Method for producing remotely a picture display device storing one or more associated audio messages

• US 6,393,402 B1
• Filed: 12/06/2001
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LJ Talk LLC
• Original Assignee: LJ Talk LLC
• Inventors: Loudermilk, Alan R., Jung, Wayne D.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITS, TALIVALDIS IVARS
• Application Number:
  US10/006,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20020040298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 166 Days
• Field of Search: 704/272, 407/17
• US Class Current: 704/272
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/0616 Ornamental frames, e.g. with illumination, speakers or decorative features
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2001/145 Picture cubes
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2200/143 producing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2200/146 recording or detecting means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/062 Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems

Abstract

A picture frame and accompanying audio message circuit is provided such that one or more desired audio messages stored in the audio message circuit associated with one or more display pictures can be played upon the touching of the pictures or the frame, or in response to a voice recognition device sensing an audio command associated with the particular audio message and/or pictures. When audio message playback is desired, a switch on the frame or under a protective cover for the picture is activated by touching, or a position sensitive device may be used to sense whether a particular position on the picture has been touched. Digital or analog information representing the desired audio message is retrieved from a memory device, which is subsequently transmitted to a speaker which produces the desired audio message perceptible to a human. In other embodiments, multiple picture and multiple messages are provided such that the user can touch a particular picture, or the switch associated with that picture, and an audio message corresponding to the picture is then played through the speaker. In still other embodiments, a system is provided with a plurality of pictures mounted in the perimeter faces of a cube or other geometrical shape, each picture having associated with it a switch for activating a message or plurality of messages. In still other embodiments, a position sensitive device or a voice recognition device is utilized to initiate audio message playback.

Claims

1. A method for remotely producing a talking article having an audio message circuit storing one or more audio messages at a second location remote from a first location, wherein one or more switches and a speaker are provided with the article for playback of the one or more audio messages through the speaker, the method comprising:

generating electrical representations corresponding to the one or more audio messages at the first location;

transmitting the electrical representations over a transmission medium, wherein the electrical representations generated at the first location are transmitted to the second location remote from the first location;

receiving the electrical representations at the second location; and

storing the electrical representations of the one or more audio messages in the audio message circuit in the article at the second location, wherein the one or more audio messages are played back through the speaker by activation of one of the one or more switches.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the article comprises a sketch, drawing, lettering, photograph or fixed object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more audio messages is/are input into or stored in the audio message circuit in digital or analog form.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more audio message is/are input into the audio message circuit via a microphone or input port.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more audio messages comprise a recorded voice message of a user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the article is delivered to a recipient of the article at a third location remote from the first location, wherein the recipient plays back the recorded voice message of the user, originally generated at the first location, at the location remote from the first location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more switches comprise one or more touch sensitive switches.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more touch sensitive switches comprise capacitive or membrane type switches.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more touch sensitive switches comprise switches that are unnoticeable to a user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more switches comprise at least two switches.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more audio messages comprise at least two audio messages.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a first audio message is played back in response to activation of a first switch, wherein a second audio message is played back in response to activation of a second switch.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more touch sensitive switches comprise a light activated switch.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a predetermined audio message is played back in response to activation of the light activated switch.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a first audio message is played back in response to activation of a first switch, wherein the predetermined audio message is played back in response to the activation of the light activated switch.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein he first audio message and the predetermined audio message comprise different audio messages.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium comprises a telephone line or a data line or satellite link.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical representations are transmitted or received using digital or analog transmit or receive devices.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the article including the stored one or more audio messages is delivered to a predetermined user at a location remote from the first location.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more audio messages comprise a commemorative message.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the article comprises a sketch, drawing, lettering, photograph or fixed object.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the article comprises a commemorative object including at least the sketch, drawing, lettering, photograph or fixed object and the audio message circuit storing at least the commemorative message is produced and delivered at a location remote from the fist location.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio message circuit comprises a memory or an analog storage device.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the article comprises a picture display device displaying one or more pictures.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the picture display device is substantially in the form of a geometric shape.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the picture display device displays a plurality of pictures.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein an audio message is associated with each of the plurality of displayed pictures.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the picture display device includes at least one face that includes a clock element.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein one or more audio messages are played back in response to a signal from the clock element.