Dynamic interactive media for a playset

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12115449-B2
Application number	US-202117494948-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2021
Priority date	Mar 19, 2020
Publication date	Oct 15, 2024
Grant date	Oct 15, 2024

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An interactive device comprising:
a plurality of hotspots comprising antennas and configured to wirelessly communicate with an antenna of a first object; and
a switching mechanism configured to selectively couple to the each of the plurality of hotspots via connecting elements, wherein the switching mechanism is communicatively coupled with a controller that is configured to:
determine an object type of the first object and a location of the first object based on a signal received from the first object via a first hotspot of the plurality of hotspots, wherein the location of the first object corresponds to a location of the first hotspot;
select an interactive media based on the object type and the location of the first object; and
instruct a first media file of the selected interactive media to be output on an output device.

2. The interactive device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine, via a second hotspot of the plurality of hotspots, an object type of a second object and a location of the second object, and wherein selecting the interactive media based on the object type and the location of the first object is further based on the object type and the location of the second object.

3. The interactive device of claim 1 , wherein the first media file is instructed to be output during a first time period, and during a second time period that occurs after the first time period, the controller is further configured to:
determine, via a second hotspot of the plurality of hotspots, an object type of a second object and a location of the second object;
update the selected interactive media based on the object type of the second object and the location of the second object; and
instruct a second media file of the updated interactive media to be output on the output device.

4. The interactive device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine, via a second hotspot of the plurality of hotspots, a change of location of the first object;
update the selected interactive media based on the change of location of the first object; and
instruct a second media file of the updated interactive media to be output on the output device.

5. The interactive device of claim 1 , wherein the interactive media comprises a plurality of branches, and wherein the first media file corresponds to a first branch of the plurality of branches.

6. The interactive device of claim 1 , wherein the selected interactive media is an interactive story comprising a storyline associated with the object type and the location of the first object, or the selected interactive media is an interactive song comprising verses associated with the object type and the location of the first object.

7. The interactive device of claim 1 , wherein the switching mechanism is configured to selectively couple to each of the plurality of hotspots based on a control signal received from the controller.

8. The interactive device of claim 1 , wherein the first hotspot is configured to receive a power signal from the switching mechanism and wirelessly communicate the power signal to the first object.

9. The interactive device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hotspots are positioned within a plurality of scenes, and wherein the plurality of scenes correspond to one or more of indoor environments and outdoor environments.

10. The interactive device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine, via the first hotspot, the object type of the first object and the location of the first object based on the switching mechanism coupling to the first hotspot.

11. A hardware controller configured to:
determine an object type of a first object and a location of the first object based on a signal received from the first object via a first hotspot of a plurality of hotspots, wherein the location of the first object corresponds to a location of the first hotspot, and an antenna of the first object wirelessly communicates with an antenna of the first hotspot within an interactive device, and wherein the plurality of hotspots is coupled to a switching mechanism via connecting elements, the switching mechanism configured to couple the plurality of hotspots with the controller;
select an interactive media based on the object type of the first object and the location of the first object; and
instruct a first media file of the selected interactive media to be output on an output device.

12. The controller of claim 11 further configured to:
determine, via a second hotspot of the plurality of hotspots, an object type of a second object and a location of the second object, and wherein selecting the interactive media based on the object type and the location of the first object is further based on the object type and the location of the second object.

13. The controller of claim 11 further configured to, during a second time period:
determine, via a second hotspot of the plurality of hotspots, an object type of a second object and a location of the second object;
update the selected interactive media based on the object type of the second object and the location of the second object; and
instruct a second media file of the updated interactive media to be output on the output device, wherein the first media file is instructed to be output during a first time period, the first time period occurs before the second time period.

14. The controller of claim 11 further configured to:
determine a change of location of the first object;
update the selected interactive media based on the change of location of the first object; and
instruct a second media file of the updated interactive media to be output on the output device.

15. The controller of claim 11 further configured to communicate a control signal to the switching mechanism, wherein the switching mechanism is configured to selectively couple to each of the plurality of hotspots based on the control signal.

16. A method comprising:
determining an object type of a first object and a location of the first object based on a signal received from the first object via a first hotspot of a plurality of hotspots, wherein the location of the first object corresponds to a location of the first hotspot, wherein an antenna of the first object wirelessly communicates with an antenna of the first hotspot within an interactive device, and the plurality of hotspots is coupled to a switching mechanism via connecting elements;
selecting an interactive media based on the object type of the first object and the location of the first object; and
instructing a first media file of the selected interactive media to be output on an output device.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
determining an object type of a second object and a location of the second object, wherein the second object wirelessly communicates with a second hotspot of the plurality of hotspots, and wherein selecting the interactive media based on the object type and the location of the first object is further based on the object type and the location of the second object.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising, during a second time period,
determining an object type of a second object and a location of the second object, wherein the second object wirelessly communicates with a second hotspot of the plurality of hotspots;
updating the selected interactive media based on the object type of the second object and the location of the second object; and
instructing a second media file of the up

Assignees

• Disney Entpr Inc

Inventors

• Yeung Jason A
• Nocon Nathan D
• Goslin Michael P
• Rosenthal Janice K
• Gibson Hunter J
• Wong Clifford
• Baumbach Elliott H

Classifications

• A63F13/23

  for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console · CPC title

• A63F2300/632

  by branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible story developments at a given point in time · CPC title

• A63F2300/1025

  details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection · CPC title

• A63F2300/6045

  for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands · CPC title

• A63F13/428

  involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes · CPC title