Interacting toys

Abstract

There is provided a toy including a processor; a memory coupled to said processor; an output coupled to said processor; and means for establishing a network connection with at least one further such toy, where the processor includes means for controlling the output of each toy with which a network connection has been established. Furthermore, the controlling means is adapted to transmit, over said network connection, instructions to control a plurality of the outputs (preferably all of the outputs) of each toy with which a network connection has been established.

1 . A toy comprising:
 a processor;   a memory coupled to said processor;   an output coupled to said processor; and   means for establishing a network connection with at least one further such toy; wherein the processor includes means for controlling the output of each toy with which a network connection has been established.   
     
     
         2 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said controlling means is adapted to transmit, over said network connection, instructions to control a plurality of the outputs (preferably all of the outputs) of each toy with which a network connection has been established. 
     
     
         3 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said network connection forms part of a personal area network. 
     
     
         4 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said memory is adapted to store at least one group of data, each said at least one group representing a particular theme. 
     
     
         5 . A toy according to  claim 4 , further comprising means for determining the at least one theme stored in said memory. 
     
     
         6 . A toy according to  claim 5 , said toy is adapted to only establish a connection with another toy when at least one theme stored in said memory is the same in both toys. 
     
     
         7 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said controlling means is adapted to transmit/receive a control message to control the output of each said toy, and wherein preferably the control message comprises an ID of the toy for which it is intended, and a command segment, and more preferably further comprises an ID of the originating toy and/or a message ID. 
     
     
         8 . A toy according to  claim 7 , wherein said control message comprises instructions to access a reference database and perform a task. 
     
     
         9 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor includes means for transmitting/receiving acknowledgement of a transmitted/received control message, and wherein preferably said transmitting/receiving mean is adapted to request that the control message is resent if it does not receive acknowledgement. 
     
     
         10 . A toy according to  claim 9 , wherein said transmitting/receiving means is adapted to transmit a parameter associated with the time that such toy will take to generate an output in dependence on the control message, and wherein preferably the originating toy waits for a duration associated with said parameter before transmitting a further control message (the time such toy will take to generate such output may vary, according for example with a theme or sub-theme of the toy). 
     
     
         11 . A toy according to  claim 8 , wherein the processor comprises means for counting the number of re-sent control messages, and whereby communication with said toy that does not acknowledge said control message is stopped after 1,000-2,000, 2,000-5,000, 5,000-10,000 or more attempts to resend. 
     
     
         12 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said processor further comprises a conversation engine adapted to construct a conversation between said toys. 
     
     
         13 - 55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . A toy according to  claim 1 , wherein said processor includes means for selecting a toy to interact based on pre-defined rules. 
     
     
         57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . A toy according to  claim 56 , wherein said selecting means is adapted to select the next toy to interact. 
     
     
         59 . A toy according to  claim 58  wherein said pre-defined rules comprise: direct selection; random selection; and choose the current interacter to interact again. 
     
     
         60 . A toy according to  claim 56 , wherein the processor is adapted to output a control message comprising the ID of the selected toy and preferably the ID of the originating toy. 
     
     
         61 . A toy according to  claim 56 , wherein said interaction comprises communication and wherein preferably said communication includes speech and directions. 
     
     
         62 - 99 . (canceled)