Apparatus, systems and methods for electronically teaching phonics
First Claim
1. A computer system programmed for electronically teaching phonics, said computer system programmed to:
- identify an alphabetic character for each block resting at a particular time in each of a plurality of block stations; and
determine a phoneme for each identified alphabetic character.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides apparatus, systems and methods for electronically teaching phonics. The exemplary embodiment provides a base unit with multiple receiving wells for blocks. The outer surface of each face of each block expresses an alphabetic character. Each face of each alphabet block has a unique bit pattern expressed in a pattern of electrically conductive material that identifies the alphabetic character expressed on the outer surface of the opposing block face. Underneath the exposed surface of the floor of each block receiving well, is an electronic sensing device. The electronic sensing device uses capacitive coupling in accordance with a test bit pattern to identify the alphabetic character expressed by each block in each block receiving well. A computer device, such as a microprocessor, identifies phonetic relationships between the exposed letters and determines the phoneme for each exposed alphabetic character for each block in a block receiving well. The invention then audibly plays the phoneme representing each exposed alphabetic character according to a player'"'"'s instructions.
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Citations
78 Claims
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1. A computer system programmed for electronically teaching phonics, said computer system programmed to:
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identify an alphabetic character for each block resting at a particular time in each of a plurality of block stations; and
determine a phoneme for each identified alphabetic character. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer program product for electronically teaching phonics, said computer program product having instructions for:
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identifying an alphabetic character for each block resting at a particular time in each of a plurality of block stations; and
determining a phoneme for each identified alphabetic character. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 40, 41)
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19. A method using a computer for electronically teaching phonics, said method comprising:
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identifying an alphabetic character for each block resting at a particular time in each of a plurality of block stations; and
determining a phoneme for each identified alphabetic character.
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28. A computer phonics teaching system for electronically teaching phonics, said system comprising:
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program instructions for identifying an alphabetic character for each block resting at a particular time in each of a plurality of block stations; and
program instructions for determining a phoneme for each identified alphabetic character.
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37. A device for electronically teaching phonics, said device comprising:
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a base unit providing a plurality of block stations, each block station for receiving a block, each block station having a floor surface, said floor surface recessed from the top surface of the base unit, said floor surface having a plurality of upward projections, each projection having a first length;
a sensing device underneath the floor surface of each block station;
a plurality of blocks, each block having six faces, each block face featuring an alphabetic character, each block face having an inner surface comprising a pattern of electrically conductive material and nonconductive material configured in a plane wherein said pattern corresponds to a bit pattern that identifies the alphabetic character featured on the outer surface of the opposing face of the block;
a computer device configured to communicate with each of said sensing devices;
said computer device programmed to identify the alphabetic character featured on each block resting at a particular time in each of said block stations according to information provided by each of said sensing devices; and
said computer device further programmed to determine a phoneme for each identified alphabetic character.
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38. A method of electronically teaching phonics to a player, comprising:
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determining an alphabetic sequence from lettered objects arranged by the player;
generating a phoneme sequence according to the alphabetic sequence; and
generating an audio signal for the player according to the phoneme sequence.
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42. A method of electronically teaching phonics to a player, comprising:
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determining an alphabetic sequence from lettered objects arranged by the player;
receiving a selection signal corresponding to a selected element of the alphabetic sequence;
generating a phoneme for the selected element of the alphabetic sequence; and
generating an audio signal according to the phoneme. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49)
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47. A method of electronically teaching phonics to a player using a plurality of lettered objects, comprising:
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providing a plurality of stations;
determining an alphabetic sequence from lettered objects placed by the player in the plurality of stations;
matching the alphabetic sequence with a word stored in a word dictionary;
reading a phoneme key sequence associated with the word in the word dictionary;
generating the phoneme sequence from the phoneme key sequence;
generating an audio signal according to the phoneme sequence;
reading visual display instructions associated with the word in the word dictionary; and
lighting one of a plurality of lighting features associated with the plurality of stations using the visual display instructions.
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50. A method of electronically teaching phonics to a player using a plurality of lettered objects, comprising:
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providing a plurality of stations;
determining an alphabetic sequence from lettered objects placed by the player in the plurality of stations;
generating the phoneme by analyzing the alphabetic sequence using a set of phonics rules;
generating an audio signal according to the phoneme sequence;
generating visual display instructions by analyzing the alphabetic sequence using a set of phonics rules; and
lighting one of a plurality of lighting features associated with the plurality of stations using the visual display instructions. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
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53. An apparatus for teaching phonics to a player, comprising:
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a processor; and
a memory operably coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored therein, the processor being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including;
determining an alphabetic sequence from lettered objects arranged by the player;
generating a phoneme sequence according to the alphabetic sequence; and
generating an audio signal for the player according to the phoneme sequence. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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57. An apparatus for teaching phonics to a player, comprising:
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a processor; and
a memory operably coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored therein, the processor being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including;
determining an alphabetic sequence from lettered objects arranged by the player;
receiving a selection signal corresponding to a selected element of the alphabetic sequence;
generating a phoneme for the selected element of the alphabetic sequence; and
generating an audio signal according to the phoneme.
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62. An apparatus for teaching phonics to a player, comprising:
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a processor;
a plurality object sensing stations;
a memory operably coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored therein, the processor being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including;
determining an alphabetic sequence from lettered objects placed by the player in the plurality of object sensing stations;
matching the alphabetic sequence with a word stored in a word dictionary;
reading a phoneme key sequence associated with the word in the word dictionary;
generating the phoneme sequence from the phoneme key sequence;
generating an audio signal according to the phoneme sequence;
reading visual display instructions associated with the word in the word dictionary; and
lighting one of a plurality of lighting features associated with the plurality of stations using the visual display instructions. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64)
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65. An apparatus for teaching phonics to a player, comprising:
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a processor;
a plurality object sensing stations;
a memory operably coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored therein, the processor being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including;
determining an alphabetic sequence from lettered objects placed by the player in the plurality of stations;
generating the phoneme by analyzing the alphabetic sequence using a set of phonics rules;
generating an audio signal according to the phoneme sequence;
generating visual display instructions by analyzing the alphabetic sequence using a set of phonics rules; and
lighting one of a plurality of lighting features associated with the plurality of stations using the visual display instructions. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 69, 70, 71)
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68. A processor-readable storage medium embodying processor program instructions for execution by a processor, the processor program instructions adapting a processor to teach phonics to a player, the processor program instructions including:
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determining an alphabetic sequence from lettered objects arranged by the player;
generating a phoneme sequence according to the alphabetic sequence; and
generating an audio signal for the player according to the phoneme sequence.
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72. A processor-readable storage medium embodying processor program instructions for execution by a processor, the processor program instructions adapting a processor to teach phonics to a player, the processor program instructions including:
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determining an alphabetic sequence from lettered objects arranged by the player;
receiving a selection signal corresponding to a selected element of the alphabetic sequence;
generating a phoneme for the selected element of the alphabetic sequence; and
generating an audio signal according to the phoneme. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76)
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77. A processor-readable storage medium embodying processor program instructions for execution by a processor, the processor program instructions adapting a processor to teach phonics to a player, the processor program instructions including:
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determining an alphabetic sequence from lettered objects placed by the player in a pluarlity of object sensing stations;
matching the alphabetic sequence with a word stored in a word dictionary;
reading a phoneme key sequence associated with the word in the word dictionary;
generating the phoneme sequence from the phoneme key sequence;
generating an audio signal according to the phoneme sequence;
reading visual display instructions associated with the word in the word dictionary; and
lighting one of a plurality of lighting features associated with the plurality of stations using the visual display instructions.
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78. A processor-readable storage medium embodying processor program instructions for execution by a processor, the processor program instructions adapting a processor to teach phonics to a player, the processor program instructions including:
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determining an alphabetic sequence from lettered objects placed by the player in the pluarlity of stations;
generating the phoneme by analyzing the alphabetic sequence using a set of phonics rules;
generating an audio signal according to the phoneme sequence;
generating visual display instructions by analyzing the alphabetic sequence using a set of phonics rules; and
lighting one of a plurality of lighting features associated with the plurality of stations using the visual display instructions.
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Specification