Amusement devices: toys – Having light-or sound-responsive switch or control
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-17
2001-09-18
Muir, D. Neal (Department: 3729)
Amusement devices: toys
Having light-or sound-responsive switch or control
C446S298000, C446S302000, C463S023000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290566
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to toys in general, and particularly to computer-controlled toys with a capacity for speech.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Toys which are controlled by integrated or remote computer circuitry and that are capable of emitting speech are known. Such toys, however, are limited to employing known languages such as English for speech and do not incorporate the ability to modify a known language or speak with an increasing level of complexity. In addition, such toys do not have the capacity for associating words previously unknown to them with toy movements or other actions.
Also well known in the art are toys which are remotely controlled by wireless communication and which are not used in conjunction with a computer system. Typically, such toys include vehicles whose motion is controlled by a human user via a remote control device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,184 to Haugerud describes a computer controlled educational toy, the construction of which teaches the user computer terminology and programming and robotic technology. Haugerud describes computer control of a toy via a wired connection, wherein the user of the computer typically writes a simple program to control movement of a robot.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,602 to Rose describes a talking doll responsive to an external signal, in which the doll has a vocabulary stored in digital data in a memory which may be accessed to cause a speech synthesizer in the doll to simulate speech.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,878 to Lang describes an animated character system with real-time control.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,803 to Lang describes an animated character system with real-time control.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,615 to Aldava et al. describes an interrelational audio kinetic entertainment system in which movable and audible toys and other animated devices spaced apart from a television screen are provided with program synchronized audio and control data to interact with the program viewer in relationship to the television program.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,920 to Collier describes a radio controlled toy vehicle which generates realistic sound effects on board the vehicle. Communications with a remote computer allows an operator to modify and add new sound effects.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,480 to Hikawa describes a toy acting in response to a MIDI signal, wherein an instrument-playing toy performs simulated instrument playing movements.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,273 to Lang describes a system for remotely controlling an animated character. The system uses radio signals to transfer audio, video and other control signals to the animated character to provide speech, hearing vision and movement in real-time.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,493 describes a system for a housing for a vertical dual keyboard MIDI wireless controller for accordionists. The system may be used with either a conventional MIDI cable connection or by a wireless MIDI transmission system.
German Patent DE 3009-040 to Neuhierl describes a device for adding the capability to transmit sound from a remote control to a controlled model vehicle. The sound is generated by means of a microphone or a tape recorder and transmitted to the controlled model vehicle by means of radio communications. The model vehicle is equipped with a speaker that emits the received sounds.
The disclosures of all publications mentioned in the specification and of the publications cited therein are hereby incorporated by reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide an improved computer-controlled toy system with a capacity for modifying a known language and/or speaking in a previously unknown or whimsical language.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a computer or computer-controlled toy speaks a language such as English according to a set of rules (such as “pig latin” rules). The computer or computer-controlled toy may then speak in the modified language. A user may interact with the computer or computer-controlled toy by speaking in the modified language. The computer or computer-controlled toy “demodifies” the speech to arrive at an associated English word. The computer or computer-controlled toy may perform an action based on modified or demodified language.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a computer or computer-controlled toy speaks a language with an increasing level of complexity. The present invention also seeks to provide an improved computer-controlled toy system with a capacity for speaking, learning, and generating languages other than those used in common discourse.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a computer or computer-controlled toy is configured with a set of actions or concepts such as jumping, going home, anger, etc. and a vocabulary in a known language such as English, a previously unknown language such as “Martian,” or both types of languages. The computer or computer-controlled toy is further capable of introducing an action to a user together with a preselected, randomly selected, or other generated word from one or all languages known to it. The computer or computer-controlled toy is additionally or alternatively capable of receiving a word chosen by the user for association with the action. The computer or computer-controlled toy may maintain associations between actions and words that represent actions for later repetition. Words of any language known to the computer or computer-controlled toy may have an associated level of complexity for controlling what words are available to the computer or computer-controlled toy over time.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a user and a computer or computer-controlled toy develop a “private” language interactively where a computer-displayed animated figure or computer-controlled toy performs a predefined or user-defined movement or action and the computer or computer-controlled toy or user assigns a made-up or other private word to the movement or action. The private language and the language's association with movements are maintained in a memory. The user may then command the computer or computer-controlled toy using the private language.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the computer or computer-controlled toy talks in a made-up language. The computer or computer-controlled toy accompanies its talking with known language, movements, gestures, etc. for teaching its made-up language.
Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the computer or computer-controlled toy makes-up a language for a each of a set of predefined movements, gestures, etc. by randomly selecting one or more predefined and/or user defined base language units comprising monosyllabic or polysyllabic phonemes, associating a selection of base language units with a specific movement, gesture, etc., and maintaining the associations. Base language units may be predefined together with a complexity designation (e.g., those with more syllables, more difficult to pronounce) for increasingly complex selections becoming available over time.
Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the user provides the computer or computer-controlled toy with made-up words for association with predefined or user-defined movements, gestures, etc., with the associations being maintained by the computer or computer-controlled toy.
Moreover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the computer or computer-controlled toy may generate made-up words for user-provided terms.
Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the computer or computer-controlled toy interprets user speech by searching made-up, modified, and/or known languages, possibly in a particular order. The user may give a cue to indicate that he is using and wishes to be understood using a particular language.
There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present in
Cohen Moshe
Eylath Dov Shlomo
Gabai Jacob
Gabai Oz
Sandlerman Nimrod
Abelman ,Frayne & Schwab
Creator Ltd.
Muir D. Neal
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