User interaction method and apparatus for electronic device

• US 8,635,545 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2010
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jin Yong, Shin, Dong Jun, Kim, Hee Woon, Yoo, Seung Hye, Na, Su Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): PHANTANA ANGKOOL, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/855,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20110041086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 715/764, 345/163
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An interaction method and apparatus for an electronic device is proposed for providing the user with interactive audio/video/haptic effects. An interaction method for an electronic device according to the present invention includes outputting an event object in response to an input action to an event element; detecting a user interaction to the event object; and outputting an effect object in response to the user interaction.

Claims

1. An interaction method, operable in a processor within an electronic device, comprising:

outputting an event object including event content in response to an input action to an event element;

detecting a user interaction to the event object; and

outputting an effect object in response to the user interaction, wherein the outputted effect object includes outputted media composed of effect content and having at least animated graphical special effects, with the effect content being different from the event content of the event object and the event element.

2. The interaction method of claim 1, wherein the event element can be one of:

a single event element and a group event element which includes at least two single event elements.

3. The interaction method of claim 2, wherein the event element is a single event element, and further comprising:

outputting an effect object that comprises rendering the effect object in response to the user interaction to the event object.

4. The interaction method of claim 2, wherein the event element is a group event element, and further comprising:

outputting an effect object that comprises rendering one of effect objects depending on the user interaction made on a current event object corresponding to one of the single event elements included in the group element.

5. The interaction method of claim 2, wherein the effect object comprises at least one effect mapped to the event element and the user interaction.

6. The interaction method of claim 5, wherein the at least one effect comprises at least one of:

a video effect, an audio effect, and a haptic effect.

7. The interaction method of claim 2, wherein the user interaction is at least one of:

a voice interaction, a touch interaction, a motion interaction, and a combined thereof.

8. The interaction method of claim 2, wherein outputting an effect object comprises:

analyzing the user interaction;

extracting at least one effect object corresponding to the user interaction; and

playing a motion picture for rendering the at least one effect object.

9. The interaction method of claim 8, wherein the motion picture comprises at least one of:

a video file and flash file.

10. The interaction method of claim 2, further comprising analyzing an intensity of the user interaction, wherein outputting an effect object comprises determining one of event objects depending on the intensity of the user interaction.

11. The interaction method of claim 2, wherein a user interaction comprises a series of input actions, and further comprising:

outputting an effect object that comprises rendering a series of effects corresponding to the series of input actions.

12. The interaction method of claim 2, wherein a user interaction comprises a first input action and a second input action following the first input action, and further comprising:

outputting an effect object that comprises rendering an effect corresponding to the second input action in combination with an effect rendered in response to the first input action.

13. The interaction method of claim 2, further comprising:

correlating the event element with an application running in the electronic device; and

outputting an event object of the event element correlated with the application when the application is executed.

14. The interaction method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting the effect object to a second electronic device.

15. An interaction system for an electronic device, comprising:

a plurality of event elements displayed on a display unit for executing event effects corresponding to various situations;

a plurality of event objects displayed on the display unit and mapped to the event elements, with each event object having respective event content;

a plurality of user interactions that can be made to the event objects; and

a plurality of effect objects outputted by an output device including the display unit mapped to the event elements and the user interactions per event element, wherein each effect object includes outputted media composed of effect content and having at least animated graphical special effects, with the effect content being different from the event content of the corresponding event object of the plurality of event objects and the plurality of event elements.

16. The interaction system of claim 15, wherein each event object is an object to execute an event corresponding to the event element in response to one of the user interactions.

17. The interaction system of claim 16, wherein each effect object is an object to render an effect in response to one of the user interaction.

18. An interaction apparatus for an electronic device, comprising:

an input means which receives at least one user interaction associated with an event element and an outputted event object including event content; and

an output means which outputs an effect object in response to a user interaction input through the input means, wherein the outputted effect object includes outputted media composed of effect content and having at least animated graphical special effects, with the effect content being different from the event content of the event object and the event element.

19. The interaction apparatus of claim 18, wherein the input means comprises at least one of:

a voice input device, a touch input device, and a motion input device that can detect predefined user interactions.

20. The interaction apparatus of claim 19, wherein the output means comprises at least one of:

an audio output device, a video output device, and a vibration output device that can output predefined effects.