Systems and methods for haptic message transmission

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10019061-B2
Application number	US-50279509-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2009
Priority date	Jul 15, 2008
Publication date	Jul 10, 2018
Grant date	Jul 10, 2018

Abstract

Systems and methods for haptic message transmission are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes the steps of receiving a sensor signal from a sensor configured to sense a physical interaction with a messaging device, determining a virtual force based at least in part on the sensor signal, and applying the virtual force to a virtual message object within a virtual message environment.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving a sensor signal from a sensor configured to sense a physical interaction with a messaging device;
determining a virtual force based at least in part on the sensor signal;
applying the virtual force to a virtual message object within a virtual message environment, the virtual force configured to move the virtual message object toward a virtual gateway, the virtual gateway and the virtual message object each comprising graphical elements displayed to a user in the virtual message environment;
determining a transmission characteristic of the virtual message object based at least in part on the sensor signal, wherein the transmission characteristic is associated with the physical interaction that sent the virtual message object through the virtual gateway;
determining a haptic effect based in part on the transmission characteristic; and
transmitting the virtual message object and the transmission characteristic of the virtual message object.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining whether to transmit the virtual message object.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining whether to transmit the virtual message object is based at least in part on the virtual force and a status of a recipient.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a recipient signal associated with a recipient of the virtual message object.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the virtual gateway is associated with the recipient of the virtual message object.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the sensor signal comprises a gesture directed toward the virtual gateway.

7. A method comprising:
receiving a signal associated with a transmission characteristic, the transmission characteristic associated with sending a virtual message object, wherein the transmission characteristic is also associated with a physical interaction that sent the virtual message object through a virtual gateway, the virtual gateway and the virtual message object each comprising graphical elements displayed to a user in a virtual message environment; and
determining a haptic effect based, at least in part, on the transmission characteristic of the virtual message object.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising transmitting a haptic signal to an actuator configured to output the haptic effect.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code, which is configured, when executed by a processor, to cause the processor to:
receive a sensor signal from a sensor configured to sense a physical interaction with a messaging device;
determine a virtual force based at least in part on the sensor signal;
apply the virtual force to a virtual message object within a virtual message environment;
determine a transmission characteristic of the virtual message object based at least in part on the sensor signal, wherein the transmission characteristic is associated with the physical interaction that sent the virtual message object through a virtual gateway, the virtual gateway and the virtual message object each comprising graphical elements displayed to a user in the virtual message environment;
determine a haptic effect based in part on the transmission characteristic; and
transmit the virtual message object and the transmission characteristic of the virtual message object.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , further comprising program code, which is configured, when executed by a processor, to cause the processor to determine whether to transmit the virtual message object.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , further comprising program code, which is configured, when executed by a processor, to cause the processor to receive a recipient signal associated with a recipient of the virtual message object.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code, which is configured, when executed by a processor, to cause the processor to:
receive a virtual message object and a transmission characteristic associated with a physical interaction that sent the virtual message object through a virtual gateway, the virtual gateway and the virtual message object each comprising graphical elements displayed to a user in a virtual message environment; and
determine a haptic effect based, at least in part, on the transmission characteristic.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12 , further comprising program code, which is configured, when executed by a processor, to cause the processor to transmit a haptic signal to an actuator configured to output the haptic effect.

14. A system comprising:
a processor configured to:
receive a sensor signal from a sensor configured to sense a physical interaction with a messaging device;
determine a virtual force based at least in part on the sensor signal; and
apply the virtual force to a virtual message object within a virtual message environment;
determine a transmission characteristic of the virtual message object based at least in part on the sensor signal, wherein the transmission characteristic is associated with the physical interaction that sent the virtual message object through a virtual gateway, the virtual gateway and the virtual message object each comprising graphical elements displayed to a user in the virtual message environment;
determine a haptic effect based in part on the transmission characteristic;

transmit the virtual message object and the transmission characteristic of the virtual message object;
a network interface in communication with the processor; and
a display in communication with the processor, the display configured to display the virtual message environment.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether to transmit the virtual message object.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the sensor comprises: a pressure sensor, a gyroscopic sensor, an accelerometer, or a touch sensitive input device.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the haptic effect is configured to simulate a collision in the virtual message environment.

18. A system comprising a recipient device, the recipient device comprising:
a processor configured to:
receive a signal associated with a transmission characteristic the transmission characteristic associated with sending a virtual message object, wherein the transmission characteristic is also associated with a physical interaction that sent the virtual message object through a virtual gateway, the virtual gateway and the virtual message object each comprising graphical elements displayed to a user in a virtual message environment; and
determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the transmission characteristic of the virtual message object.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a haptic signal to an actuator configured to output a haptic effect.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the haptic effect is configured to simulate a collision in the virtual message environment.

Assignees

• Birnbaum David M
• Ullrich Chris
• Immersion Corp

Inventors

• Birnbaum David M
• Ullrich Chris

Classifications

• G06F1/1613 Primary

  for portable computers (cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202) · CPC title

• H04M2250/12

  including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion · CPC title

• G06F3/04842

  Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F2203/04101

  2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup · CPC title

• G06F3/041

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title