Artificial Intelligence Responsive Talking Toy

Interactive toys can include toys that play pre-recorded statements or audio files to a child. There are options for how the toy can obtain the audio file to play to the child. The toy may record the child and playback the recording, which may or may not be distorted first. The toy may have a preset of pre-recorded options that may be played by the child. The child may select what to play by pressing different parts of the toy or in performing specific commands. The toy may simply play random or a pre-determined order of recording options to the child.

All of the options for the interactive experience, however, become repetitive. The pre-set audio files become exhausted, and the child experiences the same interaction over and over. Even if the toy records the child so that the audio file is not the same each time, the experience is the same in simply replaying what is spoken to the toy.

Exemplary embodiments described herein provide a unique and dynamic experience for a child when engaging with a toy. Exemplary embodiments may be used to create a unique experience for each interaction and/or may replay preferred or desired interactions based on previous experiences.

Exemplary systems and methods herein are for interacting with a toy. The system and methods may include providing an application stored on a mobile device of a user; receiving prompts at the mobile device of the user through the application; generate dynamic content from the prompts; communicate the dynamic content to the toy; and using the dynamic content to interact with the toy.

The dynamic content may be an audio file of a story and the toy plays the audio file to tell the story.

The dynamic content may include an instruction set to control the toy and the method further includes animating the toy based on the instruction set synchronously with playing the audio file.

The system and methods may also include communicating the prompts from the mobile device of the user to a remote server and generating the dynamic content from the prompts with the remote server.

The system and methods may also include transmitting the dynamic content form the remote server to the toy. Optionally, the system and methods may also include transmitting the dynamic content from the remote server to the toy through the mobile device of the user.

The system and methods may also include saving a copy of the dynamic content in memory as stored dynamic content within the toy, and receiving a user input to replay the stored dynamic content, and replaying the stored dynamic content.

The system and methods may also include using machine learning algorithm to generate the dynamic content.

The system and methods may also include generating the dynamic content using the prompts to generate with the remote server input instructions configured to be used by a large language model to generate a story, inputting the input instructions into a large language model and generating a story as the dynamic content.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. These terms are merely intended to distinguish one component from another component, and the terms do not limit the nature, sequence or order of the constituent components.

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. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Throughout the specification, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements.

In addition, the terms “unit”, “-er”, “-or”, and “module” described in the specification mean units for processing at least one function and operation, and can be implemented by hardware components or software components and combinations thereof.

In this document, when terms such as “first” and “second” are used to modify a noun, such use is simply intended to distinguish one item from another, and is not intended to require a sequential order unless specifically stated. In addition, terms of relative position such as “vertical” and “horizontal”, or “front” and “rear”, when used, are intended to be relative to each other and need not be absolute, and only refer to one possible position of the device associated with those terms depending on the device's orientation.

An “electronic device” or a “computing device” refers to a device that includes a processor and memory. For example, the flying device may comprise an electronic device and/or a computing device. Each device may have its own processor and/or memory, or the processor and/or memory may be shared with other devices as in a virtual machine or container arrangement. The memory may contain or receive programming instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to perform one or more operations according to the programming instructions.

The terms “memory,” “memory device,” “computer-readable storage medium,” “data store,” “data storage facility” and the like each refer to a non-transitory device on which computer-readable data, programming instructions or both are stored. Except where specifically stated otherwise, the terms “memory,” “memory device,” “computer-readable storage medium,” “data store,” “data storage facility” and the like are intended to include single device embodiments, embodiments in which multiple memory devices together or collectively store a set of data or instructions, as well as individual sectors within such devices.

The terms “processor” and “processing device” refer to a hardware component of an electronic device that is configured to execute programming instructions. Except where specifically stated otherwise, the singular term “processor” or “processing device” is intended to include both single-processing device embodiments and embodiments in which multiple processing devices together or collectively perform a process.

The terms “instructions” and “programs” may be used interchangeably herein. The instructions may be stored in object code format for direct processing by the processor, or in any other computing device language, including scripts or collections of independent source code modules that are interpreted on demand or compiled in advance. Functions, methods, and routines of the instructions are explained in more detail below. The instructions may be any set of instructions to be executed directly (such as machine code) or indirectly (such as scripts) by the processor. For example, the instructions may be stored as computing device code on the computing device-readable medium.

The term “data” may be retrieved, stored or modified by processors in accordance with a set of instructions. For instance, although the claimed subject matter is not limited by any particular data structure, the data may be stored in computing device registers, in a relational database as a table having a plurality of different fields and records, XML documents or flat files. The data may also be formatted in any computing device-readable format.

The term “module” refers to a set of computer-readable programming instructions, as executed by a processor, that cause the processor to perform one or more specified function(s).

Although exemplary embodiments are described as using a plurality of units to perform the exemplary process, it is understood that the exemplary processes may also be performed by one or plurality of modules. Additionally, it is understood that the term controller/control unit refers to a hardware device that includes a memory and a processor and is specifically programmed to execute the processes described herein. The memory is configured to store the modules and the processor is specifically configured to execute these modules to perform one or more processes that are described further below.

Further, the control logic of the present disclosure may be embodied as non-transitory computer readable media on a computer readable medium containing executable programming instructions executed by a processor, controller, or the like. Examples of computer readable media include, but are not limited to, ROM, RAM, compact disc (CD)-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, flash drives, smart cards and optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium can also be distributed in network-coupled computer systems so that the computer readable media may be stored and executed in a distributed fashion such as, e.g., by a telematics server or a Controller Area Network (CAN).

The following detailed description illustrates by way of example, not by way of limitation, the principles of the invention. This description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention. It should be understood that the drawings are diagrammatic and schematic representations of exemplary embodiments of the invention, and are not limiting of the present invention nor are they necessarily drawn to scale.

Exemplary embodiments described herein include a toy to play dynamic content to provide a unique interactive experience for a user to improve and prolong the engagement of the user with the toy.

In an exemplary embodiment, the toy is configured to receive user input to influence and/or create the dynamic content. The system is then configured to use the user input to generate dynamic content. The system is then configured to communicate the dynamic content to the toy to play the dynamic content.

In an optional configuration, the dynamic content is a story that is generated using story elements that are received as user inputs. Although embodiments of the invention may be described and illustrated herein in terms of a generated story, it should be understood that embodiments of this invention are not so limited, but are additionally applicable to generating other dynamic content such as songs, jokes, trivia, action dialog for playing, games, instructions, sound effects, or a combination thereof.

In an optional configuration, the dynamic content may include audio for the toy to make one or more sounds.

In an optional configuration, the dynamic content may include an instruction set configured to control the toy. The instruction set may control an animation of the toy. The animation may be in the movement of the toy and/or the movement of one or more components of the toy.

illustrates an exemplary system according to embodiments of the invention. The systemmay include a toyfor interactive engagement by the user. The toymay be configured to play dynamic content to provide unique and varied interaction with the child.

The systemmay include an application run on a mobile deviceof a userthat is configured to communicate with the toyand/or a remote server for receiving dynamic content and/or communicating dynamic content to the toy for playing by the toy.

In an exemplary embodiment, the useris a child and the toyis configured to receive dynamic content for interaction with the child. In an exemplary embodiment, the content may be a story that is created or provided based on one or more user inputs to generate the story.

The systemmay optionally include an application run on a mobile deviceof the userin order to receive user inputs to generate the dynamic content of the toy. The application may be configured to communicate with the toythrough the mobile deviceof the user. The application may be configured to communicate the dynamic content generated based on the user inputs or parameters the same as or similar to the user inputs to the toy.

The toymay be configured to receive the dynamic content and perform a function in response thereto. For example, the toymay be configured to play an audio file and/or create movements based on the dynamic content.

In an exemplary embodiment, the dynamic content includes an audio file of a story and the toyis configured to play the story. The dynamic content may optionally include animatronic instructions for controlling a movement of the toy. The toymay be configured to move with the audio file. In an optional example, the toymay move a mouth, lips, tongue, eyes, head, appendages, or any combination thereof synchronized with the audio file. In an specific example of the optional embodiment, the toyis configured to appear to speak words of a story as an audio file of the story is played by the toy.

illustrates an exemplary system with insight into exemplary internal componentry according to embodiments of the invention. As illustrated, the system may include a toythat may be in communication with an application stored and/or run on a mobile deviceof a user. The toymay include a processorin communication with memory, and a communication interface. The mobile deviceof the user may also be configured to communicate through a networkto a remote server.

In an exemplary embodiment, the useris a child and the system is configured to generate dynamic content to be played by the toyfor interaction with the child. In an optional configuration, the content is a story that is created or provided to the toy based on one or more user inputs to generate the story.

The systemmay optionally include an application run on a mobile deviceof the userin order to receive user inputs to generate the dynamic content of the toy. The application may be configured to communicate with the toythrough the mobile deviceof the user.

In an exemplary embodiment, the application comprises computer readable medium that when executed by the processor of the mobile deviceof the userperforms various functions of the application described herein, such as: displaying a user interface on a screen of the mobile device; receiving user inputs from the userthrough inputs of the mobile devicesuch as buttons or touchscreen; communicating with a remote server to send the user inputs and/or obtain a data set comprising the dynamic content based on the user inputs from the remote server; and/or communicate with the toyto provide the dynamic content to the toy.

In an exemplary embodiment, the toyand the mobile devicemay be configured to communicate through a communication interfaceof the toy. The communication interface may be, for example, Bluetooth, WiFi, or other communication protocol with sufficient bandwidth to transmit the dynamic content from the mobile deviceto the toy.

In an exemplary embodiment, the communication interface is a near field wireless protocol. The toymay therefore be configured to communicate with devices only in close proximity to the toy to reduce access by external sources. Close is understood to be a distance to achieve the protection of the device from outside influence. Therefore, close may be the distance of a room, a house, or other environment in which the toy may likely be used by trusted sources and/or less than a distance in which untrusted sources may become more prominent.

In an exemplary embodiment, the communication interface may be configured to only communicate with trusted devices. This may reduce access to the toy from outside sources. For example, the toymay be configured to only communicate with a known application that is configured to communicate with the given toy that has been properly authenticated. Other or alternative security features may be included to reduce access to the toy from outside or untrusted devices.

In an exemplary embodiment, the dynamic content provided to the toy from the remote server (optionally through the mobile device of the user) can include instructions to operate the toy. The dynamic content may, for example, include an audio file to be played by the toy. The audio file may be one example of the dynamic content used by the toy. The dynamic content may, as an optional example, include instructions on how to move the toy according to optional embodiments described herein. An optional instruction may include animatronic instructions for moving the mouth of the toy synchronized with the audio file.

The toy may be configured to play the dynamic content for interactive engagement with the user. The toymay be configured with a speakerto audibly play an audio file, such as part of the data set generated and/or received from the remote server, that is generated using the inputs provided by the user. The audio file may be stored in one or more memoryand when executed by the processormay be configured to play on the speaker.

The toymay optionally be configured to animate. For example, the toymay include one or more actuatorscoupled to internal infrastructure to move portions of the toy. The internal infrastructure may be framing or may be the components themselves to move portions of the toy, such as, for example, appendages, lips, mouth, tongue, eyes, etc. The actuators may be controlled by one or more processors. In an optional embodiment, the dynamic content received from the remote server may include animatronic instruction that may be stored in one or more memoryof the toy and executed by one or more processorsto control the one or more actuatorsto move the toy. In an optional embodiment, the dynamic content includes instructions configured to play an audio file by the speakerand animate the toy using the one or more actuatorssynchronized with the audio file.

The toymay optionally be configured to move one or more features of the toy to correspond to the audio file. In an exemplary embodiment, the audio file is a story. However, the invention is not so limited. The audio file may, for example, include a song or game. The configured movement or animatronics of the toy may include movement of a mouth to correspond to words of the audio file. The toy may optionally be configured to appear to tell the story and/or sing the song. Optionally, other or additional animatronics may be included, such as movement of appendages (head, arms, legs, cars, tail, etc.), to further enhance the experience and interaction with the toy.

In an exemplary embodiment, the remote servermay include one or more processors and memory and may be configured to generate the data set comprising the dynamic content. The remote servermay be a distributed server and/or may include one or more servers. The remote servermay comprise the machine learning algorithm defining the artificial intelligence to generate the dynamic content and/or may interface with another artificial intelligence engine to receive data to create all or portions of the dynamic content.

In an exemplary embodiment, the remote serveris configured to receive the user inputs from the user obtained through the application on the mobile device. The mobile devicemay communicate with the remote serverthrough a network. The remote serveris configured to generate the dynamic content based on the user inputs.

The remote servermay be configured to obtain generated output based on the user input. The remote servermay be configured to create dynamic content and/or a data set to be communicated to and/or used by the toy and/or mobile device of the user from the generated output.

In an optional embodiment, the remote server comprises a machine learning algorithm that has been trained to generate age appropriate content based on specific inputs.