Patent Publication Number: US-2022233968-A1

Title: An interactive apparatus

Description:
DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an interactive apparatus. 
     Interactive apparatus are known for interaction by a user to engage with media including images, video and audio. Interactive apparatus are also known which have communication interfaces to permit wireless control of the apparatus, and/or transmission of multimedia content to the apparatus. 
     More recently, interactive apparatus configured as toys for children have become available. An attraction of such interactive apparatus is that they permit an active engagement of a child with media to create a play activity as opposed to a passive engagement such as a child simply watching a video or the like. Such apparatus may include media being stored on physical objects configured as cards, and figurines which include wireless communication tags such as NFC and/or RFID that can be read by the apparatus to play the media. A child may thus operate with the apparatus to engage with the media to curate their own experiences. Such an apparatus may include a communication interface for communication with computing equipment over a communication network, e.g. Bluetooth and the internet, to permit the transfer of media and/or control of the apparatus, e.g. to stream multimedia content to the apparatus. For such an apparatus, the media may not be stored on the physical objects but instead the physical objects may have media identifier keys, e.g. URL addresses, for downloading an associated media to the apparatus. Apparatus may include communication devices such as microphones and cameras to permit a child to transmit, receive and/or record audio/video content through the apparatus. This increases the creativity of the apparatus and stimulates further interaction opportunities for a child. 
     A concern associated with the use of such interactive apparatus is that they may be subject to unauthorised access that may allow a remote user to control or otherwise interfere with the apparatus in a way that intrudes on the privacy of the user. In particular, in the context of a child user, parents may have safety concerns if a remote user were to obtain authorised access to a microphone, camera or communication interface of the apparatus. 
     The present invention seeks to provide an improved interactive apparatus with respect to the prior art interactive apparatus. 
     According to an aspect of the invention we provide an interactive apparatus, the apparatus including:
         a control device for controlling the interactive apparatus;   input for providing input(s) and output for providing audio and/or visual outputs, wherein the control device is configured for receiving media and providing the media to the output to provide audio and/or visual outputs associated with the media;   a communication device for receiving a communication input for processing by the control device, the communication device including one or more of: a microphone, a camera, and a communication interface for communication with electronic or computer devices over a communications network;   wherein the communication device is only permitted to be activated by an actuation device being placed into close proximity to or physical contact with the interactive apparatus, or being detected by the apparatus.       

     When the interactive apparatus is in an operational state, the communication device may only be permitted to be activated by the actuation device being placed into close proximity to or physical contact with the interactive apparatus or being detected by the apparatus. 
     The actuation device may be for permitting activation of the communication device and operation of the rest of the interactive apparatus may be otherwise independent of the actuation device. 
     The interactive apparatus may include a detection device for detecting the actuation device and/or the actuation device. 
     The communication device may only be permitted to be activated in response to the detection device detecting the actuation device, e.g. detecting its presence, or that the actuation device is in close proximity to or in physical contact with the interactive apparatus. 
     The communication device may not be permitted to be activated in response to the detection device detecting the actuation device is not in close proximity to or not in physical contact with the interactive apparatus. 
     The actuation device may include a passive or active wireless communication tag for detection by the detection device, optionally or preferably the wireless communication tag is a Near Field Communication Tag (NFC Tag) or a Radio Frequency Identification Tag (RFID Tag) 
     The detection device may include a magnetic field sensor, and the actuation device includes a magnet for detection by the magnetic field sensor when the actuation device is placed into close proximity to or physical contact with the interactive apparatus. 
     The interactive apparatus may include a switch device operable between a first state to activate the communication device and a second state to deactivate the communication device. 
     The switch device may be a reed switch which is operable by the actuation device being in close proximity to or engagement with the interactive apparatus. 
     The switch device may be operable by the control device. 
     The input may include a reading device for reading a media identifier key present on a media object when said media object is placed into close proximity to or physical contact with the interactive apparatus. 
     The control device may be configured to use the media identifier key to obtain an associated media and provide said associated media to the output device(s). 
     The associated media may be stored on a computer readable medium of the interactive apparatus and/or may be stored on a remote computer from which the associated media may be downloaded. 
     The interactive apparatus may include a housing, wherein the housing includes a recess for receiving the actuation device therein. 
     The recess may be provided on a surface of the housing which, in use, faces a user. 
     The interactive apparatus may include a computer readable medium for storing a communication input received from the communication device. 
     The computer readable medium may be a removable Secure Digital (SD) card. 
     The output may include a visual display and/or a speaker. 
     The interactive apparatus may include contact elements for engaging with corresponding contact elements on the actuation device to close a circuit such that the communication device is permitted to be activated. 
     The interactive apparatus may include a user operable device operable to activate and/or deactivate the communication device. 
     Embodiments of the invention will be set out below by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures, of which: 
    
    
     
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an interactive apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing components of an interactive apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an interactive apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , an interactive apparatus  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In embodiments, the interactive apparatus may be a portable device. In embodiments, the interactive apparatus may be configured as a smart speaker or a toy for a child. In the following description, one or more of the features may be employed in connection with such interactive apparatus in a way that will be readily appreciated by the skill person. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , interactive apparatus  10  includes a body  11  which has therein a control device  12 , input devices  14  for providing inputs, output devices  16 ,  18 , and communication devices  20  for receiving communication inputs. The interactive apparatus  10  may have a battery to provide power thereto and/or may be connected to a mains supply. 
     The control device  12  may be in the form of a processor, a printed circuit board (PCB) and/or other control device configured to control the various components of the interactive apparatus  10 . The interactive apparatus  10  may have a storage medium including instructions, e.g. software modules and code, for processing by the control device  12  to effect operation of the interactive apparatus  12 . The interactive apparatus  12  may have a SD card device  13  for reading data from, and, storing data on, a SD card. 
     Output device  16  may include a display such as a LED display or the like to display visual images/graphics. Output device  18  may include a speaker for producing audio. Other forms of output devices may be used for outputting media in a manner that would be readily appreciated by the skilled person. 
     Input devices  14  may include user operable buttons, a touch screen or other user operable devices for providing user inputs to the interactive apparatus  10  to interact with, and/or provide user commands, to the interactive apparatus  10 . The user inputs may be for turning the apparatus  10  on and off, adjusting the properties of output devices  16 , e.g. volume, display settings, and controlling the apparatus  10  to process media as will be described. In embodiments, the input devices  14  may include portable devices that are connectable via a wired or wireless connection to the interactive apparatus  10 . Such input devices  14  may include cellular telephones, computer tablets or computers. 
     The input devices  14  may be operated to cause the interactive apparatus  10  to receive media via a media object  15 , associate media to the media object  15 , and/or permit user interaction/engagement with said media. Media object  15  may be a physical object in the form of a card, figurine or the like, when the interactive apparatus  10  is configured as a toy. The media object  15  may include a wireless communication device to permit communication between the media object  15  and the interactive apparatus  10 . 
     The control device  12  may be configured for receiving media and providing the media to the output devices  16 ,  18  to provide audio and/or visual outputs associated with the media, e.g. generate sounds and visual images on a user operating the input devices  14 . 
     Input devices  14  may include a reading device  14   a  for reading the media object  15  when the media object  15  is placed in close proximity to or physical contact with the interactive apparatus  10 . Reading device  14   a  may include a wireless communication reader and media object  15  may include a wireless communication tag. In embodiments, the tag may include media, e.g. audio and visual content in a coded format, and which media can be read by the reading device  14   a  and converted by the control device  12  into audio and/or visual outputs for outputting by the output devices  16 ,  18 . In embodiments, the tag may include a media identifier key  15   a . The media identifier key  15   a  may be used by the control device  12  to obtain an associated media. In embodiments, the media identifier key  15   a  may be in the form of a URL which can be read by the reading device  14   a  and provided to the control device  12  for downloading/streaming the associated media from a remote computer, e.g. a server in the cloud, as will be described. In embodiments, the media identifier key  15   a  may be used by the control device  12  to obtain an associated media stored at the interactive apparatus  10  as will be described. Examples of wireless communication tags include passive and active Near Field Communication tags (NFC Tag) and/or a Radio Frequency Identification tags (RFID tag). Examples of media may include an audio book or music which may be played by the interactive apparatus  10 , graphics/animations for display by the interactive apparatus  10 , and/or a combination of graphics/animation/audio that is produced by the interactive apparatus  10  in response to user inputs at the interactive apparatus  10 . The interactive apparatus  10  may include a formation or a designated surface  17  which must receive the media object  15  to effect reading of, and/or transfer of data with, the media object  15 . For example, the formation or designated surface  17  is sufficiently close and/or in contact with the reading device  14   a  to ensure that the media object  15  may be read, e.g. due to the range of the wireless communication tag where it is employed for embodiments. The formation  17  may be configured as a slot into which the media object  15  may be inserted, e.g. where the media object  15  is provided as a card. 
     Communication devices  20  may include a microphone  20   a  and a camera  20   b . The communication devices  20  may be on-board devices within the interactive apparatus  10 , e.g. the microphone may be an on-board device, the camera  20   b  may be an on-board device. 
     In embodiments, the communication devices  20  may include a communication interface  20   c  for communication with electronic/computer devices (e.g. a computer, cellular/smart phone, tablet and the like) over a communications network, e.g. a wireless network, the internet or wireless communication protocols such as Bluetooth. The communication interface may be an on-board device. In such embodiments, the communication interface  20   c  may only be activated if the actuation device  22  is in close proximity to or in engagement with the apparatus  10 . 
     The interactive apparatus  10  may be operated by the user to store, record and/or transmit audio, video and/or other information via the communication device  20  being activated. In embodiments, interactive apparatus  10  may be operated by a user so that the communication devices  20  may record and store user created media at the interactive apparatus  10 , e.g. on a SD card. In embodiments, interactive apparatus  10  may have the means to create a media identifier key and store said media identifier key to the media object  15  via a wireless communication tag on the media object  15 . This is so that the associated media recorded and stored at the interactive apparatus  10  is obtained by the control device  12  when the media identifier key on media object  15  is read by the reading device  14   a . In embodiments, the interactive apparatus  10  may be operable by a user to create a media identifier key which the reading device  14   a  may store on a blank media object to associate with media which is external of the interactive apparatus  10 . For the example, a user may have media on his or her cellular telephone, or media stored on a remote computer, e.g. a server in the cloud, that her or she can have made associated with the blank media object by the user operating the interactive apparatus  10  to create a media identifier key that directs the control device  12  to the media, e.g. through a URL address. In embodiments, the interactive apparatus  10  may have a user operable device operable to activate/deactivate the communication devices  20 . The user operable device may be a manual switch, e.g. one of input devices  14 , or an electronic switch that is electronically operated by the control device  12  in response to user instructions received by the interactive apparatus  10 . Such user instructions may be received via a device connected to, or in wireless communication, with the interactive apparatus  10 , e.g. a cellular telephone or a computer tablet. 
     Interactive apparatus  10  may be configured such that the communication device  20  is only permitted to be activated by an actuation device  22  being placed in close proximity to or physical contact with the interactive apparatus  10  or the actuation device  22  being detected as present by the interactive apparatus  10 . For example, in embodiments, whilst the interactive apparatus  10  is in an operational state, i.e. it is in an “on” state, the communication device  20  is only permitted to be activated by the actuation device  22  being placed into close proximity to or physical contact with the interactive apparatus  10  or being detected by the apparatus  10 . In embodiments, the apparatus  10  may be arranged such that the actuation device  22  is for permitting activation of the communication device  20  and operation of the rest of the interactive apparatus  10  is otherwise independent of the actuation device  22 . Thus, the apparatus  10  may be otherwise operational so that the various output/input devices are working as normal, but the communication device  22  cannot be activated unless the actuation device  22  is placed in close proximity to or physical contact with the apparatus  10  or the device  22  being detected by the apparatus  10 . 
     Activation of the communication device  20  refers to the communication device  20  being made operational such that the control device  12 , may, for example, operate the communication device  20  to record sound, video or receive/transmit data as the case may be. If the actuation device  22  is not present then the communication device  20  cannot be turned “on”. In embodiments, body  11  may have a recess  11   a  for receiving the actuation device  22  therein. In embodiments, the recess  11   a  may be provided on a surface of the body  11  which, in use, faces a user. 
     The actuation device  22  may take various forms. 
     The actuation device  22  may be in the form of a card or coin shaped object that is received by the recess  11   a  or may be placed on or near a designated surface of the body to ensure the actuation device  22  interacts with the interactive apparatus  10  to permit actuation of the communication devices  20 . 
     In embodiments, the actuation device  22  may cause automatic activation of one or more of the communication devices  20 . For example, where the communication device is a microphone or camera, the interactive apparatus  10  may be configured to automatically activate the microphone to commence recording or the camera to commence recording or capture of images. 
     In embodiments, the interactive apparatus  10  may include a detection device  24  for detecting the actuation device  22  and the interactive apparatus  10  may be configured such that the communication devices  20  are only permitted to be activated in response to the detection device  24  detecting the actuation device  22  is in close proximity to or in physical contact with the interactive apparatus  10 . 
     In embodiments, there may be a plurality of actuation devices for corresponding ones of the communication devices  20 . 
     Detection device  24  may include a reader and the actuation device  22  may include a passive or active wireless communication tag, e.g. NFC tag or RFID tag that may be scanned by the reader. The control device  12  may be configured to only permit activation of the communication devices  20  if it receives a positive signal from the detection device  24  indicating that the actuation device  22  is in close proximity to or engagement with the interactive system  10 . For example, there may be a control or power supply circuit for the communication devices  20  that may be isolated by the control device  12  from the rest of the interactive apparatus  10  such that the communication devices  20  are inhibited from activation unless the circuit is connected by the control device  12 . In embodiments, the actuation device  22  may have one or more actuation identifier keys  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c  stored on the wireless communication tag associated with the respective communication devices  20 . The control device  12  may read the actuator identifier keys  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c  to identify which of the communication devices  20  can be permitted for activation. In embodiments, the actuation device  22  may be combined with the media object  15 . For example, the media object  15  may include one or more actuation identifier keys  23   a ,  23   b ,  23   c.    
     For illustration, for embodiments having a user operable device, e.g. as one of input devices  14 , for activating one or more of the communication devices  20 , the one or more communication devices  20  cannot be activated even if the user operable device has been operated by a user unless the detection device  24  has determined that the actuation device  22  is in close proximity to/engagement with the interactive apparatus  10 . 
     The interactive apparatus  10  may be configured so that, if a media object  15  is being used for the first time with the interactive apparatus  10 , the control device  12  will use the media identifier key  15   a  present on the media object  15  to obtain the associated media by downloading it from a remote computer, e.g. a server in the cloud, provided that the actuation device  22  is present for permitting operation of the communication interface  20   c . The associated media is then stored on the SD card  13  and the control device  12  stores information on the storage medium of the interactive apparatus  10  to indicate that the associated media has been stored on the SD card  13 . If the same media object  15  is then used again, the control device  12  on reading the media identifier key  15   a  checks the storage medium and establishes that the associated media is present on the SD card  13 . The control device  12  then obtains the associated media from the SD card  13  rather than downloading it. In other cases, the media identifier key  15   a  may indicate that only streaming of the associated media is permitted, in which case the control device  12  does not store the associated media on the SD card  13 . 
     Operation of the interactive apparatus  10  will now be described. The user turns on the interactive apparatus  10  by operating one of the input devices  14 , e.g. pressing a user operable button thereof, placing the media object  15  in or on the formation/designated area  17 , or bringing the media object  15  near the formation/designated area  17  which is then read by the reading device  14   a  to cause the interactive apparatus  10  to turn on. The control device  12  then performs the associated operations/instructions to bring the interactive apparatus  10  into a ready state for operation by the user. 
     In the case for which the apparatus  10  was turned on by operating one of the input devices  14 , if the user wishes to interact with media from a media object  15 , the user may place the media object  15  in or on the formation/designated area  17 , or bring the media object  15  near the formation/designated area  17  and the reader device  14   a  scans the media object  15  via the object&#39;s associated wireless communication tag. The control device  12  may then obtain the media identifier key  15   a . The control device  12  checks whether or not the associated media has previously been accessed, and/or whether the associated media is only permitted for streaming. The first of these may be done by the control device  12  comparing metadata and/or filenames of the associated media against media stored on the SD card  13 . 
     Assuming the associated media has already been accessed and so is stored on the SD card  13 , the control device  12  obtains the associated media from the SD card  13  The control device  12  processes the media and provides the same as signals for the output devices  16 ,  18  to output audio, images, video, graphics and the like associated with the media. The control device  12  may be configured to process the media for provision to the output devices  16 ,  18  on the user operating input devices  14 . The media object  15  may then be removed from the formation/designated area  17  as the control device  12  has obtained the associated media. 
     The above operations occur regardless of whether the actuation device  22  is present or not, i.e. they are independent of the actuation device  22 . 
     If the user wishes to activate one of the communication devices  20 , e.g. microphone  20   a , the user operates the relevant one of the input devices  14  accordingly. The control device  12  receives the associated input and, before activating the microphone  20   a , first communicates with the detection device  24  to determine whether the actuation device  22  has been detected. If the determination is negative, the control device  12  will not activate the microphone  20   a . If the user has placed the actuation device  22  in close proximity to/engagement with the apparatus, a positive determination will be made and the control device  12  will activate the microphone  20   a . In embodiments, the actuation device  22  may be inserted/placed on the formation/designated area  17  to permit activation, for example. The configuration of the control device  12  thus ensures that the microphone  20   a  cannot be activated unless the actuation device  22  has been detected as being in close proximity to or engagement with the apparatus  10 . Once interaction with the apparatus  10  has been completed, or the user wishes for the microphone  20   a  to be inaccessible to third parties, the user simply takes the actuation device  22  far away from the apparatus  10 . Similar operations are performed if the user wishes to activate the camera  20   b , and/or the communication interface  20   c . The configuration of the apparatus  10  thus provides security against unauthorised activation of the microphone  20   a  or camera  20   b . Advantageously, in the context of the apparatus configured as a child&#39;s toy, a parent or child can visually see whether or not the actuation device  22  is engaged or close to the apparatus and thus immediately grasp/have certainty on whether the communication devices  20  have been disabled from activation. 
     It will be appreciated that, for embodiments in which the actuation device  22  is combined with the media object  15 , the control device  12  will operate to detect the presence of the relevant actuation identifier keys  23   a - c , before permitting actuation of the associated communication devices  20   a - c.    
     In embodiments, the detection device  24  may be a magnetic field sensor, and the actuation device  22  may include a magnet, or be capable of producing a magnetic field (e.g. by an electric current flowing through the actuation device  22 ) for detection by the magnetic field sensor when the actuation device  22  is placed into close proximity to or physical contact with the interactive apparatus  10 . In such embodiments, the control device  12  will only permit the communication device  20  to be activated if it has received a positive signal from the detection device  24  that the actuation device  22  has been detected. 
     Operation of such embodiments will be similar to that of previously described embodiments. 
     In embodiments, the interactive apparatus  10  may include a switch device  26  operable between a first state to permit activation of one or more of the communication devices  20  and a second state to inhibit activation of the one or more of the communication devices  20 , and the switch device  26  may be operated by the actuation device  22  being in close proximity to or engagement with the interactive apparatus  10 . In such embodiments, the switch device  26  may form part of a control or power supply circuit for the communication devices  20  that may be isolated by the switch device  26  from the rest of the interactive apparatus  10  such that the communication devices  20  are inhibited from activation unless the circuit is connected by the switch device  26 . The switch device  26  may be independent of the control device  12  and in such embodiments there may be no detection device  24  at all. An example of a switch device  26  includes a reed switch that is operated by sensing a magnetic field produced by the actuation device  22 . The switch device  26  may thus operate without the requirement of a detection device  24  in embodiments because it will directly complete the control/power supply circuit on sensing the magnetic field produced by the actuation device  22 . Operation of apparatus  10  according to such embodiments would be similar to that previously described except that if the user attempts to activate the communication devices  20 , e.g. microphone  20   a  or camera  20   b , the control device  12  simply cannot activate the devices  20  because the relevant control or power supply circuit is isolated if the switch device  22  is not in its first state. Thus, in such embodiments, the switch device  26  provides a robust layer of security against unauthorised access of the communication devices  20 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , in embodiments, other configurations of interactive apparatus  10 ′ and actuation device  22 ′ may be employed. Apparatus  10 ′ may include a control device  12 ′, input devices  14 ′, output devices  16 ′ and communication devices  20 ′. The control, input, output and communication devices  12 ′,  14 ′,  16 ′,  20 ′ may be of a similar configuration as in relation to the control, input and output devices previously described in relation to the embodiments of apparatus  10 . For example, the interactive apparatus  10 ′ may include a control or power supply circuit for one or more of the communication devices  20 ′ that is isolated or independent from the rest of the interactive system  10 ′. The said circuit may have a pair of contact elements  126 ′, e.g. provided at an external surface of the interactive apparatus  10 ′, which must be connected by the actuation device  22 ′ to close the circuit so that it permits control of and/or power to be supplied to the communication devices  20 ′. In such embodiments, the actuation device  22 ′ may close the circuit by engaging with the pair of contact elements  126 ′. For example, the actuation device  22 ′ may include a circuit element, e.g. a wire, which engages with the pair of contact elements  126 ′ so as to close the circuit by bridging the contact elements  126 ′. It will be understood that the actuation device  22 ′ provides a direct physical disconnect/connection of the communication devices  20 ′ that is independent of the control device  12 ′. It will be appreciated how activation of communication devices  20 ′ will not be possible by the control device  12 ′ and/or input devices  14 ′ unless the actuation device  22 ′ is engaged. Thus, the described configuration provides protection against unauthorised access by third parties to the communication devices  20 ′. 
     When used in this specification and claims, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components. 
     The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof. 
     Although certain example embodiments of the invention have been described, the scope of the appended claims is not intended to be limited solely to these embodiments. The claims are to be construed literally, purposively, and/or to encompass equivalents.