Haptically enabled messaging

• US 9,197,735 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2012
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Grant, Danny A, Gregorio, Pedro, Ramsay, Erin B, Fleming, Jason D, Flaherty, Natasha M
• Primary Examiner(s): MITCHELL, NATHAN A
• Application Number:
  US13/656,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20130045761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Method, device, and computer readable medium for generating haptically enabled messages. One disclosed method comprises the steps of receiving a user generated input, mapping the user generated input to a predetermined haptic feedback, assigning a haptic feedback command to the predetermined haptic feedback, inserting the haptic feedback command into a text message, and sending the text message.

Claims

1. A method for generating a haptically enabled message, the method comprising:

receiving a user generated input via a gesture on an interface that comprises a touchscreen;

mapping the user generated input to a predetermined haptic feedback, the predetermined haptic feedback based at least on the gesture;

assigning a haptic feedback command to the predetermined haptic feedback;

inserting the haptic feedback command into a message;

outputting the predetermined haptic feedback when the user generated input is received; and

after outputting the predetermined haptic feedback, sending the message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user generated input generates an accelerometer output.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user generated input is further one of a voice input or video input.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assigning the predetermined haptic feedback to specific portions of the message.

5. A device comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive a user generated input via a gesture on an interface that comprises a touchscreen;

map the user generated input to a predetermined haptic feedback, the predetermined haptic feedback based at least on the gesture;

assign a haptic feedback command to the predetermined haptic feedback;

insert the haptic feedback command into a message;

cause the predetermined haptic feedback to be output when the user generated input is received; and

after causing the predetermined haptic feedback to be output, send the text message.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the user generated input generates an accelerometer output.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the user generated input is further one of a voice input or video input.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to:

assign the predetermined haptic feedback to specific portions of the message.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a software application configured to be executed by a processor, the software application configured to:

receive a user generated input via a gesture on an interface that comprises a touchscreen;

map the user generated input to a predetermined haptic feedback, the predetermined haptic feedback based at least on the gesture;

assign a haptic feedback command to the predetermined haptic feedback;

insert the haptic feedback command into a message;

cause the predetermined haptic feedback to be output when the user generated input is received; and

after causing the predetermined haptic feedback to be output, send the message.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the user generated input generates an accelerometer output.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the user generated input is further one of a voice input or video input.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the software application is further configured to assign the predetermined haptic feedback to specific portions of the message.

13. A method for generating a haptically enabled message, the method comprising:

receiving multimedia content;

mapping the multimedia content to a haptic feedback command;

inserting the haptic feedback command into the haptically enabled message;

outputting a haptic feedback associated with the haptic feedback command when the multimedia content is received; and

sending the haptically enabled message.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the multimedia content comprises at least one of audio, video, an emoticon, text or a picture.

15. A device comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive multimedia content;

map the multimedia content to a haptic feedback command;

insert the haptic feedback command into a haptically enabled message;

output a haptic feedback associated with the haptic feedback command when the multimedia content is received; and

send the haptically enabled message.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the multimedia content comprises at least one of audio, video, an emoticon, text or a picture.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a software application configured to be executed by a processor, the software application configured to:

receive multimedia content;

map the multimedia content to a haptic feedback command;

insert the haptic feedback command into a haptically enabled message;

output a haptic feedback associated with the haptic feedback command when the multimedia content is received; and

send the haptically enabled message.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the multimedia content comprises at least one of audio, video, an emoticon, text or a picture.