DYNAMIC INTERACTIVE MEDIA FOR A PLAYSET

Number: 20210291052
Published: 2021-09-23
Filed: 2020-05-14
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: YEUNG; Jason A., NOCON; Nathan D., GOSLIN; Michael P., ROSENTHAL; Janice K., GIBSON; Hunter J., WONG; Clifford, BAUMBACH; Elliott H.
CPC: A63F13/23; A63H33/38; A63H5/00; A63H3/50; A63F13/428; A63H3/28; A63H33/42; A63F13/47
Verdict: Medium Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Interactive physical playset toy hardware.

Abstract

A playset comprises a plurality of hotspots positioned within a plurality of scenes. A switching mechanism is configured to selectively couple to the each of the plurality of hotspots and is communicatively coupled with a controller. The controller is configured to establish communication with a first object using a first hotspot and determine an object type of the first object and a location of the first object within the playset. The location of the first object corresponds to a scene that contains the first hotspot. The controller is further configured to select an interactive media based on the object type and the location of the first object, select a first media file based on the selected interactive media, and instruct the first media file to be output on an output device.

Background

BACKGROUND

Playsets having interactive features provide an enhanced user experience. Commonly, playsets include video and/or sound playback features that may be triggered based on a user's actions. For example, as a user inserts, removes, or moves objects (e.g., a play piece or a game piece) within a playset, the playset initiates media playback. However, in current implementations, the available media playback options are limited and do not allow a user to dynamically alter the story or song driving the playback options. For example, once a story is started, a user is unable to alter the progression of the story, limiting the user experience.

Thus, there is a need for a playset that allows a user to dynamically adjust an interactive story or song of a playset to improve the user experience. SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a playset comprises a plurality of scenes, a plurality of hotspots, and a switching mechanism. The plurality of hotspots is positioned within the plurality of scenes and configured to wirelessly couple with a first object. The switching mechanism is configured to selectively couple to the each of the plurality of hotspots. The switching mechanism is communicatively coupled with a controller. The controller is configured to establish communication with the first object using a first hotspot of the plurality of hotspots and determine an object type of the first object and a location of the first object within the playset. The location of the f

Claims

1. A playset comprising: a plurality of scenes; a plurality of hotspots positioned within the plurality of scenes and configured to wirelessly couple with a first object; and a switching mechanism configured to selectively couple to the each of the plurality of hotspots, wherein the switching mechanism is communicatively coupled with a controller that is configured to: establish communication with the first object using a first hotspot of the plurality of hotspots; determine an object type of the first object and a location of the first object within the playset, wherein the location of the first object corresponds to one of the plurality of scenes that contains the first hotspot; select an interactive media based on the object type and the location of the first object; select a first media file based on the selected interactive media; and instruct the first media file to be output on an output device. || 8. A controller for a playset, the controller configured to: establish communication with a first object within the playset using a first hotspot of a plurality of hotspots, wherein a switching mechanism is configured to selectively couple to each of the plurality of hotspots and communicatively couple the plurality of hotspots with the controller; determine an object type of the first object and a location of the first object within the playset, wherein the location of the first object corresponds to one of a plurality of scenes of the playset that contains the first hotspot; select an interactive media based on the object type of the first object and the location of the first object; select a first media file based on the selected interactive media; and instruct the first media file to be output on an output device. || 15. A method of interacting with a playset, the method comprising: establishing, via a switching mechanism, communication with a first object within the playset using a first hotspot of a plurality of hotspots, wherein the switching mechanism is configured to selectively couple to each of the plurality of hotspots; determining an object type of the first object and a location of the first object within the playset, wherein the location of the first object corresponds to one of a plurality of scenes of the playset that contains the first hotspot; selecting an interactive media based on the object type of the first object and the location of the first object; selecting a first media file based on the selected interactive media; and instructing the first media file to be output on an output device.