Modular interaction device for toys and other devices

Abstract

A modular interaction device includes a wireless identification reading module to receive a unique identifier from a wireless identification tag attached with an object. The unique identifier may be sent to a server. A voice prompt is received by the modular interaction device and at least a portion of the voice prompt is sent to the server, in accordance with at least one embodiment. An audio response may be received from the server and provided to an audio output device of the modular interaction device. The audio response is generated based at least in part on a character profile associated with the unique identifier, in accordance with at least one embodiment. The audio response may be responsive to the voice prompt.

1 . A system for interactive toys, the system comprising:
 a toy including a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag attached with the toy, wherein the toy bears a likeness of a character; and   a modular interaction device dimensioned to be inserted into the toy, wherein the toy is configured at least to accept the modular interaction device, the modular interaction device including a wireless interface, an RFID reading module, a microphone, and a speaker, wherein the modular interaction device is configured to, at least:
 receive, with the microphone, a voice prompt from a user of the toy; 
 send, with the wireless interface, the voice prompt to a server; 
 receive, with the RFID reading module, a unique identifier from the RFID tag; 
 send, with the wireless interface, the unique identifier to the server; 
 receive, with the wireless interface, an audio response from the server, wherein the audio response is generated by the server based at least in part on a character profile associated with the unique identifier and the character, and wherein the audio response is in a voice specific to the character and is responsive to the voice prompt such that the audio response comprises language related to a subject matter of words included in the voice prompt; and 
 output the audio response through the speaker. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the modular interaction device is further configured to:
 receive, with the RFID reading module, a second unique identifier from a second RFID tag attached to a second toy of a second character; and   send, with the wireless interface, the second unique identifier to the server, wherein the audio response is generated based at least in part on a second character profile associated with both the unique identifier and the second unique identifier.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the modular interaction device is further configured to:
 receive, with the RFID reading module, a second unique identifier from a second RFID tag attached with an accessory relating to the character; and   send, with the wireless interface, the second unique identifier to the server, wherein the audio response is generated based at least in part on a second character profile associated with both the unique identifier and the second unique identifier.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the voice prompt includes an activation phrase or word, and wherein the activation phrase or word marks the beginning of the voice prompt. 
     
     
         5 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving, by an audio input device of a modular device associated with an object, a voice prompt;   sending at least a portion of the voice prompt to a server;   receiving, with a wireless identification reading module of the modular device, a unique identifier from a wireless identification tag attached with the object;   sending the unique identifier to the server;   receiving, by the modular device, an audio response from the server, wherein the audio response is generated based at least in part on a character profile associated with the unique identifier, and wherein the audio response is in a voice associated with the character profile and responsive to the voice prompt such that the audio response comprises language related to a subject matter of words included in the voice prompt; and   outputting the audio response by an audio output device of the modular device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 receiving, with the wireless identification reading module of the modular device, a second unique identifier from a second wireless identification tag attached with a second object; and   sending the second unique identifier to the server, wherein the audio response is generated based at least in part by a second character profile associated with both the unique identifier and the second unique identifier.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the unique identifier and the at least a portion of the voice prompt are sent to the server at substantially a same time that is subsequent to receiving the unique identifier and the at least a portion of the voice prompt. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein sending the unique identifier and the at least a portion of the voice prompt to the server includes transmitting the unique identifier and the at least a portion of the voice prompt over a wireless interface of the modular device, and wherein receiving the audio response from the server includes receiving the audio response from the server over the wireless interface of the modular device. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 receiving at least one filter element, wherein the at least one filter element causes customization of at least one audio response of an array of audio responses available in the character profile, the audio response selected from the array of audio responses.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one filter element includes at least one of a location of the modular device or an age of a user of the object. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one filter element includes an ambient factor derived from a location of the modular device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising transmitting, with the wireless identification tag reading module, an interrogation signal that activates the wireless identification tag. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the audio response is responsive to the voice prompt by the audio response being relevant to a subject matter of words included in the voice prompt. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the object is a toy, the method further comprising:
 receiving, with the wireless identification reading module, a second unique identifier from a second wireless identification tag attached with an accessory relating to the toy; and   sending the second unique identifier to the server, wherein the audio response is generated based at least in part on a second character profile associated with both the unique identifier and the second unique identifier.   
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 a modular device dimensioned to be inserted into an item, the modular device including a wireless identification reader and a wireless interface, wherein the modular device is configured to, at least:
 receive a voice prompt; 
 transmit, with the wireless identification reader, an interrogation signal; 
 receive a unique identifier from a wireless identification tag associated with the item in response to the wireless identification reader transmitting the interrogation signal; 
 send, with the wireless interface, the unique identifier and the voice prompt to a server; and 
 receive, for presentation to a user, with the wireless interface from the server, an audio response generated by the server based at least in part on a character profile associated with the unique identifier and the item, and wherein the audio response is in a voice associated with the character profile and relevant to the voice prompt such that the audio response comprises language related to a subject matter of words included in the voice prompt. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the modular device is further configured to:
 receive, with the wireless identification reader, a second unique identifier from a second wireless identification tag; and   send, with the wireless interface, the second unique identifier to the server, wherein the audio response is generated based at least in part on a second character profile associated with both the unique identifier and the second unique identifier.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the voice prompt includes an activation phrase or word, and wherein the activation phrase or word marks the beginning of the voice prompt. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the wireless identification tag is attached with the item bearing a likeness of a character, and wherein the audio response is in a voice specific to the character. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the wireless identification reader includes a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, and wherein the wireless identification tag includes an RFID tag. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a user device separate from the module interaction device configured to, at least:
 receive custom data from the user; and   transmit the custom data to at least one of the modular interaction device or the server, such that the audio response is generated to include a presentation of the custom data.