Interactive toys

• US 8,062,090 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2009
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dialware Communication, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dialware Incorporated
• Inventors: Atsmon, Alon, Antebi, Amit, Cohen, Moshe, Shimoni, Sharon
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIEN T
• Application Number:
  US12/496,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20090264205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 446/175, 446/484, 370/60, 370/85.13, 370/94.1
• US Class Current: 446/175
• 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, said signal selected from a preselected group of signals; 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 said mechanical behavior is selected from a preselected group of responses, each of the responses corresponding to at least one of the preselected group of signals,

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 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.

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

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

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.

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

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

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said signal is automatically generated.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said signal is generated on a random basis.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said signal is generated on a periodic basis.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said signal is generated by the first player.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after said transmitting:

detecting said signal, by the second toy, said detecting selected from binary detecting, detecting signal amplitude, detecting signal frequency, detecting signal frequency spectrum, detecting Doppler shift of the signal, detecting change in amplitude of the signal, detecting change in duration of the signal, detecting number of repetitions of the signal, pattern recognition in the signal, and detecting patters of motion of the signal.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal includes information regarding the first toy, the information indicative of the first toy'"'"'s on/off state, the activities, location, environment, nearby toys, locally sensed information, logic state, and readiness.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is selected from an acoustic signal, an IR signal, an RF signal, a low frequency magnetic field, an electrostatic field, a passive signal, and an RF probe wave.

16. A toy network, comprising:

a central station at a first location, which generates a transmission for relay, said transmission selected from a preselected group of signals;

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.

17. A network according to claim 16, wherein said toys generate a human-noticeable indication when receiving said transmission.

18. A network according to claim 16, wherein said toys receive said transmission via a radio broadcast.

19. A network according to claim 18, wherein said radio broadcast comprises a DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast).

20. A network according to claim 16, wherein said toys are adapted to receive feedback from a user and transmit the feedback to said central station.

21. A network according to claim 20, 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.

22. A network according to claim 20, 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.

23. A network according to claim 16, wherein said toy comprises a quiz displaying toy and wherein said transmission comprises quiz questions or answers to quiz questions.

24. A network according to claim 16, 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.

25. A toy kit comprising:

a first child-safe toy adapted to generate first signals and to exhibit a first behavior, said first signals selected from a preselected group of signals;

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, said second behavior selected from a preselected group of behaviors, each of the behaviors corresponding to at least one of the preselected group of 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.

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

27. A kit according to claim 25, wherein said intermediate device comprises a computer.

28. A kit according to claim 25, wherein said intermediate device comprises at least two computers connected by a network.

29. A kit according to claim 25, wherein said first and second toys are operative to operate when separated by at least 100 meters.