System, method, device and applications to connect devices and people over a hybrid social network

Abstract

A system and method enabling users to connect toys with other users and their toys over a network, said system comprising: at least one toy connected to a social network; said social network having profiles of said toys and said users respectively; a web-server having a web-services module and a database connected to said social network, said toys and said users; an update server connected to said social network, said toys and said users; and a messaging server connected to said social network, said toys and said users.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system enabling users to connect toys with other users and their toys over a network, said system comprising:
 at least one toy connected to a social network;   said social network having profiles of said toys and said users respectively;   a web-server having a web-services module and a database connected to said social network, said toys and said users;   an update server connected to said social network, said toys and said users; and   a messaging server connected to said social network, said toys and said users.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said network includes wired connections and wireless connections. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein said wired connections include USB cable connection, and/or wired LAN connection, and wherein said wireless connections include RF, and/or RFID/Light sensor connectivity. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said toys are identified on said social network by a unique ID and have a social network profile which represents its visual embodiment/avatar/presence/status/emotional state on said social network. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said toys comprise an electronic board including an operating system/firmware having custom applications. 
     
     
         6 . A method enabling users to connect and create relationships with toys, with other users and their toys over a network, said method comprising the steps of:
 initiating a friend request to connect a user having at least one toy with another user having at least one toy in a social network comprising plurality of profiles of toys and users;   establishing a connection between said users upon acceptance of the friend request;   allowing said users to interact with, send instructions and have access to said connected toys.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said connection is carried out and a relationship created by a social network relationship manager. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said connection is stored in a database. 
     
     
         9 . A system enabling users to interact, set commands/instructions/configure and update content/logic of toys, said system comprising:
 at least one input device having an input reader configured to send a user's instructions to a toy or to another user's toy over a network;   at least one output device having an output writer configured to cause a response in said toys;   a networking and messaging module configured to send/receive instructions and data from a messaging server and updates server;   a logic updater module, a content updater module and response logic module each configured to send/receive/retrieve instructions from said networking and messaging module.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said input reader is configured to send instructions/commands to said response logic module and in turn to said Networking and Messaging Module. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said logic updater module is configured to store instructions in a database/storage. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said content updater module is configured to store commands/instructions and data in a database server being able to auto update contents/logic from said updates server. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein said response logic module is configured to send/receive/retrieve commands/instructions from said database/storage and/or said networking and messaging module. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein an emotional and social logic module is configured to store/retrieve commands/instructions and data from said database said database/storage and said response logic module. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein said output device is configured to retrieve instructions from said response logic module, said emotional and social logic module and said database manifesting a response in said toys. 
     
     
         16 . A method to alter a toy's behavior/emotional state through electronic/input sensors and interaction history of a toy with users and other toys in a social network, the method comprising the steps of:
 decoding a message/instructions/commands received from a response logic module, whether said message/instructions/commands is a message for said social network or a instructions/commands for said toy;   sending instructions through a response logic module to an output device if message is found to be a command for said toy;   analyzing said users' interaction history and emotional state of said toy by an emotional and social logic module.   generating and sending message/data to all connected users on said social network by/through a messaging server.   expressing emotional state through activation of electronic components and displaying/playing different media content such as messages, images, videos, sound clips etc.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the emotional state/behavior of said toy is capable of being altered by sending instructions to the response logic module by an input device. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the emotional state/behavior of said toy is capable of being altered by sending instructions to said messaging server and in turn to said network and messaging module. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said toy is configured to send instructions/messages/data to said users, said other toys and upload content on said social network via said networking and messaging module.