Wireless toy systems and methods for interactive entertainment
First Claim
1. An interactive entertainment system for amusing or entertaining one or more play participants as part of an interactive entertainment experience, said interactive entertainment system comprising:
- a plurality of toy characters, each said toy character comprising;
a stuffed-animal, doll or action figure comprising a body having an inner portion and an outer portion;
a first wirelessly-powered radio frequency identification (RFID) tag provided on or within said body at a first location;
a second wirelessly-powered RFID tag provided on or within said body at a second location that is different than said first location,wherein each of said first and second wirelessly-powered RFID tags comprises;
a unique identification number;
a microprocessor;
non-volatile programmable memory configured to store selected information associated with each said corresponding toy character; and
a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to facilitate two-way wireless communication with one or more compatible RFID reader devices; and
at least one RFID reader device configured to wirelessly power and communicate with each of said first and second RFID tags at least in part through inductive coupling and wherein said wireless communication communicates at least said corresponding unique identification number and said selected information,wherein said at least one RFID reader device is further configured to communicate at least said corresponding unique identification number or said selected information to a game control system configured to actuate one or more interactive effects based at least in part on said corresponding unique identification number or said selected information.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A playmate toy or similar children'"'"'s toy is provided having associated wireless, batteryless ID tag that can be read from and/or written to using a radio-frequency communication protocol. The tag is mounted internally within a cavity of the toy and thereby provides wireless communication of stored information without requiring removal and reinsertion of the tag. In this manner, a stuffed animal or other toy can be quickly and easily identified non-invasively, without damaging the toy. Additional information (e.g., unique personality traits, special powers, skill levels, etc.) can also be stored on the ID tag, thus providing further personality enhancement, input/output programming, simulated intelligence and/or interactive gaming possibilities.
1338 Citations
56 Claims
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1. An interactive entertainment system for amusing or entertaining one or more play participants as part of an interactive entertainment experience, said interactive entertainment system comprising:
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a plurality of toy characters, each said toy character comprising; a stuffed-animal, doll or action figure comprising a body having an inner portion and an outer portion; a first wirelessly-powered radio frequency identification (RFID) tag provided on or within said body at a first location; a second wirelessly-powered RFID tag provided on or within said body at a second location that is different than said first location, wherein each of said first and second wirelessly-powered RFID tags comprises; a unique identification number; a microprocessor; non-volatile programmable memory configured to store selected information associated with each said corresponding toy character; and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to facilitate two-way wireless communication with one or more compatible RFID reader devices; and at least one RFID reader device configured to wirelessly power and communicate with each of said first and second RFID tags at least in part through inductive coupling and wherein said wireless communication communicates at least said corresponding unique identification number and said selected information, wherein said at least one RFID reader device is further configured to communicate at least said corresponding unique identification number or said selected information to a game control system configured to actuate one or more interactive effects based at least in part on said corresponding unique identification number or said selected information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A wireless interactive toy configured to be accessorized or customized by a play participant as part of an interactive game or entertainment experience, said toy comprising:
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a body in the form of a stuffed animal, doll or action figure; one or more accessory items configured to be selectively assembled with or inserted into said body; a first wirelessly-powered RFID tag affixed to or contained within said body and configured to uniquely and wirelessly identify said toy, said first RFID tag comprising; i) non-volatile programmable memory configured to store selected information relevant to said toy, said play participant or a game played by said play participant using said toy, ii) an RF transceiver configured to facilitate two-way wireless communication with one or more compatible RFID reader devices, iii) a microprocessor, and iv) an antenna configured to wirelessly receive energy through inductive coupling with an externally applied electromagnetic field for wirelessly powering at least said microprocessor and said RF transceiver; and a second wirelessly-powered RFID tag affixed to or contained within said body or said one or more accessory items, said second RFID tag comprising; i) non-volatile memory, ii) an RF transceiver, iii) a microprocessor; and iv) an antenna. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An interactive entertainment system for amusing or entertaining one or more play participants as part of an interactive entertainment experience, said interactive entertainment system comprising:
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a plurality of wireless interactive toys, each said toy comprising a stuffed-animal, doll or action figure configured to be accessorized or customized by a play participant as part of a wireless interactive game or entertainment experience, each said toy further comprising; a first RFID tag disposed in or on said toy and comprising a unique identification number uniquely identifying said toy, said first RFID tag further comprising; i) non-volatile programmable memory configured to store, retrieve and update a first selection of game-relevant information, ii) a tag antenna sized and configured to be selectively energized by an externally produced electromagnetic field to thereby power said first RFID tag; and iii) an RF transceiver electrically coupled to said tag antenna and configured to wirelessly transmit and receive RF signals comprising at least said unique identification number and said first selection of game-relevant information; and at least one accessory item configured to be selectively and detachably assembled with said stuffed-animal, doll or action figure and comprising a second RFID tag, said second RFID tag comprising; i) non-volatile memory configured to store a second selection of game-relevant information, ii) a tag antenna sized and configured to be selectively energized by an externally produced electromagnetic field to thereby power said second RFID tag; and iii) an RF transceiver electrically coupled to said tag antenna and configured to wirelessly transmit and receive RF signals comprising at least said second selection of game-relevant information; and at least one RFID reader/writer device configured to wirelessly power and communicate with each said first and second RFID tag through inductive coupling to wirelessly ascertain said unique identification number and said first and second selections of game-relevant information, and wherein said at least one RFID reader/writer device is further configured to communicate at least said first and second selections of game-relevant information to an associated game control system. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A wireless interactive game for amusing or entertaining one or more play participants, comprising:
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a plurality of wireless interactive toys, each depicting or representing a character relevant to said interactive game, and comprising a first RFID tag permanently associated with each said corresponding toy, said first RFID tag comprising;
i) a unique identification number uniquely identifying said corresponding toy, and ii) non-volatile memory configured to store a first selection of game-relevant information;a plurality of accessory items, each configured to be selectively and detachably assembled with at least one of said plurality of wireless interactive toys, and comprising a second RFID tag permanently associated with each said corresponding accessory item, said second RFID tag comprising non-volatile memory configured to store a second selection of game-relevant information; each said first and second RFID tags further comprising; i) a tag antenna sized and configured to be selectively energized by an externally produced electromagnetic field to thereby power each said RFID tag; and ii) an RF transceiver electrically coupled to said tag antenna and configured to wirelessly transmit and receive RF signals comprising at least said corresponding first or second selections of game-relevant information; and at least one RFID reader device configured to wirelessly power and communicate with each said first and second RFID tags and to ascertain said first and second selections of game-relevant information, and wherein said at least one RFID reader device is further configured to communicate said first and second selections of game-relevant information to an associated game control system. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification