Interactive display

• US 8,217,251 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence E Anderson
• Original Assignee: Lawrence E Anderson
• Inventors: Anderson, Lawrence E
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad, Elvin G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Millikin, Andrew R
• Application Number:
  US12/586,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20110072954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 434/307.A, 434/307.R, 353/28, 84600-604, 846/10, 700/94, 381/110, 704/270, 704/272, 704/275, 704246-257, 715/202, 715/203
• US Class Current: 84/601
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0008 Associated control or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/368 displaying animated or moving pictures synchronized with the music or audio part
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/056 for extraction or identification of individual instrumental parts, e.g. melody, chords, bass; Identification or separation of instrumental parts by their characteristic voices or timbres
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/086 for transcription of raw audio or music data to a displayed or printed staff representation or to displayable MIDI-like note-oriented data, e.g. in pianoroll format
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/011 Lyrics displays, e.g. for karaoke applications
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence

Abstract

An interactive assembly for displaying a sequence of words from a text comprising: a processor; at least one memory operatively connected to the processor; at least one speech recognizer operatively connected to the processor; at least one audio input operatively connected the speech recognizer; at least one display operatively connected to the speech recognizer for displaying words of a song based upon the words recognized by the speech recognizer; whereby based upon a word received by the audio input, the next words to be recited incrementally displayed onto the at least one display contemporaneously with the input received from the operator. A method for interactively display the words of a text sequentially on a display comprising: receiving an inputted vocal input in an audio input device; inputting the inputted vocal input into a speech recognizer; comparing the inputted vocal input with words stored in sequence in memory; outputting on a display screen only the next sequential words for display.

Claims

1. An interactive assembly for displaying a sequence of words from a song comprising:

a processor;

at least one memory operatively connected to the processor;

the at least one memory containing words from songs and commands;

at least one speech recognizer operatively connected to the processor for converting vocal input into input readable by the processor;

the recognition of speech being limited to the vocal input of a particular user;

at least one audio input operatively connected to the speech recognizer for receiving vocal input;

the processor operating to determine whether the vocal input comprises a command or word from a song in memory;

at least one display operatively connected to the speech recognizer for displaying words of a song based upon the output of the speech recognizer;

the processor operating to control the display of words based upon inputted audio commands;

whereby based upon the vocal input, the next words to be recited are incrementally displayed onto the at least one display contemporaneously with the vocal input received from the operator or, if the vocal input is a command, the processor will respond to the command to thereby regulate the display of words.

2. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a display which only displays words numbering in the range of one to ten words and wherein the size of each of the words being displayed is controlled using vocal commands.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein by utilizing the vocal commands the operator can adjust the display of words to include more words and/or adjust the height of characters.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the inputted vocal commands include commands which start the display of words, stop the display of words, increase the speed of words being displayed, decrease the speed of words being displayed, and select the song to be displayed.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one memory comprises a memory containing songs, and wherein when music is inputted into the audio input, the processor operates to compare the vocal input with the songs in memory and upon finding a match, displays the words of the song onto the at least one display and wherein the operator may shorten the song and skip ahead by changing words to be sung to those later in the song whereupon the processor will recognize those as being later in the song and automatically skip to that section of the song, and the display will automatically skip to the proper segment of the song.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the assembly is adapted to be placed upon the floor of a stage so as to be substantially concealed from the audience and wherein the assembly is portable and self contained with a length in the range of approximately four inches to three feet, a width of approximately 3 to 6 inches and a height of approximately six inches or less.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the assembly is a single unified structure having a single display comprising an LED which displays letters in the range of 2 to 4 inches in height.

8. An interactive assembly for displaying a sequence of words comprising:

a processor;

at least one memory operatively connected to the processor;

at least one speech recognizer operatively connected to the processor for converting speech into input readable by the processor;

at least one audio input operatively connected to the speech recognizer;

at least one display operatively connected to the processor for displaying words based upon the output of the speech recognizer;

the speech recognizer operative to contemporaneously receive both words to be displayed and vocal commands for controlling the display of words, the processor operating to discriminate between vocal commands and words to be displayed and convert vocal commands into control signals which control the size of the font on the at least one display and/or the speed at which the font is displayed on the screen while the sequence of words is being incrementally displayed onto the display,

such that if the received vocal input is a displayed word, the next words to be recited are incrementally displayed onto the at least one display contemporaneously with the input received from the user—

and if the received vocal input is a command, the size of font or speed of the display of words is changed in accordance with the command.

9. The assembly of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of displays screens for a plurality of users comprising a lead user, and a controller, the controller operating to determine which of the plurality of displays will have the words displayed at a point in time, the controller operating to display the words to be viewed by an associated user on a predetermined display;

all of the displays being controlled by the vocal input of the lead user, and each of the displays being individually controllable by the associated user such that the associated user can control the size of the font.

10. The interactive assembly of claim 8 wherein the sequence of words displayed are words to a song and as the users sings the words of the song, the words of the song are incrementally displayed, and if the user voices a command, the processor reacts to the command to stop the display, select the song to be displayed, change the speed of the words being displayed, or change the font size.

11. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the assembly is a portable, single, unified, self-contained structure having a single display comprising an LED and wherein the assembly has a length in the range of approximately four inches to three feet and wherein the sequence of words have letters that can be varied in size from 2 to 4 inches in height.

12. A method for interactively displaying the words of a text sequentially on a display comprising:

receiving an inputted vocal input from a particular user in an audio input device;

inputting the inputted vocal input into a speech recognizer operatively connected to at least one processor;

the recognition of speech being limited to the vocal input of a particular user;

comparing the inputted vocal input with words stored in sequence in memory using the processor to determine whether the vocal input comprises words stored in sequence in memory or a command to regulate the display of words;

if the vocal input comprises words stored in sequence in memory, then outputting on a display only the next sequential words for display to the person inputting the vocal input;

if the vocal input comprises a command, then enabling the processor to execute the command to thereby regulate the display of words;

whereby based upon a word or words received by the audio input, the next words to be recited are incrementally displayed onto the at least one display contemporaneously with the received vocal input or if a command is received by the audio input, the display of words is changed in accordance with the command.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein there are a plurality of displays to accommodate a plurality of performers who are vocally inputting words into the audio input device;

each display being responsive to the vocal input of a particular performer; and

the displays are displaying the appropriate words to be recited by the performers, each of the displays being adapted for viewing by one of the performers.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein there are a plurality of displays interconnected by a network and a controller is connected to the network, the controller operating to display the words to be viewed by a predetermined performer on a predetermined display;

each of the displays being centrally controlled by the vocal input of one particular user.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein there are a plurality of displays, each displaying different information to be recited by a performer, and wherein the information to be displayed for viewing by a respective performer is based upon the vocal input received by the audio input device from a predetermined one of the performers.

16. An interactive prompt device for displaying the words of a song as it is being sung comprising:

at least one processor;

the at least one processor being responsive to commands for changing the display of words;

at least one memory operatively connected to the at least one processor for storage of at least one song;

at least one display for displaying words of a song;

each of the words being of a height in the range of 1-8 inches in height;

a speech recognizer operatively connected to the at least one processor;

the recognition of speech being limited to the vocal input of the singer;

the voice of the singer being inputted into the speech recognizer;

the speech recognizer operating to recognize the words of the song as it is being sung by the singer and display only the next 2-6 words of the song in sequential fashion;

the speech recognizer operating to recognize vocal commands inputted by the singer;

the at least one processor operating to change the display of words in response to a command;

whereby the at least one display acts as a prompt for viewing by a singer as the song is being sung, the letters of the words of the song being visible to the singer yet concealed from the audience.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the commands comprise commands which start the display of words, stop the display of words, increase the speed of words being displayed, decrease the speed of words being displayed, and select the song to be displayed.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the display displays letters in the range of 2 to 4 inches in height and the display displays only 2 to 4 words at a time, including the next sequential word of the song that is being sung by the singer.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein the at least one display comprises a plurality of displays interconnected into a network and wherein each of the displays is responsive only to the voice of a particular singer.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the network is controlled by a central controller, the controller operating to determine which of the plurality of displays will have the words displayed at a point in time.

21. The device of claim 16 wherein the at least one display comprises a plurality of displays, each displaying different information to be recited by a respective singer, and wherein the information to be displayed for viewing by a respective singer is based upon the vocal input received by the audio input device from a predetermined singer.

22. The device of claim 16 wherein the assembly is a portable, single, unified, self-contained structure having triangular sides and a single display comprising an LED and wherein the assembly has a length in the range of approximately four inches to three feet, a width of approximately 3 to 6 inches and a height of approximately six inches or less.