INTERACTIVE TOYS

• US 20090264205A1
• Filed: 07/02/2009
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dialware Communication, LLC
• Original Assignee: Beepcard Limited (Beepcard, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cohen, Moshe, Antebi, Amit, ATSMON, Alon, Shimoni, Sharon
• Granted Patent: US 8,062,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/402 Communication between platforms, i.e. physical link to protocol
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/00 Other toys
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/16 using difference in transit time between electrical and acoustic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/74 Systems using reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. IFF, i.e. identification of friend or foe
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/22 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0728 the arrangement being an optical or sound-based communication interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/045 using payment protocols involving tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 : Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 : Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves

Abstract

A plurality of individual toys, at least a first one of which generates acoustic signals and at least a second one of which receives acoustic signals. When the second toy receives acoustic signals from the first toy, it responds, for example, by generating a sound and/or controlling its motion. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the toys flock and/or form a procession of toys which follow a leader toy, for example a mother goose and a plurality of following and preferably quacking goslings.

Claims

1. A method of playing, comprising:

first mechanically interacting, by a first player, with a first toy at a first location;

transmitting a signal from the first toy to a second toy responsive to said mechanically interacting; and

exhibiting of a mechanical behavior of said second toy to a second player, at a second, remote, location, responsive to said first mechanical interaction,

wherein the first and second toys are in different rooms.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

second interacting, with a second player, with the second toy at the second location, responsive to said behavior.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first and second toys communicate via a computer network.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said computer network comprises an Internet.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein said second toy represents said first toy at said second location and wherein said second interacting comprises interacting with a third toy, which third toy interacts with said second toy locally, an indication of which interaction is transmitted to said first location, whereby said third toy effectively interacts with said first toy.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein an indication of said first interaction is exhibited by a computer at said second location, and wherein said second toy interacts with said computer.

29. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second toys comprise dolls, action figures, plastic animals or toy soldiers.

30. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second toys comprise child safe toys.

7. A toy network, comprising:

a central station at a first location, which generates a transmission for relay;

an intervening computer comprising a receiver and a transmitter and adapted to relay the transmission; and

a plurality of toys at a plurality of second locations, each of said plurality of toys comprising a receiver adapted to receive said transmission via said intervening computer,

wherein all the toys receive the same transmission.

8. A network according to claim 7, wherein said toys generate a human-noticeable indication when receiving said transmission.

9. A network according to claim 7, wherein said toys receive said transmission via a radio broadcast.

10. A network according to claim 9, wherein said radio broadcast comprises a DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast).

11. A network according to claim 7, wherein said toys are adapted to receive feedback from a user and transmit the feedback to said central station.

12. A network according to claim 11, wherein the central station and the plurality of toys are adapted to use a same transport method for both transmission directions between said toy and said central station.

13. A network according to claim 11, wherein the central station and the plurality of toys are adapted to use different transport methods for different transmission directions between said toy and said central station.

14. A network according to claim 7, wherein said toy comprises a quiz displaying toy and wherein said transmission comprises quiz questions or answers to quiz questions.

15. A network according to claim 7, wherein said toy analyses said transmission to generate an indication to a user of said toy, which indication is responsive an interaction by said user with said toy.

16. A method of operating toys, comprising:

generating a human detectable signal for play purposes, by a first toy;

detecting the human detectable signal generated by the first toy, by a second toy;

analyzing the signal by the second toy; and

performing a play function by the second toy, responsive to said analyzing of the generated human detectable signal, without receiving any other command signal from the first toy.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the human detectable signal comprises an audible signal.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the human detectable signal is not coded.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein the human detectable signal is modulated with instructions from the first toy to the second toy.

20. A method according to claim 16, wherein the second toy determines from the human detectable signal a relative distance, orientation or motion of the first and second toys and the play function is performed accordingly.

21. A method according to claim 16, wherein the play function is performed responsive to detection of the existence of the human detectable signal.

22. A method according to claim 16, wherein the play function is performed responsive to an amplitude, frequency or Doppler shift of the human detectable signal.

23. A method according to claim 16, wherein the play function is performed responsive to a digital encoding mounted on the human detectable signal.

24. A toy kit comprising:

a first child-safe toy adapted to generate first signals and to exhibit a first behavior;

at least one second child-safe toy adapted to receive second signals via a receiver and to exhibit a second behavior, responsive to the received second signals; and

an intermediate device adapted to receive the first signals from the first toy via a receiver and transmit the second signals via a transmitter to the second toy responsive to the first signals.

25. A kit according to claim 24, wherein said intermediate device comprises a third toy.

26. A kit according to claim 24, wherein said intermediate device comprises a computer.

27. A kit according to claim 24, wherein said intermediate device comprises at least two computers connected by a network.

28. A kit according to claim 24, wherein said first and second toys are operative to operate when separated by at least 100 meters.