Method and system for illustrating sound and text

• US 7,111,774 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2002
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Publications International Limited
• Original Assignee: PTO (Safe Fleet Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Song, Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US10/272,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20030116620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/383, 235/449, 235/435, 235/439, 235/440, 235/450, 235/493, 434/317, 434/311, 434/309, 434/178, 434168-169, 434/308, 434/319, 434/330, 434/409, 345/901, 345/173, 902/19, 902/27, 178/18.01
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0224 Key guide holders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• 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

Abstract

A system for displaying audio content with text including a book holder and a book. The book holder identifies which book of a plurality is placed in the holder by detecting magnetic indicators in specific locations and arrangements which are unique to each book. The page of the book which a user views at any given time is identified by detection of ambient light, by detection of a number of circuit elements in parallel, by detection of progressively stacked magnetic sensors, or by microwave reflection.

Claims

1. A system for playing audio with text, comprising:

an electronic book holder that accepts a cartridge, the cartridge including content associated with a plurality of books;

a book having a plurality of positions, at least some of the positions having indicators which are detectable by the holder,

wherein when a book is placed in the electronic book holder, the positions of the indicators are automatically read to identify the book and to associate the book with content from the cartridge associated with the book that is placed in the electronic book holder.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said indicators are detected by the holder in a contactless manner.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the book holder selectively plays the content such that when pages of the book are in a first open position, content associated with a first page is displayed.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said book holder includes a plurality of switches, each of said switches being operable to close as a result of the presence of one of said indicators.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said switches are magnetic switches.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said indicators are magnets.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicators generate magnetic fields that are detectable by the book holder.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each page of the book has a single indicator affixed thereto such that when a page is turned, the indicator associated with that page is not detectable by the book holder.

9. A system for playing audio with text, comprising:

a book holder system adapted to play audio through a speaker, the book holder system receiving a cartridge, the cartridge including content associated with a plurality of books;

a book having a binding defining a first plurality of locations and a second plurality of locations;

wherein the book holder system automatically identifies the book when placed in the book holder system by using said first plurality of locations.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the content is retrieved from the cartridge based on the identity of the book.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the binding is a spiral binding passing through holes in the book and wherein the first plurality of locations comprises the bottom three spaces between the holes of the spiral binding.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the second plurality of positions is equal to the number of open positions of the book.

13. A system for playing audio with text, comprising:

a book holder designed to receive a book, the book having a plurality of pages;

magnetic material attached to each of the plurality of pages such that when pages of the plurality are overlaid, the strength of a resulting magnetic field increases;

wherein the book holder includes a magnetic field sensor positioned to detect the resulting magnetic field.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the page of the book being viewed by a user is indicated by the relative strength of the resulting magnetic field.

15. A system for playing audio with text, comprising:

an electronic book holder that receives a book and a cartridge containing content associated with a plurality of books;

magnetic material attached to the book in discrete locations;

wherein the book holder includes a plurality of magnetic switches aligned with said discrete locations such that when said book is received within said book holder, said magnetic material overlays said magnetic switches at the respective discrete locations to automatically move at least one of plurality of magnetic switches to identify the book, such that content associated with the book may be retrieved from the cartridge.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a processor, wherein said processor selects audio to be played in accordance with the arrangement of moved switches.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein movement of said switch closes said switch.