Education and demonstration – Language
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-24
2001-09-04
Cheng, Joe H. (Department: 3713)
Education and demonstration
Language
C434S185000, C434S30700R, C360S069000, C386S349000, C348S564000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283760
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to learning and entertainment devices, methods and systems, and in particular embodiments, to a pronunciation, teaching and practice device which utilizes videos, CDS and other storage media.
2. Related Art
English conversation and other forms of language study have become popular in recent years, and various types of practice device and method are employed. Practice face-to-face with a teacher is the most common method, but systems which permit practice at home either individually or in small groups are also effective. The video-player is very popular in the ordinary home, but it is normally used for recording broadcast programmes or playing rented video tapes, and its use is limited if applied to the study of English (or other language) conversation without further modification. The problem is that practice becomes one-sided, and it is impossible to practice living conversation enjoyably. Moreover, it is not very effective.
Recent years have seen the emergence of new storage media such as CDS(CD family) and DVDS, but no proposals have been made for their use as effective pronunciation practice devices.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention relates to a device, method or system which enables a user to practice language and pronunciation skills effectively and enjoyably by using a video-player without further modification.
Moreover, preferred embodiments of the present invention involve a format which enables the learner to practice pronunciation effectively by using compact discs (CDs) and storage media which permit the recording of images without any modification to the playback device, and further involve a pronunciation practice device and method for that purpose.
In addition, further preferred embodiments of the present invention involve a format which enables the learner to practice pronunciation effectively with an admixture of subtitles by using digital video discs (DVDS) and modem multimedia storage media without any modification to the playback device, and further involve a pronunciation practice device and method for that purpose.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a learning system comprises a monitor television, a video-player connected to this monitor television, and a storage medium in which prescribed image signals and sound signals are stored, a first sound signal and a second sound signal of the storage medium corresponding respectively to a first sound channel and a second sound channel of the monitor television, and a switching means for being provided whereby to switch between the first sound channel and the second sound channel in such a manner as to make it possible to select the first sound signal and the second sound signal of the storage medium set in the video-player, structured in such a manner that during playback of the storage medium it is possible while watching the playback image on the monitor television to use the means of switching in order to turn off at least one of the sounds provided by the first and second sound signals, a first mixer and a second mixer having input/output portions which correspond respectively to the first sound channel and the second sound channel, the input portions being connected to each other, while this connection is further connected to the video-player or to a means of control whereby this is controlled, the output of the first mixer being connected to a speaker of the monitor television, and the output of the second mixer to a microphone and an audio-phone (i. e. an ear-phone or a headphone) used by the operator, the sound signal which is output from the microphone being input to the first mixer, and the sound which has been turned off being audible to the operator through the audio-phone, while the sound of the operator input through the microphone is audible other than to the operator in place of the sound which has been turned off.
A storage medium (i.e. Laser Disc, video disc, video CDs, karaoke CDs, CD-IDV), according to preferred embodiments, stores image data and sound data corresponding to the images in a plurality of separate channels, wherein at least in part of the practice area, the sound data relating to two predetermined sounds (e.g. the voices of characters A and B whose images are displayed) out of a plurality of types of sound which are to be played back (i.e., which correspond to the images) is allocated during storage respectively to the first sound channel (e.g. left-hand channel) and second sound channel (e.g. right-hand channel), respectively. In the above structure, only specific sounds are stored from each sound channel. As described in further detail below, the selective use of sounds from each channel can be controlled to allow pronunciation to be practiced.
The term “sound” as used herein includes not only the human voice, but other sounds as well, including, but not limited to, the sounds of specific musical instruments-for instance. In other words, the present invention may be adapted for use not only in language study and vocal practice, but for practicing musical instruments and other purposes.
Thus, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pronunciation practice system employs a storage medium as described above and is structured in such a manner as to facilitate pronunciation practice, wherein the system includes:
a) a sound feed device which feeds sound individually to a user engaged in pronunciation practice,
b) a sound input device which changes voices uttered by the user into a sound signal,
c) a switch having two input terminals and two output terminals, the sound signal of the first sound channel and the sound signal of the second sound channel being input to both of the input terminals in parallel way, while in a first selection state (e.g. when character A is selected) the sound signal of the first sound channel is output from the first output terminal, the sound signal of the second sound channel being output from the second output terminal, and in a second selection state (e.g. when character B is selected) the sound signal of the first sound channel is output from the second output terminal, the sound signal of the second sound channel being output from the first output terminal,
d) an amplifier which feeds the sound signal fed from the first input terminal of the switch to the sound feed device, and
e) a mixer which synthesizes the sound signal fed from the second output terminal of the switch with the sound signal-from the sound input device, and outputs them as a sound input signal corresponding to the displaying image by a playback device. Under “voice” as used here is subsumed not only the human voice, but the sound of playing musical instrument. The switch may be, for example, a normal audio switch or an audio mixer structured in such a manner that it is possible to alter the output level channel by channel. It may be housed within the playback device or form part of a device which combines at least two of the above switch, mixer and amplifier. In the sound feed device and monitor device it is possible to set each of the sound input signals at will, and to decide whether output is from the left-hand stereo channel or from the right-hand channel. It is also possible to partition the sound signal from one channel between the left-hand and right-hand channels when listening.
A storage medium (i.e., medium suitable for multimedia like DVD and the like), according to preferred embodiments of the invention, stores images and subtitle data relating to the sounds uttered during the course of these images in a plurality of subtitle channels, having a first subtitle channel wherein in at least part of a practice area subtitle data is added only in relation to a specific predetermined sound (e.g. the sound of character A) from among a plurality of types of sound (which are to be played back to correspond with the images), the addition of subtitle data in relation to sounds other than the sp
Cheng Joe H.
Merchant & Gould P.C.
LandOfFree
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