Patent ID: 7566257

Claim:
A data transfer system, comprising: a display device including a display screen, the display device operable to display a time-dependent visual pattern on the display screen, the time-dependent visual pattern representing a plurality of bits of data; and an electronic toy comprising: at least one dynamic feature including at least one of a visual element, a speaker, and an actuator; a memory; a processor operably coupled to the memory and the dynamic feature and operable to execute programmatic data stored in the memory to control the dynamic element; an array of photoelectric detectors secured to a surface of the toy and operably coupled to the processor, the array being operable to receive the visual pattern when the electronic toy is positioned adjacent the display screen and to generate a plurality of electrical signals responsive to the visual pattern and the processor operable to process the electrical signals and to derive programmatic data and to store the programmatic data in the memory; and wherein the processor is further operable to determine from the visual pattern whether the electronic toy is properly positioned relative to the visual pattern and, if the electronic toy is determined not to be properly positioned relative to the visual pattern, to determine an offset direction corresponding to the position of the electronic toy relative to the visual pattern and output the offset direction.