- Number
- 9833698
- Published
- 2017-12-05
- Filed
- 2013-09-13
- Assignee
- Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors
- Haseltine; Eric Charles, Garlington; Joseph OBrien, Leung; Theodore Wei-Yun, Muhlheim; Eric Wilson, Schlumberger; Gabriel Sebastian
- CPC
- G11B27/34; A63F13/327; G11B27/105; A63F13/47; A63F13/42; A63F13/53; G11B27/034; A63F13/65; A63F13/537; A63F13/40; A63F13/50; A63F13/45
- Verdict
- High Notable software
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
The keeper's note
Coordinates a group of physical storytelling toy devices so each performs context-appropriate actions in response to story stimulus events, for an immersive multi-device storytelling experience (granted version).
Abstract
Techniques for providing an immersive storytelling experience using a plurality of storytelling devices. Each of the storytelling devices may be configured to perform one or more actions based on a current context of a story and in response to a stimulus event. The actions include at least one of an auditory and a visual effect. Embodiments also provide a controller device configured to manage a playback of the story, by adjusting the stimulus event and the effect of each of the plurality of storytelling devices, based on the current context of the story, thereby creating an interactive and immersive storytelling experience.
Background
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS(1) So that the manner in which the above recited aspects are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of embodiments of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the appended drawings.(2) It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting ofits scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.(3) FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a storytelling environment including a plurality of storytelling devices, according to one embodiment described herein.(4) FIG. 2 is a use case illustrating a plurality of storytelling devices interacting with each other to playback a story, according to one embodiment described herein.(5) FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustratingan interaction between storytelling devices and a controller device, according to one embodiment described herein.(6) FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating determining a pluralityof storytelling devices, according to one embodiment described herein.(7) FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating mapping a story onto a plurality of storytelling devices, accordingto one embodiment described herein.(8) FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a storytelling device, according to one embodiment described herein.(9) FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a controller device, according to one embodiment described her
Claims
1. A system, comprising: a plurality of storytelling devices, each comprising an electronic device configured to produce an effect based on a current context of a story in response to detecting an occurrence of a stimulus event, wherein the effect is at least one of anauditory and a visual effect, and wherein at least one of the respective stimulus events for each of the plurality of storytelling devices comprises detecting performance of a user action by a first user in a physical environment in which the plurality of storytelling devices and the first user are located; and a controller device configured to: determine that the plurality of storytelling devices are present in the physical environment and are available and compatible with the story, through wireless communication with each of the plurality of storytelling devices; manage a playback of the story within the physical environment, by transmitting one or more instructions to each of the plurality of storytelling devices to adjust the stimulus event and the effect of each of the plurality of storytelling devices, based on the current context of the story; during the playback of the story, determine that a first one of the plurality of storytelling devices has become unavailable for the story and adjust the playback of the story within the physical environment, by transmitting one or more instructions to each of a second plurality of storytelling devices, non-inclusive of the first storytelling device, to update the stimulus event and the effect of each of the second plurality of storytelling devices, based on an updated context of the story, wherein the controller device is further configured to: during the playback of the story, determine that a second storytelling device, distinct from the storytelling devices in the plurality of storytelling devices is present within the physical environment and is currently available and compatible with the story, wherein the second storytelling device was not available when the controller device determined that the plurality of storytelling devices were present in the physical environment and were available and compatible with the story; and adjusting the playback of the story within the physical environment, by transmitting one or more instructions to each of a third plurality of storytelling devices, non-inclusive of the first storytelling device and inclusive of the second storytelling device, to update the stimulus event and the effect of each of the second plurality of storytelling devices, based on an updated context of the story, wherein at least one of thestimulus event and the effects is reassigned from the first storytelling device to the second storytelling device.
18. A method, comprising: providing a plurality of storytelling devices, each comprising an electronic device configured to produce an effect based on a current context of a story in response to a stimulus event, wherein the effect is at least one of an auditory and a visual effect, and wherein at least one of the respective stimulus events for each of the plurality of storytelling devices comprises detecting performanceof a user action by a first user in a physical environment in which the plurality of storytelling devices and the first user are located; determining that the plurality of storytelling devices are present in the physical environment and are available and compatible with the story, through wireless communication with each of the plurality of storytelling devices; transmitting one or more instructions to each of the plurality of storytelling devices to manage a playback of the story within the physical environment, by adjusting the stimulus event and the effect of each of the plurality of storytelling devices, based on the current context of the story; during the playback of the story, determining that a first one of the plurality of storytelling devices has become unavailable for the story and adjusting the playback of the story within the physical environment, by transmitting one or more instructions to each of a second plurality of storytelling devices, non-inclusive of thefirst storytelling device, to update the stimulus event and the effect of each of the second plurality of storytelling devices, based on an updated context of the story, during the playback of the story, determining that a second storytelling device, distinct from the storytelling devices in the plurality of storytelling devices is present within the physical environment and is currently available and compatible with the story, wherein the second storytelling device was not available when the controller device determined that the plurality of storytelling devices were present in the physical environment and were availableand compatible with the story; and adjusting the playback of the story within the physical environment, by transmitting one or more instructions to each of a third plurality of storytelling devices, non-inclusive of the first storytelling device and inclusive of the second storytelling device, to update the stimulus event and the effect of each of the second plurality of storytelling devices, based on an updated context of the story, wherein at least one of the stimulus event and the effects is reassigned from the first storytelling device to the second storytelling device.
19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer program code that, when executed, performs an operation comprising: providing a plurality of storytelling devices, each comprising an electronic device configuredto produce an effect based on a current context of a story in response to a stimulus event, wherein the effect is at least one of an auditory and a visual effect, and wherein at least one of the respective stimulus events for each of the plurality of storytelling devices comprises detecting performance of a user action by a first user in a physical environment in which the plurality of storytelling devices and the first user are located; determining that the plurality of storytelling devices are present in the physical environment and are available and compatible with the story, through wireless communication with each ofthe plurality of storytelling devices; transmitting one or more instructions to each of the plurality of storytelling devices to manage a playback of the story within the physicalenvironment, by adjusting the stimulus event and the effect of each of the plurality of storytelling devices, based on the current context of the story; and during the playback ofthe story: determining that a first one of the plurality of storytelling devices has become unavailable for the story; determining that a second storytelling device, distinct fromthe storytelling devices in the plurality of storytelling devices is present within the physical environment and is currently available and compatible with the story; and adjusting the playback of the story within the physical environment, by transmitting one or more instructions to each of a second plurality of storytelling devices, non-inclusive of the first storytelling device and inclusive of the second storytelling device, to update the stimulus event and the effect of each of the second plurality of storytelling devices, based on an updated context of the story, during the playback of the story, determining that a second storytelling device, distinct from the storytelling devices in the plurality of storytelling devices is present within the physical environment and is currently available andcompatible with the story, wherein the second storytelling device was not available when the controller device determined that the plurality of storytelling devices were present in the physical environment and were available and compatible with the story; and adjustingthe playback of the story within the physical environment, by transmitting one or more instructions to each of a third plurality of storytelling devices, non-inclusive of the first storytelling device and inclusive of the second storytelling device, to update the stimulus event and the effect of each of the second plurality of storytelling devices, based onan updated context of the story, wherein at least one of the stimulus event and the effects is reassigned from the first storytelling device to the second storytelling device.