Systems and methods for providing context-sensitive haptic notification frameworks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016246378-A1
Application number	US-201615052625-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 24, 2016
Priority date	Feb 25, 2015
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

One disclosed method includes the steps of determining a context of a user device; determining a notification to be provided by the user device; determining a category of the notification; generating a haptic effect based on the category of the notification; and outputting the haptic effect to the user device. Another disclosed method includes the steps of receiving a selection of a category for a haptic effect, the category one of a plurality of predetermined categories of haptic effects; obtaining a plurality of constraints for the haptic effect based on the selected category; receiving an input indicating a characteristic of the haptic effect; determining whether the characteristic violates any of the plurality of constraints; responsive to determining that the characteristic violates at least one of the plurality of constraints, refusing the input; and otherwise, modifying the haptic effect based on the input.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
determining a context of a user device; determining a notification to be provided by the user device; determining a category of the notification; generating a haptic effect based on the category of the notification; and outputting the haptic effect to the user device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the category comprises one of a “now this” category, a “do this” category, a “know this” category, a “review this” category, or a “changed this” category.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating the haptic effect comprises generating a haptic effect having a duration, an intensity, and a density.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein:
the duration comprises one of a short duration, a medium duration, or a long duration; the intensity comprises one of a low intensity, a medium intensity, or a high intensity; and the density comprises one of a low density, a medium density, or a high density.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein:
a short duration comprises a duration between approximately 0-1 second, a medium duration comprises a duration between approximately 1-4 seconds, and a long duration comprise a duration greater than approximately 4 seconds; a low intensity comprises an intensity between approximately 0-6,000, a medium intensity comprises an intensity between approximately 6,000-8,000, and a high intensity comprises an intensity greater than approximately 8,000; and a low density comprises a density between approximately 0-20%, a medium density comprises a density between approximately 20-80%, and a high density comprises a density greater than approximately 80%.

6 . A method for generating one or more haptic effects, comprising:
receiving a selection of a category for a haptic effect, the category one of a plurality of predetermined categories of haptic effects; obtaining a plurality of constraints for the haptic effect based on the selected category; receiving an input indicating a characteristic of the haptic effect; determining whether the characteristic violates any of the plurality of constraints; responsive to determining that the characteristic violates at least one of the plurality of constraints, refusing the input; and otherwise, modifying the haptic effect based on the input.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising displaying an indication of the constraint that was violated.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the category comprises one of a “now this” category, a “do this” category, a “know this” category, a “review this” category, or a “changed this” category.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the characteristic of the haptic effect comprises one of a duration, an intensity, a density, or a rhythm.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the duration comprises one of a short duration, a medium duration, or a long duration; the intensity comprises one of a low intensity, a medium intensity, or a high intensity; and the density comprises one of a low density, a medium density, or a high density.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein:
a short duration comprises a duration between approximately 0-1 second, a medium duration comprises a duration between approximately 1-4 seconds, and a long duration comprise a duration greater than approximately 4 seconds; a low intensity comprises an intensity between approximately 0-6,000, a medium intensity comprises an intensity between approximately 6,000-8,000, and a high intensity comprises an intensity greater than approximately 8,000; and a low density comprises a density between approximately 0-20%, a medium density comprises a density between approximately 20-80%, and a high density comprises a density greater than approximately 80%.

12 . A system for generating one or more haptic effects, comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable medium; a processor in communication with the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the processor configured to execute program code stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium to:
receive a selection of a category for a haptic effect, the category one of a plurality of predetermined categories of haptic effects;
obtain a plurality of constraints for the haptic effect based on the selected category;
receive an input indicating a characteristic of the haptic effect;
determine whether the characteristic violates any of the plurality of constraints; and
responsive to a determination that the characteristic violates at least one of the plurality of constraints, refuse the input.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute program code to cause a display device to display an indication of the constraint that was violated.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the category comprises one of a “now this” category, a “do this” category, a “know this” category, a “review this” category, or a “changed this” category.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the characteristic of the haptic effect comprises one of a duration, an intensity, a density, or a rhythm.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein:
the duration comprises one of a short duration, a medium duration, or a long duration; the intensity comprises one of a low intensity, a medium intensity, or a high intensity; and the density comprises one of a low density, a medium density, or a high density.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein:
a short duration comprises a duration between approximately 0-1 second, a medium duration comprises a duration between approximately 1-4 seconds, and a long duration comprise a duration greater than approximately 4 seconds; a low intensity comprises an intensity between approximately 0-6,000, a medium intensity comprises an intensity between approximately 6,000-8,000, and a high intensity comprises an intensity greater than approximately 8,000; and a low density comprises a density between approximately 0-20%, a medium density comprises a density between approximately 20-80%, and a high density comprises a density greater than approximately 80%.

18 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising processor-executable program code configured to cause the processor to:
receive a selection of a category for a haptic effect, the category one of a plurality of predetermined categories of haptic effects; obtain a plurality of constraints for the haptic effect based on the selected category; receive an input indicating a characteristic of the haptic effect; determine whether the characteristic violates any of the plurality of constraints; and responsive to a determination that the characteristic violates at least one of the plurality of constraints, refuse the input.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the program code is further configured to cause the processor to generate a display signal to cause an indication of the constraint that was violated to be displayed on a display device.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the category comprises one of a “now this” category, a “do this” category, a “know this” category, a “review this” category, or a “changed this” category.

21 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the characteristic of the haptic effect comprises one of a duration, an intensity, a density, or a rhythm.

22 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21 , wherein:

Assignees

• Immersion Corp

Inventors

• Sampanes Chad
• Birnbaum David
• Segalman Iva
• Lee Min
• Ullrich Christopher

Classifications

• G06F3/04847

  Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials · CPC title

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• G06F3/016 Primary

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

• G06F3/04842

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