Computerized information and display apparatus with automatic context determination

• US 9,710,225 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2016
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: West View Research LLC
• Original Assignee: West View Research LLC
• Inventors: Gazdzinski, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): ABEBE, DANIEL DEMELASH
• Application Number:
  US15/392,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20170109132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 202 Days
• Field of Search: 704275
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/24 Control systems with regulation, i.e. with retroactive action, for influencing travelling speed, acceleration, or deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/3415 Control system configuration and the data transmission or communication within the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/463 Wherein the call is registered through physical contact with the elevator system
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 3/00 Applications of devices for indicating or signalling operating conditions of elevators
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 3/002 Indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 3/006 for guiding passengers to their assigned elevator car
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 3/008 Displaying information not related to the elevator, e.g. weather, publicity, internet or TV
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/44 Program or device authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0381 Multimodal input, i.e. interface arrangements enabling the user to issue commands by simultaneous use of input devices of different nature, e.g. voice plus gesture on digitizer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0383 Remote input, i.e. interface arrangements in which the signals generated by a pointing device are transmitted to a PC at a remote location, e.g. to a PC in a LAN
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 : based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 : Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 : using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 : by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 : Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 : Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 : Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/30 : Semantic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 : Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 : Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 : Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 : based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 : based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 : User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 : based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 : based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 : based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 : Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0266 : based on the position of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/20 : Destination assistance within a business structure or complex
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/20 : Processor architectures; Processor configuration, e.g. pipelining
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 : Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/02 : Methods for producing synthetic speech; Speech synthesisers
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/027 : Concept to speech synthesisers; Generation of natural phrases from machine-based concepts generation of parameters for speech synthesis out of text G10L13/08
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/00 : Speech recognition G10L17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/02 : Feature extraction for speech recognition; Selection of recognition unit
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/08 : Speech classification or search
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 : Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 : Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/22 : Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/025 : Phonemes, fenemes or fenones being the recognition units
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 : Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 21/10 : Transforming into visible information
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/48 : specially adapted for particular use
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40 : Bus networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 : comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 : Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 : using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 : Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 : Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A computerized information apparatus useful for providing information to a user via a display. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a processor apparatus, and speech input apparatus, touch screen input and display apparatus, and at least one computer program configured to run on the processor apparatus, the at least one program being configured to provide a user with contextually relevant content without an affirmative request for such content, but rather based on context divined from one or more “free form” words spoken by the user, whether while searching for information or otherwise. In one variant, the context determination is performed by a remote networked server after having been provided digitized speech samples via wireless interface. In another variant, the context is determined based on soft function key inputs from the user while requesting information. A virtual database structure enabling rapid context determination is also disclosed.

Claims

1. Computerized information and display apparatus configured to present a user with contextually relevant content without an affirmative request for the contextually relevant content, the computerized information and display apparatus comprising:

data processing apparatus comprising at least a central processor and a digital signal processor (DSP) and a graphics co-processor;

a data bus in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus, the data bus configured to permit data communication between at least the data processing apparatus and a wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus configured for data communication with at least one network entity;

a mass storage device in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus;

a data interface in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus;

a touch screen input and display device in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus and both viewable and accessible by the user;

a speech input apparatus in communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus;

radio frequency apparatus in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus, the radio frequency apparatus configured to receive data uniquely identifying a portable radio frequency device associated with the user; and

a storage apparatus in data communication with the data processing apparatus and comprising at least one computer program, said at least one computer program being configured to, when executed, automatically provide the user with content via at least;

receipt of first speech via the speech input apparatus from a user of the computerized information and display apparatus, the first speech comprising at least one word;

generation of a digitized representation of the first speech, the generation of the digitized representation comprising analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) of the first speech;

causing recognition of at least one of the at least one word based on the digitized representation, the recognized at least one word enabling search of at least one database for at least partly matching entries, the search resulting in identification of at least two at least partly matching entries, the at least two at least partly matching entries each comprising a respective unique topical context;

receipt of second speech via the speech input apparatus, the second speech comprising information not present in the first speech;

generation of a digitized representation of the second speech, the generation of the digitized representation of the second speech comprising ADC of the second speech;

causing recognition of the information not present in the first speech, the recognition of the information not present in the first speech enabling logical appending of the information not present in the first speech to the at least one word, such that at least one matching entry can be identified from the at least two at least partly matching entries, the at least one matching entry resolving which of the at least two respective unique topical contexts is appropriate or most relevant;

receipt of at least digital image data associated with the appropriate or most relevant of the at least two unique contexts, the at least digital image data stored in at least one data storage location and automatically selected based at least in part on the at least one matching entry, the at least digital image data configured to provide the user with contextually relevant content, the receipt of the at least digital image data comprising receipt via at least the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus of the digital image data via a wireless transmission initiated from a networked server apparatus in data communication with one or more network-based storage locations; and

causing presentation on the touch screen input and display device of the at least digital image data, the at least digital image retrieved from the one or more network-based storage locations;

wherein the at least digital image data associated with the appropriate or most relevant of the at least two unique contexts is further selected based at least in part on at least one of;

(i) the data uniquely identifying a portable radio frequency device associated with the user, or (ii) an identity of the user obtained based at least in part on the data uniquely identifying a portable radio frequency device.

2. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one computer program is further configured to, when executed:

receive a user input causing the computerized information and display apparatus to enter a mode whereby speech inputs can be provided by the user to locate entities as part of a search session;

when in the mode, receive a user speech input via the speech input apparatus from a user of the computerized information and display apparatus, the user speech input consisting of only a name or part of a name of an entity which the user wishes to locate;

generate a digitized representation of the user speech input, the generation of the digitized representation comprising analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) of the user speech input;

cause recognition of the name or part of the name based on the digitized representation, the recognized name or part of the name enabling search of at least one database for at least partly matching entries;

cause presentation of a listing of at least two at least partly matching entities identified via a search of the at least one database, the presentation comprising at least one of;

(i) an audible prompt via a speech synthesis apparatus in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus and prompting the user to provide additional input; and

(ii) a prompt rendered on the touch screen input and display device;

receive second user speech input via the speech input apparatus, the second user speech input comprising information not present in the user speech input, the information relating to the entity;

generate a digitized representation of the second user speech input, the generation of the digitized representation of the second user speech input comprising ADC of the second user speech input;

cause recognition of the information not present in the user speech input relating to the entity, the recognition of the information not present in the user speech input relating to the entity enabling logical appending of the information not present in the user speech input relating to the entity to the name or part of the name of the entity, such that a single matching entity can be identified from the listing, the single matching entity having second digital image data associated therewith in a data storage location, the second digital image data configured to provide the user with a visually perceptible rendering of the location of the single matching entity; and

cause presentation on the touch screen input and display device of the second digital image data, the second digital image data retrieved from the data storage location.

3. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 2, wherein the presentation on the touch screen input and display device of the second digital image data occurs contemporaneous with the presentation on the touch screen input and display device of the at least digital image data.

4. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one computer program is further configured to, when executed:

receive a user input causing the computerized information and display apparatus to enter a mode whereby speech inputs can be provided by the user to locate entities as part of a search session;

when in the mode, receive a user speech input via the speech input apparatus from a user of the computerized information and display apparatus, the user speech input consisting of only a name or part of a name of an entity which the user wishes to locate;

generate a digitized representation of the user speech input, the generation of the digitized representation comprising analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) of the user speech input;

cause recognition of the name or part of the name based on the digitized representation, the recognized name or part of the name enabling search of at least one database for at least partly matching entries;

cause presentation of a listing of at least one entity identified via a search of the at least one database, the presentation comprising at least one of;

(i) an audible prompt via a speech synthesis apparatus in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus, the prompt configured to prompt the user to provide additional input; and

(ii) a prompt rendered on the touchscreen input and display device, the at least one entity not precisely matching the recognized name or the part of the name, but comprising an approximation of the name or the part of the name, the at least one entity selected based at least on a confidence rating comprising a numerical value or index, the confidence rating calculated using a computerized algorithm;

receive an input from the user selecting a one of the at least one entity;

access second digital image data associated with the at selected one entity and stored in a data storage location, the second digital image data configured to provide the user with a visually perceptible rendering of the location of the selected one entity; and

cause presentation on the touch screen input and display device of the second digital image data, the second digital image data retrieved from the data storage location.

5. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one computer program is further configured to, when executed:

receive a user input causing the computerized information and display apparatus to enter a mode whereby speech inputs can be provided by the user to locate entities as part of a search session;

when in the mode, receive a user speech input via the speech input apparatus from a user of the computerized information and display apparatus, the user speech input consisting of only a part of a name of an entity which the user wishes to locate;

generate a digitized representation of the user speech input, the generation of the digitized representation comprising analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) of the user speech input;

cause recognition of the part of the name based on the digitized representation, the recognized name or part of the name enabling search of at least one database for at least partly matching entries, the search comprising, at least when no precise matches to the recognized part of the name are located within the at least one database, use of a confidence rating computerized algorithm to determine the relevance or sufficiency of at least one non-precise matching result identified within the at least one database;

receive data relating to the at least one non-precise matching result;

cause presentation of at least a portion of the received data relating to the at least one non-precise matching result, the presentation comprising at least one of;

(i) an audible prompt via a speech synthesis apparatus in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus prompting the user to provide additional input; and

(ii) a prompt rendered on the touch screen input and display device;

receive an input from the user selecting a one of the least one non-precise matching result;

access second digital image data associated with the at selected one non-precise matching result and stored in a data storage location, the second digital image data configured to provide the user with a visually perceptible rendering of the location of the selected one of the least one non-precise matching result; and

cause presentation on the touch screen input and display device of the second digital image data, the second digital image data retrieved from the data storage location.

6. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first speech and second speech are each part of an affirmative speech-based query for information desired by the user.

7. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 6, wherein the affirmative speech-based query for information desired by the user comprises a name of an entity or organization, and the at least digital image data comprises content contextually related to an industry or business type of the organization or entity, and the presentation of the at least digital image data on the touch screen input and display device is configured to occur contemporaneous with presentation of the information desired by the user.

8. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one matching entry comprises the entity or organization, and the selection of the at least digital image data based at least in part on the at least one matching entry comprises selection of digital image data based at least on stored digital code data associated with data relating to the entity or organization.

9. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 8, wherein the stored digital code data associated with data relating to the entity or organization comprises a data structure comprising:

(i) a plurality of data bits indicative of the industry or business type; and

(ii) a plurality of data bits indicative of a sub-specialization within the industry or business type.

10. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the search of at least one database for at least partly matching entries, the search resulting in identification of the at least two at least partly matching entries, comprises search of a network-based database, the search enabled at least in part by a wireless transmission from the computerized information apparatus via the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, the wireless transmission comprising data representative of the first speech.

11. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logical appending of the information not present in the first speech to the at least one word, such that at least one matching entry can be identified from the listing, comprises search of a network-based database, the search enabled at least in part by a wireless transmission from the computerized information apparatus via the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, the wireless transmission comprising data representative of the information not present in the first speech.

12. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the search of at least one database for at least partly matching entries comprises a search of a file structure disposed on at least one server apparatus in wireless communication with the computerized information and display apparatus via at least the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, the file structure comprising a plurality of entries each relating to respective one or more language words, at least a portion of the entries each comprising data indicative of a logical relationship of the respective one or more language words to, or membership of the respective one or more language words within, at least one organizational category.

13. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 12, wherein the logical appending of the information not present in the first speech to the at least one word, such that at least one matching entry can be identified from the listing, comprises search of the file structure, the search enabled at least in part by a wireless transmission from the computerized information apparatus via the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, the wireless transmission comprising data representative of the information not present in the first speech.

14. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the search of at least one database for at least partly matching entries comprises a search of a database structure disposed on at least one server apparatus in wireless communication with the computerized information and display apparatus via at least the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, the database structure comprising a plurality of entries each relating to one or more words of a language, at least a portion of the entries each comprising data indicative of a logical relationship of its respective one or more words of the language to, or membership of that respective one or more words within, at least two distinct organizational categories, the at least two distinct organizational categories comprising the respective unique topical contexts.

15. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 14, wherein the logical appending of the information not present in the first speech to the at least one word, such that at least one matching entry can be identified from the listing, comprises search of the database structure, the search enabled at least in part by a wireless transmission from the computerized information apparatus via the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, the wireless transmission comprising data representative of the information not present in the first speech.

16. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the search of at least one database for at least partly matching entries comprises a search of a virtual database accessible by at least one server apparatus in wireless communication with the computerized information and display apparatus via at least the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, the virtual database comprising a plurality of entries each relating to one or more words, at least a portion of the entries each comprising data indicative of a logical relationship of the respective one or more words to, or membership of the respective one or more words within, at least two distinct logical virtual sub-files, the at least two distinct logical virtual sub-files having distinct logical contexts comprising the respective unique topical contexts.

17. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 16, wherein the logical appending of the information not present in the first speech to the at least one word, such that at least one matching entry can be identified from the listing, comprises search of the virtual database, the search enabled at least in part by a wireless transmission from the computerized information apparatus via the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, the wireless transmission comprising data representative of the information not present in the first speech.

18. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the search of at least one database for at least partly matching entries comprises a search of a file structure disposed on at least one server apparatus in wireless communication with the computerized information and display apparatus via at least the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, the file structure comprising a plurality of entries each relating to one or more language words, at least a portion of the entries each comprising data indicative of a logical relationship of the respective one or more language words to, or membership of the respective one or more language words within, at least one organizational category, the respective unique topical contexts of the at least two at least partly matching entries each corresponding to different ones of organizational categories associated with the at least one word of the first speech, the information not present in the first speech being associated with only one of the different ones of organizational categories;

wherein the at least digital image data associated with the appropriate or most relevant of the at least two unique contexts is selected based on the data indicative of a logical relationship of at least one word to, or membership thereof within, an organizational category matching the data indicative of a logical relationship of the information not present in the first speech.

19. Computerized information and display apparatus configured to automatically and in real time present a user with contextually relevant content which they did not affirmatively request, the computerized information and display apparatus comprising:

data processing apparatus comprising at least a central processor and a digital signal processor (DSP) and a graphics co-processor;

a data bus in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus, the data bus configured to permit data communication between at least the data processing apparatus and a wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus configured for data communication with at least one network entity;

a mass storage device in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus;

a data interface in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus;

a display device in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus and both viewable and accessible by the user;

a speech input apparatus in communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus; and

a storage apparatus in data communication with the data processing apparatus and comprising at least one computer program, said at least one computer program being configured to, when executed, automatically provide the user with content by performing the method comprising;

receiving first speech via the speech input apparatus from a user of the computerized information and display apparatus, the first speech comprising at least one word;

generating a digitized representation of the at least one word, the generating the digitized representation comprising analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) of the at least one word;

causing wireless access, via at least the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, of at least one network database to enable performance of a search of the at least one database for at least partly matching entries, the search based at least on the at least one word, the search resulting in identification of at least two at least partly matching entries, the at least two at least partly matching entries each comprising a respective topical context unique from that of the others;

receiving second speech via the speech input apparatus, the second speech comprising at least one word not present in the first speech;

generating a digitized representation of the second speech, the generating the digitized representation of the second speech comprising ADC of the second speech;

causing wireless access, via at least the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, of the at least one network database to enable logical appending of the at least one word not present in the first speech to the at least one word of the first speech, such that at least one matching entry can be identified from the at least two at least partly matching entries;

receiving via at least the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus at least digital image data associated with the respective topical context of the at least one matching entry, the at least digital image data having been stored in at least one network data storage location and automatically selected based at least in part on the at least one matching entry, the at least digital image data providing the user with content that is contextually relevant to the respective topical context; and

causing presentation on the display device of the received at least digital image data;

wherein the search of at least one database for at least partly matching entries comprises a search of a virtual database disposed on at least one server apparatus in wireless communication with the computerized information and display apparatus via at least the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, the virtual database comprising a plurality of entries each relating to respective one or more words, at least a portion of the entries each comprising data indicative of a logical relationship of the respective one or more words to, or membership of the respective one or more words within, at least two distinct logical virtual sub-files, the at least two distinct logical virtual sub-files having distinct logical contexts comprising the respective unique topical contexts; and

wherein the logical appending of the at least one word not present in the first speech to the at least one word of the first speech, such that at least one matching entry can be identified, comprises search of the virtual database, the search enabled at least in part by a wireless transmission from the computerized information apparatus via the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, the wireless transmission comprising data representative of the at least one word not present in the first speech.

20. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first speech and second speech are each part of an affirmative speech-based query for information desired by the user, the information desired by the user comprising information associated with a particular entity or organization, and the at least digital image data comprises content contextually related to the entity or organization, and the causing presentation of the at least digital image data on the touch screen input and display device comprises causing presentation contemporaneous with presentation of the information desired by the user.

21. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 19, wherein the automated selection automatic selection of the at least digital image data based at least in part on the at least one matching entry comprises:

access of data relating to a plurality of secondary content elements, the data relating to a plurality of secondary content elements comprising at least one statistic for the historical frequency of selection for each of the plurality of secondary content elements;

evaluation of at least a portion of the historical data; and

selection of the at least digital image data based at least in part on the evaluation.

22. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 19, wherein:

the at least one data storage location comprises one or more network-based storage locations, and the receipt of the at least digital image data comprises receipt via at least the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus of the digital image data via a wireless transmission initiated from a networked server apparatus in data communication with the one or more network-based storage locations;

the computerized information and display apparatus further comprises radio frequency apparatus in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus, the radio frequency apparatus configured to receive data uniquely identifying a portable radio frequency device associated with the user; and

the at least digital image data associated with the appropriate or most relevant of the at least two unique contexts is further selected based at least in part on one or more of;

(i) the data uniquely identifying a portable radio frequency device associated with the user, or (ii) an identity of the user obtained based at least in part on the data uniquely identifying a portable radio frequency device.

23. Computerized information and display apparatus configured to present a user with contextually relevant content without an affirmative request for the contextually relevant content, the computerized information and display apparatus comprising:

data processing apparatus comprising at least a central processor and a digital signal processor (DSP) and a graphics co-processor;

a data bus in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus, the data bus configured to permit data communication between at least the data processing apparatus and a wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus configured for data communication with at least one network entity;

a mass storage device in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus;

a data interface in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus;

a display device in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus and both viewable and accessible by the user;

a speech input apparatus in communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus; and

a storage apparatus in data communication with the data processing apparatus and comprising at least one computer program, said at least one computer program being configured to, when executed, automatically provide the user with content via at least;

receipt of first speech via the speech input apparatus from a user of the computerized information and display apparatus, the first speech comprising at least one word;

generation of a digitized representation of the first speech, the generation of the digitized representation comprising analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) of the first speech;

causing recognition of at least one of the at least one word based on the digitized representation, the recognized at least one word enabling search of at least one database for at least partly matching entries, the search resulting in identification of at least two at least partly matching entries, the at least two at least partly matching entries each comprising a respective unique topical context;

receipt of second speech via the speech input apparatus, the second speech comprising information not present in the first speech;

generation of a digitized representation of the second speech, the generation of the digitized representation of the second speech comprising ADC of the second speech;

causing recognition of the information not present in the first speech, the recognition of the information not present in the first speech enabling logical appending of the information not present in the first speech to the at least one word, such that at least one matching entry can be identified from the at least two at least partly matching entries;

receipt of at least digital image data associated with the unique context of the at least one matching entry, the at least digital image data stored in at least one data storage location and automatically selected based at least in part on the at least one matching entry, the at least digital image data configured to provide the user with contextually relevant content; and

causing presentation on the display device of the at least digital image data, the at least digital image retrieved from the at least one data storage location;

wherein the search of at least one database for at least partly matching entries comprises a search of a virtual database accessible by at least one server apparatus in wireless communication with the computerized information and display apparatus via at least the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, the virtual database comprising a plurality of entries each relating to one or more words, at least a portion of the entries each comprising data indicative of a logical relationship of the respective one or more words to, or membership of the respective one or more words within, at least two distinct logical virtual sub-files, the at least two distinct logical virtual sub-files having distinct logical contexts comprising the respective unique topical contexts.

24. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 23, wherein the logical appending of the information not present in the first speech to the at least one word, such that at least one matching entry can be identified from the listing, comprises search of the virtual database, the search enabled at least in part by a wireless transmission from the computerized information apparatus via the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, the wireless transmission comprising data representative of the information not present in the first speech.

25. Computerized information and display apparatus configured to automatically present a user with contextually relevant content without an affirmative request for the contextually relevant content, the computerized information and display apparatus comprising:

data processing apparatus comprising at least a central processor and a digital signal processor (DSP) and a graphics co-processor;

a data bus in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus, the data bus configured to permit data communication between at least the data processing apparatus and a wireless-enabled network interface apparatus, the wireless-enabled network interface apparatus configured for data communication with at least one network entity;

a mass storage device in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus;

a data interface in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus;

a display device in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus;

a speech input apparatus in communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus;

radio frequency apparatus in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus, the radio frequency apparatus configured to receive data uniquely identifying a portable radio frequency device associated with the user, the user being one of a plurality of authorized users of the computerized information and display apparatus; and

a storage apparatus in data communication with the data processing apparatus and comprising at least one computer program, said at least one computer program being configured to, when executed, automatically provide the user with content via at least;

receipt of first speech via the speech input apparatus from a user of the computerized information and display apparatus, the first speech comprising at least one word;

generation of a digitized representation of the first speech, the generation of the digitized representation comprising analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) of the first speech;

causing recognition of at least one of the at least one word based on the digitized representation, the recognized at least one word enabling search of at least one database for at least partly matching entries, the search resulting in identification of at least two at least partly matching entries, the at least two at least partly matching entries each comprising a respective unique topical context;

receipt of second speech via the speech input apparatus, the second speech comprising information not present in the first speech;

generation of a digitized representation of the second speech, the generation of the digitized representation of the second speech comprising ADC of the second speech;

causing recognition of the information not present in the first speech, the recognition of the information not present in the first speech enabling logical appending of the information not present in the first speech to the at least one word, such that at least one matching entry can be identified from the at least two at least partly matching entries;

access of at least digital image data associated with the respective unique topical context of the at least one matching entry, the at least digital image data stored in at least one data storage location and automatically selected based at least in part on the at least one matching entry, the at least digital image data configured to provide the user with contextually relevant content; and

causing presentation on the display device of the at least digital image data;

wherein the at least digital image data associated with the at least one matching entry is further selected based at least in part on at least one of;

(i) the data uniquely identifying the portable radio frequency device associated with the user, or (ii) an identity of the user obtained based at least in part on the data uniquely identifying the portable radio frequency device.

26. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one computer program is further configured to, when executed:

receive a user input causing the computerized information and display apparatus to enter a mode whereby speech inputs can be provided by the user to locate entities as part of a search session;

when in the mode, receive a user speech input via the speech input apparatus from a user of the computerized information and display apparatus, the user speech input consisting of only a name or part of a name of an entity which the user wishes to locate;

generate a digitized representation of the user speech input, the generation of the digitized representation comprising analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) of the user speech input;

cause recognition of the name or part of the name based on the digitized representation, the recognized name or part of the name enabling search of at least one database for at least partly matching entries;

cause presentation of a listing of at least two at least partly matching entities identified via a search of the at least one database, the presentation comprising at least one of;

(i) an audible prompt via a speech synthesis apparatus in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus and prompting the user to provide additional input; and

(ii) a prompt rendered on the display device;

receive second user speech input via the speech input apparatus, the second user speech input comprising information not present in the user speech input, the information relating to the entity;

generate a digitized representation of the second user speech input, the generation of the digitized representation of the second user speech input comprising ADC of the second user speech input;

cause recognition of the information not present in the user speech input relating to the entity, the recognition of the information not present in the user speech input relating to the entity enabling logical appending of the information not present in the user speech input relating to the entity to the name or part of the name of the entity, such that a single matching entity can be identified from the listing, the single matching entity having second digital image data associated therewith in a data storage location, the second digital image data configured to provide the user with a visually perceptible rendering of the location of the single matching entity; and

cause presentation on the display device of the second digital image data, the second digital image data retrieved from the data storage location;

wherein the presentation on the display device of the second digital image data occurs contemporaneous with the presentation on the display device of the at least digital image data.

27. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one computer program is further configured to, when executed:

receive a user input causing the computerized information and display apparatus to enter a mode whereby speech inputs can be provided by the user to locate entities as part of a search session;

when in the mode, receive a user speech input via the speech input apparatus from a user of the computerized information and display apparatus, the user speech input consisting of only a part of a name of an entity which the user wishes to locate;

generate a digitized representation of the user speech input, the generation of the digitized representation comprising analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) of the user speech input;

cause recognition of the part of the name based on the digitized representation, the recognized name or part of the name enabling search of at least one database for at least partly matching entries, the search comprising, at least when no precise matches to the recognized part of the name are located within the at least one database, use of a confidence rating computerized algorithm to determine the relevance or sufficiency of at least one non-precise matching result identified within the at least one database;

receive data relating to the at least one non-precise matching result;

cause presentation of at least a portion of the received data relating to the at least one non-precise matching result, the presentation comprising at least one of;

(i) an audible prompt via a speech synthesis apparatus in data communication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus prompting the user to provide additional input; and

(ii) a prompt rendered on the display device;

receive an input from the user selecting a one of the least one non-precise matching result;

access second digital image data associated with the at selected one non-precise matching result and stored in a data storage location, the second digital image data configured to provide the user with a visually perceptible rendering of the location of the selected one of the least one non-precise matching result; and

cause presentation on the display device of the second digital image data, the second digital image data retrieved from the data storage location.

28. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 25, further configured to, based at least in part on at least one of:

(i) the data uniquely identifying the portable radio frequency device associated with the user, or (ii) an identity of the user obtained based at least in part on the data uniquely identifying the portable radio frequency device, cause automatic configuration of one or more data elements to be provided to the user while operating the computerized information and display apparatus.

29. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 28, wherein the display device comprises a touch screen input and display device, and the automatic configuration of one or more data elements to be provided to the user while operating the computerized information and display apparatus comprises automatic generation of at least one soft function key (SFK) on a display screen of the touch screen input and display device, the at least one SFK selected based at least in part on one or more preferences particular to the user.

30. The computerized information and display apparatus of claim 25, wherein the automatic selection of the at least digital image data based at least in part on the at least one matching entry comprises selection based at least on statistical data relating to the at least digital image data, the statistical data relating to the at least digital image data causing selection of the at least digital image data over at least one other digital image data so as to achieve a target or desired statistical performance.