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Many Campbeltown businesses are listed in the various categories and specialist directories linked to from the menus on this web site. The purpose of this page is to include those that may not be. Since becoming available, the Town Pages and Bizwiki web sites are a good free resource.
|Add/delete/amend entry
|Comments welcome
|Town Pages
|Campbeltown business list
|The Fresh Connection, Teleflorist
|+44 (0) 1586 553220
|Grant Logan, Master goldsmith
|+44 (0) 1586 553588
|UK free business listings (anyone can edit)
|Mister What
|Campbeltown business list
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Are we missing something?
From its beginning in 1999, Come to Campbeltown has strived to include all available links to web sites describing Campbeltown. Inevitably, there will be updates that we have missed or links we have not come across. If you know of a Campbeltown link that should be added or updated, or find one that is obsolete or broken, we'd like to hear from you. Also, we may have mentioned your business or organisation - why not talk to us about a feature page or a direct link to your web site? Add/delete/amend entry on Campbeltown.org.uk.


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An outlet for a LAN, containing an integrated adapter that converts digital data to and from analog video signals, allowing the use of analog video units in a digital data network or telephone line-based data networking system, eliminating the need for digital video units or external adapter. The outlet may include a hub for connecting an analog video signal via an adapter, and retaining the data network connection. In such an environment, the data networking circuitry as well as the analog video adapters are integrated into a telephone outlet, providing for regular telephone service, analog video connectivity, and data networking as well. In such a configuration, the outlet would have a standard telephone jack, an analog video jack and at least one data networking jack. Such outlet can be used to retrofit existing LAN and telephone wiring, and original equipment in new installations.
1. A device for connecting an analog signal unit to a digital data network that is operative for carrying Internet Protocol (IP) based digital data signals, the digital data signals being derived from analog signals in compressed form, the digital data network being based on wiring, the device comprising:
a first connector for connecting the device to the wiring;
a digital communication equipment unit coupled to said first connector for transmitting IP based digital data signals to, and receiving IP based digital data signals from, the wiring via said first connector;
a second connector for connecting to the analog signal unit for coupling analog signals to or from the analog signal unit;
an adapter coupled to said second connector for converting between digital signals and corresponding uncompressed analog signals;
a processor coupled between said adapter and said digital equipment communication unit, the processor being operative for converting between digital data signals derived from analog signals in compressed form and digital data signals representing the same analog signals in uncompressed form; and
a single enclosure housing said first and second connectors, said digital communication equipment unit, said adapter and said processor.
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at least one data communication jack for connecting to the at least one data unit; and
a multi-port hub coupled between said digital communication equipment unit and said at least one data communication jack and being operative for passing digital data between said adapter and said at least one data unit.
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29. A method for connecting an analog signal unit to a digital data network carrying Internet Protocol (IP) based digital signals derived from analog signals, the digital network based on wiring, the method comprising:
providing a first connector for connecting to the wiring;
transmitting and receiving IP based digital data to and from the wiring via the first connector;
providing a second connector for connecting to an analog signal unit;
coupling an adapter between the first connector and the second connector for converting between digital signals derived from analog signals and corresponding analog signals;
coupling a processor for converting between digital data signals derived from the analog signals in compressed form and digital data signals representing the same analog signals in uncompressed form; and
housing said processor, said adapter and said connectors in a single enclosure.
30. The method according to
31. The method according to
providing at least one data communication jack within the single enclosure for connecting at least one data unit; and
coupling a multi-port hub to the first connector and to the at least one data communication jack, the multi-port hub being operative to simultaneously connect to said adapter and to the at least one data unit.
32. The method according to
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This application is a division of parent application Ser. No. 10/492,085, filed Nov. 8, 2004, which is a national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371 of PCT/IL01/00943, filed Oct. 11, 2001.
The present invention relates to the field of conveying analog video, and, more specifically, to the transport of analog video signals within a Local Area Network (LAN) over wiring simultaneously used for analog telephony.
The term "outlet" herein denotes an electro-mechanical device, which enables connection to wiring installed within a building. Outlets are permanently connected to the wiring, and allow easy connection of external units as required to such wiring, commonly by means of an integrated, faceplate built-in connector. The outlet is normally mechanically attached to, or mounted in, the wall. Non-limiting examples of common outlets include: telephone outlets for connecting telephone sets; CATV outlets for connecting television sets, VCR's, and the like; and electrical outlets for connecting power to electrical appliances.
LAN Environment
While the network 10 is specifically designed to carry digital signals, still many devices in the home or office environment are using an analog type of interface. Specifically, video associated equipment such as VCR, video monitors, video cameras uses standard analog video interface for networking. The term "video source" used herein denotes any device having analog video output, non-limiting examples being VCR (while playing), analog video camera, TV receiver. The term "video target" used herein denotes any device having analog video input, non-limiting examples being VCR (while recording), analog video monitor.
In order to employ video transportation from a video source to a video target via the digital data network, additional adapters converting analog to digital and vice versa are required. This will become clearer from
Although the digital data network 20 facilitates the employment of common, low-cost standard video units, the adapters 21 and 25 are necessary, malting installation and maintenance complex, and requiring additional equipment, connections, and cables. Furthermore, such adapters require a power connection, further complicating installation, use, and maintenance.
Furthermore, although
Analog Telephone Network
Analog telephony, popularly known as "Plain Old Telephone Service" ("POTS") has been in existence for over 100 years, and is well-designed and well-engineered for the transmission and switching of voice signals in the 3-4 KHz portion (or "band") of the audio spectrum. The familiar POTS network supports real-time, low-latency, high-reliability, moderate-fidelity voice telephony, and is capable of establishing a session between two end-points, each using an analog telephone set.
The terms "data unit", "computer" and "personal computer" ("PC") as used herein include workstations and other data terminal equipment (DTE) with interfaces for connection to a local area network. The term "telephone set" or "telephone device" as used herein includes any device which can connnect to a Public Switch Telephone Network ("PSTN") using analog telephone signals, non-limiting examples of which are fax machines, automatic telephone answering machines, and dial-up modems.
Home Networking
In-home telephone service usually employs two or four wires, to which telephone sets are connected via telephone outlets.
Network 40 is normally configured into a serial or "daisy-chained" topology, wherein the wiring is connected from one outlet to the next in a linear manner, but other topologies such as star, tree, or any arbitrary topology may also be used. Regardless of the topology, however, the telephone wiring system within a residence always uses wired media: two or four copper wires along with one or more outlets which provide direct access to these wires for connecting to telephone sets.
It is often desirable to simultaneously use existing telephone wiring simultaneously for both telephony and data networking. In this way, establishing a new local area network in a home or other building is simplified, because there is no need to install additional wiring. U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,402 to Crane (hereinafter referred to as "Crane") teaches a Local Area Network over standard two-wire telephone lines, but does not simultaneously support telephony.
The concept of frequency domain/division multiplexing (FDM) is well-known in the art, and provides means of splitting the bandwidth carried by a wire into a low-frequency band capable of carrying an analog telephony signal and a high-frequency band capable of carrying data communication or other signals. Such a mechanism is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,448 to Reichert et al. (hereinafter referred to as "Reichert").
This technique is exploited in U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,443 to Dichter (hereinafter referred to as "Dichter"). Dichter suggests a method and apparatus for applying a frequency domain/division multiplexing (FDM) technique for residential telephone wiring, enabling the simultaneous carrying of telephony and data communication signals. The available bandwidth over the wiring is split into a low-frequency band capable of carrying an analog telephony signal, and a high-frequency band capable of carrying data communication signals. In such a mechanism, telephony is not affected, while a data communication capability is provided over existing telephone wiring within a home. FDM is also widely used are xDSL systems, primarily Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Loop (ADSL) systems.
In addition to illustrating a residential telephone system,
There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, a means for allowing the use of analog video units in LAN environment without requiring additional external devices and allowing easy installation, operation, and maintenance. This goal is met by the present invention.
The present invention makes it easy and convenient to convey analog video signals in a digital data network environment. The invention provides an outlet for a Local Area Network (LAN), with an integrated analog video adapter. The outlet has a standard analog video connector allowing an analog video unit to be directly connected to, and used with, a digital data network.
In a first embodiment, an outlet according to the present invention is used with an ordinary LAN environment, such as Ethernet 10 BaseT (IEEE802.3). The outlet allows connecting analog video units to the LAN via the integrated analog video adapter, supports analog video over the LAN media, and can also support a standard network data connection using an integrated multi-port unit (e.g. hub, switch, or router). For standard network data connections, the outlet also includes at least one data networking jack (e.g. RJ-45 if 10BaseT or 100BaseTX is used) connected to a port.
In another embodiment, the outlet enables a LAN to be based on in-building telephone wiring, in a home or Small Office/Home Office (SoHo) environment. A packet-based LAN is implemented, and outlets according to the present invention serve as telephone outlets, network outlets and analog video. This allows for direct and convenient connection of analog video units over the data network. In such an arrangement, the regular analog telephony service remains unaffected, because the low-frequency analog portion of the spectrum is isolated by the FDM technique. As noted above, the outlet may also support a network data connection, using an integrated multi-port unit (e.g. hub, switch or router), and in this case also includes a data network jack (e.g. RJ-45 if 10 BaseT or 100 BaseTX is used) connected to a port.
Outlets according to the present invention can be installed as part of an original network installation, as a retrofit to an existing network, or to set up a network over existing telephone wiring.
The invention is herein described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The principles and operation of a network according to the present invention may be understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description. The drawings and descriptions are conceptual only. In actual practice, a single component can implement one or more functions; alternatively, each function can be implemented by a plurality of components and circuits. In the drawings and descriptions, identical reference numerals indicate those components that are common to different embodiments or configurations.
As shown in
Powering any of the outlets mentioned above, can be implemented either locally by connecting a power supply to each outlet, or, preferably, via the network itself. In the latter case, commonly known as "Power over LAN", the power can be carried to the outlet from a central location either by an additional wire pair, using the well-known phantom configuration, or by the FDM (Frequency Division/Domain Multiplexing) method. The latter commonly employs DC feeding, which is frequency-isolated from the data carried in the higher part of the spectrum.
Network 80 offers the advantages of the carrying analog video, but requires the infrastructure of LAN wiring, which may not exist within a home. In another embodiment, the invention is used in a data network over in-building telephone lines, where the analog telephony signals are carried in the low-frequency portion of the spectrum, and the data communication signals are carried in the high-frequency portion.
Thus, outlet 90 supports four types of interface: Regular analog telephony (via jack 92), data communications (via jack 73), analog video source connection via jack 72 and analog video target connection via jack 77. A subset of such functionalities can also be provided. For example, an outlet solely supporting analog video target connection can be implemented, eliminating the need for LPF 37 and jack 92, and also eliminating hub 41 and jack 73 as well as A/D 21 and related jack 72. In such a case, D/A 25 directly connects to DCE unit 39.
Both networks 80 and 100 support the connectivity of both video units and DTEs. However, the analog video signal transportation is not to be limited to be carried solely between video units. For example, the analog video signal generated by video source 23 can be routed to a PC 17 (such as shown in
Network 100 of
Although outlets 79 and 90 and their variants are each described above as having up to one single video source connection, up to one video target connection, up to one data unit interface, it is understood that multiple such interfaces can be supported within a single outlet. For example, an additional video source interface can be added to an outlet by adding an auxiliary hub port (if required), connected to an auxiliary A/D unit 21 connected to an auxiliary connector 72. Similarly, multiple data network interfaces can be included within an outlet, each connected to different ports of a respective hub (such as hub 41 a).
Although the invention has been so far described with regard to telephone wiring and telephone outlets, the invention can be similarly applied to any type of wired networking within a building, such as CATV or electrical power wiring.
Although the invention has been so far described as relating to Ethernet based data networks, the invention can be similarly applied to any type of wired network, including non-packet based. Furthermore, although packet networks are the most important for wide area networks, the invention is not restricted to packet networks only, and can be applied to any digital data network, where video signals are digitized and carried in digital form.
Although the invention has been so far described as relating to analog video transportation over a digital data networks, the invention can be similarly applied to any type of analog signals, including voice or analog sensors. For example, such a network can be used to carry analog audio signals from an audio system to remote analog speakers.
Although the invention has been so far described as relating to simple digitizing the incoming analog video or audio signal using A/D 21, additional analog or digital processing can be applied within the outlet. For example, as shown in
Furthermore, although the invention has been described as relating to networks based on continuous electrical conducting media (telephone, CATV, or electrical power), and the relevant modem and associated circuitry are connected in parallel to the wiring infrastructure, the invention can be applied equally to the case wherein the wiring is not continuous, but is cut into discrete segments as disclosed in WO 00/07322 to the present inventor, which is incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
The invention described can be equally used in new installations of data network in an office or home environment, as well as in retrofit applications, wherein the existing outlets (either LAN, telephone or any other) are substituted with outlets according to the invention.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.
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How to Cook Extinct Fish? A-Say-What?
I could honestly browse Kickstarter all day. The ideas and creativity lurking beyond almost every click is fascinating and it just never seems to stop. A steady stream of genius or near-genius that just keeps coming at you. I think I probably lose just as much time to Kickstarter as I do to Reddit, and that's saying something.
So here's a Kickstarter I came across the other night from a local chef (we're talking Surrey-local, representin', cannagittawhutwhut) named Alexander Nichols. It's called the Extinct Fish Cookbook and it's, pardon my language, stinkin' brilliant! Basically, it's a cookbook slash coffee table book slash work of art. 50 species of extinct or soon-to-be extinct fish are going to be featured in it, and it will include, beside some information and artists renderings of the fish, recipes on how to prepare it.
From the campaign page:
This elegant art-cook-book, hard-cover, 18″ x 18″ full-colour flex-bound volume, features 50 extinct or soon-to-be-extinct fish species in renderings produced by students of The Ontario College of Art and the Emily Carr Institute Art School. (Toronto-Vancouver, Canada).
Each 'species in peril' will be afforded two facing pages. The left-hand (factual) page will be fifty percent dedicated to the colour lithograph, with an accompanying natural and fisheries retrospective of the fish genome. The right facing (fictional) page will be reserved for the 'future-story' of the species with vignettes describing how the fish became extinct. The bottom third of this page will feature a recipe for preparing the 'extinct fish'. Please refer to www.extinctfishcookbook.com for more graphic information and proof-of-concept.
This is a project I can definitely get behind. I love that it is local and I love that its giving opportunities to local art students and highlighting local environmental issues. What species do you hope to see in it? Me? I'd like to see how you clean up a Dunkleosteus. You can thank me later.
Here's the project video, and I'll post the widget below so you can go back it. I know I will. Tell your friends and be sure to follow Alex on Twitter: @Ghostthinker


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Video:Tips for Starting a Half-Marathon Training Programwith Michele Jaco
Starting a half-marathon training program requires some foresight and thought. Watch this how-to video from About.com to see tips for beginning the training.See Transcript
Transcript:Tips for Starting a Half-Marathon Training Program
Hi I'm Michele and today for About.com we're going to talk about tips for starting a half-marathon training program.
About Half-Marathon Training Programs
13.1 miles is a long way to run, so having a program is essential so you don't get hurt and so you have a good time running. There are a couple of pre-requisites. You should be able to run 8-10 miles per week and you should have a couple months of running experience before attempting a half-marathon training program. There are many elaborate training programs, but I'm going to show you one that's simple, but effective and can be accomplished in 12 weeks.
Before Beginning a Half-Marathon Training Program
First see your doctor for medical clearance before you train for a half marathon.Next you need a couple of days of rest each week for your muscles to recuperate.
Schedule for a Half-Marathon Training Program
Try Monday as your first rest day. You've probably had a full weekend of running, so taking Monday off will be just what your body needs. Next pick a day for Tempo runs. I personally like Tuesdays. Start your run with 5 to 10 minutes easy running, then continue with 20 to 30 minutes of harder running –about 10 to 15 seconds slower than your 10K pace-- and then finish with 5 to 10 minutes of cooling down. Wednesday is a favorite night for running clubs so use this day for a moderate run. Map out a 4 or 5 mile distance and run at a comfortable pace. Make sure you warm up and stretch before and after the run. Also if you're planning on running a hilly half-marathon adding some hills into this run would be advisable.
Switching Up a Half-Marathon Workout
Thursday is a great day for cross-training activities like biking, swimming or using an elliptical trainer, this will give your running muscles a break. Now you need another day of rest for your muscles to recuperate, so Friday seems to be ideal since you'll be doing a longer run on Saturday and you've trained hard the first part of the week. This rest day could be the most important training day of the week, so don't skip it!
Since Saturday is another great day to run with a running club, make this your long run of the week. Start with 3-4 miles and add one mile per week until race day.And finally Sunday is a great day just to enjoy your run, whether it's in a park or in a 5 or 10K race. Leisurely run for 30-40 minutes. You can also do a run/walk combination or even some cross-training.
Remember everyone responds differently to training methods, so see what works best for you. Keep a running journal and write down the specifics of each run and how you felt afterwards. Hopefully your endurance is improving and you feel better each week.
And that's a simple half-marathon training program. Thank you for watching and for more information visit us on the web at About.com


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Advert: Scare away trick-or-treaters with a PaedoMask
Posted: Oct 31st, 2012
More from Celebrity
Posted: Oct 31st, 2012
More from Celebrity
Goblins, ghouls, fairies and the souls of the departed are threatening to boycott Halloween this year, according a union spokesperson.
'They're just shit scared of British schoolchildren', explained the Grim Reaper, head of the Amalgamated Union of Paranormal Manifestations.
Posted: Oct 29th, 2012
More from News In Brief
'Usually the grown-ups just pretend to be scared,' said one eight-year-old. 'But at all the houses with Republican posters in the windows, they've been genuinely terrified.'
Posted: Oct 30th, 2010
More from World News
Became embroiled in a painful three-hour discussion about the true meaning of the festival and its significance to modern society.
Posted: Oct 31st, 2009
More from Faith
'I can cope with skeleton masks, devil outfits and ghost costumes. It's the rest of the year when they lurk around with their hoods up that terrifies me.'
Posted: Nov 1st, 2008
More from UK News


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Sacred Duty
Discussing contemporary religion and culture with Ken Chitwood
Monthly Archive for June, 2011
Appreciating Indian Religious Experience in America
Houston Belief editor Kate Shellnutt's recent article on a new Hindu temple in The Woodlands got me thinking about the Asian-Indian religious experience in the U.S.A. Is it all Hindu? Is it all located in prosperous centers such as The Woodlands? How does education and economics effect Indian religious choices? Are Indians more religious in […] [Read More]
Waking a Sleeping Giant
This week there's a wiki conference of Christians in Katy. Wondering what that is? The term "wiki" was popularized by the ever popular site Wikipedia that allows users to add and edit content on the site in a collaborative manner. A wiki conference is more than conference, it's about collaboration. This wiki conference in Katy […] [Read More]
Encountering the Religious Other
At the close of another term of teaching world religions I feel it is an ample time for introspection and evaluation. As I wrestle with the class' outcomes and review the student's evaluations there are certainly educational outcomes to consider, but above all I hope that one thing was accomplished through this class – a little […] [Read More]
Are All Mormons White and Prosperous?
With Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman and Harry Reid catching ample press in political news sources and the broadway musical "The Book of Mormon" fetching rave reviews, Mormonism has been at the forefront of many minds recently and the subject of several current articles and blogs. Coverage has been diverse and interesting, from proposing that we […] [Read More]
Millennials Not as Believing as Their Predecessors…Yet
According to a recent Gallup poll, if you were to run into a liberal-independent male doctor from, say, New York who is 29 years old, there is a slightly higher chance that he is an atheist. Good to know right? Right. But what to make of it? Various news agencies and religious commentators are making […] [Read More]
People Believe
People believe stuff. I mean, really believe stuff. They believe things with their whole heart. It effects, and affects, their entire lives. They believe things that others believe are flat-out wrong. Some people believe that a particular book is written by God himself. Others believe that there is no god. Some people believe that humans […] [Read More]


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"Making a Difference for Older Adults in Johnson County"
CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions has established local, independent councils on aging in each of the eight counties it serves. Each council is comprised of dedicated volunteers who help define the problems and needs of older Hoosiers in their county and identify solutions.
Membership is free and open to anyone or any organization that has a sincere interest in the welfare and well-being of older adults in Johnson County.
JOIN and--
General membership meetings are held quarterly, the third Thursday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at these locations:
These meetings are open to anyone over age 60 in Johnson County, or anyone of any age who would like to be an active member of the council.
The Board of Directors and Committee Chairs of the council meet monthly at the Social of Greenwood on the second Tuesday of each month. Anyone wishing to become an active participant in enhancing the lives of Johnson County seniors are welcome to attend.
Phone: 317-803-6164
Jeff Lord, President
Pam Gibson, Vice-President
Shane Tyler, Treasurer
Clifton Dennis, Secretary
Chairs: Karen Greathouse, Cindy Johnson, Heather Soots, Tracey Wagoner
Home | Login/Logout | Aging & Disability Resource Center | Meals & More | In-Home Services | Way2Go Transportation | CICOA Foundation | Privacy | Sitemap
|Copyright © 2010 CICOA | All Rights Reserved | Website Hosted by Solutions4ebiz


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Episode 74 on Monday the 12th of April 2010 Brazil Inglaterra Canario Pulped Natural.
Weekly video cast exploring the world of coffee, brought to you by Has Bean Coffee and Stephen Leighton
Discover the best in original web series.
© 2014 Blip Networks, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Blip is part of Maker Studios


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on Facebook
on Twitter
117 N. Water St.
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 428-0112
Tuesday:11a.m-5p.m. Wednesday 11-3:30p.m.
Thursday 11-5p.m.
Friday 11-5p.m.
Saturday 10-2p.m.
Blue Connection has named Kathryn Scarim, a senior art therapy major from Palos Park, Ill., the 2015 Summer Artist-in-Residence. Scarim will showcase her artwork throughout the months of June and July 2015.
Check out our new videos produced by
Mariana Weber, Marketing '15
Blue Connection: What is it?
Blue Connection: Who are we?
Blue Connection: Why it matters.


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It's nice to see I'm not the only weirdo who doesn't like letting people online know my real name. A Google search of my real name results in very few valid hits. And that is also by design.
Most of them are from those "people finder" websites that somehow know all about me and my family. But you gotta pay money to get the details.
A Google search for "Deozaan" on the other hand... AFAIK every single one of them is me.


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Report: Eagle Ford worth $25 billion to South Texas
50,000 full-time jobs created; 350,000 barrels produced daily
Created in 2011 as the boom was taking off, the Eagle Ford Shale Task Force estimates oil and gas production has pumped $25 billion into the South Texas economy.
Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter said Tuesday at an Austin news conference that 50,000 full time jobs were created, producing 350,000 barrels daily.
However, Porter said with prosperity, come pending issues, like workforce training and development, road quality, water usage and air quality.
The Task Force report is loaded with facts and figures, and it's meant as a resource for local and state agencies as well as the Legislature as they tackle each issue.
"Everyone is watching to see what happens in the Eagle Ford Shale, so it's important we, as Texans, get this one right," says Texas Comptroller Susan Combs.
A top priority is paying for roads torn up by Eagle Ford trucks by dipping into the state's share of the boom, which right now sits at $88 billion and counting.
"A one-time infusion of funds from the Rainy Day Fund to invest back in the infrastructure in the Eagle Ford Shale," said Sen. Carlos Uresti regarding his bill, which still needs to go before lawmakers in Austin.
The report predicts Texas will help the U.S. surpass Russia and Saudi Arabia in production by 2020, and in doing so, may become energy independent by 2035.
To read the full report, click here (PDF).
Copyright 2013 by KSAT.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Official: Iran ready to speak with US over Iraq
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said Sunday that recent remarks made by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Tehran's readiness to hold talks with US over Iraq indicated Iranian commitment to tranquility in the region.
"Iran has a clear stance on the issue (of holding talks with the US). It will consider Washington's formal request for negotiations on regional issues," he said, according to IRNA.
Asked about Iran's nuclear case, he said "What is raised as the country's stance on nuclear case originated from a consensus between officials of the Supreme National Security Council. "No change has occurred in Iran's nuclear stance. The issue of suspension of enrichment is not acceptable because it has no legal and rational basis."


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It's so rare to see a photo of Kate Moss with her daughter Lila Grace, that we often forget that the six-year-old is around. Well, in between becoming Queen of Topshop, hanging out with Uncle Billionaire Green, who owns Topshop, and smoking the full quotient of 100 (approx) cigs a day, Kate is a very busy woman.
Sarcasm aside, a shot of Kate arriving to meet her daughter after a day hanging out on a yacht with boyfriend Jamie Hince and pals in St. Tropez, shows the little poppet is a chip off the old block. With those denim cutoffs, vintage-style blouse, cute looks and total cool disregard for the paps, Lila's future as 2019's Face Of The Year is pretty much in the bag. [Photo: FilmMagic]


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Information Morning - Cape Breton | Sep 10, 2013 | 7:21
The Math Factor
Canadian math students lag behind those in other countries. So we discuss how they fare in Nova Scotia, and offer tips on how to help those who may be struggling to make it all add up. (runs 7:21 September 10, 2013)


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MainStreet Libertyville hosts the classic car show Car Fun on 21 on Wednesday, June 19, 6 to 9 p.m. on Church Street in downtown Libertyville. In addition to classic cars 25 years and older, vintage fire trucks from Libertyville and several surrounding communities will be featured. Music will be provided by The Mojo Daddies, a local Libertyville band, and food is available from local restaurants. Anyone interested in displaying a car should use the Brainerd Avenue entrance. No registration is needed. Volunteers will be available to direct the cars to parking spots beginning at 5 p.m. Other Car Fun on 21 events are Wednesday, July 17 (music provided by Music Now DJ Group), Aug. 21 (David Dallison & Friends) and Sept. 18 (music provided by Music Now DJ Group). For information contact the MainStreet office at (847) 680-0336 or visit www.mainstreetlibertyville.org
posted: 6/13/2013 5:06 PM
Car Fun on 21 in Libertyville:
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Russia Visa Free Tours
With a recent change in regulations on tourist visas to Russia, it is now possible to visit St Petersburg without having to organise a Russia tourist visa. So long as you are travelling to Russia for less than 72 hours and have arranged sightseeing, you do not need to get a Russian tourist visa. Our visa free Russia tours take in the highlights of St Petersburg and also include a visit (via ferry) to neighbouring Finland and Estonia - so you can explore the fascinating European capitals of Helsinki and Tallinn, each with their own distinct character and charm.
5 days | FROM USD $1,199
VISA FREE RUSSIA TOUR! See the best of Helsinki's neo-classical architecture, art museums, markets and street fairs, before crossing the Gulf of Finland by ferry to St Petersberg - City of the Tsars, home to Peterhof and the stunning Hermitage collection at the Winter Palace on this 5 day tour.
5 days | FROM USD $1,449
VISA FREE RUSSIA TOUR! Travelling by ferry, combine the finest cities of Russia, Estonia and Finland in an exciting 5 day tour. Visit St Petersburg - City of the Tsars, with its fine arts and museums, exquisite palaces and historic fortresses. Then discover Baltic beauty Tallin, the charming capital...
More Group Tours in Russia
If our visa free Russia tours don't quite hit the spot, take a look at our selection of Russia group tours. We offer short tours of either St Petersburg or Moscow, tours that combine the sights of both cities, as well as tours that take in a bit of provincial Russia too, giving you a real flavour of the country.


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Keep dust off and out of your keyboard
This stretchy cover for full-sized keyboards is made of Lycra and Spandex and has an adjustable shock cord for a snug fit. Washable.
Item # 103235800 | Condition: Info | Customer Ratings: ( 5 Based on 9 reviews)
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Accidental damage, normalNormal wear and power surges are no longer an issue with these comprehensive and affordable plans. We even pay to ship your gear for repairs. More details.
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This stretchy cover for full-sized keyboards is made of Lycra and Spandex and has an adjustable shock cord for a snug fit. Washable.
We are proud of our products and want you to be proud to use them. Gator Cases products are covered under warranty against manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship for the original owner with proof of purchase from an authorized Gator dealer. Upon acceptance, Gator Cases, will repair or replace any product found to be defective. Damages due to normal wear, improper care, modification, negligence, rental purposes and accidents, where Gator Cases is not at fault, are not covered. Please keep your receipt so you have proof of purchase or register your case with the registration card that came with it. International warranty claims will be handled through the local distributor. Do not hesitate to contact us with any warranty question or claims.
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It's very stretchy, with a shock-cord drawstring with clamp. Fits very nicely over a Casio PX-350 (88 keys). Keeps the dust off. And it's inexpensive. What more do you want?
Stretches tight so there's no unsightly wrinkles or leftover fabric. Has a drawstring but no need to tighten as it fits our new Yamaha DGX 640 perfectly. Better than expected.
The material is great, but at first i couldn't really seem to get it around my Roland RD700GX. It kept sliding off one side when i was trying to slide the other end on the other. But after a few attempts it stretched out and now easily fits onto my keyboard without being too tight. I recommend this product to all keyboard users.
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Small Business Finance Institute (SBFI) offers resources to commercial lenders to meet the challenges of client financing, industry changes and career advancement.
Our ambition is to become the leading source of commercial lender training, as well as current news, insight and statistics about small business lenders, and a one-stop site for the latest information on the people, events and training resources serving the business lending sector.
SBFI was founded on the premise of providing sound, germane and principled information and resources to support and promote the commercial lending sector and its participants. We advocate for distribution of credit capital in a prudent, responsible manner that utilizes time-tested, regulatory compliant practices, which inures to the benefit of all stakeholders.
Please learn more about our mission, staff, contributors, Advisory Board and the many resources, services and products offered to support and promote commercial lending. Collectively, we will strive to offer information in context with a changing industry for the full spectrum of the trade, from C&I to CRE, SBA to ABL, factoring to equipment finance, innovative funding to micro lending, and all the other capital providers in between.
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Stay tuned in to watch our growth and addition of more resources in the months ahead. I welcome your opinion about what resources are needed to raise professional commercial lending standards, enhance individual qualifications and improve the field of business lenders that work each day to distribute capital into the American economy.
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What is MS?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive disease of the nervous system, for which there is no cure at present
Telling people you have MS
If people understand MS, they are more likely to accept any adjustments or support you may need
Keeping healthy
There is no cure for MS, but people can find their own way to live with the disease and to try to live in a healthy way
MS support near you
MS Society of Canada / Société canadienne de la sclérose en plaques
The mission of the MS Society of Canada is to be a leader in finding a cure for multiple sclerosis and enabling people affected by MS to enhance their quality of life.Visit their website
Other MS organisations around the world
More than 90 organisations are affiliated to the MS International Federation – the only global network of MS organisations. Find an MS organisation.
Türkiye Multipl Skleroz DerneğiVisit their website
MS-félag ÍslandsVisit their website
ScleroseforeningenVisit their website
7th Oct 2015
Early identification of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in patients on natalizumab
A method for early detection of Natalizumab-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in the absence of clinical symptoms
Predictive factors for developing MS
Identifying risk factors for developing further attacks and disability accumulation in patients with "clinically isolated syndrome"


text: Horse Grooming Apr. 17, 2014 @ 05:46 PM MARK DOLEJS / Dispatch Staff With the assistance of his 3-year-old grandson Zachary Bullock, Bud Bullock grooms his horse named Crack Jack at his Hight Street home. Hoping for more spring-like weather, Bullock plans on giving the horse a good bath soon after brushing off its winter coat.


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Emilia Fox – who gave birth to daughter Rose last month – was upset that her pregnancy meant she was banned from 'flying' in a scene for 'Merlin'.
Emilia Fox was distraught about having to miss a flying scene in 'Merlin'
The actress – who gave birth to daughter Rose, her first child with partner Jeremy Gilley, last month – portrays Morgause in the hit BBC1 drama and though she loves doing her own stunts, her pregnancy meant she was unable to tackle anything too physical.
She said: "I loved doing all the sword fighting in the last series and the action sequences and the riding in this series – I really enjoyed the horse riding.
"I couldn't do all the stunts in this series because of my pregnancy and I was really upset about that because I would have flown in this series. I have always wanted to fly since being a little girl and seeing Peter Pan. This would have been my chance."
Emilia loves the chance to play a baddie in 'Merlin' because of the feeling of power she gets and the way the other characters respond to her.
She explained: "The best thing I think is the licence you get in playing a baddie, and a sorceress at that. Always playing with other characters and their perceptions of you, means you are never quite sure where Morgause's allegiances lie.
"It's really, really fun to play, when the role was first offered to me I wanted Morgause to look totally innocent but be completely evil behind it. Although, I always think with baddies they believe that they are doing the right thing.
"And also I think the fun is of course doing the stunts and feeling very powerful."
Finally we learn the name of her daughter, what a lovely name.
Comments are closed.


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WASHINGTON (AP) Otto Porter scored 20 points, and Georgetown made a season-high 15 steals and got a rare first-half boost from a walk-on Wednesday night in a 74-52 win over Seton Hall.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Jrue Holiday scored 21 points, Nick Young had 18 and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Washington Wizards 92-84 Wednesday night.
SEATTLE (AP) Washington picked the wrong time to go into a slide.
NEW YORK (AP) Alex Rodriguez is in the middle of Major League Baseball's latest doping investigation after an alternative weekly newspaper reported baseball's highest-paid star was among the big
OTTAWA (AP) Sergei Gonchar scored on the power play with 2:30 left in regulation as the Ottawa Senators battled back from a sluggish start to defeat the Washington Capitals 3-2 on Tuesday.


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Data Center Consolidation: A Roadmap
It's easy to see that many organizations are increasingly reliant on data centers.
What's more difficult is understanding – from an organizational perspective – how these growing demands will impact data centers.
Requirements for cooling and for power per rack and are often growing, while the need for space may actually be declining, even as compute capacity rises.
That's especially true as organizations virtualize servers and recapture stranded data center.
It all translates into a challenge to facility managers responsible for data centers: How to ensure that data center plans will meet the needs of the organization in the most cost effective way? In many cases, the answer may be data center consolidation – a complex process, with many questions that need carefully analysis.
"Data Center Consolidation: A Roadmap," featuring David Hutchison of Excipio Consulting, offers facility managers a roadmap for planning a data center consolidation.
Learning objectives:
- Become familiar with keys to developing a successful consolidation plan
- Learn how to analyze business requirements and communicate ROI and TCO benefits of consolidation to executive management
- Understand ways to identify the organization's IT needs and plans and how you can engage IT and Finance to make decisions that will meet the needs of all groups involved in a consolidation project
- Evaluate options for meeting space needs


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August 4, 2015
FORT WORTH, Texas - A Texas sheriff says the Iraq War veteran charged with gunning down a former Navy SEAL sniper and his friend has refused to meet with his family or court-appointed attorney.
Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant says Eddie Ray Routh remained in his cell Tuesday instead of meeting with his lawyer or relatives. Bryant said Routh demanded a cigarette, but smoking isn't allowed in the jail.
The sheriff says he doesn't know which relatives came to visit Routh in the jail in Stephenville, about 75 miles southwest of Fort Worth.
Routh is charged with killing Chris Kyle, author of the best-selling book "American Sniper," and his friend Chad Littlefield at a shooting range Saturday. He's being held on $3 million bail. He is on suicide watch.
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An item location system uses voice activation and responsiveness to identify location(s) of item(s) sought by a user. The system may include a continuous speech recognition digital signal processor, a programmable microprocessor interfaced therewith, voice input and user feedback mechanisms, including audio and/or video feedback. Some embodiments utilize audio feedback to the user. The system also includes sufficient software and equipment to create item-identification/corresponding location-identification data pairs by utilizing item identifying bar codes on the items and matching them to location identifying bar codes physically situated on the corresponding locations. The continuous speech recognition engine may utilize Hidden Markov Models to create real time continuous speech recognition and feedback.
1. A method comprising:
converting, by a voice recognition system, an acoustic signal, representing a request for location information associated with an item having an association with an aisle and a shelf, into a digital signal;
monitoring, by the voice recognition system, for a user-definable setting, wherein the user-definable setting comprises a trigger word transmitted to the voice recognition system;
determining, by the voice recognition system, one or more words included in the acoustic signal based at least in part on the digital signal and said monitoring; and
providing, by the voice recognition system, feedback to the request for location information based at least in part on the determined one or more words, wherein the feedback includes an aisle identifier that identifies the aisle and a shelf identifier that identifies the shelf.
2. The method of
processing, by the voice recognition system, the digital signal into one or more observations;
selecting, by the voice recognition system, one or more models for the one or more observations, wherein the one or more models represent one or more sounds that when combined form a pronunciation of the digital signal; and
identifying, by the voice recognition system, the one or more words from a database that includes words and corresponding models by comparing the selected one or more models with the corresponding models.
3. The method of
4. The method of
5. The method of
providing, by the voice recognition system, one or more default instructions in response to a determination that the acoustic signal does not represent a request for location information.
6. The method of
receiving, by the voice recognition system, the acoustic signal representing the request for the location information via a receiver.
7. A voice recognition system, comprising:
an audio controller configured to convert an acoustic signal into a digital signal, wherein the acoustic signal represents a request for location information associated with an item having an association with an aisle and a shelf; and
a voice recognition unit coupled to the audio controller and configured to:
monitor for a trigger word transmitted to the voice recognition system and, in response to receipt of the trigger word, determine one or more words included in the acoustic signal based on the digital signal; and
provide feedback, via an input/output device, to the request for location information, wherein the feedback is provided based at least in part on the determined one or more words, and wherein the feedback includes an aisle identifier that identifies the aisle and a shelf identifier that identifies the shelf.
8. The voice recognition system of
9. The voice recognition system of
a text to speech generator coupled to the voice recognition unit and the input/output device, and configured to enable feedback to be provided via the input/output device as an audio response to the request to locate the item.
10. The voice recognition system of
a storage unit coupled to the voice recognition unit and configured to store the database.
11. The voice recognition system of
12. An apparatus, comprising:
means for converting an acoustic signal into a digital signal, wherein the acoustic signal represents a request for location information associated with an item having an association with an aisle and a shelf;
means for monitoring for a trigger word transmitted to the apparatus, and in response to receipt of the trigger word, determining one or more words included in the acoustic signal based on the digital signal; and
means for providing feedback to the request for location information based at least in part on the determined one or more words, wherein the feedback includes an aisle identifier that identifies the aisle and a shelf identifier that identifies the shelf.
13. The apparatus of
means for processing the digital signal into one or more observations;
means for selecting one or more models for the one or more observations, wherein the one or more models represent one or more sounds that when combined form a pronunciation of the digital signal; and
means for identifying the one or more words from a database that includes words and corresponding models by comparing the selected one or more models with the corresponding models.
14. The apparatus of
means for receiving the acoustic signal.
15. An article of manufacture including a tangible digital storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a voice recognition system, cause the voice recognition system, to perform operations including:
converting an acoustic signal into a digital signal, wherein the acoustic signal represents a request for location information associated with an item having an association with an aisle and a shelf;
monitoring for a user-definable setting, wherein the user-definable setting comprises a trigger word transmitted to the voice recognition system;
determining one or more words included in the acoustic signal based at least in part on the digital signal and said monitoring; and
providing feedback to the request for location information based at least in part on the determined one or more words, wherein the feedback includes an aisle identifier that identifies the aisle and a shelf identifier that identifies the shelf.
16. The article of manufacture of
processing the digital signal into one or more observations;
selecting one or more models for the one or more observations, wherein the one or more models represent one or more sounds that when combined form a pronunciation of the digital signal; and
identifying the one or more words from a database that includes words and corresponding models by comparing the selected one or more models with the corresponding models.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/696,660 filed Oct. 29, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,292,678 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/653,658 filed Aug. 31, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,341, each of the foregoing applications being hereby fully incorporated by reference herein.
This disclosure relates to voice activated/voice responsive item locators, i.e. item directories, which direct a user such as a consumer or shopper, to a specific location to view, retrieve, order, purchase or otherwise use the information obtained in the system.
Information Disclosure Statement
The state of the art for acquiring product location information involves the use of manually collected, inputted data. Bar codes have been used for years to identify products, but not to identify locations.
The following patents relate to machines involving speech recognition for voice-based operation and thus illustrate known voice recognition applications:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,501 to Masanobu Shimanuki describes a telephone terminal device equipped with a transmitter microphone, a receiver, a speech recognition unit that receives and recognizes speech signals from the transmitter microphone and a circuit to reduce the level of signals send from a telephone network to the receiver when the speech recognition unit receives speech signals from the transmitter microphone. Further, this device is preferably equipped with a speech reproduction unit that reproduces the speech information stored in a memory, in response to the information of recognition result from the speech recognition unit, and a circuit that prevents transmission of signals from the telephone network to the receiver when the regenerated speech information is sent to the receiver. Furthermore, it is desirable for this device to be provided with a circuit that prevents generation of ringing tones when an incoming call arrives.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,634 to David C. Rae et al. describes voice operated facsimile machine network which includes a method and apparatus for transmitting specifically requested graphic and/or textual data from an unattended database stored in a memory, in response to the information of recognition result from the speech recognition unit, and a circuit that prevents transmission of signals from the telephone network to the receiver when the regenerated speech information is sent to the receiver. Furthermore, it is desirable for this device to be provided with a circuit that prevents generation of ringing tones when an incoming call arrives.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,634 to David C. Rae et al. describes voice operated facsimile machine network which includes a method and apparatus for transmitting specifically requested graphic and/or textual data from an unattended database storage location to a requestor'S facsimile machine over a telephone line which includes a host computer such as a PC modified with a facsimile transmission board and a voice generation board. The host computer receives incoming phone calls and prompts the caller using the voice board to select data files by using the DTMF keys of a standard telephone handset. The PC can be left unattended and can run automatically in the facsimile transmission mode. Callers can immediately access needed textual and image data with the use of just a standard telephone and facsimile machine. Multiple workstation nodes can be configured in a network setup to handle a high volume of calls in real time and to allow multiple data services to operate simultaneously.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,095 to Mark A. Borcherding describes a method for dialing a telephone, using voice recognition to initiate the dialing and to determine the correct telephone number. The dialing is initiated with a spoken dial command that is recognized by using speaker independent templates that are stored locally with respect to the caller'S telephone. The correct telephone number is recognized by using speaker dependent template that are downloaded from a central database or by using speaker independent templates stored locally.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,548 to Steven Kaufman et al. describes a reporting system which is disclosed herein, a speech recognizer which is used to select selections of text from a report telephone mounted on a vehicle or similar mobile body and which allows a call to be originated with ease. When the user of the telephone enters a voice command on voice inputting section, the dialing unit originates a call automatically and thereby connects the other party to the telephone line. In a call origination procedure, the operations for call origination and the verifications are performed between the user and the unit in an interactive sequence. In a preferred embodiment, the unit has a particular call origination procedure in which, when the other party recognized by the unit is wrong as determined by the user by verification, lower place candidates for the other party are called up in response to a particular voice command. In an alternative embodiment, the unit indicates the other party by voicing a name for verification purpose. The alternative embodiment selects and stores only the name of the other party in response to an entered voice signal and, in the event of response for verification, combines the name having been stored and response information stored beforehand to produce composite response voice.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,670 to Richard S. Goldhor et al. describes a system and method for generating text from a voice input that divides the processing of each speech event into a dictation event and a text event. Each dictation event handles the processing of data relating to the input into the system, and each text event deals with the generation of text from the inputted voice signals. In order to easily distinguish the dictation events from each other and text events from each other the system and method creates a data structure for storing certain information relating to each individual event. Such data structures enable the system and method to process both simple spoken words as well as spoken commands and to provide the necessary text generation in response to the spoken words or to execute an appropriate function in response to a command. Speech recognition includes the ability to distinguish between dictation text and commands.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,586 to Kuniyoshi Marui describes a voice recognition system which comprises a handset and a hands-free microphone for generating an input audio signal, a high-pass filter for eliminating low frequency components from the signal from the handset or hands-free microphone, a signal lever controller for adjusting the level of the high-pass signal in response to the user of either the handset or hands-free microphone, a storer for storing the speech data and a controller for controlling the storer so that a user'S utterance is stored or the user'S utterance is recognized by comparing the utterance to speech data already stored. The handset hook switch provides an on-hook control signal to reduce amplifier gain during hands-free microphone operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,227 to Shoichi Kamei et al. describes an automatic dial telephone that is useable in a motor vehicle, when a voice input is provided during a period in which input of the names of called parties is awaited, a voice pattern of the name of the called party is compared with reference patterns of called parties stored in reference patterns storing device, to determine the degree of the similarity therebetween. The names of the called parties are output to a user in the order of decreasing degree of similarity. Each time the name of a called party is output, a command word for confirmation is a waited from a user for a predetermined time period. When a voice confirmation command is input and is recognized during this waiting period, a telephone number corresponding to the name of the called party is supplied to a channel. Consequently, the command word for confirmation may be input only if the name of the called party outputted is one desired by the user. Sensors continually monitor the driving condition of the motor vehicle in which the telephone is installed. When the operation of the steering wheel or brakes of the motor vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold or the speed of the motor vehicle is excessive, the sensors generate safety signals that inhibit the operation of the telephone.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,276 to E. Earle Thompson et al. describes a communication system which is provided with multiple purpose personal communication devices. Each communication device includes a touch-sensitive visual display to communicate text and graphic information to and from the user and for operating the communication device. Voice activation and voice control capabilities are included within communication devices to perform the same functions as the touch-sensitive visual display. The communication device includes a built-in modem, audio input and output, telephone jacks and wireless communication. A plurality of application modules are used with personal communication devices to perform a wide variety of communication functions such as information retrievable, on-line data base services, electronic and voice mail. Communication devices and application modules cooperate to allow integrating multiple functions such as real time communication, information storage and processing, specialized information services, and remote control of other equipment into an intuitively user friendly apparatus. The system includes both desktop and hand-held communication devices with the same full range of communication capabilities provided in each type of communication device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,636 to Roberto Irribarren describes a communication system for verbal telephonic communication which has a voice message system for storing and retrieving voice messages integrated with a computer database accessing system for storing and retrieving text messages from a separate computer system and for converting the text messages into voice. The systems are integrated via a network which coordinates the functions of each individual system. Additionally, the input/output ports of the voice message system and the computer database accessing system are connected in a parallel fashion to at least one telephone line. In this configuration a user may access both voice messages and database information, including text or electronic mail messages, with a single telephone call. Optionally, facsimile messages can be stored, retrieved and manipulated with a single telephone call.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,618 to Stephen B. Knuth et al. describes a telephone answering device that is activated by a proximity sensor when a user crosses its field of detection and whose operation is controlled by simple voice commands. The device incorporates speaker-independent voice recognition circuitry to respond to spoken commands of the user that are elicited by a system generated voice request menu. The telephone answering device performs all the basic functions of a telephone answering machine in response to these simple commands and there is no need for the user to manually operate the telephone answering device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,963 to W. Michael Bissonnette et al. describes a small, portable, hand-held electronic personal organizer which performs voice recognition on words spoken by a user to input data into the organizer and records voice messages from the user. The spoken words and the voice messages are input via a microphone. The voice messages are compressed before being converted into digital signals for storage. The stored digital voice messages are reconverted into analog signals and then expanded for reproduction using a speaker. The organizer is capable of a number of different functions, including voice training, memo record, reminder, manual reminder, timer setting, message review, waiting message, calendar, phone group select, number retrieval, add phone number, security and "no" logic. During such-various functions, data is principally entered by voice and occasionally through use of a limited keypad, and voice recordings are made and played back as appropriate. A visual display provides feedback to the user. During the various function, the user can edit various different data within the organizer by eliminating or correcting such data or entering new data.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,658 to Brion K. Jackson describes an action contained within an electronic mail object which is communicated from a data processing system to another data processing system via an audio device. The action is executable on a data processing system. At the sending data processing system, the action is converted to a predetermined audio pattern. The electronic mail object may contain text in addition to an action. The text is also converted to an audio pattern. The audio patterns are then communicated to the audio device over telephone lines or other communication medium. At the receiving end, the audio device records the object. A user can provide the recorded object to a data processing system, which then executes the action and converts the text audio patterns back to text. In addition, the action can be converted to text and displayed on the data processing system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,745 to John J. Wong et al. describes a telephone terminal adapted for business or home use that includes the ability to receive and send facsimiles, a voice answering function and a computer modem. Various input and output devices may be used for the facsimile function. A voice annotated facsimile may be sent and received. At the same time the facsimile is viewed on a video monitor or ordinary television set, an accompanying voice message is heard through the sound system of the monitor or television set. The terminal has an architecture including a central processor and an internal bus structure to which several types of memory, various input-output devices and an interface with the telephone line are connected, among others. Audio Random Access Memory (ARAM) is used for storing both facsimile data and voice data.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,328 to Gregory P. Fitzpatrick et al. describes a method and data processing system which are disclosed for automatically creating voice processing template entries. In one embodiment, the invention automatically assembles a plurality of commands received by the data processing system, at least one of said commands having a voice recognition criteria component associated therewith, counts the occurrences of the plurality of commands, assembles voice recognition criteria components associated with the plurality of commands, and, as a result of the occurrence count exceeding a predefined minimum, constructs a voice recognition template entry by associating the assembled voice recognition criteria components with the assembled plurality of commands.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,627 to Joel M. Gould et al. describes a word recognition system which can: respond to the input of a character string from a user by limiting the words it will recognize to words having a related, but not necessarily the same, string; score signals generated after a user has been prompted to generate a given word against words other than the prompted word to determine if the signal should be used to train the prompted word; vary the number of signals a user is prompted to generate to train a given word as a function of how well the training signals score against each other or prior models for the prompted word; create a new acoustic model of a phrase by concatenating prior acoustic models of the words in the phrase; obtain information from another program running on the same computer, such as its commands or the context of text being entered into it, and use that information to vary which words it can recognize; determine which program unit, such as an application program or dialog box, currently has input focus on its computer and create a vocabulary state associated with that program unit into which vocabulary words which will be made active when that program group has the focus can be put; detect the available computational resources and alter the instructions it executes in response; test if its ability to respond to voice input has been shut off without user confirmation, and, if so, turn that ability back on and prompt the user to confirm if that ability is to be turned off; store both a first and a second set of models for individual vocabulary words and enable a user to selectively cause the recognizer to disregard the second set of models for a selected word; and/or score a signal representing a given word against models for that word from different word model sets to select which model should be used for future recognition.
The present disclosure should be more fully understood when the specification herein is taken in conjunction with the drawings appended hereto wherein:
As mentioned above, this disclosure relates to voice activated/voice responsive item locators, i.e. item directories, which direct a user such as a consumer or shopper, to a specific location to view, retrieve, order, purchase or otherwise use the information obtained in the system. Further, the disclosure includes within the aforesaid system, a method of collecting location data for the system which involves the use of product bar codes and location-situated, location-identifying bar codes. These are read and matched and stored in the main processor of the system to provide location information to subsequent users. Typically, the disclosure could be used at retail stores to locate items to be purchased. Alternatively, it could be used at a production facility or distribution facility having a large number of parts, to locate specific parts for as needed. In other embodiments, it could be used in non-commercial entities, such as public libraries to locate a particular book. The locator of the disclosure relies upon a specific software module to accomplish voice recognition and response, and includes manager programming for customization, updates and modifications.
A voice activated/voice responsive item locator system is disclosed to enable a user to speak into the system and have the system respond with location information for an item requested by the user. For example, shopper at a home supply store may pick up a locator phone or just speak into a wall mounted or otherwise situated microphone and say "Locate Outdoor Paint" or "Find Hammers" or simply state what is sought without the use of a verb, e.g. "Caulking". The system may reply either with voice or visual (words on a screen, or map), or both voice and visual, e.g. "Aisle 3, Shelf 4". In some instances the system will reply, for example, with a "Repeat", or "Restate in different words" or "Please talk to information desk" or other default instructions.
The disclosure also includes a method of creating data for locating items so that the system is efficiently loaded with location data both prior to use by the customers or other users, as well as so that the system may be updated as desired while it is in use. This method involves utilization of bar codes to determine item identity, and the use of separate bar codes to determine locations. These separate bar codes are physically located on location structure, e.g. on aisle ends, shelf edges, bin walls, parking spaces, etc. This location data is read in conjunction with item identification data by bar code readers, fed to a processor in a recognizable combined format, and then stored and used as the resource data of the locator system.
For example, a supermarket could assign unique bar codes to each aisle, create bar code labels and attach them to the ends of each aisle, and then program the system according to the following simple process:
a) The processor will be programmed to read and identify products by the universal price code ("UPC") inputs from a bar code reader, and will likewise be programmed to recognize and identify locations by bar code inputs from a bar code reader, that is, the processor will be programmed to understand the codes created for particular locations to be included in the supermarket product location system;
b) The processor will also be programmed to match items (products) to locations when read between identical location readings. In other words, when a reader inputs a location bar code from one end of an aisle, and then reads all of the UPCs of all items in the aisle, and then reads the same location bar code at the other end of the same aisle, this tells the processor to create a matching set of pairs of products and locations for all products read between each end of that aisle. In an alternative embodiment, each type of item could be read before or after the location reading to create location data pairings.
The overall locator system may be a stand-alone device, but in most embodiments would be part of an internal connected system. It could be an intranet or secured internet system, but would in many cases be a storewide system with a plurality of user locations (units, phones, or microphones, with feedback at each location). The system will include an embedded voice-driven interface for speech control of: (1) operational instructions; (2) core system locator function operations, that is, recognition of specific requests and responses thereto; and, (3) optional and default functions. In preferred embodiments, the device of the present disclosure is both operated by speech (speech or voice activated) and speech responsive (voice answers and instructions to the user from the system). Thus, the device relies upon automatic speech recognition (ASR), either in place of or in addition to manual locator systems, e.g. book, list, map and computer directories. In some embodiments, user feedback features are included wherein both audio and visual feedback is given to a user in response to recognizable voice signals, while in other possible embodiments, the user may designate audio or visual.
The present disclosure provides a voice activated/voice responsive item locator and system. By "item" is meant a place or thing that a user desires to locate. Thus, an item could be a particular brand of canned string beans, a type of outdoor stain, a booth at a convention, a particular part in inventory for sale, assemblage or distribution, a particular automobile in a production facility lot or in a large parking garage, or a room, a functional group or a person in an office building or the like. The response may be in the form of a word or sentence presented visually or audibly and it may designate an aisle, a shelf, a bin number, a room number, a row and slot or space, etc.
The voice recognition system digitizes words spoken via a receiver (microphone) handset, headset, or built-in microphone for conversion from analog to digital utilizing a continuous speech recognition digital signal processor (DSP). The main support structure may be a conventional type housing for phones and other communications devices, may be of a different shape or configuration or may be built into a device such as a wall or desk unit, with or without monitor. It may be portable or permanently affixed and could be powered by any means available, e.g. AC or DC current. In the portable mode, the system would be wireless for the user and would, in that respect operate like a cell phone, two way radio, "walkie talkie" or other short distance wireless device, but would have a processor at a central or fixed location having the same features as described above, i.e., the DSP with programming capabilities, etc.
The DSP is connected to a programmable microprocessor and either by customized input or a standard program, the system enables the user to quickly enter voice-activated fields, e.g., such as "Where is . . . ", "Find . . . ", etc. Verification of voice recognition accuracy (prior to execution) is optional and may be accomplished via synthesized voice playback and/or a screen confirmation which requires a "YES" or "NO" to execute or open for revision. In some preferred embodiments, a screen, e.g., LCD, enables visual feedback during input phase, with support for deletion, insertion, correction, etc. Cancellation of the entire command or programming instructions may be possible at any time (prior to execution), via keystroke or voice command.
Another important aspect is the inclusion into the system of software and hardware (equipment) to utilize a method of creating item location information for the system. It involves using item-identifying bar codes on items to be included and using location-identifying bar codes from corresponding locations. The location-identifying bar codes are physically situated on the locations themselves. For example, they are located on aisle ends, shelves, bins, drawers, floor area grids, etc.
The location-identifying bar codes may be custom created for the locations or may be established as a universal location system. Alternatively, a manager could use existing UPC bar codes for the locations, provided that they were different from the items to be located, and provided that the system were programmed to correlate these particular codes to specified locations.
The item-identifying bar codes are typically located on the items themselves, but when more than one identical item is included, a single item of the set of identical items will be sufficient for the method to work. However, it is preferred that all items in each set have the bar code located thereon. In some preferred embodiments, the bar codes for the items are Universal Price Code (UPC) bar codes, but the present disclosure need not be limited thereto, such as when it would be more appropriate to create unique identifying codes for each and every item, such as automobiles, artwork, etc.
The essential features of the present disclosure involve the creation of a voice-based guide or locator and the creation of appropriate item/corresponding location data base, to offer enhanced convenience and speed to users for location of one or more items.
The system may be preprogrammed with the user being required to follow concise instructions for activation and operation, or may be programmable to alter, add or enhance ease or methods of use, e.g. through a limited access code, for manager inputs 3 of user instructions. In any event, manager inputs 3 shall include functional selections and inputs of items and their locations, with provision for subsequent access for modifications. This programming may include direct keyboard, voice, etc., and, as mentioned, may include security capabilities for preventing unauthorized use, e.g. voice identification (user recognition) or user security code system, as well as other options which may be included therein, such as a "help" detailed manager instruction section.
Once the system has been programmed for use, the user operation unit(s) 5 provide functional access, which may be passive, i.e., the user speaks, picks up a phone, presses a button, or otherwise takes some action to activate the system; or it may be active, i.e., a proximity sensor, a periodicity timer, or other internal mechanism may automatically activate the system and could trigger an audio or visual query, such as "May I help you locate a product?"
Once the system has been activated and a user has stated the necessary words of input to activate the device, recognition/non-recognition response 7 results from processing the user inputs to central processor 1, and audio and/or video response unit(s) 9 provide feedback 11 to the user, either by answering the inquiry, conditionally defaulting, e.g., asking for a repeat or a restate the question, or fully defaulting, e.g. directing the user to a courtesy desk or check out counter for help.
Each acoustic model represents a short sound. The interpreter combines these sounds into words using a dictionary. This dictionary specifies the pronunciation of each word in terms of the acoustic models. After identifying the most likely word, the interpreter then joins sets of models together (using a Viterbi decoder) in a series of pre-defined connections such that paths can be established to provide for a degree of "natural language" recognition; in other words, the user can say "Find hammers", "Where are hammers" or "hammers" and they are all understood to mean the same thing. Moreover, these sets of models and dictionaries are interchangeable, allowing the same voice recognition component to be used in a variety of applications.
As the voice recognition component is running continuously, there needs to be a way to distinguish background conversations that might accidentally trigger an unwanted action by the device. For example, two people standing by a voice-activated device might be discussing locations of different goods in a supermarket and be misinterpreted or undesirably responded to. To avoid this problem, the recognition unit requires a command word to trigger before beginning further recognition. The trigger word is a user-definable setting.
Thus, in
Numerous modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore understood that the present disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
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The Purpose Foundation provides education led by example to inspire youth to find a balance between their spiritual, physical and mental growth. Prioritizing these elements will reinforce the principles of the foundation's slogan "Prayer, Patience, Purpose." The Purpose of this foundation is to inspire change in this generation and the next.
The Purpose Foundation offers cooking classes once a month, to teach people the connection between Faith & Food. We provide mini-recipe books to teach others HOW to continue this lifestyle. Here is what happened at our last class: