System and method for ordering haptic effects

• US 8,909,817 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2013
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• 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): Abad, Farley
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARTINEZ, DAVID E
• Application Number:
  US14/033,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20140068110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to order a plurality of haptic effects, the ordering comprising:

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;

sense a physical parameter;

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

assign a haptic effect based at least partially on the haptic effect priority and the physical parameter.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the physical parameter comprises acceleration.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the physical parameter comprises speed.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the physical parameter comprises intensity.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the haptic priority is also determined on the basis of a priority level previously assigned to the haptic effect.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to order a plurality of haptic effects, the ordering comprising:

receive a signal associated with the plurality of haptic effects;

receive a signal associated with a physical parameter;

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

assign a haptic effect based at least partially on the haptic effect priority and the physical parameter.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the signal associated with a physical parameter comprises acceleration.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the physical parameter comprises speed.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the physical parameter comprises intensity.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 6, wherein the haptic priority is also determined on the basis of a priority level previously assigned to the haptic effect.

11. A computer-implemented method for ordering a plurality of haptic effects, the computer-implemented 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;

sensing a physical parameter;

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

assigning a haptic effect based at least partially on the haptic effect priority and the physical parameter.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the physical parameter comprises acceleration.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the physical parameter comprises speed.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the physical parameter comprises intensity.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the haptic priority is also determined on the basis of a priority level previously assigned to the haptic effect.

16. An apparatus for ordering a plurality of haptic effects, the apparatus comprising:

an interface component configured 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;

an output component configured to 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;

wherein the output component is further configured to 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;

a sensor configured to sense a physical parameter;

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

a resource manager configured to assign a haptic effect based at least partially on the haptic effect priority and the physical parameter.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the physical parameter comprises acceleration.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the physical parameter comprises speed.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the physical parameter comprises intensity.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the haptic priority is also determined on the basis of a priority level previously assigned to the haptic effect.