Interactive toy system

• US 20100041304A1
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Henry L. Eisenson
• Original Assignee: Henry L. Eisenson
• Inventors: Eisenson, Henry L.
• Application Number:
  US12/378,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20100041304A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/297
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds

Abstract

An interactive networked toy system comprised of objects that enter into meaningful and entertaining dialog with each other and with the Child that plays with them.

Claims

1. A system comprised of circuits, software, and operating methods by which at least two nodes of an interactive toy generate the illusion of interaction with each other and with a human participant.

2. The system of claim 1 in which interaction between the system and the human participant is via electronic speech recognition circuitry by the system and via normal hearing by the human.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein a single central node of said interactive toy includes all necessary data storage, data processing, microphone, speech detection, text-to-speech conversion, and a radio transmitter.

4. The system of claim 3 in which each of the other nodes of said interactive toy includes only a radio receiver, amplifier, and speaker.

5. The system of claim 4 in which each of the other nodes of said system also includes a transmitter function that permits the central node to know when each of the satellite nodes is proximate and turned on.

6. Software of claim 1 that controls the radio signals transmitted by the central node of claim 3 to the satellite nodes of claim 4.

7. An externally-programmable database of responses and comments contained in the central node of claim 3, with associated text-to-speech circuitry.

8. A pseudo-random number generator contained in the central node of claim 3 that randomizes the selection of responses to identified phrases and words generated either by the human participant and detected by speech detection of claim 3 or by the previous phrases and words generated by other nodes.

9. A wireless or wired connection between the system of claim 1 and an external computer, by which the programming of the central node can be modified, updated, or replaced.