Dialog between TV movies and human viewers

An apparatus for simulating a voice conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

• means for controlling presentation of scenes in said sound movie, a first scene therein being linked to a plurality of second scenes therein, the first scene including voice sounds to elicit from the operator a spoken response corresponding to one second scene in said plurality thereof;
• means for analyzing said spoken response and determining therefrom which second scene in said sound movie corresponds to said spoken response;
• and
• means for scheduling for a point in time a second scene in said sound movie which corresponds to said spoken response and which includes voice sounds responsive to said spoken response,
• said controlling means further controlling presentation of said scheduled second scene at said point in time, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the movie and the operator.

An apparatus for simulating a voice conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

• means for controlling presentation of scenes in said sound movie in accordance with a branching data structure of digital pointers which specify alternative sequences of said scenes, a portion of said data structure linking a first scene to a plurality of second scenes, the first scene eliciting from the operator a spoken response which corresponds to one digital pointer in said data structure portion;
• and
• means for analyzing said spoken response and determining therefrom which one digital pointer in said data structure portion corresponds to said spoken response,
• said controlling means further controlling presentation of the second scene linked to said first scene by said one digital pointer, the second scene including voice sounds responsive to said spoken response, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the movie and the operator.

An apparatus for simulating a voice conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

• means for generating an audio signal of a voice speaking a plurality of words to elicit from a human operator a spoken response;
• means for processing a video signal for presentation with said audio signal as a sound movie which includes an image of a speaking person;
• means for analyzing said spoken response to determine which one word in said plurality of words most closely resembles a portion of said spoken response;
• and
• means for selecting from a plurality of recorded voice sounds a selected voice sound corresponding to said one word,
• said generating means further generating an audio signal which includes said selected voice sound for presentation with an image of said speaking person.

An apparatus for simulating a voice conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and an animated cartoon sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

• means for generating an audio signal including voice sounds which communicate to the operator of the apparatus a plurality of alternative voice sounds to speak in response;
• means for generating a video signal including animated cartoon images of a talking face, wherein said voice sounds and said talking face comprise scenes in said cartoon movie;
• means for controlling presentation of a first scene in said cartoon movie which is linked to a plurality of second scenes therein, each second scene corresponding to one voice sound in a plurality of alternative voice sounds communicated in said first scene;
• and
• means for analyzing a spoken response from said operator and determining therefrom which selected voice sound in said first scene corresponds to said spoken response,
• said controlling means further controlling presentation of the second scene in said cartoon movie which corresponds to said selected voice sound and which includes voice sounds responsive to the selected voice sound, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the cartoon movie and the operator.

An apparatus for simulating a conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a previously recorded sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

• means for controlling presentation of scenes in said sound movie, a first scene therein including a talking face and corresponding voice sounds which communicate to said operator a plurality of alternative verbal responses which correspond to alternative second scenes in said sound movie;
• means for receiving from said operator a response signal which corresponds to a selected verbal response in said communicated plurality thereof;
• and
• means for scheduling for a point in time a second scene in said sound movie which corresponds to said response signal and which includes a talking face and corresponding voice sounds responsive to said selected verbal response;
• said controlling means further controlling presentation of said scheduled second scene at said point in time, thereby simulating a conversation between the movie and the operator.

An apparatus for simulating a conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a previously recorded sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

• means for controlling presentation of scenes in said sound movie which include a talking face and corresponding voice sounds, wherein a first scene is linked to a plurality of alternative second scenes;
• means for communicating to said operator a plurality of alternative verbal responses to said first scene which correspond to alternative second scenes in said sound movie;
• means for receiving from said operator a response signal which corresponds to a selected verbal response in said communicated plurality thereof;
• and
• means for scheduling for a point in time a second scene in said sound movie which corresponds to said response signal and which includes a talking face and corresponding voice sounds responsive to said selected verbal response;
• said controlling means further controlling presentation of said scheduled second scene at said point in time, thereby simulating a conversation between the movie and the operator.

An apparatus for simulating a voice conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

• means for controlling presentation of scenes in said sound movie, a first scene therein being linked to a plurality of second scenes therein;
• means for analyzing a vocal expression from said operator and determining therefrom which second scene in said sound movie corresponds to said vocal expression;
• and
• means for scheduling for a point in time a second scene in said sound movie which corresponds to said vocal expression and which includes voice sounds responsive to said vocal expression,
• said controlling means further controlling presentation of said scheduled second scene at said point in time, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the movie and the operator.

An apparatus for simulating a conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a previously recorded sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

• means for controlling presentation of a first scene in a sound movie linked to a plurality of second scenes therein, the first scene including images of a talking person and corresponding voice sounds to elicit from said operator a spoken response corresponding to one second scene in said plurality thereof;
• and
• means for analyzing said spoken response and determining therefrom which selected second scene in said sound movie corresponds to said spoken response, the selected scene including an image of said talking person performing an action in accordance with said spoken response;
• said controlling means further controlling presentation of said selected second scene, thereby simulating control by said operator over an action performed by the talking person.

An apparatus for simulating a conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a previously recorded sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

• means for controlling presentation of scenes in said sound movie, a first scene therein being linked to a plurality of second scenes therein;
• means for communicating to said operator a plurality of alternative verbal responses to said first scene which correspond to alternative second scenes in said sound movie;
• means for analyzing a verbal response from said operator and determining therefrom which selected second scene in said sound movie corresponds to said verbal response, the selected scene including an image of a talking person performing an action in accordance with said verbal response;
• said controlling means further controlling presentation of said selected second scene, thereby simulating verbal control by the operator over an action performed by the talking person.

An apparatus for simulating a conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a previously recorded sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

• means for controlling presentation of scenes in said sound movie, a first scene therein including a talking person having moving lips and corresponding voice;
• means for selecting from a plurality of alternative voice recordings one selected voice recording which includes the name of said operator in the voice of said talking person;
• and
• means for scheduling presentation of said selected voice recording for a point in time in synchronism with the moving lips of said talking person,
• said controlling means further controlling presentation of said scheduled voice recording at said point in time, thereby simulating a personalized conversation between the movie and the operator.

An apparatus for simulating a conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and an animated cartoon sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

• means for controlling presentation of scenes in said movie which include cartoon representations of a talking face with synchronized voice sound, wherein a first scene is linked to a plurality of alternative second scenes;
• means for communicating to said operator a plurality of alternative verbal responses to said first scene which correspond to alternative second scenes in said movie;
• means for receiving from said operator a response signal which corresponds to a selected verbal response in said communicated plurality thereof;
• and
• means for scheduling for a point in time a second scene in said cartoon movie which corresponds to said response signal and which includes said talking cartoon face and corresponding voice sounds responsive to said selected verbal response;
• said controlling means further controlling presentation of said scheduled second scene at said point in time, thereby simulating a conversation between the cartoon movie and the operator.

An apparatus for simulating a voice conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and an animated cartoon sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

• storage means for storing a plurality of portions of digitally coded data including portions of graphics data describing picture elements and the positions thereof in a plurality of cartoon pictures, and for storing digitized audio data for presentation as sound portions with the cartoon pictures, and for storing control data specifying ordered pluralities of portions of said graphics data and corresponding audio data for presentation as an animated cartoon sound movie, wherein said control data specifies a first portion of said graphics and audio data and a plurality of alternative second portions of said graphics and audio data;
• means for controlling presentation of a first portion of said animated cartoon sound movie from said first portion of graphics and audio data including voice sounds which elicit from the operator a spoken response corresponding to one second portion of said graphics and audio data in said plurality of alternative portions thereof;
• and
• means for analyzing said spoken response and determining therefrom which second portion of graphics and audio data corresponds to said spoken response,
• said controlling means further controlling presentation of a subsequent portion of said animated cartoon sound movie from the second portion of graphics and audio data corresponding to said spoken response and which includes voice sounds responsive to the operator's spoken response, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the movie and the operator.

An apparatus for simulating a conversation between a human operator of the apparatus and a previously recorded sound movie, the apparatus comprising:

• means for controlling presentation of scenes in said sound movie, a first scene therein including a talking face and corresponding voice sounds which communicate to said operator a plurality of alternative verbal responses which correspond to alternative second scenes in said sound movie;
• means for generating a plurality of prompting messages, each message corresponding to one verbal response in said plurality thereof;
• means for receiving from said operator a response signal which corresponds to a selected prompting message in said generated plurality thereof;
• and
• means for scheduling for a point in time a second scene in said sound movie which corresponds to said response signal and which includes a talking face and corresponding voice sounds responsive to said selected prompting message;
• said controlling means further controlling presentation of said scheduled second scene at said point in time, thereby simulating a conversation between the movie and the operator.

A method of inserting an utterance into sound accompanying a movie comprising the steps of:

• storing in a memory means a digitized audio recording of said utterance,
• scheduling a sequence of video frames comprising said motion picture,
• scheduling a first audio signal in synchronism with said video frames,
• scheduling said utterance recording to begin during one video frame in said sequence thereof,
• electronically trimming a beginning portion of predetermined duration from said utterance recording so as to shift with respect to time said utterance recording relative to said sequence of video frames,
• mixing said trimmed utterance recording with said first audio signal, thereby producing a second audio signal,
• presenting said sequence of video frames as a movie and said second audio signal as an accompanying sound in accordance with said schedules.

A method of simulating a voice conversation between a previously recorded sound movie and a human viewer of the movie, comprising the steps of:

• storing a plurality of video frames, each having a video frame identifier;
• storing a plurality of ordered schedules of said video frame identifiers, each schedule thereof being associated with one preestablished set of features characterizing human voice sounds;
• linking said plurality of schedules with a branching data structure of digital pointers including branch points each of which point to a plurality of alternative schedules;
• electronically recognizing a voice sound as most resembling one of said set of features, thereby indicating a selected set of features;
• selectively retrieving from said plurality of schedules the schedule associated with said selected set of features;
• retrieving from said plurality of video frames the video frames identified by said retrieved schedule in the sequence specified therein;
• and
• presenting said retrieved video frames as a movie.

A method of simulating a voice conversation between an animated cartoon sound movie and a human viewer of the movie, comprising the steps of:

• storing a branching data structure which specifies alternative scene sequences in an animated cartoon movie, each scene sequence comprising a plurality of movie scenes;
• presenting to said viewer a first scene of said cartoon movie specified by a first portion of said data structure, wherein a plurality of second portions of said data structure branch from said first portion thereof;
• presenting in said first scene a plurality of alternative choices so as to elicit a spoken response from said viewer;
• accepting from said viewer a spoken response corresponding to one choice in said plurality of alternative choices;
• selecting from said plurality of second portions of said data structure one second portion thereof corresponding to said accepted spoken response;
• and
• presenting to said viewer a subsequent scene of said cartoon movie specified by said selected second portion of said data structure responsive to said viewer's spoken response, thereby simulating a conversation between the viewer and the animated cartoon movie.

A method of simulating a voice conversation between a previously recorded sound movie and a human participant who is watching the movie, comprising the steps of:

• presenting a first scene in said movie linked to a plurality of second scenes therein, the first scene including a moving picture of a talking face and a voice sound expressing a plurality of prompting words to elicit a spoken response which resembles one of said prompting words, each said prompting word corresponding to a second scene in said plurality of second scenes;
• comparing electronically said spoken response to said plurality of prompting words to determine which selected word in said plurality resembles said spoken response;
• and
• presenting the second scene corresponding to said selected word including said talking face and a voice sound, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human and the movie.

A method of simulating a voice conversation between a previously recorded sound movie and a human participant who is watching the movie, comprising the steps of:

• presenting a first scene in said movie linked to a plurality of second scenes therein, the first scene including a moving picture of a talking face and a voice sound expressing a plurality of prompting words to elicit a spoken response which resembles one of said prompting words, each said prompting word corresponding to a second scene in said plurality thereof and having a distinguishing phonetic feature;
• analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which distinguishing phonetic feature is present therein and thereby selecting a word in said plurality of prompting words which resembles said spoken response;
• and
• presenting the second scene corresponding to said selected word including said talking face and a voice sound, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the humand and the movie.

A method of simulating a voice conversation between a previously recorded sound movie and a human participant who is watching the movie, comprising the steps of:

• displaying a first scene in said movie linked to a plurality of second scenes therein, the first and second scenes including a moving picture of a talking face;
• presenting with said first scene a plurality of prompting words to elicit a spoken response corresponding to one of said prompting words, each prompting word corresponding to a second scene in said plurality thereof;
• determining electronically which selected word in said plurality of prompting words corresponds to said spoken response;
• and
• displaying the second scene corresponding to said selected word including said talking face accompanied by voice sounds responsive to said selected word, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human and the movie.

A method of simulating a voice conversation between a previously recorded sound movie and a human participant who is watching the movie, comprising the steps of:

• displaying a first scene in said movie linked to a plurality of second scenes therein, the first and second scenes including a moving picture of a talking face;
• presenting with said first scene a plurality of phonetically distinct voice sounds to elicit a spoken response corresponding to one of said voice sounds, each said voice sound corresponding to a second scene in said plurality of second scenes;
• analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected voice sound in said plurality corresponds to said spoken response;
• and
• displaying the second scene corresponding to said selected voice sound accompanied by further voice sounds which are responsive to said selected voice sound, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human and the movie.

A method of simulating a voice conversation between a previously recorded sound movie and a human participant who is watching the movie, comprising the steps of:

• displaying a first scene in said movie linked to a plurality of second scenes therein, the first scene including a moving picture of a talking face accompanied by voice sounds expressing a plurality of prompting words;
• displaying said plurality of prompting words to elicit a spoken response which includes one of said prompting words, each said prompting word corresponding to a second scene in said plurality of second scenes;
• analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected word in said plurality of prompting words is included in said spoken response;
• and
• displaying the second scene corresponding to said selected word including said talking face accompanied by voice sounds responsive to said selected word, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human and the movie.

A method of providing a human viewer of a motion picture story with simulated individualized participation therein, comprising the steps of:

• displaying a first scene in said motion picture story linked to a plurality of second scenes therein, the first scene presenting a plurality of alternative choices corresponding to said second scenes;
• presenting a plurality of prompting words, each word corresponding to a choice in said plurality of alternative choices and corresponding to a second scene in said plurality thereof to elicit a spoken response which includes one of the prompting words;
• analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected word in said plurality of prompting words is included in said spoken response;
• and
• displaying the second scene corresponding to said selected word, thereby simulating participation by said human in the motion picture story.

A method of simulating a voice conversation between a motion picture and a human viewer who is watching the motion picture, comprising the steps of:

• displaying a first portion of said motion picture linked to a plurality of second portions thereof, the first portion including an image of a talking face;
• presenting with said first portion a plurality of vocal expressions to elicit a spoken response corresponding to one of said vocal expressions, each said vocal expression corresponding to a second motion picture portion in said plurality thereof;
• analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected vocal expression in said plurality of vocal expressions corresponds to said spoken response;
• and
• displaying the second portion of said motion picture corresponding to said selected vocal expression, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human viewer and the talking face in the motion picture.

A method of employing a standard television receiver and videodisc player to provide a human who is watching the screen of said television receiver with vocal participation in a branching movie presented thereon, comprising the steps of:

• storing a plurality of ordered schedules of video frame addresses, each schedule thereof being associated with one preestablished set of phonetic features characterizing human voice sounds;
• linking a first schedule in said plurality of schedules to a plurality of alternative second schedules therein with a branching data structure of digital pointers;
• displaying on said screen the video frames specified by said first schedule to elicit a voice sound response;
• determining electronically which of said sets of phonetic features resembles the phonetic features of said voice sound response, thereby indicating a selected set of phonetic features;
• selectively retrieving from said plurality of second schedules the selected schedule associated with said selected set of phonetic features;
• and
• displaying on said screen the video frames specified by said selected schedule, thereby providing said human with vocal participation in the branching movie which includes said video frames.

A method of simulating a voice conversation between an animated cartoon motion picture and a human viewer of the picture, comprising the steps of:

• storing a plurality of schedules of graphics data, each schedule specifying picture portions of an animated cartoon picture;
• generating a first animated cartoon picture specified by a first said schedule linked to a plurality of second said schedules;
• emitting with said first animated cartoon picture a plurality of alternative voice sounds to elicit a spoken response, each alternative voice sound being associated with a second schedule in said plurality thereof;
• determining electronically which alternative voice sound in said plurality thereof resembles said spoken response, thereby determining which selected second schedule corresponds to said spoken response;
• and
• generating a second animated cartoon picture specified by said selected second schedule, thereby simulating a conversation between the human and the animated cartoon motion picture.

A method of simulating a voice conversation between an animated cartoon motion picture and a human viewer of the picture, comprising the steps of:

• storing a plurality of schedules of graphics data, each schedule specifying picture portions of an animated cartoon picture;
• generating a first animated cartoon picture specified by a first said schedule linked to a plurality of second said schedules;
• presenting with said first animated cartoon picture a plurality of prompting words to elicit a spoken response correspnding to one of said prompting words, each prompting word being associated with a second schedule in said plurality thereof;
• determining electronically which word in said plurality of prompting words corresponds to said spoken response, thereby determining which selected second schedule corresponds to said spoken response;
• and
• generating a second animated cartoon picture specified by said selected second schedule, thereby simulating a conversation between the human and the animated cartoon motion picture.

A method of simulating a voice conversation between an animated cartoon motion picture and a human viewer of the picture, comprising the steps of:

• displaying a first animated cartoon picture linked to a plurality of second animated cartoon pictures, the first picture including a talking face accompanied by voice sounds;
• presenting with said first animated cartoon picture a plurality of phonetically distinct verbal expressions to elicit a spoken response which resembles one of said verbal expressions, each verbal expression corresponding to a second animated cartoon picture in said plurality thereof;
• analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected verbal expression in said plurality of verbal expressions resembles said spoken response;
• and
• displaying the second animated cartoon picture corresponding to said selected verbal expression, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human and the talking face in the animated cartoon motion picture.

A method of simulating a voice conversation between an animated cartoon motion picture and a human viewer of the picture, comprising the steps of:

• displaying a first animated cartoon picture linked to a plurality of second animated cartoon pictures, the first picture including a talking face accompanied by voice sounds;
• displaying a plurality of prompting words to elicit a spoken response corresponding to one of said prompting words, each prompting word corresponding to a second animated cartoon picture in said plurality thereof;
• analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected word in said plurality of prompting words corresponds to said spoken response;
• and
• displaying the second animated cartoon picture corresponding to said selected word, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human and the talking face in the animated cartoon motion picture.

A method of simulating a voice conversation between an animated cartoon motion picture and a human viewer of the picture, comprising the steps of:

• displaying a first animated cartoon picture of a talking face linked to a plurality of second animated cartoon pictures thereof;
• generating voice sounds for a plurality of prompting words to elicit a spoken response corresponding to one of said prompting words, each prompting word corresponding to a second animated cartoon picture in said plurality thereof;
• analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected word in said plurality of prompting words corresponds to said spoken response;
• and
• displaying the second animated cartoon picture corresponding to said selected word, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human and the talking face in the animated cartoon motion picture.

A method of providing a human viewer of an animated cartoon story with simulated individualized participation therein, comprising the steps of:

• displaying a first animated cartoon picture in said story linked to a plurality of second animated cartoon pictures therein, the first picture presenting a plurality of alternative choices, each choice corresponding to a second cartoon picture in said plurality thereof;
• presenting a plurality of prompting words, each word corresponding to a choice in said plurality of alternative choices and corresponding to a second cartoon picture in said plurality thereof to elicit a spoken response which includes one of the prompting words;
• analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected word in said plurality of prompting words is included in said spoken response;
• and
• displaying the second cartoon picture correspnnding to said selected word, thereby simulating participation by said human in the animated cartoon story.

A method of simulating a voice conversation between an animated cartoon motion picture and a human viewer of the picture, comprising the steps of:

• displaying a first animated cartoon picture of a talking face linked to a plurality of second animated cartoon pictures thereof;
• generating voice sounds expressing a plurality of prompting words, each prompting word corresponding to a second animated cartoon picture in said plurality thereof;
• displaying said plurality of prompting words to elicit a spoken response which includes one of said prompting words;
• analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected word in said plurality of prompting words is included in said spoken response;
• and
• displaying the second animated cartoon picture corresponding to said selected word, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human and the talking face in the animated cartoon motion picture.

A method of simulating a dialog between an animated cartoon motion picture and a human viewer of the picture, comprising the steps of:

• storing a plurality of schedules of graphics data, wherein a first schedule of graphics data is linked to a plurality of second schedules of graphics data, each schedule specifying picture portions of an animated cartoon picture of a talking face;
• generating a first animated cartoon picture specified by said first schedule of graphics data;
• generating in synchronism with said first animated cartoon picture a plurality of voice sonds including prompting words, each prompting word corresponding to a second schedule in said plurality thereof;
• displaying said prompting words as a plurality of human-readable messages to elicit a response signal corresponding to a selected prompting word;
• generating a second animated cartoon picture specified by the second schedule in said plurality of schedules corresponding to said response signal;
• and
• generating in synchronism with said second animated cartoon picture a voice sound which corresponds to and is responsive to said selected prompting word, thereby simulating a dialog between the talking cartoon face and the human viewer.