Interactive three-dimensional multimedia I/O device for a computer
First Claim
1. A motion based multimedia I/O system for bidirectional communication of information between one or more computer applications and a user, further comprising:
- an I/O device, further comprising;
at least one movable figure, further comprising;
a preselected ornamental appearance, a plurality of movable components, and a first universal adapter operatively connected to the movable components;
a base unit, further comprising;
a second universal adapter having a plurality of connections for removably attaching to the first movable adapter;
the second universal adapter in the base unit having means to control the first universal adapter such that movement of one or more preselected movable components in the movable figure are controlled by the base unit via the second universal adapter; and
the first and second universal adapters are removably attached to one another such that the movable figure can be detached from the base unit, and replaced with another movable figure;
the base unit having means to initiate and control predetermined motions of the movable figure under control of the second universal adapter in the base unit in response to instructions from a computer, the instructions from the computer issued from one or more independent programs through a common interface, and the movements of the movable components having specific meaning for a user;
whereby the base unit controls the detachable movable figure such that motion based communications is made between one or more independent software programs in a computer and an individual.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A motion based communications system having an animated device, which is controlled locally or over a network connection, and which uses motion to convey information to a user. The information can relate to a predefined system events, such as printer status changes, e-mail status, system errors or communications. Further, it can represent remote individuals in a chat room, or when playing games. Computer games can use it to represent a remote or local human or software opponent. Voice recognition software allows commands or data to be input to the system via the device. Multiple devices can be used for multiple remotely located users. A universal base unit allows characters to be replaceably attached to, and controlled by, the base unit. Different characters can be substituted for different games, etc. The device may be software controlled by any application program via a standard application program interface.
116 Citations
59 Claims
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1. A motion based multimedia I/O system for bidirectional communication of information between one or more computer applications and a user, further comprising:
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an I/O device, further comprising; at least one movable figure, further comprising; a preselected ornamental appearance, a plurality of movable components, and a first universal adapter operatively connected to the movable components; a base unit, further comprising; a second universal adapter having a plurality of connections for removably attaching to the first movable adapter;
the second universal adapter in the base unit having means to control the first universal adapter such that movement of one or more preselected movable components in the movable figure are controlled by the base unit via the second universal adapter; andthe first and second universal adapters are removably attached to one another such that the movable figure can be detached from the base unit, and replaced with another movable figure; the base unit having means to initiate and control predetermined motions of the movable figure under control of the second universal adapter in the base unit in response to instructions from a computer, the instructions from the computer issued from one or more independent programs through a common interface, and the movements of the movable components having specific meaning for a user; whereby the base unit controls the detachable movable figure such that motion based communications is made between one or more independent software programs in a computer and an individual. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 28, 33, 52, 55, 59)
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13. A multimedia I/O system for communicating with a computer, further comprising:
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a common software interface configured to accept instructions from one or more independent programs in a computer; a plurality of multimedia I/O devices, each multimedia device further comprising; a movable figure, further comprising; a plurality of movable components, and a first universal adapter operatively connected to the movable components; a base unit, further comprising; a second universal adapter having a plurality of connections for removably attaching to the first universal adapter;
the second universal adapter in the base unit having means to control the first universal adapter such that movement of one or more preselected movable components in the movable figure are controlled by the base unit via the second universal adapter; andthe first and second universal adapters are removably attached to one another such that the movable figure can be detached from the base unit, and replaced with another movable figure; whereby the multimedia I/O devices act as intermediary communications devices that allow motion based communication between multiple programs and a user. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 31)
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21. A multimedia I/O system for communicating information between a computer and a user, further comprising:
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a computer having a programmable processor and storage means for storing computer programs; at least one computer program further having means to execute programming instructions to a base unit for controlling a movable figure; at least one movable figure having a first universal adapter; the base unit having a second universal adapter to attach to the first universal adapter such that the second universal adapter controls movement of individual movable components of the movable figure; and a common interface between the programmable processor and the base unit having a predetermined interface format which allows multiple computer programs to independently access the base unit and control movement of the movable figure; whereby the multimedia I/O system acts as an intermediary communications device between one or mare independent software programs in a computer and an individual that communicates information via movable figure motion. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 32, 53, 56, 58)
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34. A method of using motion to communicate information between computers and individuals, including the steps of:
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using a plurality of independent software applications to control an I/O device, which has a base unit, and one or more movable figures that are detachably attachable to a universal adapter in the base unit, the universal adapter having means to initiate movement of and independently control a plurality of movable components in the movable figure, the software applications controlling the I/0 device via a common interface having a predetermined interface format which allows the software applications to independently access the movable figure, via the base unit, which controls the movable components independent from one another, for the purpose of outputting information via specific controlled movements of the I/O device, the movable I/O device is positioned in view of an individual such that the individual is provided with information based on motion; and associating specific events with specific movements such that when the individual observes a particular movement, information regarding a specific event is provided by the computer to the individual; whereby an individual can be notified of specific events by a plurality of software applications in the computer based on particular movements of the I/O device which are controlled by the computer. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 57)
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49. A method of communicating between computers and individuals, including the steps of:
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using a base unit and a plurality of detachable moving figures to form a portable I/O device as an interface between a computer and an individual such that the computer can output information to the individual, and the individual can input data to the computer; and using communication means in the base unit to communicate with the computer, and using a universal adapter that has a plurality of connections in the base unit to control independent movement of multiple movable components in the movable figure attached the base unit; providing a wireless link as the communication means between the computer and the base unit such that the portable I/O device can be remotely located from the computer; whereby an individual can control and interact with the computer using a portable I/O device, and can move the portable I/O device from one location to another while controlling and interacting with the remotely located computer. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 54)
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Specification