Automated instruction, game and data retrieval system
Contents
1. s 434 307 4 384 284 5 1983 Juso et al 434 307 4 386 375 5 1983 Altman 358 327 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Robert Rathbun Unique Interactive Training System 47 z CONTROL PROCESSOR 4 490 810 Dec 25 1984 1 Patent Number 45 Date of Patent Designed to Save Time Money and Lives Video User Aug 1981 p 10 Hessinger Lynn Computer and Videodisc new way to teach CPR Biomedical Communications 9 1981 p 12 Hon David C Disc Production Nos J thru VI Videodisc News Mar thru Aug 1981 Hon David C Interactive Video Video User 9 1981 thru 1 1982 Levitt Harry and Slosberg Ronald Educational Tech nology p 42 Computer Simulated Patients for En hancing Clinical Experiences 6 78 Primary Examiner Gareth D Shaw Assistant Examiner Jameson Lee Attorney Agent or Firm Gerald G Crutsinger John F Booth James O Dixon 57 ABSTRACT An automated interactive game instruction and refer ence system having an optical laser videodisc player unit and using a videodisc record on which are re corded segmented groups of graphic and pictorial video information data interspersed with segmented groups of system control and programming data a television video display unit a user command response unit hav ing user manual input controls of variable functions and variable labelling means therefor to indicate the current function as established by signals f2. a prior art videodisc system with sample remote control FIG 2 is a block diagram illustrating a prior art user programmable computer controlled automated system for instructional entertainment or reference use FIG 3 is a block diagram of a highly automated instruction system of the prior art which uses floppy disc data input and numerous peripherals FIG 4 is a block diagram illustrating the basic ele ments of a preferred embodiment of the system in the present invention FIG 5 illustrates a useful configuration of the control inputs on the front panel of a user command response unit for the system of the present invention FIG 6 is a diagramatic representation of the elements of the control processor of the present invention FIG 7 is a diagram of program segments from the videodisc for the system operating in the catalog mode FIGS 8a and 85 show portions of the panel of the Control Response Unit as labeled at particular stages of the catalog program FIGS 9a and 9b show the information displayed on the screen of the TV display unit concurrently with the labels on the panel displays of FIGS 8a and 85 respec tively FIG 10 is a diagram of program segments from the videodisc for the system operating in an instructional mode FIG 11 shows a portion of the panel of the Control Response Unit configured in an instructional mode FIG 12 shows the information displayed on the screen of the TV display unit
3. and reference system wherein all data and program informa tion are stored on the videodisc It is further an object to provide an automated in structional entertainment and reference system with a high degree of flexibility and versatility without the inclusion of a full capability stored program computer as required in prior art systems It is still a further object to provide an automated instructional entertainment and reference system hav ing a much lower cost than prior art systems of compa rable capabilities It is an even further object of this invention to pro vide this system with direct transparent two way human interaction with the system rather than indirect interaction requiring interim translations by the user It is a still further object to provide a lowcost auto mated instructional entertainment and reference adapt able to shared component configuration in either a com mercial or home environment And yet another object of this invention is to provide a low cost automated instructional educational and reference system which can be adapted for widespread interactive multiple user operations within broadcast narrowcast land line or cable television systems BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects and advantages of my inven tion will become apparent from the following detailed description when read with reference to accompanying drawings in which FIG 1 is a block diagram illustrating
4. and in response to certain of said received signals to direct others of said received signals to said video disc player unit said video display unit said user 4 490 810 15 command response unit and internally within said con trol processor unit for the operation and control of each of said units and of said control processor unit said control processor unit further comprising random ac cess memory means for storing short segments of pro gramming data received from said video disc record first read only memory means for storing frequently used system functions second read only memory means 10 15 20 25 30 35 45 50 55 65 16 for text and graphic generation compressed digital audio converter means and buffer means for short term storage of signals received from said video disc record and interconnection means providing signal flow paths between the various above recited elements of said system UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENTNO 4 490 810 DATED December 25 1984 INVENTOR S David C Hon It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby corrected as shown below Column 10 line 35 change sources to scenes Column 12 line 48 change is to in Column 14 line 6 change of to including line 16 after processor insert unit Signed and Sealed this Twenty first D
5. cess frame search and a pickup head and mechanical and electrical control elements to activate and position said pickup head in response to received control signals a television receiver acting as a video display unit for the visual display of still and moving graphic and picto rial information received at the input terminals of said television receiver as modulated radio frequency elec trical signals a user command reference unit compris ing a plurality of switch elements and analog control elements manually operable by a system user to produce selected input of user determined command and re sponse signals selected ones of said manually operable switch and control elements each having associated therewith a respective variable labeling means includ ing liquid crystal devices providing selected visual dis play of alpha numeric symbol groups for conveying directly to the user the function represented by the associated element at that time a video disc record having recorded thereon for optical laser pickup a plu rality of segmented groups of system control and pro gramming data and an interspersed plurality of seg mented groups of graphic and pictorial information control processor unit comprising distributor means including electrical signal controlled switching and multiplexing elements adapted to receive information control and programming signals from said video disc record and user input signals from said command re sponse unit
6. on lines 71 Information signals also are received by the control processor 39 from the player unit 37 on lines 72 and routed to distributor 56 the buffers 57 58 and 59 and the input of TV display unit 38 Distributor 56 delivers program and or information data signals on line 73 to buffer elements 57 58 and 59 converter 66 and switcher 67 RAM 64 generator 60 and user displays 45 and 55 of unit 40 Signals also flow on lines 74 75 and 76 respectively between distributor 56 and the ALU 61 for minor processing the ROM 62 for call up of often used functions and the reference storage unit 63 for subsequent use Likewise signals flow on lines 77 between the distributor 56 and switch array 65 which in turn is receiving input signals on line 78 from the user activated switches of unit 40 and other optional I O ports 79 Videodisc program signals are also received by the distributor over line 80 from the program segment storage of RAM 64 It will be recog nized that the system is unique in that essentially all of the programming and control data for any application is contained in the vast reservoir of data resident in the videodisc The specific applications of any program in the disc will include segments to direct the elements of process controller 39 the label configuration of user input displays 45 47 53 and 55 of the command re sponse unit 40 and the compressed digital audio signals for use with still frames The program data is so arr
7. provided on panel 42 need not be separate devices but may comprise unitary devices providing both func tions Devices of this type are well known The control processor 39 of the system 36 as shown diagramatically in FIG 6 comprises hard wired elec tronic circuitry functions and a minimal amount of 5 15 20 25 30 35 45 50 55 60 65 6 buffer and program segment storage capability Specifi cally control processor 39 includes the distributor 56 buffers 57 58 and 59 a text and graphic generator ROM 60 a small arithmetic logic unit 61 function ROMS 62 disc reference storage unit 63 a program segment stor age RAM 64 an electronic switch array 65 and when needed a compressed digital audio converter 66 and amplifier switcher 67 All of the elements of the control processor 39 may be circuits of standard types well known to those skilled in the art and in accordance with current solid state technology may all be incorpo rated into a simple integrated circuit chip including the interconnections between elements Distributor 56 is little more than an electronic switch ing network which under direction of signals from the videodisc of player 37 directs the data and program information signals to and from the player 37 and the user command response unit 40 and ultimately to the input of the TV display unit 38 In particular program and control signals flow between the distributor 56 and disc player 37
8. short term storage of signals from said videodisc record 16 An automated interactive game instruction and reference system comprising a videodisc player unit of the optical laser type having at least one pickup head and mechanical and electrical control elements to posi tion and activate said pickup head in response to re ceived control signals a television receiver acting as a video display unit for the visual display of still and moving graphic and pictorial information supplied as electrical signals to the input terminals of said receiver a user command response unit comprising a plurality of switch elements operable by a system user to produce selected manual input of user determined command and response signals selected ones of said elements having associated therewith respectively liquid crystal display labelling means for conveying directly to the user the function represented by the associated element at that 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 14 time a videodisc record recorded for optical laser pickup and having recorded thereon a plurality of seg mented groups of system control and programming data and an interspersed plurality of segmented groups of graphic and pictorial information control processor unit comprising distributor means of electrical signal controlled switching and multiplexing elements and adapted to receive information control and program ming signals from said videodisc record and us
9. the video audio informa tion but system control programming data as well Be cause the major part of the system control comes from the disc itself the control processor for the system is much less complex than the fully programmable com puter controls of the prior art and it has a significantly lower cost Having disclosed my invention many changes and modifications still within the spirit and scope thereof will occur to those skilled in the art therefore this in vention is to be limited only as set forth in the following claims What I claim is 1 An automated interactive game instruction and reference system comprising a videodisc player unit having at least one pickup head and mechanical and electrical control elements to position and actuate said pickup head in response to received control signals a video display unit including a screen for the visual dis play of still and moving graphic and pictorial informa tion supplied to said display unit is electrical signal form a user command response unit comprising a plu rality of switch elements and analog control elements operable by a system user to produce selected manual input of user determined command and response sig nals selected ones of said elements having associated therewith respective variable labelling means for con veying directly to the user the function represented by the associated element at that time a videodisc record having recorded thereon a plurality o
10. video at 119 wherein the storeowner smiles and moves away to another customer The language lesson would then continue through a dialogue between the storeowner and the user with the storeowner s ac tions and responses being called from the videodisc 41 depending on the branches of the program of FIG 10 or of subsequent programs which are activated by the user s response inputs From the user s point of view the system in this application operates very simply and directly The screen 106 creates a learning context and then the stu dent is given the chance to interact first seeing his choices in the label displays 55 and then pressing the switch key 54 associated with the display showing his choice If he is not immediately sure of what he should do at this juncture the prompter display 45 will keep him oriented The prompter display 45 may also prompt or give instructions for using outside I O ports 79 of FIG 5 An example being a request to the user to speak his response into a voice input FIGS 13 14 and 15 illustrate another example of the versatility and transparency of the present invention In this example the system may be used solely for enter tainment purposes or may be used for instructional or training purposes by providing actual condition simu lation A portion of the program and sequence operation of the system for yacht racing is diagrammed in FIG 13 The full side of the videodisc 41 may be devoted to such a fu
11. G 9a Returning to FIG 7 the user s selection of Cloth ing 107 initiates the Clothing SLF 108 SLF 108 then provides the user with a new set of choices for selection of the types of clothing in which he is inter ested such as Men s Women s Children s etc These new choices and new instructions are presented to the user by appropriate reconfiguration of the labels and displays of panels 42 as shown in FIG 85 and by new visual presentations on screen 106 as shown in FIG 96 The transparency of the system of the invention is now even more apparent The user is not required to push 1 for Clothing 2 for Automobiles etc but instead makes his selection bearing the label Cloth ing Automotive or whatever else is available Shown in FIG 10 is a diagram of a small portion of the program and system operation sequence with the system operating in the Instruction mode for a lan guage lesson The sequence of FIG 10 begins after the user has turned the system on Through a series of 4 490 810 9 selections similar to those outlined above in connection with FIG 7 the user has chosen a language lesson in Spanish II to be carried out as a conversational dia log These selections have moved the videodisc pickup to SLF 108 Segment load function 108 initiates a dis play of a segment of video information from the video disc 41 on the screen 106 of display unit 38 and reconfig uration a
12. NET 08 SWON Z oe S3HILIMS dWV 26 69 5355384 WO9 QO dw0Frac gO 2r oc N gt 7 N gt rg 4 490 810 4 Id adde 3 15 ENT Nee n gt Xaan 0 S3A 01 S3A 66 S3A GO Sheet 4 of 10 SJA d H2NV3S Q0 86 a NMOQ Av138 3WLL 3HONW lWONdg 93S SI SNY ON 1WOMHd 6 98 lngdlno olanv AV IdSIG 31VAI LOV 9IQ 183ANOCO OL O3GIA W31SAS SIOULNOI 35 3 3 AV 1dSIG SLINJNI 13851 v9 WVY OL 93S WVY90ud OVO U S Patent Dec 25 1984 U S Patent Dec 25 1984 Sheet 5 of 10 4 490 810 Your Video Catalog YOU ARE SEARCHING BY SECTION 106 28 PRESS GENERAL AREA OF INTEREST U S Patent Dec 25 1984 Sheet 6 of 10 4 490 810 CLOTHING FOR ALL OCCASIONS 4 490 810 Sheet 7 of 10 U S Patent Dec 25 1984 Od ISS mm i C id T GOES OL noA SS 9190108 un ots3 oN SNMOMJ 13 1 OIOri O3QIA NOLLOW anb 0 se and 8550 9 any 53115 5312 ONY 30 NOI LOA AVWV S3AON S3AIWS 9312 ONY NOILON U S Patent Dec 25 1984 20 SYSTEM On 130 P 734 BEGIN RACE SLF 136 ANALOG CHANGE SCAN DIGITAL SCAN 145 lt gt ABQUT YES 40 COME ABOUT SLF Vv 147 NEW COURSE SLF S
13. United States Patent Hon 54 AUTOMATED INSTRUCTION GAME AND DATA RETRIEVAL SYSTEM David C Hon 1450 NW Woodbine Way Seattle Wash 98177 21 Appl No 348 794 76 Inventor 22 Filed Feb 16 1982 51 Int C13 nn H04N 5 76 G11B 31 00 52 US Ch 364 900 434 308 364 410 58 Field of Search 434 307 308 338 350 434 362 309 323 366 321 358 342 311 102 903 327 310 335 360 69 79 86 364 410 521 200 900 369 24 340 700 702 725 706 707 711 56 References Cited U S PATENT DOCUMENTS 3 924 339 12 1975 Wilson et al 434 308 3 934 226 1 1976 Stone et al e 434 308 3 942 268 3 1976 Wilson 434 308 3 996 671 12 1976 434 321 4 000 510 12 1976 Cheney et al 358 903 4 052 798 10 1977 Tomita et 434 307 4 060 915 12 1977 Conway 434 307 4 081 184 3 1978 Brooks 369 24 4 091 550 5 1978 Schrenk et al 434 366 4 258 385 3 1981 Greenberg et al au 358 311 4 259 668 3 1981 Nishimura et al e 340 711 4 305 131 12 1981 364 410 4 321 673 3 1982 Hawwass et al e 364 410 4 332 022 5 1982 Ceshkovsky et al u 358 342 4 333 152 6 1982 Best sss 358 102 4 360 345 11 1982 Hon
14. ain or end The system of the present invention is easily adapt able for multiple user applications For example a multi head videodisc player at a single location such as a central library or main catalog store can provide simul taneous independent inputs to numerous widely scat tered user stations branch libraries or catalog order stations through either direct wire or other types of signal coupling FIG 16 schematically illustrates such a multihead pickup arrangement for a player The videodisc 150 is mounted on turntable 151 to rotate in normal fashion about the central axis 152 A plurality of pickup heads 153 are mounted along various radii at spaced intervals about the turntable 151 The intervals need not be equal Each of the player heads has associated with it the same mechanical and electrical operating and control ele ments 154 as are found associated with the single pickup head of a standard videodisc player Because the data is recorded on the videodisc in mul tiple circular tracks rather than a single spiral track and because the head position and tracking is controlled by control elements 154 rather than by a groove or other physical part of the disc 150 the heads 153 may be operated entirely independently of each other Thus each head independently serves and can be controlled by a different remote user station 155 comprising a CP unit a TV display and C R unit Thus many students can obtain language lessons sim
15. anged on the videodisc that it is concomitant with the informational material it accompanies in other words it is for the large part self searching Part of the usual deficiency of using digital program data from a video format has been low reliability but in the present system so little data is needed in relation to the immense amount of storage available on the disc that high redundancy can cover any possible bit errors of playout Also it is to be re membered that a second form of data is generated by the videodisc player 37 independent of its data on the videodisc itself This data will concern player indexing and synchronizing functions including exact frame loca tions This player data moves directly back and forth between the player 37 and control processor 39 to give player information to and receive commands from the processor In a similar manner hardwired information is avail able to the processor 39 The user input switches 44 and 54 and analog inputs 46 and 48 of C R unit 40 are user activated and the signals so generated are held momen 4 490 810 7 tarily in switching array 65 as are inputs from other I O port inputs 79 The elements of the control processor 39 are rela tively simple and of small capacity This is possible because the structuring of the system puts by far the greater part of the programming and control functions in the data configuration on the videodisc 41 itself Such structuring of the systern all
16. ay of May 1985 SEAL Attest DONALD J QUIGG Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks
17. concurrently with the panel display of FIG 11 4 490 810 3 FIG 13 is a diagram of program segments from the videodisc for the system operating in an entertainment or training mode FIG 14 shows a portion of the panel of the Control Response Unit as configured at one point during opera tion of the entertainment mode FIG 15 shows the information displayed on the screen of the TV display unit concurrently with the panel display of FIG 14 FIG 16 illustrates schematically a multihead video disc player unit and FIG 17 shows diagramatically an arrangement of process control and video audio information as re corded on the videodisc DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings FIG 1 illustrates a typical optical laser videodisc player system currently available commercially The system includes player unit 21 with self contained mechanical and electrical operat ing elements a TV display unit 22 which may be a standard commercial television set and a user control unit 23 which may be physically connected to the player unit 21 or a separate remote unit The user oper ates the control unit to input commands to initiate the simple system functions of searching frame by frame stepping high speed scanning still frame display and standard pictorial display in standard fast or slow mo tion The user control unit 23 is hard wired with the controls each dedicated and labeled for a single func tion Certain functio
18. ed program computer Thus although the capability of the system 36 and its transparency are enhanced the cost remains small To illustrate a specific function of the system of the present invention and its transparency from the user s point of view reference is now made to FIGS 7 8a 85 9a and 9b FIG 7 is a diagrammatic representation of an illustrative portion of the disc programmed operation of the system for the catalog function Referring now to FIGS 6 and 7 when the system is turned on at 81 the initial segment load function SLF data is automatically selected from the videodisc record 41 and fed to the control processor 39 The initial SLF 82 loads a short program segment 83 which may be about eight thousand bytes or less from the videodisc 41 through buffer 58 into RAM 64 Then under direction of this program segment the user dis plays 45 47 53 and 55 are appropriately labeled 84 the user controls 46 48 and 54 are configured 85 video signals are applied to video unit 38 86 and the digital audio if present on the videodisc is converted 87 and supplied to the audio output Thereafter the user input scan of RAM 62 is activated 88 The scan function 88 checks all of the user inputs to determine if the user has indicated a selection 89 If not scanning continues for fifteen seconds 90 after which the prompter display window 45 and if desired the audio output are activated to ask the user if more
19. er input signals from said command response unit and in re sponse to certain of said received signals to direct others of said received signals to said videodisc player unit said video display unit said user command response unit and internally within said control processor unit for the operation and control of each of said units and of said control processor unit said control processor further comprising random access memory means for storing short segments of programming data from said video disc record a read only memory means for storing frequently used system functions read only memory means for text and graphic generation compressed digital audio converter means and buffer means for short term storage of signals received from said video disc record and interconnection means providing signal flow paths between said units and said various means 17 The system defined in claim 1 wherein said player unit has multiple pickup heads 18 The system defined in claim 17 wherein each of said multiple pickup heads has associated individually therewith a user command response unit a control processor unit a video display unit and interconnection means 19 The system defined in claim 18 wherein said player unit is located remotely from the other units and means of said system 20 An automated interactive game instruction and reference system comprising a video disc player unit of the optical laser type having provision for random ac
20. f segmented groups of graphic and pictorial video information data and a plurality of segmented groups of system control and programming data control processor unit compris ing distributor means having signal controllable elec tronic switching and multiplexing elements and adapted to receive information control and programming sig nals from said videodisc record and user input signals from said command response unit and in response to certain of said received signals to direct others of said received signals to said videodisc player unit said video display unit said user command response unit and in 4 490 810 13 ternally within said control processor for the operation and control of each of said units and of said control processor unit and interconnection means providing signal flow paths between said units and said various means 2 The game instruction and reference system de fined in claim 1 wherein said videodisc player unit is of a type providing random access frame search 3 The system defined in claim 2 wherein said video disc player and said videodisc record are of the optical laser type 4 The system defined in claim 2 wherein said video disc player and said videodisc record are of the VHD capacitance pickup type 5 The system defined in claim 2 wherein said video disc player and said videodisc record are of the CED capacitance type 6 The system defined in claim 2 wherein said video display unit is adapted t
21. h result from an action choise made by the user Returning to the diagram of FIG 13 SLF 134 ex tracts from videodisc 41 motion video information which is sent to TV display 38 to provide the helms man s view 135 on screen 106 Also there is begun a scan 136 to detect analog input changes wheel changes The amount and direction of change is de tected 137 and appropriate video information is se lected from the disc 41 to change the video horizon 138 helmsman s view according to the wheel change input Simultaneously digital scan 139 is conducted to detect commands from the Captain user A re quest by the Captain for waterline check 141 will produce motion video 142 of the boat waterline on the screen 106 for a short time and then a return to the helmsman s view A request to check wind direction 4 490 810 11 143 will produce 144 a short period of display of the wind streamer This and some other displays may ad vantageously be produced by a still frame of video A come about command 145 initiates a new SLF for Come about 140 which in turn produces at 146 presentation on screen 106 of video of the changing scenes as the boat changes Setting of the new course initiates the appropriate New course SLF 147 and new video 148 of the new course The operation of the system continues in a similar manner to the end of the race The user then has his choice at 149 to race ag
22. heet 8 of 10 4 490 810 727 122 123 132 COURSE AND INITIAL SER SET RACE CONDITIONS No BEGIN YACHT RACE T CONDITIONS OPTIONS RACE DISPLAYED 2 YES 129 128 125 ve YES 33 126 Ste YES 135 NO 127 HELMSMAN S VIEW VIDEO YES TO TV DISPLAY 137 s READ CHANGE AMOUNT VIDEO DIRECTI N HORIZON 739 CHECK NO YES COMPASS YES NO 144 146 143 CHANGING COURSE VIDEO TO TV DISPLAY AND RETURN 148 141 142 DISPLAY NEW COURSE YES WATERLINE VIDEO TO TV DISPLAY MOTION AND RETURN CONTINUES TO END OF RACE 49 YES RACE AGAIN 3 NO FIG 13 Leo U S Patent Dec 25 1984 Sheet 9 of 10 4 490 810 106 FIG 15 U S Patent Dec 25 1984 Sheet 10 of 10 4 490 810 155 156 PROCESS CONTROL DATA lt 57 VIDEO PROGRAM SEGMENT 58 VIDEO PROGRAM SEGMENT 2 lt 60 ON FRAME DIGITAL AUDIO FIG 17 4 490 810 1 AUTOMATED INSTRUCTION GAME AND DATA RETRIEVAL SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to automated instruction game and data retrieval systems and more specifically to such systems incorporating optical laser videodisc type storage of both data and program materials The invention herein provides greater versatility and flexibility than current simple remote control systems at a cost considerably less than computer linked systems serving similar purposes Al
23. in connec tion with the system of this invention will not in the least interfere with its continued use as a TV broadcast receiver for entertainment or other programming Command response C R unit 40 comprises a num ber of hardwired switch and analog control devices for manipulation by the user to input commands or re sponse to the system Some of the switch controls are dedicated and permanently labeled as to their function or input such as the switch controls for on off yes and no and the keyboard switches for alpha numeric inputs Others of the controls have variable labeling which is controlled by and from program data prerecorded on the videodisc 41 along with pictorial audio and other information and data carried on the disc FIG 5 illus trates a convenient front panel configuration for a user command response unit 40 As shown in FIG 5 the front panel designated generally as 42 may have perma nently labeled switch controls such as on off switch 43 a set 44 of momentary contact switches with letter numeral and yes no designations arranged more or less as a keyboard Also contained on the front panel is a message display window 45 used to communicate written instructions questions or information to the user Message window 45 may take the form of a liquid crystal display or light emitting diode display or other controllable alpha numeric display devices suitable for the purp
24. lled and costly maintenance is required because of the decreased reli ability due to the numerous interactive parts It is to be noted that all of the prior art systems de scribed use videodiscs on which are recorded only video and audio information together with sequencing or synchronizing data any system control program data is derived from a different source The preferred embodiment of the system of the pres ent invention designated generally as 36 is shown in the block diagram of FIG 4 It comprises a videodisc player unit 37 a TV display unit 38 a central processor 39 and a user command response unit 40 together with a prerecorded videodisc 41 suitable for playing on player 37 The videodisc player unit 37 is of the standard com mercially available optical laser type with self con tained mechanical and electrical operating elements The Model LDP 1000 Optical Laser Videodisc player manufactured by Sony Corporation of Tokyo Japan has been found suitable for use as the videodisc player of the present invention The TV display unit 38 may 4 490 810 5 comprise any of the numerous commercially available standard television receivers for home or other user use Thus the display unit 38 need not be a dedicated unit sold as a part of and useful only with full system of this invention but may be any television receiver acquired separately and already in use for entertainment purposes by the system owner The use of the receiver
25. ncludes a videodisc player 24 a TV display 25 which also may be a standard com mercial television set a controller 26 in the form of a full capability stored program computer and a program media input 27 As indicated the system of FIG 2 is equipped to handle a number of other I O peripherals 28 With the full capability stored program computer 26 controlling the videodisc rather than a simple hard wired controller logic decisions can be made based on 0 15 20 35 40 45 55 60 65 4 user input usually on a keyboard but occasionally by a more direct peripheral I O device 28 which increases the transparency of the software to the end user by allowing him direct input rather than translated input as in FIG 1 The full operational program for a given function of the system is ordinarily input to the storage of the com puter controller 26 through the program media input unit 27 from a magnetic tape or other record media dedicated solely to programming data The program ming data is stored in the computer memory in order to enhance the randomness of its accessibility over its recorded form Alternately the required random acces sibility can be achieved through use of other types of program record media Because of the high cost of systems such as that of FIG 2 they are not ordinarily considered for home or small institution purchase Presently there are no com puter videodisc programs known to be comme
26. nction Upon the user s initiating operation system on 120 the first segment load function 121 is automatically fed from the videodisc 41 into control processor 39 The TV display unit 38 displays the 15 20 25 30 35 45 50 55 60 65 10 course over which the race is to be run and informs the user of the set race conditions and other race parame ters as at 122 The user may be asked to provide some information input such as his sailing competency and experience or he may be allowed to select at 123 or initiate random selection by the system of other race conditions such as wind speed and direction the race course to be run the hazzards the type of boat and whether the race is to be run against time or in head to head competition After the user registers his choices of optional param eters and conditions for the race as at 124 130 of the program a begin race SLF is selected from the videodisc 41 The particular begin race SLF selected is dependent upon the particular choices registered by the user if the user registers no conditions option SLF 132 is initiated A race in a two knot wind 125 with a three man crew will begin with SLF 133 In the particular example of FIG 13 SLF 134 begins the race since the user has chosen a two knot wind and a single man crew 130 By operation of SLF 134 the controls of the C R unit 40 are labeled by data from the videodisc to present the boat s cockpit pa
27. nd labeling of the controls and displays of C R unit 40 For example the information displayed may be mo tion video and audio segment 109 depicting on screen 106 as in FIG 12 storeowner waiting on the user and asking an audible question in the language of study Segment 109 ends in a freeze frame in which the storeowner awaits response from the user The program segment 110 scans the user inputs which are now la beled as in FIG 11 Prompter window 45 may also display instructions for how the user is to respond The user s response input selects the branch of the program to be continued Any of the several appropri ate and inappropriate responses offered the user when input by him will select a new segment of data from the videodisc The new data segment selected will then show the storeowner to the screen 106 of TV display 38 taking a next logical action in response to the user input For instance if the user inputs an inappropriate re sponse dinero the program branches at 111 to a new SLF 112 In the video and audio of the new segment 113 the storeowner may frown and say that he doesn t un derstand the user s answer and repeat the question to him If the user inputs dulces the program branches at 114 to SLF 115 Program segment 116 video is then sent to display unit 38 The storeowner may respond with a smile and Que clase Likewise a nada response by the user would branch the program at 117 to SLF 118 to produce
28. nel to the user For example as in FIG 14 controls to carry out certain commands such as come about are appropri ately labeled as are other controls to call up displays on the screen 106 of TV display unit 38 of certain instru ments such as the compass or anemometer or of the estimated chart position The 360 analog input 46 is labeled by display 47 immediately above it as the boat wheel or tiller During the race the TV display 38 provides a helms man s view of the bow scene from the boat as in FIG 15 or at the user s selection of the port or starboard quarter or of beam sources or of others stored on the videodisc The scenes and other indications change to simulate the action of the race according to user and programmed inputs and the race parameters In this application the CP 39 operates in a multiplex mode between the control of and feedback from the video disc player 37 the analog input 46 representing a sail boat s tiller and checks off the user s requests and choices input to the controls during the race The movement of the wheel 46 will cause the selection of sequences of videodisc frames which adjust the boat s keel on screen in relation to the horizon and its azimuth to other objects At any time however the captain may request checks or actions by using the labeled inputs 54 and may cause the control program to select from the videodisc a close up video frame or select a sequence of motion frames whic
29. ns may require a sequential opera tion of controls by the user to input a code designating the function and thus demanding from the user the steps of abstraction and mental translation In some instances the control 23 may have a small memory capability which allows key programming of sequences of still frame or motion to be called up by hard wired command In some systems the remote con troller can receive synchronizing or indexing data from the audio channel of the videodisc to effect that simple sequencing Still the best user interaction with a system such as that of FIG 1 is achieved through a human translation of messages on the TV display 22 such as Press 1 to see the Cadillac Press 2 for the Buick and so forth Simple branching can also be thus effected but always with one crucial step added the human translation of one value to another This translation represents a two step indi rect process of man machine interface and is a barrier to transparency Also the system in FIG 1 is limited to only the simplest sequencing and branching functions The main advantage of this system is its low initial cost to the home user and the low cost of its program mate rials usually movies or concerts prerecorded on the videodisc In FIG 2 there is shown another system of the prior art having capability dramatically increased over that of the system of FIG 1 Its cost is also dramatically in creased The system of FIG 2 also i
30. o receive said graphic and picto rial information as a modulated radio frequency electri cal signal 7 The system defined in claim 6 wherein said video display unit is a commercial home television receiver 8 The system defined in claim 2 wherein each said variable labelling means comprises electrical devices providing selectable visual display of alphanumeric symbol groups 9 The system defined in claim 8 wherein each said variable labelling means comprises light emitting diode display devices 10 The system defined in claim 8 wherein each said variable labelling means comprises liquid crystal display devices 11 The system defined in any one of claims 1 thru 10 wherein said control processor unit further comprises random access memory means for storing short seg ments of programming data from said videodisc record 12 The system as defined in any one of claims 1 thru 10 wherein said control processor unit further com prises read only memory means for storing frequently used system functions 13 The system defined in any one of claims 1 thru 10 wherein said control processor unit further comprises read only memory means for text and graphic genera tion 14 The system defined in any one of claims 1 thru 10 wherein said control processor unit further comprises compressed digital audio converter means 15 The system defined in any one of claims 1 thru 10 wherein said control processor unit further comprises buffer means for
31. ose Additionally the panel 42 may provide a continuous 360 analog input through control wheel 46 The partic ular function or representation of control wheel 46 at any given time is displayed to the user in the variable label display 47 just above wheel 46 Display 47 like message window 45 may be an LCD LED or other alpha numeric display controllable by program instruc tions from the videodisc on player 37 Other variable or set displays or labels may be provided to assist the user in connection with analog control 46 Also provided on panel 42 is a second analog input 48 which is operated controlled by the user through a joystick mechanism 49 of the type well known in the art There may be included an analog input 48 a pro portional control 50 and a fire button 52 Associated with analog input 48 are one or more variable label displays 53 The labels 53 also may be LCD LED or other suitable electronically controllable alpha numeric display devices A plurality of additional digital or switch inputs 54 each with its own variable label 55 are provided on panel 42 Each of the variable labels 47 53 and 55 is controlled by program inputs from the video disc on player 37 to display for the user the current function represented by its associated input 46 48 or 54 respectively The uses and operation of the variable labels for the control inputs provided on panel 42 will be more fully explained subsequently The switch de vices
32. ows the design goals of low cost simplicity and reliability to be met It will be obvi ous then that the processor 39 is no more than a multi plexing selector and distributor of information as op posed to a full capability stored program computer as that term is usually defined and understood In operation the processor may receive a short simple set of sequencing instructions buffered into the program segment storage RAM 64 from the videodisc 41 on player 37 The distributor 56 instructed by RAM 64 consults the disc reference memory 63 if necessary draws upon the function ROM 62 for generic informa tion and routes prompting instructions from videodisc 41 to display 45 After sampling the status signal from player 37 the distributor 56 may if appropriate apply signals from the videodisc 41 to activate the text and graphics generator ROM 60 to deliver graphic data to the input line 72 of TV display 38 receive a status indi cation from switch array 65 feed ALU 61 for any sim ple arithmetic required operate converter 66 and switcher 67 when appropriate and then again sample RAM 64 to determine if any change has occurred Thus it can be seen that by hard wiring certain sim pler functions in the processor 39 and recording pro gramming process data as well as informational data on the videodisc 41 itself the requirement for data and program management within the processor 39 is re duced far below that requiring a full capability stor
33. puter elements with a number of interactive peripherals including visual aural and sensory elements to provide a plurality of commu nication avenues between the user and the system BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The basic automated instructional entertainment and data retrieval or reference system of the present inven tion comprises the following elements 1 a videodisc with data and program storage 2 a videodisc player 3 a video display which may take the form of a stan dard home television set 4 a low cost control proces sor having limited Random Access Memory capability and 5 a user command response unit The processor element is distinguished from the microcomputer of the prior art in that it is of more limited capability since it does not include program management programming functions for user entry or high order decision making It consequently is much less expensive The command response unit has hardwired functions that may be reconfigured in infinite variety by incoming data from the videodisc Optionally additional 1 peripherals can be added and managed through a combination of the control processor the command response unit and the video disc stored programs Compressed digital audio from the videodisc may also be incorporated in the system 20 30 35 40 45 50 55 65 2 It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an automated instructional entertainment
34. rcially available FIG 3 shows a prior art system of highly complex configuration which is being considered for teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation a prime life saving skill which sustains life after cardiac arrest The system of FIG 3 comprises a videodisc player 29 a first TV dis play 30 receiving video from the player 29 a full capa bility stored program computer 31 including keyboard for program and data input a program media diskette input 32 a second TV display 30a receiving computer generated graphics a sensory manikin 33 providing both quantitative and qualitative input from the user a random access audio unit 34 and additional optional I O peripherals 35 The system of FIG 3 which is more fully described in Videodisc News Vol 2 No 2 Feb ruary 1981 p 2 concentrates on the high transparency needed when large numbers of lay users are to be trained in psychomotor skills Techniques such as the random access audio 34 for continuing audible commu nication during still frame video display the sensory manikin 33 to evaluate the student s physical perfor mance and technique and light pen input by the user to the second TV display 30a to eliminate the keyboard from the user interface add to the transparency of the system Suffice it to say however the high transparency achieved for mass instruction carried two heavy costs first the initial system costs are far beyond the means of most home buyers and second highly ski
35. rom said videodisc record and control processor means for receiving short segments of programming data from said videodisc record and distributing information signals from said videodisc record to the other units in accordance with said programming data 20 Claims 19 Drawing Figures 56 TV DISPLAY 40 USER COMMAND RESPONSE U S Patent Dec 25 1984 Sheet 1 of 10 4 490 810 23 21 22 CONTROL DIOE d TV REMOTE PLAYER DISPLAY PRIOR ART 28 FIG 1 1 0 PERIPHERALS 26 STORED PROGRAM COMPUTER CONTROLLER PROGRAM MEDIA INPUT 29 20 j TV DISC ER DISPLAY 30a 37 DISPLAY OTHER I O PERIPHERALS PRIOR ART FIG 3 24 25 VIDEO TV DISC PLAYER DISPLAY PRIOR ART FIG 2 N N STORED PROGRAM COMPUTER CONTROLLER 32 33 PROGRAM MEDIA INPUT SENSORY MANIKIN TV DISPLAY USER CONTROL PROCESSOR 4 490 810 Sheet 2 of 10 U S Patent Dec 25 1984 es ESTE Cose 9 5e um Hic sys y EE EA Ace aL A 4 490 810 Sheet 3 of 10 U S Patent Dec 25 1984 5 NV S3HOLIMS F gt O o00 3 ez aaivniov 35 SAV dSIQ M3sn 3 SS WON YOLVY3N39 S2 IHdVH9 LX3L NIS 09 u34Jn8 4344n8 u3J4ng I 29 3oNS dS 9 a
36. se each program segment and SLF may contain unique func tions A separate SLF may be and ordinarily is pro vided on the videodisc 41 for each user selection choice Selection of Index H M 100 places SLF 101 in operation selection of a specific page number at 102 activates SLF 103 which may produce a pictorial video display either still or moving of the merchandise in actual use or being modeled and control labeling appro priate to determine the user s choice of color model etc whether he desires to purchase and the type of purchase charge or cash Assuming the user has selected section search 104 the section SLF 105 is searched from the videodisc record 41 and the user command response unit 40 and video display unit 38 appropriately configured By way of example FIG 8a illustrates a portion of panel 42 on C R unit 40 as configured by SLF 105 The variable label displays 55 provide direct literal indication of the specific choices offered the user by operation of the associated switches 54 such as Clothing Household Goods Toys Automotive etc Choices of other modes of search such as Index or New Section are also offered Prompter display window 45 has been activated to display an appropriate message or instruc tion At the same time the screen 106 of video display unit 38 is activated to supply information to the user in graphic and pictorial form as illustrated in FI
37. so it achieves a high order of man machine interface providing the transparency necessary for a more direct user contact with the system and its program content than other systems provide By transparency is meant the ability of the user to per ceive directly at the control the desired function rather than having to translate mentally from the control indi cation to the desired function to be performed Designers and producers of the highly interactive programming which is possible with the videodisc have been stalemated by the divergence between 1 low cost units which would attract high mass consumer interest were it not for their low capability to handle programs which are unique to videodisc as opposed to video tapes or broadcast sources and 2 high cost systems which require a programmable computer to realize the unique facets of the videodisc but because of price and complexity do not lend themselves mass consumer purchases Prior art operating systems for human interaction with a videodisc fall into three general categories In the first category are those systems which incorporate es sentially direct remote control units usually handheld by the user In the second category are systems using a programmable micro or minicomputer offering a much higher order and correspondingly more expensive program control A third category of systems and possi bly the most advanced of the prior art combines the videodisc programmable com
38. the video data Ideally the 20 25 35 40 45 55 60 65 12 data of video segment 158 will have some relationship to the program data preceding segment 157 and the next succeeding segment of program data 159 As shown a further segment of video and audio data is recorded at 160 Alternating segments of control program and video pictorial data are recorded on the tracks of the disc It has been found that the various segments of the same type of data need not be of the same length but may be of varied lengths as may be convenient Although many types of videodiscs and players which are commercially available are suitable for use in the system of the present invention the player disc combination providing random access frame search optical laser pickups are now the most desirable How ever capacity pickups both VHD and CED types for example may in future be suitable Further although commercial home television receivers are suitable for use as the TV display unit 38 other types of monitors and displays are also suitable When television receivers and certain other types of monitors are used for unit 38 the signal fed to the terminals will be a video and au dio modulated radio frequency signal Certain other types of displays require only the raw video and audio signals themselves Thus there has been disclosed an automated instruc tion game and data retrieval system wherein the video disc record carries not only
39. time is needed 91 If a scan 92 indicates the user has pushed the yes control 44 the fifteen second delay 90 is repeated and the user again asks if more time is needed 91 If scan 92 indicates a no answer a check is made 89 to determine any selection If no selection 20 25 35 40 45 50 60 65 8 has been made the no is treated as no answer and the prompter window and audio after a further fifteen second delay 93 ask May I shut down 94 If scan 95 indicates a user yes input the system shuts off 96 A no input recycles to determine if a selection has been made If no selection is made within fifteen sec onds shut down is again requested at 94 If scan 95 indicates no answer in the fifteen second delay 97 the system is shut off 96 When selection is made by the user a new segment load function SLF cycle is initiated dependent upon the user s selection For example if the user has indi cated by his selection that he wishes to look at the A G portion of the catalog index at 98 the videodisc is auto matically searched to locate and load the corresponding program segment from the disc 41 to the RAM 64 Thereupon the full SLF for Index A G 99 is put into operation SLF 99 is of the same general form as the initial segment load function 82 but with different and appropriate control labels control configurations video display information and audio outputs Of cour
40. ultaneously from the same disc no matter what the differences in their facil ity or progress rate are Likewise numerous customers can be served from a single catalog disc simulta neously no matter how diverse their shopping interests From the foregoing it can easily be seen that the system of the present invention is adaptable to other remote user systems such as any of the several types of two way communication cable TV systems now in operation As stated previously a feature of the present system is the inclusion in the material recorded on the video disc of essentially all of the operational programming data as well as pictorial and indexing data and its place ment in segments on the disc in reasonably close prox imity to the informational and pictorial data segments with or for which it is to be used Although many differ ent arrangements of program video and audio data are possible one arrangement found to be workable is that diagrammed in FIG 17 In that Figure a segment of a videodisc record track is represented at 156 Recorded on the track is a first segment 157 of process control data which may include approximately eight thousand bytes or fewer of program data On the next segment 158 is recorded a segment of video program or informa tion Segment 158 may contain approximately 420 frames of video information Also included in this data segment of the record may be on frame digital com pressed audio data related to
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