Mobile devices and methods employing haptics

• US 9,131,035 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2014
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Tony F., Conwell, William Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US14/452,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20150080060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/410, 455/414.1, 455/411, 455/566, 345/173, 345/156, 345/418, 345/419, 340/407.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

A variety of haptic improvements useful in mobile devices are detailed. In one, a smartphone captures image data from a physical object, and discerns an object identifier from the imagery (e.g., using watermark, barcode, or fingerprint techniques). This identifier is sent to a remote data structure, which returns data defining a distinct haptic signature associated with that object. This smartphone then renders this haptic signal to the user. (Related embodiments identify the object using other means, such as location, or NFC chip.) In another arrangement, haptic feedback signals social network information about a product or place (e.g., the user'"'"'s social network friends “Like” a particular brand of beverage). In yet another arrangement, the experience of watching a movie on a television screen is augmented by tactile effects issued by a tablet computer on the viewer'"'"'s lap. In still another arrangement, commercial vendors bid for rights to employ different ones of a library of haptic signals on one or more users'"'"' smartphones, e.g., to alert such user(s) to their products/services. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

with a sensor in a mobile device, capturing identification data transmitted from an RFID chip;

obtaining additional data that is related to a location of the mobile device, or to a social network;

obtaining haptic information that is dependent, at least in part, on the identification data and the additional data; and

presenting the haptic information to a user of the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a smartphone.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the additional data is related to the location of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the additional data is related to a social network.

5. A method comprising the acts:

with a sensor in a mobile device, capturing identification data transmitted from a radio frequency transmitter;

obtaining additional data that is related to a location of the mobile device, or to a social network;

obtaining haptic information that is dependent, at least in part, on the identification data and the additional data; and

presenting the haptic information to a user of the mobile device;

wherein capturing identification data comprises capturing identification data associated with a physical object.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the physical object is a beverage container.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein capturing the identification data comprises capturing identification data transmitted from a radio frequency transmitter associated with the physical object.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein capturing the identification data comprises capturing identification data transmitted from a radio frequency transmitter of a near field communication chip.

9. A method comprising the acts:

with a sensor in a mobile device, capturing identification data transmitted from a radio frequency transmitter;

obtaining additional data that is related to a location of the mobile device, or to a social network;

obtaining haptic information that is dependent, at least in part, on the identification data and the additional data; and

presenting the haptic information to a user of the mobile device;

wherein obtaining the haptic information comprises;

transmitting at least some of the identification data captured by the sensor to a remote data store; and

as a consequence of said transmitting, receiving data indicating said haptic information.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing, within a memory of the mobile device, the received data indicating the haptic information.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless interface includes Bluetooth.

11. A method comprising the acts:

with a sensor in a mobile device, capturing identification data transmitted from a radio frequency transmitter;

obtaining additional data that is related to a location of the mobile device, or to a social network;

obtaining haptic information that is dependent, at least in part, on the identification data and the additional data; and

presenting the haptic information to a user of the mobile device;

wherein the mobile device includes a smartphone, and said act of presenting the haptic information comprises rendering the haptic information from another device equipped with a haptic actuator and spaced apart from the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the other device is coupled to the mobile device via a wireless interface.

14. The method of claim 11 in which the additional data is related to the location of the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 11 in which the additional data is related to a social network.

16. A method comprising:

with a mobile device, capturing location data representing a location of the mobile device;

from a data store, obtaining a haptic signature associated with the location data; and

presenting the haptic signature to a user of the mobile device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein capturing the location data comprises capturing location data using a GPS sensor.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein obtaining the haptic signature comprises:

transmitting the location data captured by the mobile phone device to a remote data store; and

in response to said transmitting, receiving data indicating the haptic signature associated with the location data.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing, within a memory of the mobile device, the received data indicating the haptic signature.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the mobile device includes a smartphone.

21. A method comprising:

receiving data indicating that a mobile device is within a transmission range of a radio frequency transmitter, said data being emitted by an RFID chip;

receiving additional information related to a location of the mobile device or to social network information; and

presenting a haptic signature corresponding to the received data and the additional information to a user of the mobile device.

22. A method using a system including a processor, a memory, and at least one haptic actuator, the method including:

obtaining first haptic data defining nominal haptic feedback;

consulting profile data in the memory to obtain haptic customization data corresponding to a particular user; and

controlling the haptic actuator in a manner responsive to both the first haptic data and also the haptic customization data corresponding to said particular user

wherein the haptic customization data relates to;

(a) a speed with which haptic data is to be rendered to said particular user;

(b) a non-zero amplitude with which haptic data is to be rendered to said particular user;

or

(c) a body location at which haptic data is to be rendered to said particular user.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the haptic customization data relates to a speed with which haptic data is to be rendered to said particular user.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the haptic customization data relates to a body location at which haptic data is to be rendered to said particular user.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the haptic customization data relates to a non-zero amplitude with which haptic data is to be rendered to said particular user.