SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMMUNICATION

• US 20110009175A1
• Filed: 03/11/2009
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: In-Dot Limited
• Original Assignee: In-Dot Limited
• Inventors: Cohen, Moshe, Raichman, Yossef
• Granted Patent: US 8,591,302 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/36 Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for using a toy for communicating with a client terminal. The method comprises encoding at least one interacting information as at least one flickering control instruction and using a toy element having a light emitting unit for emitting light according to the at least one flickering control instruction, thereby transmitting the interacting information to a client terminal. The client terminal is configured for capturing the emitted light using an image capturing device and decoding the at least one interacting information therefrom.

Claims

1. A method for using a toy for communicating with a client terminal, comprising:

a) encoding at least one interacting information as at least one flickering control instruction; and

b) using a toy element having a light emitting unit for emitting light according to said at least one flickering control instruction, thereby transmitting said interacting information to a client terminal;

wherein said client terminal is configured for capturing said emitted light using an image capturing device and decoding said at least one interacting information therefrom.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said toy element having a structure indicative of said at least one interacting information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said toy is a member of a group consisting of a plurality of toys, each said toys being indicative of different interacting information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising reading a unique machine-readable representation of the interacting information from a label before said a).

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said client terminal is a personal computer, said interacting information comprises a member selected from a group consisting of:

a basic operation, an operating system operation, and a preprogrammed operation, said client terminal is configured for executing said member after said b).

6. A method for using a reading device for communicating with an appliance, comprising:

a) using the reading device for reading a unique machine-readable representation associated with an appliance function and a visible indication associated with said function;

b) encoding at least one instruction indicative of said appliance function; and

c) wirelessly transmitting said at least one instruction to the appliance, thereby instructing the appliance to execute said appliance function.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said at least one instruction is a flickering control instruction, said transmitting comprising emitting light according to said flickering control instruction.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said appliance is selected from a group consisting of a personal computer (PC), a television (TV), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a compact disk (CD), a set-top box, a game console, a media center console, a mobile telephone, a heater, an air conditioner, a garage door, and a kitchen appliance.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said wirelessly transmitting emulates a remote control transmission.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said visible indication is a graphic icon depicting said function.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising presenting a challenge to a user before said a), wherein said appliance function is directing said appliance to present a reaction to said challenge.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein said reading comprises reading said unique machine-readable representation from a menu comprising a plurality of machine-readable representations associated with a plurality of appliance functions.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein said plurality of machine-readable representations associated with keys of a keyboard, said instructing comprises typing respective said keys.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the appliance is at least one of a television, a cellular phone and a set top box, said appliance function is selected from a group consisting of:

changing a television channel, turning on said television, turning off said television, increasing the volume of said television, playing in an interactive gaming session, and participating in an interactive learning session.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein the appliance is a player of a media comprising a plurality of tagged segments, said appliance function is selecting a tagged segment to be played by said player.

16. A toy for communicating with a client terminal, comprising:

a body;

a user interface configured for allowing a user to select at least one interacting information;

a memory configured for hosting at least one flickering control instruction associated with said at least one interacting information; and

a light emitting unit configured for instructing a client terminal having an image capturing device by emitting light according to said at least one flickering control instruction toward said image capturing device.

17. The toy of claim 16, wherein said body is a structure selected from a group consisting of:

a stuffed-animal doll, a human-like doll, a toy shaped doll, and an action figure doll.

18. The toy of claim 16, wherein said user interface comprises a voice recording unit configured intercepting an audio signal representing said interacting information.

19. The toy of claim 16, wherein said user interface is a sensing unit configured for reading a machine-readable representation of said interacting information from the label.

20. The toy of claim 16, wherein said image capturing device is a webcam.

21. The toy of claim 18, wherein said client terminal is connected to a remote server via a computer server, said client terminal being configured for forwarding said instructions to said client terminal.

22. A game kit for allowing a player to use a toy for communicating with a client terminal, comprising:

a toy communication module configured for execution on a client terminal associated with an image capturing device; and

at least one toy element configured for emitting at least one sequence of lights indicative of at least one interacting information toward said image capturing device;

wherein said toy element and said toy communication module are configured to allow a user to establish an interactive session with said client terminal.

23. The game kit of claim 22, wherein said client terminal is configured for establishing said interactive session between a network node and said user via a computer network.

24. The game kit of claim 22, wherein said image capturing device is a webcam.

25. The game kit of claim 22, wherein said at least one toy element comprises a plurality of toy elements each having a body structure indicative of respective said at least one interacting information.

26. A method for transmitting playing information from a first toy to a second toy, comprising:

allowing a physical contact between the first and second toys;

vibrating the first toy according to playing information;

detecting said vibrations by using said second toy; and

obtaining said playing information from the detected vibrations.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising vibrating the second toy according to said detected vibrations.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said obtaining comprises forwarding said detected vibrations to a client terminal, further comprising using said client terminal for reacting to said playing information.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said physical contact is established via a mediating element, wherein said vibrating comprises vibrating said mediating element by vibrating the first toy, said detecting comprises detecting said physical contact vibrations.