Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
434317000 | Visual information in book form | 44 |
20080254427 | Talking Memory Book - The talking memory book has front and rear covers, a plurality of pages bound between the covers, and an audio system and audio system control panel, preferably mounted in the rear cover, for recording and playing back a recorded message. The audio system control panel includes electrical switches connected to the control circuit for triggering the audio system to record or play back a message associated with the at least one page. The audio system can also be configured as a digital audio system to accept downloaded audio files. | 10-16-2008 |
20080254428 | INTERACTIVE ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH OPTICAL PAGE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM - An electronic learning device for receiving a book having a plurality of successive page spreads, at least one page spread having selectable content and an optically readable page identifier. The device includes a housing configured to receive the book, a position sensor in the housing configured to determine the location of the selectable content on the at least one page spread, an optical sensor in the housing configured to irradiate and detect the page identifier on the at least one page spread and control electronics in the housing operatively coupled to the optical sensor and to the position sensor and configured to synchronize operation of the position sensor and the optical sensor. | 10-16-2008 |
20080268415 | AUDIO BOOK - An audio book comprising: a plurality of leaves with an inductively-powered transponder fastened to each leaf, each transponder having a unique code, one or both of the pages of each leaf bearing printed matter; a power source mounted in the book; an processor connected to the power source and having audio related to the printed matter; and a page sensing circuit including: a reader coil for magnetically inducing an electrical current for powering the transponders; and a receiver connected to the processor for receiving the unique codes from the transponders, wherein the audio related to the matter printed on any one of the pages which is opened is played by the processor according to the unique codes received by the receiver. | 10-30-2008 |
20080268416 | Apparatus and methods for an interactive electronic book system - Apparatus and methods are provided relating to delivering audio content for an interactive electronic book system, including a book with a plurality of pages with overlaying magnets affixed thereto, a magnetic sensor, a temperature sensor, a speaker, a computer with calibration and temperature compensation data stored in non-volatile memory, and audio content related to the pages of the book, such that the computer determines which page the book is open to and causes the speaker to deliver audio content related to the open page. Apparatus and methods are provided for calibrating an electronic book system including temperature compensation steps. | 10-30-2008 |
20080318196 | DAL self service school library - DAL education system, support education and teaching students in the third world. The DAL Education system is comprised of three systems/I, II, III/, to fit the request and the affordable schools need at the third word countries. The first DAL Education system/I/use kiosk self-service DAL e-library with DAL e-Book reader to be read throw domestic TV screen, the second DAL Education system/II/use, DAL Library keeper special software with DAL e-Book reader to be read throw domestic TV screen, the third DAL Education system/III/use, small cheap self-service DAL e-Magazine or monthly Author e-book library, with DAL e-Book reader to be read throw domestic TV screen. The DAL EDU. System made the e-book reading cheap easy and affordable to the third world students, this will support and increase the quality education to make the standard living third world people much better, as learning is the key to success in life. | 12-25-2008 |
20090047647 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BOOK PRESENTATION - An electronic book and method of use thereof for reading instruction and entertainment are disclosed, wherein a narration of the story contained in the book may be recorded for subsequent playback during use of the book for reading instruction or entertainment. | 02-19-2009 |
20090104590 | INTERACTIVE BOOK SYSTEM BASED ON ULTRASONIC POSITION DETERMINATION - In an interactive system for interacting with a printed material having at least a visual icon associated with predetermined response data, there is an ultrasonic pointing unit positionable over the at least one visual icon and arranged for generating ultrasonic wave. An ultrasonic positioning base unit is arranged for receiving the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic pointing unit and determining a position of the ultrasonic pointing unit based on the received ultrasonic wave. A is arranged for locating, in a data storage, the response data corresponding to the visual icon according to the position of the ultrasonic pointing unit. A response unit is arranged for outputting the response data. | 04-23-2009 |
20090117528 | Hybrid reading materials and methods for mentally investing readers in reading materials - Hybrid reading materials and methods for mentally investing readers in reading materials. Hybrid reading materials include text reciting written subject matter adapted to be read visually and an audio source operatively coupled to the text, the audio source including a memory device configured to store spoken presentation data, the spoken presentation data supplementing the text and being distinct from the written subject matter. Methods for mentally investing a reader in a reading material include providing a reader with a summary document which summarizes aspects of the reading material and providing the reader with a spoken presentation of subject matter related to the reading material. | 05-07-2009 |
20090191531 | Method and Apparatus for Integrating Audio and/or Video With a Book - The subject invention relates to a method and apparatus for synchronization of sensory stimulation with the reading experience. In a specific embodiment, audio and/or video stimulation can be provided to a reader. In additional embodiments, the sensory stimulation can include touch, smell, and/or taste. The reading experience can include, for example, the reading of books, magazines, textbooks, telephone directories, maps, resumes, brochures, newspapers, or other forms of written or printed materials, which can include, but are not limited to, words, photographs, illustrations, drawings, cartoons, and braille. The synchronization of sensory stimulation with the reading experience can involve providing sensory stimulation in relation to a reader's location or approximate location with respect to written or printed materials. In addition to sensory stimulation, other forms of interaction can be provided, such as interactive games, or interactive tests. A specific embodiment relates to a method and apparatus for synchronizing audio and/or video to a book as it is read. | 07-30-2009 |
20090220928 | ARTICLE WITH CIRCUIT ACTUATING CAPABILITY - An article with circuit actuating capability includes a first article part, a second article part formed with a pocket and linked to the first article part such that the first and second article parts being movable relative to each other, the pocket having an access opening, and a circuit built in the pocket in the second article part and accessible through the access opening of the pocket for controlling circuit states of the circuit. | 09-03-2009 |
20090280461 | Interactive Book with Detection of Lifted Flaps - An interactive system for providing multimedia data in response to interaction with lift-the-flap elements. The system may include a housing which forms a substantially planar surface configured to support at least one printed media sheet. The printed sheet may include at least one lift-the-flap element. The system may further include a playback device configured to provide multimedia data relating to the lift-the-flap element. The system may include a detector which is configured to detect a position of the lift-the-flap element and provide position information. The system may further include a processing unit configured to cause playback of the multimedia data via the playback device based on the position information provided by the detector. | 11-12-2009 |
20090298036 | Replacing Physical Publication Appendices With Enhanced Electronic Versions - Embodiments are directed to a system that allows publishers to publish bibliographic data, reference data, and/or author notes of non-fiction materials (e.g. books, journals, etc.) on an Internet web site with a formal structure rather than in paper form. Bibliographic references and author notes are stored in a computer database, and presented to end users through web pages in such a manner that references can be displayed alongside digital images of the physical pages that they originated from, with hypertext links to digital files representing the author's original sources, as appropriate. A method comprises providing a printed component of a book including a page containing a reference to a network site providing access to an electronic component of the book, displaying at least a portion of the electronic component of the book upon user access to the network site, wherein the display includes a portion of the text of the book and one or more links available in that portion, and requesting authentication of the user to provide evidence of authorized use of the book. | 12-03-2009 |
20090298037 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING A PAGE OF A PLURALITY OF PAGES, AND RELAYING THE IDENTITY OF THE PAGE TO A COMPUTER | 12-03-2009 |
20100028843 | SPEECH ACTIVATED SOUND EFFECTS BOOK - A speech activated book having a cover disposed to receive an elongated housing. The speech-activated book could also include at least one page disposed along a portion of a binding area of the book. The page includes text having at least one trigger word. The speech-activated book could also include an audio circuit that, in response to detecting an audible representation of the trigger word, could provide an associated sound effect stored in memory. The elongated housing could be secured to the cover by at least one of: glue, an adhesive, a heat-set binding, a screw, a tab, a wire, a spiral connector, a rivet, a staple, a fastener, and a retainer. | 02-04-2010 |
20100129782 | ELECTRONIC BOOK WITH ENHANCED FEATURES - An electronic book with opposed displays facing each other on a foldable housing can present book text on each page in portrait mode. Upon receipt of a mode change signal caused by, for example, the user rotating the book 90°, the lower display can display an image of a keyboard and/or text in landscape mode while the upper display can present text in landscape mode. The keyboard image may be for a user-selected language. | 05-27-2010 |
20100216108 | AUDIOVISUAL RECORD OF A USER READING A BOOK ALOUD FOR PLAYBACK WITH A VIRTUAL BOOK - An audiovisual recording of a user reading a book aloud is generated for playback with a virtual book. A book reading user interface presents a virtual book concurrently with a current image of the user. The virtual book may be presented based at least in part on an aspect ratio of the virtual book. As the user reads the virtual book aloud, an audiovisual recording of the user is generated. In addition, synchronization information is recorded that enables the audiovisual recording to be synchronized with the presentation of pages of the virtual book during playback. The generated audiovisual recording is stored in a database and may be played back to a recipient on demand. | 08-26-2010 |
20100291526 | HOUSING WITH CONTAINED THEREIN A STACK OF SHEETS - An interactive photo album has an RFID transceiver in one half of a cover. In or on each page of the photo album there is a unique RFID tag. The RFID transceiver can detect the RFID tags in the stack of pages on top of it. A processor on the cover can determine, based on this detection, at what page the album is laid open. The processor plays a sound fragment from a memory on a loudspeaker that corresponds to the page laid open is played back. In addition, a microphone or microphone terminal are provided for recording sound fragments with each page. | 11-18-2010 |
20110059426 | Book - A book for displaying images and playing associated audio content. The book comprises a plurality of leaves defining pages of the book. A plurality of pairs of transmitters and receivers are arranged on the leaves, so that a plurality of the leaves each has a transmitter and a plurality of the leaves each has a receiver. Capacitance coupling between a transmitter and its paired receiver depends upon whether a page of the book is open. The book has a controller configured to provide pulsed signals to the transmitters and receive signals from the receivers. In addition the book has memory for audio content and an audio playback device. The controller is configured to identify any open page of the book by comparing signals received by the receivers from the transmitters to a threshold value. If only one page is open, the controller identifies associated audio content relevant to the open page from audio stored in the memory and identified audio is played on the audio playback device. | 03-10-2011 |
20110111382 | RESPONSIVE BOOK SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFOR - In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a responsive book system comprising: a book comprising a detecting system, for detecting a current page from a plurality of detectable pages of the book (i.e., the opened page); a storage, for storing content associated with each of the detectable pages; and one or more remote responders, for playing and/or displaying the content associated with the current page. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a responsive book method comprising the steps of: detecting the current page in a book from a plurality of pages; and playing and/or displaying, by a remote responder, content associated with the current page. | 05-12-2011 |
20110165549 | CHILDREN'S STORY AUDIO/VIDEO PLAYING DEVICE - A children's story audio/video playing device includes a playing device body having a main board, a display device, a speaker, an audio receiver, a user operating device, at least one connector and power supply, and the main board includes a central processing unit, a display engine, an audio processing unit, a general purpose I/O; a USB host, a memory card controller, a power management controller, a network controller, a direct memory access unit, a program storage unit, a real time clock unit, and a memory controller, such that the children's story audio/video playing device can play words, pictures, animation images and sounds and allow users to record the played audio content. | 07-07-2011 |
20110177481 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH MEDIA FUNCTION AND METHOD - An electronic device switches between an electronic book reading mode and an audio book playback mode in a manner that is convenient and intuitive to the user. The electronic device stores an electronic work that contains a text version and an audio version of written material. The position in an active one of the text version or the audio version is matched against a corresponding position in the other one of the text version or the audio version. The user may indicate to the electronic device to switch modes. In that case, if the text version was active, playback of the audio version may commence from a point at which the user stopped reading the text version. Similarly, if the audio version was active, the text version may be displayed at the point where playback stopped. | 07-21-2011 |
20110195388 | DYNAMIC AUDIO PLAYBACK OF SOUNDTRACKS FOR ELECTRONIC VISUAL WORKS - An electronic book is provided with a soundtrack, to which a reader can listen while reading the electronic book. The soundtrack accompanies and enhances the reading experience, in which readers generally have images in their minds based on the story or other visual media that is part of the electronic book. Playback of the soundtrack is synchronized with the visual display of the electronic book. Audio cues are associated with different points in the text and these cues are dynamically played back in synchronization with the visual display of the electronic book based on the interaction of the user with the electronic book. The dynamic playback involves editing and playing an audio cue so that it has a duration that is based on a prediction of the duration of the portion of the electronic book with which the cue is synchronized. When the system starts playing an audio cue, it predicts when the next audio cue should start. The current cue is played for predicted duration and a transition to the next audio cue is initiated at an appropriate time. | 08-11-2011 |
20110212429 | PRINTED ARTICLE - Apparatus comprise a printed article ( | 09-01-2011 |
20110236869 | INTERACTIVE ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH OPTICAL PAGE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM - An electronic learning device for receiving a book having a plurality of successive page spreads, at least one page spread having selectable content and an optically readable page identifier. The device includes a housing configured to receive the book, a position sensor in the housing configured to determine the location of the selectable content on the at least one page spread, an optical sensor in the housing configured to irradiate and detect the page identifier on the at least one page spread and control electronics in the housing operatively coupled to the optical sensor and to the position sensor and configured to synchronize sequential operation of the position sensor and the optical sensor. | 09-29-2011 |
20110244438 | Children's Musical Book - A children's musical book includes an electronic audio circuit which is able to generate music or any other type of sound. It includes a back cover ( | 10-06-2011 |
20110306026 | SYSTEM FOR MAKING AND VIEWING AUDIO-VISUAL INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT - An instructive content creation and viewing system, including a first microprocessor assembly, an intuitive viewing interface, a second microprocessor assembly in communication with the first microprocessor assembly, and an content creation interface. The viewing interface is housed on the first microprocessor assembly and the content creation interface is housed on the second microprocessor assembly. The content creation interface is used to create the instructive content, while the first microprocessor assembly obtains the instructive content. The viewing interface presents the instructive content while the viewing interface adapts to the instructive content and user preferences or actions. | 12-15-2011 |
20120129142 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LEARNING IN ELECTRONIC BOOK READER - Provided is a method and device for learning in an electronic book reader. A method for learning in an electronic book reader includes displaying a mask region covering an object of electronic book contents displayed on a screen, and releasing the displayed mask region to again display the covered object of the electronic book contents. | 05-24-2012 |
20120171653 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR GENERATING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OF E-BOOK CONTENTS IN READER - A method of creating a relationship diagram for electronic book (or e-book) contents in a reader includes determining whether there is a relationship diagram creation request in a current page. The method includes, if there is the relationship diagram creation request, determining whether there is a relationship diagram associated with a previous page. In addition, the method includes, if there is the relationship diagram associated with the previous page, displaying the relationship diagram in an input window. Further, the method includes, if the relationship diagram displayed in the input window is modified and there is a save request, allowing the modified relationship diagram to be saved in accordance with the current page. | 07-05-2012 |
20120196260 | Electronic Comic (E-Comic) Metadata Processing - Text sections and each comic character within each of at least one scanned comic frame are identified. Text is captured from each of the identified text sections using optical character recognition (OCR) of each of the identified text sections. A sequence of the text sections is determined based upon grammatical conventions of a language within which the at least one scanned comic frame is presented. An audio output model is identified for each of the determined sequence of the text sections. The at least one scanned comic frame is stored with the captured text, the determined sequence of the text sections, and the identified audio output model for each of the determined sequence of the text sections. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. | 08-02-2012 |
20130130216 | CUSTOM NARRATION OF ELECTRONIC BOOKS - A system and method are disclosed for correlating an electronic book with a narration. A correlation is determined between a first portion of the narration and a first segment of the text within the electronic book. The correlation is stored as instructions to present the first segment of the text with emphasis simultaneously with playback of the first the portion of the narration. A determination is made that a second portion of the audio recording, immediately following the first portion, does not match a second segment of the text that immediately follows the first segment. A correlation between the second portion and a component of the electronic book is determined and stored as instructions to present the component with emphasis simultaneously with playback of the second portion of the narration. | 05-23-2013 |
20130171603 | Method and System for Presenting Interactive, Three-Dimensional Learning Tools - A system includes an education module ( | 07-04-2013 |
20130177892 | COMPUTING DEVICE PROVIDING ELECTRONIC BOOK DATA HAVING SELECTABLE CONTENT LAYERS WITH DIFFERENT DIFFICULTLY LEVELS AND RELATED METHODS - A computing device may include a display, a memory to store electronic book data having a plurality of different content layers each associated with a different content difficultly level, and a processor coupled to the display and the memory. The processor may determine a selected content difficultly level for viewing of the electronic book data, and display on the display the respective content layer of the electronic book data associated with the selected content difficultly level, | 07-11-2013 |
20130209981 | Triggered Sounds in eBooks - Trigger point information is generated for an eBook to play sounds in an eBook. A request for trigger point information is received from a client. The eBook is analyzed to determine trigger point information for the eBook. The trigger point information includes location information identifying a location of a trigger point in the eBook. The trigger information also includes sound information indicating a sound to play at the trigger point. The determined trigger point information is transmitted to the client in response to the request for trigger point information. The client is configured to track a user's reading location in the eBook and play the sound indicated by the sound information responsive to the user reading the eBook at the location of the trigger point. | 08-15-2013 |
20130316321 | INTERACTIVE PRINTED ARTICLE WITH TOUCH-ACTIVATED PRESENTATION - An interactive printed article includes a cover and a plurality of printed leaves on which a plurality of touchpoints are distributed. A particular printed leaf among the plurality of printed leaves includes first and second viewed surfaces and first and second inner surfaces and has a touch sensor incorporated therein proximate to a touchpoint among the plurality of touchpoints. At least one of the first and second viewed surfaces has content printed thereon, and at least one of the first and second inner surfaces has a conductive trace formed thereon. The interactive printed article further includes an electronics package electrically coupled to the conductive trace that initiates presentation of a particular presentation corresponding to the touchpoint in response to detection via the touch sensor of selection of the touchpoint. | 11-28-2013 |
20130337427 | ELECTRONIC BOOK, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR IDENTIFYING ELECTRONIC BOOK PAGE NUMBER - Disclosed are an electronic book, as well as a method and device for identifying electronic book page numbers. The method includes positioning trigger pins and a contact end on a book spine. The contact end is electrically connected to a controller. When a page of the electronic book is flipped, two contact ends of a soft circuit, which is closely affixed on the book spine, are made conducting by squeezing a positioning trigger pin. The conduction signal of the contact ends are received and the page number of the flipped page is identified according to the received signal. The preset content of the book page is played through the controller which is electrically connected to the soft circuit. Positioning trigger pins and the contact end are arranged on the low parts of the book spine surface, which is formed naturally by mounting and bending pages. | 12-19-2013 |
20140011175 | Book - A printed article comprises a sheet or cover and an electronic device housed in the in the sheet or cover for providing audio content, the device comprising a user interface for controlling playback of the audio content and a connector for coupling with a corresponding connector for providing an audio signal to a peripheral audio device. | 01-09-2014 |
20140038154 | AUTOMATIC EBOOK READER AUGMENTATION - Method, system, and computer program product for performing an operation for automatic electronic book augmentation. The operation presents an electronic book via a display screen of an electronic device, and identifies user preferences. The operation then determines a current reading position of a user within the electronic book. The operation then identifies, based on the user's current reading position, a context within the electronic book. The operation then identifies, based on the context and the user preferences, sensory effects to enhance the user's experience. The operation then outputs the sensory effects. | 02-06-2014 |
20140170625 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING AN INTERACTIVE STORY - A method for facilitating an interactive story includes a computer receiving data representative of an event in a story, the event corresponding to a first page number of a book. A computer communicates a task based on the event. A computer receives data representative of a response to the task. A computer determines a next event in the story based on the response. A computer communicates a second page number of the book, the second page number corresponding to the next event in the story. | 06-19-2014 |
20160035231 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO PROVIDE AN INTERACTIVE CINEMATIC READER FOR IMAGE DRIVEN PUBLICATIONS - A method and system for providing a movie experience while reading an e-book. The system includes a book/package server containing proprietary .cpub (cinematic publishing) files. The method includes creating a video with experiential entities of a movie by understanding and executing the .cpub files. This further includes integrating image galleries, multimedia presentations, videos, animated and static diagrams, charts and tables, visual dictionaries, from various comic books, graphic novels, and photo novels. The book/package server, which is associated with the system, stores various books along with Java program files. The Java program files make use of certain libraries for providing high end graphics or animations to a user. A user can either download or view a selected book by accessing the book/package server. Further, the system provides secure data sharing and authentication by generating unique keys while accessing the e-book. | 02-04-2016 |
20160063875 | Interactive Book - This document describes an interactive book. The interactive book includes sensors, electronic output components, and a memory that maintains book data. The sensors and the electronic output components are integrated into the book itself, such as within physical pages of the interactive book. The interactive book is configured to establish an electronic connection with a storytelling device. When the electronic connection is established, book data and sensor data is communicated from the interactive book to the storytelling device. The storytelling device controls electronic output components, at the interactive book and/or at the storytelling device, to provide story enhancement effects that are correlated to the interactive book. | 03-03-2016 |
20160063876 | Storytelling Device - This document describes a storytelling device. The storytelling device includes electronic output components, such as light sources, speakers, a video projector, or a display. The storytelling device is configured to establish an electronic connection with an interactive book, and to receive book data and sensor data from the interactive book via the electronic connection. Then, based on the sensor data and the book data, the storytelling device controls electronic output components, at the storytelling device and/or the interactive book, to provide story enhancement effects that are correlated to the interactive book. | 03-03-2016 |
20160063877 | Interactive Page Turning - This document describes interactive page turning A book includes physical pages, and one or more sensors that sense when the physical pages are turned. Turning the physical pages causes a media device to provide a story enhancement effect, such as outputting audio via a speaker, outputting light through a light source, or displaying media content on a display. | 03-03-2016 |
20160148519 | REPLACEABLE PAPER-BASED TOUCH BOOKLETS - A replaceable paper-based touch book introduces interactivity to printed books. The replaceable paper-based touch book is a very useful learning tool that aims to attach learners with traditionally printed books. The replaceable paper-based touch book allows learners to use three senses in the learning process: touch, vision and hearing. Using multiple senses highly accelerates the learning curve, and dramatically increases information retention strength. Furthermore, by being replaceable, many different replaceable books are able to be used with the device. | 05-26-2016 |
20160148520 | TALKING BOOK WITH A SCREEN - A talking book with a screen includes an interactive book that allows a user to press on a page and have words read aloud and a screen which is able to be used in conjunction with the talking book. The screen is able to be embedded with the talking book, or the screen is a separate device such as a tablet. The screen is able to play videos and provide other interactivity with the talking book. | 05-26-2016 |