Search

EP-4591962-B1 - CONFIGURABLE INTERACTIVE TOY SYSTEM

EP4591962B1EP 4591962 B1EP4591962 B1EP 4591962B1EP-4591962-B1

Inventors

  • VAZ, Agnelo
  • SCHWAB, Brian
  • LIPPERT, Kristian
  • SHUMYLO, Iryna

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240125

Claims (16)

  1. Interactive toy element (100), the interactive toy element comprising an input device (108), an output device (105), a data communication device (211), and a processor (209) operationally connected to the input device, the output device, and the data communication device; wherein the processor comprises: an interaction module configured to control the output device to generate an output in response to a trigger signal received from the input device, according to behavioural data in a behavioural data structure of the interaction module; and an identity configuration module configured: - to receive primary behavioural data representing a primary identity; - to receive secondary behavioural data representing a secondary identity different from the primary identity; - to insert the primary behavioural data in the behavioural data structure of the interaction module, thereby configuring a specific identity of the interactive toy element according to the primary identity; and - to insert the secondary behavioural data in the behavioural data structure of the interaction module, thereby configuring a modified identity of the interactive toy element based on at least a combination of the primary and secondary identities in agreement with pre-defined configuration rules; characterised in that the interactive toy element is adapted to retrieve information regarding behavioural identity from an identity tag element (305), the identity tag element comprising a data storage device (309) and a data exchange interface (306).
  2. Interactive toy element according to claim 1, wherein the identity configuration module is further configured: - to receive further behavioural data representing a respective further behavioural identity different from the primary and secondary behavioural identities; and - to insert the further behavioural data in the behavioural data structure of the interaction module, wherein configuring the modified identity is further based on one or more of the respective further identities in agreement with predefined configuration rules.
  3. Interactive toy element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the identity configuration module is further configured to determine a primacy ranking of the received behavioural data; and wherein configuring the modified identity is further based on the determined primacy ranking of the received behavioural data.
  4. Interactive toy element according to claim 3, wherein the information regarding the behavioural identity comprises one or more of: - a behavioural data structure representing the behavioural identity; - a data item identifying a behavioural data structure representing the identity stored on a memory device in the interactive toy element; - a pointer identifying a local data storage location of a behavioural data structure representing an identity; and - a pointer identifying a remote data storage location of a behavioural data structure representing an identity.
  5. Interactive toy element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the behavioural data structure comprises principal interaction responses to input trigger signals and subordinate interaction responses to input trigger signals, and wherein the identity configuration module is further configured: - to configure principal and subordinate interaction responses based on primary behavioural data; - to configure further principal and subordinate interaction responses that are not configured based on primary behavioural data, based on secondary behavioural data; and/or - to merge the configuration of subordinate interaction responses based on primary and secondary behavioural data.
  6. Interactive toy element according to claim 5, wherein the identity configuration module is further configured - to configure further principal and subordinate interaction responses that are not configured based on primary or secondary behavioural data, based on further behavioural data; and/or - merging the configuration of subordinate interaction responses based at least on a combination of primary, secondary, and further behavioural data.
  7. Toy system comprising a plurality of toy elements, the plurality of toy elements comprising one or more interactive toy elements (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, the toy system further comprising a plurality of identity tag elements (305), each identity tag element comprising a data storage device (309) carrying information regarding a behavioural identity and a data exchange interface (306) adapted for communication with the one or more interactive toy elements.
  8. Toy system according to claim 7, wherein the toy system is a modular toy construction system comprising a plurality of modular toy construction elements, wherein each of the modular toy construction elements comprises coupling members (102, 103, 104) for the releasable connection of the toy construction elements with each other to form a toy construction model.
  9. Toy system according to claim 8, wherein the interactive toy elements and the identity tag elements are toy construction elements of the modular toy construction system.
  10. Method of configuring a behavioural identity of an interactive toy element (100) according to any one of claims 1-9, the method comprising: - receiving primary behavioural data representing a primary identity; - receiving secondary behavioural data representing a secondary identity different from the primary identity; - inserting the primary behavioural data in the behavioural data structure of the interaction module, thereby configuring a specific identity of the interactive toy element according to the primary identity; and - inserting the secondary behavioural data in the behavioural data structure of the interaction module, thereby configuring a modified identity of the interactive toy element based on at least a combination of the primary and secondary identities in agreement with pre-defined configuration rules.
  11. Method according to claim 10, the method further comprising: - receiving further behavioural data representing a respective further identity different from the primary and secondary identities; and - inserting the further behavioural data in the behavioural data structure of the interaction module, wherein configuring the modified identity is further based on one or more of the respective further identities in agreement with predefined configuration rules.
  12. Method according to any one of claims 10-11, the method further comprising: - specifying, in the behavioural data structure, principal interaction responses to input trigger signals and subordinate interaction responses to input trigger signals, based on a primacy ranking of the received behavioural data.
  13. Method according to any one of claims 10-12, further comprising determining a primacy ranking of the received behavioural data, wherein configuring the modified identity is further based on the determined primacy ranking.
  14. Method according to claim 13, wherein determining the primacy ranking of the received behavioural data is partly or entirely based on a sequence of events, such as a sequence of interaction events, such as a sequence of receiving the behavioural data or a sequence of detecting identity tag elements, each identity tag element carrying a behavioural data structure representing a respective identity.
  15. Method according to any one of claims 13-14, wherein the primary behavioural data has a higher primacy ranking than the secondary behavioural data, and wherein inserting the primary and secondary behavioural data in the behavioural data structure of the interaction module comprises: - configuring principal and subordinate interaction responses based on primary behavioural data; - configuring further principal and subordinate interaction responses that are not configured based on primary behavioural data, based on secondary behavioural data; and/or - merging the configuration of subordinate interaction responses based at least on a combination of primary and secondary behavioural data.
  16. Method according to claim 15, wherein the primary behavioural data and the secondary behavioural data have a higher primacy ranking than the further behavioural data, and wherein inserting the further behavioural data in the behavioural data structure of the interaction module further comprises: - configuring further principal and subordinate interaction responses that are not configured based on primary or secondary behavioural data, based on further behavioural data; and/or - merging the configuration of subordinate interaction responses based at least on a combination of primary, secondary, and further behavioural data.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Toy systems comprising elements, which are configured for selective and detachable assembly with each other, have been known long. Over the years, such toy system elements have evolved from being primarily simple box-shaped building blocks to include also more remarkable toy system elements, such as e.g. elements having distinct appearances, and/or a mechanical or electrical function, and/or one or more programmable processors; all as part of an endeavour to enhance the play experience. US 6,902,461 B1 discloses a programmable toy with a microprocessor, which can execute instructions in the form of a program stored in a memory, and a display integrated in the toy. The microprocessor is adapted to control electrical and/or electro-mechanical units in response to the instructions. The microprocessor may receive signals from electrical and/or electro-mechanical units. The toy can be programmed by means of a visual user interface provided via the display. Further known are self-contained toy system elements, which comprise a control unit and an energy source for providing energy to the control unit and to other parts of the self-contained element. Such self-contained elements may further have a function device adapted to perform a preconfigured user-perceptible function, where such a function may be one or more of e.g. a movement, a generation of an audible sound signal, a generation of a visible light signal, a generation of a tactile experience, etc. The toy system elements, which are configured for selective and detachable assembly with each other, can be assembled to create an assembled toy model, which may exhibit complex behaviour. In particular, complex behaviour may result when the model includes several toy system elements, and further in particular, when the model includes elements with a preconfigured user-perceptible function, such as motors, lights, sound devices, etc. Such complex behaviour is desirable as an extension of the imagination of the user, but at the same time, it is desirable that the toy system is relatively easy to use. Hence, it remains desirable to provide a toy system, where the user can combine and/or assemble toy system elements to create toy models exhibiting a resulting behaviour that can be defined in a user-friendly manner. In particular, it is desirable that configuring a toy element or an assembled toy model does not require a high level of abstract thinking and technical insight in order to manipulate the toy system elements to arrive at a desired functional behaviour. In particular, it is desirable that a desired functional behaviour can be achieved in a user-friendly, efficient, yet flexible and reliable manner without the need for detailed knowledge of control structures, data communication, and how to connect electrical wires, conductors, etc. properly. Moreover, it is desirable to provide an easy-to-use mechanism to alter the behaviour of a toy system element or of an existing toy model. It is generally desirable to provide a toy system that provides enhanced educational activities and/or play activities. It is further desirable to provide a toy system that provides a high degree of flexibility in designing different toy assemblies with a rich functionality. Various aspects of embodiments of a toy system disclosed herein address one or more of the above needs and/or other needs that exist in the field of toy systems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first aspect of the invention relates to an interactive toy element, the interactive toy element comprising an input device, an output device, a data communication device, and a processor operationally connected to the input device, the output device, and the data communication device; wherein the processor comprises: an interaction module configured to control the output device to generate an output in response to a trigger signal received from the input device, according to behavioural data in a behavioural data structure of the interaction module; and an identity configuration module configured: to receive primary behavioural data representing a primary identity; to receive secondary behavioural data representing a secondary identity different from the primary identity; to insert the primary behavioural data in the behavioural data structure of the interaction module, thereby configuring a specific identity of the interactive toy element according to the primary identity; and to insert the secondary behavioural data in the behavioural data structure of the interaction module, thereby configuring a modified identity of the interactive toy element based on at least a combination of the primary and secondary identities in agreement with predefined configuration rules. The terms "identity" or "behavioural identity" as used herein refer to a set of programmed instructions defining an interactive behaviour. An identity of the interactive toy thus defines a set of responses to received stimuli. The progr