US5393071A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Talking video games with cooperative action
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1993-05-12
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Granted: 1995-02-28
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Expires: 2013-05-12
Abstract
Abstract Talking video games provide simulated voice dialog between human players and animated characters on a video or television screen. Two or more animated characters perform cooperative actions and talk about what they are doing or will soon do. They talk to each other and to the human players who control directly or indirectly what the characters do and say. Each scene branches to two or more subsequent scenes. But within each scene there are several branching dialog sequences, thereby providing a large variety of possible dialogs. Pictures and voices are generated from digital data read from a laser-readable disk or stored in a semiconductor memory. Each player has a hand-held controller that displays two or more phrases or sentences. A player responds to what an animated character says by pressing a button next to a selected sentence. An animated character then responds verbally or by action to the selected sentence as if it had been spoken by the human player or says the words the player selected. Speech recognition is not required. Human players are thus given an illusion of having voice dialog with interesting characters involved in cooperative activities.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M. Best
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:13
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B7/00; G09B7/02; G09B7/04; A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/45; A63F13/47; A63F13/50; A63F13/53; A63F13/533; A63F13/80; A63F13/822; A63F13/843; A63F13/847; G11; G11B; G11B17/00; G11B17/005; G11B19/00; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/102; G11B27/105; A63F13/25; A63F13/26; A63F13/54; A63F13/90; A63F13/95; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/20; A63F2300/206; A63F2300/30; A63F2300/301; A63F2300/308; A63F2300/60; A63F2300/6063; A63F2300/6081; A63F2300/63; A63F2300/632; A63F2300/80; A63F2300/807; A63F2300/8088; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/20; G11B2220/21; G11B2220/213; G11B2220/25; G11B2220/2537; G11B2220/2545
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
329 words
A method of electronically simulating voice conversations between at least two talking animated characters, the words of one character being selected by a human player, comprising the steps of: (a) digitally storing a catalog of distinctive voices for at least two talking characters, each in the form of voice sound data representing a plurality of sentences, phrases, word segments or phonemes; (b) digitally storing a preprogrammed branching dialog between a first animated character and a second animated character, each branch comprising a plurality of alternative verbal expressions; (c) generating a video signal representing an image of said first and second characters for display on a video screen; (d) displaying on a hand-held controller apparatus a first set of alternatively selectable verbal expressions describing preprogrammed actions of an animated character, each expression corresponding to a branch in said dialog; (e) receiving from said hand-held controller a manually initiated signal representing a selected verbal expression in said first set of verbal expressions, thereby selecting a branch in the dialog and a corresponding selected action of an animated character. (f) digitally reading from said catalog of voices first voice sound data that corresponds to said selected verbal expression for the voice of said first character; (g) generating an audio signal from said first voice sound data representing the voice of said first character speaking said selected verbal expression; (h) generating a video signal representing an image of an animated character performing said selected action in accordance with said selected verbal expression; (i) digitally reading from said catalog of voices second voice sound data for the voice of said second character speaking the verbal expression that follows next in the selected branch of the dialog; (j) generating an audio signal from said second voice sound data representing the voice of said second character; and (k) displaying on said hand-held controller apparatus a second set of alternatively selectable verbal expressions that follows next for said first character in the selected branch of the dialog.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
329 words
A method of electronically simulating voice conversations between at least two talking animated characters, the words of one character being selected by a human player, comprising the steps of: (a) digitally storing a catalog of distinctive voices for at least two talking characters, each in the form of voice sound data representing a plurality of sentences, phrases, word segments or phonemes; (b) digitally storing a preprogrammed branching dialog between a first animated character and a second animated character, each branch comprising a plurality of alternative verbal expressions; (c) generating a video signal representing an image of said first and second characters for display on a video screen; (d) displaying on a hand-held controller apparatus a first set of alternatively selectable verbal expressions describing preprogrammed actions of an animated character, each expression corresponding to a branch in said dialog; (e) receiving from said hand-held controller a manually initiated signal representing a selected verbal expression in said first set of verbal expressions, thereby selecting a branch in the dialog and a corresponding selected action of an animated character. (f) digitally reading from said catalog of voices first voice sound data that corresponds to said selected verbal expression for the voice of said first character; (g) generating an audio signal from said first voice sound data representing the voice of said first character speaking said selected verbal expression; (h) generating a video signal representing an image of an animated character performing said selected action in accordance with said selected verbal expression; (i) digitally reading from said catalog of voices second voice sound data for the voice of said second character speaking the verbal expression that follows next in the selected branch of the dialog; (j) generating an audio signal from said second voice sound data representing the voice of said second character; and (k) displaying on said hand-held controller apparatus a second set of alternatively selectable verbal expressions that follows next for said first character in the selected branch of the dialog.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said hand-held controller is a portable game system with program cartridge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said video signal is changed to show moving lips on the face of the first character when said audio signal is generated from said first voice sound data; and wherein said video signal is changed to show moving lips on the face of the second character when said audio signal is generated from said second voice sound data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said moving lips are lip-synchronized with the corresponding voices in said audio signal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
384 words
A method of electronically simulating voice conversations between at least two on-screen talking animated characters and an off-screen talking character, comprising the steps of: (a) digitally storing a catalog of distinctive voices for at least three talking characters, each in the form of voice sound data representing a plurality of sentences, phrases, word segments or phonemes; (b) digitally storing a preprogrammed branching dialog between a first on-screen character and a second on-screen character and an off-screen character, each branch comprising a plurality of alternative verbal expressions; (c) generating a video signal representing an image of said first and second on-screen characters for display on a video screen; (d) displaying on a hand-held controller apparatus a first set of alternatively selectable verbal expressions describing preprogrammed actions of an animated character, each expression corresponding to a branch in said dialog; (e) receiving from said hand-held controller a manually initiated signal representing a selected verbal expression in said first set of verbal expressions, thereby selecting a branch in the dialog and a corresponding selected action of an animated character; (f) digitally reading from said catalog of voices first voice sound data that corresponds to said selected verbal expression for the voice of said off-screen character; (g) generating an audio signal from said first voice sound data representing the voice of said off-screen character speaking said selected verbal expression; (h) generating a video signal representing an image of an animated character performing said selected action in accordance with said selected verbal expression; (i) digitally reading from said catalog of voices second voice sound data for the voice of said first on-screen character speaking the verbal expression that follows next in the selected branch of the dialog; (j) generating an audio signal from said second voice sound data representing the voice of said first on-screen character; (k) digitally reading from said catalog of voices third voice sound data for the voice of said second on-screen character speaking the verbal expression that follows next in the selected branch of the dialog; (l) generating an audio signal from said third voice sound data representing the voice of said second on-screen character; and (m) displaying on said hand-held controller apparatus a second set of alternatively selectable verbal expressions that follows next for said off-screen character in the selected branch of the dialog.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
384 words
A method of electronically simulating voice conversations between at least two on-screen talking animated characters and an off-screen talking character, comprising the steps of: (a) digitally storing a catalog of distinctive voices for at least three talking characters, each in the form of voice sound data representing a plurality of sentences, phrases, word segments or phonemes; (b) digitally storing a preprogrammed branching dialog between a first on-screen character and a second on-screen character and an off-screen character, each branch comprising a plurality of alternative verbal expressions; (c) generating a video signal representing an image of said first and second on-screen characters for display on a video screen; (d) displaying on a hand-held controller apparatus a first set of alternatively selectable verbal expressions describing preprogrammed actions of an animated character, each expression corresponding to a branch in said dialog; (e) receiving from said hand-held controller a manually initiated signal representing a selected verbal expression in said first set of verbal expressions, thereby selecting a branch in the dialog and a corresponding selected action of an animated character; (f) digitally reading from said catalog of voices first voice sound data that corresponds to said selected verbal expression for the voice of said off-screen character; (g) generating an audio signal from said first voice sound data representing the voice of said off-screen character speaking said selected verbal expression; (h) generating a video signal representing an image of an animated character performing said selected action in accordance with said selected verbal expression; (i) digitally reading from said catalog of voices second voice sound data for the voice of said first on-screen character speaking the verbal expression that follows next in the selected branch of the dialog; (j) generating an audio signal from said second voice sound data representing the voice of said first on-screen character; (k) digitally reading from said catalog of voices third voice sound data for the voice of said second on-screen character speaking the verbal expression that follows next in the selected branch of the dialog; (l) generating an audio signal from said third voice sound data representing the voice of said second on-screen character; and (m) displaying on said hand-held controller apparatus a second set of alternatively selectable verbal expressions that follows next for said off-screen character in the selected branch of the dialog.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said video signal is changed to show moving lips on the faces of said on-screen characters synchronized with the corresponding voices in said audio signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said hand-held controller is a portable game system with program cartridge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said selected verbal expression for said off-screen character is displayed on said video screen.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
367 words
A method of electronically simulating voice conversations between at least two talking animated characters, the words of the characters being selected by two corresponding human players, comprising the steps of: (a) digitally storing a catalog of distinctive voices for a least two talking characters, each in the form of voice sound data representing a plurality of sentences, phrases, word segments or phonemes; (b) digitally storing a preprogrammed branching dialog between a first animated character and a second animated character, each branch comprising a plurality of alternative verbal expressions; (c) generating a video signal representing an image of said first and second characters for display on a video screen; (d) displaying on a first hand-held controller apparatus a first set of alternatively selectable verbal expressions describing preprogrammed actions of an animated character, each expression corresponding to a branch in said dialog; (e) receiving from said first hand-held controller a manually initiated signal representing a first selected verbal expression in said first set of verbal expressions, thereby selecting a branch in the dialog and corresponding selected action of an animated character; (f) digitally reading from said catalog of voices first voice sound data that corresponds to said first selected verbal expression for the voice of said first character; (g) generating an audio signal from said first voice sound data representing the voice of said first character speaking said first selected verbal expression; (h) generating a video signal representing an image of an animated character performing said selected action in accordance with said selected verbal expression; (i) displaying on a second hand-held controller apparatus a second set of alternatively selectable verbal expressions that follows next for said second character in the selected branch of the dialog; (j) receiving from said second hand-held controller a manually initiated signal representing a second selected verbal expression in said second set of verbal expressions, thereby selecting a next branch in the dialog; (k) digitally reading from said catalog of voices second voice sound data that corresponds to said second selected verbal expression for the voice of said second character; and (l) generating an audio signal from said second voice sound data representing the voice of said second character speaking said second selected verbal expression.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
367 words
A method of electronically simulating voice conversations between at least two talking animated characters, the words of the characters being selected by two corresponding human players, comprising the steps of: (a) digitally storing a catalog of distinctive voices for a least two talking characters, each in the form of voice sound data representing a plurality of sentences, phrases, word segments or phonemes; (b) digitally storing a preprogrammed branching dialog between a first animated character and a second animated character, each branch comprising a plurality of alternative verbal expressions; (c) generating a video signal representing an image of said first and second characters for display on a video screen; (d) displaying on a first hand-held controller apparatus a first set of alternatively selectable verbal expressions describing preprogrammed actions of an animated character, each expression corresponding to a branch in said dialog; (e) receiving from said first hand-held controller a manually initiated signal representing a first selected verbal expression in said first set of verbal expressions, thereby selecting a branch in the dialog and corresponding selected action of an animated character; (f) digitally reading from said catalog of voices first voice sound data that corresponds to said first selected verbal expression for the voice of said first character; (g) generating an audio signal from said first voice sound data representing the voice of said first character speaking said first selected verbal expression; (h) generating a video signal representing an image of an animated character performing said selected action in accordance with said selected verbal expression; (i) displaying on a second hand-held controller apparatus a second set of alternatively selectable verbal expressions that follows next for said second character in the selected branch of the dialog; (j) receiving from said second hand-held controller a manually initiated signal representing a second selected verbal expression in said second set of verbal expressions, thereby selecting a next branch in the dialog; (k) digitally reading from said catalog of voices second voice sound data that corresponds to said second selected verbal expression for the voice of said second character; and (l) generating an audio signal from said second voice sound data representing the voice of said second character speaking said second selected verbal expression.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
484 words
A method of electronically simulating voice conversations between at least two on-screen talking animated characters and two off-screen talking characters, comprising the steps of: (a) digitally storing a catalog of distinctive voices for at least four talking characters, each in the form of voice sound data representing a plurality of sentences, phrases, word segments or phonemes; (b) digitally storing a preprogrammed branching dialog between a first on-screen character and a second on-screen character and a first off-screen character and a second off-screen character, each branch comprising a plurality of alternative verbal expressions; (c) generating a video signal representing an image of said first and second on-screen characters for display on a video screen; (d) displaying on a first hand-held controller apparatus a first set of alternatively selectable verbal expressions describing preprogrammed actions of an animated character, each expression corresponding to a branch in said dialog; (e) receiving from said first hand-held controller a manually initiated signal representing a first selected verbal expression in said first set of verbal expressions, thereby selecting a branch in the dialog and a corresponding selected action of an animated character; (f) digitally reading from said catalog of voices first voice sound data that corresponds to said first selected verbal expression for the voice of said first off-screen character; (g) generating an audio signal from said first voice sound data representing the voice of said first off-screen character speaking said first selected verbal expression; (h) generating a video signal representing an image of an animated character performing said selected action in accordance with said selected verbal expression; (i) digitally reading from said catalog of voices second voice sound data for the voice of said first on-screen character speaking the verbal expression that follows next in the selected branch of the dialog; (j) generating an audio signal from said second voice sound data representing the voice of said first on-screen character; (k) displaying on a second hand-held controller apparatus a second set of alternatively selectable verbal expressions that follows next for said second off-screen character in the selected branch of the dialog; (l) receiving form said second hand-held controller a manually initiated signal representing a second selected verbal expression in said second set of verbal expressions, thereby selecting a next branch in the dialog; (m) digitally reading from said catalog of voices third voice sound data that corresponds to said second selected verbal expression for the voice of said second off-screen character; (n) generating an audio signal from said third voice sound data representing the voice of said second off-screen character speaking said second selected verbal expression; (o) digitally reading from said catalog of voices fourth voice sound data for the voice of said second on-screen character speaking the verbal expression that follows next in the selected branch of the dialog; and (p) generating an audio signal from said fourth voice sound data representing the voice of said second on-screen character.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
484 words
A method of electronically simulating voice conversations between at least two on-screen talking animated characters and two off-screen talking characters, comprising the steps of: (a) digitally storing a catalog of distinctive voices for at least four talking characters, each in the form of voice sound data representing a plurality of sentences, phrases, word segments or phonemes; (b) digitally storing a preprogrammed branching dialog between a first on-screen character and a second on-screen character and a first off-screen character and a second off-screen character, each branch comprising a plurality of alternative verbal expressions; (c) generating a video signal representing an image of said first and second on-screen characters for display on a video screen; (d) displaying on a first hand-held controller apparatus a first set of alternatively selectable verbal expressions describing preprogrammed actions of an animated character, each expression corresponding to a branch in said dialog; (e) receiving from said first hand-held controller a manually initiated signal representing a first selected verbal expression in said first set of verbal expressions, thereby selecting a branch in the dialog and a corresponding selected action of an animated character; (f) digitally reading from said catalog of voices first voice sound data that corresponds to said first selected verbal expression for the voice of said first off-screen character; (g) generating an audio signal from said first voice sound data representing the voice of said first off-screen character speaking said first selected verbal expression; (h) generating a video signal representing an image of an animated character performing said selected action in accordance with said selected verbal expression; (i) digitally reading from said catalog of voices second voice sound data for the voice of said first on-screen character speaking the verbal expression that follows next in the selected branch of the dialog; (j) generating an audio signal from said second voice sound data representing the voice of said first on-screen character; (k) displaying on a second hand-held controller apparatus a second set of alternatively selectable verbal expressions that follows next for said second off-screen character in the selected branch of the dialog; (l) receiving form said second hand-held controller a manually initiated signal representing a second selected verbal expression in said second set of verbal expressions, thereby selecting a next branch in the dialog; (m) digitally reading from said catalog of voices third voice sound data that corresponds to said second selected verbal expression for the voice of said second off-screen character; (n) generating an audio signal from said third voice sound data representing the voice of said second off-screen character speaking said second selected verbal expression; (o) digitally reading from said catalog of voices fourth voice sound data for the voice of said second on-screen character speaking the verbal expression that follows next in the selected branch of the dialog; and (p) generating an audio signal from said fourth voice sound data representing the voice of said second on-screen character.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-02-27 | 1998-08-29 | 1999-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-02-27 | 2002-08-29 | 2003-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-02-27 | 2006-08-29 | 2007-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |