Patent US4753597A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4753597A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Multiple segment nonsequential recording
Assignee: TUMMIES LP
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Filing: 1986-06-11
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Granted: 1988-06-28
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Expires: 2006-06-11
Abstract
Abstract A recording has a plurality of segments, each of which is user selectable. The recording may be on any audio delivery medium including a phonograph record or a series of cassette tapes in which each segment is recorded on one band of the record or on one of the series of cassette tapes. Each recorded segment, such as the band on the phonograph record, may be identified by a visual indicium, such as color. The recorded information of at least some of the segments instructs the user to select another segment, with the other segment identified by its visual indicium so the user can select the chosen segment. Pieces may be provided for manipulation in accordance with the interactive recording. A play field may be provided having locations thereon coded with visual indicia corresponding to the visual indicia identifying the recorded segments to reinforce the choices available to the user and to supply feedback or contributing information to the user.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Pash
- 👤 James V. Patton
- 👤 Denise A. Patton
- 👤 Don R. Murray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:33
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/19; G11B27/24; A; A63; A63F; A63F9/00; G09; G09B; G09B5/00; G09B5/06; G09B5/062; G11B23/00; G11B23/38; G11B3/00; G11B3/02; G11B3/08; G11B3/095
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A user interactive story-telling system comprising: a plurality of stored recorded story segments; at least some of said segments including an initial storyline portion followed by a multiple choice selection portion directing the user to select one of a specified plurality of recorded storyline segments, each of said selections corresponding to a different line of story development; an object bearing visual information related to and coordinating with the storyline material recorded on at least one of said recorded segments, said object including visual information representing a character in the story, and sized for easy manual manipulation by the user to provide interactive feedback to the user while the user listens to the recorded segments; and a play field related to and coordinated with the storyline material recorded on said recorded story segments said play field depicting various locations referred to in at least some of said story segments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A user interactive story-telling system comprising: a plurality of stored recorded story segments; at least some of said segments including an initial storyline portion followed by a multiple choice selection portion directing the user to select one of a specified plurality of recorded storyline segments, each of said selections corresponding to a different line of story development; an object bearing visual information related to and coordinating with the storyline material recorded on at least one of said recorded segments, said object including visual information representing a character in the story, and sized for easy manual manipulation by the user to provide interactive feedback to the user while the user listens to the recorded segments; and a play field related to and coordinated with the storyline material recorded on said recorded story segments said play field depicting various locations referred to in at least some of said story segments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
168 words
A user interactive system comprising: a plurality of stored recorded segments, at least some of said segments including an initial program portion followed by a multiple choice selection portion directing the user to select one of a specified plurality of recorded segments; an object bearing visual information related to and coordinating with the material recorded on at least one of said recorded segments, said object relating to a character and at least one of said recorded segments including a program which refers to said character, said object being sized for easy manual manipulation by the user to provide interactive feedback to the user while the user listens to the recorded segments, said object being a three-dimensional representation of said character; and at least some of said plurality of stored recorded segments being identified and distinguished from one another by visual indicia, said object bearing a visual indicium corresponding to the visual indicium identifying said at least one stored recorded segment referring to said character represented by said object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
168 words
A user interactive system comprising: a plurality of stored recorded segments, at least some of said segments including an initial program portion followed by a multiple choice selection portion directing the user to select one of a specified plurality of recorded segments; an object bearing visual information related to and coordinating with the material recorded on at least one of said recorded segments, said object relating to a character and at least one of said recorded segments including a program which refers to said character, said object being sized for easy manual manipulation by the user to provide interactive feedback to the user while the user listens to the recorded segments, said object being a three-dimensional representation of said character; and at least some of said plurality of stored recorded segments being identified and distinguished from one another by visual indicia, said object bearing a visual indicium corresponding to the visual indicium identifying said at least one stored recorded segment referring to said character represented by said object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The user interactive system of claim 2 wherein the three dimensional representation of the character is mounted on a base which carries the visual indicium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The user interactive system of claim 2 or 3 wherein the visual indicia are a plurality of colors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The user interactive system of claim 4 wherein the recorded segments are stored on a phonograph record disk, said at least some of said recorded segments are recorded in concentric annular bands on said record disk, said bands are colored with a plurality of colors so that the bands can be readily identified and distinguished.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The user interactive system of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of three dimensional objects representing characters, each object bearing a visual indicium corresponding to the visual indicium identifying a stored recorded segment which refers to the character represented by the object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
124 words
A user interactive system comprising: a plurality of recorded segments; at least some of said segments including an initial program portion followed by a multiple choice selection portion directing the user to select one of a specified plurality of recorded segments; an object bearing visual information relating to and coordinating with the material recorded on at least one of said recorded segments, said object sized for easy manual manipulation by the user to provide interactive feedback to the user while the user listens to the recorded segments; and at least some of said plurality of stored recorded segments being identified by visual indicia, said object bearing a visual indicium corresponding to the visual indicium identifying said at least one of said stored recorded segments.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
124 words
A user interactive system comprising: a plurality of recorded segments; at least some of said segments including an initial program portion followed by a multiple choice selection portion directing the user to select one of a specified plurality of recorded segments; an object bearing visual information relating to and coordinating with the material recorded on at least one of said recorded segments, said object sized for easy manual manipulation by the user to provide interactive feedback to the user while the user listens to the recorded segments; and at least some of said plurality of stored recorded segments being identified by visual indicia, said object bearing a visual indicium corresponding to the visual indicium identifying said at least one of said stored recorded segments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The user interactive system of claim 7 wherein the visual indicia are a plurality of colors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The user interactive system of claim 8 wherein the recorded segments are stored on a phonograph record disk, said at least some of said recorded segments are recorded in concentric annular bands on said record, said bands being colored with a plurality of colors so that the bands can be readily identified and distinguished.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
137 words
A user interactive system comprising: a plurality of stored recorded segments; at least one of said plurality of stored recorded segments including an initial program portion followed by a multiple choice selection portion directing the user to select one of a specified plurality of recorded segments; said specified plurality of recorded segments referred to in said multiple choice selection portion are identified and distinguished from one another by visual indicia; and apparatus providing spaced locations, at least some of said locations bearing visual information related to and coordinating with the material recorded on said specified plurality of recorded segments to provided feedback to the user as the user listens to the recorded segments, at least some of said locations are identified and distinguished by visual indicia corresponding respectively to the visual indicia identifying the related recorded segments.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
137 words
A user interactive system comprising: a plurality of stored recorded segments; at least one of said plurality of stored recorded segments including an initial program portion followed by a multiple choice selection portion directing the user to select one of a specified plurality of recorded segments; said specified plurality of recorded segments referred to in said multiple choice selection portion are identified and distinguished from one another by visual indicia; and apparatus providing spaced locations, at least some of said locations bearing visual information related to and coordinating with the material recorded on said specified plurality of recorded segments to provided feedback to the user as the user listens to the recorded segments, at least some of said locations are identified and distinguished by visual indicia corresponding respectively to the visual indicia identifying the related recorded segments.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The user interactive system of claim 10 wherein said location providing apparatus in a play mat with representations of objects at various locations thereon corresponding to the material recorded on the segments.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The user iteractive system of claim 11 wherein said play mat includes at least one three dimensional structure representing one of said objects.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The user interactive system of claim 10, 11 o 12 wherein the visual indicia that identify and distinguish the stored recorded segments and the locations are a plurality of colors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
The user interactive system of claim 13 wherein the recorded segments are stored on a phonograph record disk, said specified plurality of recorded segments are recorded in concentric annular bands on said record, said bands being colored with a plurality of colors so that the bands can be readily identified and distinguished.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus comprising: a phonograph record disk having a recorded program stored thereon, said program including a plurality of portions, each of said portions relating to the activities of one of a plurality of characters, a plurality of manually manipulable objects corresponding to said plurality of characters, each object bearing visual information such that each object represents one of said plurality of characters; said recorded program portions are identified and distinguished by visual indicia, and each object bears a visual indicium corresponding to the visual indicium identifying the program portion relating to the character represented by the object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus comprising: a phonograph record disk having a recorded program stored thereon, said program including a plurality of portions, each of said portions relating to the activities of one of a plurality of characters, a plurality of manually manipulable objects corresponding to said plurality of characters, each object bearing visual information such that each object represents one of said plurality of characters; said recorded program portions are identified and distinguished by visual indicia, and each object bears a visual indicium corresponding to the visual indicium identifying the program portion relating to the character represented by the object.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein each object is formed in the three dimensional shape of the character the object represents.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 15 or 16 wherein the visual indicia are a plurality of colors.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein each of the portions are located in separate concentric bands on the record disk and the bands are colored with a plurality of colors so that they may be readily identified and distinguished.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
79 words
A user interactive system comprising: a plurality of cassette tapes, each tape having a recorded segment thereon; said plurality of cassette tapes are identified and distinguished from one another by a plurality different visual indicia; at least one of said segments on said cassettes including an initial program portion followed by a multiple choice selection portion directing the user to select one of a specified pluraltiy of segments, at least some of which segments are recorded on other cassettes.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
79 words
A user interactive system comprising: a plurality of cassette tapes, each tape having a recorded segment thereon; said plurality of cassette tapes are identified and distinguished from one another by a plurality different visual indicia; at least one of said segments on said cassettes including an initial program portion followed by a multiple choice selection portion directing the user to select one of a specified pluraltiy of segments, at least some of which segments are recorded on other cassettes.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The user interactive system of claim 19 wherein the cassette tapes are colored with a plurality of different colors so that they may be readily identified and distinguished.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The user interactive system of claim 19 wherein the cassette tapes are audio cassette tapes.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The user interactive system of claim 19 wherein the cassette tapes are video cassette tapes.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
251 words
A method comprising: providing a plurality of stored recorded segments which are divided into a plurality of sets of segments, at least some of said recorded segment sets having more than one recorded segment and at least some of said recorded segments including an initial program portion followed by a multiple choice selection portion directing the user to select one of a specified plurality of recorded segment sets all of said recorded segments having program portions which relate to the same subject matter such that a cohesive unit is formed; providing an object bearing visual information relating to and coordinating with the material recorded on at least one of the segments of said specified plurality of recorded segment sets, said object sized for easy manual manipulation by the user; providing a field for use with said objects, said field bearing visual information relating to and coordinating with the material recorded on at least one of said specified plurality of segments; replaying one segment from a first segment set, said segment including an initial program portion followed by a multiple choice selection portion; selecting one of the alternative segment sets specified in said multiple choice selection portion by manual actuation; randomly selecting, in response to the previous selecting step, one of the recorded segments of the selected segment set; replaying, in response to the random selection step, the randomly selected segment; manually manipulating the object corresponding to the material on the segment being replayed over the field in accordance with the program.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
251 words
A method comprising: providing a plurality of stored recorded segments which are divided into a plurality of sets of segments, at least some of said recorded segment sets having more than one recorded segment and at least some of said recorded segments including an initial program portion followed by a multiple choice selection portion directing the user to select one of a specified plurality of recorded segment sets all of said recorded segments having program portions which relate to the same subject matter such that a cohesive unit is formed; providing an object bearing visual information relating to and coordinating with the material recorded on at least one of the segments of said specified plurality of recorded segment sets, said object sized for easy manual manipulation by the user; providing a field for use with said objects, said field bearing visual information relating to and coordinating with the material recorded on at least one of said specified plurality of segments; replaying one segment from a first segment set, said segment including an initial program portion followed by a multiple choice selection portion; selecting one of the alternative segment sets specified in said multiple choice selection portion by manual actuation; randomly selecting, in response to the previous selecting step, one of the recorded segments of the selected segment set; replaying, in response to the random selection step, the randomly selected segment; manually manipulating the object corresponding to the material on the segment being replayed over the field in accordance with the program.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method, as defined in claim 23, wherein at least some of said recorded segments are identifiably distinguished from one another by visual indicia.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method, as defined in claim 24, wherein said object bears visual indicia corresponding to the visual indicium identifying at least one of said plurality of recorded segment sets which refers to said object.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method, as defined in claim 25, wherein said field bears visual indicia corresponding to the visual indicium of at least one of said plurality of recorded segment sets and said object.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
169 words
A user interactive system comprising: a phonograph record disk having a plurality of user selectable recorded segments on one side thereof, said recorded segments forming concentric annular bands on said record disk, the location on the record disk of each of said selectable recorded segments is identified by a visual indicium, at least some of said recorded segments having an initial program portion ending in a multiple choice selection portion, wherein said multiple selection portion instructs the user to select another segment from a plurality of specified segments; a plurality of objects each object bearing a visual indicium corresponding to the visual indicium identifying one of said bands on said record, each object also bears visual information representing a character, said character corresponding to a character referred to in the program portion of a recorded segment bearing the same visual indicium as the object, said object sized for easy manual manipulation by the user to provide interactive feedback to the user while the user listens to the recorded segments.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
169 words
A user interactive system comprising: a phonograph record disk having a plurality of user selectable recorded segments on one side thereof, said recorded segments forming concentric annular bands on said record disk, the location on the record disk of each of said selectable recorded segments is identified by a visual indicium, at least some of said recorded segments having an initial program portion ending in a multiple choice selection portion, wherein said multiple selection portion instructs the user to select another segment from a plurality of specified segments; a plurality of objects each object bearing a visual indicium corresponding to the visual indicium identifying one of said bands on said record, each object also bears visual information representing a character, said character corresponding to a character referred to in the program portion of a recorded segment bearing the same visual indicium as the object, said object sized for easy manual manipulation by the user to provide interactive feedback to the user while the user listens to the recorded segments.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
216 words
A method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of stored recorded segments, at least some of said segments including an initial program portion which sets up an interactive storyline, followed by a multiple choice selection portion directing the user to select one of a specified plurality of recorded segments, said selections corresponding to different lines of story development; providing an object bearing visual information relating to and coordinating with the storyline material recorded on at least one of said specified plurality of recorded segments, said object including a representation of a character in the story; providing a play field having visual information corresponding to various locations referred to in the storyline material; replaying one segment from said plurality of stored recorded segments, said segment including an initial program portion which sets up the interactive storyline, followed by a multiple choice selection portion corresponding to different branches of the story; selecting one of the alternative segments specified in said multiple choice selection portion by manual actuation; replaying, in response to the selection step, the selected segment; and manually manipulating the object corresponding to the character depicted in the storyline material on the segment being replayed, to a location on the play field corresponding to the location described in the storyline material on the segment being replayed.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
216 words
A method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of stored recorded segments, at least some of said segments including an initial program portion which sets up an interactive storyline, followed by a multiple choice selection portion directing the user to select one of a specified plurality of recorded segments, said selections corresponding to different lines of story development; providing an object bearing visual information relating to and coordinating with the storyline material recorded on at least one of said specified plurality of recorded segments, said object including a representation of a character in the story; providing a play field having visual information corresponding to various locations referred to in the storyline material; replaying one segment from said plurality of stored recorded segments, said segment including an initial program portion which sets up the interactive storyline, followed by a multiple choice selection portion corresponding to different branches of the story; selecting one of the alternative segments specified in said multiple choice selection portion by manual actuation; replaying, in response to the selection step, the selected segment; and manually manipulating the object corresponding to the character depicted in the storyline material on the segment being replayed, to a location on the play field corresponding to the location described in the storyline material on the segment being replayed.
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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) | 1991-06-28 | 1991-12-28 | 1992-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-06-28 | 1995-12-28 | 1996-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-06-28 | 1999-12-28 | 2000-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |