PROTECTIVE COVER, LISTENING BOX AND METHOD OF OPERATION FOR A LISTENING BOX

Abstract

A protective cover (1) for a listening box (2), which preferably at least partially surrounds the listening box in a closely fitting and protective manner and which contains an NFC chip (4) having an identifier that can be read by an NFC reading unit of the listening box (2). The NFC reading unit is operatively connected to a controller of the listening box (2) in order to influence operation of the listening box (2), in particular the selection of media content and the reproduction thereof, based on the identifier.

Claims

1. A protective cover (1) for a listening box (2), comprising: a sleeve that at least partially covers the listening box; and an NFC chip (4) having an identifier that can be read by an NFC reading unit of the listening box (2), the NFC reading unit being operatively connected to a controller of the listening box (2) in order to influence operation of the listening box (2) based on the identifier.

2. The protective cover (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operation of the listening box (2) matches or is matchable to the protective cover based on an appearance of the protective cover (1).

3. The protective cover (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the operation of the listening box (2) matches or is matchable to the protective cover based on a color or other recognizable quality of the protective cover (1).

4. The protective cover (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifier is adapted to cause a change in a readout on a display (3) of the listening box (2).

5. The protective cover (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the NFC reading unit of the listening box (2) is configured to read a further identifier from a further NFC chip (6), and a controller of the listening box (2) is configured to control the operation of the listening box (2) based on a combination of the identifier and the further identifier.

6. The protective cover (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve at least partially surrounds the listening box in a closely fitting and protective manner.

7. The protective cover (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operation of the listening box is influenced for a selection of media content and a reproduction thereof.

8. A listening box (2) having the protective cover (1) as claimed in claim 1.

9. The listening box (2) as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a display (3).

10. The listening box (2) as claimed in claim 8, further comprising an identification carrier comprising an NFC chip (6).

11. A method for operating a listening box (2), comprising: at least partially covering the listening box (2) with the protective cover (1) as claimed in claim 1; reading the identifier of the NFC chip (4) by an NFC reading unit of the listening box (2), the NFC reading unit being operatively connected to a controller of the listening box (2); and operating the listening box (2) as specified by the controller based on the identifier.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein operating the listening box (2) includes selecting and reproducing media content.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising matching the operating of the listening box (2) to the protective cover based on an appearance of the protective cover (1).

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the appearance includes at least one of a color or other recognizable quality of the protective cover (1).

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising changing a readout on a display (3) of the listening box (2) based on the identifier.

16. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the NFC reading unit of the listening box (2) reading a further identifier from a further NFC chip (6); and the controller of the listening box (2) controlling the operation of the listening box (2) based on a combination of the identifier and the further identifier.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the reading of the further identifier from the further NFC chip (6) is via the NFC reading unit.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the controlling of the operation includes selection of media content and reproduction thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The FIGURE shows a nonlimiting possible embodiment of the invention in two (partial) images A, B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Image A shows a listening box 2 having a display (light grey) 3 and a random neutral content, here e.g. with a screensaver or an audiobook in the readout.

[0028] The product in image A can now be covered with specific clothing or protective packaging, here e.g. protective sleeves (protective covers) 1, for the purpose of protection or beautification, as shown in image B. The sleeves 1 can correspond e.g. to animals, without restriction. The red sleeve 1 (left) could be e.g. a squirrel, the orange sleeve 1 (middle) a tiger, and the yellow sleeve 1 (right) a parrot.

[0029] Each of the sleeves 1 incorporates an NFC chip 4 with an identifier, which provides the system (that is to say the box 2 and possibly a server (not shown) operatively connected to the box 2) with a signal indicating which animal should appear in the display 3 when an NFC reading unit (not shown) of the box 2 reads the identifier. If the sleeve is e.g. the orange tiger protective cover, the tiger is seen. The box 2, or the server, provides the relevant media content.

[0030] The tiger can now interact with the child, is controlled by an Al, inter alia, and solves everyday problems together with the child, but also informs the child about the latest stories available on the box 2, or the server.

[0031] The box 2 can interact in a known manner with other identification carriers 5, e.g. cards, that also have an NFC chip 6 with a further identifier.

[0032] If e.g. a teeth brushing card 5 is inserted into the box 2 or otherwise put together with it so that the NFC reading unit of the box 2 can read the identifier of the chip 6, the tiger will brush its teeth together with the child and teach it with teeth brushing songs and brushing explanations. The media content that is output by the box 2 is thus coordinated with a combination of the two identifiers (tiger cover 1+teeth brushing card 5).

[0033] The same happens when a time card is inserted. The time can be read from the display 3, but the tiger also reads out the time to the child or explains how the clock works.

[0034] News cards in collaboration with TV or children's channels can also be implemented in this way, or the box 2 can use contact cards to set up communication (via the Internet) with parents etc. In each case, this is presented to the child by their tiger friend, the parrot or the squirrel, depending on the protective cover 1 used.

[0035] Alternatively, a user menu of the box 2 can also be used to select and assign the animal friend if e.g. the NFC connection between the box 2 and the protective cover 1 is not available or does not work.