EP1641545A2 - Poupee conteuse d'histoires - Google Patents

Poupee conteuse d'histoires

Info

Publication number
EP1641545A2
EP1641545A2 EP04736453A EP04736453A EP1641545A2 EP 1641545 A2 EP1641545 A2 EP 1641545A2 EP 04736453 A EP04736453 A EP 04736453A EP 04736453 A EP04736453 A EP 04736453A EP 1641545 A2 EP1641545 A2 EP 1641545A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
doll
story
content
telling
communications
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP04736453A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1641545A4 (fr
Inventor
Assaf Gil
Ilan Morad
Eitan Morad
Arie Litbak
Yaniv Petel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Unity Interactive LLC
Original Assignee
Palwintec Systems Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Palwintec Systems Ltd filed Critical Palwintec Systems Ltd
Publication of EP1641545A2 publication Critical patent/EP1641545A2/fr
Publication of EP1641545A4 publication Critical patent/EP1641545A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H3/00—Dolls
    • A63H3/28—Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H2200/00—Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to children's toys and, in particular, it concerns a doll for telling stories to children. It is known to provide dolls with audio output capabilities for use in story-telling equipment for entertaining children.
  • An example of such a system is U.S. Patent No. 6,512,832 to Braun et al. where wireless speakers are covered by corresponding dolls making the dolls appear to speak parts corresponding to their roles in a story.
  • the dolls are passive devices operated remotely by a base unit.
  • a number of other references relate to dolls which operate as computer peripheral devices to provide computer-controlled animation and audio output.
  • U.S. Patents Nos. 5,873,765 to Rifkin et al. and 6,012,961 to Sharpe, III et al. describe story-telling dolls which are operable in a free-standing mode to play a story stored in memory within the doll. This renders the doll much more suitable for general purpose use by a child who can freely take the doll to play or into bed without maintaining connection to a computer.
  • the dolls of both - fkin et al. and Shape, IE et al. both allow updating of the audio content stored within the memory of the doll by docking with a computer.
  • updating of the audio content of these devices is totally dependent upon an external computer.
  • the required availability of a computer, and the need for some degree of computer literacy precludes operation of the device by young children and non-computer-minded adults, or when traveling away from the computer.
  • the present invention is a story-telling doll and a corresponding system for managing audio content update for such dolls.
  • a story-telling doll comprising: (a) a doll body; (b) a processing system including at least one digital processor, the processing system being contained within the body; (c) a programmable data storage device associated with the processing system and contained within the body; (d) an audio output device associated with the processing system and contained within the body; (e) at least one user- operable switch manually operable by manipulation of at least one region of the body, the at least one switch being operative to provide an input signal to the processing system; and (f) a communications unit associated with the processing system and contained within the body, the communications unit being configured to operate under control of the processing unit in response to the input signal to: (i) initiate a data communications link via a general purpose communications network with a remote content provider source, (ii) transmit to title remote content provider a request for download of at least one data file including audio content, and (iii) receive the at least one data file including audio content from the remote content provider, wherein the processor system is
  • the modem is a PSTN modem configured for initiating a data connection across a PSTN telephone network.
  • the modem is configured for initiating a data connection across a cellular telephone network.
  • the doll further includes a socket associated with the modem and configured for wired connection to the telephone network.
  • the processing system is further configured to: (a) receive via the communications unit information indicative of at least two options relating to data files available for download from the remote content provider; (b) generate via the audio output device an audio prompt indicative of the at least two options; (c) receive via the at least one switch a user response indicative of a selected option; and (d) transmit to the remote content provider a response indicative of the selected option.
  • the at least one user-operable switch includes a switch manually operable by manipulation of a limb of the doll body.
  • the at least one user-operable switch includes a switch manually operable by manipulation of a head of the doll body.
  • the at least one user-operable switch includes a switch manually operable by depressing a button associated with an external surface of the doll body.
  • a rechargeable battery deployed within the doll body for powering at least the processor system, the rechargeable battery being electrically connected to a connector; and (b) a charging unit deployed separate from the doll body and configured for mating with the connector so as to charge the rechargeable battery.
  • the connector further includes communication connections associated with the communications unit.
  • a story-telling doll system for providing repeatedly updated audio content for playing by a plurality of dolls, the system comprising: (a) a plurality of the aforementioned story-telling dolls, each configured to transmit an identification code; and (b) a remote content provider system including: (i) a communications subsystem associated with the general purpose communications network; (ii) a database subsystem including a registry of doll identification codes and associated content definitions; and (iii) a content management subsystem associated with the communications subsystem and the database subsystem, the content management subsystem storing data files of a plurality of content types, the content management subsystem being responsive to the identification code to: (A) retrieve from the database subsystem a content definition associated with each received identification code, and (B) make available for download at least one data file having a content type corresponding to the retrieved content definition.
  • the plurality of content types includes a first age-range category and a second age-range category.
  • the plurality of content types includes a first language category and a second language category.
  • the plurality of content types includes at least one special-interest group.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a doll, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a preferred sequence of operations of the doll of Figure 1 during updating of the stored audio content
  • FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a preferred sequence of operations of the doll of Figure 1 during playback
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram representing the main subsystems of a remote content-providing system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention, for use with a number of the dolls of Figure 1; and
  • FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a preferred sequence of operations performed by the remote content-providing system of Figure 4.
  • the present invention is a story-telling doll and a corresponding system for managing audio content update for such dolls.
  • Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a story-telling doll constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • the story-telling doll includes a doll body 10 which contains a processing system 12 including at least one digital processor, a programmable data storage device 14 associated with processing system 12, and an audio output device 16 associated with processing system 12.
  • a processing system 12 including at least one digital processor, a programmable data storage device 14 associated with processing system 12, and an audio output device 16 associated with processing system 12.
  • At least one user-operable switch SW1, SW2, SW3 is manually operable by manipulation of at least one region 18, 20, 22 of body 10 to provide an input signal to processing system 12.
  • a communications unit 24, also contained within body 10, is configured to operate under control of processing unit 12 in response to the input signal to: (a) initiate a data communications link via a general purpose communications network with a remote content provider source, (b) transmit to the remote content provider a request for download of at least one data file including audio content, and (c) receive the at least one data file including audio content from the remote content provider.
  • Processor system 12 is further configured to save the at least one data file in storage device 14 and subsequently to play the audio content read from the at least one data file via audio output device 16.
  • the story-telling doll of the present invention offers profound advantages over the dolls of the Rifkin et al. and Shape, III et al. devices discussed above. Specifically, by including communications unit 24 driven by processing system 12, the doll is rendered independent of local computer connections, thereby allowing updating of audio content without requiring computer hardware or know-how. This and other advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the subsequent description.
  • general purpose communications network is used herein to refer to any wide-area communications network which is used for voice or data communications between remote locations and which is not wholly dedicated to transmission of the data of the present invention.
  • the network may employ analogue or digital transmission, and may be based on any combination of conductive wire, optic fiber, radio frequency electromagnetic radiation and any other communications connections.
  • Preferred examples of communications networks with which the present invention may be used include, but are not limited to, cellular telephone networks and public switching telephone networks ("PSTN”) upon which conventional telephone systems are typically based.
  • PSTN public switching telephone networks
  • communications unit 24 may be substantially any type of communications unit configured for initiating a data communications link via a general purpose communications network.
  • communications unit 24 includes a modem configured for initiating a data connection across a telephone network.
  • the doll preferably further includes a socket 26 associated with the modem and configured for wired connection to the telephone network.
  • the modem is a PSTN modem configured for initiating a data connection across a PSTN telephone network.
  • the only connection typically required for communications to the remote content provider source is insertion of a conventional telephone jack into socket 26.
  • the modem is a cellular modem configured for initiating a data connection across a cellular telephone network.
  • the modem may advantageously be configured to interface via a cable or wirelessly with a conventional cellular telephone (not shown) in order to avoid including within the doll itself high-power RF radiation-generating components, which may be considered a safety-hazard or a health-hazard to children.
  • Electrical power to processing system 12 and the various components of the doll of the present invention is preferably provided, directly or indirectly, by a rechargeable battery 28 deployed within doll body 10.
  • Rechargeable battery 28 is preferably electrically connected to an externally accessible connector.
  • a charging unit 30, deployed separate from doll body 10, is configured for mating with the connector so as to charge the rechargeable battery.
  • connection is via a plug 32 linked to charging unit 30 by wires, although an alternative implementation where plug 32 is integrally formed with charging unit 30 in the form of a chair or other docking configuration may be preferred.
  • connector 26 includes connections for both the rechargeable battery and the communications unit, thereby facilitating completion of both charging and communications connections by insertion of a single plug 32. It is a particularly preferred feature of most preferred implementations of the present invention that actuation of the functions of the doll, including updating of the audio content, is extremely simple and requires no computer know-how. To this end, the number of user operated switches is preferably small, and typically no more than three. Most preferably, the audio content update process is initiated by a single switch operation. During the download process, any user selections are preferably performed by single switch operations in response to straightforward audio cues. For example: "To get
  • the user interface thus provides completely intuitive initiation and control of the download process without requiring any computer skills, and can even be managed by relatively young children.
  • similar single switch operations are preferably effective to initiate playback of the corresponding story.
  • a region of doll body 10 This "region" may be a. body portion of the doll or may be an identifiable input device such as a button deployed on a surface of the doll.
  • a first switch SWl is implemented as a switch manually operable by manipulation (nodding or depression) of a head of the doll body, while two further switches SW2 and SW3 are manually operable by manipulation of corresponding limbs (in this case, arms) of doll body 10.
  • the number of switches and their deployment can be varied to suit other desired applications.
  • Figure 2 shows in more detail a preferred sequence of operation of the doll of Figure 1 during the audio content updating process.
  • the update process is initiated in response to a user actuation of a predefined type, for example by nodding the doll's head to actuate switch SWl (step 40). Then, at step 42, processor 12 preferably actuates communications unit 24 to check for the presence of the network connection, for example, by sensing a dial tone on a PSTN telephone network. If the required connection is not available, the update process is typically aborted (step 44), most generating a verbal audio prompt such as: "I didn't manage to dial out at the moment. Please check the phone connection is plugged-in and try again.”
  • communications unit 24 is then made to dial a predefined access number (step 46) to contact a remote content provider service, and to negotiate a data connection (step 48).
  • Communications unit 24 then sends a request for content download (step 50), preferably associated with identification data and/or a security code which serve to check authorization of the doll to access the downloadable content and may be used in automatic content filtering, as will be described further below.
  • step 50 may be incorporated as part of an interactive login procedure as part of step 48 if preferred.
  • the update process includes options to choose between two or more audio content files for download.
  • the doll receives at step 52 information relating to the available options, typically in the form of a title of each available option or as menu options prior to choosing the actual content.
  • the information is then preferably used to generate an audio prompt (step 54) indicating to the user what options are available and what input switches should be used to indicate the user's choice.
  • the title information or other option information may be provided to the doll in the form of audio clips ready for direct use as prompts.
  • the doll then waits for the required user input (step 56).
  • the selection process is preferably repeated a predefined number of times (i.e., returning via step 58 to step 54) and then is finally aborted at step 60 if no selection is received.
  • one of the available options may be designated as the default option and may be selected automatically if no input is received.
  • a response indicative of the selected option is sent by communications unit 24 back to the remote content provider system at step 62.
  • communications unit 24 receives download of the desired data file (step 64) which processing system 12 stores in the data storage device 14 (step 66).
  • the doll is typically configured to end the data connection (step 68), preferably in conjunction with an audio prompt informing the user that the download was successful and that the phone line or other network connection can be disconnected.
  • the doll may then be configured either to immediately initiate playback of the downloaded content (step 70) or to terminate operation until playback is initiated by a separate user actuation input (step 72).
  • FIG. 3 shows a preferred implementation of the playback process of the doll of the present invention.
  • playback is preferably initiated by operation of a switch other than that used to initiate content download (step 74).
  • a switch other than that used to initiate content download step 74.
  • each of SW2 and SW3 may be operable to initiate playback of a corresponding selected story from data storage device 14.
  • Processing system 12 selects the requested stored file (step 76) and plays the audio content via audio output device 16 (step 78).
  • the device preferably deactivates until the next playback or content update actuation input is received (step 80).
  • the remote content provider system preferably serves many such dolls and provides each with appropriately filtered content according to various settings determined by the user and/or the content supplier.
  • a first doll may be intended for use by a three- year-old child while another doll is to be used by an eight-year-old child.
  • suitable content must be made available to maintain the interest of the child.
  • the content may be customized to offer various different spoken languages, or to cater to the needs of different ethnic, social or religious groups, or to various special-interest groups.
  • Remote content provider system 82 here includes a communications subsystem 84 associated with the general purpose communications network, a database subsystem 86 including a registry of doll identification codes and associated content definitions, and a content management subsystem 88 associated with the communications subsystem and the database subsystem.
  • Content management subsystem 88 stores data files of a plurality of content types.
  • remote content provider system 82 The operation of remote content provider system 82 is illustrated in
  • content management subsystem 88 receives a doll identification code via communications subsystem 84 (step 90) and retrieves from database subsystem 86 a corresponding content definition (step 92). Content management subsystem 88 then filters the available content according to the retrieved content definition and selectively makes only matching content available for download. In the case that more than one matching data file is available, the aforementioned options selection procedure is performed by sending options info at step 94 and receiving option selection at step 96. The selected file or files are then transferred to the corresponding story-telling doll at step 98. Most preferably, the content definitions for each doll may be updated by the user to reflect changing needs, for example, as a child gets older and his or her interests change. Updating of the content definitions may conveniently be provided by a manned or automatic telephone answering service. A profile update function may also be provided via alternative interfaces such as, for example, via an internet web-page interface.
  • part or all of the content definitions for each doll may be stored in the doll itself.
  • the doll would transmit content definitions to the remote content provider system as part of the content request, effectively making a detailed request for the type of content it should receive.
  • This option may partially, or wholly, circumvent the database subsystem 86 since the content definitions are provided directly by the doll and do not need to be retrieved from a separate database. In this case, updating of the content definitions may be performed remotely from the remote content provider system.
  • the content offered by the remote content provider system is changed periodically and frequently, for example daily, such that the story- telling doll can provide one or more new story each day, thereby maintaining the child's interest.

Abstract

L'invention concerne une poupée conteuse d'histoires comprenant un corps (10) de poupée contenant un système (12) de traitement équipé d'au moins un processeur numérique, un dispositif de stockage de données programmable (14) et un dispositif (16) de sortie audio. Au moins un commutateur (SW1, SW2, SW3) peut être utilisé manuellement par l'utilisateur par manipulation d'au moins une zone (18, 20, 22) du corps (10) pour envoyer un signal d'entrée au système (12) de traitement. Une unité (24) de communication, également contenue dans le corps (10), est exploitée sous commande de l'unité (12) de traitement en réponse au signal d'entrée pour: (a) initialiser une liaison de communication de données via un réseau de communication à usages multiples avec une source d'un fournisseur de contenu, (b) transmettre au fournisseur de contenu à distance une demande de téléchargement vers l'aval d'au moins un fichier de données au contenu audio, et (c) recevoir ledit fichier de données au contenu audio du fournisseur de contenu à distance. Le système (12) de traitement est également configuré pour sauvegarder le fichier de données dans un dispositif (14) de stockage, puis lire le contenu audio dudit fichier de données via un dispositif (16) de sortie audio.
EP04736453A 2003-06-09 2004-06-09 Poupee conteuse d'histoires Withdrawn EP1641545A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US47663603P 2003-06-09 2003-06-09
PCT/IL2004/000510 WO2004108239A2 (fr) 2003-06-09 2004-06-09 Poupee conteuse d'histoires

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1641545A2 true EP1641545A2 (fr) 2006-04-05
EP1641545A4 EP1641545A4 (fr) 2008-03-05

Family

ID=33511804

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04736453A Withdrawn EP1641545A4 (fr) 2003-06-09 2004-06-09 Poupee conteuse d'histoires

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1641545A4 (fr)
WO (1) WO2004108239A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3903897A3 (fr) 2014-01-09 2022-02-09 Boxine GmbH Jouet
DE102016000631B3 (de) 2016-01-25 2017-04-06 Boxine Gmbh Kennungsträger für ein Spielzeug zur Wiedergabe von Musik oder einer gesprochenen Geschichte
DE102016000630A1 (de) * 2016-01-25 2017-07-27 Boxine Gmbh Spielzeug
BR112022002031A2 (pt) 2019-08-06 2022-04-12 Boxine Gmbh Servidor para prover arquivos de mídia para download por um usuário e sistema e método

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999017854A1 (fr) * 1997-10-07 1999-04-15 Health Hero Network, Inc. Jouet parlant teleprogrammable
WO2001069829A2 (fr) * 2000-03-16 2001-09-20 Creator Ltd. Appareil a jouets interactifs connecte a un reseau et fonctionnant de maniere a stimuler les ventes
US20020111808A1 (en) * 2000-06-09 2002-08-15 Sony Corporation Method and apparatus for personalizing hardware
US20030124954A1 (en) * 2001-12-28 2003-07-03 Shu-Ming Liu Interactive toy system

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5873765A (en) * 1997-01-07 1999-02-23 Mattel, Inc. Toy having data downloading station
US6012961A (en) * 1997-05-14 2000-01-11 Design Lab, Llc Electronic toy including a reprogrammable data storage device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999017854A1 (fr) * 1997-10-07 1999-04-15 Health Hero Network, Inc. Jouet parlant teleprogrammable
WO2001069829A2 (fr) * 2000-03-16 2001-09-20 Creator Ltd. Appareil a jouets interactifs connecte a un reseau et fonctionnant de maniere a stimuler les ventes
US20020111808A1 (en) * 2000-06-09 2002-08-15 Sony Corporation Method and apparatus for personalizing hardware
US20030124954A1 (en) * 2001-12-28 2003-07-03 Shu-Ming Liu Interactive toy system

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO2004108239A2 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2004108239A2 (fr) 2004-12-16
EP1641545A4 (fr) 2008-03-05
WO2004108239A3 (fr) 2007-02-22

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