Automatic seamless branching story-telling apparatus

Abstract

An automatic story-telling apparatus includes a storage media having temporally parallel data storage tracks containing story content. The story content is stored on each of the temporally parallel tracks in successive information segments. The information is stored on the tracks in a predetermined timed sequence for providing story content varying dependent upon the temporally parallel tracks that are automatically selected during playback. A controller reads random switching control code information from the media and randomly switches between the tracks of the storage media for enabling automatic random playback of the story content. The command codes may also include memory storage commands and memory switching commands so as to maintain continuity of story characters, plot-lines, etc., once they are randomly chosen.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a story-telling apparatus, and more particularly to a story-telling apparatus that utilizes pre-recorded multi-track media to store stories, and that randomly and seamlessly transitions between the tracks of the media at predetermnined points in the story so as to randomly change the story being told in order to provide maximum entertainment and educational benefit.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Telling stories is a timeless method of entertaining and educating children, and for challenging their imaginations. The most common story-telling method is book reading. For younger children, reading requires the involvement of the child's parent, which is often inconvenient for the parent. Moreover, stories in books are stagnant, i.e., the story characters, plot lines, and ending do not change.

Using modem multi-media techniques and computers, stories can now be migrated to CD-ROM's and the like. Such multi-media stories permit music and sounds to make stories more realistic and, in some instances, enable the characters to become interactive. Multi-media techniques even permit the child to interact with and alter the outcome of the story. Typically, a computer must be used to play such multi-media stories, involving great cost and requiring the ability to read in order to operate the computer equipment. Beside the cost of the computer, such stories may only be played by the child at the computer location, which is generally not removable from this location (i.e., non-portable). Also, interactive multi-media stories may not be played by children too young to safely operate the computer. computer, such stories may only be played by the child at the computer location, which is generally not removable from this location (i.e., non-portable). Also, interactive multi-media stories may not be played by children too young to safely operate the computer.

Accordingly, a need exists for a relatively inexpensive portable automatic apparatus that is capable of telling stories to children and that includes the ability to seamlessly and randomly vary the story so as to maintain the interest of the child and to enhance the entertainment and educational value of the story. Stories that can seamlessly change and automatically alter themselves will garner greater motivation to listen by a child, challenge their imaginations more, and be more educational.

Systems that engage in interactive conversation using a multi-track media are well known in the art. For example, commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,947,972 and 4,078,316, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference, disclose a conversational teaching apparatus which employs a time synchronized multi-track audio tape to store educational conversation messages. This device employs one or more tracks to relay interrogatories to a user. The tracks are then used, selectable by a manual switching mechanism, to convey responsive messages.

Commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,313,510 and 5,340,317, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference, improved upon the earlier conversational system by programming conversations on a magnetic media in a decision-tree logic which allowed complex conversations to be developed using the multi-track media. The information is stored on each track in a plurality of reproducible information segments which contain interrogatory messages and associated multiple choice responses, responsive messages, informational messages, and combinations thereof. The responsive messages contained on the tracks are related in real-time and content to particular interrogatory messages on the tracks, and correspond with multiple choice selectable responses. The apparatus could exhibit pseudomemory and multiple simultaneous pseudo-memories; exhibit profiling and substitutability; and categorize and subcategorize users of the apparatus.

Commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/749,345, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, further improved the use of interactive multi-track media by utilizing voice recognition to recognize answers to interrogatories to provide switching between tracks of the media.

These existing systems are all interactive, i.e., they require user input to create the transition between tracks of the multi-track media. Accordingly, these systems do not meet the aforementioned need for a relatively inexpensive dedicated apparatus that is capable of telling stories to children and that includes the ability to seamlessly, randomly and automatically, without input from the child, vary the story so as to maintain the interest of the child and to enhance the entertainment and educational value of the story-telling apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a story-telling apparatus which includes a storage media having a plurality of temporally related data storage tracks containing story content. The story content is stored on each track in a plurality of information segments. Each of the segments includes a complete message reproducible in response to the selection of the track upon which the segments are stored. Each of the information segments at any given time includes information related in real-time and content to information contained in each information segment on each track in an immediate prior time. The information is stored on the tracks in a predetermined timed sequence for providing story content varying dependent upon the tracks automatically selected during playback. The storage media also includes control code information.

Playback means facilitates playback of the story content of a selected data storage track. Track selector means, which is preferably a microprocessor and switch, reads the control code information and randomly selects and accesses one of the tracks of the storage media in response to the stored control code information for retrieving the information stored on the selected track and for enabling the playback of the retrieved information via the playback means.

In one embodiment, one of the data storage tracks includes the command codes. In this embodiment, the apparatus includes command code playback means for providing playback of the track having the command codes independently of the tracks having the story content. The temporally related data storage tracks are preferably stored on a magnetic storage media having a plurality of coextensive tracks and the playback means includes magnetic storage media reading means corresponding with each of the plurality of coextensive tracks. Alternatively, the playback means includes magnetic storage media reading means for the command code track, and at least one magnetic media storage media reading means for the coextensive tracks having the story content.

If desired, the tracks may be stored digitally and be randomly accessible. In this embodiment, the storage media is selected from the group consisting of magnetic disk, compact disk, video disk, magnetic tape, RAM, PROM, EPROM, and EEPROM. In a preferred embodiment, the data storage media are analog cassette tapes and the playback means enables the removal and replacement of the storage media.

The command codes may further include memory storage commands and memory switching commands. After the microprocessor randomly selects a current track, it stores a first identification of the track being played in memory. It holds this track in memory via a memory storage command. Then, in response to a memory switching command, it switches back to the track originally associated with the first identification. By using this method a number of times in one story, certain elements, after being chosen randomly, are repeated in the story to maintain consistency. So if the story randomly begins about a little girl named Casey, for example, this information will remain constant throughout the story. If desired, the tracks that include story content may include audible or inaudible control commands for the track selector means. The microprocessor or other controller discriminates the audible or inaudible control commands from the story content.

In addition, a memory stores the branching of playback of the entire story. When the story is next played back, the memory can be used to play back the story using the stored branching, instead of randomly. A store or repeat switch initiates this memory and the playing back of the stored branching. If desired, a code is used for identifying each particular story or storage media in order to enable the storing and playback of branching of each particular story or storage media from memory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration, partially in schematic, of the selection, playback, and controller portions of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration, partially in schematic, of the selection, playback, and controller portions of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIG. 1, the automatic seamless branching story-telling apparatus of the present invention uses a playback mechanism similar to those disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,947,972; 5,313,510; and 5,340,317, and in commonly owned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/49,345, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. A conventional multi-track magnetic tape player 2 is utilized for retrieving audio information from a multi-track magnetic storage media 4 via multi-track playback head 6. The playback head 6 is preferably connected in conventional fashion to a conventional four channel audio amplifier 8, having one channel for each of the respective four tracks, A, B, C, D of multi-track tape 4 so as to conventionally play back the information stored on the respective audio tracks. Playback head 6 is preferably a conventional 4 channel audio playback head, with preferably equal head widths for each of the respective tracks A, B, C, D.

The output of audio amplifier 8 is preferably connected to a switch 10 which preferably incorporates a plurality of switches 12, with one switch being provided per track of multi-track tape 4. Each switch 12 is connected to the appropriate channel output of audio amplifier 8. Switches 12 are preferably conventional magnetic or electronic switches that are switched as desired by switch 10. Switches 12 are preferably connected between the output of audio amplifier 8 and a conventional audio output device, such as a speaker 14 or earphones 16, through a volume control 18. The other terminal of audio output device 14 or 16 is connected to audio amplifier 8 to complete the circuit. Thus, when one of switches 12 is closed, the output of the corresponding audio track A, B, C or D, all of which are being provided to audio amplifier 8 by multi-track playback head 6, is selectively provided to audio output device 14 or 16 to be heard by a child or other user.

Switch 10 is preferably a relatively simple logic circuit for receiving the output of controller 20. and for switching to one of the audio tracks on the basis of the signal from controller 20. For example, controller 20 may utilize a two-bit output which is received by switch 10 and by which switch 10 selects from amongst the 4 channels.

As described in greater detail below, the audio tracks include messages having audible or inaudible control tones that define switching locations within the content of the messages. These tones are detected by a tone detector (decoder) 24 which generates an output signal to controller 20 when a control tone is detected. Controller 20 receives the output of tone detector 20 and randomly selects one of the four channels for switching to that channel. Controller 20 then generates commands to switch 10 to select the randomly selected one of the four channels for playback.

The multi-track tape 4 is preferably removable from the playback means 2 so that different multi-track tapes 4 having different stories stored thereon may be inserted and used in the apparatus of the invention. This makes it possible to record a library of prerecorded media covering a wide array of topics. For example, as described below, the media might contain stories regarding one type or theme, and other media containing other types or themes of stories. The removable media are preferably multi-track magnetic tape cartridges, but may be any removable multi-track media such as, for example, magnetic disk, optical disk, or other media appropriate for the present application. These removable multi-track tapes are preferably contained in rigid cartridges for convenient removal and replacement.

The apparatus of the present invention may comprise other embodiments. Rather than utilizing a multi-track magnetic tape or other removable media, the system might use any appropriate data storage means for containing various stories, provided that the information stored thereon may be separated into tracks. For example, a conventional magnetic disk, CD or other optical disk, or even hardware, such as RAM, PROM, ROM or EPROM, could be used to store the information. The information data could be physically stored on individual disk tracks, or the data could be organized so that each track of information is randomly accessible as separate or separable files on the disk or storage media. In conjunction with a disk reader appropriate for the type of disk drive in use, or a microprocessor or microcontroller for reading the digital data from a hardware memory device, the information stored on the individual tracks could be output to a user of the system in a real-time or near real-time fashion.

When utilizing a disk or other physical media for storing digital data, it might be advantageous for a microprocessor to be provided for the purpose of first reading the various tracks into a memory cache, which would allow faster access to the story information. Thus, during operation in this instance, the microprocessor would read the serial track information from the disk into parallel tracks in cache memory in advance, while substantially simultaneously reading the track data from cache to memory to an output device. As the cache memory were depleted, it would be refilled from disk or other media by the processor. The microprocessor could be used in this instance also to provide switching functions.

Output to the user could be by various devices, depending on the type of media used. For example, if the stored stories on the multi-track media are in digital form, i.e. CD-ROM, magnetic disk, DAT, the processor or other means could convert the digital information streams to analog signals for output to conventional headphones or could be output directly to digital headphones. It is anticipated that the system of the present invention could employ a large variety of multi-media inputs and outputs as such technologies develop. It is further anticipated that any storage means capable of storing and substantially simultaneously retrieving story data could be employed by the present invention. Whatever multi-track device is employed, it should preferably contain one track for each of the number of tracks to be used in the story. In a preferred embodiment, four equal bandwidth tracks are used. It may, however, be advantageous to utilize a larger number of tracks to obtain more complex stories, or a smaller number if cost is a factor.

If desired, the four channel audio amplifier could be replaced by a conventional one channel amplifier which amplifies only the one selected channel. As discussed below, if one channel is to be reserved for control commands, a conventional one channel amplifier could be used to read the control commands, while another conventional one channel amplifier could be used to select from amongst the remaining channels for the story.

The information is stored on each track in a plurality of reproducible information segments, each of which comprises a story message reproducible by the playback device directly in response to the automatic selection of the track upon which the segments are stored. Each of the information segments on the various tracks contain messages, music, sound effects, etc. The messages contained on the various tracks are related in real-time to the time-synchronized messages on the other tracks so that a story may be told as the media is played back. As the controller automatically randomly switches between the tracks at the switch points denoted by the tones on the tape, which may occur between paragraphs, sentences, and mid-sentence, random storytelling outcomes are routed to the output device. By perfectly synchronizing the channels, such switching may occur completely seamlessly. On the randomly selected track at the time at which the switch occurred, is an information segment whose content corresponds with the information on the prior track on the prior channel, but may be different from the information on the other tracks at the current time. The various story messages, may generally be contained on any or all of the various tracks provided that they are synchronized properly so as to retain a timed relationship.

In order to understand the story-telling system of the invention, several examples will now be provided. Example 1 illustrates a relatively simple story. In this example, all four channels of the media are used to store the stories. Audible or inaudible tones are present on the channels in the positions labeled "BRANCH CODE." If the tones are audible, they may be embedded within the background music or sound effects. The tones are preferably of a sufficiently high or low frequency and/or a specified duration so as to effectively be inaudible and not interfere with the story content. The command codes may be either analog or digital signals. These tones are detected by tone detector 24, which causes controller 20, which is preferably a microprocessor, to randomly switch to one of the channels. If the current channel is the randomly selected channel, no switch will occur. Controller 20 generates a binary output corresponding to the desired channel. Switch 10 receives the binary signal from controller 20 and selects a channel from channels 1, 2, 3 and 4 corresponding to binary outputs 00-11. As shown in the example, in addition to random switches, non-random switching may occur as well. Controller 20 is equipped with any appropriate type of memory for performing memory-type functions. In Example 1, "Branch Type X" denotes a command to the microprocessor to place in the indicated memory the Channel No. (e.g. X-1 stores the Channel No. in memory #1) of the channel being played at the time of the branch. Branch Type "Y" is a random branch to any of the four channels. Branch type "Z" is a branch to the Channel indicated in the associated memory (e.g., Branch Type Z-1 will branch to the Channel No. stored in memory No. 1.)

EXAMPLE 1

__________________________________________________________________________ SWITCHChannel 1 Channel 2 Channel 3 Channel 4 COMMANDS__________________________________________________________________________(music up and (music up and (music up and (music up and inaudible tones orunder) under) under) under) digital commands embedded inOnce upon a time Once upon a time a Once upon a time a Once upon a time a audio ona little girl named little girl named little girl named little girl named Channels 1-4 atRebecca was taking Rebecca was taking Rebecca was taking Rebecca was taking �BRANCHa walk behind her a walk behind her a walk behind her a walk behind her CODE !pointshouse. house. house. house.�BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! Branch Type YRebecca was 6 Rebecca was 7 Rebecca was 8 Rebecca was 9years old years old years old years old�BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! Branch Type X-1and was wearing a and was wearing a and was wearing a and was wearing ayellow dress. pink dress. polka dot dress white dress.She walked and She walked and She walked and She walked andwalked and walked and walked and walked andsuddenly realized suddenly realized suddenly realized suddenly realizedthat she was lost in that she was lost in that she was lost in that she was lost inthe woods behind the woods behind the woods behind the woods behindher home. These her home. These her home. These her home. Thesewere very large were very large were very large were very largewoods and her woods and her woods and her woods and her�BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! Branch Type Ymother told her father told her father told her older brother toldnever to go in there. never to go in there. never to go in her never to go inShe walked and She walked and there. She walked there. She walkedwalked and became walked and became and walked and and walked andmore and more lost. more and more lost. became more and became more and more lost. more lost.Rebecca jumped Rebecca jumped Rebecca jumpedwhen she heard a when she heard a Rebecca jumped when she heard alarge thunder clap large thunder clap when she heard a large thunder clap(thunder sound (thunder sound large thunder clap (thunder soundeffect). She looked effect). She looked (thunder sound effect). She lookedup and saw dark up and saw dark effect). She looked up and saw darkclouds. Rebecca clouds. Rebecca up and saw dark clouds. Rebeccaknew it was going knew it was going clouds. Rebecca knew it was goingto storm soon. She to storm soon. She knew it was going to storm soon. Shehad to get back had to get back to storm soon. She had to get backhome soon (sound home soon (sound had to get back home soon (soundeffect-more effect-more home soon(sound effect-morethunder). thunder). effect-more thunder). thunder).�BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! Branch Type X-2Suddenly, she saw a Suddenly, she saw a Suddenly, she saw Suddenly, she sawcute little squirrel. cute little rabbit. a cute little white a cute little owl. rabbit. Can youCan you help me Can you help me help me get home Can you help meget home Rebecca get home Rebecca Rebecca asked the get home Rebeccaasked the squirrel? asked the rabbit? white rabbit? asked the owl?"Sure can"said the "Sure can"said the "Sure can"said the "Sure can"said thesquirrel(sound rabbit(sound effect white rabbit(sound owl(sound effecteffect of thunder of thunder and effect of thunder of thunder andand rain). Just then rain). Just then it and rain). Just then rain). Just then itit began to rain and began to rain and it began to rain and began to rain andstorm. storm. storm. storm.�BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! Branch Type Z-2The squirrel began The rabbit began to The white rabbit The owl began toto run for a tree but run for a hole but began to run under fly away but yelledyelled back, "go on yelled, "go on a log but yelled back, "go onstraight until you straight until you back, "go on straight until youcome to a big oak come to a big oak straight until you come to a big oaktree near a tree near a come to a big oak tree near a�BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! tree near a �BRANCH CODE! Branch Type X-3waterfall. babbling brook �BRANCH CODE! broken fence. stream.Turn left and that's Turn left and that's Turn left and that'sthe way out of the the way out of the Turn left and that's the way out of thewoods and back to woods and back to the way out of the woods and back toyour home."(sound your home."(sound woods and back to your home."(soundeffects rain and effects rain and your home."(sound effects rain andwind) wind) effects rain and wind)�BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! Branch Type Z-2Rebecca started to Rebecca started to Rebecca started to Rebecca started togo the way the go the way the go the way the go the way thesquirrel had said. rabbit had said. white rabbit had owl had said. said. said.She ran and ran. It She ran and ran. It She ran and ran. Itwas getting colder was getting colder She ran and ran. It was getting colderand suddenly she and suddenly she was getting colder and suddenly shefell and splashed in fell and splashed in and suddenly she fell and splashed inthe mud below. the mud below. fell and splashed in the mud below. the mud below.�BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! Branch Type Z-1Her yellow dress Her pink dress was Her polka dot dress Her white dresswas ruined ruined was ruined was ruinedbut she wanted to but she wanted to but she wanted to but she wanted toget home so she got get home so she got get home so she got get home so she gotup and kept up and kept up and kept up and keptrunning. running. running. running.�BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! Branch Type Z-3Finally she got to Finally she got to Finally she got to Finally she got tothe big oak tree the big oak tree the big oak tree the big oak treenear the waterfall near the babbling near the stream. near the broken brook. fence.�BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! Branch Type X-4She turned left She turned left She turned right She turned right�BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! Branch Type Z-2as the squirrel had as the rabbit had as the white rabbit as the owl had saidsaid said had said�BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! �BRANCH CODE! Branch Type Z-4and finally came to and finally came to and she got more and she got morethe path that led her the path that led her and more lost. Had and more lost. Hadback home out of back home out of she made a she made athe woods and the woods and mistake? She mistake? SheRebecca lived Rebecca lived walked and walked walked and walkedhappily ever after. happily ever after. and to this day and to this day(music close) (music close) Rebecca is out Rebecca is out there somewhere, there somewhere, lost in the woods. lost in the woods.END END (music close) (music close) END END__________________________________________________________________________

Example 2 demonstrates a more complex example. In this example, three tracks, i.e., tracks 1-3 are used to store the story information. The fourth track, i.e., track 4 is used to store command code information. As shown in FIG. 2, a microprocessor 26 is utilized to read track switching instructions from the audio tape itself in order to perform random or non-random switching at the desired switch points. In this embodiment, a conventional one channel amplifier preferably reads audible control commands for the microprocessor from Channel 4, while another conventional one channel amplifier plays back the selected one of the remaining channels for playing the story content. In order to perform the "Replay" function discussed below, microprocessor 26 is equipped with non-volatile RAM or other memory, which is preferably either static, i.e., it will not be lost when power to the system is turned off, or is connected to the power source so that the memory will be retained until the battery is drained. If the "Replay" function is not used, any appropriate type of memory may be employed. For this example, "SFX" denotes a special effect. Accordingly, SFX A denotes a different sound effect than SFX B. "MUSIC" denotes the background music on the track. Thus, MUSIC A is different from MUSIC B. In connection with the Replay function, at the beginning of the track with the command codes a TAPE ID code is preferably stored. The TAPE ID is unique to each story tape and is used by the microprocessor to identify the tape. "Branch Type X" denotes a command to the microprocessor to place in the indicated memory (e.g. X-1 stores the Channel No. in memory #1) the Channel No. of the channel being played at the time of the branch. Branch Type "Y" is a random branch to any of the three channels. Branch type "Z" is a branch to the Channel indicated in the associated memory (e.g., Branch Type Z-1 will branch to the Channel No. stored in memory No. 1.)

EXAMPLE 2

__________________________________________________________________________CHANNEL 1 CHANNEL 2 CHANNEL 3 CHANNEL 4__________________________________________________________________________MUSIC A: MUSIC B: MUSIC C: TAPE IDOnce upon a time, a Once upon a time, a Once upon a time, a Branch type X-1young boy named Joey young boy named John young boy named Mikewas playing at the was playing at the was playing at thebeach. It was hot and a beach. It was hot and a beach. It was hot and avery nice day. Joey very nice day. John very nice day. Mikewent down to the ocean went down to the ocean went down to the oceanto get a pail of water for to get a pail of water for to get a pail of water fora very big castle he was a sand castle he was a big sand castle he wasbuilding. Suddenly, just building. Suddenly, just building. Suddenly, justunder the pier, Joey under the pier, John under the pier, Mikenoticed a bottle that had noticed a bottle that had noticed a bottle that hadwashed up on to the washed up on to the washed up on to thebeach. Joey picked up beach. John picked up beach. Mike picked upthe bottle and rubbed all the bottle and rubbed all the bottle and rubbed allthe sand off the bottle. the sand off the bottle. the sand off the bottle. Branch type YSuddenly red smoke Suddenly blue smoke Suddenly white smokecame out of the bottle came out of the bottle came out of the bottleand surrounded and surrounded and surroundedJoey. John. Mike. Branch type Z-1(SFX A) (SFX B) (SFX C). Branch type Y (for SFX)"Thank you for setting "Thank you for setting "Thank you for setting Branch type Z-1me free" came a voice me free" came a voice me free" came a voicefrom the smoke. "Who from the smoke. "Who from the smoke. "Whoare you asked Joey? are you asked John? are you asked Mike?"I am the Genie of the "I am the Genie of the "I am the Genie of the Branch type Ybottle. I've been in that bottle. I have been in bottle. I have been inbottle for 1000 years that bottle for 100 years that bottle for 500 yearsand you set me free. and you set me free". and you set me free:.And now I can grant And now I can grant And now I can grantyou three wishes. Any you three wishes. Any you three wishes. Anythree wishes you desire three wishes you desire three wishes you desireyou shall have. What is you shall have. What is you shall have. What isyour first wish?" your first wish"?. your first wish"?.Three wishes thought Three wishes thought Three wishes thought Branch type Z-1Joey. He could have John. He could have Mike. He could havecandy, a big screen TV Toys, a color TV in his candy, a big screen TVin his room. be a famous room, be a famous TV in his room, be a famousmovie star. or even have star, or even have no rock star, or even endno more school| How more school| How school forever| Howcould he ever decide| could any little boy could such a little boyFinally Joey decided ever decide| Finally ever decide| Finallywhat he wanted for his John decided what he Mike decided what hefirst wish. wanted for his first wish wanted for his first wish"I want no more school "I want hundreds of new "I want the biggest TVever", yelled Joey. And toys" John said. And ever made" said Mike".the Genie said "Your the Genie said "your And the Genie saidwish is my command. I wish is my command. I "your wish is mywill grant your wish. will grant your wish." command. I will grant your wish."(SFX D) (SFX E) (SFX F) Branch type YSuddenly it was Suddenly John was Suddenly, Mike was Branch type Z-1Monday morning and home surrounded by home in his room andJoey jumped out of bed every toy he ever right in front of him wasonly to realize he had no imagined. He examined a big- very big, TV set.school. He could sit and each toy. He loved it. It was tremendous,do nothing all day. He He could play with each Mike turned it on andcould read, play video one. He had more toys sat down to watch. Hegames, eat, do anything than any kid on Earth. watched and watched.he wanted to do. It was He played with Elmo, He watched everyso much fun. He Big Bird, Nintendo. He channel he could find.watched TV all day played darts, cards, and After that he watchedTuesday, played video even drove an electric every channel again. Hegames on Wednesday, car. He played every watched every minutetook a long walk on minute he could. All he could. He evenThursday and watched week. Even the next watched late into theTV again on Friday. week night.After one more week of After yet another week After yet another weekthis, Joey was getting of playing with all these of watching TV, Mikevery bored and asked toys, John was getting was getting bored andthe Genie for his second bored and tired so he cross-eyed so he askedwish. "What do you asked the Genie for his the Genie for his secondwant" asked the Genie. second wish. "What do wish. "What do you you want" asked the want asked the Genie" Genie.(Music D in) (Music E in) (Music F in) Branch type Y"I want my second wish "I want my second wish "I want my second wishnow" said the boy. And now" said the boy. And now" said the boy. Andthe Genie said "your the Genie said "your the Genie said "yourwish is my command. I wish is my command. I wish is my command. Iwill grant your second will grant your second will grant your secondwish. What is wish. What is it?" wish. What is it?"it?"(Music D out) (Music E out) (Music F out)Joey said "I want candy, John said" I want candy, Mike said" I want Branch type Z-1hot dogs, and all the hot dogs, and all the candy, hot dogs, and allsoda I can drink." soda I can drink.' the soda I can drink.""Easy", said the Genie "Easy", said the Genie "Easy", said the Genieand suddenly the room and suddenly the room and suddenly the roomwas filled with was filled with was filled withchocolate. chocolate. chocolate.cup cakes, jelly beans, cup cakes, jelly beans, cup cakes, jelly beans,M&Ms, ice cream, M&Ms, ice cream, M&Ms, ice cream,bubble gum, hot dogs, bubble gum, hot dogs, bubble gum, hot dogs,coca cola, orange soda, coca cola, orange soda, coca cola, orange soda,and even ice cream and even ice cream and even ice creamsodas and banana splits. sodas and banana splits. sodas and banana splits.Joey was so happy. John was so happy. Mike was so happy.He never saw so much He never saw so much He never saw so much Branch type Ydelicious food in his delicious food in his delicious food in hislife| He ate a hot dog, life| He ate life| He ate a hot dog,washed it down with hamburgers, washed it washed it down withcoca cola, had the down with soda, had the Seven-up had an icebanana split for dessert, banana split for dessert, cream sundae forand had a cup cakes just and had two cup cakes dessert and had threefor fun. He was having just for fun. He was cup cakes just for fun.the best day in his life. having the best day in He was having the best his life. day in his life.After about an hour, After about an hour, After about an hour, Branch type Z-1Joey began to get a John began to get a Mike began to get astomach ache. It was a stomach ache. It was a stomach ache. It was abad one. He had cramps bad one. He had cramps bad one. He had crampsand everything. He and everything. He and everything. Herealized he had eaten realized he had eaten realized he had eatenmuch too much. He much too much. He much too much. Hecalled for the Genie called for the Genie called for the Genieagain. again. again.(Music H in) (Music I in) (Music J in) Branch type YThe Genie appeared and The Genie appeared and The Genie appeared andsaid. "Your wish is my said. "Your wish is my said, "Your wish is mycommand. Are you command. Are you command. Are youready for your third ready for your third ready for your thirdwish? wish? wish?(Music H OUT) (Music I OUT) (Music J OUT)Joey thought and John thought and Mike thought and Branch type Z-1thought. And finally thought. And finally thought. And finallysaid, "yes I am. I am said, "yes I am. I am said, "yes I am. I amready for my third ready for my third ready for my thirdwish." "Well what is it" wish." "Well what is it" wish." "Well what is it"said the Genie. "I am said the Genie: "I am said the Genie. "I amhere and I will grant you here and I will grant you here and I will grant youyour final wish." your final wish." your final wish."Joey said, "for my final John said, "for my final Mike said "for my finalwish just make wish, just make wish I want money, lotseverything the way it everything the way it and lots of money"was before I even met was before I even met "Your wish is myyou. I'm lonely. I have you. I'm lonely. I have command" said thea stomach ache and I a stomach ache and I Geniekind kindof miss my friends and Miss my friends a lot, And suddenly Mike wasteachers at school. Toys are great and surrounded by piles andI appreciate everything everything but too much piles of money. Mikeyou've done but I guess is no good. So please sat there and started toI was better off before. return my life to the way count all his money. HeSo please return my life it was before I met you. thought about his threeto the way it was before wishes and how happyI met you. he thought he'd be but for now he was just sitting there counting money."So it shall be done" "So it shall be done" Suddenly the phonesaid the Genie and in a said the Genie and in a rang. It was his friendpuff of smoke and a bolt thunderous clap of his Shawn asking to comeof lightening. Joey was hands, John was back at over so they could play.back at the beach and the beach and the magicthe magic lamp was lamp was gone forever.gone forever. Mike thought about it and decided to stay home and count his money. After all it would take years. He hung up and went back to counting, counting, and more counting.(MUSIC D CLOSE) (MUSIC E CLOSE) (MUSIC F CLOSE) Branch type Y__________________________________________________________________________

As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus preferably includes a switch 28 connected to the microprocessor. The apparatus is preferably located within a cuddly teddy bear or other housing suitable for children. Accordingly, the switch would be located on the surface of the teddy bear, on the bear's ears, etc. Switch 28 is preferably a momentary switch that is labeled "Freeze", "Replay", or the like. During playback of a story, the microprocessor records the STORY ID of the story and preferably stores in non-volatile memory all of the branching that occurs during playback of the story. After listening to the story, the user may press this switch, at which time the branching for the STORY ID will be locked into memory. During the next playback of the story, the microprocessor will use the stored branching in playing back the particular story. This may include random branches, if desired, which may be stored in memory at the time the branch is made. If the switch is depressed after the next playback of the story using the stored branching, the branching will again be stored in memory and used during the next playback. If desired, a TAPE ID may be associated with an entire group of stories and the same switch or a different switch used to store branching for an entire tape or group of stories. It will be appreciated that the memory functions may be varied as desired to implement any desired functionality provided that sufficient memory is available.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to certain embodiments and examples, variations and modifications exist that are within the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A story-telling apparatus which comprises:

a storage media which comprises a plurality of temporally parallel data storage tracks containing story content, the story being stored on the temporally parallel data storage tracks in a plurality of temporally related information segments, each of the segments comprising a complete message reproducible in response to the selection of the track upon which the segments are stored, each of the information segments at any given time on a temporally parallel data storage track comprising information related in real-time and content to information contained in each information segment on each temporally parallel data storage track in an immediate prior time, the information stored on the temporally parallel data storage tracks in a predetermined timed sequence for providing story content varying dependent upon the temporally parallel data storage tracks selected during playback, the storage media further comprising random switching command codes for providing switching instructions to randomly switch between the temporally parallel data storage in order to provide random variation of the story content during playback thereof;

playback means for playing back the story content of a selected data storage track and for retrieving the random switching command codes from the storage media;

a code discriminator for identifying the random switching command codes retrieved from the storage media by the playback means;

a controller for receiving the random switching command codes from the code discriminator and for causing the playback means to select and playback a random one of the temporally parallel data storage tracks of the storage media in response to receiving a random switching command code, the playback means retrieving the information stored on the randomly selected temporally parallel data storage track to randomly vary the playback of the story content.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of the temporally parallel data storage tracks comprises the random switching command codes, the playback means further comprising random switching command code playback means for providing playback of the temporally parallel data storage track comprising the random switching command codes independently of the temporally parallel data storage tracks comprising the story content.

3. The apparatus according to 1 wherein the temporally parallel data storage tracks are stored on a magnetic storage media having a plurality of coextensive tracks wherein the playback means comprises magnetic storage media reading means corresponding with each of the plurality of coextensive tracks.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the temporally parallel data storage tracks are stored on a magnetic storage media having a plurality of coextensive tracks wherein the playback means comprises magnetic storage media reading means for the random command code track, and at least one magnetic media storage media readings means for the coextensive temporally parallel data storage tracks comprising the story content.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the temporally parallel data storage tracks are stored digitally and are randomly accessible.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the storage media is selected from the group consisting of magnetic disk, compact disk, video disk, magnetic tape, RAM, PROM, EPROM, and EEPROM.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the data storage media are analog cassette tapes and wherein the playback means enables the removal and replacement of the storage media.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the random switching command codes further comprise memory storage commands and memory switching commands, the apparatus further comprising means for storing a first identification of a current temporally parallel data storage track being played back in response to a memory storage command, and means for switching to the temporally parallel data storage track associated with the first identification in response to a memory switching command.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the temporally parallel data storage tracks comprising story content comprise audible or inaudible random switching command codes.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising means for discriminating the audible or inaudible random switching command codes from the story content.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the random switching command codes further comprise memory storage commands and memory switching commands, the apparatus further comprising means for storing at least a first identification of a current temporally parallel data storage track being played back in response to a memory storage command, and means for switching to the temporally parallel data storage track associated with the at least first identification in response to a memory switching command.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising memory means for storing the branching of playback of a particular story, and means for playing back the story using the stored branching.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising a playback switch for initiating the means for playing back the story.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a store switch for initiating storing the branching.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising means for identifying each particular storage media, and means for playing back stored branching of a prior playback of the particular storage media.