Forever by my side ancestral computer program

• US 5,946,657 A
• Filed: 02/18/1998
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lynn N. Svevad
• Original Assignee: Lynn N. Svevad
• Inventors: Svevad, Lynn N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABEBE, DANIEL DEMELASH
• Application Number:
  US09/025,603
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 704/275, 704/276
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/00 Animation

Abstract

A method (110) of communicating by a user to a relative utilizing an ancestral computer program which comprises a computer having a CPU, operating system, display, speaker, microphone, sound card and storage means. The ancestral computer program is resident in the computer storage means consists of the following steps: A) first selecting (112) a relative; B) second selecting (114) a level of communication from a group consisting of basic, intermediate and advanced; C) activating (116) a virtual animation of the relative on the computer monitor; D) speaking (118) into the computer microphone by a user; E) translating (120) the user'"'"'s words into a first spoken electronic format; F) relating (122) the first spoken electronic format to an appropriate relative'"'"'s response; G) generating (124) an auditory output of the appropriate relatives response through the computer speaker; and H) repeating (126) steps (118) through (124) formulating a two way conversation between the user and the relative.

Claims

1. A method of a user communicating interactively with a deceased, actual person utilizing an ancestral computer program which comprises a computer having a CPU, operating system, display, speaker, microphone, sound card and storage means, the ancestral computer program being resident in the storage means, comprising the steps of:

a) storing information in said computer storage means about deceased relatives and friends, such information including personality, voice, image and mannerisms;

b) selecting a deceased relative or friend from among those stored in said storage system to communicate interactively with;

c) selecting a level of communication from a group consisting of basic, intermediate and advanced;

d) activating a virtual animation of said selected deceased relative or friend on said computer monitor;

e) speaking into the computer microphone by said user;

f) translating the user'"'"'s words into a spoken electronic format;

g) relating said spoken electronic format to an appropriate response by said selected deceased relative or friend;

h) generating an auditory and visual output through the speaker and monitor, respectively, of the appropriate response of said selected deceased relative or friend;

i) repeating steps e) through h) formulating a two way conversation between the user and said selected deceased relative or friend.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the virtual animation of said selected deceased relative or friend is aged according to the actual age of said selected deceased relative or friend.

3. The method of claim 2 in which the auditory output of said selected deceased relative or friend is also aged according to the actual age of said selected deceased relative or friend.

4. A method of a user communicating interactively with a deceased, actual person utilizing an ancestral computer program which comprises a computer having a CPU, operating system, display, speaker, microphone, sound card and storage means, the ancestral computer program being resident in the storage means, comprising the steps of:

a) storing information in said computer storage means about deceased relatives and friends, said information including personality, voice, image, and mannerisms;

b) selecting a special occasion which is prompted by a date in the computer operating system;

c) activating a virtual animation of a deceased relative or friend for whom said special occasion is significant from said computer storage means to communicate interactively with;

d) generating an auditory output of an appropriate greeting from said deceased relative or friend through the computer speaker;

e) responding by speaking into the computer microphone by said user;

f) translating the user'"'"'s words into a spoken electronic format;

g) relating said spoken electronic format to an appropriate response by said deceased relative or friend;

h) generating an auditory and visual output through the speaker and monitor, respectively, of the appropriate response by said deceased relative; and

i) repeating steps e) through h) formulating a two way conversation between the user and deceased relative or friend.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the virtual animation of the deceased relative or friend is aged according to the actual age of said deceased relative or friend.

6. The method of claim 5 in which the auditory output of said deceased relative or friend is also aged according to the actual age of said deceased relative or friend.

7. The method of claim 4 in which said special occasion is the birthday of the said deceased relative or friend.