Augmented reality toy

Abstract

A toy, for use with a viewing device, may include a plurality of component parts at least two of which include at least one augmented reality marker of a plurality of augmented reality markers enabling digital content associated with the at least one augmented reality marker to be unlocked and influencing at least one of an appearance and function of the toy on the viewing device. The plurality of augmented reality markers, each of which may be a physically independent augmented reality image marker, may be combined and converted into a composite augmented reality marker to produce a single, unique physical item and a composite digital representation.

1 . A toy, for use with a viewing device, comprising a plurality of component parts at least two of which include at least one augmented reality marker of a plurality of augmented reality markers enabling digital content associated with the at least one augmented reality marker to be unlocked and influencing at least one of an appearance and function of the toy on the viewing device, wherein the plurality of augmented reality markers, each of which is a physically independent augmented reality image marker, are combined and converted into a composite augmented reality marker to produce a single, unique physical item and a composite digital representation. 
     
     
         2 . The toy as claimed in claim h wherein at least one component part of the at least two component parts with at least one augmented reality marker is substitutable with a component part with a different augmented reality marker. 
     
     
         3 . The toy as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of component parts include at least one of a male mating member and a female mating member via which that at least two component parts are linkable one of directly and indirectly to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The toy as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of augmented reality markers and the toy do not include a near field capture (NFC) device. 
     
     
         5 . The toy as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the toy defines a character with a head, a torso and a lower body. 
     
     
         6 . The toy as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the toy is configured to receive a plurality of physical ancillary components, 
     
     
         7 . The toy as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of physical ancillary components is at least one of a weapon, a transport mechanism, and a protective device. 
     
     
         8 . The toy as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of component parts are a plurality of multi-faceted components. 
     
     
         9 . The toy as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of multi-faceted components are a plurality of blocks. 
     
     
         10 . The toy as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein at least two faces of the plurality of multi-faceted components include a different augmented reality marker of the plurality of augmented reality markers. 
     
     
         11 . The toy as claimed  claim 1 , further comprising a light mechanism configured to light the plurality of augmented reality markers. 
     
     
         12 . The toy as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the toy is hollow and further comprises a light arranged inside the toy configured to light the plurality of augmented reality markers from behind the plurality of augmented reality markers as viewed from outside the toy. 
     
     
         13 . The toy as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the toy is packaged with instructions on how to access augmented digital content. 
     
     
         14 . A kit of parts comprising at least one of a book, a playing surface, a plurality of accessories and a set of gaming instructions for use with a toy including a plurality of component parts at least two of which include at least one augmented reality marker of a plurality of augmented reality markers enabling digital content associated with the at least one augmented reality marker to be unlocked and influencing at least one of an appearance and function of the toy on a viewing device, wherein the plurality of augmented reality markers, each of which is a physically independent augmented reality image marker, are combined and converted into a composite augmented reality marker to produce a single, unique physical item and a composite digital representation. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of parts as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the playing surface includes an independent augmented reality marker. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of parts as claimed in claim wherein the playing surface is a playing card which is provided one of alone and as a pack of different playing cards. 
     
     
         17 . A system enabling at least one of a toy and a kit of parts to be played with whilst being viewed through a viewing device configured to access augmented digital content, wherein:
 the toy includes a plurality of component parts at least two of which include at least one augmented reality marker of a plurality of augmented reality markers enabling digital content associated with the at least one augmented reality marker to be unlocked and influencing at least one of an appearance and function of the toy on the viewing device, wherein the plurality of augmented reality markers, each of which is a physically independent augmented reality image marker, are combined and converted into a composite augmented reality marker to produce a single, unique physical item and a composite digital representation; and   the kit of parts includes at least one of a book, a playing surface, a plurality of accessories, and a set of gaming instructions for use with the toy.   
     
     
         18 . The system as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising at least one of a software, a processor, a storage, a memory, an operating system, an i/o device, an accelerometer and a network interface. 
     
     
         19 . The system as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein, when the toy is viewed through the viewing device, interrogates at least two physically independent augmented reality image markers on at least two component parts of the plurality of component parts to determine at least one of a relative physical position and a relative orientation of each of the at least two physically independent augmented reality image markers to ensure an authenticated composite digital representation is formed. 
     
     
         20 . The system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein a software configured to process a camera feed continuously evaluates the camera feed to determine the at least one of the relative physical position and the relative orientation of each of the at least two physically independent augmented reality image markers to ensure an authenticated composite digital representation is formed. 
     
     
         21 . The system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the system facilitates a playing of a game between at least two players each viewing the toy.