Interactive Toy System and Methods

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for interactive play is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an interactive toy is validated on a network. The validation includes the toy sending a code to a base-station, the base-station forwarding the code to a server on the network. The server sending a verification message to the base-station, which in communicated to the interactive toy. In another embodiment, accomplishments are sent to the server and additional functionality is imparted to the interactive toy based on these accomplishments. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

1 . A method of providing an interactive experience comprising
 communicating a code from an interactive toy to a base-station;   communicating the code from the base-station to a server on a network;   validating the code on the server;   communicating a first validation message from the server to the base-station;   communicating a second validation message from the base-station to the interactive toy; and   enabling functionality on the toy based on receiving the second validation message.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a functionality of the interactive toy is configurable. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the code is a unique code associated with the toy. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication of the code from the toy to the base station comprises transmitting a wireless communications signal from the toy and receiving the wireless communications signal at the base station, the wireless communications signal comprising the code. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the wireless communications signal comprises a signal selected from a group consisted of: a wireless local area network signal, a wireless personal area network signal, a wireless metropolitan area network signal, an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed wireless signal, a direct sequence spread spectrum wireless signal, a frequency hopped spread spectrum wireless signal, and an impulse wireless signal. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base-station comprises a device selected from a group consisting of: a computer, a personal computer, an electronic device, a portable electronic device, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant, and a handheld electronic device. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network comprises a network selected from a group consisting of: a wireless local area network, a wireless personal area network, a wireless metropolitan area network, a public switched telephone network, a cellular network, a local area network, a personal area network, a metropolitan area network, and the Internet. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein validating the code comprises executing a query on a database. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the database resides at a location, the location comprising a location selected from a group consisting of: a location on the server, a location on the network, and location on another electronic device on the network. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the server comprises a device selected from a group consisting of: a computer, a personal computer, a desktop computer, a personal electronic device, a portable electronic device, a laptop computer and a personal digital assistant. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second validation messages contain the same data. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second validation messages contain different data. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive toy comprises a processor, a memory, and a storage medium and the enabling of functionality comprises executing a set of instructions on the processor, the set of instructions stored on the storage medium. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the storage medium comprises a storage medium selected from a group consisting of: a removable storage medium, a non-removable storage medium, a CD, a DVD, and a memory module. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the code is a unique code associated with the storage medium. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive toy comprises a device selected from a group consisting of: a doll, a handheld electronic device, a portable electronic device comprising a video display, a portable electronic device comprising a speaker, an article of clothing, a backpack, and a portable item. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising
 communicating an accomplishment from the interactive toy to the base-station;   communicating the accomplishment from the base-station to the server;   communicating an enabling message from the server to the base-station; and   enabling different functionality on the interactive toy based on receipt of the enabling message.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the interactive toy is a first interactive toy and the accomplishment is the base-station receiving a communication signal from a second interactive toy. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the second interactive toy comprises a device selected from a group consisting of: a doll, a handheld electronic device, a portable electronic device comprising a video display, a portable electronic device comprising a speaker, an article of clothing, a backpack, and a portable item. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the accomplishment comprises a total of points accrued through interaction with the toy. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the accomplishment comprises the achievement of a higher level of interaction with the toy. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the interactive toy comprises a processor, a memory, and a storage medium and the enabling of different functionality comprises executing a set of instructions on the processor, the set of instructions stored on the storage medium. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the storage medium comprises a storage medium selected from a group consisting of: a removable storage medium, a non-removable storage medium, a CD, a DVD, and a memory module. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the base-station and the interactive toy each comprise a processor and a portable storage medium drive, the enabling of different functionality comprising enabling the base-station portable medium drive to write a set of processor executable instructions to a portable medium, the set of processor executable instructions sufficient to configure the interactive toy with different functionality when executed by the interactive toy's processor. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the interactive toy comprises a processor, a memory, the enabling message comprises data and enabling of different functionality comprises transferring the data to the interactive toy. 
   
   
       26 . A computer software product comprising:
 a storage medium, the storage medium containing a set of executable instructions that when executed by a processor configure a base-station to:
 receive a code from an interactive toy; 
 communicate the code to a server on a network; 
 receive a validation message from the server; and 
 enable functionality on the interactive toy. 
   
   
   
       27 . The computer software product of  claim 26 , wherein a functionality of the interactive toy is configurable. 
   
   
       28 . The computer software product of  claim 26 , wherein the code is a unique code associated with the interactive toy. 
   
   
       29 . The computer software product of  claim 26 , wherein receiving of the code from the toy comprises receiving a wireless communications signal from the toy, the wireless communications signal comprising the code. 
   
   
       30 . The computer software product of  claim 29 , wherein the wireless communications signal comprises a signal selected from a group consisted of: a wireless local area network signal, a wireless personal area network signal, a wireless metropolitan area network signal, an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed wireless signal, a direct sequence spread spectrum wireless signal, a frequency hopped spread spectrum wireless signal, and an impulse wireless signal. 
   
   
       31 . The computer software product of  claim 26 , wherein the base-station comprises a device selected from a group consisting of: a computer, a personal computer, an electronic device, a portable electronic device, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant, and a handheld electronic device. 
   
   
       32 . The computer software product of  claim 26 , wherein the network comprises a network selected from a group consisting of: a wireless local area network, a wireless personal area network, a wireless metropolitan area network, a public switched telephone network, a cellular network, a local area network, a personal area network, a metropolitan area network, and the Internet. 
   
   
       33 . The computer software product of  claim 26 , wherein the server comprises a device selected from a group consisting of: a computer, a personal computer, a desktop computer, a personal electronic device, a portable electronic device, a laptop computer and a personal digital assistant. 
   
   
       34 . The computer software product of  claim 26 , wherein the interactive toy comprises a processor, a memory, and a storage medium and the enabling of functionality comprises executing a set of instructions on the processor, the set of instructions stored on the storage medium. 
   
   
       35 . The computer software product of  claim 34 , wherein the storage medium comprises a storage medium selected from a group consisting of: a removable storage medium, a non-removable storage medium, a CD, a DVD, and a memory module. 
   
   
       36 . The computer software product of  claim 34 , wherein the code is a unique code associated with the storage medium. 
   
   
       37 . The computer software product of  claim 26 , wherein the interactive toy comprises a device selected from a group consisting of: a doll, a handheld electronic device, a portable electronic device comprising a video display, a portable electronic device comprising a speaker, an article of clothing, a backpack, and a portable item. 
   
   
       38 . The computer software product of  claim 26 , wherein the configuration of the base-station further comprises a configuration to:
 receive an accomplishment from the interactive toy at the base-station;   communicate the accomplishment from the base-station to the server;   receive an enabling message from the server at the base-station; and   enable different functionality on the interactive toy based on receipt of the enabling message.   
   
   
       39 . The computer software product of  claim 38 , wherein the interactive toy is a first interactive toy and the accomplishment is the base-station receiving a communication signal from a second interactive toy. 
   
   
       40 . The computer software product of  claim 39 , wherein the second interactive toy comprises a device selected from a group consisting of: a doll, a handheld electronic device, a portable electronic device comprising a video display, a portable electronic device comprising a speaker, an article of clothing, a backpack, and a portable item. 
   
   
       41 . The computer software product of  claim 38 , wherein the accomplishment comprises a total of points accrued through interaction with the toy. 
   
   
       42 . The computer software product of  claim 38 , wherein the accomplishment comprises the achievement of a higher level of interaction with the toy. 
   
   
       43 . The computer software product of  claim 38 , wherein the interactive toy comprises a processor, a memory, and a storage medium and the enabling of different functionality comprises executing a set of instructions on the processor, the set of instructions stored on the storage medium. 
   
   
       44 . The computer software product of  claim 38 , wherein the storage medium comprises a storage medium selected from a group consisting of: a removable storage medium, a non-removable storage medium, a CD, a DVD, and a memory module. 
   
   
       45 . The computer software product of  claim 38 , wherein the base-station and the interactive toy each comprise a processor and a portable storage medium drive, the enabling of different functionality comprising enabling the base-station portable medium drive to write a set of processor executable instructions to a portable medium, the set of processor executable instructions sufficient to configure the interactive toy with different functionality when executed by the interactive toy's processor. 
   
   
       46 . The computer software product of  claim 38 , wherein the interactive toy comprises a processor, a memory, the enabling message comprises data and enabling of different functionality comprises transferring the data to the interactive toy. 
   
   
       47 . A base-station apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   a memory coupled to the processor;   a storage media coupled to the memory and the processor;   a network connection coupled to the processor and to a network;   a wireless transceiver coupled to the memory and the processor, the wireless transceiver configured to transmit and receive wireless communication signals from a plurality of interactive toys;   wherein the storage media contains a set of machine executable instructions that when executed by the processor configure the interactive play apparatus to:
 receive a code from at least one of the plurality of interactive toys; 
 communicate the code to a server on the network; 
 receive a validation message from the server; and 
 enable functionality on the interactive toy. 
   
   
   
       48 . The base-station of  claim 47 , wherein a functionality of at least one of the plurality of the interactive toys is configurable. 
   
   
       49 . The base-station of  claim 47 , wherein the code is a unique code associated with the interactive toy. 
   
   
       50 . The base-station of  claim 47 , wherein receiving of the code from the toy comprises receiving a wireless communications signal from the toy, the wireless communications signal comprising the code. 
   
   
       51 . The base-station of  claim 50 , wherein the wireless communications signal comprises a signal selected from a group consisted of: a wireless local area network signal, a wireless personal area network signal, a wireless metropolitan area network signal, an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed wireless signal, a direct sequence spread spectrum wireless signal, a frequency hopped spread spectrum wireless signal, and an impulse wireless signal. 
   
   
       52 . The base-station of  claim 47 , wherein the base-station comprises a device selected from a group consisting of: a computer, a personal computer, an electronic device, a portable electronic device, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant, and a handheld electronic device. 
   
   
       53 . The base-station of  claim 47 , wherein the network comprises a network selected from a group consisting of: a wireless local area network, a wireless personal area network, a wireless metropolitan area network, a public switched telephone network, a cellular network, a local area network, a personal area network, a metropolitan area network, and the Internet. 
   
   
       54 . The base-station of  claim 47 , wherein the server comprises a device selected from a group consisting of: a computer, a personal computer, a desktop computer, a personal electronic device, a portable electronic device, a laptop computer and a personal digital assistant. 
   
   
       55 . The base-station of  claim 47 , wherein at least one of the plurality of interactive toys comprises a processor, a memory, and a storage medium and the enabling of functionality comprises executing a set of instructions on the processor, the set of instructions stored on the storage medium. 
   
   
       56 . The base-station of  claim 55 , wherein the interactive toy's storage medium comprises a storage medium selected from a group consisting of: a removable storage medium, a non-removable storage medium, a CD, a DVD, and a memory module. 
   
   
       57 . The base-station of  claim 55 , wherein the code is a unique code associated with the toy's storage medium. 
   
   
       58 . The base-station of  claim 47 , wherein the interactive toy comprises a device selected from a group consisting of: a doll, a handheld electronic device, a portable electronic device comprising a video display, a portable electronic device comprising a speaker, an article of clothing, a backpack, and a portable item. 
   
   
       59 . The base-station of  claim 47 , wherein the configuration of the base-station further comprises a configuration to:
 receive an accomplishment from at least one of the plurality of interactive toys at the base-station;   communicate the accomplishment from the base-station to the server;   receive an enabling message from the server at the base-station; and   enable different functionality on the interactive toy based on receipt of the enabling message.   
   
   
       60 . The base-station of  claim 59 , wherein the interactive toy is a first interactive toy and the accomplishment is the base-station receiving a communication signal from a second interactive toy. 
   
   
       61 . The base-station of  claim 60 , wherein the second interactive toy comprises a device selected from a group consisting of: a doll, a handheld electronic device, a portable electronic device comprising a video display, a portable electronic device comprising a speaker, an article of clothing, a backpack, and a portable item. 
   
   
       62 . The base-station of  claim 59 , wherein the accomplishment comprises a total of points accrued through interaction with the toy. 
   
   
       63 . The base-station of  claim 59 , wherein the accomplishment comprises the achievement of a higher level of interaction with the toy. 
   
   
       64 . The base-station of  claim 59 , wherein at least one of the plurality of interactive toys comprises a processor, a memory, and a storage medium and the enabling of different functionality comprises executing a set of instructions on the toy's processor, the set of instructions stored on the toy's storage medium. 
   
   
       65 . The base-station of  claim 64 , wherein the toy's storage medium comprises a storage medium selected from a group consisting of: a removable storage medium, a non-removable storage medium, a CD, a DVD, and a memory module. 
   
   
       66 . The base-station of  claim 59 , wherein the base-station and at least one of the plurality of interactive toys each comprise a processor and a portable storage medium drive, the enabling of different functionality comprising enabling the base-station portable medium drive to write a set of processor executable instructions to a portable medium, the set of processor executable instructions sufficient to configure the interactive toy with different functionality when executed by the interactive toy's processor. 
   
   
       67 . The base-station of  claim 59 , wherein at least one of the plurality of interactive toys comprises a processor, a memory, the enabling message comprises data and enabling of different functionality comprises transferring the data to the interactive toy. 
   
   
       68 . An interactive toy comprising:
 a processor;   a memory;   a storage medium; and   a communication transceiver,   wherein the storage medium contains a set of executable instructions that when executed by the processor configure the interactive toy to:
 communicate a code to a base-station; 
 receive an enabling message from the base-station, the enabling message originating from a server on a network connected to the base-station; 
 enable interactive toy functionality based on receiving the enabling message from the base-station. 
   
   
   
       69 . The interactive toy of  claim 68 , wherein the functionality of the interactive toy is configurable. 
   
   
       70 . The interactive toy of  claim 68 , wherein the code is a unique code associated with the interactive toy. 
   
   
       71 . The interactive toy of  claim 68 , wherein the communication of the code comprises transmitting a wireless communication signal from the toy to the base station, the wireless communication signal comprising the code. 
   
   
       72 . The interactive toy of  claim 71 , wherein the wireless communications signal comprises a signal selected from a group consisted of: a wireless local area network signal, a wireless personal area network signal, a wireless metropolitan area network signal, an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed wireless signal, a direct sequence spread spectrum wireless signal, a frequency hopped spread spectrum wireless signal, and an impulse wireless signal. 
   
   
       73 . The interactive toy of  claim 68 , wherein the base-station comprises a device selected from a group consisting of: a computer, a personal computer, an electronic device, a portable electronic device, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant, and a handheld electronic device. 
   
   
       74 . The interactive toy of  claim 68 , wherein the network comprises a network selected from a group consisting of: a wireless local area network, a wireless personal area network, a wireless metropolitan area network, a public switched telephone network, a cellular network, a local area network, a personal area network, a metropolitan area network, and the Internet. 
   
   
       75 . The interactive toy of  claim 68 , wherein the server comprises a device selected from a group consisting of: a computer, a personal computer, a desktop computer, a personal electronic device, a portable electronic device, a laptop computer and a personal digital assistant. 
   
   
       76 . The interactive toy of  claim 68 , wherein the storage medium comprises a storage medium selected from a group consisting of: a removable storage medium, a non-removable storage medium, a CD, a DVD, and a memory module. 
   
   
       77 . The interactive toy of  claim 68 , wherein the code is a unique code associated with the storage medium. 
   
   
       78 . The interactive toy of  claim 68 , wherein the interactive toy comprises a device selected from a group consisting of: a doll, a handheld electronic device, a portable electronic device comprising a video display, a portable electronic device comprising a speaker, an article of clothing, a backpack, and a portable item. 
   
   
       79 . The interactive toy of  claim 68 , wherein the configuration of the interactive toy further comprises a configuration to communicate an accomplishment from the interactive toy to the base-station; and
 enable different functionality on the interactive toy.   
   
   
       80 . The interactive toy of  claim 79 , wherein the interactive toy is a first interactive toy and the accomplishment is the interacting with a second interactive toy. 
   
   
       81 . The interactive toy of  claim 80 , wherein the second interactive toy comprises a device selected from a group consisting of: a doll, a handheld electronic device, a portable electronic device comprising a video display, a portable electronic device comprising a speaker, an article of clothing, a backpack, and a portable item. 
   
   
       82 . The interactive toy of  claim 79 , wherein the accomplishment comprises a total of points accrued through interaction with the toy. 
   
   
       83 . The interactive toy of  claim 79 , wherein the accomplishment comprises the achievement of a higher level of interaction with the toy. 
   
   
       84 . The interactive toy of  claim 79 , wherein the enabling of different functionality comprises executing a set of instructions on the processor, the set of instructions stored on the storage medium. 
   
   
       85 . The interactive toy of  claim 68 , wherein the base-station comprises a processor and a portable storage medium drive, the enabling of different functionality comprising enabling the base-station portable medium drive to write a set of processor executable instructions to a portable medium, the set of processor executable instructions sufficient to configure the interactive toy with different functionality when executed by the interactive toy's processor. 
   
   
       86 . An interactive play system comprising:
 a doll, the doll configured with a plurality of controls, each of the plurality of controls capable of controlling the doll to take a unique physical action the doll further configured with a first communications transceiver; and   a handheld electronic device, the handheld electronic device comprising controls a display, a processor, a second communications transceiver; a storage medium, the storage medium configured with a set of processor executable instructions that when executed by the processor configure the handheld device to allow a user to play a video game;   wherein the electronic device is further configured to receive a first communication signal and adapt the play of the video game based on the received communication signal.   
   
   
       87 . The interactive play system of  claim 86 , wherein the plurality of controls comprises knobs and push-buttons. 
   
   
       88 . The interactive play system of  claim 86 , wherein the unique actions are selected from a group consisting of: a twist, a spin, and a duck down action. 
   
   
       89 . The interactive play system of  claim 86 , wherein the first communications transceiver is configured to transmit the first communication signal containing data related to a unique action. 
   
   
       90 . The Interactive play system of  claim 86 , further comprising a base station, the base station comprising a third communication transceiver, the third communication transceiver configured to receive a second communication signal from the doll and transmit the first communication signal to the handheld electronic device, the first and second communications signals containing data related to a unique action.