Patent Publication Number: US-11398160-B1

Title: System, apparatus, and method for educating and reducing stress for patients with illness or trauma using an interactive location-aware toy and a distributed sensor network

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/844,537, filed on Dec. 16, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/435,733, filed on Dec. 17, 2016, which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This application pertains to pediatric medicine, and more particularly, to a system, apparatus, and method for educating and reducing stress for patients with illness and trauma using an interactive location aware toy, and for tracking completion of care plans. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Visits to a doctor&#39;s office or hospital can be scary, especially for children. Children enter hospitals for a range of reasons, from acute conditions like a broken arm, to long-term treatment for chronic illnesses such as cancer. Regardless of the cause of entry, a hospital stay can be stressful for children and overwhelming for parents. 
     When a patient enters a hospital environment they are faced with a world of unknown devices, medical procedures, and people. For children, it is scary and stress inducing to have their blood drawn, go into a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or in the case of children with cancer, undergo chemotherapy. Doctors currently use distraction therapy techniques to help take the minds of children off of the medical procedures they are about to receive. A common example of this technique is using toys to distract children from the pain of their immunization injections. 
     For children, the location, context, and medium through which information is presented is paramount. While children may be given information by their doctor about a procedure before it occurs, this doesn&#39;t stop the fear that children experience when they actually step into the room where they will have an x-ray, have their blood drawn, or receive an MRI. 
     Children with chronic health conditions, such as childhood cancer, face repeated long-term hospital stays to receive treatment. For these children, simple distraction techniques don&#39;t necessarily ameliorate the fear, trauma, and emotional stress caused by repeated medical procedures. On top of the stress associated with the procedures themselves, children and their parents must abide by a care plan when in a hospital, going from appointment to appointment for the appropriate diagnostic procedures and treatments. It can be stressful for parents to manage their child&#39;s care plan and it can be overwhelming for children to be whisked from location to location within a hospital. 
     Providing rewards and incentives can help encourage children who face repeated medical procedures. Programs like BEADS OF COURAGE® exist for children with cancer, rewarding them for the completion of medical procedures with collectible beads. For kids, such programs can transform their procedures from a scary experience into a badge of honor. 
     Reducing stress and providing education related to medical procedures can help improve feelings of self-efficacy, improve pediatric quality of life, and increase communication between parents and children. Further, interacting with the child through playtime exercises, for example with a doll, can spur information retention and stress reduction creating a fun and nurturing atmosphere. 
     Accordingly, a need remains for medical education, stress reduction, and care coordination that can be delivered through an inanimate object such as a doll and provided with the correct context, timing, and when the child is in the appropriate location. Providing education in this location-specific manner, through the friendly medium of a doll, can help calm children facing medical procedures and add an element of fun to otherwise scary experiences. Embodiments of the inventive concept address these and other limitations in the prior art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view showing three rooms of a healthcare facility such as hospital in accordance with some embodiments of the inventive concept; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a toy in accordance with some embodiments of the inventive concept; and 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a portion of an interactive location-aware toy and distributed sensor network system in accordance with some embodiments of the inventive concept. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram of a medical education and stress reduction logic section in accordance with some embodiments of the inventive concept. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a block diagram of a custom care treatment plan in accordance with some embodiments of the inventive concept. 
     
    
    
     The foregoing and other features of the inventive concept will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to enable a thorough understanding of the inventive concept. It should be understood, however, that persons having ordinary skill in the art may practice the inventive concept without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. 
     It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first sensor could be termed a second sensor, and, similarly, a second sensor could be termed a first sensor, without departing from the scope of the inventive concept. 
     It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “coupled to,” or “connected to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, directly coupled to or directly connected to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly coupled to,” or “directly connected to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     The terminology used in the description of the inventive concept herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the inventive concept. As used in the description of the inventive concept and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Embodiments of the present inventive concept include a smart toy and a method for educating patients about medical procedures and reducing stress associated with illness and trauma. The smart toy and method can be used as a tool to comfort children and provide entertainment during the treatment of health conditions. The smart toy and method can also be used to help patients follow a specific medical care plan given by their doctor. The smart toy described herein is aware of its location and thus provides patient education and stress relief in a way that is specific to the location of the patient within the healthcare facility and the treatments they are currently undergoing. 
     Embodiments include a system comprised of a smart toy, sensors placed in various rooms in a healthcare facility, a database that stores the location of the smart toy, and a computer or mobile interface that enables healthcare providers including doctors to input care plans for patients. 
     The term “smart toy” as used herein refers to an interactive doll that a child afflicted with a chronic illness or traumatic health condition may use to learn about and help manage that illness or condition. The smart toy may take the shape of a doll or animal and may be plush or hard. The smart toy may have a plurality of sensors connected via wires to an internal microprocessor or via wires or wirelessly to an external processor. The smart toy can include wireless connectivity through WIFI, a BLUETOOTH® connection to a mobile device, cellular and/or Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) connection, or any other suitable form of wireless connectivity. The smart toy also can include an object identification system such that it can recognize sensors that are placed in various rooms of the healthcare facility. The object identification system may use near-filed communications (NFC), radio frequency identification (RFID), ZIGBEE®, a camera, and/or any other suitable form of object identification method. 
     Some embodiments of the smart toy may have accessories that resemble replicas of medical devices, enabling children to simulate medical procedures on the smart toy. Similar embodiments may also have accessories such as foods that enable children to care for and nurture the smart toy. 
     The system described herein can be implemented in a healthcare facility by placing sensors, or visually identifiable objects, in various rooms where care is performed. The patient is given a smart toy upon entry to the healthcare facility that is associated with the individual patient through a unique identifier (ID). As the patient moves between different rooms of the hospital, the smart toy&#39;s object identification system recognizes the sensors placed in the various rooms of the hospital. The identification of a sensor located in a hospital room triggers the smart toy to log its current location in an online database and provide a response to the patient that is correlated with the patient&#39;s current location. This location-aware response can be used to provide targeted education, emotional support, and entertainment to patients. 
     In some embodiments, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals are provided with a software application that enables them to create care plans for patients. The term “care plan” as used herein refers to any combination of medical procedures, diagnostic tests, or appointments that are scheduled for a patient during their time in a healthcare facility. The software application communicates with the aforementioned online database to provide a status report that is updated in real time with the patient&#39;s location in the healthcare facility and their current progress through their care plan. 
     In other embodiments, the smart toy produces an audio or visual response to keep patients on track with their care plan. This can include reminders about the time of certain appointments or alerts to take medication. 
     Embodiments of the inventive concept may help children cope with a variety of health conditions including trauma, cancer, type  1  diabetes, sickle cell anemia, and/or congenital heart problems. 
     The following description and drawing figures describe aspects of a smart toy and method developed for use with children undergoing long hospital stays for cancer treatment. It will be understood that embodiments of the inventive concept can be adapted and used by children and adults experiencing any of the aforementioned health conditions and that the use of the invention is not limited to cancer treatments. 
       FIG. 1  is a top view showing three rooms of a healthcare facility  115  such as a hospital in accordance with some embodiments of the inventive concept.  FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a smart toy  110  in accordance with some embodiments of the inventive concept.  FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a portion of an interactive location-aware toy and distributed sensor network system  300  in accordance with some embodiments of the inventive concept. Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the smart toy  110  may have a display screen  205 , an object identifier  295 , a wireless transceiver  230 , a speaker  215 , a camera  290 , an internal storage device  245  such as a volatile or non-volatile memory, a reward tracking logic section  270 , and a main computing unit  220 . The main computing unit  220  can include a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a memory, a wireless communication logic, and/or a battery. Physical rewards such as tokens  225  can be “unlocked” or otherwise awarded to the child  105  based on the number of times the child  105  has visited certain locations, as further described below. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a child  105  is given a smart toy  110  when they enter a healthcare facility  115  such as a hospital to begin treatment for an illness such as cancer. It will be understood that while in this example the smart toy  110  is shown to be in the form of a bear, any suitable shape or kind of toy, such as a zebra, doll or other animal, can be used together with the other inventive aspects disclosed herein. Each room (e.g.,  120 ,  125 , and  130 ) of the healthcare facility  115  can be equipped with a corresponding location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ) such that when the child  105  enters a particular room (e.g., room  120 ), the smart toy  110  can use its object identifier  295  to identify a particular specific location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ) associated with the particular room (e.g.,  120 ), can store location information  325  in the internal storage device  245 , and can transmit the location information  325  to an online database  305  using the wireless transceiver  230  via the cloud  350 . The location identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ) can include a near-field communication (NFC) tag, an image that can be recognized by a camera such as a quick-response (QR) code, or other suitable unique object capable of identifying a location within the healthcare facility  115 . 
     Upon activation of the object identifier  295  by a location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , or  150 ) in a room (e.g.,  120 ,  125 , or  130 ), the smart toy  110  can produce a response providing education and stress reduction content to the child  105  through a combination of the smart toy&#39;s display screen  205  and auditory cues from the smart toy&#39;s speaker  215 . It will be understood that while the display screen  205  is shown in circular form, other shapes such as a rectangle or square can be used without departing from the inventive aspects disclosed herein. 
     In some embodiments, the object identifier  295  can read (e.g., sense or scan) and identify physical accessories that resemble replicas of medical devices  285 , enabling children to simulate medical procedures on the smart toy  110 . Similar embodiments may also have accessories such as replica foods  280  that are detected and identified using the object identifier  295 , which enable children to care for and nurture the smart toy  110 . 
     A healthcare provider  330  such as a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional can use a computer terminal  310  that includes a medical education and stress reduction logic section  315 , which can include a custom care plan logic section  360  to create a custom care treatment plan  320  for the child  105  in accordance with the necessary treatment for their illness. The custom care treatment plan  320  can be synchronized with the online database  305  via the cloud  350 , and associated with the smart toy  110 , through a unique identifier (ID)  380 . In other words, the online database  305  can store multiple custom care treatment plans (e.g.,  320 ) each having a unique ID (e.g.,  380 ) associated therewith. The custom care treatment plan  320  can include a custom medication adherence plan as further described below. It will be understood that the computer terminal  310  can include a desktop computer terminal, a laptop or notebook computer terminal, a tablet computer terminal, a smart phone, or other suitable mobile or fixed computer device. 
     As the child  105  travels to different locations of the healthcare facility  115  for treatments, such as radiation therapy in room  120 , an MRI in room  125 , or an X-ray in room  130 , the smart toy  110  logs their location information  325  in the online database  305  via the cloud  350 , and the location information  325  can be made viewable to the healthcare provider  330  such as a doctor through the computer terminal  310 . The healthcare provider  330  can view the location information (e.g.,  325 ) for each of many different children (e.g.,  105 ) that come to the healthcare facility  115 . In other words, the healthcare provider  330  can view in the aggregate the location information  325 . Accordingly, the healthcare provider  330  can determine or otherwise assess operational efficiency of the healthcare facility  115 . 
     Upon entry to different treatment locations (e.g., rooms  120 ,  125 , or  130 ), the smart toy  110  can provide location-specific audible content  235  and/or location-specific viewable content  240  to the child  105  that is specific to the location information  325  and the child  105 . For example, when the child  105  enters the radiation therapy room  120 , the smart toy  110  can explain, using the speaker  215 , the purpose of radiation in eliminating cancer cells and then tell the child  105  a story about a time that the smart toy  110  received radiation therapy and how it made them feel. By way of another example, the smart toy  110  can display, using the display screen  205 , information about radiation therapy. 
     Upon repeated visits to the radiation therapy room  120 , the smart toy&#39;s response and provided content can be different and may encourage the child  105  by congratulating them on the number of times they&#39;ve already completed radiation therapy. In other words, the smart toy  110  can keep track of a number of times that the child  105  has visited each room in the healthcare facility  115 , and modify the location-specific audible content  235  and/or the location-specific viewable content  240  depending on the number of visits to each room. In some embodiments, the smart toy  110  can remind the child  105  when to attend appointments or take a medication through auditory reminders  265  given from the smart toy&#39;s speaker  215 . Alternatively or in addition, the smart toy  110  can remind the child  105  when to attend appointments or take a medication by way of a viewable reminder  260  displayed on the smart toy&#39;s display screen  205 . The internal storage device  245  can store the location-specific audible content  235 , the location-specific viewable content  240 , and the reminders (e.g.,  260  and/or  265 ). 
     By way of another example, the healthcare provider  330  may take blood samples from the child  105  to determine whether chemotherapy is needed. While the blood samples are being tested, the smart toy  110  can console the child  105 . Prior to attaching a chemotherapy delivery port to the child  105 , information about what is about to happen can be provided to the child  105  through the smart toy  110 . The chemotherapy information can be location-specific to the particular room within the healthcare facility  115 . If the blood work performed indicates that no chemotherapy is needed for that visit, the smart toy  110  can inform the child  105  that a chemotherapy treatment has been postponed. Otherwise, the smart toy  110  can help prepare the child  105  for the chemotherapy. 
     In some embodiments, the healthcare provider  330  such as a doctor can use the computer terminal  310  including the medical education and stress reduction logic section  315 , which can include the custom care plan logic section  360  to create custom medication adherence plans (e.g.,  320 ) for children, which can be stored in the online database  305  via the cloud  350 . When it is time for the child  105  to take a medication, a reminder (e.g.,  260  and/or  265 ) can be provided through the smart toy  110 , via the smart toy&#39;s display screen  205  and/or via auditory cues from the smart toy&#39;s speaker  215 . 
     In some embodiments, the smart toy  110  automatically receives and installs functionality and/or content updates  390  from the online database  305  via the cloud  350  to deploy new features and functionality as the child  105  completes repeated visits to certain care locations in the healthcare facility  115  such as rooms  120 ,  125 , and/or  130 . The internal storage device  245  can receive and store the functionality and/or content updates  390 . 
     Child life specialists, nurses, or other healthcare professionals can also access the computer terminal  310 , to monitor progress of the child  105  through their custom care treatment plan  320 . Based on the number of times they&#39;ve visited certain locations (e.g.,  120 ,  125 , or  130 ) as stored in the online database  305 , physical rewards can be unlocked such as the physical tokens  225 . It will be understood that the rewards can include other physical items such as stickers, beads, or additional toys. The smart toy  110  can inform the child  105  that a physical reward  225  has been unlocked via the display screen  205  and/or the speaker  215 . The child  105  can then collect the physical reward  225  from the healthcare provider  330 . The reward tracking logic section  270  may keep track of the number of times the child  105  has visited different locations (e.g.,  120 ,  125 , or  130 ) of the healthcare facility  115  and unlock the rewards when a predefined threshold number of visits for a particular location has been met. The reward tracking logic section  270  may cause the display screen  205  and/or the speaker  215  to inform the child  105  about the unlocked rewards, which may then be collected. Alternatively or in addition, the reward tracking logic section  270  may be operable within the computer terminal  310  as further explained below. 
     Accordingly, the smart toy  110  can provide calming effects and can educate the child  105  in a healthcare facility  115  such as a hospital. The child  105  can be provided with the smart toy  110  upon beginning their experience or journey at the healthcare facility  115 . The smart toy  110  can include an object identification system having the object identifier  295 , wireless connectivity using the wireless transceiver  230 , the speaker  215 , the display screen  205 , and the internal storage device  245 . The internal storage device  245  can store the educational content and strategies (e.g.,  235  and  240 ) to help the child  105  and the parents or guardians of the child  105  manage stress. The wireless transceiver  230  of the smart toy  110  can establish a connection to the online database  305  via the cloud  350 , and may periodically receive additional educational content and stress management strategies. 
     The smart toy  110  can use its object identification system including the object identifier  295  upon entry to a room (e.g.,  120 ,  125 , and  130 ) in the healthcare facility  115  to read a corresponding location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ) located in or nearby the room, which can assist the smart toy  110  in identifying its current location. The term “read” herein can mean either sense or scan, or both. For example, in some embodiments, the object identifier  295  is an NFC sensor  210 , which can sense an NFC tag. By way of another example, in some embodiments, the object identifier  295  is a camera  290 , which can sense an image such as a QR code. The smart toy  110  can include either the NFC sensor  210  for sensing or the camera  290  for scanning, or both. A location-specific response of the smart toy  110  can be triggered from the internal storage device  245 , or queried from the online database  305  via the cloud  350 . The location of the smart toy  110 , and thus the child  105  by inference, can be stored in the internal storage device  245  and/or the online database  305  to be used for tracking the child  105 , for unlocking physical or virtual rewards, for unlocking physical or virtual incentives, and to improve the intelligence of the smart toy  110 . The response and strategies employed by the smart toy  110  can be enhanced over time based on the information gathered and stored in the internal storage device  245  and/or in the online database  305 . By way of another example, the object identifier  295  may scan an anatomical map of a body that is located in a room of the healthcare facility  115 , and then the smart toy  110  can provide information specific to the scanned anatomical map to the child  105  via the display screen and/or the speaker  215 . By way of yet another example, an X-ray image may be scanned by the object identifier  295  and information about the X-ray image may be provided to the child  105  via the display screen and/or the speaker  215 . 
     New functionalities of the smart toy  110  can be revealed to the child  105  upon repeated location entries in the online database  305 . The child  105  can receive physical rewards  225  in the forms of tokens, stickers, toys, or similar items when repeated check-ins occur at specific locations. Alternatively or in addition, the child  105  can receive virtual rewards (e.g.,  250  and  255 ) in the forms of virtual tokens, stickers, toys, games, or similar items displayed via the display  205  or sounded through the speaker  215  when repeated check-ins occur at specific locations. For example, virtual rewards can include a virtual viewable reward  250  shown on the display screen  205  and/or a virtual audible reward  255  emitted by the speaker  215 . 
     In some embodiments, the location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ) located in or nearby the rooms (e.g.,  120 ,  125 , and  130 ) are passive near-field communication (NFC) tags. In some embodiments, the location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ) located in or nearby the rooms (e.g.,  120 ,  125 , and  130 ) are images such as QR codes. In some embodiments, the location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ) located in or nearby the rooms (e.g.,  120 ,  125 , and  130 ) are some other unique object, which can identify a location. In the case where the location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ) are NFC tags, the child  105  can hold the smart toy  110  within a certain proximity of a particular passive NFC tag so that the smart toy  110  can read the NFC tag using the smart toy&#39;s NFC sensor  210 , for example, and register its location in the internal storage device  245  and/or with the online database  305 . In the case where the location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ) are images, the child  105  can hold the smart toy  110  within a certain proximity of a particular image (e.g.,  140 ) so that the smart toy  110  can scan the image using the smart toy&#39;s camera  290 , for example, and register its location in the internal storage device  245  and/or with the online database  305 . In other words, the image can uniquely represent a particular location in the healthcare facility  115 . And the act of scanning the image confirms the presence of the smart toy  110 , and by inference the child  105 , at that location. In the case where the location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ) are some other unique objects, the child  105  can hold the smart toy  110  within a certain proximity of a particular unique object (e.g.,  140 ) so that the smart toy  110  can scan the unique object using the smart toy&#39;s camera  290 , for example, and register its location in the internal storage device  245  and/or with the online database  305 . 
     The healthcare provider  330  can provide a custom care treatment plan  320  to the child  105  via the smart toy  110 . Progress through the custom care treatment plan  320  can be tracked over time. The healthcare provider  330  can use the computer terminal  310  to set up the custom care treatment plan  320  for the child  105  comprising any number of tests or treatments. The custom care treatment plan  320  can be stored in the online database  305  where it is associated with the unique patient ID  380 . 
     The child  105  can be given the smart toy  110  that is associated with their unique patient ID  380 . The smart toy  110  can include the object identifier  295 . In some embodiments, the object identifier  295  is an NFC sensor  210 , which can read one or more NFC tags. In some embodiments, the object identifier  295  is a camera  290 , which can scan one or more images or other unique objects. The smart toy  110  can store, in the internal storage device  245  and/or the online database  305 , educational content and strategies to help the child  105  and their parents manage stress. The smart toy  110  can establish a wireless connection to the online database  305  via the cloud  350 , and can receive additional educational content and stress management strategies (e.g., updates  390 ) periodically from the online database  305  via the cloud  350 . 
     The smart toy  110  can use its object identification system including the object identifier  295  upon entry to a room (e.g.,  120 ,  125 , or  130 ) in a healthcare facility  115  to read a location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ) located in or nearby the room, and can therefore identify its current location. The location information  325  can be logged in the online database  350 . The location information  325  can be used to track the progress of the child  105  through their custom care treatment plan  320 . 
     The display screen  205  of the smart toy  110  can show the child  105  specific steps to follow in their custom care treatment plan  320 . The speaker  215  of the smart toy  110  can audibly read out to the child  105  the custom care treatment plan  320 . The healthcare provider  330  can be provided with a graphical user interface dashboard  340 , which shows the real time location information  325  of the child  105 , and progress through their custom care treatment plan  320 . The smart toy  110  can give an audible reminder  265  and/or a viewable reminder  260  of where child  105  should go for the next phase or set of steps in their custom care treatment plan  320 . These reminders (e.g.,  260  and/or  265 ) can be triggered based on appointment times  345  set in the graphical user interface dashboard  340  via the computer terminal  310  by the healthcare provider  330 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram of the medical education and stress reduction logic section  315  in accordance with some embodiments of the inventive concept.  FIG. 5  illustrates a block diagram of a custom care treatment plan  320  in accordance with some embodiments of the inventive concept. Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1 through 5 . 
     The medical education and stress reduction logic section  315  can include a custom care plan logic section  405 , a graphical user interface logic section  410 , a reward tracking logic section  415 , and a real-time location tracking logic section  430 . 
     A system  300  for educating and reducing stress for patients with illness or trauma is disclosed herein. More specifically, the system  300  can include multiple location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ) each disposed proximally to a corresponding room (e.g.,  120 ,  125 , and  130 ) among a plurality of rooms of a healthcare facility  115 . The system  300  can include an online database  305  communicatively coupled to the cloud  350 . The system  300  can include a smart toy  110  including an object identifier  295  that is configured to sense or scan a particular location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ) from among the plurality of location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ). The smart toy  110  can include a wireless transceiver  230  configured to transmit location information  325  about the smart toy  110  to the online database  305  via the cloud  350 . The location information  325  is dependent on the sensed particular location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ) from among the plurality of location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ). 
     The system  300  can include an education and stress reduction logic section  315  operable with a computer terminal  310 . The education and stress reduction logic section  315  can be communicatively coupled to the online database  305  via the cloud  350 . The education and stress reduction logic section  315  can include a graphical user interface logic section  410  that is configured to present a graphical user interface  340  via a display screen of the computer terminal  310 . The education and stress reduction logic section  315  can include a real-time location tracking logic section  430  that is configured to receive the location information  325  from the online database  305 , and to track a real-time location of the smart toy  110  within the healthcare facility  115  based on the received location information  325 . The graphical user interface  340  can be configured to display the real-time location of the smart toy  110  within the healthcare facility  115 . 
     In some embodiments, the smart toy  110  includes a display screen  205 , a speaker  215 , and a reward tracking logic section  270 . The reward tracking logic section  270  can be configured to track a number of times the object identifier  295  of the smart toy  110  senses or scans the particular location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ) from among the plurality of location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ). The reward tracking logic section  270  can be configured to cause the display screen  205  and/or the speaker  215  of the smart toy  110  to inform the child  105  about an unlocked reward (e.g.,  225 ,  250 , and/or  255 ) responsive to the number of times exceeding a predefined threshold number of times that triggers the reward. 
     In some embodiments, the education and stress reduction logic section  315  includes a reward tracking logic section  415 . In this embodiment, the reward tracking logic section  415  can be configured to track the number of times the object identifier  295  of the smart toy  110  senses or scans the particular location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ) from among the plurality of location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ). The reward tracking logic section  415  can be configured to cause the display screen  205  and/or the speaker  215  of the smart toy  110  to inform the child  105  about an unlocked reward (e.g.,  225 ,  250 , and/or  255 ) responsive to the number of times exceeding a predefined threshold number of times that triggers the reward. 
     In some embodiments, the custom care plan logic section  405  is configured to create a custom care treatment plan  320  for the child  105 . The custom care treatment plan  320  can be dependent on input received via the graphical user interface  340  from the healthcare provider  330 . The custom care treatment plan  320  can be dependent on the location information  325  that represents the journey of the child  105  through the healthcare facility  115 . The custom care treatment plan  320  can include a series of steps  505  for the child  105  to follow. The display screen  205  of the smart toy  110  can be configured to show the series of steps  505  for the child  105  to follow to complete the custom care treatment plan  320 . 
     In some embodiments, the custom care plan logic section  405  is configured to track progress of the child  105  in completing the series of steps  505  of the custom care treatment plan  320 . The graphical user interface  340  can be configured to display the tracked progress of the child  105  in completing the series of steps  505  of the custom care treatment plan  320 . The series of steps  505  of the custom care treatment plan can include at least one medical test  515  and at least one medical treatment  520 . The custom care treatment plan  320  can include a unique identifier  380  associated with the smart toy  105  and/or associated with the child  105 . The online database  305  can be configured to receive and store the custom care treatment plan  320  including the unique identifier  380 . The smart toy  110  can be configured to access, using the wireless transceiver  230  of the smart toy  110  via the cloud  350 , the custom care treatment plan  320  stored in the online database  305 . 
     In some embodiments, the smart toy  110  includes a speaker  215 , an internal storage device  245 , and a microprocessor  220 . The internal storage device  245  can be configured to store location-specific viewable content  240 , one or more viewable reminders  260 , location-specific audible content  235 , and/or one or more audible reminders  265 . The microprocessor  220  can be configured to cause the location-specific viewable content  240  to be displayed on the display screen  205  of the smart toy  110  responsive to the object identifier  295  sensing or scanning the particular location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ) from among the plurality of location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ). 
     The microprocessor  220  can be configured to cause the location-specific audible content  235  to be emitted via the speaker  215  of the smart toy  110  responsive to the object identifier  295  sensing or scanning the particular location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ) from among the plurality of location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ). 
     The microprocessor  220  can be configured to cause the one or more viewable reminders  260  to be displayed on the display screen  205  of the smart toy  110 . Alternatively or in addition, the microprocessor  220  can be configured to cause the one or more audible reminders  265  to be emitted via the speaker  215  of the smart toy  110 . The one or more viewable reminders  260  can include a reminder about a medical appointment or a reminder about when to take a medication, for example. Similarly, the one or more audible reminders  265  can include a reminder about a medical appointment or a reminder about when to take a medication, for example. 
     The wireless transceiver  230  of the smart toy  110  can be configured to periodically receive one or more functionality updates  390  from the online database  305 . This can happen automatically or in response to a manual update request received by the smart toy  110 . The internal storage device  245  of the smart toy  110  can be configured to store the one or more functionality updates  390 . 
     In some embodiments, the system  300  for educating and reducing stress for patients with illness or trauma can include a smart toy  110  having an object identifier  295 , an internal storage device  245 , and a microprocessor  220 . In some embodiments, the object identifier  295  is configured to read a particular location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ) from among the plurality of location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ). The internal storage device  245  can store location-specific content (e.g.,  240  and  235 ). In some embodiments, the microprocessor  220  is configured to cause the location-specific content (e.g.,  240  and  235 ) to be provided to the child  105  via the smart toy  110  responsive to the object identifier  295  reading the particular location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ) from among the plurality of location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ). The particular location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ) may be referred to as a first particular location-identifying object. The location-specific content (e.g.,  240  and  235 ) may be referred to as first location-specific content. The object identifier  295  is configured to read a second particular location-identifying object (e.g.,  145 ) from among the plurality of location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ). In some embodiments, the internal storage device  245  is configured to store second location-specific content (e.g.,  240  or  235 ). In other words, the internal storage device  245  can store various location-specific content associated with the various different rooms (e.g.,  120 ,  125 , and  130 ) of the healthcare facility  115 . The microprocessor  220  can cause the second location-specific content (e.g.,  240  or  235 ) to be provided to the child  105  via the smart toy  110  responsive to the object identifier  295  reading the second particular location-identifying object (e.g.,  145 ) from among the plurality of location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ). In some embodiments, the location-specific viewable content  240  includes at least one of an image related to a childhood illness, an instruction related to childhood illness, or information about a medical procedure. In some embodiments, the location-specific audible content  235  includes at least one of an image related to a childhood illness, an instruction related to childhood illness, or information about a medical procedure. 
     A method for educating and reducing stress for patients with illness or trauma is also disclosed herein. More specifically, the method can include disposing multiple near location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ) proximally to a corresponding room (e.g.,  120 ,  125 , and  130 ) among a plurality of rooms of a healthcare facility  115 . The method can include causing an object identifier  295  to sense or scan a particular location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ) from among the plurality of location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ). The method can include transmitting, by a wireless transceiver  230  of a smart toy  110 , location information  325  about the smart toy  110  to the online database  305  via the cloud  350 . The location information  325  can be dependent on the sensed particular location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ) from among the plurality of location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ). 
     The method can include educating and reducing stress of the child  105  and the child&#39;s parents, using an education and stress reduction logic section  315  that is operable with a computer terminal  310 . The method can include communicatively coupling the education and stress reduction logic section  315  to the online database  305  via the cloud  350 . The method can include presenting, by a graphical user interface logic section  410  of the education and stress reduction logic section  315 , a graphical user interface  340  via a display screen of the computer terminal  310 . The method can include receiving, by a real-time location tracking logic section  430  of the education and stress reduction logic section  315 , the location information  325  from the online database  305 , and tracking a real-time location of the smart toy  110  within the healthcare facility  115  based on the received location information  325 . The method can include displaying, by the graphical user interface  340 , the real-time location of the smart toy  110  within the healthcare facility  115 . 
     In some embodiments, the method can include tracking, by the reward tracking logic section  270 , a number of times the object identifier  295  of the smart toy  110  senses or scans the particular location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ) from among the plurality of location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ). The method can include causing, by the reward tracking logic section  270 , the display screen  205  and/or the speaker  215  of the smart toy  110  to inform the child  105  about an unlocked reward (e.g.,  225 ,  250 , and/or  255 ) responsive to the number of times exceeding a predefined threshold number of times that triggers the reward. 
     In some embodiments, the method can include tracking, by the reward tracking logic section  415 , the number of times the object identifier  295  of the smart toy  110  senses or scans the particular location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ) from among the plurality of location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ). The method can include causing, by the reward tracking logic section  415 , the display screen  205  and/or the speaker  215  of the smart toy  110  to inform the child  105  about an unlocked reward (e.g.,  225 ,  250 , and/or  255 ) responsive to the number of times exceeding a predefined threshold number of times that triggers the reward. 
     In some embodiments, the method can include creating, by the custom care plan logic section  405 , a custom care treatment plan  320  for the child  105 . The custom care treatment plan  320  can be dependent on input received via the graphical user interface  340  from the healthcare provider  330 . The method can include creating a series of steps  505  for the child  105  to follow. The method can including showing on the display screen  205  of the smart toy  110  the series of steps  505  for the child  105  to follow to complete the custom care treatment plan  320 . 
     In some embodiments, the method can include tracking progress of the child  105 , by the custom care plan logic section  405 , in completing the series of steps  505  of the custom care treatment plan  320 . The method can include displaying, by the graphical user interface  340 , the tracked progress of the child  105  in completing the series of steps  505  of the custom care treatment plan  320 . The series of steps  505  of the custom care treatment plan can include at least one medical test  515  and at least one medical treatment  520 . The method can include associating a unique identifier  380  with the smart toy  105  and/or with the child  105 . The method can include receiving and storing, by the online database  305 , the custom care treatment plan  320  including the unique identifier  380 . The method can include accessing, by the smart toy  110 , using the wireless transceiver  230  of the smart toy  110  via the cloud  350 , the custom care treatment plan  320  stored in the online database  305 . 
     The method can include storing, by the internal storage device  245 , location-specific viewable content  240 , one or more viewable reminders  260 , location-specific audible content  235 , and/or one or more audible reminders  265 . The method can include causing, by the microprocessor  220 , the location-specific viewable content  240  to be displayed on the display screen  205  of the smart toy  110  responsive to the object identifier  295  sensing or scanning the particular location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ) from among the plurality of location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ). 
     The method can include causing, by the microprocessor  220 , the location-specific audible content  235  to be emitted via the speaker  215  of the smart toy  110  responsive to the object identifier  295  sensing or scanning the particular location-identifying object (e.g.,  140 ) from among the plurality of location-identifying objects (e.g.,  140 ,  145 , and  150 ). 
     The method can include causing, by the microprocessor  220 , the one or more viewable reminders  260  to be displayed on the display screen  205  of the smart toy  110 . Alternatively or in addition, the method can include causing, by the microprocessor  220 , the one or more audible reminders  265  to be emitted via the speaker  215  of the smart toy  110 . The one or more viewable reminders  260  can include a reminder about a medical appointment or a reminder about when to take a medication, for example. Similarly, the one or more audible reminders  265  can include a reminder about a medical appointment or a reminder about when to take a medication, for example. 
     The method can include periodically receiving, by the wireless transceiver  230  of the smart toy  110 , one or more functionality updates  390  from the online database  305 . This can happen automatically or in response to a manual update request received by the smart toy  110 . The method can include storing, by the internal storage device  245  of the smart toy  110 , the one or more functionality updates  390 . 
     Embodiments are described herein, and illustrated in the drawings, in terms of functional blocks, units and/or modules. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that these blocks, units and/or modules can be physically implemented by electronic (or optical) circuits such as logic circuits, discrete components, microprocessors, hard-wired circuits, memory elements, wiring connections, and the like, which may be formed using semiconductor-based fabrication techniques or other manufacturing technologies. In the case of the blocks, units and/or modules being implemented by microprocessors or similar, they may be programmed using software (e.g., microcode) to perform various functions discussed herein and may optionally be driven by firmware and/or software. Alternatively, each block, unit and/or module may be implemented by dedicated hardware, or as a combination of dedicated hardware to perform some functions and a processor (e.g., one or more programmed microprocessors and associated circuitry) to perform other functions. Also, each block, unit and/or module of the embodiments may be physically separated into two or more interacting and discrete blocks, units and/or modules without departing from the scope of the inventive concepts. Further, the blocks, units and/or modules of the embodiments may be physically combined into more complex blocks, units and/or modules without departing from the scope of the inventive concepts. 
     The following discussion is intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable machine or machines in which certain aspects of the inventive concept can be implemented. Typically, the machine or machines include a system bus to which is attached processors, memory, e.g., random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), or other state preserving medium, storage devices, a video interface, and input/output interface ports. The machine or machines can be controlled, at least in part, by input from conventional input devices, such as keyboards, mice, etc., as well as by directives received from another machine, interaction with a virtual reality (VR) environment, biometric feedback, or other input signal. As used herein, the term “machine” is intended to broadly encompass a single machine, a virtual machine, or a system of communicatively coupled machines, virtual machines, or devices operating together. Exemplary machines include computing devices such as personal computers, workstations, servers, portable computers, handheld devices, telephones, tablets, etc., as well as transportation devices, such as private or public transportation, e.g., automobiles, trains, cabs, etc. 
     The machine or machines can include embedded controllers, such as programmable or non-programmable logic devices or arrays, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), embedded computers, smart cards, and the like. The logic sections described herein can include software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. The machine or machines can utilize one or more connections to one or more remote machines, such as through a network interface, modem, or other communicative coupling. Machines can be interconnected by way of a physical and/or logical network, such as an intranet, the Internet, local area networks, wide area networks, etc. One skilled in the art will appreciate that network communication can utilize various wired and/or wireless short range or long range carriers and protocols, including radio frequency (RF), satellite, microwave, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 545.11, Bluetooth®, optical, infrared, cable, laser, etc. 
     Embodiments of the inventive concept can be described by reference to or in conjunction with associated data including functions, procedures, data structures, application programs, etc. which when accessed by a machine results in the machine performing tasks or defining abstract data types or low-level hardware contexts. Associated data can be stored in, for example, the volatile and/or non-volatile memory, e.g., RAM, ROM, etc., or in other storage devices and their associated storage media, including hard-drives, floppy-disks, optical storage, tapes, flash memory, memory sticks, digital video disks, biological storage, etc. Associated data can be delivered over transmission environments, including the physical and/or logical network, in the form of packets, serial data, parallel data, propagated signals, etc., and can be used in a compressed or encrypted format. Associated data can be used in a distributed environment, and stored locally and/or remotely for machine access. 
     Having described and illustrated the principles of the inventive concept with reference to illustrated embodiments, it will be recognized that the illustrated embodiments can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles, and can be combined in any desired manner And although the foregoing discussion has focused on particular embodiments, other configurations are contemplated. In particular, even though expressions such as “according to an embodiment of the invention” or the like are used herein, these phrases are meant to generally reference embodiment possibilities, and are not intended to limit the inventive concept to particular embodiment configurations. As used herein, these terms can reference the same or different embodiments that are combinable into other embodiments. 
     Embodiments of the invention may include a non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions executable by one or more processors, the instructions comprising instructions to perform the elements of the embodiments as described herein. 
     Consequently, in view of the wide variety of permutations to the embodiments described herein, this detailed description and accompanying material is intended to be illustrative only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the inventive concept. What is claimed as the invention, therefore, is all such modifications as may come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto.