INTERACTIVE THREE-DIMENSIONAL MULTIMEDIA I/O DEVICE FOR A COMPUTER
First Claim
1. A multimedia I/O system for communicating information between a computer and a user, further comprising:
- a movable figure having means to move under control of the computer;
speaker means, electrically attached to the movable figure, for outputting audio data from the computer; and
microphone means, electrically attached to the movable figure, for inputting voice data to the computer;
whereby the multimedia I/O system acts as an intermediary communications device between a computer and an individual that communicates via audio output, voice input, and visual motion output.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multimedia I/O device for use with computers that acts as a three-dimensional multimedia communication device having both an input and output capability, including speakers for audio output, and voice input via a microphone. It also has the ability to control motion to catch the user'"'"'s attention and/or to entertain. The multimedia I/O device is formed in the shape of a selected character and can resemble a human-like character, a celebrity, a nonhuman character such as an animal, or any other mythical or imaginary character. It is used as an animated device to catch the user'"'"'s attention in regard to the arrival of email or a system event that requires the user'"'"'s attention, when issuing audio alarms, or as a local message system. It can be used to represent remote individuals when in a chat room, or when playing games. For games, the device can be used as a three-dimensional software opponent that represents actual opponents located in remote computers on a network, or alternatively, represents a software opponent for use in single person games. Optionally, voice recognition allows commands or data to be input to the system via the device. Multiple multimedia I/O devices can be used simultaneously for multi-player games, which can be played by remotely located users. A universal base unit allows detachable characters to be replaceably attached to the base unit. Therefore, different characters can be substituted for different games, etc. An alternative multimedia I/O device can directly communicate with the computer without the base unit. The multimedia I/O device may be controlled, via software, by any application program.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A multimedia I/O system for communicating information between a computer and a user, further comprising:
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a movable figure having means to move under control of the computer;
speaker means, electrically attached to the movable figure, for outputting audio data from the computer; and
microphone means, electrically attached to the movable figure, for inputting voice data to the computer;
whereby the multimedia I/O system acts as an intermediary communications device between a computer and an individual that communicates via audio output, voice input, and visual motion output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 28, 29)
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13. A multimedia I/O system for communicating with a computer, further comprising:
a plurality of multimedia I/O devices, each multimedia device further comprising;
motion output means, having means to communicate via motion;
speaker means, electrically attached to the movable object, for outputting audio data; and
microphone means, electrically attached to the movable object, for inputting voice data to a computer;
whereby the multimedia I/O devices act as intermediary communications device which communicates via audio output, voice input, and motion. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 31)
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21. A multimedia I/O system for communicating information between a computer and a user, further comprising:
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a computer having a programmable processor and storage means for storing at least one computer program, the computer program further having means to execute programming instructions for controlling a movable figure;
a movable figure having means to move under control of the computer program; and
speaker means for outputting audio data under control of the computer program;
whereby the multimedia I/O system acts as an intermediary communications device between a computer program and an individual that communicates via audio output and motion output. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 32, 33)
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Specification