WO2008047350A2

WO2008047350A2 - System for providing reading-together at two remote locations of a children literature item

Info

Publication number: WO2008047350A2
Application number: PCT/IL2007/001232
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dror Oberman
Original assignee: Dror Oberman
Priority date: 2006-10-16
Filing date: 2007-10-15
Publication date: 2008-04-24
Also published as: IL178654A0; WO2008047350A3

Abstract

The invention relates to an adult-child system for the reading together of an electronic children literature item at two remote internet computers, which comprises: a master computer (A) and a slave computer (C) that are located remote one from the other, and are connected via the Internet; two mouse devices, one at each of said computers; an item processing unit (11) at the master computer for activating an electronic literature item; two mouse synchronization units, one at each computer, for communicating one with the other, and synchronizing the mouse pointer displays at screens of said two computers; and microphone (24 and 24c) and camera (26a and 26c) at the two computers and a video communication channel between the two computers.

Description

System for Providing Reading-Together at Two Remote Locations of a Children Literature Item

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of systems for providing fun and educational activities via the Internet. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system enabling adult and child family members located remote one from the other to perform reading together of a children literature item as selected from a library.

Background of the Invention

In today's style of life, there are many cases in which parents or grandparents are geographically located remote from their children or grandchildren respectively. The following are only several examples:

(a) There are many cases in which grandparents are located far from their grandchildren, as they leave in a different city, state or a country. Such a remote distance limits their ability to enjoy common activities with their grandchildren. In the AARP Grandparenting Survey of 2002, American grandparents asked for the most significant reason preventing them from seeing their grandchildren. About 45% of the grandparents answered that the reason is that they live too far away from their grandchildren. Furthermore, about 45% answered that the farthest of their grandchild lives more than 200 miles away from them;

(b) There are relatively many cases of divorced parents, a situation which enforces a geographic separation between a parent and his children;

(c) There are also many cases in which a parent leaves his home for days or weeks for business purposes, army service (for example, 500,000 American soldiers have children), therefore being remote from his children for days or weeks;

(d) One or two of the parents stays long and late hours at work, missing the added value of performing quality, educational, and frequent common activities with their children.

Hereinafter, for the purpose of this invention a parent or a grandparent will be referred to herein as "adult". A child, whether it is a son, daughter, grandson, or granddaughter will be referred to as "child". Generally, the present invention is most suitable for adult-young children activity, up to the age of 10 years old. In most of the abovementioned cases, the ability of the adult to enjoy a common activity with the child limited to a short conversation over the phone. In the recent years, when the broadband Internet has become widespread, the discussion between remote child and adult can be associated with a live video enabling each party to speak and view the other party. While the video channel (hereinafter, the term "video", or "video channel" refers to a communication channel which transfers both sound and image) increases the effect of the communication, the interaction is still limited to a relatively casual and short discussion, as there are no many subjects that can form a common denominator for discussion between a young child and a grandparent or parent in view of the large difference of age.

The development of the Internet has introduced various activities that form a basis for interaction between two remote parties. For example, there are many games that can be played between two remote parties via the Internet. However, these games are in many cases not so suitable for play between remote adult and young child, in view of their different capabilities, and subject of interest. Moreover, naturally the playing of such a game does not necessarily contribute to the feeling of closeness between an adult and child, as when a typical game is played there is no association of a live video channel showing the two remote parties.

One educational, attractive, family oriented activity (even between family members of different generations) which is commonly performed between an adult and a young child is the reading together of children literature, for example, a children book. This kind of activity is generally longer in duration, may result in a casual discussion, generally creates deep and meaningful interactions, raises the feeling of closeness, brings the added value to both, the adult and child, and gives a lot of joy and satisfaction. The reading together (the term "reading together" refers herein also to the case where the adult reads the text, while the child only listens, while viewing the book pictures or a child reading to a parent, thus exercising his reading skills) can provide a substantial added value for the interaction between an adult and a child. In said AARP Grandparenting Survey of 2002, 75% of the grandparents who had activities - with their grandchildren in the last 6 months indicated the reading to them or with them as one of the activities.

However, the Internet, although being developed in many respects for the remote communication between two sites, has not yet provided a platform for establishing reading together of children literature by two remote parties (such as a grandfather and a grandchild). Lacking of such platform, the interaction between an adult and child that are remotely located is limited.

Some Internet sites, for example UBIB00KS.COM, provide the option to download a selected electronic children book to a local computer. In essence, this site is a library of electronic children books, in which a user can select an item, and download it into his computer. Upon completion of the download into the local computer, an adult and child can read together while viewing the same local computer screen. Also, there are many children literature items that are sold on a CD, which the user activates at his local computer. However, there is no known mechanism for enabling a synchronized, reading together of a children literature item, at two remote computers, which enables both parties control over the item, and also each party to follow the mouse activity of the other party (as well as his mouse activity), and to each party to view and listen to the other party.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide to an electronic children literature platform for enabling reading together of a literature item by adult and child parties that are located remote one from the other and from the library itself. The platform also provides at least an audio channel between the two parties, and preferably also a live video channel displaying and sounding to each reading party the other party.

It is still another object of the present invention to include in said platform a synchronizing unit, which synchronizes the display at the adult and child computers.

It is still another object of the invention to include animation features within the activated literature item, which are also synchronized between the computers of the reading parties. It is still another object of the invention to provide control over the activated library item from either the child computer, or from the adult computer.

It is still another embodiment of the invention to enable each party to follow the mouse activity of the other party, as well as the mouse activity of his own mouse device, while the mouse devices being distinguished one from the other in shape.

Other objects and advantageous of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to an adult-child system for the reading together of an electronic children literature item at two remote internet computers, which comprises: (a) a master computer and a slave computer that are located remote one from the other, and are connected via the Internet; (b) two mouse devices, one at each of said computers; (c) an item processing unit at the master computer for activating an electronic literature item, and displaying the same synchronously at a first screen portion of each of said two computers, said processing unit also applies mouse control over the item as received from both the local mouse of the master computer and from the mouse of the slave computer; (d) two mouse synchronization units, one at each computer, for communicating one with the other, and synchronizing the mouse pointer displays at screens of said two computers, thereby to show at each screen the movements of both mouse pointers and their control effects over the literature item at each of said two screens, said mouse pointers being displayed distinguished by shape one from the other; and (e) microphone and camera at the two computers and a video communication channel between the two computers, for displaying at a second portion of the screen of each of said two computers a live video and sound of the user of the other computer.

Preferably, the electronic literature item is activated at the master of said two computers, and an image of said electronic literature is also sent and synchronously displayed at the slave of said computers.

Preferably, the system operates over a communication platform for communicating between two users over the Internet, and wherein the communication involves transfer of both voice and video between the parties..

Preferably, the item is downloaded from the Internet, and then activated and operated by said communication platform wherein the communication platform involves transfer of both voice and video between the parties. Preferably, the item is stored on a CD or hard disc, and then activated by said communication platform.

Preferably, the literature item also comprises animation.

Brief Description of the Drawings

- Fig. 1 shows the general structure of the system for reading together according to an embodiment of the invention; and

- Figs. 2a and 2b each shows a page of the literature item, as appearing on the screens of the adult and child respectively, together with a live video display, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

As said, today's lifestyle involves many cases in which there is a geographic separation between grandparents and grandchildren, or between parents and their children. Such a geographic separation exhibits a significant problem to both sides, preventing them from performing many family activities that would otherwise be possible. One of such activities is the reading together of children literature.

The absence of such family activities reduces important one to one interactions and contacts that are key elements for creating strong and healthy personal relations between family members of different generations. Such, absence of common activities between different- generation family members may lead to weakening of the family structure, and may create growing frustrations within the family members.

The need, desire, and demand to establish and maintain strong connections by such common and meaningful activities exist, and usually strengthen when family members of different generations (such as grandparents and grandchildren) are physically far one from the other.

Missing such inter-generation activities eliminates the capabilities of the children from benefiting from the wisdom, knowledge and love that adults, especially grandparents can bring to their grandchildren.

As said, an object of the present invention is to provide a system enabling adult and child parties that are located remote one from the other to perform a synchronized reading-together activity of an electronic children literature.

Fig. 1 shows the general structure of a system for reading-together according to an embodiment of the present invention. The adult and child computers are indicated by A and C respectively. One of the two computers, the one which contains the item 111 initiates the session, and serves as a "master" computer, and the other computer serves as a "slave" computer. The master computer, in this case the adult computer A, maintains three main channels between the two computers: (1) a data channel 102, which transfers the literature item images from the master computer (in this case the adult computer A) to the slave computer C; (2) A video (including audio) channel 103, which transfers live video and sound between the computers. More particularly, a live video and sound as created at the adult computer A using the camera and microphone 26a and 24a respectively, is transferred from the adult computer A to the slave computer C, and vice versa, a live video and sound, as created using the camera and microphone 26c and 24c respectively, is transferred from the child computer C to the adult computer A; and (3) a synchronization channel 104 for transferring the adult mouse activity from the adult computer A to the child computer C, and the child mouse activity from child computer C to the adult computer A. Two synchronization modules are used at the two computers, in order to transfer the corresponding local mouse activity to the other computer, and to receive the mouse activity from the other computer, and to show at each of the adult and child screens the mouse indicators of both computers. More particularly, the adult uses his mouse to control the item which runs locally on his computer, while mouse displacement and mouse control signals as applied by the child by means of his mouse are transferred to the master computer A, and they also applied to control the running literature item. It should be noted that the literature item which runs at the master computer provides equal control to both, computers over item 111, while the displayed item pages are synchronized at the two screens, as any change in the display of the item at the master computer is immediately transferred to the slave computer and displayed there. Furthermore, the two mouse indicators at each of the two computers are shown distinguished in shape one from the other. In one embodiment, the reading together system of the present invention is incorporated with a peer to peer communication platform such as of Skype.com or ICQ.com.

In order to initiate the reading activity, a first party (in the computer where the item is located, i.e., the master computer) activates the item, and then he initiates contact over the Internet with the slave computer, by providing the slave computer IP address. Upon confirmation of the session by the second party, the literature item processing module 38 at the master computer (as said, in this case the adult computer A) initiates a simultaneous display of the first page of the item on the screens of both the child and adult computers A and C respectively. From this moment, the display is synchronized at said two computers (i.e., a same page of the item appears always on the screens of both computers). Furthermore, the item processing module 38 receives live video (or in some cases, although less preferable only sound) from each of said parties A and C cameras and microphones 26a, 26c, and 24a and 24c, and incorporates the live video of user of the master computer A within the images that are sent to the slave computer C (i.e., to the screen at the slave computer via the display module 39), and vice versa, it incorporates the live video of the user of the slave computer within the item images that are sent to the screen of the master computer A, thereby enabling each party to hear and view the other party. The live video is displayed on a portion (generally small portion) of each party screen, and the item images are displayed at another portion of the screen. Furthermore, as said, the processing unit 38, by receiving input from synchronization unit 105a, creates and shows on the screen of each party two mouse indicators, a first mouse indicator is the indicator of the party own mouse, and the second mouse indicator is the mouse indicator of the other party. Said two displayed mouse indicators are distinguished by shape, enabling the parties to determine to which party each mouse indicator relates. As said, preferably the adult and child have equal control over the item. More particularly, the adult can control the application running at his computer in a conventional manner. The child, who views synchronously same item image as displayed at the adult screen, uses his mouse in a normal manner, but the child control signals are transferred over the mouse synchronization channel to the synchronization unit 105a, which in turn transfers the control signal to processing unit 38, which in turn applies the control signal as originated from the mouse of the child over the running item. Of course, any change in the state of the item which is resulted from either the mouse of the adult or from the mouse of the child, is synchronized at the screens of both computers.

The structure as described with respect to Fig. 1 is only an example. There are other ways by which the invention can be carried out to provide the desired system, by which the literature item is displayed synchronously at the two computers, together with the mouse pointers of both users in each screen, and while enabling equal control over the item to both users.

Fig. 2a shows an exemplary display at the adult (grandparent) computer A, and Fig. 2b shows an exemplary display at the child computer C according to an embodiment of the present invention. A page 15 of the activated literature item is displayed at the right side of the screen, and it generally spans most of the screen. In this case, the page includes both text 20 and pictures 21. The live video 18 showing the other party is shown at the upper-left portion of the screen. As said, the video channel also includes audio. The item page number 16 is also indicated, together with forward and backward buttons 17a and 17b respectively. As previously said, the screens of both parties are synchronized, and therefore any page or display from the item is displayed simultaneously at the two computers. The control over the portion of the item which is displayed (for example, which page of the book is displayed) is possible from either computers, but in any case, any change to the display is effected at the other party computer as well, in such a manner that both parties see the same display of the item at any given time.

Preferably, the literature item also includes various dynamic animation features and activities, as is common in the art of electronic books. However, in contrast to the prior art in which the item, and therefore the animation, are effected locally on the display of a single computer, according to the present invention the item pages, as well as any animation thereof are effected and displayed simultaneously on the screens of both parties no matter which party activated them. The animation features, which when available (their availability may be indicated by a specific mark on the screen) add an additional dimension to the excitement of the reading together.

As said, the display at each party computer preferably shows two mouse indicators, a first indicator 19a of the adult, and a second mouse indicator 19c of the child, that are differentiated by shape (or size) one from the other. For example (not shown), the mouse indicator 19a of the adult may be in a form of a face of an older person, while the mouse indicator 19c of the child may be in a form of a face of a young child. In such a manner, each party can follow also the mouse activity of the other. In such a manner, for example, when the display shows a house, the adult may say: "Dear grandson, let's see what is within the house". Then, the child may see on his screen the adult mouse indicator 19a moves toward the house, activating the animation associated with it, and showing the house interior. The activation of the animation may be involved by a simultaneous sound of both the parties (the child and/or the adult), as well as the sound associated with the item animation.

In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic literature item is provided on a CD, and it is sold with the reading together option embedded with it. In another embodiment of the present invention, a platform is provided for the reading together, while the electronic literature item is a conventional one. In still another embodiment of the present invention, the option of the reading together is embedded within a communication platform for communicating video and audio between two parties, such as the one distributed by Skype.com, or ICQ.com, while the literature item is a conventional one which is downloaded from an Internet site, or activated from a CD.

It should be noted that the system of the invention may easily be adapted to provide reading-together of a children electronic literature item in more than two locations. This can be done in a manner similar to the manner as described above. This option is not be discussed in detail for the sake of brevity. WMIe some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be put into practice with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An adult-child system for the reading together of an electronic children literature item at two remote internet computers, comprising:

- A master computer and a slave computer that are located remote one from the other, and are connected via the Internet;

- Two mouse devices, one at each of said computers;

- An item processing unit at the master computer for activating an electronic literature item, and displaying the same synchronously at a first screen portion of each of said two computers, said processing unit also applies mouse control over the item as received from both the local mouse of the master computer and from the mouse of the slave computer;

- Two mouse synchronization units, one at each computer, for communicating one with the other, and synchronizing the mouse pointer displays at screens of said two computers, thereby to show at each screen the movements of both mouse pointers and their control effects over the literature item at each of said two screens, said mouse pointers being displayed distinguished by shape one from the other; and - Microphone and camera at the two computers and a video communication channel between the two computers, for displaying at a second portion of the screen of each of said two computers a live video and sound of the user of the other computer.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the electronic literature item is activated at the master of said two computers, and an image of said electronic literature is also sent and synchronously displayed at the slave of said computers.

3. System according to claim 1, which operates over a communication platform for communicating between two users over the Internet, and wherein the communication involves transfer of both voice and video between the parties..

4. System according to claim 3, wherein the item is downloaded from the Internet, and then activated and operated by said communication platform wherein the communication platform involves transfer of both voice and video between the parties.

5. System according to claim 3, wherein the item is stored on a CD or hard disc, and then activated by said communication platform.

6. System according to claim 1, wherein the literature item also

comprises animation.