Interleaving story toy

Abstract

Provided are a method, system, and device for electronically telling a story in a predetermined narrative sequence. Alternate story parts may be substituted for each portion of the narrative sequence. Alternate story parts may be selected in accordance with selections made by a user. In the illustrated embodiment, clothing items such as a hat, for example, may be placed on a doll and replaced with different clothing items as the story progresses. As each substitute clothing item is identified, an alternate story part may be selected and substituted for playback in accordance with the identified substitute clothing items. Additional embodiments are described and claimed.

1 . A method, comprising: 
 playing a story in a predetermined narrative sequence of story parts comprising a beginning story part followed by at least one intermediate story part, followed by an end part; wherein said story playing includes:    identifying a user selection for a toy in a first interval in a chronological sequence of intervals comprising at least a beginning interval, followed by at least one intermediate interval, followed by an end interval;    selecting from a class of beginning story parts, a particular beginning story part which relates to the user selection identified in said beginning interval;    identifying a user selection for said toy in an intermediate interval of said sequence of intervals;    selecting from a class of intermediate story parts, a particular intermediate story part which relates to the selection identified in said intermediate interval; and    identifying a user selection for said toy in an end interval of said sequence of intervals; and    selecting from a class of end story parts, a particular end story part which relates to the user selection identified in said end interval;    wherein the selected beginning, intermediate and end story parts are played in the predetermined narrative sequence.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the toy is in the shape of a doll and each user selection identifying includes identifying a clothing article placed by a user on said doll.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the clothing article identified in said first interval is a first clothing item and said clothing article identified in said intermediate interval is a second clothing item different from said first clothing item wherein said played story has at least one story part related to said first clothing item and at least one story part related to said second clothing item.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said selecting an intermediate story part includes substituting an intermediate story part related to said second clothing article for an intermediate story part relating to said first clothing item wherein said substituted intermediate story part relating to said second clothing article is played instead of an intermediate story part relating to said first clothing item.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the clothing article identified in said end interval is a third clothing item different from said first and second clothing items wherein said played story has at least one story part related to said first clothing item, at least one story part related to said second clothing item and at least one story part related to said third clothing item.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said selecting an end story part includes substituting an end story part related to said third clothing article for an end story part relating to said second clothing item wherein said substituted end story part relating to said third clothing article is played instead of an end story part relating to said second clothing item.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said second clothing article identification in said intermediate interval includes identifying said second clothing article in place of said first clothing article.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said third clothing article identification in said end interval includes identifying said third clothing article in place of said second clothing article.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein each beginning part of said class of beginning story parts introduces a character related to a clothing article selectable by a user.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 2  wherein each intermediate story part of said class of intermediate story parts describes a story setting related to a clothing article selectable by a user.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 2  wherein each intermediate story part of said class of intermediate story parts describes an action taken by a character wherein the action is related to a clothing article selectable by a user.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 2  wherein each intermediate story part of said class of intermediate story parts describes a problem resulting from action taken by a character wherein the problem is related to a clothing article selectable by a user.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 2  wherein each end story part of said class of end story parts describes a resolution of a problem wherein the resolution is related to a clothing article selectable by a user.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the clothing article identified in each interval is one of a plurality of different hats.  
   
   
       15 . A toy, comprising: 
 a plurality of different clothing articles;    a doll having a plurality of sensors positioned to respond to each clothing article when placed on said doll;    a speaker coupled to said doll; and    a controller including an input circuit coupled to said sensors and an audio output circuit coupled to said speaker, wherein said controller has logic adapted to: 
 identify in response to said input circuit and said sensors, a clothing article on said doll in a first interval;  
 play an introductory part of a story through said audio output circuit and said speaker wherein the introductory part relates to the clothing article identified in said first interval;  
 identify in response to said input circuit and said sensors, a clothing article on said doll in an intermediate interval;  
 play an intermediate story part through said audio output circuit and said speaker wherein said intermediate part relates to a clothing article identified in said intermediate interval; and  
 identify in response to said input circuit and said sensors, a clothing article  
   on said doll in an end interval; and    play an end story part through said audio output circuit and said speaker wherein said conclusion part relates to a clothing article identified in said end interval.    
   
   
       16 . The toy of  claim 15  wherein the clothing article identified in said first interval is a first clothing item and said clothing article identified in said intermediate interval is a second clothing item different from said first clothing item wherein said played story has at least one story part related to said first clothing item and at least one story part related to said second clothing item.  
   
   
       17 . The toy of  claim 15  wherein said playing an intermediate story part includes substituting an intermediate story part related to said second clothing article for an intermediate story part relating to said first clothing item wherein said substituted intermediate story part relating to said second clothing article is played instead of an intermediate story part relating to said first clothing item.  
   
   
       18 . The toy of  claim 17  wherein the clothing article identified in said end interval is a third clothing item different from said first and second clothing items wherein said played story has at least one story part related to said first clothing item, at least one story part related to said second clothing item and at least one story part related to said third clothing item.  
   
   
       19 . The toy of  claim 18  wherein said playing an end story part includes substituting an end story part related to said third clothing article for an end story part relating to said second clothing item wherein said substituted conclusion story part relating to said third clothing article is played instead of an end story part relating to said second clothing item.  
   
   
       20 . The toy of  claim 16  wherein said second clothing article identification in said intermediate interval includes identifying said second clothing article in place of said first clothing article.  
   
   
       21 . The toy of  claim 18  wherein said third clothing article identification in said end interval includes identifying said third clothing article in place of said second clothing article.  
   
   
       22 . The toy of  claim 16  wherein said introductory story part being played introduces a character related to the clothing article identified in the first interval.  
   
   
       23 . The toy of  claim 15  wherein an intermediate story part being played describes a story setting related to the clothing article identified in the intermediate interval.  
   
   
       24 . The toy of  claim 15  wherein an intermediate story part being played describes an action taken by a character wherein the action is related to the clothing article identified in the intermediate interval.  
   
   
       25 . The toy of  claim 15  wherein an intermediate story part being played describes a problem resulting from action taken by a character wherein the problem is related to the clothing article identified in the intermediate interval.  
   
   
       26 . The toy of  claim 15  wherein the end story part being played describes resolution of a problem wherein the resolution is related to the clothing article identified in the end interval.  
   
   
       27 . The toy of  claim 15  wherein the clothing article identified in each interval is a hat.  
   
   
       28 . The toy of  claim 27  wherein a first clothing article is a fire fighter hat, a second clothing item is a clown hat and a third clothing item is a cowboy hat.  
   
   
       29 . The toy of  claim 15  wherein each clothing article has a magnet and each sensor includes a magnetic switch responsive to a clothing article magnet when placed in proximity to said switch.  
   
   
       30 . The toy of  claim 15  wherein the magnet of each clothing article is placed in a different location than the magnet of the other clothing articles.  
   
   
       31 . The toy of  claim 15  wherein said doll has a body and said controller and speaker are disposed within said body.