Application (pre-grant publication)
LOCALIZED AND STANDALONE SEMI-RANDOMIZED CHARACTER CONVERSATIONS
- Number
- 20200122046
- Published
- 2020-04-23
- Filed
- 2018-10-22
- Assignee
- Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors
- NOCON; Nathan D., THORNTON; Stephen A., PANEC; Timothy M.
- CPC
- G06F16/683; H04W4/023; G10L21/007; A63H3/28; G10L21/003
- Verdict
- High Hardware
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
The keeper's note
Interactive toy figure with semi-randomized character conversations.
Abstract
Techniques for randomized device interaction are provided. A first communication pattern is selected, with at least a degree of randomness, from a plurality of communication patterns, where each of the plurality of communication patterns specifies one or more audio profiles. A first audio profile specified in the first communication pattern is identified. A first portion of audio is extracted from a first audio file with at least a degree of randomness, and the first portion of audio is modified based on the first audio profile. Finally, the first modified portion of audio is outputted by a first device.
Background
BACKGROUNDField of the Invention
The present disclosure generally relates to semi-randomized toy interactivity, and more specifically, to use of audio manipulation to enable increased interactivity.Description of the Related Art
Toys and characters often have prerecorded phrases or audio effects that can be played to increase the immersion for users who interact with the character. For example, some toys have pull strings, push buttons, and the like that triggers one or more prerecorded sound effects. Typically, these sounds are recorded using voice actors or complex audio mixing, which increases the costs of the toy or character. Further, the restricted set of phrases or sounds that the device is capable of outputting can drastically limit interactivity and immersion for users interacting with the device. Additionally, devices cannot readily interact with each other, unless multiple conversational scripts are prepared and recorded by voice actors, which significantly increases costs of producing the devices. Moreover, even these more complex interactions are limited by the scripted and prerecorded content, which prevents the devices from becoming truly interactive or immersive.SUMMARY
According to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, a method is provided. The method includes selecting, with at least a degree of randomness, a first communication pattern from a plurality of communication patterns, wherein each of the plurality of communication patter