Education and entertainment device with dynamic configuration and operation

• US 5,733,131 A
• Filed: 07/29/1994
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Instruments Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Communications Holding N.V.
• Inventors: Park, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROVNAK, JOHN EDMUND
• Application Number:
  US08/283,276
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 434/307 R, 446/268, 446/297, 340/825, 340/825.07, 340/825.22, 340/825.24, 340/825.25, 340/825.44, 340/825.47, 340/286.01, 340/286.06, 340/286.13, 375/259, 375/316, 455/38.2
• US Class Current: 434/307.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/12 different stations being capable of presenting different information simultaneously G09B5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A one-way individual or group addressable communication link by paging system protocol delivers to a small data terminal of an entertainment or education device command messages relevant to current real world information such as news or weather information, and also relevant to current television series storylines. The device provides a separate and independent mechanism augmenting educational or entertainment aspects of current events or television programming without requiring an expensive user interface mechanism in implementation of complex and robust control and configuration features.

Claims

1. An entertainment device comprising,

a television system including a television receiver for displaying at least one character performing according to a storyline,

radio means for transmitting addressed messages to a plurality of selective call receivers, said messages including spoken dialog,

a doll having the appearance of said character, said doll including therein one of said selective call receivers,

activation means in said doll for causing said doll to respond to external stimuli for generating spoken dialog,

means in said doll for storing a message including a particular spoken dialog received via said selective call receiver in said doll, whereby the response to said activation means includes at least part of said particular spoken dialog,

whereby said doll can respond to external stimuli in a manner appropriate to said storyline performed by said character on said television receiver.

2. An entertainment unit comprising,

a first entertainment means including means for displaying at least one character performing according to a storyline,

means for transmitting addressed messages to a plurality of selective call receivers, said messages including spoken dialog,

a second entertainment means having the appearance of said character, said second entertainment means including therein one of said selective call receivers,

activation means in said second entertainment means for causing said second entertainment means to respond to external stimuli for generating spoken dialog,

storage means in said second entertainment means for storing a message including a particular spoken dialog received via said selective call receivers,

whereby said second entertainment means can respond to external stimuli in a manner appropriate to said storyline performed by said character on said first entertainment means.

3. A system for coordinating a plurality of entertainment means comprising,

a first entertainment means for displaying at least one character performing according to a storyline,

a second entertainment means including a first means having the visual appearance of said character, radio means for transmitting addressed messages to a plurality of selective call receivers, said messages including spoken dialog and programming commands,

said first means including therein one of said selective call receivers,

activation means in said first means for causing said first means to respond to external stimuli for generating spoken dialog and for performing actions in response to said programming commands,

means in said first means for storing a message including a particular spoken dialog and programming commands received via said selective call receiver in said first means, whereby the response to said activation means includes at least part of said particular spoken dialog,

whereby said first means can respond to external stimuli in a manner appropriate to said storyline performed by said character in said first entertainment means.