Interactive Game Systems and Methods

Abstract

A game system and method is described which may suitably employ a very inexpensive game mat or course which is printed with detectable markings, such as microdots. A toy housing holds a play pod which senses the sequence of the detectable markings as the toy housing is moved on the game mat. The play pod may be releasably held in the toy housing and transferred to a different housing. In this approach, to change games, a different game mat and toy housing are selected and the play pod is transferred to the new toy housing.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to improved toys, play and learning games, and more particularly to a highly adaptable system for providing user feedback which may suitable employ a very low cost game mat or board.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]New learning technologies, such as the Leap Frog Tag system, employ a pen 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 which utilizes an infrared camera 110 that detects unique micro printing dot patterns 120 on printed surfaces such as books to promote reading, as well as, learning to print or trace characters, such as numbers or letters. Other components of pen 100 include processor 130, memory 140, and force sensor 150, battery 160 and Blue Tooth transceiver 170. This technology has enabled new types of point to touch book related learning schemes for young children.[0003]Pen based learning systems such as the Tag system, offer a novel interactive learning experience. However, there are severe limitations to a pen form f...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]Among its several aspects, the present invention recognizes that while learning can be fun, children can also perceive it as work or get bored with it while wanting to play with toys like cars, trains, unicorns, dolls and the like, for hours. A need exists for young children to have highly interactive toys and play surfaces that provide numerous guided and reactive play learning experiences. As used herein, a reactive play experience is when a toy detects and interprets a child's movements and provides feedback and additional play scenarios based thereon which teach a child appropriate creative play activities.

[0005]The present invention improves upon and adapts many of the general components found in the Tag system to read and interpret movement based patterns and react to them in a play manner, compared to touch point book based activities. However, the invention substantially changes the form factor, hardware, and software algorithms to capture the unique form factor, multiple play schemes and play activities relating to motions of toys, such as a car, plane, doll, train or bulldozer on a micro dot, ink or print based, or other detectable play surface. Also, the invention changes the reading and game book form factor found in the Tag system, to a larger play surface, like a larger flat, 3D or typical play surface with micro printing or the like. The images found on the surface primarily are theme play set based rather than the words and stories in a typical Tag book. Thus, the invention allows a child to play interactive games and receive live spontaneous feedback based on movements of the toy on the surface, which can now be achieved in a reliable, accurate and cost effective manner.

[0006]Another limitation with a microdot pen form factor is that there would be no need to communicate to another pen for example, via Blue Tooth or other wireless connection. However, in an aspect of a toy embodiment of the invention, communication between two toys provides even further play scenarios in connection with a play surface with micro printing. For example, in a game with two children with two cars it could be determined who reached the finish line first. Many exciting play interactions are now possible between two communicating toys. The imaginative and creative learning benefit of this technology for children is unprecedented.

[0007]Although one embodiment of the invention is to place the pattern or material surface reader and processing components permanently into a toy, due to the high cost of the components, a child could be limited to one interactive toy and multiple play surfaces. Another aspect of the invention is to house the more costly reader and processing components in a modular shape that snap fits into housings of multiple different toys. Thus, this aspect allows multiple toys to work with one dot reader which fits a standard housing. This arrangement greatly reduces the cost of purchasing other toys and printed play sets. Other combinations of components in either the reader or toy housing are also possible. This pod or reader system could be updated via a computer or smart phone for free or for a fee in association with a website or online application store. This website or the like could provide additional story, game content, social interactions relating to the character housing and play surfaces. Stored data of the child's play activities could be uploaded to the website and shared with friends. Play activity and achievements can benefit the child on the website game including virtual social status as well as participation in the website, purchases or social activities could provide benefits for the real world play activities.

Problems solved by technology

Another limitation with a microdot pen form factor is that there would be no need to communicate to another pen for example, via Blue Tooth or other wireless connection.

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