Entertainment system including a vehicle

• US 8,145,382 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2008
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greycell LLC
• Original Assignee: Greycell LLC
• Inventors: Baur, Andrew W., KOENIGSKNECHT, TONY L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malhotra, Sanjeev
• Application Number:
  US12/264,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20090125161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/70, 709/220, 180/291, 345/660, 369/1, 381/86, 434/69
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 25/00 Autocar-like self-drivers; Runways therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63K 1/00 Race-courses; Race-tracks
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/16 Control of vehicles or other craft simulators G09B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/167 Control of land vehicles

Abstract

The entertainment system of one of the preferred embodiments includes a recreational vehicle, an event sensor attached to the recreational vehicle, an event element able to be detected by the event sensor, a processor connected to the event sensor, and a game program operated by the processor. The entertainment system functions to enable interactive game-like capabilities for a movable vehicle. The entertainment system is preferably used for children recreational vehicles (miniature cars), but may alternatively be used by other vehicles.

Claims

1. An entertainment system including:

a recreational vehicle;

an event sensor attached to the recreational vehicle;

an event element adapted to be detected by the event sensor;

a processor connected to the event sensor; and

a game program operated by the processor.

2. The entertainment system of claim 1 further including a user interface controlled by the processor and adapted to communicate to a user.

3. The entertainment system of claim 2 wherein the user interface includes audio output.

4. The entertainment system of claim 1 wherein the event element is adapted to be portable and the event element is detected when an event sensor of a second recreational vehicle is within substantially close proximity to the recreational vehicle.

5. The entertainment system of claim 4 wherein the event element is an RFID tag and the event sensor is an RFID sensor.

6. The entertainment system of claim 4 wherein the game program includes an event that is activated when the event sensor detects the event element.

7. The entertainment system of claim 6 further including at least a second event element, wherein the event sensor is able to differentiate between the event element and the second event element.

8. The entertainment system of claim 7 wherein the event element includes a power source.

9. The entertainment system of claim 7 wherein the event element and the second event element are associated with at least two selected options in a game program.

10. The entertainment system of claim 7 wherein the processor alters the behavior of the recreational vehicle based on the input of the game program.

11. The entertainment system of claim 7 includes a communication system enabling communication of a message, the communication system including a first communicator that is integrated into the recreational vehicle, and a second communicator.

12. The entertainment system of claim 11 wherein the second communicator is a safety communicator able to remotely control the motion of the recreational vehicle.

13. The entertainment system of claim 11 wherein the second communicator is integrated into the second recreational vehicle, and wherein the message is an input to the game program.

14. The entertainment system of claim 13 wherein the processor alters the behavior of the recreational vehicle based on the input of the game program.

15. The entertainment system of claim 7 further including a memory key adapted to store game program resources and act as an activation device for the recreational vehicle.

16. A memory key for a key system having a key port, the memory key comprising:

a key adapted to connect to the key port and activate the device;

a memory storage device adapted for the reading and writing of data through the key port.