Haptic feedback to abnormal computing events

• US 10,235,034 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Jitkoff, John Nicholas, Liu, Kan
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Van N
• Application Number:
  US13/300,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20120127071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,678 Days
• Field of Search: 345156, 345168-173, 3404071, 3404072, 463 30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A computer-implemented tactile feedback method includes receiving user input on a computing device, identifying a term input by the user that does not match a term known to the device, accessing an auto-correction service in order to provide a replacement for the term, and energizing a haptic feedback device in response to identifying the term input by the user that does not match a known term.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented user interface system in a computing device, the system comprising:

a graphical user interface arranged to receive input that includes a term from a user, the interface having a display to present information responsive to the input from the user;

a computer processor connected to non-transitory memory storing instructions to implement a text corrector to identify likely errors in the term input from the user, and to suggest corrections to the term input from the user; and

a haptic feedback device and controller arranged to provide a movement of the device upon an identification by the processor of a likely error in the term input from the user,

wherein the haptic feedback device is arranged to be energized by selecting from between a first mode of energizing the haptic feedback device when a replacement for the term is identified, and a second mode of energizing the haptic feedback device that provides different haptic feedback than does the first mode when a replacement for the term is not identified.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the haptic feedback device is arranged to provide the movement of the device substantially in real time with input by a user of the device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mode comprises a first predetermined number of vibrations and the second mode comprises a second predetermined number of vibrations.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further arranged to replace the term input by the user with a corrected version of the term input by the user.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface is programmed to, in coordination with energizing the haptic feedback device:

(i) display one or more suggested corrections on a display of the computing device,

(ii) receive a user selection of one of the suggested corrections, and

(iii) replace the term input by the user with the selected correction.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a speaker and audio controller arranged and programmed to generate an audible signal in coordination with energizing the haptic feedback device.

7. A computer-implemented user interface system in a computing device, the system comprising:

a graphical user interface arranged to receive input that includes a term from a user, the interface having a display to present information responsive to the input from the user;

a computer processor connected to non-transitory memory storing instructions to implement a text corrector to identify likely errors in the term input from the user, and to suggest corrections to the term input from the user;

a haptic feedback device; and

means for energizing the haptic feedback device in coordination with identification of unrecognized information in the term input from the user,

wherein the haptic feedback device is arranged to be energized by selecting from between a first mode of energizing the haptic feedback device when a replacement for the term is identified, and a second mode of energizing the haptic feedback device that provides different haptic feedback than does the first mode when a replacement for the term is not identified.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, first user input that specifies a first term;

presenting, by the computing device with a graphical user interface, the first term responsive to the first user input;

identifying, by the computing device, likely error in the first term specified by the first user input;

determining, by the computing device, that a replacement term is identified for the first term;

energizing, by the computing device, a haptic feedback device with a first mode of energizing the haptic feedback device responsive to having determined that a replacement term is identified for the first term;

receiving, by the computing device, second user input that specifies a second term;

presenting, by the computing device with the graphical user interface, the second term responsive to the second user input;

identifying, by the computing device, likely error in the second term specified by the second user input;

determining, by the computing device, that a replacement term is not identified for the second term; and

energizing, by the computing device, the haptic feedback device with a second mode of energizing the haptic feedback device responsive to having determined that a replacement term is not identified for the second term.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the first mode comprises a first predetermined number of vibrations and the second mode comprises a second predetermined number of vibrations.