Xerox Corporation

Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

Other

Aerojet-general Corporation

Timothy W Bickmore

Joseph Patrick Sullivan

Elizabeth F Churchill

Linda K Cook

William Noah Schilit

Andreas Girgensohn

Sara A Bly

Scott A Prevost

Joseph W Sullivan

Lynn D Wilcox

Darby B Makel

Earl D Jansa

Daniel V Cahill

Nitin Sawhney

Personality traits displayed on a workbench are grouped into a character profile that is utilized in determining the personality and/or specific actions of a synthetic character. The personality traits are selectable by an operator from graduated dials. The personality traits may also be displayed in the form of selectable attributes or trait indicative behaviors that, when selected, are mapped into predetermined amounts of each trait in the character profile. The character profile is utilized to compute activation levels for primary behaviors, which are selected to influence or direct behavior of the synthetic character. Secondary behaviors are also selected, but discarded if conflicting with the selected primary behaviors. When behaviors are selected, the corresponding behaviors are translated into classes of 'personality effectors' that modulate the synthetic character's behavioral expression to reflect the desired set of traits.

System for designing and rendering personalities for autonomous synthetic characters

A method and apparatus for facilitating communication about a document between two users creates autonomous, animated computer characters, or avatars, which are then attached to the document under discussion. The avatar is created by one user, who need not be the author of the document, and is attached to the document to represent a point of view. The avatar represents the physical likeness of its creator. The avatar is animated, using an avatar scripting language, to perform specified behaviors including pointing, walking and changing facial expressions. The avatar includes audio files that are synchronized with movement of the avatar's mouth to provide an audio message.

Method and apparatus for creating personal autonomous avatars

An automatic re-authoring system and method re-author a document originally designed for display on a desktop computer screen for display on a smaller display screen, such as those used with a PDA or a cellular telephone. The automatic re-authoring system and method input a document to be re-authored and re-authoring parameters, such as display screen size, default font and the like. The automatic re-authoring system and method convert the document into a number of pages, where each page is fully displayable with only at most a minimal amount of scrolling on the display screen of the PDA or cellular phone. At each stage of the re-authoring, a number of different transformations are applied to the original document or a selected re-authored page. The selected re-authored page is the best page resulting from the previous re-authoring stage. The best page at each stage is determined based on the re-authoring parameters and the content of the document being re-authored.

Document re-authoring systems and methods for providing device-independent access to the world wide web

Deliberative and reactive processing are combined to process multi-modal inputs and direct movements and speech of a synthetic character that operates as an interface between a user and a piece of equipment. The synthetic character is constructed as an ally, working with and helping the user learn and operate the equipment. The synthetic character interacts with both a virtual space where the character is displayed, and a physical space (domain) that includes the user. Real-time reactive processing provides lifelike and engaging responses to user queries and conversations. Deliberative processing provides responses to inputs that require more processing time (deep linguistic processing, for example). Knowledge bases are maintained for both dynamic (discourse model, for example) and static (e.g., knowledge about the domain or discourse plans) information types. A rule based system is utilized against the knowledge bases and selected inputs from said user to determine input meanings, and follow a predetermined discourse plan.

Method and apparatus for embodied conversational characters with multimodal input/output in an interface device

An electronic notebook assigns properties to digital ink of note marks and keywords to digital pages. The properties indicate the type of note mark and the keywords indicate general content of the note marks on a digital page. The notebook also synchronizes audio data with the note marks and permits audio highlighting. The electronic notebook provides an updatable database of note marks and audio that is capable of being searched based on the properties, keywords, and audio highlights.

System for capturing and retrieving audio data and corresponding

A remotely controllable apparatus, system and method for monitoring, inventory, controlling and reporting on the filling, refilling and dispensing of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) at portable temporary or semi-permanent field-located storage and dispensing stations, including a portable storage tank, and an associated portable pump and control skid, which skid includes: an on-site microprocessor control system having: security features; pump, fill and dispense connections; an LNG leak detection system; a communications link (typically an RF cellular phone system) to a host computer; a dispensing and refilling sales authorization and initiation system (typically a card reader of the credit, access or proximity card types); and a remotely located host computer having a full suite of features including: inventory, monitoring, security and access control; operational control; financial and transaction record keeping and report generation; and emergency warning and shut-down. The field control unit control functions are performed by the on-site microprocessor which receives input from a plurality of natural gas leak detection sensors, and provides complete on site security screening, data acquisition, transaction recording and control capability, including warning via lights, horn or recorded or synthesized voice, and shut-off or shut-down. The field control unit monitors and controls prescribed user vehicle and storage tank filling procedures, and provides communications to a remote central monitoring site having a host computer master controller, via cellular phone.

Remotely controllable LNG field station management system and method

Growing community of inventors

Somerville, MA, United States of America

Timothy W Bickmore