Interacting toys

Abstract

Various embodiments include a toy comprising a processor; a memory for storing at least one group of data, each said at least one group comprising of a plurality of expressive responses, and each said group representing a respective theme; an output for said expressive responses; the toy being adapted to exchange such expressive responses with another such toy; an interface for receiving an instructive response from a user; and a suitably programmed processor and associated memory for altering the exchange of expressive responses between the toys in dependence upon the received user instructive response.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A toy adapted to interact with another such toy, the toy comprising: a processor; a memory for storing audio data; an output for outputting said audio data; a receiver unit for receiving an identifier from the other such toy; and a suitably programmed processor and associated memory for downloading audio data relating to said identifier for subsequent output by the toy. 
     
     
         13 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the audio data relating to said identifier includes audio data specific to that other toy. 
     
     
         14 . The toy according to  claim 13 , wherein the specific audio data includes any one or more of the following types of personal data relating to that other toy: its name; place of birth; home town; a hobby or interest; and favourite colour or food. 
     
     
         15 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the identifier identifies any one or more of the following variables relating to that other toy: the specific toy; a name; place of birth; home town; a hobby or interest; and favourite colour or food. 
     
     
         16 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein audio data is in a specific form dependent on an audio output setting of the toy, and preferably wherein the audio output setting is user selectable. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The toy according to  claim 15 , wherein the audio output setting is a user selectable voice, and preferably wherein all audio data output by the toy is in the selectable voice, and/or wherein all audio data stored by the toy is in the selectable voice. 
     
     
         19 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The toy according to  claim 18 , wherein the audio data relating to said identifier is in the selectable voice. 
     
     
         22 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the toy is adapted to be connectable to a server thereby to download said audio data relating to said identifier from the server, and preferably wherein said identifier is stored in the toy memory, and/or wherein said audio data relating to said identifier is associated with the identifier on the server. 
     
     
         23 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein said audio data relating to said identifier is associated with and/or linked to the identifier in the toy memory. 
     
     
         26 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the toy exchanges identifiers with the other such toy when it comes into contact with the other toy. 
     
     
         27 . The toy according to  claim 12 , further comprising a transmitter unit for transmitting an identifier relating to the toy to another such toy. 
     
     
         28 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the toy further comprises a modifier unit for modifying the audio data output to the other toy in dependence on whether or not the toy has stored thereon the audio data relating to said identifier for the other toy. 
     
     
         29 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the audio data is in the form of expressive responses adapted to be exchanged between the toys, and preferably wherein the sequence of the expressive responses is adapted in dependence on whether or not the toy has stored thereon the audio data relating to said identifier for the other toy, and/or wherein an expressive response is selected in dependence on whether or not the toy has stored thereon the audio data relating to said identifier for the other toy. 
     
     
         30 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The toy according to  claim 12 , further comprising an initaliser unit for initializing the toy with particular personal data associated with the toy. 
     
     
         33 . The toy according to  claim 12 , further comprising a determinator unit for determining whether audio data relating to the received identifier is already stored in the toy memory. 
     
     
         34 . The toy according to  claim 12 , further comprising a derminating unit for determining whether the received identifier is already stored in the toy memory. 
     
     
         35 . The toy according to  claim 34 , wherein if the received identifier is not stored, then the identifier is added to the memory for subsequent request of audio data relating to the identifier, and preferably wherein upon receipt of audio data corresponding to an identifier the identifier is deleted. 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein a storage unit for storing audio data is adapted to store a predetermined maximum quantity of audio data file relating to a predetermined maximum number of identifiers. 
     
     
         38 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the processor is adapted to store audio data corresponding to an identifier of the toy itself, and preferably wherein the processor is adapted to prevent deletion of the audio data corresponding to an identifier of the toy itself. 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . The toy according to  claim 12 , wherein the toy is a doll. 
     
     
         41 . A system for providing audio data to interacting toys, the system comprising: a server for storing identifiers corresponding to each of the toys, and audio data relating to said identifiers; a plurality of toys adapted to interact with one another and exchange identifiers when coming into contact with one another; and wherein the toys are adapted to download from the server the audio data related to the identifiers for subsequent output by each of the toys. 
     
     
         42 . The system according to  claim 41 , wherein each toy is provided with an audio output setting, and wherein the audio data downloaded to a toy is related both to the audio output setting of that to and the identifier of another toy, and preferably further comprising a storage unit for storing the audio data relating to a said identifier in a plurality of audio data files, each one of said plurality of audio data files corresponding to a respective audio output setting. 
     
     
         43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A method of communication between first and second toys, the method comprising:
 exchanging identifiers between the toys; and   downloading audio data relating to said identifiers for subsequent output by the toys.   
     
     
         45 - 55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . An authoring tool for creating themed data for toys, comprising an interface for receiving content in the form of a scripted dialogue relating to a particular theme; a suitably programmed processor and associated memory for processing said content to generate a set of instructions for operating said toy within said particular theme; and an output for outputting said set of instructions. 
     
     
         57 . The authoring tool according to  claim 56 , further comprising a suitably programmed processor and associated memory for providing a plurality of user selectable content elements, and a suitably programmed processor and associated memory for receiving a user selection of at least one of said content elements thereby to create said scripted dialogue. 
     
     
         58 . The authoring tool according to  claim 57 , further comprising a graphical user interface, and wherein the content elements are provided in the form of user selectable graphical indicia. 
     
     
         59 . The authoring tool according to  claim 58 , wherein the graphical user interface comprises a storyboard on to which content elements (optionally) in the form of expressive responses can be dragged and dropped. 
     
     
         60 . The authoring tool according to  claim 59 , wherein the storyboard comprises a plurality of panels, and preferably wherein at least one panel comprises a tool for setting the theme and/or at least one character. 
     
     
         61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . The authoring tool according to  claim 60 , wherein at least one panel provides a placeholder for a content item (preferably an expressive response) associated with a character, and wherein the authoring tool is adapted to receive a user-selected expressive response and replace the placeholder with the user-selected expressive response. 
     
     
         63 . The authoring tool according to  claim 60 , wherein the authoring tool is adapted to provide a plurality of potential expressive responses for user selection, and preferably wherein the authoring tool is adapted to provide a plurality of potential expressive responses in dependence on at least one of: the panel; the theme setting; the character; and prior user-selected expressive responses, and/or wherein the plurality of potential expressive responses provided is filtered in dependence on at least one of: the panel; the setting; a character; a user-selected expressive response. 
     
     
         64 - 65 . (canceled) 
     
     
         66 . The authoring tool according to  claim 63 , wherein the authoring tool is adapted to receive a user input and adapt at least one of the potential expressive responses to comprise the user input. 
     
     
         67 . A method of creating themed data for toys, comprising receiving content in the form of a scripted dialogue relating to a particular theme; processing said content to generate a set of instructions for operating said toy within said particular theme; and outputting said set of instructions. 
     
     
         68 . The method according to  claim 67 , further comprising providing a plurality of user selectable content elements, and receiving a user selection of at least one of said content elements thereby to create said scripted dialogue, and preferably wherein the user selectable content elements are selected via a graphical user interface, and more preferably wherein the content element is at least one of: an expressive response; a role; a number of participating roles; a theme; and a topic. 
     
     
         69 - 70 . (canceled) 
     
     
         71 . An apparatus for creating themed data for toys, comprising an interface for receiving content in the form of a scripted dialogue relating to a particular theme; a suitably programmed processor and associated memory for processing said content to generate a set of instructions for operating said toy within said particular theme; and an output for outputting said set of instructions. 
     
     
         72 . The apparatus according to  claim 71 , further comprising a suitably programmed processor and associated memory for providing a plurality of user selectable content elements, and a suitably programmed processor and associated memory for receiving a user selection of at least one of said content elements thereby to create said scripted dialogue, and preferably further comprising a graphical user interface, and wherein the content elements are provided in the form of user selectable graphical indicia. 
     
     
         73 - 186 . (canceled)