System and method for substituting an animated character when a remote control physical character is unavailable
First Claim
1. In a system including a computer, a display device and a controlled device that responds to signals from the computer, a method for replacing a controlled device with a representation of the controlled device, comprising the steps of:
- determining whether the controlled device is available;
in response to the controlled device being available, transmitting controlled device data to the controlled device; and
in response to the controlled device not being available, retrieving representation data and displaying a representation of the controlled device on the display device,wherein the transmitted controlled device data and the retrieved representation data are coordinated with the program content being displayed on the display device.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An educational computer system includes a computer, a display device, a remote control character, and a wireless modem for communication between the computer and the remote control character. The remote control character can move and speak in response to signals from the computer, thereby allowing the remote control character to interact with the user and with characters displayed on the display device. When a program is run, the computer determines whether the remote control character is available. If it is not, the computer substitutes an animated character that is displayed on the display device. The computer periodically checks for the remote control characters while displaying the animated character. If the remote control character becomes available, the animated character is discontinued and the computer begins sending voice and movement information to the remote control character. Similarly, if the remote control character becomes unavailable while the program is running, the program will automatically revert to the animated character and the program will continue.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. In a system including a computer, a display device and a controlled device that responds to signals from the computer, a method for replacing a controlled device with a representation of the controlled device, comprising the steps of:
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determining whether the controlled device is available; in response to the controlled device being available, transmitting controlled device data to the controlled device; and in response to the controlled device not being available, retrieving representation data and displaying a representation of the controlled device on the display device, wherein the transmitted controlled device data and the retrieved representation data are coordinated with the program content being displayed on the display device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer system for displaying an animated character in the place of a physical character, comprising:
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a physical character; a processing unit; a wireless modem connecting the physical character to the processing unit; a display device connected to the processing unit for displaying images; memory connected to the processing unit and containing a program module; a storage medium connected to the processing unit for storing content to be displayed on the display device, physical character data, and animated character data; the processing unit, responsive to instructions from the program module, being operative to; acquire a physical character; display the content on the display device; retrieve the physical character data from the storage medium; transmit the physical character data to the physical character; receive an indication that the physical character is not available; and in response to the indication that the physical character is not available, retrieve animated character data from the storage medium and display the animated character on the display device, wherein the retrieved portions of the physical character data and the animated character data are coordinated with a portion of the content being displayed on the display device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:
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retrieving content to be displayed on a display device; determining whether a physical character is available; and in response to the physical character not being available, retrieving animated character data and displaying an animated character on the display device, wherein the animated character data is coordinated with the retrieved content. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification