US20080014833A1 - Toy and Game Performance Parameters Updated by Real World Events - Google Patents
Toy and Game Performance Parameters Updated by Real World Events Download PDFInfo
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- US20080014833A1 US20080014833A1 US11/424,795 US42479506A US2008014833A1 US 20080014833 A1 US20080014833 A1 US 20080014833A1 US 42479506 A US42479506 A US 42479506A US 2008014833 A1 US2008014833 A1 US 2008014833A1
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- Prior art keywords
- parameter
- statistical
- entity
- performance
- toy
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H30/00—Remote-control arrangements specially adapted for toys, e.g. for toy vehicles
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/40—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterised by details of platform network
- A63F2300/406—Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/60—Methods for processing data by generating or executing the game program
- A63F2300/69—Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/80—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game specially adapted for executing a specific type of game
- A63F2300/8017—Driving on land or water; Flying
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to entertainment systems and, more particularly, to performance parameters used by such systems.
- the present invention relates to a method for providing entertainment.
- the method can include receiving at least one statistical parameter of a first entity that participates in real world events and updating a performance parameter of a toy that moves in real space.
- the performance parameter can correlate to a performance of the first entity.
- the statistical parameter can be a statistical rating of the first entity relative to at least a second entity with which the first entity is competing.
- the statistical parameter can be received on a remote control unit as a parameter update.
- the parameter update also can be communicated to the toy. Further, the toy can be controlled with the remote control unit.
- the statistical parameter can be received in real time.
- the performance parameter can be updated in real time.
- the statistical parameter can be received from a database and can represent the performance of the first entity in a particular one of the real world events.
- the real world event can be selected via the remote control unit, which can be communicatively linked to a server on which the database is instantiated.
- a plurality of statistical parameters can be received and processed at an expedited rate.
- the present invention also relates to a method that includes receiving at least one statistical parameter of a first entity participating in real world events and updating a performance parameter of a gaming device.
- the performance parameter can represent a statistical rating of the first entity relative to at least a second entity with which the first entity is competing.
- the statistical parameter can be received in real time.
- the performance parameter can be updated in real time.
- the statistical parameter can be received from a database, and the statistical parameter can represent the performance of the first entity in a particular one of the real world events.
- the real world event can be selected from the database. Further, a plurality of statistical parameters can be received, and the statistical parameters can be processed at an expedited rate.
- the present invention also relates to a remote control unit that includes a network adapter which receives at least one statistical parameter of a first entity that participates in real world events.
- the remote control unit also can include a remote control adapter that updates a performance parameter of a toy that moves in real space, the performance parameter correlating to a performance of the first entity.
- the performance parameter can represent a statistical rating of the first entity relative to at least a second entity with which the first entity is competing.
- the network adapter can receive the statistical parameter in real time. Further, the remote control adapter can update the performance parameter in real time.
- FIG. 1 depicts a communications system that is useful for understanding the present invention
- FIG. 2 depicts an example of a remote control unit that is useful for understanding the present invention
- FIG. 3 depicts an example of a remote control toy that is useful for understanding the present invention
- FIG. 4 depicts another communications system that is useful for understanding the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting a method for updating performance parameters of toys and/or virtual entities, which is useful for understanding the present invention.
- the present invention relates to a method and a system for bringing an increased level of gaming reality to entertainment devices, such as toys and video games.
- entertainment devices such as toys and video games.
- statistical parameters of real entities for instance sports players or race cars
- the statistical parameters can be monitored and provided to the entertainment devices over a communications network, such as the Internet.
- the statistical parameters can be conveyed to a remote control (RC) unit for an RC toy.
- the statistical parameters then can be processed to update performance parameters used by the entertainment devices during operation.
- the performance updates can correlate to rankings of the real entities with respect to other real entities with which they compete.
- FIG. 1 depicts a communications system 100 that is useful for understanding the present invention.
- the communications system 100 can include a communications network 105 .
- the communications network 105 can comprise the Internet, the World Wide Web, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a cellular communications network, a dispatch communications network, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and/or any other communications network over which communications can be propagated.
- the communications network 105 can include wired and/or wireless communication links.
- the communications system 100 also can include one or more toys 110 , 115 that can move in real space.
- the term “real space” means an environment in which objects that have mass can physically move with respect to one another.
- the toys 110 , 115 can be remotely controlled by RC units 120 , 125 , respectively. Examples of such toys can include, but are not limited to, RC cars, RC boats, RC airplanes, RC helicopters, and the like.
- the RC units 120 , 125 can be any electronic devices that are suitable for controlling, at least in part, operation of the toys 110 , 115 .
- the RC units 120 , 125 can be application specific control units, or multi-function units that have RC capability.
- the RC units 120 , 125 can be mobile stations, such as mobile computers, mobile telephones or personal digital assistants, that are communicatively linked to the communications network 105 and that integrate RC functionality.
- the RC units 120 , 125 can control operation of the respective toys 110 , 115 using traditional RF control signals, or personal area networks (PANs) such as Bluetooth or Zigbee. Still, other communication signals can be used and the invention is not limited in this regard.
- PANs personal area networks
- the toys 110 , 115 can be communicatively linked to the communications network 105 .
- the toys 110 , 115 can be at least semi-autonomous.
- suitable control units that execute control applications can be integrated into the toys 110 , 115 .
- a server 130 can be linked to the communications network 105 . Further, a database 135 can be instantiated on the server 130 .
- the database 135 can store one or more statistical parameters (hereinafter “statistics”) 140 , 145 for one or more entities 150 , 155 participating in real world events.
- statistical parameters hereinafter “statistics”
- real world events are events that take place in real space.
- entities 150 , 155 can be, for example, people, animals, teams, motor vehicles, or any other entities from which statistics relevant to a toy (or game) may be gathered.
- the statistics 140 , 145 can comprise any statistics representing the real world entities 150 , 155 .
- the statistics 140 , 145 can include absolute performance parameters, parameters that represent the performance of a first entity 150 with respect to one or more other entities 155 , such as those with which the first entity 150 is competing, or parameters that represent the performance of the entities 150 , 155 against a standardized scale.
- an “entity” can be a person, an animal, a machine, or any other object for which statistics can be generated.
- Devices 160 , 165 that gather the statistics 140 , 145 can be associated with the respective real world entities 150 , 155 .
- the devices 160 , 165 can be computers in which the statistics 140 , 145 are automatically or manually entered, or data acquisition units that automatically gather the respective statistics 140 , 145 .
- the statistics 140 , 145 that are gathered by the devices 160 , 165 can be uploaded to the server 130 .
- the statistics 140 , 145 can be uploaded directly into the server 130 , or propagated to a network node, such as an access point, that is communicatively linked to the server 130 .
- the statistics 140 , 145 can be uploaded to the server in real time.
- the term “real time” means a level of processing responsiveness that a user senses as sufficiently immediate or that enables the processor to keep up with some external process.
- the toys 110 , 115 and/or the RC units 120 , 125 can be communicatively linked to the server 130 so as to receive statistical parameters (hereinafter “parameter updates”) 170 , 175 that can be used to update performance parameters of the toys 110 , 115 based on the statistics 140 , 145 .
- the parameter updates 170 , 175 can be conveyed to the toys 110 , 115 and/or the RC units 120 , 125 from the server 130 via the communications network 105 .
- the server 130 can discover all toys 110 , 115 with an attribute (e.g. driver, car number, car make and model, etc.) that corresponds to the changed real world parameter, and parameter updates 170 , 175 can be sent to each of such toys 110 , 115 to update one or more performance parameters.
- the toys 110 , 115 and/or the RC units 120 , 125 can communicate a respective toy identifier to the server 130 via the communications network 105 .
- the toy identifiers can associate the toys 110 , 115 with a real world entity, such as the real world entity 150 .
- the server 130 can monitor for statistics 140 of the real world entity 150 that are relevant to the toys 110 , 115 , and communicate the parameter updates 170 , 175 to the toys 110 , 115 when such statistics 140 are received.
- the toys 110 , 115 and/or the RC units 120 , 125 can be configured to periodically communicate the identifiers to alert the server 130 that the toys 110 , 115 are still activated.
- the toys 110 , 115 and/or the RC units 120 , 125 can be configured to automatically log onto and log off of the server 130 , or log onto and log off of the server 130 in response to user inputs.
- the parameter update process can continue for all statistics 140 received.
- the server 130 can store a parameter update 170 in the database 135 , and provide the parameter update 170 to the toy 110 when the toy 110 is again activated or logged onto the server 130 .
- the server 130 can search the database 135 for the parameter updates 170 that are relevant to the toy 110 .
- the toys 110 , 115 are RC cars that are being raced against each other.
- the user of the first toy 110 chooses his toy 110 to be, in terms of the toy race, a first famous race car (e.g. the first real world entity 150 ) and the user of the second toy 115 chooses his car to be a second famous race car (e.g. the second real world entity 155 ).
- the parameter update 170 that is conveyed to the RC unit 120 and/or the toy 110 can be a statistical parameter generated from the first famous race car's real world racing statistics 140 .
- the parameter update 170 that is conveyed to the RC unit 125 and/or the toy 115 can be a statistical parameter that represents the second famous race car car's real world racing statistics 145 .
- the real world racing statistics can represent speed, handling or any other measured performance parameters.
- the real world racing statistics can represent other performance scales, for instance point standings in a racing league or rankings among a plurality of teams.
- the performance of the toys 110 , 115 can correlate to the respective statistics 140 , 145 .
- the statistics 140 represent higher performance than the statistics 145
- the first toy 110 can be provided greater performance than the second toy 115 .
- the performance of the toys 110 , 115 can differ in proportion to the difference of the real world entities 150 , 155 in the scaling system that is used to measure performance.
- the statistics 140 , 145 can correlate to performance of the real world entities 150 , 155 during a particular season. For example, if the toy 110 correlates to a first driver who has 1,000 points in a particular racing league, and the toy 115 correlates to a second driver who has 950 points, the parameter updates 170 , 175 can update the relative performance of the toys 110 , 115 so that the toy 110 has greater performance than the toy 115 .
- users of the respective RC units 120 , 125 can indicate which other cars they are racing against and the parameter updates 170 , 175 can adjust the performance parameters of the toys 110 , 115 with respect to one another. For instance, in the above example, the first toy 110 can be adjusted to operate at full speed while the second toy 115 is adjusted to operate at a speed that is 5% slower than full speed.
- the parameter updates can convey performance information in a manner that enables the toy 110 to be raced against the toy 115 , or any other similar toy, without the toys 110 , 115 having knowledge of each other's performance parameters.
- the parameter updates 170 , 175 can be referenced against an absolute scale. For example, a driver that is highest in point standings can be assigned a value of 1, a driver that is second in the point standings can be assigned a value of 2, and so on.
- the value assigned to each driver can be processed to generate parameter updates 170 , 175 that dictate the relative performance of the toys 110 , 115 within a designated performance range.
- a toy 110 associated with topped ranked driver can be provided top performance within the designated performance range, and a toy 115 associated with a lowest ranked driver can be provided lowest performance within the designated performance range.
- the parameter updates 170 , 175 can correlate to absolute statistics of drivers or cars, for instance average miles per hour. Nonetheless, any other suitable scaling system can be used to assign performance parameters and the invention is not limited in this regard.
- the toys 110 , 115 can have one or more common attributes. Thus, the toys 110 , 115 also can be identically updated in one or more ways.
- the performance of the toys 110 , 115 can change as the representations of the real world entities 150 , 155 in the scaling system change. For instance, if after a particular event the second driver passes the first driver in total accumulated points, the parameter updates 170 , 175 can reflect such a change and the second toy 115 can be provided greater performance than the first toy 110 . Notably, the parameter updates 170 , 175 can be automatically provided during the racing season. Accordingly, users of the toys need not wait until after the season ends to receive the benefit, or suffer the consequences, of the continuing performance of their selected real world entity 150 , 155 .
- the statistics 140 , 145 can correlate to performance in a particular event. For example, if in a recent race the car 150 was 1% faster than the car 155 , the parameter update 170 can update the maximum speed of the first toy 110 to be 1% faster than the speed of the second toy 115 .
- the parameter updates 170 , 175 can be communicated from the server 130 to the RC units 120 , 125 and/or the toys 110 , 115 in real time as the statistics 140 , 145 are received by the server 130 , and the performance parameters of the toys 110 , 115 can be adjusted each time the parameter updates 170 , 175 are received. Accordingly, the users of the toys 110 , 115 can experience, in real time, many of the same advantages and disadvantages experienced by the drivers of the race cars 150 , 155 . For example, if the first race car 150 slows due to engine difficulty while racing at Daytona, the user of the toy 110 also can experience a reduction is speed.
- the statistics 140 , 145 for a particular event can be stored in the database 135 and retrieved at a later time.
- users of the toys 110 , 115 can select to run a particular race, for instance the 2006 Daytona 500.
- the users can establish user sessions with the server 130 and download the respective parameter updates 170 , 175 from the database 135 .
- the parameter updates 170 , 175 can be stored in the RC units 120 , 125 and/or the toys 110 , 115 and processed to update performance parameters of the toys 110 , 115 while the toys are operated.
- the parameter updates 170 , 175 can be processed at a rate in which the statistics 140 , 145 were received from the race cars 150 , 155 .
- sponsored races oftentimes take hours to complete and the users of the toys 110 , 115 may not wish to race for that long.
- the parameter updates 170 , 175 also can be processed at an expedited rate.
- the parameter updates 170 , 175 for three hours of statistics 140 , 145 can be processed in ten minutes, fifteen minutes, thirty minutes, or any other desired time frame.
- the time frame can be user selectable.
- the users can select a time frame using a user interface on the RC units 120 , 125 .
- Adjustment of performance parameters by the parameter updates 170 , 175 is not limited to speed.
- the parameter updates 170 , 175 can be processed to automatically adjust such components.
- the parameter updates 170 , 175 also can adjust the steering.
- other types of toys may have other components that are adjustable and the invention is not limited in this regard.
- FIG. 2 depicts an example of the RC unit 120 that is useful for understanding the present invention.
- the RC unit 120 can include a controller 205 .
- the controller 205 can comprise, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), a plurality of discrete components that cooperate to process data, and/or any other suitable processing device.
- CPU central processing unit
- DSP digital signal processor
- ASIC application specific integrated circuit
- PLD programmable logic device
- the RC unit 120 also can include a network adapter 210 with which the RC unit 120 communicates with the server, as well as other devices, via the communications network.
- the network adapter 210 can be any network adapter compatible with the communications network to which the RC unit 120 is linked.
- the network adapter 210 can include a transceiver that communicates signals in accordance IEEE 802 wireless communications, WPA, WPA2, GSM, TDMA, CDMA, WCDMA, Bluetooth, direct wireless communication, TCP/IP, or from any other communications protocol supported by the communications network.
- the RC unit 120 also can include a RC adapter 215 with which the RC unit 120 communicates with one or more RC toys.
- the RC adapter 215 can be configured for wired and/or wireless communications.
- the RC adapter 215 can communicate via Bluetooth, Zigbee, or any other communication protocol suitable for communicating with RC toys.
- the RC adapter 215 can include an RF transmitter known in the art of RC toys.
- the RC unit 120 also can include a user interface 220 .
- the user interface 220 can include a display, audio input/output transducers, image capture devices, one or more user input devices, for example buttons, a keypad, touch screen or the like, and/or any other devices which facilitate user interaction with the RC unit 120 .
- a datastore 225 also can be provided.
- the datastore 225 can include a magnetic storage medium, an electronic storage medium, an optical storage medium, a magneto-optical storage medium, or any other storage medium suitable for storing digital information.
- the datastore 225 can be integrated into the controller 205 .
- a RC application 230 can be contained on the datastore 225 .
- the RC application 230 can be executed by the controller 205 to process the parameter update 170 and perform other RC functions.
- the parameter update 170 also can be stored on the datastore 225 and the RC unit 120 can control the performance of the RC toy in accordance with such parameters.
- the RC unit 120 can control the availability and range of command parameters that dictate the performance of the toy.
- the RC application 230 can communicate the parameter update 170 to the toy when it is time for the performance of the toy to be updated.
- the RC application 230 can forward all parameter updates 170 to the toy and a controller within the toy can update toy performance at the appropriate time.
- FIG. 3 depicts an example of the RC toy 110 that is useful for understanding the present invention.
- the RC toy 110 can include a controller 305 .
- the controller 305 can comprise, for example, a CPU, a DSP, an ASIC, a PLD, a plurality of discrete components that cooperate to process data, and/or any other suitable processing device.
- the RC toy 110 also can include a RC adapter 310 with which the RC toy 110 communicates with the RC unit.
- the RC adapter 310 can be configured for wired and/or wireless communications.
- the RC adapter 310 can communicate via Bluetooth, Zigbee, or any other communication protocol suitable for communicating with RC units.
- the RC adapter 310 can include an RF receiver known in the art of RC toys.
- the RC toy 110 also can include a network adapter 315 with which the RC toy 110 communicates with the server, as well as other devices, via the communications network.
- the toy 110 can receive the parameter update 170 from the server 130 via the network adapter 315 .
- the network adapter 315 can be any network adapter compatible with the communications network to which the RC toy 110 is linked.
- the network adapter 315 can include a transceiver that communicates signals in accordance IEEE 802 wireless communications, WPA, WPA2, GSM, TDMA, CDMA, WCDMA, Bluetooth, direct wireless communication, TCP/IP, or from any other communications protocol supported by the communications network.
- a datastore 320 also can be provided.
- the datastore 220 can include a magnetic storage medium, an electronic storage medium, an optical storage medium, a magneto-optical storage medium, or any other storage medium suitable for storing digital information.
- the datastore 320 can be integrated into the controller 305 .
- an RC toy application 325 can be contained on the datastore 320 .
- the RC application 325 can be executed by the controller 305 to perform RC functions.
- processing can be implemented by executing the RC toy application 325 on the controller 305 .
- the RC toy application 325 can be executed to adjust the toy components 330 .
- the toy components 330 can be those components that affect speed, steering, suspension rates, or any other parameters that affect the performance of the RC toy 110 .
- FIG. 4 depicts another communications system 400 that is useful for understanding the present invention.
- the communications system 400 can include the communications network 105 , the server 130 , the database 135 , and the real world entities 150 , 155 .
- the communications system 400 can include one or more gaming devices 405 , 410 on which virtual entities 415 , 420 are portrayed in virtual games.
- a “virtual entity” is a representation of an entity that is presented in an electronic format (e.g. an object or character in a video game).
- a gaming device 405 , 410 can be, for example, a gaming console or a computer on which video games and the like are played.
- the parameter updates 170 , 175 also be provided to the gaming devices 405 , 410 .
- the gaming devices 405 , 410 can receive the parameter updates 170 , 175 via network adapters.
- the performance parameters of the virtual entities 415 , 420 also can be updated in the same manner.
- the performance of the first virtual entity 415 can be updated based on that the ranking of the real world entity 150 with respect to other real world entities, such as the second virtual entity 155 .
- the performance parameters of the virtual entities 415 , 420 can be updated in real time.
- the performance of the virtual entities 415 , 420 within the virtual game can change as statistics 140 , 145 representing the performance of the real world entities 150 , 155 are provided to the server 130 .
- FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting a method 500 for updating performance parameters of toys and/or virtual entities.
- a toy or virtual game can be activated.
- a message can be sent to a server requesting a performance parameter update.
- the message can be sent, for example, in response to a user session being established with the server.
- the parameter update can be received.
- the parameter update can be processed to update at least one performance parameter of the toy or virtual entities within the virtual game.
- the toy, an RC unit associated with the toy, or the virtual game can monitor for new parameter updates.
- the performance parameter can again be updated, as shown in step 520 , and the monitoring can continue for additional parameter updates, as shown in step 525 , until at step 540 the game ends, or the toy is deactivated.
- the method 500 can be mandated for all participants in a game or other toy event.
- a requirement may be that his toy, RC unit or gaming device monitor for parameter updates and update performance parameters of the toy or virtual entities as the parameter updates are received, for instance in real time.
- the present invention can be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.
- the present invention can be realized in a centralized fashion in one processing system or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected processing systems. Any kind of processing system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited.
- a typical combination of hardware and software can be a processing system with an application that, when being loaded and executed, controls the processing system such that it carries out the methods described herein.
- the present invention also can be embedded in an application product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which when loaded in a processing system is able to carry out these methods.
- ⁇ means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form.
- an application can include, but is not limited to, a subroutine, a function, a procedure, an object method, an object implementation, an executable application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an object code, a shared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence of instructions designed for execution on a processing system.
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Abstract
A method (500) for providing entertainment. The method can include receiving at least one statistical parameter (140) of a first entity (150) that participates in real world events and updating a performance parameter of a toy (110) that moves in real space or of a gaming device (405). The performance parameter can correlate to a performance of the first entity. In one arrangement, the statistical parameter can be received in real time. The statistical parameter can be a statistical rating of the first entity relative to at least a second entity (155) with which the first entity is competing. In one arrangement, the statistical parameter can be received on a remote control unit (120) as a parameter update (170). The parameter update also can be communicated to the toy. Further, the toy can be controlled with the remote control unit.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention generally relates to entertainment systems and, more particularly, to performance parameters used by such systems.
- 2. Background of the Invention
- Since the advent of the first electronic games in the latter part of the twentieth century, video gaming has grown to become an extremely popular form of entertainment. In industrialized nations, video games are found on a variety of devices in most homes, offices and schools. Indeed, in addition to being available on specialized handheld gaming devices and gaming consoles, video games are commonly available on computers, mobile telephones, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Among those who game regularly, there is demand for increased gaming reality.
- The present invention relates to a method for providing entertainment. The method can include receiving at least one statistical parameter of a first entity that participates in real world events and updating a performance parameter of a toy that moves in real space. The performance parameter can correlate to a performance of the first entity. The statistical parameter can be a statistical rating of the first entity relative to at least a second entity with which the first entity is competing. In one arrangement, the statistical parameter can be received on a remote control unit as a parameter update. The parameter update also can be communicated to the toy. Further, the toy can be controlled with the remote control unit.
- The statistical parameter can be received in real time. Similarly, the performance parameter can be updated in real time. In another arrangement, the statistical parameter can be received from a database and can represent the performance of the first entity in a particular one of the real world events. The real world event can be selected via the remote control unit, which can be communicatively linked to a server on which the database is instantiated. In addition, a plurality of statistical parameters can be received and processed at an expedited rate.
- The present invention also relates to a method that includes receiving at least one statistical parameter of a first entity participating in real world events and updating a performance parameter of a gaming device. The performance parameter can represent a statistical rating of the first entity relative to at least a second entity with which the first entity is competing. In one arrangement, the statistical parameter can be received in real time. In addition, the performance parameter can be updated in real time. In another arrangement, the statistical parameter can be received from a database, and the statistical parameter can represent the performance of the first entity in a particular one of the real world events. The real world event can be selected from the database. Further, a plurality of statistical parameters can be received, and the statistical parameters can be processed at an expedited rate.
- The present invention also relates to a remote control unit that includes a network adapter which receives at least one statistical parameter of a first entity that participates in real world events. The remote control unit also can include a remote control adapter that updates a performance parameter of a toy that moves in real space, the performance parameter correlating to a performance of the first entity. The performance parameter can represent a statistical rating of the first entity relative to at least a second entity with which the first entity is competing. The network adapter can receive the statistical parameter in real time. Further, the remote control adapter can update the performance parameter in real time.
- Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 depicts a communications system that is useful for understanding the present invention; -
FIG. 2 depicts an example of a remote control unit that is useful for understanding the present invention; -
FIG. 3 depicts an example of a remote control toy that is useful for understanding the present invention; -
FIG. 4 depicts another communications system that is useful for understanding the present invention; and -
FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting a method for updating performance parameters of toys and/or virtual entities, which is useful for understanding the present invention. - While the specification concludes with claims defining features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.
- The present invention relates to a method and a system for bringing an increased level of gaming reality to entertainment devices, such as toys and video games. In particular, statistical parameters of real entities, for instance sports players or race cars, can be monitored and provided to the entertainment devices over a communications network, such as the Internet. For example, the statistical parameters can be conveyed to a remote control (RC) unit for an RC toy. The statistical parameters then can be processed to update performance parameters used by the entertainment devices during operation. In one arrangement, the performance updates can correlate to rankings of the real entities with respect to other real entities with which they compete.
-
FIG. 1 depicts acommunications system 100 that is useful for understanding the present invention. Thecommunications system 100 can include acommunications network 105. Thecommunications network 105 can comprise the Internet, the World Wide Web, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a cellular communications network, a dispatch communications network, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and/or any other communications network over which communications can be propagated. In that regard, thecommunications network 105 can include wired and/or wireless communication links. - The
communications system 100 also can include one ormore toys toys RC units - The
RC units toys RC units RC units communications network 105 and that integrate RC functionality. TheRC units respective toys - In another aspect of the invention, the
toys communications network 105. In such an arrangement, thetoys RC units toys - A
server 130 can be linked to thecommunications network 105. Further, adatabase 135 can be instantiated on theserver 130. Thedatabase 135 can store one or more statistical parameters (hereinafter “statistics”) 140, 145 for one ormore entities Such entities - The
statistics real world entities statistics first entity 150 with respect to one or moreother entities 155, such as those with which thefirst entity 150 is competing, or parameters that represent the performance of theentities -
Devices statistics real world entities devices statistics respective statistics statistics devices server 130. For example, thestatistics server 130, or propagated to a network node, such as an access point, that is communicatively linked to theserver 130. In one arrangement, thestatistics - The
toys RC units server 130 so as to receive statistical parameters (hereinafter “parameter updates”) 170, 175 that can be used to update performance parameters of thetoys statistics toys RC units server 130 via thecommunications network 105. - In one embodiment, when the
statistics 140 indicate that a parameter of thereal world entity 150 has changed, theserver 130 can discover alltoys parameter updates such toys toys RC units server 130 via thecommunications network 105. The toy identifiers can associate thetoys real world entity 150. While thetoys server 130 can monitor forstatistics 140 of thereal world entity 150 that are relevant to thetoys toys such statistics 140 are received. - In one arrangement, while the
toys toys RC units server 130 that thetoys toys RC units server 130, or log onto and log off of theserver 130 in response to user inputs. The parameter update process can continue for allstatistics 140 received. Further, if atoy 110 is deactivated when such astatistic 140 is received, theserver 130 can store aparameter update 170 in thedatabase 135, and provide theparameter update 170 to thetoy 110 when thetoy 110 is again activated or logged onto theserver 130. Alternatively, when thetoy 110 is activated or logged onto theserver 130, theserver 130 can search thedatabase 135 for the parameter updates 170 that are relevant to thetoy 110. - By way of example, assume that the
toys first toy 110 chooses histoy 110 to be, in terms of the toy race, a first famous race car (e.g. the first real world entity 150) and the user of thesecond toy 115 chooses his car to be a second famous race car (e.g. the second real world entity 155). In this scenario, theparameter update 170 that is conveyed to theRC unit 120 and/or thetoy 110 can be a statistical parameter generated from the first famous race car's realworld racing statistics 140. Similarly, theparameter update 170 that is conveyed to theRC unit 125 and/or thetoy 115 can be a statistical parameter that represents the second famous race car car's realworld racing statistics 145. The real world racing statistics can represent speed, handling or any other measured performance parameters. Moreover, the real world racing statistics can represent other performance scales, for instance point standings in a racing league or rankings among a plurality of teams. - During operation, the performance of the
toys respective statistics statistics 140 represent higher performance than thestatistics 145, thefirst toy 110 can be provided greater performance than thesecond toy 115. The performance of thetoys real world entities - In one arrangement, the
statistics real world entities toy 110 correlates to a first driver who has 1,000 points in a particular racing league, and thetoy 115 correlates to a second driver who has 950 points, the parameter updates 170, 175 can update the relative performance of thetoys toy 110 has greater performance than thetoy 115. In such an arrangement, users of therespective RC units toys first toy 110 can be adjusted to operate at full speed while thesecond toy 115 is adjusted to operate at a speed that is 5% slower than full speed. - In other arrangements, the parameter updates can convey performance information in a manner that enables the
toy 110 to be raced against thetoy 115, or any other similar toy, without thetoys parameter updates toys toy 110 associated with topped ranked driver can be provided top performance within the designated performance range, and atoy 115 associated with a lowest ranked driver can be provided lowest performance within the designated performance range. - In another arrangement, the parameter updates 170, 175 can correlate to absolute statistics of drivers or cars, for instance average miles per hour. Nonetheless, any other suitable scaling system can be used to assign performance parameters and the invention is not limited in this regard. In yet another aspect of the invention, the
toys toys - The performance of the
toys real world entities second toy 115 can be provided greater performance than thefirst toy 110. Notably, the parameter updates 170, 175 can be automatically provided during the racing season. Accordingly, users of the toys need not wait until after the season ends to receive the benefit, or suffer the consequences, of the continuing performance of their selectedreal world entity - In yet another aspect of the invention, the
statistics car 150 was 1% faster than thecar 155, theparameter update 170 can update the maximum speed of thefirst toy 110 to be 1% faster than the speed of thesecond toy 115. Further, in a circumstance in which thetoys cars server 130 to theRC units toys statistics server 130, and the performance parameters of thetoys toys race cars first race car 150 slows due to engine difficulty while racing at Daytona, the user of thetoy 110 also can experience a reduction is speed. - In another aspect of the invention, the
statistics database 135 and retrieved at a later time. For example, users of thetoys Daytona 500. Using theRC units server 130 and download therespective parameter updates database 135. The parameter updates 170, 175 can be stored in theRC units toys toys - The parameter updates 170, 175 can be processed at a rate in which the
statistics race cars toys statistics RC units - Adjustment of performance parameters by the parameter updates 170, 175 is not limited to speed. For example, in an arrangement in which the
toys toys -
FIG. 2 depicts an example of theRC unit 120 that is useful for understanding the present invention. TheRC unit 120 can include acontroller 205. Thecontroller 205 can comprise, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), a plurality of discrete components that cooperate to process data, and/or any other suitable processing device. - The
RC unit 120 also can include anetwork adapter 210 with which theRC unit 120 communicates with the server, as well as other devices, via the communications network. Thenetwork adapter 210 can be any network adapter compatible with the communications network to which theRC unit 120 is linked. For example, thenetwork adapter 210 can include a transceiver that communicates signals in accordance IEEE 802 wireless communications, WPA, WPA2, GSM, TDMA, CDMA, WCDMA, Bluetooth, direct wireless communication, TCP/IP, or from any other communications protocol supported by the communications network. - The
RC unit 120 also can include aRC adapter 215 with which theRC unit 120 communicates with one or more RC toys. TheRC adapter 215 can be configured for wired and/or wireless communications. For example theRC adapter 215 can communicate via Bluetooth, Zigbee, or any other communication protocol suitable for communicating with RC toys. For instance, theRC adapter 215 can include an RF transmitter known in the art of RC toys. - The
RC unit 120 also can include a user interface 220. The user interface 220 can include a display, audio input/output transducers, image capture devices, one or more user input devices, for example buttons, a keypad, touch screen or the like, and/or any other devices which facilitate user interaction with theRC unit 120. - A
datastore 225 also can be provided. Thedatastore 225 can include a magnetic storage medium, an electronic storage medium, an optical storage medium, a magneto-optical storage medium, or any other storage medium suitable for storing digital information. In one arrangement, thedatastore 225 can be integrated into thecontroller 205. - A
RC application 230 can be contained on thedatastore 225. TheRC application 230 can be executed by thecontroller 205 to process theparameter update 170 and perform other RC functions. In one arrangement, theparameter update 170 also can be stored on thedatastore 225 and theRC unit 120 can control the performance of the RC toy in accordance with such parameters. For example, theRC unit 120 can control the availability and range of command parameters that dictate the performance of the toy. In another arrangement, theRC application 230 can communicate theparameter update 170 to the toy when it is time for the performance of the toy to be updated. In yet another arrangement, theRC application 230 can forward allparameter updates 170 to the toy and a controller within the toy can update toy performance at the appropriate time. -
FIG. 3 depicts an example of theRC toy 110 that is useful for understanding the present invention. TheRC toy 110 can include acontroller 305. Thecontroller 305 can comprise, for example, a CPU, a DSP, an ASIC, a PLD, a plurality of discrete components that cooperate to process data, and/or any other suitable processing device. - The
RC toy 110 also can include aRC adapter 310 with which theRC toy 110 communicates with the RC unit. TheRC adapter 310 can be configured for wired and/or wireless communications. For example theRC adapter 310 can communicate via Bluetooth, Zigbee, or any other communication protocol suitable for communicating with RC units. For instance, theRC adapter 310 can include an RF receiver known in the art of RC toys. - Optionally, the
RC toy 110 also can include anetwork adapter 315 with which theRC toy 110 communicates with the server, as well as other devices, via the communications network. In this arrangement, thetoy 110 can receive theparameter update 170 from theserver 130 via thenetwork adapter 315. Thenetwork adapter 315 can be any network adapter compatible with the communications network to which theRC toy 110 is linked. For example, thenetwork adapter 315 can include a transceiver that communicates signals in accordance IEEE 802 wireless communications, WPA, WPA2, GSM, TDMA, CDMA, WCDMA, Bluetooth, direct wireless communication, TCP/IP, or from any other communications protocol supported by the communications network. - A
datastore 320 also can be provided. The datastore 220 can include a magnetic storage medium, an electronic storage medium, an optical storage medium, a magneto-optical storage medium, or any other storage medium suitable for storing digital information. In one arrangement, thedatastore 320 can be integrated into thecontroller 305. - Optionally, an
RC toy application 325 can be contained on thedatastore 320. TheRC application 325 can be executed by thecontroller 305 to perform RC functions. For example, in an arrangement in which the parameter updates 170 are processed by theRC toy 110 rather than the RC unit, such processing can be implemented by executing theRC toy application 325 on thecontroller 305. For instance, theRC toy application 325 can be executed to adjust the toy components 330. The toy components 330 can be those components that affect speed, steering, suspension rates, or any other parameters that affect the performance of theRC toy 110. -
FIG. 4 depicts anothercommunications system 400 that is useful for understanding the present invention. Thecommunications system 400 can include thecommunications network 105, theserver 130, thedatabase 135, and thereal world entities communications system 400 can include one ormore gaming devices virtual entities gaming device - In much the same manner that parameter updates 170, 175 can be provided to the RC units and/or the RC toys, the parameter updates 170, 175 also be provided to the
gaming devices gaming devices virtual entities virtual entity 415 can be updated based on that the ranking of thereal world entity 150 with respect to other real world entities, such as the secondvirtual entity 155. Moreover, as with the toys previously discussed, the performance parameters of thevirtual entities virtual entities statistics real world entities server 130. -
FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting amethod 500 for updating performance parameters of toys and/or virtual entities. Atstep 505, a toy or virtual game can be activated. Proceeding to step 510, a message can be sent to a server requesting a performance parameter update. The message can be sent, for example, in response to a user session being established with the server. Atstep 515, the parameter update can be received. Continuing to step 520, the parameter update can be processed to update at least one performance parameter of the toy or virtual entities within the virtual game. - At
step 525, the toy, an RC unit associated with the toy, or the virtual game can monitor for new parameter updates. Referring todecision box 530 anddecision box 535, if a new parameter update is received, the performance parameter can again be updated, as shown instep 520, and the monitoring can continue for additional parameter updates, as shown instep 525, until atstep 540 the game ends, or the toy is deactivated. - Notably, the
method 500 can be mandated for all participants in a game or other toy event. For example, if a user wishes to participate in a particular game, a requirement may be that his toy, RC unit or gaming device monitor for parameter updates and update performance parameters of the toy or virtual entities as the parameter updates are received, for instance in real time. - The present invention can be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The present invention can be realized in a centralized fashion in one processing system or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected processing systems. Any kind of processing system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software can be a processing system with an application that, when being loaded and executed, controls the processing system such that it carries out the methods described herein. The present invention also can be embedded in an application product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which when loaded in a processing system is able to carry out these methods.
- The terms “computer program,” “software,” “application,” variants and/or combinations thereof, in the present context, mean any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form. For example, an application can include, but is not limited to, a subroutine, a function, a procedure, an object method, an object implementation, an executable application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an object code, a shared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence of instructions designed for execution on a processing system.
- The terms “a” and “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language).
- This invention can be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.
Claims (20)
1. A method for providing entertainment, comprising:
receiving at least one statistical parameter of a first entity that participates in real world events; and
updating a performance parameter of a toy that moves in real space, the performance parameter correlating to a performance of the first entity.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the statistical parameter comprises receiving the statistical parameter on a remote control unit as a parameter update.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein updating the performance parameter comprises communicating the parameter update to the toy.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling the toy with a remote control unit.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the statistical parameter comprises receiving a statistical rating of the first entity relative to at least a second entity with which the first entity is competing.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the statistical parameter comprises receiving the statistical parameter in real time.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein updating the performance parameter comprises updating the performance parameter in real time.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the statistical parameter comprises receiving the statistical parameter from a database, the statistical parameter representing the performance of the first entity in a particular one of the real world events.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising selecting the one real world event via a remote control unit communicatively linked to a server on which the database is instantiated.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving a plurality of statistical parameters; and
processing the statistical parameters at an expedited rate.
11. A method for providing entertainment, comprising:
receiving at least one statistical parameter of a first entity participating in real world events, the statistical parameter representing a statistical rating of the first entity relative to at least a second entity with which the first entity is competing; and
updating a performance parameter of a gaming device, the performance parameter correlating to the statistical rating.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving the statistical parameter comprises receiving the statistical parameter in real time.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein updating the performance parameter comprises updating the performance parameter in real time.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving the statistical parameter comprises receiving the statistical parameter from a database, the statistical parameter representing the performance of the first entity in a particular one of the real world events.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising selecting the one real world event from the database.
16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving a plurality of statistical parameters; and
processing the statistical parameters at an expedited rate.
17. A remote control unit comprising:
a network adapter that receives at least one statistical parameter of a first entity that participates in real world events; and
a remote control adapter that updates a performance parameter of a toy that moves in real space, the performance parameter correlating to a performance of the first entity.
18. The remote control unit of claim 17 , wherein the performance parameter represents a statistical rating of the first entity relative to at least a second entity with which the first entity is competing.
19. The remote control unit of claim 17 , wherein the network adapter receives the statistical parameter in real time.
20. The remote control unit of claim 17 , wherein the remote control adapter updates the performance parameter in real time.
Priority Applications (1)
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US11/424,795 US20080014833A1 (en) | 2006-06-16 | 2006-06-16 | Toy and Game Performance Parameters Updated by Real World Events |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US11/424,795 US20080014833A1 (en) | 2006-06-16 | 2006-06-16 | Toy and Game Performance Parameters Updated by Real World Events |
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US11/424,795 Abandoned US20080014833A1 (en) | 2006-06-16 | 2006-06-16 | Toy and Game Performance Parameters Updated by Real World Events |
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