Having Voice Recognition Or Synthesization Patents (Class 455/563)
  • Publication number: 20080214244
    Abstract: A main phone of a cordless telephone unit has i) a cordless communicator for establishing cordless communications with a cordless handset; and ii) a voice generator for converting called-party information received from a cordless handset into voice data. On the other hand, a cordless handset has voice-data output section for reading out the voice data. Called-party information received from the cordless handset is converted into voice data at the voice generator then returned to the cordless handset. Receiving the voice data from the main phone, the cordless handset reads it out prior to placing a call. Sharing the voice generating function of the main phone with the cordless handset can thus provide the handset with a voice-generator-free structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kosei Toraguchi, Kunio Kotsuki
  • Patent number: 7418281
    Abstract: Described are a method and system for controlling the operation of personal mobile electronic devices disposed about a user. Each device is adapted to receive command according to a common wireless protocol. A voice signal is generated in response to a voice command spoken by the user. Command data are generated for one of the devices in response to the voice signal. The command data are transmitted through a wireless link to the respective device to control an operation of the device. There is no need for each device to have independent voice recognition capability. Instead, the burden of voice recognition is managed by the wearable command module that communicates with all the controlled devices through wireless links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas M. Guyette
  • Patent number: 7415289
    Abstract: An information retrieval system includes a base station and multiple display stations. A user gives a voice command to one of the display stations and information is retrieved from the base station and displayed in real time; the information may be presented to the user both visually and aurally. The source of the information may be data stored at the base station, or data relayed by the base station from network sources such as the Internet, or from radio or television broadcast stations. The display station has a pull-down screen that can operate like a shade; it retracts using the energy in a wound-up spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Salmon Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Peter C. Salmon
  • Patent number: 7412260
    Abstract: A method and system for routing call failures in a location-based services system. A remote terminal is connected to a location-based services system and is used to generate a voice-based tailored request for information. The voice-based tailored request for information is interpreted with a voice recognition application and a natural language processing application. If the voice recognition application or the natural language processing application fail to determine the meaning of the tailored request for information to a predetermined level of accuracy then the remote terminal is routed to a call center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Accenture LLP
    Inventors: Michael L. Gailey, Eric A. Portman, Chad S. Holmes, Michael J. Burgiss, Angela King Smith
  • Patent number: 7409229
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile communication terminal capable of speech recognition that includes a speech processing unit, a speech recognizing unit, a speech information managing database and a control unit, and method for utilizing same. A speech signal is modulated by the speech processing unit and converted into speech data for the speech recognizing unit to recognize and to output corresponding speech information. The speech information managing database includes a table storing character information corresponding to the speech information. The control unit recognizes speech through the speech recognizing unit upon a demand for character input by speech recognition in a character input mode, detects character information corresponding to the recognized speech information, recognizes whether detected corresponding character information is input and displays via a display unit the input character information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Hye-Rym Choi
  • Publication number: 20080171579
    Abstract: A cellular phone which includes a transmitter and receiver (such as a transceiver), an antenna associated with the transceiver, a processor which is operably connected to the transceiver and in communication with memory, and a user interface which is in communication with the processor. The user interface is operable to cause the cellular phone to enter a signal learning mode during which the cellular phone can learn at least one signal which is received via the antenna and transceiver of the cellular phone and store the at least one signal in the memory. The user interface is also operable to cause the cellular phone to enter a signal transmitting mode during which the cellular phone can transmit the at least one signal which was previously received by the cellular phone and stored in memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: David A. Grubek
  • Publication number: 20080170049
    Abstract: A mobile personal digital assistant (PDA) allows a user to enter information using both a touch screen and voice commands with a stylus. The stylus includes a microphone positioned at one end, and a transmitter for transmitting received voice signals to either a personal computer (PC) or the PDA. In one embodiment, a wireless stylus also includes a power supply and an activation control switch. The PC is used to translate the voice signals into translated voice data which is transmitted to the PDA for storage and display. If the user and the PDA, voice signals are stored in the PDA until a later time when the PC can translate the received voice signals. Where the PDA contains a processor to translate received voice signals, the stylus transmits directly to the PDA, and the PDA translates the received voice signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventors: Jim A. Larson, Ben S. Wymore
  • Publication number: 20080161057
    Abstract: A voice conversion processing framework is operatively associated with the central processing unit (CPU) and audio processor of a communication device to convert default voice presentations generated by, for example text readers, ring tone applications and the like, to target voice presentations based on selected target voice files stored in memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: NOKIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jani Kristian Nurminen, Kimmo Matias Parssinen
  • Patent number: 7386443
    Abstract: A system and method of updating automatic speech recognition parameters on a mobile device are disclosed. The method comprises storing user account-specific adaptation data associated with ASR on a computing device associated with a wireless network, generating new ASR adaptation parameters based on transmitted information from the mobile device when a communication channel between the computing device and the mobile device becomes available and transmitting the new ASR adaptation data to the mobile device when a communication channel between the computing device and the mobile device becomes available. The new ASR adaptation data on the mobile device more accurately recognizes user utterances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Sarangarajan Parthasarathy, Richard Cameron Rose
  • Patent number: 7376397
    Abstract: A method of user-defined key setting in a portable electronic communication device. Corresponding relationships between keys and functions is recorded in a first mapping table and the portable electronic communication device executes the functions accordingly. When a user-defined key is to be set, a first key input and a function input are first received. The corresponding relationship between the first key input and the function input is then recorded in a second mapping table. The portable electronic communication device executes the functions according to the second mapping table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Benq Corporation
    Inventor: Hung-Chin Wang
  • Publication number: 20080113647
    Abstract: A wireless telephone includes a chipset that includes a controller and radio frequency electronics. A voice recognition module is ported to the controller. The input key cooperates with the voice recognition module to activate a set of functions of the telephone. The voice recognition module simplifies the operation of the telephone and can decrease the number of components needed for operation interaction. The telephone can have dimensions that are roughly the dimensions of a standard credit card. The telephone is encapsulated into a body that is filled with a material that fills voids in the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Czajkowski, Owens F. Alexander
  • Patent number: 7373178
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for providing a guide broadcasting in the same way as that for a voice call without changing hardware in a mobile communication system supporting a video phone. In the method, a Mobile Station transmits a ‘SETUP’ message for requesting multimedia communication and fallback speech communication to a Mobile Switching Center, and switches into a speech mode and receives a voice guide broadcasting from the Mobile Switching Center, when a ‘CALL PROCEEDING’ message or a ‘MODIFY’ message for indicating the fallback speech communication is received from the Mobile Switching Center before. The method provides service users with convenience in terms of continuity for an existing voice service and provides carriers with an opportunity for creating new profits through differentiation of services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun-Jeong Lee
  • Patent number: 7366461
    Abstract: Recordings of broadcast audio content often contain errors (e.g., noise, signal loss, interference, talkover). A method and apparatus are provided for improving the quality of such a recording. Multiple recordings of a broadcast audio program are identified, and are aligned according to some time index of the program, such as the beginning, midpoint or end of one of the recordings. Samples of each recording are taken and compared. If a majority (or plurality) of the samples agree (e.g., they match within an allowable threshold of variance), one of them is used to generate or populate a new recording. If there is no majority (or plurality), one of the samples may be chosen at random, on the basis of which recording has most often been in the majority (or plurality), or on some other basis. Or, the method may be repeated or extended to obtain samples of other recordings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Inventor: Wendell Brown
  • Patent number: 7366499
    Abstract: A visually-impaired person possessing a GPS-equipped cellular phone, or other mobile communications device, who wants to know their location, uses the cellular phone to call a location-announcement service. In response, the service queries the GPS receiver for the person's geographical coordinates, translates the coordinates into user-friendly information that is readily understandable by the person, and announces the user-friendly information to the person via the cellular phone, all without human involvement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Avaya Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Paul R. Michaelis
  • Patent number: 7363027
    Abstract: A method of interacting with a client/server architecture with a 2.5G mobile phone having a data channel for transmitting data and a voice channel for transmitting speech. The method includes receiving a web page from a web server pursuant to an application through the data channel and rendering the web page on the 2.5G phone, where rendering comprises processing the web page to be responsive speech input. Speech is received from the user corresponding to at least one data field on the web page. A call is established from the 2.5G phone to a telephony server over the voice channel. The telephony server is remote from the 2.5G phone and adapted to process speech. A speech-enabled web page is obtained from the web server corresponding to the web page provided to the 2.5G phone. Speech is transmitted from the 2.5G phone to the telephony server. The speech is processed in accordance with the speech-enabled web page to obtain textual data in accordance with the speech.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Hsiao-Wuen Hon, Kuansan Wang
  • Patent number: 7363029
    Abstract: A unified messaging interface and associated methods that enables mobile communication device users to initiate the creation of a message for a recipient without being required to explicitly specify the type of message that is to be created. The mobile communication device supports multiple message types, such as voice, text, and picture messages. The user begins providing message content to the communication device by, for example, speaking, entering text, or clicking a shutter of a camera. The unified messaging interface detects the nature of the content and creates a corresponding type of message. The user can indicate a desire to create and send a message by performing “one-click” action. The one-click action is an operation performed on the device that can be instantiated as a single button-press on the keypad; selection of a single soft key by depressing a button on the keypad or touching the screen of the device; or issuance of a single voice command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Core Mobility, Inc.
    Inventor: Konstantin Othmer
  • Patent number: 7356353
    Abstract: A wireless communication device and wireless communication method, which can perform wireless transmission switching through simple input/output switching in communication among a plurality of wireless communication devices, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeru Sugaya
  • Patent number: 7356356
    Abstract: Methods and systems directed to telephone number retrieval are provided. A terminal requests a telephone number from a telephone number service. A voice response comprising the telephone number is received from the telephone number service. A feature vector sequence is stored in memory of the terminal as a reference pattern for the received voice response. The voice response has designated words between and among numbers of the telephone number. A keyword spotting routine searches for the designated words. Connecting words, located between and among designated words, comprising the telephone number are extracted and stored in a buffer. A number recognizer analyzes contents of the buffer. The number recognizer outputs a recognized telephone number for display on a terminal and/or storage in memory for future use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Chan-Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 7343177
    Abstract: The present invention provides a modular headset operable to support both voice communications and voice activated commands. This may involve the use of multiple voice CODECs to process voice communications and voice activated commands. The modular headset includes both a microphone and wireless earpiece. The earpiece may further include an interface, a processing circuit, a speaker, a user interface, a pairing circuit, and a registration circuit. The interface allows the earpiece to communicate with the base unit that couples the modular headset to a servicing network. This coupling to the servicing network and base unit only occurs when the headset is successfully registered to the base unit. The pairing circuit and registration circuit allow the exchange of pairing or registration information between various components. The pairing circuit allows the wireless earpiece and microphone to exchange pairing information which is then compared to determine whether or not a successful pairing can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Nambirajan Seshadri, James D. Bennett, Jeyhan Karaoguz
  • Patent number: 7340041
    Abstract: When a hook detection unit (18) detects the off-hook of a handset (8), voice (e.g., “telephone book”, the other party's name) sent from a user is input via the handset (8), and a voice recognition unit (110) recognizes the voice, the other party's name and a telephone number stored in a telephone book memory (3) are displayed on a display unit (5). Then, when voice “up/down” is input via the handset (8), another party's name and a telephone number stored in a telephone book memory (3) are switched and displayed on a display unit (5); and when voice “telephone” or “fax” is input, a call is made or a fax transmission started to the other party displayed on the display unit (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Tottori Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Otagaki, Hirotomo Ozaki, Shigetoshi Matsubara, Kazushi Honjo, Tatsuji Kishida, Koichi Takata, Atsumi Kakimoto, Hideyuki Arimoto, Satoru Moriyama
  • Patent number: 7337390
    Abstract: A method of embedding voice data in a computing system includes detecting a record event and detecting if a software application currently running on the computing system is voice-aware. The method also includes embedding the voice data within associated data in the software application, if the software application is voice-aware. If the software application is not voice-aware, the method also includes triggering a voice note application to record and store the voice data. A method in a computing system for modifying a user interface displayed on a display device includes receiving an indication from the computing device to modify the user interface. The method further includes displaying an identification block, a record toolbar, a note pad, and a note tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Charlton E. Lui, Jeff Blum, Michael Jay Parks, Kevin Phillip Paulson
  • Patent number: 7330729
    Abstract: A geomagnetic sensor for detecting geomagnetism is provided in a mobile terminal device. The output value of the geomagnetic sensor is compared with a first set value that has been set in advance, and the mobile terminal device is determined to be stationary when the output value of the geomagnetic sensor continues to be smaller than a first set value for at least a first set time period that has been set in advance, and the mobile terminal device is determined to be moving when the output value of the geomagnetic sensor fluctuates by at least the first set value. The determination results are transmitted to the base station, and the base station decreases the number of times for executing a process of registering the position of the mobile terminal device to the base station when the mobile terminal device is stationary, and increases the number of times of executing the process for registering position when the mobile terminal device is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Niwa, Masaki Ichihara
  • Patent number: 7317696
    Abstract: An inband signaling modern communicates digital data over a voice channel of a wireless telecommunications networks. An input receives digital data. An encoder converts the digital data into audio tones that synthesize frequency characteristics of human speech. The digital data is also encoded to prevent voice encoding circuitry in the telecommunications network from corrupting the synthesized audio tones representing the digital data. An output then outputs the synthesized audio tones to a voice channel of a digital wireless telecommunications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Airbiquity Inc.
    Inventors: Dan A. Preston, Joseph Preston, Robert Leyendecker, Wayne Eatherly, Rod L. Proctor
  • Publication number: 20070293270
    Abstract: A communication device and method is described in which ambient sound is monitored and a threshold sound level is set. Acceptance of a call may be actuated by voice input that exceeds the ambient sound threshold. The detection of a sound peak will trigger a communication connection and initiate the call without the need for voice recognition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Franco Montebovi, John Hard
  • Patent number: 7305068
    Abstract: A telephone call may be received or made by the user of telephony-enabled apparatus in circumstances, such as during a meeting, where spoken responses by the user to what the other party to the call has said are unacceptable. A telephony method and arrangement are disclosed which permits a user to use silent input to the telephony-enabled apparatus in order to generate a response to the other party to the call. Response generation is facilitated by enabling the user to effect a selection from the content of the other party's input, or from options derived from that input, with this selection then being used in forming the response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Roger Cecil Ferry Tucker, Paul St John Brittan
  • Patent number: 7295656
    Abstract: An audio caller identification system and method are provided. A caller identification device of a called party's telephone, whether integrated with the telephone or stand-alone, includes a speaker for audibly alerting the called party to the nature of an incoming call. A speech synthesizer in concert with an audio caller ID program may audibly identify a name and/or number of the calling party displayed on the called party's caller ID device, including descriptive terms for calling parties such as “private,” “unlisted,” or “out of the area.” When the called party's telephone begins to ring, the called party may listen to the audio identification of the calling party for a quick screening without having to go to the telephone to read the caller ID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: AT&T BLS Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventor: John Ruckart
  • Patent number: 7292878
    Abstract: In this radio portable terminal communication system, a service document file is converted into a window-related document file, speech-dialog-related document file, and information sharing document file. A description of a telephone number for speech communication with a center is added to the window-related document file. The window-related document file is output to a place where the file can be used through packet communication. The speech-dialog-related document file is output to a place where the file can be referred to by a speech dialog control section (207). The information sharing document file is output to an information management section (204). The information management section (204) manages information in accordance with the general-purpose description language contents of the information sharing document file such that information can be shared between the window-related document file and the speech-dialog-related document file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Noguchi, Hiroshi Hagane
  • Patent number: 7289791
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile set integrating a memory efficient data storage system for the real time recording of voice conversations, data transmission and the like. The data recorder has the capacity to selectively choose the most relevant time frames of a conversation for recording, while discarding time frames that only occupy additional space in memory without holding any conversational data. The invention executes a series of logic steps on each signal including a voice activity detector step, frame comparison step, and sequential recording step. A mobile set having a modified architecture for performing the methods of the present invention is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Fei Xie
  • Patent number: 7289768
    Abstract: A portable terminal capable of guiding a user to invoke a function and a method thereof. In the portable terminal, a voice detector detects a keyword uttered by voice corresponding to a function; a display displays guide information for guiding a user to access the function and key information indicating at least one key available to access the function, a key interface, having a plurality of keys in hardware or software, illuminates the available key according to the key information in response to an input signal; a storage stores a manual containing the guide information and the key information; and a controller controls the display to display the guide information and the key information according to the manual upon receipt of the keyword, and controls the key interface to illuminate the at least one available key according to the key information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seon-Mi Kim
  • Patent number: 7286522
    Abstract: An inband signaling modem communicates digital data over a voice channel of a wireless telecommunications network. An input receives digital data. An encoder converts the digital data into audio tones that synthesize frequency characteristics of human speech. The digital data is also encoded to prevent voice encoding circuitry in the telecommunications network from corrupting the synthesized audio tones representing the digital data. An output then outputs the synthesized audio tones to a voice channel of a digital wireless telecommunications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Airbiquity, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan A. Preston, Joseph D. Preston, Robert Leyendecker, Wayne Eatherly, Rod L. Proctor, Philip R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7286799
    Abstract: The present invention provides technical advantages as systems, devices and methods that enable a person to remotely identify the origin of an incoming call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Inventor: Steven Thrasher
  • Patent number: 7280849
    Abstract: A wearable wireless telecommunications headset may include at least a microphone, a speaker, a transceiver, a processor and a memory. The headset processes audio commands from a user, recognizing the commands and executing them appropriately. The headset communicates with multiple communication devices, answering incoming communications from any devices in range and announcing identity information about an initiator of the communication, as well as initiating outgoing communications by recognizing a spoken communications address, or recognizing and looking up a spoken name in a locally or remotely stored address book.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: AT & T BLS Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventor: William Bailey
  • Patent number: 7280821
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: AT&T BLS Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott C. Holt, M. Scott Laster
  • Patent number: 7263350
    Abstract: A portable electronic information device with superb portability and/or amusement value is provided. This device A is a portable electronic information device A having an external housing 1 that can be equipped in a car, and the device A is provided with expression means 7, 8 and 9 for performing actions that can be sensed by the user of the vehicle, in accordance with vehicle status information of the vehicle or output signals from sensors 4 or 5 equipped inside external housing 1, and thus delivers superb amusement value. This device also functions as a vehicle key, providing high portability, and enabling information to be shared with a home computer, thus providing a high level of convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Kizu, Masayuki Yurimoto, Kenji Mori, Simon D. Humphries, Kikuko Yamawa, Kota Nezu, Akira Shinada, Katsuhiko Nunokawa, Hiroaki Okajima
  • Patent number: 7257426
    Abstract: A wireless communications system and method adapted for use in automotive applications for enabling automatic, high-speed, wireless voice and/or data communications link to be established between a wide variety of external devices and various electronic subsystems of a vehicle. The apparatus includes first and second RF transceivers which are operated in accordance with a communications specification to enable a seamless, automatic communications link to be created when the two RF transceivers come within a pre-determined proximity of one another, for example, within up to 100 meters of one another. Information from one device is then automatically transmitted over the wireless communications link to the other device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Todd R. Witkowski, Kurt A. Dykema, Steven L. Geerlings, Mark L. Zeinstra
  • Patent number: 7257415
    Abstract: A wireless communication system has a central computer, one or more wireless access points and one or more personal badges that communicate wirelessly with the one or more wireless access points. The badges provide the user with a communications device that permits the user to initiate telephone calls and conferences, receive telephone calls, receive pages and be located within a particular environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Vocera Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Shostak
  • Patent number: 7254417
    Abstract: Messaging interfaces that may be used in conjunction with interactive pagers include a housing that contains a message processing circuit, a user interface, and a communications circuit that is used to forward the text messages between the message processing circuit and an interactive pager. The user interface may be used to forward messages between a user of the interactive pager and the message processing circuit. The user interface may be a keypad (or any other collection of user-selectable keys, buttons, menu items, etc.), a microphone, an internal speaker and/or an external speaker such as the speakers on an automobile stereo system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: John Blake Slemmer, Ryan Lee Schaub
  • Patent number: 7251495
    Abstract: Disclosed is a unique system and method that facilitate group communication using SMS text messaging and a plurality of SMS based commands. More specifically, the system and method make use of mobile communication devices such as mobile or cellular phones, smart phones, and/or PDAs which are equipped with SMS capabilities. Communication within a group of users can be accomplished in part by creating a text message and sending it to at least one communication server by way of at least one common access number. The communication server can analyze the message to determine the recipient group and broadcast the message to the members of the group in real-time or near real-time. Groups can be user-defined and managed dynamically by users using either a website interface or a mobile communication device interface at any time or anywhere. The communication server can be a suitably equipped mobile communication device or a separate server can be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Pedram Keyani, Shelly D Farnham
  • Patent number: 7248881
    Abstract: A wireless communication system has a central computer, one or more wireless access points and one or more personal badges that communicate wirelessly with the one or more wireless access points. The badges provide the user with a communications device that permits the user to initiate telephone calls and conferences, receive telephone calls, receive pages and be located within a particular environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Vocera Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Shostak
  • Patent number: 7248894
    Abstract: A data transfer system has one or more mobile stations each wearable by a living being for transmitting signals containing physiological information of the living being in response to a start command, and a base station for transmitting the start command to instruct the mobile stations to transmit the signals and thereafter receiving the signals containing the physiological information from the mobile stations. Thus, the mobile stations consume a small amount of power because they only transmit information when requested to do so. A remote computer is connected to the base station for determining a status of the living beings by receiving the physiological information from the base station and analyzing the physiological information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kennosuke Fujieda, Osamu Hattori, Norihiro Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7245903
    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, to bridge connections to other telephone terminals, incur financial transactions, as by credit card number, or to provide a geographic information service. Specific information on physical locations is addressed and fetched on the basis area and target location characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Byard G. Nilsson
  • Patent number: 7245940
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for voice buffering for a VOVC PTT call. The buffering starts before the VOVC call is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corp.
    Inventors: Clay Serbin, Scott R. Cirksena, Aaron C. Teague, Murtuza Chhatriwala
  • Patent number: 7231234
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing echo in a communication system are provided. A first signal including a voice component associated to a speaker is received. The first signal is processed to derive a harmonic feature of the voice component. A second signal including an echo component correlated to the first signal is also received. The second signal is processed at least in part on the basis of the harmonic feature of the voice component to remove at least in part the echo component such as to derive an echo reduced signal. The echo reduced signal is then released. In specific implementations, the harmonic feature of the voice component is an estimate of the pitch associated to the voice component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Octasic Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Jefferson Awad, Martin Laurence, Pascal Marcel Gervais
  • Patent number: 7227931
    Abstract: A method and system provide enhanced caller identification information to a called party. The system determines whether or not standard caller identification information associated with a calling party can be provided to the called party. The system preferably determines whether the standard caller identification information is unavailable, incomplete or has been blocked. When the system determines that the standard caller identification information cannot be provided, the system transmits a request for audible caller identification information to the calling party. If the calling party provides the requested audible caller identification information, the audible caller identification information is transmitted to the called party. The called party is thus provided with information about the calling party that can assist the called party in deciding whether or not to answer the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: SBC Holdings Properties, L.P.
    Inventors: Teresa Farias Latter, Nancy Ann Book, Mary Louise Hardzinski, James Thomas Maciejewski, John Wesley Moss, Thomas Joseph McBlain, Steven Darrell Benfield, Robin Denise Brady, Walden Blaine Crabtree, Jr., Tracy Lynn Kato, Brian Scott Utesch
  • Patent number: 7206305
    Abstract: An inband signaling modem communicates digital data over a voice channel of a wireless telecommunications network. An input receives digital data. An encoder converts the digital data into audio tones that synthesize frequency characteristics of human speech. The digital data is also encoded to prevent voice encoding circuitry in the telecommunications network from corrupting the synthesized audio tones representing the digital data. An output then outputs the synthesized audio tones to a voice channel of a digital wireless telecommunications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Airbiquity, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan A. Preston, Joseph Preston, Robert Leyendecker, Wayne Eatherly, Rod L. Proctor
  • Patent number: 7197331
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for selective distributed speech recognition includes an embedded speech recognition engine (104) and a dialog manager (102), such as a browser, coupled to the embedded speech recognition engine (104). The method and apparatus further includes the dialog manager (102) being operably couple able to at least one external speech recognition engine (106), such as a WLAN speech recognition engine (108) or a network speech recognition engine (110). The method and apparatus further includes preference information (114), environment information (112) and a speech input (116) all provided to the dialog manager (102). The dialog manager (102), in response to the preference information (114) and the environment information (112), provides the speech input (116) to the embedded speech recognition engine (104), the WLAN speech recognition engine (108) or the network speech recognition engine (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Tasos Anastasakos, Senaka Balasuriya, Michael Van Wie
  • Patent number: 7194239
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device and a method for managing the keyboard of the electronic device. The electronic device comprises a keyboard and a processing unit connected to the keyboard over a data transmission connection, the processing unit being configured to determine the appearance of the keyboard, receive information generated by pressing of a keyboard key and identify the key that was pressed on the basis of the information. The processing unit is also configured to collect information on the key presses and carry out an analysis of them, and to re-determine the appearance of the keyboard on the basis of the collected information and the analysis carried out so as to make the keyboard more ergonomic for the user, which makes the use of the keyboard easier and/or the pressing of a wrong key less likely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Jani Mäntyjärvi, Johan Himberg
  • Patent number: 7194259
    Abstract: A remote control device (RCD) typical of a television or home entertainment system is adapted to be communicable with a mobile phone. When a mobile phone receives a signal in a first wireless protocol from a digital cellular network (DCN), the signal is wirelessly forwarded to the RCD in a second wireless protocol for processing such as answering a voice call or displaying message data using the RCD. In addition, the RCD is wirelessly communicable with one or more peripheral devices such as a television and/or other components of a home entertainment system. The RCD can further forward the signal or a component of the signal received from the mobile phone to one of the peripheral devices for output. Thus, if a mobile phone is not handy when a signal is received, it can be passed to the RCD to be handled in a manner deemed appropriate by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Jonathan DeLine
  • Patent number: 7181249
    Abstract: The mobile telecommunication apparatus (1) comprises a microphone (4), a loudspeaker (3), a transmitter/receiver (7), a control circuit (8) with a memory (9) and a control interface (5, 6) with a display (2). The mobile telecommunication apparatus (1) comprises in memory a collection of so-called personae (10) containing control and viewing parameters associated with each persona, a personae editor (11) designed for read/write access to the parameters of the said collection of personae, and an operating system (12) designed to be executed right from startup by the control circuit (8) in such a way as to drive the personae editor (11) so as to view a so-called main persona on the display (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: France Télecom
    Inventor: Luc Vacquie
  • Patent number: 7177670
    Abstract: Disclosed are a mobile communication terminal provided with a hands-free function and a controlling method thereof comprising the steps of: setting a hands-free function of a mobile communication terminal; certifying whether an originating call command or a calling request message are received; searching information of a calling party inputted by a user's voice or an arbitrary originating party's information from a mounted telephone directory; and guiding the searched calling party's information by voice and then connecting a calling. According to this, the user can originate or receive a calling by using a voice recognition function and the hands-free function of the terminal without his hands' using even while driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Dong-Jin Yoon