Tactile feedback method and apparatus

Abstract

A method includes displaying on a display at least one selection option comprising a first selection option and detecting a touch or cursor on the display. Tactile feedback having a first characteristic is provided when the touch or cursor is at a first location associated with the first selection option. Tactile feedback having a second characteristic is provided when the touch or cursor is detected at a second location not associated with the first selection option.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 displaying a plurality of selection options comprising a plurality of characters on a display;   identifying, with a predictive text algorithm, a predicted selection option of the plurality of characters;   detecting a touch or cursor on the display;   providing tactile feedback having a first friction characteristic in response to determining that the touch or cursor is at a first location associated with a path toward the predicted selection option.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising.
 determining a direction of the touch or cursor;   in response to determining that the direction is toward the first selection option, providing tactile feedback having a second characteristic;   in response to determining that the direction is other than toward the first selection option, providing tactile feedback having a third characteristic.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second characteristic comprises vibration providing a low resistance to movement and the second characteristic comprises vibration providing a high resistance to movement. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first friction characteristic comprises vibration having a first friction effect. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first location is associated with the first selection option in response to determining that the first location is associated with an active area of the first selection option and an area adjacent to the active area. 
     
     
         6 . A computer-readable storage device having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of the portable electronic device to perform the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 displaying a plurality of selection options comprising a plurality of characters, the plurality of selection options including a first selection option on a touch-sensitive display;   identifying, with a predictive text algorithm, the first selection option from the plurality of characters   detecting a touch moving along the touch-sensitive display;   determining a direction of the touch;   providing tactile feedback having a first characteristic in response to determining that the direction is toward the first selection option.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first characteristic comprises vibration at a first frequency, amplitude, and duration. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first characteristic comprises vibration having a first friction effect. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-readable storage device having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of the portable electronic device to perform the method of  claim 7 . 
     
     
         11 . A portable electronic device comprising:
 a touch-sensitive device;   a tactile feedback apparatus operably coupled to the touch-sensitive device;   a processor operably coupled to the touch-sensitive device and the tactile feedback apparatus and configured to:
 display a plurality of selection options comprising a plurality of characters on a display; 
 identify, with a predictive text algorithm, a predicted selection option of the plurality of characters; 
 engage the tactile feedback apparatus to provide tactile feedback having a first friction characteristic in response to determining that a touch or cursor is at a first location associated with a path toward the predicted selection option. 
   
     
     
         12 . The portable electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine a direction of the touch or cursor;   in response to determining that the direction is toward the selection option, engage the tactile feedback apparatus to provide tactile feedback having a second characteristic;   in response to determining that the direction is other than toward the selection option, engage the tactile feedback apparatus to provide tactile feedback having a third characteristic.   
     
     
         13 . The portable electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the first friction characteristic comprises vibration having a first friction effect. 
     
     
         14 . The portable electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the tactile feedback apparatus comprises at least one piezoelectric device. 
     
     
         15 . The portable electronic device of  claim 11 , wherein the touch-sensitive device is a touch-sensitive display. 
     
     
         16 . A portable electronic device comprising:
 a touch-sensitive display;   a tactile feedback apparatus operably coupled to the touch-sensitive display;   a processor operably coupled to the touch-sensitive display and the tactile feedback apparatus and configured to:
 display a plurality of selection options comprising a plurality of characters, the plurality of selection options including a first selection option on a touch-sensitive display; 
 identify, with a predictive text algorithm, the first selection option from the plurality of characters; 
 determine a direction of a touch moving along the touch-sensitive display; 
 in response to determining that the direction is toward the selection option, send a first signal to the tactile feedback apparatus to provide tactile feedback having a first characteristic. 
   
     
     
         17 . The portable electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the first characteristic comprises vibration at a first frequency. 
     
     
         18 . The portable electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the tactile feedback apparatus comprises at least one piezoelectric device. 
     
     
         19 . The portable electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the first characteristic comprises vibration having a first friction effect.