WIRELESS TOY SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT
First Claim
1. A system for use in interactive entertainment, the system comprising:
- a plurality of toy characters, each of the plurality of toy characters comprising an outer covering;
a plurality of wireless transponders, each of the plurality of wireless transponders being enclosed within a respective one of the plurality of toy characters and comprising a memory for storing character information associated with the respective toy character, each of the plurality of wireless transponders being further configured to communicate the character information wirelessly through the outer covering of the respective toy character without requiring exposure of the wireless transponder;
at least one transceiver configured to receive the character information from the wireless transponder of each of the plurality of toy characters; and
a computing device in communication with the at least one transceiver and configured to track a progress of each of a plurality of users in an interactive game based at least on the character information received by the at least one transceiver from the wireless transponders. of the plurality of toy characters, each of the users being associated with at least one of the plurality of toy characters.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A playmate toy or similar children'"'"'s toy is provided having associated wireless, batteryless ID tag that can be read from and/or written to using a radio-frequency communication protocol. The tag is mounted internally within a cavity of the toy and thereby provides wireless communication of stored information without requiring removal and reinsertion of the tag. In this manner, a stuffed animal or other toy can be quickly and easily identified non-invasively, without damaging the toy. Additional information (e.g., unique personality traits, special powers, skill levels, etc.) can also be stored on the ID tag, thus providing further personality enhancement, input/output programming, simulated intelligence and/or interactive gaming possibilities.
222 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for use in interactive entertainment, the system comprising:
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a plurality of toy characters, each of the plurality of toy characters comprising an outer covering; a plurality of wireless transponders, each of the plurality of wireless transponders being enclosed within a respective one of the plurality of toy characters and comprising a memory for storing character information associated with the respective toy character, each of the plurality of wireless transponders being further configured to communicate the character information wirelessly through the outer covering of the respective toy character without requiring exposure of the wireless transponder; at least one transceiver configured to receive the character information from the wireless transponder of each of the plurality of toy characters; and a computing device in communication with the at least one transceiver and configured to track a progress of each of a plurality of users in an interactive game based at least on the character information received by the at least one transceiver from the wireless transponders. of the plurality of toy characters, each of the users being associated with at least one of the plurality of toy characters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for tracking an individual in an entertainment environment, the method comprising:
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providing a toy character to a participant in an interactive entertainment environment, the toy character comprising a transponder enclosed therein and comprising a memory for storing character information associated with the respective toy character; providing a plurality of transceivers distributed throughout an entertainment environment; wirelessly receiving with a first transceiver of the plurality of transceivers the character information from the transponder without requiring exposure of the transponder through an outer covering of the toy character; wirelessly receiving with a second transceiver of the plurality of transceivers the character information from the transponder without requiring exposure of the transponder through an outer covering of the toy character; communicating the character information from the first and second transceivers to a centralized computing device; and tracking with the centralized computing device a progress of the participant within the interactive entertainment environment based on the character information, the progress being indicative of at least a number of predetermined locations visited by the participant in the interactive entertainment environment. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An interactive toy system for child entertainment, the interactive toy system comprising:
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means for receiving a wireless signal; a toy character comprising, means for storing character information, said storing means being disposed within an outer layer of the toy character, and means for transmitting through the outer layer the character information via the wireless signal to said receiving means without requiring exposure of said transmitting means to said receiving means; and means for maintaining data indicative of a completion of one or more events by a user of the toy character, the data being based at least in part on the character information received by said receiving means, said maintaining means being remote to the toy character and in communication with said receiving means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification