A speech recognition telecommunications system with distributable units. The system includes a primary unit and one or more secondary units, wherein the primary unit includes a processor, memory, a logic, a telecommunications transceiver configured to connect to a telecommunications network, and a secondary transceiver in communication with the secondary units. The secondary units are distributable throughout a structure and each include a transceiver, speaker, and a microphone for relaying received audio signals back to the primary unit. In operation, the primary unit receives a user's audio via its microphone or via transmission from a secondary unit. The logic then compares the user's vocal pattern to stored vocal patterns to confirm a user match. If there is a user match, then the logic compares the user's spoken command to a library of predetermined commands, wherein the processor executes the matching command from the library.

A receiver coupled to a processor for receiving an electronic communication from a separate computing device, a local storage medium coupled to the processor, the local storage medium storing an identification system for identifying the electronic communication received from the separate computing device, and a voice user interface coupled to the processor for receiving a voice communication from the user without a physical interaction between the user and the computing device is provided. Associated methods are also provided.

A wearable device can facilitate automatic adjustment of a volume control and/or other settings of a host device based on properties of the ambient environment. For example, when a host device generates an audible alert, a wearable device can sample the ambient sound to detect a distinct contribution corresponding to the audible alert; if the contribution is outside acceptable levels, the wearable device can notify the host device to adjust the alert volume and/or other alert characteristics. Adjustments to host-device settings can also be made based on comparing audio signals collected by the host device and the wearable device.

A device has a communication link, a headset, and an electronics module. The headset is connected to the communication link and has a speaker, and a microphone. The electronics module is connected to the communication link and has a housing with an information conveying tag positioned on a surface, a processor communicatively coupled to the headset through the communication link, a battery, and a wireless transceiver communicatively coupled with a remote terminal.

A process for interfacing with an electronic communications device including a single input interface (SII) for accessing an electronic digital assistant and voice control includes detecting a first activation of the SII, and responsively playing back a first audio feedback indicative of activation of a voice input function. Then monitoring for one of two or more pre-configured voice control keywords, a first associated with a local electronic communications device function and a second associated with initiating a particular infrastructure-based electronic digital assistant function. When the first, playing back a second audio feedback indicative of acknowledgement of a local device function, and performing the local device function; when the second, playing back, a third audio feedback indicative of acknowledgement of a infrastructure-based electronic digital assistant function, and performing the infrastructure-based electronic digital assistant function.

A system and method for utilizing a plain-old-telephone (“POT”) to interface with a digital assistant system. The POT is linked to an interface adapted to selectively provide a bidirectional audio connection to a standard telephone communication network, or to provide an interface to a digital assistant system in response to user voice commands. The functionality of the POT digital assistant interface being dependent upon the user input—DTMF tone/pulse dialing signals as opposed to voice commands spoken into the POT mouthpiece. Audio cues and prompts, as well as audio responses from the digital assistant system are provided to the user via the POT earpiece. Digital assistant functionality is provided via a simple and familiar interface, without impeding any standard voice telephony functionality (making/receiving calls, call waiting, caller ID, etc.)

A method and electronic device that enables quick presentation of user briefs on the electronic device includes: receiving, at the electronic device, an informational brief (IB) request (IBR) input that includes an identifier of a topic and a trigger that causes the electronic device to open an IB content screen that temporarily presents specific information corresponding to the topic. In response to receipt of the IB input, the method further includes: retrieving the IB content screen, with content that includes at least one of the specific information; presenting the IB content screen on the electronic device; monitoring an elapsed presentation time for the IB content screen on the electronic device; comparing the elapsed presentation time against a time limit allocated for presenting the IB content screen; and in response to expiration of the time limit, closing the IB content screen to return the device to its previous operating state.

An auxiliary device charging case is used to facilitate translation features of a mobile computing device or auxiliary device. A first user, who may be a foreign language speaker, holds the charging case and speaks into the charging case. The charging case communicates the received speech to the mobile computing device, either directly or through the auxiliary device, which translates the received speech into a second language for a second user, who is the owner of the mobile computing device and auxiliary device. The second user may provide input in the second language, such as by speaking or typing into the auxiliary or mobile computing device. The mobile computing device may translate this second input to the first language, and transmit the translated input to the charging case either directly or through the auxiliary device. The charging case may output the translated second input to the first user, such as through a speaker or display screen.

A method, an apparatus, and a system for speech recognition are provided. a third-party application corresponding to a speech signal of a user can be determined according to the speech signal and by means of semantic analysis; and third-party application registry information is searched for and a third-party program is started, so that the user does not need to tap the third-party application to start the corresponding program, thereby providing more intelligent service for the user and facilitating use for the user.

According to some aspects, a method of monitoring an acoustic environment of a mobile device, at least one computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, perform such a method and/or a mobile device configured to perform such a method is provided. The method comprises receiving acoustic input from the environment of the mobile device while the mobile device is operating in the low power mode, detecting whether the acoustic input includes a voice command based on performing a plurality of processing stages on the acoustic input, wherein at least one of the plurality of processing stages is performed while the mobile device is operating in the low power mode, and using at least one contextual cue to assist in detecting whether the acoustic input includes a voice command.