Vibration device, information processing apparatus, and vibration control system

Abstract

In a vibration device, a vibration mechanism is connected to an information processing apparatus and generates a vibration. A first vibration command for the vibration device is received from the information processing apparatus, a second vibration command for a vibration device different from the above vibration device is received in parallel with the first vibration command, and a format of the second vibration command is different from a format of the first vibration command. The vibration mechanism is operated based on at least one of the first vibration command and the second vibration command.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vibration device, an information processing apparatus, a vibration control system, an information processing method, and a program configured to present vibrations to a user. Background Technology

[0002] To notify users of events or enhance their sense of presence, such as in a game, vibration devices used to present vibrations to users are sometimes connected to information processing devices such as home video game consoles. Summary of the Invention

[0003] [Technical Issues]

[0004] Based on the aforementioned technologies, there may be situations where new vibration equipment can be provided that operates differently from conventional vibration equipment. In such cases, if an attempt is made to use an information processing device and program designed based on the assumption of connecting to conventional vibration equipment, the new vibration equipment may not be able to connect to the information processing device and program. To avoid this problem, the new vibration equipment can be equipped with a function to receive vibration commands used with conventional vibration equipment, thus providing compatibility with conventional vibration equipment. However, sufficient research has not yet been conducted to determine how to receive and process two different types of vibration commands, one for conventional vibration equipment and the other for the new vibration equipment.

[0005] The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances. The object of the present invention is to provide a vibration device, an information processing apparatus, a vibration control system, an information processing method, and a program that can effectively ensure compatibility with different types of vibration devices.

[0006] [Problem Solution]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a vibration device connected to an information processing device is provided. The vibration device includes: a vibration mechanism that generates vibration; a first receiving portion that receives from the information processing device a first vibration command for the vibration device; a second receiving portion that receives, in parallel with the first vibration command, from the information processing device a second vibration command for a different type of vibration device, the second vibration command having a different format than the first vibration command, the different types of vibration devices being of a different type than the type of the vibration device; and a vibration control portion that operates the vibration mechanism based on at least one of the first vibration command and the second vibration command.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus connected to a vibration device is provided. The information processing apparatus includes: a first transmitting section that transmits a first vibration command for the vibration device to the vibration device; a second transmitting section that transmits a second vibration command for a different type of vibration device to the vibration device, the second vibration command having a different format than the first vibration command, the different type of vibration device being a type different from the type of the vibration device; and a switching command transmitting section that transmits a switching command to the vibration device, the switching command switching between two control commands used by the vibration device, i.e., between the first vibration command and the second vibration command.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, a vibration control system comprising an information processing device and a vibration device is provided. The information processing device and the vibration device are connected to each other. The information processing device includes: a first transmitting section that transmits a first vibration command for the vibration device to the vibration device; a second transmitting section that transmits a second vibration command for a different type of vibration device to the vibration device, the second vibration command having a different format than the first vibration command, the different type of vibration device being a type different from the type of the vibration device; and a switching command transmitting section that transmits a switching command to the vibration device, the switching command switching between two control commands used by the vibration device, i.e., between the first vibration command and the second vibration command. The vibration device includes: a vibration mechanism that generates vibration; a first receiving section that receives the first vibration command from the information processing device; a second receiving section that receives the second vibration command for a different type of vibration device from the information processing device in parallel with the first vibration command; and a vibration control section that operates the vibration mechanism based on the first vibration command or the second vibration command determined according to the switching command received from the information processing device.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, an information processing method executed by a computer connected to a vibration device is provided. The information processing method includes the following steps: sending a first vibration command for the vibration device to the vibration device; sending a second vibration command for a different type of vibration device to the vibration device, the second vibration command having a different format than the first vibration command, the different types of vibration devices being different from the type of the vibration device; and sending a switching command to the vibration device, the switching command switching between two control commands to be used by the vibration device, i.e., switching between the first vibration command and the second vibration command.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, a program is provided for causing a computer connected to a vibration device to perform the following steps: sending a first vibration command for the vibration device to the vibration device; sending a second vibration command for a different type of vibration device to the vibration device, the second vibration command having a different format than the first vibration command, the different types of vibration devices being different from the type of the vibration device; and sending a switching command to the vibration device, the switching command switching between two control commands to be used by the vibration device, i.e., switching between the first vibration command and the second vibration command. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of a vibration control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 2 This is a functional block diagram illustrating the function of a vibration control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing an example of a vibration waveform generated by a vibrating device. Detailed Implementation

[0015] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0016] The vibration control system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an information processing device 10 and a vibration device 20.

[0017] Information processing device 10 is, for example, a home video game console or a personal computer, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes a control section 11, a storage section 12, and an interface section 13. In addition, the information processing device 10 is connected to the display device 14 and the vibration device 20.

[0018] The control section 11 includes program control devices, such as a central processing unit (CPU), and performs various information processing tasks according to programs stored in the storage section 12. The processing performed by the control section 11 will be described in detail later.

[0019] The storage section 12 is, for example, a storage device that stores the program executed by the control section 11. This program can be stored and supplied in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, or it can be copied to the storage section 12. Furthermore, the storage section 12 also includes the control section 11 as its working memory.

[0020] Interface section 13 is an interface for sending and receiving data between display device 14 and vibration device 20. Interface section 13 may include wired communication interfaces, such as Universal Serial Bus (USB) interfaces, and wireless communication interfaces, such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0021] The display device 14 is, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescent (EL) display, which receives video signals from the information processing device 10 through the interface portion 13 and displays video images based on the received video signals on the screen.

[0022] The vibration device 20 is a device for presenting vibration to a user based on vibration data received from the information processing device 10. The vibration device 20 includes a vibration mechanism 21, a communication interface 22, and a control circuit 23. Furthermore, the vibration device 20 may include operation buttons or other operating components for receiving user input and can operate as a control device.

[0023] The vibration mechanism 21 can be any type of vibration generating mechanism, such as a linear actuator or a voice coil motor. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the vibration device 20 includes two vibration mechanisms 21L and 21R, which are respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the housing of the vibration device 20. Furthermore, it is assumed that in this embodiment, the vibration mechanism 21 receives a vibration signal representing a waveform from the control circuit 23 and generates vibration based on the shape of the waveform. When the vibration mechanism 21 generates vibration, the vibration is presented to the user who grips the vibration device 20.

[0024] The communication interface 22 wirelessly or wiredly sends data to and receives data from the information processing device 10. The control circuit 23, such as a microprocessor, receives vibration commands sent from the information processing device 10 via the communication interface 22 and operates the vibration mechanism 21 according to the received vibration commands.

[0025] In this embodiment, the vibration device 20 simulates the operation of a vibration device of a different type than the vibration device 20. Hereinafter, the different type of vibration device simulated by the vibration device 20 is referred to as a conventional vibration device. Conventional vibration devices are typically a generation older than the vibration device of vibration device 20, but are not limited to this older generation of vibration device.

[0026] Assume that a conventional vibration device includes a vibration mechanism of a different type than the vibration mechanism 21 included in vibration device 20. Therefore, the content of the vibration command used to operate this different vibration mechanism differs from the content of the vibration command initially received by vibration device 20. More specifically, assume that the conventional vibration device receives a vibration command including information about a numerical value specifying the vibration intensity at regular time intervals, and generates vibration with an intensity based on the received numerical value within a predetermined time period. That is, the conventional vibration device cannot provide desired control over the shape of the generated vibration waveform, but is able to change the vibration intensity according to the magnitude of the value included in the vibration command, and continuously receive vibration commands to control the duration of the vibration. Furthermore, assume that the conventional vibration device also has two built-in vibration mechanisms, as in the case of vibration device 20, and that these vibration mechanisms can be operated independently.

[0027] Vibration commands received by conventional vibration devices are referred to below as non-host mode vibration commands. As previously mentioned, non-host mode vibration commands include numerical values ​​specifying vibration intensity. Meanwhile, vibration commands initially received by vibration device 20 are referred to as host mode vibration commands. The format of host mode vibration commands differs from that of non-host mode vibration commands and cannot be processed by conventional vibration devices. More specifically, host mode vibration commands are used to generate vibrations whose content is determined based on the performance and vibration characteristics of vibration mechanism 21, and these host mode vibration commands include vibration waveform data specifying the waveform shape of the vibration generated by vibration mechanism 21. This vibration waveform data can be in a format similar to that of audio data. In this embodiment, it is assumed that vibration device 20 is configured to receive not only host mode vibration commands but also non-host mode vibration commands, and to generate vibrations based on both vibration commands.

[0028] Now refer to Figure 2 Describe the functions implemented by the vibration control system 1. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the information processing device 10 functionally includes an application execution section 31, a host mode vibration command sending section 32, a non-host mode vibration command sending section 33, and a switching command sending section 34. The functions of these sections are implemented when the control section 11 executes the program stored in the storage section 12. This program can be provided to the information processing device 10 via a communication network such as the Internet, or it can be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable information storage medium such as an optical disc and provided to the information processing device 10. Meanwhile, the vibration device 20 functionally includes a host mode vibration command receiving section 41, a non-host mode vibration command receiving section 42, and a vibration control section 43. The functions of these sections are implemented when the control circuit 23 executes the program stored in the built-in memory.

[0029] Application execution section 31 executes the application. The application performs various processing tasks to present vibrations to the user, and may be, for example, a game program. Application execution section 31 issues at least one of two different vibration requests based on the progress of its processing.

[0030] The two distinct vibration requests include a non-host mode vibration request and a host mode vibration request. The non-host mode vibration request is used to request the conventional vibration device to generate vibration. The host mode vibration request is used to request the vibration device 20 to generate vibration. The application execution unit 31 issues these vibration requests, for example, by calling the associated application programming interface (API). The application execution unit 31 may issue only one of the two distinct vibration requests, or issue both distinct vibration requests in parallel. In either case, the application execution unit 31 does not need to identify whether the information processing device 10 is currently connected to the conventional vibration device or the vibration device 20. It is sufficient for the application execution unit 31 to simply issue the predetermined vibration request.

[0031] More specifically, only applications compatible with conventional vibration devices issue non-host mode vibrations. Such applications may have been released before the vibration device 20 according to this embodiment was released as a product. Meanwhile, applications compatible with the vibration device 20 may issue only host mode vibration requests. However, when the information processing device 10 is connected to a conventional vibration device instead of the vibration device 20, the conventional vibration device cannot vibrate solely through the issuance of a host mode vibration request. Therefore, the application executed by the application execution section 31 can issue two different vibration requests simultaneously: a non-host mode vibration request and a host mode vibration request. In this way, vibration devices connected to the information processing device 10 can vibrate regardless of the type of vibration device connected.

[0032] The host mode vibration command sending section 32 outputs a host mode vibration command based on the host mode vibration request issued by the application execution section 31, and sends the host mode vibration command to the vibration device (vibration device 20) connected to the information processing device 10.

[0033] The non-host mode vibration command sending unit 33 outputs a non-host mode vibration command based on the non-host mode vibration request issued by the application execution unit 31, and sends the non-host mode vibration command to the vibration device connected to the information processing device 10. It should be noted that the non-host mode vibration command sending unit 33 can output the non-host mode vibration command in the same format regardless of whether the information processing device 10 is connected to the vibration device 20 or to a conventional vibration device.

[0034] The switching command sending section 34 sends a switching command to the vibration device 20. This switching command instructs the vibration device 20 to switch the vibration command used for vibration control. The switching command will be described in detail later.

[0035] The host mode vibration command receiving section 41 receives host mode vibration commands sent from the host mode vibration command sending section 32 of the information processing device 10, and the non-host mode vibration command receiving section 42 receives non-host mode vibration commands sent from the non-host mode vibration command sending section 33 of the information processing device 10. These vibration command receiving sections are always in a state of receiving vibration commands sent from the information processing device 10 periodically or irregularly.

[0036] One feature of this embodiment is that the host mode vibration command receiving section 41 and the non-host mode vibration command receiving section 42 simultaneously and in parallel receive various types of vibration commands. When control is executed to cause these receiving sections to resume receiving a specific type of vibration command that has been executed so far or to stop receiving vibration commands, a high processing load is imposed. Therefore, in some cases, processing to start or stop receiving vibration commands may not be performed immediately. In view of this situation, the vibration device 20 according to this embodiment remains ready to always receive both vibration commands. Therefore, regardless of which of these vibration commands is sent from the information processing device 10, the vibration device 20 is able to receive the sent vibration command and perform vibration control without delay based on the content of the received vibration command.

[0037] Based on the vibration command received by the host mode vibration command receiving unit 41 or the non-host mode vibration command receiving unit 42, the vibration control unit 43 performs vibration control to make the vibration mechanism 21 vibrate. For example, the vibration control unit 43 outputs a control signal to make the vibration mechanism 21 vibrate based on one of two vibration commands selected based on a predetermined reference.

[0038] As a concrete example, suppose the vibration control unit 43 switches between two types of vibration commands based on a switching command sent from the switching command sending unit 34. More specifically, if the switching command received by the vibration control unit 43 indicates the use of a host mode vibration command, the vibration control unit 43 then operates the vibration mechanism 21 according to the host mode vibration command received by the host mode vibration command receiving unit 41. Conversely, if the switching command received by the vibration control unit 43 indicates the use of a non-host mode vibration command, the vibration control unit 43 then operates the vibration mechanism 21 according to the non-host mode vibration command received by the non-host mode vibration command receiving unit 42. As mentioned above, the two vibration command receiving units receive each vibration command simultaneously in parallel. Therefore, upon receiving the aforementioned switching command, the vibration control unit 43 can begin vibration generation control based on the selected vibration command without delay.

[0039] When using the host mode vibration command, the vibration control section 43 outputs a control signal that causes the vibration mechanism 21 to generate vibration based on the waveform data specified by the host mode vibration command. Furthermore, if the host mode vibration command includes a command to cause the two vibration mechanisms 21 to generate different vibrations respectively, it is assumed that according to this command, different control signals are output to vibration mechanisms 21L and 21R respectively.

[0040] Meanwhile, when using a non-host mode vibration command in vibration control, the vibration control unit 43 generates waveform data to activate the vibration mechanism 21 based on the specified vibration mechanism 21 and specified vibration intensity included in the non-host mode vibration command. Then, the vibration control unit 43 outputs a control signal to the vibration mechanism 21 to generate vibration based on the waveform data. This allows the vibration device 20 to simulate the vibration that might be generated when a conventional vibration device receives a non-host mode vibration command. It should be noted that the simulation control of this vibration will be described in detail later.

[0041] The following describes the switching of vibration commands to be used by the vibration control unit 43, which is performed based on a switching command sent from the switching command sending unit 34 of the information processing device 10. For example, the switching command sending unit 34 sends a switching command based on the type of application executed by the application execution unit 31. More specifically, when the application execution unit 31 starts executing a new application, the switching command sending unit 34 identifies whether the application is compatible with the new vibration device 20 or only compatible with conventional vibration devices. This identification can be performed by referring to information recorded in the application indicating the type and version of the application. If the identification result indicates that the newly executed application corresponds to the vibration device 20, the switching command sending unit 34 sends a switching command to indicate the use of the host mode vibration command. On the other hand, if the executed application corresponds only to conventional vibration devices, the switching command sending unit 34 sends a switching command to indicate the use of the non-host mode vibration command. The vibration control unit 43 determines the type of vibration command to be used when actually actuating the vibration mechanism 21 based on the received switching command. Thus, vibration can be generated according to the type of vibration request issued by the application.

[0042] In the example above, if a conventional application is to be executed, it would be sufficient if the conventional application issued the same vibration request as when the conventional vibration device is connected. Therefore, the information processing device 10 enables the vibration device 20 to generate vibration by using an application that is only compatible with conventional vibration devices, without making any changes.

[0043] Furthermore, in the example above, when the application execution section 31 switches to and executes another application, based on the task switching according to, for example, a command from the user, the type of application selected during the switch can be identified based on the identification result to send a switching command. Therefore, even if the currently executing application is changed to another application during execution, vibration control can always be implemented by using a vibration command compatible with the currently executing application.

[0044] Furthermore, the switching command sending section 34 can send a switching command based on a request from the application. In this example, in conjunction with the execution of the application processing and before issuing a vibration request, the application execution section 31 pre-issues a switching request specifying the type of vibration request to be issued. The switching command sending section 34 sends a switching command indicating the type of vibration command specified by the switching request to be used. This allows the application to cause the vibration device 20 to generate vibration by selectively issuing an appropriate vibration request from among multiple types of vibration requests.

[0045] Furthermore, after the vibration device 20 is connected to the information processing device 10 and begins operation, the vibration control unit 43 generates vibration using any one of the preset vibration commands before receiving a switching command from the information processing device 10. In this case, by default using the non-host mode vibration command, vibration can be generated even if the executed application is inconsistent with the host mode vibration command. Moreover, if the vibration device 20 is connected to an information processing device of a different type than the information processing device 10 and does not have the function of the switching command sending unit 34, the vibration device 20 cannot receive the switching command. Even in this case, defaulting to the non-host mode vibration command allows vibration control to be performed based on the non-host mode vibration command sent from this different type of information processing device.

[0046] Furthermore, contrary to the foregoing description, the vibration control unit 43 can perform vibration control based on two types of vibration commands, regardless of the switching command. For example, the vibration control unit 43 can generate combined vibration by combining two vibration waveforms determined based on two types of vibration commands, and control the vibration mechanism 21 to generate combined vibration.

[0047] Furthermore, if one of the two types of vibration commands only includes data representing vibration with zero amplitude (non-vibration), the vibration control unit 43 can generate vibration based on the other type of vibration command. When sending two types of vibration commands, one of them can essentially represent non-vibration. In this case, it is sufficient for the vibration control unit 43 to generate vibration based on a vibration command containing vibration data used to actually cause the vibration mechanism 21 to vibrate.

[0048] The following describes a specific example of vibration control performed by the vibration control unit 43 based on a non-host mode vibration command. As described above, since the non-host mode vibration command does not contain waveform data that actually causes the vibration mechanism 21 to operate, when using the non-host mode vibration command for vibration control, the vibration control unit 43 generates a vibration waveform based on the value representing the vibration intensity contained in the non-host mode vibration command, and causes the vibration mechanism 21 to vibrate based on the generated vibration waveform.

[0049] More specifically, the vibration control unit 43 determines the amplitude of the vibration waveform based on the vibration intensity specified by the vibration command. Furthermore, the vibration control unit 43 sets the vibration frequency to a predetermined value. The vibration frequency can be determined based on the vibration characteristics of the vibration mechanism built into a conventional vibration device. Additionally, in conventional vibration devices where multiple vibration mechanisms with different vibration characteristics are built in, the vibration control unit 43 generates the vibration waveform using a pre-determined frequency value corresponding to the vibration mechanism specified by the vibration command. The vibration control unit 43 generates waveform data for vibrating the mechanism 21 with the amplitude and frequency determined as described above. It should be noted that the vibration waveform can be a sine wave or other wave shape pre-prepared based on the vibration characteristics of the conventional vibration device. It is also assumed that the vibration control unit 43 operates one of the multiple vibration mechanisms 21 built into the vibration device 20, corresponding to the vibration mechanism specified by the vibration command.

[0050] In addition, in order to reproduce the vibration characteristics of conventional vibration equipment, the vibration control unit 43 can generate a vibration waveform with amplitude varying over time. Figure 3 An example of this vibration waveform is depicted. Figure 3 In the example shown, the target amplitude At is the amplitude determined based on the vibration intensity specified by the vibration command. Upon receiving a non-host mode vibration command specifying the vibration intensity, the vibration control unit 43 immediately begins generating vibration (at time T0). However, at the start of vibration, the vibration control unit 43 does not operate the vibration mechanism 21 with the target amplitude At corresponding to the specified intensity. Instead, the vibration control unit 43 gradually increases the amplitude to the target amplitude At during a predetermined rise time Ts from the start of vibration. Then, upon receiving a new non-host mode vibration command specifying zero intensity, the vibration control unit 43 controls (at time t1 in this example) to stop the generation of vibration. In this case, the vibration control unit 43 also gradually decreases the amplitude to zero during a predetermined fall time Te, instead of immediately stopping the vibration at time t1.

[0051] Considering that the response characteristics of vibrations generated by conventional vibration equipment are lower than those of vibration equipment 20, control is performed in the manner described above to present the user with vibrations that are perceptually similar to those presented by conventional vibration equipment. More specifically, based on the characteristics of conventional vibration equipment, the vibration control section 43 pre-stores information about the rise time Ts and fall time Te required to generate vibration, and refers to the pre-stored information to reproduce the vibrations of conventional vibration equipment.

[0052] Additionally, in this embodiment, during the generation of vibration based on a non-master mode vibration command, upon receiving a switching command instructing switching to a master mode vibration command, the vibration control unit 43 can also immediately stop the vibration based on the non-master mode vibration command, regardless of the fall time Te, and begin vibration control based on the master mode vibration command. An alternative is to stop the vibration based on the non-master mode vibration command as usual by gradually decreasing the amplitude during the fall time Te starting from the time the switching command is received. In this case, after the fall time Te has elapsed since the switching command was received, and after the vibration based on the non-master mode vibration command has ended, the vibration control unit 43 begins vibration based on the master mode vibration command. In this case, the vibration control unit 43 skips the beginning portion of the waveform data specified by the master mode vibration command, which corresponds to the fall time Te, and begins vibration control based on the remaining portion of the waveform data. This results in ignoring vibrations during periods overlapping with periods specified by different vibration commands, but allows vibrations to be generated at time points specified by the application during non-overlapping periods.

[0053] Furthermore, in order to present a vibration to the user that feels similar to that generated by a conventional vibration device, the vibration control unit 43 can change the vibration mechanism 21 used to generate the vibration based on a non-host mode vibration command, or increase the number of units of the vibration mechanism 21 used to generate the vibration. The above example assumes that both the host mode vibration command and the non-host mode vibration command include information specifying the generated vibration in two different vibration mechanisms, and that the vibration control unit 43 vibrates mechanism 21R or 21L according to the included information. However, even when, for example, one of the vibration mechanisms is vibrated, the conventional vibration device may vibrate as a whole, depending on the structure of the conventional vibration device and the characteristics of the vibration mechanisms built into it. In this case, based on a non-host mode vibration command used to generate vibration for one vibration mechanism built into the conventional vibration device, the vibration control unit 43 can vibrate both mechanisms 21R and 21L at a predetermined ratio and phase. Compared to the case where only one vibration mechanism 21 vibrates, simultaneously vibrating multiple vibration mechanisms 21 in the above manner allows vibration to be generated over a large area of ​​the vibration device 20, thereby presenting the user with a vibration similar to that generated by a conventional vibration device. Furthermore, even if the conventional vibration device and the vibration device 20 differ in the number and location of the built-in vibration mechanisms, the vibration control unit 43 can determine, for example, the vibration mechanism used to generate vibration based on a predetermined correspondence, the non-host mode vibration command, the ratio of vibration intensity between vibration mechanisms, and the vibration phase of the vibration mechanism.

[0054] As described above, the vibration control system 1 according to this embodiment enables the vibration device 20 to be applied not only to applications designed for use in the vibration device 20, but also to applications that can only be applied to conventional vibration devices, thereby ensuring compatibility with conventional vibration devices. Furthermore, even when multiple types of applications are selectively executed as described above, the vibration control system 1 can process vibration requests from applications without delay. Moreover, the vibration device 20 according to this embodiment can be connected not only to the information processing device 10 compatible with the vibration device 20, but also to different types of information processing devices that conventional vibration devices may be connected to, and can simulate the operation of conventional vibration devices based on non-host mode vibration commands sent from such different types of information processing devices.

[0055] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, in the above description, it is assumed that the vibration device 20 has two vibration mechanisms 21, but the vibration device 20 may also have only one vibration mechanism 21, or it may have three or more vibration mechanisms 21. In addition, the vibration mechanisms of the vibration device 20, the methods used in conventional vibration devices, and the content and format of the data contained in the control commands of the device are not limited to those described above, and can be various.

[0056] [List of Reference Symbols]

[0057] 1: Vibration Control System

[0058] 10: Information processing device

[0059] 11: Control Section

[0060] 12: Storage Section

[0061] 13: Interface Section

[0062] 14: Display device

[0063] 20: Vibration equipment

[0064] 21L, 21R: Vibration mechanism

[0065] 22: Communication Interface

[0066] 23: Control Circuit

[0067] 31: Application Execution Section

[0068] 32: Vibration command transmission section in host mode

[0069] 33: Vibration command transmission section in non-host mode

[0070] 34: Switch command sending section

[0071] 41: Vibration command receiving section in host mode

[0072] 42: Non-host mode vibration command receiving section

[0073] 43: Vibration Control Section

Claims

1. A vibration device connected to an information processing device, the vibration device comprising: A type of vibration mechanism that generates vibration; A first receiving part is configured to receive a first vibration command for the vibration device from the information processing device via a first communication path; The second receiving part is configured to receive, via a second communication path, in parallel with the first vibration command from the information processing device a second vibration command for a different type of vibration device, wherein the format of the second vibration command is different from the format of the first vibration command, and the type of the different type of vibration device is different from the type of vibration device. as well as The vibration control section communicates with the first receiving section and the second receiving section, and is configured to operate the vibration mechanism based on at least one of the first vibration command and the second vibration command received in parallel.

2. The vibration device according to claim 1, in, According to the switching command received from the information processing device, the vibration control section is configured to select one of the first vibration command and the second vibration command as the vibration command to be used to operate the vibration mechanism.

3. The vibration device according to claim 2, in, When no switching command is received from the information processing device, the vibration control section is configured to operate the vibration mechanism based on the second vibration command.

4. The vibration device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in, When the vibration mechanism is operated based on the second vibration command, the vibration control section is configured to generate vibration with an amplitude corresponding to the amplitude of the vibration generated by the different types of vibration devices according to the second vibration command.

5. The vibration device according to claim 4, in, When the vibration mechanism is operated based on the second vibration command, the vibration control section is configured to generate a vibration having a rising or falling period corresponding to at least one of the rising and falling periods of the vibration to be generated by the different types of vibration devices.

6. The vibration device according to claim 2, wherein when the second vibration command is used to operate the vibration mechanism, the vibration device simulates the operation of the different type of vibration device to which the second vibration command is directed and which is of a different type from the vibration device itself.

7. An information processing device connected to a vibration device comprising a vibration mechanism of one type, the information processing device comprising: The first transmitting part is configured to send a first vibration command for the vibration device via a first communication path to the vibration device. The second transmitting part is configured to transmit a second vibration command for a different type of vibration device to the vibration device via a second communication path in parallel with the first vibration command. The format of the second vibration command is different from the format of the first vibration command. The different type of vibration device is a type different from the type of vibration device. as well as The switching command sending section is configured to send a switching command to the vibration device, wherein the switching command is configured to switch between the first vibration command and the second vibration command.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: The application execution section is configured to execute the application that requests the sending of the first vibration command and / or the second vibration command. The switching command sending section is configured to send the switching command according to the type of the application to be executed by the application execution section.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: The application execution section is configured to execute the application that requests the sending of the first vibration command and / or the second vibration command. The switching command sending part is configured to send the switching command according to a request from the application.

10. The information processing apparatus of claim 7, wherein when the second vibration command is used as a vibration command for the vibration device, the vibration device simulates the operation of the different type of vibration device to which the second vibration command is directed and which is of a different type from the vibration device.

11. A vibration control system, comprising: Information processing device; as well as The vibration device according to claim 1, The information processing device is interconnected with the vibration equipment. The information processing device includes: The first transmitting part is configured to send a first vibration command for the vibration device via a first communication path to the vibration device. The second transmitting section is configured to transmit a second vibration command for a different type of vibration device to the vibration device via a second communication path in parallel with the first vibration command. The format of the second vibration command is different from the format of the first vibration command, and the different type of vibration device is a type different from the type of vibration device. The switching command sending section is configured to send a switching command to the vibration device, wherein the switching command is configured to switch between the first vibration command and the second vibration command.

12. An information processing method performed by an information processing device connected to a vibration device according to claim 1, the information processing method comprising the following steps: A first vibration command for the vibration device is sent to the vibration device via a first communication path; A second vibration command for a different type of vibration device is sent to the vibration device in parallel with the first vibration command via a second communication path. The format of the second vibration command is different from that of the first vibration command, and the type of the different type of vibration device is different from that of the vibration device. as well as A switching command is sent to the vibration device, which switches between the first vibration command and the second vibration command.

13. A non-volatile information storage medium storing a program for causing an information processing device connected to a vibration device comprising a type of vibration mechanism to perform the following steps: A first vibration command for the vibration device is sent to the vibration device via a first transmission section and via a first communication path; A second vibration command for a different type of vibration device is sent to the vibration device in parallel with the first vibration command via a second transmission section and via a second communication path. The format of the second vibration command is different from that of the first vibration command, and the type of the different type of vibration device is different from that of the vibration device. A switching command is sent to the vibration device via a switching command transmission section, the switching command switching between a first vibration command and a second vibration command; and When the second vibration command is used as a vibration command, the vibration device to which the information processing device is connected simulates the operation of the different type of vibration device that the second vibration command targets and that is of a different type from the vibration device.

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