U.S. patent application number 13/084031 was filed with the patent office on 2011-10-13 for interactive toy.
Invention is credited to Daniel Francis Tashman.
Application Number | 20110250819 13/084031 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44761257 |
Filed Date | 2011-10-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110250819 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tashman; Daniel Francis |
October 13, 2011 |
Interactive Toy
Abstract
An activity device that is used in sports or recreational
activities that incorporates an electronic component that interacts
with the user and or other users is disclosed. The activity device
contains an electronic housing does not hinder the activity in any
manner. The electronic housing has components that collect activity
data in the form of a picture, a sound bite, activity statistics,
personal information about the user or participants, or previous
scoring information or rules of the activity, and processes that
activity data. The activity device further sends this processed
activity data to a receiving device. Viewers of the activity data
can interactively communicate back to the original activity
device.
Inventors: |
Tashman; Daniel Francis;
(White Plains, NY) |
Family ID: |
44761257 |
Appl. No.: |
13/084031 |
Filed: |
April 11, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61342145 |
Apr 10, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
446/46 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 33/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/46 |
International
Class: |
A63H 27/00 20060101
A63H027/00 |
Claims
1. A flying disc used in a sporting activity comprising a disc
shaped body; a electronic housing having an input component capable
of collecting data about said activity, a microprocessor, a second
component to run a software application, said input means being
connected to said microprocessor, said microprocessor having the
means to run an application and process said activity data, a
component to send said activity data to a separate unconnected
receiving device, said receiving device having a component to
process the activity data.
2. The flying disc of claim 1 wherein the said electronic housing
is comprised of a weight and shape to minimize the aerodynamic
impact of said flying toy and wherein said activity data is a sound
recording, said input component is a recording device, and wherein
there is a trigger that records activity data and plays the
activity data at the receiving device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/342,145, filed on
Apr. 10, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to activity devices that are
used in various sporting or recreational activities. In one
embodiment, the present invention relates to an aerodynamic flying
disc device, such as that known as the Frisbee.RTM., for use in
throwing games. It also relates to electronic components that exist
in the activity device to aid in the enjoyment or the organization
of the game.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to recreational and sporting
goods equipment or devices used in various indoor and outdoor
activities, and more particularly, a throwing disc, a flying
vehicle, flying toys, sporting balls, action figures, dolls,
stuffed animals, or the like. It is also in the technical field of
electronic components, portable media playback equipment,
components for processing and communicating various activity data,
and in particular to portable devices that communicates with
various other devises wirelessly and has the ability for processing
data, such as reproducing and playing audio music and signals, as
well as organizing the data and further communicating the data with
a vast interactive audience.
[0004] Activities and electronics have recently been synchronized
to enhance the entertainment value of a recreational activity. For
example, flying discs that were once a past time toy, are now being
used in organized, competitive events, such as Ultimate
Frisbee.RTM. or Disc Golf.RTM. matches. In these activities, the
flying discs are thrown by a user and rotate to affect an
aerodynamically optimized flight. Some of these flying discs are
called Aerobies.RTM. or FRISBEES.RTM.. Other flying toys also
encompass various types of balls, such as baseballs, footballs,
basketballs, or sponge-like balls, such as Nerf balls, rubber,
textured balls, plush, fabric or nylon pouches, foam, polyfil, or
bead filled bags. Some of these activity devices can also be puck
shaped, such as a hockey puck. Other activity devices may include
figurines, dolls, tradable coins, or various children's stuffed
animals.
[0005] Prior art flying disc toys have been enhanced with lights
mounted thereon to add interest and entertainment. Typical of such
flying disc lighted toys are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
3,786,246 to Johnson et al. titled "Illuminating Flying Saucer,"
which issued in Jan. 15, 1974. But recent technology allows for
more sophisticated electronic capabilities with flying discs and
other activity devices. For example, there is a need to post
various statistics about an activity, provide tracking capabilities
for the activity device, share photos, share recordings, share
videos, provide personal information about participants, and
discuss various rules about the activities on the Internet. There
exists dedicated websites to Ultimate Frisbee.RTM. or a social
network sites that have high capabilities to organize events for
activities or share activity data, such as Facebook.RTM. or
Twitter.RTM.. With the Internet, a host of new audiences can now
share in the fun, listening to the sounds of the activity, watching
videos or photos of the activity, documenting content from the
activity, or even participating in the activity from their home
computers. These activity devices are in a sense connected to the
Internet and these activity devices can enjoy the benefits of an
immediate interactive experience with a vast new audience.
[0006] In U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0183,576 A1 by Lindsey et al. titled
"Throwable Object Featuring Message Record And Impact-Activated
Playback," there is disclosed a modern activity device with
electronic components to record and playback messages after being
thrown or hit into the ground. Such an activity device is capable
of inputting activity data, such as a recording, and has the
ability to play it on an output device, such as speakers. Although
incorporating these types of electronic components into activity
devices are known in the art, there is a need to go further with
organizing the activity data and communicating the activity data
with a bigger audience. And there is a further need for the
audience to communicate back to the activity device, which allows
for an enhanced interactive experience.
[0007] Various other types of toys currently perform various
electronic tasks. The obvious choice is a mechanized robot, or a
stuffed animal or model toy with various electronic components.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,139,642 titled "Robot system and robot apparatus
control method," which issued Nov. 21, 2006, the disclosure of
which is hereby incorporated, discloses wireless robots that are
freely capable of sending wireless transmissions to communicate
with each other. In stuffed animals, the electronic components are
placed so as not to be conspicuous, which may allow for the stuff
animal to simulate an "old fashion" as if not to have any
electronic capabilities. And these electronic tasks performed by
these modern toys may involve recording sound bites, playing music,
taking photos, taking video, listening to commands and moving parts
of the body in association with the commands.
[0008] But in this field, there is a need to better utilize the
miniaturized electronic components, synchronize and incorporate the
ideas of electronic tasks with the activities that are involved,
and share that information with others. The task can be as simple
as collecting activity data, such as a sound recording, and sending
it to another user that is not nearby. Or the task can be the
collection of activity data that is statistical, which can be
wirelessly and immediately shared with the world. There is a need
over the prior art to make the activity more interactive by
involving the larger audience in the activity. There is a need to
incorporate other types of electronic features into the activity
device, such as gyroscopes, GPS receivers to locate the device
globally, internal sensors, accelerometers, tracking software to
trace the location of the activity device, various sensors to
recognize a pattern of use such that it recognizes the activity
that is being played, microprocessoring power to process and
organize and take in activity statistics, computer components (RAM,
ROM, software), and various other components depending on the
nature of the activity device. By allowing the activity device
process and share the activity data, there is an immediate
interactive experience with a worldwide audience.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention combines conventional activity
devices, such as recreational toys, with modern electronic
components that allow the activity device to collect various data
about the activity, process the activity data, and then communicate
it in some form to others making the activity interactive. The
present invention is an activity device, such as a throwing flying
disc, that contains unhindered electronic components that allows
for the collection of recordings and/or other types of activity
data, processing the activity data, and communicate the activity
data to a receiving device, and ultimately to other viewers
allowing them to be interactive. The present invention seeks to
improve upon the prior art activity and/or recreational devices,
and in particular to make the activity device more interactive with
the user using electronics and organizational websites, such as
social network websites.
[0010] In order to make the activity device interactive, the
present invention incorporates three features. First, the activity
device must contain electronic components that do not hinder the
activity in any manner. For example, in a flying disc, the
electronic components must exist in a manner to not hinder the
aerodynamic features of the flying disc, especially for competitive
Ultimate Frisbee.RTM. or Disc Golf.RTM. games. Second, the
electronic component in the activity device must collect some form
of activity data and process the activity data. Third, the
electronic component that collects the activity must be able to
communicate that processed activity data to another user or another
device, using standard methods of communication, such as standard
wireless communications or through a speaker.
[0011] For purposes of this present invention, the term "process"
or "processing" when used in conjunction with a processor is
defined as an act of taking the analog or digital data that was
inputted and organizing the data, computing statistics with the
data (e.g., ave., sum), enhancing the digital recording, or
arranging the activity data that will further assist in the
display, organization, or entertainment of the activity data. The
activity data can be photos of the activity, videos of the
activity, sound recordings of the activity, the particular name of
the activity game, the score of an activity, the location of an
activity, the time an activity started and/or stopped, the rules of
the activity, the participants of the activity, personal
information about the participants of the activity, the exact
location of the activity device, the point systems involved in an
activity, and/or the stats of the activity. The activity can be
comprised of an Ultimate Frisbee.RTM. game, Disc Golf.RTM. game, a
basketball game, a baseball game, a hockey game, a sporting game or
match, a fishing contest, chess match, a kite flying contest, a
flying vehicle contest, a golf tournament, a roll-playing game, a
race, a marathon, a triathlon, a bike race, an organized activity
involving themed characters or figures, or any activity that
involves an activity device.
[0012] For example, let's say that the activity device is a flying
disc. The activity device is a typical disc that is axially
symmetrical with an upper surface plate of minimum thickness
adjoined to (i.e. contiguous with) a rim of carefully designed
depth. In modern flying discs, the mass of the disc is removed to
the rim to maximize the angular momentum given to the disc at
launch and subsequently reduce the rate at which the disc rolls
(and pitches) in flight. The rim and plate together define a cavity
beneath the plate that, due to the high pressure difference caused
by the trailing edge rim, stabilizes the pitching moment and
inhibits the gyroscopic roll rate to within acceptable bounds for
free-flight.
[0013] Flying discs are generally made without thought of
incorporating any type of electronics. With technological
advancements made in miniaturizing electronic components, such as
memory components, recording components, voice modulators, music
players, speakers, microprocessors, monitors, and such, the flying
disc can use these advancements to create new and innovative
features that exceed the current limit of imaginative toys. In this
example, the flying disc incorporates electronic components without
affecting the aerodynamic features of the flying disc. According to
one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a circular
flying disc having an electronic housing that contains an input
device, which inputs activity data. The input device can be
triggered by simple motion sensors or touch sensors. The flying
disc contains an electronic component that contains a number of
different functions, such as a recorder and a speaker that can
record an audio response when the activity device is triggered,
i.e., an input of an activity data, and can process the audio
recording and play back the audio response at a remote receiving
device when the activity device is triggered again. The activity
device has the ability to send the processed activity data to a
receiving device, which can be external speakers, or it can be to a
receiving device that is not connected to the activity device. The
need to process the activity data at the device is so to organize
the data and efficiently communicate the data so that when the
activity data is communicated, it can provide an immediate
interactive experience. The device also contains some form of
storage memory to be able to record a number of different
responses. The device also contains a camera to take pictures or
video and alternatively a small screen to play back the pictures or
video. The device also contains some form of remote or wireless
transmission capability so that the recordings can be transferred
to a separate receiving device that can play the recording or
process the recording. The device may contain different external
sensors, such as a motion sensor, barometer, thermometer, infra-red
receiver, or RF receiver as discussed above and below, which may
all be triggered by the appropriate and respective sensor
stimulation.
[0014] The flying disc may also have other types of activity data
processing components, for instance the names of all the
participants in the Ultimate Frisbee.RTM. game, the stats of each
of the participants, the score of the current game, the location of
the game, the rankings of the teams or players, the time the game
was initiated, and the like.
[0015] Alternatively, the activity device does not have to be a
flying disc nor does the activity have to be an Ultimate
Frisbee.RTM. game. The activity device is a device that is
launched, caught, thrown, propelled, or moved as part of a sport,
recreation, or play that is comprised of a flying toy, or flying
vehicle, a launched toy, football, baseball, basketball, flying
ring, soccer ball, sponge balls, sports ball, sponge darts, darts,
flying toy airplanes, flying toy helicopters, dolls, action
figures, figurines, teddy bears, chess pieces, golf clubs or golf
apparel, tennis racquets or tennis apparel, tradable coins, and
collectibles. The activity can be comprised of an Ultimate
Frisbee.RTM. game, or Disc Golf.RTM. game, or a basketball game, or
a baseball game, or a hockey game, or a chess match, or a kite
flying contest, or a flying vehicle contest, or a golf tournament,
or a game of roll-playing game, or a race, or a marathon, or a
triathlon, or a bike race, or an organized activity involving
themed characters or figures. The activity is not limited to these
activities alone.
[0016] The activity device can communicate the activity data using
wireless communication to various other types of receiving devices,
such as other activity devices, computer, wireless routers, smart
phone, laptop, table PC's, e-readers, mobile phones, separate
printers, separate fax machines, tablets, or netbooks. In these
cases, each separate receiving device can process the activity
data. The process of the activity can include the posting of the
activity data, whether it is a recording, video, stats of the
participants, personal information regarding the participants, the
time and location of the activity, and other information discussed
above and below. The posting of the information and activity data
includes posting the information in social network sites, public
database, and dedicated WebPages. It is not limited to those types
of publishing. And in these and other cases, there may exist for
other users or viewers of the activity data to communicate other
information, like a comment or an exact ruling on a rule and a
controversial play with the rule, about the activity in progress
back to the original user. The information that is sent back to the
activity device may be processed to explain a rule or a general
public opinion or rating system or updated similar scores.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0017] FIG. 1 is a top view of an example of a prior art activity
device, wherein in this example the activity device is a flying
disc and the activity data is a recording and the receiving device
are the speakers;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the bottom of the prior
art activity device in FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side view of an example of the
device of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a view of an external receiving device that
interacts with the activity device;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional topical view of an example of an
activity device, wherein in this example the activity device is a
flying disc, having the interactive electronic components, a first
and second electronic components;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the activity device in
FIG. 5, which shows the electronic components that collects
activity data, processes activity data, and can alternatively
wirelessly communicate activity data;
[0023] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the electronic housing in an
activity device of FIG. 5.
[0024] FIG. 8 is a view of an alternative type of activity device
having the interactive electronic component;
[0025] FIG. 9 is a view of an alternative type of an activity
device having the interactive electronic component;
[0026] FIG. 10 is a view of an alternative type of an activity
device having the interactive electronic component;
[0027] FIG. 11 is a view of an alternative type of an activity
device having the interactive electronic component;
[0028] FIG. 12 is an embodiment with a paddle having a receiving
device and the ball having the electronic components to input
activity data.
[0029] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the steps of an activity
device that reads and communicates activity data with a separate
device.
[0030] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the steps of an activity
device that reads and communicates activity data by wireless
communication with a separate device.
[0031] FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the steps of an activity
device that reads and communicates activity data with another
activity device.
[0032] FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the steps of an activity
device that reads and communicates activity data wirelessly with
the network.
[0033] FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the steps of an activity
device that communicates activity data with the network and allows
the viewers to respond.
[0034] FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the steps of an activity
device that reads and communicates activity data with multiple
other users.
[0035] FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing that the activity device can
join or create activity applications.
[0036] FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing another example of multiple
users.
[0037] FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an alternative way to
initiate activity application.
[0038] FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an alternative way to
initiate activity application.
[0039] FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an alternative way to
initiate activity application.
[0040] FIG. 24 is a block diagram for one of the embodiments in the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0041] Referring now to the invention in more detail, FIG. 1
discloses a type of flying disc that exists in the prior art. For
example, Lindsey et al. discussed above and below disclose a flying
disc of this nature. There is shown an activity device 1 having a
perimeter 2. The activity device 1 has speaker 3 and a touch area
4. As shown in FIG. 2, the prior art activity device 1 contains an
upper body 6 and an underbelly 7. There is an inner module 5 that
located at the center of activity device 1, which is located at the
underbelly. The inner module 5 has a recording button 3, which
activates a recording function. A user can press the recording
button 8 and record a message. There is storage means for the
recording, and there is the ability to replay the recording on
speaker 3 when activated to do so. There is no means by which to
send that activity data to anyone other than the immediate
recipient of the activity device.
[0042] An embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in FIG.
3, which discloses activity device 21. The activity device is a
flying disc and contains electronic components that are of proper
shape and weight such as to not interfere with the flight of the
activity device 21, or flying disc. The activity device 21 has a
cylindrical or radially aerodynamic casing that contains an
electronic component housing 9. In a preferred embodiment,
electronic component housing 9 contains a circuit board and
components that allow for the ability to input activity data. The
activity data can be a wide array of digital or analog information,
such as videos, sound recordings, statistics on an activity,
scoring or point system, personal information about the
participants, as others as discussed above and below. The input
means can be a standard recording receiver well known in the art
that can record sounds, videos, and the such, with the activation
of a trigger by the user. The electronic housing 9 has the ability
(including components for microprocessor, RAM, ROM, and software)
to store and playback the recording. And in this case, there is
receiving devices, which are external speakers 23 that can accept
activity data and playback the activity data. The external speakers
are not attached to the activity device and are considered
receiving device 16. Receiving device 16 can also communicate with
various other outsources, such as the Internet. There is also the
capability for a touch sensitive area that can trigger the
application. The touch sensitive area is a standard
electromechanical switch and/or touch sensitive pads that are well
known in the art and need not be described in further detail
herein. The touch trigger can also be mechanical-triggered,
pressure-triggered, moisture-triggered, capacitive-triggered,
electromagnetically-triggered, or induction-triggered that is
standard in the art. In these instances, there is an electronic
input that communicates the activation of the trigger to the
electronic component housing 9.
[0043] Although in FIG. 3, the activity device is in the shape of a
flying disc, the activity device 21 can take many different shapes,
including a linear disc, linear ring, boomerang or another oddly
shaped flying shape, circular ball shape, hockey puck, oblong ball
shape, such as a football, and can be made in various sizes, for
example, the size of a baseball or larger than a basketball. This
list is not a total list and may include activities that are not
specifically listed. It can also includes paddle and ball type
activities wherein the actual collection of activity data and
processing of the data can occur between the ball and paddles
before it is sent to the receiving device.
[0044] The encasing for the activity device 21 can be made of
various hard or flexible plastics, fiber, fiberglass, fabric, wood,
metals, polymers. The material can be made of stiff materials, such
as metals, or more resilient materials, such as polypropylene. Each
embodiment can also be made by a molding process with polymers,
with similar but different molds being used in producing each
embodiment or it can be made of inflatable ball material using
vinyl, or something similar. The foam embodiment toy is made in a
mold in which the chemically activated foam is injected with the
foam growing after it is poured into the mold.
[0045] The activity device 21 collects activity data, wherein the
activity data is comprised of photos of the activity, videos of the
activity, sound recordings of the activity, the type of activity,
the score of an activity, the location of an activity, the time an
activity started and/or stopped, the rules of the activity, the
participants of the activity, personal information about the
participants of the activity, the point systems involved in an
activity, tracking location of the activity device, personal
information about the date of an exchange or trade, the rotational
turns and speed of the activity device, and/or the stats of an
activity. The activity data is then processed at the activity
device 21. The activity data is processed at the activity device in
order to expedite the communication to others. Because the activity
requires immediate feedback from the audience, the processing of
the activity data at the activity device reduces the inefficiency
if it was done at the receiving device. The activity can be
comprised of an Ultimate Frisbee.RTM. game, or Disc Golf.RTM. game,
or a basketball game, or a baseball game, or a hockey game, or a
chess match, or a kite flying contest, or a flying vehicle contest,
or a golf tournament, or a game of roll-playing game, or a race, or
a marathon, or a triathlon, or a bike race, or an organized
activity or hobby involving themed characters or figures or an
exchange of collectibles, such as coins. In the particular case,
there exists a trigger activation 4 on the activity device 21, such
as a touch sensitive activation of an application, or as discussed
in the examples above. The electronic component housing 9 contains
the necessary electronic components to collect the activity data
and/or process the activity data. Those components are discussed in
detail below. The type of electronic components may be speakers,
recording devices, microprocessor, memory, accelerometer, motion
sensor, standard GPS receiver, antenna, and components can be used
for proper location activity data. Standard atomic clocks can be
used to determine accurate time. These electronic components are
not limited to these components. Standard electronic components to
collect and process activity data, such as calculators, or small
computers are considered within the types of components in the
activity device 21.
[0046] Recent developments in micro-electromechanical systems
(MEMS) technology have opened new avenues for the use of high
precision lightweight accelerometers and gyroscopes for new and
challenging sports applications. MEMS integrate both electrical and
mechanical components on a single chip through extensive research
into integrated circuit processing technologies. As MEMS
accelerometers originated from monitoring vehicle safety and
electronic stabilization, they only provided very low accuracy
measurements. However, as micromechanical devices are inherently
smaller, lighter, and usually more precise than their macroscopic
counterparts, more and more reliable sensors are becoming
available. Accelerometers measure linear acceleration and
gyroscopes measure angular acceleration (pitch, yaw and roll).
[0047] Depending on the activity, flying discs have a critically
optimum shape and characteristics. Beginner flying discs may have a
weight about 80 grams. They maintain a certain size to weight ratio
for the purpose of allowing young users and beginners to throw
accurately. For competitive flying disc activities, the accuracy
and the distance requires different characteristics. For example,
in the game of Ultimate Frisbee.RTM., the weight of the flying disc
is 175 grams and the size is scaled up to balance the area to
weight ratio. The module housing and electronic components of the
flying disc has a weight of 35 grams, the weight of the flying disc
has to be reduced by 35 grams to maintain the ideal weight of 175
grams. For a game of Disc Golf.RTM., the desired weight of the
flying disc is that is required to throw a long distance with the
ability to also throw accurately for shorter distance requires a
weight of approximately 150 to 180 grams and a proportional change
in the size/weight ratio. The electronic components must also fit
within the dimensions of the disc so as not to interfere with its
aerodynamic features, which is critical in accurately tossed discs.
The electronic housing must have a radial symmetrical shape and be
centrally aligned at the middle of the disc so as not to interfere
with the flight and balance of the disc. Such electronic components
can be cylindrical, round, star shaped, or the like. In cases where
the electronic components are square, such components must have
proper weight balance with the device such as not to disrupt the
balance, consistency, and accuracy of its rotational base. The
weight of the materials taken of the original shape flying disc to
add the electronic components are carefully weighed and compared so
that the discrepancy is no more than 10%. For example, if 10 grams
of plastic materials from the radial center that was removed from a
flying disc, the electronic components were not only designed to
not affect the aerodynamics, but he weight of the electronic
components were with 9 to 11 grams, which is a 10% error
margin.
[0048] It is critical for electronic component housing 9 not to
hinder the activity device during the activity. In the embodiments
disclosed throughout this application, electronic components are
designed not to be conspicuous nor affect the flight or movement or
weight of the activity device in a way to affect the enjoyment of
the activity. In many instances, such as in the model flying
planes, placement of weight is often a key element in its ability
to move properly through the air. In these instances, the
electronic components have been placed in locations to assist in
the proper distribution of weight to aid the movement of the
activity device.
[0049] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the activity device 21 has an
electronic component housing 9, which includes a circuit board and
all the necessary electronic components and connections, a
recording component 10, a speaker component 11, a memory storage
component 12, a wireless communication component 13, and
alternatively, a camera component 14. The device can also contain a
microprocessor 15 that can organize and perform functions with the
stored information, such as pictures and recordings. The device
also contains an energy source 77 that can be a various form of
energy, such as a standard battery, solar powered component, or
chemically powered component. As discussed above, other components
may exist, which may include, but is not limited to, GPS receiver,
accelerometer, motion sensor, thermometer, altimeter, gyroscope,
angular acceleration in 3D sensors, and various types of sensors,
frequency sensors, etc. . . . Various miniature recording
components and speaker components are well known in the art and
need not be described in further detail. Various storage components
are well known in the art and need not be described in further
detail. They include detachable memory cards, such as SD cards, as
well as flash memory components. Standard microprocessors, ROM,
RAM, and basic application software for inputting data, storing
data, and processing data, as well as all other miniaturized
computer components are well known in the art. The operations of
each of these components are dependent on the arrangement and
electrical connections of the circuit board. U.S. Pat. No.
4,848,009, issued Jul. 18, 1989, to Nicholas A. Rodgers, discloses
a LED system and is incorporated herein by reference to show how
some hardware components are attached.
[0050] As shown, in FIG. 8, the activity device can be in the shape
of an oblong football 24. In this activity device, the electronic
component 25 may comprise an electronic housing with the circuitry
laid out so as to not dispel more than 10% of the weight of the
laces and so that the housing will feel and act like laces. The
housing does not change the rotational capabilities or throwing
accuracy of the ball. The laces are made of polyvinyl chloride or
leather and the electronic housing 9 is within the 10% weight
requirement and the size of the laces. There may also be disclosed
a small display carefully located and weighted so as not to affect
the flight of the football. Other areas on the football can be
used. The present invention incorporates by reference the
disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,661 to Lemmon titled "Training
football" that was issued Nov. 16, 1993. As shown by the prior art
Lemmon, components can be strategically place inside the football.
The present invention also incorporates by reference the disclosure
of U.S. Pat. No. 6,695,728 to Eddins that was issued on Feb. 24,
2004 titled "Throwing toy with distance counter." In Eddins, there
is disclosed the ability to measure the distance and the rotations
of the football. The present invention also incorporates by
reference the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,557 to Bigelow et
al. that was issued Aug. 13, 1985. In the prior art Bigelow et al.,
there is disclosed a system that uses a conventional football that
contains a pressure transducer. The pressure transducer sends by
radio waves the impact to a receiving device. Unlike the prior art,
the football in the current application actually has an electronic
housing and components that inputs activity data from the activity.
Unlike Lemmon, the weight of the electronic components and the
location of the components would not affect the flight of the
football. Unlike Eddins, the distance and the rotations of the
football are considered activity data that is communicated with the
receiving device. Unlike Bigelow et al, the activity device
processes the activity data located in the activity device and then
communicates it with the receiving device wherein a vast number of
viewers can provide feedback to the original activity device, such
as displaying the audience feedback on the small display. The
activity data is organized and processed at the activity device
such that when the activity data is wirelessly communicated to
others, the immediacy of the processed data can provide an
interactive experience, wherein the users can communicate directly
with the activity device.
[0051] In FIG. 9, there is a disclosed an embodiment where in the
activity device is a toy duck 27. In this toy duck, the electronic
component 26 is placed in the bill of the duck so as not to be
conspicuous. In FIG. 10, there is disclosed an embodiment wherein
the activity device is a toy plane 28. In this embodiment, the
electronic component 29 is placed strategically in the nose of the
plane so as to enhance the flight capabilities and provide equal
weight to both the left and right side of the plane. In FIG. 11,
the activity device is a stuffed animal 30 has an electronic
component in the nose of the bear so as not to interfere with the
enjoyment of the toy. In FIG. 12, the electronic component may
exist in two items. The main electronic component 43 may exist in
the paddle and a sub-electronic component 44 may exist in ball 42.
There may be standard means by which the ball and the paddle may
establish a means of communication and exchange activity data,
which is discussed extensively below. Whether the activity device
is a sporting ball, or figurine, or a playing piece, the
criticality of the device having this electronic component housing
so as to not interfere with the activity is an essential part of
the invention.
[0052] The present invention incorporates herein the disclosure of
U.S. Pub. No. US 2008/0284650 A1 to MacIntosh et al. titled "Sports
sensor" with the publication date of Nov. 20, 2008. MacIntosh et
al. discloses an electronic sensor for use in sporting events that
collects activity data, such as information from accelerometers,
gyroscopes, and GPS and communicates them by transmission. Unike
MacIntosh, the electronic housing 9 in the present invention is
located within the activity device so as not to interfere with the
activity. Second, the activity data is processed by the activity
device and then transmitted to a receiving device. Third, there is
the ability for a larger audience to view and share the activity
data, and there is also the ability for the audience to communicate
back to the activity device. This includes statistics about the
activity device itself. As taught in MacIntosh et al, there are
known ways in the industry to calculate the movements and rotations
of the activity device by the sensors. Feedback from the audience
can include comments about a particular throw or advice on how to
perform it better.
[0053] The electronic component housing 9 can be located in a
central position on the disc such that the module can occupy a
small hole in the center of the disc as shown in FIG. 3, or near
the center of the disc or the electronic components can be mounted
to the underbelly of the disc so that the aerodynamic integrity of
the disc is maintained. The electronic component housing 9 should
be arranged in the most efficient way to centralize the balance and
minimize any air turbulence during an activity throw.
[0054] The activity device 21 may include other types of components
or electronic components that can collect data that is related to
an activity. A flying disc may have the components to detect when
it is being rotated and automatically sense a game is being played.
By generating a pattern for when the device is being used and the
frequency of the tosses, similarly disclosed by MacIntosh et al.,
the activity device can calculate whether a game has started. If
the frequency of the rotations or timing of them match a pattern
that may suggest a game is being played, as opposed to casual
throws. This is all done by software application that communicates
with the electronic housing 9 or is part of the central processing
system with memory, ROM, RAM, and processor that is housed in
electronic housing 9. As disclosed in MacIntosh et al., the device
may contain a standard gyroscope and sensors, standard GPS
receivers for location of the device, standard accelerometers to
calculate the acceleration of the activity device, and the other
components that may measure time, altitude, velocity, or rotational
axis or speed of the activity device. The proper software may
recognize certain patterns in the way a certain activity device is
being carried, thrown, or played. For example, the electronic
housing 9 have components in a flying disc to contain an
application that allows for the determination with the frequency at
which the flying disc is being thrown that a Disc Golf.RTM. game
has initiated. The accelerometer, inertial sensors for measuring
angular acceleration, velocity readers, and the gyroscope can also
calculate location of the activity device and the stats, such as
the distance the last activity device flew, with the proper
application. The frequency at which the device is thrown and at
what speed can be calculated and if such patterns exist that
distinguishes a resting mode of the activity device versus an
active mode, the application may initiate a statistical activity
data processor wherein it would store and process the speed, the
type of turns made by the activity device, recognition of other
users via wireless communication with another receiving device or
other activity device(s). This recognition can come in the form of
recognizing other activity balls in the area via wireless
communication. The activity device may be a golf club that may be
activated with the activation of other users or players that are
nearby. The recognition of the activity and the proper initiation
of the application to process the activity data, whether it's
statistical information or pictures or sound bites, is part of this
invention.
[0055] FIG. 24 shows a circuitry for one embodiment of the present
invention. Other types of circuitry are envisioned for each of the
embodiments disclosed. The circuitry is standard in the art. At the
center of the block diagram is microcontroller 60. The
microcontroller is preferably an 8 bit Atmel AT mega 128 micro
controller. The microcontroller can be programmed and can store
data and is provided with a 256 megabyte flash memory 61. The USB
port is preferably a Silicon Technologies USB to UART data transfer
CP 2101 and allows data to be down loaded to a personal computer
for further analysis and storage and also allow the battery to be
charged by way of the battery charger 62, such as a 600 mAhr
Lithium Ion rechargeable battery, which in turn is connected to the
power supply 63. The microcontroller displays outputs on the LCD
display 64. The circuitry also includes a 4.8 GHz transmitter and
receiver 65 so that data can be transmitted and received. The
transmitter and receiver 65 see is preferably a GFSK transceiver
nRF2401 sold by Nordic Semiconductor. The electronic housing 9
contains a circuitry includes an activity data collection station
67, which may GPS 66 unit is an iTRAX 03 by Fastrax with 12
channels and an update rate below 5 Hz with a 1 Hz default rate.
The Activity data collection station 67 is preferably software that
is located in ROM, memory, or RAM that allows for the input of
various activity data. Accelerometer 68 is preferably a 3 axis
Kionix accelerometers (KXM52-1050) aligned orthogonally to measure
rotation in 3 directions. 3D compass 69 are preferably from Hitachi
(HM55B). The sound and video recorder 70 are standard
recording/playback components well known in the art.
[0056] Various methods are well known in the art to synchronize and
exchange wireless data. The present invention hereby incorporates
by reference U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,783,258 to Bevin et al, and 6,757,547
to Hagen et al., which discloses ways in which data can synchronize
and exchange between two devices. The activity data is preferably
compressed. Compression standards are well known in the art, such
as MPEG, and may be suitable for use in the present invention.
Digitizing and compression/decompression circuitry is described in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,355,450, 5,045,940 and published Patent
Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications WO93/12481 and WO93/12613,
which are hereby incorporated.
[0057] Various circuit boards are well known in the art for
combining these components together. For example, U.S. Pub. No.
2006/0183,576 A1 by Lindsey et al. titled "Throwable Object
Featuring Message Record And Impact-Activated Playback," filed on
Aug. 17, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference, discloses in FIG. 4 a circuitry board that would be used
for an embodiment that involved the recording and playback feature
in a flying disc. U.S. Pat. No. 7,298,289 to Hoffberg titled
"Mobile Communication Device" is incorporated herein by reference.
Hoffberg discloses miniaturized GPS components and its capabilities
to incorporate them into mobile devices or small devices.
[0058] Various wireless communication components are well known in
the art and need not be described in further detail. They include
radio signal transmitters, or Bluetooth technology capabilities,
infrared wave signal transmitters, or any other type of wave
communication, whether analog or digital that can communicate with
other receiving devices and components. These types of wireless
communications may include, for example Near Field Communication
("NFC") and initiating and uploading of host or "hotspoting," or
wherein a user relies on a communication device, e.g., a cell phone
or other mobile device capable of communication. Triangulation of
the appropriate output device can be by combining global GPS
technology, wireless technology, NFC, ambient radio frequency
noise, or other technologies that mathematically determine the
physical location via the algorithm in the network application. The
wireless communication is well known in the art. For example, the
toy can have access via a personal hot spot wireless communication.
Wireless gateways may serve as a "hotspot" (or wireless access
point) for one or more other wireless users. The gateway may
provide a backhaul connection to the Internet (e.g., world wide
web, e-mail, ftp, etc.) for various wireless components through a
service provider network. The hotspot may be able to route
different media formats such as data, voice and/or video and would
be able to support unicast, broadcast and/or multicast traffic. The
wireless gateway may provide different networks for the users. For
example, a first user may be engaged in a sporting activity and
connect to a first network provided by the wireless gateway.
Meanwhile, other users also engaged in the sporting activity may
connect a second network, communicate various data with the first
user and then communicate with other users provided by the wireless
gateway. For example, flying disc may have a wireless 802.11a/b/g/n
capability to discuss the score and various activity of an Ultimate
Frisbee.RTM. game. Other players, either on the wireless toy itself
or by their cell phones, tablets, personal computers, hand-held or
laptop devices, smart phones, netbook computers, media player
devices, or the like, can communicate that data with an Internet
website, or a database or database server, like MySQL. Various
camera and microprocessor components are well known in the art and
need not be described in further detail.
[0059] If the activity data is communicated with a database, a
database management system (DBMS) provides storage, access,
security, backup and other facilities for the activity data.
Examples of some commonly used DBMS are MySQL, PostgreSQL,
Microsoft Access, SQL Server, FileMaker, Oracle, Sybase, dBASE,
Clipper, FoxPro etc. Almost every database software comes with an
Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) driver that allows the database
to integrate with other databases, so the integration between the
database for the activity is considered to be within the known
art.
[0060] The wireless capabilities may also include an adjustable
range. The device can have a variable wireless transmitter range
that can be increased or decreased by the user. Such capabilities
for software to vary the range are well understood and known in the
computer programming art. In such manner, there may exist an
opportunity for less interference from other activities.
[0061] Further, the electronic housing 9 may be detachable and able
to communicate with other devices. The electronic housing 9 may
communicate with other devices, such as computers via various
electronic connection capabilities, such as USB connection, or USB
2 connection, or Firewire connection, or any other type of
connection that allows for the transfer of information from the
storage component 8 to the other device. The activity data that is
communicated with the other devices can be saved or processed
further, for example posted on a social network website or sent to
database server.
[0062] FIG. 4 describes an external electronic receiving device 16.
The external electronic receiving device 16 contains the ability to
receive information from the activity device 21. The external
receiving device 16 may contain its own circuitry that is the same
as circuitry in the activity device having its own microprocessor
19, RAM, ROM, software to run the application, and memory 20 and
wireless capabilities 21. In addition, it may contain speaker 17 or
its own trigger device to replay various music or recordings that
is triggered by the activity device 21. For example, the external
electronic receiving device 16 has the capability to play a
recording when automatically triggered by the touch sensitive areas
3 and 4 of the flying device. In another example, external
electronic receiving device 16 has the ability to wireless
communicate data with activity device 21 using standard wireless
communication capabilities, including, but not limited to,
infrared, Bluetooth, 3G, 4G, 5G, 6G, hotspot creation, NFC, or any
other type of wireless technology as discussed above. The external
electronic receiving device 16 can be a computer that is connected
to the Internet. The receiving device 16 may be connected to the
network by a network interface 22. The network interface 22 can be
connected to any one of many different types of network settings,
including, one or multiple networks of any type (i.e., wired and/or
wireless). For example, network may include a local area network
(LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a telephone network, such as a
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a cellular network, or a
Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), a satellite network, an
intranet, the Internet, a data network, and/or a private network,
public database, like MySQL, and private databases.
[0063] Further, once the connection with the internet is made, the
communication of the electronic receiving device 16 with various
social network sites or dedicated WebPages would be one of many
ways wherein a user can communicate the activity data. For example,
a social network provider such as, for example, LinkedIn, Facebook,
MySpace, etc., which may be owned, operated, and/or managed by
social network providers that may correspond information from
activities and publish or communicate or process the activity data
that is collected at the site of the activity. The activity data
can also be sent to a database or database server, like MySQL. Many
database systems, public and non-public, are well known in the
art.
[0064] In FIG. 6, there is a disclosed a standard electronic
housing 9. Electronic housing 9 discloses a cylindrical body 40.
The components are such that is to equally weigh each side of the
cylinder is a way that as not to produce more than 10% difference
of weight from any one quadrant of the cylinder to another
quadrant, which will not affect the flying motion of the activity
device 1, which in this particular case is a flying disc. The
housing 9 contains a top 32 and a base 40, which is molded to
properly displace weight to all equal sides. The housing 9 also
contains a circuit board 34. The electronic circuitry controls the
operation of collecting activity data and sending the activity
data. The circuit board carries the necessary component required to
perform the functions as discussed below, and in addition to
transistors, capacitors, resistors, battery, and various input and
output components that would likely exist in a computer. In this
case, the circuit board 35 contain a microprocessor 35, storage
means 41, ROM 42, RAM 36, wireless communication component 37,
battery 8, gyroscope 33 and a speaker 39. A standard computer
component setup can be used to have input and outputs of various
activity data. For example, the standard gyroscope 33 and the
software application that is located in the ROM 42, RAM 36, and
processed by the microprocessor 35 can all communicate to determine
the number of times that the disc had been thrown. The
microprocessor 5 can then communicate that data with another
receiving device with the wireless communication component 37.
[0065] In one embodiment, a friendly or competitive game is
initiated whereby an activity device 1, such as a flying disc,
containing an electronic component, such as a recording device. The
recording device is used to record messages or send messages to
other participants. The first user can record a message or record a
statement stating a score or statistic into the flying disc by
activating a recording feature. The input of the electronic
component of the activity data is the recording device, and the
activity data in this particular case is a sound recording of the
activity. The recording feature stores the recording. When another
user receives the flying disc, by use of the interactive touch
capabilities, such as a trigger area that is activated when the
recipient catches the flying device, it may initiate the transfer
of the recording to external speakers 77 to play the recording.
External speakers 77 have means to receive the wireless
communication, which is well known in the art (See Bigelow et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,557). This feature can also exist in any type
of interactive toy listed above, such as football, airplane,
baseball, hockey puck, stuffed animal, themed animal, racquet
sports, etc.
[0066] In another embodiment, the interactive feature may be video
recording and playing capabilities and quick statistical computing
capabilities. This may interact with other flying devices, such
that two or three or more flying devices that all include the
interactive feature. For example, in a flying disc, one flying disc
may have a radio transmitter that communicates with the other
flying disc or discs such that other users can listen to the
transmission (analog or digital) or share and process the activity
data. Or in another example, the activity data can be a video
recording from one activity device 21, which can be shared with the
video with other interactive devices. Or in another example,
statistical information about the game can be computed, processed,
and sent and shared in an organized manner to all the participants,
i.e., baseball stats, score of game, time left in game, or location
of game, or defensive or offensive organization of the setup, point
system in a pretend game, or all stats associated with the movement
of the activity device in a particular fashion. In these cases,
applicable software is used to process the activity data.
[0067] In another embodiment, the interactive feature of the
interactive device interacts with an external electronic component
such that the user can make a recording into the interactive device
and upon the interactive unit being active upon a receiver, the
device communicates with the external electronic component that can
play the recording on its external speakers. The electronic
component can store the recording as well, which can be used
later.
[0068] In another embodiment, the interactive feature with an
electronic component may include a motion sensor that triggers
through the acceleration, or centripetal movement of the flying
disc. By having basic spring triggered mechanism, the centripetal
force can interact two wires and make an electrical connection that
allows for the activation of the feature. This trigger can activate
an audio response, visual response, or trigger a wireless command
to another device or third party device.
[0069] In another embodiment, the interactive feature with an
external electronic component may include a camera feature or video
feature or some form of electronic game feature. One user can
interact with the device to take a picture or video or initiate an
electronic game, such as a classic electronic Simon-Says.RTM. game,
and upon receiving the device by a recipient, the recipient can
play the picture, video, or interact with the Simon Says.RTM. game,
or an electronic turn based game, or something similar that can
communicate with an external interactive audience. For example, one
user can initiate an activity on a Frisbee.RTM., which can input
activity data, such as the velocity of each throw. This information
can be processed by the microprocessor and tagged to be the
velocity of each throw. The processed activity data can then be
sent to a receiving device. The velocity of the Frisbee.RTM. can be
posted on the Internet, and the audience from the Internet can then
communicate comments back to the original activity device.
[0070] In another embodiment, the interactive feature of the device
can physically alter the device. For example, a flying disc is
influenced by gravity and air. When a user hurls a flying disc,
air, lift and angular momentum act on the flying disc giving it a
ballet-type performance. Lift is generated by the flying disc's
shaped surfaces as it passes through the air. This is influenced
particularly by the shape of the flying disc. If the flying disk is
altered in any way, the lift and angular momentum can change the
flight of the disc, changing the course of its path or rendering it
so it can no longer fly. A user can interact with the flying disc,
inputting into a keypad or similar input device, a particular
flight trajectory or pattern of flight for the flying disc. Upon
throwing the disc, the disc must perform in the manner that the
user inputs, otherwise, it can open up flaps, using a battery
powered motor, to alter the flight of the disc. For example, a
flying disc may have a gyroscope, such that the user can enter for
right-side up forehand, or right-side up backhand, or upside down
forehand, or upside down backhand, inside-out, or outside-in, or
thumb throws, or spins. The user then passes the flying disc to
another user. The other user upon receiving the flying disc
interacts with the device and must now perform the function that
was inputted by the first user. The second user may know of the
input via recording or some form of display that shows the second
user what function he/she needs to perform. If the second user
fails to perform the function, the gyroscope that interacts with
the microprocessor detects an error, which then opens up flaps on
the flying disc, which makes the flying disc fall to the ground
losing the aerodynamic nature of the device. In these cases, the
flight altering capabilities that are well known in the art act as
the receiving device while the input of the activity data is
whether the device is being thrown properly. If the flying disc
collects activity data regarding the speed and velocity of the
throw to a receiving device, such as a computer connected to the
Internet, viewers on a website dedicated to the game or social
network site can then communicate a response back to the activity
device. The communication may be an instruction to alter the flight
of the activity device. Because of the immediacy of the
communication wireless means, viewers on the Internet can affect
the flight of the activity device so as to direct it to certain
people or make the activity device inoperable.
[0071] Alternatively, this interactive feature that physically
alters the device may exist in baseballs, flying airplanes,
footballs, soccer balls, or any other type of recreational toy or
ball, which will alter the toy or ball in a way to change the
projected path of the toy or ball if the desired interaction is not
performed. The recreational toy is not limited to flying objects,
and it may include moving recreational objects such as bowling
balls, bocce balls, curling balls, hockey pucks, golf balls, and
the like. The interactive feature is not limited to inputting user
requests, and may include an interactive turn-based game, like
electronic Simon Says.RTM., such that if the interactive user
improperly plays a turn, the device will physically change making
the device change in its normal movement paths.
[0072] Communication systems are known to support wireless and
landline wire communications between wireless and/or wire lined
communication devices. Such communication systems range from
national and/or international cellular telephone systems to the
Internet to point-to-point in-home wireless networks. Each type of
communication system is constructed, and hence operates, in
accordance with one or more communication standards. For instance,
wireless communication systems may operate in accordance with one
or more standards including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11,
Bluetooth, advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS,
global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division
multiple access (CDMA), local multi-point distribution systems
(LMDS), multi-channel-multi-point distribution systems (MMDS),
radio frequency identification (RFID), Enhanced Data rates for GSM
Evolution (EDGE), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and/or
variations thereof.
[0073] Briefly described according to the preferred embodiment of
the present invention, a flying disc toy, generally noted as
activity device 21 as described in FIG. 3. The diameter of the
activity device is approximately 10 inches. The body forms a
cylindrical shaped formed and having an outer diameter "d"
sufficiently small to allow for grasping and carrying in a person's
hand or dog's mouth. In the commercial embodiment, small, medium
and large diameters of 1.25 inches, 1.63 inches, and 2 inches,
respectively, are provided. However, such dimensions are merely
exemplary and are in no way intended to be limiting. Similarly, the
diameter of the commercial embodiment have varying lengths of
small, medium and large being of 6 inches, 9 inches, and 10.5
inches, respectively.
[0074] The activity device 21 has a touch activated trigger 3 that
is made of plastic, or capacitance based, inductive based,
conductive-based, or motion-based trigger. The touch activated
trigger 3 is connected to a microprocessor 15 that is attached, or
mounted to the activity device 21 located at the underbelly or
bottom at the center of the activity device 1. The microprocessor
15 is comprised of an integrated circuit capable of storing, and
executing commands and data. As shown in FIGS. 5 & 6, the
microprocessor 15 and a wireless communicator 13 interacts with a
receiving device 16 that receives and processes the data. In this
current example, the activity device also has means for taking
photographs, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, standard GPS receiver,
and other sensors that input activity data for a software
application so that the software application can calculate the
location of the device, calculate the activity based on the
movements of the device and stats of the activity, store these
activity data, including the images from the photo capabilities,
and send them wirelessly by radio, infra red, Bluetooth, WiFi, NFC,
or broadband frequency that the receiving device 16 other devices
within range can process. Depending on the sophistication of the
software, by the movement and rotation of the activity device and
the frequency that it accelerates, the application can process a
number of scenarios for the collected activity data. For example,
the application software can calculate the score or the location of
each activity device and see whether it was in bounds, or it can
calculate who is currently holding the activity device. Once
communication between the flying devices 21 is established with a
receiving device, the microprocessor in conjunction with other
components has the ability to initiate this application. In this
particular example, the application is software that can input the
activity data, such as sounds recorded by the user or pictures of
an activity or personal information about the players in an
activity, and then process, organize, store information about the
users, and compile or compare the data of other users as well that
may be connected to the application.
[0075] Through the software based application, this information can
be communicated to a receiving device 16. The receiving device 16
has the ability to receive activity data regarding the number of
users, the type of users, the type of game, the location of the
game, starting and ending time of the game, information about the
game location, information about the users or the game, locations
of other games and other users, advertisements, local promotions,
civic or municipal information, geo-tag "bookmarks", pictures,
movies, or audio content that is currently being played to a social
networking, wherein other interested parties can view the device
and it current use. The activity data can be processed at receiving
device 16. If the activity data are just recordings made during the
activity, the receiving device is a speaker or some form of output
device. Instead of a speaker or output device, the activity data
(whether photos, recordings, stats, points, location, etc.) can be
sent elsewhere. For example, if the receiving device 16 is another
computer that receives wireless activity data from the activity
device, it can send it to the Internet or public/private databases.
The Internet can be friends, via email or text, or it can publish
on public social network sites or dedicated private webpages.
[0076] In operation, the present invention preferably utilizes the
convention of a flying toy, or flying disc, or Frisbee.RTM. with
modern electronic component technology to obtain activity data
about the activity, process the activity data, and communicate that
activity data with other users by sending it to a receiving device,
wherein the receiving device is either hardware output components,
like speakers, or a Internet connected computer that wireless
receives activity data from the activity device. The activity
device can gather activity data from any number of sensors,
recorders, or cameras, or other input devices. It can also act as a
simple wireless trigger for a secondary device or devices,
requiring only a password exchange (or Bluetooth `handshake`) to
initiate a pre-programmed play pattern within the receiving device.
In this particular embodiment, one user uses the activity device to
make a recording regarding the statistics of a particular organized
activity. The electronic components in the activity device record
the message and alternatively record other activity data.
[0077] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the
present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration
and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit
the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and many
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above
teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to
best explain the principles of the invention and its practical
application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best
utilize the invention and various embodiments with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It
is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the
Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
[0078] FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of the prior art wherein activity
data may be sent to an external device, such as a speaker. These
flowcharts in FIGS. 14 to 23 demonstrate some of the different
embodiments of this invention that discloses electronic components
that collect activity data and communicate it with others.
[0079] In FIG. 13, a prior art activity device flowchart is
disclosed. At the start 100, there is an activity. The activity can
be a flying disc game. In this prior art system, the host activates
a system 101. The system can be a number of different software
applications, such as an application to record sound bites and play
them, or share pictures. The prior art activity device as disclosed
by U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0183,576 A1 to Lindsey et al. titled
"Throwable Object Featuring Message Record And Impact-Activated
Playback," does exactly that and records messages, sound bites,
graphics, images, and videos and such. This is sent to an output
device 102, like speakers. In contrast, the activity data that is
inputted in the present invention is processed at the activity
device and is sent to a receiving device to allow an interactive
audience to participate.
[0080] As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14, at the start 210,
there is an activity. The activity can be any of the activities
listed above. In this series of steps, the host activates an
application 211, and then application reads the data, such as the
data listed above, but not limited to those activities only. The
application then processes the data, such as organizing the data
into lists. In this embodiment, the activity data is sent
wirelessly, as discussed by the many different types of wireless
communication above, and a receiving device accepts that activity
data 212. Further in the embodiment, the activity data is further
processed. The processing of the data comes in many forms. The
receiving device can store data, manipulate data, share data,
display the data, print the data, or any type of processing of the
data. For example, in this embodiment, a bicycle race is
envisioned. One host racer activates a race application that
located in an electronic housing that is attached to his bicycle.
This electronic housing has components that measure the speed of
the bicycle. For example, the present invention hereby incorporates
by reference the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,419, to inventor
Jamine and titled "Digital bicycle speedometer-odometer," which
discloses one of many standard ways that the speed of a bicycle can
be measured, and such components exist to input activity data, such
as the speed of the bicycle, to the application. The application
may have many other features, such as time and location of where
he/she is on the race using standard components for GPS receivers
and atomic clocks that communicate as inputs for the application.
In this present invention and improvement from the prior art, the
activity data is organized by the microprocessor and memory
capabilities of the activity device electronic housing 9 and then
communicated via wireless communication, perhaps a Bluetooth.RTM.
connection, to a receiving device, such as a computer or mobile
phone. The computer or mobile phone receiving device then processes
this data, for example, sending it to a public or private database,
or social network site. Tracking information on individual racers
or speed that the racer is running at or personal information
regarding the racer or a processed list of the rankings can all be
viewed from the receiving device that is able to communicate it
with the Internet or other device.
[0081] As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 15, there is disclosed
another embodiment. In this embodiment, the host, whether a
participant or spectator, initiates an application from a mobile
device 311. The mobile device can be a computer or mobile phone or
many of the discussed iteration of computer-like devices discussed
above. The mobile device then interacts with a second device or toy
312 that is located on the activity device. The second device
contains the electronic housing with one or more electronic
components that can communicate with the mobile device. This
interaction can be done in many ways as discussed above but not
limited to, wireless communication methods via Bluetooth, infrared,
NFC, hotspot creation, and the like. The activity device then reads
an activity data 313. The activity data is then submitted to a
separate receiving device 314, which can store the activity data,
manipulate the activity data, share the activity data, display the
activity data, print or show the activity data, or any other type
of processing of the activity data 315. For example, in this
embodiment, let's suppose there is a Disc Golf.RTM. game that has
been initiated. These electronic components are located precisely
at the center and equally spaced from the center of the flying disc
such as not to interfere with the flight of the disc. Further, the
flying disc has a precise weight for competition. And the materials
removed from the flying disc is within 10% of the material weight
of the complete electronic housing 9. The host of the Disc
Golf.RTM. game is interested in finding additional players. The
host initiates an application from his mobile phone, although the
initiation can be from a variety of different devices, such as
discussed above, but not limited to, such as a computer, laptop,
smart phone, computer pad, electronic reader, and the like. The
application then communicates with an electronic component located
in an electronic housing located in the activity device. The
communication can be initiated in a variety of ways, such as manual
turning on of the electronic housing located in the activity
device, or an automatic initiation once the host initiates his
application from his mobile phone (by wireless activation). By
either the host entering data into his mobile phone about the
characteristics or by the activity device automatically recognizing
the location and the activity of the game, the electronic device in
the activity device then communicates this data via wireless
communication to another receiving device, such as a computer.
Other viewers of this activity data would understand the location
and time of the activity involved with the activity device was
initiated and may decide to join the activity based on it.
Depending on the components that may exist in the flying disc, the
activity data that may be shared are as discussed above, such as
the speed or flight path of the disc, the tracking of the disc, the
players involved in the game, the statistics of the game, the rules
of the game, pictures and videos and sound recordings from the
activity, and the like. This activity data is all organized by the
software application in a way to efficiently communicate the
activity data. The activity data can also be compressed using
standard compression methods, such as MPEG, MP3, MP4, AIFF, etc.
formats. The compression itself is considered "processing."
[0082] In FIG. 16, the host of the activity either involved in the
activity directly or a spectator initiates an application 411. The
application can be on the device or toy itself as envisioned in
FIGS. 13 and 14, or it can be on a smart phone as discussed in FIG.
15 that communicates with the activity device 412. Again, as in
FIG. 15, activity data is read 413, processed, and it is then
communicated to a separate receiving device 414. The separate
receiving device then processes the data. The process of data will
involve posting the activity data or communicating the activity
data on a dedicated webpage, database (public and private) as
discussed above, website, or social network site 415 as discussed
above. The communication or posting of the activity data can
involve sharing of photos, recordings from the location, location
of the activity, time of the activity, score, players involved, and
the like. The type of dedicated network site or a social network
site are as discussed above, but not limited to those only. Other
interested viewers of this activity data on the website would
understand the activity data. For example, suppose a kite flying
contest was held at a nearby park. The host of the kite flying
contest decides to post the contestants, stats, and various
pictures. The host initiates the kite flying contest application on
his smart phone, which can communicate with an electronic device on
the host's kite. The electronic device does not need to be on the
kite, but communicating the data with the host's kite can
immediately communicate data to the host application. The host
application can also detect other players with electronic
components in the kite. Such activity data as the name of the
contestants, name of the kite, the type of kite, and speed or
height of the kite, or the location of the kite activity using a
standard GPS location component can be communicated with the host
application. The electronic component on the kite may also take
pictures from the sky. Such activity data is processed by
organizing the data and compressing the data, and then communicated
with a receiving device via wireless communication, as discussed
above, but not limited to those types of communications. The
information that is received by the receiving device can then post
the activity information on the Internet, to a social network site,
or a dedicated webpage for kite enthusiasts. Enthusiasts will have
the opportunity to experience an interactive and immediate
experience wherein as shown below, the enthusiasts will be allowed
to send a message back to the kite or perhaps with audience
participation give instructions to take pictures at the audience's
desire.
[0083] As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 17, the same type of
activity is contemplated as in FIGS. 13-16, but in this example,
the host activates an application from a host device 511. As in
FIGS. 13-16, the host device can either be a separate mobile device
or computer as discussed above that communicates with an electronic
housing in the activity device, or the host device can be the
actual electronic housing in the activity device 512. By acting on
its own, the host device can be located on a separate device from
the activity toy or be located on the toy or host device as
discussed above 512. For example, the application can act on its
own by initiating the application from a mobile phone device or it
can communicate with an electronic component wirelessly that is
located on the activity device or toy 513. Then, activity data is
read 514. The activity data is processed and then wirelessly
communicated with separate receiving device 515, which then further
processes the data 516. The activity data is then posted on a
dedicated network site or a social network site or a dedicated
webpage, 517. After viewers see the activity data on a dedicated
network site or social network site, the viewer communicates back
via wirelessly other data that may or may not correspond with the
activity. For example, let's suppose there's a remote controlled
airplane contest that is held at a certain park. A host, whether a
spectator or participant of the contest, may initiate the
application either by his activity device, in other words, an
electronic component in his model plane, or a smart phone
application that communicates with an electronic component in the
plane. The initiation of the application can also occur in the
variations discussed above, such as touch sensor, induction sensor,
motion sensor, and the like. At this point other smart phones or
activity devices with corresponding components that are
participants or spectators of this event may communicate with the
host and share the contestant names, photos of the contest, or type
of remote controlled plane, or the type of contest, score of the
activity, or the actual recognition of the activity. This activity
data is organized into lists, compressed, and from the host is then
communicated via wirelessly to another device, a receiving device,
such as a computer, via wirelessly as discussed above. The names of
the contestants, the planes, photos of the activity, and score of
the activity will then be posted on a social network, like
Facebook, or a dedicated webpage for remote controlled airplane
enthusiasts. A viewer may find the information valuable and decide
to share his/her own information back to the host, whether it be
proper rankings of the contestants or information regarding the
rules of the game and such.
[0084] In FIG. 18, all the actions are consistent with other
embodiments discussed above, but in this case, it communicates
activity data with other participants or spectators. When a host
activates an application 611 from the activity device, it then
seeks to see if it can communicate with other activity devices or
mobile phones 612. It may communicate with them and share
information, such as activity data 613. This is particularly useful
when there are more than one activity device that need to talk to
each other. The activity device and its electronic housing with
wireless search capabilities searches for other users nearby. The
activation of the wireless search may occur by motion sensors or
movement sensors located with the circuitry of the electronic
housing. Upon electronic handshake, or the like, if multiple
participants are found, a communication link is established. There
is activity data that is collected by all the participants and then
processed by organizing the activity data into lists that
correspond to each participant, and then the activity data is
compressed and is sent to a receiving device 615. The receiving
device may be connected to the Internet, and as discussed above,
may share the activity data with other interested viewers. As an
example, let's take a simple game of Dungeons & Dragons that is
being played by enthusiasts. At this particular game, a host
decides to activate an application that describes the current game
that is being played. The activation of the application may exist
in his figurines. The figurines may communicate with smart phones
or other figurines or dice or manuals that are associated with the
current game. It can recognize the players that are involved in the
game and the fictional players that are represented by the
figurines. The data may also come with associated player rankings
or level or statistics on characteristics of the fictional players
involved. If the electronic components are located it in the
figurines, dice, or manual, the electronic components are located
in such a way that it would not interfere with the activity. Once
again, the weight displaced by taking away material for the
electronic component must be within 10% of the weight of the
electronic components and done so in a conspicuous manner, such as
locating it at the center of the figurine so as not to interfere
with the enjoyment of the game. In one particular case, let's say
that the electronic component was in the dice. The electronic
component may also come with a gyroscope, microprocessor, RAM, ROM,
application software, sensors to know when the dice is being tossed
and what roll it receives. This can be considered activity data to
be communicated with other devices or other users in the room. The
processing of the data may involve calculating damages to the
characters involved. The recognition of all the players may read
and process data, such as the characters that are involved in the
game or the time and location of the current game. The data can
come from all different users depending on the other participants
that are communicating with the host application. At this point,
other users may collect more activity data, such as another
participant of this activity may have died in the game and is no
longer a participant of the activity. This information may be
communicated with a receiving device, such as discussed above, and
that information can be shared with other enthusiast via dedicated
webpage, database, or social network.
[0085] As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 19, the participation of
reading activity data and sharing the activity data does not have
to derive from the host. Once an application is initiated, the
activity device searches for other participants 715. It then looks
to see if another host exists 716, and if it does, it tries to
communicate its own activity data with the host participant 718. If
it does not, it allows for the ability to host a game and
communicate data with other interested users 717. The final
connection of the host and the participants all have the ability to
process, share, analyze, and communicate the activity data to a
receiving device, where it may share that information with a
network or social network or dedicated webpage 719, or the like. As
a mere example, let's take the situation of a chess tournament. A
participant decides to enter the tournament and upon doing so, the
participant activates an application located in his activity device
that is attached to his personal chess set, pieces, timer, board,
or chess tournament membership card. At this time the electronic
components establish links with other activity devices as discussed
above. Activity data regarding the name of the participant, chess
ranking, the type of match that being played, the status, the time,
the location using standard GPS components, and the like, are
exchanged between the linked activity devices and then the activity
data is processed (i.e. organized into lists and compressed). By
standard search features on wireless receivers, the activity device
searches for a "host." If there is a host, the participant is given
an option to join that host. If there is not a host, the
participant is given an option to host the game. In this particular
case, the "host" will have a digital signature that is designated
for hosting. When the activity devices are linked, the activity
device that "hosts" will have a recognizable identity digital
signature and will allow other users to participate with the
"host." The host collects all the activity data from all the
activity devices in the room and processes it. The processing can
be an organization of all the players names, character names,
characteristics of the characters, inventory of the characters,
past battles, and all other traits. The host communicates the
activity data with a receiving device. Activity data can also
consist of chess moves in a particular game or the rankings of an
individual. This activity data that is sent to is then sent to
another receiving device where it can be process and published, as
discussed above, but not limited to, such as social network
website, like Twitter, or a chess enthusiast webpage. Enthusiasts
may interactively provide tips or suggested moves to the activity
device.
[0086] As shown in FIG. 20, there is an embodiment that in
disclosed wherein a user has a device that is constantly searching
for other users. In the embodiment, the application is loaded to an
electronic component that is attached to the user's activity
device, and the application is always on 811. The application
constantly searches for other participants 812. Once it recognizes
another participant, it makes an effort to communicate with the
other participant 813. If communication is established between one
or more users 814, then the activity data may be communicated to
another receiving device 815. For example, let's say the activity
is a friendly game of golf. In this example, an electronic housing
may exist in an activity device that is associated with a golf bag,
golf clubs, or golf apparel of some nature. The electronic
component is on and constantly looking for other devices that it
recognizes. Standard devices exist for the sending out of
frequencies and the reading of the frequencies, which can be done
with low battery power usage. In this embodiment, during a
particular activity, one golfer's electronic component picks up on
the fact that his friend is also playing in the event. Certain
data, such as the name of the golfer, the handicap of the golfer,
the course they are playing on and its rating and slope, and
location, and time of the event can be shared by the two electronic
components being near each other once a wireless connection is
established between the two activity devices. The activity data can
be the location of the golfer or the swing speed of the golf club.
The present invention hereby incorporates the disclosure of U.S.
Pat. No. 6,805,005 B1 to Elizondo, which is titled "Device for
increasing and measuring the golf, tennis, and batting swing."
Devices known in the art to measure the swing of a golf club and
other activity devices are well known in the art. During this
event, the activity devices perform electronic handshakes
automatically, processes the activity data for efficient
transferring (i.e., organizing the participant names into lists
with the associated characteristics and compressing the data) and
each of the activity device electronic housing is able to
communicate the activity data back to the receiving device, which
can be posted on the Internet, which allows for an interactive
experience.
[0087] As shown by the flowchart of FIG. 21, the embodiment
disclosed is a system similar to FIG. 20, wherein the application
is always on 911, and makes an effort to communicate with other
users, 912, and once it recognizes another user, it makes an effort
to communicate with the other user 913. Once the communication is
established between one or more users 914, the activity data may be
communicated between them, processed, and then the processed
activity data may be sent to a receiving device that further
processes the activity data 915. This activity data may be
communicated with a network 916 and ultimately has the ability to
communicate data back to the original device and application
wirelessly 917. For an example, let's say an activity is planned
for playdate of children and their Disney.RTM. characters.
Disney.RTM. characters all vary--some princesses, some Club
Penguin.RTM. characters, and the like. In this embodiment, these
Disney.RTM. figurines, dolls, stuffed animals, or character toys
contain an electronic component that constantly searches for other
characters in the nearby vicinity. This search is performed using
wireless communication search capabilities and receiving of
wireless communication capabilities as discussed above. Once two
activity devices in the shape of stuffed characters or figurines
(i.e., in two different dolls that come in contact with each other
at the playdate), the electronic components create a communication
link, wherein activity data such as rank, total points, name, name
of owner, type of doll, tracking information, and other activity
data is exchanged. The electronic housing also has a circuitry with
a GPS receiver, microprocessor, memory, ROM, RAM, application, and
a digital display. The digital display may show the rank of the
character and the experience point of the character. The digital
display may also show various other information, like the location
of the activity device and personal information about its owner.
This activity data that is exchanged is valuable to each
individual. Further in this embodiment, the act of exchanging the
characters and/or activity data between two activity devices allows
for the additional activity data to be exchanged, such as the time
and location of the exchange. The exchanging of the activity data
is the processing of the data, which can also be compressed. This
activity data can then be transmitted to a receiving device that
can further process and organize this information. In this
particular example, the activity devices wirelessly communicate
with a receiving device, which is a computer. The computer may use
a database (public or private as discussed above) to organize the
activity data. The computer may also provide immediate up to date
tracking location of where the activity device is currently
located. If there is a trade between Disney characters, there can
be tracking of the animal so that one person can see where the
Disney character ends up. This activity data and the names of the
characters and owners and other personal information is then
processed at the receiving device. If there is some sort of point
system or cash system, the actual participants may obtain cash or
points on a dedicated network game, such as Club Penguin, or other
social network site. This particular embodiment does not have to be
Disney characters. It can be various other devices above, but it
can also be collectible items, such as stamps or coins. The coins
or stamps can have the electronic housing 9 and the components of
RAM, ROM, application software, microprocessor, optionally sensors,
standard wireless communication capabilities that miniaturized so
as not to interfere with the size or the enjoyment of the activity
device. They would also be located in the center of the toy so as
hard to reach by children. The tracking of each activity device,
whether it is a stuffed animal, a Disney character, or a coin can
be done on the Internet when that activity data is shared with a
receiving device 16. Other activity data, like the name and rank
and starting destination of the activity device is also shared to a
larger audience. The receiving device that is able to organize all
the activity data can also allow other people to participate in the
activity. If a viewer is tracking one Disney character by the
activity data that is posted on the Internet, the viewer can
actually send a message, updates to a point system or ranking,
picture, or voice recording to the activity device either by
sending that information directly via wireless communication, such
as 3G, 4G, or WiFi capabilities back to the Disney character,
wherein that information can be experienced on the display or
speakers.
[0088] As shown in FIG. 22, an embodiment is disclosed wherein a
user creates a "hotspot" wireless capability. In this embodiment, a
participant initiates the hotspot 1011 and other users may join the
hotspot 1012 and 1015 and potentially share the activity data with
other network receiving device. If not, the activity is ended 1016.
This disclosure is not intended to exclude wireless capabilities
that are not technically called "hotspoting." This is a mere
example of a type of communication that may exist between various
activity devices and/or receiving devices. Also, there is embodied
a system wherein a daisy chain like sequence can be incorporated
such that a pattern may exist in inputting the activity data. These
devices can be programmed to transmit only in a certain sequence
with each other. The reasons for this may be to create a play by
play pattern, or to save frequency airplay, or to create a simpler
communication pattern for all the devices that are active. This
type of activity data collection is well known in the art.
[0089] Let's say there is an example of a football game wherein the
electronic housing is located precisely in the laces of the
activity device football as in FIG. 8. The electronic housing 9 is
placed in lacing 25 so as not to alter the laces' weight or
utility. In the making of a football, four panels or pieces of
leather or plastic are required. Two of the panels are perforated
along adjoining edges, so that they can be laced together. One of
these lacing panels receives an additional perforation and
reinforcements in its center, to hold the inflation valve. Each
panel is attached to an interior lining. The four panels are then
stitched together in an "inside-out" manner. The edges with the
lacing holes, however, are not stitched together. The ball is then
turned right side out by pushing the panels through the lacing
hole. A polyurethane or rubber lining called a bladder is inserted
through the lacing hole. Usually, a polyvinyl chloride or leather
laces are inserted through the perforations to provide a grip to
the activity ball. In this particular case, the laces are made by a
polyvinyl chloride or synthetic materials, which may include
plastics. One section of the lace provides room inside to house a
circuitry and electronic components above. The weight and size of
these components accurately are within 10% of the actually weight
of the leather lace and is tested thoroughly as to not hinder in
any way the aerodynamic nature of the activity device. Standard
miniaturized modern electronic components are small enough to
disclose an electronic housing inside laces having a circuitry,
microprocessor, accelerometer, gyroscope, sensors, RAM, ROM, and
application software can all exist in a small lace housing.
[0090] The electronic components may also exist or coexist in the
helmets or padding of football apparel. The tracking of the
location of the football, the speed of the football, the location
of each player in every move, the spin of the football, the
closeness of the football to each player, the time sequence of the
plays, and all of these activities can be communicated by various
ways as discussed in the many examples of FIGS. 13-21 above are
contemplated. Because the above disclosure discloses a device that
can record sound recordings and video recordings, the embodiment
also envisions the use of video and sound recordings on each
activity device, such as helmets, to communicate this activity data
to a receiving device. This is considered activity data that is
processed and that can be sent to a receiving device. In this
particular embodiment, there is a "hotspot" created by a receiving
device of some sort. The "hotspot" creation initiates other devices
to communicate its activity data by creating a "hotspot"
communication capability with the receiving device. With such
activity data collected, coaches can study the plays, the speed of
each player, the location of each player all on a computer when
that activity data is processed and communicated with the
appropriate software, which is standard in the industry. Other
interested viewers can also communicate back to the activity device
any type of message or signal once the information is processed at
the receiving device.
[0091] As shown in FIG. 23, there is disclosed a capability of the
device to be activated by the actual activity 1111. The activated
application at this time may have the ability to activate other
nearby devices 1112. These nearby devices have standard electronic
components that search for certain frequencies and searches for
electronic handshakes in order to recognize other devices that are
using the same application. Once recognition of an activity exists,
the activity device can activate their own applications in the
nearby devices. The methods of activation of the application are
discussed above, and are not limited to those examples. For
example, in a game of Ultimate Frisbee.RTM., the electronic device
inside the Frisbee.RTM. may be actually activated by the
centrifugal force created by the toss. Standard flying discs with
lights use the centripetal force of the toss with a spring and
simple electronic components to connect and trigger an initiation
with a toss. It may also be triggered by proximity, motion, or
audio sensors that communicate with each other. In so doing, it may
actually activate other nearby devices, such as other activity
devices with compatible applications or mobile phones. In such
cases, the communication of the devices is achieved when the
activity data can be passed back and forth via any of the methods
of wireless communication discussed above 1113. In one example,
there is disclosed a children's activity for the collection of
certain fake coins or stamps. In this particular case, the coins
may contain the electronic housing and components. There also
exists in these coins GPS, sensors, microprocessor, RAM, ROM, and
ability to run application. These coins or stamps can be traded.
Activity data about the trade and the owner of the coins can be
exchanged between the activity devices and processed. The activity
data can then be communicated by wireless communication to a
receiving device where people all over the world can track the coin
or play a point system game and track the statistics of the point
system and rankings of each player online. As discussed, the
interactive experience would allow the worldwide audience to
comment about a particular trade or give commands to the actually
activity device.
[0092] As discussed above, the inventive concepts are as
follows:
[0093] An activity device used in an activity comprising a body
suitable for the activity, the body having an electronic housing
having a first electronic component having a circuitry and input
components capable of collecting data about the activity and
capability for processing the activity data, and a second
electronic component capable of sending the activity data to a
receiving device. The processing of data includes organizing the
data into lists or organizing the data into tables or arrays. The
processing of data also may include compressing of the data using
standard compression methods so that when the data is communicated,
the data is efficient and the interactive experience is immediate.
The first electronic component is capable of storing, processing,
and outputting the activity data. The output can be external
display or speakers or any type of disconnected, external output
device. Further, the receiving device is capable of receiving the
activity data and further processing the activity data. Further,
the activity device can be a Frisbee.RTM. or a flying disc.
Further, the activity device can be a flying toy, or flying
vehicle, or football, baseball, basketball, flying ring, sport
ball, Olympic weights, projectiles, guns, soccer ball, sponge
balls, sponge darts, darts, flying toy airplanes, flying toy
helicopters, dolls, action figures, figurines, teddy bears, chess
pieces, golf clubs or golf apparel, collectible and tradable cards
or coins, tennis racquets or tennis apparel, and the such. The
activity device is not limited to these examples only.
[0094] The activity device collects activity data, wherein the
activity data is comprised of photos of the activity, videos of the
activity, sound recordings of the activity, the type of activity,
the score of an activity, the location of an activity, the time an
activity started and/or stopped, the rules of the activity, the
participants of the activity, personal information about the
participants of the activity, the point systems involved in an
activity, and/or the stats of an activity. The activity can be
comprised of an Ultimate Frisbee.RTM. game, or golf Frisbee.RTM.
game, Disc Frisbee.RTM., or a basketball game, or a baseball game,
or a hockey game, or a chess match, or a kite flying contest, or a
flying vehicle contest, or a golf tournament, or a game of
roll-playing game, or a race, or a marathon, or a triathlon, or a
bike race, an activity involving trading of cards or coins, or an
organized activity involving themed characters or figures.
[0095] The activity device collects activity data by using an
application. The application can be software that resides in the
circuitry of the first electronic component.
[0096] There is disclosed a trigger that plays pre-recorded
messages from an activation that is triggered by touch or a catch
of the activity device, the "touch" by the user that activates the
play of the recording in an external device. The trigger can be a
sensor for motion or light. The trigger can be manual, such as a
button that a user decides to manually press.
[0097] In one embodiment, the activity device is a circular flying
disc, and this activity device has the first electronic component
and second electronic component that are comprised of a weight and
shape and are located in the middle and the activity device such
that the total weight of said activity device weighs between 150
and 180 grams. The activity device also include sound producing
speakers wherein the sound producing speakers are located centrally
as not to distort the flight of the flying disc or create
interferences with the sound.
[0098] In another embodiment, the activity device is an oblong
spherical shape, or a football shape. In this embodiment, the
activity device is an air-filled sphere with a circumference of
68-70 cm (27-28 in), a weight 410-450 g (14-16 oz), inflated to a
pressure of 0.6 to 1.1 atmospheres (59-108 kPa, 8.6-15.7 psi) at
sea level, and covered in leather or other suitable material, such
as plastic, leather/plastic hybrid, synthetic material, sponge
material, but not limited to these materials. In this embodiment,
the electronic component or components are placed in the laces or
at the center inside of the activity device and displaced with the
equal amount of weight being taken off the activity device in a way
as not to interfere with the normal flight or movement of the
activity device during the course of the activity.
[0099] In another embodiment, the activity device is a toy, such as
a toy animal or toy coin. In this embodiment, for example, it if
the toy animal was a duck, the electronic component or components
would be hidden in the beak of the duck, or perhaps the eye of the
duck, so as not to interfere with the enjoyment of the duck.
[0100] In another embodiment, the activity device is a toy
airplane. In this embodiment, the electronic component or
components, would be located at the nose of the plane such as to
equally disperse the weight of the components to both side of the
activity device and also perhaps aid in the flight of the device if
the device needs added weight.
[0101] In another embodiment, the activity device is a toy doll or
stuffed animal. In this embodiment, the activity device can be a
theme park animal. It can be action figures. It can be accessories,
or coins. In this embodiment, the activity device will have the
electronic component, such as the microprocessor, wireless
communicator, RAM, ROM, application software, and such all located
in an area such as the nose of the stuffed animal. It can also be
in the paw of the animal. The activity device can be triggered by
way sensor, motion sensor, touch sensor, and the like as discussed
below.
[0102] In another embodiment, the activity device is a paddle and
ball. In this embodiment, the electronic components are in both the
ball and the paddle and they are located in a place as to not
interfere with the flight of the ball or the motion of the paddle.
In each of these cases, an equal amount of weight is displaced from
the device as the weight of the electronic components.
[0103] In other embodiments, whether the activity device is roller
skates, hockey puck, skateboard, motorcycle, racing bike, swimming
goggles, or the like, the electronic components discussed below
must weigh within 1 to 10 percent of the displaced weight taken out
from the activity device so as not to interfere with the normal
movement of the activity device.
[0104] The first electronic component of the activity device has a
microprocessor and the ability to contain an application. The
application is software that can process activity data related to
the activity. The application can be recording application to
record sound bites of an activity, a recording application to
record pictures or videos of an activity, stat processing
application to store and process stats of an activity, organization
application to process the names of participants in an activity or
personal information about the participants or spectators involved
in the activity, an application to keep the score of an activity, a
point system application that involves point systems for
participants, an application for the names of devices in the
activity or the type of activity and/or the rules of an activity.
The type of application is not limited to these only types.
[0105] The first electronic component may have an activation
trigger. The activation trigger can be a sensory touch pad,
synchronized time trigger, which is called a hive trigger, internal
clock and trigger, the centripetal force of the activity device
being thrown, accelerometer, motion sensor, the physical movement
of the activity device being used in an activity, the effect of
another device activating it via wireless technology, such as a
smart phone, laptop, computer, satellite communication, or just
manual activation. The immediacy of the activation trigger allows
for the quicker responses that are needed for a quick interactive
experience. The activation trigger can be mechanical,
pressure-triggered, moisture-triggered, capacitive-triggered,
electromagnetically-triggered, wirelessly triggered, motion sensor
triggered, input keypad, induction-triggered, or a combination
thereof. The activation trigger acts to initiate the application.
In this particular case, this activation is considered to be the
activity data. A trigger for playing a pre-recorded message might,
for example, be initiated by the activation data sent to the
processor when a touch trigger is activated.
[0106] The activity device has a second electronic component that
has the ability to communicate the activity data to a receiving
device, which can be speakers for audio related features, a monitor
for video or picture related activity, or some form of electronic
component that vibrates, or it can also be another computer, smart
phone, laptop, table PC's, e-readers, mobile phones, separate
printers, separate fax machines, netbook, or another activity
device being used separately. In cases, where the receiving device
is a computer, smart phone, laptop, table PC's, e-readers, mobile
phones, separate printers, separate fax machines, netbook, or
another activity device, the ability to communicate with the
receiving device must not interfere with the activity, and such
communication means can be done by wireless communication, such as
NFC, Bluetooth, hotspot creation, WiFi, satellite communication,
phone frequency communication, 3G or 4G or 5G frequency
communication.
[0107] The receiving device contains a third electronic component
that can process the information. The third electronic component
can display the activity data, can show the activity data in
instances of the activity data being pictures or video, play the
activity data in instances where the activity data is audio,
organize the activity data, compare activity data of various users,
compute activity data with activity data of other participants,
calculate the activity data for scoring or point system purposes,
database the activity data, and communicate the activity data to
other viewers. The communication of the activity data to other
viewers can be done by the Internet, and the activity data can be
sent out by email, by text messages, by posting the information on
a dedicated Website, by posting the information to a social network
site, such as Twitter or Facebook or Myspace, or by creating its
own webpage for the viewers.
[0108] In instances where the receiving device is another activity
device, the activity data that is communicated can be combined with
the activity data of the separate activity device and processed or
computed to organize the combined activity data or compare or
statistically calculated for purposes of scoring or point system
tracking. There can be more than one receiving device, and there
can be the ability to compute all activity data in all receiving
devices. The receiving device in this instance can be triggered by
sensory touch pad, hive trigger, internal clock and trigger, the
centripetal force of the activity device being thrown,
accelerometer, motion sensor, the activity of the activity device,
or manual activation.
[0109] The point system is such that it can exist for children and
games or adults. It can keep track of players, rankings, skill
level, the inventory of items that they may be associated with,
personal information. For purposes of activity devices that use
dolls and characters or coins and collectibles, there can be a
tracking feature associated with the point system that allows for
people to track where their activity device is located or has been
traded to.
[0110] A fourth electronic component exists wherein the viewer of
the activity data can communicate separate data back to the first
electronic component. The separate data can be text messages,
video, pictures, audio, activity stats, activity rules, activity
rankings, viewer statistics, the name and personal information of
the viewer such that the person involved in the activity with the
activity device can view, listen, or process the separate data. The
separate data can also be simple digital instructions that can be
used by the activity device to perform commands. The separate data
may be an instruction to take a picture or turn the flying toy or
turn off the flying capabilities.
[0111] The present invention calls for a recreational device made
of various hard or flexible plastics, fiber, fiberglass, fabric,
wood, metals, alloys, polymers, molding, sponge, rubber, vinyl,
foam, and plastic.
[0112] The present invention calls for an activity device with an
electronic housing that may contain one or more of the following:
recording component, a speaker component, a memory storage
component, a wireless communication component, video component, and
a camera component. The device also contains a microprocessor,
memory, energy source, and data input and transfer means. Further,
the electronic component can communicate with other activity
devices. It may communicate with other recreational toys or the
like. It may contain a radio transmitter or an ability to interact
with a user such to alter the movement of the toy or device
depending on the interaction of the user.
[0113] While the foregoing written description of the invention
enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered
presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will
understand and appreciate the existence of variations,
combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method,
and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited
by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all
embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the
invention.
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