Methods and systems for providing a virtual touch haptic effect to handheld communication devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving, by a first communication device at different times, a first input signal associated with a first virtual touch and a second input signal associated with a second virtual touch, the first communication device including a first user-interface member, a second user-interface member, and an actuator, wherein the first user-interface member and the second user-interface member are hardware, whereby the first and second virtual touches originate from a second communication device operated by a user to communicate the first and second virtual touches to the first communication device;
outputting, at the first communication device, a request to initiate a contact with the first user-interface member when the first virtual touch is received and a second request to initiate a contact with the second user-interface member when the second virtual touch is received;
receiving the contact; and
providing a control signal to the actuator in response to the contact, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to output a first haptic effect associated with the first virtual touch when the first virtual touch is received and a second haptic effect associated with the second virtual touch when the second virtual touch is received.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention relate to methods and systems for providing customized “haptic messaging” to users of handheld communication devices in a variety of applications. In one embodiment, a method of providing virtual touch to a handheld communication device includes: receiving an input signal associated with a virtual touch; outputting a request relating to a contact with a user-interface member coupled to a handheld communication device; and providing a control signal associated with the contact to an actuator coupled to the handheld communication device, the control signal being configured to cause the actuator to output a haptic effect associated with the virtual touch.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving, by a first communication device at different times, a first input signal associated with a first virtual touch and a second input signal associated with a second virtual touch, the first communication device including a first user-interface member, a second user-interface member, and an actuator, wherein the first user-interface member and the second user-interface member are hardware, whereby the first and second virtual touches originate from a second communication device operated by a user to communicate the first and second virtual touches to the first communication device; outputting, at the first communication device, a request to initiate a contact with the first user-interface member when the first virtual touch is received and a second request to initiate a contact with the second user-interface member when the second virtual touch is received; receiving the contact; and providing a control signal to the actuator in response to the contact, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to output a first haptic effect associated with the first virtual touch when the first virtual touch is received and a second haptic effect associated with the second virtual touch when the second virtual touch is received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing executable instructions which cause a data processing system to perform a method, the method comprising:
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receiving, by a first communication device at different times, a first input signal associated with a first virtual and a second input signal associated with a second virtual touch, the first communication device including a first user-interface member, a second user-interface member, and an actuator, wherein the first user-interface member and the second user-interface member are hardware, whereby the first and second virtual touches originate from a second communication device operated by a user to communicate the first and second virtual touches to the first communication device; outputting, at the first communication device, a request to initiate a contact with the first user-interface member when the first virtual touch is received and a second request to initiate a contact with the second user-interface member when the second virtual touch is received; receiving the contact; and providing a control signal in response to the contact, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to output a first haptic effect associated with the first virtual touch when the first virtual touch is received and a second haptic effect associated with the second virtual touch when the second virtual touch is received. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first user-interface member coupled to a body and a second user-interface member coupled to the body, wherein the first user-interface member and the second user-interface member are hardware; a processor; an actuator coupled to the body and in communication with the processor; and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing instructions configuring the processor to; receive, at different times, a first input signal associated with a first virtual touch and a second input signal associated with a second virtual touch at the apparatus, whereby the first and second virtual touches originate from a second apparatus operated by a user to communicate the first and second virtual touches to the apparatus; output a request to initiate a contact with the first user-interface member when the first virtual touch is received and a second request to initiate a contact with the second user-interface member when the second virtual touch is received; receive an indication that the contact was made; and provide a control signal to the actuator in response to the contact, the control signal configured to cause the actuator to output a first haptic effect when the first virtual touch is received and a second haptic effect associated with the second virtual touch when the second virtual touch is received. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification