Abstract:
A system and method for an acoustic feedback recognition and learning aid is disclosed, comprising a hand-held electronic wand for use with an accompanying plurality of coded pictures, which when scanned cause the hand-held wand to play back an associated audio file. The invention is adaptable for many uses as a learning aid, including the sport of birding, language translation, language education, object learning, recognition training, and a variety of other similar objects as discussed herein.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to an acoustic feedback recognition and learning aid and, more particularly, to a hand-held electronic wand for use with an accompanying plurality of coded pictures, which when scanned cause the hand-held wand to play back an associated audio file. The invention is adaptable for many uses as a learning aid, including the sport of birding, language translation, language education, object learning, recognition training, and a variety of other similar uses as discussed herein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    With the sport of birding becoming ever more popular, the demand for a compact, portable recognition and learning aid has increased dramatically. In practice, birders are often faced with the need to identify multiple species from observation of appearance and/or sound. This process primarily involved thumbing through picture books for many generations and has only recently begun to take advantage of advances in modern electronics. 
         [0003]    One such electronic device is the popular Birdsong Identiflyer®, which is commonly used to identify select groups of birds. The Identiflyer® uses a variety of insertable SongCards, whereby each SongCard displays up to ten different bird pictures, each of which is associated with an internally stored audio file of the corresponding bird song. Birders must purchase and interchange additional SongCards for use in identifying additional and various species. 
         [0004]    Other devices for birding recognition and learning are known in the art but are generally cumbersome in practice. The learning and identification support system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,126 to Kimball offers additional storage capacity, but requires a bulky compact disc player for storage and playback of audio files. Such a system would be difficult to carry and conceal upon one&#39;s person while birding in the wild or other remote locations. Birders would thus be hampered by the sheer size and weight of such a system and would find use thereof difficult. 
         [0005]    The system disclosed in Kimball, in conjunction with the Identiflyer® systems, reveals that storage capacity is one of the primary drawbacks of prior art devices. Audio files are generally large and require large capacity storage means. A device that uses standard digital signal processing (DSP) can encode (or encrypt, as the case may be) an audio file so that it may be saved in a smaller digital memory space. But such files are limited in dynamic audio range because of the encoding process. On the other hand, a device that uses ADPCM (adaptive differential pulse code modulation) encoding may be used to save and playback difficult-to-reproduce sounds according to their greater dynamic audio range, but such files are correspondingly larger and require more digital memory space. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a compact, portable recognition and learning aid with larger storage capacity that is also capable of storing multiple types of audio files using a variety of encoding techniques. 
         [0007]    A primary object of the present invention is to provide a compact, portable recognition and learning aid, such as a hand-held wand, for birders that is capable of providing storage of a multiplicity of audio files, stored using a variety of encoding techniques. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide such storage capacity in both a fixed internal memory and in a separate interchangeable memory cartridge that integrates seamlessly into a wand&#39;s housing. Such a cartridge would also integrate seamlessly with the fixed internal memory so as to expand the device&#39;s overall storage capacity. 
         [0009]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide automatic power shutdown of a wand after a pre-selected time interval, where the wand is not in use. 
         [0010]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for using a compact, portable recognition and learning aid as described herein. Other objects and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings provided. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention accomplishes the foregoing objects by providing a hand-held recognition and learning system and method that is capable of providing storage of a multiplicity of audio files stored with a variety of encoding techniques. 
         [0012]    In one aspect of the invention, a system is provided that comprises a unique label displaying information associated with a corresponding audio file stored amongst a multiplicity of stored audio files and a wand for reading the unique label. The system may also comprise a binder for storing the wand and a multiplicity of unique visual or text images, each containing a corresponding unique label. In another aspect of the invention the binder may also include a strap and tether designed to hold the wand in place during transport. 
         [0013]    The disclosed wand comprises a computer-readable, first memory for storing a first group of audio files and a computer-readable, second memory for storing a second group of audio files. In another aspect of the invention, the wand may include only a single memory, preferably, the computer-readable, first memory. Where present, the second memory is preferably capable of replacement, seamless integration into the wand&#39;s housing, and seamless integration with the first memory to increase the wand&#39;s overall storage capacity. 
         [0014]    The wand also comprises a scanner for reading the information associated with a corresponding audio file from the unique label and a recognition means for identifying a corresponding audio file based on the associated information. The wand also comprises a file locator for locating the corresponding audio file amongst a first and/or second group of audio files. The wand further comprises a decoder for reading and translating the corresponding audio file into a decoded audio file in playable format. The decoder is capable of decoding a first audio file encoded using a first encoding format and a second audio file encoded using a second encoding format. Moreover, the decoder may be capable of decoding files stored using a variety of different encoding formats. The wand also comprises an audio player for audibly outputting the decoded audio file along with a multiplicity of buttons to control functions, comprising on/off, volume up, volume down, and scanner trigger. Finally, the wand comprises a power supply, such as batteries, for supplying power to the wand. 
         [0015]    In another aspect of the invention, a method comprises the steps of providing a hand-held recognition and learning system that is capable of storing a multiplicity of audio files using a variety of encoding techniques. The method further comprises pressing a scanner trigger button on an electronic wand and then bringing the wand in proximity with a unique label. The unique label includes information associated with a corresponding audio file stored amongst a multiplicity of stored audio files. In another aspect of the invention, the wand may read the label in either barcode or magnetic format; so this step could vary from only swiping a barcode to instead only getting sufficiently close to a magnetic label to read its electronic signature. 
         [0016]    The method also comprises using a recognition means internal to the wand to identify the corresponding audio file based on associated information. After the recognition means identifies a corresponding audio file, a file locator locates that audio file, which is stored on a first and/or second memory. In one aspect of the invention, the file location step comprises reading audio files from either a first memory that is fixed internal memory, or from a second memory that may be either fixed or interchangeable memory, where the second memory is designed to seamlessly integrate both into the wand&#39;s housing and with the first memory. In another aspect of the invention, this step may include reading audio files from only a single internal memory. As such, the method may also include the steps of providing a second memory that is capable of seamlessly integrating with the first memory to expand the wand&#39;s overall storage capacity. 
         [0017]    Upon location, the method includes using a decoder to read and translate the audio file into a decoded audio file that is playable on the wand&#39;s audio player. Once in playable format, the method includes audibly playing the audio file on the electronic wand. If the wand is not used for a pre-determined time interval, the method may also include providing an automatic power shutdown means for automatically shutting down power to the wand. 
         [0018]    In yet another aspect of the invention, a method includes providing a binder for storing the wand and a multiplicity of unique visual or text images, each containing a corresponding unique label. While another aspect of the invention comprises the step of providing a strap and tether inside the binder designed to hold the wand in place during transport. Other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description and discussion of the preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings below. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a left side perspective view of an electronic wand according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein a second memory is detached from the wand&#39;s housing. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an electronic circuit for controlling an electronic wand according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a right side perspective view of an electronic wand according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein a second memory is integrated into the wand&#39;s housing. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a right side perspective view of an electronic wand according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein a second memory is detached from the wand&#39;s housing. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of an electronic wand in combination with a binder containing bird pictures, each with unique labels, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart indicating a method of using an electronic wand according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    Referring now to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail. As seen in  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of wand  100  comprises an infrared barcode reader in the form of scanner  110  that is activated when a user presses scanner trigger button  120 . In operation, power-on indicator light  130  illuminates when scanner trigger button  120  is pressed and as long as scanner  110  is actively attempting to read a respective barcode. The associated control circuitry inside the wand housing  105  may include a hold period of some pre-determined time to keep the barcode reader in scan mode after trigger button  120  is released. Control buttons  140 ,  150 , and  160  are provided on housing  105  and associated with the control circuitry to control volume up, power on/off, and volume down, respectively. A speaker  170  is carried in housing  105  for playing the audio files stored within the computer-readable memory of wand  100 . User strap holder  180  allows users to connect a flexible user strap for stand-alone hand-held use and also allows a user to tether the wand to other carrying means.  FIG. 1  further comprises a second memory  190  that is shown detached from the housing  105 . This aspect of the invention is discussed in more detail with reference to  FIG. 4  below. 
         [0026]    As can best be seen in  FIG. 2 , the internal circuitry of wand  100  is shown in control circuit  200 . Internal DSPIC (digital signal processing integrated circuit) microcontroller  210  is the primary mechanism used to control the various inputs, outputs, and functions of wand  100 . DSPIC  210  contains a controller  220  that receives the various inputs from wand  100 , processes many of those inputs, and routes others to the correct sub-circuitry for processing. 
         [0027]    In a preferred embodiment, controller  220  receives input from scanner  110  and sends that input to recognition circuit  230  in order to verify that the input is a recognized label and to identify a specific key code associated with the label. Recognition circuit  230  then sends the specific key code to file locator  240 . That key code is then used by file locator  240  to locate a corresponding audio file  290  or  295  associated with the key code from within computer-readable, first memory  260  or detachable, computer-readable, second memory  190 . Once located, audio file  290  or  295  is sent to decoder  250  and converted into playable format. 
         [0028]    In addition to the foregoing,  FIG. 2  also illustrates other inputs to controller  220 . Scanner trigger  120 , volume up button  140 , power on/off button  150 , and volume down button  160  all feed their inputs directly into controller  220 . In normal operation, a user presses scanner trigger button  120 , which actuates a momentary contact switch. The signal from that switch is fed directly to an associated input for controller  220  to activate recognition circuit  230 . The same occurs when a user presses volume up button  140 , power on/off button  150 , or volume down button  160 . In each instance, controller  220  receives the input and processes the correct actions thereafter. 
         [0029]    Controller  220  also produces the necessary output signals to operate control circuit  200 . When an audio file is located by file locator  240  and decoded by decoder  250 , controller  220  sends an appropriate signal to audio player  280  to audibly produce the decoded audio file. When scanner  110  is in use, power-on indicator light  130  is activated by controller  220  as indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The necessary voltage to operate control circuit  200  is provided by power supply  270 . And detachable, computer-readable, second memory  190  connects to DSPIC  210  using connector  400  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  illustrates a right side perspective view of electronic wand  100  according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein detachable, computer-readable, second memory  190  is integrated into the wand&#39;s housing  105 . In this preferred embodiment, second memory  190  is seamlessly integrated into the wand&#39;s housing  105 . Computer-readable, second memory  190  would generally consist of a non-volatile ROM memory cartridge or integrated circuit inserted or molded into a seamless housing  105 . Second memory  190  is preferably configured to also seamlessly integrate with a first memory of wand  100 , whereby both first memory  260  and second memory  190  combine to increase the overall storage capacity of wand  100 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates a right side perspective view of electronic wand  100  according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein detachable, computer-readable, second memory  190  is detached from housing  105 . Connection terminal  400  is used to connect second memory  190  to housing  105  as illustrated. As further illustrated in  FIG. 2 , second memory  190  physically connects to control circuit  200  using connector  400 . When inserted into housing  105 , the male portion of second memory  190  inserts into the female portion of connection terminal  400 , thereby connecting second memory  190  to control circuit  200  within housing  105 . When control circuit  200  is powered-on and begins its normal startup routine, controller  220  automatically recognizes the addition of second memory  190  and updates its internal value for available memory space to include that of second memory  190 . In this manner, second memory  190  is seamlessly integrated into control circuit  200 . 
         [0032]    As described with reference to  FIG. 2 , the various functions of wand  100  are controlled by DSPIC  210 . In a preferred embodiment, DSPIC  210  has one megabyte or more of internal memory, which is used to store both the controlling firmware of the various sub-circuits and multiple audio files as described above. As such, one of the primary advantages of this preferred embodiment is that a portion of the internal memory of DSPIC  210  is used as the computer-readable, first memory  260  described above. 
         [0033]    DSPIC  210  is also capable of decoding internally-stored data encoded with multiple encryption routines. In a preferred embodiment, audio files  290  and  295  are stored in a first memory  260  directly on the internal memory of DSPIC  210  using both DSP (digital signal processing) encoding and using ADPCM (adaptive differential pulse code modulation) encoding. Simpler audio files of moderate frequency sounds are encoded with DSP. More complex audio files of extreme higher and lower frequency sounds (i.e., difficult sounds to reproduce) are encoded using ADPCM. These two files types are illustrated in  FIG. 2  as audio file  290 , stored using ADPCM, and audio file  295 , stored using DSP. 
         [0034]    Still other files may be stored with a variety of additional encoding techniques. Overall cost and storage capacity are the primary motivations for using two or more encoding techniques because different encoding formats allow for varying storage capacities; hence, one of the primary advantages of the ability to use multiple encoding formats in this preferred embodiment is that more files can be stored in a smaller memory space. For example, ADPCM files require more storage and processing capability, so ADPCM is used only for difficult-to-produce or higher quality audio files. But DSP encoding, which results in smaller file sizes, is sufficient for many files where sound quality is not as important. As such, in a preferred embodiment, first memory  260  contains both ADPCM- and DSP-encoded files located within a portion of DSPIC  210  internal memory in the form of audio files  290  and  295 , respectively. But second memory  190  contains only DSP-encoded files because of the additional processing needed to read audio files from a separate memory cartridge that must also seamlessly integrate with first memory  260 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  illustrates an electronic wand  100  in combination with a binder  500  containing multiple pages  510  of bird pictures  520 , each with a unique label  530 , according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Binder  500  would normally be closed using zipper  550 , wherein wand  100  is enclosed and held in place with strap  540  and tether  560 . Operation and use of this preferred embodiment is discussed briefly below and further with reference to the method of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0036]    When a birder wishes to use the system to identify a particular bird or group of birds, the birder opens zipper  550  to reveal the contents of binder  500 . The birder would then grasp wand  100  and remove it from strap  540  for use. At that point, the birder would then turn on the power for wand  100  by pressing on/off button  150 . Having sighted a particular bird, the birder may then, for example, refer to a specific page  510  of binder  500  to locate a matching bird picture. The birder would then press trigger button  120  of wand  100  and swipe scanner  110  over the corresponding unique label  530 , which is generally located below the matching bird. If these actions are performed correctly, wand  100  would then audibly output a recorded birdsong from internal memory using speaker  170 . 
         [0037]    The birder may choose to repeat these steps for additional confirmation of the bird type or may decide instead to repeat the same steps with a different bird picture  520  and unique label  530 . In addition, the birder may choose to increase or decrease the volume of the audible output by pressing volume up and volume down buttons  140  and  160 , respectively. 
         [0038]      FIG. 6  illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary method of using an electronic wand  100  according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Moreover,  FIGS. 2 and 5  are more fully understood with reference to the steps indicated in the flow chart of  FIG. 6 , which discloses a method of operating the components of control circuit  200  and binder  500 . A birder wishing to utilize the system as a recognition and learning aid may do so according to the indicated steps. 
         [0039]    In a typical outing, a birder may at first visually observe a particular bird in an attempt to identify that bird. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the birder then opens binder  500  and flips through pages  510  until the specific bird picture  520  is located at step  601 . Once located, at step  602  the birder grasps the wand and removes it from strap  540  and presses power on/off button  150  to power-on the wand. 
         [0040]    At  603  the birder swipes scanner  110  over the corresponding unique label  530 . Recognition circuit  230  and file locator  240  of control circuit  200 , then work together to identify unique label  530  and a corresponding audio file  290  or  295  at step  604 . This step can be accomplished using a variety of recognition means and methods, such as those described with reference to  FIG. 2  above. In addition to those embodiments and techniques, a preferred embodiment of wand  100  may also include any of a variety of standard computer hardware using programming that establishes a specific key code to match each stored audio file with a corresponding unique label. Once the unique label  530  is read and identified, the firmware programming could easily then match that label with its corresponding stored audio file  290  or  295 . 
         [0041]    Once the corresponding audio file is identified, at  605  a file locator, such as file locator  240  of  FIG. 2 , then locates that corresponding audio file from amongst a multiplicity of stored audio files  290  or  295 , that are located on a computer-readable, first memory  260  or computer-readable, second memory  190 . Upon location, the file locator then sends the encoded audio file to decoder  250 , which then reads and translates the corresponding audio file into a decoded audio file at step  606 , so that it results in an audio file in playable format. The decoded audio file is audibly played at  607  using speaker  170  of wand  100 . 
         [0042]    These embodiments of the present invention overcome the above-identified and other deficiencies in conventional recognition and learning systems by providing a hand-held recognition and learning system and method that is capable of providing storage of a multiplicity of audio files stored with a variety of encoding techniques. 
         [0043]    These examples are offered by way of illustration of the invention&#39;s versatility and not meant to limit the invention in any way. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit of essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.