Wireless toy systems and methods for interactive entertainment

摘要

A playmate toy or similar children's toy is provided having associated wireless, batteryless ID tag that can be read from and/or written to using a radio-frequency communication protocol. The tag is mounted internally within a cavity of the toy and thereby provides wireless communication of stored information without requiring removal and reinsertion of the tag. In this manner, a stuffed animal or other toy can be quickly and easily identified non-invasively, without damaging the toy. Additional information (e.g., unique personality traits, special powers, skill levels, etc.) can also be stored on the ID tag, thus providing further personality enhancement, input/output programming, simulated intelligence and/or interactive gaming possibilities.

主权项

1. An interactive entertainment system for amusing or entertaining one or more play participants as part of an interactive entertainment experience, said interactive entertainment system comprising:
a plurality of toy characters, each said toy character comprising:
a stuffed-animal, doll or action figure comprising a body having an inner portion and an outer portion;a first wirelessly-powered radio frequency identification (RFID) tag provided on or within said body at a first location;a second wirelessly-powered RFID tag provided on or within said body at a second location that is different than said first location,wherein each of said first and second wirelessly-powered RFID tags comprises:
a unique identification number;a microprocessor;non-volatile programmable memory configured to store selected information associated with each said corresponding toy character; anda radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to facilitate two-way wireless communication with one or more compatible RFID reader devices; and at least one RFID reader device configured to wirelessly power and communicate with each of said first and second RFID tags at least in part through inductive coupling and wherein said wireless communication communicates at least said corresponding unique identification number and said selected information, wherein said at least one RFID reader device is further configured to communicate at least said corresponding unique identification number or said selected information to a game control system configured to actuate one or more interactive effects based at least in part on said corresponding unique identification number or said selected information.