Tracked Toy Sensors Synchronizing Physical Objects with Virtual Worlds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interactive toys lack integration with virtual online worlds, failing to provide the sensory feedback and immediacy of tangible objects while missing out on the features of networked services that modern consumers expect, such as social interaction and virtual collection display.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for playsets using tracked objects and corresponding virtual worlds, where physical toys are equipped with sensors and wireless communication to interface with virtual environments, allowing real-time synchronization of positions and interactions between physical and virtual objects, enabling enhanced play experiences with features like online chat and item trading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical toys are made interactive with sensors, then sensory feedback and immediacy are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary between the physical toy with sensors and the virtual online world. The gateway handles the complex tasks of data processing, communication protocol management, and synchronization, allowing the toy itself to remain relatively simple while still providing rich sensory feedback and online connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into integrated systems: the toy merges physical interaction with digital sensing, the gateway merges local processing with cloud connectivity, and the virtual world merges social networking with toy interaction. This consolidation reduces overall system complexity by eliminating separate interfaces and communication layers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If toys are integrated with virtual online worlds, then social interaction features are improved, but loss of tangible object benefits occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the toy system into distinct functional layers: the physical toy layer that provides tangible sensory feedback, the gateway layer that manages communication, and the virtual world layer that provides social interaction. This segmentation allows each layer to optimize for its specific function while maintaining connections to other layers, preserving tangible benefits while adding virtual capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of physical toys and their interaction states in the online world. These digital replicas maintain the essential characteristics and interaction patterns of the physical objects, allowing users to experience both the tangible original and the virtual representation simultaneously, thus preserving sensory benefits while enabling social sharing.
3Productivity
If real-time synchronization between physical and virtual objects is implemented, then user engagement is improved, but use of energy and data transmission increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic synchronization rather than continuous real-time updates. The system synchronizes physical and virtual object states at defined intervals or triggered by significant events, reducing energy consumption and data transmission requirements while maintaining sufficient user engagement and interaction fidelity.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a system and method for playsets using tracked objects and corresponding virtual worlds. There is provided an object for use with a physical environment and connectable to a virtual world corresponding to the physical environment, the object including a processor and a plurality of sensors including a position sensor The processor is configured to establish a first connection with the virtual world, wherein the virtual world contains a virtual object corresponding to the object, determine a position of the object using the position sensor, and send the position of the object using the first connection. There is also provided a physical environment having similar capabilities as the object.