TV Movies that talk back

In a video system adapted to present a sound movie with which a human viewer interacts, the improvement for simulating a voice conversation between the viewer and the movie, comprising:

• video means for generating picture elements of a first animated cartoon picture linked to a plurality of second animated cartoon pictures, the cartoon pictures including a talking face;
• means for displaying a plurality of messages, each message corresponding to a second animated cartoon in said plurality thereof;
• means for receiving from said viewer a signal corresponding to a selected message in said plurality of messages;
• and
• audio means for electronically generating a voice signal including words in said selected message, thereby simulating the viewer's side of a voice conversation,
• said video generating means further generating picture elements of a second animated cartoon picture corresponding to said selected message accompanied by a second voice signal responsive to the selected message, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the viewer and the talking face in the animated cartoon movie.

In a video system adapted to present a sound movie with which a human viewer interacts, the improvement for simulating a voice conversation between the viewer and the movie, comprising:

• record carrier means for storing digital data representing picture elements of animated cartoon pictures, scheduling data specifying a plurality of sequences in which the cartoon pictures are presented, digitally coded voice sounds, and digitally coded messages;
• video means for generating from said digital data the picture elements of a first animated cartoon picture linked by said scheduling data to a plurality of second animated cartoon pictures, wherein the cartoon pictures include a talking face;
• means for displaying a pluraliity of said messages, each message corresponding to a second animated cartoon in said plurality thereof;
• means for receiving from said viewer a signal corresponding to a selected message in said plurality of messages;
• and
• audio means for generating from said digitally coded voice sounds a voice signal including words in said selected message, thereby simulating the viewer's side of a voice conversation,
• said video generating means further generating picture elements of a second animated cartoon picture corresponding to said selected message accompanied by a second voice signal responsive to the selected message, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the viewer and the talking face in the animated cartoon movie.

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

• presenting to said viewer a first scene in said movie linked to a plurality of second scenes therein;
• presenting to said viewer a plurality of messages, each message corresponding to one second scene in said plurality thereof;
• presenting to said viewer a plurality of code words corresponding to said plurality of messages to elicit from said viewer a spoken response:
• analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected code word in said plurality of code words resembles said spoken response, thereby determining which selected message in said plurality of messages corresponds to said spoken response;
• and
• presenting to said viewer a second scene in said plurality thereof which corresponds to said selected message, the second scene including spoken words responsive to said selected message, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the viewer and the movie.

A method of controlling a branching movie with words spoken by a human viewer of the movie, comprising the steps of:

• presenting to said viewer a first scene in said movie linked to a plurality of second scenes therein;
• presenting to said viewer a plurality of commands, each command corresponding to one second scene in said plurality thereof;
• presenting to said viewer a plurality of abbreviations corresponding to said plurality of commands to elicit from said viewer a spoken response;
• analyzing said spoken response electronically to determine which selected abbreviation in said presented plurality of abbreviations resembles said spoken response, thereby determining which selected command in said plurality of presented commands corresponds to said spoken response;
• and
• presenting to said viewer a second scene in said plurality thereof corresponding to said selected command, thereby executing the selected command.

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

• presenting to said viewer a first scene in said movie linked to a plurality of second scenes therein;
• presenting to said viewer a plurality of messages, each message corresponding to one second scene in said plurality thereof and each second scene including spoken words responsive to the corresponding message;
• receiving from said viewer a response signal corresponding to a selected message in said plurality of messages;
• generating electronically a voice sound including words in said selected message, thereby simulating the viewer's side of a voice conversation;
• and
• presenting to said viewer a second scene in said plurality thereof which corresponds to said selected message and which includes spoken words responsive to said selected message and said voice sound, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the viewer and the movie.

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;
• displaying with said first animated cartoon picture a plurality of code words to elicit a spoken response, each code word being associated with a second schedule in said plurality thereof;
• displaying with said plurality of code words a corresponding plurality of verbal messages;
• determining electronically which word in said plurality of code words corresponds to said spoken response, thereby determining which selected second schedule and which selected verbal message correspond to said spoken response;
• and
• generating a second animated cartoon picture specified by said selected second schedule accompanied by a voice sound responsive to said selected verbal message, 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 cartoon pictures including a talking face accompanied by voice sounds;
• displaying a plurality of code words to elicit a spoken response corresponding to one of said code words, each code word corresponding to a second animated cartoon picture in said plurality thereof;
• displaying with said plurality of code words a corresponding plurality of verbal messages;
• determining electronically which selected code word in said plurality of code words corresponds to said spoken response, thereby determining which selected verbal message corresponds to said spoken response;
• and
• displaying the second animated cartoon picture corresponding to said selected code word accompanied by a voice sound responsive to said selected verbal message, thereby simulating a voice conversation between the human and the talking face in the animated cartoon motion picture.