Programmable interactive talking device

• US 8,172,637 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2008
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Health Hero Network Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Health Hero Network Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HARPER, TRAMAR YONG
• Application Number:
  US12/046,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20090275408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,518 Days
• Field of Search: 463/35, 446/268
• US Class Current: 446/175
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/047 Architecture of speech synthesisers

Abstract

A programmable interactive device in which a microprocessor is coupled to memory and two speech synthesis processor. The device is connected through a wireless communication system to a remote server to receive scripts and corresponding digital data provided by third party content providers and other users. Software is executed to select digital data and the script based on received identification data and status data from an adjacent device. A code of instructions is executed on the microprocessor to activate a speech synthesizer to convert digital data into audio data, which is output through a speaker. Also, an interactive environment for a pair of talking devices is provided.

Claims

1. An interactive programmable device comprising:

a wireless communication device that receives digital data modules and computer programmable scripts;

a memory unit that stores said digital data modules and a plurality of computer programmable scripts;

a computerized speech module that executes at least one of said computer programmable scripts stored in said memory unit and synthesizes said digital data modules into speech;

a sensor that identifies and detects a status of an adjacent interactive programmable device;

a transceiver operatively connected to said sensor that receives identification and status information of the adjacent device from said sensor and transmits said identification and status information to a remote application server, wherein the remote application server transmits a response script and corresponding digital data modules to the wireless communication device based on said identification and status information;

a software module stored on said memory unit, wherein said software module inputs said response script and corresponding digital data modules into said computerized speech module for synthesis into speech; and

a speaker to output said speech.

2. The interactive programmable device of claim 1, wherein said computer programmable scripts are configured to be modified by a user.

3. The interactive programmable device of claim 1, further comprising a button that allows said interactive programmable device to be activated by a user to create a simulated conversation between a plurality of interactive programmable devices in response to the speech of said adjacent device, wherein a script of said adjacent device contains identity and categorization metadata that becomes an input variable for the script on said interactive programmable device.

4. The interactive programmable device of claim 1, wherein said interactive programmable device is a toy.

5. An interactive talking system comprising a first interactive programmable device adjacent to a second interactive programmable device, wherein each interactive programmable device comprises:

a wireless communication transceiver that receives digital data modules and computer programmable scripts;

a memory unit that stores said digital data modules and a plurality of computer programmable scripts;

a computerized speech module that executes at least one of said computer programmable scripts received through said wireless communication transceiver and stored in said memory unit and synthesizes said digital data modules into speech;

a sensor that identifies and detects a status of the adjacent interactive programmable device;

a transceiver operatively connected to said sensor, wherein said transceiver receives identification and status information of the adjacent interactive programmable device from said sensor and transmits said identification and status information to a remote application server, wherein the remote application server transmits a response script and corresponding digital data modules to the wireless communication transceiver based on said identification and status information;

a software module stored on said memory unit, wherein said software module inputs said response script and corresponding digital data modules into said computerized speech module for synthesis into speech; and

a speaker to output said speech.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a communications network that facilitates data transfer and interaction between the first and second interactive programmable devices.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said first interactive programmable device is responsive to the speech of said second interactive programmable device once said first interactive programmable device is activated by a user to create a simulated conversation between the first and second devices.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said first interactive programmable device generates a response computer programmable script based on a computer programmable script category of said second interactive programmable device.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the first and second interactive programmable devices each sense proximity to other devices and responds with appropriate speech to have a simulated conversation with other devices.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the first and second devices each comprise computer-executable programs comprising scripted conversations generated by any of a user and a third party content provider.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said computerized speech module selects an appropriate scripted response based on a proximity the devices.

12. The system of claim 5, further comprising a communications device connecting each of said devices to said remote application server.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said communications device comprises any of a computer, a telephone, and a television.

14. The system of claim 5, wherein the devices are toys.

15. A method for operating a programmable interactive device, said method comprising:

receiving, in said programmable interactive device, digital data modules and computer programmable scripts from a remote application server;

activating a sensor provided in said programmable interactive device to detect speech and a status of an adjacent programmable interactive device;

converting the detected speech and status into data;

transmitting said data to said remote application server in order to receive a response script;

processing said received response script with a speech processor in order to output an audio speech response; and

outputting said audio speech response.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said sensor comprises a RFID interrogator that receives and detects an identity of said adjacent programmable interactive device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising operating a software program stored in said remote application server that selects a response script stored in a scripted table based on the detected speech and status of said adjacent programmable interactive device.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said response script is generated by a third party content provider and uploaded to said remote application server.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein a voice message corresponding to a selected response script is output through a speaker on said interactive programmable device as a response.