Location-sensitive toy and method therefor
First Claim
1. A toy comprising:
- a stuffed animal body having therein;
an audio circuit configured to receive a message signal, the message signal indicating a stored audio message is to be played by the audio circuit;
a plurality of audio messages stored in the audio circuit, wherein the audio circuit is configured to play one or more of the stored plurality of audio messages in response to a presence signal;
means for generating the presence signal in response to detecting a presence of a body part within a predetermined range;
means configured for receiving one or more of a plurality of location signals comprising an infrared signal having a uniquely coded signal electronically labeling a coverage area within an amusement park with a specific location identification; and
means within the toy coupled to the receiver and coupled to the audio circuit for generating the message signal in response to the received location signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A small stuffed animal (10) is worn on the wrist of a user (14) and is held on via long arms featuring hook and loop fasteners. When the user wishes to activate the toy, the user places the animal'"'"'s mouth close to the user'"'"'s ear. A sensor (50) detects this action, and triggers one of many entertaining audio messages stored in the toy, thus creating the sensation of the animal whispering in the user'"'"'s ear. In addition, the toy has a sensor (30) that can detect the presence of nearby location transmitters. This allows the toy to appropriately choose the audio messages to match the current location. Also, rather than waiting for the user to randomly discover the location driven messages, the toy alerts the user that it has an interesting message waiting.
57 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A toy comprising:
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a stuffed animal body having therein; an audio circuit configured to receive a message signal, the message signal indicating a stored audio message is to be played by the audio circuit; a plurality of audio messages stored in the audio circuit, wherein the audio circuit is configured to play one or more of the stored plurality of audio messages in response to a presence signal; means for generating the presence signal in response to detecting a presence of a body part within a predetermined range; means configured for receiving one or more of a plurality of location signals comprising an infrared signal having a uniquely coded signal electronically labeling a coverage area within an amusement park with a specific location identification; and means within the toy coupled to the receiver and coupled to the audio circuit for generating the message signal in response to the received location signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7)
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5. A plush toy comprising:
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an audio circuit within the plush toy coupled to receive a message signal, the message signal indicating a stored audio message is to be played by the audio circuit; a plurality of audio messages stored in the audio circuit, wherein the one or more of the stored plurality of audio messages is played responsive to generation of the message signal by a control circuit; means within plush toy for generating a presence signal in response to detecting a presence of a body part within a predetermined range, the presence signal being configured to control a timing of playing of one or more of the one or more stored plurality of audio messages; means for receiving one or more of a plurality of location signals comprising a uniquely coded signal electronically labeling a coverage area within an amusement park with a specific location identification; means for generating the message signal coupled to the receiver and the audio circuit, the means for generating the message signal being configured to generate the message signal in response to the received location signal, the message signal indicating at least one stored audio message to be played the by the audio circuit; wherein the audio circuit is configured to repeat the at least one stored audio message each time the presence signal is generated; and wherein the audio circuit is configured to first play a preamble before each subsequently repeated playing of the at least one stored audio message.
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8. A toy for outputting in voice at least one audio message to a user of the toy, the toy comprising:
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an audio circuit for storing a plurality of audio messages and for outputting in voice the stored plurality of audio messages; means for generating a presence signal in response to detecting a presence of a body part within a predetermined range; a means for receiving a plurality of location signals which are sent from a plurality of transmitters provided in a plurality of locations in a predefined area that the toy can occupy, each of said location signals representing a respective one of said plurality of locations; and means for generating a message signal in response to the received location signal, the message signal indicating the at least one stored audio message to be output in voice by the audio circuit; wherein the audio circuit outputs in voice at least one stored audio message of the stored plurality of audio messages in response to the presence signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A toy for use in an entertainment environment, the toy comprising:
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a location detection circuit for detecting the location of the toy in the entertainment environment; and a behavior control circuit for modifying behavior of the toy in response to the determined location; wherein; in order to detect the location of the toy, the location detection circuit comprises a receiver for receiving a plurality of location signals which are sent from a plurality of transmitters provided in a plurality of locations in a predefined area that the toy can occupy, each of said location signals representing a respective one of said plurality of locations; the behavior control circuit comprises; an audio circuit for storing a plurality of audio messages and for playing the stored plurality of audio messages; means for generating a message signal in response to the received location signal, the message signal indicating at least one stored audio message to be output in voice by the audio circuit; and means for generating a presence signal in response to detecting a presence of a body part within a predetermined range; wherein the audio circuit outputs in voice the at least one stored audio message in response to the presence signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of controlling the behavior of a toy, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing a plurality of audio messages in an audio circuit in the toy; generating a presence signal, with means for generating the presence signal provided in said toy, in response to detecting a presence of a body part within a predetermined range of the toy; receiving a plurality of location signals being sent from a plurality of transmitters provided in a plurality of locations in a predefined area that the toy can occupy, each of said plurality of location signals with means for generating a message signal representing a respective one of said plurality of locations; generating a message signal with provided in said toy in response to the received location signal, the message signal indicating the at least one stored audio message to be output in voice by the audio circuit; and outputting in voice by said audio circuit at least one stored audio message, indicated by said message signal, in response to said presence signal.
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23. A method of using a toy in an entertainment environment, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing a plurality of audio messages in an audio circuit provided in the toy; determining a location of the toy in the entertainment environment; and controlling the behavior of the toy in response to the determined location; wherein, in order to determine the location of said toy, said step of determining the location of the toy in the entertainment environment includes a step of receiving a plurality of location signals with a receiver provided in the toy, said plurality of location signals being sent from a plurality of transmitters provided in a plurality of locations in a predefined area that the toy can occupy, each of said location signals representing a respective one of said plurality of locations; and wherein said step of controlling the behavior of the toy in response to the determined location includes a step of generating a message signal with a controlling circuit provided in the toy in response to the received location signal, the message signal indicating at least one stored audio message to be output in voice by the audio circuit, a step of generating a presence signal in response to detecting a presence of a body part within a predetermined range of the toy by means for generating the presence signal provided in the toy, and a step of outputting in voice by said audio circuit the at least one stored audio message indicated by said message signal in response to the presence signal. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification