USING HAPTIC TECHNOLOGIES TO PROVIDE ENHANCED MEDIA EXPERIENCES

• US 20130227410A1
• Filed: 08/24/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sridhara, Vinay, Das, Saumitra Mohan, Sheynblat, Leonid
• Granted Patent: US 10,013,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43074 of additional data with content streams on the same device, e.g. of EPG data or interactive icon with a TV program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 involving timestamps for synchronizing content

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer-readable media for using haptic technologies to provide enhanced media experiences are presented. According to one or more aspects of the disclosure, a computing device, such as a smart phone, tablet computer, or portable media player, may establish a connection with a local content receiver. Subsequently, the computing device may receive, from the local content receiver, a sensation data signal that specifies one or more haptic effects to be provided at a particular time relative to playback of a media content item received by the local content receiver. Thereafter, the computing device may provide the one or more haptic effects.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing, by a computing device, a connection with a local content receiver;

receiving, by the computing device, from the local content receiver, a sensation data signal that specifies one or more haptic effects to be provided at a particular time relative to playback of a media content item received by the local content receiver; and

providing, by the computing device, the one or more haptic effects.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the connection with the local content receiver further includes:

detecting the local content receiver on a wireless area network; and

sending registration information to the local content receiver.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the registration information includes device capability information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to receiving the sensation data signal;

detecting a proximate content stream; and

notifying the local content receiver of the proximate content stream.

5. The method of claim 4,

wherein detecting the proximate content stream includes capturing audio corresponding to playback of the proximate content stream, and

wherein notifying the local content receiver of the proximate content stream includes sending at least a portion of the captured audio to the local content receiver.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to providing the one or more haptic effects, determining whether activity is detected.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining whether activity is detected includes determining whether the computing device is in motion or at rest.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein determining whether activity is detected includes determining whether the computing device is being held by a user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a new content stream associated with a second media content item;

notifying the local content receiver of the new content stream; and

providing one or more additional haptic effects based on data received from the local content receiver.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

prior to providing the one or more additional haptic effects, waiting for a predetermined amount of time.

11. At least one computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a computing device to:

establish a connection with a local content receiver;

receive, from the local content receiver, a sensation data signal that specifies one or more haptic effects to be provided at a particular time relative to playback of a media content item received by the local content receiver; and

provide the one or more haptic effects.

12. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein establishing the connection with the local content receiver further includes:

detecting the local content receiver on a wireless area network; and

sending registration information to the local content receiver.

13. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the registration information includes device capability information.

14. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 11, having additional computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, further cause the computing device to:

prior to receiving the sensation data signal;

detect a proximate content stream; and

notify the local content receiver of the proximate content stream.

15. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 14,

wherein detecting the proximate content stream includes capturing audio corresponding to playback of the proximate content stream, and

wherein notifying the local content receiver of the proximate content stream includes sending at least a portion of the captured audio to the local content receiver.

16. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 11, having additional computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, further cause the computing device to:

prior to providing the one or more haptic effects, determine whether activity is detected.

17. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein determining whether activity is detected includes determining whether the computing device is in motion or at rest.

18. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein determining whether activity is detected includes determining whether the computing device is being held by a user.

19. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 11, having additional computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, further cause the computing device to:

detect a new content stream associated with a second media content item;

notify the local content receiver of the new content stream; and

provide one or more additional haptic effects based on data received from the local content receiver.

20. The at least one computer-readable medium of claim 19, having additional computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, further cause the computing device to:

prior to providing the one or more additional haptic effects, wait for a predetermined amount of time.

21. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to;

establish a connection with a local content receiver;

receive, from the local content receiver, a sensation data signal that specifies one or more haptic effects to be provided at a particular time relative to playback of a media content item received by the local content receiver; and

provide the one or more haptic effects.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein establishing the connection with the local content receiver further includes:

detecting the local content receiver on a wireless area network; and

sending registration information to the local content receiver.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the registration information includes device capability information.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the memory stores additional computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to:

prior to receiving the sensation data signal;

detect a proximate content stream; and

notify the local content receiver of the proximate content stream.

25. The apparatus of claim 24,

wherein detecting the proximate content stream includes capturing audio corresponding to playback of the proximate content stream, and

wherein notifying the local content receiver of the proximate content stream includes sending at least a portion of the captured audio to the local content receiver.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the memory stores additional computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to:

prior to providing the one or more haptic effects, determine whether activity is detected.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein determining whether activity is detected includes determining whether the apparatus is in motion or at rest.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein determining whether activity is detected includes determining whether the apparatus is being held by a user.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the memory stores additional computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to:

detect a new content stream associated with a second media content item;

notify the local content receiver of the new content stream; and

provide one or more additional haptic effects based on data received from the local content receiver.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the memory stores additional computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to:

prior to providing the one or more additional haptic effects, wait for a predetermined amount of time.

31. A system comprising:

means for establishing a connection with a local content receiver;

means for receiving, from the local content receiver, a sensation data signal that specifies one or more haptic effects to be provided at a particular time relative to playback of a media content item received by the local content receiver; and

means for providing the one or more haptic effects.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the means for establishing the connection with the local content receiver further includes:

means for detecting the local content receiver on a wireless area network; and

means for sending registration information to the local content receiver.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the registration information includes device capability information.

34. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

means for detecting a proximate content stream prior to receiving the sensation data signal; and

means for notifying the local content receiver of the proximate content stream prior to receiving the sensation data signal.

35. The system of claim 34,

wherein the means for detecting the proximate content stream includes means for capturing audio corresponding to playback of the proximate content stream, and

wherein the means for notifying the local content receiver of the proximate content stream includes means for sending at least a portion of the captured audio to the local content receiver.

36. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

means for determining whether activity is detected prior to providing the one or more haptic effects.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the means for determining whether activity is detected includes means for determining whether the system is in motion or at rest.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the means for determining whether activity is detected includes means for determining whether the system is being held by a user.

39. The system of claim 31, further comprising:

means for detecting a new content stream associated with a second media content item;

means for notifying the local content receiver of the new content stream; and

means for providing one or more additional haptic effects based on data received from the local content receiver.

40. The system of claim 39, further comprising:

means for waiting for a predetermined amount of time prior to providing the one or more additional haptic effects.