WO2001076714A1

WO2001076714A1 - Intelligent toy

Info

Publication number: WO2001076714A1
Application number: PCT/IN2000/000045
Authority: WO
Inventors: Valagam Rajagopal Raghunathan
Original assignee: Valagam Rajagopal Raghunathan
Priority date: 2000-04-07
Filing date: 2000-04-07
Publication date: 2001-10-18
Also published as: AU2000255632A1

Abstract

The invention is a real time, interactive, conversational intelligent and self-evolving toy driven by a Pc menu. The toy essentially has a host system and a toy system both the host system and the toy system having a transceiver incorporated to communicate between them. The toy system has an interface mechanism interfaced with a voice processor, animatronics mechanism and audio input / output devices which generate audio signals and visual expressions. The host system has a PC with access to Internet which process and stores data. The PC has a database, which is dynamically updated on a real time basis. The PC hosts a user-defined page, which facilitates interaction with the user.

Description

Intelligent Toy

Field of Technology

The present invention is a real-time, interactive, conversational intelligent and self- evolving toy driven by a PC menu. The PC with Internet will interact bi-directionally with the toy.

The present invention relates generally to interactive systems, and more particularly to a real-time interactive conversational apparatus with an integrated system that makes effective use of the Internet and Artificial Intelligence technology and pertaining to an user preferred embodiment particularly to toys adopted as an isolated and separate toy with bi-directional communication to a host computer remote from the toy.

BACKGROTTNn OF THF. INVENTION

Reference made is to US Patent No. 5,746,602 where an interactive system for teaching and amusement is illustrated.

The present invention has built in means and devices whereby the system is self evolving that is to say that depending on the intellectual capacity and the need of the user the toy interacts. The present invention is different by virtue of its sophistication; the embodiment of the Internet system and a software backed by Artificial Intelligence technology.

The present invention 'Intelligent Toy " though envisaged around the needs of a child the concept can be extrapolated to extend it to any age group.

One of the most important things a child does is play. Play is the essential joy of childhood and is the way children learn their first lessons about themselves, their environment and the people around them Toys:

1. Kindle children's curiosity to move and explore 2. Promote awareness about people, places and things

3. Encourage communication with others

4. Stimulate children's intellect, imagination, creativity and knowledge

5. Build skills for recreational activities and sports

Current Constrained Scenario

Today, the world has become extremely busy. The society has become too fast & vastly changed. Internet revolution has attracted the children. Not exactly knowing what to do, they indulge in various activities that may not be worth a dime or their time.

Interactivity between a human and a toy is well known in the art, as simply as in a toy that makes a noise when it is squeezed or poked, or in toys that close their eyes when placed in a reclining position and open their eyes when placed upright. Other technology has been applied to produce toys that walk, talk, cry, drink, and so forth.

In the record of development in fashioning toys, electronics has played an important part. For example toys have been fitted with recording and playback equipment and with speakers. Toys so equipped may speak to a child. Toys have been fitted with simple robotics mechanism that enables them to crawl or walk. There are many other examples in the art of toy making comprising electronic gadgets to better simulate human activity and responses.

Nowadays conventional toys fail to attract children. Interactive toys right from the simple toys that cry, to the present day miniature electronic pets do not adapt to the changing needs of the child thus end up catering to the needs and interests of the child for a very short term and do not contribute to the child's knowledge gathering process. There are toys that interact with children using da a from storage devices one cannot expect the child to change and access storage devices. Cost is also a factor in constant up-gradation of these data storage mediums / electronic circuits to address the constant changing needs and interests of the child. Thus restricting the child's quest for knowledge.

To the knowledge of the inventor there is no toy that addresses the changing needs of the child by adapting itself in real time. For example toys that recite stories and teach languages are available, all which operate on the intervention of the child. The current invention by analyzing the responses of the child can change its interactions to get positive responses from the child without any manual or physical intervention. It analyses the responses to adapt its conversation to suit the child's intellectual reach.

A future Scenario

Now imagine a transformed world with these limitations overcome

An invention through which an intelligent system removes all the above constraints. Orchestrating the child into the shape of the practical world it will face in years to come. The child can interact with their toy as if they are interacting with their parents or pet.

The toys act as the child's true friend companion and even guide.

The toy can be tuned to understand their behavior and adapt to their needs.

The toys talk to them in their language, mollify them in their agony, rejoice with them in their happiness, and educate them when they need.

Imparting education through what the child finds the most intimate - a toy, should also address the changing needs and interest of the child. Toys today not only need to be interactive, but also intelligent and sophisticated, wherein the toy should have access to unlimited source of information but also the latest information, and also have the ability to help the child learn new skills and develop him mentally and emotionally. Constantly analyzing his need and mood to play, learn and enjoy, thus becoming his true companion. What is needed is a real-time and intelligent toy with access to potentially unlimited 95 resources to cater to the child's needs and to interact with a child as a knowledgeable and articulate companion. A machine, such as a high-end personal computer (PC) with Internet, has such sophistication and capability while interacting with a toy to become his true companion.

100

STTMM A Y OF T F. INVENTION

An intelligent toy with access to Artificial Intelligence technology and Internet as the main source comprises: a transceiver 105 a voice processor a PC with Internet access.

Disclosure of the invention

110 The invention will be described in detail with respect to the drawings illustrated, wherein the figure shows the block diagram of the intelligent toy.

Description of Invention with reference to drawings

115 The invention essentially comprises of a host system and a toy system both the host system and the toy system having a transceiver incorporated to communicate between them. The toy system has an interface mechanism one end of which is connected to the transceiver and the other end is interfaced with a voice processor, animatronics mechanism and audio input / output devices. The said devices including the Interface

120 Mechanism are energised by a power source.

The host system has a PC to process and store data and driven by Artificial Intelligence software the system has access to Internet. The Pc system has a database, which is dynamically adapted on a real time basis. The PC hosts a user-defined page, which is driven by the PC menu, backed by the Artificial Intelligence software. The user-defined 125 page indicates the set preference of the user.

The Toy System

The toy will be of the child's own preferred embodiment of the invention, as described in detail herein, an animatronics toy in the form of a teddy bear, or any other type of child-

130 friendly character which are commonly available, it could be the child's favorite cartoon character too. The toy contains; including a body, a voice processor which process the voice of the child, audio input and output devices for outputting audio responsive to audio data, animated body parts such as eye, limbs and mouth (animatronics mechanism), which moves in synchronization with the audio so that the toy appears to be speaking to

135 the child, a interfacing mechanism to coordinate and act as a distribution center for all commands and a transceiver for bi-directional interaction with the PC.

The Host System

The PC with access to the Internet is fitted with a transceiver for bi-directional 140 communication with the toy. The PC has a preset database containing stories, a wide range of teaching software, child guide to entertainment, general knowledge, music, language... Etc. updated via the Internet system using PC software. The capacity and scope of the database are unlimited as it uses the Internet to get information and build on the databases in real time. This database is flexible in nature since the user defines its 145 contents and modifying it to his needs or desire with the passage of time.

The Internet system has a 'user-defined page ' that is backed by the PC software, which is based on Artificial Intelligence technology. The PC system interfaces with the Internet system via this page to decipher commands and update the database. The 'user-defined page ' acts as a visual tool for the user to set up the toy and helps the PC driven menu to 150 communicate to the toy.

Initially the system will ask information-gathering questions, such as age, sex, locality, and use this information to categorize the user. The system of the present invention may then engage the user in conversation with messages related to the user's category. The

155 system can further sub categorize children, i.e. boy under 5 years old, and provide the subcategories each with real-time interactive conversation related to the subcategories. There are no limitations to the sub categories, the level of sub categorization enhancing the extent to which the database can be user defined.

160 The toy operates by playing user defined conversations stored on the PC, like greetings and adapting to the responses received. A simple conversational example between the toy and the child is illustrated below. Wherein the child just needs to answer 'yes' or 'no' where the PC will menu drive the toy

The toy will ask the child: 'Do you want me to tell a story'

165 The child says: 'yes"

(The voice processor present in the toy will process this information and communicate this to the PC menu, which gives instructions to further the conversation) The toy will ask the child: 'Shall I tell you the story of Snow White' The child says: 'yes"

170 (The voice processor will communicate this received message to the PC menu, which in turns communicates this to the Internet System in the PC via the Artificial Intelligence software)

The Software receives the just communicated message. The system will decipher the message and gives the desired response from its database by updating it with the help of

175 the Internet System. Using the software then links up corresponding files to the transceiver, the file asked for is communicated to the toy its the transceiver.

The Interface Mechanism in the toy receives the same and transmits the information to the Audio output device and the animatronics devices. The toy narrates the story asked 180 for.

Additionally the system using the Artificial Intelligence based software can on analyzing the response of the child alters its 'decision -tree logic ' and asks via the toy whether it should continue or stop the reciting of the story. If the response of the child is to stop the 185 PC system stores the story locally for retrieval and use late some time. This process is entered in a log that the Artificial Intelligence software uses at another instance based on a future response of the child to continue the story.

Thus, the system of the present invention appears to be conversing with the child by 190 asking questions, and then addressing the needs of the child by apparently fostering discussions based upon the responses by the child.

The content of the machine-child conversation in response to conversational inputs of child can be altered to introduce various applications. Since the toy here plays an integral 195 part in interacting with the child by participating in the conversation, it provides a more realistic, enjoyable and effective learning experience for the child and thus becomes 'his' true companion.

The system conversations are analyzed by the software, which is backed by the artificial

200 intelligence technology that is programmed according to a decision-tree logic thus allowing very complex conversations to be developed. The availability of the PC's peripherals such as memory and processor speeds up the total time taken to processes information and to react to the child's needs. Thus all within the confines of the PC,

Internet and Artificial Intelligence Technology and an adaptable database to cater to the

205 needs of the child is made available. As indicated above, the machine can engage in conversations particularly suited for a child based upon responses to informational questions. The system can also track trends in the child's performance in answering questions, and then provide reinforcement or encouragement to the child. Also in response to trends in the child's performance, the machine can ask easier or more difficult

210 questions as necessary. All of the above information can be logged so as to monitor the child's performance.

The interactive toy of the present invention uses the hard disk and all other components of the PC, eliminating the need of having any sort of data storage device for information 215 on the toy, thus leaving the toy with just the essential communicate devices making it mobile and compact. The databases and other information are stored on the PC the same way conventional information and data would be stored. The use of a PC removes all the capacity constrains that might sprout out of the child's 220 needs and with the use of the Internet System enhances the availability of multiple sources of information and data.

The artificial intelligence software would contain information segments of interrogatory messages and associated multiple choice responses, responsive messages, informational 225 messages, and combinations thereof, which evolve and change with the users pattern of responses over a period of time. The real-time interaction and analysis of frequent responsive messages and content contributes to the evolving nature of the software and aids in the reduction of responsive time.

230 The use of a PC driven menu by the toy of the present invention enables the use of unlimited resources. The scope and availability of the latest educational software, music, stories are unlimited since it uses an Internet system. The toy can have a new and different conversational content since the PC menu backed by the Internet System drives it. This feature permits the toy in having great flexibility by allowing a wide variety of

235 conversations to be stored on the PC for use by children. It also eliminates the need for a physical medium like CD-ROMs and Tapes. The variety of conversations will retain the long-term interest of children, and increase the educational value of the present invention.

The system architecture of the present invention allows complex, well-timed, cumulative 240 conversations to be implemented through PC menu. By appropriate design the system can exhibit engage in interactive conversations related to the content of the various categorize and subcategorize users of the apparatus and engage in particularized conversations within the various categories. It can give reinforcing or encouraging messages in response to correct and incorrect answers; can correct children who did not follow 245 instructions properly; do mathematics; make subsequent questions easier or more difficult in response to correct and incorrect answers; identify subject areas in which the child needs improvement and provide conversation accordingly, and many other possible alternatives. 250 The user-defined page can also be set as to be monitored by the parent over the Internet System where ever they may be to see what information the child has access to or express virtual control over the knowledge being disseminated to the child to follow the progress of the child.

255 The system of the present invention provides a more comprehensive intelligent and interactive apparatus, which adapts to the need of the user than previously possible. Prior art designs of similar simplicity were incapable of adapting and changing to the needs of the user and were limited to just pre-recorded conversations and limited access to resources, even resources that where available were restricted to storage medium like

260 tapes or removable, replaceable media. The design of the system, which incorporates along with the toy, an Internet PC, opens up resources and enlarges the capacity. This makes the system directly responsive to conversational responses by the child, giving the child a more realistic impression that interactive conversation is occurring, and therefore improving its utility as a toy, teaching aid, or other conversational apparatus.

265

Claims

1. An intelligent toy with access to Artificial Intelligence technology and internet as the main source comprises: a transceiver a voice processor a PC with internet access.

2. A intelligent toy comprising a Transceiver an interface mechanism operating as a central bus, a voice processor connected to the bus, animatronics mechanism being connected to the bus and audio input and output devices. The said devices being energised by a power source.

3. An interfacing mechanism in the intelligent toy having means for coordinating between the various devices in the toy, having means for:

Synthesising various signals obtained from the transceiver and the voice processor and

Sending the appropriate commands to the transceiver.

4. A voice processor in the intelUgent toy being a conventional device, which receives audio signal from the audio input devices and transmits the digital form to the interface mechanism and vice versa.

5. Animatronics mechanism in the intelligent toy being a conventional device, which generates animated gestures and movement, which are in synchronisation with the audio signals.

A transceiver within the intelligent toy system being a conventional device to receive, amplify and transmit the received signal from the toy system and to receive signal from the host system and pass on the same to the interface mechanism.

7. A host system comprising a transceiver, a PC system having a internet connection, an Artificial Intelligence Technology based software built into the system, the PC hosting a real time database which is updated through the Internet and a user defined page driven by the PC menu.

8. A transceiver within the host system being a conventional device to receive, amplify and transmit the received signal from the toy system and pass on the same to the PC system and vice versa.

9. A PC system having conventional configuration to receive data from the transceiver and to process the received data using the set parameters and to transmit the processed data to the transmitter,

10. A user defined page driven by the PC menu wherein the user has various options to personalise the system, which in turn sets the parameters for the PC system to process the data.

11. A software based on Artificial Intelligence Technology inbuilt within the PC system the software contains the various requisite algorithms, which are personalised by the Artificial Intelligence Technology.

12. The Artificial Intelligence Software having information segments of interrogative messages and associated multiple-choice responsive messages, information messages, which evolve and change with the user pattern of response over a period of time.

13. A database updated in real time using the various segments in the Artificial Intelligence Software as claimed in claim 12.

14. A PC system with access to Internet.

15. A system wherein the toy retains its functional ability, while the shape, embodiment and configuration of the toy are interchangeable in accordance with the desire of the child.

16. A method imparting intelligence to the toy using a system as defined in claim 7.

17. A method of imparting intelligence to the toy using a system as defined in claim 2 wherein the intelligence is expressed in the form of audio and visual means.

18. A method of imparting intelligence using a system as defined in claim 7, wherein the intelligence is expressed in the form of audio and visual means and the expressions are synchronised.

19. A system that interacts with the user on a real time basis continuously.

20. A method of storing processed information with the PC system, creating a databank that can be retrieved by the Artificial Intelligence Software for future use.

21. A system, which adapts itself over a period of time and evolves in terms of personalisation using the system as defined in claim 19.

22 A system whose use can be monitored from anywhere using the Internet system.