Role-play toy incorporating wireless interactivity

Abstract

A system for incorporating wireless functionality into role-play toys, dress-up toys, costumes, etc. In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, a first apparatus may determine if a response has been triggered. If it is determined that a response has been triggered, the first apparatus may further determine if a wireless signal from a second apparatus has been received. If the first apparatus determines that a wireless signal has been received from the second apparatus, the first apparatus may activate a first response output. Otherwise, if the first apparatus further determines that no signal has been received, the first apparatus may activate a second response output.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 determining if a response has been triggered at a first apparatus;   if it is determined that a response has been triggered, further determining if a wireless signal from a second apparatus has been received at the first apparatus;   if it is further determined that a wireless signal has been received, causing the first apparatus to activate a first response output; and   if it is further determined that a wireless signal has not been received, causing the first apparatus to activate a second response output.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first apparatus or the second apparatus is part of a role-play toy, a dress-up toy or a costume. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus and the second apparatus are parts of a role-play toy, the first apparatus being part of the role-play toy that is not worn by a user during role-play and the second apparatus being part of the role play toy that is worn by a user during role-play. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first apparatus is part of a role-play toy resembling a stuffed animal, a vanity or a storage chest, and the second apparatus is part of a role-play toy resembling a broach, a necklace, an amulet, a crown, a wand, a key or a belt buckle. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus and the second apparatus are parts of a role-play toy, the first apparatus and the second apparatus being parts of the role-play toy that are worn by users during role-play. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first apparatus and second apparatus are parts of role-play toys resembling broaches, necklaces, amulets, crowns, wands, keys or belt buckles. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless signal is an infrared wireless signal. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, if it is further determined that a wireless signal has been received, identifying the second apparatus and activating a first response output that specifically corresponds to the identification of the second apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first response output and the second response output comprise at least one of visual, audible or motion output. 
     
     
         10 . A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:
 code configured to cause a first apparatus to determine if a response has been triggered;   code configured to cause the first apparatus to, if it is determined that a response has been triggered, further determine if a wireless signal from a second apparatus has been received;   code configured to cause the first apparatus to, if it is further determined that a wireless signal has been received, activate a first response output; and   code configured to cause the first apparatus to, if it is further determined that a wireless signal has not been received, activate a second response output.   
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first apparatus or the second apparatus is part of a role-play toy, a dress-up toy or a costume. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein the first apparatus and the second apparatus are parts of a role-play toy, the first apparatus being part of the role-play toy that is not worn by a user during role-play and the second apparatus being part of the role play toy that is worn by a user during role-play. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein the first apparatus is part of a role-play toy resembling a stuffed animal, a vanity or a storage chest, and the second apparatus is part of a role-play toy resembling a broach, a necklace, an amulet, a crown, a wand, a key or a belt buckle. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein the first apparatus and the second apparatus are parts of a role-play toy, the first apparatus and the second apparatus being parts of the role-play toy that are worn by users during role-play. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein the first apparatus and second apparatus are parts of role-play toys resembling broaches, necklaces, amulets, crowns, wands, keys or belt buckles. 
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein the wireless signal is an infrared wireless signal. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , further comprising code configured to cause the first apparatus to, if it is further determined that a wireless signal has been received, identify the second apparatus and activate a first response output that specifically corresponds to the identification of the second apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein the first response output and the second response output comprise at least one of visual, audible or motion output. 
     
     
         19 . A first apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory including executable instructions, the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus to perform at least the following:
 determine if a response has been triggered; 
 if it is determined that a response has been triggered, further determine if a wireless signal from a second apparatus has been received; 
 if it is further determined that a wireless signal has been received, activate a first response output; and 
 if it is further determined that a wireless signal has not been received, activate a second response output. 
   
     
     
         20 . The first apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first apparatus or the second apparatus is part of a role-play toy, a dress-up toy or a costume. 
     
     
         21 . The first apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first apparatus and the second apparatus are parts of a role-play toy, the first apparatus being part of the role-play toy that is not worn by a user during role-play and the second apparatus being part of the role play toy that is worn by a user during role-play. 
     
     
         22 . The first apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the first apparatus is part of a role-play toy resembling a stuffed animal, a vanity or a storage chest, and the second apparatus is part of a role-play toy resembling a broach, a necklace, an amulet, a crown, a wand, a key or a belt buckle. 
     
     
         23 . The first apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first apparatus and the second apparatus are parts of a role-play toy, the first apparatus and the second apparatus being parts of the role-play toy that are worn by users during role-play. 
     
     
         24 . The first apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the first apparatus and second apparatus are parts of role-play toys resembling broaches, necklaces, amulets, crowns, wands, keys or belt buckles. 
     
     
         25 . The first apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the wireless signal is an infrared wireless signal. 
     
     
         26 . The first apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising, the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus to, if it is further determined that a wireless signal has been received, identify the second apparatus and activate a first response output that specifically corresponds to the identification of the second apparatus. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first response output and the second response output comprise at least one of visual, audible or motion output. 
     
     
         28 . A system, comprising:
 a first apparatus; and   a second apparatus;   the first apparatus being configured to determine if a response has been triggered, and if it is determined that a response has been triggered, further determine if a wireless signal from the second apparatus has been received; and   the first apparatus being further configured to, if it is further determined that a wireless signal has been received, activate a first response output, and if it is further determined that a wireless signal has not been received, activate a second response output.