Method, apparatus, and system to synchronize processors in toys

• US 7,297,044 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2002
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spin Master Incorporated (Spin Master Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Shoot The Moon Products II LLC
• Inventors: Small, David, Farley, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US10/228,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20040038620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,912 Days
• Field of Search: 446/436, 446/454, 446/175, 700245-249
• US Class Current: 446/454
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission

Abstract

The invention generally relates to a method, apparatus, and system to synchronize timers or clocks of toys. A play-set includes a first toy having a first timer and a start button. The first toy can be designated as a master when the start button is depressed. After being designated as the master, the first toy sends a synchronization signal to begin synchronization. The play-set also includes a second toy communicatively linked to the first toy. The second toy has a second timer, and synchronizes the second timer to the first timer of the first toy in response to the synchronization signal. After timer synchronization, scripts are selected and a script start signal synchronizes the beginning of script play.

Claims

1. A play-set comprising:

a master toy having a first timer to measure time and a first processor, the master toy to transmit a synchronization signal including a time period reference to begin a synchronization process to synchronize time and scripts; and

at least one slave toy having a second timer to measure time and a second processor, the slave toy being momentarily bi-directionally communicatively linked to the master toy to acknowledge itself to the master toy and to synchronize its second timer to the time period reference of the master toy in response to the synchronization signal such that master and slave toy thereafter perform synchronized scripts without further communication.

2. The play-set of claim 1, wherein

the slave toy is physically coupled momentarily to the master toy to facilitate wired communication during the synchronization process.

3. The play-set of claim 1, further comprising:

a stage physically coupled to the master toy and the slave toy to facilitate wired communication between the master toy and the slave toy.

4. The play-set of claim 1, wherein

the master toy and the slave toy momentarily communicate using wireless communication.

5. The play-set of claim 1, wherein

the slave toy to send an acknowledgement signal to the master toy, and

the master toy to operate in a multi-unit mode in response to the acknowledgement signal.

6. The play-set of claim 5, wherein

the slave toy to send a roll-call signal to the master toy to announce the character identification of the slave toy.

7. The play-set of claim 1, wherein

the master toy to send a script identification (ID) to the slave toy to select a script.

8. The play-set of claim 1, wherein

the master toy and the slave toy to perform roles in a selected script by generating sounds.

9. The play-set of claim 1, wherein

the master toy to transmit a script start signal to the slave toy to simultaneously start a time synchronized scripted sequence.

10. A method comprising:

selecting a first toy having a first timer to designate as a master toy,

transmitting a synchronization signal from the master toy including a time period reference to begin a synchronization process to synchronize time and scripts; and

receiving the synchronization signal including the time period reference at at least one slave toy having a second timer, the slave toy being momentarily bi-directionally communicatively linked to the master toy to acknowledge itself to the master toy and to synchronize its second timer to the time period reference of the master toy in response to the synchronization signal;

wherein the master toy and slave toy thereafter perform synchronized scripts without further communication.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

coupling the slave toy to the master toy to facilitate wired communication during the synchronization period.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

coupling the master toy and the slave toy to a stage to facilitate wired communication between the master toy and the slave toy.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

using wireless communication to facilitate communication between the master toy and the slave toy.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

sending a wake-up signal from the master toy to the slave toy for the slave toy to restart.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

sending an acknowledgement signal from the slave toy to the master toy for the master toy to operate in a multi-unit mode.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sending a roll-call signal from the slave toy to the master toy to announce the character identification of the slave toy.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

sending a script identification (ID) from the master toy to the slave toy to select a script.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

sending a start signal from the first toy to the at least one additional toy to synchronize the start of script play.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

generating sounds when the master toy and the slave toy perform time synchronized roles in a selected script.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein

the selecting of the first toy to designate as the master is preformed by pressing a button to close a switch.

21. The method of claim 10, wherein

the selecting of the first toy to designate as the master is preformed by sliding a slideable knob to close a switch.

22. A toy system comprising:

a plurality of toys communicatively linked to each other, each of the plurality of toys including;

a battery to provide power;

a processor coupled to the battery to receive power, the processor receiving a clock and including a timer, the timer to determine time as a function of the clock;

a selectable switch coupled to the processor, the selectable switch to designate one of the plurality of toys as a master toy and the remainder of the plurality of toys as slave toys;

wherein the master toy includes a first timer to measure time, the master toy to transmit a synchronization signal including a time period reference to begin a synchronization process to synchronize time and scripts; and

wherein the slave toy includes a second timer to measure time, the slave toy being momentarily bi-directionally communicatively linked to the master toy to acknowledge itself to the master toy and to synchronize its respective second timer to the time period reference of the master toy in response to the synchronization signal such that master and slave toy thereafter perform synchronized scripts without further communication.

23. The toy system of claim 22, wherein

the plurality of toys are momentarily physically coupled together to facilitate wired communication during synchronization.

24. The toy system of claim 22, further comprising:

a stage physically coupled to the plurality of toys to facilitate wired communication between the plurality of toys during synchronization.

25. The toy system of claim 22, wherein the plurality of toys further include:

a wireless transmitter so that the master toy can wirelessly transmit the synchronization signal; and

a wireless receiver so that the slave toys can wirelessly receive the synchronization signal.

26. The toy system of claim 22, wherein

the master toy to send a start script signal to the slave toys and begin script play;

and

the slave toys to synchronize the beginning of their script with the start script signal and begin script play in response thereto.