Haptic messaging in handheld communication devices

• US 20060288137A1
• Filed: 12/08/2003
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Shakoian, Erik J., Grant, Danny A., Chang, Dean C., Eid, Jeffrey, Endo, Shoichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,316,166 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to methods and systems for providing customized “haptic messaging” to users of handheld communication devices (110) in a variety of applications. In one embodiment, a method of haptic messaging includes: receiving an input signal associated with an actuation of a user-interface member (112); determining a haptic code associated with the actuation; and including the haptic code in an output signal to be sent to a remote handheld communication device (10). In another embodiment, a method of haptic messaging includes: receiving an input signal; outputting a request relating to a contact with a user-interface member (112) coupled to a handheld communication device (110); and providing a control signal associated with the contact to an actuator (130) coupled to the handheld communication device (110), the control signal being configured to cause the actuator (130) to output a haptic effect associated with the input signal.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an input signal associated with an actuation of a user-interface member;

determining a haptic code associated with the actuation; and

including the haptic code in an output signal.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending the output signal to a remote handheld communication device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising including in the output signal at least one of a message, a video image, and a graphical feature.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising making the determination is based on a predetermined scheme.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the user-interface member includes at least one of a key, a button, a key pad, a direction pad, a touch screen, a scroll wheel, a mini-joystick, a trackball, and a knob.

6. A method, comprising:

receiving an input signal;

outputting a request relating to a contact with a user-interface member coupled to a handheld communication device; and

providing a control signal associated with the contact to an actuator coupled to the handheld communication device, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the input signal.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising extracting a haptic code from the input signal, the control signal being based at least in part on the haptic code.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising causing a content of the input signal to be displayed, the content includes at least one of a message, a video image, and a graphical feature.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the user-interface member includes one of a key, a button, a key pad, a direction pad, a touch screen, a scroll wheel, a mini-joystick, a trackball, and a knob.

10. A computer-readable medium on which is encoded program code, comprising:

program code for receiving an input signal associated with an actuation of a user-interface member;

program code for determining a haptic code associated with the actuation; and

program code for including the haptic code in an output signal.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 further comprising program code for sending the output signal to a remote handheld communication device.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 further comprising program code for including in the output signal at least one of a message, a video image, and a graphical feature.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 further comprising program code for making the determination is based on a predetermined scheme.

14. A computer-readable medium on which is encoded program code, comprising:

program code for receiving an input signal;

program code for outputting a request relating to a contact with a user-interface member coupled to a handheld communication device; and

program code for providing a control signal associated with the contact to an actuator coupled to the handheld communication device, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the input signal.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising program code for extracting a haptic code from the input signal, the control signal being based at least in part on the haptic code.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising program code for causing a content of the input signal to be displayed, the content includes at least one of a message, a video image, and a graphical feature.

17. A data stream embodied in a carrier signal, carrying instructions to

receive an input signal associated with an actuation of a user-interface member;

determine a haptic code associated with the actuation; and

include the haptic code in an output signal.

18. A data stream embodied in a carrier signal, carrying instructions to

receive an input signal;

output a request relating to a contact with a user-interface member coupled to a handheld communication device; and

provide a control signal associated with the contact to an actuator coupled to the handheld communication device, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the input signal.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a user-interface member coupled to a body;

a processor;

an actuator coupled to the body and in communication with the processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing program code executable by the processor, including;

program code for receiving an input signal associated with an actuation of the user-interface member;

program code for determining a haptic code associated with the actuation; and

program code for including the haptic code in an output signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the body is included in a handheld communication device.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the handheld communication device includes one of a cellular phone, a satellite phone, a cordless phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a two-way radio, a portable computer, a game console controller, a personal gaming device, and an MP3 player.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the user-interface member includes at least one of a key, a button, a key pad, a direction pad, a touch screen, a scroll wheel, a mini-joystick, a trackball, and a knob.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the memory further stores program code for sending the output signal to a remote handheld communication device

24. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the memory further stores program code for including in the output signal at least one of a message, a video image, and a graphical feature.

25. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the user-interface member is one of a plurality of user-interface members coupled to the body, the memory further storing a plurality of haptic codes, each associated with one of the plurality of user-interface members according to a predetermined scheme.

26. The apparatus, comprising:

a user-interface member coupled to a body;

a processor;

an actuator coupled to the body and in communication with the processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing program code executable by the processor, including;

program code for receiving an input signal;

program code for outputting a request relating to a contact with the user-interface member; and

program code for providing a control signal associated with the contact to the actuator, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the input signal.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the body is included in a handheld communication device.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the handheld communication device includes one of a cellular phone, a satellite phone, a cordless phone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a two-way radio, a portable computer, a game console controller, a personal gaming device, and an MP3 player.

29. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the user-interface member includes at least one of a key, a button, a key pad, a direction pad, a touch screen, a scroll wheel, a mini-joystick, a trackball, and a knob.

30. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the memory further stores program code for extracting a haptic code from the input signal, the control signal being based at least in part on the haptic code.

31. The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising a display device in communication with the processor, the memory further storing program code for causing a content of the input signal to be displayed, the content includes at least one of a message, a video image, and a graphical feature.