HAPTIC FEEDBACK REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20170255263A1
• Filed: 03/01/2016
• Published: 09/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Letendre, Ellen
• Granted Patent: US 10,871,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

Haptic feedback remote control systems and methods are provided. A method for providing haptic feedback to a user of a haptic feedback remote control device includes receiving, by a receiving device, an electronic command issued from the haptic feedback remote control device. The receiving device transmits a haptic feedback command to the haptic feedback remote control device. Based on the received haptic feedback command, the haptic feedback remote control activates a haptic feedback device, within the haptic feedback remote control, to provide a haptic feedback effect to a user of the haptic feedback remote control device.

Claims

1. A method for providing haptic feedback to a user of a haptic feedback remote control device, comprising:

providing, by a receiving device, a user interface having a plurality of selectable elements for display on a presentation device;

receiving, by the receiving device, an electronic command issued from the haptic feedback remote control device, the electronic command indicating a selection of one of the plurality of selectable elements;

performing, by the receiving device, an action corresponding with the indicated selection;

transmitting, by the receiving device, a haptic feedback command to the haptic feedback remote control device in response to the performing the action corresponding with the indicated selection; and

causing, by the receiving device, a haptic feedback device within the haptic feedback remote control device, to be activated based on the haptic feedback command, to provide a haptic feedback effect to a user of the haptic feedback remote control device, the haptic feedback effect indicating confirmation of the performed action corresponding with the indicated selection.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the receiving device, whether the received electronic command indicates a valid command to be performed by the receiving device,

wherein, the transmitting the haptic feedback command includes transmitting, by the receiving device, the haptic feedback command to the haptic feedback remote control device based on the receiving device determining whether a valid command is indicated.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the receiving device, a type of haptic feedback effect to be provided to the user, based on the received electronic command.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the type of haptic feedback effect to be provided is selected from among a plurality of types of haptic feedback effects, each of the types of haptic feedback effects being distinguishable from one another based on at least one of:

quantity, intensity, duration, speed and rhythm of haptic feedback.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining a type of haptic feedback effect to be provided includes determining a portion of the haptic feedback remote control device to experience the haptic feedback effect.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the haptic feedback device includes a vibration device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing, by the receiving device, the haptic feedback remote control device to enter a haptic feedback mode, wherein in the haptic feedback mode the haptic feedback remote control device is operable to provide haptic feedback effects.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the causing the haptic feedback remote control device to enter a haptic feedback mode comprises:

causing the haptic feedback remote control device to automatically enter the haptic feedback mode by the receiving device sending a haptic feedback mode entry command to the haptic feedback remote control device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the causing the haptic feedback remote control device to enter a haptic feedback mode comprises:

receiving, by the receiving device, a haptic feedback mode entry command signal from the haptic feedback remote control device.

10. A haptic feedback system, comprising:

a receiving device configured to provide a user interface having a plurality of selectable elements for display on a presentation device; and

a haptic feedback remote control device including a haptic feedback device, the haptic feedback remote control device being configured to;

transmit an electronic command to the receiving device, the electronic command indicating a selection of one of the plurality of selectable elements,

receive a haptic feedback command from the receiving device in response to the receiving device performing an action corresponding with the indicated selection, and

activate, based on the received haptic feedback command, the haptic feedback device to provide a haptic feedback effect to a user of the haptic feedback remote control device, the haptic feedback effect indicating confirmation of the performed action corresponding with the indicated selection.

11. The haptic feedback system of claim 10, wherein the receiving device is configured to:

receive the transmitted electronic command indicating the selection of one of the plurality of selectable elements;

determine whether the received electronic command indicates a valid command to be performed by the receiving device; and

transmit a haptic feedback command to the haptic feedback remote control device if based on the receiving device determining whether a valid command is indicated.

12. The haptic feedback system of claim 10, wherein the receiving device is configured to:

receive the transmitted electronic command; and

determine a type of haptic feedback effect to be provided to the user, based on the received electronic command.

13. The haptic feedback system of claim 12, wherein the type of haptic feedback effect to be provided is selected from among a plurality of types of haptic feedback effects, each of the types of haptic feedback effects being distinguishable from one another based on at least one of:

quantity, intensity, duration, speed and rhythm of haptic feedback.

14. The haptic feedback system of claim 12, wherein the receiving device is further configured to determine a portion of the haptic feedback remote control device to experience the haptic feedback effect.

15. The haptic feedback system of claim 10, wherein the haptic feedback device includes a vibration device.

16. The haptic feedback system of claim 10, wherein the haptic feedback remote control device includes a haptic feedback mode enable/disable input element, the haptic feedback mode enable/disable input element being operable to selectively enter the haptic feedback remote control device into a haptic feedback mode, wherein in the haptic feedback mode the haptic feedback remote control device is operable to provide haptic feedback effects.

17. The haptic feedback system of claim 10, wherein the receiving device is configured to transmit a haptic feedback mode entry command to the haptic feedback remote control device, and the haptic feedback remote control device is configured to enter a haptic feedback mode upon receipt of the haptic feedback mode entry command, wherein in the haptic feedback mode the haptic feedback remote control device is operable to provide haptic feedback effects.

18. A haptic feedback remote control device, comprising:

haptic feedback logic;

a haptic feedback device; and

a processor coupled to the haptic feedback logic and the haptic feedback device, the haptic feedback remote control device being configured to;

transmit an electronic command to a receiving device, the electronic command indicating a selection of one of a plurality of selectable elements of a user interface, provided by the receiving device, and having a plurality of selectable elements for display on a presentation device,

receive a haptic feedback command from the receiving device in response to the receiving device performing an action corresponding with the indicated selection, and

activate, based on the received haptic feedback command, the haptic feedback device to provide a haptic feedback effect to a user of the haptic feedback remote control device, the haptic feedback effect indicating confirmation of the performed action corresponding with the indicated selection.

19. The haptic feedback remote control device of claim 18, further comprising:

a haptic feedback mode enable/disable input element, the haptic feedback mode enable/disable input element being operable to selectively enter the haptic feedback remote control device into a haptic feedback mode, wherein in the haptic feedback mode the haptic feedback remote control device is operable to provide haptic feedback effects.

20. A haptic feedback system, comprising:

a receiving device configured to provide a user interface having a plurality of selectable elements for display on a presentation device;

a haptic feedback remote control device configured to transmit an electronic command to the receiving device, the electronic command indicating a selection of one of the plurality of selectable elements; and

haptic feedback means, coupled with the haptic feedback remote control device, for providing a haptic feedback effect to a user of the haptic feedback remote control device, based on a haptic feedback command received from the receiving device in response to the receiving device performing an action corresponding with the indicated selection, the haptic feedback effect indicating confirmation of the performed action corresponding with the indicated selection.