Methods and Systems for Providing Haptic Messaging to Handheld Communication Devices

• US 20080133648A1
• Filed: 12/08/2003
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Grant, Danny A., Chang, Dean C., Eid, Jeffrey, Endo, Shoichi, Shahoian, Erik J.
• Application Number:
  US10/538,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20080133648A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• 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 in a variety of applications. In one embodiment, a method of providing haptic messaging to a hand communication device includes: receiving an input signal associated with an event; determining a source of the event and selecting the control signal based on the determination; and outputting a control signal to an actuator coupled to the hand communication device. The control signal is configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the reminder event. An event in the above may be a reminder event or a status event.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an input signal associated with a reminder event; and

outputting a control signal to an actuator, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the reminder event.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the reminder event includes one of an appointment, a meeting, and a pre-scheduled activity.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a source of the reminder event and selecting the control signal based at least in part on the determination.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the haptic effect is output to a handheld communication device.

5. A method, comprising:

receiving an input signal associated with a status event; and

outputting a control signal to an actuator at a prescribed time after receiving the input signal, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the status event.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the status event includes one of an advertisement event, a business-transaction event, a one-to-one marketing event, a stock-trading event, a weather-forecast event, an entertainment event, a sports event, and an emergency event.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising determining a source of the status event and selecting the control signal based at least in part on the determination.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising extracting a haptic code from the input signal, the control signal being based at least in part on the haptic code.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the haptic effect is output to a handheld communication device.

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

program code for receiving an input signal associated with a reminder event; and

program code for outputting a control signal to an actuator, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the reminder event.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the reminder event includes one of an appointment, a meeting, and a pre-scheduled activity.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 further comprising program code for determining a source of the reminder event and selecting the control signal based at least in part on the determination.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 further comprising program code to generate a plurality of control signals, each control signal being associated with a haptic effect.

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

program code for receiving an input signal associated with a status event; and

program code for outputting a control signal to an actuator at a prescribed time after receiving the input signal, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the status event.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the status event includes one of an advertisement event, a business-transaction event, a one-to-one marketing event, a stock-trading event, a weather-forecast event, an entertainment event, a sports event, and an emergency event.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 further comprising program code for determining a source of the status event and selecting the control signal based at least in part on the determination.

17. The computer-readable medium 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.

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

receive an input signal associated with a reminder event;

and

output a control signal to an actuator, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the reminder event.

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

receive an input signal associated with a status event;

and

output a control signal to an actuator at a prescribed time after receiving the input signal, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the status event.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

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 a reminder event; and

program code for outputting a control signal to an actuator, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the reminder event.

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

22. The apparatus of claim 21 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.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the reminder event includes one of an appointment, a meeting, and a pre-scheduled activity.

24. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the memory further stores program code for determining a source of the reminder event and selecting the control signal based at least in part on the determination.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the memory further stores a haptic lookup table, the selection being based on the haptic lookup table.

26. The apparatus, comprising:

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 a status event; and

program code for output a control signal to an actuator at a prescribed time after receiving the input signal, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the status event.

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 status event includes one of an advertisement event, a business-transaction event, a one-to-one marketing event, a stock-trading event, a weather-forecast event, an entertainment event, a sports event, and an emergency event.

30. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the memory further stores program code for determining a source of the status event and selecting the control signal based at least in part on the determination.