EP1885466B1 - Jouets - Google Patents

Jouets Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1885466B1
EP1885466B1 EP06726915.9A EP06726915A EP1885466B1 EP 1885466 B1 EP1885466 B1 EP 1885466B1 EP 06726915 A EP06726915 A EP 06726915A EP 1885466 B1 EP1885466 B1 EP 1885466B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
toy
data
expressive
responses
response
Prior art date
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Not-in-force
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EP06726915.9A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1885466A2 (fr
EP1885466B8 (fr
Inventor
Steven Lipman
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Muscae Ltd
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Muscae Ltd
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Priority claimed from GB0508466A external-priority patent/GB2425490A/en
Application filed by Muscae Ltd filed Critical Muscae Ltd
Publication of EP1885466A2 publication Critical patent/EP1885466A2/fr
Publication of EP1885466B1 publication Critical patent/EP1885466B1/fr
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Publication of EP1885466B8 publication Critical patent/EP1885466B8/fr
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H3/00—Dolls
    • A63H3/28—Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H2200/00—Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls

Definitions

  • This invention relates to toys.
  • this invention relates to toys such as dolls that interact with each other.
  • Embedded computers and micro-processors have improved toys for children. They have been used most extensively in educational toys, but have also been used in interactive toys. ActiMates® Barney®, is one example of an interactive toy which responds to interaction from a child by appropriate vocalisations, and can sing-a-long to videos.
  • the toy comprises means for analysing said expressive responses to select a suitable one such response.
  • the means for analysing said expressive responses to enable a suitable one such response to be selected preferably uses randomisation.
  • the means for analysing said expressive responses to select a suitable one such response is preferably operable to receive and respond to situation data concerning its situation.
  • the data is downloadable to the toy from said computer.
  • the data preferably includes a set of such expressive responses and the expressive responses comprises a set of responses and counter-responses.
  • the counter-responses are preferably compatible with the responses. These counter-responses are preferably adapted to be used by a further such toy in response to the responses of a further such toy.
  • the data is downloadable from a website via the internet.
  • An expressive response means output that communicates a message, such as emotion or language to a human onlooker.
  • This invention involves the realisation that interaction occurs between dolls, and other toys, when children play. By stimulating interaction between dolls, or other toys, this invention encourages such play.
  • the toy may store data, preferably trigger data, received in memory as an expressive response.
  • the expressive response may be a gesture.
  • the expressive response may be a vocalisation.
  • the expressive response may be a phrase, or music or sound.
  • the trigger data broadcast may indicate which expressive response was output.
  • a toy may be operable to broadcast trigger data and/or make an expressive response on a user command.
  • the user command may comprise moving or shaking the toy or squeezing the toy or pressing part of the toy.
  • the toy may be operable to broadcast trigger data and/or make an expressive response when in proximity of a transmitter, such as an infra-red transmitter.
  • the transmitter may be another toy, a docking station, a remote control, or an environment, such as a dolls house.
  • the toy may transmit a signal at timed intervals. Such a signal could act as a proximity signal for another toy.
  • the trigger data may be indicative of the proximity of a second toy.
  • the processor may be operable to analyse the trigger data received for an indication of which expressive response it represents and select an appropriate expressive response.
  • Expressive responses may be ranked and the response may be selected according to rank.
  • the rank of the expressive response may be dependent on the trigger data.
  • the expressive response may be selected using randomisation.
  • Expressive responses may be chosen, preferably randomly chosen from group of responses all of which may have a particular rank.
  • Preferably output of an expressive response depends on some input from child.
  • Such input may comprise triggering a sensor in the toy.
  • the toy may comprise a code segment operable to download expressive responses, themes, or personality data from the internet.
  • the toy may comprise a removable memory. Such a toy may be programmable.
  • the toy may comprise a physical connector.
  • the toy may comprise an electromagnetic transceiver, preferably an infrared, radio-frequency, or bluetooth transceiver.
  • the toy is a doll. It may be generic or a likeness of a sports star, celebrity, or pop star.
  • connection to the network may be physical.
  • the dock may comprise a recharging point for the toy.
  • the expressive response may be a gesture.
  • the expressive response may be a vocalisation.
  • the expressive response may be a phrase.
  • the trigger data broadcast may indicate which expressive response was output.
  • the method may comprise broadcasting trigger data on a user command.
  • the user command may comprise triggering a sensor in the toy, by, for example, shaking the toy or squeezing the toy or pressing part of the toy.
  • the trigger data may be indicative of the proximity of a second toy.
  • the method may comprise analysing the trigger data received for an indication of which expressive response the data represents and selecting an appropriate expressive response.
  • Expressive responses may be ranked and the response may be selected according to rank.
  • the rank of the expressive response may be dependent on the trigger data.
  • the expressive response may be selected using randomisation.
  • Expressive responses may be chosen, preferably randomly chosen, from group of responses all of which may have a particular rank.
  • the output of an expressive response may depend on some input from child.
  • the input may comprise triggering a sensor in the toy.
  • the method may comprise downloading expressive responses, themes, music, or personality data from the internet.
  • Expressive responses may be grouped into a theme.
  • a method of downloading data into a doll comprising logging onto a website; selecting a theme comprising a group of related data; and downloading the theme to the doll.
  • the theme may be expressed by triggers/responses by sound, expression, music or exclamations.
  • Milly 10 and Molly 12 are able to interact more fully with children, and with each other, in such play.
  • Milly 10 and Molly 12 are dolls having generic bodies 14, 16 which may be themed by adding dresses, shoes and accessories.
  • Milly 10 has a generic body 14 which represents a female adult and is themed as a ballerina, being dressed in a tutu with ballet shoes.
  • Molly 12 also has a generic body 16 which represents a female adult, and is themed as a tennis player, having appropriate clothing and bat and ball accessories.
  • the theme may be pre-programmed, determined by the downloaded/inputted data, or set by a key accessory (tennis bat, ballet shoes, or a theme tag) which can be sensed by the doll through its communication system described below.
  • the dolls' bodies may be manipulated into appropriate poses, as shown.
  • each doll has an integrated computer 18 using this computer the dolls are able to interact according to their theme.
  • an acceleration sensor 20 integrated into her body 16 provides a signal which acts as a trigger, causing her to say, for example, "Anyone for tennis?".
  • Molly 12 has a loudspeaker 22 sited under the feature representing her mouth through which her synthesised voice can be heard.
  • This interaction is heard by the children playing with her.
  • the statement is also transmitted via an infrared transceiver 24, conveniently located in her head 26, to any doll in line-of-sight, in this example Milly 10, who receives the transmission at her infrared transceiver 28.
  • Infrared signals may reach the transceivers through the dolls' eyes and ears.
  • Milly's transceiver receives a signal from Molly's transceiver it is decoded by a decoder 30 and passed to a processor 32.
  • the signal is tagged with data indicative of its theme (tennis) and of which of a number of classes of statement associated with the theme it is (in this example, invitation). Milly therefore "knows" that Molly has invited her to play tennis.
  • Milly then analyses the statements associated with her theme for a reply. These statements, which are stored in a memory 34 are also tagged both with data indicative of the doll's unique identification tag, of the manner in which the doll is currently themed and with data indicative of their class.
  • the processor 32 has been pre-programmed to select a statement from an appropriate class. In this example, appropriate classes would be either "accepting an invitation” or “declining an invitation” on a random basis.
  • the doll may also add a "comment”.
  • the processor may select, for example "Oh No! (a rejection) followed by "I like ballet” (a comment) and cause that statement to be output through Milly's loudspeaker 36. At the same time, the processor may activate motors 38 which cause Milly to shake her head.
  • Milly broadcasts trigger data through her transceiver 28 indicative of what she has said.
  • Molly can analyse the data in a similar manner to that set out above, and respond accordingly. For example, a rejection may cause her to make a sad noise or an angry noise, she may agree (“Yes, me too”) or disagree with (That's horrid), or not respond to, the comment, and she may make another suggestion ("Shall we watch Congress on TV?) or ask question ("What do you want to do?).
  • Milly may start interacting with her owner (or other doll or toy) saying, for example, "Can I put my tennis kit on now?".
  • Figure 3 illustrates an example of the interaction between two dolls.
  • One doll, 300 asks the other doll, 302, a question; simultaneously trigger data, associated with the question is sent wirelessly.
  • Doll 302 receives the trigger data and responds appropriately to the question.
  • the manner in which the dolls make their responses is preferably only partially random.
  • the dolls may be pre-programmed to be friends (or enemies), which causes them to be more (or less) likely to accept each other's invitations, or generally respond positively to each other.
  • the dolls may keep a record of how often their invitations are accepted or rejected by particular dolls, and reciprocate according to the value of this affective index.
  • the dolls may also keep a record of their own “mood”, which may vary according to time of day and pre-programmable "personality” factors such as "outgoing" or "sporty". These factors may change as the theme of a doll is changed.
  • the dolls may also keep a record of important dates, such as birthdays, anniversaries or public holidays. This mood value may also influence the response chosen. If one doll having a particular theme (for example sporty) interacts with another having the same theme, or a similar theme (adventure), they may be more likely to respond positively to each other. If the themes are not complementary (sleepy-time and adventure, for example) they may be more likely to respond negatively.
  • Each doll may have a serial port or similar connector through which she may be plugged in to a computer 40 either physically or through a wireless connection.
  • each doll may have a docking station, for example a bed 42 that they can be connected to, and which may function both as a charging point for a rechargeable battery and as a data link and / or as a database for themes etc.
  • the docking station may be the doll's body with the head of the doll containing all of the features illustrated in Figure 2 .
  • Figure 4 shows schematically the connection port within the body of the doll and the head of the doll separated from the doll.
  • the dolls may thereby receive data which could be drawn from a CD-ROM or downloaded from the internet. Indeed, it is envisaged that a web community could be formed with an on-line shop for buying dolls', themes, music, accessories and reward tokens, a fashion boutique to give accessory tips, a design-your-own-doll section where doll features such as hair colour, skin colour, eye colour, body type and age could be chosen, and an order placed, a membership club, on-line games and competitions, etc.
  • Themes in particular, could be purchased and downloaded from such a website. Such themes could be downloaded from a computer or docking station, or uploaded into the doll through a chip. The doll could itself access the internet, perhaps through a wireless connection.
  • a virtual doll may be designed. Clothes, accessories, speech, as well as doll features, can be chosen for the doll with a graphical representation of the doll shown during the process.
  • the user may compare his/her virtual doll with those stored on the website, as well as with the designs of other users, creating an on-line community.
  • the user may also, if required, order the requisite supplies to enable the user to create the virtual doll in real life. Previous purchases through the website will remain in the user profile, and purchases made from outside of the website (such as gifts, etc) may be entered into the user profile for future reference. If clothes, accessories, etc, already within the user profile are required for the virtual doll then only the required supplies, i.e. the supplies that the user does not already own, will be incorporated within the order.
  • Accessories including clothes, could also be bought separately through the online shop.
  • the accessories available would differ depending on the theme selected. For example, within the "Sporty” theme accessories such as tennis rackets and tracksuits would be listed, while in the “Urban” theme there could be hoodies and jeans etc.
  • Figure 4 illustrates the process of ordering an accessory, as shown with the doll 400 being connected to the internet website via the docking station, the accessory, 402, arriving and the doll 404 interacting with the new accessory.
  • the reward token system allows parents to purchase tokens associated with his/her child's user account. These tokens could then either be given to the child as a grift, allowing the child to purchase any item within the online store, or could be used as part of a reward scheme.
  • a parent could use the tokens as an incentive for the child to do his/her homework. For example: the parent buys 10 tokens, then tells his/her child that every time they do his/her homework on time they get a token. When the child has enough tokens they can use them on the website to purchase new dolls, accessories, etc.
  • the tokens would be in the form of codes that the parents would be given on purchase.
  • the tokens would be associated with the child's account as the parent would log-in to his/her child's account using a parental access password. These codes could then either be printed or simply written down prior to giving them to the child.
  • the tokens could be available for general purchase through the website, thereby allowing generic tokens to be purchased and posted, either directly to the child, as a gift for instance, or to the purchaser for use in a reward scheme.
  • the tokens would be redeemed by the child logging into his/her account and entering the token code, crediting his/her account with the value of the token.
  • Such a website would be personalised both for the doll and for the user.
  • a user could set up an account for herself, and sub-accounts for her dolls.
  • Each doll has its personal data, for example, a birthday, a calendar, a diary, a friends list which is continually updated based on the dolls interactions, a mailbox accessible from its sub-account.
  • Such a website allows a user many facilities for interaction with other users and other dolls. For example, a user could ask to organise a party for the dolls on Milly's friends list and mail them invitations.
  • Such an invitation would be made known both to the invited dolls, for example Molly, who might accept or reject the invitation, according to her current affective index value for Milly, and her mood and their personality and their users, who could edit this acceptance or rejection. Once acceptance or rejection is sent Molly would remind her owner about the party at appropriate intervals.
  • the dock 42 may itself have ports 44 from which preloaded themes and situations (see below) can be downloaded.
  • the theme downloaded from the internet would be dictated by the users. For example, two friends might wish to download appropriate themes to their respective dolls prior to a play session. These themes would ideally be matched so that full interaction may be made between the dolls. For example, two dolls both with a "Sporty” theme would be able to interact to a fuller extent than two dolls, one of which having a "Gangsta” theme, the other having a “Ballerina” theme. Although generic interaction could occur between these two themes ("Gangsta" doll asks “Do you want to listen to some hip hop?", "Ballerina” replies “Oh No!, I'd much rather practice my plié!), however, the conversation would end there.
  • the type of response given, and the set of responses, may also be influenced by the situation that one or more of the dolls are in. For example, when Milly's owner buys a dolls house different rooms in the dolls house have transmitters which emit an infrared signal which is coded to indicate different rooms. Alternatively or additionally, Milly's owner could buy tags and distribute them around her bedroom or the house in which she lives. Each situational tag, or product, such as a dolls house, stables etc. comes with an appropriate set of responses which can be downloaded into a doll's memory either through the dock 42 or over a wireless link.
  • the dolls may then select a subset of responses suitable for different situations as appropriate, or the probability of each response being selected may be enhanced or depressed. For example, in the garden, any positive responses in Milly's sports theme may be made more likely. If a theme has been registered for a doll, and the doll moves into an appropriate situation, she may ask her owner to start the theme by dressing her appropriately. For example, Milly's current theme is that of a ballerina, but one theme registered and so available for her is gardening. When taken into the garden she may ask “Can I get changed for gardening?" and if access to the theme depends on a key theme tag "Where is my spade?".
  • Accessories such as animals or cars, may also have such computer equipment integrated into them. So, for example, Milly's horse can whinney affectionately when she gets on it, her car may tell her to fasten her seat belt and, depending on her mood, and it's acceleration sensor say “Lets go racing” or "Slow down please”.
  • Dolls can also communicate their mood to each other and through their loudspeaker, on user command, when making a particularly expressive response, or on receiving appropriate trigger data (for example "How are you today?").
  • the user also can use a remote control to communicate with the dolls, and to give them commands, and to program them.
  • the user can construct themes through the website, and more advanced users can construct schemes of responses and download them to the dolls through software.
  • the remote could also contain downloaded data allowing the user to up date the doll remotely and separately from his/her computer. This could be stored on a memory stick or memory card that is placed in the remote.
  • the user constructed themes may be stored within the user's profile such that the doll may be easily returned to a previous user defined theme, effectively providing the dolls with multiple personalities. However, only one "personality" at a time may be downloaded to a doll.
  • the themes created via the website would also enable the user to specifically select speech for the doll from a list associated with particular generic themes; the list of phrases could number 1,000 or more per theme.
  • Each generic theme, "Gangsta”, “Sports”, “Urban”, etc (see Figure 3 ) would have a list of associated phrases to choose from.
  • the memory within the doll would be capable of holding a large number of phrases; however the number of phrases stored in the doll would be dependent on the length of conversation required. The length of conversation required could in turn be dependent on the user's age as defined within the user profile; a "speech architect" would determine the length of conversation. Conversations would therefore range from a couple of minutes to tens of minutes in length.
  • the list of phrases available through the website would be updated periodically, thus allowing the dolls to keep up-to-date with the latest trends.
  • the types of phrases would remain the same, i.e. questions, statements and answers, such that a doll with the latest phrases could still interact adequately with a doll with a previous set of phrases.
  • the user may also download music appropriate to the doll's theme.
  • the downloaded music may have associated data tags that allow the dolls to interact with the music (see Figure 5 ). This interaction may range from the dolls nodding their heads, 500, or moving their hands, 502, to, if the doll's theme does not correspond to the music, speech, for example "Oh dear!, What's this noise?".
  • the response of the dolls could allow the music to be changed to a more acceptable track or to have the volume increased or decreased depending on the response.
  • the doll through the use of personal headphones, may also be used as a standalone personal music player. In this instance a switch would be used on the doll to initiate a music only mode.
  • Dolls can also exchange information about their personalities. When two dolls meet for the first time they may be "introduced" by their owners as a form of play; and will simultaneously register basic personality information with each other, and create an affective index for the other doll.
  • the dolls owner can force them to respond in a certain way to a question by manipulating them so that they nod or shake their heads. This motion is picked up by a sensor, and forces a negative or positive response. It may well be thought appropriate to provide a master control, for use by the owner's parents, to mute the doll or switch it off. It is also possible to change a doll's parameters, such as her personality, her affective index in relation to the doll's she knows and her mood through the docking station. It is possible to reset a doll's parameters to their original values or to those of the previous day.
  • the level of control that the owner has can be pre-set in software as appropriate for the age and level of experience of the user.
  • various of the doll's functions can be turned off in software, or set to an age-appropriate level.
  • the aesthetics and vocabulary of the dolls can also be tailored so that it is age appropriate for a target audience.
  • Various themes may have an age appropriate rating. This allows hip hop themed dolls, for example, for a teenage market.
  • the dolls may track the time of day; and may request to be fed, or to be put to bed at an appropriate time. Whether the user performs the appropriate action (using the dock) will have an appropriate effect on the doll's mood.
  • the doll can sense through its acceleration sensor, whether it is being played with, or indeed, abused, and react accordingly.
  • the treatment of a doll may interact with its personality. For example, a doll with an outgoing personality may have its mood depressed if not provided with opportunity for interaction with its owner or other dolls.
  • An infrared transceiver provides a wireless data link for a doll. Infrared is the low-cost and low-range option, but the transceiver could, alternatively or additionally, be a radio transceiver, using a protocol such as "Bluetooth".
  • the microprocessor may be any suitable type, for example a 576 MHz 64 bit CPU.
  • Memory is a flash memory card for personality data, which may be used for temporary data such as themes or supplemented by a removable memory stick for individual themes.
  • Each expressive response in this theme has three data tags attached: one a sequencing tag in respect of the sequencing of the type of phrase to be used (starter, statement, question, answer, ending) which represents where it comes in the interaction; one an action tag (active, passive, functional) which indicates whether a course of action is proposed and provides an indication of the type of reply required, or whether a reply is required; and one an affective tag (positive - negative) which gives an idea of the affective quality of the remark.
  • a doll will begin with a starter, make statements for three minutes or so (the time may be varied with the likely concentration span of the owner, which may be judged according to the owner's age), or a certain number of statements, and then make an ending.
  • Certain categories of response for example questions
  • Certain categories of next response for example answers
  • the affective quality of the response may influence the further response.
  • only two starters may be allowed in a conversation, and a passive starter must follow an active starter.
  • statements can be made at any point in the conversation, and added to an answer. After a statement a further statement or a question may follow.
  • An ending may finish the conversation.
  • a large number of different conversations could occur between dolls programmed with even this, extremely simple, scheme. Functional statements relate to the rules of the game, and rules of response are programmed accordingly.
  • Any expressive responses that meet the requirements of the tag may be chosen randomly, or according to affective quality. Occasional nonsense conversations are possible, and give a humorous quality to the interaction. *The How are you question is a specific type of response which constrains the doll to answer according to the value of their affective index for which answers are built in, and do not usually alter according to the theme.
  • starters are merely particular forms of statements or questions, whilst endings are merely a special form of statement. Also, excluding starters or endings (since they may in certain circumstances be statements), it is only statements that have an action tag.
  • Figure 7a shows a flow diagram of a conversation progression using this form of conversational structure.
  • the box 702 Random path selector
  • the content of the conversation 704 is dependent on the theme of the dolls.
  • the box 706 (Another conversation?) decides whether another conversation is selected.
  • one doll triggers the other doll (by means of an appropriate sequencing tag) that the conversation has ended.
  • a conversation set would include multiple conversations allowing the dolls to be used many times without requiring new conversations to be downloaded every time the doll is used.
  • the speech architect may provide multiple conversation sets for every theme, thus allowing a new conversation set to be downloaded when the current one is exhausted. These conversation sets may be updated over time, thus allowing the dolls longevity to be increased by keeping them up to date with current trends. This type of conversation would allow the "speech architect" to create a conversation of an exact length in time, therefore the conversation can be easily tailored to the age of the user.
  • Figure 7b shows a flow diagram of a conversation using this form of conversational structure.
  • the phrases are selected entirely randomly, using boxes 730 (Random starter) and 732 (Random type of phrase), purely based on the type of phrase; the selection process is based on the previously described rules.
  • the box 732 may choose any of the further boxes 734 (Question), 736 (Statement), 738 (Answer) or 740 (Ending). If an ending phrase, 740, is chosen then box 742 (Continue conversation?) decides on whether another starter phrase should be selected. This decision will partly be based on the current length of the conversation.
  • the box 708 (End) will trigger the dolls to end the conversation.
  • the user may download any of the phrases associated with a theme to build up a database of phrases stored on his/her doll. For example, a starter phrase will always begin the conversation, 730, followed by a randomly chosen type of phrase 732, but not another starter phrase. If the phrase chosen were a question phrase then an answer phrase would follow. However, the answer chosen would be random and therefore may not correspond to the question. To avoid too many nonsense conversations the questions and answers created by the "speech architect" would be as generic as possible. This form of conversational structure would obviously provide the greatest number of possible conversations for any given number of phrases.
  • Starter Passive/Active A starter phrase initiates a conversation and may be any of the other types of phrases except an ending.
  • Positive/Neutral/Negative Statement Passive/Active/Functional/ Positive/Neutral/Negative A statement phrase is point of fact.
  • Question A question phrase is a question requiring an answer.
  • Answer Positive/Neutral/Negative An answer phrase answers the question and always follows a question.
  • Ending Passive/Active An ending phrase will end the conversation and is an answer or statement. This also may be followed by another starter phrase.
  • Positive/Neutral/Negative Positive/Neutral/Negative
  • the "speech architect" structures the phrases within a particular group of phrases 762, this particular group typically being a specific theme, such as "Sports". Each group of phrases would be self-consistent, so that for example it would contain answers consistent with the various questions, and so on. Each group is then associated with a set of data tags as described previously, thus facilitating an appropriate response to be randomly selected from within the group of phrases.
  • Figure 7c shows a flow diagram of this form of conversational structure.
  • box 730 selects a random starter.
  • An appropriate type of phrase is then selected by box 732 (Random type of phrase), then depending on the type of phrase selected an appropriate question (734), statement (736), answer (738) or ending (740) is chosen.
  • box 742 (Continue conversation?) decides whether the conversation should continue. If not then box 708 (End) triggers the dolls that the conversation has ended. This would provide a greater number of possible conversations than the first form of conversational structure. It would also provide the most natural conversations that would be different every time due to the random selection of phrases. Again the rules prescribed previously would be used to determine the type of phrase selected.
  • boxes 760 Random Group selector and 742 (Continue conversation) are optional.
  • the doll may be capable of randomly selecting the particular group of relevant phrases 762 (see the box 760). These may be sub-groups within the overall theme group; additionally or alterntatively, theme groups may be arranged into larger super-groups.
  • a theme group may be "Tennis", with a super-group being "Sports” and a sub-group "Wimbledon”.
  • the group "Tennis” would contain all phrases relevant to tennis in general with the sub-group "Wimbledon” containing all information relating to the Wimbledon tennis tournament. This would allow for more detailed conversations within a theme as the phrases contained within the groups or super-groups could be used to link different sub-groups, as terms within the group or super-group would appear in more than one sub-group.
  • the "speech architect” 800 determines the phrases and their associated theme, group and tags.
  • the "speech architect” then uploads the phrases either to the website, 802, to a CD-Rom 804, or to a memory card 805, or to any/all of these storage facilities. These phrases may then be downloaded to the users' doll(s), 812/814, using his/her personal computer, 806, via the interface 808.
  • the user 810 may also input phrases directly to his/her personal computer 806, or to the website 802. These phrases may then be saved for future use and/or downloaded to the doll(s), 812/814.
  • the user 810 may also interact directly with the doll(s), 812/814, via physical interaction, for example using buttons on the doll to initiate conversation, or via a remote control. In this way the user may prompt the doll(s) to initiate any of the above-described actions, for example a conversation or music playing.
  • the doll(s), 812/814 may also prompt the user to perform an action; as discussed previously the doll(s) may ask to be fed or to play a certain game.
  • Such toys and dolls provide children with different opportunities for interaction, and enhance their play.

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Claims (37)

  1. Jouet comprenant:
    un processeur ;
    une mémoire pour mémoriser au moins un groupe de données, chaque dit au moins un groupe représentant un thème particulier et comprenant une pluralité de réponses expressives :
    un moyen de sortie desdites réponses expressives ; et un moyen de connexion à un ordinateur pour télécharger chaque dit groupe de données, le groupe de données à télécharger étant sélectionnable par l'utilisateur pour permettre à ce dernier de sélectionner un thème particulier ;
    le jouet étant adapté pour échanger de telles réponses avec un autre tel jouet, chaque dit groupe de données comprenant à la fois des réponses et des contre-réponses, de telle sorte que le jouet puisse converser avec un autre tel jouet sur le thème particulier ;
    dans lequel un tel nouveau groupe de données peut être chargé dans ladite mémoire de telle sorte que le jouet puisse converser sur un thème différent sélectionnable par l'utilisateur ;
    moyennant quoi, le jouet peut converser sur une pluralité de différents thèmes sélectionnables par l'utilisateur, un thème à la fois.
  2. Jouet selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre un moyen d'analyse desdites réponses expressives pour sélectionner une telle réponse convenable, de préférence de façon aléatoire.
  3. Jouet selon la revendication 2, dans lequel ledit moyen d'analyse desdites réponses expressives pour sélectionner une telle réponse convenable est exploitable pour recevoir des données de situation concernant sa situation et y répondre.
  4. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les réponses expressives sont classées et la réponse est sélectionnée en fonction du classement, de préférence ledit classement dépendant de données de déclenchement relatives aux réponses expressives.
  5. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les réponses expressives sont choisies dans un groupe de réponses ayant toutes un classement particulier, et/ou lesdites réponses expressives sont choisies de manière aléatoire dans ledit groupe de réponses.
  6. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la sortie d'une réponse expressive dépend d'une entrée quelconque par l'utilisateur, ladite entrée déclenchant de préférence un capteur dans le jouet.
  7. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre : un émetteur-récepteur pour émettre et recevoir des données sur une liaison sans fil ; un moyen pour recevoir des données de déclenchement se rapportant auxdites réponses expressives, pour sélectionner une telle réponse expressive quand lesdites données de déclenchement sont reçues, pour exprimer ladite réponse expressive par le biais du moyen de sortie, et pour diffuser par l'intermédiaire de l'émetteur-récepteur des données de déclenchement indiquant qu'une réponse a été produite en sortie.
  8. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les données de déclenchement indiquent la réponse expressive qui est produite en sortie, ou la proximité d'un second jouet.
  9. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel au moins certaines desdites données sont téléchargeables dans le jouet à partir dudit ordinateur, ou depuis un site Internet par l'intermédiaire de l'Internet, ou depuis un CD-ROM.
  10. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel lesdites contre-réponses sont compatibles avec lesdites réponses.
  11. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel lesdites données comprennent des données de parole, de préférence lesdites données de parole étant organisées en au moins un groupe ou thème, de préférence lesdites données de parole comportant au moins l'une d'une : étiquette de séquencement, d'une étiquette d'action et d'une étiquette d'affection.
  12. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel lesdites données comprennent des données de musique.
  13. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel lesdites données se rapportent à des accessoires, de préférence lesdits accessoires comportant au moins l'un de : vêtements, bâtiments, équipements et moyens de transport.
  14. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ledit moyen de sortie comporte un transducteur, de préférence le transducteur étant un haut-parleur, ou étant au moins un moteur exploitable pour mouvoir au moins un aspect du jouet.
  15. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, le jouet étant exploitable en outre pour recevoir des données de situation concernant sa situation et y répondre, de préférence la situation étant au moins l'un de : l'environnement du jouet, l'heure de la journée, et la date.
  16. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la réponse expressive est au moins l'un : d'un geste, d'une vocalisation, d'une phrase et d'une musique.
  17. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, exploitable pour diffuser des données de déclenchement à la commande d'un utilisateur, ladite commande d'utilisateur comprenant de préférence la secousse du jouet ou la pression du jouet ou la pression d'une partie du jouet.
  18. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant un segment de code exploitable pour télécharger des réponses expressives, des données groupées, ou des données de personnalité depuis l'Internet, et de préférence télécharger de la musique depuis l'Internet.
  19. Jouet selon la revendication 18, comprenant un moyen de reproduction audible de musique, de préférence ladite musique étant reproduite audiblement au moyen d'un casque personnel.
  20. Jouet selon la revendication 18 ou 19, dans lequel ladite musique téléchargée est dans un format compressé numériquement.
  21. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant une mémoire amovible, ladite mémoire amovible contenant de préférence un groupe de données représentant un thème, de préférence ledit thème étant interchangeable dans ladite mémoire.
  22. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant un connecteur physique le reliant à un ordinateur.
  23. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant un émetteur-récepteur électromagnétique, ledit jouet comprenant en outre de préférence un émetteur-récepteur infrarouge, radiofréquence ou BlueTooth.
  24. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, le jouet étant programmable.
  25. Combinaison de deux jouets, chacun selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, chaque jouet étant adapté pour échanger des réponses expressives avec l'autre.
  26. Jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, le jouet étant une poupée.
  27. Système comprenant un jouet selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes et un socle pour ledit jouet, ledit socle comportant un connecteur physique destiné audit jouet permettant de télécharger des données dans ledit jouet et exploitable pour être connecté à un réseau pour télécharger des données depuis le réseau, de préférence ladite connexion avec le réseau étant physique.
  28. Système selon la revendication 27, comprenant un point de recharge du jouet.
  29. Procédé de communication entre des premier et second jouets comprenant :
    le groupement d'une pluralité de réponses expressives dans au moins un groupe de données, ledit au moins un groupe représentant un thème particulier, chaque jouet étant adapté pour échanger de telles réponses avec l'autre jouet, chaque dit groupe de données comprenant à la fois des réponses et des contre-réponses, de telle sorte que les jouets puissent converser sur un thème particulier ;
    la sélection, le chargement et la mémorisation d'un tel nouveau groupe de données dans une mémoire de telle sorte que les jouets puissent converser sur un thème différent, le groupe de données étant sélectionnable par l'utilisateur pour permettre à ce dernier de sélectionner un thème particulier ;
    l'activation d'une première réponse expressive parmi ledit au moins un groupe mémorisé dans ladite mémoire du premier jouet, le premier jouet étant en présence du second jouet ;
    l'envoi par le premier jouet au second jouet de données de déclenchement indiquant la première réponse expressive ;
    par le second jouet, la sélection d'une seconde réponse expressive dans ledit au moins un groupe de réponses expressives, depuis la mémoire dudit second jouet, à la réception desdites données de déclenchement, l'activation de la seconde réponse expressive, et l'envoi de données de déclenchement indiquant au premier jouet la seconde réponse expressive;
    moyennant quoi les jouets peuvent converser sur une pluralité de différents thèmes sélectionnables par l'utilisateur, un thème à la fois.
  30. Procédé selon la revendication 29, comportant l'analyse desdites réponses expressives pour sélectionner une telle réponse convenable, de préférence en utilisant au moins l'un d'un choix aléatoire et de données de situation concernant sa situation.
  31. Procédé selon la revendication 29 ou 30, dans lequel la réponse expressive est au moins l'un d'un geste, d'une vocalisation, d'une phrase et d'une musique.
  32. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 29, 30 ou 31, dans lequel la diffusion de données de déclenchement indique la réponse expressive qui est produite en sortie, lesdites données de déclenchement étant de préférence diffusées sur commande de l'utilisateur, ladite commande d'utilisateur comprenant de préférence le déclenchement d'un capteur dans le jouet en, par exemple, secouant le jouet ou pressant le jouet ou pressant une partie du jouet.
  33. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 29 à 32, dans lequel les données de déclenchement sont indicatives de la proximité d'un second jouet.
  34. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 29 à 33, comprenant l'analyse des données de déclenchement reçues à la recherche d'une indication de la réponse expressive représentée par les données et la sélection d'une réponse expressive appropriée.
  35. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 29 à 34, dans lequel les réponses expressives sont classées et la réponse est sélectionnée en fonction du classement, de préférence le classement de la réponse expressive dépendant des données de déclenchement, de préférence les réponses expressives étant choisies dans un groupe de réponses ayant toutes un ordre particulier.
  36. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 29 à 35, dans lequel la sortie d'une réponse expressive dépend d'une entrée par l'utilisateur, de préférence ladite entrée déclenchant un capteur dans le jouet.
  37. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 29 à 36, comprenant le téléchargement de réponses expressives, de thèmes ou de données de personnalité depuis l'Internet, de préférence comprenant le téléchargement de musique depuis l'Internet.
EP06726915.9A 2005-04-26 2006-04-26 Jouets Not-in-force EP1885466B8 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0508466A GB2425490A (en) 2005-04-26 2005-04-26 Wireless communication toy
GB0604215A GB2423943B (en) 2005-04-26 2006-03-02 Toys
PCT/GB2006/001530 WO2006114625A2 (fr) 2005-04-26 2006-04-26 Jouets

Publications (3)

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EP1885466A2 EP1885466A2 (fr) 2008-02-13
EP1885466B1 true EP1885466B1 (fr) 2015-12-02
EP1885466B8 EP1885466B8 (fr) 2016-01-13

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8128500B1 (en) * 2007-07-13 2012-03-06 Ganz System and method for generating a virtual environment for land-based and underwater virtual characters
GB0714148D0 (en) 2007-07-19 2007-08-29 Lipman Steven interacting toys
WO2010007336A1 (fr) * 2008-07-18 2010-01-21 Steven Lipman Jouets interactifs
GB2511479A (en) * 2012-12-17 2014-09-10 Librae Ltd Interacting toys

Citations (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030124954A1 (en) * 2001-12-28 2003-07-03 Shu-Ming Liu Interactive toy system

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2225060A1 (fr) * 1997-04-09 1998-10-09 Peter Suilun Fong Poupees parlantes interactives
JP2001154681A (ja) * 1999-11-30 2001-06-08 Sony Corp 音声処理装置および音声処理方法、並びに記録媒体
DE60112400T2 (de) * 2000-02-11 2006-05-24 Mattel, Inc., El Segundo Interaktive spielfigur für computeranwender
WO2004104736A2 (fr) * 2003-05-12 2004-12-02 Stupid Fun Club Figurines a communication interactive
US20050009443A1 (en) * 2003-05-20 2005-01-13 Martin Raymond J. Supra-voice sound-responsive toy

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20030124954A1 (en) * 2001-12-28 2003-07-03 Shu-Ming Liu Interactive toy system

Also Published As

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EP1885466A2 (fr) 2008-02-13
WO2006114625A3 (fr) 2007-03-15
EP1885466B8 (fr) 2016-01-13
WO2006114625A2 (fr) 2006-11-02

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