Systems and methods for physics-based tactile messaging

Abstract

Systems and methods for physics-based tactile messaging are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes the steps of receiving a sensor signal from a sensor configured to sense a physical interaction with a messaging device; determining an interaction between one or more virtual message objects and a virtual message environment, the interaction based at least in part on the sensor signal and a virtual physical parameter of at least one of the one or more virtual message objects; and determining a haptic effect based at least in part on the interaction. The method additionally includes the step of generating a haptic signal configured to cause an actuator to output the haptic effect.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a haptic output device;   a processor coupled to the haptic output device and configured to:
 receive a sensor signal from a sensor configured to sense a physical interaction with an electronic device; 
 determine a movement of a virtual object in a virtual environment based in part on the physical interaction; 
 determine a collision between the virtual object and a second virtual object in the virtual environment; 
 determine a haptic effect based in part on the collision; and 
 output a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to the haptic output device. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect movement of the electronic device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the virtual object comprises a virtual physical parameter, and wherein the haptic effect is determined based in part on the virtual physical parameter. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the virtual object comprises a message and the virtual physical parameter is determined based in part on content of the message. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the virtual object comprises a data file and wherein the virtual physical parameter is determined based in part on content of the data file. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the virtual object comprises one or more of: a text message, an instant message, or an email. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the virtual physical parameter is determined based in part on a second sensor signal received from the sensor. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the second sensor signal is associated with movement of the electronic device. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the second virtual object comprises a second virtual physical parameter and wherein the haptic effect is further determined based in part on the second virtual physical parameter. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the second virtual object comprises a message and the second virtual physical parameter is determined based in part on content of the message. 
     
     
         25 . A method comprising:
 receiving a sensor signal from a sensor configured to sense a physical interaction with an electronic device;   determining a movement of a virtual object in a virtual environment based in part on the physical interaction;   determining a collision between the virtual object and a second virtual object in the virtual environment;   determining a haptic effect based in part on the collision; and   outputting a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to a haptic output device.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect movement of the electronic device. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the virtual object comprises a virtual physical parameter, and wherein the haptic effect is determined based in part on the virtual physical parameter. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the virtual object comprises a message and the virtual physical parameter is determined based in part on content of the message. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the virtual object comprises a data file and wherein the virtual physical parameter is determined based in part on content of the data file. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the virtual object comprises one or more of: a text message, an instant message, or an email. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the virtual physical parameter is determined based in part on a second sensor signal received from the sensor. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the second sensor signal is associated with movement of the electronic device. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the second virtual object comprises a second virtual physical parameter and wherein the haptic effect is further determined based in part on the second virtual physical parameter. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the second virtual object comprises a message and the second virtual physical parameter is determined based in part on content of the message. 
     
     
         35 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program code, which when executed by a processor is configured to cause the processor to:
 receive a sensor signal from a sensor configured to sense a physical interaction with an electronic device;   determine a movement of a virtual object in a virtual environment based in part on the physical interaction;   determine a collision between the virtual object and a second virtual object in the virtual environment;   determine a haptic effect based in part on the collision; and   output a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect to a haptic output device.