Mobile terminal and computer program including a touch-sensitive internal state indicator

• US 8,351,991 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Komiya, Kozo
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BRANDON J
• Application Number:
  US12/613,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20100144395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/550.1, 455/556.2, 455/567, 455/575.1, 455/90.3, 455/414.1, 455/415
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72481 for visually impaired users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

A mobile terminal, including a touch panel detecting a touch position; a vibration generation device configured to generate vibration; an assignment device configured to assign different vibration area patterns that define vibration areas generating the vibration on the touch panel, to a plurality of internal states, respectively; and a control device configured to activate, according to a current internal state, the vibration area pattern assigned to the internal state and to control the vibration generation device so as to generate the vibration while the vibration area is being touched.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a touch panel detecting a touch position;

means for generating vibration;

means for assigning different user-creatable vibration area patterns having different shapes that outline vibration areas generating the vibration on the touch panel, to a plurality of internal states, respectively;

means for activating, according to a current internal state, the vibration area pattern assigned to the current internal state and for controlling the means for generating so as to generate the vibration while the vibration area is being touched; and

means for enabling a user to register a new pattern for the vibration area pattern,

wherein the user registers the new pattern for the vibration area pattern by tracing the new pattern on the touch panel.

2. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, further comprising

means for receiving telephone calls or mails, wherein the current internal state is a state indicating that the terminal has received an incoming telephone call or a mail.

3. The mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein

the means for assigning is realized by a telephone directory function having a function assigning each vibration area pattern to a caller of the telephone call or a sender of the mail.

4. The mobile terminal according to claim 2, wherein

the means for activating makes a vibration mode of the means for generating different between a telephone call and a mail.

5. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the current internal state indicates that a communication was not confirmed by a user.

6. A program operating on a mobile terminal that includes a touch panel detecting a touch position and a vibration generation device configured to generate vibration, the program causing the mobile terminal to execute a method comprising:

assigning different user-creatable vibration area patterns having different shapes that outline vibration areas generating the vibration on the touch panel, to a plurality of internal states, respectively;

activating, according to a current internal state, the vibration area pattern assigned to the current internal state;

controlling the vibration generation device so as to generate the vibration while the vibration area is being touched; and

enabling a user to register a new pattern for the vibration area pattern,

wherein the user registers the new pattern for the vibration area pattern by tracing the new pattern on the touch panel.

7. The program according to claim 6, wherein the current internal state indicates that a communication was not confirmed by a user.

8. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a touch panel detecting a touch position;

a vibration generation device configured to generate vibration;

an assignment device configured to assign different user-creatable vibration area patterns having different shapes that outline vibration areas generating the vibration on the touch panel, to a plurality of internal states, respectively;

a control device configured to activate, according to a current internal state, the vibration area pattern assigned to the current internal state and to control the vibration generation device so as to generate the vibration while the vibration area is being touched;

a registration device configured to enable a user to register a new pattern for the vibration area pattern,

wherein the user registers the new pattern for the vibration area pattern by tracing the new pattern on the touch panel.

9. The mobile terminal according to claim 8, wherein the current internal state indicates that a communication was not confirmed by a user.