Force feedback system including multi-tasking graphical host environment and interface device

• US 9,740,287 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2013
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Braun, Adam C., Beamer, Jonathan L., Rosenberg, Louis B., Chang, Dean C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pillai, Namitha
• Application Number:
  US13/953,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20140047333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0333 Ergonomic shaped mouse for one hand
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03548 Sliders, in which the moving part moves in a plane
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A force feedback system provides components for use in a force feedback system including a host computer and a force feedback interface device. An architecture for a host computer allows multi-tasking application programs to interface with the force feedback device without conflicts, where a single active application may output forces. A background application also provides force effects to be output and allows a user to assign force effects to graphical objects in a graphical user interface. Force feedback effects and structures are further described, such as events and enclosures.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

creating a contexts, each associated with one of a plurality of application programs concurrently running in a multi-tasking graphical environment, wherein each context comprises a set of force effects associated with its associated application program, each force effect comprising effect parameters that are rendered as a force by a force feedback interface device;

receiving force effect commands from the application programs;

determining which of the plurality of the application programs is active;

determining a foreground context that is associated with the application program that is active;

commanding the force feedback interface device to output a force effect of the determined foreground context in response to a force effect command received from an application program determined to be active; and

wherein the determined foreground context is the only foreground context active at any given time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the force feedback interface device is not commanded to output force effects in response to force effect commands received from application programs determined not to be active.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each of said force effect commands is stored in a context associated with said application program.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein when said application program becomes inactive and a new application program becomes active, new force effect commands are sent to said force feedback device to replace said force effect commands, said new force effect commands being included in a context associated with said new application program.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of applications is a background application, and further comprising commanding the force feedback interface device to output a force effect in response to a force effect command received from the background application without regard to whether the background application is determined to be active.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the force feedback interface device is not commanded to output force effects in response to force effect commands received from application programs, other than the background application, that are determined not to be active.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to provide force simulation comprising:

creating contexts, each associated with one of a plurality of application programs concurrently running in a multi-tasking graphical environment, wherein each context comprises a set of force effects associated with its associated application program, each force effect comprising effect parameters that are rendered as a force by a force feedback interface device;

receiving force effect commands from the application programs;

determining which of the plurality of the application programs is active;

determining a foreground context that is associated with the application program that is active;

commanding the force feedback interface device to output a force effect of the determined foreground context in response to a force effect command received from an application program determined to be active; and

wherein the determined foreground context is the only foreground context active at any given time.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the force feedback interface device is not commanded to output force effects in response to force effect commands received from application programs determined not to be active.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein each of the force effect commands is stored in a context associated with the application program.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein when the application program becomes inactive and a new application program becomes active, new force effect commands are sent to the force feedback device to replace the force effect commands, the new force effect commands being included in a context associated with the new application program.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein one of the plurality of applications is a background application, and further comprising commanding the force feedback interface device to output a force effect in response to a force effect command received from the background application without regard to whether the background application is determined to be active.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the force feedback interface device is not commanded to output force effects in response to force effect commands received from application programs, other than the background application, that are determined not to be active.

13. A system comprising:

a processor;

a display coupled to the processor; and

a storage device coupled to the processor that stores instructions;

the processor generating a multi-tasking graphical environment when executing the instructions;

the multi-tasking graphical environment comprising contexts, each associated with one of a plurality of application programs concurrently running in the multi-tasking graphical environment, wherein each context comprises a set of force effects associated with its associated application program, each force effect comprising effect parameters that are rendered as a force by a force feedback interface device;

wherein the processor, when executing the instructions;

receives force effect commands from the application programs;

determines which of the plurality of the application programs is active;

determines a foreground context that is associated with the application program that is active;

commands the force feedback interface device to output a force effect of the determined foreground context in response to a force effect command received from an application program determined to be active; and

wherein the determined foreground context is the only foreground context active at any given time.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the force feedback interface device is not commanded to output force effects in response to force effect commands received from application programs determined not to be active.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the force effect commands is stored in a context associated with said application program.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein when said application program becomes inactive and a new application program becomes active, new force effect commands are sent to said force feedback device to replace said force effect commands, said new force effect commands being included in a context associated with said new application program.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein one of the plurality of applications is a background application, and further comprising commanding the force feedback interface device to output a force effect in response to a force effect command received from the background application without regard to whether the background application is determined to be active.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the force feedback interface device is not commanded to output force effects in response to force effect commands received from application programs, other than the background application, that are determined not to be active.