TOY INCORPORATING RFID TAG
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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.
12 Citations
30 Claims
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1-10. -10. (canceled)
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11. A stuffed toy having internal memory and wireless capability for storing and wirelessly communicating selected information relevant to a game played by a game participant using said stuffed toy, said stuffed toy comprising:
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a toy body comprising a fabric material forming a soft outer skin of said stuffed toy, and a stuffing material filling an interior space contained within said soft outer skin of said stuffed toy; a passive radiofrequency identification (“
RFID”
) tag disposed within said interior space and supported by a support structure comprising a stiff plastic sheet substrate, said RFID tag and support structure arranged in a manner so as not to expose sharp surfaces that could poke or puncture said soft outer skin;said RFID tag comprising;
i) a processor, ii) a unique identifier configured to uniquely identify said stuffed toy, iii) non-volatile programmable memory configured to store game-relevant information, iv) a transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with a compatible RFID reader device, and v) a spiral-wound antenna electrically coupled to said transceiver and configured to be energized by inductive coupling with said compatible RFID reader device; andwherein said game-relevant information comprises at least;
i) a first selection of information comprising one or more in-game powers or skills associated with said stuffed toy, ii) a second selection of information comprising in-game points or levels reached, and iii) a third selection of information comprising a personalized name of said stuffed toy. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A playmate toy having internal memory and wireless capability for storing and wirelessly communicating selected information relevant to an interactive game played by a game participant, said playmate toy comprising:
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a body in the form of a doll, an action figure, or a stuffed character, said body comprising a first material forming an outer skin of said body and a second material filling an interior space contained within said outer skin; a passive radiofrequency identification (“
RFID”
) tag disposed within said interior space in such a manner that information stored on said RFID tag can be wirelessly ascertained by a compatible RFID reader device via radio waves penetrating said outer skin;said RFID tag comprising;
i) a processor, ii) a unique identifier configured to uniquely identify said playmate toy, iii) non-volatile programmable memory configured to store game-relevant information, iv) a transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with said compatible RFID reader device, and v) a spiral-wound antenna electrically coupled to said transceiver and configured to be energized by inductive coupling with said compatible RFID reader device; andwherein said game-relevant information comprises;
i) a first selection of information describing one or more upgradeable powers or skills associated with said playmate toy, ii) a second selection of information describing total points accumulated or levels reached by said playmate toy in said interactive game, and iii) a third selection of information comprising a name of said playmate toy. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A trainable gaming toy having internal memory and wireless communication capability for storing and wirelessly communicating selected information relevant to a game played by a game participant using said trainable gaming toy, said trainable gaming toy comprising:
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a body in the form of a doll, an action figure, or a stuffed toy, said body comprising an outer portion and an inner portion contained within said outer portion, and wherein said inner portion comprises an internal cavity; a passive radiofrequency identification (“
RFID”
) tag disposed within said internal cavity, said RFID tag configured so that information stored on said RFID tag can be wirelessly ascertained by a compatible RFID reader device via radio waves penetrating said outer portion of said body;said RFID tag comprising;
i) a processor, ii) a unique identifier configured to uniquely identify said trainable gaming toy, iii) non-volatile programmable memory, iv) a transceiver configured to provide two-way wireless communications with said compatible RFID reader device, and v) an antenna electrically coupled to said transceiver and configured to be energized by inductive coupling with said compatible RFID reader device; andwherein said non-volatile programmable memory is configured to store game-relevant information comprising;
i) a first selection of information describing a skill level of said trainable gaming toy that improves with repeated use of said trainable gaming toy in said game, ii) a second selection of information describing a special power of said trainable gaming toy that is acquired when said trainable gaming toy is used in said game, and iii) a third selection of information comprising a personalized name of said trainable gaming toy. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification