System and method for providing relevant notifications via an action figure

• US 9,259,651 B1
• Filed: 02/13/2015
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jumo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jumo, Inc.
• Inventors: Yano, Keiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): GALKA, LAWRENCE STEFAN
• Application Number:
  US14/622,386
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/36 Details; Accessories

Abstract

In certain implementations, relevant notifications may be provided via an action figure. As an example, a device may be detected within a short wireless communication range of the action figure. A wireless connection between the action figure and the device may be established based on the detection. A notification may be received at the action figure from the device via the established wireless connection. The notification may comprise information related to the action figure, a virtual counterpart of the action figure in a virtual environment, the virtual environment, a user account associated with an owner of the action figure, or other information. The notification may be processed to obtain the information. A user interaction with the action figure may be detected. A presentation of the information may be provided based on the detection of the user interaction.

Claims

1. A method of providing notifications via an action figure, the method being implemented on the action figure that includes one or more physical processors executing computer program instructions which, when executed, perform the method, the method comprising:

detecting, by the action figure, a device within a wireless communication range, wherein the wireless communication range comprises at least one of a Near Field Communication (NFC) range, Bluetooth communication range, or a Wi-Fi communication range;

establishing, by the action figure, based on the detection of the device, a wireless connection between the action figure and the device;

receiving, at the action figure, from the device via the established wireless connection, a notification comprising information related to at least one of (i) the action figure, (ii) a virtual counterpart of the action figure in a virtual environment, (iii) the virtual environment, or (iv) a user account associated with an owner of the action figure;

processing, by the action figure, the notification to obtain the information;

detecting, by the action figure, a user interaction with the action figure;

providing, by the action figure, based on the detection of the user interaction, a presentation of the information;

receiving, at the action figure, from the device via the established wireless connection, a second notification related to a virtual accessory of the virtual counterpart that corresponds to an accessory of the action figure;

processing, by the action figure, the second notification to determine a state of the virtual accessory; and

providing, by the action figure, an indication of the state of the virtual accessory to the accessory for presentation at the accessory responsive to the indication of the state of the virtual accessory being provided to the accessory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information indicates a state of the action figure, wherein processing the notification comprises processing the notification to determine the state of the action figure, and wherein providing the presentation comprises providing, based on the detection of the user interaction, a presentation indicating the state of the action figure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information indicates a state of the virtual counterpart, wherein processing the notification comprises processing the notification to determine the state of the virtual counterpart, and wherein providing the presentation comprises providing, based on the detection of the user interaction, a presentation indicating the state of the virtual counterpart.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information indicates an aspect of the virtual environment, wherein processing the notification comprises processing the notification to determine the aspect of the virtual environment, and wherein providing the presentation comprises providing, based on the detection of the user interaction, a presentation indicating the aspect of the virtual environment.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the action figure, the accessory within a wireless communication range, wherein the wireless communication range comprises at least one of a Near Field Communication (NFC) range, Bluetooth communication range, or a Wi-Fi communication range; and

establishing, by the action figure, based on the detection of the accessory, a wireless connection between the action figure and the accessory,

wherein providing the indication of the state of the virtual accessory comprises providing the indication of the state of the virtual accessory to the accessory via the established wireless connection between the action figure and the accessory.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the action figure, another action figure within a wireless communication range, wherein the wireless communication range comprises at least one of a Near Field Communication (NFC) range, Bluetooth communication range, or a Wi-Fi communication range;

establishing, by the action figure, based on the detection of the other action figure, a wireless connection between the action figure and the other action figure;

receiving, at the action figure, from the device via the established wireless connection between the action figure and the device, a third notification related to a virtual counterpart of the other action figure, wherein the virtual counterpart of the other action figure represents the other action figure in the virtual environment; and

providing, by the action figure, the third notification to the other action figure via the established wireless connection between the action figure and the other action figure.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein information related to the virtual counterpart of the other action figure is presented at the other action figure responsive to the third notification being provided to the other action figure.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the action figure, from the device via the established wireless connection, a third notification comprising information related to a state of the virtual counterpart; and

updating, by the action figure, a state of the action figure based on the information related to the state of the virtual counterpart.

9. An action figure for providing notifications, the action figure comprising:

one or more physical processors programmed to execute computer program instructions which, when executed, cause the one or more physical processors to;

detect a device within a wireless communication range, wherein the wireless communication range comprises at least one of a Near Field Communication (NFC) range, Bluetooth communication range, or a Wi-Fi communication range;

establish, based on the detection of the device, a wireless connection between the action figure and the device;

receive, from the device via the established wireless connection, a notification comprising information related to at least one of (i) the action figure, (ii) a virtual counterpart of the action figure in a virtual environment, (iii) the virtual environment, or (iv) a user account associated with an owner of the action figure;

process the notification to obtain the information;

detect a user interaction with the action figure;

provide, based on the detection of the user interaction, a presentation of the information;

receive, from the device via the established wireless connection, a second notification related to a virtual accessory of the virtual counterpart that corresponds to an accessory of the action figure;

process the second notification to determine a state of the virtual accessory; and

provide an indication of the state of the virtual accessory to the accessory for presentation at the accessory responsive to the indication of the state of the virtual accessory being provided to the accessory.

10. The action figure of claim 9, wherein the information indicates a state of the action figure, wherein processing the notification comprises processing the notification to determine the state of the action figure, and wherein providing the presentation comprises providing, based on the detection of the user interaction, a presentation indicating the state of the action figure.

11. The action figure of claim 9, wherein the information indicates a state of the virtual counterpart, wherein processing the notification comprises processing the notification to determine the state of the virtual counterpart, and wherein providing the presentation comprises providing, based on the detection of the user interaction, a presentation indicating the state of the virtual counterpart.

12. The action figure of claim 9, wherein the information indicates an aspect of the virtual environment, wherein processing the notification comprises processing the notification to determine the aspect of the virtual environment, and wherein providing the presentation comprises providing, based on the detection of the user interaction, a presentation indicating the aspect of the virtual environment.

13. The action figure of claim 9, wherein the one or more physical processors are further caused to:

detect the accessory within a wireless communication range, wherein the wireless communication range comprises at least one of a Near Field Communication (NFC) range, Bluetooth communication range, or a Wi-Fi communication range; and

establish, based on the detection of the accessory, a wireless connection between the action figure and the accessory,

wherein providing the indication of the state of the virtual accessory comprises providing the indication of the state of the virtual accessory to the accessory via the established wireless connection between the action figure and the accessory.

14. The action figure of claim 9, wherein the one or more physical processors are further caused to:

detect another action figure within a wireless communication range, wherein the wireless communication range comprises at least one of a Near Field Communication (NFC) range, Bluetooth communication range, or a Wi-Fi communication range;

establish, based on the detection of the other action figure, a wireless connection between the action figure and the other action figure;

receive, from the device via the established wireless connection between the action figure and the device, a third notification related to a virtual counterpart of the other action figure, wherein the virtual counterpart of the other action figure represents the other action figure in the virtual environment; and

provide the third notification to the other action figure via the established wireless connection between the action figure and the other action figure.

15. The action figure of claim 14, wherein information related to the virtual counterpart of the other action figure is presented at the other action figure responsive to the third notification being provided to the other action figure.

16. The action figure of claim 9, wherein the one or more physical processors are further caused to:

receive, from the device via the established wireless connection, a third notification comprising information related to a state of the virtual counterpart; and

update a state of the action figure based on the information related to the state of the virtual counterpart.