Method for providing an interactive full motion synched compatible audio/visual television display

• US 4,847,699 A
• Filed: 07/16/1987
• Issued: 07/11/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ACTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: ACTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Freeman, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hix, L. T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rutledge, D.
• Application Number:
  US07/074,141
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 358/343, 358/86, 358/102, 358/142, 358/143, 434/307, 434/316, 434/319, 434/321, 434/323, 434/309, 352/5, 360/19.1
• US Class Current: 386/337
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/12 different stations being capable of presenting different information simultaneously G09B5/14 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A method for providing a full motion synched compatible audio/visual interactive television display from a plurality of syllable synched compatible audio choices for a common full motion video frame presentation. Two or more audio channels are synched to a common video channel by first recording the most likely branch and then rerecording the audio portions for the alternate branches by syllable synching the alternate branch choices to the original video presentation so as to make the video compatible with all audio channels. Animated characters, such as puppets, cartoon animations or humans, are used in the video with the audio being synched to the mouth movements of such an animated character so that all branches appear to be visually the same. The same techniques can be used to convert appropriate preexisting non-interactive programming into interactive programming.

Claims

1. A method for providing an interactive full motion synched compatible audio/visual television display presentation based on dynamic user selection of a plurality of choices for a multiple video frame common full motion television display comprising the steps of recording a first choice audio/visual television display presentation comprising said multiple video frame common full motion television display, said recorded common full motion television display comprising a plurality of synched successive video frames, at least one of said successive video frames comprising a common interrogatory message and a plurality of simultaneously providable user selectable choices related to said common interrogatory message, said recorded first choice audio/visual television display presentation comprising a user selectable audio presentation corresponding to a single one of said user selectable common interrogatory related choices and being synched to and compatible with a subsequent common full motion video frame video presentation in said common full motion television display subsequent to said common interrogatory message containing video frame, said recorded single audio presentation first choice comprising a first user selectable responsive output message to said common interrogatory message and having a particular word content and syllable content portion for providing a recorded simultaneously providable dynamic user selectable synched responsive audio output message to said recorded previous video frame common interrogatory message in said recorded common full motion television display;

and subsequently recording a second choice simultaneously providable user selectable audio output presentation corresponding to a different single one of said user selectable common interrogatory related choices and synched to and compatible with the same subsequent common full motion video frame presentation as said simultaneously providable previously recorded first choice user selectable audio output presentation in said previously recorded common full motion television display, said simultaneously providable subsequently recorded second choice user selectable audio output presentation comprising a second user selectable responsive output message to said common interrogatory message and having a different particular word content but substantially identical syllable content to said previously recorded simultaneously providable first choice user selectable audio output presentation portion for providing a different recorded dynamic user selectable responsive audio output message syllable synched to said first choice recorded dynamic user selectable responsive audio output message and compatible with said previously recorded subsequent common fill motion video frame video presentation in said recorded common full motion television display subsequent to said recorded common interrogatory message containing frame;

whereby a recording capable of providing said user selectable interactive audio/visual full motion television display over a common television channel is provided.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of user selectable choices comprises a correct choice to said common interrogatory message and other choices, said first choice recording step comprising the step of recording said correct choice as said user selectable audio output presentation.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first choice recording step comprises the step of recording an animated character as said subsequent common full motion video frame video presentation, said recorded animated character having mouth movements common to said substantially identical syllable content portions of said simultaneously providable recorded first and second choice audio output presentations.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said animated character recording step comprises the step of providing a puppet as said animated character and recording mouth movements of said puppet.

5. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said animated character recording step comprises the step of providing a cartoon animation as said animated character and recording mouth movements of said cartoon animation.

6. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said animated character recording step comprises the step of providing a human character as said animated character and recording mouth movements of said human character.

7. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said plurality of user selectable choices comprises a correct choice to said common interrogatory message and other choices, said first choice recording step comprising the step of recording said correct choice as said user selectable audio presentation.

8. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said plurality of user selectable choices comprises a correct choice to said common interrogatory message and other choices, said first choice recording step comprising the step of recording said correct choice as said user selectable audio output presentation.

9. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said first choice recording step comprising the step of recording said correct choice as said user selectable audio output presentation.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first choice recording step comprises the step of rerecording a previously recorded audio/visual presentation to provide said first choice audio/visual television display presentation.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said first choice recording step comprising the step of recording said correct choice as said user selectable audio output presentation.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said subsequent recording step comprises the step of providing said simultaneously first and second user selectable audio output presentations as audio signals and multiplexing said audio signals.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein recording step comprises the step of providing said full motion video frame video presentation as a video signal and said multiplexing step subsequent recording step comprises the step of multiplexing said audio signals into said video signal.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said multiplexing step further comprises the step of pulse amplitude modulating said audio signals with said video signal.

15. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said multiplexing step further comprises the step of digitizing said audio signals and inserting said digitized audio signals into an active portion of said video signal.

16. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said recording steps comprise the step of recording said first choice audio/visual presentation and said second choice user selectable audio output presentation on a common storage media.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said common storage media comprises a video cassette.

18. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said common storage media comprises a video disc.

19. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein recording step comprises the step of providing said full motion video frame video presentation as a video signal and said multiplexing step subsequent recording step comprises the step of multiplexing said audio signals into said video signal.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said multiplexing step further comprises the step of pulse amplitude modulating said audio signals with said video signal.

21. A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said multiplexing step further comprises the step of digitizing said audio signals and inserting said digitized audio signals into an active portion of said video signal.

22. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said recording steps comprise the step of recording said first choice audio/visual presentation and said second choice user selectable audio output presentation on a common storage media.

23. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein said common storage media comprises a video cassette.

24. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein said common storage media comprises a video disc.

25. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said recording common full motion television display comprises a full resolution television display.

26. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said multiplexing step further comprises the step of pulse duration modulating said audio signals with said video signal.

27. A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein said multiplexing step further comprises the step of pulse duration modulating said audio signals with said video signal.