Wireless Interactive Toy Grouping for Low-Interference Play
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interactive toy systems require costly central processing hubs and advanced user skills for linking toys, limiting flexibility and accessibility, and often suffer from interference with other toys.
Innovation Solution
An interactive toy system with wireless interactive toys that form a wireless toy network, allowing modular and intuitive grouping for linked user experiences, with primary and secondary levels of operation to manage user-perceptible and non-user-perceptible functions, respectively, using a transceiver, processor, and rechargeable power source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a central processing hub is used to control linked devices, then the system can provide coordinated interactive functionality, but the cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Each wireless interactive toy is equipped with its own processor that can autonomously manage network communication and coordinate with other toys without requiring a central processing hub. The processor in each toy independently handles tasks such as forming wireless toy networks, managing group memberships, and executing interactive functions, thereby eliminating the need for costly central processing infrastructure while maintaining full linked interactive functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users manually establish links between toys, then the system can provide customized interactive experiences, but the ease of operation decreases due to advanced skill requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs link establishment and network formation automatically in the background before users need to use the toys together. Processors in each toy autonomously detect presence of other toys, form wireless toy networks, assign group memberships, and establish communication channels without user intervention. This preliminary automated setup allows users to immediately enjoy customized interactive experiences without needing to manually configure connections or possess advanced technical skills.
3Adaptability or versatility
If toys communicate without group restrictions, then the system provides flexibility in combinations, but interference with other toys increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless toy network is segmented into distinct groups based on group membership identifiers that processors in each toy maintain. When a toy needs to communicate, it first determines the group membership of potential communication partners and restricts its transmissions to appropriate groups only. This segmentation approach allows maximum combination flexibility within correct groups while preventing interference with toys in other groups, as each processor actively filters communications based on stored group membership records.
4Productivity
If the system responds immediately to user interactions, then the user experience is engaging, but the processing load and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each wireless interactive toy is equipped with local group membership records stored in its processor that enable immediate identification of appropriate communication targets. When a user interacts with a toy, the processor uses these pre-stored local group membership information to instantly determine which other toys should receive the interaction data, eliminating the need for complex real-time network scanning or broadcasting to all devices. This local caching approach enables rapid responsive interactions while minimizing overall processing complexity through efficient use of stored membership records.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an interactive toy system, the system comprising a plurality of wireless interactive toys, wherein each of the wireless interactive toys comprises: a transceiver adapted for wireless communication; an interactive function device; and a processor operationally coupled to the transceiver and to the interactive function device; wherein the processor is configured to form a wireless toy network with other wireless interactive toys of the interactive toy system; wherein the processor is further configured to keep a record of a membership of the wireless interactive toy in a group of associated wireless interactive toys, and to control operation of the wireless interactive toy within the wireless toy network according to said membership. Operation of the wireless interactive toy within the wireless toy network comprises a primary level of operation and a secondary level of operation. The primary level of operation is configured to control cooperation of the wireless interactive toy with one or more further wireless interactive toys within the group of associated wireless interactive toys, so as to provide a linked interactive user-experience. Communication at the primary level of operation is restricted by said membership to within the group of associated wireless interactive toys. The secondary level of operation is configured to control cooperation of the wireless interactive toy with one or more further wireless interactive toys within the wireless toy network. Communication at the secondary level of operation is not restricted by said membership.