Toy learning apparatus using cyber community and performance method thereof

• US 20020059153A1
• Filed: 08/16/2001
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Hee II, Song, In Sang, Kim, Wae Yeul, Dan, Byung Ju, Kim, Nam Woong, Lim, Jong Rak, Na, Jae Ho, Boo, Jang Won
• Application Number:
  US09/931,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20020059153A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/008 based on physical entities controlled by simulated intelligence so as to replicate intelligent life forms, e.g. based on robots replicating pets or humans in their appearance or behaviour

Abstract

A toy learning apparatus using a cyber community and a method thereof comprising a cyber community having a cyber character which grows by learning in online, and a toy which grows by receiving experience of the cyber character or experience of a user'"'"'s learning can increase the interest of the user, promote the sale of the toy and supply the program update of the toy, contents and various kinds of information smoothly by connecting the actual toy and the cyber character which acts in the cyber community.

Claims

1. A toy learning apparatus using a cyber community comprising:

a cyber community having a cyber character which grows by learning in online; and

a toy which grows by receiving experience of the cyber character or experience of a user'"'"'s learning.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cyber community is performed in a network server which provides cyber character information of a user and cyber character information of another user.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cyber community is performed in a performance apparatus for outputting the information of the cyber character.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cyber community is performed in a network server for supplying an operation data for the toy and a performance apparatus for providing an upgrade program provided from the network server.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cyber community comprising:

a home (family) for rearing a cyber character;

a school in which the cyber character learns audio information such as music and voice, motion and gesture; and

a robot education center for upgrading program of the cyber character or downloading operation data and an information center for providing data such as a shopping mall, news and weather while the cyber character acts as a shopping guide.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the network server is characterized that programs for synchronizing the cyber community are provided to respective users to contact with the cyber character of another users.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cyber character is composed of a cyber character which exists only in a cyber community and a cyber character of a user who represents the toy in the real world.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the performance apparatuses are a computer, mobile phone and PDA, which have wire and wireless communication functions.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the toy exhibits motion of a level corresponding to experience of the cyber character in the cyber community and learning by the user or outputting an audio information.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the toy comprising:

a sensor for sensing an outside pulsation;

an input apparatus for inputting an image, audio information and letters; and

a communication apparatus for wire and wireless communication.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the toy has a memory for memorize the information by learning and an input/output unit for exchanging information with another toys.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the memory of the toy is detachable and can be replaced by a memory of another user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the performance apparatus is used to operate the cyber community by downloading the program for operating the cyber community and the data information from the network server to reduce the amount of data which is transmitted between the network server and the performance unit.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising the steps of:

reflecting the information such as the learning result, characteristic, state of feeling and the degree of growth/intelligence on the activity of the cyber character which represents the toy in the cyber community; and

reflecting the experience information by the activity of the cyber character on the activity of the toy by transmitting it to the toy.

16. The method of claim 15, further having the step of updating the operating/application program corresponding to the extent of learning of the toy.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the memory of the toy has a number of memories in a toy and accordingly, the memories have the toy grow to have different experiences respectively by replacing the respective memories.

13. The toy learning method using a cyber community comprising the steps of:

having the toy study by controlling a certain part of the toy or a remote controller or using an information input means such as an audio information and then storing the experience information in the memory;

reflecting the experience information of the toy on the activity of the cyber character in the cyber community according to the experience information of the toy by transmitting the experience information to the network server;

having the toy learn by transmitting the experience information according to the activity of the cyber character in the cyber community; and

upgrading the operating/application program corresponding to the extent of learning of the toy.

18. The toy comprising the steps of:

turning on the power supply of the toy;

selecting a user questioning the mode of the user by the toy;

selecting a default user in case the user mode is not selected;

reflecting the experience information of the toy on the cyber character in online according to the selected user and accordingly, changing the activity of the cyber community; and

reflecting the experience of the cyber character in the cyber community in online on the current status of the toy and changing the action of the toy.