Tactile apparatus link

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9886091-B2
Application number	US-201214383559-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2012
Priority date	Mar 15, 2012
Publication date	Feb 6, 2018
Grant date	Feb 6, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus comprising: an input module configured to determine an input characteristic; a signal generator configured to generate a signal dependent on the input characteristic; and an output module configured to provide the signal to one or more separate apparatus, wherein the signal is configured to generate a tactile output.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for a communications system comprising:
determining a touch input characteristic at a near-end device;
generating an audio signal at the near-end device;
generating a tactile signal dependent on the touch input characteristic;
mixing the tactile signal and the audio signal to form a combined signal at the near-end device during an active communication; and
transmitting the combined signal from the near-end device to one or more separate apparatus wherein the one or more separate apparatus at least partially forms the communications system during the active communication with the near-end device;
wherein the combined signal by the near-end device is configured to generate a tactile output and the audio signal from the one or more apparatus during the active communication.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein determining the input characteristic comprises: determining a touch input; determining a characteristic of the touch input; and generating a signal dependent on the characteristic.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein determining the characteristic of the touch input comprises at least one of: determining a force/pressure of the touch input; determining a displacement of the touch input in a first direction relative to an edge of a touch input apparatus; determining a displacement of the touch input in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction; determining a speed of the touch input; determining a co-ordinate of the touch input; determining a number of points of contact of the touch input; and determining a gesture from the touch input.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein when determining the characteristic of the touch input comprises determining the gesture from the touch input, determining the gesture further comprises determining at least one of: determining a swipe gesture; determining a pinch zoom gesture; determining a shape gesture; and determining a circular/arc gesture.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein generating the signal dependent on the input characteristic comprises at least one of: determining a signal waveform dependent on the input characteristic; determining a signal frequency dependent on the input characteristic; determining a signal amplitude dependent on the input characteristic; determining a modulation of a defined signal dependent on the input characteristic; and determining a signal pulse width dependent on the input characteristic.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the signal, wherein the transmitted signal comprises at least one of: transmitting the signal as a component of a mixed signal, with at least one audio signal; transmitting the signal as an email; transmitting the signal as a MMS message; transmitting the signal as metadata accompanying an audio signal; and transmitting the signal as a first channel signal accompanying a second channel audio signal.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein determining the input characteristic comprises at least one of: determining a status of a vibra component; determining a vibra component parameter; determining a proximity detector parameter; determining an ambient light sensor parameter; determining a magnetometer parameter; determining an accelerometer parameter determining a GPS parameter; determining a status of the receiver; determining a status of a transmitter; determining a radio frequency receiver parameter; and determining a radio frequency transmitter parameter.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: receiving the signal dependent on the input characteristic at the one or more separate apparatus; and generating the tactile output dependent on the signal, wherein the signal is a component of a combined signal mixed with an audio signal and a display module of the one or more separate apparatus configured to transduce the combined signal.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein providing the signal to the one or more separate apparatus comprises one of: providing the signal via a telephony coupling; providing the signal via a voice over internet protocol network; providing the signal via a server; providing the signal via a network; providing the signal via a multimedia message service message; and providing the signal via an email.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tactile output comprises at least one of: an audio signal; an haptic feedback signal; a vibra signal; an audio/haptic signal; a visual signal; an audio/visual data signal; a haptic/visual data signal; and an audio/visual/haptic signal.

11. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including computer code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer code configured to with the at least one processor cause the apparatus to at least:
determine a touch input characteristic at a near-end device;
generate an audio signal at the near-end device;
generate a tactile signal dependent on the touch input characteristic;
mix the tactile signal and the audio signal to form a combined signal at the near-end device during an active communication; and
transmit the combined signal from the near-end device to one or more separate apparatus wherein the one or more separate apparatus at least partially forms a communications system during the active communication with the near-end device, wherein the combined signal by the near-end device is configured to generate a tactile output and the audio signal from the one or more apparatus during the active communication.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the determined input characteristic causes the apparatus to: determine a touch input; determine a characteristic of the touch input; and generate a signal dependent on the characteristic, wherein the signal is configured to generate a tactile output.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the determined characteristic of the touch input causes the apparatus to: determine a force/pressure of the touch input; determine a displacement of the touch input in a first direction relative to an edge of the touch input apparatus; determine a displacement of the touch input in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction; determine a speed of the touch input; determine a co-ordinate of the touch input determine a number of points of contact of the touch input; and determine a gesture from the touch input.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the determined input characteristic causes the apparatus to at least one of: determining a status of a vibra component; determining a vibra component parameter; determining a proximity detector parameter; determining an ambient light sensor parameter; determining a magnetometer parameter; determining an accelerometer parameter determining a GPS parameter; determining a status of the receiver; determining a status of a transmitter; determining a radio frequency receiver parameter; and determining a radio frequency transmitter parameter.

15. An apparatus comprising:
an input circuit configured to determine a touch input characteristic at a near-end device;
an audio signal source configured to generate an audio signal at the near-end device;
a signal generator configured to generate a tactile signal dependent on the touch input characteristic;
a mixer configured to mix the tactile signal and the audio signal to form a combined signal at the near-end device during an active communication; and
an output circuit configured to transmit the combined signal from the near-end

Assignees

• Yliaho Marko Tapani
• Behles Thorsten
• Nokia Technologies Oy

Inventors

• Yliaho Marko Tapani
• Behles Thorsten

Classifications

• H04M2250/22

  including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F3/016 Primary

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

• G06F3/04883

  for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text · CPC title

• G06F3/0414

  using force sensing means to determine a position · CPC title