PHYSICAL EFFECTS FOR ELECTRONIC BOOKS

• US 20130151955A1
• Filed: 12/07/2012
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mechell Williams
• Original Assignee: Mechell Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Mechell
• Application Number:
  US13/708,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20130151955A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/255
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for generating physical effects for electronic books. A communication interface is configured to receive an effect request from an electronic book reader in response to the electronic book reader presenting a portion of an electronic book. One or more effect generators are operable to provide a physical effect specified by the electronic book reader. An effect controller is configured to operate the effect generators in response to receiving the effect request using the communication interface.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating physical effects for electronic books, the apparatus comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive an effect request from an electronic book reader in response to the electronic book reader presenting a portion of an electronic book;

one or more effect generators, each effect generator operable to provide a physical effect specified by the electronic book reader; and

an effect controller configured to operate one or more of the effect generators in response to receiving the effect request using the communication interface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the effect request is for an air current effect associated with the presented portion of the electronic book, and an effect generator comprises a fan.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the effect request is for a temperature effect associated with the presented portion of the electronic book, and an effect generator comprises a temperature-controllable surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the effect request is for a scent effect associated with the presented portion of the electronic book, and an effect generator comprises a scent emitter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the effect request is for a vibration effect associated with the presented portion of the electronic book, and an effect generator comprises a vibratable element.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the effect request is for a luminescent effect associated with the presented portion of the electronic book, and an effect generator comprises a luminescent element.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic book reader sends the effect request using the communication interface automatically in response to detecting a predefined trigger within the presented portion of the electronic book.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic book reader sends the effect request using the communication interface in response to receiving user input in association with the presented portion of the electronic book.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a customization module configured to receive user-selected content and present the user-selected content with the presented portion of the electronic book.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing shaped to receive the electronic book reader, the housing comprising the communication interface, the effect generators coupled to the housing.

11. A system for generating physical effects for electronic books, the system comprising:

an electronic book reader configured to present an electronic book;

a communication interface configured to receive an effect request from the electronic book reader in response to the electronic book reader presenting a portion of the electronic book;

one or more effect generators coupled to a housing of the electronic book reader, each effect generator operable to provide a physical effect specified by the electronic book reader; and

an effect controller configured to operate one or more of the effect generators in response to receiving the effect request using the communication interface.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein an effect generator comprises one or more of a fan, a temperature-controllable surface, a scent emitter, a vibratable element, and a luminescent element.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the housing is detachably connectable to the electronic book reader.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the housing is an integral portion of the electronic book reader.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the electronic book reader comprises a display capable of displaying images with a three-dimensional effect.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the electronic book reader comprises a touch-sensitive display.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the electronic book reader is configured to display moving images.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the electronic book reader is configured to present the electronic book by audibly reading the electronic book.

19. A method for generating physical effects for electronic books, the method comprising:

presenting a portion of an electronic book using an electronic book reader;

receiving an effect request from the electronic book reader in response to the electronic book reader presenting the portion of the electronic book; and

operating one or more effect generators to provide a physical effect specified by the electronic book reader in response to receiving the effect request.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising generating the effect request in response to detecting a predefined trigger within the presented portion of the electronic book.