Hallmark Cards, Inc.

Nicholas Pedersen

Max Jefferies Younger

Christopher Jason Shields

Kevin John Bridges

Jill Marie Klegin

Jennifer R Garbos

Scott A Schimke

Robert E Langley

Ma Lap Man

Amy E Cecil

Amy J Kligman

Danielle M Caldwell

Angela C Ensminger

Kiersten Wilmes

Tyler James Richmond

Charles O'Shields

Kevin J Bridges

A greeting card and associated techniques for storing audio tracks corresponding to definable touch zones of the greeting card is provided. In one aspect, the greeting card includes a body for securing a photograph thereon. A sensor array can be disposed within the body of the greeting card to detect touch gestures through the secured photograph, among other things. The greeting card can include a microprocessor that enables touch zones to be defined via the sensor array, such that a touch zone can correspond to various objects depicted on the card or a photograph secured thereon. Among other things, the greeting card can include a microphone for recording an audio track corresponding to each generated touch zone, a speaker for playing back an audio track corresponding to a selected touch zone, and a memory for storing touch zones and/or associated audio tracks.

Recordable greeting card with user-definable touch zones

Systems, methods, and devices for recording, sharing, and storing an audio segment are provided. A user's audio segment is recorded by a recording device, in response to an audible prompt generated by the recording device. In some embodiments, the recording device provides a signal to the user that a recording session is in progress. Having recorded the audio segment, the recording device provides a reply to the user's recording, simulating a conversation between the recording device and the user. In embodiments, the recording device transfers the recorded audio to a sharing device for playback of the recorded audio segment. Further, the recorded audio segment may be transferred to a storage device, for storage and retrieval of the audio segment at a later date. The components of the recording device may be housed inside a commercial embodiment, such as a stuffed toy, for concealed recording of the user's audio segment.

System for recording, sharing, and storing audio

Aspects of the present invention enable a storage device (e.g., a recordable book, toy, computing device) to be controlled with a single control button that performs multiple functions. Different interactions with the button produce a different control input. In one aspect, the storage device is an audio recording device that can record, lock, unlock, transfer to a separate storage device, or play back one or more audio recordings. These five functions (i.e., recording, locking, unlocking, transferring, and playing back) are initiated or facilitated by depressing a single button located on the audio storage device for different lengths of time or in different patterns. Audio recordings may be played in response to user interactions with the button to help the user interact with the button properly and warn the user of action that is about to be taken.

Multifunction button

A modular display frame and system for hanging a plurality of modular display frames is provided. In embodiments, a modular display frame may be magnetically coupled to other modular display frames as well as a hanging bar component to create a plurality of display iterations. Each modular display frame includes two portions, each portion partially housing at least one magnet within a corner-located pocket, in embodiments. The modular display frame further includes a rounded side for creating a range of display angles when magnetically coupled to another frame along the rounded side, as well as a flat side for facilitating upright displays and vertically stacking magnetically coupled display frames, in further embodiments. A hidden hanging feature with auto-centering ability enables the modular frame to be hung on a wall, for example.

Modular display frames and system for magnetically coupled arrangements

Embodiments of the present invention use one or more audible tones to communicate metadata during a transfer of an audio file. Embodiments of the present invention communicate an audio file from a speaker in a recording device (e.g., a recordable book, toy, computing device) to a microphone in a receiving device. The audio file is transferred by audibly broadcasting the audio file content. The audio file may be a recording made by the user (e.g., the user singing a song, a child responding to a storybook prompt intended to elicit a response). The file transfer process uses one or more audible tones, such as dual-tone multi-frequency signaling ('DTMF') tones to communicate metadata associated with the audio file. Audible tones may also be used to communicate commands that delineate the beginning and/or end of a file broadcast.

Transferring audio files

Picture frame

Growing community of inventors

Lawrence, KS, United States of America

Nicholas Pedersen