Method and system for providing haptic effects based on information complementary to multimedia content

Abstract

The present disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for providing haptic effects based on information complementary to multimedia content. For example, one disclosed method includes the steps of receiving multimedia data comprising multimedia content and complementary data, wherein the complementary data describes the multimedia content, determining a haptic effect based at least in part on the complementary data, and outputting the haptic effect while playing the multimedia content.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a processor, complementary information associated with an application from a remote server;   determining, by the processor, a haptic theme based on the complementary information;   modifying, by the processor, a haptic effect based at least in part on the haptic theme, the haptic effect caused by the application; and   transmitting, by the processor, a signal configured to cause a haptic output device to output the haptic effect.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the application comprises a video game. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein modifying the haptic effect comprises modifying an intensity level of the haptic effect relative to a default intensity level. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the haptic theme is further determined based at least in part on an event, a scene of multimedia content, a proximity of a user to the haptic output device, a viewing angle of a user, or a keyword contained in the complementary information. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the complementary information comprises a genre. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 determining the haptic theme based at least in part on the genre.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the haptic effect caused by the application is based on a visual event in multimedia content of the application. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the haptic effect caused by the application is based on an audio event in multimedia content of the application, and wherein the audio event is associated with commentary, closed caption data, or a sound corresponding to a visual event. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the signal is a first signal, and wherein the haptic effect is a first haptic effect, the method further comprising:
 determining, by the processor, a keyword associated with an audio event in multimedia content of the application;   determining, by the processor, a second haptic effect based in part on the keyword and the audio event; and   transmitting, by the processor, a second signal configured to cause the haptic output device to output the second haptic effect.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second haptic effect is configured to simulate an explosion, a gunshot, or thunder. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a duration of the second haptic effect is related to the duration of the audio event. 
     
     
         12 . A system comprising:
 a processing device; and   a memory device on which instructions executable by the processing device are stored to cause the processing device to:
 receive complementary information associated with an application from a remote server; 
 determine a haptic theme based on the complementary information; 
 modify a haptic effect based at least in part on the haptic theme, the haptic effect caused by the application; and 
 transmit a signal configured to cause a haptic output device to output the haptic effect. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the application comprises a video game. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein modifying the haptic effect comprises modifying an intensity level of the haptic effect relative to a default intensity level. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the haptic theme is further determined based at least in part on an event, a scene of multimedia content, a proximity of a user to the haptic output device, a viewing angle of a user, or a keyword contained in the complementary information. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the complementary information comprises a genre, and wherein the memory device further comprises instructions executable by the processing device that cause the processing device to:
 determine the haptic theme based at least in part on the genre.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the haptic effect caused by the application is based on a visual event in multimedia content of the application. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the signal is a first signal, and wherein the haptic effect is a first haptic effect, and wherein the memory device further comprises instructions executable by the processing device that cause the processing device to:
 determine a keyword associated with an audio event in multimedia content of the application;   determine a second haptic effect based in part on the keyword and the audio event; and   transmit a second signal configured to cause the haptic output device to output the second haptic effect.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the second haptic effect is further configured to simulate an explosion, a gunshot, or thunder, and wherein a duration of the second haptic effect is related to the duration of the audio event. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program code that is executable by a processor to cause the processor to:
 receive complementary information associated with an application from a remote server;   determine a haptic theme based on the complementary information;   modify a haptic effect based at least in part on the haptic theme, the haptic effect caused by the application; and   transmit a signal configured to cause a haptic output device to output the haptic effect.