text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Feb 26, 1991
|Filing date
|Feb 9, 1989
|Priority date
|Feb 9, 1989
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Sara O'Malley, Michael H. O'Malley, Elisabeth Peters
|Original Assignee
|Berkeley Speech Technologies, Inc.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (11), Non-Patent Citations (10), Referenced by (209), Classifications (23), Legal Events (11)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This invention relates to the conversion of a graphic image received by a facsimile machine into spoken words. In particular, it relates to a computerized system that receives and converts graphic images into coded characters which in turn are converted into spoken words.
The communications field in recent years has seen development and widespread usage of facsimile machines for rapid and simple transmission of printed documents. In fact, the facsimile machine has, for the most part, replaced telegraph or cable communications so common in years past. Simply, this has occurred because of a major increase in speed of transmission of graphic images over telephone circuitry, and secondly a drop in cost in the machine necessary to undertake conversion of a printed document into a graphic image. The term "telephone circuitry" as used herein is meant to include transmission facilities using wires, fiber optic, wireless or satellite communication for signals from one location to another whether public or private.
Concurrently, computer technology has made vast strides in that some form of a computer is the rule rather than the exception even in the smallest of business firms. With the introduction of the computer, there has been advent of communication between computer terminals. By this, it is meant that textual material stored in one computer system in coded characters can now be transmitted over telephone circuitry to a second computer for manipulation in the second computer. Unfortunately the compatibilitY, of the two computers in this form of communication is critical. Such simple matters as to the coding scheme of the characters (e.g. of eight data bits or seven data bits per character, the presence of parity or not) the transmission and receiving rate (e.g. 300 1200, 2400 bits per second) and the like are critical and thus determine compatibility of communications between computers. Unfortunately, there is no standard for communication between computers.
To the contrary, the facsimile community has recognized the need for compatibility, so that communications between facsimile machines and for that matter between facsimile machines located in different countries presents practically no problems.
Fundamentally there exists a difference between data transmitted from a facsimile machine which is in graphic form and data transmitted between computers which is in a character coded format. Facsimile transmission usually starts with a page of material that may include pictures or graphics in addition to text. The document is scanned by the machine across the width of the page to determine the presence or absence of an image be it a character or a graphic. The scan in a normal page of text consists of 1,728 individual "looks" or pixels across each 81/2 (21.7 cm) line with 1,056 lines per page (a page being 11 inches long or 28 cm). Each pixel may be represented by a 0 or a 1 in a binary format, 0 indicating no image, 1 indicating the presence of an image. In addition, there are coding schemes to reduce the number of pixels transmitted over the telephone line thereby reducing the time taken to send the document. For example, large areas of no textual matter or graphic may be skipped by such a coding scheme. Nevertheless the information gathered by a facsimile machine is eventually represented by a series of ones or zeroes indicating the presence or absence of an image in a rather small area (for example: 0.005 inches wide by 0.01 inches high-0.13 mm�26 mm-in the normal scan).
Data, on the other hand, ordinarily is stored in the computer environment by coded characters, the most common code being the ASCII character set (American Standard Code for Information Interchange), which consists of a seven bit code permitting 128 different characters. This seven bit ASCII code with the addition of one bit has an extended set thereby providing for 256 distinct characters. (There exist other coding schemes for the Roman alphabet and also somewhat more complex coding schemes for the longer alphabets and even more complex coding schemes for ideographic languages.)
In short, the graphic image of a character as determined by a facsimile machine may, for example consist of a matrix of approximately 10�10 pixels or 100 individual bits per typewritten character. Whereas the corresponding ASCII code for that character would be either 7 or 8 bits depending upon the coding structure utilized.
There exists at the present time technology to convert textual matter stored in ASCII or equivalent coded characters into speech. Of course it is understood that the coded characters are arranged in groups to form words and the words in turn are arranged in sentences. (It should also be understood that this discussion, while addressing the English language in the text-to-speech environment, is equally applicable to languages using either an alphabetic system or an ideographic system such as one of the oriental languages.) Thus, if textual matter is stored in a computer in a coded character set, it is possible to convert that text to the spoken word for transmission over telephone circuitry to a remote site.
The term text-to-speech as used in this invention in relation to conversion, includes the conversion to strings of recognizable words into spoken words by means of a "look-up" table of prerecorded words such that the recorded spoken words when assembled can be transmitted to a human listener. The term text-to-speech preferably includes the more fundamental and more flexible procedure of converting strings of individual letters into spoken words through the use of phonemes, where an individual phoneme represents a sound associated with a portion of a letter, a letter or more than one letter, all taken in context with other letters of the same word and in context with a group of words. Text-to-speech, for example, in the first instance would record all the English words using "ough" such as "tough" or "through" or "though. " Whereas in the second instance, the sounds associated with the phonemes for the letters o, u, gh and th, would be combined properly to construct the words. Where appropriate the first text-to-speech conversion will be referred to as recorded speech while the phoneme approach will be referred to as synthetic speech. Where either method is appropriate or a combination is used, the term text-to-speech will be used. It is to be understood that the term text-to-speech is meant to include all methods of non human computerized conversion of written words into human sounds that recognizably convey the words to a listener.
There also exists, at the present time, a capability of converting a graphic image either received from a facsimile machine or from a scanner into coded character sets with the fair degree of accuracy. This first came about in what was called the optical character reader or OCR. Originally, OCR machines were limited to special character fonts. More recently, OCR machines have been developed to read most common fonts (e.g. courier). One of the most recent advances is a software package, available from OCR Systems, Inc. of Bensalem, Pa. sold as ReadRight that can convert scanned text in graphic format to ASCII coded characters.
One of the principal advantages of facsimile technology is almost instantaneous transmission and reception of important information. However, if the intended user of the information is not present at the location of the facsimile receiver, this benefit is lost. The principal problem this invention solves is how to give users remote access to facsimile information in a timely way without the need of reproducing the visual image in the facsimile transmission.
An additional benefit is permitting the remote user to control the eventual disposition of the information in the facsimile message. Without knowledge of addressee, the subject, or the source of a facsimile transmission, it is not possible to make intelligent decisions about how the document should be handled. When the user of this invention has received this kind of information in spoken form, he or she can decide how important it is, whether it should be relayed to another machine, or whether it should be held in memory without being printed to preserve its confidentiality or whether some other disposition should be taken. The invention permits the remote user to effect the desired disposition of the facsimile message utilizing touchtone commands from a remote telephone.
It is an object of this invention to combine the facsimile reception capability with the graphic-image-to-coded-character-set capability and then the conversion of coded character textual matter into the spoken word for retransmission over telephone circuitry.
It is a further object of this invention to add an inquiry capability to the aforesaid combination so that a remote user can inquire as to the status of facsimile messages.
It is still a further object of this invention to include with the facsimile reception and conversion system, a management capability so that incoming facsimile messages may be properly routed to the interested user.
It is still a further object of this invention to include options for the disposition of incoming facsimile messages.
These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent in the ensuing description of the preferred embodiment.
This invention is for a device that converts a series of graphic images of textual material represented by a set of pixels, where each pixel may itself be represented in a binary code, into ASCII coded files of textual material, with the ASCII coded textual material eventually being converted into spoken words. The device consists of a computer for manipulating strings of data, and storage devices for storing a series of graphic images in binary form where at least some of the graphic images represent written words. The device includes software for recognizing, assembling and processing at least portions of the stored series of graphic images into coded characters, with each character capable of being manipulated by the computer. Finally, the device includes a text-to-speech convertor for converting groups of coded characters into spoken words.
FIGS. 1 through 7, 9 and 10, consist of a flow chart, which represents the logic of the computer software necessary to accomplish the invention on the hardware depicted schematically in FIG. 8.
FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the hardware necessary to implement this invention.
FIG. 10a is a comparison of a letter F in graphic form and a logo.
Referring now to FIG. 8 a system 10 is shown schematically which system consists of hardware and software necessary to operate the system. System 10 includes a processor 12 which may also be referred to as a CPU or central processing unit. Processor 12 has associated therewith a memory 14. The combination of processor 12 and memory 14 may be in any well recognized form of computer; however, it is pointed out that in the embodiment described herein, processor 12 and memory 14 are component parts of a personal computer of the IBM� type. That is a computer including a micro processor of the 808X family or a derivative thereof. At least a portion of the memory should be of a non-volatile type as the system software 16 and other software to be described subsequently must be readily available at start up time. Memory 14 preferably includes a large RAM (random access memory) available for data manipulation. Further, memory 14 may additionally include portions in the form of a "floppy" disk or "hard" disk. None of these types of memory is shown in detail as they are well known in the art and are herein collectively represented by memory 14 shown in FIG. 8. Included with CPU 12 is "system" software 16 such as MS/DOS available with IBM type personal computers for an overall operating system. Other operating systems would also suffice particularly for other computer systems. The system also may include a keyboard 18 for entry of textual matter and for program control. A monitor 20 having a cathode ray tube for display or the like is also included, as is a printer 22. Printer 22 preferably should be capable of printing graphic images. This can be accomplished with such printers as the Hewlett Packard Laser Jet Series available from Hewlett Packard in Palo Alto, Calif.
Processor 12, memory 14, system software 16, keyboard 18, monitor 20, and printer 22 are all available in the market place and can be characterized as a personal computer. This personal compute has been enclosed in a dashed line and will be referred hereinafter as computer 24.
System software 16, which as previously noted is well known in the art, may for example be a disk operating system commonly referred to as DOS or MS/DOS. It is to be understood that other operating systems and other computers than the IBM type are equally applicable to this invention.
Essential to the invention is a device for receiving and transmitting graphic images. Such a device is commonly called a facsimile machine and is represented by the facsimile block 26. Facsimile machines come in various forms. Generally, a facsimile machine is a stand alone item that connects to a telephone line 28 (in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, there is an intervening device called a call router which will be described in detail in the ensuing discussion) so that a graphic image may be transmitted to a remote facsimile 30. Remote facsimile 30, of course, is capable in transmitting graphic images of textual matter to facsimile 26. Facsimile reception and transmission device 26 is preferably in the form of an add-on "board" to computer 24. A board and associated software that fulfills all the requirements of this invention, except the capability of scanning a graphic image for transmission to a remote facsimile, is available from Gamma Link at 2452 Embarcadero Way, Palo Alto, Ca. 94303 under the trademark Gamma Fax. If a stand-alone facsimile machine is used, the machine must be capable of sending the received message on to memory 14 as a digital signal. In the preferred embodiment, the scanning capability is available in scanner 54 which will be described in more detail below. The system in FIG. 8 also includes a call router 32 which senses the incoming facsimile signal on telephone line 28 by recognizing the "handshake" of the remote facsimile 30. Upon such recognition the call router will direct the incoming signal to facsimile machine 26. Recognition of an incoming facsimile signal is done in the normal manner, that is a pulsed tone is sent by the remote facsimile 30. This pulsed tone is sensed by call router 32 which includes a touchtone chip 34 and associated software. Such a software algorithm is found in the BesTspeech™ Server Tool Kit part number 650 available from Berkeley Speech Technology at 2409 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, Ca. 94704.
Call router 32 is also equipped to receive incoming signals from a remote telephone 36 or remote computer 38. Remote voice telephone calls from telephone 36 are sensed by call router 32 by the absence of a tone or by the presence of a modulated tone caused by a human voice being sent over transmission line 40. Alternatively, if the caller at remote phone 36 fails to speak, the call router will wait a specified period of time, for example, 10 seconds, and play a recorded message asking for a touchtone signal from a human user at remote phone 36. Alternatively, voice commands could substitute for touchtone signals.
In the event, a remote computer 38 is calling into a call router 32 through a remote modem either in or associated with remote computer 38 (the remote modem is not shown) the call router will go through the same sequence, that is, listen for a fax tone, wait 10 seconds, play the recorded message and wait for a touchtone. Failing to receive either a fax tone, a modulated tone (voice ) or a touchtone, the call router will automatically route the call to modem 42 for the usual "handshake" operation used between computers.
Call router 32, as noted above, includes in chip 35 a voice storage capability 44, touchtone capability 34, a text-to-speech algorithm 46, and speech recognition capability 48. This multi-capability, as previously mentioned, is available from Berkeley Speech Technology. The text-to-speech algorithm envisioned here is for synthetic speech.
The system 10 also includes certain software capabilities including a character recognition program 50 which is available from OCR Systems under the tradename ReadRight™, model No. 8200-IXIIF or 8200-IX2IF. The ReadRight™ software is available from OCR Systems at 3434 Progress Drive, Suite I, Bensalem, Pa. 19020. Character recognition device 50 has the capability of "looking" at received facsimile graphic images in pixel form and converting the graphic images into ASCII character sets with a relative degree of accuracy such that intelligence can be made from the information. Once the character recognition is completed, the ASCII character set so developed may be stored in a text file 52 which may be a portion of memory 14.
System 10 also includes a document scanner 54 whereby a document, either textual or graphic or a combination thereof, may be scanned for input into the system in the form of a graphic image described above. Thus, scanner 54 may be used for preparing a document for facsimile transmission to a remote facsimile machine such as a remote facsimile 30 or to remote computer 38 where a character recognition device similar to character recognition device 50 may be located to convert the scanned image back into ASCII text, if the scanned image was textual in character originally.
Another feature of the present system is the ability of the Gamma Link facsimile board 26 to convert ASCII text to a graphic image. While this may seem redundant, it gives a capability to computer 24 of sending an ASCII text directly to another facsimile machine without the need of scanning.
The system includes, in software form, instruction profiles 56 which will be described in greater detail in the ensuing discussion of the software. In like manner, the dialogue generator 58 will also be discussed in the relation to the software.
FIGS. 1, to 7, 9, and 10 illustrate one embodiment of software shown in flow chart form that would be operable to perform the functions of the system described herein. In the flow charts, the incoming connector block indicates the figure from which the flow chart emanated while the outgoing blocks indicate the figure to which the program is going.
It is assumed that CPU 12 illustrated in FIG. 8 and the system software 16 also illustrated therein is readily available in the market place. For example CPU 12 may be an IBM personal computer while the system software 16 may be the familiar MS/DOS available with the IBM personal computer. The functions of the system software will of course include the capability to drive printer 22 and operate monitor 20 both are in response to keyboard 18. Included in system software 16 for the purposes of this discussion would be the associated software provided with a scanner 54. Those skilled in the art will recognize that when the equipment such as printer 22, monitor 20, or scanner 54 are added to a CPU 12 such as envisioned herein that each unit comes with its own system software. Likewise the facsimile and reception device 26 manufactured by Gamma Link as noted above is provided with a certain amount of software, which for purposes of this discussion is included in software 16.
Finally, in this description, the convention of setting a flag to 1 is used to denote an operation is to be performed at some later time. For example, the printing of a received facsimile may be requested by the "system" or by the "user" stored profile. It may also be requested by a user upon notification as will be described. It is to be understood that other methods could be used including immediate print-out, relay or the like without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Referring now to FIG. 1, with the assumptions set forth above in mind, the flow charts shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, 9 and 10 are illustrative of a single operation caused by the reception of an incoming signal by call router 32 from a remote facsimile machine 30, telephone 36 (in the form of voice communication) or from the remote computer 38. Initially call router 32 performs a function set forth in FIG. 1. In particular call router 30 detects a ring by operation block 60 while simultaneously setting a series of flags to zero, each of which will be addressed subsequently. These flags are operable to control the various output functions of the software Once the ring is "answered" by figuratively taking the "receiver" off the "hook", an initial determination is made in decision block 62 as to whether the incoming signal is a facsimile transmission from a remote facsimile such as remote facsimile 30, a voice telephone call from telephone 36 or a computerized call from the remote computer 38.
Taking first the possibility of a telephone call or remote computer contacting call router 32, decision block 62 would determine that no identifying facsimile tone or fax tone has been received. For purposes of this discussion, when a facsimile machine operates to contact a remote facsimile machine a series of tones which differ from the pulsed tones of a telephone are sent to the receiving facsimile machine. This "handshaking" is well known in the art and will not be discussed further other than to say that call router 32 includes necessary circuitry to determine the presence of the fax tone or not. Likewise, call router 32 includes the capability to determine whether a touchtone signal or a pulsed tone has been received from the remote site. Should a touchtone signal be received, the user, located at remote telephone 36, who had generated the touchtone signal, for example the signal generated by the # key would follow immediately with a user password using the touch tone key pad of the remote telephone 36. (Some systems may automatically send a touchtone signal as part of the dial up process.) That user password is checked by the software herein described in decision block 67. Should the user password be proper, the program jumps to FIG. 5. On the other hand, if the decision block 66 determines that the user password is incorrect, the call router "hangs up." (Provision can be included, although not illustrated here, to include a request to the user to reenter his or her password.)
Should the touchtone decision block 64 determine that no touchtone signal has been sent then a recorded message stored in voice message section 144 (FIG. 8) is played through the call router as indicated in operation block 68. This recorded message asks for a touch tone signal. This system is particularly appropriate where a user is calling from a public telephone. A dedicated line may, on the other hand, include as an initial step the sending of a touchtone signal thereby precluding the recorded message. If no touchtone signal is received as indicated in the decision block 70, call router 32 will route the incoming message to a modem 42 for further communication to CPU 12. The capability to send and receive a text file is included with the Gamma Fax hardware and software identified above and is contained in Fax board 26 and the associated software. Such capability is well known in the art and may be accomplished by many commercially available modems which not only include the necessary hardware but also the software for such capability.
When the well-known handshaking routine is accomplished by modem 42, the message is received as indicated in operation block 76.
Should a fax tone have been received by decision block 62 then the incoming facsimile signal is received and stored as indicated in operation block 78 by routing the incoming call at call router 32 to facsimile reception and transmission software and hardware contained in the facsimile portion of the computer as indicated by the facsimile block 26 in FIG. 8. It is to be understood that this incoming facsimile, as is usual in the reception of facsimile data, will contain an identification number in ASCII code or its equivalent which may indicate the name of the originator, or the originator's telephone number. The remainder of the message will be in what is called graphic format or image format. Image format, as has already been explained, is represented by pixels wherein each pixel represents the presence or absence of a dot with the entire set of pixels representing the image. The incoming facsimile will be stored in its entirety in computer memory 14.
Once the incoming facsimile has been received and stored, an instruction profile is checked. This instruction profile, as indicated in the combined operation and decision block 80, is at the system level. That is in an installation such as envisioned here, where there are multiple users, an over all instruction profile may be common to all users. For example, it may be appropriate to print all incoming facsimiles immediately or only selected incoming facsimiles. Further it may be appropriate to relay all or selected incoming facsimiles to some other remote facsimile machine. Thus, in the software associated with combined decision and operation block 80, each incoming facsimile's message identification (which is in ASCII coded form) is checked against the system selected options. For example, incoming messages from originator A may all be printed while incoming facsimiles from originator B are stored pending instructions at some later time.
In the system illustrated, since there are other instruction profiles to check which may include instructions to print or relay, a print immediate block merely sets a flag, for example PF (Print Flag), equal to 1 as indicated in decision block 82 and operation block 84. Likewise, an instruction to relay the facsimile immediately as indicated in decision block 86 and operation block 88 would, at this point, set a flag such as RF (Relay Flag) to 1 so that not only the system profile but also the forthcoming user profile can be checked before relay or printing occurs.
There will be times when an incoming facsimile will be received from a machine having an unknown identification. For example, a remote user may send a facsimile from a commercial organization such as a hotel or some other facsimile originating location. Of course the identification line on an incoming facsimile from such a location, as it is received in this system, will not be recognizable by the present profiles. However, should the incoming facsimile have been originally printed on paper carrying a logo or a letterhead, it may be appropriate to a scan for the presence of that logo in order to identify the originator. Should the instruction profile so direct, the scan for image decision block 90 will jump to the scan function illustrated in FIG. 10. It is to be understood that operation block 92 which actually forms the basis for the jump routine or interrupt will set a scan flag such as SF equal to 1 so that the scan function is not performed twice.
Referring now to FIG. 10, the scan function can be performed in the following manner. Initially the received graphic image is checked to see if a logo exists as indicated in the decision block 94. This is best illustrated with reference to FIG. 10a where the capital letter F is illustrative of a textual figure received in graphic format. As has been noted, each letter or character ordinarily encompasses a given amount of space in a graphic document, for example, the letter size maybe as much as 10 by 15 pixels. As indicated in FIG. 10a, the width W1 would be 10 pixels and the length L1 would be 15 pixels. Should there be an area present in the received textual material wherein the dimensions of the received image exceeded 10 by 15 pixels, an assumption could be made that it did not contain textual matter. The software associated with this decision block also includes a limitation that a logo must be received, for example, in the first two inches (50.8 cm) of the received data. As previously noted, a facsimile is sent at rate of 1,056 lines per eleven inch (27.94 cm) page. Thus, the routine would only check the first 192 lines of received graphic image. If, in the first 192 lines of received graphic image it is determined that an area greater than a certain limit contained information, then operation block 96 would establish the dimensions of that area in pixels. If, on the other hand, there was no identification of an incoming logo, ("no match") the scan function would terminate and return the program to connector block 98 in FIG. 1. Whether or not a "match" occurred the scan flag SF would remain on or set to 1.
Once the dimension of the incoming logo had been determined in pixels, then all stored logos having similar dimensions could be obtained from memory 14 by operation block 100. A comparison on a pixel by pixel basis of the stored logos with the received logo is then accomplished in operation block 102. The user is provided with a match parameter such that if there was a match of 95% of the pixels between the stored logo and the received logo then the "match" would be determined to have occurred. If the match rate was below the selected percentage, the scan function, after checking all of the stored logos with the same dimensions, would return to connector block 98 with a "no match." If a "match" does occur as indicated in decision block 104 then the received facsimile can be considered to have come from an organization that is known. As a consequence, the name of the organization with the matched logo is obtained and associated with the received facsimile. This is represented by operation block 106.
The stored logos referred to in this last sequence in operation block 100 and operation block 102 are obtained in the usual manner utilizing scanner 54 to "read" desired logos into memory 14 in graphic format. This may be done in the usual manner and then followed by calling up the stored logo utilizing programs such as the Microsoft Paint Brush available from Microsoft at 16011 N.E. 36th Way Box 97017, Redmond, Wash. 98073. With the logo available for display on display 20, the dimensions thereof may be entered into appropriate tables along with the known owner of the logo.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the received facsimile, still being stored in memory 14, may then be checked for character recognition. Again, it should be understood that character recognition at this point would be undertaken at the instigation of the system instruction profiles. That is, such would occur if the system had previously been programmed to perform this function for the identified facsimiles. Character recognition would normally be done on a selected basis based on the message identification received with the original fax or if the scan function has been utilized based on the originator determined by the scan function. The first step in the character recognition program, once it has been decided to perform this function, is to choose a language as indicated in the dashed box operation block 108. This operation box has been purposedly dashed as this system provides for the capability of recognizing languages other than the English language. Thus the system may be configured to operate in a foreign language or alternatively foreign languages may be utilized for particular originators as identified by the message identification. Since the language choice is an alternative it has been placed in dashed lines. If character recognition is desired, the system would establish a text file to receive the character recognition data. This file is created utilizing software call ReadRight™. The ReadRight program is available from OCR Systems, 3430 Progress Drive, Suite I, Bensalem Pa. 19020. The ReadRight program scans the received graphic image and translates the graphic images into ASCII text. It is to be understood that the ReadRight program is not perfect; however, it does provide capability of obtaining up to 90% translation or better from graphic to ASCII text where the graphic is of a widely used type font such as courier or the like. Once the text file is created, then a flag CR, for create text file, is set to 1. This is to obviate the second creation of the text file based on the user profile which is to be explained.
Having created the text file by operation block 110, the system profile now has the capability to search for keywords as shown in loop 113. Again, keywords can be entered into the instruction profile either by the system or by the user and may be a selected group of words that are of immediate interest For example, if a salesman was awaiting information on turbine specifications, keywords such as "turbine", "power", "fuel" and the like could be entered into a keyword tile associated with a particular group that may be sending such data into the present system. On the other hand the keywords may be used generally for all information arriving at the system. If the decision block 112 is selected to search for keywords then the created text file is looked at word by word to determine if the keyword or keywords are contained therein. A decision block 114 is located in the keyword loop to determine if an immediate print based on the discovery of a particular keyword or series of keywords may be in order. If so, the print flag is turned on as indicated in operation block 116. Similarly, a relay to a remote site may be in order based on located keywords as indicated in decision block 118 and the associated operation block 120. If the decision is made to relay then the RF flag is set on. A similar situation would occur if the system profile was set to notify a user based on keywords as dictated by decision block 121. The keyword loop continues until the last keyword has been checked as indicated in the decision block 122. The keyword flag KW is then set to 1 to prevent this loop from being repeated based on the user profile
Referring now to FIG. 3, the user profile, which has been pre-entered by a particular user is checked. This sequence would start with operation block 124 which again is overlaid with the decision block followed by the same sequence as set forth above for the system profile. That is the user may request printing as indicated in decision block 126, relay as has been requested in decision block 128, or scan as indicated in decision block 130. The character recognition block, decision block 132, if character recognition is requested, performs essentially the same function as set forth in FIG. 2. Similarly, if the user profile directs a keyword search, keyword loop 113 shown in FIG. 2 at operation block 133, will be performed, operation block 133, with a return to connector block 135.
Referring now to FIG. 4, either the system or user profile can direct that the addressee of the received facsimile be notified. This is indicated by the decision block 134 in FIG. 4. The basis of the decision taken in decision block 134 is gleaned from the information obtained by the preceding steps. It is well known, that in the current state of the art, the addressee of an incoming facsimile is not readily identifiable as an entity in a computer except as a graphic image. For example, if a facsimile is sent to a large corporation and the intended addressee is one of the officers of the corporation some human intervention is currently required to pass that particular facsimile on to the addressee in the corporation. Specifically, a human must read the incoming facsimile (the graphic image) to see who the addressee is. In the present invention, a good deal of this human intervention, if not all of the human intervention, can be overcome by parameters entered into the system by addressees. Specifically, an addressee may ask that all correspondence received from a particular organization results in notification of the addressee. Secondly, prospective addressees can include his/her surname in the keyword search so that if a "match" is found in a keyword search the system will automatically notify the prospective addressee. Finally, prospective addressees may include a group of keywords such that any incoming document containing that group of keywords will result in notification. The notification sequence indicated in FIG. 4 includes automatic dialing of a stored user number as indicated in the operation block 136. Should that user number or addressee number be busy as indicated in decision block 138, a second attempt will be made to contact the user using either the same number or the next stored number as the case may be. This is indicated in decision block 139 and operation block 140. If there is no answer, decision block 141, then the same sequence of obtaining the next number followed by a redial may occur. If the number called is the last number in a sequence, then the message can be stored for later transmission If the line is not busy then an inquiry can be included to determine if the answering system includes voice mail. If such is the case, then the connect functions as indicated in operation block 142 may take place. This may include such things as sending out the "pound" tone of a touchtone telephone to terminate the recorded message. Once a connection is made, then the notification message, which has been prepared based on the message identification or the identification associated with the scanned image stored in memory in particular location (see FIG. 8 block 144) and which may include portions of the text file is transmitted to the user. This notification message is signified by operation block 146 in FIG. 4. The system may then ask whether the user requests additional information as signified by the "get command" in operation block 140. If the connection is to a voice mail box, it should be understood that there will be no response from the voice mail system hence there will no user password obtained in decision block 150, otherwise the system will check the password and, if acceptable, will proceed on to the user requests. Again, if the system called is a voice mail system then there will be no verbal response or touchtone response and thus, no user password requested. Should that occur the system then will default to the routine shown in FIG. 9.
Referring now to FIG. 9, it should be remembered that during the initial phase of this program, there may have been a request for an immediate print or an immediate relay either based on the system profile or the user profile. Thus, before the system goes back to standby and returns to the condition set forth in FIG. 1, the flag functions must be performed. This is indicated in operation block 152 and the immediately following decision 154 and 156. In decision 154 the system responds if the print flag has been set on, that is if PF is equal to 1 the system will print the facsimile "immediately". It should be understood that this print function is a reproduction of the graphic input of the facsimile and not the ASCII text. However, it is in the purview of this invention such that ASCII text if produced by the character recognition portion of this program may also be printed out along with the graphic image or saved for later use.
Decision 156 is implemented if the facsimile should be relayed. If such is the case, then the system will ask if there is a request for new number in decision block 158. It should be understood that this decision block 158 only comes into play during the interface between the addressee or user and the system which will be described below. If the "command" equals the stored number which, of course, it would if there were no interface between the user and the system, then the stored number will be dialed and the facsimile transmitted in the normal course of the events as indicated by operation blocks 160 and 162. If there is an interface between the user and the system, then a new number may be entered by the user at that point using the touchtone pad on remote telephone 36 (see FIG. 8). Once the flag function has been performed, the system will reset the flags to zero and return to its stand-by status to await the next incoming phone call.
Referring again to FIG. 4, if there is a valid user password in response to the Get Command (Block 150), that is an interface has been established between th system and the user through the notification program, then the sequence set forth in FIG. 5 will follow.
Referring to FIG. 5, it should be understood what the relationship between the system and the user is. On the one hand, the user may be in contact with the system through a remote telephone such as telephone 36 (see FIG. 8) or on the other hand through some other device such as keyboard 18 or remote computer 38. The first step in FIG. 5 is to "play" a menu providing the user the various options available. This is depicted by operation block 166 in FIG. 5. The menu may be transmitted to the user on telephone 36 in an aural sense or may be visually presented if contact is through the keyboard of a remote computer. The menu will provide the user with various options which may be implemented by pressing a particular number on the keypad or keyboard. In the present embodiment, these options would include:
1. Change option
2. Retrieve facsimile
3. Print
4. Relay
5. Scan
6. Keywords
7. Recorded message
8. Refile
9. Stop
Should the user elect to change options that is select option 1 on the menu, the program will branch on decision block 170 so that either the "system" profile, if the user is given this option, or the "user" profile may be corrected or amended. This procedure is indicated by the loop 172 (FIG. 5).
Should the user opt for obtaining an abstract through the "command equal to retrieve" at decision block 174, the first step, as indicated in decision block 176 wherein the retrieve flag is checked, is to see if a text file has been created. Reference should be made to FIG. 2 wherein the procedure for creating a text file utilizing the ReadRight Program is discussed. Should the file be available then an abstract can be composed from the textual matter along with any other information available such as the identification number of the sending station, with associated preselected identification data as indicated in operation block 178. This abstract may be transmitted immediately to the user utilizing the text-to-speech capability 46 as shown in FIG. 8 or the abstract may be stored in memory 14 to be sent later based on a different option. Preferably the composed abstract would be sent at this point in this program as indicated in operation block 180.
Should the user request the received facsimile be printed as shown in decision block 182, then the print flag will be set to 1 as shown in operation block 184 for subsequent print out. Of course, it should be understood that if the print flag has been set to 1, at a previous point in the program, the resetting of the flag at this point will not change the program as the print flag is not to be considered a "toggle" command.
Referring now to FIG. 6, the user has the option of requesting from the telephone keypad at remote telephone 36 that the facsimile be relayed. Should such be the case, then the relay flag RF is set to 1. The user may also be given the option of entering a new phone number as indicated in loop 186. The purpose of giving the user the capability adding the new phone number is to cover those situations where the user is calling from a remote site not ordinarily frequented by the user. As can be seen the system permits the user to enter a regular phone number in his or her user profile or on the system profile for a particular facsimile machine so that facsimile can be regularly forwarded either on system profile basis or the user profile basis to that phone number. In this instance, the user is on line with the system and can request the facsimile be sent to some other machine than the "regular" machine.
A command for the machine to scan for images as indicated in decision block 188 is also provided to the user for remote implementation. This provision will be of particular help if the facsimile had originated from an unidentified location such as a commercial facsimile sending station and the user has not previously asked the system to scan for images either in the user profile or system profile as described above. Upon notification of the arrival of an unidentified facsimile, the user could initiate the scan function as described above and depicted in FIG. 10. Should this option be selected, the "return" at block 105 would either indicate a "match" or "no match" with the stored logo. If there was a match, then the identification found in the scan function would be converted in operation block 190 into synthetic speech in the text-to-speech module 46 or a recorded message could be used or a combination of both. The converted voice message would then be transmitted to the user.
If the user desires the system to do an additional search for key words then decision block 192 is implemented (FIG. 6). The system will either search for the stored keywords if it has not already done so (see decision block 194) or provide the user with the capability to enter new keywords from the keypad or a keyboard in operation block 196. This keyword search may be particularly important if the user is operating from a remote computer, such as remote computer 38 (FIG. 8) wherein ASCII text can be more readily entered into the keyboard of the remote computer. Loop 198, which performs the actual keyword search, differs somewhat from the keyword search in FIG. 2. It should be pointed out that in FIG. 2 the search for keywords did not produce anything but the possibility of a "print" based on the keywords found or a "relay" based on the keywords, or a "notify" based on the keywords found. In the instance where the user is in communication with the system a verbal message may be created. While the exact wording of the message is left up to the user, an appropriate message for the system would be "the system has found the following keywords:" followed by the list of the keywords. The keywords would be added to that message in operation block 200 in textual form (see also dialogue generator 58 in FIG. 8). Once the search is completed, (decision block 201) then the entire message including the key words would be converted to speech in operation block 202 to be sent to the user through call router 32. If the user was at keyboard 18 or on a remote computer 38, the message would be sent in ASCII text.
The user is also given the option of recording a message just as in any voice mail system. This is represented in decision block 203 with the recording taking place in operation block 204. Here again, this particular option would be appropriate if the remote user wished to leave a message for the operator for example or if the user is changing the stored voice messages such as the one just described in relation to the search for keywords.
Referring now FIG. 7, the user is again given the option of obtaining at least portions of a converted file in aural form. Thus, the incoming facsimile may in effect be "read" to the user should the user so opt in this particular sequence. This is represented by the decision block 205. Again, if the system profile had created a text file from the graphic image as described in relation to FIG. 2, the system will retrieve and convert that text file to speech as indicated in operation block 206 followed by transmission of the converted speech as shown in operation block 208. On the other hand, either the system profile or the user profile may not have converted the graphic image to a text file thus that may have to take place at this point with the user on-line. In this case, the language option may be chosen as indicated in operation block 210 and the created text file would result using the ReadRight program as indicated in operation block 212. Subsequently that text file will be converted to speech in the language selected and transmitted to the user in the same manner as described above.
Finally, the user is again given the option of utilizing any one of the afore-described options as indicated in decision block 210. Decision block 210 is the final option that can be entered from the keypad, that is to stop the interaction between the user and the system. Should the user elect to obtain more information then the system will jump back to the loop as shown in FIG. 5 again playing the menu as indicated in operation block 166. This loop will continue until the user transmits a stop signal.
Once the stop signal is transmitted then the system shifts to the final loop as shown in FIG. 9 as described above. It is at this point that the print and relay functions are performed. Again, it should be noted that in the relay function, a new number can be entered from the keypad. This corresponds to loop 186 in FIG. 6.
After the print and relay functions are performed, the actions taken with respect to the incoming facsimile are recorded and the facsimile stored if required by the system as shown in operation block 213. All the flags are set to 0 as indicated in block 214, the call is terminated as indicated in termination or "hang up" box 216 and the system goes back to a wait state.
The description for notification to a remote telephone site such as telephone 36 is equally applicable to notification directed to a remote computer such as remote computer 38 as shown in FIG. 8. Specifically, remote computer 38, and the sequences starting in FIG. 5 would be as with a manned terminal so that the menu indicated in FIG. 5 could be displayed on a remote computer display device and an interaction commenced between the remote computer 38 and program as described herein. Of course, the transmission of aural speech which would occur in block 180 in FIG. 5 and also the messages sent in FIG. 6 at blocks 190 and 202 could still be sent utilizing the speaker capability available in some personal computers. On the other hand, it is within the capability of this system so that the text-to-speech capability, when in contact with a remote computer 38, could be augmented by the transmission of ASCII coded characters either simultaneously with the speech or without the speech capability.
Operation of the afore-described system should be apparent to those skilled in the art. However, reference is now made to FIG. 8 to summarize of the operation of the system.
The system consists of a computer 24 having the usual peripheral devices such as a printer, a display screen, a keyboard and a memory. In addition, the system preferably includes a scanner 54 along with the facsimile and reception board 26. Also, included is a character recognition system 50 along with various software modules described previously. The system, gives the upper capability of receiving a remote facsimile through the facsimile board 26 in a graphic format. The received facsimiles are then stored in memory 14 in graphic form along with a capability to convert that facsimile into ASCII characters so that a text file in ACSII code of the graphic image may be created. Various options are provided either at the system level or the user level to perform certain operations based on an incoming facsimile. Specifically, the facsimile can be printed out in the normal manner or can be converted to speech through text-to-speech module 46 and transmitted through call router 32 either to a remote telephone 36 or to a remote computer 38. Also, included in the system is the capability to recognize speech coming from the remote telephone 36 over transmission line 40. The speech recognition system may give the capability to identify the user so that the degree of security is built into the system.
As described above, the system can receive and distinguish a facsimile, a voice message or a computer message. If a facsimile is received, the system can then, based on previously entered information, notify an addressee at a remote site of the contents of the facsimile. Further, the system can receive a voice message and then based on various commands relay information received by facsimile either in its entirety or in abstract form.
While this invention which has been described in relation to particular configuration, is not to be considered so limited. Other configurations within the scope of the claims should be considered within the spirit of this invention. In particular, the invention is limited only and the extent of the limitations contained in the appended claims.
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|May 11, 2004
|Leonard S. Schultz
|Methods and apparatus for image recognition and dictation
|Nov 18, 1996
|Jun 22, 2004
|Mci Communications Corporation
|System and method for a directory service supporting a hybrid communication system architecture
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|Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
|Electronic mail system
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|Nov 30, 2004
|Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
|Electronic-mail apparatus
|Nov 16, 2001
|Nov 30, 2004
|Eastman Kodak Company
|Process for sending images to a low display ability terminal
|Oct 26, 1999
|Jan 18, 2005
|Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
|Electronic mail apparatrus and method
|Dec 4, 1998
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|Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
|Electronic mail system
|Apr 24, 2003
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|Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
|Electronic-mail apparatus
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|Arrangement for converting telephone number formats for notification systems
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|May 11, 2010
|Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc
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|Onset Technology, Ltd.
|System and method for recording and attaching an audio file to an electronic message generated by a portable client device
|May 27, 2005
|Jul 13, 2010
|Microsoft Corporation
|Push-to-talk event notification
|Feb 25, 2005
|Sep 28, 2010
|Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc
|Method and apparatus for accessing communication data relevant to a target entity identified by a number string
|Sep 30, 2003
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|Sharp Laboratories Of America, Inc.
|Text to speech conversion system
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|Verizon Services Corp.
|Voice call alternative routing through PSTN and internet networks
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|Verizon Services Corp.
|Internet long distance telephone service
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|Verizon Services Corp.
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|Verizon Services Corp.
|Transport of caller identification information through diverse communication networks
|Sep 25, 2000
|Feb 8, 2011
|Avaya Inc.
|Method for announcing e-mail and converting e-mail text to voice
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|Comcast Ip Holdings, I, Llc
|Method and apparatus for accessing communication data relevant to a target entity identified by a number string
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|May 24, 2011
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|Network session management
|Feb 27, 2006
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|Steven Hoffberg
|Network media appliance system and method
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|K-Nfb Reading Technology, Inc.
|Cooperative processing for portable reading machine
|Jan 10, 2012
|Verizon Services Corp.
|System and method for providing requested quality of service in a hybrid network
|May 1, 2012
|Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc
|Method and apparatus for accessing communication data relevant to a target entity identified by a number string
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|May 1, 2012
|Nuance Communications, Inc.
|Printing to a text-to-speech output device
|Feb 20, 2009
|May 29, 2012
|Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc
|Method and apparatus for accessing communication data relevant to a target entity identified by a number string
|Jun 5, 2012
|Estech Systems, Inc.
|Telephone system
|Jun 19, 2012
|Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc
|Method and apparatus for accessing service resource items that are for use in a telecommunications system
|Jul 17, 2012
|Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc
|Method for accessing service resource items that are for use in a telecommunications system
|Jul 24, 2012
|Silent Communication Ltd
|Apparatus, system and method for providing silently selectable audible communication
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|May 12, 2010
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|Silent Communicatin Ltd.
|Method, circuit, system and application for providing messaging services
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|Verizon Services Corp.
|Telephone service via packet-switched networking
|Mar 16, 2007
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|Cranberry Properties, Llc
|System for integrated electronic communications
|Oct 11, 2011
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|K-Nfb Reading Technology, Inc.
|Cooperative processing for portable reading machine
|May 20, 2013
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|Silent Communication Ltd.
|Systems, methods, circuits and associated software for augmenting contact details stored on a communication device with data relating to the contact contained on social networking sites
|Jan 8, 2013
|Nov 18, 2014
|Blanding Hovenweep, Llc
|Adaptive pattern recognition based controller apparatus and method and human-interface therefore
|Jun 18, 2012
|Jan 20, 2015
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|Network session management for telephony over hybrid networks
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|Image reading device and image processing method utilizing the same
|Apr 15, 2004
|Oct 20, 2015
|International Business Machines Corporation
|System and method to enable blind people to have access to information printed on a physical document
|Jul 6, 2012
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|Comcast Cable Communications, Llc
|Stateful home phone service
|Oct 31, 2007
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|Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc.
|Network session management for telephony over hybrid networks
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|May 24, 2016
|Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
|Image reading device and image processing method utilizing the same
|Jun 14, 2001
|May 30, 2002
|Elliott Isaac K.
|System and method for providing requested quality of service in a hybrid network
|Jun 4, 2001
|Dec 5, 2002
|Lehmeier Michelle R.
|System and method for combining voice annotation and recognition search criteria with traditional search criteria into metadata
|May 29, 2002
|Dec 12, 2002
|Kaplan Allen D.
|Multi-protocol telecommunications routing optimization
|Nov 18, 2002
|Apr 10, 2003
|Masushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd
|Communication apparatus
|Jan 10, 2000
|Jul 17, 2003
|Gadi Mazor
|Incoming facsimile routing using text and image analysis
|Apr 1, 2003
|Oct 7, 2004
|Zigmund Bluvband
|Apparatus, system and method for providing silently selectable audible communication
|Apr 19, 2004
|Oct 7, 2004
|Schultz Leonard S.
|Methods and apparatus for image recognition and dictation
|Jul 14, 2003
|Jan 20, 2005
|Edwards Mark Joseph
|Method and apparatus for recording sound information and playing sound information back using an all-in-one printer
|Apr 15, 2004
|Jan 27, 2005
|International Business Machines Corporation
|System and method to enable blind people to have access to information printed on a physical document
|Sep 30, 2003
|Mar 31, 2005
|Levin Burton L.
|Text to speech conversion system
|Dec 2, 2003
|Jun 2, 2005
|Mullis Karen S.
|Method, system, and storage medium for providing comprehensive facsimile information within a voicemail system
|Nov 29, 2004
|Jun 9, 2005
|Shin Dong-Hyup
|Combination machine having an image data conversion function and image data conversion method therefor
|Feb 25, 2005
|Jun 30, 2005
|Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
|Method and apparatus for accessing communication data relevant to a target entity identified by a number string
|Jan 10, 2005
|Aug 25, 2005
|Gadi Mazor
|System and method for enabling a wireless terminal to interact with a voice mail system via a data communications network
|Mar 14, 2005
|Sep 15, 2005
|Chesbrough Richard M.
|Automated reporting, notification and data-tracking system particularly suited to radiology and other medical/professional applications
|Apr 1, 2005
|Jan 19, 2006
|Kurzweil Raymond C
|Cooperative processing for portable reading machine
|Oct 28, 2004
|May 4, 2006
|Lexmark International, Inc.
|Method and device for converting a scanned image to an audio signal
|Feb 27, 2006
|Sep 7, 2006
|Hoffberg Steven M
|Network media appliance system and method
|Apr 11, 2006
|Nov 16, 2006
|Gadi Mazor
|System and method for recording and attaching an audio file to an electronic message generated by a portable client device
|May 27, 2005
|Nov 30, 2006
|Microsoft Corporation
|Push-to-talk event notification
|Jun 20, 2005
|Dec 21, 2006
|International Business Machines Corporation
|Printing to a text-to-speech output device
|Mar 16, 2007
|Aug 2, 2007
|Aol Llc
|System for Integrated Electronic Communications
|Aug 12, 2008
|Dec 4, 2008
|Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation
|Method, system, and storage medium for providing comprehensive facsimile information within a voice mail system
|Aug 28, 2008
|Dec 25, 2008
|Estech System, Inc.
|Telephone system
|Sep 29, 2008
|Jan 22, 2009
|Farris Robert D
|Telephony communication via varied redundant networks
|Sep 26, 2007
|Mar 26, 2009
|Verizon Services Corporation
|Text to Training Aid Conversion System and Service
|Dec 29, 2007
|Apr 9, 2009
|Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
|Apparatus and method for translating words in images
|Feb 20, 2009
|Sep 3, 2009
|Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc
|Method and Apparatus for Accessing Communication Data Relevant to a Target Entity Identified by a Number String
|Feb 20, 2009
|Feb 25, 2010
|Comcast Ip Holdings I, Llc
|Method and Apparatus for Accessing Communication Data Relevant to a Target Entity Identified by a Number String
|Nov 2, 2009
|May 27, 2010
|Schultz Leonard S
|Methods and apparatus for image recognition and dictation
|Feb 15, 2010
|Jun 17, 2010
|Verizon Services Corp.
|Telephone Service Via Packet-Switched Networking
|Feb 13, 2009
|Aug 19, 2010
|Kyle Robert Marquardt
|System of communication employing both voice and text
|May 12, 2010
|Sep 2, 2010
|Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
|Image reading device and image processing method utilizing the same
|May 11, 2010
|Nov 11, 2010
|Max Bluvband
|Method, circuit, system and application for providing messaging services
|Jan 6, 2011
|Chesbrough Richard M
|Automated reporting, notification and data-tracking system particularly suited to radiology and other medical/professional applications
|Feb 2, 2012
|K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation
|Cooperative Processing For Portable Reading Machine
|Jun 3, 2005
|Jul 10, 2007
|Estech Systems, Inc.
|Telephone call/voice processing system
|Jun 6, 2001
|Dec 12, 2002
|Web De Ag
|Unified messaging communication system allows connection of telephones computers and fax machines
|Nov 16, 1992
|Jun 2, 1993
|Xerox Corporation
|Method and apparatus for processing a document image
|Aug 20, 1994
|Mar 22, 1995
|Alcatel SEL Aktiengesellschaft
|Method and device for establishing and processing text documents
|Nov 9, 2001
|Jun 5, 2002
|Eastman Kodak Company
|Process for displaying information on a display terminal of limited capacity
|Mar 7, 2002
|Jan 2, 2004
|Spielberg, Steven
|Method and apparatus for annotating a document
|Apr 8, 1991
|Oct 17, 1991
|Richard Kollin
|System for searching and retrieving data from data bases via audio access with automatic faxing of results
|Feb 17, 1994
|Sep 29, 1994
|Bell Communications Research, Inc.
|Method and system for managing telecommunications such as telephone calls
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|Oct 5, 2000
|Trust & Obey Co., Ltd.
|An apparatus for reproducing digital voice
|Aug 7, 2001
|Feb 28, 2002
|Bbnt Solutions Llc
|Systems and methods for transmitting messages to predefined groups
|U.S. Classification
|379/100.13, 379/88.14, 379/903, 358/407, 358/402, 379/905, 358/403, 379/908
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Feb 9, 1989
Owner name: BERKELEY SPEECH TECHNOLOGIES, INC., CALIFORNIA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:O MALLEY, SARA;O MALLEY, MICHAEL H.;PETERS, ELISABETH;REEL/FRAME:005040/0487;SIGNING DATES FROM 19890206 TO 19890209
|Jul 14, 1992
|Certificate of correction
|Mar 21, 1994
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|May 1, 1998
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 8
|Nov 23, 1998
Owner name: LERNOUT & HAUSPIE SPEECH PRODUCTS N.V., BELGIUM
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:O MALLEY, SARA;O MALLEY, MICHAEL H.;PETERS, ELISABETH;REEL/FRAME:009605/0646
Effective date: 19981022
|Jan 28, 2002
Owner name: MICROSOFT CORPORATION, WASHINGTON
Free format text: PATENT LICENSE AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:LERNOUT & HAUSPIE SPEECH PRODUCTS;REEL/FRAME:012539/0977
Effective date: 19970910
|Apr 10, 2002
Owner name: SCANSOFT, INC., MASSACHUSETTS
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:LERNOUT & HAUSPIE SPEECH PRODUCTS, N.V.;REEL/FRAME:012775/0308
Effective date: 20011212
|Jul 15, 2002
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 12
|Dec 20, 2005
Owner name: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC., MASSACHUSETTS
Free format text: MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME TO NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.;ASSIGNOR:SCANSOFT, INC.;REEL/FRAME:016914/0975
Effective date: 20051017
|Apr 7, 2006
Owner name: USB AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, CONNECTICUT
Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:017435/0199
Effective date: 20060331
Owner name: USB AG, STAMFORD BRANCH,CONNECTICUT
Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:017435/0199
Effective date: 20060331
|Aug 24, 2006
Owner name: USB AG. STAMFORD BRANCH, CONNECTICUT
Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:018160/0909
Effective date: 20060331
Owner name: USB AG. STAMFORD BRANCH,CONNECTICUT
Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:018160/0909
Effective date: 20060331


text:
Fatigue Facts: 5 Things That Make You Tired
Your extreme fatigue might be coming from one of these energy suckers
1. Dehydration
1 / 5
It turns out that even moderate dehydration (which results in the loss of 3 percent of your body weight) can make you feel mentally sluggish and mess with your concentration. The next time you're feeling foggy or lightheaded, don't just assume you're in serious need of some food. Try downing a glass or two of water.
1 / 5
Copyright © 2016 Rodale Inc.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
She made me go down the fire escape when her mom came for breakfast.
You must be Logged in to post a comment
Man Law of the Day: Men shall always take pride in their walk of shame. Regardless where it occurs. Respect it.
You should have stayed and gave her some sausage
you should have offered to help cook. men are the best cooks. with only two eggs, a piece of sausage, and a little bit of milk we can keep a girls belly full for nine months.
Creepy. Really creepy analogy.
Another excerpt from Woody Allen's autobiography.
Catsnatch, I had pretty much the same idea...
By "the fire escape" you mean "on her", don't you?


text:
[ARCHIVE] Simple Questions (SEARCH BEFORE ASKING A QUESTION)
View Single Post
June 30th, 2009 (8:24 PM).
You are now breathing manually
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Yesterday
Gender: Male
Nature: Lax
Posts: 480
Well I guess I have a simple question, but it's kind of long...
I have a trainer in unLZ. Steven's sprite, to be exact. So I went to import my newly indexed .png file, a steven-ish sprite with a green shirt. I clicked export pallete, and all of the other boxes. No problems, the sprite was editied... However, I go to the previous trainer sprite in the list... and I get this:
A gentlemen Trainer Sprite with the same pallete as the New stevens'. Not only that, but all of the other trainers before Steven now have a dumb- looking palette in unlZ- all of them have pallete 1039. Now, when I fight a gentleman in the game... He looks normal. He has a totally different pallete than what shows up in unLZ. Sure, this is confusing, but what's more so is that (the new) Steven's in-game sprite now has a discolored palette. However, in unLZ, it looks fine. Also, in every trainer editor I open... all trainer palettes, except Steven's, look normal.
My question is-
How can I fix Steven's Palette in game, and the other trainer palettes in unLZ?
Is my ROM screwed up? Will I be able to not edit any more trainers? Did I miss something important?
This is quite an important question, seeing as I need to edit the majority of trainers for my hack.
Thank you in advance
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.
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text:
I got my period in week 3 of the pills because I did not "sunday" start. I started the pills 2 weeks after my period was over on a saturday. Since I am on my period right now and have been for a week, is it ok to just start the 2nd month of pills now that I've finished the active ones? I want to be protected against pregnancy and do not intend on skipping the sugar pill week next month. My Dr. said it takes a month for birth control to be effective. I plan on being sexually active next week and want to be sure the pill is working. I have not missed any pills and am not on any other medicines. I am healthy and don't smoke and am 30 years old. I have taken birth control in the past with no problems. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you. :)
Is it safe to skip the sugar pill week on Ortho tri cyclen lo?
- Posted:
- 16 Oct 2010 by lindsay0109
- Topics:
- ortho tri-cyclen, ortho tri-cyclen lo, birth control, contraception
Responses (1)
16 Oct 2010
Yes, that is fine to skip the sugar pills for this month.
You say you have your period at the moment. It is more likely to be breakthrough bleeding which is very common when changing brands of pills.
If you choose to skip your sugar pills this month you most likely will also skip your period.
All the best.
Further Information
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text:
War, Peace, and Bumper Stickers
[Religion News Service, May 7, 1995]
I can't get the bumper‑sticker out of my mind; it's stuck there like a wad of gum under a theater seat. "World Peace," read the message on the back of the Dodge, in faux‑childish crayon scrawl. It had a smiley‑face in the middle. No doubt the woman toting this sticker likes world peace, and wanted to suggest it as an option the rest of us had not yet considered.


text:
Down There for Women
More than 80 percent of women will suffer pelvic floor disorders in their lifetime, yet most women have no idea that alignment is essential for proper pelvic floor function. Katy shows an easy-to-follow protocol for stretching and strengthening the muscles that keep the pelvis aligned, allowing the pelvic floor to operate less like a hammock and more like a trampoline.
Gentle Exercise Prescription for:
- Menstrual Cramps
- Pelvic Floor Disorder
- Cesarean Delivery
- Post Delivery
- Sacral Health
- Hip Health
- Sexual Dysfunction
- Incontinence
Rx..ercises included on this DVD:
- Calf Stretch
- Double Calf Stretch
- Pelvic List
- Knee Squeeze
- Legs on the Wall
Each DVD includes:
- An introduction to any movement habits you may have that can create chronic ailments listed for this title, or make them worse.
- Five prescribed movements (Rx…ercises™) you can do to improve circulation, waste removal, muscle and bone strength, and overall health.
- Additional information on simple changes you can make to your daily life for improved health – specific to your situation.
Each DVD runs approximately 40 minutes including the same Bonus lecture found on every title.
- Human Physics Lecture with Katy Bowman
- Printable exercise program for work or travel


text:
USGS Professional Pages
Christy-Ann Archuleta
GeographerContact Info
Short Biography
Masters of Applied Geography, Texas State University, May 2001
B.A. in Geography (Minor in Archaeology), University of Texas at Austin, May 1998
Current Position
Standards Specialist
Geographer-National Geospatial Technical Operations Center of the USGS National Geospatial Program, October 2011-Present
Previous Position with the USGS
GIS Analyst
Geographer-Texas Water Science Center, May 2005-October 2011
Read Full Professional Summary
PublicationsArundel, S.T., Archuleta, C.M., Phillips, L.A., Roche, B.L., and Constance, E.W., 2015, 1-meter digital elevation model specification: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, book 11, chap. B7, 25 p. with appendixes, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/tm11B7. [Link]
Archuleta, Christy-Ann M.; Gonzales, Sophia L.; Maltby, David R., II, 2012. Automated delineation and characterization of watersheds for more than 3,000 surface-water-quality monitoring stations active in 2010 in Texas. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012-1077, vi, 12 p.; Glossary; Appendices [Link]
Gary, Robin H.; Wilson, Zachary D.; Archuleta, Christy-Ann M.; Thompson, Florence E.; Vrabel, Joseph, 2009. Production of a National 1:1,000,000-Scale Hydrography Dataset for the United States - Feature Selection, Simplification, and Refinement. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5202, vi, 22 p. [Link]
Archuleta, Christy-Ann M.; Eames, Deanna R., 2009. Web Application to Access U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works and Restoration Projects Information for the Rio Grande Basin, Southern Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2009-3104, 2 p. [Link]
Archuleta, C.M., Fishburn, K.A., McNinch K.L., Walter, J.L., Liu, L., 2015, "Introduction to the USGS Standards Database Explorer," 2015 ASPRS Imaging and Geospatial Technology Forum (IGTF), Tampa, FL May 2015
Archuleta, C.M., Maltby, D.R., 2010, "Automated High-Resolution Delineation and Basin Characterization Methods using GIS," 2010 Texas GIS Forum, Austin, TX October 2010
Archuleta, C.M., 2010, "Albuquerque Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works and Restoration Website," 2010 ESRI International User Conference, San Diego, CA July 2010
Archuleta, C.M., 2010, "Binational Water Quality Data Warehouse," Binational Technical Work Group of the U.S.-Mexico Environmental Program (Border 2012), Juarez, Mexico September 2008
Archuleta, C.M., 2008, "Border Environmental Health Initiative and the Binational Water Quality Data Warehouse," Lower Rio Grande Water Quality Initiative Technical Workgroup, Harlingen, TX October 2008
Archuleta, C.M., 2008, "Map Production Streamlining Techniques," 2008 USGS Biennial GIS Workshop, Denver, CO 2008
Archuleta, C.M., and Gary, R.H., 2008, "Illustrations for Reports—The role of spatial data in projects," Texas Water Science Center Reports Training Series, June-July 2008
Archuleta, C.M., 2007, "GIS Interactive Map Service to Display IBWC Stream Gage Data", ITAC, November 2007
Archuleta, C.M., 2007, "GIS Interactive Map Service to Display IBWC Stream Gage Data", University of North Texas, Denton, TX 2007
Archuleta, C.M., Humberson, D.G. 2006, "An introductory example of how to use Model Builder and/or simple Python Script to customize ArcMap," 2006 Texas GIS Forum, Austin, TX May 2006
Wilson, Z.D., Gary, R.H., Parcher, J.W., Buckler, D., Stefanov, J.E., Archuleta, C.M., Page, W.R., and Hubbard, B.E., 2006, "U.S. Geological Survey U.S.-Mexico Border Environmental Health Initiative: Binational Integration of Geospatial and Environmental Data," Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 38, No. 1, p. 7
Archuleta, C.M., and Showalter, P.S., "Using GIS to Estimate Flood Risk to Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in Brazoria County, Texas." Papers and Proceedings of the Applied Geography Conferences 2001, VOL 24, pages 130-139
My Science Topics
My USGS Science Strategy AreasData Integration & Interoperability
Research Interests
Current research interests include data standards and specifications, GIS, Web mapping applications, remote sensing of vegetation, and cartography.
Recent Projects
Standards and specifications I have worked on:
Arundel, S.T., Archuleta, C.M., Phillips, L.A., Roche, B.L., and Constance, E.W., 2015, 1-meter digital elevation model specification: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, book 11, chap. B7, 25 p. with appendixes, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/tm11B7.
Heidemann, Hans Karl, 2014 Lidar Base Specification Version 1.1, U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, book 11, section B, chapter 4, 124 pages; available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/tm/11b4/TM11-B4.pdf .
National Atlas and Global Map 1:1M Datasets
In cooperation with the National Atlas of the United States®, the USGS produced a 1:1,000,000-scale (1:1M) networked drainage dataset from the existing 1:100,000-scale (1:100k) National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) for the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. Other 1:1,000,000-scale datasets that were created include boundaries, transportation, and other map reference themes. The final datasets will be available through the USGS National Map in shapefile and geodatabase formats (http://nationalmap.gov/) and through the Global Mapping Project (http://www.iscgm.org/).
TCEQ Watershed Characterization Project


text:
Paper Pepper by ArtgermWatch
©2004-2016 Artgerm
Pepper in chinese papercut style.
Done in Painter. 1 hr
Edit: Thanks for those who pointed out the mistake of her floating left eyes. Obviously 1 hr was not really enough..hehe...
Done in Painter. 1 hr
Edit: Thanks for those who pointed out the mistake of her floating left eyes. Obviously 1 hr was not really enough..hehe...
i'm chinese n love it
Nice. Though, I would've loved it more if it was an actual cutout.
Very unique style. Great lineart.
This Pepper project of yours is one of the most interesting personal project ideas I've seen in a long time. The papercut style is a really exotic idea (at least, for me), wonderful work, I can't wait to see what's next.
very cute!!!
so cool background!!
so cool background!!
que bonequinho engraçado
Once again I am amazed at your design versatility ^_^
simple.. and almost perfect..
That is some skill.
really good
lol, cute!
awesome. always been a fan of the pepper series...
The style is great, good work
ooooo this is pretty ^_^. great job ^_^.
so cute really love her pose!
Very cool. Is there some style that you can't do?
floating left eye?! @_@" i think it looks fine!
and to be able to finish it in one hour is definately wild!
and to be able to finish it in one hour is definately wild!
looks nice this work.
Wow! Its really a chinese papercut
I love the look of the chinese woodblock carving thingies gj
This is quite cool, I love her pose.
very cool and unique!
Wow, that's so awesome!
Is pepper your own made up character?
Nice chinese feel this pic has to it.
Nice chinese feel this pic has to it.
Hehe, I like the asian orientation XD
Though, at first I was reminded of a henna tattoo
Though, at first I was reminded of a henna tattoo
this is great. I love that you do so many different styles of her. This also looks like it could be used as a rubber stamp image. Great work!
nice style I like it I really like it.
You took a really difficult idea (well, I think it's difficult o.O), that of the imagerequiriing intersecitng lines in a certain way, and pulled it off wodnerfully. The Pepper series is just amazing.
I like this one, very cool 'Fortune Cookie' style.
She looks so cute
great color
very oriental picture!
very oriental picture!
heh cool
Very nice
I'm sure you'd not be able to cut this from paper.
She always so cute!!! And always her, Pepper, however differently you draw her.
awww what a cute style XD
yes yes, papercut style is majorly cool, as is the color you used
Looks great. I must say you are absolutely amazing at whatever style you feel like doing. Even the simple stuff! So when do we get a 3d animated virtual Pepper receptionist?
LOL this is great~!!! Love her kung fu pose~!!! Haiya~~!!!!
Fun! I like the color.
HAHAHA. cute!