US4445187A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video games with voice dialog
Assignee: Nintendo Co Ltd
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Filing: 1982-05-13
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Granted: 1984-04-24
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Expires: 2002-05-13
Abstract
Abstract A video game system by which human viewers conduct simulated voice conversations with game characters or cartoon characters in a branching story game shown on a television screen. The characters and cartoons reply responsively with lip-sync sound to words input by viewers. Different audio and video frames are generated from data memory and video disc to provide one of several alternative replies or alternative actions at each branch point in the game, depending on which words are selected by the viewer. A menu of prompting words is displayed to inform viewers of what words they can use at each branch point. Viewers can input questions or make other remarks by pressing a button next to one of the displayed sentences which causes a recording of the displayed sentence to be played or speech synthesized in lieu of a viewer speaking it. Viewers can chat with simulated images of famous people, call the plays in a ball game, make executive decisions as a king or general, and participate in simulated adventures with interesting game characters who respond to each viewer's words and answer back responsively.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M. Best
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:06
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/45; A63F13/47; A63F13/40; A63F13/42; A63F13/424; G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/16; G09; G09B; G09B7/00; G09B7/02; G09B7/04; G11; G11B; G11B17/00; G11B17/005; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/102; G11B27/105; H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/43; H04N21/4302; H04N21/4305; H04N5/00; A63F13/80; A63F13/822; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/10; A63F2300/1081; A63F2300/60; A63F2300/6063; A63F2300/63; A63F2300/632; A63F2300/80; A63F2300/807; G10; G10L; G10L21/00; G10L21/06; G10L21/10; G10L2021/105; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/20; G11B2220/25; G11B2220/2537; G11B2220/2587; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S715/00; Y10S715/978
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
261 words
A video apparatus for simulating a voice conversation between a human viewer of the apparatus and a talking video character, the apparatus comprising: first means for reading video frames from a record carrier means to provide a first video frame sequence associated with a plurality of alternative second video frame sequences; second means for reading video frames from a record carrier means to provide access to at least one of said alternative second video frame sequences before the end of said first video frame sequence; means for displaying said first and second video frame sequences including a simulated image of said talking character accompanied by corresponding voice sounds, thereby providing one side of a simulated voice conversation; means for communicating to said human viewer during said first video frame sequence a plurality of alternative verbal responses corresponding to said alternative second video frame sequences; means for receiving from said human viewer a response signal corresponding to a selected verbal response in said plurality of alternative verbal responses, thereby selecting a corresponding secod video frame sequence; means for generating voice sounds electronically including words in said selected verbal response, thereby simulating the viewer's side of the voice conversation; and means for switching at the end of said first video frame sequence between the video frames from said first reading means to the video frames from said second reading means to provide said selected second video frame sequence accompanied by voice sounds corresponding to said selected second video frame sequence, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the talking character and the human viewer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
261 words
A video apparatus for simulating a voice conversation between a human viewer of the apparatus and a talking video character, the apparatus comprising: first means for reading video frames from a record carrier means to provide a first video frame sequence associated with a plurality of alternative second video frame sequences; second means for reading video frames from a record carrier means to provide access to at least one of said alternative second video frame sequences before the end of said first video frame sequence; means for displaying said first and second video frame sequences including a simulated image of said talking character accompanied by corresponding voice sounds, thereby providing one side of a simulated voice conversation; means for communicating to said human viewer during said first video frame sequence a plurality of alternative verbal responses corresponding to said alternative second video frame sequences; means for receiving from said human viewer a response signal corresponding to a selected verbal response in said plurality of alternative verbal responses, thereby selecting a corresponding secod video frame sequence; means for generating voice sounds electronically including words in said selected verbal response, thereby simulating the viewer's side of the voice conversation; and means for switching at the end of said first video frame sequence between the video frames from said first reading means to the video frames from said second reading means to provide said selected second video frame sequence accompanied by voice sounds corresponding to said selected second video frame sequence, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the talking character and the human viewer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is part of a video game unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising record carrier means in the form of a disc-shaped body having an information bearing structure arranged in concentric tracks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said disc-shaped body is a video disc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
139 words
A video apparatus for simulating a voice conversation between a human viewer of the apparatus and a talking video character, the apparatus comprising: first means for reading video frames from a record carrier means to provide a first video frame sequence; second means for reading video frames from a record carrier means to provide access to a second video frame sequence before the end of said first video frame sequence; means for switching at the end of said first video frame sequence between the video frames from said first reading means to the video frames from said second reading means; means for displaying said first and second video frame sequences including a simulated image of said video character, said first video frame sequence being accompanied by corresponding first voice sounds, thereby providing one side of a simulated voice conversation;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
139 words
A video apparatus for simulating a voice conversation between a human viewer of the apparatus and a talking video character, the apparatus comprising: first means for reading video frames from a record carrier means to provide a first video frame sequence; second means for reading video frames from a record carrier means to provide access to a second video frame sequence before the end of said first video frame sequence; means for switching at the end of said first video frame sequence between the video frames from said first reading means to the video frames from said second reading means; means for displaying said first and second video frame sequences including a simulated image of said video character, said first video frame sequence being accompanied by corresponding first voice sounds, thereby providing one side of a simulated voice conversation;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
107 words
means for communicating to said human viewer during said first video frame sequence a plurality of alternative verbal responses corresponding to a plurality of alternative second voice sounds; means for receiving from said human viewer a response signal corresponding to a selected verbal response in said plurality of alternative verbal responses, thereby selecting corresponding second voice sounds; means for generating voice sounds electronically including words in said selected verbal response, thereby simulating the viewer's side of the voice conversation; and means for generating said selected second voice sounds during said second video frame sequence, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the video character and the human viewer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
means for communicating to said human viewer during said first video frame sequence a plurality of alternative verbal responses corresponding to a plurality of alternative second voice sounds; means for receiving from said human viewer a response signal corresponding to a selected verbal response in said plurality of alternative verbal responses, thereby selecting corresponding second voice sounds; means for generating voice sounds electronically including words in said selected verbal response, thereby simulating the viewer's side of the voice conversation; and means for generating said selected second voice sounds during said second video frame sequence, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the video character and the human viewer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the apparatus is part of a video game unit.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
188 words
A method of simulating a personalized voice conversation between a talking video character and a human viewer of the video character, comprising the steps of: storing voice sounds of the name of said human viewer in digitized form; displaying a first video frame sequence associated with a plurality of second video frame sequences and accompanied by first voice sounds, the video frame sequences including picture representations of a talking video character; communicating to the human viewer during said first video frame sequence a first plurality of verbal responses, each verbal response corresponding to a second video frame sequence in said plurality thereof; receiving from said viewer a response signal corresponding to a selected verbal response in said plurality thereof; generating voice sounds electronically including words in said selected verbal response, thereby simulating the viewer's side of the voice conversation; displaying the second video frame sequence corresponding to said selected verbal response; and generating during said second video frame sequence second voice sounds including said stored voice sounds of the name of said human viewer, thereby personalizing a simulated voice conversation between the human and the talking video character.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
188 words
A method of simulating a personalized voice conversation between a talking video character and a human viewer of the video character, comprising the steps of: storing voice sounds of the name of said human viewer in digitized form; displaying a first video frame sequence associated with a plurality of second video frame sequences and accompanied by first voice sounds, the video frame sequences including picture representations of a talking video character; communicating to the human viewer during said first video frame sequence a first plurality of verbal responses, each verbal response corresponding to a second video frame sequence in said plurality thereof; receiving from said viewer a response signal corresponding to a selected verbal response in said plurality thereof; generating voice sounds electronically including words in said selected verbal response, thereby simulating the viewer's side of the voice conversation; displaying the second video frame sequence corresponding to said selected verbal response; and generating during said second video frame sequence second voice sounds including said stored voice sounds of the name of said human viewer, thereby personalizing a simulated voice conversation between the human and the talking video character.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said simulated voice conversation is part of a video game.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-04-24 | 1987-10-24 | 1988-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-04-24 | 1991-10-24 | 1992-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-04-24 | 1995-10-24 | 1996-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |