INTERACTIVE TOY

• US 20160220913A1
• Filed: 09/19/2014
• Published: 08/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toymail Inc.
• Original Assignee: Toymail Inc.
• Inventors: Nanda, Gauri, Hill, Audry, Gillis, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,937,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/006 provided with electrical lighting electrical lighting F21
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/26 Magnetic or electric toys electric drives A63H29/22 ; indoor games played with small balls using magnetic power A63F7/0088, A63F7/068
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

An interactive toy for a child, the interactive toy having a body, a central processing unit (CPU), a wireless communication module, a memory module, a batter module, and a plurality of input/output modules. The body has an ornamental exterior, at least one input button, and a perforated surface section. The CPU includes an imbedded control logic for operating the toy. The wireless communication module is electrically connected for data exchange with the CPU. The memory module is electrically connected for data exchange with the CPU. The battery module is electrically connected to the CPU for providing electrical power. The plurality of input/output modules is electrically connected to the CPU for sending and receiving input signals between the child and the CPU.

Claims

1. An interactive toy for a child, the interactive toy comprising:

a body having an ornamental exterior, at least one input button, and a perforated surface section;

a central processing unit (CPU) disposed within the body, wherein the CPU includes an imbedded control logic for operating the toy;

a wireless communication module in communication with the CPU;

a memory module in communication with the CPU;

a battery module in communication with the CPU for providing electrical power; and

a plurality of input/output modules in communication with the CPU for sending and receiving input signals between the child and the CPU.

2. The interactive toy of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication module is at least one of a Wifi connectivity communication unit, a cellular communication unit having a SIM card, a Bluetooth®

communication unit, and a satellite direct communication unit.

3. The interactive toy of claim 1 wherein the memory module is at least one of a chip-based memory module such as a flash memory and a mechanical based memory module such as a hard drive.

4. The interactive toy of claim 1 wherein the battery module includes a battery monitor in communication with the CPU and at least one of a rechargeable battery and a one-time use battery.

5. The interactive toy of claim 1 wherein the plurality of input/output modules include at least one input button, an audio input module, an audio output module, light emitting devices, a vibration module, and a movement detection module.

6. The interactive toy of claim 5 wherein the at least one input button includes a play button and a record button disposed on the body of the toy.

7. The interactive toy of claim 6 wherein the audio input module includes a microphone and an amplifier, and wherein the microphone is disposed on the inside of the body of the toy proximate to the perforated surface section.

8. The interactive toy of claim 7 wherein the audio output module includes a speaker and an amplifier, and wherein the speaker is disposed on the inside of the body of the toy proximate to the perforated surface section.

9. The interactive toy of claim 8 wherein ornamental exterior of the body includes a soft-touch surface and features of a character head having at least a pair of eyes, a nose, and a mouth.

10. The interactive toy of claim 9 wherein the light emitting devices include light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed on the exterior of the body in place of the pair of eyes of the character head.

11. The interactive toy of claim 8 wherein the control logic of the CPU includes:

a first control logic for playing a downloaded audio message;

a second control logic for signaling the user to replay the downloaded message;

a third control logic for pausing to allow the user time to press the record button;

a fourth control logic for determining if the record button has been pressed;

a fifth control logic for activating the audio input module to receive voice data from the user if the record button has been pressed;

a sixth control logic for determining if the play button has been pressed if the record button has not been pressed for returning to the first control logic if the CPU determines that the play button has been pressed;

a seventh control logic for indicating a cancellation signal to the user via the audio output module if the play button has not been pressed; and

an eighth control logic for pausing the CPU for waiting for input from the user.

12. The interactive toy of claim 8 wherein the control logic of the CPU includes:

a first control logic for erasing any recorded voice data from memory;

a second control logic for signaling the user to begin recording an audio message;

a third control logic for receiving and storing into memory a new audio message;

a fourth control logic for continuing to record or wait for additional audio data input;

a fifth control logic for signaling to the user that the recordation of the audio data has ceased;

a sixth control logic for playing back the recorded audio data; and

a seventh control logic for uploading the recorded audio data to the internet or cloud server for retrieval by a second user.

13. An interactive toy for a child, the interactive toy comprising:

a body having an ornamental exterior, at least one input button, and a perforated surface section;

a central processing unit (CPU) disposed within the body, wherein the CPU includes an imbedded control logic for operating the toy;

a wireless communication module in communication with the CPU, wherein the wireless communication module is at least one of a Wifi connectivity communication unit, a cellular communication unit having a SIM card, a Bluetooth®

communication unit, and a satellite direct communication unit;

a memory module in communication with the CPU, wherein the memory module is at least one of a chip-based memory module such as a flash memory and a mechanical based memory module such as a hard drive;

a battery module in communication with the CPU for providing electrical power; and

a plurality of input/output modules in communication with the CPU for sending and receiving input signals between the child and the CPU.

14. The interactive toy of claim 13 wherein the battery module includes a battery monitor in communication with the CPU and at least one of a rechargeable battery and a one-time use battery.

15. The interactive toy of claim 13 wherein the plurality of input/output modules include a play button and a record button disposed on the body of the toy, a microphone disposed on the inside of the body of the toy proximate to the perforated surface section, a speaker disposed on the inside of the body of the toy proximate to the perforated surface section, light emitting devices, a vibration module, and a movement detection module.

16. The interactive toy of claim 15 wherein ornamental exterior of the body includes a soft-touch surface and features of a character head having at least a pair of eyes, a nose, and a mouth.

17. The interactive toy of claim 16 wherein the light emitting devices include light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed on the exterior of the body in place of the pair of eyes of the character head.

18. The interactive toy of claim 13 wherein the control logic of the CPU includes:

a first control logic for playing a downloaded audio message;

a second control logic for signaling the user to replay the downloaded message;

a third control logic for pausing to allow the user time to press the record button;

a fourth control logic for determining if the record button has been pressed;

a fifth control logic for activating the audio input module to receive voice data from the user if the record button has been pressed;

a sixth control logic for determining if the play button has been pressed if the record button has not been pressed for returning to the first control logic if the CPU determines that the play button has been pressed;

a seventh control logic for indicating a cancellation signal to the user via the audio output module if the play button has not been pressed; and

an eighth control logic for pausing the CPU for waiting for input from the user.

19. An interactive toy for a child, the interactive toy comprising:

a body having an ornamental exterior, at least one input button, and a perforated surface section;

a central processing unit (CPU) disposed within the body, wherein the CPU includes an imbedded control logic for operating the toy;

a wireless communication module in communication with the CPU;

a memory module in communication with the CPU;

a battery module in communication with the CPU for providing electrical power; and

a plurality of input/output modules in communication with the CPU for sending and receiving input signals between the child and the CPU.

20. The interactive toy of claim 19 wherein the control logic of the CPU includes:

a first control logic for erasing any recorded voice data from memory;

a second control logic for signaling the user to begin recording an audio message;

a third control logic for receiving and storing into memory a new audio message;

a fourth control logic for continuing to record or wait for additional audio data input;

a fifth control logic for signaling to the user that the recordation of the audio data has ceased;

a sixth control logic for playing back the recorded audio data; and

a seventh control logic for uploading the recorded audio data to an internet or cloud server for retrieval by a second user.