SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATION USING AMBIENT COMMUNICATION DEVICES
First Claim
1. A method for communication between remotely located users comprising:
- (a) entering in a server identifying data for at least three functionally identical communication devices, each of said communication devices comprising;
(i) a microcontroller and wireless connection for communicating with said server;
(ii) at least one embedded sensor circuit for receiving tactile input from a user where said input is selected from the group consisting of;
squeezing or hugging said communication device;
(iii) at least one feedback actuator for presenting output to said user; and
(iv) a housing formed from a stuffed animal toy;
(b) designating at said server as a central device one of said plurality of communication devices;
(c) designating at said server as peripheral devices, the remaining of said plurality of devices;
(d) receiving at said server from said central device a tactile input message initiated in response to a user of said central device interacting with an embedded sensor circuit in said central device; and
(e) transmitting from said server to said peripheral devices an output message for presenting output at said peripheral devices using said feedback actuator.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Interactive communication devices in communication with a central server support ambient communications between two or more remotely located users. Each device has embedded sensors, lights, and speakers. The sensors allow the device to sense ‘outgoing’ interaction (e.g., a squeeze or hug), and the lights and speakers allow the device to demonstrate ‘incoming’ interaction. A central device is activated when someone interacts with any of the other devices within the network. The other devices in the network—the peripheral devices—are activated both when the interaction originates from the central device as well as from the other peripheral devices. When the server determines that a user has interacted with one of the devices, messages are sent to other devices in the network to reflect the user interaction. The communication devices allow the users in the network to send messages to each other by simply squeezing their respective devices.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for communication between remotely located users comprising:
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(a) entering in a server identifying data for at least three functionally identical communication devices, each of said communication devices comprising; (i) a microcontroller and wireless connection for communicating with said server; (ii) at least one embedded sensor circuit for receiving tactile input from a user where said input is selected from the group consisting of;
squeezing or hugging said communication device;(iii) at least one feedback actuator for presenting output to said user; and (iv) a housing formed from a stuffed animal toy; (b) designating at said server as a central device one of said plurality of communication devices; (c) designating at said server as peripheral devices, the remaining of said plurality of devices; (d) receiving at said server from said central device a tactile input message initiated in response to a user of said central device interacting with an embedded sensor circuit in said central device; and (e) transmitting from said server to said peripheral devices an output message for presenting output at said peripheral devices using said feedback actuator. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 20, 21)
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2. (canceled)
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7. (canceled)
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10. (canceled)
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11. (canceled)
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14. (canceled)
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16. (canceled)
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19. (canceled)
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22. A system for communication between remotely located users comprising:
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(a) a plurality of compressible housings, each in the shape of an animal, each housing further comprising; (i) a communication device, said communication devices comprising; (A) a microcontroller and wireless connection for communicating with a server; (B) an embedded tactile input sensor circuit for receiving tactile input from a user, such tactile input selected from the group of;
squeezing, hugging, or compressing said housing; and(C) at least one feedback actuator for presenting output to said user, at least one of said feedback actuator selected from a group comprising a feedback actuator transmitting vibrations to the housing, or a feedback actuator producing a sound; (b) a server in communication with said plurality of compressible housings wherein; (i) said communications device of one of said plurality of compressible housings is designated at said server to be a central device; (ii) at least one of said communications devices of one of said plurality of compressible housings not designated as a central device is designated at said server to be a peripheral device, said server being configured to cause the feedback actuation of said designated central device to react to a tactile input from one or more of such devices designated as peripheral devices; (iii) said server is configured to receive from said central device a tactile input message initiated in response to a user of said central device interacting with the embedded tactile input sensor circuit in said central device; and (iv) said server is configured to transmit upon receipt of such a tactile input message, an output message to said peripheral device(s) which causes an output to be produced by said feedback actuator of each peripheral device(s). - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 15, 17, 18)
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23. A system for communication between remotely located users comprising:
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(a) a plurality of compressible housings, each in the shape of an animal, each housing further comprising; (i) a communication device, said communication devices comprising; (A) a microcontroller and wireless connection for communicating with a server; (B) an embedded tactile input sensor circuit for receiving tactile input from a user, such tactile input selected from the group of;
squeezing, hugging, or compressing said housing; and(C) at least one feedback actuator for presenting output to said user, at least one of said feedback actuator selected from a group comprising a feedback actuator transmitting vibrations to the housing, or a feedback actuator producing a sound where such sound is selected from a list including a tone, prerecorded music, and prerecorded voice sounds, said feedback actuator further comprising a visual feedback function in the form of an indicator light; (b) a server in communication with said plurality of compressible housings wherein; (i) said communications device of one of said plurality of compressible housings is designated at said server to be a central device; (ii) at least one of said communications devices of one of said plurality of compressible housings not designated as a central device is designated at said server to be a peripheral device, said server being configured to cause the feedback actuation of said designated central device to react to a tactile input from one or more of such devices designated as peripheral devices; (iii) said server is configured to receive from said central device a tactile input message initiated in response to a user of said central device interacting with the embedded tactile input sensor circuit in said central device; and (iv) said server is configured to transmit upon receipt of such a tactile input message, an output message to said peripheral device(s) which causes an output to be produced by said feedback actuator of each peripheral device(s). (v) said server receives from one of said peripheral device, a tactile input message initiated in response to said user of said peripheral device interacting with an embedded sensor circuit in said peripheral device; and (vi) said server transmits to said central device an output message as the result of said received tactile input message.
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Specification