System and method for ordering haptic effects

• US 8,260,972 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2010
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Cruz-Hernandez, Juan Manuel, Da Costa, Henrique D., Grant, Danny A., Lacroix, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Chun-Kuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARTINEZ, DAVID E
• Application Number:
  US12/842,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20100287311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 710/5, 710/6, 710/8, 710/58
• US Class Current: 710/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A signal associated with multiple haptic effects is received, each haptic effect from the multiple haptic effects being associated with a time slot from multiple time slots. Each haptic effect from the multiple haptic effects is associated with an effect slot from multiple effect slots at least partially based on the time slot associated with that haptic effect. An output signal is sent for each effect slot from the multiple effect slots, when the associated haptic effect is scheduled for its time slot.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to order a plurality of haptic effects, the instructions causing the processor to:

receive a signal associated with the plurality of haptic effects, each haptic effect from the plurality of haptic effects being associated with a time slot from a plurality of time slots;

associate each haptic effect from the plurality of haptic effects with an effect slot from a plurality of effect slots at least partially based on the time slot associated with that haptic effect;

send an output signal for each effect slot from the plurality of effect slots, when the associated haptic effect is scheduled for its time slot;

assign a haptic-effect priority based on the time remaining for an active haptic effect; and

output or remove one of the plurality of haptic effects at least partially based on the haptic-effect priority.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein each time slot from the plurality of time slots defines a time during which each associated haptic effect is output.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the instructions further causing the processor to define a timeline for the plurality of time slots, the plurality of haptic effects being output at least partially based on the defined timeline.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the instructions further causing the processor to:

receive a plurality of client signals; and

send the output signal for each effect slot from the plurality of effect slots at least partially based on a client signal from the plurality of client signals.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the instructions further causing the processor to control at least one of:

an intensity, a periodicity, a ramp-up time, and a ramp-down time for each haptic effect from the plurality of haptic effects.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, the instructions further causing the processor to control at least one of:

creating a haptic effect, deleting a haptic effect, starting a haptic effect, stopping a haptic effect, and modifying a haptic effect for each haptic effect from the plurality of haptic effects.

7. A computer implemented method for ordering a plurality of haptic effects, the method comprising:

receiving a signal associated with the plurality of haptic effects, each haptic effect from the plurality of haptic effects being associated with a time slot from a plurality of time slots;

associating each haptic effect from the plurality of haptic effects with an effect slot from a plurality of effect slots at least partially based on the time slot associated with that haptic effect;

sending an output signal for each effect slot from the plurality of effect slots, when the associated haptic effect is scheduled for its time slot;

assigning a haptic-effect priority based on the time remaining for an active haptic effect; and

outputting or removing one of the plurality of haptic effects at least partially based on the haptic-effect priority.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each time slot from the plurality of time slots defines a time during which each associated haptic effect is output.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising defining a timeline for the plurality of time slots, the plurality of haptic effects being output at least partially based on the defined timeline.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of client signals; and

sending the output signal for each effect slot from the plurality of effect slots at least partially based on a client signal from the plurality of client signals.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising controlling at least one of:

an intensity, a periodicity, a ramp-up time, and a ramp-down time for each haptic effect from the plurality of haptic effects.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising controlling at least one of:

creating a haptic effect, deleting a haptic effect, starting a haptic effect, stopping a haptic effect, and modifying a haptic effect for each haptic effect from the plurality of haptic effects.

13. An apparatus that outputs haptic effects, the apparatus comprising:

an interface component for receiving a signal associated with a plurality of haptic effects, each haptic effect from the plurality of haptic effects being associated with a time slot from a plurality of time slots;

an ordering component for associating each haptic effect from the plurality of haptic effects with an effect slot from a plurality of effect slots at least partially based on the time slot associated with that haptic effect;

an output component for sending an output signal for each effect slot from the plurality of effect slots, when the associated haptic effect is scheduled for its time slot; and

an assignment component to assign a haptic-effect priority based on the time remaining for an active haptic effect;

wherein the output component is configured to output or remove one of the plurality of haptic effects at least partially based on the haptic-effect priority.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each time slot from the plurality of time slots defines a time during which each associated haptic effect is output.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising defining a timeline for the plurality of time slots, the plurality of haptic effects being output at least partially based on the defined timeline.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising at the interface component:

receiving a plurality of client signals; and

sending the output signal for each effect slot from the plurality of effect slots at least partially based on a client signal from the plurality of client signals.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising controlling at least one of:

an intensity, a periodicity, a ramp-up time, and a ramp-down time for each haptic effect from the plurality of haptic effects.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising controlling at least one of:

creating a haptic effect, deleting a haptic effect, starting a haptic effect, stopping a haptic effect, and modifying a haptic effect for each haptic effect from the plurality of haptic effects.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising an assignment component to assign a haptic-effect priority to an active haptic effect.