Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
  • H04B1/38—Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
  • H04B1/40—Circuits
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
  • G09B21/00—Teaching, or communicating with, the blind, deaf or mute
  • G09B21/001—Teaching or communicating with blind persons
  • G09B21/006—Teaching or communicating with blind persons using audible presentation of the information
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q50/00—Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
  • H04W4/12—Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
  • H04W88/02—Terminal devices
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
  • H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
  • H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2250/00—Details of telephonic subscriber devices
  • H04M2250/58—Details of telephonic subscriber devices including a multilanguage function

Definitions

• the subject matter described herein relates generally to devices and methods for access to audio tracks provided at themed entertainment parks.
• Theme parks are an integral part of global tourism.
• a theme park in any location, may welcome a large number of international visitors that may not be fluent in the language of the host country where the park is located.
• the park may also have guests, both foreign and domestic, who are hearing impaired. All of these guests are, unfortunately, unable to understand the audio provided and therefore unable to experience the attractions to the full extent that they were designed and intended to be experienced.
• the intended experience of theme parks includes a real-time combination of audio and action.
• numerous entertainment attractions have computer controlled audio files arranged to coincide in real time with the entertainment action.
• the Cat in the Hat attraction provides audio tracks synchronized with the ride so that visitors experience, from audio and the action, the story of the Cat in the Hat. Accordingly, it is evident that the audio tracks play a crucial role on delivering the full experience required to fully enjoy the attraction.
• a multi- language attraction communication device wherein a guest selects a particular language file corresponding to an audio file coordinated with at least one entertainment activity.
• the communication device comprises a memory for storing multiple language files for at least one entertainment activity and a processor.
• the processor is configured to access the memory, in response to a selected language file for the at least one entertainment activity, and to communicate the language file for review by a guest in real time coordination with the at least one entertainment activity.
• a method of providing audio to guests at an entertainment activity comprises making available multiple language files corresponding to an audio file played during an entertainment activity; queuing the language file chosen by each guest; and synchronizing the delivery of the language file to the guest with the entertainment activity.
• Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an attraction communications device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 2 is a block diagram showing one aspect of the attraction communications device of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of an attraction communications device in accordance with the present invention.
• Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing audio to guests at an entertainment activity in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
• One embodiment of the present invention concerns a multi-language attraction audio file and/or the text of the audio file that is accessible by a guest at, e.g. an amusement or theme park.
• the requested audio and/or text may be accessed, e.g., by a guest's personal cellular telephone and/or personal digital assistant (PDA).
• PDA personal digital assistant
• the park computer 12 in one embodiment, comprises a network system for command and control over various attractions or entertainment activities, e.g., rides, games and shows of a theme park (not shown). It will be appreciated that, and in an optional embodiment, the park computer may comprise a standalone computer for controlling a single entertainment activity. [0016] As illustrated, the park computer 12 accesses the audio files 14 for use in connection with the operation of the entertainment activities.
• the audio files 14 comprise audio tracks for each of the various entertainment activities and are queued by the park computer 12 for play with proper timing and sequence to the action of each entertainment activity. It will be understood that the audio tracks are recorded in the language of the host country where the theme park is located.
• the park computer 12 communicates with a telecommunications switch or private exchange 16 that, in turn, is connected in a known manner through a public exchange (not shown) with a cellular provider 18 having a multitude of towers 20.
• a public exchange not shown
• a cellular provider 18 having a multitude of towers 20.
• telephone calls to, and from within the theme park itself by a guest 22 are routed by the private exchange 16 to various telephone extensions within the park such as that corresponding to guest services (not shown).
• park personnel may remotely monitor operations of the park computer 12 via data communications routed through the private exchange 16.
• the communication device 10 comprises a processor 24, memory 26, language files 28 and a wireless router 30.
• the processor 24 utilizes the memory 26 for working storage in a known manner and, in this embodiment, is configured, e.g., via a software program, to communicate with each of the park computer 12, audio files 14, language files 28, wireless router 30 and private exchange 16 to provide selected audio and/or audio text for a particular entertainment activity, in a particular language, in response to a request by a guest 22.
• the processor 24 is an integral part of the park computer 12.
• the processor 24 is configured to communicate with the private exchange 16 to transmit/receive voice and data information to/from one or more cellular phones such that at 32, actuated by the guest 22, via the cellular provider 18 and tower 20.
• the processor 24 is configured to access the audio files 14 to generate the language files 28, as shown in more detail in Figure 2, to provide the selected translated audio/audio text.
• a language file A e.g. comprising a stored English language translation of an audio file
• a language file B e.g. comprises a French language translation for the show X.
• the audio files 14 and the language files 28 may be stored on any suitable memory such as EPROM, FLASH, or magnetic hard disk and in any suitable format such as MP3.
• the processor 24 is configured to communicate with the park computer 12 to synchronize and queue the selected translation of audio and/or audio text with a particular entertainment activity. For example, synchronization (or real-time coordination) may be accomplished via simultaneous communication of blocks of data corresponding to the audio and/or audio text. In one embodiment, the blocks of data may comprise one or more data packets.
• the cellular phone 32 may be configured to signal to the guest 22, such as by vibrating, upon receipt of a particular block of audio and/or text.
• a guest 22 is given a telephone number to dial on the cellular telephone 32 where the guest may connect with a program run by the processor 24 via tower 20, cellular provider 18 and the private exchange 16.
• This telephone number may be disclosed to guests inside the actual attraction on a prominently displayed digital message board, allowing the number that guests called to be changed show by show to avoid guests calling in too early or too late and hearing the audio program at an inopportune time. This also will allow the parks operator to change the telephone number as they see fit to reduce nuisance calls into the system.
• the cell phone 32 will receive, e.g., an audio or text menu, via an automated system or a program run by the processor 24, to select among the various language files available in the stored language files 28 for each of the various entertainment activities. Also, a guest may request text where desired.
• the processor 24 is configured to queue the selected language file 28 for delivery and the guest's call is passed to, e.g., a loiter function 29 with other guests (not shown) until the particular language file can be delivered generally contemporaneously with the delivery of the audio file 14 for the particular entertainment activity.
• the loiter function can be a simple count down to the beginning of a show, with the voice of an electronic "host” informing the guest at 15 second intervals that the show is going to start in "one minute; forty five seconds; thirty seconds; fifteen seconds” etc.
• a counter on their handset will display the remaining minutes and seconds until the program begins. This is accomplished via communication with the park computer 12 that, in this embodiment, provides operational control of the action associated with the entertainment activity.
• the loiter function 29 provides a virtual holding space while guests 22 are waiting for the attraction to start and each guest may receive audio or text messages of entertainment and/or advertising.
• the guest 22 After passage through the loitering function, the guest 22 will receive the particular audio and/or text translation of choice simultaneously displayed as text or as sound on their own handset 32 speaker with the particular entertainment activity as it begins in the primary venue. [0022] Further, the guest 22 may also be provided with an option to download a software application to provide an interface between the as configured processor 24 and the cellular telephone 32. That way, it may be possible for the as configured processor 24 to access, where supported, the phone's features and provide, for example, language translation, along with closed caption capabilities.
• the wireless router 30 is connected to the processor 24 for communicating with a personal digital assistant 48 (PDA) or any similarly capable device such as a cellular telephone type device such as a "Blackberry" sold by RIM Corporation that held by a guest 50.
• PDA personal digital assistant
• the PDA 48 may further comprise headphones 52 for noise abatement and may comprise a heads up display (not shown). It will also be understood that the PDA 48 may comprise memory for storage of the text and/or audio for future replay.
• the guest 50 may also be provided with an option to download a software application to assist in the streaming of the audio and/or text.
• a park computer 112 provides audio out 154 that is transmitted using a known common access protocol such as that sold under the mark BLUETOOTH and antenna 160 to one or more of the PDAs 48.
• a firewall 156 is provided and functions in a known manner to prevent unauthorized intrusions.
• the computer 112 provides for the guest 50 to choose between selected language files and between audio and/or text for delivery to the PDA 48 in synch with the audio track of the entertainment activity.
• a method of providing audio to guests at an entertainment activity comprises, as shown at 262, making available multiple language files corresponding to an audio file played during an entertainment activity.
• queuing the language file chosen by each guest queuing the language file chosen by each guest and then, as shown at 266, synchronizing the delivery of the language file to the guest with the entertainment activity.
• synchronizing the delivery of the language file to the guest with the entertainment activity may comprise having a user input a command to a keypad of e.g., the cellular phone 32 or PDA 48, or say a command phrase that would inform the as configured processor 24 when to start playing the recorded message.
• a guest 22 or 50 dials in or otherwise gains access and queues up for a translation. At this point, the guest 22 or 50 may wait for a display message or voice to tell them what pass code or pass phrase to say and this may starts the translation at the proper time. Also, a very loud audio cue, vibration or otherwise, that the microphone of the cell phone could here that would trigger the audio translation to begin at a certain time. For a system using Bluetooth or some other short-range wireless protocol (this also includes cellphones) once the PDA or cellphone enters the wireless field it is given a command signal to start playback.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Tourism & Hospitality (AREA)
• Strategic Management (AREA)
• Primary Health Care (AREA)
• Marketing (AREA)
• Audiology, Speech & Language Pathology (AREA)
• Educational Administration (AREA)
• Educational Technology (AREA)
• Human Resources & Organizations (AREA)
• Economics (AREA)
• Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
• Machine Translation (AREA)

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Publications (3)

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Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 2006
  • 2006-12-08 US US11/608,297 patent/US7706904B2/en active Active
• 2007
  • 2007-10-11 KR KR1020097011702A patent/KR101389192B1/ko active Active
  • 2007-10-11 JP JP2009540349A patent/JP2010512575A/ja active Pending
  • 2007-10-11 ES ES07853936T patent/ES2802540T3/es active Active
  • 2007-10-11 EP EP07853936.8A patent/EP2100284B1/en active Active
  • 2007-10-11 CN CN2007800454464A patent/CN101611436B/zh active Active
  • 2007-10-11 WO PCT/US2007/081024 patent/WO2008073564A2/en not_active Ceased

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