Systems and methods for transmitting haptic messages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9785238-B2
Application number	US-201514612392-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2015
Priority date	Jul 15, 2008
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

Systems and methods for transmitting haptic messages are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes the steps of: receiving at least one sensor signal from at least one sensor of a mobile device, the at least one sensor signal associated with a movement of the mobile device, determining a message to be displayed in a user interface based at least in part on the at least one sensor signal, and causing the message to be displayed.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
detecting user input with a sensor of a first mobile device, wherein the sensor comprises a touch-sensitive input device and the user input comprises user input on the touch-sensitive input device;
determining a message based in part on the user input, wherein the message comprises data associated with a first location of a first user associated with the first mobile device;
transmitting the message to a second mobile device, wherein the second mobile device is configured to receive the message and determine a haptic effect based in part on the first location and output the haptic effect, wherein the haptic effect is configured to provide information about the user input on the touch-sensitive input device; and
causing the second mobile device to display an image associated with the user input, wherein the second mobile device is configured to display the image at substantially the same time as the user input.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a haptic effect associated with the message and transmitting the haptic effect to the second mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the haptic effect is configured to provide data associated with the first location.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising receiving, by the first mobile device, a second message comprising data associated with a second location of a second user associated with the second mobile device.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising displaying, by the first mobile device, an image associated with the second location.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program code, which when executed by a processor is configured to cause the processor to:
detect user input with a sensor of a first mobile device, wherein the sensor comprises a touch-sensitive input device and the user input comprises user input on the touch-sensitive input device;
determine a message based in part on the user input, wherein the message comprises data associated with a first location of a first user associated with the first mobile device;
transmit the message to a second mobile device, wherein the second mobile device is configured to receive the message and determine a haptic effect based in part on the first location and output the haptic effect, wherein the haptic effect is configured to provide information about the user input on the touch-sensitive input device; and
cause the second mobile device to display an image associated with the user input, wherein the second mobile device is configured to display the image at substantially the same time as the user input.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 6 , further comprising program code, which when executed, is configured to cause the processor to determine a haptic effect associated with the message and transmit the haptic effect to the second mobile device.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the haptic effect is configured to provide data associated with the first location.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8 , further comprising program code, which when executed, is configured to cause the processor to receive a second message comprising data associated with a second location of a second user associated with the second mobile device.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 , further comprising program code, which when executed, is configured to cause the processor to display an image associated with the second location.

11. A system comprising:
a sensor configured to detect a user interaction with a touch surface, wherein the sensor comprises a touch-sensitive input device and the user input comprises user input on the touch-sensitive input device;
a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to:
determine a message based in part on the user input, wherein the message comprises data associated with a first location of a first user associated with a first mobile device; and
transmit the message to a second mobile device, wherein the second mobile device is configured to receive the message and determine a haptic effect based in part on the first location and output the haptic effect, wherein the haptic effect is configured to provide information about the user input on the touch-sensitive input device; and

cause the second mobile device to display an image associated with the user input, wherein the second mobile device is configured to display the image at substantially the same time as the user input.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the haptic effect is configured to provide data associated with the first location.

Assignees

• Immersion Corp

Inventors

• Birnbaum David
• Ullrich Christopher
• Rubin Peter
• Ngo Phong D
• Kopelow Leo

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

• H04M19/047

  Vibrating means for incoming calls · CPC title

• G06F2203/014

  Force feedback applied to GUI · CPC title

• G06F2203/04808

  Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen · CPC title

• G06F3/0346

  with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors · CPC title