TV Movies that talk back

• US 4,333,152 A
• Filed: 06/13/1980
• Issued: 06/01/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Robert M. Best
• Inventors: Best, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gruber, Felix D.
• Application Number:
  US06/159,141
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 364/415, 364/521, 364/419, 364/900, 340/148, 340/725, 358/93, 358/102, 358/103, 352/5, 360/72.2, 179/1 SA, 179/1 SM, 179/1 CN, 179/1 SD, 434/300-330
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/424 involving acoustic input signals, e.g. by using the results of pitch or rhythm extraction or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/47 involving branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible scenarios at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/822 Strategy games; Role-playing games A63F13/825, A63F13/828 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/632 by branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible story developments at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2021/105 Synthesis of the lips movements from speech, e.g. for talking heads
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/005 Programmed access to indexed parts of tracks of operating discs, by guiding the disc
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2587 Laser Discs; Optical disc using analog recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4305 Synchronising client clock from received content stream, e.g. locking decoder clock with encoder clock, extraction of the PCR packets arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter by comparing receiver clock with transmitter clock H04L7/0012; arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter wherein the receiver takes measures against momentary loss of synchronisation H04L7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/00 Details of television systems scanning details or combination thereof with generation of supply voltages H04N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/978 Audio interaction as part of an operator interface

Abstract

A video entertainment system by which human viewers conduct simulated voice conversations with screen actors or cartoon characters in a prerecorded branching movie shown on a television screen. The actors and cartoons reply responsively with lip-sync sound to words spoken by viewers. Different audio and video frames are addressed on a videodisc to provide one of several alternative replies or alternative actions at each branch point in the movie, depending on what the viewer says to a speech-recognition unit. A simple speech-recognition unit can be used because the number of words to be recognized at each branch point is restricted to just a few words. A menu of prompting words is displayed on a hand-held unit to inform viewers of what words they can use at each branch point. The prompting words are programmed to be phonetically distinct to be easily distinguishable from each other. Viewers can input questions or make other remarks by speaking a displayed code word which stands for a whole sentence. Pressing a button next to a sentence displayed on the hand-held unit may cause a recording of the displayed sentence to be played in lieu of a viewer speaking it. Viewers can chat with simulated images of famous people, call the plays in a ball game, make executive decisions as a king or general, and participate in simulated adventures with interesting characters who respond to each viewer'"'"'s words and answer back responsively.

Claims

1. A method of simulating a voice conversation between an animated cartoon motion picture and a human viewer of the picture, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first animated cartoon picture linked to a plurality of second animated cartoon pictures, the cartoon pictures including a talking face;

displaying a plurality of messages, each message corresponding to a second animated cartoon picture in said plurality thereof;

receiving from said viewer a response signal corresponding to a selected message in said plurality of messages;

generating electronically a voice sound including words in said selected message, thereby simulating the viewer'"'"'s side of a voice conversation; and

displaying the second animated cartoon picture corresponding to said selected message accompanied by a second voice sound responsive to the selected message, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the viewer and the talking face in the animated cartoon motion picture.

2. In a video system adapted to present a sound movie with which a human viewer interacts, the improvement for simulating a voice conversation between the viewer and the movie, comprising:

video means for generating picture elements of a first animated cartoon picture linked to a plurality of second animated cartoon pictures, the cartoon pictures including a talking face;

means for displaying a plurality of messages, each message corresponding to a second animated cartoon in said plurality thereof;

means for receiving from said viewer a signal corresponding to a selected message in said plurality of messages; and

audio means for electronically generating a voice signal including words in said selected message, thereby simulating the viewer'"'"'s side of a voice conversation,

said video generating means further generating picture elements of a second animated cartoon picture corresponding to said selected message accompanied by a second voice signal responsive to the selected message, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the viewer and the talking face in the animated cartoon movie.

3. In a video system adapted to present a sound movie with which a human viewer interacts, the improvement for simulating a voice conversation between the viewer and the movie, comprising:

record carrier means for storing digital data representing picture elements of animated cartoon pictures, scheduling data specifying a plurality of sequences in which the cartoon pictures are presented, digitally coded voice sounds, and digitally coded messages;

video means for generating from said digital data the picture elements of a first animated cartoon picture linked by said scheduling data to a plurality of second animated cartoon pictures, wherein the cartoon pictures include a talking face;

means for displaying a pluraliity of said messages, each message corresponding to a second animated cartoon in said plurality thereof;

means for receiving from said viewer a signal corresponding to a selected message in said plurality of messages; and

audio means for generating from said digitally coded voice sounds a voice signal including words in said selected message, thereby simulating the viewer'"'"'s side of a voice conversation,

said video generating means further generating picture elements of a second animated cartoon picture corresponding to said selected message accompanied by a second voice signal responsive to the selected message, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the viewer and the talking face in the animated cartoon movie.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said record carrier means is a disc-shaped body having an information bearing structure arranged in concentric tracks.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said disc-shaped body is a video disc.

6. A method of simulating a voice conversation between a previously recorded sound movie and a human viewer of the movie, comprising the steps of:

presenting to said viewer a first scene in said movie linked to a plurality of second scenes therein;

presenting to said viewer a plurality of messages, each message corresponding to one second scene in said plurality thereof;

presenting to said viewer a plurality of code words corresponding to said plurality of messages to elicit from said viewer a spoken response;

analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected code word in said plurality of code words resembles said spoken response, thereby determining which selected message in said plurality of messages corresponds to said spoken response; and

presenting to said viewer a second scene in said plurality thereof which corresponds to said selected message, the second scene including spoken words responsive to said selected message, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the viewer and the movie.

7. A method of controlling a branching movie with words spoken by a human viewer of the movie, comprising the steps of:

presenting to said viewer a first scene in said movie linked to a plurality of second scenes therein;

presenting to said viewer a plurality of commands, each command corresponding to one second scene in said plurality thereof;

presenting to said viewer a plurality of abbreviations corresponding to said plurality of commands to elicit from said viewer a spoken response;

analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected abbreviation in said presented plurality of abbreviations resembles said spoken response, thereby determining which selected command in said plurality of presented commands corresponds to said spoken response; and

presenting to said viewer a second scene in said plurality thereof corresponding to said selected command, thereby executing the selected command.

8. A method of simulating a voice conversation between a previously recorded sound movie and a human viewer of the movie, comprising the steps of:

presenting to said viewer a first scene in said movie linked to a plurality of second scenes therein;

presenting to said viewer a plurality of messages, each message corresponding to one second scene in said plurality thereof and each second scene including spoken words responsive to the corresponding message;

receiving from said viewer a response signal corresponding to a selected message in said plurality of messages;

generating electronically a voice sound including words in said selected message, thereby simulating the viewer'"'"'s side of a voice conversation; and

presenting to said viewer a second scene in said plurality thereof which corresponds to said selected message and which includes spoken words responsive to said selected message and said voice sound, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the viewer and the movie.

9. A method of simulating a voice conversation between an animated cartoon motion picture and a human viewer of the picture, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of schedules of graphics data, each schedule specifying picture portions of an animated cartoon picture;

generating a first animated cartoon picture specified by a first said schedule linked to a plurality of second said schedules;

displaying with said first animated cartoon picture a plurality of code words to elicit a spoken response, each code word being associated with a second schedule in said plurality thereof;

displaying with said plurality of code words a corresponding plurality of verbal messages;

determining electronically which word in said plurality of code words corresponds to said spoken response, thereby determining which selected second schedule and which selected verbal message correspond to said spoken response; and

generating a second animated cartoon picture specified by said selected second schedule accompanied by a voice sound responsive to said selected verbal message, thereby simulating a conversation between the human and the animated cartoon motion picture.

10. A method of simulating a voice conversation between an animated cartoon motion picture and a human viewer of the picture, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first animated cartoon picture linked to a plurality of second animated cartoon pictures, the cartoon pictures including a talking face accompanied by voice sounds;

displaying a plurality of code words to elicit a spoken response corresponding to one of said code words, each code word corresponding to a second animated cartoon picture in said plurality thereof;

displaying with said plurality of code words a corresponding plurality of verbal messages;

determining electronically which selected code word in said plurality of code words corresponds to said spoken response, thereby determining which selected verbal message corresponds to said spoken response; and

displaying the second animated cartoon picture corresponding to said selected code word accompanied by a voice sound responsive to said selected verbal message, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human and the talking face in the animated cartoon motion picture.