Customizing haptic effects on an end user device

Abstract

Systems, methods, and associated software are described herein for enabling a regular user of an end user device, such as a cellular telephone, to customize parameters associated with haptic effects applied to the user by the end user device. In one implementation, among several, a method described herein includes enabling a user of an end user device to access software adapted to design or modify haptic effects of the end user device. The method further includes enabling the user to open a haptic track file and enter or modify parameters associated with the haptic effects of the opened haptic track file.

1 . An electronic handheld device comprising:
 a haptic actuating device configured to actuate haptic effects upon a user;   memory configured to store software that enables the user to create the haptic effects;   a processor configured to execute the software stored in memory; and   a sensing surface coupled to the processor;   wherein the haptic actuating device is further configured to play a created haptic effect when an event associated with the electronic handheld device occurs;   wherein the created haptic effect generates a signal that, when applied to the haptic actuating device, generates a vibrotactile effect on the handheld device;   wherein the haptic effect is created at least in part by detecting a tapping motion by the user on the sensing surface and translating the tapping motion to parameters of the created haptic effect; and   wherein the haptic effects are defined by haptic track files stored in memory and each haptic track file stores a haptic track comprising the parameters with respect to time.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic handheld device of  claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer coupled to the processor, wherein the haptic effect is further created at least in part by the accelerometer detecting the user contacting the device. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic handheld device of  claim 2 , wherein the contacting comprises at least one of gestures, shaking motions or tapping motions. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic handheld device of  claim 1 , wherein the parameters comprise a magnitude of vibration. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic handheld device of  claim 1 , wherein the parameters comprise a frequency of vibration. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic handheld device of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic handheld device comprises one of a mobile handset, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant, personal navigation device, tablet PC, video gaming device, game module, or game console. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic handheld device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory is configured to store a library of haptic tracks that can be used as a starting point for creating haptic effects. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic handheld device of  claim 1 , wherein the event associated with the electronic handheld device is a receiving of a telephone call. 
     
     
         9 . A method of creating haptic effects on a mobile device comprising a sensing surface and a haptic actuating device, the method comprising:
 detecting a tapping motion by a user on the sensing surface;   translating the tapping motion into haptic effect parameters; and   generating and storing on the mobile device a haptic effect comprising the haptic effect parameters with respect to time;   wherein the mobile device is configured to play the haptic effect when an event associated with the mobile device occurs;   wherein when the haptic effect is played, a signal is generated that, when applied to the haptic actuating device, generates a vibrotactile effect on the mobile device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , the mobile device further comprising an accelerometer, the method further comprising generating additional haptic effect parameters in response to the accelerometer detecting the user contacting the device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the contacting comprises at least one of gestures, shaking motions or tapping motions. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the haptic effect parameters comprise a magnitude of vibration. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the haptic effect parameters comprise a frequency of vibration. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mobile device comprises one of a mobile handset, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant, personal navigation device, tablet PC, video gaming device, game module, or game console. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising storing a library of haptic tracks that can be used as a starting point for creating haptic effects. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the event associated with the mobile device is a receiving of a telephone call. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to create haptic effects on a mobile device comprising a sensing surface and a haptic actuating device, the creating comprising:
 detecting a tapping motion by a user on the sensing surface;   translating the tapping motion into haptic effect parameters; and   generating and storing on the mobile device a haptic effect comprising the haptic effect parameters with respect to time;   wherein the mobile device is configured to play the haptic effect when an event associated with the mobile device occurs;   wherein when the haptic effect is played, a signal is generated that, when applied to the haptic actuating device, generates a vibrotactile effect on the mobile device.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , the mobile device further comprising an accelerometer, the creating further comprising generating additional haptic effect parameters in response to the accelerometer detecting the user contacting the device. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the contacting comprises at least one of gestures, shaking motions or tapping motions. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the haptic effect parameters comprise a magnitude of vibration. 
     
     
         21 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the haptic effect parameters comprise a frequency of vibration. 
     
     
         22 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the mobile device comprises one of a mobile handset, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant, personal navigation device, tablet PC, video gaming device, game module, or game console. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , the creating further comprising storing a library of haptic tracks that can be used as a starting point for creating haptic effects. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the event associated with the mobile device is a receiving of a telephone call.