Portable electronic subscription device and service

• US 6,494,762 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Braun, David, Mukherjee, Sarit, Bushmitch, Dennis, Fish, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US09/540,970
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/30, 463/31, 463/35, 463/36, 463/39, 463/40, 463/42, 434/307.R, 434/308, 434/309, 446/298, 446/297, 446/268, 446/300, 446/301, 446/299, 446/175, 446/401, 446/405, 345/473, 345/474, 340/825.06, 340/825.07, 340/825.08, 901/1
• US Class Current: 446/268
• 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

Abstract

A portable computer is configured to receive programming that is automatically updated by a subscription service. The portable computer includes a facility to connect to one or more subscription services on or through a host computer. The portable computer identifies itself to the subscription service and automatically receives updates for any services registered to it. A log file records information and stimuli received by the portable computer. The subscription service uses the log file to update subscriptions. One embodiment of the portable computer is configured to fit within a shell representing a character or object associated with a subscription. The portable computer may include one or more interface ports allowing the portable computer receive stimulus from sensors in the shell and or to activate transducers in the shell. In one embodiment of the invention, the portable computer is coupled to a cellular telephone.

Claims

1. A portable computer configured to be coupled to receive a subscription service, comprising:

a processor;

data communications apparatus, coupled to the processor, the data communications apparatus being configured to establish a connection with at least one subscription service;

means for transferring data to the subscription service to identify the portable computer to the subscription service;

means for registering the portable computer to receive at least one subscription from the at least one subscription service;

a memory, coupled to the processor and the data communications apparatus, the memory being configured to automatically receive at least one application of a plurality of applications, determined by the at least one subscription service, the at least one application including base program code and periodic updates thereto for the at least one subscription registered to the portable computer; and

actuator means, coupled to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to execute the at least one application from the memory, responsive to the actuator means, independently of the subscription service.

2. A portable computer according to claim 1, further including a plurality of connectors configured to be connected to a respective plurality of sensors, the sensor connectors providing input data to the at least one application.

4. A portable computer according to claim 1, further including a shell representing one of a character and an object associated with the at least one application, wherein the portable computer is configured to fit within the shell.

5. A portable computer according to claim 2, further including a shell representing one of a character and an object associated with the at least one application, wherein the portable computer is configured to fit within the shell, and the shell includes a plurality of sensors coupled to a respective plurality of interface ports that mate with respective ones of the plurality of connectors of the portable computer.

6. A portable computer according to claim 1, further including a cellular telephone transceiver that couples the portable computer to the at least one subscription service through a cellular telephone network such that the at least one subscription service is automatically accessed when the cellular telephone is registered with the network.

7. A portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one subscription service is selected from a group consisting of a comic strip, a virtual pet, a puzzle, a continuing narrative, and an interactive narrative.

8. A portable computer according to claim 1, further including a telephone jack that couples the portable computer to the at least one subscription service through a telephone network.

9. A portable computer according to claim 1, further including a position sensing device that provides positional data to the portable computer for use with the at least one subscription service.

10. A portable computer according to claim 2, further including a further plurality of connectors configured to be connected to a respective plurality of transducers and actuators which are controlled by the at least one application.

11. A portable computer according to claim 4, further including a further shell representing a character or object different from the character or object represented by the shell, and a further application associated with the further shell, the further application being different from the application, wherein the portable computer is configured to fit within the shell or the further shell.

12. A portable computer according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is specific to the shell and to the application associated with the shell.

14. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said actuator means includes means to control said portable computer.

15. The portable computer of claim 1, wherein said actuator means includes selection means operable to select the at least one application.

3. A portable computer configured to be coupled to receive a subscription service, comprising:

data communications apparatus which establishes a connection with at least one subscription service;

means for transferring data to the subscription service to identify the portable computer to the subscription service; and

means for registering the portable computer to receive at least one subscription from the at least one subscription service;

a memory which automatically receives at least one application of a plurality of applications, determined by the at least one subscription service, the at least one application including base program code and periodic updates thereto for the at least one subscription registered to the portable computer;

a plurality of connectors configured to be connected to a respective plurality of sensors, the sensor connectors providing input data to the at least one application;

a log file into which the portable computer records information from the plurality of sensors, and other information entered into the portable computer; and

means for transmitting the log file from the portable computer to the at least one subscription service for use by the subscription service in providing the periodic updates of the application to the portable computer.

13. An electronic updateable virtual pet comprising:

A portable computer configured to be coupled to receive a subscription service, comprising;

data communications apparatus which establishes a connection with at least one subscription service;

means for transferring data to the subscription service to identify the portable computer to the subscription service; and

a memory which automatically receives at least one application of a plurality of applications, determined by the at least one subscription service, the at least one application including base program. code and periodic updates thereto for the at least one subscription registered to the portable computer;

a plurality of sensors, coupled to the portable computer to provide input signals to the one application;

a plurality of actuators and transducers, coupled to the portable computer to be controlled by the at least one application according to a predetermined algorithm; and

a sensor log which records input signals provided by the plurality of sensors, the sensor log being provided to the subscription service by the means for transferring data;

wherein the subscription service, responsive to the sensor log, provides the periodic updates to the at least one application to change the predetermined algorithm in response to the sensor log.