Abstract:
A system for entertaining a user includes: (a) an anthropoid apparatus having a first processing unit coupled with a plurality of sensor input devices including at least one radio frequency identification receiver device; each respective sensor input device being an originating sensor input device providing a respective sensor signal to the first processing unit; each respective sensor input signal indicating a respective parameter sensed by its respective originating sensor input device; (b) a plurality of accessory items for use with the apparatus; at least one selected accessory item bearing a radio frequency identifying indicium; each respective radio frequency identifying indicium distinguishing a respective selected accessory item; the first processing unit being programmed to cooperate with the at least one radio frequency identification receiver device for recognizing the at least one selected accessory item by the radio frequency identifying indicium.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is directed to a system for entertaining a user, and especially to an anthropoid or human-like shaped apparatus, such as a doll, for entertaining children. Such anthropoid apparatuses include, by way of example and not by way of limitation, dolls in the shapes of children, monkeys, adult humans, whimsical characters and other limbed characters configured for dressing in clothing-like articles.  
         [0002]     Dolls designed to perform some functions of a playmate have been designed before. Early dolls were designed with a capability to utter prerecorded words or phrases in response to an initiating action on the part of the human playmate-user. For example, such prior art doll may utter a phrase upon being moved, or upon having its abdomen or hand pressed by the user.  
         [0003]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,133 to Philyaw et al. for “Interactive Doll” (hereinafter referred to as “Philyaw”) discloses a doll containing embedded sensors which respond to touch or other kinds of physical stimuli to output a signal to a tone generation circuit. Philyaw&#39;s tone generation circuit encodes predetermined information into an audible tone related to what sensor is activated according to unique identifying information for each sensor. The encoded audible tone is communicated to a personal computer (PC). The PC decodes the tone and responds accordingly.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,319,010 to Kikinis for “PC Peripheral Interactive Doll” (hereinafter referred to as “Kikinis”) discloses a doll having input and output elements (I/O elements), control circuitry for driving the I/O elements and a bi-directional communication link to a personal computer (PC). Kikinis&#39;s communication between the PC and the doll treats the doll as a peripheral device of the PC. The doll may have servo-mechanisms for providing doll motion which may be coordinated with verbalization in different scripts by commands retrieved at the PC and sent to the doll.  
         [0005]     RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology has been employed in various applications involving identification of particular items, such as inventory and point of sale applications. Such an application used by Prada is described at http://www.ideo.com. Some have opined that a smart sensor can be implanted in the back of a doll that stores information about clothes and accessories that the doll “wants”. See http://www.digitalforum.accenture.com. Others have developed a smart doll able to react to RFID tagged objects and respond appropriately. For example, the doll can be programmed to buy only the latest fashions, or be limited to purchases that fit an “expense account”. See http://www.accenture.com.  
         [0006]     No entertainment system, such as a doll, has yet been proposed or disclosed that can approximate interactive play with a user without having a communication link established with a computing apparatus, such as a PC, remote from the doll during play.  
         [0007]     No entertainment system, such as a doll, has been proposed or disclosed that employs RFID technology to effect a link between accessories such as clothing and the system to compose phrases uttered by the system, or doll, using phraseology that is real-time associated with accessories used with the system and is associated with environmental conditions near the doll.  
         [0008]     No entertainment system, such as a doll, has yet been proposed or disclosed that can use an internet link through a computing apparatus remote from the doll to effect updates in vocabulary of the system.  
         [0009]     No entertainment system, such as a doll, has yet been proposed or disclosed that can communicate with other like systems or dolls directly without participation by a remote computer remote from communicating dolls.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     A system for entertaining a user includes: (a) an anthropoid apparatus having a first processing unit coupled with a plurality of sensor input devices including at least one radio frequency identification receiver device; each respective sensor input device being an originating sensor input device providing a respective sensor signal to the first processing unit; each respective sensor input signal indicating a respective parameter sensed by its respective originating sensor input device; (b) a plurality of accessory items for use with the apparatus; at least one selected accessory item bearing a radio frequency identifying indicium; each respective radio frequency identifying indicium distinguishing a respective selected accessory item; the first processing unit being programmed to cooperate with the at least one radio frequency identification receiver device for recognizing the at least one selected accessory item by the radio frequency identifying indicium.  
         [0011]     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an entertainment system, such as a doll, for entertaining a user that can approximate interactive play with a user without having a communication link established with a computing apparatus remote from the doll, such as a PC, during play.  
         [0012]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an entertainment system, such as a doll, that employs RFID technology to effect a link between accessories such as clothing and the system to compose phrases uttered by the system, or doll, using phraseology that is real-time associated with accessories used with the system and is associated with environmental conditions near the doll.  
         [0013]     Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an entertainment system, such as a doll, that can use an internet link through a computing apparatus remote from the doll to effect updates in vocabulary of the system.  
         [0014]     Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an entertainment system, such as a doll, that can communicate with other like systems or dolls directly without participation by a remote computer remote from communicating dolls.  
         [0015]     Further objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification and claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are labeled using like reference numerals in the various figures, illustrating the preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating communicating between two like systems configured according to the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a representative tool for use in composing phrases for utterance by the system of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 1 , a system  10  for entertaining a user (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) includes an anthropoid apparatus  12  containing an array  14  of sensors. Anthropoid apparatus  12  may be configured, by way of example and not by way of limitation, as a doll in the shape of a child, in the shape of a monkey, in the shape of an adult human, in the shape of a whimsical character or in the shape of another limbed character configured for dressing in clothing-like articles. Anthropoid apparatus  12  includes a head  16  joined with a torso  18 . Legs  20 ,  22  are connected with feet  34 ,  36  and depend from torso  18  at a butt area  24 . Arms  26 ,  28  also depend from torso  18  and are connected with hands  30 ,  32 .  
         [0021]     Array  14  of sensors includes, by way of example and not by way of limitation, an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) receiver unit  40  located at head  16 , an RFID receiver unit  42  located at torso  18 , an RFID receiver unit  44  located at butt  24 , RFID receiver units  46 ,  48  located at hands  30 ,  32  and RFID receiver units  50 ,  52  located at feet  34 ,  36 . RFID receiver units  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52  are coupled via buses  53 ,  54 ,  55  with a sensor interface unit  56 . Sensor interface unit  56  is coupled with a microprocessor unit  58 . Microprocessor unit  58  includes or is coupled with a memory storage unit (not shown in  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0022]     Array  14  of sensors also includes a plurality of environmental sensors such as, by way of example and not by way of limitation, a motion sensor  30  for sensing when apparatus  12  is moved, a time sensor  62  for indicating time of day or elapsed time or other time measurements, a sound sensor  64  for sensing sound level in the vicinity of apparatus  12 , a light sensor  66  for detecting ambient light in the vicinity of apparatus  12  and a temperature sensor  68  for sensing temperature in the vicinity of apparatus  12 . Environmental sensors  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  are coupled via buses  54 ,  55  with sensor interface unit  56 . Sensor interface unit  56  is coupled with microprocessor  58 .  
         [0023]     System  10  also includes functional devices  70  for effecting operation of system  10 . A USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface device  72  is coupled with microprocessor  58  via a bus  71 . An external access locus  73  is coupled with USB interface device  72  to provide access to microprocessor  58  from without apparatus  12  via USB interface device  72  and bus  71 . A recording device  74  is coupled with microprocessor  58  via bus  71 . A battery  76  is coupled with microprocessor  58  via bus  71 . A battery charging device  78  is coupled with battery  76 . An external access locus  79  is coupled with battery charging device  78  to provide access to battery  76  from without apparatus  12  via battery charging device  78 . A speaker  80  is coupled with microprocessor  58  via bus  71 . An RF (Radio Frequency) interface device  82  is coupled with microprocessor  58  via bus  71 . An antenna  83  is coupled with RF interface device  82  to provide RF access to microprocessor  58  via RF interface device  82  and bus  71 .  
         [0024]     RF interface device  82  permits apparatus  12  to wirelessly communicate with a PC (personal computer) or communicate with a similar computing device. RF interface device  82  also permits apparatus  12  to wirelessly communicate with other apparatuses (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) configured similarly to apparatus  12 . USB interface device  72  permits apparatus  12  to communicate with a PC (personal computer) or similar computing device via a USB cable, as well as communicate with another apparatus (not show in  FIG. 1 ) configured similarly to apparatus  12  via a USB cable.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 2 , a system  110  for entertaining a user (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) includes an anthropoid apparatus  112  outfitted, by way of example and not by way of limitation, as a doll in the shape of a child including a head  116  joined with a torso  118 . Legs  120 ,  122  depend from torso  118 . Arms  126 ,  128  also depend from torso  118  and are connected with hands  130 ,  132 . Legs  120 ,  122  are connected with feet  134 ,  136 .  
         [0026]     Sensors in apparatus  112  include, by way of example and not by way of limitation, an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) receiver unit  140  located at head  116 , an RFID receiver unit  142  located at torso  118 , an RFID receiver unit  144  located above junction of legs  120 ,  122 , RFID receiver units  146 ,  148  located at hands  130 ,  132  and RFID receiver units  150 ,  152  located at feet  134 ,  136 . RFID receiver units  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 ,  148 ,  150 ,  152  are coupled with a microprocessor unit (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) substantially as described in connection with microprocessor unit  58  ( FIG. 1 ).  
         [0027]     Clothing and accessories are provided for use with apparatus  112  such as, by way of example and not by way of limitation, a dress  220 , a raincoat  230  and a rain hat  234 . Dress  220  has an RFID label  222  affixed that identifies dress  220 . By way of example and not by way of limitation, RFID label  222  may be encoded with a series of digital codes, such as a series of numerals. A first numeral (0-9) may indicate color. A second numeral (0-9) may indicate style such as dress, pants or raincoat. Style may also indicate that the article bearing the RFID tag is an accessory such as a pony, a surfboard or a recreation vehicle. A third numeral (0-9) may indicate location such as inside, outside, beach or other location suitable for wearing the article of clothing or accessory. This coding arrangement is exemplary only; other coding arrangements may also be used while remaining within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0028]     By placing dress  220  on apparatus  112 , RFID tag  222  will be situated generally adjacent RFID receiver  142 . The code on RFID tag  222  is read by RFID receiver  142  and passed to a microprocessor (e.g., microprocessor  58 ;  FIG. 1 ). The microprocessor will have information stored in a memory storage unit to interpret the coding provided from RFID tag  222  sufficiently to generate a spoken phrase by apparatus  112  such as: 
        I like my  BLUE  [Code Numeral 1; color]  DRESS  [Code Numeral 2; style]. Let&#39;s go to  A PARTY  [Code Numeral 3; Location].        
 
         [0030]     Other phrases can be generated in a fill-in-the-blank approach using code numerals from RFID tags affixed to clothing or accessories brought into range of RFID receiver units  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 ,  148 ,  150 ,  152 . Additional coding may be provided on RFID tags to more finely granulate response by apparatus  112 . For example, added coding may be provided to require only certain RFID receiver units may read a particular RFID tag. Such a limitation would prevent a hand located RFID reader unit  146 ,  148  reading a shoe intended for reading by an RIFD reader unit  150 ,  152 . Alternatively, other phrases may be generated by such misplaced accessories or clothes, such as: 
        Silly, you have put my  SHOES  [coding from RFID tag] on my  HANDS  [coding from RFID reader unit].        
 
         [0032]     In similar fashion, by placing raincoat  230  on apparatus  112 , RFID tag  232  will be situated generally adjacent RFID receiver  144 . The code on RFID tag  232  is read by RFID receiver  144  and passed to a microprocessor (e.g., microprocessor  58 ;  FIG. 1 ). The microprocessor will have information stored in a memory storage unit to interpret the coding provided from RFID tag  232  sufficiently to generate a spoken phrase by apparatus  112  such as: 
        I like my  YELLOW  [Code Numeral 1; color]  RAINCOAT  [Code Numeral 2; style]. Let&#39;s go to  SCHOOL  [Code Numeral 3; Location].        
 
         [0034]     When two articles of clothing should be used together, apparatus  112  may note the absence of an accompanying article of clothing and remind the user. For example, the microprocessor in apparatus  112  (e.g., microprocessor  58 ;  FIG. 1 ) may be programmed to know that when RFID tag  232  is read by RFID reader unit  144  there is supposed to be an RFID tag  236  being read by RFID reader unit  140 . If raincoat  230  is placed on apparatus  112  without rain hat  234 , a phrase may be generated to advise the user that rain hat  234  is missing.  
         [0035]     Apparatus  112  may communicate with a computer  200  via a USB cable  210  fitted with a connector  212  configured to engage external access locus  73  of USB interface device  72  ( FIG. 1 ). Alternatively, apparatus  112  may communicate with computer  200  wirelessly, as indicated at  214 , using antenna  83  of RF interface  82  ( FIG. 1 ). Connection with computer  200  enables apparatus  112  to communicate via the Internet or other network to access material provided by a manufacturer or provider of apparatus  12  (not shown in  FIG. 2 ). A manufacturer may provide updated material for apparatus  112  in terms of phrase construction, new clothes or accessories purchased, availability of new clothes or accessories for purchase. Generally, phraseology provided for use by apparatus  112  is clothing/accessory driven. By that is meant, for example, that a change in clothing style from a conservative button-down collar style to a hip-hop style may cause the phrase generating routines in the microprocessor in apparatus  112  to be updated via the Internet to generate hip-hop phrases when wearing hip-hop style clothes. Updates can also change accent of spoken phrases to reflect a regional accent or dialect, such as a Southern accent or a Boston accent. References to events or people or other time-dependent indicators may be changed during an update. An update may also alter vernacular used in phraseology, alter references to pop music or movie icons or reflect other cultural or popularity changes over time. Updates may be used to change the language used by apparatus  12  such as from English to Spanish or French. Updates may be made by other means than the Internet, such as by CD-ROM, DVD or other media loaded into computer  200 .  
         [0036]     Knowing what clothing is available (downloaded during an update and stored in the memory storage unit) permits the apparatus to utter a phrase such as: 
        I want a  NAME ITEM  for Christmas.        
 
         [0038]     This feature is described to illustrate the flexibility of apparatus  112 . It is up to the marketing staff of manufacturers of apparatus  112  whether they think this capability would be appreciated by parents of users of apparatus  112 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating communicating between two like systems configured according to the present invention. In  FIG. 3 , a first system  210  and a second system  310  are within communication range to effect wireless communication between an apparatus  212  and an apparatus  312 , as indicated by  300 . Generally the range at which it is desired that communications occur is on the order of tens of feet—preferably up to about 10-20 feet. Essentially, systems  210 ,  310  employ their respective RF interfaces and associated antennas (e.g., RF interface device  80 , antenna  83 ;  FIG. 1 ) to establish a piconet of appropriate size, range and power that no interference is produced with other wireless networks or wireless controllers in a home or office environment.  
         [0040]     Apparatus  212  includes a memory storage unit  220  that lists inventory of clothing and accessories “owned” by apparatus  212  (i.e., listed as held in memory storage unit  220 ). Apparatus  312  includes a memory storage unit  320  that lists inventory of clothing and accessories “owned” by apparatus  312  (i.e., listed as held in the memory storage unit  320 ). Preferably, each respective memory storage unit  220 ,  320  includes RFID tag information usable by microprocessors in apparatuses  212 ,  312  (e.g., microprocessor  58 ;  FIG. 1 ) to read information from RFID tags in the clothing and accessories to form appropriate phrases relating to the clothing and accessories. Such listings or inventories in memory storage units  220 ,  320  permit apparatuses  212 ,  312  to “converse” during the duration of a piconet between them (established as described in connection with  FIG. 2 ) so that systems  212 ,  312  may borrow clothing or accessories from each other. Appropriate phrase generation may be effected using RFID tag information in respective memory storage units  220 ,  320 , such as: 
        May I borrow your RED [Code Numeral 1; color]  SUN HAT  [Code Numeral 2; style] so we can go to  THE BEACH  [Code Numeral 3; Location].        
 
         [0042]     Other information may be included in memory storage units  220 ,  320  for exchange in a piconet, such as name, favorite color, favorite girl singer, favorite boy group and other preferences. Such personal preferences are preferably capable of being entered into memory storage units  220 ,  320  by a user using a computer and a USB cable or wireless interface, as described in connection with  FIG. 2 .  
         [0043]     By apparatuses  212 ,  312  sharing information in storage units  220 ,  320  each respective apparatus  212 ,  312  knows what is “owned” by the other apparatus  212 ,  312 . Using this knowledge permits an apparatus  212 ,  312  to utter a phrase such as: 
        I want a  NAME ITEM  [based upon RFID code] just like  NAME OTHER APPARATUS  has.        
 
         [0045]     This feature is described to illustrate the flexibility of apparatuses  212 ,  312 . It is up to the marketing staff of manufacturers of apparatuses  212 ,  312  whether they think this capability would be appreciated by parents of users of apparatuses  212 ,  312 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 4  is a representative tool for use in composing phrases for utterance by the system of the present invention. In  FIG. 4 , a matrix  400  includes rows  410  indicating sensor inputs and columns  412  indicating RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) codes read from RFID tags on clothing and accessories (not shown in  FIG. 4 ) associated with the system of the present invention. Sensor inputs arrayed in rows  410  preferably include environmental sensor inputs generally indicating conditions in the vicinity of the system.  
         [0047]     By way of example and not by way of limitation, a system employing matrix  400  that experiences a high temperature condition will compose a phrase: 
        I&#39;m  HOT  [environmental sensor input]. Please put on my  RED DRESS  [system knows that it “owns” a red dress (RFID code  10004 ); inventory in memory storage unit].        
 
         [0049]     The system may be programmed to recognize that when red shoes are “owned”, the red shoes and red dress are an ensemble. In such circumstances, the system will compose a phrase such as: 
        Please don&#39;t forget my  RED SHOES  [system knows that it “owns” red shoes (RFID code  10005 ); inventory in memory storage unit].        
 
         [0051]     A system employing matrix  400  that experiences a low temperature condition will compose a phrase: 
        I&#39;m  COLD  [environmental sensor input]. Please put on my  WINTER COAT  [system knows that it “owns” a winter coat (RFID code  10010 ); inventory in memory storage unit].        
 
         [0053]     The system may be programmed to recognize that when a winter hat is “owned”, the winter coat and winter hat are an ensemble. In such circumstances, the system will compose a phrase such as: 
        Please don&#39;t forget my  WINTER HAT  [system knows that it “owns” a winter hat (RFID code  10011 ); inventory in memory storage unit].        
 
         [0055]     A system employing matrix  400  that receives a rainy weather prediction will compose a phrase: 
        It&#39;s going to be  RAINY  today [weather condition sensor input], please put on my  RAINCOAT  [system knows that it “owns” a raincoat (RFID code  10001 ); inventory in memory storage unit].        
 
         [0057]     The system may be programmed to recognize that when a rain hat and rain boots are “owned”, the raincoat, rain hat and rain boots are an ensemble. In such circumstances, the system will compose a phrase such as: 
        Please don&#39;t forget my  RAIN HAT AND RAIN BOOTS  [system knows that it “owns” a rain hat (RFID code  10002 ) and rain boots (RFID code  10003 ); inventory in memory storage unit].        
 
         [0059]     Weather prediction input may be sensed from an Internet or other network connection updated periodically or from a web site offered via the Internet or another network by a manufacturer or marketer of the system.  
         [0060]     A system employing matrix  400  that receives a sunny weather prediction will compose a phrase: 
        It&#39;s going to be  SUNNY  today [weather condition sensor input], please put on my  BLUE DRESS  [system knows that it “owns” a blue dress (RFID code  10006 ); inventory in memory storage unit].        
 
         [0062]     The system may be programmed to recognize that when blue shoes are “owned”, the blue dress and blue shoes are an ensemble. In such circumstances, the system will compose a phrase such as: 
        Please don&#39;t forget my  BLUE SHOES  [system knows that it “owns” blue shoes (RFID code  10007 ); inventory in memory storage unit].        
 
         [0064]     Alternatively, when a system employing matrix  400  that receives a sunny weather prediction it will compose a phrase: 
        It&#39;s going to be  SUNNY  today [weather condition sensor input], please put on my  SWIMSUIT  [system knows that it “owns” a swimsuit (RFID code  10008 ); inventory in memory storage unit].        
 
         [0066]     The system may be programmed to recognize that when sunglasses are “owned”, the swimsuit and sunglasses are an ensemble. In such circumstances, the system will compose a phrase such as: 
        Please don&#39;t forget my  SUNGLASSES  [system knows that it “owns” sunglasses (RFID code  10009 ); inventory in memory storage unit].        
 
         [0068]     Another alternative is to have the sunglasses also be included in an ensemble with other sunny day outfits, such as the blue dress and blue shoes ensemble.  
         [0069]     A system employing matrix  400  that notes the time is approaching Noon may compose a phrase: 
        It&#39;s almost time for  LUNCH  [time sensor input]. Let&#39;s eat.        
 
         [0071]     Using such a fill-in-the-blanks approach to phrase composition one may employ a wide variety of environmental sensor inputs and RFID code inputs to provide for a large number of phrases for utterance by the system through the apparatus. It is desirable that a large number of phrases be preset for fill-in-the-blank utilization in connection with matrix  400  in order to avoid boredom by a user and in order to simulate real conversation by the apparatus posing as a playmate.  
         [0072]     Matrix  400  is illustrated as a two-dimensional matrix in order to simplify explanation of the invention. Matrices of greater numbers of dimensions may be provided in memory storage units in order to provide greater variety and complexity for the phrase composition capability of the present invention.  
         [0073]     It is to be understood that, while the detailed drawings and specific examples given describe preferred embodiments of the invention, they are for the purpose of illustration only, that the apparatus and method of the invention are not limited to the precise details and conditions disclosed and that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined by the following claims: