Doll Companion Integrating Child Self-Directed Execution of Applications with Cell Phone Communication, Education, Entertainment, Alert and Monitoring Systems

Abstract

The presented cell phone-enabled doll companion allows a child novel ways to self-select and self-execute applications while requiring no intervention or supervision from the parent. Further, it provides learning, entertainment and safety by integrating cell phone communication, education, entertainment, alert and monitoring systems. While providing a convenient means of communication between the child and parent, the system allows surveillance of a child's real-time environment, GPS monitoring and SIDS/health monitoring. The functionality and the physical elements of the system are programmable through installation of applications downloadable from an application store. Various options for parental access to a configuration interface to modify settings and download applications are provided, including via a cell phone, a website, customer service call center and/or the doll companion touch screen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toy device, comprising:
 an exterior surface;   a doll housing comprising a portion of said exterior surface;   a computer system located within said doll housing, wherein said computer system comprises at least one processor-readable storage medium, comprises at least one processor in communication with said at least one processor-readable storage medium, and comprises multiple sets of processor-executable application instructions; wherein, upon execution of an application, said processor performs the commands of at least one of said multiple sets of processor-executable application instructions;   a display screen in operational communication with said at least one processor, wherein said display screen comprises a portion of said exterior surface;   a visually-distinguishable indicator marker, said indicator marker comprising a colored shape, letter, number, or symbol disposed upon said exterior surface;   an NFC initiator in signal communication with said at least one processor, and having a radio frequency field-generating portion generating a radio frequency field with said radio frequency field-generating portion disposed directly interior of said indicator marker; and   multiple passive NFC-type tags separate from said doll housing, not connected to a power source, each embedded with a first set of application-associated data corresponding to at least one of said multiple sets of processor-executable application instructions; wherein, when one of said NFC-type tags is brought within four centimeters of said indicator marker, said one of said NFC-type tags is powered by said radio frequency field and transmits said set of application-associated data to said NFC initiator;   wherein said at least one processor performs the steps of:   (1.) receiving said transmitted set of application-associated data from said NFC initiator;   (2.) associating said transmitted set of application-associated data with a corresponding one of said multiple sets of processor-executable application instructions on said storage medium; and   (3.) executing said corresponding one of said multiple sets of processor-executable application instructions based on receipt of said transmitted set of application-associated data.   
     
     
         2 . The toy device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said display screen consists of a touch screen comprising a touch-sensitive surface for receiving touch input data related to a location on said touch-sensitive surface. 
     
     
         3 . The toy device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said NFC initiator operates at the 13.56 MHz radio band. 
     
     
         4 . The toy device, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one tactile button accessible from the exterior of said doll housing, wherein said at least one processor performs the further steps of:
 (4.) receiving a tactile input signal created by actuation of said at least one tactile button; and   (5.) utilizing said tactile input signal as an input into at least one of said multiple sets of processor-executable application instructions.   
     
     
         5 . The toy device as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one processor performs the further steps of:
 (4.) establishing wireless communication with a configuration interface server; 
 (5.) receiving from said configuration interface server a time schedule for execution of a designated one of said processor-executable applications; and 
 (6.) executing said designated one of said multiple sets of processor-executable application instructions based on said time schedule. 
 
     
     
         6 . The toy device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a camera operable to record video images and operably connected to said at least one processor, wherein said camera is oriented directing a lens of said camera outward from said doll housing;   at least one speaker operable to provide auditory output and operably connected to said at least one processor; and   a microphone operable to record auditory input and operably connected to said at least one processor.   
     
     
         7 . The toy device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a health wireless radio frequency receiver and a health monitoring system, wherein said health monitoring system comprises a wireless radio frequency transmitter and at least one health parameter sensor, wherein said health parameter sensor comprises at least one of a sound sensor, a movement sensor, a weight sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a temperature sensor, a respiratory rate sensor, and an acceleration sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The toy device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one processor performs the further steps of:
 (4.) establishing wireless communication with an administrative interface server;   (5.) transmitting, via said wireless communication system, data based on said first set of application-associated data to said administrative interface server; and   (6.) receiving from said administrative server, via said wireless communication in response to said data based on said first set of application-associated data, a downloaded new set of said multiple sets of processor-executable application instructions.   
     
     
         9 . The toy device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said at least one processor performs the further steps of:   (4.) establishing wireless communication with an application server; and   (5.) initiating download of at least one of content and said multiple sets of processor-executable application instructions from said application server triggered by the receipt of said first set of application-associated data.   
     
     
         10 . The toy device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said computer system further comprises processor-executable cellular system software instructions; and   said at least one processor performs the further steps of:   (4.) executing and utilizing said cellular system software instructions to send and receive at least one of cellular data transmissions.   
     
     
         11 . The toy device as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a GPS receiver disposed within said doll housing that performs the steps of receiving GPS satellite signals, creating location data based on at least said GPS satellite signals, and transmitting said location data to said at least one processor;   a safety band separable from said doll companion device; wherein said safety band comprises a tamper-resistant closure and a wireless data transmitter for transmitting safety band wireless data; and   a wireless data receiver disposed within said doll housing and in signal communication with said at least one processor; wherein said wireless data receiver performs the steps of receiving said safety band wireless data and conveying said safety band wireless data to said at least one processor; wherein said at least one processor performs the further steps of:   (5.) receiving said safety band wireless data;   (6.) determining a separation of said safety band from said doll housing based on the reception of said wireless data or the lack of reception of said wireless data; and   (7.) utilizing said cellular system software instructions to transmit an alert notification based on said determined separation to at least one remote adult user phone.   
     
     
         12 . The toy device, as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said cellular data transmissions comprise a downloaded new set of said multiple sets of processor-executable application instructions. 
     
     
         13 . The toy device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a first one of said multiple passive NFC-type tags comprises an externally-disposed, user-viewable image that has a correspondence to a first one of said multiple sets of processor-executable application instructions.