US20140127965A1

US20140127965A1 - Construction toy comprising a plurality of interconnectable building elements, set of a plurality of interconnectable building elements, and method to control and/or monitor a construction toy

Info

Publication number: US20140127965A1
Application number: US14/123,230
Authority: US
Inventors: Ruediger Adam
Original assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
Current assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
Priority date: 2011-07-29
Filing date: 2011-07-29
Publication date: 2014-05-08
Also published as: WO2013017138A1; EP2736613A1; CN103596631B; CN103596631A

Abstract

A construction includes a plurality of interconnectable building elements, the plurality of interconnectable building elements including a first building element and a second building element, the first and second building elements including a first and second coupling devices for releasably interconnecting the first and second building elements. The first building element is a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) functional building element. The PLMN functional building element includes: at least one of the first and second coupling devices; a radiofrequency transceiver module; and an identification module including or configured to receive at least one of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card. The radiofrequency transceiver module and the identification module are configured to attach the PLMN functional building element to a PLMN as a mobile device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2011/003825, filed on Jul. 29, 2011. The International Application was published in English on Feb. 7, 2013, as WO 2013/017138 A1 under PCT Article 21(2).

FIELD

The present invention relates inter alia to a construction toy comprising a plurality of interconnectable building elements, the plurality of building elements having at least one of a first coupling means and a second coupling means, one of the first coupling means of a first building element and one of the second coupling means of a second building element being provided for releasably interconnecting the first and second building elements. Furthermore, the invention relates to a set of a plurality of interconnectable building elements, wherein the plurality of building elements is provided to form a construction toy. Additionally, the present invention relates to a method to control and/or monitor a construction toy, the construction toy comprising a plurality of interconnectable building elements, the plurality of building elements having at least one of a first coupling means and a second coupling means, one of the first coupling means of a first building element and one of the second coupling means of a second building element being provided for releasably interconnecting the first and second building elements.

BACKGROUND

Toy building systems comprising interconnectable building elements have been known for decades. The simple building blocks have been supplemented with dedicated building elements with either a specific appearance or a mechanical or electrical function to enhance the play value. Such functions include e.g. motors, switches and lamps, but also programmable processors that accept input from sensors and can activate function elements in response to received sensor inputs.
Self-contained function building elements exist which have a function device adapted to perform a preconfigured function, an energy source for providing energy to the function device for performing the function, and a trigger responsive to an external trigger event to trigger the function device to perform the function. Typically, such known function building elements are designed for manual activation of the trigger and only provide a limited play value.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a construction toy. The construction toy includes: a plurality of interconnectable building elements, the plurality of interconnectable building elements comprising a first building element and a second building element, the first and second building elements including a first and second coupling device for releasably interconnecting the first and second building elements. The first building element is a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) functional building element. The PLMN functional building element includes: at least one of the first and second coupling devices; a radiofrequency transceiver module; and an identification module comprising or configured to receive at least one of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card. The radiofrequency transceiver module and the identification module are configured to attach the PLMN functional building element to a PLMN as a mobile device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. All features described and/or illustrated herein can be used alone or combined in different combinations in embodiments of the invention. The features and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings which illustrate the following:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates two basic building elements of an exemplary construction toy according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) functional building element according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a plurality of further functional building elements according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a construction toy having a set of a plurality of interconnectable building elements that enhance the play value of the construction toy such that an increased functionality as well as play conditions providing a higher degree of realistic use cases or play situations are realized.
The construction toy provides the possibility of controlling and/or monitoring, including via an external device and remotely.
In an embodiment, the construction toy comprises a plurality of interconnectable building elements, the plurality of building elements having at least one of a first coupling means and a second coupling means, one of the first coupling means of a first building element and one of the second coupling means of a second building element being provided for releasably interconnecting the first and second building elements,
wherein the construction toy comprises at least one PLMN functional building element comprising at least one of the first coupling means and/or at least one of the second coupling means, wherein the PLMN functional building element comprises:

- a radiofrequency transceiver module, and
- an identification module provided to comprise or to receive at least one of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) or a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card, wherein the radiofrequency transceiver module and the identification module of the PLMN functional building element are provided to attach to a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) as a mobile device.

According to the present invention it is thereby advantageously possible, that the construction toy can be

- controlled and/or
- parts of the construction toy or the environment of the construction toy monitored, including via a remote device such as a mobile phone or a mobile or stationary computer such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) device or a smart phone or a feature phone (device of a new generation in future networks). For example, it is advantageously possible, according to the present invention, to provide an enhanced playing possibility even between remote locations, such as between a first home in a first city and a second home in a second city. Thereby, it is advantageously possible, e.g.,
- to provide such an enhanced playing experience related to one and the same construction toy between remote locations such as the homes of two friends, or
- to provide an enhanced playing experience between remote locations, such as the homes of two friends, related to a first construction toy in the first home and a second construction toy in the second home.

It is preferred according to the present invention, that the PLMN functional building element comprises a control module for controlling the radiofrequency transceiver module and the identification module of the PLMN functional building element.
Thereby it is advantageously possible, that a complete interface to a public land mobile network can be integrated in the construction toy according to the present invention.
Furthermore, it is preferred according to the present invention that the PLMN functional building element comprises a power source module, such as a battery or an accumulator.
Thereby, it is advantageously possible according to the present invention to power the PLMN functional building element in a sufficiently reliable manner such that the interface functionality to the public land mobile network can be maintained.
Still furthermore, it is preferred according to the present invention that the PLMN functional building element comprises a power generation module, wherein the power generation module preferably comprises a photovoltaic module.
Thereby, it is advantageously possible according to the present invention, that less batteries and/or accumulators are used for powering the PLMN functional building element. Additionally, it is advantageously possible according to the present invention to use renewable energies such as photovoltaic power generation to provide sufficient electrical energy to the PLMN functional building element.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred that the PLMN functional building element comprises a GNSS reception interface of a Global Navigation Satellite System, especially the GPS (Global Positioning System) system or the Galileo system.
Thereby, it is advantageously possible to determine the position of the PLMN functional building element. It is preferred according to the present invention to combine the data or location information/position information of the GNSS reception interface with data or information obtained by the PLMN functional building element from cell information of the public land mobile network where the PLMN functional building element is attached to (i.e. based on the cell identity information of radio cells (and their associated base stations or base station transceivers) of the public land mobile network to which the PLMN functional building element is attached and the knowledge of the locations or positions of these base station of base station transceivers). Thereby, it is advantageously possible to provide location based services such as a monitoring of the position of the construction toy. According to the present invention, it is preferred that

- in an indoor situation—where satellite based GNSS signals, especially GPS signals, are typically weak—the data or location information/position information retrieved or obtained from the public land mobile network cell information are primarily or additionally used to obtain the position or location of the PLMN functional building element, and that —in an outdoor situation—where satellite based GNSS signals are typically stronger—the GNSS data or location information/position information are primarily used to obtain the position or location of the PLMN functional building element.

Furthermore, it is preferred according to the present invention that the PLMN functional building element comprises a sensor module comprising one or a plurality out of the following sensors:

- an acceleration sensor,
- a thermometer,
- a humidity sensor,
- a pressure sensor,
- an acoustic sensor or a microphone,
- a light sensor,
- a sensor sensing radioactive radiation,
- a mechanical sensor.

According to this further embodiment of the present invention, it is advantageously possible to capture a multitude of different sensor signals such that different data related to the construction toy and/or related to the environment of the construction toy can be obtained. Besides an acceleration sensor, a thermometer, a humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, an acoustic sensor or a microphone, a light sensor, a sensor sensing radioactive radiation, or a mechanical sensor, further kinds of sensors or sensitive elements are possible, according to the present invention, to be integrated in the PLMN functional building element. Additionally or alternatively (to integrating sensors or sensor elements in the PLMN functional building element), it is possible and preferred, according to the present invention, that the PLMN functional building element comprises one or a plurality of data interfaces such as a Bluetooth data interface (e.g., comprising one or a plurality of the following Bluetooth profiles: FTP (File Transfer Profile), LAP (LAN Access Profile), OBEX (Object Exchange), SAP (SIM Access Profile) SPP (Serial Port Profile), a Near Field Communication interface (NFC) or other data interfaces).
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred that the PLMN functional building element is connected to at least one out of:

- a power building element, wherein the power building element is provided to generate or store electrical power to provide to the PLMN functional building element;
- a GNSS building element, wherein the GNSS building element comprises a GNSS reception interface of a Global Navigation Satellite System, especially the GPS (Global Positioning System) system or the Galileo system;
- a sensor building element, wherein the sensor building element comprises a sensor module comprising one or a plurality out of the following sensors, e.g., but not limited to:
- an acceleration sensor,
- a thermometer,
- a humidity sensor,
- a pressure sensor,
- an acoustic sensor or a microphone,
- a light sensor,
- a sensor sensing radioactive radiation,
- a mechanical sensor.

Thereby, it is advantageously possible to combine with the PLMN functional building element further functional elements such that the playing experience related to the construction toy can be substantially increased.
The present invention also relates to a set of a plurality of interconnectable building elements, wherein the plurality of building elements is provided to form an inventive construction toy.
Thereby it is advantageously possible according to the present invention to realize a multitude of different construction toys by combining the same building elements in a different manner.
The present invention also relates to a method to control and/or monitor a construction toy, the construction toy comprising a plurality of interconnectable building elements, the plurality of building elements having at least one of a first coupling means and a second coupling means, one of the first coupling means of a first building element and one of the second coupling means of a second building element being provided for releasably interconnecting the first and second building elements,
wherein the construction toy comprises at least one PLMN functional building element comprising at least one of the first coupling means and/or at least one of the second coupling means, wherein the PLMN functional building element comprises:

- a radiofrequency transceiver module, and
- an identification module provided to comprise or to receive at least one of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) or a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card, wherein the radiofrequency transceiver module and the identification module of the PLMN functional building element are provided to attach to a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) as a mobile device,
  wherein the method comprises the step of
- transmitting first data via the radiofrequency transceiver module to the construction toy and/or
- transmitting second data from the construction toy via the radiofrequency transceiver module.

Thereby it is advantageously possible according to the present invention that the construction toy can be controlled or monitored via the PLMN functional building element, i.e. using the public land mobile network to which the PLMN functional building element is attached, e.g. by a remote device such as a mobile phone or a mobile or stationary computer. It is preferred according to the present invention that the internet or another network is used to control and/or monitor the construction toy, where data, commands, sensor readings or the like are transmitted—between on the one hand the construction toy and on the other hand the remote device such as a mobile phone or a mobile or stationary computer—e.g. using the internet and the public land mobile network to which the PLMN functional building element is attached. In case that the remote device is connected to the internet via a wireline connection, the remote device does not necessarily need a wireless interface. In case that the remote device is connected to the internet via a WAN (wide area network), the remote device comprises a transceiver or is able to use an assigned transceiver.
It is furthermore preferred according to the present invention that the first and/or second data serve to remote control the construction toy and/or to transmit sensor data to the construction toy or from the construction toy. For example, it is advantageously possible according to the present invention, that a remote app (application program or application software program) upload is possible to realize.
These and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. The description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.
The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes.
Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.
In FIG. 1, two building elements of an exemplary construction toy according to the present invention are schematically shown. The building elements shown in FIG. 1 correspond to rather simple building elements of the construction toy. In FIG. 1, a first building element 11 and a second building element 12 are schematically shown. From the first building element 11, the upper side is schematically shown in a perspective view, and from the second building element 12, the lower side is schematically shown in a perspective view.
As can be seen from FIG. 1, the first and second building elements 11, 12 are interconnectable building elements 11, 12, each comprising at least one of a first coupling means 21 and a second coupling means 22. In FIG. 1, only the first coupling means 21 of the first building element 11 is shown on the left hand side and the second coupling means 22 of the second building element 12 is shown on the right hand side. According to the present invention, one of the first coupling means 21 of the first building element 11 and one of the second coupling means 22 of the second building element 12 being provided for releasably interconnecting the first and second building elements 11, 12.
Interconnected with one another, the first and second building element 11, 12 constitute the construction toy 10—as schematically indicated in FIG. 1 by means of the curly bracket in FIG. 1 and reference sign 10. It is clear that a construction 10 comprising only a first and a second building element 11, 12 as shown in FIG. 1 would be a rather simple construction toy 10. However, by using a plurality of building elements 11, 12 (e.g. a plurality of tens of building elements or of hundreds of building elements or even of thousands of building elements)—even only rather simple building elements as shown in FIG. 1—it is possible (by interconnecting these building elements) to create (or to construct) an immense variety of different constructions, i.e. construction toys, such as, e.g., toy houses, toy ships, toy trains, toy cars or the like.
According to the present invention, the building elements as shown in FIG. 1 are only meant as an example of possible building elements that can cooperate to form the construction toy 10 according to the present invention. It is also possible and preferred according to the present invention that other systems of building elements, having different first and second coupling means than those shown in FIG. 1 (or even having first, second and third coupling means or first, second, third and fourth coupling means) are used in accordance to the present invention.
In FIG. 2, a PLMN functional building element 30 according to the present invention is schematically shown. The PLMN functional building element 30 comprises a radiofrequency transceiver module 31 and an identification module 32. The identification module 32 is provided to comprise a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card. Alternatively, the identification module 32 is provided to receive a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card (i.e. the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or the Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card is not integrated or inserted in the identification module 32). The radiofrequency transceiver module 31 and the identification module 32 of the PLMN functional building element 30 are provided to attach to a public land mobile network (PLMN) as a mobile device. For example, the PLMN functional building element 30 attaches as a mobile device (or User Equipment) in a 2G-PLMN (second generation public land mobile network) (i.e. a Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM) network) or in a 3G-PLMN (third generation public land mobile network) (i.e. an Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) network) or in a 4G-PLMN (fourth generation public land mobile network) (i.e. an Long Term Evolution (LTE) network) or in a future new generation network.
The radiofrequency transceiver module 31 comprises or is linked to one or a plurality of antennas for realizing the radio interface to the public land mobile network. The antenna or the plurality of antennas can either be integrated in the radiofrequency transceiver module 31 (i.e. in the PLMN functional building element 30) or can be provided in a different building element 11, 12 of the construction toy 10 and connected to the PLMN functional building element 30 by means of a connector.
The PLMN functional building element 30 additionally comprises a control module 33, the control module comprising a microprocessor controlling the PLMN functional building element 30. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention (alternative to providing a control module 33 separated from the radiofrequency transceiver module 31 and/or the identification module 32), the control module 33 is integrated in either the radiofrequency transceiver module 31 or in the identification module 32, or the control module 33 is integrated in the radiofrequency transceiver module 31 and the identification module 32.
The PLMN functional building element 30 additionally comprises a power source module 34, the power source module 34 comprising a power source (preferably of electrical energy) such as a battery or an accumulator. Furthermore, it is possible and preferred according to the present invention that the power source module 34 comprises a fuel cell or another power source, e.g., a power source of electrical energy.
Additionally or alternatively to a power source module 34, it is preferred according to the present invention that the PLMN functional building element 30 comprises a power generation module 34′, e.g. in the form of a photovoltaic module or comprising photovoltaic elements.
According to the present invention, it is furthermore preferred that the PLMN functional building element 30 comprises a GNSS reception module 35. The GNSS reception module 35 comprises a receiver element for receiving signals of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), such as the GPS (Global Positioning System) system of the Galileo system. The GNSS reception module 35 comprises or is linked to one or a plurality of antennas for receiving the GNSS signals. The antenna or the plurality of antennas can either be integrated in the GNSS reception module 35 (i.e. in the PLMN functional building element 30) or can be provided in a different building element 11, 12 of the construction toy 10 and connected to the PLMN functional building element 30 by means of a connector. Preferably, the antennas for the GNSS signals are located at or near the top side of the PLMN functional building element 30 in order to facilitate the reception of the GNSS signals.
According to the present invention, it is furthermore preferred that the PLMN functional building element 30 comprises a sensor module 36. The sensor module 36 comprises preferably one or a plurality of the following sensors or sensor elements, e.g., but not limited to:

According to the present invention, it is furthermore preferred that the construction toy 10 comprises a power building element 40 and/or a GNSS building element 50 and/or a sensor building element 60. These building elements 40, 50, 60 are schematically shown in FIG. 3.
The power building element 40 comprises a power source (preferably of electrical energy) such as a battery or an accumulator. Furthermore, it is possible and preferred according to the present invention that the power building element 40 comprises a fuel cell or another power source, especially a power source of electrical energy. Additionally or alternatively (to comprising a power source), it is preferred according to the present invention that the power building element 40 comprises a power generation element, e.g. in the form of a photovoltaic module or comprising photovoltaic elements.
The GNSS building element 50 comprises a receiver element for receiving signals of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), such as the GPS (Global Positioning System) system of the Galileo system.
The sensor building element 60 comprises preferably one or a plurality of the following sensors or sensor elements, e.g., but not limited to:

According to the present invention, it is advantageously possible to realize experimentation and/or presentation sets of building elements 11, 12—comprising a PLMN functional building element 30—such that a construction toy 10 constructed by means of using the building elements 11, 12 (and especially the functional building elements such as the PLMN functional building element 30, the power building element 40, the GNSS building element 50 and/or the sensor building element 60) is able to be controlled and monitored via the PLMN interface of the PLMN functional building element 30.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below. Additionally, statements made herein characterizing the invention refer to an embodiment of the invention and not necessarily all embodiments.
The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article “a”, “an” or “the” in introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of “or” should be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of “A or B” is not exclusive of “A and B,” unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is intended. Further, the recitation of “at least one of A, B and C” should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C, regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of “A, B and/or C” or “at least one of A, B or C” should be interpreted as including any singular entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B and C.
Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A construction toy, comprising:

a plurality of interconnectable building elements, the plurality of interconnectable building elements comprising a first building element and a second building element, the first and second building elements comprising a first and second coupling device for releasably interconnecting the first and second building elements,

wherein the first building element is a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) functional building element;

wherein the PLMN functional building element comprises:

at least one of the first and second coupling device;

a radiofrequency transceiver module; and

an identification module comprising or configured to receive at least one of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or a Universal Subscriber identity Module (USW) card; and

wherein the radiofrequency transceiver module and the identification module are configured to attach the PLMN functional building element to a PLMN as a mobile device.

13. The construction toy of claim 12, wherein, the PLMN functional building element comprises:

a control module for controlling the radiofrequency transceiver module and the identification module.

14. The construction toy of claim 12, wherein the PLMN functional building element comprises:

a power source module.

15. The construction toy of claim 14, wherein the power source module is a battery or an accumulator.

16. The construction toy of claim 12, wherein the PLMN functional building element comprises:

a power generation module.

17. The construction toy of claim 16, wherein the power generation module comprises a photovoltaic module.

18. The construction toy of claim 12, wherein the PLMN functional building element comprises:

a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reception interface.

19. The construction toy of claim 18, wherein the GNSS reception interface is a Global Positioning System (GPS) reception interface or a Galileo system reception interface.

20. The construction toy of claim 12, wherein the PLMN functional building element comprises a sensor module, the sensor module comprising at least one of the following sensors:

an acceleration sensor,

a thermometer,

a humidity sensor,

a pressure sensor,

an acoustic sensor or a microphone,

a light sensor,

a sensor sensing radioactive radiation, or

a mechanical sensor.

21. The construction toy of claim 12, wherein the PLMN functional building element is connected to at least one out of:

a power building element, wherein the power building element is configured to generate or store electrical power to provide to the PLMN functional building element;

a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) building element, wherein the GNSS building element comprises a GNSS reception interface of a Global Navigation Satellite System, especially the GPS (Global Positioning System) system or the Galileo system; or

a sensor building element, wherein the sensor building element comprises a sensor module comprising at least one of the following: an acceleration sensor, a thermometer, a humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, an acoustic sensor or a microphone, a light sensor, a sensor sensing radioactive radiation, or a mechanical sensor.

22. A method to control and/or monitor a construction toy, the construction toy comprising a plurality of interconnectable building elements, the plurality of interconnectable building elements comprising a first building element and a second building element, the first and second building elements comprising a first and second coupling device for releasably interconnecting the first and second building elements, wherein the first building element is a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) functional building element; wherein the PLMN functional building element comprises: at least one of the first and second coupling devices; a radiofrequency transceiver module; and an identification module comprising or configured to receive at least one of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card or a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card; and wherein the radiofrequency transceiver module and the identification module are configured to attach the PLMN functional building element to a PLMN as a mobile device, the method comprising at least one of:

transmitting first data via the radiofrequency transceiver module to the construction toy; or

transmitting second data from the construction toy via the radiofrequency transceiver module.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first data and/or the second data are used in remote control the construction toy.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the first data and/or the second data are used in transmitting sensor data to and/or from the construction toy.