is associated with the page usage record. A request to send a page is received. A confirmation signal is received after the page has been sent. Finally, a page leg jacket is created. The page leg jacket includes at least one record. The at least one record includes information relating to the page.

Abstract: A method of creating a call detail record is provided. An input signal is received. An account identification record is created in response to the input signal. An event jacket is created. The event jacket is associated with the account identification record. A command signal to store account identification information is received. A confirmation signal is received after the account identification information has been stored. Finally, a call detail leg jacket is created. The call detail leg jacket includes at least one record. Each record includes information relating to the stored account identification information.

Abstract: A telecommunications device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a handset having a keypad, speaker, and microphone on a face. A memory stores an address book of phone numbers. A controller is adapted to transmit one or more of the phone numbers responsive to a voice command to a connected party. In one embodiment of the telecommunications device, the controller activates the voice command functionality responsive to a function key.

Abstract: A telephone having a voice activated dialing feature includes a base, a handset and a transmission line coupled therebetween. Also coupled to the transmission line at a location intermediate the base and handset is a voice recognition/voice tone generation (or “VR/VTG”) circuit for detecting an audio signal originating at sound detection/generation (or “SD/G”) circuitry located within the handset and generating, in response thereto, a series of tones for propagation along the transmission line. Telephone circuitry within the base detects the series of tones and establishes a call in response thereto. The VR/VTG circuit is located entirely within a housing having first and second connector plugs.

Abstract: Speaking a predetermined phrase by a user, causes a handset to transmit this audio information to a personal computer. The personal computer is responsive to the predefined phrase to determine that the user of the handset has answered an incoming call.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing communication services such as voice dialing services are described. In one Centrex based voice dialing embodiment, voice dialing service subscribers are given access to personal voice dialing records including calling entries via the Internet as well as via telephone connections. Each calling entry normally includes the name and, optionally nickname, of a party to be called. It also includes one or more telephone numbers associated with each name. Different telephone number identifies, e.g. locations, can be associated with different names. A user can create or update entries in a voice dialing directory using text conveyed over the Internet or speech supplied via a telephone connection. In order to facilitate updating and maintenance of voice dialing directories over the Internet speaker independent (SI) speech recognition models are used.

Abstract: A robotic system, robot apparatus, and a control method are presented wherein behaviors suitable for a robot are embodied based on information distributed by a number of information distributing devices. Also, the robotic system, robot apparatus, and a control method are designed based on information distributed by the number of information distributing devices such that a robot is prohibited from embodying corresponding behaviors out of the behaviors the robot could embody, or that prohibition on the robot embodying corresponding behaviors is withdrawn. Furthermore, control data for the robot to generate behaviors can be modified to meet the desires of the robot and/or the user of the robot.

Abstract: A method for input of a sequence of letters and/or numbers in a driver information system provides for input of individual symbols of the sequence of letters and/or numbers either by input of speech information or pressing a key. Especially it is possible to switch between input by means of the key or speech during input of a single sequence.

Abstract: The present invention a speech enabled automatic telephone dialer device uses a spoken name corresponding to name-telephone number data. User telephones are connected to a public service telephony mechanism. The telephony mechanism and user computer workstations containing loaded address book programs with name-telephone number data, are connected to the name dialer device. The name dialer device includes a host computer in a network; a telephony board for controlling the telephony mechanism for dialing; memory within the host computer for storing software and name-telephone number data; and, software to access computer-based address book programs, to receive voice inputs from the telephony mechanism, to create converted phonemes from names to match voice inputs with specific name-telephone number data from the computer-based address book programs for initiating an automatic dialing.

Abstract: A networked system of voice-activated dialers is described. When a calling party using a local voice-activated dialer utters a phrase which indicates that information to reach a called party may be available at a remote site, a network connection is established to the remote site, spoken words or phrases are transmitted to the remote site, and the called party information is obtained from the remote site. The called party information is used to provide additional networked services to the calling party such as call-completion, voice messaging, or paging. These additional networked services may use the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and an existing signaling network such as the Signaling System No. 7 network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing communication services such as voice dialing services are described. In one Centrex based voice dialing embodiment, voice dialing service subscribers are given access to personal voice dialing records including calling entries via the Internet as well as via telephone connections. Each calling entry normally includes the name and, optionally nickname, of a party to be called. It also includes one or more telephone numbers associated with each name. Different telephone number identifies, e.g. locations, can be associated with different names. A user can create or update entries in a voice dialing directory using text conveyed over the Internet or speech supplied via a telephone connection. In order to facilitate updating and maintenance of voice dialing directories over the Internet speaker independent (SI) speech recognition models are used.

Abstract: A telephone set 2 to be connected to a main unit 1 of a private branch exchange or a key service unit includes therein a verbal telephone directory memory section 28d which stores information relating to the voice of the user and information relating to telephone numbers, a control section 28a which recognizes the user's input voice on the basis of the voice information and controls a dialing operation on the basis of the phone-number information, and a predetermined guidance memory section 28c which stores predetermined guidance used for giving instructions to the user in the form of voice or an indication.

Abstract: A telecommunication system incorporates individual station instruments simplified by wireless operation, voice dialing, prepaid accounting and out-call operation, all enabled by cooperative system operation including supporting central equipment. Wireless operation of the central equipment involves a multiple port wireless platform along with other units for interfacing a multitude of mobile station instruments simultaneously for interactive audio communication to, regulate control, monitor and record operations of the instruments, and bridge communication with selected remote terminals through the public switched telephone network. Message capability, emergency abort to an operator station and security features supplement the basic system.

Abstract: The present invention enables terminals to record number and/or name information during an ongoing voice communication over telecommunication systems. One aspect of the present invention allows the spoken language by the user or third party to be interpreted and converted into phone number information. Another aspect of the invention enables a terminal to record dialed number information, based on DTMF tones, which is converted into standard number data (numerals) for storage in terminal memory (e.g., speed dialing registers). Yet another aspect of the present invention allows the user to attach a voice tags or text for identifying the party associated with a recorded/stored telephone number.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating without use of manual contact with a communications unit. The user approaches a communications system and can activate a communications unit by a proximity/motion detector and/or a voice activation device. The person can generate audio signals, such as by voice command, to activate the unit and establish contact. Body movements can also be used to connect to a specific location and/or control the communications mode, such as private, semi-private or conference call mode.

Abstract: The call screener employs a telephone system interface connected between a telephone network and a telephone device of a user. The interface selectively routes calls (and refrain from routing calls) based on the results from the dialogue system. The dialogue system elicits speech from an incoming caller and causes the telephone system interface to route calls from the incoming caller based on a comparison of the elicited speech with a set of stored speaker models. The stored speaker models may be maintained automatically by the system, using either a passive mode, in which calls exceeding a predetermined duration are assumed to be “acceptable” callers; and a proactive mode in which the system prompts the user at the end of the call to elect whether to save the speech models developed during that call in the acceptable user database.

Abstract: A telecommunication system incorporates individual station instruments simplified by wireless operation, voice dialing, prepaid, and custom-programmed operating characteristics, all enabled by cooperative operation with supporting central equipment. Wireless operation of the central equipment involves a multiple port wireless platform along with other units for interfacing a multitude of mobile station instruments simultaneously for interactive audio communication to: program the operating characteristics as with respect to language, out call, anti-fraud, and available data, as well as to regulate, control, monitor and record operations of the instruments, and bridge communication with selected remote terminals through the public switched telephone network. Message capability, rapid dialing, emergency abort to an operator station, and security features supplement the basic system.

Abstract: A mobile robot includes an autonomous displacement device, a microphone, a loudspeaker, a mobile telephone module, and a voice analysis module able to interpret voice commands through the mobile telephone module to control the displacements of the mobile robot. The microphone is connected to the voice analysis module and thus also enables a human operator within earshot of the mobile robot to control the displacements of the mobile robot through voice commands.

Abstract: A wireless telephone system incorporates voice activated mobile instruments that are powered through a separate pod that includes electrical couplings either to A.C. structural power or D.C. vehicular power. Furthermore, the system accommodates both digital (DTMF) and voice (audio) communication from the keyless mobile instruments to and through a switched telephone network.

Abstract: A method for permitting a user to create a plurality of outbound communication paths to a plurality of communication devices from a unified messaging system, the creating the plurality of the outbound communication paths being performed responsive to verbal input from a user through a telephone. The method includes receiving at the unified messaging system the verbal input from the user through the telephone. There is also included recognizing an action word from the verbal input which includes an action word and called party identity or contacting data. An calendar database for the callee, external to the caller's unified messaging system, is accessed via a network to determine whether a calendar entry therein temporally overlaps a time of the verbal command creating the end-to-end connection. The ascertained availability information may be provided to the caller for input whether to contact the callee.

Abstract: A method of creating a call usage record is provided. An input signal is received. A call usage record is created in response to the received input signal. An event jacket is created. The event jacket is associated with the call usage record. A command to place a call is received. A confirmation signal is received after the call has been placed. Finally, a call leg jacket is created. The call leg jacket includes at least one record. The at least one record includes information relating to the call.

Abstract: A communication terminal, a communication method and a program thereof capable of easily recording a name and a telephone number of the other party to be called, and easily calling the recorded telephone number by voice. A voice recognizing section recognizes a telephone number output from the directory service and converts a destination name input from a microphone into a format recognizable by the voice recognizing section. The recognized telephone number is associated with the destination name, both of which are recorded in a telephone number recording section. When the destination name is input by voice from the microphone, the voice recognizing section recognizes the input destination name. A control section reads the telephone number associated with the recognized destination name. Subsequently, a telephone number calling section calls the read telephone number.

Abstract: The present invention a speech enabled automatic telephone dialer device, system, and method using a spoken name corresponding to name-telephone number data of computer-based address book programs. The invention includes user telephones connected to a PBX-type telephony mechanism, which is connected to a telephony board of a name dialer device. User computer workstations containing loaded address book programs with name-telephone number data are connected to the name dialer device. The name dialer device includes a host computer in a network; a telephony board for controlling the PBX for dialing; memory within the host computer for storing software and name-telephone number data; and, software to access computer-based address book programs, to receive voice inputs from the PBX-type telephony mechanism, to create converted phonemes from names to match voice inputs with specific name-telephone number data from the computer-based address book programs for initiating an automatic dialing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for placing a telephone call using a telephone number and an extension. The system includes an origination device that receives a telephone number and an extension associated with a destination device and initiates the establishment of a communication path to the destination device by issuing the telephone number. In addition, the origination device determines whether a condition to issue the extension has been satisfied and issues the extension to complete the establishment of the communication path if the condition has been satisfied. The destination device includes a first destination device and a plurality of second destination devices. The first destination device can be contacted based on the telephone number and also receives the extension to complete the establishment of the communication path by selecting the appropriate second destination device to which to place the telephone call.

Abstract: The invention provides the possibility of reducing the size of a mobile phone (1) by reducing the key set (7, 11, 12, 13). The invention provides a system and a method for mobile radio transmission by means of a mobile unit (1) which, for setting up a connection, has only one or more direct connection keys (7, 11, 12, 13), the initial activation of which in each case sets up a connection to a destination location assigned to one of the respective direct connection keys (7, 11, 12, 13). By activation of a central key (7) of the mobile unit (1), a connection (33) from the mobile unit (1) to a central switching device (30) is set up.

Abstract: A method of establishing a private audio communication channel on an intercom system (100) having a plurality of intercom units (101-1 to 101-n), is diclosed. The intercom system 100 is activated by spoken request data input via at least one of the intercom units (101-1 to 101-n). Audio data is transmitted to substantially each of the plurality of intercom units (101-1 to 101-n) in response to the spoken request data. A private audio communication channel is established between at least two of the plurality of intercom units (101-1 to 101-n) in response to spoken reply data input via any one of the plurality of intercom units (101-1 to 101-n).

Abstract: A voice verification system (1) has a verification server layer (55) providing centralized verification for multiple service providers in geographically spread locations. Each service provider has an IVR (41) using a C++ DLL API (43) to communicate with a verification server (56, 57) via ISPs (45) and a switching system (50). Each API (43) dynamically determines an optimum ISP/server socket to minimize a verification cycle time. The switching system (50) has a router and two-stage switch combination with firewalls to provide optimum resilience in paths to the server (56, 57).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing voice labels and establishing communication connections between a calling party and a called party based on the voice labels. When the calling party wishes to establish a communication with the called party, the calling party activates his/her user device and speaks a voice label into the audio receiver of the user device. The calling party's voice is then converted into analog voice signals (or data voice signals if a data network is being used) and transmitted to a voice label processor. The voice label processor receives the voice signals and extracts at least one feature pattern from the voice signals that identifies the voice label to which it corresponds.

Abstract: A system and method of creating a digit string for use by a phone includes the steps of collecting speech data having numerical digits and/or alphabetical characters, parsing the speech data, converting each alphabetical character of the speech data into a numerical digit associated therewith, and assembling the speech data chronologically to form a digit string consisting of numerical digits and/or converted alphabetical characters. The converting step further includes comparing each alphabetical character of the speech data to a mapping table stored in memory and determining a numerical digit corresponding to each alphabetical character of the speech data from the mapping table.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for activating telephone services in response to speech are described. A directory including names is maintained for each customer. A speaker dependent speech template and a telephone number for each name, is maintained as part of each customer's directory. Speaker independent speech templates are used for recognizing commands. The present invention has the advantage of permitting a customer to place a call by speaking a person's name which serves as a destination identifier without having to speak an additional command or steering word to place the call. This is achieved by treating the receipt of a spoken name in the absence of a command as an implicit command to place a call. Explicit speaker independent commands are used to invoke features or services other than call placement. Speaker independent and speaker dependent speech recognition are performed on a customer's speech in parallel.

Abstract: Speech recognition technology has attained maturity such that the most likely speech recognition result has been reached and is available before an energy based termination of speech has been made. The present invention innovatively uses the rapidly available speech recognition results to provide intelligent barge-in for voice-response systems, to count words to output sub-sequences to provide paralleling and/or pipelining of tasks related to the entire word sequence, and to count words to provide rapid, speech recognition based termination of speech processing and outputting of the recognized word sequence.