WO2000051697A1

WO2000051697A1 - Computer controlled toys that provide messages to the user

Info

Publication number: WO2000051697A1
Application number: PCT/IL2000/000130
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oz Gabai; Jacob Gabai; Nimrod Sandlerman
Original assignee: Creator Ltd.
Priority date: 1999-03-02
Filing date: 2000-03-02
Publication date: 2000-09-08
Also published as: AU2937400A

Abstract

A method (figs. 10-13, 16-20, 25-37, 66, 69, 71, 75, 78, 80, 82, 88, 91, 93 abd 96) and apparatus (figs. 1-9, 14-15, 21-24, 38-65, 70, 72-74, 76-77, 81, 83-87, 89-90, 92 and 94-95) providing communication between a user and a computer network (120), audible at the location of a fanciful body (100), and providing oral motivational messages (fig. 29) to the user via this communication.

Description

COMPUTER CONTROLLED TOYS THAT PROVIDE MESSAGES TO THE USER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to toys, particularly computer controlled toys that provide messages to the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Printed television guides are known. A variety of advertising technologies are known.

Internet push technology is used to provide information, collated and collected from across the world wide web, to individual or corporate users who have requested such information. The types of information are selected by the user, however the particular informative items are not individually selected by the user. The informative items, which may include news, weather, sport, stock market updates etc. are sent directly over the Internet or an intranet to a user's computer. This technology benefits a user by providing selected types of information to a user without the user having to spend the time surfing the web to retrieve the information directly.

Information providers that utilize Internet push technology are listed by Frank Vaughan, 1997, in "Surfing the Internet: Push technology is one of the newest killer apps.", Computer Bits, Vol. 7, No. 10, and can be found at the following URL: http://iago.computerbits.com/archive/19971000/surf9710.htm.

The disclosures of all publications mentioned in the specification and of the publications cited therein are hereby incorporated by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide methods and apparatus for toys, particularly computer controlled toys that provide messages to the user.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a toy including a fanciful body, a user motivational system located at least partially within the fanciful body and including a computer network communicator, and an annunciator providing a motivational message, including at least an audible output, to a user, at least one of the content and timing of the motivational message being determined at least partially by communications received from a motivational content provider via a computer network by means of the computer network communicator.

There is further provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a toy including a fanciful body, a user motivational system located at least partially within the fanciful body and including a computer network communicator, and an annunciator providing a motivational message, including at least an audible output, to a user in a style matched to a fanciful persona matching the fanciful body based at least partially on communications received from a motivational content provider via a computer network by means of the computer network communicator.

There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a toy including a fanciful body, a user motivational system located at least partially within the fanciful body and including a computer network communicator, and an annunciator providing a motivational message, including at least an audible output, to a user in a style at least partially determined by at least one known personal characteristic of the user, the at least one audible outputs being based at least partially on communications received from a motivational content provider via a computer network by means of the computer network communicator.

There is additionally provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention an electronic purchasing system including a plurality of toys, each including a fanciful body, a user motivational system located at least partially within the fanciful body and including a computer network communicator, and an annunciator providing a purchase-motivating message, including at least an audible output, to a user, at least one of the content and timing of the purchase-motivating message being determined at least partially by communications received from at least one motivational content provider via a computer network by means of the computer network communicator, and a user purchase indication system located at least partially within the fanciful body and including a user purchase input device receiving an indication of the user's purchase/not purchase decision and communicating information at least partially based on said user's decision via a computer network communicator to a recipient connected to a computer network.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the system includes a purchase accounting system receiving via the computer network the information at least partially based on the user's decision from the plurality of toys and effecting purchase of goods indicated by the user.

There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention an electronic purchasing system including a plurality of toys, each including a fanciful body, a user motivational system located at least partially within the fanciful body and including a computer network communicator, and an annunciator providing a purchase motivating message, including at least an audible output, to a user, at least one of the content and timing of the purchase-motivating message being determined at least partially by communications received from at least one motivational content provider via a computer network by means of the computer network communicator, and a user response indication system located at least partially within the fanciful body and including a user response input device receiving an indication of the user's response and communicating information at least partially based on the user's response via a computer network communicator to a recipient connected to a computer network.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the system includes an accounting system receiving via the computer network information at least partially based on the user's response from the plurality of toys and providing an accounting output at least partially indicating at least the number of toys which received an acquiescence response to the communications received from the motivational content provider.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the at least one motivational content provider includes a plurality of motivational content providers.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the motivational message is a multi-media message. Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the multi-media message includes physical motion of the toy body.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the annunciator includes a message processor operative to configure the message in accordance with characteristics of a user.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the user characteristics include at least one of age, sex, culture, use history, demographics.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the message processor is operative to translate the message into an appropriate language for an individual user.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the computer network communicator is operative to secure at least one transaction over the computer network.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the computer network communicator is operative to encode credit card information before the information is communicated over the computer network.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the toy also includes a user response indication system located at least partially within the fanciful body and includes a user response input device receiving an indication of a user's response and communicating information at least partially based on the user's response via the computer network communicator to a recipient connected to the computer network.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the indication of a user's response includes the user's response itself.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the toy also includes an electronic purchase accounting system receiving via the computer network the information at least partially based on the user's response from the plurality of toys and effecting purchase of goods indicated by the user. Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the accounting system additionally provides an accounting of various types of user's response.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the accounting system additionally provides an accounting of demographics of the user's response.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the accounting system additionally includes a billing subsystem which provides billing based on the accounting.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the accounting system provides separate accounting for a plurality of various types of user's response.

There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a toy operative to provide communication between a user and a computer body, the toy including a body, a first informational interface enabling the toy to communicate a message to a user at least in an audible manner, a second informational interface enabling the toy to receive a message from a user at least in an audible manner, a third informational interface enabling the toy to receive a message from a computer network, and a fourth informational interface enabling the toy to transmit a message to a computer network.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the computer network communicator is operative to authenticate a user based on his/her voice.

There is further provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a system for purchasing over a computer network, the system including a purchasing interface via which a user effects purchases over the computer network, and a purchase limiter operative to block purchases having at least one predetermined characteristic.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the predetermined characteristic includes a value parameter. Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the purchase limiter is operative to limit the total value of purchases effected by the user so as to stay within a fixed periodical budget.

There is further provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention informative toy apparatus for providing information via a toy, the apparatus including a toy body, a connection to an information network storing information regarding identity of, and on-screen time of, television programs to be broadcast, and a TV program herald operative to communicate an alert to a user regarding an impending broadcast of at least one television program, the TV program herald being in association with the toy body so as to create an impression that the toy body is personally communicating the alert to the user.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the connection includes an automatic download connection.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the toy body is operative, responsive to a control signal from the TV program herald, to bodily express an emotion determined by the user's response to an alert.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the toy body is operative to bodily express a positive emotion if the user switches on a television program subject of an alert.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the toy body is operative to bodily express a negative emotion if the user fails to switch on a television program subject of an alert.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the apparatus also includes apparatus for automatically determining the identity of a television program which is currently being watched.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the apparatus also includes a satisfaction statement elicitor operative to prompt a user to indicate his extent of satisfaction from the television program.

There is further provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention an audible-information providing object including a fanciful body, and a personally-customized audible-information provider located at least partially within the fanciful body and including a computer network communicator operative to provide communication between a user and a computer network, and an annunciator operative to provide oral personally customized information, including at least an audible output, to the user, via the computer network communicator, wherein the computer network communicator is operative to receive from the user an at least partial determination of at least one of the content, timing, type and style of the personally customized information.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the object also includes a user response acceptance system located at least partially within the fanciful body and operative to receive an indication of a user's response and to communicate information at least partially based on the user's response via the computer network communicator to a recipient connected to the computer network.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the information provided by the annunciator to the user is in a style matched to a fanciful persona matching the fanciful body of the object.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the object includes a toy.

Also in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the information is translated into an appropriate language for an individual user.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the computer network communicator is operative to secure at least one transaction over the computer network.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the computer network communicator is operative to encode credit card information before the information is communicated over the computer network.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the computer network communicator is operative to authenticate a user based on his/her voice. Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the object includes at least one sensor operative to collect sensory information indicative of human proximity.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the absence of the sensory information within a predetermined time window, the object refrains from providing the information.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the indication of the user's response includes a spoken verbal response.

There is further provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention an audible-information providing method including providing communication from a computer network to a user, audible at the location of a fanciful body, receiving from the user an at least partial determination of at least one of the content, timing, type and style of desired personally customized information, and providing the desired personally customized information to the user, via the communication.

There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a user motivation method including providing communication between a user and a computer network, audible at the location of a fanciful body, and providing an oral motivational message to the user, via the communication.

There is additionally provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a user motivation method including providing communication between a user and a computer network, audible at the location of a fanciful body, and providing an oral motivational message to the user, in a style matched to a fanciful persona matching the fanciful body, via the communication.

There is further provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a user motivation method including providing communication between a user and a computer network, audible at the location of a fanciful body, and providing an oral motivational message to the user, in a style at least partially determined by at least one known personal characteristic of the user, via the communication. There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention an electronic purchasing method including providing communication between a user and a computer network, audible at the location of a fanciful body, providing a purchase-motivating message, including at least an audible output, to the user, at least one of the content and timing of the purchase-motivating message being determined at least partially by communications received from at least one motivational content provider via the computer network, via the communication, and receiving an indication of the user's purchase/not-purchase decision, and communicating information at least partially based on the user's decision to a recipient connected to the computer network.

There is additionally provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention an electronic purchasing method including providing communication between a user and a computer network, audible at the location of a fanciful body, providing a purchase-motivating message, including at least an audible output, to the user, an at least partial determination of at least one of the content and timing of the purchase-motivating message being determined at least partially by communications received from at least one motivational content provider via the computer network, via the communication, and receiving an indication of the user's response, and communicating information at least partially based on the user's response to a recipient connected to the computer network.

There is further provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a communication method including providing communication between a user and a computer network, audible at the location of a toy with at least four informational interfaces, the toy communicating a message to the user at least in an audible manner at a first informational interface, the toy receiving a message from the user at least in an audible manner at a second informational interface, the toy receiving a message from the computer network at a third informational interface, and the toy transmitting a message to the computer network at a fourth informational interface.

There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for purchasing over a computer network, the method including providing a purchasing interface enabling a user to effect purchases over the computer network, and including blocking purchases having at least one predetermined characteristic.

There is additionally provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for providing information via a toy, the method including providing communication between a user and a computer network, audible at the location of a fanciful toy body, connecting to an information network storing audible information regarding identity of, and on-screen time of, television programs to be broadcast, and heralding TV programs by communicating an alert, audible at the location of the toy, to a user regarding an impending broadcast of at least one television program, via the communication so as to create an impression that the toy body is personally communicating the alert to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a simplified semi-pictorial semi-block diagram illustration of a toy/marketing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toy communicating directly with the Internet;

Fig. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a preferred implementation of the network controller of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a simplified semi-pictorial semi-block diagram illustration of a toy/marketing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toy communicating with the Internet via a household computer connected to the toy by wire;

Fig. 4 is a simplified block diagram of a preferred analog implementation of the computer networked controller of Fig. 3 and its audio communication link to the household computer;

Fig. 5 is a simplified block diagram of a preferred digital implementation of the computer networked controller of Fig. 3 and its audio communication link to the household computer; Fig. 6 is a variation on the apparatus of Fig. 5 in which the computer networked controller of Fig. 3 is disposed adjacently to the computer rather than being disposed adjacently to the toy;

Fig. 7 is a simplified semi-pictorial semi-block diagram illustration of a toy/marketing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toy communicating with the Internet via a household computer connected wirelessly to the toy;

Fig. 8 is a simplified block diagram of a preferred implementation of the wireless controller and of the transceiver, both of Fig. 7, the transceiver being connected to the computer via its MIDI connector and its audio connectors;

Fig. 9 is a simplified block diagram of a preferred implementation of wireless controller and of transceiver, both of Fig. 7, the transceiver being connected to the computer via its serial or parallel ports;

Fig. 10 is a diagram of an example of a collection of script objects organized as a script;

Fig. 1 1 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for processing any one of the "talk"-type script objects of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for processing a "listen and sense"-type script object such as the "listen and sense" script object of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for processing a "listen and sense"-type script object such as the "listen and sense" script object of Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 is a simplified semi-pictorial semi-block diagram illustration of a toy/marketing system including a plurality of toys associated via a network with a plurality of motivational content providers/servers;

Fig. 15 is a top-level diagram showing major hardware components located at various sites of a toy/marketing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 16 is a top-level dataflow diagram showing dataflow between the various sites of Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is a diagram describing operation of two actors operating in an "at home" system operation site;

Fig. 18 is a diagram describing operation of two actors operating in an "advertisers headquarters" (also termed herein "motivational content provider") system operation site;

Fig. 19 is a diagram describing operation of four actors operating in an "at toy maker" system operation site;

Fig. 20 is a simplified functional breakdown of a portion of the toy/marketing system, which resides at the "at-home" site;

Fig. 21 is a simplified functional breakdown of a portion of the toy/marketing system, which resides at a site termed herein "coordinator of motivational content providers" site;

Fig. 22 is a simplified functional breakdown of a portion of the toy/marketing system, which resides at the "advertising headquarters" site;

Fig. 23 is a simplified functional breakdown of a portion of the toy /marketing system, including a server, which portion resides at the "toy maker" site;

Fig. 24 is a simplified functional breakdown of a portion of the toy/marketing system which resides at the "toy maker" site and which does not include a server;

Fig. 25 is a dataflow diagram illustrating dataflow relationships between the functional units of the "at home" site;

Fig. 16 is a dataflow diagram illustrating dataflow relationships between the functional units of the "advertising headquarters" site;

Fig. 27 is a dataflow diagram illustrating dataflow relationships between the functional units of the "toy maker" site;

Fig. 28 is a state diagram of the client logger of Fig. 20;

Fig. 29 is a state diagram of the LOCS (living object control software) of Fig. 20;

Fig. 30 is a state diagram of the push client unit of Fig. 20; Fig. 31 is a dataflow diagram showing dataflow between the "home" site and the "motivational content provider" site, during a home software updating process operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 32 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred implementation of a selling script or selling process for the network controller of Fig. 1 or Fig. 3 at home;

Fig. 33 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred implementation of a selling script or selling process carried out by the motivational content provider server in conjunction with the network controller, both of Fig. 1, at home;

Fig. 34 is a semi-pictorial semi-data flow diagram illustration depicting a preferred method for processing user responses to motivational content, in order to provide the entities generating the motivational content with feedback and/or in order to bill the entities generating the motivational content;

Fig. 35 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for generating TV program heralding messages which are a form of motivational prompt;

Fig. 36 is an example of a "script file";

Fig. 37 is an example of a feedback script file which is called by the script file of Fig. 36, and which is operative to prompt a user to provide feedback regarding television shows which s/he has been watching;

Fig. 38 is an example of a screen display, which may be generated by the web browser of the living object client of Fig. 20;

Fig. 39 is another example of a screen display, which may be generated by the web browser of the living object client of Fig. 20;

Fig. 40 is a table of functions supported by the system, which are typically actuated by a child user of the system;

Fig. 41 is a table of installation functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a parent user of the system who is a parent of the child user of the system;

Fig. 42 is a table of registration functions supported by the system, which are typically actuated by the parent user of the system; Fig. 43 is a table of billing functions supported by the system, which are typically actuated by the parent user of the system;

Fig. 44 is a table of purchasing functions supported by the system, which are typically actuated by the parent user of the system;

Fig. 45 is a table of registration configuration functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer;

Fig. 46 is a table of user profiling data gathering functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer;

Fig. 47 is a table of living object configuration update functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer;

Fig. 48 is a table of server update functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer;

Fig. 49 is a table of new living object configuration functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer;

Fig. 50 is a table of new living object update adding functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer;

Fig. 51 is a table of new living object update management functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer;

Fig. 52 is a table of webstore layout and styling functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer;

Fig. 53 is a table of server's purchase-related functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer; Fig. 54 is a table of user management functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer;

Fig. 55 is a table of usage analysis functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer;

Fig. 56 is a simplified semi-pictorial semi-block diagram of an audible-information-providing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 57 is a simplified block diagram of sites and computing devices of a motivational information providing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 58 is a diagram of functions preferably performed at the at-home site of Fig. 57;

Fig. 59 is a preferred data flow diagram for the system of Fig. 57;

Fig. 60 is a diagram of preferred use cases for the commercial manager of Fig. 59;

Fig. 61 is a diagram of preferred use cases for the content provider/content manager of Fig. 59;

Fig. 62 is a diagram of preferred use cases for the NANI personalization manager of Fig. 59;

Fig. 63 is a diagram of preferred use cases for the NANI creative manager of Fig. 59;

Fig. 64 is a diagram of preferred use cases for the commercial manager of Fig. 59;

Fig. 65 is a table of use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 66 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 65; Figs. 67 and 68 are tables of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 69 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 68;

Fig. 70 is a table of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 71 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 70;

Fig. 72 is a table of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 73 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 72;

Fig. 74 is a table of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 75 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 74;

Figs. 76 and 77 are tables of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 78 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 77;

Fig. 79 is a table of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 80 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 79;

Fig. 81 is a table of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 82 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 81;

Fig. 83 is a table of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 84 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 83;

Fig. 85 is a table of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 86 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 85;

Fig. 87 is a table of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 88 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 87;

Figs. 89 and 90 are tables of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 91 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 90;

Fig. 92 is a table of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 93 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 92;

Fig. 94 is a simplified illustration of a screen display of the computer of Fig. 56 which enables a user to register to the audible-push service and to provide the service with his/her personal selection of information that he or she would like to receive from the service.

Fig. 95 is a simplified illustration of the typical textual content of a web-page; and

Fig. 96 is a script illustrating a possible manner of distribution of the web-page of Fig. 95.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to Fig. 1 which is a simplified semi-pictorial semi-block diagram illustration of a toy /marketing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toy communicating directly with a network such as the Internet, an intranet or a LAN. The toy /marketing system of Fig. 1 includes a toy 100 having associated therewith, e.g. at least partly embedded therewithin, a network controller 110 operative to: a. Communicate via a network 115 with a motivational content provider 120 also associated with the network. This communication may employ any suitable protocol such as plain ASCII, mixed analog and digital, full digital, electronic mail messaging, Internet WWW (world wide web) site access, Internet FTP (file transfer protocol), Internet chat, Internet telephony (VOIP — voice over IP (Internet protocol)). Electronic mail messaging may include transferring audible content e.g. as an attachment. b. Control all peripheral components within the toy such as microphones 140, loudspeaker 150, motors 160, lightbulbs 170, proximity sensor 175, and/or switches 180. Many other peripheral components, such as but not limited to motion sensors, light sensors, solenoids, and the like, may be provided; and c. Process motivational content received from the provider 120 which typically comprises a conventional network server.

The term "motivational content" is intended to include any message or other meaningful content which is designed to motivate a recipient of the message or content to perform an action which is desirable to the originator or provider of the message or meaningful content. For example, the following motivational message is operative to motivate a child to switch on a television show, thereby exposing the child to educational or commercial content which is desirable from the point of view of the originator or provider of the message:

"Yoohoo! Stuart! it's time to watch our favorite television show. Please turn the TV on to channel 7."

Fig. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a preferred implementation of the network controller of Fig. 1 which may reside entirely interiorly of the toy body 100.

Fig. 3 is a simplified semi-pictorial semi-block diagram illustration of a toy/marketing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toy 100 communicating with the Internet 115 via a household computer 200 connected to the toy by wire. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, preferably, most of the software operating the computer networked controller 210, such as software performing functions (a) - (c) listed above, resides in the computer 200 rather than interiorly of the toy 100.

Fig. 4 is a simplified block diagram of a preferred analog implementation of the computer networked controller of Fig. 3 and its audio communication link to the household computer. In Fig. 4, as well as in Figs. 5 and 6, the computer 200 operates the peripheral components of the toy 100 via the computer networked controller 210 by sending commands to the microprocessor 220 which in turn actuates the designated peripheral components via an appropriate one of interfaces 230 - 260. In the embodiment of Fig. 4, the commands are sent via the MIDI port 270 of the computer 200 and audio content is sent to the speaker 150 and is received from the microphones 140 in analog mode via the analog output and input of the computer's sound board.

Fig. 5 is a simplified block diagram of a preferred digital implementation of the computer networked controller of Fig. 3 and its audio communication link to the household computer. In Fig. 5, unlike in Fig. 4, the computer 200 sends both commands and audio content in digital form via its serial or parallel ports.

Fig. 6 is a variation on the apparatus of Fig. 5 in which the computer networked controller of Fig. 3 is disposed adjacently to the computer rather than being disposed adjacently to the toy. In Fig. 6, the computer network controller 210 is attached to the serial or parallel port of the computer 200 and is connected by wires 300 to connector 310 in the toy 100. The audio content and control (analog equivalent of commands) are both transmitted to the speakers 150 and other actuating peripherals, and from the microphones 140 and other sensing peripherals, as analog signals.

Fig. 7 is a simplified semi-pictorial semi-block diagram illustration of a toy/marketing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toy 100 communicating with the Internet 115 via a household computer 200 connected wirelessly to the toy 100. Transceiver 320 may be connected to the computer 200 via the sound board as shown in Fig. 4, or alternatively to the serial or parallel ports as shown in Fig. 5. Audio communication between the transceiver 320 and the wireless controller 330 residing within the doll 100 may be in analog mode or in digital mode. Fig. 8 is a simplified block diagram of a preferred implementation of wireless controller 330 and of transceiver 320, both of Fig. 7, the transceiver 320 being connected to the computer 200 via its MIDI connector 270 and its audio connectors 280.

Fig. 9 is a simplified block diagram of a preferred implementation of wireless controller 330 and of transceiver 320, both of Fig. 7, the transceiver 320 being connected to the computer 200 via its serial or parallel ports 290.

Fig. 10 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method of operation of the network controller 110 of Fig. 1, or alternatively of computer 200 of Fig. 3. As shown, the network controller 110 or computer 200 preferably initially loads a user's profile and related behaviors from storage memory. The storage/memory is typically either the disk of the PC in PC based configurations of Figs. 3-9, or the memory 225 of the network controller 110 of Fig. 2.

The network controller 110 or computer 200 are operative in conjunction with either a fixed or a dial-up connection to the network. If the connection is a dial-up connection, the network controller or computer preferably initially dials up and connects to the motivational content provider 120 via the network 115. The controller or computer then uploads properties and a log file.

The term "properties" refers to information describing characteristics of the toy 100 ("persona") and of the end-user/s. For example, the toy's type may be stored, e.g. there may be animal-type toys, people-type toys, bird-type toys, etc. The end-user/s characteristics may include age, sex and mother tongue. The toy's properties preferably are programmed into the toy's software. The term "log file" refers to feedback data collected from and regarding the user, in the course of execution of all scripts processed since the previous upload. For example, the "log file" may include data on user's oral responses to motivational messages and/or data indicative of user actions such as an identification of a particular television show indicating that the user acquiesced to a motivational message to turn on that particular television show.

The file of the next script to be performed is then downloaded. The connection to the network 1 15 is terminated and the downloaded script is processed and the properties and log files are updated as necessary. If the connection to the network 1 15 is fixed, then it is not necessary to receive an entire script. Instead, the script may be received and processed one object at a time. Similarly, it is not necessary to aggregate all feedback accumulating during execution of a script into a log file and instead, feedback may be sent back to the motivational content provider as it occurs.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the toy is operative to collect sensory information indicative of human proximity to the toy. As shown in steps 485 and 505, if the motion/proximity sensor 175, which may comprise an infra-red or Doppler radar capable of detecting motion of large enough objects, detects human proximity to the toy within a predetermined time window, the toy processes the script object 490 or file 510 as scheduled. The toy preferably does not process the script object or file in the absence of such sensory information.

Fig. 11 is a diagram of an example of a collection of script objects organized as a script. Preferably, each sensed user response (YES or NO in the illustrated example) is fed back to the motivational content provider.

Fig. 12 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for processing any one of the "talk"-type script objects of Fig. 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the script object can generate speech output in 3 modes: text-to-speech; playback of prerecorded, stored speech transferred as a file before playback begins; and streaming audio i.e., if the connection is fixed, immediate rendition of recorded speech, as it is received. As shown, at least one characteristic of speech output is adjusted. The characteristic may, for example, comprise speed, pitch, speech effects simulating emotions such as joy and sadness and/or simulating speech effects according to the persona of the toy. For example, a female fanciful figure typically speaks in a higher pitch than a male fanciful figure.

For example, defects such as stutter may preferably be provided and may be adjusted to fit the persona of the toy 100, which typically resides in the toy's software as described above. Other speech effects include a "yuk-yuk" noise interspersed between pronouncements of the toy, hoarseness, interspersing of colorful exclamations, etc.

As shown in step 695, the speech output generated by the fanciful figure preferably includes user-dependent content such as mention of the user's name (e.g. Stuart) as illustrated in Fig. 1 or such as correct gender-language in languages such as French which differentiate between gender. Preferably, for each session, the fanciful figure 100 asks "What's your name?", and upon receiving a reply, e.g. "Stuart", the doll is operative to access Stuart's attributes.

Fig. 13 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for processing a "listen and sense"-type script object such as the "listen and sense" script object of Fig. 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the script object can perform sensing operations in any of three different modes: sensor scanning to identify sensor states; recording of audio and transferring file (or transferring in streaming mode) to motivational content provider; and speech recognition and subsequent transfer of speech recognition results (not of the original audio) to the motivational content provider.

Fig. 14 is a simplified semi-pictorial semi-block diagram illustration of a toy/marketing system including a plurality of toys 100 associated via a network 115 with a plurality of motivational content providers/servers 120. As shown, the rabbit toy is a modification of the apparatus of Fig. 1 in that the rabbit toy is wirelessly associated with the motivational content provider/server.

Figs. 15 - 31, taken together, form a system analysis of a toy /marketing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 15 is a top-level diagram showing major hardware components located at various sites of a toy/marketing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 16 is a top-level dataflow diagram showing dataflow between the various sites of Fig. 15. It is appreciated that the "toy maker" may not necessarily be the actual manufacturer or designer of any specific toy participating in the system but rather may be a broadcaster or communication provider serving several toy makers and/or advertisers. Preferably, according to this embodiment, one or more computerized accounting systems are integrated into the system of the present invention such that information flowing through the system of the present invention which impacts on billing is automatically routed to the appropriate computerized accounting system or systems. Figs. 17 - 19, taken together, describe a breakdown of a toy /marketing system into sites at which the system operates, and into actors operating at each site. Typically, the actors interact with the system by interacting with a computer located at their site, such as a workstation or terminal, on which software programs reside which provide or facilitate the functionalities described in Figs. 17 - 19.

Fig. 17 is a diagram describing the operation of two actors operating in an "at home" system operation site. The actors which operate "at home" are, in the illustrated embodiment, a parent and a child. For each actor, the diagram lists the actor's "responsibilities", i.e. tasks performed by the actor alone, and the actor's "collaborations", i.e. operations performed by the actor in conjunction with another actor who may or may not be located at the same site.

Fig. 18 is a diagram describing operation of two actors operating in an "advertisers headquarters" (also termed herein "motivational content provider") system operation site.

Fig. 19 is a diagram describing operation of four actors operating in an "at toy maker" system operation site.

The term "toy maker" typically refers to the entity which manages the design, manufacture, and distribution of the client side of the toy/marketing system shown and described herein. The "toy maker" optionally also operates the toy/marketing system.

Figs. 20 - 24 are simplified functional breakdowns of five respective portion of the toy /marketing system which resides at five respective sites. Specifically:

Fig. 20 is a simplified functional breakdown of a portion of the toy/marketing system which resides at the "at-home" site. The at-home site preferably includes, as shown, a web browser 1120 which may comprise a conventional web-browser such as Microsoft Explorer or Netscape Navigator. Additionally, the at-home site of Fig. 20 preferably comprises a client logger 1 130, living object control software (LOCS) 1 140, and a client pusher 1 150. State diagrams of functional units 1130, 1140 and 1150 are provided in Figs. 28 - 30 respectively. Fig. 21 is a simplified functional breakdown of a portion of the toy/marketing system which resides at a site termed herein "coordinator of motivational content providers" site.

Fig. 22 is a simplified functional breakdown of a portion of the toy/marketing system which resides at the "advertising headquarters" site.

Fig. 23 is a simplified functional breakdown of a portion of the toy/marketing system, including a server, which portion resides at the "toy maker" site. The LOIS (Living Object Internet Services) are equivalent to Motivational Content Providing Services

Fig. 24 is a simplified functional breakdown of a portion of the toy/marketing system which resides at the "toy maker" site and which does not include a server. The GUI is the Graphical User Interface.

Figs. 25 - 27 describe dataflow relationships between functional units illustrated in Figs. 20, 22 and 23.

Fig. 25 is a dataflow diagram illustrating dataflow relationships between the functional units of the "at home" site.

Fig. 26 is a dataflow diagram illustrating dataflow relationships between the functional units of the "advertising headquarters" site.

Fig. 27 is a dataflow diagram illustrating dataflow relationships between the functional units of the "toy maker" site.

The dataflow between the functional units of the serverless motivation content provider are generally similar to the dataflow shown in Fig. 26 except that in the serverless motivation content provider no server is utilized.

Figs. 28 - 30 are state diagrams of various of the functional units illustrated in Figs. 20 - 24. Specifically:

Fig. 28 is a state diagram of the client logger of Fig. 20.

Fig. 29 is a state diagram of the LOCS of Fig. 20.

Fig. 30 is a state diagram of the push client unit of Fig. 20.

Fig. 31 is a dataflow diagram showing dataflow between the "at home" site and the "motivational content provider" site, during a home software updating process operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 32 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred implementation of a selling script or selling process for the network controller 110 (Fig. 1) or 200 (Fig. 3) at home. As shown, the network controller 1 10 is operative to restrict items that the user can purchase based upon the type 1840 and the cost 1850 of the item, where such restrictions are actuated by a parent user of the system.

The network controller typically authenticates at least one of user ID, user password and user voice signature before permitting a purchase order message to be sent. Authentification of a user's voice signature may comprise the steps of requesting the user's voice signature 1930, recording the user's verbal response 1940, performing a speech recognition process on the recorded response 1950, and if positive 1960 , the purchase order message is allowed to be sent.

The network controller 110 also ensures the privacy of the purchasing/selling interaction between the user and the toy maker by the at home encoding 1980 of purchase information, including credit-card information, before being sent 1990 to the toy maker.

Fig. 33 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred implementation of a selling script or selling process carried out by the motivational content provider server 120 of Fig. 1, in conjunction with the network controller 110 at home. As shown the motivational content provider 120 receives (step 2120) a purchase order message from the toy, and (step 2130) decodes the encoded message 1980, which message is re-encoded before being sent on to the supplier of the item to be purchased. The server then sends purchase confirmation to the toy as shown in Fig. 33, step 2155, and in Fig. 32, step 2010.

Steps 2040, 2080 and 2120 are steps which characterize the latest interrupt or event as either receipt of a new selling list, or a subscriber login or arrival at a schedule time-trigger, or receipt of a purchase order from a logged-in subscriber. The method proceeds according to the characterization of the interrupt or event as one of the above possibilities and then returns to characterize the next interrupt or event and proceed accordingly.

Fig. 34 is a semi-pictorial semi-data flow diagram illustration depicting a preferred method for processing user responses to motivational content, in order to provide the entities generating the motivational content with feedback and/or in order to bill the entities generating the motivational content.

As shown, a single prompt ("Let's watch Sycamore Street now, turn it on!") is being employed which is termed "motivating prompt #3". It is appreciated that other prompts might be employed to get across the same motivational content such as using the same text followed by crying sound effects unless the user acquiesces, or such as using a different text, e.g. ("Turn on Sycamore Street now or else I'll never talk to you again!") These prompts might be termed Motivating Prompts #4 and #5 respectively. As shown, many different users' responses to Prompt #3 are all recorded as the motivating prompt #3 is multicasted to the different users (only four users are shown for simplicity).

Acquiescence, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises turning on a designated television program and is measured by detecting preselected aspects of the television program such as by word-spotting keywords in the television program's theme song.

Preferably, a server report is generated including, for each motivating prompt and for each at-home site, an ID of the motivating prompt, demographic particulars of the user, and at least one parameter of user response such as whether or not the user acquiesced, and also preferably parameters of non-acquiescence such as whether or not the user made any response to the prompt and if so, at least one characteristic of that response such as identification of a competing option (e.g. another program such as "Funny Bunny") which the user preferred over the option being promoted by the motivating prompt (program entitled "Sycamore Street", in the illustrated embodiment).

The server report may be used to generate an accounting instruction in which an entity accepting billing for provision of the Sycamore Street prompt is billed differentially depending on the success of the Sycamore Street prompt. The server report also may be used to generate a prompt evaluation report useful in developing new prompts based on feedback regarding success of previously employed prompts.

Fig. 35 is a simplified flowchart illustration of a preferred method for generating TV program heralding messages which are a form of motivational prompt. The "log file" typically comprises all records which have accumulated since the last upload, where each record typically comprises an individual server report pertaining to an individual at-home site and an individual occurrence of a motivational prompt, such as the server reports illustrated in Fig. 34.

The "TV herald table" is a table which stores a schedule of motivational prompts including a "script file" for each of a plurality of "time-points" or points in time. Each script file typically comprises a motivational prompt to be provided at that time and, preferably an indication of keywords which, if spotted, define acquiescence and/or other user responses.

Fig. 36 is an example of a "script file".

Fig. 37 is an example of a feedback script file which is called by the script file of Fig. 36 in block 2590, and which is operative to prompt a user to provide feedback regarding the his/her extent of satisfaction with the television shows which s/he has been watching. The terms "Storage in" and "Storage out" refer to store and retrieve operations. At several points in time, either pre-determined or event-driven, the system typically prompts the user to provide feedback. "Predetermined" points in time typically refer to points in time which are separated by a predetermined interval from the beginning of the program. "Event-driven" points in time typically refer to points in time which may be identified by an event, e.g. a prompt which is provided when the word "Sycamore" is first played by the television and is first recognized using speech recognition.

If the prompt is a closed question, the user's response may be processed on the fly by speech recognition and stored in a feedback file as a code. If the prompt is an open question, the user's response is typically recorded and stored as a recording in the feedback file.

Fig. 38 is an example of a screen display which may be generated by the web browser 1120 of living object client 1115. The web browser 1120 has a registration interface function, as shown in Fig. 20, which is typically performed by a parent actor at an at home site, as shown in Fig. 17. The registration screen display prompts for demographic information regarding the child user, which may include information on the user's sex, age, mother tongue, culture, address, relatives, friends and teacher. Fig. 39 is another example of a screen display which may be generated by the web browser 1 120 of living object client 1 1 15. The screen display of Fig. 39, unlike the screen display of Fig. 38, is suitable for embodiments in which the user is allotted a periodic allowance which is paid periodically e.g. every Sunday. For example, a user may be entitled to spend no more than 5 dollars daily, no more than 10 dollars weekly, and no more than 50 dollars monthly.

The "Record voice signature" button allows a user to record a voice signature such as a password, which voice signature may be stored by the system and used for authentication, for security purposes and transaction authentication, as shown in steps 1930 - 1960 in Fig. 32.

Fig. 40 is a table of functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a child user of the system.

Fig. 41 is a table of installation functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a parent user of the system who is a parent of the child user of the system.

Fig. 42 is a table of registration functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by the parent user of the system who is a parent of the child user of the system.

Fig. 43 is a table of billing functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by the parent user of the system who is a parent of the child user of the system.

Fig. 44 is a table of purchasing functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by the parent user of the system who is a parent of the child user of the system.

Fig. 45 is a table of registration configuration functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer.

Fig. 46 is a table of user profiling data gathering functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer. Fig. 47 is a table of living object configuration update functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer.

Fig. 48 is a table of server update functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer.

Fig. 49 is a table of new living object configuration functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer.

Fig. 50 is a table of new living object update adding functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer.

Fig. 51 is a table of new living object update management functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer.

Fig. 52 is a table of webstore layout and styling functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer.

Fig. 53 is a table of server's purchase-related functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer.

Fig. 54 is a table of user management functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer. The RDBMS is a Relational Database Management System.

Fig. 55 is a table of usage analysis functions supported by the system which are typically actuated by a corporate user of the system such as a toy manufacturer.

Figs. 40 - 55 each include the conditions under which each function included therein is performed. Fig. 56 is a simplified semi-pictorial semi-block diagram of an audible-information-providing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In this preferred embodiment, the motivational content providing service is known as a personally-customized-information providing service, or as an audible information push service 2800, with audible information provided by an audible information push server. The audible information provided by the personally-customized-information providing service 2800 includes any types of information that has been at least partially specified by the user.

This preferred embodiment differs from Internet push technology by pushing audible rather than graphical textual information to a user via a "fanciful object" 2820, which may be separate from and typically distanced from the computer 2810. The audible information may be derived from sites having textual content by conventional text-to-speech conversion techniques which are preferably applied to only a portion of the screen display of the site. For example, the largest frame on each screen display may be derived from the HTML information provided by the website and the text-to-speech conversion may be applied only to text disposed interiorly of the largest frame.

Preferably, as shown in Fig. 56, the system of the present invention comprises an information providing object including a fanciful body 2820, a personally-customized-information provider 2800 located at least partially within the fanciful body and including a computer network communicator operative to provide communication between a user and a computer network 115 and an annunciator 150 providing oral personally customized information, including at least an audible output, to the user, via the computer network communicator, wherein the computer network communicator is operative to allow the user to at least partially determine at least one of the content, timing, type and style of the personally customized information.

The information providing object 2820 may be connected to the network 115 via a computer 2810 as shown in Fig. 56, or be directly connected to the network 1 15 by wire as shown in Fig. 1, or wirelessly as shown in Fig. 7. The object 2820, when connected through the computer 2810, may be connected via the computer's audio port, MIDI port, serial port or parallel port. When the object 2820 is connected via a digital port, such as the MIDI port, serial port or parallel port, the analog-to-digital, and digital-to-analog conversions can be made either inside the object 2820 with digital transmission to the object, or adjacent to the computer 2810 with analog transmission to the object 2820.

The "content" of information refers to a specific reference to a source of information, the reference being defined by the user, such as a specific page of a specific website, which, when it is updated, is to be provided to the user.

The "timing" of information refers to the time at which information is to be sent.

The "type" of information refers to a categorization of information without indicating a reference to a specific source of information. For example, one "type" of information is: Information regarding the Chicago Bulls.

The "style" of information refers to the style of presentation of the information, such as the characteristics of the voice presenting the information (male/female, loud/soft, mimicking a particular celebrity, etc.).

Preferably, in the "push" embodiment, the system accepts feedback from a user e.g. by presenting all hypertext links associated with information being presented to the user in accordance with a "push" request made by her or him, and prompting the user to select one of the hypertext links. The system is also typically capable of receiving additional user feedback such as "stop", "back", "leave message" and "home".

Information may be provided either by searching, i.e. accessing all information relating to a specified cue, or a subset thereof, or by pushing, i.e. selecting websites or other sources of information relevant to a specified cue and providing an information update to a user each time one of the selected websites is updated.

It is appreciated that in this personally-customized-information providing embodiment of the present invention, the user of the system is not necessarily a child and that the toy/marketing system 2820 may not necessarily comprise a toy.

The responsibilities of a user also include specifying the type of information required by the user. The information type can be as specific as desired, e.g. requesting information about sport, requesting information about football, requesting information about a specific team, requesting information about a specific player, requesting information about the goals scored by a specific player.

The personally-customized-information providing server 2800 collects and collates, from the Internet 1 15, or from an intranet, the information which is most closely related to that requested by the user. The personally-customized-information providing server converts this information into an audible format, which is transmitted, via a computer network 115, and via the user's computer 2810, to the fanciful object 2820, and is broadcast to the user as illustrated in the Figs. 10 and 12.

Fig. 57 is a simplified block diagram of sites and computing devices of a motivational information providing system constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 57 includes three subsystems providing different information functions. The ADAM (advertising distribution and management) subsystem 2890 provides advertisement information. The NANI (natural access to network information) 2870 subsystem provides natural access to network information. The IRENA (Internet REtail Natural Access) 2850 is operative to provide e-commerce (electronic commerce) functions. The motivational information providing system also includes a "Content provider headquarters" site 2860, an "At home" site 2880, and an Advertiser/retailer headquarters" site 2900.

The IRENA subsystem of Fig. 57 is preferably an e-commerce company that provides a shopping experience based on a combination of personalized e-commerce and quality content. This combination is characterized in that it is delivered via a friendly toy using natural language, requiring no computer literacy. This preferably allows Internet users to more easily conduct e-commerce and become consumers. Receiving information on relevant products and purchasing is preferably easier using IRENA than using other channels in the real or virtual worlds. Users typically make purchases through IRENA, using an IRENA account, thus avoiding the need to get involved with any other aspects of e-commerce.

IRENA typically creates a virtual database of selected products from many vendors and retailers. Relevant product information is gathered from vendors and other relevant content sources. Behaviors are attached to each product, the behavior forming a script presented to the user by the toy in order to convince him/her to buy the product. The behavior typically consists of information about the product, a comparison to other products, and advertising elements etc. The toy is preferably able to deliver the behavior, either alone, or in combination with the desktop.

Scheduling tips are typically attached to the behavior. Such tips typically determine when a user receive the behavior, during which other behaviors the specified behavior will be played etc.

The behavior is preferably interactive such that the user interacts with the behavior presented by the living toy.

Users are preferably able to issue a purchase order for a product, either orally, or through the web. The payment is typically taken from a preset IRENA account.

Fig. 58 is a diagram of functions preferably performed at the at-home site 2880 of Fig. 57.

Fig. 59 is a preferred data flow diagram for the system of Fig. 57.

Fig. 60 is a diagram of preferred use cases for the commercial manager 2970 of Fig. 59. The commercial manager 2970 typically markets IRENA's services to vendors and users. The commercial manager preferably also handles all financial and business aspects within IRENA, with external players and end-users.

Fig. 61 is a diagram of preferred use cases for the content provider/content manager (product manager) 2950 of Fig. 59. The product manager 2950 typically submits new vendors, the vendor being any firm interested in selling products through the IRENA framework, submits products with relevant product information and scheduling tips. The product manager 2950 also preferably manages a space on the server for download of new products, sets preferences for profiling reports and analyzes the reports when received, and processes orders received through IRENA.

Fig. 62 is a diagram of preferred use cases for the NANI personalization manager 2990 of Fig. 59. The personalization manager typically manages behavior space, e.g., attaches scheduling tips, and links behaviors to profiles etc. The personalization manager 2990 preferably also issues profiling reports to vendors. Fig. 63 is a diagram of preferred use cases for the NANI creative manager 2960 of Fig. 59. The creative manager 2960 typically defined IRENA's product categories, manages a product web catalog, collects relevant product information from other sources, and creates behaviors for products.

Fig. 64 is a diagram of preferred use cases for the end user 3010 of Fig. 59. The end user 3010 is any person that is using a living toy that was installed while the relevant sub-systems were installed on the users desktop. A parent end-user typically interacts with a behavior, buys products, sets limits for child-users' exposure and expenses, and personalizes the experience. A child end-user typically interacts with a behavior, personalizes the experience, and buys products.

Fig. 65 is a table of use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 66 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 65.

Figs. 67 and 68 are tables of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 69 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 68.

Fig. 70 is a table of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 71 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 70.

Fig. 72 is a table of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 73 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 72.

Fig. 74 is a table of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 75 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 74. Figs. 76 and 77 are tables of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 78 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 77.

Fig. 79 is a table of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 80 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 79.

Fig. 81 is a table of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 82 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 81.

Fig. 83 is a table of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 84 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 83.

Fig. 85 is a table of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 86 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 85.

Fig. 87 is a table of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 88 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 87.

Figs. 89 and 90 are tables of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 91 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 90.

Fig. 92 is a table of additional use cases of a motivational message providing system or service constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 93 is a table of possible implementations of the use cases of Fig. 92.

Fig. 94 is a simplified illustration of a screen display of the computer 2810 of Fig. 56 which enables a user to register to the audible-push service and to provide the service with his/her personal selection of information that he or she would like to receive from the service.

The screen form enables the user to select information by subjects and sub-subjects such as sport, basketball, NBA, etc. and by sources such as CNN, UK, business. The user is preferably able to set the relative priorities of the selected items, so that stock news is presented first, local weather news second, etc. The user preferably also sets the rate at which items are presented.

The service typically presents the information to the user in several size levels. The screen form example in Fig. 94 allows three levels: the first level is presented first and, in this example, will contain the first 15 word of the original information item. The system then typically asks the user if he or she would like to hear the next level. If the user approves the service presents the user with the next level containing the next 30 words. The system preferably then asks the user if he or she would like to hear the next level, in this case the entire item. If the user approves, the service presents the user with the next level containing the entire item.

Fig. 95 is a simplified illustration of the typical textual content of a web-page, in this case a page of the Anchordesk by Jesse Berst hosted by Zdnet at http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/story/story_3050.html.

The graphical content of the page is omitted as well as some of the textual content that does not fit into the formal page size. The middle part 3200 of Fig. 95 contains most of the text in the web page and is selected for delivery to those subscribers that have selected to receive Anchordesk articles as they are presented over the Internet.

The service preferably retrieves the text, converts the text to several languages as requested by various subscribers using conventional machine translation engines. The service typically converts the text of each language to speech using conventional text to speech engines, and distributes the items to the appropriate subscribers. For each subscriber, the item is typically divided into several levels according to the subscriber's requirements. In the example of user customization shown in Fig. 94, the first 15 words are presented first: "Berst Alert TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 02, 1999 Y2K Countdown: Will You Be in the Dark on". Then if the user decides to hear the next level the next 30 words are played: "Jan. 1, 2000? Jesse Berst, Editorial Director ZDNet AnchorDesk Residents of a rural island community here in Washington State are ordering 55-gallon barrels to collect rainwater and planning bulk purchases of. If the user selects to continue the rest of the item is played.

It is noted that throughout this specification the term "audible" is used as meaning "capable of being perceived and understood by the human ear".

It is appreciated that the software components of the present invention may, if desired, be implemented in ROM (read-only memory) form. The software components may, generally, be implemented in hardware, if desired, using conventional techniques.

It is appreciated that various features of the invention which are, for clarity, described in the contexts of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims that follow:

Claims

C L A I M S What is claimed is:

1. A toy comprising: a fanciful body; a user motivational system located at least partially within the fanciful body and including: a computer network communicator; and an annunciator providing a motivational message, including at least an audible output, to a user, at least one of the content and timing of said motivational message being determined at least partially by communications received from a motivational content provider via a computer network by means of said computer network communicator.

2. A toy according to claim 1 and also comprising a user response indication system located at least partially within the fanciful body and including: a user response input device receiving an indication of said user's response and communicating information at least partially based on said user's response via the computer network communicator to a recipient connected to the computer network.

3. A toy compri sing : a fanciful body; a user motivational system located at least partially within the fanciful body and including: a computer network communicator; and an annunciator providing a motivational message, including at least an audible output, to a user in a style matched to a fanciful persona matching the fanciful body based at least partially on communications received from a motivational content provider via a computer network by means of said computer network communicator.

4. A toy comprising: a fanciful body; a user motivational system located at least partially within the fanciful body and including: a computer network communicator; and an annunciator providing a motivational message, including at least an audible output, to a user in a style at least partially determined by at least one known personal characteristic of the user, said at least one audible outputs being based at least partially on communications received from a motivational content provider via a computer network by means of said computer network communicator.

5. An electronic purchasing system comprising: a plurality of toys, each comprising: a fanciful body; a user motivational system located at least partially within the fanciful body and including: a computer network communicator; and an annunciator providing a purchase-motivating message, including at least an audible output, to a user, at least one of the content and timing of said purchase-motivating message being determined at least partially by communications received from at least one motivational content provider via a computer network by means of said computer network communicator; and a user purchase indication system located at least partially within the fanciful body and including: a user purchase input device receiving an indication of said user's purchase/not-purchase decision and communicating information at least partially based on said user's decision via a computer network communicator to a recipient connected to a computer network.

6. A system according to claim 5 and also comprising a purchase accounting system receiving via said computer network said information at least partially based on said user's decision from said plurality of toys and effecting purchase of goods indicated by said user.

7. A toy according to claim 1 and wherein said motivational message is a multi-media message.

8. A toy according to claim 3 and wherein said motivational message is a multi-media message.

9. A toy according to claim 4 and wherein said motivational message is a multi-media message.

10. An system according to claim 5 and wherein said purchase-motivating message is a multi-media message.

11. An electronic purchasing system comprising: a plurality of toys, each comprising: a fanciful body; a user motivational system located at least partially within the fanciful body and including: a computer network communicator; and an annunciator providing a purchase-motivating message, including at least an audible output, to a user, at least one of the content and timing of said purchase-motivating message being determined at least partially by communications received from at least one motivational content provider via a computer network by means of said computer network communicator; and a user response indication system located at least partially within the fanciful body and including: a user response input device receiving an indication of said user's response and communicating information at least partially based on said user's response via a computer network communicator to a recipient connected to a computer network.

12. A system according to claim 11 and also comprising an accounting system receiving via said computer network said information at least partially based on said user's response from said plurality of toys and providing an accounting output at least partially indicating at least the number of toys which received an acquiescence response to said communications received from said motivational content provider.

13. A system according to claim 12 and wherein said accounting system additionally provides an accounting of various types of user's response.

14. A system according to claim 12 and wherein said accounting system additionally provides an accounting of demographics of said user's response.

15. A system according to claim 12 and wherein said accounting system additionally comprises a billing subsystem which provides billing based on said accounting.

16. A system according to claim 11 and wherein said at least one motivational content provider comprises a plurality of motivational content providers.

17. A system according to claim 12 and wherein said accounting system provides separate accounting for a plurality of various types of user's response.

18. A system according to claim 11 and wherein said purchase-motivating message is a multi-media message.

19. A system according to claim 18 and wherein said multi-media message includes physical motion of said toy body.

20. A system according to claim 6 and wherein said accounting system additionally provides an accounting of various types of user's response.

21. A system according to claim 6 and wherein said accounting system additionally provides an accounting of demographics of said user's response.

22. A system according to claim 6 and wherein said accounting system additionally comprises a billing subsystem which provides billing based on said accounting.

23. A system according to claim 5 and wherein said at least one motivational content provider comprises a plurality of motivational content providers.

24. A system according to claim 6 and wherein said accounting system provides separate accounting for a plurality of various types of user response.

25. A system according to claim 11 wherein said annunciator comprises a message processor operative to configure said message in accordance with characteristics of a user.

26. A system according to claim 25 wherein said user characteristics include at least one of the following: age, sex, culture, use history, demographics.

27. A system according to claim 25 wherein said message processor is operative to translate the message into an appropriate language for an individual user.

28. A toy according to claim 1 and wherein said computer network communicator is operative to secure at least one transaction over the computer network.

29. A toy according to claim 28 wherein said computer network communicator is operative to encode credit card information before said information is communicated over the computer network.

30. A toy according to claim 2 wherein said indication of a user's response comprises the user's response itself.

31. A toy according to claim 2 and also comprising an electronic purchase accounting system receiving via said computer network said information at least partially based on said user's response from said plurality of toys and effecting purchase of goods indicated by said user.

32. A system according to claim 31 and wherein said accounting system additionally provides an accounting of various types of user's response.

33. A system according to claim 31 and wherein said accounting system additionally provides an accounting of demographics of said user's response.

34. A system according to claim 31 and wherein said accounting system additionally comprises a billing subsystem which provides billing based on said accounting.

35. A system according to claim 31 and wherein said accounting system provides separate accounting for a plurality of various types of user's response.

36. A toy according to claim 3 and also comprising a user response indication system located at least partially within the fanciful body including: a user response input device receiving an indication of a user's response and communicating information at least partially based on said user's response via the computer network communicator to a recipient connected to the computer network.

37. A toy according to claim 36 and also comprising an electronic purchase accounting system receiving via said computer network said information at least partially based on said user's response from said plurality of toys and effecting purchase of goods indicated by said user.

38. A system according to claim 36 and wherein said accounting system additionally provides an accounting of various types of user's response.

39. A system according to claim 36 and wherein said accounting system additionally provides an accounting of demographics of said user's response.

40. A system according to claim 36 and wherein said accounting system additionally comprises a billing subsystem which provides billing based on said accounting.

41. A system according to claim 36 and wherein said accounting system provides separate accounting for a plurality of various types of user's response.

42. A toy according to claim 4 and also comprising a user response indication system located at least partially within the fanciful body and including: a user response input device receiving an indication of a user's response and communicating information at least partially based on said user's response via the computer network communicator to a recipient connected to the computer network.

43. A toy according to claim 42 and also comprising an electronic purchase accounting system receiving via said computer network said information at least partially based on said user's response from said plurality of toys and effecting purchase of goods indicated by said user.

44. A toy according to claim 43 and wherein said accounting system additionally provides an accounting of various types of user's response.

45. A toy according to claim 43 and wherein said accounting system additionally provides an accounting of demographics of said user's response.

46. A toy according to claim 43 and wherein said accounting system additionally comprises a billing subsystem which provides billing based on said accounting.

47. A toy according to claim 43 and wherein said accounting system provides separate accounting for a plurality of various types of user's response.

48. A toy operative to provide communication between a user and a computer network, the toy comprising: a body; a first informational interface enabling the toy to communicate a message to said user at least in an audible manner; a second informational interface enabling the toy to receive a message from said user at least in an audible manner; a third informational interface enabling the toy to receive a message from said computer network; and a fourth informational interface enabling the toy to transmit a message to said computer network.

49. A toy according to claim 28 wherein said computer network communicator is operative to authenticate a user based on his/her voice.

50. A system for purchasing over a computer network, the system comprising: a purchasing interface via which a user effects purchases over the computer network; and a purchase limiter operative to block purchases having at least one predetermined characteristic.

51. A system according to claim 50 wherein the predetermined characteristic comprises a value parameter.

52. A system according to claim 51 and wherein the purchase limiter is operative to limit the total value of purchases effected by the user so as to stay within a fixed periodical budget.

53. Apparatus for providing information via a toy, the apparatus comprising: a toy body; a connection to an information network storing information regarding identity of, and on-screen time of, television programs to be broadcast; and a TV program herald operative to communicate an alert to a user regarding an impending broadcast of at least one television program, the TV program herald being in association with the toy body so as to create an impression that the toy body is personally communicating the alert to the user.

54. Apparatus according to claim 53 wherein the connection comprises an automatic download connection.

55. Apparatus according to claim 53 wherein the toy body is operative, responsive to a control signal from the TV program herald, to bodily express an emotion determined by the user's response to an alert.

56. Apparatus according to claim 55 wherein the toy body is operative to bodily express a positive emotion if the user switches on a television program subject of an alert.

57. Apparatus according to claim 55 wherein the toy body is operative to bodily express a negative emotion if the user fails to switch on a television program subject of an alert.

58. Apparatus according to claim 53 and also comprising apparatus for automatically determining the identity of a television program which is currently being watched.

59. Apparatus according to claim 53 and also comprising a satisfaction statement elicitor operative to prompt a user to indicate his extent of satisfaction from the television program.

60. An audible-information providing object comprising: a fanciful body; and a personally-customized audible-information provider located at least partially within the fanciful body and including: a computer network communicator operative to provide communication between a user and a computer network; and an annunciator operative to provide oral personally customized information, including at least an audible output, to the user, via the computer network communicator, wherein the computer network communicator is operative to receive from the user an at least partial determination of at least one of the content, timing, type and style of said personally customized information.

61. An object according to claim 60 and also comprising a user response acceptance system located at least partially within the fanciful body and operative to receive an indication of said user's response and to communicate information at least partially based on said user's response via the computer network communicator to a recipient connected to the computer network.

62. An object according to claim 60 and wherein the information provided by the annunciator to the user is in a style matched to a fanciful persona matching the fanciful body of said object.

63. An object according to claim 60 and where the object comprises a toy.

64. An object according to claim 60 wherein said information is translated into an appropriate language for an individual user.

65. An object according to claim 60 and wherein said computer network communicator is operative to secure at least one transaction over the computer network.

66. An object according to claim 65 wherein said computer network communicator is operative to encode credit card information before said information is communicated over the computer network.

67. An object according to claim 65 wherein said computer network communicator is operative to authenticate a user based on his/her voice.

68. A system according to claim 60 wherein said object comprises at least one sensor operative to collect sensory information indicative of human proximity.

69. A system according to claim 68 wherein, in the absence of said sensory information within a predetermined time window, the object refrains from providing said information.

70. An object according to claim 61 wherein said indication of said user's response comprises a spoken verbal response.

71. An audible-information providing method comprising: providing communication from a computer network to a user, audible at the location of a fanciful body; receiving from the user an at least partial determination of at least one of the content, timing, type and style of desired personally customized information; and providing said desired personally customized information to said user, via said communication.

72. A user motivation method comprising: providing communication between a user and a computer network, audible at the location of a fanciful body; and providing an audible oral motivational message to said user, via said communication.

73. A user motivation method comprising: providing communication between a user and a computer network, audible at the location of a fanciful body; and providing an oral motivational message to said user, in a style matched to a fanciful persona matching the fanciful body, via said communication.

74. A user motivation method comprising: providing communication between a user and a computer network, audible at the location of a fanciful body; and providing an oral motivational message to said user, in a style at least partially determined by at least one known personal characteristic of said user, via said communication.

75. An electronic purchasing method comprising: providing communication between a user and a computer network, audible at the location of a fanciful body; providing a purchase-motivating message, including at least an audible output, to said user, at least one of the content and timing of said purchase-motivating message being determined at least partially by communications received from at least one motivational content provider via said computer network, via said communication; and receiving an indication of said user's purchase/not-purchase decision, and communicating information at least partially based on said user's decision to a recipient connected to said computer network.

76. An electronic purchasing method comprising: providing communication between a user and a computer network, audible at the location of a fanciful body; providing a purchase-motivating message, including at least an audible output, to said user, an at least partial determination of at least one of the content and timing of said purchase-motivating message being determined at least partially by communications received from at least one motivational content provider via said computer network, via said communication; and receiving an indication of said user's response, and communicating information at least partially based on said user's response to a recipient connected to said computer network.

77. A communication method comprising: providing communication between a user and a computer network, audible at the location of a toy with at least four informational interfaces, the toy communicating a message to said user at least in an audible manner at a first informational interface; the toy receiving a message from said user at least in an audible manner at a second informational interface; the toy receiving a message from said computer network at a third informational interface; and the toy transmitting a message to said computer network at a fourth informational interface.

78. A method for purchasing over a computer network, the method comprising: providing a purchasing interface enabling a user to effect purchases over said computer network, and including blocking purchases having at least one predetermined characteristic.

79. A method for providing information via a toy, the method comprising: providing communication between a user and a computer network, audible at the location of a fanciful toy body; connecting to an information network storing audible information regarding identity of, and on-screen time of, television programs to be broadcast; and heralding TV programs by communicating an alert, audible at the location of said toy, to a user regarding an impending broadcast of at least one television program, via said communication so as to create an impression that the toy body is personally communicating the alert to the user.