Internet-based electronic books

• US 7,477,870 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2005
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mattel Incorporated
• Inventors: Lane, Courtney
• Primary Examiner(s): Saadat; Cameron
• Application Number:
  US11/054,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20050181344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 434/317
• US Class Current: 434/317
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied

Abstract

An online reading system, and more particularly to a reading system that allows users to read, listen to, and/or interact with electronic stories in an online (typically, internet-based) environment. In some cases, the electronic stories may be customizable by the user, so that specific personal attributes of the user, such as the user'"'"'s name, age, favorite animal, and other personal attributes and/or preferences may be incorporated into the story.

Claims

1. An online reading system comprising:

a computer-displayed graphical representation of a plurality of pages of an online storybook corresponding to at least two plot lines, each page corresponding to each plot line including one or more of text and an image;

a customization mechanism configured to allow the user to customize the storybook by including at least one physical attribute of the user in an image and by including at least one attribute of the user in the text, such that when the customization mechanism is used, at least one page includes text that includes at least one attribute of the user and at least one page includes a representation of the user by providing an image correlated with the text and represented with a physical attribute of the user including hair;

a navigation mechanism configured to allow a user to navigate through selected pages of the storybook corresponding to one of the plot lines each time the user accesses the reading system, the navigation mechanism being further configured to allow the user to navigate through pages corresponding to a different one of the at least two plot lines with each successive use of the system and save the user'"'"'s history of accessing each plot line until the user has navigated through pages corresponding to all of the plot lines;

wherein at least one of the images is an animated image, and wherein animation of the animated image is selectively triggered by the user,

2. The online reading system of claim 1, wherein the attribute of the user is the user'"'"'s first name.

3. The online reading system of claim 1, wherein the customization mechanism is configured to allow the user to enter the at least one attribute alphanumerically using a computer keyboard.

4. The online reading system of claim 1, wherein the customization mechanism is configured to allow the user to select the at least one attribute from a list of attributes provided by the reading system.

5. The online reading system of claim 1, wherein the at least one attribute includes a favorite color.

6. The online reading system of claim 1, wherein the at least one attribute includes a favorite type of animal.

7. The online reading system of claim 1, wherein the at least one attribute includes a name for a pet animal.

8. The online reading system of claim 1, wherein the at least one attribute includes text describing a physical attribute of the user.

9. The online reading system of claim 8, wherein the text describing a physical attribute is the user'"'"'s age.

10. The online reading system of claim 8, wherein the text describing a physical attribute is the user'"'"'s eye color.

11. The online reading system of claim 1, wherein the text describing a physical attribute is the user'"'"'s hair color.

12. The online reading system of claim 1, wherein animation of the at least one animated image is selectively triggered by positioning a graphical cursor on the animated image and clicking a mouse button.

13. The online reading system of claim 1, wherein animation of the at least one animated image is selectively triggered by pressing a key on a computer keyboard.

14. A method of providing an online storybook having multiple plot lines, the method comprising:

connecting an online host computer to a user'"'"'s computer;

providing an option for user access one or more online storybooks;

accepting user identification information;

accepting user input to access a chosen online storybook;

determining whether the accepted user information indicates that the user has previously accessed the chosen online storybook;

providing a listing of available online storybook plot lines to the user based on this determination;

configuring a navigation mechanism for a selected online storybook plot line;

providing a customization mechanism configured to allow a user to customize the chosen online storybook;

accepting user input through the customization mechanism, the user input corresponding to one or more user attributes;

selecting a graphical representation of a page of the chosen online storybook, the page including one or more text and one or more image;

incorporating one or more user attributes of the user input into the text and the image of the graphical representation;

displaying the graphical representation incorporating the one or more attributes of user input;

determining, after the user has navigated through the selected online storybook plot line, whether to continue with another online storybook plot line; and

modifying the user information to indicate which online storybook plot lines the user has accessed.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein accepting user identification information includes accepting user login information.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein accepting user identification information includes accessing information stored on a user'"'"'s computer.

17. The method of claim 14, further including accepting payment from a user.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein configuring a navigation mechanism for a selected online storybook plot line includes randomly selecting an online storybook plot line.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein randomly selecting an online storybook plot line includes randomly selecting from the online storybook plot lines not previously accessed by the user.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein configuring a navigation mechanism for a selected online storybook plot line includes accepting user input to access a chosen online storybook plot line.