WO1996003749A1

WO1996003749A1 - Interactive audio tape apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1996003749A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/009341
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gil Druckman; Teddy Gilaad
Original assignee: Friedman, Mark, M.
Priority date: 1994-07-27
Filing date: 1995-07-24
Publication date: 1996-02-08
Also published as: AU3199795A

Abstract

An audio tape player for playing back an interactively recording on an audio tape having at least a first track (16) and a second track (18), which includes a mechanism for playing back the first track of the tape (14), a mechanism for simultaneously recording intervals of user audio information onto the second track, a mechanism for simultaneously recording the user audio information onto a secondary recording medium, a mechanism for playing back user audio information recorded on the secondary recording medium, and a mechanism for playing back audio information from the audio tape, characterized in that the first track is played back except where the intervals of user audio information are present, in which case the intervals are played back from the second track.

Description

INTERACTIVE AUDIO TAPE APPARATUS

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to audio tape players and, more

particularly, to audio tape players designed to accommodate interaction

between the user and material pre-recorded on a tape.

A mono tape player typically utilizes a pair of tracks on the audio

tape ~ one track for each playing direction. Currently, the vast majority

of tape players are in stereophonic format so that the tape typically

includes two pairs of tracks ~ one pair for each playing direction. During

playback in a particular direction, one of the two pairs of tracks is used,

with each of the two tracks of the active pair controlling one of the pair of

speakers to give the stereophonic effect.

Audio tape players are in widespread use for a variety of purposes.

The typical tape player is capable of being used in two basic modes ~

playback and recording. Thus, a conventional tape player is capable, when

in playback mode, of playing back pre-recorded tapes and, when in record

mode, of recording new audio information onto tapes. The recorded tapes,

can, in turn, be played back using the playback mode. The two modes are

quite distinct and mutually exclusive so that at any one time the player is

either playing back or is recording. Thus, the typical user is normally

interested in simply listening to pre-recorded tapes or in recording

relatively long portions of audio information. Rarely, is the user interested

in both playing back and in recording. In several applications, however, it is desirable to more closely

combine the playing back and recording functions. For example, in

learning a new language, especially emphasizing appropriate pronunciation,

it is often desirable to have the user repeat words or phrases or to respond

to questions. For example, the user listens to pre-recorded instructions and

then, when prompted by the pre-recorded instructions, the user pronounces

a word or phrase. It may be desirable to record the user's response for

immediate or later review by the user himself or by an instructor.

Another example relates to story tapes for children wherein a

narrator recounts a tale and from time to time seeks the interaction or

intervention of the listener. Thus, for example, the user might wish to

intervene to fill in missing words or to utter words along with the, or

instead of, narrator. It may be desirable to record the utterances of the

child so that the child is later able to play back the tape which will now

contain his own utterances as well as the pre-recorded narrative. The child

will be able to hear his utterances integrated into the pre-recorded narrative

to form a complete and continuous single combined recording.

There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly

advantageous to have, an audio tape player which would allow the user to

actively interact with the pre-recorded audio information and to readily

record audio information related to the pre-recorded information at desired

intervals without erasing the original recording. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided an audio tape

player for playing back and interactively recording on an audio tape having

at least a first track and a second track, comprising: (a) means for playing

back the first track of the tape; (b) first means for simultaneously recording

intervals of user audio information onto the second track; (c) second means

for simultaneously recording the user audio information onto a secondary

recording medium; (d) means for playing back user audio information

recorded by the second recording means; and (e) means for playing back

audio information from the audio tape, characterized in that the first track

is played back except where the intervals of user audio information are

present, in which case the intervals are played back from the second track.

The present invention successfully addresses the shortcomings of the

presently known configurations by providing an audio tape player which

has the ability to independently erase individual tracks of an audio tape.

This ability gives the player the capability of allowing the user to readily

interact with pre-recorded audio information by recording user generated

segments for playback along with the pre-recorded information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with

reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of a conventional stereo audio tape

cassette, tape and player;

FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of a conventional tape player

configuration featuring erasing and recording playback heads;

FIG. 3 is a schematic depiction of a tape player configuration

according to the present invention featuring a split stereophonic erasing

head and a recording playback head;

FIG. 4 is a schematic depiction of a tape player configuration

according to the present invention featuring a split monophonic erasing

head and a recording/playback head;

FIG. 5 schematically depicts a portion of a tape used in a first

embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 schematically depicts a portion of a tape used in a third, and

preferred, embodiment according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is of audio tape players and methods for using

these which can be used to allow the user to interact with pre-recorded

taped material.

The principles and operation of audio players according to the

present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings

and the accompanying description. Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a typical prior art

stereophonic audio tape player 10. Tape player 10 accommodates a tape

cassette 12 which includes an audio tape 14. Tape 14 includes two tracks

or channels for playing or recording. The upper and lower tracks will

arbitrarily be labeled 'track 1' 16 and 'track 2' 18, respectively. Tape

players which are able to playback in either direction use a tape which is

divided into four tracks (not shown) with one pair of tracks, such as that

shown in Figure 1 , for use in each playing direction. For ease of

presentation, the description herein is largely limited to a single pair of

tracks, it being readily understood that a system according to the present

invention could readily be implemented in a four-track context.

As is depicted in Figure 2, conventional tape player systems include

an erasing head 20 and a playback/recording head 22. Tape 14 includes

at least a pair of tracks 16 and 18, although an additional pair of tracks 17

and 19 is shown in Figure 2 to indicate the possibility of playing tape 14

in either direction.

During normal playback mode of a conventional tape player in the

direction indicated by the large arrow, tape 14 is made to move in the

direction of the arrow. Erasing head 20 is disabled so that no erasure of

tape 14 takes place. The playback function of Playback/recording head 22

is enabled so that a pair of playback/recording head elements 24 and 26

separately pick up the audio information pre-recorded on tracks 16 and 18, respectively, of tape 14. The pre-recorded material may be recorded by a

commercial entity, such as the manufacturer of the tapes or may

alternatively be recorded by the end user or someone on his behalf, as

when, for example, a parent records a narrative for later use by his child.

The audio information picked up by playback/recording head

element 24 is sent, after proper processing, to one of the two speakers (not

shown) while audio information picked up by playback/recording head

element 26 is sent to the other speaker. The result is a stereophonic effect.

During normal record mode of a conventional tape player in the

direction indicated by the large arrow, tape 14 is made to move in the

direction of the arrow. Erasing head 20, so that an erasing head element

30, which is a single unit overlying both tracks 16 and 18, is enabled so

as to erase any audio information present on tracks 16 and 18. The

recording function of Playback/recording head 22 is enabled so that a pair

of playback/recording head elements 24 and 26 separately record audio

information onto the newly erased tracks 16 and 18, respectively, of tape

14.

The present invention involves a modification of a conventional tape

player as described above so as to give a tape player according to the

present invention the ability to serve as an interactive device, as described

in more detail below. Figure 3 schematically depicts a tape player according to the present

invention. The system resembles that of a conventional stereophonic tape

player, as depicted in Figure 2, except that erasing head element 30 (Figure

2) has been replaced by two erasing head elements 32 and 34, overlying

tracks 16 and 18, respectively, in a four-track (stereophonic) audio player.

The presence of two erasing head elements provides the tape player with

the versatility required to transform the player into an effective interactive

tool, as is next described in more detail below. Figure 4 simply shows the

equivalent structure in a two-track (monophonic) audio player. For ease

of presentation, the description below is with respect to the stereophonic

audio player.

As will be appreciated, a similar effect can be achieved using only

a single small erase head (not shown) overlying only a single track. In

such a configuration the pre-recorded track cannot be erased or recorded

unlike the second track, onto which the user audio information is recorded

and from which it can be erased. The configuration shown in Figure 3

featuring two small erasing heads, each overlying a single track is preferred

as it allows the audio player to be used as a conventional audio tape player

with recording capability.

As will be readily appreciated, a tape player according to the present

invention with erasing heads as depicted in Figure 3 may easily be used,

when desired, in the conventional stereophonic tape player mode described above. That is, during conventional playback mode both elements, 32 and

34, of erasing head 20 are disabled in unison so that no erasure of tape 14

takes place. During conventional record mode both elements, 32 and 34

of erasing head 20 are enabled in unison so as to erase any audio

information present on tracks 16 and 18.

However, the capability offered by a tape player according to the

present invention of separately erasing individual tracks of the tape can be

exploited to give a tape player according to the present invention unique

and highly desirable capabilities beyond the ability for use as a

conventional audio tape player.

Thus, for example, a tape player according to the present invention

can be used to allow the user to actively interact with the recorded audio

tape. The interaction can be effected in a number of ways, several of

which are described below for illustrative purposes only and without in any

way limiting the scope of the present invention.

In a first example of the use of a tape player according to the

present invention, a pre-recorded tape recorded on a single track (16 in

Figure 5) is used. The pre-recorded tape may, for example, contain a

children' story read by a narrator. Besides being used as a conventional

tape player, a tape player according to the present invention can be used

in one of two modes ~ a playback/record mode and a playback mode. In playback/record mode erasing head element 32 (Figure 3) is

disabled and the playback function of playback/record head element 24 is

enabled so that track 16 is played back to the user. During playback,

playback/record head element 26 is disabled so that track 18 is not played

back to the user. Preferably, the audio information from track 16 is played

back simultaneously on both speakers of the tape player. The pre-recorded

tape may come with each track bearing the identical monaural audio

information or, alternatively, during the playback/record playing of the

tape, the audio information of track 16 may be copied onto track 18 so that

at the end of the first full uninterrupted playback of the tape in

playback/record mode the two tracks bear identical audio information. The

latter could be accomplished by enabling erasing head element 34 and the

record function of playback/record element 26 during playback and routing

audio information detected on track 16 for recording on track 18.

The user has the option of listening to the entire tape in this manner

without interruption. Preferably, at certain points during the playing of the

tape the user may wish to interject a word or phrase which should be

recorded. For example, once a child becomes familiar with the story he or

she may wish to narrate a portion of the story along with, or instead of, the

pre-recorded narration. In this case, whenever the user wishes to record he

would press a suitable button on the tape player or on a hand-held

microphone connected to the tape player (not shown) and would utter one or more words or phrases, as desired. The pressing of the button would

silence the playback of the audio information on track 16 and would record

the audio information provided by the user onto track 18 of tape 14.

Optionally, arrangements could be made, through the monitoring of

track 16, that the recording onto track 18 will commence only during the

first silent period following the depression of the activation button. In this

way, it is possible to ensure that the recording by the user will not interrupt

the audio information on track 16 in mid-word.

The duration of the recording period could be set in a number of

ways including, but not limited to, the following three methods. One

method would require the user to press the activation a second time so that

the recording period would be defined as the time between a pair of

depressions of the activation button. Alternately, use could be made of

separate start and stop buttons which will define the recording period.

Another possibility, which is particularly suitable for short recording

periods, is to require the user to depress the activation and to keep the

button depressed as long as it is desired to record. Once the user has

finished saying what he wished to say, the button is released and the

recording is terminated. Yet a third possibility is to incorporate a timer

into the tape player so that recording will be automatically terminated a

fixed time period, such as five seconds, for example, following the

depression of the activation button. At the conclusion of the recording segment, recording from track 16

to track 18 is resumed. Optionally, the resumption of the recording from

track 16 to track 18 is delayed, if necessary, until the first pause in the

audio information of track 16 is detected.

Figure 5 schematically depicts a small portion of tracks 16 and 18

showing the pre-recorded track 16 and track 18 which includes the same

information as track 16 except for a single segment 19 which includes

user-recorded information.

Once the user has recorded segments as described above, he may

wish to play back the audio information on track 18, which includes his

own recordings. This is easily done in the special playback mode which

enables only the playback function of playback/recording head element 26.

Preferably, the audio information detected by playback/recording head

element 26 is outputted through both of the tape player speakers (not

shown).

Optionally, during such playback the user may wish to insert

additional recordings or may wish to substitute one or more new recordings

for the existing recordings. In either case, the user can depress the

activation button and record as described above.

In another possible configuration, the tape player further includes a

secondary recording medium such as a suitable micro circuit featuring

digital memory, or some other suitable memory device, for storing the audio signal from the microphone concurrently with the recording of the

audio signal to track 18. At the end of the recording of a segment, which

may be once the memory of the device is filled, the tape player is

automatically paused, i.e., the motion of the tape is temporarily halted and

the micro circuit plays back the stored audio information, giving the user

almost instant feedback of the audio information just recorded. Following

playback, the tape is automatically restarted and normal operation is

resumed. The tape produced by the above-described embodiment would

appear as in the basic embodiment (Figure 5).

Optionally, the tape according to the above-described embodiment

includes a voice activation circuit (VOX) which activates the recording

onto the micro circuit and onto track 18 upon the detection of the user's

voice.

In yet another, and preferred, embodiment according to the present

invention which can be used alone or in conjunction with either of the

above-described configurations, the audio information on track 16 is not

recorded onto track 18 which remains blank except for the segments, or

intervals, recorded by the user. During playback, track 16 is used except

where audio information such as voice or tone information, and the like,

is detected on track 18, in which case track 18 is played back until blank

tape is detected on track 18, or a certain amount of time elapses, or voice or tone informat ... is detected, at which p int playback is resumed from

track 16.

As will be appreciated by the reader, while the present invention has

been described with reference to a pair of tracks, a similar system could

operate with a total of four tracks, such as those currently available on

tapes designed for stereophonic play in two directions. Use of four tracks

would make it possible to use stereophonic playback and recording while

still retaining the interactive characteristics of the system described above.

The changes required to produce a four-track audio player according to the

present invention would be readily appreciated in light of the above

description relating to the two-track configuration.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited

number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations,

modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An audio tape player for playing back and interactively

recording on an audio tape having at least a first track and a second track,

comprising:

(a) means for playing back the first track of the tape;

(b) first means for simultaneously recording intervals of user

audio information onto the second track;

(c) second means for simultaneously recording said user audio

information onto a secondary recording medium;

(d) means for playing back user audio information recorded by

said second recording means; and

(e) means for playing back audio information from the audio

tape, characterized in that the first track is played back

except where said intervals of user audio information are

present, in which case said intervals are played back from the

second track.

2. A tape player as in claim 1, wherein said means for

simultaneously recording intervals of user audio information onto the

second track includes an erasing head characterized in that said erasing

head includes a plurality of independently activated erasing head elements,

each of said erasing head elements dedicated to one of the tracks of the

tape.

3. A tape player according to claim 2, wherein the tape includes

two erasing head elements.

4. A tape player according to claim 2, wherein the tape includes

four erasing head elements.

5. A tape player as in claim 1, wherein said first and second

means for recording include an activation member.

6. A tape player as in claim 5, wherein said means for recording

is activated from the time said activation member is depressed until a

subsequent depression of said activation member.

7. A tape player as in claim 5, wherein said means for recording

is activated as long as said activation member is depressed.

8. A tape player as in claim 5, wherein said means for recording

is activated for a fixed period of time following the depression of said

activation member.

9. A tape player as in claim 1 , further comprising:

(f) means for pausing the tape during the playing back of said

audio information stored by said secondary means for

recording.

10. A tape player as in claim 1 , wherein said secondary recording

medium is a micro circuit.

1 1. A tape player as in claim 10, wherein said micro circuit

includes a voice activated circuit.

12. A tape player as in claim 1, further comprising:

(f) conventional playback means; and

(g) conventional recording means.

13. A tape player as in claim 1, further comprising audio

information detection means so that said recording of user information

commences only when silence is detected on said first track.