INTERACTIVE TOYS

• US 20130244531A1
• Filed: 04/22/2013
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dialware Communication, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dialware Incorporated
• Inventors: Atsmon, Alon, Antebi, Amit, Cohen, Moshe, Shimoni, Sharon
• Granted Patent: US 9,830,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/175
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/00 Other toys
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/16 using difference in transit time between electrical and acoustic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/74 Systems using reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. IFF, i.e. identification of friend or foe
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/22 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0728 the arrangement being an optical or sound-based communication interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 : Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 : Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves

Abstract

A plurality of individual toys, at least a first one of which generates acoustic signals and at least a second one of which receives acoustic signals. When the second toy receives acoustic signals from the first toy, it responds, for example, by generating a sound and/or controlling its motion. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the toys flock and/or form a procession of toys which follow a leader toy, for example a mother goose and a plurality of following and preferably quacking goslings.

Claims

1. A method of operating toys, comprising:

generating a detectable signal, by a source, the source including one of a player, a first toy, and a computer;

detecting the signal by a second toy;

analyzing the detected signal by the second toy, wherein said analyzing includes at least one of recognizing particular speech in the signal and detecting a particular pattern in the signal;

determining, based on said at least one of recognized particular speech and detected particular pattern, at least one response; and

performing the at least one response by the second toy, said at least one response selected from a preselected group of responses, said at least one response corresponding to said at least one of recognized particular speech and detected particular pattern.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said detectable signal includes at least one of an acoustic signal, an IR signal, an RF signal, a low frequency magnetic field, an electrostatic field, and an RF probe wave.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said analyzing further includes detecting at least one of acoustic signal amplitude, acoustic signal frequency, motion, rotation, modification of motion, modification of rotation, illumination of light, time duration of the signal, an on/off state of the first toy, frequency spectrum, Doppler shift, change in amplitude, change in duration, a number of repetitions, pattern of motion, code, position, motion vector, and acceleration.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said analyzing includes determining information about the source.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said information is selected from activity, location, environment, logic state, and readiness of the source, and the presence of nearby toys.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one response includes at least one of making a sound, moving toward the source, moving in a particular direction, following the source of the signal, moving in a synchronized manner.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the source is a first toy and said generating includes generating a sound which simulates a duck quacking;

and

wherein said performing includes moving toward the first toy.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the toys further comprise a plurality of second toys;

wherein the source is a first toy and said generating includes moving toward the plurality of second toys; and

wherein said performing includes huddling by the plurality of second toys.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the source is a first toy and said generating includes generating a sound which simulates a goose quacking;

and

wherein said performing includes following the first toy.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the toys further comprise a plurality of second toys;

wherein the source is a first toy and said generating includes generating a sound which simulates a person talking; and

wherein said performing includes moving in a synchronized manner by the plurality of second toys.

11. A method of operating a toy, comprising:

generating a detectable signal, by a computer, wherein said detectable signal includes additional programming for a second toy;

detecting the signal by the second toy;

analyzing the signal by the second toy; and

performing said additional programming by the second toy, based on said analyzing.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said detectable signal is an acoustic signal.

13. A method of operating a toy, comprising:

generating a detectable signal, by a computer, wherein said detectable signal includes an acoustic signal;

detecting the signal by a toy;

analyzing the signal by the toy; and

performing a play function by the toy, based on said analyzing.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising generating a response by the computer, based on said performing.

15. A method of operating a toy, comprising:

generating an acoustic signal by a source;

detecting at least a pattern in the signal by a second toy;

analyzing the signal by the second toy;

determining, based on said analyzing, at least one response; and

performing the at least one response by the second toy, wherein the at least one response includes moving in a synchronized manner by the toy.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said acoustic signal is an audible signal.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said acoustic signal is an ultrasonic signal;

and

wherein said source generates a second signal, said second signal being an audible signal.