Electronic, interactive space-based toy system

Abstract

There is provided space-based toys that are present on space vehicles like the International Space Station, equipment on the launch pad awaiting launch to space, toys in transit from earth to space, toys in space where they may be in orbit around planets or other bodies or even traveling through space. The space-based toy may be a payload installed on a space object, may be a complete and self-sustaining space vehicle, or may integrate into a payload or space vehicle with the ability to gather additional input or to influence or control the equipment or space vehicle. The space-based toy is constructed to withstand the environment of earth, space, and heavenly bodies, as required. The space-based toy has its own set of sensors and/or actuators and are able to communicate wirelessly with other space-based toys and earth-based toys using a traditional ground system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An interactive space-based toy system for children comprising:
 space-based toy operatively coupled to an earth-based toy for entertainment or education.   
     
     
         2 . The interactive space-based toy system according to  claim 1  wherein said space-based toy is a space object selected from the group consisting of a launch vehicle, a satellite and a space vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The interactive space-based toy system according to  claim 1  wherein said space-based toy is a payload on said space object. 
     
     
         4 . The interactive space-based toy system according to  claim 1  wherein said earth-based toy can monitor said space-based toy. 
     
     
         5 . The interactive space-based toy system according to  claim 1  wherein said earth-based toy can control said space-based toy. 
     
     
         6 . The interactive space-based toy system according to  claim 1  wherein said space-based toy data is downlinked to one or more ground stations having an antenna and further routing the data to a cloud. 
     
     
         7 . The interactive space-based toy system according to  claim 1  wherein commands are uplinked from one or more ground stations to said space-based toy. 
     
     
         8 . The interactive space-based toy system according to  claim 1  wherein the Earth-based toys are operatively coupled to the cloud. 
     
     
         9 . The interactive space-based toy system according to  claim 1  wherein said earth-based toy is operatively coupled to the cloud via a smart device. 
     
     
         10 . The interactive space toy-based system according to  claim 1  wherein said smart device connects to the cloud to display downlinked data from said space-based toy. 
     
     
         11 . The interactive space-based toy system according to  claim 1  wherein said smart device connects to the cloud to send commands to the space-based toy. 
     
     
         12 . The interactive space-based toy system according to  claim 1  wherein said earth-based toy contains sensors and said sensors are used to issue commands to the space-based toy, and wherein said commands are routed from said earth-based toy through said cloud to a one or more ground stations to space where they are executed by the space-based toy. 
     
     
         13 . A method of play with the interactive space-based toy system of  claim 1  including the steps of:
 the space-based toy having sensors to monitor the environment; 
 using the sensors of said space-based toy to sense the environment; and 
 subsequently relaying said sensor data to a smart device hosting an application, said application then changing its environment to reflect the sensor data from said space-based toy. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of play of  claim 13  further including a step wherein said application is a game and the user plays an unlocked level of the game not previously available; and wherein the environment in the new level of the game has the same characteristics of said space-based toy sensor. 
     
     
         15 . A method of play with the interactive space-based toy system of  claim 1  wherein said earth-based toy responds when the space-based toy is orbiting overhead the user.