A device-independent speech audio system for linking a speech driven application to specific audio input and output devices can include a media framework for transporting digitized speech audio between speech driven applications and a plurality of audio input and output devices. The media framework can include selectable device-dependent parameters which can enable the transportation of the digitized speech to and from the plurality of audio input and output devices. The device-independent speech audio system also can include an audio abstractor configurable to provide specific ones of the selectable device-dependent parameters according to the specific audio input and output devices. Hence, the audio abstractor can provide a device-independent interface to the speech driven application for linking the speech driven application to the specific audio input and output devices.

A client 2 includes a transmission unit 2d for transmitting the input speech information over a network to a server system 3 and an output unit 2b for receiving the contents selection information from the server system 3 over the network to output the received information. The server system 3 includes a prepared information storage unit 9b for memorizing one or more pieces of the preparation information pertinent to each contents, from one contents to another, and an information preparing server 7 for preparing the contents selection information based on the speech information received from the client 2 over the network and on the preparation information to send the so-prepared contents selection information to the client 3 over the network.

A system and method for implementing conversational protocols for distributed conversational networking architectures and/or distributed conversational applications, as well as real-time conversational computing between network-connected pervasive computing devices and/or servers over a computer network. The implementation of distributed conversational systems/applications according to the present invention is based, in part, on a suitably defined conversational coding, transport and control protocols. The control protocols include session control protocols, protocols for exchanging of speech meta-information, and speech engine remote control protocols.

In an operational supervisory system for a server, a data registration section (21) registers a character string contained in an HTML document (12) on a server (10) to be operationally supervised. A server supervisory section (22) accesses to the HTML document on the server (10) to be operationally supervised along a schedule of a supervisory time registration section (23) and searches whether or not the character string registered in the data registration section (21) exists in the document. If the character string is not contained in the document, it is judged that the server (10) to be operationally supervised is abnormal, and a result notification section (25) notifies a supervisor notification receiver section (30) of the fact that the abnormality occurs.

A system and method for selectively providing information to a user device includes an event server that provides restricted access to various types of event content information and services related to a particular event. A wireless portable user device may provide an access code to the event server at a particular event location through a wireless base station that is coupled to a local area network. A system user may thereby utilize the user device to access the event server for downloading appropriate event content information and related services until the foregoing access code expires.