Abstract: A user identification system is provided. In the user identification system, an in-vehicle apparatus specifies a position of a vehicular portable device with reference to a vehicle and determines whether the vehicular portable device exists in a predetermined identification area. Based on determining that the vehicular portable device exists in the identification area, the in-vehicle apparatus transmits an instruction signal instructing the vehicular portable device to specify a driver terminal. Based on reception signal strength detected during a time period determined by a time point of receipt of the instruction signal, the vehicular portable device determines the driver terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for determining a lyric importance level, comprising a memory and a processor executing instructions stored in the memory. The processor executes instructions stored in the memory to acquire lyric information, the lyric information identifying: lyrics of a song; and lyric location information indicating locations of the lyrics within the song. The processor further executes instructions stored in the memory to acquire section information, the section information identifying: sections of the song; section importance levels corresponding to the sections; and section location information indicating locations of the sections within the song. The processor still further executes instructions stored in the memory to identify, based on the lyric location information and the section location information, one or more sections corresponding to a subset of the lyrics; and determine, based on the section importance levels, a lyric importance level of the subset.

Abstract: Mobile systems and methods that overcomes the deficiencies of prior art speech-based interfaces for telematics applications through the use of a complete speech-based information query, retrieval, presentation and local or remote command environment. This environment makes significant use of context, prior information, domain knowledge, and user specific profile data to achieve a natural environment for one or more users making queries or commands in multiple domains. Through this integrated approach, a complete speech-based natural language query and response environment can be created. The invention creates, stores and uses extensive personal profile information for each user, thereby improving the reliability of determining the context and presenting the expected results for a particular question or command. The invention may organize domain specific behavior and information into agents, that are distributable or updateable over a wide area network.

Abstract: A method and system for assisting a traveler. The method initiates a travel segment and interfaces with providers of data regarding geolocation, points of interest, or traffic. During execution of the method, the system monitors geolocation data. The system can predict a route of travel, basing that prediction on past geolocation data or directions from a geolocation provider. Also during execution of the method, the system can identify data of interest to a user, based on input initiated by the user. Further, the system can solicit input from the traveler, or it can perform tasks based on predefined criteria, such as locating and identifying points of interest between two geographic locations. During operation, system can provide information to the traveler relating to data of interest. The system includes a client unit and a server unit, the client unit being mounted in an automotive vehicle or in a communications device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and storage medium associated with providing navigation guidance that may include stops, are disclosed. An apparatus, in one embodiment, may include one or more processors; and a navigation application to be operated by the one or more processors to provide navigation guidance to a destination. The navigation application may be configured to provide the navigation guidance including a stop at a location while en route to the destination, in response to receipt of a request for the stop, without specification of where the stop is to take place. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.

Abstract: The disclosure includes technology for generating custom vocabularies for personalized speech recognition. The technology includes an example system including a processor and a memory storing instructions that when executed cause the system to: detect a provisioning trigger event; determine a state of a journey associated with a user based on the provisioning trigger event; determine one or more interest places based on the state of the journey; populate a place vocabulary associated with the user using the one or more interest places; and register the place vocabulary for the user.

Abstract: A navigation device or method is configured to identify location information and a route setting method from a recognition result obtained by constantly recognizing user's utterance contents, and set a route based on the location information and the route setting method.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to scheduling a future navigation route. A user may select one or more points of interests (POIs) along a route to be routed to in the future. The one or more POIs may be within a geographic vicinity of the vehicle in which the user is travelling when the user makes the selection. The user may also input a future date and/or time for routing to the selected POI. The user selected POI and the date and/or time may comprise routing event information, which may be stored in memory for future routing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for personalizing a voice user interface on an electronic device. Voice recordings are made into an electronic device or a computerized system using a software installed onto the device, where a user is prompted to record various dialogues and commands. The recording is then converted into voice data packages, and uploaded onto the electronic device. In this way, users can replace the computerized or preloaded voice in a voice user interface of an electronic device with their own voice or a voice of others. In one embodiment, the electronic device comprises a mobile phone or a tablet computer. In other embodiments, the electronic device comprises a vehicle communication system and a navigation device. The system and method of the present invention enables the user to personalize the voice user interface for each electronic device operated by the user.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technique of an information terminal that allows more efficient utilization of high-level searching functions. The information terminal is provided with an audio input accepting unit to accept an input of speech information, a communication unit to establish communication with a predetermined server device via a network, an output unit, a POI specifying unit to transmit the speech information accepted by the audio input accepting unit to the server device and receive information specifying a candidate of a POI (Point Of Interest) associated with the speech information, a POI candidate output unit to output to the output unit, the information specifying the candidate of the POI received by the POI specifying unit, and a route searching unit to accept a selective input of the information specifying the candidate of the POI, and search for a route directed to the POI.

Abstract: A vehicle interface system and method is provided. The system and method includes an interface for communicating with a vehicle user. A controller is in communication with the interface and configured to retrieve a calendar event and verify the calendar event based on an input from the user via the interface. Trip information is generated based on the calendar event and vehicle data. Trip information, based on the calendar event and vehicle data, is communicated to the user via the interface.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to recognition of navigation and/or guidance related information within an expressed conversational narrative between a provider of the narrative and a receiver thereof. The recognized navigation and/or guidance related information is then converted into navigation data which may be used to present a navigation route and/or guidance information related thereto to the receiver.

Abstract: A user records a navigation instruction for a manoeuvre at a junction via their navigation device. The user indicates a distance before the junction at which the manoeuvre should be provided. The user does this by providing an input to the navigation device when a current position is at the relevant distance while driving around. The device then determines the manoeuvre in a digital map to be associated with the instruction by determining the next manoeuvre in a calculated route the user is following. The navigation device uploads the navigation instruction and the associated manoeuvre and distance to a central navigation instruction database. Other users may then download and use the navigation instruction.

Abstract: A navigation device or method is configured to identify location information and a route setting method from a recognition result obtained by constantly recognizing user's utterance contents, and set a route based on the location information and the route setting method.

Abstract: A system for selecting music includes a mobile system for processing and transmitting through a wireless link a continuous voice stream spoken by a user of the mobile system, the continuous voice stream including a music request, and a data center for processing the continuous voice stream received through the wireless link into voice music information. The data center can perform automated voice recognition processing on the voice music information to recognize music components of the music request, confirm the recognized music components through interactive speech exchanges with the mobile system user through the wireless link and the mobile system, selectively allow human data center operator intervention to assist in identifying the selected recognized music components having a recognition confidence below a selected threshold value, and download music information pertaining to the music request for transmission to the mobile system derived from the confirmed recognized music components.

Abstract: In a method for the operator control of a motor vehicle having a display for displaying variable information, a symbol assigned to a function pertaining to the motor vehicle is shown with the aid of the display, the viewing direction of an operator of the motor vehicle is ascertained, and the function pertaining to the motor vehicle is subsequently executed in response to recognition of an acoustic command assigned to the function pertaining to the motor vehicle, while the viewing direction is aimed toward the display.

Abstract: A system for surfing the web includes a mobile system for processing and transmitting through a wireless link a voice stream spoken by a user of the mobile system and a data center for processing the voice stream received into voice web search information. The continuous voice stream includes a web search request. The data center performs automated voice recognition processing on the voice web search information to recognize components of the web search request, confirms the recognized components of the web search request through interactive speech exchanges with the user through the wireless link and the mobile system, selectively allows human data center operator intervention to assist in identifying the selected recognized web search components having a recognition confidence below a selected threshold value, and downloads web search results pertaining to the web search request for transmission to the mobile system derived from the confirmed recognized web search components.

Abstract: A method of providing navigational information includes the step of processing destination information spoken by a user of a mobile processing system and transmitting the processed voice information via a wireless link to a remote data center. The processed voice information is analyzed with a voice recognition system at the remote data center to recognize components of the destination information spoken by the user. The remote data center generates a list of hypothetical recognized components of the destination information listed by confidence levels as calculated for each component of the destination information analyzed by the voice recognition system. The remote data center determines if a confidence score is below a recognition confidence value and, if the confidence score is below the recognition confidence value, transmits an automated request to have the user speak the destination information again.

Abstract: Techniques for provided which may be implemented using various methods and/or apparatuses in a mobile device to allow for speech recognition based, at least in part, on context information associated with at least a portion of at least one navigational region, e.g., associated with a location of the mobile device. A speech recognition capability may, for example, be provided with a set of audible samples based, at least in part, on the context information. Such speech recognition capability may be provided by the mobile device and/or by one or more other devices coupled to the mobile device.

Abstract: A portable navigation device (PND) is disclosed comprising processing means, a graphical display, memory, map data stored in said memory, user-input means, and signal reception means for receiving one or more wireless signals by means of which the processor can determine a present location of the device and in conjunction with user input desired destination information, and perform route calculation and subsequent navigation functions, such being performed by software installed on the device. The PND is additionally provided with a connector by means of which said PND can be physically connected to third party devices or systems.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, system and/or computer program product confirm an orally entered address to a mobile navigation device. The mobile navigation device receives a global positioning system (GPS) root address component from a GPS. The GPS root address component is a text name of a root location at which a mobile navigation device is currently located. The mobile navigation device receives an orally entered address that comprises an oral root address component and an oral subunit component of the oral root address component. In response to the converted root address component matching the GPS root address component, the orally entered address is partitioned into the oral subunit component and the oral root address component, and any additional speech-to-text conversion of the orally entered address after the oral root address component is terminated.

Abstract: A computerized information apparatus useful for providing directions and other information to a user. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a processor and network interface and computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to receive a speech input from the user regarding an organization or entities, and provide a graphic or visual representation of the organization or entity to aid them in finding the organization or entity. At least a portion of the information is obtained via the network interface from a remote server.

Abstract: A computerized information system useful for providing directions and other information to a user. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a processor and network interface and computer readable medium having at least one computer program disposed thereon, the at least one program being configured to receive inputs from the user regarding locations or entities, and provide directions and/or advertising related content. At least a portion of the information is obtained via the network interface from a remote server.

Abstract: A system and method for entering a destination into a navigation system, usually a vehicle navigation system, that uses phonetic letter families, or groups of letters which sound similar, to improve the reliability and accuracy of speech recognition. The method involves grouping each letter of the English alphabet into a family of letters which sound similar, such as A, J, and K. When a destination name is spelled by a user, each letter is recognized in terms of the phonetic letter family to which it belongs. This phonetic equivalent spelling is compared to the navigation database of street, city, and state names, which has also been converted to its phonetic equivalent spelling. If a match is found, the user is asked to confirm that this is the desired destination.