CONFIGURABLE LOCATION-AWARE TOY CAPABLE OF COMMUNICATING WITH LIKE TOYS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE FOR COMMUNICATING WITH SUCH TOYS

• US 20120009845A1
• Filed: 06/28/2011
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Juniper Holding Corp.
• Original Assignee: Juniper Holding Corp.
• Inventors: Schmelzer, Richard
• Application Number:
  US13/171,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20120009845A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/431
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/00 Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; convertible into other toys A63H33/003; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor traffic games with figures moved by players A63F9/14
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls

Abstract

This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling movement of a self-propelled toy that interacts with human users, receiving assistance from those users in reaching a destination, and communicates with other self-propelled toys, with human users, and with social media forums via various networks.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

moving a self-propelled toy along a route towards a first destination;

transmitting information from the self-propelled toy to a receiving device that is part of;

another self-propelled toy, a mobile computing device, or a communications connection to the Internet; and

seeking human assistance in surmounting an obstacle when the self-propelled toy determines that an obstacle is insurmountable.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the human assistance is a manual driving of the self-propelled toy.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the seeking is audible.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the seeking is visual.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the seeking is wirelessly transmitted to one or more computing devices via a wireless communication.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the seeking is wirelessly transmitted to one or more computing devices via the Internet.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the seeking includes transmission of a text message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the seeking details a type of assistance that the self-propelled toy desires.

9. A method of operating a self-propelled toy comprising:

moving a self-propelled toy along a route between a current location and a first destination;

receiving route information from a human user or another self-propelled toy;

modifying the route based on the received route information; and

publishing information about the self-propelled toy via a network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the publishing includes a sending of one or more text messages to a group of mobile computing devices.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the publishing includes posting information on the Internet.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the posting is performed via a website.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the website is a social media website.

14. A self-propelled toy comprising:

a propulsion system;

a communication module inclusive of an Internet connection;

a location sensor;

a guidance module configured to follow a route, wherein the route is selected based on the toy'"'"'s current location, a first destination, and one or more waypoints between the toy'"'"'s current location and the first destination, and wherein the route is modified based on route data received from another self-propelled toy or from a user'"'"'s computing device;

a human interaction module configured to request assistance from one or more human users; and

a power source.

15. The self-propelled toy of claim 14, wherein the self-propelled toy is a robotic ball that moves by rolling.

16. The self-propelled toy of claim 14, wherein the human interaction module is further configured to reward the one or more humans that assist the self-propelled toy.