Portable handheld device for enabling interactivity of video content

Abstract

A game control unit includes a computer processor for executing game logic stored on a removable memory device. Rich, audiovisual content for the interactive gaming experience is provided on a digital video disk (DVD) in small clips which are selectively played back in a standard DVD player under control of the game control unit. Specifically, the game control unit mimics standard remote control signals to control playback of the audiovisual content by the DVD player. The game control unit automatically determines which of a number of pages of a book are positioned over a touch-sensitive pad and interprets user input gestures according to a context associated with the viewable page.

1 . A method for executing an interactive computer program, the method comprising: 
 determining that a selected one of two or more pages is viewable by a user;    receiving user-generated signals representative of a response of the user to stimuli presented by an external electronic device;    selecting content to be presented to the user responsive to the user-generated signals, wherein the content is selected (i) from a database representing a collection of available content which is available to the external electronic device and (ii) in accordance with the selected page; and    issuing one or more control signals to the external electronic device to cause the external electronic device to display the content.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the control signals cause the external electronic device to display the content from a memory storage medium installed in the external electronic device.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the memory storage medium is a digital video disk.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the database is stored in a removable storage cartridge which is separate from the memory storage medium.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the removable storage cartridge is readable by a remote electronic device which is separate from the external electronic device.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein determining, receiving, selecting, and issuing are performed by the remote electronic device.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the user-generated signals represent a sensed touching of a touch-sensitive pad of the remote electronic device through one or more of the pages.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pages are each a single side of one or more leaves of a book.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein determining comprises: 
 determining which side of which leaf of the book is viewable by the user.    
   
   
       10 . A storage medium useful in association with an electronic device which includes a processor, the storage medium including instructions which are configured to cause the electronic device to interact with a user by: 
 determining that a selected one of two or more pages is viewable by the user;    receiving user-generated signals representative of a response of the user to stimuli presented by an external electronic device, wherein the external electronic device is separate from the first-mentioned electronic device;    selecting content to be presented to the user responsive to the user-generated signals, wherein the content is selected (i) from a database which is stored on the storage medium and which represents a collection of available content which is available to the external electronic device and (ii) in accordance with the selected page; and    issuing one or more control signals to the external electronic device to cause the external electronic device to display the content.    
   
   
       11 . The storage medium of  claim 10  wherein the control signals cause the external electronic device to display the content from a memory storage medium installed in the external electronic device.  
   
   
       12 . The storage medium of  claim 11  wherein the memory storage medium is a digital video disk.  
   
   
       13 . The storage medium of  claim 11  wherein the database is stored in a removable storage cartridge which is separate from the memory storage medium.  
   
   
       14 . The storage medium of  claim 10  wherein the user-generated signals represent a sensed touching of a touch-sensitive pad of the electronic device through one or more of the pages.  
   
   
       15 . The storage medium of  claim 10  wherein the pages are each a single side of one or more leaves of a book.  
   
   
       16 . The storage medium of  claim 15  wherein determining comprises: 
 determining which side of which leaf of the book is viewable by the user.    
   
   
       17 . An electronic device comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory connector which is operatively coupled to the processor and which is connectable to a removable storage device; and    an interactive module (i) which executes in the processor from the removable storage device and (ii) which, when executed by the processor, causes the electronic device to interact with a user by: 
 determining that a selected one of two or more pages is viewable by the user;  
 receiving user-generated signals representative of a response of the user to stimuli presented by an external electronic device, wherein the external electronic device is separate from the electronic device;  
 selecting content to be presented to the user responsive to the user-generated signals, wherein the content is selected (i) from a database which is stored on the removable storage device and which represents a collection of available content which is available to the external electronic device and (ii) in accordance with the selected page; and  
 issuing one or more control signals to the external electronic device to cause the external electronic device to display the content.  
   
   
   
       18 . The electronic device of  claim 17  wherein the control signals cause the external electronic device to display the content from a memory storage medium installed in the external electronic device.  
   
   
       19 . The electronic device of  claim 18  wherein the memory storage medium is a digital video disk.  
   
   
       20 . The electronic device of  claim 18  wherein the database is stored in a removable storage cartridge which is separate from the memory storage medium.  
   
   
       21 . The electronic device of  claim 17  wherein the user-generated signals represent a sensed touching of a touch-sensitive pad of the electronic device through one or more of the pages.  
   
   
       22 . The electronic device of  claim 17  wherein the pages are each a single side of one or more leaves of a book.  
   
   
       23 . The electronic device of  claim 22  wherein determining comprises: 
 determining which side of which leaf of the book is viewable by the user.