Patent Publication Number: US-5841741-A

Title: Automatic seamless branching story-telling apparatus

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&#39;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&#39;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 &#34;BRANCH CODE.&#34; 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, &#34;Branch Type X&#34; 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 &#34;Y&#34; is a random branch to any of the four channels. Branch type &#34;Z&#34; 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 
     
         __________________________________________________________________________
                                    SWITCH                                
Channel 1                                                                 
         Channel 2                                                        
                  Channel 3                                               
                           Channel 4                                      
                                    COMMANDS                              
__________________________________________________________________________
(music up and                                                             
         (music up and                                                    
                  (music up and                                           
                           (music up and                                  
                                    inaudible tones or                    
under)   under)   under)   under)   digital commands                      
                                    embedded in                           
Once upon a time                                                          
         Once upon a time a                                               
                  Once upon a time a                                      
                           Once upon a time a                             
                                    audio on                              
a little girl named                                                       
         little girl named                                                
                  little girl named                                       
                           little girl named                              
                                    Channels 1-4 at                       
Rebecca was taking                                                        
         Rebecca was taking                                               
                  Rebecca was taking                                      
                           Rebecca was taking                             
                                     BRANCH                               
a walk behind her                                                         
         a walk behind her                                                
                  a walk behind her                                       
                           a walk behind her                              
                                    CODE !points                          
house.   house.   house.   house.                                         
 BRANCH CODE!                                                             
          BRANCH CODE!                                                    
                   BRANCH CODE!                                           
                            BRANCH CODE!                                  
                                    Branch Type Y                         
Rebecca was 6                                                             
         Rebecca was 7                                                    
                  Rebecca was 8                                           
                           Rebecca was 9                                  
years old                                                                 
         years old                                                        
                  years old                                               
                           years old                                      
 BRANCH CODE!                                                             
          BRANCH CODE!                                                    
                   BRANCH CODE!                                           
                            BRANCH CODE!                                  
                                    Branch Type X-1                       
and was wearing a                                                         
         and was wearing a                                                
                  and was wearing a                                       
                           and was wearing a                              
yellow dress.                                                             
         pink dress.                                                      
                  polka dot dress                                         
                           white dress.                                   
She walked and                                                            
         She walked and                                                   
                  She walked and                                          
                           She walked and                                 
walked and                                                                
         walked and                                                       
                  walked and                                              
                           walked and                                     
suddenly realized                                                         
         suddenly realized                                                
                  suddenly realized                                       
                           suddenly realized                              
that she was lost in                                                      
         that she was lost in                                             
                  that she was lost in                                    
                           that she was lost in                           
the woods behind                                                          
         the woods behind                                                 
                  the woods behind                                        
                           the woods behind                               
her home. These                                                           
         her home. These                                                  
                  her home. These                                         
                           her home. These                                
were very large                                                           
         were very large                                                  
                  were very large                                         
                           were very large                                
woods and her                                                             
         woods and her                                                    
                  woods and her                                           
                           woods and her                                  
 BRANCH CODE!                                                             
          BRANCH CODE!                                                    
                   BRANCH CODE!                                           
                            BRANCH CODE!                                  
                                    Branch Type Y                         
mother told her                                                           
         father told her                                                  
                  father told her                                         
                           older brother told                             
never to go in there.                                                     
         never to go in there.                                            
                  never to go in                                          
                           her never to go in                             
She walked and                                                            
         She walked and                                                   
                  there. She walked                                       
                           there. She walked                              
walked and became                                                         
         walked and became                                                
                  and walked and                                          
                           and walked and                                 
more and more lost.                                                       
         more and more lost.                                              
                  became more and                                         
                           became more and                                
                  more lost.                                              
                           more lost.                                     
Rebecca jumped                                                            
         Rebecca jumped    Rebecca jumped                                 
when she heard a                                                          
         when she heard a                                                 
                  Rebecca jumped                                          
                           when she heard a                               
large thunder clap                                                        
         large thunder clap                                               
                  when she heard a                                        
                           large thunder clap                             
(thunder sound                                                            
         (thunder sound                                                   
                  large thunder clap                                      
                           (thunder sound                                 
effect). She looked                                                       
         effect). She looked                                              
                  (thunder sound                                          
                           effect). She looked                            
up and saw dark                                                           
         up and saw dark                                                  
                  effect). She looked                                     
                           up and saw dark                                
clouds. Rebecca                                                           
         clouds. Rebecca                                                  
                  up and saw dark                                         
                           clouds. Rebecca                                
knew it was going                                                         
         knew it was going                                                
                  clouds. Rebecca                                         
                           knew it was going                              
to storm soon. She                                                        
         to storm soon. She                                               
                  knew it was going                                       
                           to storm soon. She                             
had to get back                                                           
         had to get back                                                  
                  to storm soon. She                                      
                           had to get back                                
home soon (sound                                                          
         home soon (sound                                                 
                  had to get back                                         
                           home soon (sound                               
effect-more                                                               
         effect-more                                                      
                  home soon(sound                                         
                           effect-more                                    
thunder).                                                                 
         thunder).                                                        
                  effect-more                                             
                           thunder).                                      
                  thunder).                                               
 BRANCH CODE!                                                             
          BRANCH CODE!                                                    
                   BRANCH CODE!                                           
                            BRANCH CODE!                                  
                                    Branch Type X-2                       
Suddenly, she saw a                                                       
         Suddenly, she saw a                                              
                  Suddenly, she saw                                       
                           Suddenly, she saw                              
cute little squirrel.                                                     
         cute little rabbit.                                              
                  a cute little white                                     
                           a cute little owl.                             
                  rabbit. Can you                                         
Can you help me                                                           
         Can you help me                                                  
                  help me get home                                        
                           Can you help me                                
get home Rebecca                                                          
         get home Rebecca                                                 
                  Rebecca asked the                                       
                           get home Rebecca                               
asked the squirrel?                                                       
         asked the rabbit?                                                
                  white rabbit?                                           
                           asked the owl?                                 
&#34;Sure can&#34;said the                                                        
         &#34;Sure can&#34;said the                                               
                  &#34;Sure can&#34;said the                                      
                           &#34;Sure can&#34;said the                             
squirrel(sound                                                            
         rabbit(sound effect                                              
                  white rabbit(sound                                      
                           owl(sound effect                               
effect of thunder                                                         
         of thunder and                                                   
                  effect of thunder                                       
                           of thunder and                                 
and rain). Just then                                                      
         rain). Just then it                                              
                  and rain). Just then                                    
                           rain). Just then it                            
it began to rain and                                                      
         began to rain and                                                
                  it began to rain and                                    
                           began to rain and                              
storm.   storm.   storm.   storm.                                         
 BRANCH CODE!                                                             
          BRANCH CODE!                                                    
                   BRANCH CODE!                                           
                            BRANCH CODE!                                  
                                    Branch Type Z-2                       
The squirrel began                                                        
         The rabbit began to                                              
                  The white rabbit                                        
                           The owl began to                               
to run for a tree but                                                     
         run for a hole but                                               
                  began to run under                                      
                           fly away but yelled                            
yelled back, &#34;go on                                                       
         yelled, &#34;go on                                                   
                  a log but yelled                                        
                           back, &#34;go on                                   
straight until you                                                        
         straight until you                                               
                  back, &#34;go on                                            
                           straight until you                             
come to a big oak                                                         
         come to a big oak                                                
                  straight until you                                      
                           come to a big oak                              
tree 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-3                       
waterfall.                                                                
         babbling brook                                                   
                   BRANCH CODE!                                           
                           broken fence.                                  
                  stream.                                                 
Turn left and that&#39;s                                                      
         Turn left and that&#39;s                                             
                           Turn left and that&#39;s                           
the way out of the                                                        
         the way out of the                                               
                  Turn left and that&#39;s                                    
                           the way out of the                             
woods and back to                                                         
         woods and back to                                                
                  the way out of the                                      
                           woods and back to                              
your home.&#34;(sound                                                         
         your home.&#34;(sound                                                
                  woods and back to                                       
                           your home.&#34;(sound                              
effects rain and                                                          
         effects rain and                                                 
                  your home.&#34;(sound                                       
                           effects rain and                               
wind)    wind)    effects rain and                                        
                           wind)                                          
 BRANCH CODE!                                                             
          BRANCH CODE!                                                    
                   BRANCH CODE!                                           
                            BRANCH CODE!                                  
                                    Branch Type Z-2                       
Rebecca started to                                                        
         Rebecca started to                                               
                  Rebecca started to                                      
                           Rebecca started to                             
go the way the                                                            
         go the way the                                                   
                  go the way the                                          
                           go the way the                                 
squirrel 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. It                            
was getting colder                                                        
         was getting colder                                               
                  She ran and ran. It                                     
                           was getting colder                             
and suddenly she                                                          
         and suddenly she                                                 
                  was getting colder                                      
                           and suddenly she                               
fell and splashed in                                                      
         fell and splashed in                                             
                  and suddenly she                                        
                           fell and splashed in                           
the 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-1                       
Her yellow dress                                                          
         Her pink dress was                                               
                  Her polka dot dress                                     
                           Her white dress                                
was ruined                                                                
         ruined   was ruined                                              
                           was ruined                                     
but she wanted to                                                         
         but she wanted to                                                
                  but she wanted to                                       
                           but she wanted to                              
get home so she got                                                       
         get home so she got                                              
                  get home so she got                                     
                           get home so she got                            
up and kept                                                               
         up and kept                                                      
                  up and kept                                             
                           up and kept                                    
running. running. running. running.                                       
 BRANCH CODE!                                                             
          BRANCH CODE!                                                    
                   BRANCH CODE!                                           
                            BRANCH CODE!                                  
                                    Branch Type Z-3                       
Finally she got to                                                        
         Finally she got to                                               
                  Finally she got to                                      
                           Finally she got to                             
the big oak tree                                                          
         the big oak tree                                                 
                  the big oak tree                                        
                           the big oak tree                               
near the waterfall                                                        
         near the babbling                                                
                  near the stream.                                        
                           near the broken                                
         brook.            fence.                                         
 BRANCH CODE!                                                             
          BRANCH CODE!                                                    
                   BRANCH CODE!                                           
                            BRANCH CODE!                                  
                                    Branch Type X-4                       
She turned left                                                           
         She turned left                                                  
                  She turned right                                        
                           She turned right                               
 BRANCH CODE!                                                             
          BRANCH CODE!                                                    
                   BRANCH CODE!                                           
                            BRANCH CODE!                                  
                                    Branch Type Z-2                       
as the squirrel had                                                       
         as the rabbit had                                                
                  as the white rabbit                                     
                           as the owl had said                            
said     said     had said                                                
 BRANCH CODE!                                                             
          BRANCH CODE!                                                    
                   BRANCH CODE!                                           
                            BRANCH CODE!                                  
                                    Branch Type Z-4                       
and finally came to                                                       
         and finally came to                                              
                  and she got more                                        
                           and she got more                               
the path that led her                                                     
         the path that led her                                            
                  and more lost. Had                                      
                           and more lost. Had                             
back home out of                                                          
         back home out of                                                 
                  she made a                                              
                           she made a                                     
the woods and                                                             
         the woods and                                                    
                  mistake? She                                            
                           mistake? She                                   
Rebecca lived                                                             
         Rebecca lived                                                    
                  walked and walked                                       
                           walked and walked                              
happily 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 &#34;Replay&#34; 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 &#34;Replay&#34; function is not used, any appropriate type of memory may be employed. For this example, &#34;SFX&#34; denotes a special effect. Accordingly, SFX A denotes a different sound effect than SFX B. &#34;MUSIC&#34; 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. &#34;Branch Type X&#34; 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 &#34;Y&#34; is a random branch to any of the three channels. Branch type &#34;Z&#34; 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 ID                                  
Once upon a time, a                                                       
           Once upon a time, a                                            
                      Once upon a time, a                                 
                                 Branch type X-1                          
young boy named Joey                                                      
           young boy named John                                           
                      young boy named Mike                                
was playing at the                                                        
           was playing at the                                             
                      was playing at the                                  
beach. It was hot and a                                                   
           beach. It was hot and a                                        
                      beach. It was hot and a                             
very nice day. Joey                                                       
           very nice day. John                                            
                      very nice day. Mike                                 
went down to the ocean                                                    
           went down to the ocean                                         
                      went down to the ocean                              
to get a pail of water for                                                
           to get a pail of water for                                     
                      to get a pail of water for                          
a very big castle he was                                                  
           a sand castle he was                                           
                      a big sand castle he was                            
building. Suddenly, just                                                  
           building. Suddenly, just                                       
                      building. Suddenly, just                            
under the pier, Joey                                                      
           under the pier, John                                           
                      under the pier, Mike                                
noticed a bottle that had                                                 
           noticed a bottle that had                                      
                      noticed a bottle that had                           
washed up on to the                                                       
           washed up on to the                                            
                      washed up on to the                                 
beach. Joey picked up                                                     
           beach. John picked up                                          
                      beach. Mike picked up                               
the bottle and rubbed all                                                 
           the bottle and rubbed all                                      
                      the bottle and rubbed all                           
the sand off the bottle.                                                  
           the sand off the bottle.                                       
                      the sand off the bottle.                            
                                 Branch type Y                            
Suddenly red smoke                                                        
           Suddenly blue smoke                                            
                      Suddenly white smoke                                
came out of the bottle                                                    
           came out of the bottle                                         
                      came out of the bottle                              
and surrounded                                                            
           and surrounded                                                 
                      and surrounded                                      
Joey.      John.      Mike.      Branch type Z-1                          
(SFX A)    (SFX B)    (SFX C).   Branch type Y (for                       
                                 SFX)                                     
&#34;Thank you for setting                                                    
           &#34;Thank you for setting                                         
                      &#34;Thank you for setting                              
                                 Branch type Z-1                          
me free&#34; came a voice                                                     
           me free&#34; came a voice                                          
                      me free&#34; came a voice                               
from the smoke. &#34;Who                                                      
           from the smoke. &#34;Who                                           
                      from the smoke. &#34;Who                                
are you asked Joey?                                                       
           are you asked John?                                            
                      are you asked Mike?                                 
&#34;I am the Genie of the                                                    
           &#34;I am the Genie of the                                         
                      &#34;I am the Genie of the                              
                                 Branch type Y                            
bottle. I&#39;ve been in that                                                 
           bottle. I have been in                                         
                      bottle. I have been in                              
bottle for 1000 years                                                     
           that bottle for 100 years                                      
                      that bottle for 500 years                           
and you set me free.                                                      
           and you set me free&#34;.                                          
                      and you set me free:.                               
And now I can grant                                                       
           And now I can grant                                            
                      And now I can grant                                 
you three wishes. Any                                                     
           you three wishes. Any                                          
                      you three wishes. Any                               
three wishes you desire                                                   
           three wishes you desire                                        
                      three wishes you desire                             
you shall have. What is                                                   
           you shall have. What is                                        
                      you shall have. What is                             
your first wish?&#34;                                                         
           your first wish&#34;?.                                             
                      your first wish&#34;?.                                  
Three wishes thought                                                      
           Three wishes thought                                           
                      Three wishes thought                                
                                 Branch type Z-1                          
Joey. He could have                                                       
           John. He could have                                            
                      Mike. He could have                                 
candy, a big screen TV                                                    
           Toys, a color TV in his                                        
                      candy, a big screen TV                              
in his room. be a famous                                                  
           room, be a famous TV                                           
                      in his room, be a famous                            
movie star. or even have                                                  
           star, or even have no                                          
                      rock star, or even end                              
no more school| How                                                       
           more school| How                                               
                      school forever| How                                 
could he ever decide|                                                     
           could any little boy                                           
                      could such a little boy                             
Finally Joey decided                                                      
           ever decide| Finally                                           
                      ever decide| Finally                                
what he wanted for his                                                    
           John decided what he                                           
                      Mike decided what he                                
first wish.                                                               
           wanted for his first wish                                      
                      wanted for his first wish                           
&#34;I want no more school                                                    
           &#34;I want hundreds of new                                        
                      &#34;I want the biggest TV                              
ever&#34;, yelled Joey. And                                                   
           toys&#34; John said. And                                           
                      ever made&#34; said Mike&#34;.                              
the Genie said &#34;Your                                                      
           the Genie said &#34;your                                           
                      And the Genie said                                  
wish is my command. I                                                     
           wish is my command. I                                          
                      &#34;your wish is my                                    
will grant your wish.                                                     
           will grant your wish.&#34;                                         
                      command. I will grant                               
                      your wish.&#34;                                         
(SFX D)    (SFX E)    (SFX F)    Branch type Y                            
Suddenly it was                                                           
           Suddenly John was                                              
                      Suddenly, Mike was                                  
                                 Branch type Z-1                          
Monday morning and                                                        
           home surrounded by                                             
                      home in his room and                                
Joey jumped out of bed                                                    
           every toy he ever                                              
                      right in front of him was                           
only 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 and                               
could read, play video                                                    
           one. He had more toys                                          
                      sat down to watch. He                               
games, eat, do anything                                                   
           than any kid on Earth.                                         
                      watched and watched.                                
he wanted to do. It was                                                   
           He played with Elmo,                                           
                      He watched every                                    
so much fun. He                                                           
           Big Bird, Nintendo. He                                         
                      channel he could find.                              
watched TV all day                                                        
           played darts, cards, and                                       
                      After that he watched                               
Tuesday, played video                                                     
           even drove an electric                                         
                      every channel again. He                             
games on Wednesday,                                                       
           car. He played every                                           
                      watched every minute                                
took a long walk on                                                       
           minute he could. All                                           
                      he could. He even                                   
Thursday and watched                                                      
           week. Even the next                                            
                      watched late into the                               
TV again on Friday.                                                       
           week       night.                                              
After one more week of                                                    
           After yet another week                                         
                      After yet another week                              
this, Joey was getting                                                    
           of playing with all these                                      
                      of watching TV, Mike                                
very bored and asked                                                      
           toys, John was getting                                         
                      was getting bored and                               
the Genie for his second                                                  
           bored and tired so he                                          
                      cross-eyed so he asked                              
wish. &#34;What do you                                                        
           asked the Genie for his                                        
                      the Genie for his second                            
want&#34; asked the Genie.                                                    
           second wish. &#34;What do                                          
                      wish. &#34;What do you                                  
           you want&#34; asked the                                            
                      want asked the Genie&#34;                               
           Genie.                                                         
(Music D in)                                                              
           (Music E in)                                                   
                      (Music F in)                                        
                                 Branch type Y                            
&#34;I want my second wish                                                    
           &#34;I want my second wish                                         
                      &#34;I want my second wish                              
now&#34; said the boy. And                                                    
           now&#34; said the boy. And                                         
                      now&#34; said the boy. And                              
the Genie said &#34;your                                                      
           the Genie said &#34;your                                           
                      the Genie said &#34;your                                
wish is my command. I                                                     
           wish is my command. I                                          
                      wish is my command. I                               
will grant your second                                                    
           will grant your second                                         
                      will grant your second                              
wish. What is                                                             
           wish. What is it?&#34;                                             
                      wish. What is it?&#34;                                  
it?&#34;(Music D out)                                                         
           (Music E out)                                                  
                      (Music F out)                                       
Joey said &#34;I want candy,                                                  
           John said&#34; I want candy,                                       
                      Mike said&#34; I want                                   
                                 Branch type Z-1                          
hot dogs, and all the                                                     
           hot dogs, and all the                                          
                      candy, hot dogs, and all                            
soda I can drink.&#34;                                                        
           soda I can drink.&#39;                                             
                      the soda I can drink.&#34;                              
&#34;Easy&#34;, said the Genie                                                    
           &#34;Easy&#34;, said the Genie                                         
                      &#34;Easy&#34;, said the Genie                              
and suddenly the room                                                     
           and suddenly the room                                          
                      and suddenly the room                               
was filled with                                                           
           was filled with                                                
                      was filled with                                     
chocolate. chocolate. chocolate.                                          
cup cakes, jelly beans,                                                   
           cup cakes, jelly beans,                                        
                      cup cakes, jelly beans,                             
M&amp;Ms, ice cream,                                                          
           M&amp;Ms, ice cream,                                               
                      M&amp;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 cream                                  
sodas 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 Y                            
delicious food in his                                                     
           delicious food in his                                          
                      delicious food in his                               
life| He ate a hot dog,                                                   
           life| He ate                                                   
                      life| He ate a hot dog,                             
washed it down with                                                       
           hamburgers, washed it                                          
                      washed it down with                                 
coca cola, had the                                                        
           down with soda, had the                                        
                      Seven-up had an ice                                 
banana split for dessert,                                                 
           banana split for dessert,                                      
                      cream sundae for                                    
and had a cup cakes just                                                  
           and had two cup cakes                                          
                      dessert and had three                               
for 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-1                          
Joey began to get a                                                       
           John began to get a                                            
                      Mike began to get a                                 
stomach ache. It was a                                                    
           stomach ache. It was a                                         
                      stomach ache. It was a                              
bad one. He had cramps                                                    
           bad one. He had cramps                                         
                      bad one. He had cramps                              
and everything. He                                                        
           and everything. He                                             
                      and everything. He                                  
realized he had eaten                                                     
           realized he had eaten                                          
                      realized he had eaten                               
much too much. He                                                         
           much too much. He                                              
                      much too much. He                                   
called for the Genie                                                      
           called for the Genie                                           
                      called for the Genie                                
again.     again.     again.                                              
(Music H in)                                                              
           (Music I in)                                                   
                      (Music J in)                                        
                                 Branch type Y                            
The Genie appeared and                                                    
           The Genie appeared and                                         
                      The Genie appeared and                              
said. &#34;Your wish is my                                                    
           said. &#34;Your wish is my                                         
                      said, &#34;Your wish is my                              
command. Are you                                                          
           command. Are you                                               
                      command. Are you                                    
ready for your third                                                      
           ready for your third                                           
                      ready for your third                                
wish?      wish?      wish?                                               
(Music H OUT)                                                             
           (Music I OUT)                                                  
                      (Music J OUT)                                       
Joey thought and                                                          
           John thought and                                               
                      Mike thought and                                    
                                 Branch type Z-1                          
thought. And finally                                                      
           thought. And finally                                           
                      thought. And finally                                
said, &#34;yes I am. I am                                                     
           said, &#34;yes I am. I am                                          
                      said, &#34;yes I am. I am                               
ready for my third                                                        
           ready for my third                                             
                      ready for my third                                  
wish.&#34; &#34;Well what is it&#34;                                                  
           wish.&#34; &#34;Well what is it&#34;                                       
                      wish.&#34; &#34;Well what is it&#34;                            
said the Genie. &#34;I am                                                     
           said the Genie: &#34;I am                                          
                      said the Genie. &#34;I am                               
here and I will grant you                                                 
           here and I will grant you                                      
                      here and I will grant you                           
your final wish.&#34;                                                         
           your final wish.&#34;                                              
                      your final wish.&#34;                                   
Joey said, &#34;for my final                                                  
           John said, &#34;for my final                                       
                      Mike said &#34;for my final                             
wish just make                                                            
           wish, just make                                                
                      wish I want money, lots                             
everything the way it                                                     
           everything the way it                                          
                      and lots of money&#34;                                  
was before I even met                                                     
           was before I even met                                          
                      &#34;Your wish is my                                    
you. I&#39;m lonely. I have                                                   
           you. I&#39;m lonely. I have                                        
                      command&#34; said the                                   
a stomach ache and I                                                      
           a stomach ache and I                                           
                      Genie                                               
kind       kind                                                           
of miss my friends and                                                    
           Miss my friends a lot,                                         
                      And suddenly Mike was                               
teachers at school.                                                       
           Toys are great and                                             
                      surrounded by piles and                             
I appreciate everything                                                   
           everything but too much                                        
                      piles of money. Mike                                
you&#39;ve done but I guess                                                   
           is no good. So please                                          
                      sat there and started to                            
I was better off before.                                                  
           return my life to the way                                      
                      count all his money. He                             
So please return my life                                                  
           it was before I met you.                                       
                      thought about his three                             
to the way it was before                                                  
                      wishes and how happy                                
I met you.            he thought he&#39;d be but                              
                      for now he was just                                 
                      sitting there counting                              
                      money.                                              
&#34;So it shall be done&#34;                                                     
           &#34;So it shall be done&#34;                                          
                      Suddenly the phone                                  
said the Genie and in a                                                   
           said the Genie and in a                                        
                      rang. It was his friend                             
puff of smoke and a bolt                                                  
           thunderous clap of his                                         
                      Shawn asking to come                                
of lightening. Joey was                                                   
           hands, John was back at                                        
                      over so they could play.                            
back at the beach and                                                     
           the beach and the magic                                        
the 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&#39;s ears, etc. Switch 28 is preferably a momentary switch that is labeled &#34;Freeze&#34;, &#34;Replay&#34;, 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.