System and method for making live animals appear to talk

Abstract

A system and method for making animals appear to talk is provided. The system includes a speaker mounted on an article (such as a collar) worn by the animal. A memory stores a plurality of pre-recorded messages. These pre-recorded messages may be generic phrases to be “spoken” by all types of animals or may be messages which are based on the characteristics of a particular animal. Using a selection circuit, a user is able to selectively output the pre-recorded messages from the memory to the speaker, thereby making the animal appear to talk.

1. A system for making a live animal appear to talk, the system comprising:
 a first speaker mounted on an article worn by the animal;  
 a memory for storing pre-recorded phrases;  
 a selection circuit configured to receive user-supplied inputs; and  
 a control circuit responsive to the user-supplied inputs for selectively outputting the pre-recorded phrases from said memory to said first speaker thereby making the animal appear to talk.  
 
     
     
       2. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the pre-recorded phrases stored in said memory are based on the characteristics of the animal. 
     
     
       3. The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second speaker. 
     
     
       4. The system according to  claim 3 , wherein said memory stores two or more phrases constituting a conversation and said control circuit is responsive to the user-supplied inputs for supplying the phrases constituting the conversation to said first and second speakers. 
     
     
       5. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first speaker is connected to said control circuit over a wireless communication link. 
     
     
       6. The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor,  
 wherein said control circuit is responsive to a parameter sensed by said sensor for automatically outputting a pre-recorded phrase from said memory to said first speaker.  
 
     
     
       7. The system according to  claim 6 , wherein said parameter senses temperature. 
     
     
       8. The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a timer,  
 wherein said control circuit is responsive to said timer for periodically automatically outputting a pre-recorded phrase from said memory to said first speaker.  
 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said selection circuit comprises a touch-sensitive display screen. 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said memory comprises a portable memory module. 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said memory is adapted to have its contents updated by connection to a computer. 
     
     
       12. A system for making a pet appear to talk, the system comprising:
 a leash member for restraining the pet;  
 a collar attached to one end of said leash;  
 a speaker mounted on said collar;  
 a control panel including a memory for storing a plurality of pre-recorded phrases, a selection circuit for receiving user-supplied inputs and a control circuit responsive to the user-supplied inputs for selectively outputting the pre-recorded phrases from said memory to said speaker thereby making the pet appear to talk.  
 
     
     
       13. The system according to  claim 12 , wherein a handle is disposed at the other end of said leash and said control panel is secured to said handle. 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said control panel is connected to said speaker via a wireless link. 
     
     
       15. The system according to  claim 12 , wherein said memory comprises a portable memory module. 
     
     
       16. The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the pre-recorded phrases stored in said memory are based on the characteristics of the pet. 
     
     
       17. The system according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a sensor,  
 wherein said control circuit is responsive to a parameter sensed by said sensor for automatically outputting a pre-recorded phrase from said memory to said speaker.  
 
     
     
       18. The system according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a timer,  
 wherein said control circuit is responsive to said timer for periodically automatically outputting a pre-recorded phrase from said memory to said first speaker.  
 
     
     
       19. A method of making an  a live animal appear to talk, comprising:
 storing in a memory a plurality of pre-recorded phrases, the pre-recorded phrases being based on characteristics of the animal;  
 attaching a speaker to the animal;  
 using a selection circuit configured to receive user supplied inputs to select one of the pre-recorded phrases from said memory for output to the speaker, whereby the animal appears to talk.  
 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 storing in said memory two or more pre-recorded phrases constituting a conversation;  
 attaching another speaker to another live animal; and  
 selecting the phrases constituting the conversation from said memory for output to the speakers, whereby the live animals appear to converse with each other.  
 
     
     
       21. A system for making a live animal appear to talk, the system comprising:
   a speaker attached to the animal;        a memory for storing pre - recorded messages each including one or more spoken words;        a selection circuit configured to receive user - supplied inputs; and        a control circuit responsive to the user - supplied inputs for selectively outputting the pre - recorded messages from the memory to the speaker thereby making the animal appear to talk.     
     
     
       22. The system according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
   a sensor,        wherein the control circuit is responsive to a stimulus sensed by the sensor for automatically outputting a pre - recorded message from the memory to the speaker.     
     
     
       23. The system according to  claim 21 , wherein the selection circuit receives user- supplied manual inputs.   
     
     
       24. The system according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
   a port connectable to an external source of downloadable messages.     
     
     
       25. The system according to  claim 21 , wherein the memory comprises a selectively removable memory module. 
     
     
       26. The system according to  claim 21 , wherein the memory, the selection circuit and the control circuit are embodied in a control panel.