Toys

A system comprising a toy comprising a processor;

• a memory for storing at least one group of data, each group consisting of a plurality of expressive responses, and each said group representing a respective theme;
• an output for said expressive responses;
• and
• at least one of means for connection to a computer and a connector for connecting to a computer, to download each said group of data, the group of data for download being user-selectable to enable user selection of a particular theme;
• the toy being configured to exchange such responses with another such toy, each said group of data comprising both responses and counter-responses, so that the toy may converse with another such toy on the particular theme;
• wherein a new such group of data can be loaded into said memory so that the toy can converse on a different user-selectable theme;
• whereby the toy can converse in a plurality of different user-selectable themes, one theme at a time;
• and a dock for said toy, said dock comprising a physical connector for the said toy for downloading data into the said toy and which is operable to connect to a network for downloading data from the network.

A method of communication between first and second toys comprising:

• grouping a plurality of expressive responses into at least one group of data, said at least one group representing a particular theme, each toy being configured to exchange such responses with the other toy, each said group of data comprising both responses and counter-responses, so that the toys may converse on the particular theme;
• selecting, loading and storing a new such group of data into a memory so that the toys can converse on a different theme, the group of data being user-selectable to enable user selection of a particular theme;
• activating a first expressive response from said at least one group stored in said memory of the first toy, the first toy being in the presence of the second toy;
• sending trigger data from the first toy indicative of the first expressive response to the second toy;
• the second toy selecting a second expressive response from said at least one group of expressive responses, from said second toy's memory, on receipt of said trigger data, activating the second expressive response, and sending trigger data indicative of the second expressive response to the first toy;
• whereby the toys can converse in a plurality of different user-selectable themes, one theme at a time.

A method of downloading data into a toy, to enable the toy to exchange expressive responses with another such toy, the method comprising:

• grouping a plurality of expressive responses into at least one group of data, said at least one group representing a particular theme, each toy being configured to exchange such responses with the other toy, each said group of data comprising both responses and counter-responses, so that the toys may converse on the particular theme;
• selecting, loading and storing downloading a new such group of data into a memory so that the toys can converse on a different theme, the group of data being user-selectable to enable user selection of a particular theme, wherein downloading comprises logging onto a website;
• selecting a group of related data representing a respective theme;
• and downloading the user selected theme to the toy, said data enabling the toy to converse with another such toy in a plurality of different user-selectable themes, one theme at a time, and wherein the toy comprises at least one of means for connection to a computer and a connector for connecting to a computer to download said user selectable theme.

A non-transitory computer readable memory for a toy, the toy comprising a processor;

• the memory;
• an output means, and at least one of means for connection to a computer and a connector for connecting to a computer;
• wherein the non-transitory computer readable memory enables the toy to:
• store at least one group of data, each group consisting of a plurality of expressive responses, and each said group representing a respective theme;
• to output said expressive responses via the output means;
• and download, using the at least one of means for connection to a computer and a connector for connecting to a computer each said group of data, the group of data for download being user-selectable to enable user selection of a particular theme;
• exchange such responses with another such toy, each said group of data comprising both responses and counter-responses, so that the toy may converse with another such toy on the particular theme;
• and
• enable a new such group of data to be loaded into said memory so that the toy can converse on a different user-selectable theme;
• whereby the toy can converse in a plurality of different user-selectable themes, one theme at a time.