Providing haptic effects to users in a short range wireless system

• US 8,180,296 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Flaherty, Natasha Margaret Minenko
• Primary Examiner(s): WEST, LEWIS G
• Application Number:
  US12/111,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20090270045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/556.1, 455/556.2
• US Class Current: 455/41.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices

Abstract

Systems, methods, and associated software for imposing a haptic effect upon a user are disclosed herein. A user device, which is operable within a wireless interaction system according to one implementation, includes a transceiver that is configured to communicate wirelessly with a host device. The user device further includes a processor that is configured to determine whether a specific interaction event occurs. The interaction event, for example, is related to an interaction with the host device. The user device also includes a haptic actuator that is configured to impose a haptic effect upon a user when the processor determines that the specific interaction event has occurred.

Claims

1. A user device operable within a wireless interaction system, the user device comprising:

a transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with a host device, the transceiver configured to communicate with the host device when the transceiver and the host device are located within a short range of each other;

a processor configured to detect a plurality of specific interaction events between the user device and the host device, and to select a haptic effect from a plurality of haptic effects for each specific interaction event when the specific interaction event occurs; and

a haptic actuator configured to impose the haptic effect selected by the processor to a user when the processor determines that the specific interaction event has occurred,

wherein the plurality of specific interaction events includes the user device and the host device being brought within range of each other, an establishment of a wireless connection between the user device and the host device, a loss of the wireless connection between the user device and the host device, and a start or completion of a financial transaction.

2. The user device of claim 1, further comprising memory configured to store information that the transceiver transmits to the host device, the memory further configured to store information that the transceiver receives from the host device.

3. The user device of claim 2, wherein the memory is further configured to store logic executable by the processor for enabling the processor to determine when the specific interaction event occurs.

4. The user device of claim 2, wherein the memory is configured to store information associated with a remaining monetary balance.

5. The user device of claim 2, wherein the memory is configured to store information associated with access control or identification information.

6. The user device of claim 1, further comprising a drive circuit configured to drive the haptic actuator in response to instructions from the processor.

7. The user device of claim 1, further comprising a housing having dimensions approximately equal to the dimensions of a credit card form factor, the housing configured to support the transceiver, processor, and haptic actuator.

8. The user device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to search for a polling signal within a specific frequency range.

9. The user device of claim 1, wherein the short range is up to approximately 10 centimeters.

10. The user device of claim 1, wherein the user device and the host device are peer-to-peer devices.

11. A method comprising:

establishing a wireless connection with a host device;

wirelessly interacting with the host device;

determining whether a predetermined interaction event selected from a plurality of predetermined interaction events occurs, wherein the interaction events are related to the interaction with the host device, and wherein the predetermined interaction events include entering wireless range of the host device, said establishing the wireless connection with the host device, losing the wireless connection with the host device, and starting or completing a financial transaction via the host device;

determining an appropriate haptic effect from a plurality of haptic effects to render to the user, wherein the appropriate haptic effect is based on the predetermined interaction event; and

initiating the appropriate haptic effect upon a user when it is determined that the predetermined interaction event occurs.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein establishing the wireless connection further comprises:

searching for a polling signal from the host device;

determining whether the polling signal is received; and

transmitting a response signal to the host device when the polling signal is received.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining the occurrence of at least two of the plurality of interaction events;

initiating at least two of the plurality of haptic effects, each particular haptic effect based on the occurrence of the particular interaction event.

14. A computer readable medium comprising an executable haptic effect rendering program configured to be executed by a processor, the haptic effect rendering program comprising:

logic adapted to determine when a wireless connection is established with a host device;

logic adapted to process an interaction with the host device;

logic adapted to analyze the interaction with the host device to determine the occurrence of a predetermined interaction event from a plurality of predetermined interaction events; and

logic adapted to determine an appropriate haptic effect from a plurality of haptic effects to render to a user via a user device based on the predetermined interaction event, wherein the plurality of predetermined interaction events includes the user device and the host device being brought within range of each other, an establishment of a wireless connection between the user device and the host device, a loss of the wireless connection between the user device and the host device, and a start or completion of a financial transaction.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the logic adapted to determine when the wireless connection is established with the host device is further adapted to determine when the user device is within a short range of the host device.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the short range includes a distance up to approximately 10 centimeters.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the short range includes a distance up to approximately 10 meters.