Abstract:
a multimedia playback keepsake and a method for its production are provided. The keepsake includes a control processor and a playback processor. The control processor is associated with storage containing a content program to be presented and contains interrupts corresponding to points in the content program where custom content information is to be presented. The playback processor contains content elements associated with the interrupts. The content program is presented to the playback processor for play back and, when an interrupt is encountered, the control processor causes the playback processor to insert and playback the appropriate content element. As a result a content program is provided which includes custom inserts at the interrupts.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to multimedia keepsakes, and more particularly, concerns a recordable, multimedia playback apparatus in which the content may be customized. 
         [0002]    In International Application No. PCT/U.S. 08/63717, under common ownership with the present application, there are disclosed multimedia keepsakes, in the form of multimedia greetings and albums, in which playable multimedia content is provided in electronic storage. When the keepsake is a greeting, such as a card, the amount of storage required for the multimedia content is relatively small, and inexpensive electronics may be used. When the keepsake is a multimedia album, such as one with images, music and voice recordings, the expense of the album justifies the expense of more complex electronics. In either case, custom content can be recorded, while still permitting the keepsake to sell at a price point appropriate for the particular item. 
         [0003]    However, it would be desirable to be able to provide a relatively large amount of multimedia content at a relatively low price point, while still permitting customization of content. For example, one might wish to provide a full length storybook for a child, while permitting the names of characters, their ages or where they live to be customized Doing so, for example, by providing for customized recording of the storybook becomes infeasible if a low price point is to be met, because of the expense of recordable electronics with a sufficient storage capacity for the entire storybook. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In accordance with the present invention, a multimedia keepsake and a method for its production are provided. 
         [0005]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the keepsake includes a first information storage containing fixed program information corresponding to a primary content presentation, the content presentation having gaps, and a second information storage containing variable information. A controller is provided which includes an indexing module associating the variable information with the gaps, an assembling module playing the fixed program information from the first information storage and cooperating with said indexing module to insert the variable information into associated gaps to produce a customized content presentation. 
         [0006]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the keepsake includes a control processor and a playback processor. The control processor is associated with storage containing a content program to be presented. The control processor has programmed interrupts corresponding to points in the content program where custom information is to be presented, and the playback processor contains content elements associated with the interrupts. The content program is presented to the playback processor for play back. When an interrupt is encountered, the control processor causes the playback processor to insert and playback the appropriate content element. As a result a content program is provided which includes custom inserts at the interrupts. 
         [0007]    In a preferred embodiment, the keepsake plays a customized audio storybook. The control processor is an audio synthesis processor and contains the storybook in a read only memory (ROM). The audio synthesis processor synthesizes an audio signal and provides it to a record/playback, which causes it to be played. The story saved in the synthesis processor has interrupts at locations where custom information is to be inserted. Custom audio information is recorded in the playback processor. After programming, upon the occurrence of an interrupt, the synthesis processor controls the playback processor so as to play the appropriate custom information. As a result, the two processors cooperatively produce a complete story, with customized content. 
         [0008]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the playback processor is programmed with externally provided content elements in cooperation with the control processor. Each provided content element includes information identifying the corresponding interrupt. The control processor causes this information to be stored in the playback processor in association with an identification of the interrupt. Thus, when an interrupt is later encountered, the control processor can cause the playback processor to produce the correct content element. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    the foregoing brief description and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be understood more completely from the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments in accordance with the present invention, with reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram illustrating a device embodying a multimedia keepsake in accordance with the present invention, in the form of an electronic storybook; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of Detection Circuit  14  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred record/playback processor for use in an embodiment in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a functional block diagram of a preferred integrated circuit useful as Audio Synthesis Processor  18  in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]    Turning now to the details of the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram illustrating a device  10  embodying a multimedia keepsake in accordance with the present invention, in the form of an electronic storybook  10 . The storybook plays an audible story, for example a fairy tale, which is customized for the listener. For example, the name of a character in the story may be the same as the listener&#39;s, the age may be the same, the town he lives in may be the same, or the names of his brothers and sisters may be the same. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the device  10  is on a small circuit card, which may also include batteries (not shown). The card may, for example, be embedded in the covers of a physical book which has accompanying pictures and text. Device  10  is shown as including a pushbutton  22 . In practice, this button may be on the book cover and electrically coupled to device  10 . The purpose of the button is to trigger playback of the story when the reader presses it. Playback may, for example, be in sections, with the button having to be pressed again after a section plays. 
         [0016]    Device  10  comprises a stereo jack  12 , a Detection Circuit  14 , a Record/playback Processor  16  and an Audio Synthesis Processor  18 . A customized audio program is heard via a speaker  20 , driven by processor  16 . The storybook is stored in a read only memory (ROM) in processor  18 . Processor  18  synthesizes an audio signal and provides it to processor  16  via lead  24 , and processor  16  provides the audio signal to speaker  20 . The story saved in processor  18  has interrupts at locations where custom information is to be inserted. As will be explained in detail below, custom audio information is recorded in processor  16 , in coordination with processor  18 . After programming as will be described below, upon the occurrence of an interrupt, processor  18  controls processor  16 , via lead  26  (it may contain multiple leads or channels and be bidirectional), so as to play the appropriate custom information. As a result, the two processors cooperatively produce a complete story, with customized content. 
         [0017]    Jack  12  is a conventional stereo jack. As will be explained below, one of the stereo channels, for example on lead  28 , is an audio control signal and the other, for example on lead  30 , contains audio information. Detection Circuit  14  responds to the control signal, informing processor  18  which audio information is currently being received and stored in processor  16 . For example, there may be four pieces of custom audio information stored in processor  16  in predetermined locations. Detection Circuit  14  informs processor  18  as each piece is stored and signals the duration of each piece. Subsequently, when processor  18  experiences an interrupt, it informs processor  16  of the appropriate piece of information to insert and pauses for the appropriate length of time. 
         [0018]    Although device  10  has been described as making use of a jack  12 , those skilled in the art will appreciate that other types of connectors can serve equally well. For example, it is contemplated that a USB connector, which has by now become ubiquitous, could be used instead. 
         [0019]    It is contemplated that audio information to be inserted into processor  16  could conveniently be generated online, at a website set up for that purpose, which would produce the necessary control information. When a user wishes to program device  10 , he need merely access the website and connect a stereo cable between his computer and jack  12 . At the website, he would have a selection of information to insert at each interrupt, or he could be offered the opportunity to type in his own. He could also be permitted to record his voice speaking the information. Preferably, the downloaded files would have the audio information in the same voice as the story itself. Of course, this process could also be performed at a kiosk, for example at a retail establishment, or software could be provided to perform the task on a home computer. Similarly, the required two channel signal could be recorded in an electrical device, such an MP3 player or a telephone, and then transferred from the electrical device to processor  16 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of Detection Circuit  14 . In this embodiment, circuit  14  has a stereo jack  210 , which replaces jack  12  in  FIG. 1 . As explained above a conventional stereo plug providing a stereo signal is inserted into this jack. In this example, the tip  212  of the stereo plug carries the channel with the control information and the ring  214  of the plug carries the audio recording. The control signal is preferably a tone of a predetermined frequency, and the duration of the tone preferably determines which piece of information is being sent. The tone signal is received by a tone detector  220 , which is constructed to be sensitive to the frequency of the tone. This produces a voltage between connections I 3  and I 4  which indicates the presence of the tone. That voltage is present while the tone is present, and the duration of the tone tells processor  14  which piece of information is being recorded. The audio signal at the ring  214  is applied to connection  12  through a filter  230 , and connection  12  is connected to a microphone input on processor  16 . 
         [0021]    Although the duration of the tone preferably identifies which piece of information is being received. It will be appreciated that the received signal could simply include a field specifying the number of pieces of information being sent, and the piece of information being sent at any time could simply be established from the sequence. Alternately, the tone burst corresponding to each piece of information could be coded to identify the piece of information. For example, the tone burst could be amplitude modulated to represent a series of 1 and 0 digits that encode the piece of information. 
         [0022]    Record/playback Processor  16  is preferably an ISD14B20 ChipCorder® available from Windbond Electronics Corporation America of San Jose, Calif. The device is a multiple message, single chip, record/playback circuit. It is a CMOS device which includes an on-chip oscillator, microphone preamplifier, automatic gain control, anti-aliasing filter, a solid-state analog storage array, a smoothing filter, and a speaker amplifier. Address inputs are provided, which permit selection of different recordings. A functional schematic diagram of this chip is shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0023]    As seen in  FIG. 3 , negative and positive inputs are provided for differential connection of a microphone or a microphone and a reference. It is also possible to provide to an analog line signal between these two inputs, in this case the signal on lead  30 . The applied signal is subjected to automatic gain control (AGC) and is then applied to a nonvolatile multilevel storage array through an anti-aliasing filter. In this array, the signals are stored in analog form. A signal stored in the array is processed by a smoothing filter before being amplified, to produce a speaker drive signal between the outputs SP+ and SP−. Applied power supply voltages are subjected to power condition, and control inputs are available for recording (REC) and two types of playback, edge-triggered playback (PLAYE) and level-triggered playback (PLAYL), as well as addressing internal memory (M 1 -M 8 ). 
         [0024]    The integrated circuit is comprised of flash memory cells, so messages can be stored without the use of power. Since storage is analog, audio data can be stored directly and memory in its natural form, without a compression, as is the case with digital audio. This provides high-quality, solid-state audio reproduction, with a minimum power consumption. 
         [0025]    Audio Synthesis Processor  18  is preferably a W588CXX embedded, single chip microprocessor available from Windbond Electronics Corporation America of San Jose, Calif. The “XXX” relates to number, such as “150” which defines the duration of a recorded signal.  FIG. 4  is a functional block diagram of the W588C chip. It includes a ROM  50 , in which the story may be recorded. A digital-to-analog converter (DAC)  52  then makes it possible to produce analog audio signal, which may be provided to processor  16 . Also included are a microprocessor core  54  and random access memory  56 , which permit extensive programming, including interrupt processing. Two bi-directional, eight bit ports BP 0  and BP  1  provide communication with processor  16 . 
         [0026]    Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many additions, substitutions, and modifications are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the preferred embodiment creates a custom audio storybook. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a customized multimedia story book, such as on including audio and visible content, could be produced with similar structure and in a similar manner.