PC peripheral interactive doll
First Claim
1. An interactive system comprising:
- a personal computer (PC) having a CPU, a memory, a first communication port adapted for peripheral communication coupled to the CPU, and control routines executable by the CPU;
a personalized entity separate from the PC, having therein control circuitry coupled to a microphone, to a speaker and to a second communication port adapted for peripheral communication; and
a communication link coupling the first and the second communication ports;
wherein, through execution of the control routines by the CPU, communication is executed between the PC and the personalized entity as a peripheral device, wherein stored audio data is retrieved by the CPU, passed to the personalized entity via the communication link converted to analog audio at the speaker in the personalized entity, and wherein voice input via the microphone in the personalized entity is converted to audio data by the control circuitry, transferred to the computer via the communication link, and is utilized at the computer in conjunction with the control routines to guide selection of stored audio data to be retrieved and sent to the personalized entity.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive system for teaching, entertaining, and habituating a child utilizes an interactive entity such as a doll, the doll having a microphone, a speaker, and control circuitry adapted for driving the speaker and microphone and a bidirectional communication link to a personal computer (PC). Scripted data stored at the computer directs doll activity and verbal articulation, and utilizes response from the child through the doll to the PC in directing output to the doll. In alternative embodiments the interactive doll has also servo-mechanisms for providing doll motion, such as eye and mouth and limb movement, which may be coordinated with verbalization in different scripts by commands retrieved at the computer and sent to the doll. In a preferred embodiment environments and applications are provided on CD-ROM disks which may also provide the operating application for the interactive doll system. Systems may be adapted for a broad range of functionality, such as acquaintance of a child with foreign languages, story telling, indirect interaction between an adult and a child through the medium of the doll, and much more.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. An interactive system comprising:
-
a personal computer (PC) having a CPU, a memory, a first communication port adapted for peripheral communication coupled to the CPU, and control routines executable by the CPU; a personalized entity separate from the PC, having therein control circuitry coupled to a microphone, to a speaker and to a second communication port adapted for peripheral communication; and a communication link coupling the first and the second communication ports; wherein, through execution of the control routines by the CPU, communication is executed between the PC and the personalized entity as a peripheral device, wherein stored audio data is retrieved by the CPU, passed to the personalized entity via the communication link converted to analog audio at the speaker in the personalized entity, and wherein voice input via the microphone in the personalized entity is converted to audio data by the control circuitry, transferred to the computer via the communication link, and is utilized at the computer in conjunction with the control routines to guide selection of stored audio data to be retrieved and sent to the personalized entity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. An interactive doll, comprising:
-
a microcontroller coupled to digital memory; a sound circuitry coupled to the microcontroller and connected to a microphone and a speaker, the sound circuit adapted for converting audio data to analog audio output at the speaker and for converting analog audio input at the microphone to audio data; and a (bidirectional communication interface) peripheral port coupled to the microcontroller, for connection to a host computer; wherein the interactive doll operates as a peripheral device through the peripheral port, and wherein analog audio input at the microphone is converted into audio data by the sound circuitry and transmitted at the peripheral port, and wherein audio data received at the peripheral port is converted by the sound circuitry and provided as analog audio output at the speaker. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An interactive personal article comprising:
-
a microcontroller coupled to digital memory; sound circuitry coupled to the microcontroller and connected to a microphone and a speaker, the sound circuitry adapted for converting audio data to analog audio output at the speaker and for converting analog audio input at the microphone to audio data; and a peripheral port coupled to the microcontroller, for connection to a host computer; wherein the interactive personal article operates as a peripheral device through the peripheral port, and wherein analog audio input at the microphone is converted into audio data by the sound circuitry and transmitted at the peripheral port, and wherein audio data received at the peripheral port is converted by the sound circuitry and provided as analog audio output at the speaker. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method for teaching, comprising steps of:
-
(a) retrieving audio selections from digital memory associated with a computer as primary digital audio data; (b) sending the audio data to a first peripheral port in the environment of the computer and thence over a communication link to an electronic doll adapted as a peripheral device to the computer, the electronic doll in proximity to a child; (c) receiving the audio data at a second peripheral port in the electronic doll and converting the audio data to analog audio output at a speaker incorporated in the electronic doll; (d) receiving speech from the child at a microphone associated with the electronic doll; (e) converting the child'"'"'s speech to return audio data; (f) transmitting the return audio data via the second peripheral port over the communication link from the doll to the computer; and (g) using the return audio data in the computer as criteria for selecting further audio data for transmission to the doll. - View Dependent Claims (21)
-
Specification