Method and system for transferring data to an electronic toy or other electronic device
First Claim
1. A data transfer system, comprising:
- a display device including a display screen, the display device operable to display a time-dependent visual pattern on the display screen, the time-dependent visual pattern representing a plurality of bits of data; and
an electronic toy comprising;
at least one dynamic feature including at least one of a visual element, a speaker, and an actuator;
a memory;
a processor operably coupled to the memory and the dynamic feature and operable to execute programmatic data stored in the memory to control the dynamic element;
an array of photoelectric detectors secured to a surface of the toy and operably coupled to the processor, the array being operable to receive the visual pattern when the electronic toy is positioned adjacent the display screen and to generate a plurality of electrical signals responsive to the visual pattern and the processor operable to process the electrical signals and to derive programmatic data and to store the programmatic data in the memory; and
wherein the processor is further operable to determine from the visual pattern whether the electronic toy is properly positioned relative to the visual pattern and, if the electronic toy is determined not to be properly positioned relative to the visual pattern, to determine an offset direction corresponding to the position of the electronic toy relative to the visual pattern and output the offset direction.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for transferring data from a display device to an electronic device includes displaying a visual pattern on the display device. The visual pattern represents the data being transferred. In the electronic device, the visual pattern is received and processed to obtain the data represented by the visual pattern. The visual pattern may be formed by an array of data elements, each data element representing at least one bit of data being transferred to the electronic device. A series of such arrays may be sequentially displayed on the display device. The visual pattern may alternatively be formed by a bar code that represents bits of data being transferred to the electronic device. A series of bar codes may be sequentially displayed on the display device.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A data transfer system, comprising:
-
a display device including a display screen, the display device operable to display a time-dependent visual pattern on the display screen, the time-dependent visual pattern representing a plurality of bits of data; and an electronic toy comprising; at least one dynamic feature including at least one of a visual element, a speaker, and an actuator; a memory; a processor operably coupled to the memory and the dynamic feature and operable to execute programmatic data stored in the memory to control the dynamic element; an array of photoelectric detectors secured to a surface of the toy and operably coupled to the processor, the array being operable to receive the visual pattern when the electronic toy is positioned adjacent the display screen and to generate a plurality of electrical signals responsive to the visual pattern and the processor operable to process the electrical signals and to derive programmatic data and to store the programmatic data in the memory; and wherein the processor is further operable to determine from the visual pattern whether the electronic toy is properly positioned relative to the visual pattern and, if the electronic toy is determined not to be properly positioned relative to the visual pattern, to determine an offset direction corresponding to the position of the electronic toy relative to the visual pattern and output the offset direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method for transferring data to a toy comprising:
-
displaying a human intelligible visual indicator on a screen communicating that a data communication is going to be transmitted; placing a toy having a sensor array formed thereon in front of a screen having the sensor array facing the screen, the toy further comprising a processor for executing programmatic data, a memory for storing the programmatic data, and a dynamic element controllable by the processor according to the programmatic data, the dynamic element comprising at least one of a visual element, a speaker, and an actuator; determining from the visual pattern whether the electronic toy is properly positioned relative to the visual pattern; if the electronic toy is determined not to be properly positioned relative to the visual pattern, determining an offset direction corresponding to the position of the electronic toy relative to the visual pattern and outputting the offset direction; transmitting video data to the screen, the video data including a data pattern; detecting the data pattern with the sensor array; and translating the data pattern into a plurality of data bits. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification