The present invention relates in one aspect to an interactive toy system, the system comprising a plurality of wireless interactive toys, wherein each of the wireless interactive toys comprises: a transceiver adapted for wireless communication; an interactive function device; and a processor operationally coupled to the transceiver and to the interactive function device.
According to a preferred aspect, the interactive toy system is a toy construction system and the wireless interactive toys are toy construction elements of said toy construction system.
According to a further aspect the invention relates to a method of operating an interactive toy system to provide a linked interactive user-experience, the system comprising a plurality of wireless interactive toys, wherein each of the wireless interactive toys comprises: a transceiver adapted for wireless communication; an interactive function device; and a processor operationally coupled to the transceiver and to the interactive function device.
According to a yet further aspect, the invention relates to a method of defining groups of associated wireless interactive toys for providing a linked interactive user experience.
Interactive play scenarios where a user interacts with a toy are considered highly stimulating and educational, and often provide an engaging user-experience. The user-experience is considered to become significantly more stimulating and engaging, when linking interactive toys together to provide in combination a linked interactive user experience, where the user interacts with a group of interacting toys. Examples of such linked interactive toys include toy and educational robotics kits, where a processing hub can be combined with peripheral devices, such as sensors, switches, light emitters, sound emitters, and motors to create an interactive robotic toy model. However, such creations typically require a costly central processing hub for controlling operation of the linked devices. Furthermore, such robotic kits are often challenged by requiring the users to establish these links, and require advanced skills in order to make them work. This limits both the flexibility for creating new user experiences and the accessibility for a broader group of users.
Therefore, there is a need for facilitating flexibility and modularity in combining and using interactive toys to create use new linked interactive user experiences. Furthermore, there is a need to make the creation and use of such linked user experiences more intuitive and satisfying, and thus improve accessibility to a broader user group. At the same time it is desirable to mitigate, avoid, or even prevent interference with other toys, such as interference with other toys of the same kind, e.g. a similar type of interactive toys used by a sibling in the same house, or interference with other toys also present and active in the vicinity.
It is furthermore desirable to provide an environment, where it becomes possible to generate a new interactive play context, where different interactive toys collaborate to provide a cohesive play story to one or more users. To facilitate the creation process and provide a satisfying user experience, it is further desirable to bring about such collaboration in an intuitively accessible manner, promptly, and/or even automatically. Furthermore it is desirable to facilitate a simple and intuitive manner of using elements and components of such a system, e.g. as part of a play activity or as an integrated part of the normal usage of the system. Furthermore, it is desirable to facilitate a satisfying user experience by striving for a high level of responsiveness and low lag of such an interactive toy system when starting to use the system, when creating with the system, and/or when interacting with creations made from the system.
In a first aspect, the invention relates to embodiments of an interactive toy system and wireless interactive toys for use therein as defined in the appended claims and specified in the following.
A first aspect of the invention relates to an interactive toy system, the system comprising a plurality of wireless interactive toys, wherein each of the wireless interactive toys comprises: a transceiver adapted for wireless communication; an interactive function device; and a processor operationally coupled to the transceiver and to the interactive function device; wherein the processor is configured to form a wireless toy network with other ones of the plurality of wireless interactive toys of the interactive toy system; wherein the processor is further configured to keep a record of a membership of the wireless interactive toy in a group of associated wireless interactive toys, and to control operation of the wireless interactive toy within the wireless toy network according to said membership; wherein operation of the wireless interactive toy within the wireless toy network comprises a primary level of operation and a secondary level of operation; wherein the primary level of operation is configured to control cooperation of the wireless interactive toy with one or more further wireless interactive toys within the group of associated wireless interactive toys, so as to provide, in combination, a linked interactive user-experience, wherein communication at the primary level of operation is restricted by said membership to within the same group of associated wireless interactive toys; and wherein the secondary level of operation is configured to control cooperation of the wireless interactive toy with one or more further wireless interactive toys within the wireless toy network, wherein communication at the secondary level of operation is not restricted by said membership.
A wireless interactive toy as disclosed herein is a device adapted for interactive use by one or more users in an interactive user experience. The interactive user experience is typically conceived for a playful setting, such as one or more of: game play; role play, construction play, STEM challenges, education and/or similar purposes. The wireless interactive toy is further adapted for data exchange by wireless communication with other wireless interactive toys. The wireless communication is typically conceived for implementation on top of a wireless network infrastructure for radio communication and the associated protocol, such as a wireless network protocol for local area data communication or for personal area data communication by radio communication, e.g. Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Zigbee, Z-Wave, 6LoWPAN, or similar radio communication technologies.
A wireless interactive toy as disclosed herein comprises a transceiver for wireless communication, a processor, and an interactive function device with input devices and/or output devices. A wireless interactive toy as disclosed herein typically also comprises a rechargeable electrical power source, and has a wireless charging circuit adapted for receiving electrical power to recharge the power source.
A wireless toy network as disclosed herein is a wireless network reserved for communication among wireless interactive toys and any further devices of the system. Access to the wireless toy network is therefore restricted to compliant devices, i.e. devices that are compliant with the interactive toy system. Compliant devices are wireless interactive toys of the interactive toy system, and any further devices that are adapted to partake in the wireless toy network. Such further devices may include wireless interactive toys that are part of the interactive toy system, and any further devices that are related to the interactive toy system. The wireless toy network is formed on top of the wireless communication technology used for establishing wireless data communication. The wireless toy network is thus to be distinguished from the above-mentioned underlying wireless communication infrastructure and associated protocol used to carry the wireless toy network.
Wireless interactive toys may be associated with other wireless interactive toys in one or more groups of associated wireless interactive toys, also referred to as an association of wireless interactive toys, or short as an association. Groups of associated wireless interactive toys are formed within the wireless toy network, wherein the wireless interactive toys are associated for the purpose of providing a linked interactive user experience. Membership of a wireless interactive toy in a group of associated wireless interactive toys then governs the interactive response of the wireless interactive toy in a user experience. Membership may be indicated by a membership (data) item indicative of membership of the wireless interactive toy in a group of associated wireless interactive toys. The term linked interactive user experience refers to the cooperation of associated wireless interactive toys for providing a coherent interactive user experience to one or more users of the interactive toy system. The interactive toy system comprises an associating system with a grouping module configured to manage associations between wireless interactive toys. Associations between wireless interactive toys may be defined using an associating device. An interaction between a wireless interactive toy and the associating device may trigger assignment of a membership in an association to the wireless interactive toy.
By organizing the wireless interactive toys in groups of associated wireless interactive toys, and operating the wireless interactive toys according to their association, the required processing complexity for bringing about a linked interactive response of the wireless toys to user interactions is reduced to only involve relevant devices as defined by the association. As a consequence, low latency, and thus a rapid interaction response of the wirelessly linked toys is achieved. Thereby, an improved user experience is achieved.
The transceiver is adapted for wireless communication by wireless communication through a wireless network infrastructure according to a wireless network protocol. The interactive toy system uses the wireless network infrastructure as the infrastructure of communication on top of which the wireless toy network can be formed.
Advantageously, the interactive function device may comprise an input sensor, a device for producing user perceptible output, or both.
More generally, one or more, or each of the wireless interactive toys may comprise input and/or output devices to facilitate user-perceptible interactions between a user and one or more of the wireless interactive toys. Furthermore, one or more, or each of the wireless interactive toys may comprise input and/or output devices for non-user-perceptible interactions between wireless interactive toys.
Advantageously, the processor is configured to form a wireless toy network within the wireless communication infrastructure used by the transceiver. As already mentioned above, the wireless toy network thus uses, via the transceivers, the wireless communication infrastructure as provided by the wireless network.
Preferably, access to the wireless toy network is reserved to wireless interactive toys of the interactive toy system and related devices. The wireless interactive toys and any related devices are also referred to as so-called compliant devices.
Further preferably, the wireless toy network is configured as an open network, where only compliant devices have access, i.e. a wireless toy network, which is reserved for toys and devices that are part of or compatible with the wireless interactive toy system. The term open network of compliant devices as used herein in respect of the wireless toy network thus means that the wireless toy network supports open access for such compliant devices, while the wireless toy network is configured to reject access for non-compliant devices.
Providing an open wireless toy network, which is reserved for toys and devices that are part of or compatible with the wireless interactive toy system, facilitates a high flexibility and modularity for adding, removing, and replacing toys and any further compliant devices at any given instance. Just to name a few examples, such instances may be prompted e.g. by the initiation of a new play session, or by the detection of a charging event, or may even occur dynamically during a user session, e.g. when detecting presence (or absence) of a compliant device according to context, wherein the context may be identifiable by detecting pre-determined conditions or circumstances.
Configuring the wireless toy network as an open network of compliant devices has the further advantage that it promotes a modular user experience with regard to combining interactive functionalities to create linked interactive user experience in a manner which is akin to the well-known mechanical counterpart of creating toy construction models using modular toy construction elements that are part of (or compatible with) a modular toy construction system. By at the same time, within the open wireless toy network, associating wireless toys in groups according to their conceived user-interaction at a primary level of operation, an unperturbed and responsive user-perceptible behavior is achieved, thereby improving the interactive user experience. Furthermore, by providing such an open wireless toy network, the modularity and flexibility for freely combining wireless interactive toys to create new play experiences and to modify them is upheld, since the group association may easily be defined and redefined dynamically as also detailed further elsewhere herein, thereby further contributing to an improved user experience. Furthermore, by at the same time, within the open wireless toy network, allowing the wireless interactive toys to cooperate across groups at a secondary level of operation in respect of non-user-perceptible tasks, e.g. involving access to shared resources, an unperturbed and responsive user-perceptible behavior is further enhanced. The compliant wireless interactive toys and any related devices may thus be used interchangeably, without compromising the open wireless toy network access,
This further supports the above-mentioned modularity and flexibility for freely combining wireless interactive toys to create new interactive user experiences. Thereby, a further improved user experience is achieved. This is particularly relevant when the wireless interactive toys are actually formed as and compatible with toy construction elements of a toy construction system as further detailed below.
At the primary level of operation, cooperation of the wireless interactive toys within the group of associated wireless interactive toys typically occurs in respect of user-perceptible functions, so as to provide, in combination, a linked interactive user-experience. In a wireless interactive device, user-perceptible functions are typically performed by the interactive function device comprising a user-perceptible input device and/or a user-perceptible output device.
The user experience in relation to a wireless interactive toy may refer to one or more of: game play, role play, construction play, educational use, and the like. The primary level of operation thus controls user experience related interactions with and within the wireless interactive toys of the interactive toy system, such as any play interactions. The primary level of operation thus provides a control level for controlling cooperation of a group of associated wireless interactive toys, so as to present to one or more users thereof cohesive user-perceptible input and/or output.
Conceivably, an association may also have one or more subgroups. For example, a number of models may be part of the same linked interactive play experience, each model comprising one or more of the corresponding associated wireless interactive toys, wherein the wireless interactive toys in each model are mechanically connected to each other. Advantageously, the wireless interactive toys in a model may then be organized in a subgroup, thus forming subgroups by model. Furthermore, an ensemble of such models that are part of the same linked interactive play experience and share a common context may also be organized in subgroups, thus forming subgroups by context. Advantageously, subgroups may also be nested, thus forming a hierarchy of subgroups, e.g. subgroups by model nested within respective subgroups by context, which in turn are nested within the overall linked play experience.
By way of example, a linked interactive user experience, such as a "ghost chase", may comprise a first subgroup in a group of associated wireless interactive toys representing a first context, e.g. a "ghost hunter theme", and a second subgroup in the same group of associated wireless interactive toys representing a second context, e.g. a "ghost mysteries theme". Furthermore, the first subgroup and/or second subgroup may each comprise one or more models corresponding to the theme, respectively, such as a "ghost hunter headquarters building", a "ghost hunter vehicle", a "haunted house", "haunted items", a "ghost model", or the like. The wireless interactive toys in these models may then in turn be organized in respective subgroups and nested within the corresponding context subgroup.
Advantageously in some embodiments, a plurality of wireless interactive toys of an interactive toy system may also be grouped in multiple separate groups of associated wireless interactive toys, each group of associated wireless interactive toys being configurable for a respective separate linked interactive play experience, e.g. a dragon fight game, a doll house play, a car race experience, and/or one or more educational construction challenges (maybe even directed to the same kind of educational assignment), all happening separately and next to each other.
An interactive toy system may thus comprise a plurality of wireless interactive toys comprising a first group and a second group, wherein the first group of the wireless interactive toys has a membership in a first group of associated wireless toys configured to provide a first linked interactive user experience, and wherein the second group of the wireless interactive toys has a membership in a second group of associated wireless toys configured to provide a second linked interactive user experience separate from the first linked interactive user experience.
At the secondary level of operation, cooperation of the wireless interactive toys within the wireless toy network typically occurs in respect of non-user-perceptible functions, e.g. to handle concurrent requests for access to shared resources or to control association of multiple wireless interactive toys. For example, in a wireless interactive device, non-user-perceptible functions may be performed by sensing devices, such as magnetic or inductive probing coils, electromagnetic sensors, electro-magnetic radiation sensors and emitters. Sharing of resources may for example be in relation to access to overlapping electromagnetic frequency/wavelength ranges for measuring, detecting, reading, probing, and/or sensing operations, or similar processes. Sharing of resources may also be in relation to measurements involving a plurality of sensing devices in multiple different wireless interactive toys forming a sensing arrangement, where performing a measurement requires concurrent operation of multiple sensing devices, such as a sensing device transmitting a stimulation field and multiple distributed sensing devices concurrently measuring a local quantity of said stimulation at their respective locations. The secondary level of operation may thus perform non-user-perceptible tasks of controlling the wireless interactive toy to avoid interference or cross-talk with other wireless interactive toys accessing the same physical resources or, performing measurements using the same physical resources for stimulating the environment, probing, detecting, listening to and/or instructing each other. In this way, the wireless interactive toys can avoid interference or undesired cross-talk with other wireless interactive toys which are operated in coexistence, even if they are apparently unrelated from a user experience point of view. The secondary level of operation may also be configured to perform non-user-perceptible control tasks for concurrent operation of multiple wireless interactive toys, or for controlling the association of wireless interactive toys.
The secondary level of operation is thus adapted to handle concurrence when accessing shared resources. Sharing concurrence information and operating one or more, or all, of the wireless interactive toys according to that concurrence information may also be required when performing measurements involving the coordinated operation of multiple wireless interactive toys. For example, an inductive sensing arrangement for determining the relative position and/or orientation between wireless interactive toys may involve multiple, such as two or more, wireless interactive toys. At least one of the wireless interactive toys in the sensing arrangement may have a sensing device adapted to transmit an electromagnetic field as a stimulation of its environment, such as a sensing device comprising one or more coils connectable to an energy source and operable to transmit an electromagnetic stimulation field. One or more of the further wireless interactive toys in the sensing arrangement may comprise a sensing device, adapted to locally receive and determine a measurement result indicative of a local value of the stimulation electromagnetic field, such as a sensing device including one or more coils connectable to measuring circuitry, and further adapted to infer position and/or orientation information based on the measurement result. It may be noted that components of a sensing device may be repurposed for different functions depending on the task to be performed by the wireless interactive toy. For example, the one or more coils used for transmitting an electromagnetic stimulation field when a wireless interactive toy performs the task of stimulation transmission may double as induction coils for measuring a local electromagnetic field when the wireless interactive toy performs the task of determining position and/or orientation information relative to a transmitting wireless interactive toy. Repurposing of the coils may be controlled by the processor and associated circuitry of the wireless interactive toy, depending on whether the wireless interactive toy is operated as a transmitter or as a local receiver of a stimulation field.
In such a cooperating or coordinated sensing arrangement involving multiple sensing devices of different wireless interactive toys, concurrence information may be used to coordinate the operation of the multiple sensing devices, e.g. to ensure transmission of an electromagnetic stimulation field by only one wireless interactive toy at a given time, and to ensure concurrent measurements being performed by the one or more further wireless interactive toys. Accordingly, the concurrence information may be used, on the one hand, to avoid interference from multiple wireless interactive toys configured for transmitting an electromagnetic stimulation field by ensuring that they do not transmit at the same time. On the other hand, the concurrence information may further be used to perform local measurements synchronized with the stimulation by ensuring that the one or more sensing devices configured for measuring perform the measurement during transmission of the corresponding stimulation electromagnetic field.
As mentioned above, separate groups of associated wireless interactive toys may be defined, wherein the separate groups do not cooperate in respect of user-perceptible functions for a common linked interactive play experience, thereby providing separate linked interactive user experiences. The wireless interactive toys may nevertheless communicate within the wireless toy network but across any association, i.e. unrestricted by membership, in respect of functions that are not user-perceptible. This cooperation of wireless interactive toys is advantageously controlled on the secondary level of operation. By way of example, at the secondary level of operation, controlling cooperation of the wireless interactive toy with one or more further wireless interactive toys within the wireless toy network may comprise one or more of: interactions based on presence and range, such as derived from analyzing a received signal strength indication; and querying a record of membership to determine association of wireless interactive toys.
A further example of non-user-perceptible tasks performed at the secondary level of operation is related to the control of the association (e.g. comparing membership records, checking association conditions, setting new membership values etc.). The secondary level of operation may thus include tasks related to forming associations and handling association membership, as also discussed elsewhere herein. For example, a process of assigning wireless interactive toys to a group of associated wireless interactive toys may include the following performed at the second level of operation: determining fulfilment of associating conditions, such as predetermined associating conditions; checking for the availability of a corresponding membership item, e.g. through communication on the secondary level of operation with one or more further wireless interactive toys in the wireless toy network; in case a corresponding membership item is available, adopting membership according to the membership item, thereby forming a group of associated wireless interactive toys; in case no corresponding membership item is available, determining a membership item corresponding to the associating conditions, keeping a record thereof, and offering the membership item, e.g. through communication on the secondary level of operation within the wireless toy network; and in response to a second one of the wireless interactive toys adopting membership according to the offer, forming a group of associated wireless interactive toys. In a similar manner, tasks related to leaving an association, or to removing a wireless interactive toy from an association may be performed on the secondary level of operation, and are also not directly related to a user-perceptible interaction with the wireless interactive toys, even though they may be triggered by a user-perceptible interaction.
Accessing a shared resource may include performing the same or similar sensor functions in different wireless interactive toys involving the same or overlapping physical effects, such as involving magnetic or electro-magnetic probing and measurement. A further example may include determining number and/or presence of (other) wireless interactive toys within the wireless toy network, or at least within a pre-defined proximity distance. A yet further example may include querying for a membership item to determine if the queried wireless interactive toys have a common membership item or not, thereby determining whether or not the wireless interactive toys are part of the same group of associated wireless interactive toys.
By coordinating the allocation of shared resources among wireless interactive toys on the wireless toy network, interference or cross-talk between wireless interactive toys is avoided or at least mitigated, e.g. when performing non-user-perceptible functions involving coexistence, and thus requiring access to shared resources. Advantageously, coordinating the allocation of shared resources may include scheduling of functions requiring shared resources. Scheduling may include reserving respective time periods to wireless interactive toys requesting access to shared resources for performing such functions.
The non-user-perceptible tasks, such as functions requiring shared resources, which are handled at the secondary level of operation, are separated from the protocol facilitating wireless communication, as any wireless communication traffic is handled by the underlying wireless network infrastructure for wireless communication. Managing wireless communication through the wireless network infrastructure is therefore preferably handled apart from the operation of the wireless interactive toys at the secondary level. Cooperation and coordination tasks at the secondary level, such as in respect of shared resources of the wireless interactive toy system, are thus kept within the wireless toy network formed on top of the wireless network infrastructure. Furthermore, functions for performing non-user-perceptible tasks, such as functions requiring shared resources handled at the secondary level of operation are different from user-perceptible functions of the wireless interactive toys, as cooperation in respect of user-perceptible functions to provide a linked interactive user experience is handled at the primary level of operation.
The membership record keeps track of membership of the wireless interactive toy in a group of associated wireless interactive toys. By matching membership records, the processor of each wireless interactive toy may determine association with another wireless element in the same group. The processor is then configured to control interactions of the wireless interactive toy with other wireless toys of the system according to said membership. Membership in a group of associated wireless interactive toys may be represented by any suitable data item, such as a code, such as a numerical code. Assigning an association to a wireless interactive toy includes setting, storing, and/or writing a corresponding value of the data item in a data record in the wireless interactive toy.
More generally, embodiments of the interactive toy system thus facilitate a playful and creative use of wireless interactive toys that may be freely combined and linked together in a modular manner to make new interactive user-experiences. A playful and creative use of wireless interactive toys may be exploited in any context for interactive user-experiences using toys, such as: a gaming context, e.g. for game play according to rules defined beforehand by a game designer; a role playing context, e.g. for role playing following a script or just following the users' story telling phantasy; a construction play context, e.g. for developing models of interactive machines; and/or an educational context, e.g. when solving assignments or participating in STEM challenges, thereby acquiring and applying new skills.
Using the interactive toy system according to embodiments of the invention, such interactive user experiences may be created from a largely varying number of wireless interactive toys, where any of the interactive user experiences may involve a wireless interactive toy alone, in combination, and/or side-by-side with other ones of the wireless interactive toys.
Further according to some embodiments of the system, controlling cooperation at the primary level of operation comprises: determining interaction information in respect of the linked interactive user experience; sharing said interaction information within the group of associated wireless interactive toys; and operating the wireless interactive toy based on the shared interaction information.
Interaction information may be input information derived from an interaction occurring at any of the associated wireless interactive toys. Such interaction may be an interaction with one or more users, another wireless interactive toy, or with the environment.
Advantageously, determining interaction information comprises detecting or measuring a physical quantity at an input sensor. The detected or measured quantity may be indicative of a user input. Alternatively or in addition thereto, the detected or measured quantity may also be indicative of a physical state of a wireless interactive toy with respect to its environment or with respect to one or more further wireless interactive toys, a change in such a physical state, or the like. Advantageously, the detection or measurement may be performed e.g. by using a sensor of the interactive function device in a wireless interactive toy. By way of example, the physical states thus determined may include but are not limited one or more of: distance, position, orientation, magnetic field strength, electrical field strength, current, voltage, light or other electromagnetic-radiation intensity, color, wavelength, pressure, force, speed, acceleration, or the like.
Interaction information may further be information regarding a programmed behavior of one or more wireless interactive toys in response to such an interaction input, regarding number and type of wireless interactive toys in a given group of wireless interactive toys, and the individual functionalities provided thereby
The programmed behavior may be indicated e.g. by stored parameters and/or programmed instructions determining such behavior of one or more of the wireless interactive toys alone or in combination with one or more of the associated wireless interactive toys. Interaction information may thus also include information on the interactive response behavior of an individual wireless interactive toy and/or information on the linked interactive response behavior of a group of associated wireless interactive toys. Interaction information may thus relate to the wireless interactive toys in the group of wireless interactive toys and/or the linked interactive user experience provided by the group of wireless interactive toys. Interaction information may further relate to user interaction information, i.e. to information regarding the playful interaction between the user and the group of associated wireless interactive toys.
The interaction information is only shared within the group of associated wireless interactive toys that is relevant to the linked interactive user-experience, and the wireless interactive toys in the group are operated according to the shared operation. Thereby a computationally efficient interaction response is achieved, thereby reducing latency and/or processing power requirements for the processors in the wireless interactive toys. This is important for both the form factor and cost of the wireless interactive toys, which both can be decisive for whether or not the solution is viable in practice in the field of toys.
Further according to some embodiments of the system operating the wireless interactive toy comprises one or more of: operating the interactive function device to generate user-perceptible output, based on the shared interaction information; and modifying a response behavior of the interactive function device, based on the shared interaction information.
By way of example, controlling the cooperation of associated wireless interactive toys at the primary level of operation so as to provide a linked interactive user experience may include sharing of play identity information. For example, a first wireless interactive toy may share that it is (part of) a dragon, a vehicle, or a game master. The play identity information may indicate to other associated wireless interactive toy elements, which role the first wireless interactive toy (or a subgroup of wireless interactive toys represented by it) plays in the group and the corresponding linked interactive user-experience. The wireless interactive toys in the group may then configure the control routines of their respective processors accordingly. The shared play identity information may also be a common play identity that is shared among the associated wireless interactive toys of the group, which then may configure the control routines of their respective processors accordingly.
Advantageously, a process of controlling operation at the primary level may thus include one or more of: sharing play identity; receiving the shared play identity information at one or more of the associated wireless interactive toys; modifying user-perceptible function device behavior based on the shared play identity information; and controlling the interactive function device based on the shared play identity information.
Further examples of controlling the cooperation of associated wireless interactive toys at the primary level of operation so as to provide a linked interactive user experience include but are not limited to processes for controlling cooperation between associated wireless interactive toys based on one or more of:
- their relative location/orientation, e.g. distance, "to the right", "to the left", "above", "below", "in front of', "on the backside", "facing", "pointing away", "in longitudinal extension", or the like;
- common functionalities, e.g. compatible light emission and detection functionality for a laser tag game, magnetic coils for mutual distance and orientation sensing;
- instructions on synchronizing outputs between wireless interactive toys;
- sensing one or more of the other wireless interactive toys; and
- outputs received from one or more of the other wireless interactive toys.
A yet further example is the modification of the output behavior of a wireless interactive toy, based on the count of wireless interactive toys that have communicated with it and share a common membership in a group of associated wireless interactive toys, e.g. modify play behavior based on crowding or loneliness in a group.
Further according to some embodiments of the system, controlling cooperation at the secondary level of operation comprises: determining concurrence information in respect of access to shared resources by two or more of the wireless interactive toys in the wireless toy network; sharing said concurrence information within the wireless toy network; and operating the wireless interactive toy based on the shared concurrence information. Operation of the wireless interactive toys may be controlled, so as to avoid interference in respect of access to the shared resources. Thereby, undesirable interference and/or crosstalk can be avoided or at least mitigated, and an improved and enhanced interactive user-experience is achieved.
Further according to some embodiments of the system, one or more of the wireless interactive toys further comprises a sensing device operationally coupled to the processor. Further according to some embodiments of the system, the processor is configured to control operation of the sensing device and obtain sensing output data. Further according to some embodiments, operating the sensing device may require access to shared resources. Further according to some embodiments, the sensing device is configurable to perform one or more of: transmitting a stimulation, such as a stimulation electromagnetic field and measuring a physical quantity of said stimulation, such as a local quantity of the stimulation electromagnetic field at the location of the sensing device.
The sensing device allows to measure or query a quantity to obtain sensing output data. The processor of the wireless interactive toy may comprise programmed instructions causing it to operate the sensing device to perform a measurement, and to obtain sensing output data representative of the result of the measurement.
Typically, the sensing device is a device adapted to measure a physical quantity, and to provide a corresponding sensing output representative of the measured quantity. For example, the sensed quantity may be a measurable quantity in relation to one or more further ones of the wireless interactive devices, such as a position, distance and/or orientation of the wireless interactive toy with respect to one or more of the other wireless interactive toys. The sensed quantity may also be a measurable quantity in relation to any related device, which is not a wireless interactive toy. For example, the further device may be a wireless charging device, and the sensing device may sense a quantity representing a charging status, a charging effect, a location with respect to a charging area, or the like. The sensed quantity may also be a physical quantity in relation to an environment of the wireless interactive toy.
This has the advantage that the wireless interactive toy may be operated to sense its environment, and may be operated in response to additional information derivable from the obtained sensing results. While being obtainable in a non-interactive manner without direct user interaction, e.g. in the background and/or in a non-user-perceptible manner, the additional information may also be used in support of a linked interactive user experience. This is particularly useful to facilitate or at least enhance cooperation of associated wireless interactive toys to provide a linked interactive play experience. The obtained additional information may also be from data obtained in relation to non-associated wireless interactive toys and/or further devices on the wireless toy network, and may be useful to avoid undesired interference between wireless interactive elements and/or further devices that would be detrimental to the user experience.
In some embodiments, the sensing device may be generalized to a non-interactive function device. One or more of the wireless interactive toys may thus comprise a non-interactive function device, and the processor is configured to control operation of the non-interactive function device, e.g.to stimulate the environment, to measure a physical quantity of a stimulation of the environment or otherwise to obtain information in relation to the environment, in relation to one or more of the other wireless interactive toys, and/or in relation to any of the related further devices. Advantageously in some embodiments, the non-interactive function device comprises a non-interactive function device adapted to transmit a stimulation, such as an electromagnetic stimulation field. Advantageously according to some embodiments, the non-interactive function device comprises a measurement device adapted to measure a physical quantity in respect of one or more of: further ones of the wireless interactive toys and related further devices, and to generate measurement output data representative of the measurement result. Performing the measurement may furthermore require access to a shared resource and/or the use of concurrence information.
Obtaining said information in respect of other wireless interactive toys and related further devices may require access to a resource shared by wireless interactive toys and related devices in the wireless toy network. As further discussed elsewhere herein, concurrently requesting access to the shared resource may lead to undesirable interference and/or crosstalk between wireless interactive toys, or may require temporal coordination between multiple wireless interaction toys involved in a sensing arrangement. Advantageously, this may be handled by determining concurrence information, sharing the concurrence information within the wireless toy network, and operating the wireless interactive toys (and potentially any relevant further devices) on the wireless toy network according to the concurrence information, as also further specified elsewhere herein.
Further according to some embodiments of the system, operating the wireless interactive toy based on the shared concurrence information comprises one or more of: controlling operation of the sensing device; modifying an operational state of the wireless interactive toy; and modifying a non-interactive response behavior of the wireless interactive toy. Alternatively or in addition thereto, according to some embodiments of the system, operating the wireless interactive toy based on the shared concurrence information comprises one or more of: transmitting a stimulation in agreement with a schedule for transmission based on the shared concurrence information; measuring a physical quantity of a stimulation in agreement with a schedule for transmission of the stimulation based on the shared concurrence information.
For example, controlling operation of the sensing device may include controlling a timing for operation of the sensing device according to a schedule based on the shared concurrence information. Furthermore, modifying an operational state of the wireless interactive toy and modifying a non-interactive response behavior of the wireless interactive toy may also be performed according to a schedule based on the shared concurrence information. A schedule may be determined by allocating respective time slots for performing an operation (e.g. a measurement, detection, or probing) to each of the wireless interactive toys requesting access to the shared resource (e.g. requesting access to perform the same type of measurement requiring the same kind of probing energy). As also discussed elsewhere herein, a use of concurrent information may be the operation of multiple wireless interactive toys in a sensing arrangement. For example, a sensing arrangement may include one sensing device configured to stimulate the environment (e.g. by transmitting an electro-magnetic stimulation field) and other sensing devices configured to concurrently receive and measure that stimulation at their respective locations, and use the measurement result to infer a physical quantity with respect to the stimulating device, such as a position, a range, an orientation, or other measurable quantities. A schedule may specify timeslots for transmitting a given stimulation energy, and assign the timeslots for stimulation transmission to one wireless interactive toy at a time. Further wireless interactive toys may then perform a measurement of the given stimulation energy at a timeslot according to that schedule at their respective locations and from the local measurement result infer a physical quantity in relation to the wireless interactive toy transmitting during that timeslot.
Obtaining sensing data (or relational information) using a sensing device as described above may require access to a resource to be shared by the wireless interactive toys (and/or any of the related devices) present in the wireless toy network. An example of a shared resources may be the use of a common probing technique using a particular kind of probing energy and/or frequency, an amount of space on a charging device, particular frequency or wavelength ranges of electromagnetic radiation used for sensing, or the like. For example a positioning and orientation sensing arrangement involving multiple wireless interactive toys may use electromagnetic stimulation of the environment by one of the wireless interactive toys and concurrent local measurements by further ones of the wireless interactive toys at their respective locations to determine their presence, relative distance, relative position, and/or relative orientation.
Concurrent sensing performed by different wireless interactive toys and/or further devices may lead to concurrent requests to the shared resources. This may lead to cross-talk, interference, or similar conflicts between wireless interactive toys and/or further devices concurrently requesting access to the shared resource. Coordinating access to the shared resources based on concurrence information thus facilitates a free concurrent use of many wireless interactive toys, whether or not they are in association with each other, yet allowing for exploiting the improved functionality and operation of one or more linked interactive user-experiences that is facilitated thereby.
Advantageously according to some embodiments of the system, the interactive function device comprises one or more of: an input device, such as a sensor and/ or user input device, and an output device for generating user-perceptible output. User-perceptible interactive functions are typically controlled at the primary level of operation. However, in some embodiments, and/or in some instances, operating the interactive function device of a wireless interactive toy may also require access to shared resources, and may thus lead to interference and crosstalk with other wireless interactive toys, also outside the corresponding group of associated wireless interactive toys. Concurrent access to the shared resources may therefore also be subject to cooperation on the secondary level of operation, e.g. by scheduling such operations as discussed elsewhere herein.
Advantageously according to some embodiments, a schedule for coordinating access to shared resources therefore comprises priority time intervals that are reserved for operations pertaining to user-perceptible interactive functions. Advantageously, such subsequent priority time intervals are reserved at separation time intervals between the subsequent priority time intervals not exceeding a maximum interval. Thus providing an upper time limit for access to shared resources for functions pertaining to a user-perceptible interaction. Thereby, an upper limit for the lag in user-perceptible interactions with the toy system is ensured. This has the advantage of providing a reliable and predictable user-experience. Advantageously according to some embodiments, the priority time slots for operations pertaining to user-perceptible interactions are reserved at regular separation time intervals. Further advantageously according to some embodiments the length of the separation time intervals is adapted dynamically during operation of the interactive toy system, e.g. based on concurrence information and/or further information. Thereby, a further enhanced user-experience is achieved.
Further according to some embodiments of the system, the toy system further comprises an associating device. Furthermore, the wireless interactive toy is adapted to adopt membership in a group of associated wireless interactive toys, responsive to a trigger event related to the associating device. Advantageously in some embodiments, the processor of each of the wireless interactive toys is adapted to detect a trigger event related to an interaction with the associating device, and to adopt membership in a corresponding group of associated wireless interactive toys, responsive to detecting the trigger event.
Advantageously, adopting membership comprises setting a membership data item in the record of membership to a value indicative of a membership of the wireless interactive toy in a group of associated wireless interactive toys.
An interaction between a wireless interactive toy and an associating device thus causes assigning an association to the wireless interactive toy. Advantageously, the wireless interactive toy is further adapted to detect an interaction with the associating device, and responsive to detecting the interaction join an existing group or start a new group, thereby adopting membership in said group of wireless interactive toys.
As discussed above, the association grouping dramatically reduces the processing requirements for wireless interactive toys that are operated in an open wireless toy network environment. The open wireless toy network environment furthermore supports multiple linked interactive user-experiences with advanced interactive functionality to be formed, operated, and modified with high reliability and flexibility, yet keeping a high level of responsivity to user interactions. Surprisingly, an association grouping may even flow from the typical playful interaction of one or more users with the interactive toy system, and may thus become an intuitive process, if not kept completely transparent to the one or more users. As recognized by the inventors, this may be achieved in advantageous embodiments by linking the process of defining associations between wireless toys to devices that are key for bringing about an interactive play experience.
Further according to some embodiments of the system, the associating device is a charging device. Advantageously, the charging device is a wireless charging device. Further advantageously, the charging circuit is adapted for wireless transfer of electromagnetic charging power to one or more wireless interactive toys. Further advantageously, at least some and preferably each of the wireless interactive toys is adapted to receive wireless electromagnetic charging power. More particularly, the charging device may have a wireless charging circuit with one or more inductive coils defining one or more charging areas for transmitting electromagnetic power, and the wireless interactive toys a rechargeable power supply may have a cooperating wireless charging circuit for receiving electromagnetic power. The rechargeable power supply of such a wireless interactive toy may thus be recharged by wireless charging, when the wireless interactive toy is placed within a charging area of the charging device.
Wireless charging is a key element for bringing about a satisfying and ongoing user-experience, when using a plurality of wireless interactive toys that can be freely and interactively combined with each other in multiple linked interactive user experiences. Continued charging may even be integrated in an interactive play experience. Using a charging device as an associating device synergistically provides both charging and a natural meeting point of wireless interactive toys to be used by one or more users in a common linked interactive user experience. Using a charging device as an associating device therefore provides a user-friendly and intuitive way of defining groups of associated wireless toys.
Further according to some embodiments of the system, the associating device comprises a controller module with a transceiver adapted for wireless communication with one or more wireless interactive toys, wherein the controller module is configured to partake in the wireless toy network. The associating device is thus configured for data exchange to communicate with the wireless interactive toys in the wireless toy network.
The associating device may thus govern the associating process, and communicate with any of the wireless toys in the wireless toy network to receive and/or transmit data relevant to the associating process. For example, the associating device may determine a membership data item indicative of a membership in a group of associated wireless interactive toys, and transmit the membership data item to relevant wireless interactive toys, subject to associating conditions. This allows for a well-defined, precise, and predictable process of association group formation. Furthermore, by handling a large part of the associating process at the associating device, the wireless interactive toys are relieved of these processing tasks, thereby reducing the required processing power and allowing to allocate their processing power to handling processes related to user-interactions. Thereby a responsive interactive user-experience is further facilitated.
Conceivably, in some embodiments, the associating device may be shaped and configured as a wireless interactive toy itself. In these embodiments, the associating device will typically be configured to cooperate with other wireless interactive toys at the primary level of operation, in respect of linked interactive user experiences, and at the secondary level of operation, in respect of access to shared resources, including the assignment of membership in a group of associated wireless interactive toys. Typically however, in some embodiments, the associating device is configured as a further device, which is not conceived as a wireless interactive toy. In these embodiments, the associating device will typically be configured to cooperate with the wireless interactive toys at the second level of operation, in respect of shared resources, including the assignment of membership in a group of associated wireless interactive toys.
Further according to some embodiments of the system, the trigger event includes one or more of: determining fulfilment of a set of, typically pre-determined, associating conditions; detecting, at an associating device, proximity of a wireless interactive device; detecting, at a wireless interactive device, proximity of an associating device; detecting, at the associating device, that charging of a wireless interactive toy occurs; detecting, at a wireless interactive toy, that charging occurs; detecting, at a wireless interactive toy, that charging from the associating device occurs; determining a duration of proximity, a duration of charging, a charging level, or a change in charging level to exceed a pre-defined threshold; and establishing a wireless communication between an associating device and a wireless interactive toy.
As mentioned above, associating wireless interactive toys may be subject to a set of associating conditions. By requiring that setting or changing membership in a group of associated toys is subject to a set of conditions, e.g. programmable and/or preprogrammed associating conditions, the association process can be performed in a well-controlled manner, which may be defined and modified according to the intended linked interactive play experience.
Typically in some embodiments, the associating conditions are defined beforehand. Conceivably in some embodiments, the associating conditions may also be determined dynamically, e.g. in response to information about the wireless interactive toys in the wireless toy network, or in response to input, such as user input, received during operation of the interactive toy system. By way of example, the information on wireless interactive toys in the wireless toy network may include one or more of: a number, type, function, and state of wireless interactive toys, or changes thereof.
Advantageously, a process for triggering the definition of an association may further include checking for fulfilment of the set of predetermined conditions. Assignment of membership to a wireless interactive toy thus occurs when the wireless interactive toy meets a pre-determined set of conditions for association, also called herein associating conditions. Depending on system design, the check may be performed at the associating device and/or at one or more of the wireless interactive toys.
Further according to some embodiments of the system, the set of associating conditions to be fulfilled for associating multiple wireless interactive toys with each other in a group of associated wireless interactive toys includes requiring one or more of: a spatial correlation between the wireless interactive toys; and a correlation in time between the wireless interactive toys. Using a spatial and/or time correlation as an associating condition further improves the intuitive nature of the associating process vis-á-vis the user. Thereby, user-friendliness and accessibility of operating the interactive toy system is further enhanced.
Further according to some embodiments of the system, determining spatial correlation and/or correlation in time in relation to the associating device requires one or more of: determining simultaneous presence of the wireless interactive toys at the associating device; determining overlapping presence of the wireless interactive toys at the associating device; determining successive presence of the wireless interactive toys at the associating device; determining charging of the wireless interactive toys at the associating device; and determining the associating device as the last point of charging for the wireless interactive toys. Proximity and/or presence of a wireless interactive toy at the associating device may be determined in any suitable way, e.g. by analyzing an interaction between the wireless interactive toy and the associating device. Such an interaction may include one or more of: determining/sensing a distance, observing charging of the wireless device, data exchange, or the like.
Further according to some embodiments of the system, the associating device is configured to provide to wireless interactive toys fulfilling the associating conditions a membership item indicative of a membership in a group of associated toys, thereby defining a group of associated wireless interactive toys.
According to some embodiments, an associating device may be configured to assign wireless interactive toys to a group of associated wireless interactive toys. For example, an associating device comprising a controller with a transceiver may be configured to determine a membership item, e.g. based on a unique identifier stored thereon. The associating device may further be configured to do so responsive to a trigger event, such as any of the trigger events discussed elsewhere herein. In some embodiments, the trigger event may cause the associating device to assign association to a wireless interactive toy when the wireless interactive toy meets a predetermined set of associating conditions.
A process of assigning wireless interactive toys to a group of associated wireless interactive toys may include: selecting or identifying, by the associating device, one or more wireless interactive toys fulfilling associating conditions, such as predetermined associating conditions; determining a membership item; transmitting the membership item from the associating device to each of the selected or identified wireless interactive toys; and in response to receiving the membership item at the selected or identified wireless interactive toys, adopting, the membership in the corresponding group of associated wireless interactive toys as indicated by the membership item, and keeping a record thereof.
The associated wireless interactive toys may then check for matching membership items to determine common membership, and cooperate according to said membership for providing a linked interactive user-experience as discussed elsewhere herein.
Further according to some embodiments of the system, at least one of the wireless interactive toys is configured to provide to wireless interactive toys fulfilling the associating conditions a membership item indicative of a membership in a group of associated toys, thereby defining a group of associated wireless interactive toys.
This makes it possible to use relatively simple associating devices without very advanced processing and communication function, thereby significantly reducing cost of the associating device. Furthermore, this provides a versatile system allowing to include relatively cost-effective hardware, which is easy and simple to operate, also for defining groups of associated wireless interactive toys. For example, the associating device may not comprise a controller, or at least no transceiver, and/or is not configured for participating in the wireless toy network. For example, a charging device may not have a controller adapted for wireless communication with the transceivers of the wireless interactive toys. Wireless interactive toys may thus directly negotiate a membership item among each other, e.g. in response to detecting a trigger event, such as in response to detecting an interaction with an associating device as a trigger event (e.g. charging form a charging device occurs), wherein membership may be subject to further associating conditions.
A process of assigning wireless interactive toys to a group of associated wireless interactive toys may thus include: determining by a first wireless interactive toy fulfilment of associating conditions, such as predetermined associating conditions; checking for the availability of a corresponding membership item, e.g. through communication on the secondary level of operation with a second wireless interactive toy in the wireless toy network; in case a corresponding membership item is available, adopting membership according to the membership item, thereby forming a group of associated wireless interactive toys; in case no corresponding membership item is available, determining a membership item corresponding to the associating conditions, keeping a record thereof, and offering the membership item, e.g. through communication on the secondary level of operation within the wireless toy network; and in response to a second one of the wireless interactive toys adopting membership according to the offer, forming a group of associated wireless interactive toys.
The associated wireless interactive toys may then check for matching membership items to determine common membership, and cooperate according to said membership for providing a linked interactive user-experience as discussed elsewhere herein.
Advantageously according to some embodiments, the interactive toy system may comprise further wireless devices, wherein the further wireless devices are adapted to partake in the wireless toy network. In some embodiments, the further wireless devices are not adapted to be associated in a group of associated wireless interactive toys. Such further wireless interactive toys are thus not adapted or configured to participate (directly) in a linked interactive user experience. Therefore, the further wireless devices do not cooperate, on the primary level of operation, with one or more wireless interactive toys to provide a linked interactive play experience. Such further wireless devices are typically adapted to and configured to access the wireless toy network for non-user-perceptible tasks, in preparation and support of the interactive user experiences provided by the operation of the wireless interactive devices. The further wireless devices may thus have access to the wireless toy network for cooperating, on the secondary level of operation, with the wireless interactive toys within the wireless toy network. Such further wireless devices may therefore relate to the supporting hardware of the toy system, e.g. for purposes like wireless charging, associating, modifying associations, programming, configuring, and the like. Examples for further wireless devices may include, but are not limited to charging devices; mobile computing devices like smartphones, tablets, game controllers, laptops, or the like; stationary computing devices, or even cloud based computing devices.
Further according to some embodiments of the system, the system is a toy construction system comprising toy construction elements, the toy construction elements comprising coupling members for releasably coupling the toy construction elements to each other to form a toy construction model, and wherein the wireless interactive toys are wireless interactive toy construction elements of the toy construction system, wherein each of the wireless interactive toy construction elements has a housing comprising coupling members that are compatible with the toy construction system.
The high modularity and flexibility of the wireless interactive toys allows to freely combine the functionality of the individual wireless interactive toys to create a linked interactive user experience. By associating wireless interactive toys to cooperate in respect of user-perceptible functions, a synergistic combination of these user-perceptible functions is achieved, which results in a new, linked interactive user experience. The possibility of mechanically coupling wireless interactive toys together as toy construction elements of a toy construction system reflects and synergistically complements the functional coupling by associating wireless interactive toys. For example, an interactive toy construction system comprising a plurality of wireless interactive toy construction elements allows building linked interactive user experiences like building toy construction models.
By thus combining the functionalities of individual wireless interactive toys both by linking the user-perceptible functions in a group of associated wireless interactive toys, and by mechanically coupling at least some of the wireless interactive toys together in a releasable manner, the creation of new interactive user-experiences is made more intuitive, and easier and more accessible to a broader group of users.
Advantageously in some embodiments, the system is a modular toy construction system comprising modular toy construction elements, the modular toy construction elements comprising coupling elements for detachably connecting the toy construction elements to each other so as to construct a toy construction model. In some embodiments, the wireless interactive toy construction elements are modular toy construction elements. In some embodiments, the housing of each of the wireless interactive toy construction elements is shaped as a modular toy construction element of the modular toy construction system.
As mentioned above, the high modularity and flexibility of the wireless allows to freely combine the functionality of the individual wireless interactive toys to synergistically combine their user-perceptible functionality in a linked interactive user experience. The modularity of combining toy construction elements of a modular interactive toy construction system further complements the corresponding modularity of the wireless interactive toys for creating linked interactive user experiences and further enhances the intuitive character brought to users creating, playing, working, or otherwise interacting with the system. For example, a modular interactive toy construction system comprising a plurality of modular wireless interactive toy construction elements allows building linked interactive user experiences like building toy construction models from modular toy construction elements. The added modularity of modular toy construction elements thus further synergistically combines with the modularity and flexibility of the wireless interactive toys for constructing linked interactive user experiences in a user-friendly and accessible manner.
Further according to some embodiments, the system further comprises conventional toy construction elements.
In order to construct more complex toy construction models, the system may further comprise conventional toy construction elements, in addition to the wireless interactive toy construction elements, wherein the conventional toy construction elements are also toy construction elements of the toy construction system. The conventional toy construction elements therefore also comprise compatible coupling members for releasably interconnecting the conventional toy construction elements with further toy construction elements to form a toy construction model. The toy construction elements of the toy construction system may thus comprise wireless interactive toy construction elements with the wireless functionality of the wireless interactive toys as disclosed herein. The toy construction elements of the toy construction system may thus further comprise conventional toy construction elements without the wireless functionality of the wireless interactive toys as disclosed herein.
More generally, conventional toy construction elements are toy construction elements known in the art, and without the wireless functionality as disclosed herein.
The conventional toy construction elements are not adapted to partake in the wireless toy network. The conventional toy construction elements are different from and not adapted to communicate with the wireless interactive toys as disclosed herein. Typically, the conventional toy construction elements do not comprise a wireless transceiver. The conventional toy construction elements may include passive toy construction elements without any functionality requiring electrical power and/or power toy construction elements with functionality requiring electrical power, such as functionality for producing user-perceptible output, like motor, light, and/or sound functionality.
More generally, in some embodiments, the interactive system may comprise further toys and/or elements, which are adapted to be used in combination with the wireless interactive toys of the interactive toy system. For example, such further toys and/or elements may include decorative or themed elements, housing elements, passive toys and/or elements (i.e. without power supply), and any toys and/or elements without the wireless functionality of the wireless interactive toys as disclosed herein, i.e. toys and/or elements that add to or otherwise support the user experience (e.g. even with powered functions), but which are not equipped for participating in the wireless toy network. Thereby, a further enhanced user experience may be provided to users interacting with the system.
According further aspects, the advantages and effects discussed herein with respect to embodiments of wireless interactive toys and interactive toy systems are also achieved by corresponding methods of operating such wireless interactive toys and interactive toy systems, and by corresponding methods of defining a group of associated wireless interactive toys in an interactive toy system. In further aspects, the invention therefore also relates to such methods of operating an interactive toy system as defined in the appended claims and specified in the following.
A further aspect relates to a method of operating an interactive toy system, the system comprising a plurality of wireless interactive toys, each of the plurality of wireless interactive toys comprising: a transceiver adapted for wireless communication; an interactive function device; and a processor operationally coupled to the transceiver and to the interactive function device; wherein the method comprises: forming a wireless toy network of wireless interactive toys of the interactive toy system; at each of the plurality of wireless interactive toys in the wireless toy network, keeping a record of a membership of the wireless interactive toy in a group of associated wireless interactive toys; and controlling operation of each of the plurality of wireless interactive toys within the wireless toy network according to said membership.
Further according to some embodiments of the method, operation of the wireless interactive toy within the wireless toy network comprises a primary level of operation; wherein the primary level of operation comprises: operating a wireless interactive toy in cooperation with one or more further wireless interactive toys within the group of associated wireless interactive toys, so as to provide a linked interactive user-experience, wherein communication at the primary level of operation is restricted by said membership to within the group of associated wireless interactive toys.
Further according to some embodiments of the method, cooperation at the primary level of operation comprises: determining interaction information in respect of the linked interactive user experience; sharing said interaction information within the group of associated wireless interactive toys; and operating the associated wireless interactive toys based on the shared interaction information.
Further according to some embodiments of the method, operation of the wireless interactive toy within the wireless toy network further comprises a secondary level of operation; and wherein the secondary level of operation comprises operating a wireless interactive toy in cooperation with one or more further wireless interactive toys within the wireless toy network, so as to handle concurrent access to shared resources, wherein communication at the secondary level of operation is not restricted by said membership.
Further according to some embodiments of the method, cooperation at the secondary level of operation comprises: determining concurrence information in respect of access to shared resources by two or more of the wireless interactive toys in the wireless toy network; sharing said concurrence information within the wireless toy network; and operating the wireless interactive toy based on the shared concurrence information.
Further according to some embodiments of the method, one or more of the wireless interactive toys further comprises a sensing device, wherein the operation of the sensing device requires access to shared resources; and wherein the method further comprises operating the sensing device according to a schedule based on the shared concurrence information. As also discussed above, multiple sensing devices may be operated in a sensing arrangement requiring a coordinated operation of involved sensing devices. The sensing arrangement may use the concurrence information so as to avoid interference between competing tasks, such as for transmitting a stimulation, and/or to ensure concurrence for cooperative tasks, such as measuring a stimulation while it is transmitted.
Advantageously according to some embodiments, the sensing device is configurable to perform one or more of: transmitting a stimulation electromagnetic field and measuring a local quantity of a stimulation electromagnetic field. Advantageously according to some embodiments of the method, operating the sensing device comprises one or more of: transmitting a stimulation electromagnetic field and measuring a local quantity of a stimulation electromagnetic field. Advantageously according to some embodiments of the method, the plurality of wireless interactive toys comprises two or more wireless interactive toys configured to form a sensing arrangement of multiple sensing devices, and wherein the method further comprises operating a first sensing device to transmit a stimulation according to a schedule, such as an electromagnetic field with predetermined properties, sharing the schedule with one or more wireless interactive toys of the sensing arrangement and operating one or more second sensing devices to locally measure a physical quantity indicative of the stimulation at respective locations of the one or more second sensing devices in agreement with the shared schedule.
A yet further aspect relates to a method of operating an interactive toy system (forming a group of associated wireless interactive toys), the system comprising a plurality of wireless interactive toys, each of the wireless interactive toys comprising: a transceiver adapted for wireless communication; an interactive function device; and a processor operationally coupled to the transceiver and to the interactive function device; wherein the toy system further comprises an associating device; and wherein the method comprises: detecting a trigger event related to the associating device, and responsive to detecting the trigger event, adopting at one or more of the wireless interactive toys membership in a group of associated wireless interactive toys.
Further according to some embodiments of the method, detecting the trigger event includes determining fulfilment of a set of associating conditions.
Further according to some embodiments of the method, the set of associating conditions to be fulfilled for associating multiple wireless interactive toys with each other in a group of associated wireless interactive toys includes requiring one or more of: a spatial correlation between wireless interactive toys to be associated; a spatial correlation between wireless interactive toys to be associated and the associating device; a correlation in time between wireless interactive toys to be associated; a correlation in time between wireless interactive toys to be associated and the associating device; detecting charging of wireless interactive toys to be associated; detecting charging of wireless interactive toys to be associated from the associating device; a duration of proximity, a duration of charging, a charging level, or a change in charging level to exceed a pre-defined threshold; and detecting a wireless communication between an associating device and a wireless interactive toy.
Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail in connection with the appended drawings, which show schematically in
- Fig. 1
- an interactive toy system with groups of associated wireless interactive toys in a play scenario for multiple users;
- Fig. 2
- a wireless interactive toy and an associating device according to one embodiment;
- Figs. 3-6
- different scenarios for creating associations between wireless interactive toys using an associating device;
- Fig. 7
- a method of operating an interactive toy system with a plurality of wireless interactive toys; and in
- Fig. 8
- a method of forming a group of associated wireless interactive toys in an interactive toy system with a plurality of wireless interactive toys.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONFig. 1 shows schematically an interactive toy system in an interactive play scenario for multiple users 66, 99. The toy system comprises a plurality of wireless interactive toys 10a-e. The wireless interactive toys 10a-e are each equipped with a transceiver adapted for communication through a wireless network 3, and a processor operationally coupled to the transceiver. Advantageously, the transceivers are adapted for communication by wireless networking 3 using known low-power, short-range wireless networking technology, such as Bluetooth/Bluetooth Low Energy, ZigBee, Z-Wave, or a similar wireless technology for low-power personal area data networking in compliance with a standardized protocol.
The processor 11 controls operation of the transceiver 13. Preferably, as indicated by frame 2 inFig. 1, the wireless interactive toys 10a-e are configured to form a wireless toy network 2 within the wireless network 3, e.g. spontaneously upon detection of each other. Further devices 20, 30, 40 that are part of, or related to, the wireless interactive toy system, may also join the wireless toy network 2 and communicate with the wireless interactive toys 10a-e.
The wireless toy network 2 is selectively accessible only to wireless interactive toys 10a-e and related devices 20, 30, 40 that are part of or compatible with the wireless interactive toy system. However, while being reserved to wireless interactive toys 10a-e and related devices 20, 30, 40, the wireless toy network 2 is preferably open for any wireless interactive toys 10a-e and/or related devices 20, 30, 40 that are compliant with the wireless interactive toy system. More particularly, each of the wireless interactive toys 10a-e and/or the related devices 20, 30, 40 may be configured to detect presence or absence of further ones of the wireless interactive toys 10a-e and/or the related devices 20, 30, 40 within their wireless communication reach, and form a wireless toy network 2 when they come within wireless communication reach of each other. The wireless interactive toys 10a-e and/or the related devices 20, 30, 40 may further be configured to detect presence or absence of a wireless toy network 2 within their wireless communication reach, and join or leave the wireless toy network 2 accordingly. Furthermore, a wireless toy network 2 may be split into two separate wireless toy networks by separating the wireless interactive toys 10a-e and/or related devices 20, 30, 40 into subgroups, each subgroup comprising a plurality of wireless interactive toys 10a-e and/or related devices 20, 30, 40, when the subgroups are brought out of communication reach from each other. Correspondingly, separate wireless toy networks of separate subgroups of wireless interactive toys 10a-e and/or related devices 20, 30, 40 may merge into a wireless toy network 2, when the subgroups are brought within communication reach of each other.
Advantageously, the operations of forming a wireless toy network 2, and further operations of joining, leaving, splitting and/or merging may be performed in a dynamic manner. Further advantageously the wireless interactive toys 10a-e and/or related devices 20, 30, 40 are configured to perform such operations of wireless toy network formation, joining, leaving, splitting, and/or merging in an automatic manner, e.g. in response to detecting the presence (or absence) of further wireless interactive toys 10a-e and/or related devices 20, 30, 40 within communication reach of the wireless network 3. Preferably, these network operations are furthermore transparent to the user. This has the advantage that it facilitates a high flexibility and modularity for adding, removing, and replacing wireless interactive toys 10a-e and further devices 20, 30, 40 at any given instance, e.g. before and after initiating an interactive play session, or even during an interactive play session.
As further shown inFig. 1, other wireless devices 50 may also be present on the wireless network 3 and communicate there through. However, such other wireless devices 50 are not configured in compliance with the wireless toy network 2. Such other toys and devices 50 cannot, therefore, partake in the wireless toy network 2. Avoiding interference between the wireless toy network 2 and such other toys and devices 50 using the same wireless network 3, but which are not part of the interactive toy system may be handled on the level of the wireless network 3, e.g. according to an applicable wireless communication standard of the underlying wireless network technology of the wireless network 3.
Within the wireless toy network 2, the wireless interactive toys 10a-e may be organized in groups of associated wireless toys 1A, 1B. Each of the associated wireless interactive toys 10a-c, 10d-e in the groups 1A, 1B carry programmed instructions causing them to cooperate and to coordinate their operation with the other wireless interactive toys 10a-c, 10d-e within their respective group 1A, 1B to provide a linked interactive play experience A, B according to their group membership. A different linked interactive play experience A, B can thus be provided to the users of each group 1A, 1B without interference from wireless elements 10a-c, 10d-e associated with other groups 1A, 1B.
In the example shown inFig. 1, a first group 1A comprises wireless interactive toys 10a-c, and a second group 1B comprises wireless interactive toys 10d-e. Here, multiple users 99 engage in a linked interactive play experience A using the wireless interactive toys 10a-c of group 1A, and a single user 66 engages in a different linked interactive play experience B using the wireless interactive toy elements 10d-e of group 1B.
Each of the wireless interactive toys 10a-c and 10d-e keeps a record of their association to the first group 1A and the second group 1B, respectively, and the wireless interactive toys 10a-c and 10d-e are operated according to that association.
Within the wireless toy network 2, each of the wireless interactive toys 10a-c and 10d-e is further configured for operation at a primary level of operation and at a secondary level of operation. The primary level is for handling user-perceptible operation, i.e. regarding perceptible interactions with one or more users. The secondary level is for handling non-user-perceptible operation, i.e. regarding tasks and/or processes facilitating operation of the wireless interactive toys 10a-e and related devices 20, 30, 40.
The primary level of operation is configured to provide a linked interactive user-experience A, B by controlling operation of the wireless interactive toys 10a-e in regard of interactions between the associated wireless toys 10a-c, 10d-e in each group 1A, 1B and the corresponding users 99, 66. At the primary level, operation is restricted to cooperation amongst associated wireless interactive toys 10a-c, 10d-e having a common association 1A, 1B. The associated wireless interactive toys 10a-c of the first group 1A thus cooperate to provide a linked interactive play experience A to the users 99 of the first group 1A, and the associated elements 10d-e of the second group 1B cooperate to provide a separate linked interactive play experience B to the user 66 of the second group 1B.
The primary level of operation is configured for handling data exchange within a group 1A, 1B of associated wireless interactive toys 10a-c, 10d-e for cooperation directed to user-perceptible interactions including user input and/or user-perceptible output. At the primary level of operation, the associated wireless interactive toys 10a-c, 10d-e are thus configured to cooperate within their respective group 1A, 1B to provide, in combination, a linked interactive user-experience A, B to one or more users of the associated wireless interactive toys 10a-c, 10d-e.
The secondary level of operation is configured to facilitate operation of the wireless interactive toys 10a-e and any related devices 20, 30, 40, e.g. in respect of shared resources. Operation at the secondary level is unrestricted by said association. The wireless interactive toys 10a-e may thus communicate with other participants (10a-e, 20, 30, 40) coupled to the wireless toy network 2 also outside their respective group 1A, 1B of associated interactive wireless toys 10a-c, 10d-e, and coordinate their operation to ensure unperturbed operation. Managing operation of the wireless interactive toys 10a-e and any further devices 20, 30, 40 participating in the wireless toy network 2 in respect of shared resources is for avoiding conflicts and perturbations that might otherwise affect, or even impede a satisfying play experience for users of the toy system. Managing operation of the wireless interactive toys 10a-e, and any further devices 20, 30, 40 may also be used to optimize overall system performance for providing a satisfying user-experience, e.g. in respect of responsiveness and flexibility of the interactive toy system. Managerial tasks at the secondary level of operation may include data exchange regarding, but not limited to, one or more of: determining presence of other wireless interactive toys 10a-e, obtaining estimates of distances between wireless interactive toys 10a-e, e.g. a received signal strength indicator, queries of the association record, scheduling measurement, probing or detection processes to be performed by sensor arrangements in one or more wireless interactive toys 10a-e, performing basic wireless toy network 2 management, determining presence of a charging device 20, determining a charging status of a wireless interactive device 10a-e, determining presence of an external processing device 30, 40, receiving configuration data and/or programmed instructions from an external processing device 30, 40, or the like.
The secondary level of operation is configured for handling data exchange in the wireless toy network 2 for management tasks that are not user-perceptible, i.e. coordination tasks not related (or not directly related) to a user's playful interaction with the interactive toy system. The secondary level of operation is thus configured to facilitate operation of the wireless interactive toys 10a-e and any related devices 20, 30, 40 of the interactive toy system within the wireless toy network 2.
The further devices 20, 30, 40 are not conceived as part of the linked interactive play experience. Therefore, their operation on the wireless toy network 2 typically occurs on the secondary level. Examples of further devices include, but are not limited to: charging devices; smart devices, such as smart phones, tablets or the like; computers; game consoles; and similar devices. Examples of operation of further devices 20, 30, 40 on the secondary level may include processes directed to one or more of: defining an association 1A, 1B; programming of the interactive behavior of wireless toys 10a-e; programming of interactive play experiences 9, 6; configuration of wireless interaction toy elements, their associations, and/or interactive play experiences 9, 6; and the like.
While three and two wireless interactive toys 10a-c, 10d-e are shown in the groups 1A, 1B ofFig.1 to provide corresponding linked interactive play experiences 9, 6, the skilled person will understand that any number of wireless interactive toys may be associated to each other to form a group to provide a given linked interactive play experience, depending on circumstances, such as the number of wireless interactive toys available and/or the design of the play experience. Furthermore, while two groups 1A, 1B of wireless interactive toys 10a-c, 10d-e are shown to provide linked interactive play experiences 9, 6 to three users 99 and a single user 66, respectively, the skilled person will understand that these numbers may also vary according to circumstances, and as required for implementing a given linked interactive play experience.
Fig. 2 shows a wireless interactive toy 10 according to one embodiment of the invention, and a cooperating associating device 20 according to one embodiment. The wireless interactive toy 10 comprises a transceiver 13 adapted for wireless communication in a wireless network 3. The transceiver 13 includes a receiver Rx and a transmitter Tx. The wireless interactive toy 10 further comprises an interactive function device 14 with an input sensor IN and/or a user-perceptible output device OUT. The wireless interactive toy 10 further comprises a processor 11 operationally coupled to the transceiver 13 and to the interactive function device 14, a rechargeable power source 12, and a housing 17.
A user can interact with the wireless interactive toy 10 through the interactive function device 14 comprising an input sensor IN and/or a user-perceptible output device OUT. The processor 11 is configured to receive interaction data from the interactive function device 14. The processor 11 is further configured to process the received interaction data and generate control data. The processor 11 may pass control data to the interactive function device 14 to control operation of the interactive function device 14. The interactive function device 14 may produce user-perceptible output according to the received control data at a user-perceptible output device OUT thereof. The wireless interactive toy 10 may thus be adapted for interactive play with one or more users.
The processor 11 may further be configured to pass the received interaction data to the transceiver 13 for sharing the data with other wireless interactive toys 10a-e and any further devices 20, 30, 40 on the wireless toy network 2. The processor 11 may also process the interaction data received from the interactive function device, and generate control data to be shared this way on the wireless toy network 2.
The transceiver 13 may receive interaction data and/or control data shared by other wireless interactive toys 10a-e and further devices 20, 30, 40, such as mentioned above. The transceiver 13 passes the received data to the processor 11. The processor 11 is further configured to receive and process interaction and/or control data from the transceiver 13, and to generate control data based on interaction and/or control data received from the transceiver 13.
Furthermore, the processor 11 may also be configured to combine interaction data from the interactive function device 14 and interaction data and/or control data received via the interactive transceiver 13, and to generate control data based on the combination.
The processor 11 is thus configured to exchange interaction and control data with the processors of other wireless interactive toys 10a-e on the wireless toy network 2. By way of this data exchange, the wireless interactive toy 10 may cooperate with associated wireless interactive toys, and coordinate operation with further wireless interactive toys on the wireless toy network 2, so as to provide a cohesive and unperturbed linked interactive play experience involving multiple wireless interactive toy elements.
According to preferred embodiments, the processor 11 is configured to control cooperation for the purpose of providing a cohesive user-perceptible interactive experience on a primary level of operation restricted to a group of associated wireless interactive toys 1A, 1B as discussed above. Further according to preferred embodiments, the processor 11 is configured to control coordination between any of the wireless interactive toys 10a-e, and any related devices 20, 30, 40, on the wireless toy network 2 in respect of non-user-perceptible tasks on a secondary level of operation as also discussed above.
The wireless interactive toy 10 is thus adapted for operation in a group of associated wireless interactive toys 1A, 1B so as to provide a linked interactive play experience to one or more users. The wireless interactive toy 10 is thus further adapted for operation in a wireless toy network 2 together with other compliant wireless interactive toys 10a-e and any related devices 20, 30, 40. In particular, at the secondary level of operation unrestricted by its association in a group 1A, 1B, the wireless interactive toy 10 is configured for coordination of tasks with the other wireless toys and further devices to facilitate operation of multiple different linked interactive play experiences in parallel without interference or cross-talk.
Alternatively or in addition thereto, the interactive function device 14 may modify a response behavior of an input sensor IN thereof, according to control data received from the processor 11. For example an input sensor IN may be activated or deactivated, or parameters determining input response behavior of the input sensor IN, may be modified, in response to control data received from the processor 11, such as sensitivity, gain or a gain curve.
Providing a cohesive linked interactive play experience involving a plurality of wireless interactive toys 10a-e requires a process of defining one or more associations, i.e. one or more groups of associated wireless interactive toys 1A, 1B. The association may be defined in any suitable manner.
Advantageously, a process of defining an association includes:
- determining a membership item as a data item indicative of membership in a group of associated wireless interactive toys 1A, 1 B.
- assigning the membership item to each of the wireless interactive toys 10a-c, 10d-e to be associated, and
- keeping record of the membership item at each of the wireless interactive toys in the association 1A, 1B. Typically, the processor of each wireless interactive toy is therefore configured to keep record of a membership item.
According to some embodiments, the association of wireless interactive toys may be defined or programmed beforehand, e.g. using a user-interface on a related processing device 30, 40 communicating with the wireless interactive toys to be associated through the wireless toy network 2.
However, advantageously according to some embodiments, defining an association of wireless interactive toys may also occur in an automatic manner, which furthermore may be made more or less transparent to the users. Advantageously, a process of defining an association includes triggering the process of associating wireless interactive toys with each other in response to a trigger event. Advantageously, a trigger event may involve an associating device, such as a charging device 20 as seen inFig.2. By way of example, such a trigger event may include one or more of:
- detecting, at an associating device 20, proximity of a wireless interactive device 10;
- detecting, at a wireless interactive device 10, proximity of an associating device 20;
- detecting, at the associating device 20, that charging of the wireless interactive toy 10 occurs;
- detecting, at the wireless interactive toy 10, that charging occurs;
- detecting, at the wireless interactive toy 10, that charging from the associating device 20 occurs;
- determining a duration of proximity, a duration of charging, a charging level, or a change in charging level to exceed a pre-defined threshold; and
- establishing a wireless communication 33, typically on the secondary level of operation, between a controller module with a wireless transceiver 23 of an associating device 20 and a transceiver 13 of a wireless interactive toy 10.
The associating device 20 shown inFig. 2 is a charging device including a controller module with a wireless transceiver 23. The charging device 20 ofFig. 2 has a wireless charging circuit 21 with one or more inductive coils defining a charging area 22. The charging circuit 21 is adapted to provide electromagnetic charging power "em" to a wireless charging circuit of a rechargeable power supply 12 in a wireless interactive toy 10 that is placed within the charging area 22 of the charging device 20. As shown inFig.2, the charging device 20 may further comprise a controller module with a transceiver 23 adapted for wireless communication 33 with the transceiver 13 in the wireless interactive toy 10. Furthermore, the controller module 23 is configured to partake in the wireless toy network, thus allowing for data exchange between the controller module of the associating device 20 and any of the wireless interactive toys within the wireless toy network 2.
In response to detecting a trigger event, in some embodiments, the controller module 23 is adapted to determine a membership item as a data item indicative of a membership in a group of associated wireless interactive toys 1A, 1B. By way of example, the membership item may be determined based on a unique ID of the associating device 20, based on a pre-defined association key stored on, or retrieved by, the associating device 20. The associating device 20 may be a charging device.
The control module 23 is further adapted to transmit said membership item to the wireless interactive toy 10 by wireless communication 33. The processor 11 of the wireless interactive toy 10 is configured, upon receiving the membership item by wireless communication 33 at the transceiver 13, to store the membership item in a memory location, thereby keeping record of a membership of the wireless interactive toy in a group of associated toys, according to the membership item.
In order to form a group of associated wireless interactive toys, at least a first wireless interactive toy and a second wireless interactive toy are associated using the steps described above to assign a common membership item to each of the first and second wireless interactive toys. While only referring to first and second wireless interactive toys in the following, associating any larger number, such as at least three, four, five, six, seven, or more wireless interactive toys in a group may be performed in a corresponding manner. Furthermore, adding any further wireless interactive elements to an existing group of associated wireless interactive toys may be performed in an analogous manner. As mentioned above, forming an association may further be conditioned by fulfilment of a set of pre-determined conditions. An event triggering the definition of an association may thus further include checking for fulfilment of a set of predetermined conditions.
In some embodiments, assigning a common membership item to the first and second wireless interactive toys further requires observing a pre-defined correlation condition. Assignment may be occasioned by a trigger event from a charging device 20 as discussed above. The correlation condition may then require observing one or more pre-determined relationships between the associating device 20 (e.g. inductive charging device) and the first and second wireless interactive toys, such as determining a correlation in space and/or in time of the first and second wireless interactive toys in respect of the associating device. Correlation both in space and/or in time may be determined and/or estimated from sensor signals or observations of other parameters, such as a received signal strength, a threshold amount of charging received by the wireless interactive toys, or the like. Correlation in time may be determined e.g. in terms of simultaneity, overlap or succession within a pre-determined time window. Correlation in space may be determined e.g. in terms of a proximity within a pre-determined distance to each other and/or to the associating device, or even in terms of correlated motion (e.g. "wireless interactive toys moving together").
According to some embodiments, checking a correlation condition includes one or more of:
- determining simultaneous presence of the first and second wireless interactive toys at the associating device 20;
- determining successive presence of the first and second wireless interactive toys at the associating device 20;
- determining charging of the first and second wireless interactive toys at the associating device 20; and
- determining the associating device 20 as the last point of charging for the first and second wireless interactive toys.
Once associated, the wireless interactive toys of the group are operated according to their membership so as to provide a linked interactive play experience to one or more users. They may further communicate with other wireless interactive toys on the wireless toy network, to which they are not associated, so as to facilitate responsive and unperturbed play experiences to all users of wireless interactive toys within reach of the wireless toy network.
Advantageously, the wireless interactive toy may be part of a toy construction system, the toy construction system comprising toy construction elements with coupling members for releasably coupling the toy construction elements to each other to form a toy construction model.
To this end, the housing 17 of embodiments of the wireless interactive toy 10 comprise coupling members 18, 19 for releasably interconnecting the housing 17 with other toy construction elements of the toy construction system to form a toy construction model. Advantageously, in some embodiments, the housing 17 is shaped as a toy construction element of the toy construction system. Advantageously, the toy construction system is a modular toy construction system with modular toy construction system elements.
The toy construction system may further comprise conventional toy construction elements, the toy construction elements comprising coupling members for releasably interconnecting the toy construction elements to form a toy construction model, without the wireless functionality for creating a linked interactive play experience as disclosed herein. More generally, conventional toy construction elements are toy construction elements known in the art, and without the wireless functionality as disclosed herein. The conventional toy construction elements may include passive toy construction elements without any functionality requiring electrical power and/or power toy construction elements with functionality requiring electrical power, such as functionality for producing user-perceptible output, like motor, light, and/or sound functionality.
Referring toFigs. 3-6, by way of example, a number of different scenarios are described for creating associations between wireless interactive toys using an associating device.
Fig. 3 shows schematically a scenario of defining a group of associated wireless interactive toys in an interactive toy system. The interactive toy system comprises a plurality of wireless interactive toys 310a-310e, such as described above with reference toFigs.1 and 2, and an associating device 320. The associating device 320 has an inductive charging circuit for transferring electromagnetic power em to wireless interactive toys when these are placed within a charging area thereof. The associating device 320 further comprises a controller 323 adapted for wireless communication with the wireless interactive toys 310a-e through a wireless toy network, such as described above. In the scenario seen inFig.3, each of a group of wireless interactive toys 310a-c receives electromagnetic charging power em from the inductive charging circuit of the associating device 320. The charging is detected as a trigger event for defining an association between the wireless interactive toys 310a-c. Triggering the definition of an association may be further conditioned by requiring that the wireless interactive toys are present and charging at the associating device essentially simultaneously, with an overlap in time, or successively as discussed above. However, the triggering may also occur as soon as a predetermined threshold for charging power transfer is exceeded, thereby merely requiring that the associating device 320 providing the last charge transfer defines the association.
In the scenario ofFig. 3, the associating device 320 determines a common membership item A, e.g. based on a unique identifier stored on controller 323, and transmits the common membership item A to the wireless interactive devices 310a-c fulfilling the associating conditions through the wireless toy network. Responsive to receiving that membership item A, the wireless interactive devices 310a-c adopt membership in the group of associated wireless interactive toys as indicated by the membership item A. The associating device 320 may thus define a group of associated wireless interactive toys 310a-c and assign membership.
As seen inFig.3, the interactive toy system includes further wireless interactive toys 310d-e, which may also communicate through the same wireless toy network with the associating device 320 and the wireless interactive toys 310a-c. However, the further wireless interactive toys 310d-e do not fulfil the predetermined associating condition (here e.g. "receiving charging power from associating device 320"), and are therefore not included in the group of associated wireless interactive toys 310a-c with the common membership item A. Each of the associated wireless interactive toys 310a-c keeps record of the membership according to the assigned membership item A and can then be operated according to the membership indicated by membership item A to provide a linked interactive play experience to users (not shown here), whereas the further wireless interactive toys 310d-e also present on the wireless toy network are not part of the linked interactive play experience and may be used in a different context without perturbing operation of the associated wireless interactive toys 310a-c.
Fig. 4 shows schematically a further scenario of defining a group of associated wireless interactive toys in an interactive toy system. As inFig.3, the interactive toy system ofFig.4 comprises a plurality of wireless interactive toys 410a-410f, such as described above with reference toFigs.1 and 2, and an associating device 420 with a charging circuit for transferring electromagnetic power em to wireless interactive toys when these are placed within a charging area thereof. In the scenario seen inFig.4, each of a group of wireless interactive toys 410a-c receives electromagnetic charging power em from the inductive charging circuit of the associating device 420. The charging is detected as a trigger event for defining an association between the wireless interactive toys 410a-c. Triggering the definition of an association may be further conditioned by requiring that the wireless interactive toys are present and charging at the associating device 420 essentially simultaneously, with an overlap in time, or successively as discussed above. However, the triggering may also occur as soon as a predetermined threshold for charging power transfer is exceeded. However, in contrast to the associating device 320 ofFig.3, the associating device 420 ofFig.4 is not adapted for communication on the wireless toy network. Therefore, the associating device 420 ofFig.4 cannot directly determine a membership item A and assign a corresponding membership to the wireless interactive toys receiving electrical charging power em therefrom. Instead, wireless interactive toys fulfilling the associating conditions determine and negotiate a common membership item A amongst them in response to a trigger event. Each of the wireless interactive toys 410a-f is configured to check for conditions for triggering an association procedure to be fulfilled. As for any of the other embodiments, such triggering conditions may include criteria based on receiving a pre-determined threshold amount of charging power, receiving charging power for a pre-determined minimum period of time, and correlation in space and/or in time. Once one or more of the wireless interactive devices detect fulfilment of predetermined conditions for an association, they may communicate with other wireless interactive toys on the wireless toy network to form a group of associated wireless interactive toys. For example, at least a first one of the wireless interactive toys 410a starts the procedure in response to detecting fulfilment of a predetermined set of association triggering conditions, such as receiving charging power and/or detecting other wireless interactive toys in the proximity. The wireless interactive toy 410a may query for membership items offered on the wireless toy network, e.g. by other wireless interactive toys 410b-f, and/or by any further devices connected to the same wireless toy network (not shown). If the wireless interactive toy 410a does not find any offer for a membership item in agreement with its associating conditions, the wireless interactive toy proceeds to determining a membership item A, e.g. based on a unique ID stored thereon, and shares the membership item A on the wireless toy network. Other wireless interactive toys 410b, 410c that subsequently fulfil the predetermined associating conditions may query for any membership items offered in agreement with these associating conditions, and accept the membership item offered by the wireless interactive toy 410a as a common membership item A. As seen inFig.4, the interactive toy system includes further wireless interactive toys 410d-f, which may also communicate through the same wireless toy network with the wireless interactive toys 410a-c. However, the further wireless interactive toys 410d-f do not fulfil the predetermined associating condition (e.g. "receiving charging power"), and are therefore not included in the group of associated wireless interactive toys 410a-c with the common membership item A. Each of the associated wireless interactive toys 410a-c keeps a record of the assigned membership by storing the membership item A and can then be operated according to that membership item A to provide a linked interactive play experience to users (not shown here), whereas the further wireless interactive toys 410d-f also present on the wireless toy network are not part of the linked interactive play experience and may be used in a different play context without perturbing operation of the associated wireless interactive toys 410a-c.
Fig. 5 shows schematically a yet further scenario of defining a group of associated wireless interactive toys in an interactive toy system. The interactive toy system comprises a plurality of wireless interactive toys 510a-e, such as described above with reference toFigs.1 and 2, and an associating device 520. The associating device 520 has an inductive charging circuit for transferring electromagnetic power em to wireless interactive toys when these are placed within a charging area thereof. The associating device 520 further comprises a controller 523 adapted for wireless communication with the wireless interactive toys 510a-e through a wireless toy network, such as described above. The scenario ofFig.5 for defining a group of associated wireless interactive toys 510a-c corresponds to the scenario described above with respect toFig.3 with the difference that the associating device 520 further determines a second membership item B and assigns membership according to the further membership item B to further wireless interactive toys 510d-e, which however do not fulfil the associating conditions for the first group of wireless interactive toys 510a-c. The associating device 520 ofFig.5 is thus configured to define a first group of associated wireless interactive toys 510a-c with a common membership item A, wherein the first group of associated wireless interactive toys 510a-c fulfils a first set of associating conditions. The associating device 520 ofFig.5 is further configured to define a second group of associated wireless interactive toys 510d-e with a common membership item B, wherein the second group of wireless interactive toys 510d-e does not match the first set of associating conditions.
According to some embodiments, the second group of wireless interactive toys 510d-e does not fulfil a specific set of associating conditions and are associated with each other by assigning a membership in a second group according to the membership item B to any of the remaining wireless interactive toys not fulfilling the first associating conditions for membership item A. The second group of associated wireless interactive toys with membership item B is thus defined as complementary to the group of wireless interactive toys with membership item A. Further, according to some embodiments, the second group of wireless interactive toys 510d-e fulfils a second set of associating conditions corresponding to the first set of associating conditions, however with a different correlation in space and/or in time. Further according to some embodiments, the second group of wireless interactive toys 510d-e fulfils a second set of associating conditions different from the first set of associating conditions.
Each of the associated wireless interactive toys 510a-c in the first group keeps record of the membership according to membership item A assigned to it, and can then be operated according to that membership item A to provide a first linked interactive play experience to users thereof (not shown here). Correspondingly, each of the associated wireless interactive toys 510d-e in the second group keeps record of the membership according to membership item B assigned to it, and can then be operated according to that membership item B to provide a second linked interactive play experience to users thereof (not shown here). While all of the wireless interactive toys 510a-e may communicate with each other on the same wireless toy network, they may thus be associated and operated without interference to provide different linked interactive play experiences according to their membership item A, B.
Fig. 6 shows schematically a yet further scenario of defining a group of associated wireless interactive toys in an interactive toy system. The interactive toy system comprises a plurality of wireless interactive toys 610a-e, such as described above with reference toFigs. 1 and 2, and a plurality of associating devices, 620a, 620b, such as at least two as seen inFig.6, such as at least three, such as at least four, such as at least five, or even more (not shown here). The associating devices 620a-b each have a charging circuit for transferring electromagnetic power em to wireless interactive toys when these are placed within a charging area thereof. The associating devices 620a-b further comprise a controller 623a-b adapted for wireless communication with the wireless interactive toys 610a-e through a wireless toy network, such as described above. All wireless interactive toys 610a-e and associating devices 620a-b may communicate with each other through the same wireless toy network.
The scenario ofFig.6 for defining a first group of associated wireless interactive toys 610a-c in communication with a first associating device 620a assigning membership according to a first common membership item A corresponds to the scenario for defining a group of associated wireless interactive toys 310a-c as described above with respect toFig.3. Furthermore in the scenario ofFig.6, a second associating device 620b is provided that allows for defining a second group of associated wireless interactive toys 610d-e. The scenario ofFig.6 for defining a second group of associated wireless interactive toys 610d-e in communication with the second associating device 620b assigning membership according to a second common membership item B different from the first common membership item A also corresponds to the scenario for defining a group of associated wireless interactive toys 310a-c as described above with respect toFig.3. The first associating device 620a ofFig.6 is thus configured to define a first group of associated wireless interactive toys 610a-c with a common membership item A, wherein the first group of associated wireless interactive toys 610a-c fulfils a first set of associating conditions. The second associating device 620b ofFig.6 is configured to define a second group of associated wireless interactive toys 610d-e with a common membership item B, wherein the second group of wireless interactive toys 610d-e does not match the first set of associating conditions. According to some embodiments, the second group of wireless interactive toys 610d-e fulfils a second set of associating conditions corresponding to the first set of associating conditions, however with a different correlation in space and/or in time. Further according to some embodiments, the second group of wireless interactive toys 610d-e fulfils a second set of associating conditions different from the first set of associating conditions.
Each of the associated wireless interactive toys 610a-c in the first group keeps record of the membership according to membership item A assigned to it, and can then be operated according to that membership item A to provide a first linked interactive play experience to users thereof (not shown here). Correspondingly, each of the associated wireless interactive toys 610d-e in the second group keeps record of the membership according to membership item B assigned to it, and can then be operated according to that membership item B to provide a second linked interactive play experience to users thereof (not shown here). While all of the wireless interactive toys 610a-e may communicate with each other on the same wireless toy network, they may thus be associated and operated without interference to provide different linked interactive play experiences according to their membership item A, B.
Advantageously in all scenarios, user-perceptible interactions are controlled on a primary level of operation of the associated wireless interactive elements (310a-c, 410a-c, 510a-c, 510d-e, 610a-c, 610d-e) to provide a linked interactive user experience, wherein communication at the primary level of operation is restricted to within the corresponding group of associated wireless interactive elements (310a-c, 410a-c, 510a-c, 510d-e, 610a-c, 610d-e). Further advantageously in all scenarios, a secondary level of operation controls the non-user-perceptible operation of the wireless interactive elements (310a-c, 410a-c, 510a-c, 510d-e, 610a-c, 610d-e) to avoid interference and facilitate unperturbed simultaneous operation of the wireless interactive elements despite of being used in different play contexts. Communication at the secondary level of operation is not restricted by the association of the wireless interactive elements (310a-e, 410a-e, 510a-e, 610a-e).
Fig. 7 shows schematically an embodiment of a method of operating an interactive toy system comprising a plurality of wireless interactive toys adapted to communicate with each other through a wireless toy network, wherein each of the plurality of wireless interactive toys comprises an interactive function device adapted to receive input at an input sensor and/or to produce user-perceptible output at an output device thereof. At 710, an interactive toy system is provided. The interactive toy system comprises a plurality of wireless interactive toys. The wireless interactive toys each comprise: a transceiver adapted for wireless communication; an interactive function device; and a processor operationally coupled to the transceiver and to the interactive function device. The method then comprises: at 720, forming a wireless toy network of wireless interactive toys of the interactive toy system; at 730, keeping a record of a membership of the wireless interactive toy in a group of associated wireless interactive toys at each of the plurality of wireless interactive toys in the wireless toy network; and at 740, controlling operation of each of the plurality of wireless interactive toys within the wireless toy network according to said membership.
Operation of the wireless interactive toy within the wireless toy network comprises a primary level of operation, at 750, wherein the primary level of operation comprises: operating a wireless interactive toy in cooperation with one or more further wireless interactive toys within the group of associated wireless interactive toys, so as to provide a linked interactive user-experience, wherein communication at the primary level of operation is restricted by said membership to within the group of associated wireless interactive toys. Cooperation at the primary level of operation may comprise: determining interaction information in respect of the linked interactive user experience; sharing said interaction information within the group of associated wireless interactive toys; and operating the associated wireless interactive toys based on the shared interaction information.
Operation of the wireless interactive toy within the wireless toy network further comprises a secondary level of operation, at 760, wherein the secondary level of operation comprises operating a wireless interactive toy in cooperation with one or more further wireless interactive toys within the wireless toy network, so as to handle concurrent access to shared resources, wherein communication at the secondary level of operation is not restricted by said membership. Cooperation at the secondary level of operation may comprise: determining concurrence information in respect of access to shared resources by two or more of the wireless interactive toys in the wireless toy network; sharing said concurrence information within the wireless toy network; and operating the wireless interactive toy based on the shared concurrence information. In some embodiments, one or more of the wireless interactive toys may further comprise a sensing device, wherein the operation of the sensing device requires access to shared resources. The method may then further comprise operating the sensing device according to a schedule based on the shared concurrence information.
Fig. 8 shows schematically an embodiment of a method of forming a group of associated wireless interactive toys in an interactive toy system comprising a plurality of wireless interactive toys, wherein each of the plurality of wireless interactive toys comprises: a transceiver adapted for wireless communication; an interactive function device; and a processor operationally coupled to the transceiver and to the interactive function device. The interactive toy system further comprises an associating device; At 810, an interactive toy system is provided. The interactive toy system comprises a plurality of wireless interactive toys. The wireless interactive toys each comprise: a transceiver adapted for wireless communication; an interactive function device; and a processor operationally coupled to the transceiver and to the interactive function device. Furthermore at 810, an associating device is provided and brought to interact with one or more of the plurality of wireless interactive toys. The method then comprises: at 820, detecting a trigger event related to the associating device, and at 830, responsive to detecting the trigger event, adopting at one or more of the wireless interactive toys membership in a group of associated wireless interactive toys. Detecting the trigger event may further include determining fulfilment of a set of associating conditions. A non-exhaustive list of examples for such associating conditions may include: a spatial correlation between wireless interactive toys to be associated; a spatial correlation between wireless interactive toys to be associated and the associating device; a correlation in time between wireless interactive toys to be associated; a correlation in time between wireless interactive toys to be associated and the associating device; detecting charging of wireless interactive toys to be associated; detecting charging of wireless interactive toys to be associated from the associating device; a duration of proximity, a duration of charging, a charging level, or a change in charging level to exceed a pre-defined threshold; and detecting a wireless communication between an associating device and a wireless interactive toy.