Method and arrangement for controlling track-bound toys

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling track-bound toys, in particular electromotively operated model railways and model trains, wherein memory modules which can be read in a contactless manner and store unique identification data are situated on or in the vicinity of the installed tracks, track sections, signals or points. At least one memory module reader which is situated on or in the toy is also provided. When the respective memory modules are approached or driven over, the data stored there are acquired by the memory reader. According to the invention a module for wireless communication and for establishing a local radio network is provided on or in the toy, in particular a rail car or locomotive. This module is used to establish a local radio network in such a manner that a player in the radio network range plays using a computer-based data input and output device which has loaded application software, wherein, while playing, the data from the memory modules which are acquired by the toy are wirelessly transmitted to the data input and output device by means of the module and a play action is triggered or predefined by resorting to the application software.

1 . A method for controlling track-bound toys, especially electromotively operated model railways and trains, wherein memory modules which can be read in a contactless manner and store unique identification data are situated on or in the vicinity of the installed tracks, track sections, signals and/or points, and further with at least one memory module reader which is situated on or in the toy and which is supplied with power via the respective track, wherein when the respective memory modules are approached or driven over the data stored there are acquired by the memory reader, characterized in that a module for wireless communication and establishing a local radio network is provided on or in the toy, especially a traction vehicle or a locomotive, and a local radio network is established by means of said module, such that a player situated in the radio network range carries out playing operations by means of a computer-based data input and output device in which application software is loaded, wherein in playing operations the data acquired from the toy are transferred from the memory modules by means of the module in a wireless manner to the data input and output device, and wherein a play action is triggered or predefined by resorting to the application software. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a tablet PC or a smartphone with radio network communication interface is used as a data input and output device. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the play action comprises a problem to be solved by the player, a menu to be loaded, a game program to be initiated or the like. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that commands for controlling the toy can be triggered by means of the data input and output device in a direct and wireless manner via the local radio network by using the loaded application software. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that operating units of the real-life example of the toy can be displayed on a display of the data input and output device. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the display is formed as a touchscreen, wherein control functions of the toy can be triggered by touching the illustrated operating units. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that several players carry out playing operations via the local radio network. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the toy, especially the traction vehicle or the locomotive, comprises a unit for writing the memory modules, such that depending on the playing operations current or change data can be transferred from the toy to the memory module. 
     
     
         9 . An arrangement for carrying out the method for controlling track-bound toys, especially electromotively operated model railways and trains according to  claim 1 , consisting of memory modules which can be read in a contactless manner and contain unique identification data and which are situated on or in the vicinity of the installed tracks, track sections, signals or points, further with at least one memory module reader which is disposed on or in the toy, a power supply via the track or the track sections, a module situated on or in the toy, especially a traction vehicle or a locomotive, for the wireless communication and for establishing a local radio network, a computer-based data input and output device which is capable of storing and running application software for the purpose of realising playing operations, wherein the data acquired by the toy from the memory modules are transferred in a wireless manner by means of the module for wireless communication to the data input and output device by using a respective radio channel, so that a play action is triggered or predefined by resorting to the application software. 
     
     
         10 . An arrangement according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the memory modules are formed as RFID tags. 
     
     
         11 . An arrangement according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the computer-based data input and output device is a tablet PC or a smartphone.