Proximity-based electronic toys and entertainment methods using same

• US 7,801,495 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2009
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tischer, Steven, Zellner, Samuel N.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US12/421,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20090191823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.1, 455/268, 455/297, 455/41.2, 455/415, 455/62, 455/458, 455/39, 455/407, 455/343, 455/409, 455/410, 455/558, 455/500, 455/563, 455/566, 455/90.3, 455/556.1, 704/276, 370/310, 370/401, 340/572.9, 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers

Abstract

A disposable electronic device includes a housing, a user interface in the housing and a short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver in the housing. A controller is configured to control the user interface and the short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver. A non-replaceable, non-rechargeable battery also is provided in the housing. New forms of disposable, proximity-based communications systems, devices and methods thereby may be provided.

Claims

1. An electronic toy comprising:

a housing that has an external appearance of a toy;

a light source and/or a sound source in the housing;

a short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver in the housing that is configured to transmit and receive short range unlicensed wireless communications but is not configured to transmit or receive long range, licensed wireless communications;

a controller in the housing that is configured to control the light source and/or the sound source in response to receipt of an incoming message by the short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver; and

a non-replaceable, non-rechargeable battery in the housing that is configured to power the light source and/or the sound source, the short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver and the controller until the non-replaceable, non-rechargeable battery discharges,

wherein the controller is further configured to ignore receipt of a message from the short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver in response to occurrence of a predetermined condition.

2. An electronic toy according to claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to transmit an outgoing message via the short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver in response to receipt of the incoming message.

3. An electronic toy according to claim 2 wherein the controller is configured to receive an incoming message from the short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver and to control the short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver to transmit an outgoing message in response thereto and in further response to occurrence of a predetermined condition.

4. An electronic toy according to claim 3 wherein the electronic toy also includes a user input device and wherein the predetermined condition comprises activation of the user input device.

5. An electronic toy according to claim 3 wherein the predetermined condition comprises expiration of a predetermined time.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein the housing has an external appearance of a toy that is related to an entertainment event.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the housing includes an admission ticket for the entertainment event.

8. An entertainment method for a venue comprising:

causing messages to pass among a plurality of electronic toys at the venue that are carried by attendees of the venue, each of the electronic toys including a housing that has an external appearance of a toy that is related to an entertainment event at the venue, a short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver in the housing that is configured to receive and transmit the messages but is not configured to transmit or receive long range, licensed wireless communications, and a non-replaceable, non-rechargeable battery in the housing that is configured to power the short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver until the non-replaceable, non-rechargeable battery discharges; and

causing a respective one of the plurality of electronic toys to ignore receipt of a message from a respective short range, unlicensed wireless transceiver that is included in the housing thereof, in response to occurrence of a predetermined condition.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein causing messages to pass is preceded by:

distributing the plurality electronic toys to the attendees of the venue.

10. A method according to claim 8 further comprising:

causing the plurality of electronic toys to emit audible and/or visible signals in response to the messages that pass among the plurality of electronic toys at the venue.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the audible and/or visible signals are emitted sequentially and/or simultaneously by the plurality of electronic toys in response to the messages that pass among the plurality of electronic toys at the venue,

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein the plurality of electronic toys continue to emit the audible and/or visible signals until the non-replaceable, non-rechargeable batteries discharge.

13. A method according to claim 8 wherein the messages contain therein attendee input selections that are provided to a user interface of a respective electronic toy by a respective attendee who carries the respective electronic toy.

14. A method according to claim 8 wherein causing messages to pass is preceded by:

loading an initial message in at least one of the plurality of electronic toys.