CONTEXT-BASED INTERACTIVE PLUSH TOY
A literary work defining a narrative, the literary work having phrases therein. The phrases including triggering phrases, non-triggering phrases, and non-stored triggering phrases. An interactive toy or device for interacting with a user while the phrases are being made audible. The toy or device includes a speech recognition unit that receives the audible phrases and detects the triggering and non-triggering phrases as they are audibilized. The triggering phrases may have independent significance or may only have significance when combined with non-triggering phrases from the literary work.
This application, having attorney docket number HALC.224157, is a continuation of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 13/116,927, entitled “CONTEXT-BASED INTERACTIVE PLUSH TOY,” filed May 26, 2011, having attorney docket number HALC.160511, which was itself a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/625,977 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,568,189), entitled “CONTEXT-BASED INTERACTIVE PLUSH TOY,” filed Nov. 25, 2009, having attorney docket number HALC.148771, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot applicable.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an interactive toy. More particularly, this invention relates to a toy having electronic components therein to activate an interactive program in response to a context-based prompt or set of context-based prompts.
The toy includes a body having an interior cavity (or cavities) in which the electrical components are concealed. A user engagable activation switch is provided to initiate interaction with the toy. In one embodiment, the toy is programmed to receive and interpret spoken words and, depending on the analysis, provide a specific response.
In another embodiment, the spoken words are provided to the user as part of a literary work, such as, for example, a book. In this embodiment, the user reads the book aloud and the toy receives the spoken words and analyzes them. When a triggering phrase or set of phrases is detected, the toy activates a pre-programmed response. The triggering phrases of the current invention are included as part of the literary work and, in some embodiments, the user does not even known what phrases will trigger the response. In other embodiments, the triggering phrases are differentiated from surrounding text such that the user will know when a triggering phrase is about to be read aloud. In a different embodiment, the literary work may comprise a movie or television show. In this example, the toy is programmed to respond to certain triggering phrases that are broadcast as the movie/show is playing.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, phrases that trigger or correspond to a particular response are selectively placed within the literary work. For example, a triggering phrase could be placed at the beginning of a sentence or at the end of a page of the book. This selective placement facilitates reception and analysis of speech in a speech recognition unit positioned in the interactive toy.
Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures.
The features of the invention noted above are explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, in which
Referring now to the drawings in more detail and initially to
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Like book 110 discussed with regard to
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Embodiments of the present invention also include selecting the words or phrases in a non-triggering phrase such that the non-triggering phrase is sufficiently contrasted from a triggering phrase. In this embodiment, non-triggering phrases with similar phonemes (i.e., elemental units of spoken language) as triggering phrases can be rewritten or removed to minimize the incidence of false positives (i.e., improper detections of triggering phrases). For example, a triggering phrase “Jingle even loved to sing” could be combined with two preceding non-triggering phrases “Jingle loved to say hello” and “Jingle loved to fetch.” In this combination, the triggering and non-triggering phrases combine to read “Jingle loved to say hello. Jingle loved to fetch. Jingle even loved to sing.” Because “loved to say hello” is similar, in at least one phoneme, to “loved to sing,” this combination could increase the incidence of improper triggering phrase detections. As such, the entire combination could be selectively rewritten to read “Jingle loved to bark hello. Jingle loved to fetch. Jingle even loved to sing.” Alternatively, it could be redrafted to read “Jingle loved to fetch. Jingle even loved to sing.” In this embodiment, the phonemes of the triggering phrases and the non-triggering phrases are selected to contrast with one another.
Similar selective placement or drafting occurs when triggering phrases 250 and non-triggering phrases 260 are embedded in literary work of a different medium, such as, for example, a movie on a DVD. In this embodiment, the script of the movie (which corresponds to the text of the book) comprises both triggering (not shown) and non-triggering phrases (not shown). While the movie is played, the story of the movie is naturally advanced as time progresses. Incidental to this process, certain triggering phrases are uttered by the characters or other participants in the story being told (e.g., a narrator, and so on). These triggering phrases are optionally embedded within the script in accordance with the methodologies generally disclosed herein, such as, for example, those discussed above with regard to
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In the illustrative embodiment provided in
In an embodiment, sound module 380 may be at least partially positioned within interior cavity 360 of body 310 and electrically coupled with power supply 376 by one or more wires 378. Sound module 380 preferably includes a speaker 382, a sound module controller 384, and various related circuitry (not shown). The related circuitry may work with the sound module controller 384 to activate speaker 382 and to play audio messages stored in sound module controller 384 or in memory 374 in a manner known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, processor 372 is used by sound module 380 and/or related circuitry to play the audio messages stored in sound module controller 384 and/or memory 374. In other embodiments, this functionality is performed solely by the related circuitry and sound module controller 384.
Speech recognition unit 390 may also be positioned within interior cavity 360 of body 310 and electrically coupled with power supply 376 by one or more wires 378. Speech recognition unit 390 preferably includes an input device 392, a speech recognition unit controller 394, and other related circuitry (not shown). An exemplary input unit 392 could include a microphone or other sound receiving device (i.e., any device that converts sound into an electrical signal). Speech recognition unit controller 394 may include, for example, an integrated circuit having a processor and a memory (not shown). Input device 392, speech recognition unit controller 394, and the other related circuitry, are configured to work together to receive and detect audible messages from a user or sound source (not shown). For example, speech recognition unit 390 may be configured to receive audible sounds from a user or other source and to analyze the received audible sounds to detect triggering phrases. Alternatively, speech recognition unit 390 may be configured to receive audible sounds from a user or other source and to analyze the received audible sounds to detect a sequence of triggering phrases and/or non-triggering phrases. Based upon the detected triggering phrase (or each detected sequence of triggering phrases and/or non-triggering phrases), an appropriate interactive response may be selected. For example, for each detected triggering phrase (or the detected sequence of triggering phrases and/or non-triggering phrases), a corresponding response may be stored in a memory 374 or in speech recognition unit controller 394. Speech recognition unit 390 may employ at least one speech recognition algorithm that relies, at least in part, on laws of speech or other available data (e.g., heuristics) to identify and detect triggering phrases, whether spoken by an adult, child, movie, or so on. As would be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, speech recognition unit 390 may be configured to receive incoming audible sounds (such as audible messages) and compare the incoming audible sounds to expected phonemes stored in speech recognition unit controller 394 or other memory device (such as, for example, memory 374). For example, speech recognition unit 390 may parse received speech into its constituent phonemes and compare these constituents against those constituent phonemes of one or more triggering phrases. When a sufficient number of phonemes match between the received audible sounds and the triggering phrase or phrases), a match is recorded. When there is a match, speech recognition unit 390, possibly by speech recognition unit controller 394 or the other related circuitry, activates the appropriate responsive program, such as, for example, the appropriate sound or action response.
Continuing with
Interactive plush toy 300 may also include a number of other elements that are not illustrated in either
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Thereafter, at step 472, the toy analyzes the first set of audible sounds. The first set of audible sounds is analyzed to detect a first phrase, such as, for example, a triggering phrase. This triggering phrase can be any phrase that forms a part of the story told in the book. The toy, such as interactive plush toy 420, then detects whether the received audible sounds correspond to at least one of the triggering phrases embedded in the book. The toy, such as interactive plush toy 420, compares the audible sounds to a list of triggering phrases stored in a controller (such as speech recognition unit controller 394 discussed in
When a triggering phrase is detected, at step 474, the toy, such as interactive plush toy 420, activates a responsive program. The responsive program can take many forms, such as, for example, an audio file, a mechanical program (e.g., a dancing program, a vibration program, and so on), a lighting program, and the like. In one embodiment, the potential responsive programs supplement or augment the narrative or story being told in the literary work. For example, the triggering phrase read aloud from the book may include a reference to a “dog barking real loud.” Upon detection of this phrase, the method discussed in
In another embodiment, the responsive program may comprise data or information. The data or information responsive program may be activated alone or in combination with any other responsive program, such as, for example, an audio file or a movement program. The data or information may optionally be displayed to the user or communicated to another device or set of devices. Communication of information or data may be through any standard communication method or means, including, for example only, wired or wireless. Wired configurations optionally include serial wiring, firewire, USB, and so on. Wireless configurations optionally include any radio frequency communication technique, Wi-Fi, blue-tooth, and so on. In these exemplary implementations, the data or information may optionally be used by the receiving device or devices in a manner consistent with embodiments of the inventions, such as, for example, to supplement the story being told, to activate a responsive program, and so on.
Likewise, the triggering phrase read aloud from the book could mention the “bright red nose of the reindeer.” Upon detecting this phrase, for example, a light program could be activated in which the nose of the toy (in this case, a toy reindeer) lights up (e.g., turns red). The light program supplements or augments the narrative of the story because the lighting program occurs substantially simultaneously as the text is read aloud, appearing, to the user, to occur in response to the reading of the whole story. Other potential responsive programs, such as moving limbs and so on, are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. The prior recitation of examples should in no way be construed as limiting. For example, a number of responsive programs could, optionally, be activated in response to a single triggering phrase.
The process described in
Continuing on, at step 486, the toy, such as interactive plush toy 420, receives a second set of audible sounds from the user. The second set of audible sounds may also correspond to the text of a book, such as book 410, as the book is read aloud by a user. Much like the embodiments discussed above, the second set of audible sounds may include the voice of the user or may be received from any source, such as, for example, a child. When read together, the triggering and non-triggering phrases form a narrative in the book, such as book 410, that describes a sequence of fictional or non-fictional events. Because the user has continued to read the book, the second set of audible sounds contains triggering and non-triggering phrases that combine to continue the narrative in the book formed by the first set of triggering and non-triggering phrases. For example only, the second set of audible sounds may expand on the story of the well-behaved dog discussed above.
Much like step 474 addressed above, at step 488, the toy analyzes the second set of audible sounds to detect a second phrase, such as, for example, a second triggering phrase. In certain embodiments, the first triggering phrase and the second triggering phrases are different, but that it not required. On the contrary, the triggering phrases may be the same and may be differentiated with reference to non-triggering phrases and/or other triggering phrases. For example, a triggering phrase could be the phrase “Jingle is a good dog.” In the first occurrence of this triggering phrase, the phrase could be embedded at the beginning of a sentence and followed by the non-triggering phrase “Or so we thought.” In this example, the combination of the triggering phrase and the non-triggering phrase would be “Jingle is a good dog. Or so we thought.” In this implementation, the triggering phrase “Jingle is a good dog” may correspond to a responsive program programmed in an interactive plush toy dog, such as, for example, an audio file of a dog whimpering or a mechanical response in which the toy dog cowers (lowers its head). In contrast, the same triggering phrase could be combined with a non-triggering phrase “Jingle ran right inside. Indeed,” to form “Jingle ran right inside. Indeed, Jingle is a good dog.” Here, the corresponding responsive program may include activating an audio file of a dog barking happily or a mechanical response in which the toy dog wags its tail. In this regard, embodiments of the present invention contemplate not only detecting whether the received audible sounds correspond to at least one of the triggering phrases embedded in the book, but also applying context-based rules to detect a triggering phrase and activate the appropriate response. These rules can be stored in a memory (such as memory 374, discussed with regard to
Upon detecting the second triggering phrase, at step 490, the toy then activates a second responsive program. The second responsive program further supplements or augments the narrative in the book. In one embodiment, the second responsive program is of a different kind than the first responsive program, such as, for example, an audio file versus a vibration program. In other embodiments, however, the responsive programs are optionally of the same kind (e.g., both audio files). In still other embodiments, the first triggering phrase and the second triggering phrase each correspond to a number of potential responsive programs. For instance, a particular triggering phrase may correspond with three potential responsive programs. The second triggering phrase may also correspond with three potential responsive programs. In this embodiment, however, both the first triggering phrase and the second triggering phrase only correspond to one shared or common responsive program. Thus, when this sequence of triggering phrases is received and detected by a device, only one responsive program satisfies both triggering phrases. In this example, the shared or common responsive program is then activated in accordance with the procedures previously discussed.
The process described above can be repeated as many times as necessary, such as, for example, a third or a fourth time. Each time, the supplemental audible sounds correspond with text from the book and the supplemental triggering and non-triggering phrases combine to continue the narrative told in the book. As this process repeats, certain determination or detections may need to be stored (such as, for example, in sound module controller 384 or memory 374 discussed in
In this regard, embodiments of the present invention encompass interchangeable literary works. That is, certain triggering phrases in a first literary work could elicit a particular response, depending on the arrangement of the triggering phrases (and non-triggering phrases) in the first literary work. In contrast, a different arrangement of these and other triggering phrases (and non-triggering phrases) could elicit a different series or sequence of responsive programs. Thus, the toys of the present invention can be programmed once and used with a number literary works.
Some of the processes described above with regard to
This feature of an embodiment of the present invention is generally illustrated in
Returning now to
From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the method and apparatus. It will be understood that various modifications can be made and still stay within the scope of the invention. For example, instead of being an interactive plush toy dog, the interactive plush toy could be a cat, a reindeer, a goat, or any other animal or even a person/character. Instead of being plush, the interactive toy could be constructed of any material. It will also be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the invention.
Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative of applications of the principles of this invention, and not in a limiting sense.
Claims
1. A literary work comprising:
- a first plurality of non-triggering phrases that form part of a story told in the literary work; and
- at least one triggering phrase that supplements the story told in the literary work, wherein the at least one triggering phrase is selectively placed among a second plurality of non-triggering phrases;
- wherein the first plurality of non-triggering phrases and the at least one triggering phrase are received and analyzed as audible sounds by an interactive toy when read aloud by a user, the interactive toy comprising: a body having an interior cavity; a speech recognition unit at least partially positioned within the interior cavity and configured to receive the audible sounds and determine if the at least one triggering phrase was received; and a sound module at least partially positioned within the interior cavity, the sound module having a speaker and a controller with a plurality of audio messages stored therein for selective activation via the speaker, wherein one or more messages are activated if the at least one triggering phrase was received.
2. The literary work of claim 1, wherein the literary work is a movie, a book, or a live broadcast.
3. The literary work of claim 2, wherein the literary work is a book and wherein the at least one triggering phrase is selectively placed at an end of a sentence within the story told in the book.
4. The literary work of claim 2, wherein the literary work is a book and wherein the at least one triggering phrase is selectively placed at the beginning of a sentence within the story told in the book.
5. The literary work of claim 2, wherein the literary work is a book and wherein the at least one triggering phrase is selectively placed at an end of a sentence at an end of a page of the book.
6. The literary work of claim 2, wherein the literary work is a book and wherein the at least one triggering phrase is selectively placed in a clause within a sentence within the story told in the book.
7. The literary work of claim 1, wherein the literary work is a book and wherein the book includes at least one additional triggering phrase and one additional non-triggering phrase to continue the story in the book.
8. The literary work of claim 7, wherein the additional triggering phrase is analyzed by the interactive toy and initiates activation of another message by the toy upon detection.
9. A literary work defining a narrative, the literary work comprising:
- a plurality of phrases that comprise the narrative, the phrases including triggering phrases, non-triggering phrases, and non-stored non-triggering phrases;
- whereby the triggering and non-triggering phrases are stored in a memory associated with a speech recognition unit and wherein the non-stored non-triggering phrases are not stored in the memory;
- whereby detection by the speech recognition unit of both a non-triggering phrase and a triggering phrase causes activation of a response; and
- whereby detection by the speech recognition unit of the non-stored non-triggering phrases does not cause activation of a response.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 15, 2014
Publication Date: Apr 9, 2015
Inventors: JENNIFER R. GARBOS (KANSAS CITY, MO), TIMOTHY G. BODENDISTEL (LENEXA, KS), PETER B. FRIEDMANN (WESTWOOD, KS)
Application Number: 14/571,079