Information processing system, storage medium storing information processing program, information processing method and information processing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11135508-B2
Application number	US-202016752944-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2020
Priority date	Aug 30, 2019
Publication date	Oct 5, 2021
Grant date	Oct 5, 2021

Abstract

An example of an information processing system includes a vibrator. The information processing system is configured to store a frequency model function representing a model of vibration frequency transition, wherein the frequency model function includes, as variables thereof, a frequency variable representing a frequency for a period in the model and a period variable for that period. The information processing system is configured to determine a value of the frequency variable and a value of the period variable. The information processing system is configured to generate vibration information representing a vibration pattern that is defined by a frequency transition obtained by applying the value of the frequency variable and the value of the period variable to the frequency model function. The information processing system is configured to control vibration of the vibrator based on the vibration information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An information processing system comprising a vibrator, one or more processors, and one or more memories, wherein:
the one or more memories is configured to store a frequency model function representing a model of vibration frequency transition, wherein the frequency model function includes, as variables thereof, a frequency variable representing a frequency for a period in the model and a period variable for that period, wherein the frequency model function indicates a model that non-uniquely specifies a vibration pattern for a vibrator;
the one or more processors is configured to:
determine a value of the frequency variable and a value of the period variable;
generate vibration information representing a vibration pattern that is defined by a frequency transition obtained by applying the value of the frequency variable and the value of the period variable to the frequency model function; and
control vibration of the vibrator based on the vibration information.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more memories is configured to store a plurality of frequency model functions representing different models of frequency transition; and
the one or more processors is further configured to determine function specifying information that specifies one of the plurality of frequency model functions; and
the one or more processors is configured to generate the vibration information representing a vibration pattern that is defined by a frequency transition obtained by applying the value of the frequency variable and the value of the period variable to the frequency model function specified by the determined function specifying information.

3. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more memories is configured to further store an amplitude model function representing a model of vibration amplitude transition, wherein the amplitude model function includes, as a variable thereof, an amplitude variable representing an amplitude of vibration;
the one or more processors is further configured to determine a value of the amplitude variable; and
the one or more processors is configured to generate the vibration information representing a vibration pattern that is defined by a frequency transition and an amplitude transition, wherein the frequency transition is obtained by applying the value of the frequency variable and the value of the period variable to the frequency model function, and the amplitude transition is obtained by applying the value of the amplitude variable to the amplitude model function.

4. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more processors is configured to determine a plurality of sets of values of the frequency variable and values of the period variable; and
the one or more processors is configured to generate the vibration information representing one vibration pattern that is obtained by combining together vibration patterns whose vibration periods do not overlap with each other from among a plurality of vibration patterns based on the determined sets of values of the frequency variable and values of the period variable.

5. The information processing system according to claim 4 , wherein:
the vibrator is configured to vibrate in a waveform obtained by synthesizing together vibration waveforms corresponding to a first number of sets of vibration information, wherein the first number is two or more;
the one or more processors is configured to generate a second number of sets of values of the frequency variable and values of the period variable, wherein the second number is greater than the first number; and
the one or more processors is configured to combine two or more of the determined second number of sets of vibration patterns into one vibration pattern, thereby generating the first number of sets of vibration information representing the first number of vibration patterns, wherein the first number of vibration patterns includes the one combined vibration pattern and one or more remaining uncombined vibration pattern.

6. The information processing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the frequency model function further includes a repetition variable as a variable thereof;
the one or more processors is further configured to determine a value of the repetition variable; and
the one or more processors is configured to generate vibration information representing a repetitive vibration pattern obtained by repeating a vibration pattern for a number of times represented by the determined repetition variable, wherein the vibration pattern is defined by a frequency transition obtained by applying the value of the frequency variable and the value of the period variable to the frequency model function.

7. The information processing system according to claim 1 , further comprising a first apparatus having the vibrator, and a second apparatus configured to communicate with the first apparatus, wherein:
the second apparatus is configured to:
store the frequency model function;
determine a value of the frequency variable and a value of the period variable;
generate the vibration information; and
transmit the vibration information to the first apparatus; and

the first apparatus is configured to:
receive the vibration information from the second apparatus; and
control vibration of the vibrator based on the received vibration information.

8. The information processing system according to claim 1 , further comprising a first apparatus having the vibrator, and a second apparatus configured to wirelessly communicate with the first apparatus, wherein:
the second apparatus is configured to:
determine a value of the frequency variable and a value of the period variable; and
transmit the value of the frequency variable and the value of the period variable to the first apparatus; and

the first apparatus is configured to:
receive the value of the frequency variable and the value of the period variable from the second apparatus;
generate the vibration information based on the received value of the frequency variable and the received value of the period variable; and
control vibration of the vibrator based on the vibration information.

9. The information processing system according to claim 8 , wherein:
the first apparatus is configured to send a reply to the second apparatus in response to the receipt of the value of the frequency variable and the value of the period variable from the second apparatus; and
the second apparatus is configured to resend the value of the frequency variable and the value of the period variable to the first apparatus when there is no reply from the first apparatus within an amount of time since the transmission of the value of the frequency variable and the value of the period variable.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing an information processing program executable via one or more processors of an information processing apparatus controlling a vibrator, wherein:
the information processing apparatus stores a frequency model function representing a model of vibration frequency transition, wherein the frequency model function includes, as variables thereof, a frequency variable representing a frequency for a certain period in the model and a period variable relating to the period, wherein the frequency model function indicates a model that non-uniquely specifies a vibration pattern for a vibrator;
the information processing program, when executed, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
determining a value of the frequency variable and a value of the period variab

Assignees

• Nintendo Co Ltd

Inventors

• Aoki Takafumi
• Naruse Fumisato
• Hamaue Hiroki

Classifications

• A63F13/285 Primary

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

• G06F3/016

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• A63F13/245

  specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels · CPC title

• G05B2219/37032

  Generate vibrations, ultrasound · CPC title

• G05B19/4155

  characterised by program execution, i.e. part program or machine function execution, e.g. selection of a program · CPC title