Interactive device with sound-based action synchronization

Abstract

An interactive amusement device and a method therefor are disclosed. The device plays a musical soundtrack in a first game iteration. A sequence of user input actions received during this learning mode is detected, and an output signal is generated in response. Timestamps for each of the user input actions is stored into memory. Additionally, the output signal is generated on at least one interval of the user input actions based on the stored timestamps, and is coordinated with the play back of a second musical soundtrack during a second game iteration.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A method for amusement on an interactive device including a data processing apparatus with one or more inputs and one or more outputs, the method comprising:
 playing on the interactive device continuously and uninterrupted a first soundtrack;   detecting a sequence of user input actions at points during the playing of the first soundtrack via one of the inputs of the data processing apparatus;   storing into a memory connected to the data processing apparatus timestamp markers corresponding to the points of each of the detected sequence of user input actions, each of the timestamp markers designating a time instant at which the respective user input action was detected relative to the first soundtrack and corresponding to one of a plurality of time intervals uniformly segmented over an entire length of the first soundtrack; and   generating outputs from the one of the outputs of the data processing apparatus on at least one interval of the received sequence of user input actions, the outputs coinciding in time relative to the points along the playing of the first soundtrack as correspondingly designated by the timestamp markers therefor;   wherein the outputs are selected from a group consisting of: an audio signal, an visual animation sequence, and a mechanical actuator activation, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the outputs are generated in response to a detection of one of the sequence of user input actions. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the outputs are generated based upon the recorded timestamps and while playing back a second soundtrack at a time different from playing the first soundtrack. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the first soundtrack is the same as the second soundtrack. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the first soundtrack is different from the second soundtrack. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 measuring a number of user input actions detected as a count value;   wherein the output is based at least in part on the count value.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein playing the first soundtrack includes:
 retrieving digital representations of the first soundtrack from the memory; and   generating an audio signal of the first soundtrack from the digital representation.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 generating an audible instructional command prior to playing the first soundtrack.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the user input action corresponds to a sound produced by the user externally to the interactive device;   detecting the sequence of user input actions includes receiving an electrical audio signal from a transducer converting the sound.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the output audio signal is the sound produced by the user corresponding to the user input action. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the output audio signal is pre-recorded. 
     
     
         47 . A method for amusement on an interactive device including a data processing apparatus with one or more inputs and one or more outputs, the method comprising:
 playing on an interactive device continuously and uninterrupted a first soundtrack;   detecting a sequence of audio input signals externally generated by a user at points during the playing of the first soundtrack via one of the inputs of the data processing apparatus; and   generating outputs from one of the outputs of the data processing apparatus on at least one interval of the received sequence of audio input signals, the outputs coinciding in time relative to the points along the playing of the first soundtrack when the respective audio input signal of the sequence of audio input signals was detected relative to the first soundtrack and corresponding to one of a plurality of time intervals uniformly segmented over an entire length of the first soundtrack;   wherein the outputs are selected from a group consisting of: an audio signal, an visual animation sequence, a mechanical actuator activation, or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the outputs are generated in response to a detection of one of the sequence of audio input signals. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the outputs are generated based upon the recorded timestamps and while playing back a second soundtrack at a time different from playing the first soundtrack. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the first soundtrack is the same as the second soundtrack 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the first soundtrack is different from the second soundtrack. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising:
 measuring a number of audio input signals detected as a count value;   wherein the output is based at least in part on the count value.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein playing the first soundtrack includes:
 retrieving digital representations of the first soundtrack from the memory; and   generating an audio signal of the first soundtrack from the digital representation.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising:
 generating an audible instructional command prior to playing the first soundtrack.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein:
 the audio input signal corresponds to a sound produced by the user externally to the interactive device;   detecting the sequence of audio input signals includes receiving an electrical audio signal from a transducer converting the sound.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the output audio signal is the sound produced by the user corresponding to the audio input signal.