Interacting toys

Abstract

The present invention relates to toys that are enabled to interact with other such toys, and in particular a toy comprising: a processor for generating interactions between such toy and at least one other toy capable of interacting with such toy; an interaction tracking engine for generating data related to the interactions; and a memory connected to said interaction tracking engine for storing said data. The invention further relates to a server comprising: means for communicating with a plurality of toys, means for receiving data related to each said toy; means for processing said data; and means for allocating points to each said toy in dependence on said processed data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toy comprising:
 a processor for generating interactions between such toy and at least one other toy capable of interacting with such toy;   an interaction tracking engine for generating data related to the interactions, wherein said data includes a measure of the interactions, such as a count related to said interactions and/or a temporal measure; and   a memory connected to said interaction tracking engine for storing said data.   
     
     
         2 . The toy according to  claim 1  further comprising means for outputting said data, preferably to a server. 
     
     
         3 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said memory is adapted to store said data relating to a plurality of interactions. 
     
     
         4 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the type of said data is predetermined. 
     
     
         5 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said data is statistical data. 
     
     
         6 . The toy according to  claim 5 , wherein said measure includes a count related to said interactions. 
     
     
         7 . The toy according to  claim 5 , wherein said measure is a temporal measure. 
     
     
         8 . The toy according to  claim 5 , wherein said measure includes at least one of the following: the total number of separate interactions, the total number of separate interactions between the toy and each other specific toy, the total number of incidences of the toy using a particular interaction, the time of day of the interaction, and the total time the toy has participated in interactions. 
     
     
         9 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said data includes whether a predetermined interaction, such as a specific phrase and/or word, has been used during an interaction. 
     
     
         10 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said interaction is an audible interaction. 
     
     
         11 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said interaction is a physical interaction. 
     
     
         12 . The toy according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for analyzing said data, wherein said analyzing means determines when a predetermined target value, associated with said data, has been reached. 
     
     
         13 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein said predetermined target value is a count related to said data. 
     
     
         14 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein said predetermined target value is a duration. 
     
     
         15 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein said predetermined target value includes at least one of: the total number of separate interactions, the total number of separate interactions between the toy and each other specific toy, the total number of incidences of the toy using a particular interaction, the time of day of the interaction and the total time the toy has participated in interactions. 
     
     
         16 . The toy according to  claim 12 , further comprising means for outputting said analysis. 
     
     
         17 . The toy according to  claim 16 , wherein said analysis outputting means incorporates a unique identifier, associated with said toy, with said analysis. 
     
     
         18 . The toy according to  claim 2 , wherein said data outputting means incorporates a unique identifier, associated with said toy, with said data. 
     
     
         19 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said toy is a computer, and the form of said toy is represented by an avatar on said computer's screen. 
     
     
         20 . The toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said toy is an individual object. 
     
     
         21 . A server comprising:
 means for communicating with a plurality of toys,   means for receiving data related to each said toy;   means for processing said data; and   means for allocating points to each said toy in dependence on said processed data.   
     
     
         22 . The server according to  claim 21 , wherein said points are stored in memory associated with each respective toy. 
     
     
         23 . The server according to  claim 21 , further comprising means for comparing the points associated with each toy. 
     
     
         24 . The server according to  claim 23 , wherein said comparison means is adapted to generate a ranked list of toys according to the number of points associated with each respective toy. 
     
     
         25 . The server according to  claim 24 , wherein said processing means determines when a predetermined target value, associated with said data, has been reached. 
     
     
         26 . The server according to  claim 25 , wherein said predetermined target value is a count related to said data. 
     
     
         27 . The server according to  claim 25 , wherein said predetermined target value is a duration. 
     
     
         28 . The server according to  claim 21 , wherein each said toy is a toy comprising:
 a processor for generating interactions between such to and at least one other to capable of interacting with such toy;   an interaction tracking engine for generating data related to the interactions; and   a memory connected to said interaction tracking engine for storing said data.   
     
     
         29 . The server according to  claim 28 , wherein said predetermined target value includes at least one of: the total number of separate interactions, the total number of separate interactions between the toy and each other specific toy, the total number of incidences of the toy using a particular interaction, the time of day of the interaction and the total time the toy has participated in interactions. 
     
     
         30 . The toy according to  claim 1 , further comprising a server including:
 means for communicating with a plurality of toys,   means for receiving data related to each said toy;   means for processing said data; and   means for allocating points to each said toy in dependence on said processed data.   
     
     
         31 . An augmented reality system, including:
 a processor;   means for receiving a code;   an avatar generation engine adapted to generate an avatar in dependence on said code;   means for outputting data representing an image comprising the avatar generated by the avatar generation engine; and   means for communicating with a physical toy.   
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein said code receiving means is adapted to receive a code via a manual input. 
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein said code receiving means is adapted to receive a code via a camera. 
     
     
         34 . The system according to any of  claim 31 , wherein said code is on a toy. 
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 34 , wherein said toy is a doll or a card. 
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein said communication means includes a wireless adapter. 
     
     
         37 . The system according to  claim 36 , further comprising means for identifying said toy, and a theme stored within said toy, wherein said avatar and said toy then communicate within said theme. 
     
     
         38 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein said communication includes, speech and actions. 
     
     
         39 . An augmented reality system as claimed in  claim 31 , further comprising:
 means for receiving image data, said image data representing an image of a physical toy in a physical environment, wherein said outputting means is adapted to output data representing said image comprising the generated avatar together with the image of the physical toy in the physical environment;   means for outputting data representing an image comprising the generated avatar together with the image of the physical toy in the physical environment; and   means for receiving activity data representing an action of the physical toy;   wherein the processor is adapted to analyze said received activity data and to generate an action for performance by the avatar in response to the received activity data, whereby said avatar and said physical toy appear to interact in said physical environment.   
     
     
         40 . An augmented reality system, comprising:
 a processor;   an avatar generation engine adapted to generate an avatar;   means for outputting data representing an image comprising the generated avatar together with the image of the physical toy in the physical environment; and   means for receiving activity data representing an action of the physical toy;   wherein the processor is adapted to analyze said received activity data and to generate an action for performance by the avatar in response to the received activity data, whereby said avatar and said physical toy appear to interact in said physical environment.   
     
     
         41 . The augmented reality system as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein said activity data represents speech. 
     
     
         42 . The augmented reality system as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein said activity data represents a physical action. 
     
     
         43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . (canceled)