Interactive talking dolls

Abstract

A set of interactive toys that perform a sequence of actions in response to one another without external activation other than an initial actuation to begin the sequence of actions. Preferably, each toy has an activation switch and/or a receiver for a wireless signal such as an infrared signal which activates the toy. Upon activation, the toy performs a desired action, such as the enunciation of a speech pattern, and signals another toy to perform a responsive action. Preferably, the toy are capable of performing several different action sequences, such as the enunciation of different conversations, the performance of different A movements, etc. Additionally, the toys are programmable by a remote control device. The remote control device either functions as an activation switch, initiating a random or predetermined (yet not user determined) sequence of interactions, or as an interaction selector, such that a desired sequence of actions may be selected.

1 - 40 . (canceled)  
     
     
         41 . An interactive wireless device comprising: 
 an optical transceiver, which optical transceiver includes an optical receiver adapted for receiving binary encoded optical input signals and an optical transmitter adapted for transmitting binary encoded optical output signals;    a memory, the memory including means adapted for storing data representative of at least one binary output signal;    means adapted for communicating the at least one binary output signal from the memory to the optical transmitter so a to generate a binary encoded optical output signal corresponding thereto;    means adapted for communicating to the memory at least one of a plurality of binary input signals corresponding to a binary encoded optical input signal received from the optical receiver;    the memory further including means adapted for storing data representative of a plurality of selected control signals;    means for selecting at least one of the plurality of control signals in accordance with a received binary input signal;    means adapted for communicating the at least one selected control signal to an associated controller so as to initiate an associated function in accordance therewith;    means adapted for generating, via the optical transmitter, a binary encoded optical output signal corresponding to a selected control signal.    
     
     
         42 . The interactive wireless device of  claim 41 , further comprising: 
 controller means for receiving the at least one selected control signal, the controller means including means adapted to perform an animatronic action specified therefrom.    
     
     
         43 . The interactive wireless device of  claim 42 , wherein the binary encoded optical input signal is received from a complementary interactive wireless device, and the binary encoded optical output signal is communicated to at least the complementary interactive wireless device so as to cause the complementary interactive wireless device to perform an animatronic action corresponding thereto, whereby the interactive wireless devices provide an illusion of interactive communication therebetween.  
     
     
         44 . The interactive wireless device of  claim 43 , wherein the animatronic action includes generation of verbal output.  
     
     
         45 . The interactive wireless device of  claim 42 , wherein the optical signals are generally obfuscated from human perception.  
     
     
         46 . The interactive wireless device of  claim 45 , wherein the optical signals include an infrared component.  
     
     
         47 . The interactive wireless device of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of control signals selected in accordance with a received binary input signal is chosen at random from a plurality of candidate control signals.  
     
     
         48 . The interactive wireless device of  claim 42 , wherein the animatronic action is performed as a plurality of software directed movements specified by the at least one selected control signal.  
     
     
         49 . A method for interactive wireless entertainment device communication comprising the steps of: 
 receiving at least one binary encoded optical input signal;    communicating at least one of a plurality of binary input signals corresponding to the at least one received binary encoded optical input signal to an associated memory;    selecting at least one of a plurality of control signals stored in the associated memory in accordance with the at least one received binary input signal;    communicating the at least one selected control signal to an associated controller to initiate an associated function in accordance therewith;    selecting at least one of a plurality of binary output signals stored in the associated memory in accordance with the at least one selected control signal; and    generating a binary encoded optical output signal corresponding to the at least one selected binary output signal.    
     
     
         50 . The method for interactive wireless entertainment device communication of  claim 49 , further comprising the step of performing, via the associated controller, an animatronic action specified by the at least one selected control signal.  
     
     
         51 . The method for interactive wireless entertainment device communication of  claim 50 , wherein the binary encoded optical input signal is received from a complementary interactive wireless device, and the binary encoded optical output signal is communicated to at least the complementary interactive wireless device so as to cause the complementary interactive wireless device to perform an animatronic action corresponding thereto, whereby the interactive wireless devices provide an illusion of interactive communication therebetween.  
     
     
         52 . The method for interactive wireless entertainment device communication of  claim 51 , wherein the animatronic action includes generation of verbal output.  
     
     
         53 . The method for interactive wireless entertainment device communication of  claim 50 , wherein the optical signals are generally obfuscated from human perception.  
     
     
         54 . The method for interactive wireless entertainment device communication of  claim 53 , wherein the optical signals include an infrared component.  
     
     
         55 . The method for interactive wireless entertainment device communication of  claim 49 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of control signals selected in accordance with a received binary input signal is chosen at random from a plurality of candidate control signals.  
     
     
         56 . The method for interactive wireless entertainment device communication of  claim 50 , wherein the animatronic action is performed as a plurality of software directed movements specified by the at least one selected control signal.