Abstract: Methods of defining a virtual fence and for detecting a body inside or outside a region of interest defined by the virtual fence and/or of determining a height for a body on a surface in a region of interest use radar signals and a configuration mode and a monitoring mode are disclosed. In the configuration mode coordinates for defining a virtual fence are determined and/or a topology of a surface in the region of interest is determined. In the monitoring mode, a location of a second body on the surface is detected to determine if the second body is inside or outside the virtual fence and/or a height of for the second body relative to the determined topology is determined.

Abstract: Methods of defining a virtual fence and for detecting a body inside or outside a region of interest defined by the virtual fence and/or of determining a height for a body on a surface in a region of interest use radar signals and a configuration mode and a monitoring mode are disclosed. In the configuration mode coordinates for defining a virtual fence are determined and/or a topology of a surface in the region of interest is determined. In the monitoring mode, a location of a second body on the surface is detected to determine if the second body is inside or outside the virtual fence and/or a height of for the second body relative to the determined topology is determined.

Abstract: Methods of defining a virtual fence and for detecting a body inside or outside a region of interest defined by the virtual fence and/or of determining a height for a body on a surface in a region of interest use radar signals and a configuration mode and a monitoring mode are disclosed. In the configuration mode coordinates for defining a virtual fence are determined and/or a topology of a surface in the region of interest is determined. In the monitoring mode, a location of a second body on the surface is detected to determine if the second body is inside or outside the virtual fence and/or a height of for the second body relative to the determined topology is determined.

Abstract: Methods of defining a virtual fence and for detecting a body inside or outside a region of interest defined by the virtual fence and/or of determining a height for a body on a surface in a region of interest use radar signals and a configuration mode and a monitoring mode are disclosed. In the configuration mode coordinates for defining a virtual fence are determined and/or a topology of a surface in the region of interest is determined. In the monitoring mode, a location of a second body on the surface is detected to determine if the second body is inside or outside the virtual fence and/or a height of for the second body relative to the determined topology is determined.

Abstract: A data acquisition device for an auto triggering thereof includes a movement detector, a distance detector, a processor, and a data acquiring component. The movement detector detects movement data of the data acquisition device. The movement data indicates a state of movement for the data acquisition device. The state of movement is one of static and dynamic. The distance detector detects distance data between the data acquisition device and an object to which data is to be acquired. The processor receives the movement data to determine the state of movement and, when the state of movement is determined to be static, receives the distance data to determine the distance of the object from the data acquisition device. The data acquiring component acquires the data from the object when the processor initially determines that the state of movement is static and subsequently determines the distance is within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A wearable imager device comprises an imager body 9, a strap 27 attached to the imager body 9 and adapted to be fitted to and worn by a hand or finger of a user and an indicator light 29 to indicate an operation function of the device 21, wherein the indicator light 29 is incorporated in the strap 27. The strap 27 is conveniently made of a flexible material. The indicator light 29 may comprise a flexible light emitting band formed in the strap 27 in part or substantially all of the length of the strap 27.

Abstract: The present invention relates to computer systems and methods generally and more particularly to development of interactive constructs, to techniques for teaching such development, and to verbally interactive toys.

Abstract: A programmable assembly toy including a multiplicity of toy elements which are joinable to define a player selectable structure including a plurality of controllable toy elements which are joinable by a player with the selectable structure, and a player programmable control system for controlling the operation of the plurality of controllable toy elements.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for integrating interactive toys with interactive television and cellular communication systems are described. Interactive toys have real time conversations with users, preferably employing speech recognition. Interactive toys are preferably connected to at least one interactive toy server which is preferably connected to entertainment, education, sales promotion and other content providers possibly via Internet communication systems. Such a connection may utilize, for example, telephone lines, cellular communication systems, coaxial cables, satellite, DSL or other broadband systems. Interactive toys may be connected, via a wireless link, to a computing device such as a home computer, an Interactive Television set-top box or a base unit which provides Internet connectivity for the toy. Interactive toys may support mobile cellular or satellite communication. These toys are able to provide entertainment, education, sales promotion and other content to a user.

Abstract: A controllable toy system operative in conjunction with a household audio entertainment player, the system including a controllable toy, and an audio entertainment signal analyzer operative to analyze an audio entertainment signal so as to recognize therewithin predetermined audio entertainment elements and to command the controllable toy to perform at least one action according to the predetermined audio entertainment elements at a time corresponding to a time at which the audio entertainment elements are played by the household audio entertainment player.

Abstract: An adaptive toy system including a multiplicity of interactive toys, each of which is connected to a computer network and adaptive toy operation software which is supplied to the multiplicity of interactive toys via the computer network, the adaptive toy operation software being operative to provide feedback, based on play experience with at least some of the multiplicity of interactive toys, via the computer network and to employ the feedback in adapting itself so as to change the play experience provided thereby.

Abstract: There is provided a method for using a toy for effecting sales over a public network, the method comprising: providing a toy having interactive speaking and listening functionality; connecting the toy via a public network to at least one server having transactional functionality; and effecting sales by employing the transactional functionality via the interactive speaking and listening functionality of said toy.

Abstract: A system for generating scripts having verbal content. The system includes a computer having a user input receiver operative to receive a user's definition of a script for at least one computer-controllable animated physical figure. The script includes a plurality of interconnected script elements each representing an action performable by the computer-controllable animated figure. The script comprises at least one verbal script element representing a verbal action performable by the computer-controllable animated figure. A graphics interface is operative to generate a pictorial image of the script as the script is generated by the user. The graphics interface including a drag and drop facility and a flowchart generating facility.

Abstract: Amusement park apparatus including a first plurality of entertainment providing nodes playing a second plurality of games with a third plurality of players who are simultaneously playing the second plurality of games, a node controller operative to assign each player from among the third plurality of players to an individual game from among the second plurality of games and operative to control each individual node from among the first plurality of nodes such that when the individual node enters into an interaction with an individual player, the node plays, with the individual player, the game assigned to the individual player, and a communication network operative to associate each of the first plurality of nodes with the node controller.

Abstract: A wireless computer controlled household appliance system including a computer system including a first wireless transmitter and a first wireless receiver and operative to transmit a first transmission via the first wireless transmitter, and at least one household appliance including a second wireless transmitter and a second wireless receiver, the household appliance receiving the first transmission via the second wireless receiver and operative to carry out at least one action based on the first transmission, the household appliance being operative to transmit a second transmission via the second wireless transmitter and the computer system is operative to receive the second transmission via the first wireless receiver.

Abstract: A programmable assembly toy including a multiplicity of toy elements which are joinable to define a player selectable structure including a plurality of controllable toy elements which are joinable by a player with the selectable structure, and a player programmable control system for controlling the operation of the plurality of controllable toy elements.

Abstract: Apparatus for a wireless computer controlled toy system is disclosed, the apparatus including a computer system operative to transmit a first transmission via a first wireless transmitter and at least one toy including a first wireless receiver, the toy receiving the first transmission via the first wireless receiver and operative to carry out at least one action based on said first transmission. A method for controlling the toy system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A toy with developing skills, the toy including a fanciful figure having a capacity to perform an action, and action control circuitry operative to control the fanciful figure to perform the action at different levels of skill at different times.

Abstract: Apparatus for a wireless computer controlled toy system is disclosed, the apparatus including a computer system operative to transmit a first transmission via a first wireless transmitter and at least one toy including a first wireless receiver, the toy receiving the first transmission via the first wireless receiver and operative to carry out at least one action based on said first transmission. A method for controlling the toy system is also disclosed.