Methods and apparatus to provide haptic feedback

• US 8,710,966 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Hill, Thomas Casey
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie
• Application Number:
  US13/036,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20120218089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.1, 340/407.2, 340/7.6, 340/4.1, 340/4.12
• US Class Current: 340/407.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to provide haptic feedback are disclosed. One example method includes receiving a goal condition at a mobile device, requesting information from a host device using a first close-proximity communication, receiving the information at a mobile device using a second close-proximity communication, determining a level of haptic feedback based on the received information and the goal condition, and causing a haptic effect on the mobile device based on the level of haptic feedback. Other implementations are possible.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a goal condition at a mobile device;

requesting information from a host device using a first close-proximity communication;

receiving the information from the host device at the mobile device using a second close-proximity communication, wherein the information received at the mobile device comprises instructions and data, the data associating a characteristic of the host device with the goal condition;

executing the instructions to process the data and the goal condition to determine a level of haptic feedback; and

causing a haptic effect on the mobile device based on the level of haptic feedback.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the host device is associated with at least one of an advertisement, a book, or a map.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the level of haptic feedback comprises determining a status relative to the goal condition.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the level of haptic feedback is higher when the status is closer to the goal condition.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the level of haptic feedback comprises determining at least one of a number of discrete haptic effects, a strength of the haptic effect, or a length of the haptic effect.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for causing the mobile device to request from a server information related to the host device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for causing the mobile device to provide context information to the server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the level of haptic feedback is based on context information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the context information comprises at least one of a universal time, a local time of the mobile device, a location of the mobile device, or a user preference.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a smartphone.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second close-proximity communications comprise near-field communications.

12. A mobile device, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled with the processor, the memory storing machine readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive a goal condition;

request information from a host device using a first close-proximity communication;

receive the information from the host device at the mobile device using a second close-proximity communication, wherein the information received at the mobile device comprises instructions and data, the data associating a characteristic of the host device with the goal condition; and

execute the instructions to process the data and the goal condition to determine a level of haptic feedback; and

a haptic actuator to cause a haptic effect on the mobile device based on the level of haptic feedback.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the memory stores machine readable instructions to cause the processor to determine the level of haptic feedback based on a status relative to the goal condition.

14. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the memory stores machine readable instructions to cause the processor to determine the level of haptic feedback based on contextual information available to the processor.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the context information comprises at least one of a universal time, a local time of the mobile device, a location of the mobile device, or a user preference.

16. A system, comprising:

a host device to provide first information to a requesting device via a close-proximity communication, the first information comprising first instructions to cause the requesting device to process the first information to determine a first level of haptic feedback; and

an update server to provide updated information to the host device, the updated information comprising second instructions to cause the requesting device to process the updated information to determine a second level of haptic feedback.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a dynamic information server to provide dynamic information to the requesting device, wherein the first instructions comprise least one of a location or address to the requesting device with the first information.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the host device is to provide first instructions to the requesting device to request information from the dynamic information server.

19. A method comprising:

requesting information from a host device using a first close-proximity communication;

receiving the information from the host device at a mobile device using a second close-proximity communication, the information comprising first instructions and data the data associating a characteristic of the host device with a goal condition;

executing the instructions to process the first information to determine a level of haptic feedback based on the data and at least one of a time, a location of the mobile device, or user preference; and

imposing a haptic effect on the mobile device based on the level of haptic feedback.