The envisioned devices would listen for a direction or order and interact with homeowners upon a simple vocal command such as switching lights on and off or turn on household appliances. The patent describes as being able to hear for someone, turn a head to make “eye contact,” hear what they say before sending orders to remote computer servers and reply with pre-recorded phrases. BBC News reported that the three-year old patent was recently noticed by the legal technology firm, SmartUp. According to the patent, the toys would be able to communicate wirelessly using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or manage other media devices or other means with cloud-based computers, perhaps turning on songs or movies at children’s commands. The device could look like a teddy bear or bunny rabbit, while other devices available as a possibility include alien life forms and dragons. Patent paperwork suggests that such a toy-like device could perform as an “intelligent remote control” that makes being in charge of automation systems or home entertainment more easy. The published patent said that “The anthropomorphic device may be a doll or a toy that resembles a human, an animal, a mythical creature or an inanimate object.” Making the machine look “cute” should give confidence to even the youngest members of a family to interact with it, according to the patent. It suggests the toys could be used to control a wide range of devices, from televisions and DVD players to home thermostats, motorised window lights and curtains. The toys also could be infused with voice and recognition, making the devices able to identify who they were “looking at,” paperwork showed. The company files patent on a variety of ideas that its employees come up with said a Google spokesperson. “Some of those ideas later mature into real products or services, some don’t,” she said. The Google patent listed Daniel Aminzade and Richard Wayne DeVaul as inventors. In February 2012, the application for the patent was filed.
