Haptic broadcast with select haptic metadata based on haptic playback capability

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10075251-B2
Application number	US-201715427240-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 8, 2017
Priority date	Feb 8, 2017
Publication date	Sep 11, 2018
Grant date	Sep 11, 2018

Abstract

Broadcasting select haptic metadata includes broadcasting a broadcast signal to haptic-enabled devices. In response, haptic playback capability information is received at a host source from a haptic-enabled device when original haptic metadata in the broadcast signal encodes haptic information incompatible with the haptic playback capability information. The select haptic metadata, which is customized for the haptic playback capability information, is generated and sent from the host source to the haptic-enabled device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of broadcasting select haptic metadata using a broadcast signal, comprising:
broadcasting the broadcast signal from a host source to a plurality of haptic-enabled devices, the broadcast signal including original haptic metadata;
receiving a first haptic playback capability information at the host source from a first haptic-enabled device of the plurality of haptic-enabled devices when the original haptic metadata encodes haptic information incompatible with the first haptic playback capability information;
generating the select haptic metadata customized for the first haptic playback capability information; and
sending the select haptic metadata from the host source to the first haptic-enabled device.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the generating the select haptic metadata includes selecting the select haptic metadata from a designated database.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the generating the select haptic metadata includes modifying the original haptic metadata, and
the modifying includes adding additional haptic metadata to the original haptic metadata, removing unusable haptic metadata from the original haptic metadata, or changing at least one parameter of the original haptic metadata.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the first haptic playback capability information is generated by determining a haptic playback capability of the first haptic-enabled device for the original haptic metadata, and
the determining the haptic playback capability of the first haptic-enabled device includes identifying at least one selected from (i) a device type, and (ii) hardware configured to generate haptic effects, for the first haptic-enabled device using software respectively embedded in the first haptic-enabled device, before playback of a haptic track corresponding to the original haptic metadata.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the first haptic playback capability information is generated by determining a haptic playback capability of the first haptic-enabled device for the original haptic metadata,
the determining the haptic playback capability of the first haptic-enabled device includes identifying at least one selected from (i) a device type, and (ii) hardware configured to generate haptic effects, for the first haptic-enabled device using a validation device, before playback of a haptic track corresponding to the original haptic metadata, and
the validation device is external to the first haptic-enabled device.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the broadcasting the broadcast signal includes sending the broadcast signal to the plurality of haptic-enabled devices via transmission modes different from each other, and
the transmission modes are selected from cable, direct broadcast satellite, a fiber-optic communication network, over-the-air programming, a wireless communication network, and radio waves.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the broadcasting the broadcast signal includes sending the broadcast signal from the host source to the plurality of haptic-enabled devices through a first media broadcast stream,
the receiving the first haptic playback capability information includes receiving the first haptic playback capability information through the first media broadcast stream, and
the sending the select haptic metadata includes sending the select haptic metadata to the first haptic-enabled device through the first media broadcast stream.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the haptic information encoded by the original haptic metadata specifies a type of haptic parameter(s) to be played back on the plurality of haptic-enabled devices.

9. A haptic broadcast system, comprising:
a broadcast network broadcasting a broadcast signal to a plurality of haptic-enabled devices, the broadcast signal including original haptic metadata; and
a host source from which the broadcast network receives the original haptic metadata, the host source
(i) receiving a first haptic playback capability information from a first haptic-enabled device of the plurality of haptic-enabled devices when the original haptic metadata encodes haptic information incompatible with the first haptic playback capability information,
(ii) generating select haptic metadata customized for the first haptic playback capability information, and
(iii) sending the select haptic metadata from the host source to the first haptic-enabled device.

10. The haptic broadcast system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a designated database from which the select haptic metadata is selected.

11. The haptic broadcast system of claim 9 , wherein
the host source includes a select haptic metadata generator generating the select haptic metadata by modifying the original haptic metadata, and
the select haptic metadata generator modifies the original haptic metadata by adding additional haptic metadata to the original haptic metadata, removing unusable haptic metadata from the original haptic metadata, or changing at least one parameter of the original haptic metadata.

12. The haptic broadcast system of claim 9 , wherein
the first haptic-enabled device includes (i) embedded software, and (ii) a haptic playback capability generator generating the first haptic playback capability information by determining a haptic playback capability of the first haptic-enabled device for the original haptic metadata, and
the haptic playback capability generator determines the haptic playback capability of the first haptic-enabled device by identifying at least one selected from (i) a device type, and (ii) hardware configured to generate haptic effects, for the first haptic-enabled device using the embedded software in the first haptic-enabled device, before playback of a haptic track corresponding to the original haptic metadata.

13. The haptic broadcast system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a validation device externally connected to the first haptic-enabled device,
wherein the first haptic-enabled device includes a haptic playback capability generator generating the first haptic playback capability information by determining a haptic playback capability of the first haptic-enabled device for the original haptic metadata, and
wherein the haptic playback capability generator determines the haptic playback capability of the first haptic-enabled device by identifying at least one selected from (i) a device type, and (ii) hardware configured to generate haptic effects, for the first haptic-enabled device using the validation device, before playback of a haptic track corresponding to the original haptic metadata.

14. The haptic broadcast system of claim 9 , wherein
the plurality of haptic-enabled devices receive the broadcast signal via transmission modes different from each other, and
the transmission modes are selected from cable, direct broadcast satellite, a fiber-optic communication network, over-the-air programming, a wireless communication network, and radio waves.

15. The haptic broadcast system of claim 9 , wherein
the broadcast network broadcasts the broadcast signal by sending the broadcast signal to the plurality of haptic-enabled devices through a first media broadcast stream, and
the hosts source receives the first haptic playback capability information through the first media broadcast stream, and sends the select haptic metadata to the first haptic-enabled device through the first media broadcast stream.

16. The haptic broadcast system of claim 9 , wherein the haptic information encoded by the original haptic m

Assignees

• Immersion Corp

Inventors

• Heubel Robert W
• Raynes Paige

Classifications

• G06F2203/015

  Force feedback applied to a joystick · CPC title

• G06F2203/014

  Force feedback applied to GUI · CPC title

• H04H20/86 Primary

  Arrangements characterised by the broadcast information itself · CPC title

• G06F2203/013

  Force feedback applied to a game · CPC title

• A63F13/285 Primary

  Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback · CPC title