Method, apparatus, and system to synchronize processors in toys

• US 20040038620A1
• Filed: 08/26/2002
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spin Master Incorporated (Spin Master Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Shoot The Moon Products II LLC
• Inventors: Small, David, Farley, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,297,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/491
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

The invention generally relates to a method, apparatus, and system to synchronize timers or clocks of toys. A play-set includes a first toy having a first timer and a start button. The first toy can be designated as a master when the start button is depressed. After being designated as the master, the first toy sends a synchronization signal to begin synchronization. The play-set also includes a second toy communicatively linked to the first toy. The second toy has a second timer, and synchronizes the second timer to the first timer of the first toy in response to the synchronization signal. After timer synchronization, scripts are selected and a script start signal synchronizes the beginning of script play.

Claims

1. A plurality of toys comprising:

a first toy having a first processor, the first toy designated as a master through operator selection, the first toy to transmit a synchronization signal containing a script identification and one or more script signals to begin a synchronization process and,

a second toy having a second processor, the second toy communicatively linked to the first toy, the second toy to synchronize its script identification and its script start information with that of the first toy in response to receiving the synchronization signal.

2. The plurality of toys of claim 1, wherein

the synchronization signal includes a timing reference signal transmitted from the first toy to the second toy.

3. The plurality of toys of claim 1, wherein

the synchronization signal includes a character identification.

4. The plurality of toys of claim 1, wherein

the synchronization signal includes a processor wake up signal transmitted from the first toy to the second toy.

5. The plurality of toys of claim 4, wherein

the second processor of the second toy wakes up out of a sleep state in response to the processor wake up signal.

6. The plurality of toys of claim 1, further comprising:

a third toy having a third processor, the third toy communicatively linked to the first toy, the third toy to synchronize its script identification and its script start information with that of the first toy in response to receiving the synchronization signal.

7. The plurality of toys of claim 6, wherein

the first, second and third toys to perform scripts independent of each other after the synchronization process.

8. The plurality of toys of claim 6, further comprising:

a fourth toy having a fourth processor, the fourth toy communicatively linked to the first toy, the fourth toy to synchronize its script identification and its script start information with that of the first toy in response to receiving the synchronization signal.

9. The plurality of toys of claim 8, wherein

the first, second, third, and fourth toys to perform scripts independent of each other after the synchronization process.

10. The plurality of toys of claim 9, wherein

the synchronization signal includes a processor wake up signal transmitted from the first toy to the second, third, and fourth toys and

the second, third, and fourth processors of the second, third, and fourth toys respectively wake up out of a sleep state in response to the processor wake up signal.

11. A play-set for children comprising:

a first toy having a first timer and a first button, the first toy designated as a master in response to selection of the first button, the first toy to send a synchronization signal to begin synchronization; and

a second toy communicatively linked to the first toy, the second toy having a second timer, the second toy to synchronize the second timer to the first timer of the first toy in response to the synchronization signal.

12. The play-set of claim 11, wherein

the second toy is physically coupled to the first toy to facilitate wired communication.

13. The play-set of claim 11, further comprising:

a stage physically coupled to the first toy and the second toy to facilitate wired communication between the first toy and the second toy.

14. The play-set of claim 11, wherein

the first toy and the second toy to communicate using wireless communication.

15. The play-set of claim 11, wherein

the first toy to exit out of a sleep mode after the first button is selected.

16. The play-set of claim 11, wherein

the first toy to send a wake-up signal to the second toy to tell the second toy to exit out of a sleep mode.

17. The play-set of claim 11, wherein

the second toy sends an acknowledgement signal to the first toy, and the first toy operates in multi-unit mode in response to the acknowledgement signal.

18. The play-set of claim 11, wherein

the second toy to send a roll-call signal to the first toy to announce that the second toy is present.

19. The play-set of claim 11, wherein

the first toy to send a script identification (ID) to the second toy to select a script.

20. The play-set of claim 11, wherein

the first toy and the second toy to perform roles in a selected script by generating sounds.

21. The play-set of claim 11, wherein

the first toy to transmit a script start signal to the second toy to simultaneously start a scripted sequence.

22. A play-set for children comprising:

a master toy having a first timer, the master toy sending a synchronization signal to begin synchronization; and

at least one slave toy communicatively linked to the master toy, the at least one toy having a second timer, the at least one toy to synchronize the second timer to the first timer of the master toy in response to the synchronization signal.

23. The play-set of claim 22, wherein

the at least one slave toy is physically coupled to the master toy to facilitate wired communication.

24. The play-set of claim 22, further comprising:

a stage physically coupled to the master toy and the at least one slave toy to facilitate wired communication between the master toy and the at least one slave toy.

25. The play-set of claim 22, wherein

the master toy and the at least one slave toy to communicate using wireless communication.

26. The play-set of claim 22, wherein

the master toy sends a wake-up signal to the at least one slave toy to tell the at least one slave toy to exit a sleep mode.

27. The play-set of claim 22, wherein

the at least one slave toy send an acknowledgement signal to the master toy, and the master toy to operate in a multi-unit mode in response to the acknowledgement signal.

28. The play-set of claim 22, wherein

the at least one slave toy to send a roll-call signal to the master toy to announce their presence.

29. The play-set of claim 22, wherein

the master toy sends a script start signal to the at least one slave toy to simultaneously start a scripted sequence.

30. The play-set of claim 22, wherein

the master toy to send a script identification (ID) to the at least one slave toy to select a script.

31. The play-set of claim 22, wherein

the master toy and the at least one slave toy to perform roles in a selected script by generating audible sounds.

32. A method comprising:

selecting a first toy to designate as a master, sending a synchronization signal from the first toy to begin synchronization; and

synchronizing a timer of a second toy to a timer of the first toy when the second toy receives the synchronization signal sent by the first toy.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

coupling the second toy to the first toy to facilitate wired communication.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

coupling the first toy and the second toy to a stage to facilitate wired communication between the first toy and the second toy.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

using wireless communication to facilitate communication between the first toy and the second toy.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

sending a wake-up signal from the first toy to the second toy to tell the second toy to restart.

37. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

sending an acknowledgement signal from the second toy to the first toy to tell the first toy to operate in multi-unit mode.

38. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

sending a roll-call signal from the second toy to the first toy to announce that the second toy is present.

39. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

sending a script identification (ID) from the first toy to the second toy to select a script.

40. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

sending a start signal from the first toy to the second toy to synchronize script play.

41. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

generating sounds when the first toy and the second toy perform roles in a selected script.

42. The method of claim 32, wherein

the selecting a first toy to designate as a master is preformed by pressing a button to close a switch.

43. The method of claim 32, wherein

the selecting a first toy to designate as a master is preformed by sliding a slideable knob to close a switch.

44. A toy comprising:

a button to facilitate designation of the toy as a master; and

a first processor operatively coupled to the button, the processor having a first timer, the first processor to send a synchronization signal to tell a second toy to synchronize a second timer of a second processor to the first timer of the first processor.

45. The toy of claim 44, further comprising:

a transmitter operatively coupled to the first processor to transmit outgoing signals to the second toy; and

a receiver operatively coupled to the first processor to receive incoming signals from the second toy.

46. The toy of claim 45, wherein

the transmitter is a wireless transmitter to transmit outgoing wireless signals to the second toy;

and

the receiver is a wireless receiver to receive incoming wireless signals from the second toy.

47. The toy of claim 45, wherein

the transmitter is a wired transmitter to transmit outgoing wired signals to the second toy;

and

the receiver is a wired receiver to receive incoming wired signals from the second toy.

48. The toy of claim 44, wherein

the button is a switch.

49. The toy of claim 44, further comprising:

a speaker operatively coupled to the first processor to facilitate generation of sounds in accordance with a selected script.

50. The toy of claim 44, further comprising:

a script to simulate interaction between toy characters in a play-set.

51. The toy of claim 50, wherein

the first processor of the first toy to further send a start signal to tell the second processor of the second toy to begin script play.

52. The toy of claim 51, wherein

the start signal to synchronize script play.

53. The toy of claim 50, wherein

the script is stored in the first processor.

54. The toy of claim 50, further comprising:

a memory operatively coupled to the first processor to store the script.

55. A toy system comprising:

a plurality of toys communicatively linked to each other, each of the plurality of toys having

a battery to provide power;

a processor coupled to the battery to receive power, the processor receiving a clock and including a timer, the timer to determine time as a function of the clock;

a selectable switch coupled to the processor, the selectable switch to designate one of the plurality of toys as a master toy and the remainder of the plurality of toys as slave toys;

wherein the master toy to send a synchronization signal to the slave toys; and

wherein the slave toys to synchronize their timers to the timer of the master toy in response to the synchronization signal.

56. The toy system of claim 55, wherein

the plurality of toys are momentarily physically coupled together to facilitate wired communication during synchronization.

57. The toy system of claim 55, further comprising:

a stage physically coupled to the plurality of toys to facilitate wired communication between the plurality of toys during synchronization.

58. The toy system of claim 55, wherein

the plurality of toys further have

a wireless transmitter so that the master can wirelessly transmit the synchronization signal;

and

a wireless receiver so that the slaves can wirelessly receive the synchronization signal.

59. The toy system of claim 55, wherein

wherein the master toy to send a start script signal to the slave toys and begin script play;

and

wherein the slave toys to synchronize the beginning of their script with the start script signal and begin script play in response thereto.

60. A method for toys comprising:

selecting a first toy as a master toy;

determining how many other toys are in a neighborhood with the first toy, the other toys being slave toys to the first toy;

assigning scripts to the first toy and the slave toys; and

synchronizing the beginning of the scripts of the slave toys with the script of the master toy.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

synchronizing timers of the slave toys with a timer of the master toy.

62. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

playing the script of the master toy and the scripts of the slave toys.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein

the master toy and the slave toys generate sounds in response to playing their respective scripts.