Abstract:
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a responsive book system comprising: a book comprising a detecting system, for detecting a current page from a plurality of detectable pages of the book (i.e., the opened page); a storage, for storing content associated with each of the detectable pages; and one or more remote responders, for playing and/or displaying the content associated with the current page. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a responsive book method comprising the steps of: detecting the current page in a book from a plurality of pages; and playing and/or displaying, by a remote responder, content associated with the current page.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of storybooks. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of responsive book systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A book is used for obtaining information from a visual source. A tape or a screen is used for obtaining information from a vocal or multimedia source. 
     Although multimedia sources are advantaged for their multimedia representations, books are still preferred due to their physical presentation. 
     Prior art techniques include attachment of cassettes, DVDs or software to a book. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,324, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,158 are considered by the applicant as the closest prior art. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a responsive book system, which overcomes the obstacles and drawbacks of the prior art. 
     Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a responsive book system comprising:
     a book comprising a detecting system, for detecting a current page from a plurality of detectable pages of the book (i.e., for detecting the opened page);   a storage, for storing content associated with each of the detectable pages; and   one or more remote responders, for playing and/or displaying the content associated with the current page.   

     Each of the remote responders may be is embedded in a doll, a display, or another object. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the book further comprises a transmitter, for transmitting to the remote responders a signal indicating the current page; and each of the remote responders comprises a receiver, for receiving the signal. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the transmitted signal indicates the current page, thereby allowing each of the responders to display the content associated with the current page. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the signal itself comprises the content. 
     The transmitter may comprise a stereo-transmitter using a single standard stereo channel, and each sub-channel thereof transmitting a different response to each of the remote responders. 
     The responsive book system may further comprise a recorder, for recording new content to be associated with the detectable pages. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the detecting system comprises:
     distinctive zones on the cross-sectional area of the book, each distinctive zone associated with one of the plurality of pages;   a detectable mark on each of the plurality of pages, each of the detectable marks located in the distinctive zone thereof, for providing the association; and   detectors for detecting the detectable marks.   

     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the detectable mark is invisible. 
     In embodiments of the present invention, the detectable mark comprises a first magnet. 
     Each of the detectors may comprise a resonance circuit in the distinctive zone in the binding of the book, for detecting the first magnet, for detecting the current page. 
     The detecting system may further comprise at least a second magnet located in the distinctive zone on at least one page between the first magnet and the resonance circuit, the second magnet for increasing the detectability of the first magnet. 
     Each of the detectable marks may comprise an electrical contact, for closing and opening an electrical circuit between the electrical contacts of adjacent pages, upon leafing of each of the current pages. 
     In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for making a book respond, said method comprising the steps of:
     detecting the current page in a book from a plurality of pages; and   playing and/or displaying, by a remote responder, content associated with the current page.   

     The method may further comprise the steps of:
     transmitting a signal from the book for indicating the current page; and   receiving the signal from the book, for providing the response.   

     According to one embodiment of the invention, the transmitting is carried out by a stereo transmission, each stereo channel thereof transmitting content or indication of content associated with a different remote responder. 
     The method may further comprise the step of recording the content. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the detecting step comprises influencing a resonance circuit by a magnet located on a page. 
     In embodiments of the present invention, the detecting step comprises closing or opening an electric circuit upon leafing using electric contacts on the pages. 
     The responding may comprise recording, reading, moving. 
     The forgoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments and features of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a view of the responsive book system, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the responsive book system, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration of the components of the book of the responsive book system, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of a circuit of a sensor for sensing the magnetic field of a page of the storybook, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of the components of the book of the responsive book system, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of the components of the book of the responsive book system, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an electrical circuit chart including the three circuits of the example of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, have not been described in detail. 
       FIG. 1  is a view of the responsive book system, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     According to this embodiment of the invention, the responsive book system  10  includes a book  14  and a doll  12  or another remote responder responding to a signal  48 . The signal provides information about current page  16  of book  14 , which may be produced upon turning to or from or during that page. 
     Doll  12  includes a receiver  26  for receiving signals from book  14 , a processing unit  24  for selecting a presentation associated with the current page; an input/output unit  22 , such as a loudspeaker, and so on. 
     Receiver  26  receives signal  48  from book  14 . The signal may be a wireless signal, transmitted using a wireless transmitter  38  in book  14 , or may be wired signal. 
     Signal  48  may inform processing unit  24  of the current selected book, and the processing unit selects the response, which is appropriate to the current page  16  by retrieving the appropriate file from storage  34 . 
     According to another embodiment book  14  may include storage  34 , such that signal  48  transmitted by book  14  may already include the file. This topology provides that book  14  includes all of the information, and may thus may be replaced by another book  14  performing similar functions. 
     Input/output unit  22  may be a motor  52 , such that the response of doll  12  may be motional, such as a raised hand  54 . 
     A typical application of responsive book system  10  is for children listening to their mother tell a bedtime story. Upon turning page  16 , doll  12  may say, sing, or dance appropriately to the page read. 
     Input/output unit  22  of remote responder  12  may be a recorder for vocal or video recording or include other signaling functions which depend on the current page of book  14 . 
     For example, system  10  may include a recording mode and a reading mode. By selecting the recording mode, responsive book system  10  may record the section of the story read by the mother to storage  34  and associate that section with the detected page  16 ; then by selecting the reading mode, responsive book system  10  may retrieve from storage  34  and read the section of the story associated with detected page  16 , to the child. 
     Responsive book system  10  may include a plurality of dolls  12 , each responding typically to the current page  16 , each, however, responding in a different manner. 
     For two dolls  12 , transmitter  38  may use a single standard stereo channel, each of sub-channels  48   a  and  48   b  thereof for one doll  12 . 
       FIG. 2  is a view of the responsive book system, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     Doll  12  may be any physical object (e.g. a can) or a display  30  which may include an image  32  of a doll. Multimedia features of display  30  may replace loudspeaker  22  and motor  52 . 
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of the components of the book of the responsive book system, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     Book  14  includes a detecting system  84 , for detecting the current page  16 , which is based on a distinctive zone on the cross-sectional area of book  14  for each page  16 . 
     The binding  20  of book  14  includes a battery  40  for supplying power, a transmitter  38  for transmitting signals  48  to doll  12 , and an array of sensors, such as sensors  36  and  42 , each at a different location on binding  20 , each location associated to one page. 
     Each of pages  16  to be detected includes a detectable mark, such as mark  44   a  for page  16   a  and mark  18   c  for page  16   c , each mark located above the associated sensor thereof. 
     According to one embodiment, the detectable mark comprises a magnet. The magnet may be hidden within the page, thus being invisible. 
     For example, in the cross-sectional area of book  14 , the distinctive zone of page  16   a  is the zone of magnet  44   a , and thus binding  20  includes sensor  42  in that zone for detecting page  16   a.    
     The cross-sectional area of page  16   a  includes a magnet  44   a  located above sensor  42  thereof, and page  16   c  includes a magnet  18   c  located above sensor  36  thereof. 
     According to this example, sensor  42  senses page  16   a  by sensing the change of the magnetic field, since magnet  44   a  on page  16   a  changes the distance thereof to sensor  42  from a range of millimeters, producing a strong magnetic field upon laying page  16   a , to several centimeters upon turning of page  16   a.    
     Magnet  44   a  and other magnets of book  14  preferably are invisible, being inserted within the paper of each of pages  16 . 
       FIG. 4  is an illustration of a circuit of a sensor for sensing the magnetic field of a page of the storybook, according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     Each of sensors  36  and  42  may include a resonance circuit  82 , which may be based on a Resistor, Inductor and Capacitor (RLC) circuit forming a harmonic oscillator. Magnet  18   c  influences the circuit, thus circuit  36  detects magnet  18   c , changing the voltage output Vout, which is amplified by amplifier A to be an input to transmitter  38 . 
       FIG. 5  is an illustration of the components of the book of the responsive book system, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 3 , except for the addition of magnet  18   a  in page  16   a , and magnet  18   b  in page  16   b , which improve detection of magnet  18   c  of page  16   c.    
     Magnet  18   a  in page  16   a , magnet  18   b  in page  16   c  and magnet  18   c  accumulate the magnetic field to sensor  36 , such that the existence of magnet  18   c  on page  16   c  at its prone position on binding  20  is sensible, even for a thick book. 
       FIG. 6  is an illustration of the components of the book of the responsive book system, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     According to this embodiment, the detectable marks  44   a  and  18   c  comprise electrical contacts. 
     Each of pages  16   a ,  16   b  and  16   c  and also binding  20  include an array of electrical conductive coated squares, closing—together—electrical circuits, as a function of the current page. 
     The example of  FIG. 6  depicts three electrical circuits, the first having a load R 1  for detecting page  16   a , the second having a load R 2  for detecting page  16   b , and a third having a load R 3  for detecting page  16   c.    
     Each of loads R 1 , R 2  and R 3  represents a sensor for that page, for example, the current through load R 3  represents sensor  36  detecting page  16   c.    
       FIG. 7  is an electrical circuit chart including the three circuits of the example of  FIG. 6 . 
     Page  16   a  connects square  50  of binding  20  to square  58  of page  16   a , and square  64  of page  16   a  to square  56  of binding  20 , thus closing the circuit of load R 1 . 
     Page  16   a  connects square  50  of binding  20  to square  58  of page  16   a , and square  62  of page  16   a  to square  54  of binding  20 ; page  16   b  connects square  58  of page  16   a  to square  66  of page  16   b , and square  70  of page  16   b  to square  62  of page  16   a , thus closing the circuit of load R 2 . 
     Page  16   a  connects square  50  of binding  20  to square  58  of page  16   a , and square  60  of page  16   a  to square  52  of binding  20 ; page  16   b  connects square  58  of page  16   a  to square  66  of page  16   b , and square  68  of page  16   b  to square  60  of page  16   a ; page  16   c  connects square  66  of page  16   b  to square  74  of page  16   c , and square  76  of page  16   c  to square  68  of page  16   b , thus closing the circuit of load R 3 . 
     Transmitter  38  transmits the appropriate signal of page  16   c  upon current across load R 3 ; or transmits the appropriate signal of page  16   c  upon current across load R 2 , subject to no current being across R 3 ; or transmits the appropriate signal of page  16   a , upon current across load R 1 , subject to no current being across R 2 ; and so forth. 
     Additional conductive squares may be spread on the cross-sectional area formed by conductive printing. The circuits formed by the pages may be organized by a binary or other logic providing enough combinations for each of the pages of book  14 . 
     In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals have been mentioned:
     numeral  10  denotes a responsive book system according to one embodiment of the present invention;   numeral  12  denotes a doll, as an example of a remote responder, which responds to leafing of a page of the book;   numeral  14  denotes a book;   numerals  16 ,  16   a ,  16   b , and  16   c  denote pages of the book;   numeral  18   c  denotes a mark on one of the pages for detecting that page, and also a magnet which functions as that mark;   numerals  18   a  and  18   b  denote magnets on other pages located in front of  18   c , for improving the detection of mark  18   c;      numeral  20  denotes the binding of the book;   numeral  22  denotes the input/output unit of the remote responder; it may be a loudspeaker as an output unit;   numeral  24  denotes a processing unit;   numeral  26  denotes a receiver;   numeral  28  denotes a control box for communication between the book and a standard display;   numeral  30  denotes a display, which may be a tool for responding to leafing of the pages;   numeral  32  denotes an image in the display instead of a doll;   numeral  34  denotes a storage, for storing pictures, vocal signals, or mechanical movements of the doll;   numeral  36  denotes a zone distinctive to a certain page, the zone including a detectable mark on the page; according to the magnetic embodiment of sensing numeral  36 , it is also a sensor for sensing a page, the sensor described as a resonance circuit;   numeral  38  denotes a transmitter of the book;   numeral  40  denotes a battery of the book;   numeral  42  denotes a zone which is distinctive to another page, the zone including a detectable mark on that page; according to the magnetic embodiment of sensing numeral  42  is also a sensor for sensing that page, the sensor described as a resonance circuit;   numeral  44   a  denotes a mark for marking a page; according to the magnetic embodiment of sensing numeral  44   a  is a magnet;   numeral  48  denotes a signal;   numerals  48   a  and  48   b  denote sub-channels of a stereo signal;   numerals  50 ,  52 ,  54 , and  56  denote electrical contacts on the binding of the book;   numerals  58 ,  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  and  80  denote electrical contacts of the pages of the book, which are, according to the electrical contact embodiment, the marks for detecting the pages;   numeral  82  denotes a resonance circuit; and   numeral  84  denotes a detecting system, for detecting the current page.   

     The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the description above in any form.