Interactive apparatus using print media

• US 7,106,309 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Flowers, Mark, Grunert, Margaret E., Avery, Jason, Jedrzejek, Tracey Hope, Wood, Michael C., Shuler, Eric Thomas, Freeman, Richard Glen
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US10/439,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20030218604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 345/169, 345173-179, 345204-215, 178 1801- 1807, 178 1901- 1906, 434169-178, 434308-318
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems

Abstract

A method for producing an output in response to an interaction with a print element on a sheet is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes placing a sheet comprising a print element on a surface of a base unit. A user can then mark on the sheet in the vicinity of the print element with a marking instrument. An audio output that corresponds to the print element is generated.

Claims

1. A method of utilizing a sheet of print media in an interactive system, said method comprising:

a) a receiving code for rendering a sheet having a print element printed on the sheet wherein the printed sheet includes a printed identifier printed on the sheet, wherein the printed identifies the sheet to a base unit, wherein the sheet is identified to the base unit after the user manually selects the printed identifier, and wherein the code is sent from a server computer to a client computer at a user site wherein the base unit of an interactive apparatus unit includes a surface to receive said sheet and an array of electrical elements under the surface; and

b) in response to user interaction with the print element while the sheet is disposed on the base unit rendering an output related to the print element.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said user interaction with the print element comprises applying pressure to the print element.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the array of electrical elements comprises an array of pressure sensitive electrical elements.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the array of electrical elements comprises an antenna array of antennas.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said user interaction with the print element includes marking on the sheet in the vicinity of the print element.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the print element is a letter, number, or symbol.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the output is an audio output.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said user interaction with the print element comprises marking on the print element.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said user interaction with the print element includes selecting the print element with a stylus.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving code comprises sending code from the server computer to the client computer via the Internet.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transferring code for an audio output for the print element from the server computer to the client computer; and

transferring the code for the audio output to the interactive apparatus.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transferring code for an audio output for the print element from the server computer to the client computer;

transferring the code for the audio output for the print element from the client computer to a transferable information storage medium; and

inserting the transferable information storage medium into the base unit.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the printed sheet includes an identifier printed on the sheet, wherein the identifier identifies the sheet to the base unit.

14. A method of utilizing a sheet of print media in an interactive system, said method comprising:

a) receiving code for an audio output for rendering a sheet having a print element printed on the sheet, wherein the code is sent from a server computer to a client computer at a user site wherein a base unit of an interactive apparatus unit includes a surface to receive said sheet and an array of electrical elements under the surface;

b) transferring the code for the audio output to the interactive apparatus; and

c) in response to user interaction with the print element while the sheet is disposed on the base unit rendering the audio output related to the print element.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said user interaction with the print element comprises applying pressure to the print element.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the array of electrical elements comprises an array of pressure sensitive electrical elements.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the array of electrical elements comprises an antenna array of antennas.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said user interaction with the print element includes marking on the sheet in the vicinity of the print element.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the print element is a letter, number, or symbol.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the output is an audio output.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein said user interaction with the print element comprises marking on the print element.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein said user interaction with the print element includes selecting the print element with a stylus.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein said receiving code comprises sending code from the server computer to the client computer via the Internet

24. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

transferring code for an audio output for the print element from the server computer to the client computer;

transferring the code for the audio output for the print element from the client computer to a transferable information storage medium; and

inserting the transferable information storage medium into the base unit.

25. The method of claim 14 wherein the printed sheet includes an identifier printed on the sheet, wherein the identifier identifies the sheet to the base unit.

26. The method of claim 14 wherein the printed sheet includes a printed identifier printed on the sheet, wherein the printed identifier identifies the sheet to base unit, and wherein the sheet is identified to the base unit after the user manually selects the printed identifier.

27. A method of utilizing a sheet of print media in an interactive system, said method comprising:

a) receiving code for an audio output for rendering a sheet having a print element printed on the sheet, wherein the code is sent from a server computer to a client computer at a user site wherein a base unit of an interactive apparatus unit includes a surface to receive said sheet and an array of electrical elements under the surface;

b) transferring the code for the audio output for the print element from the client computer to a transferable information storage medium;

c) inserting the transferable information storage medium into the base unit; and

d) in response to user interaction with the print element while the sheet is disposed on the base unit rendering the audio output related to the print element.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said user interaction with the print element comprises applying pressure to the print element.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the array of electrical elements comprises an array of pressure sensitive electrical elements.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the array of electrical elements comprises an antenna array of antennas.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein said user interaction with the print element includes marking on the sheet in the vicinity of the print element.

32. The method of claim 27 wherein the print element is a letter, number, or symbol.

33. The method of claim 27 wherein the output is an audio output.

34. The method of claim 27 wherein said user interaction with the print element comprises marking on the print element.

35. The method of claim 27 wherein said user interaction with the print element includes selecting the print element with a stylus.

36. The method of claim 27 wherein said receiving code comprises sending code from the server computer to the client computer via the Internet.

37. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

transferring the code for the audio output to the interactive apparatus.

38. The method of claim 27 wherein the printed sheet includes an identifier printed on the sheet, wherein the identifier identifies the sheet to the base unit.

39. The method of claim 27 wherein the printed sheet includes a printed identifier printed on the sheet, wherein the printed identifier identifies the sheet to base unit, and wherein the sheet is identified to the base unit after the user manually selects the printed identifier.