WO2005031496A2

WO2005031496A2 - Interactive device for interacting with a computer

Info

Publication number: WO2005031496A2
Application number: PCT/IL2004/000901
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arie Ben Harush
Original assignee: Compearls Ltd.
Priority date: 2003-10-02
Filing date: 2004-09-28
Publication date: 2005-04-07
Also published as: WO2005031496A3; IL158275A0

Abstract

System for allowing a user to obtain information/data, in an interactive manner that is selected from remote plurality of information/data sources, that comprises a computer with memory for storing a plurality of information structures; an interface that is operatively connected to the computer and that includes means for requesting any desired information structure or information item from the computer, for receiving them and wireless means for transmitting them an interactive device; an interactive device that includes wireless means for receiving the information transmitted by the interface and suitable means for transmitting it to a display; and a display that is connected to the interactive device and presents the desired information structure or information item to the user.

Description

INTERACTIVE DEVICE FOR INTERACTING WITH A COMPUTER

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of information. More particularly, the present invention relates to an interface that allows a user accessing large number of sources of information/data for various purposes.

Background of the Invention

Currently, there are substantially endless sources of information of many kinds that are available to a person using the appropriate interface to the information of interest. For example, the Internet has become, over the years, a major source of information. Therefore, it is most likely that a person seeking for some information would use a computer to connect to a web site for fetching the required information. In addition, sound cards and other sound processing means have so developed, that the Internet has become a major source for downloading music content. A most popular sound technology is the MP3 technology. MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3) is a standard technology and format for compression a sound sequence into a very small file (about one-twelfth the size of the original file) while preserving the original level of sound quality when it is played. MP3 files (identified with the file name suffix of ".mp3") are available for downloading from a number of Web sites.

However, utilizing Internet services requires that the user directly operates the computer with a mouse and/or a keyboard, which is inconvenient even if the communication between the mouse/keyboard and the computer is wireless, because the requested information data and music content are initially accessible to the user via the computer's screen and loudspeakers, respectively. Of course, the information and music content can be copied to other means, or be recorded, but that would involve some effort on the user side and probably using additional computerized means. In addition, if a person wishes to listen to a piece of music, the preferred option would normally be to use a radio receiver or a music stereo system.

Therefore, utilization of different and individual sources of information and musical contents requires that the person would have to use a dedicated interface means for each individual data/music source.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for allowing a person an access to a variety of information and music sources via one computer.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a single wireless interface means for allowing a person an access to a large number of information sources.

It is another object of the present invention to provide substantially unlimited collections of information, stories and songs that are accessible to a user through the use of only one interface.

Children in general and little children in particular, are very curious by nature and often are capable of keeping themselves busy as they explore their surroundings and teach themselves. However, there are children that do not have this capability, and, consequently, they need to be constantly stimulated by others, or, else, they get bored. Curiosity of children helps parents educating their children in various ways. The most traditional and common way to educate children is sending them to school, where they receive frontal lessons from teachers. Nevertheless, children usually want to learn more when they get home after school time. For that reason, various methods and means have been developed to allow a child learning by his own, or with the help of a parent or another adult. For example, a child can easily operate simple applications that run on personal computers (PCs). The complexity of the applications is adapted to the age of the children. For example, computer applications teach children algebra, geography, history, the difference between colors, etc. Teaching children can be more effective through the use of interactive games, because feedback encourages children to concentrate.

Children also like their parents to tell them stories or sing them songs, especially before bed time. However, being many hours at work, not many parents are willing to fulfill that need. Instead, some parents usually use a disc or cassette, on which one or more stories or songs were prerecorded, and they play such a disc or cassette while their children are in bed. However, using a disc or a cassette has the drawback of parents having to buy and deal with a plurality of discs/cassettes, and renew their collection of discs/cassettes so as to remain updated with regard to the current most popular repertoire of stories or songs.

Therefore, it is another object of the present invention to provide means for allowing children to teach themselves through interactive games, and for allowing them to choose a song or story, whether before bed time or while they are in bed, and the song or story would be heard via a speaker that is part of that means.

Some little children like dolls to keep them company. Currently, there are dolls capable of speaking or singing a limited number of sentences and songs. However, the same sentences and songs are repeated on and on, regardless of any external intervention (i.e., on the side of the child), until the child gets eventually bored, after which the child would probably want his parents to buy him a new doll. There are more advanced dolls, which are capable of responding to some gestures made by the child. For example, when a doll sits and wishes to stand up, the doll would ask the child to bring it to an upright position, after which the doll could respond by saying, e.g., "Thank you". However, even such advanced dolls would have only a limited number of sentences, which would allow only a little degree of interaction between the doll and a child.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a doll, through which a child, or his parent, could choose a song or story, and the song or story would be heard to the child by a speaker installed in the doll.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds

Summary of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a system and method for allowing a user to obtain information/data, in an interactive manner, selected from remote plurality of information data sources.

The system of the invention comprises a computer, a transceiver interface (hereinafter, briefly, "interface") operatively connected to said computer, a transceiver interactive device (hereinafter, briefly, "interactive device") and an information displaying apparatus (hereinafter, briefly, "display") operatively connected to said interactive device. The computer has memory means for storing a plurality of information structures, wherein by "information structure" is meant an ensemble of information items related to each other such that the user may desire to receive them as a unit, e.g. as exemplified hereinafter. For example, the information structure can relate to any kind of category of information/data (e.g., "SONGS"), while the information items being the items within a category (e.g., different songs in the category of "SONGS").

The interface comprises means for requesting from the computer any desired information structure, for receiving the same from the computer, and means, preferably but not necessarily wireless means, such as radio transmission or infrared radiation, for transmitting the same to the interactive device. The interactive device comprises means, preferably wireless means, for receiving the information transmitted by said interface and suitable means of any kind for transmitting it to the display. The interactive device and the display are generally remote from the computer and the interface, typically by being located in a different room of the same house or apartment.

Preferably the request by the interface to the computer of any desired information structure is implemented by transmitting a simple code, e.g. a number, a different code being associated in the computer memory with each information structure. The information structures are acquired by the computer in any known way. For instance, they may be downloaded from outside sources, e.g. from disks or from other computers, including the Interface, or may be formed directly on the computer in any manner afforded by the computer's capability. Each information structure can include information items that are independently retrieved from different information/data sources.

The information structures may comprise or be constituted by graphic, optical, acoustic, mixed or other elements, such as words, pictures, sounds or combinations thereof. Their nature, in any particular case, will depend on the ability of the interface to download them and transmit them to the interactive device, on the capability of this latter to receive them and transmit them to the display and on the ability of the display to display them. In this respect, every apparatus that is an embodiment of the invention may have its limitations. It should be understood, however, that the use of the term "display" involves no limitation, in particular no limitation to optical information, and is intended to include all kinds of information, as noted hereinbefore.

The interactive device preferably comprises:

1) User Input Section (UIS), which may include, for example (depending on the application), a keyboard, depressible push buttons, sliding rules, potentiometers, etc., which a user uses to indicate his preferences, with respect to the preferred information structure or information item to be fetched by the computer from the plurality of information/data sources;

2) A communication interface, for allowing the interactive device to forward the requests to the interface of the computer over conventional communication channel, and to receive from the interface of the computer the requested information/data; and

3) User Output Section (UOS), for presenting to the user, among other things, lists of information/data structures, lists of information items per specific category, and other user's preferences.

In one embodiment of the invention, the interactive device includes a memory unit, for allowing storing some or all of the information/data content fetched from the computer.

In one embodiment of the invention, the information/data available to the user are presented to him, by the display as optional categories ("SONGS", STORIES", etc.).

In one embodiment of the invention, the information/data sources are web sites accessible by the computer via the Internet. The interface can reside outside the computer, or, optionally, be affiliated, incorporated or integrated into the computer.

Likewise, the display can reside outside the interactive device, or, optionally, be affiliated, incorporated or integrated into the interactive device.

The present invention provides a method for accessing a large number of sources of digital data for various purposes.

According to the invention, a user located in a remote location with respect to a computer requests specific information data from the computer by operating, in the remote location, an interactive device that communicates with an interface that is locally connected to the computer. Using a conventional communication protocol, a first signal that represents a request for desired information structure, or information item, is forwarded from the interactive device to the interface of the computer, where the signal is translated into a digital data understandable by the computer. The computer responds to the requests by forwarding to its local interface a digital data that represents the requested information/data, and the interface translates the digital data into a signal understandable by the interactive device and, using the conventional communication protocol, it forwards the latter signal to said interactive device, where it is presented to the user by a corresponding means. The user may request from the computer, through the interactive apparatus, a list of available information structures, from which the user can choose specific information structure, or a list of information items belonging to a specific category, from which the user can choose specific information/data item. Lists of available information structures and information items of specific information structure are presented to the user in the form of voice, alphanumeric text, any suitable graphical form, or any combination thereof. The computer may be linked to one or more information/data sources, each of which can contain information data of different kind. The computer itself can contain some or all of the required information/data.

The method according to the invention comprises the following steps: a) Providing a computer; b) Providing and connecting to the computer a transceiver interface, having means for receiving wireless signals, transforming them to digital form and transmitting the resulting digital data to the computer, and having means for receiving digital data from the computer, transforming them to wireless signals and transmitting the resulting signals; c) Providing a display capable of displaying the information structures of interest to the user who implements the method; d) Providing and connecting to the display a transceiver interactive device, having means for receiving wireless signals, transforming them to digital form and transmitting the resulting digital data to the computer, and having means for receiving wireless signals from the transceiver interface, transforming them to digital data and transmitting the resulting digital data to the display; and e) When the user desires to receive an information structure, requesting said structure from the computer by sending the request through the interactive device and the interface and activating the display to display the requested information structure in the appropriate graphic, optical, acoustic, mixed or other form.

Preferably, and more specifically, the method comprises: a) Providing a computer with a bidirectional interface. The computer is connectable to one or more information/data sources, each of which can possibly contain a different kind of information data (e.g., music, stories, and interactive games), for allowing the computer to fetch therefrom information/data content (e.g., a song, story, interactive game) desired by a user. The content of the sources of information/data is preferably arranged in categories, for simplifying the selection process. The computer is configured to receive requests from external requester for selected information/data, by utilizing the interface, and also to interpret the requests and to respond to those requests. The response comprises, among other things:

(a.l) establishing a connection to the corresponding source(s) of information/data (e.g., sources of songs, stories games, and optionally to other information source(s));

(a.2) fetching from the connected source(s) the requested information/data; (a.3) whenever required, forwarding to the external requester, among other things, one or more lists of available categories, or a corresponding list relating to the content of the categories; and (a.4) forwarding to the external requester the information/data and lists of available categories or information/data content by utilizing the bidirectional interface.

b) Providing an interactive means, being the external requester, with bidirectional interface for allowing a user to interact with the computer. The interactive means is configured to accept a user preference, regarding available categories of information/data and lists of the content of each category, which are fetchable by the computer from the one or more information/data sources, and convert the preference to corresponding request. The user utilizes User Input Section (UIS), which may include, for example (depending on the application), a keyboard, depressible push buttons, sliding rules, potentiometers, etc.), to indicate its preference to the interactive means. The interactive means then forwards the request to the computer, by utilizing the bidirectional interface. The interactive means is also configured to receive, from the computer, the information data and lists of available categories or information/data content by utilizing the bidirectional interface, and to respond thereto by: b.l) deciding, based on data incorporated by the computer into the information/data or lists of available categories or information/data content, or according to other preferred criteria, whether the information/data or lists of available categories or information/data content is to be presented to the user as audible (via a speaker) and/or textual content (via a display); and b.2) forwarding a signal to a speaker or to a display, which corresponds to the information/data or lists of available categories or information/data content. In order to present to the user the information/data or lists of available categories or information/data content, the interactive means is equipped with User Output Section (UOS), which includes a speaker and/or display.

Preferably, the communication between the interface of the computer and the interactive means is wireless.

Optionally, the wireless communication conforms to the Bluetooth technology.

According to an aspect of the invention, whenever the information is a song or a story, the song or story are presented to the user via a speaker in real-time, as they are communicated from the interface of the computer to the interactive device.

All of the information/data sources, or only a couple of them, can be connected to the computer via a data network, or via suitable intermediator, or directly. The interactive means can be adaptively incorporated into a doll or a toy, or not.

Brief Description of the Drawings

- Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a general layout and functionality of the present invention;

- Fig. 2 is an example for interaction between a user and a computer, in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and

- Fig. 3 is an exemplary UIS and UOSa, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a general layout and functionality of the present invention. Interactive device 102 allows a user (not shown) to wirelessly request specific information structure (e.g., "SONGS") or information item (e.g., specific song) from computer 101. The requested information structure/item is communicated from computer 101 to apparatus 102, where it is interpreted, translated and presented to the user in audible and/or textual forms understandable to the user. The actual presentation form depends on the current situation of an interaction between the user and computer 101. Personal computer 101 can have direct, or indirect (i.e., via data network), access to one or more data sources (108) that can be, but are not limited to, Internet web sites, remote or local Disk(s), computerized applications residing within another computer to which computer 101 is directly, or indirectly, connected. Alternatively or additionally, one or more data sources (110) can reside within computer 101. The information structure/item can be forwarded from computer 101 to the user, via interactive device 102, and relate to essentially unlimited number of subjects. The subjects can be divided into categories. For example, an information structure can relate to one of the following categories: "SONGS", "STORIES", "GEOGRAPHICS", "MATHEMATICS", "QUIZES", MARINE WORLD", "LANGUAGES", "ENTERTAINMENT", "MAPS", INTERACTIVE GAMES", "EMERGENCY SITUATIONS", and so on.

Apparatus 102 comprises User Input Section (UIS) 106, for allowing the user to communicate possible responses and requests to computer 101. UIS 106 can be, for example, discrete selectors in the form of switches, for approving an option, or for selecting one of two or more options; or depressible user response buttons, and/or analog selection means, such as slide rules, or potentiometers. UIS 106 can optionally comprise a keyboard.

Apparatus 102 also includes User Output Section (UOS) 107, for translating data coming from computer 101 to user understandable form. UOS 107 comprises a speaker and/or a display means. The data forwarded from computer 101 to apparatus 102 can relate to instructions to the user to select an option, for example, to select a category from a list of categories, or a song from a list of songs, etc. The data forwarded from computer 101 can represent the specific information structure or item requested by the user (i.e., 'requested' - from one of the available categories, or songs, etc.). The instructions and requested information/items can be represented to the user in the form of audible words, via the speaker, or text lines visible to the user via the display means.

Computer 101 and apparatus 102 wirelessly communicate with one another via bi-directional communication channel 105, by utilizing transceiver interface 103 and transceiver 104 and antennas 103a and 104, respectively.

Upon switching "ON" (activating) apparatus 102, and provided that computer 101 is already switched "on", apparatus 102 identifies itself to computer 101, by wirelessly forwarding to computer 101 a signal representative of its ID. Computer 101 responds by wirelessly communicating to apparatus 102 a signal representative of a data relating to available categories. The signal representing the available categories is interpreted and translated in apparatus 102 to corresponding audible words or textual lines. In the first case ('audible words'), the user hears a voice, over the speaker, indicating to him the available categories, and prompting the user to select a category using some input means of UIS 106. In the second case ('textual lines'), the user sees a list of the available categories, from which he has to choose a category, by using some input means of UIS 106. In both cases, the user can respond by depressing, e.g., a button that corresponds to his selection (e.g., '5', for notifying computer 101 that he selects category number 5). In response to the user selection of a preferred category, computer 101 communicates to apparatus 102 a list of items belonging to the selected category (i.e., category 5, according to the example). For example, if the user selected category "STORIES", computer 101 will respond by communicating to apparatus 102 a list of all the available stories. The user, then, responds by selecting specific song which he prefers, by, e.g., depressing a corresponding button and apparatus 102 communicates the user selection to computer 101. Then, computer 101 fetches the digital file of the requested story from the corresponding data source, for example, from a web site, and communicates the fetched digital file to apparatus 102.

There are basically two possibilities relating to the transmission of audible information (i.e., voice, songs, etc.) from transceiver 103 to transceiver 104: (1.1) the transmitter section of transceiver 103 operates as a short range radio transmitter and the receiver section of transceiver 104 operates as an 'ordinary' conventional radio receiver. Accordingly, the audible information is hearable to the user 'on-the-fly', as conventional broadcasting, via the speaker in UOS 107. The transmission, between transmitter 103 and receiver, 104 can conform to any known wireless radio transmission technology. For example, the transmission can be carried out using Frequency Modulation (FM) technology, or Amplitude Modulation (AM) technology, where a signal representative of the audible information modulates either the frequency of the carrier signal, or the amplitude of the carrier signal, respectively; and (1.2) transmitter 103 forwards a signal representative of the requested information to receiver 104, and the information (i.e., a song, story, etc.) becomes hearable to the user only after the whole information resides within memory 113 of apparatus 102.

Application layer 109 is responsible for: interpreting requests and selections that are forwarded from transmitter 104 to receiver 103, identifying the data sources from which requested data files are to be fetched (e.g., from a local disk), fetching the requested files; and forwarding the fetched files and, whenever required, instructions to receiver 104, via transmitter 103 and communication channel 105.

Application layer 111 is responsible for: forwarding requests and selections to computer 101, via communication channel 105, interpreting data received by receiver 104, and translating the data to corresponding audible and/or textual forms understandable to the user.

Controller 112 determines whether transceiver 104 should be in. "Transmission" mode of operation or in "Receive" mode of operation. In addition, controller 112 accepts inputs from UIS 106, outputs data to UOS 107, and causes data to be stored in, or fetched from, memory 113.

Fig. 2 is an example for interaction between a user and a computer, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. According to this example, a conventional sound card, which is pre-installed in a computer, is utilized

Personal computer 201 includes sound card 202. Sound card 202 (also known as an audio card) is a peripheral device that attaches to the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) or Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) slot on a motherboard of a computer to enable the computer to input, process, and deliver sound. The sound card has four main tasks: (1) it serves as a synthesizer for generating sounds; and as (2) a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI); and as (3) an analog- to- digital converter (used, for example, in recording sound from a microphone); and as (4) a digital-to-analog converter (used, for example, to reproduce sound for a speaker).

In general, there are three methods for synthesizing sound: (1) through frequency modulation (FM) technology; (2) by using wavetable; and (3) by physical modeling. FM synthesis is the least expensive and least effective method. Sounds are simulated by using algorithms to create sine waves that are as close to the sound as possible. For example, the sound of a guitar can be simulated, although the result does not really sound very much like a guitar. Wavetables use actual, digitally recorded sound samples stored on the card for the highest performance. Physical modeling is a new type of synthesizing, in which sounds are simulated through a complex programming procedure. Some sound cards can also have sounds downloaded to them.

Sound card 202 includes output terminal 203 for outputting sounds to a conventional earphone or loudspeaker (not shown), and input terminal 209, for inputting sounds from a microphone (not shown). Output and input terminals 203 and 209 could be any commercially available terminal. Sound card 202 is controlled by application 218. Application 218 is configured: (1) to identify request messages that are carried by sounds that originate from an external source (with respect to computer 201) and inputted to sound card 202 via input terminal 209. A request message could be, for example, a request to forward to output 203 a digital file that represents a specific story or song. The specific story or song can be selected from a given list of available stories and songs; (2) to respond to the control messages by, first, fetching the requested digital file from server 122 over the Internet (216), and then, causing sound card 202 to convert the digital data to corresponding analog signal (i.e., sounds), by using the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) of sound card 202), and, eventually, by forwarding the resulting sounds to output 203.

Doll 215 (schematically shown as reference numeral 215) includes at least: (1) Electronic Controlling Unit (ECU) 220; (2) keyboard 212; (3) transmitter 214; and (4) receiver 208. ECU 220 controls the operation of keyboard 121, transmitter 214 and receiver 208 by bus 224.

Referring to Fig. 3, Keyboard 221 includes display 301 and several depressible buttons (i.e., 302 to 308). Depressible button 302 allows choosing category "STORIES". Likewise, depressible button 303 allows choosing category "SONGS". Depending on the selected category ("STORIES" or "SONGS"), depressible button 304 and 305 allow, when a list of stories or songs are displayed on display 301, to move marker 309 upwards or downwards along the displayed list, to allow, e.g., a child, to select specific story or song. The selection of the song/story can be made by depressing a dedicated depressible button 308 ("ENTER"), or a combination of depressible buttons. For example, buttons 304 and 305 can be depressed simultaneously to indicate to computer 201 the selection of a preferred song or story. Depending on the selected category ("STORIES", "SONGS" or "GAMES"), depressible button 306 and 307 allow, while a specific song or story is played by speaker 226, to rapidly move forwards or backwards within the played story/song.

Initially, with respect to the "STORIES" and "SONGS" categories, there are two main stages in operating the doll 215. The first main stage comprises selection (by, e.g., a child) of one of the available lists, or categories, and communications session for causing the relevant list (e.g., list of stories) to be displayed to the child. The lists can be stored in server 222 and be updated by a person operating server 222. The communication session includes bidirectional wireless communications between doll 215 and computer 201 for requesting specific list from computer 201, and bidirectional communications, over the Internet (216) between computer 201 and server 222, for allowing computer 201 to fetch the requested list from server 222. In server 222, there are pre-stored digital files of a plurality of, e.g., stories and songs, which can be obtained by using any known digital recording technique, and also digital files relating to educational, and other kinds of, interactive games, and so on. The second main stage comprises selection of an option from the requested list that is displayed to the child. For example, if the requested list is a list of stories, by 'selection of an option' is meant selection of a story from the list.

Because sound card 202 is configured to handle sound signals, every communication session between the transmitter/receiver at the end of doll 215, and receiver/transmitter at the end of computer 201, involves exchanging of audio signals that represent, among other things, requesting and control commands, which are interpreted by ECU 220 and application 218.

An exemplary session of requesting, by; e.g., a child, specific story will be now described. In order to select a story, the child (not shown) depresses depressible button 302 (the "STORIES" category), for viewing a list of available stories. In response to the depressed button 302, a corresponding signal is forwarded from keyboard 121 to, and interpreted by, ECU 220. Based on the interpreted signal, ECU 220 generates a request signal that represents request message, which is intended for computer 201. The request message is a command asking computer 201 to return to ECU 220, in response to the request message, a list of available stories. The request signal generated by ECU 220 is forwarded to transmitter 214, which causes transmitter 214 to generate a carrier frequency and modulate the carrier frequency with the inquiry signal, and transmission of the modulated signal to receiver 210.

The request signal is wirelessly communicated from transmitter 214 to receiver 120 over wireless communication channel 212 and by using antennas 213 and 211. Receiver 210 receives the modulated signal, demodulates it and extracts therefrom the inquiry signal. The inquiry signal is converted to a signal that conforms to the normal operating sounds range of card 202. The inquiry signal, or its converted version, is forwarded from receiver 210 to sound card 202, through input terminal 209, where the inquiry signal is converted into corresponding digital signal, which is interpreted by application 218.

Application 218 responds to the ("STORIES") inquiry message by fetching from server 222, over the internet (216), a digital file that contains a list of available stories. Then, application 218 forwards the digital file to sound card 202, where it is converted into corresponding sequence of analog signals (i.e., sounds) that is forwarded to transmitter 204 through output terminal 203. Transmitter 204 generates a carrier signal, modulated by the sequence of analog signals (sounds), and wirelessly communicates the modulated signal to receiver 208 residing within doll 215, over wireless communication channel 206 and by using antennas 205 and 207. Receiver 208 extracts the sequence of analog signals, by demodulating the received signal, and converts the sequence of analog signals into corresponding digital data. The digital data is forwarded to ECU 220, where it is interpreted, and a digital data that represents the stories list is forwarded from ECU 220 to display 221, where it is displayed to the child.

The child operates buttons 204 and 205 until marker 208 marks up a story the child wishes to hear. The child selects the marked-up story by depressing button 209 ("ENTER"), thereby causing ECU 220 to generate a corresponding control signal, which causes transmitter 214 to wirelessly communicate to receiver 210 a carrier signal modulated with an audio signal concerning the story that was selected by the child. Receiver 210 demodulates the communicated signal, for extracting the audio signal, which is then forwarded, through input terminal 209, to sound card 202, in which the analog signal representing the audio signal is converted into corresponding digital signal. Application 218 interprets the digital signal, and identifies there from the requested story. Then, application 218 communicates with server 122 in order to fetch a digital file containing the requested story, and, after fetching the digital file, application 218 forwards the digital file to sound card 202, which converts the digital file to corresponding audio signals, which are forwarded to transmitter 204 through output terminal 203. In transmitter 204, the audio signals modulate a carrier signal, and the modulated carrier signal is wirelessly communicated, over wireless communication 206, to receiver 208, where the modulated signal is demodulated for extracting the audio signals related to the pre-recorded voice telling the story. The pre-recorded voice telling the story is then made audible by means of loudspeaker 126.

Receiver 208 is configured to identify whether the audio signals extracted from the modulated signal relate to a data that is to be displayed on display 201, or to audio or voice that are intended to be heard by the child (by means of loudspeaker 226). In the first case, ECU 220 interprets the data and displays a corresponding data on display 201, while loudspeaker 226 is inoperable (i.e., kept silent). Otherwise, it is assumed that the audio content, extracted from the received modulated signal, includes audio signals that relate to a chosen story or song, or to a voice message that is intended to the child while being engaged in an interactive game chosen from the list of interactive games. Such a message can be, for example, "You are close. Try again !", to encourage the child to continue playing the game.

Whenever a song, story or voice message is communicated from transmitter 204 to receiver 208, receiver 208 operates as a normal radio receiver, and the song, story or voice message is heard by means of speaker 226.

Preferably, digital files of updated lists, requested stories and songs are stored in memory 227, for saving communication time between computer 201 and server 222. Even more preferably, these digital files are stored in memory 228, for saving additional communication time between ECU 220 and computer 201.

According to the present invention, a user, for example a child, can interactively play a selected interactive game. The interactive game can be, for example, a game during which the child hears, by speaker 226, a voice asking him a question (e.g., '3+5=8 ?, or '3+5=7 ?'), after which the child is asked to press, e.g., button 304 for the first option (3+5=8, the correct answer) or button 305 for the second option (3+5=7, incorrect answer). The child's selection (pressed button 304 or 305) is forwarded to ECU 220, which causes transmitter 214 to communicate the child's selection to application 218, over wireless communication channel 212. From that point on, there are two possibilities: (1) application 218 decides whether the child's selection is correct or incorrect. If the child pressed button 305 (the correct option), application 218 causes sound card 202 to generate a response in the form of audio signal, and transmitter 204 to communicate the response to receiver 208, over wireless communication channel 206. The audio signal can be, for example, the voice message "WELL DONE !", which can be heard by the child by means of loudspeaker 226. If the child selects the incorrect option, a different message can be generated, communicated and heard by the child. For example, such message can be "Never mind, Try again !"; (2) the decision, regarding whether the child's answer is correct, is made by server 222, after exchange of corresponding messages between application 218 and server 222. Optionally, some or all of the voice messages can be replaced by textual lines that are displayed on display means 301.

Wireless communication channels 206 and 212 may be different bands, in order to avoid mutual interferences. The wireless communications between transmitters 204 and 214 to receivers 208 and 220, respectively, can be based on any conventional communication principles, protocols or systems. For example, the wireless communications can be based on the communication system described in WO 00/76272 ("Digital Wireless Loudspeaker System", December 14, 2000) discloses digital wireless loudspeaker system that comprises an RF transmitter and a plurality of wireless loudspeakers. The wireless system disclosed in WO 00/76272 can be utilized, mutatis mutandis, in the present invention. Alternatively, the wireless microphone disclosed in US 6,246,864 ("Wireless Microphone Use UHF Band Carrier FM Transmitter", June 12, 2001), can be utilized, mutatis mutandis, in the present invention, and cooperate with a corresponding wireless receiver. Optionally, the wireless communication between apparatus 215 and computer 201 can conform to the Bluetooth protocol. The user may download a desired content from a web site or from any other remote content storage means, in exchange for payment. Payment may be carried out remotely, by charging the user over the Internet or via the billing system of his cell-phone. Secured charging methods are disclosed, for example in Israeli Patent Application No. 159452.

While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried into practice with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. System for allowing a user to obtain information/data, in an interactive manner, selected from remote plurality of information/data sources, comprising: a) A computer, said computer having a memory means for storing a plurality of information structures; b) An interface operatively connected to said computer, said interface comprising means for requesting from said computer any desired information structure or information item, for receiving the same from said computer, and means, preferably but not necessarily wireless means for transmitting the same to an interactive device; c) An interactive device, said interactive device comprising means, preferably wireless means, for receiving the information transmitted by said interface and suitable means of any kind for transmitting it to a display; and d) A display, operatively connected to said interactive device, said display presenting to said user the desired information structure or information item.

2. System according to claim 1, in which the request by the interface to the computer of any desired information structure or information item is implemented by transmitting a code, a different code being associated in said computer memory with each information structure/item, the information structures/items being acquired by said computer in any known way, or being formed directly on said computer in any manner afforded by the computer's capability, each information structure can include information items that are independently retrieved from different information/data source.

3. System according to claim 1, in which the information structures/items may comprise or be constituted by graphic, optical, acoustic, mixed or other elements, such as words, pictures, sounds or combinations thereof.

4. System according to claim 1, in which the interactive device comprising: a) User Input Section (UIS), which the user uses to indicate his preferences, with respect to the preferred information structure or information item to be fetched by the computer from the plurality of information/data sources; b) A communication interface, for allowing the interactive device to forward requests to the interface of the computer over conventional communication channel, and to receive from said interface the requested information structure or information item; and c) User Output Section (UOS), for presenting to said user, among other things, lists of information/data structures, lists of information items per specific category, and other user's preferences.

5. System according to claim 4, in which the interactive device further includes a memory unit, for allowing storing some or all of the information/data content fetched from the computer.

6. System according to claim 1, in which the information/data available to the user are presented to him as optional categories.

7. System according to claim 1, in which the information/data sources are web sites accessible by the computer via the Internet.

8. System according to claim 1, in which the interface can reside outside the computer, or be incorporated into the computer, or be an integral part of the computer.

9. System according to claim 1, in which the display can reside outside the interactive device, or, optionally, be affiliated, incorporated or integrated into the interactive device.

10. System according to claim 9, wherein the interactive device is adaptively incorporated into a doll or a toy.

11. System according to claim 1, wherein whenever the information item is a song or a story, the song or story are audibly presented to the user in real-time, as they are communicated from the computer to the interactive device.

12. System according to claim 7, in which a desired content is downloaded from a web site in exchange for payment.

13. System according to claim 12, in which payment is made remotely, by charging the user over a data network.

14. System according to claim 13, in which the user is charged via the billing system of a cell-phone.

15. Method for allowing a user to obtain information/data, in an interactive manner, selected from remote plurality of information/data sources, comprising: a) Providing a computer; b) Providing and connecting to said computer a transceiver interface, having means for receiving wireless signals, transforming them to digital form and transmitting the resulting digital data to said computer, and having means for receiving digital data from said computer, transforming them to wireless signals and transmitting the resulting signals; c) Providing a display capable of displaying information structures and information items of interest to said user; d) Providing and connecting to said display a transceiver interactive device, having means for receiving wireless signals, transforming them to digital form and transmitting the resulting digital data to said transceiver interface, and having means for receiving wireless signals from said transceiver interface, transforming them to digital data and forwarding the resulting digital data to said display; and e) When said user desires to receive an information structure, or information item, requesting said structure/item from said computer by sending the request through said interactive device and said interface and activating the display to display the requested information structure/item in the appropriate graphic, optical, acoustic, mixed or other form.

16. Method according to claim 15, wherein the interface between the computer and interactive means is wireless.

17. Method according to claim 16, wherein the wireless interface conforms to the Bluetooth technology.

18. Method according to claim 15, wherein whenever the information item is a song or a story, the song or story are audibly presented to the user in real-time, as they are communicated from the computer to the interactive device.

19. Method according to claim 15, wherein all of the information/data sources, or only a couple of them, are connected to the computer via a data network, or via suitable intermediator, or directly.

20. Method according to claim 15, wherein the interactive device is adaptively incorporated into a doll or a toy.