A method for generating haptic effects and a haptic system

Abstract

In some aspects, a method for generating haptic effects include: generating and transmitting a combined haptic signal that includes a plurality of signals having first to N-th signals, each of the first to N-th signals having a signal identifier, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 2; receiving the combined haptic signal by a first haptic processor of at least one group of haptic processors, each group of haptic processors including first to N-th haptic processors; and relaying by the first haptic processor of the at least one group of haptic processors a first modulated signal to the second haptic processor of the at least one group of haptic processors, wherein the first modulated signal is modulated based on the combined haptic signal and the first signal of the plurality of signals.

Description

A METHOD FOR GENERATING HAPTIC EFFECTS AND A HAPTIC SYSTEMCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of PCT international application No. PCT / SG2023 / 050484 filed 10 July, 2023, the contents of it being hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to a method for generating haptic effects and a haptic system.BACKGROUND

[0003] The haptic technology has been applied in gaming. The haptic technology creates haptic feedback or haptic effects through the application of force, vibration and motion. These sensations target the user's sense of touch when interacting with haptic devices that use haptic technology. The haptic feedback or haptic effects provides enhanced user experience in gaming.

[0004] Therefore, there exists a need for devices that generate improved haptic effects.SUMMARY

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method for generating haptic effects is provided. The method includes: generating and transmitting a combined haptic signal that includes a plurality of signals having first to N-th signals, each of the first to N-th signals having a signal identifier, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 2; receiving the combined haptic signal by a first haptic processor of at least one group of haptic processors, each group of haptic processors including first to N-th haptic processors; and relaying by the first haptic processor of the at least one group of haptic processors a first modulated signal to the second haptic processor of the at least one group of haptic processors, wherein the first modulated signal is modulated based on the combined haptic signal and the first signal of the plurality of signals.

[0006] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a haptic system is provided. The haptic system includes: a haptic pattern generator configured to generate and transmit a combined haptic signal that includes a plurality of signals having first to N-th signals, each ofthe first to N-th signals having a signal identifier, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 2; and at least one group of haptic processors, each group of haptic processors including first to N-th haptic processors, wherein the first haptic processor of the at least one group of haptic processors is configured to receive the combined haptic signal and relay a first modulated signal to the second haptic processor of the at least one group of haptic processors, and wherein the first modulated signal is modulated based on the combined haptic signal and the first signal of the plurality of signals.

[0007] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program element is provided. The computer program element includes program instructions, which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method as described herein.

[0008] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-readable medium is provided. The computer-readable medium includes program instructions, which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method as described herein.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting an example haptic system in connection to a host system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting an example haptic system in connection to a host system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting a haptic processor of an example haptic system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing various haptic patterns generated by an example haptic pattern generator of an example haptic system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a block diagram depicting haptic patterns generated and transmitted over time by an example haptic pattern generator of an example haptic system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary relay system of an example haptic system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an exemplary arrangement of haptic processors of an example haptic system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented by an example haptic system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 9 is a block diagram depicting an example haptic system in connection to a host system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 10 is a block diagram depicting an example haptic system in connection to a host system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 11 is a block diagram depicting an example processor according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing data communication in an example haptic system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a processor configuration of a haptic system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an exemplary configuration of groups of processors of a haptic system 600 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an adjusted configuration of groups of processors of the haptic system of FIG. 14 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented by an example haptic system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an example electronic device, according to an implementation of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Embodiments described below in the context of a device, apparatus, or system are analogously valid for the respective methods, and vice versa. Furthermore, it will be understood that the embodiments described below may be combined, for example, a part of one embodiment may be combined with a part of another embodiment, and a part of one implementation may be combined with a part of another implementation.

[0027] It should be understood that the singular terms "a", "an", and "the" include plural references unless context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word "or" is intended to include "and" unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0028] It will be further understood that the terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”), and“contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more steps or elements possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more steps or elements. Likewise, a step of a method or an element of a device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more features possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

[0029] Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “about,” “substantially”, is not limited to the precise value specified but within tolerances that are acceptable for operation of the embodiment for an application for which it is intended. In some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value.

[0030] Various techniques may be described herein in the general context of software, hardware elements, or program modules. Generally, such modules include routines, programs, objects, elements, components, data structures, and so forth that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The terms “module,” “functionality.” and "component as used herein generally represent software, firmware, hardware, or a combination thereof. The features of the techniques described herein are platform independent, meaning that the techniques may be implemented on a variety of commercial computing platforms having a variety of processors.

[0031] Various aspects of what is described here seek to provide a method for generating haptic effects. The proposed method may include generating and relaying modulated signals by first to N-th haptic processors based on a combined haptic signal that includes first to N-th signals and the first to N-th signals of the combined haptic signal, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 2. Each of the first to N-th signals may include a signal identifier that is identified by the first to N-th haptic processors in a manner that the first to N-th haptic processors may extract or separate a respective haptic signal from the combined haptic signal / modulated signals. That may mean that a respective haptic processor of the first to N- th haptic processors identifies a respective identifier corresponding to the respective hapticprocessor and extracts or separates the respective haptic signal associated with the respective identifier from the combined haptic signal / modulated signals.

[0032] According to various aspects, the proposed method may provide an advantageous signal distribution that serially or sequentially distributes or relays the first to N-th haptic signals (e.g. digital haptic signals) to a serially connected haptic devices (e.g. by a signal line) to serially or sequentially actuate haptic effects. In this manner, the combined haptic signal (e.g. the haptic patterns) may be first transmitted to the first processor of the first to N-th processors, and the first processor may be configured to process the first signal of the first to N-th haptic signals and relay the first modulated signal to the second processor of the first to N-th haptic processors (e.g. its neighboring haptic processor or a haptic processor located nearest to it).

[0033] In some aspects of what is described here, the signal identifiers of the first to N-th signals may include a series of first to N-th timeframes. The proposed method may include identifying a respective haptic signal of the first to N-th signals by identifying a respective timeframe of the series of first to N-th timeframes associated with the respective haptic signal by a respective haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors that is configured to process the respective haptic signal. In other words, the signal identifiers may be a sequence of the first to N-th haptic signals that are distributed to the first to N-th haptic processors to individually process the respective haptic signal. That may mean that the number of the first to N-th haptic processors is equal to or greater than the number of the first to N-th haptic signals in a manner that each signal of the first to N-th haptic signals is processed by an individual haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors.

[0034] In some instances, aspects of the systems and techniques described here provide technical improvements and advantages over existing approaches. In an example, a user of a haptic system that uses the proposed method may experience improved haptic effects (e.g. more efficient such that the haptic signals are more rapidly transmitted and processed). In another example, a haptic system may include multiple sets of first to N-th processors each of which is configured to simultaneously process first to N-th haptic signals in a relay manner as proposed herein.

[0035] Various aspects of what is described here seek to provide a method for generating haptic effects. The proposed method may include generating and transmitting combined haptic signals by a host system to groups of processors based on information relating to the groupsof processors. The information relating to the groups of processors may include processor identifiers and group identifiers so as to locate / identify the groups of processors (e.g. form a haptic network). Accordingly, each of the combined haptic signals may include haptic signal segments for a respective group of processors, and each of haptic signal segments generated based on information relating to a respective processor may be configured to actuate a haptic actuator associated with the respective processor.

[0036] In some aspects, each of the groups of processors may further include a sensor (e.g. a pressure sensor) and the information relating to the groups of processors may further include sensor data obtained by the sensors. Accordingly, the combined haptic signals may be generated based on the information relating to the groups of processors including the sensor data in a manner that haptic effects of the combined haptic signals are associated with the sensor data, e.g. in response to the sensor data.

[0037] According to various aspects, the proposed method may provide an advantageous signal distribution that is able to individually distribute the combined haptic signals to corresponding (serially connected) groups of processors. In this manner, the group of processors may be re-arranged / re-configured and provide corresponding information relating to the re-arranged / re-configured groups of processors to the host system which in turn generate and transmit combined haptic signals based on the corresponding information relating to the re-arranged / re-configured groups of processors.

[0038] In some instances, aspects of the systems and techniques described here provide technical improvements and advantages over existing approaches. In an example, a user of the proposed haptic system may experience improved haptic effects (e.g. more targeted and user- oriented such that the haptic signal is generated for the respective haptic processor based on the information relating to the respective haptic processor (e.g. location of the haptic processor and / or sensor data of the pressure sensor). Accordingly, the haptic pattern may be generated based on the point of contact between the haptic processors and the human body. The host system (e.g. the host processor) may re-adjust the haptic pattern whenever there is a change between the haptic processors and human body (i.e. dynamically in real time). The host system may remap the human contour based on the sensor data obtained from each haptic processor. For example, the detection of contact (e.g. quality of contact) may come from pressure sensor data. The host system may generate haptic pattern based on the pressure sensordata collectively from the at least one group of haptic processors. The haptic system may include a haptic enabled mattress or bed cover, a gaming chair and a haptic head rest.

[0039] In another example, a haptic system may include multiple groups of haptic processors each group of which may individually communicate with the host system and / or another group of processors, that is, a self-forming haptic system. The haptic system may include a combination of gaming vest, haptic sleeves, haptic gloves, and haptic pants. The proposed self-forming haptic system is to allow a user to connect and combine any haptic component (e.g. any group of processors) dynamically, and the application software may in turn generate haptic pattern according to the user interaction with the haptic component(s) in real time.

[0040] The following examples pertain to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0041] Example 1 is a method for generating haptic effects, the method including: generating and transmitting a combined haptic signal that includes a plurality of signals having first to N-th signals, each of the first to N-th signals having a signal identifier, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 2; receiving the combined haptic signal by a first haptic processor of at least one group of haptic processors, each group of haptic processors including first to N-th haptic processors; and relaying by the first haptic processor of the at least one group of haptic processors a first modulated signal to the second haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors, wherein the first modulated signal is modulated based on the combined haptic signal and the first signal of the plurality of signals.

[0042] In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 may optionally include that the signal identifiers of the first to N-th signals include a series of first to N-th timeframes.

[0043] In Example 3, the subject matter of Example 1 may optionally include for each k, 1 < k < N, identifying the k-th signal of the first to N-th signals in the k-th timeframe of the series of first to N-th timeframes by the k-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors.

[0044] In Example 4, the subject matter of Example 1 may optionally include, when N is an integer greater than or equal to 3, for each m, 2 < m < N-l, relaying by the m-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors an m-th modulated signal to the (m+l)-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors, wherein the m-th modulated signal is modulated based on the (m-l)-th modulated signal and the m-th signal of the first to N-th signals.

[0045] In Example 5, the subject matter of Example 2 may optionally include that each of the series of timeframes includes a variable length of time.

[0046] In Example 6, the subject matter of Example 2 may optionally include that each of the series of timeframes includes a same length of time.

[0047] In Example 7, the subject matter of Example 1 may optionally include that wherein the combined haptic signal is a haptic pattern in digital format, converting, by the first processor of the first to N-th haptic processors, the haptic pattern in digital format to a haptic signal in analog format.

[0048] In Example 8, the subject matter of Example 7 may optionally include actuating a haptic device in electrical connection with a first haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors by the haptic signal in analog format converted by the first haptic processor.

[0049] In Example 9, the subject matter of Example 1 may optionally include receiving a haptic command from a host system; and generating the combined haptic signal based on the haptic command.

[0050] In Example 10, the subject matter of Example 4 may optionally include that the (m+l)-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors is located in a close proximity of the m-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors.

[0051] In Example 11, the subject matter of Example 1 may optionally include that the first to N-th haptic processors are divided in groups, and wherein each group of haptic processors is arranged in a line and lines of the groups of the haptic processors are parallel.

[0052] In Example 12, the subject matter of Example 1 may optionally include generating and transmitting a subsequent combined haptic signal that includes first to N-th subsequent signals, each of the first to N-th subsequent signals having the signal identifier, wherein the combined haptic signal is transmitted in a first time period and the subsequent combined haptic signal is transmitted in a second time period, and wherein a time interval exists between the first time period and the second time period.

[0053] Example 13 is a haptic system including: a host system or a haptic pattern generator configured to generate and transmit a combined haptic signal that includes a plurality of signals having first to N-th signals, each of the first to N-th signals having a signal identifier, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 2; and at least one group of haptic processors, each group of haptic processors including first to N-th haptic processors, wherein the firsthaptic processor of the at least one group of haptic processors is configured to receive the combined haptic signal and relay a first modulated signal to the second haptic processor of the at least one group of haptic processors, and wherein the first modulated signal is modulated based on the combined haptic signal and the first signal of the plurality of signals.

[0054] In Example 14, the subject matter of Example 13 may optionally include that the signal identifiers of the first to N-th signals include a series of first to N-th timeframes.

[0055] In Example 15, the subject matter of Example 14 may optionally include that for each k, 1 < k < N, the k-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors is configured to identify the k-th signal in the k-th timeframe of the series of first to N-th timeframes.

[0056] In Example 16, the subject matter of Example 13 may optionally include that N is an integer greater than or equal to 3, for each m, 2 < m <N-1, the m-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors is configured to relay an m-th modulated signal to the (m+l)-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors, wherein the m-th modulated signal is modulated based on the (m-l)-th modulated signal and the m-th signal of the first to N-th signals.

[0057] In Example 17, the subject matter of Example 14 may optionally include that each of the series of timeframes includes a variable length of time.

[0058] In Example 18, the subject matter of Example 14 may optionally include that each of the series of timeframes includes a same length of time.

[0059] In Example 19, the subject matter of Example 13 may optionally include that the combined haptic signal is a haptic pattern in digital format, and wherein the first processor of the first to N-th haptic processors is configured to convert the haptic pattern in digital format to haptic signals in analog format.

[0060] In Example 20, the subject matter of Example 19 may optionally include first to N-th haptic devices, wherein the first haptic device of the first to N-th haptic devices is in electrical connection with the first haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors and is actuated by the haptic signal in analog format converted by the first haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors.

[0061] In Example 21, the subject matter of Example 13 may optionally include that the haptic pattern generator is further configured to receive a haptic command from the host system and generate the combined haptic signal based on the haptic command.

[0062] In Example 22, the subject matter of Example 16 may optionally include that the (m+l)-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors is located in a close proximity of the m-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors.

[0063] In Example 23, the subject matter of Example 13 may optionally include that the first to N-th haptic processors are divided in groups, and wherein each group of haptic processors is arranged in a line and lines of the groups of the haptic processors are parallel.

[0064] In Example 24, the subject matter of Example 13 may optionally include that the haptic pattern generator or the host system is further configured to generate and transmit a subsequent combined haptic signal that includes first to N-th subsequent signals, each of the first to N-th subsequent signals having the signal identifier, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, wherein the combined haptic signal is transmitted in a first time period and the subsequent combined haptic signal is transmitter in a second time period, and wherein a time interval exists between the first time period and the second time period.

[0065] In Example 25, the subject matter of Example 1 may optionally include transmitting information relating to the at least one group of haptic processors to a host system, wherein the information relating to the at least one group of haptic processors includes processor identifiers respectively associated with the haptic processors of the at least one group of haptic processors and a group identifier associated with the at least one group of haptic processors, wherein the combined haptic signal is generated based on the information relating to the at least one group of haptic processors.

[0066] In Example 26, the subject matter of Example 25 may optionally include that the at least one group of haptic processors is associated with at least one group of haptic actuators, and that the at least one group of haptic processors receives the combined haptic signal to actuate the at least one group of haptic actuators.

[0067] In Example 27, the subject matter of Example 26 may optionally include (i) transmitting information relating to two or more groups of haptic processors to the host system, wherein the information relating to the two or more groups of haptic processors includes processor identifiers of the haptic processors of the two or more groups of haptic processors and group identifiers of the two or more groups of haptic processors, wherein the two or more groups of haptic processors are respectively associated with two or more groups of haptic actuators; (ii) generating and transmitting two or more combined haptic signals bythe host system or by a haptic pattern generator respectively to the two or more groups of haptic processors based on the information relating to the two or more groups of haptic processors; (iii) receiving the two or more combined haptic signals by the two or more groups of haptic processors respectively to actuate the two or more groups of haptic actuators; and (iv) relaying a corresponding combined haptic signal of the two or more combined haptic signals by a corresponding group of the two or more groups of haptic processors.

[0068] In Example 28, the subject matter of Example 27 may optionally include that the at least one group of processors further include at least one group of sensors and the information relating to the at least one group of processors includes sensor data.

[0069] In Example 29, the subject matter of Example 28 may optionally include acquiring the sensor data at time intervals to obtain interval sensor data, wherein the information relating to the at least one group of processors includes the interval sensor data; and (v) repeating steps in (i) to (iv) at each time interval.

[0070] In Example 30, the subject matter of Example 29 may optionally include that when the at least one group of sensors includes lighting controls, the method further including: generating and transmitting at least one group lighting signals by the host system to the at least one group of processors based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors.

[0071] In Example 31, the subject matter of Example 27 may optionally include that the processor identifiers of the at least one group of processors includes location information of the at least one group of processors having 2-dimensional coordinates and / or 3 -dimensional coordinates and the at least one combined haptic signal generated and transmitted by the host system or the haptic pattern generator is associated with the location information.

[0072] In Example 32, the subject matter of Example 27 may optionally include that processors of each group of the at least one group of processors are in serial connection, and the at least one group of processors are connected in daisy chain formation.

[0073] In Example 33, the subject matter of Example 27 may optionally include that constructing a haptic network based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors.

[0074] In Example 34, the subject matter of Example 27 may optionally include synthesizing the at least one combined haptic signal from the host system and distributing thesynthesized at least one combined haptic signal, wherein receiving the at least one combined haptic signal by the at least one group of processors includes receiving the synthesized at least one combined haptic signal by the at least one group of processors.

[0075] In Example 35, the subject matter of any of Examples 27 to 36 may optionally include that the group identifiers with respect to each group of the at least one group of processors include a device type of a respective group.

[0076] In Example 36, the subject matter of Example 28 may optionally include determining the number of the at least one group of processors based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors; and determining the number of the at least one group of sensors which are active based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors.

[0077] In Example 37, the subject matter of any of Examples 27 to 36 may optionally include that the respective combined haptic signal of the at least one combined haptic signals includes first to N-th haptic segments corresponding to first to N-th processors of the corresponding respective group of processors of the at least one group of processors; wherein relaying a respective combined haptic signal of the at least one combined haptic signal by a corresponding respective group of processors of the at least one group of processors includes: for each k, 1 < k < N, relaying the (k+l)-th to N-th haptic segments of the first to N-th haptic segments of the respective combined haptic signal by the k-th processor to the (k+1) processor of the first to N-th processors of the corresponding respective group of processors.

[0078] In Example 38, the subject matter of Example 37 may optionally include that each of the first to N-th processors is associated with a haptic actuator, collectively, first to N-th haptic actuators, the method further including: actuating the k-th haptic actuator associated with in the k-th processor by the k-th haptic segment.

[0079] In Example 39, the subject matter of Example 37 or Example 38 may optionally include that the k-th processor of the first to N-th processors is located in a close proximity of the (k+ 1 )-th processor of the first to N-th processors.

[0080] In Example 40, the subject matter of any of Examples 27 to 39 may optionally include regrouping the at least one group of processors to include a regrouped number of groups of processors, wherein the regrouped number of groups of processors are associated with a regrouped number of groups of haptic actuators; transmitting regrouped informationrelating to the regrouped number of groups of processors to the host system, wherein the regrouped information relating to the regrouped number of groups of processors includes processor identifiers of the regrouped number of groups of processors and group identifiers with respect to each group of the regrouped number of groups of processors; generating and transmitting a regrouped number of combined haptic signals by the host system or by the haptic pattern generator to the regrouped number of groups of processors based on the regrouped information relating to the regrouped number of groups of processors; receiving the regrouped number of combined haptic signals by the regrouped number of groups of processors to actuate the regrouped number of groups of haptic actuators; and relaying a respective combined haptic signal of the regrouped number of combined haptic signals by a corresponding respective group of processors of the regrouped number of groups of processors.

[0081] In Example 41, the subject matter of any of Examples 27 to 40 may optionally include the at least one combined haptic signal are haptic patterns in digital format, the method further including: converting, by a device processor, the haptic patterns in digital format to haptic signals in analog format.

[0082] In Example 42, the subject matter of Example 13 may optionally include that the at least one group of processors are configured to transmit information relating to the at least one group of processors to a host system, wherein the information relating to the at least one group of processors includes processor identifiers respectively associated with the haptic processors of the at least one group of haptic processors and a group identifier associated with the at least one group of haptic processors, wherein the combined haptic signal is generated based on the information relating to the at least one group of haptic processors

[0083] In Example 43, the subject matter of Example 42 may optionally include that the at least one group of haptic processors is associated with at least one group of haptic actuators, and that the at least one group of haptic processors receives the combined haptic signal to actuate the at least one group of haptic actuators.

[0084] In Example 44, the subject matter of Example 43 may optionally include that the at least one group of processors includes two or more groups of processors configured to transmit information relating to the two or more groups of processors to the host system, wherein the information relating to the two or more groups of processors includes processor identifiers of the two or more groups of haptic processors and group identifiers of two or moregroups of haptic processors, wherein the two or more groups of haptic processors are respectively associated with two or more groups of haptic actuators, wherein the two or more groups of haptic processors are further configured to receive two or more combined haptic signals, generated and transmitted by the host system or by the haptic pattern generator respectively to the two or more groups of haptic processors based on the information relating to the two or more groups of haptic processors, to actuate the two or more groups of haptic actuators, and a corresponding group of two or more groups of haptic processors is configured to relay a corresponding combined haptic signal of the two or more combined haptic signals.

[0085] In Example 45, the subject matter of Example 44 may optionally include that the at least one group of processors further include at least one group of sensors and the information relating to the at least one group of processors includes sensor data.

[0086] In Example 46, the subject matter of Example 45 may optionally include that the at least one group of sensors includes pressure sensors, temperature sensors and / or lighting controls.

[0087] In Example 47, the subject matter of Example 46 may optionally include that when the at least one group of sensors includes lighting controls, the at least one group of processors is further configured to receive at least one group lighting signals generated and transmitted by the host system based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors.

[0088] In Example 48, the subject matter of any of Examples 44 to 47 may optionally include that the processor identifiers of the at least one group of processors includes location information of the at least one group of processors having 2-dimensional coordinates and / or 3 -dimensional coordinates and the at least one combined haptic signal generated and transmitted by the host system or the haptic pattern generator is associated with the location information.

[0089] In Example 49, the subject matter of any of Examples 44 to 48 may optionally include that processors of each group of the at least one group of processors are in serial connection, and the at least one group of processors are connected in daisy chain formation.

[0090] In Example 50, the subject matter of any of Examples 44 to 49 may the group identifiers with respect to each group of the at least one group of processors include a device type of a respective group.

[0091] In Example 51, the subject matter of any of Examples 44 to 50 may optionally include that the respective combined haptic signal of the at least one combined haptic signals includes first to N-th haptic segments corresponding to first to N-th processors of the corresponding respective group of processors of the at least one group of processors, and wherein the first to N-th processors of the corresponding respective group of processors is configured to: for each k, 1 < k < N, relay the (k+l)-th to N-th haptic segments of the first to N-th haptic segments of the respective combined haptic signal by the k-th processor to the (k+1) processor of the first to N-th processors of the corresponding respective group of processors.

[0092] In Example 52, the subject matter of Example 51 may optionally include that each of the first to N-th processors is associated with a haptic actuator, collectively, first to N-th haptic actuators, and that the k-th haptic actuator associated with in the k-th processor is configured to be actuated by the k-th haptic segment.

[0093] In Example 53, the subject matter of Example 51 or Example 52 may optionally include that the k-th processor of the first to N-th processors is located in a close proximity of the (k+ 1 )-th processor of the first to N-th processors.

[0094] In Example 54, the subject matter of any of Examples 44 to 53 may optionally include that the at least one group of processors is regrouped to include a regrouped number of groups of processors, the regrouped number of groups of processors including a second number of groups of processors, the second number of groups being different from a first number of groups that the at least one group of processors includes.

[0095] Example 55 is a host system including: a memory; and at least one processor, configured to receive information relating to at least one group of processors of a haptic system, wherein the information relating to the at least one group of processors of the haptic system includes processor identifiers of the at least one group of processors and group identifiers with respect to each group of the at least one group of processors, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to generate and transmit at least one combined haptic signal based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors.

[0096] Example 56 is a computer program element including program instructions, which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method of any of Examples 1 to 12 and 25 to 41.

[0097] Example 57 is a computer-readable medium including program instructions, which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method of any of Examples 1 to 12 and 25 to 41.

[0098] In the following description, example configurations and systems / devices are first described that may employ the techniques described herein. Example details and methods are then described which may be performed in the example configurations and by the systems / devices as well as in other configurations and by other systems / devices. Consequently, implementation of the example details and methods is not limited to the example configurations and systems / devices, and the example configurations and systems / devices are not limited to the example details and methods.

[0099] FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a haptic system 100 in connection to a host system 900 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. According to various nonlimiting embodiments, the system 100 may be physically and communicatively coupled to the host system 900 via an interface of the host system 900. The system 100 may also be wirelessly and communicatively coupled to the host system 900 via the interface of the host system 900. The host system 900 may include any suitable system and / or device such as, by way of example and not as a limitation, a personal computer, a laptop, a game console, and the like. The system 100 may include any suitable system and / or device that generates haptic feedback or haptic effects and includes a software to generate haptic signals and a hardware to actuate haptic effects in response to the haptic signals, such as, by way of example and not as a limitation, a wearable device (e.g. watch, wrist or leg bands, glasses, clothes, etc.), a tablet, a phone, and the like.[000100] In some embodiments, the system 100 may include a haptic pattern generator 101 configured to generate and transmit a combined haptic signal (e.g. based on the haptic pattern generated by the host system 900) that includes first to N-th signals, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 2. Each of the first to N-th signals may have a signal identifier. In other embodiments, the system 100 may not include the haptic pattern generator 101, and the combined haptic signal may be generated (e.g. based on the haptic pattern generated by the host system 900) and transmitted by the host system 900.[000101] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the system 100 may further include at least one group of haptic processors, each group of haptic processors including first to N-th haptic processors 110. The first haptic processor 111 of the first to N-th haptic processors 110 may be configured to receive the combined haptic signal and relay a firstmodulated signal to the second haptic processor 112 of the first to N-th haptic processors 110. The first modulated signal may be modulated by the first haptic processor 111 based on the combined haptic signal and the first signal of the first to N-th signals. The modulation of the first modulated signal will be described below in greater details.[000102] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the signal identifiers of the first to N-th signals may each include a signal identifier that enables the first to N-th haptic processors 110 identify the first to N-th signals. For example, the signal identifiers of the first to N-th signals may include a sequence, a data type or a label of the first to N-th signals.[000103] In the context of various embodiments, “a combined haptic signal” may refer to a haptic signal originally generated by a haptic pattern generator and including a plurality of segment / component signals (e.g. sub-signals). That may mean that the combined haptic signal includes multiple sub-signals which may be extracted or separated from the combined haptic signal. The combined haptic signal may be used interchangeably with a composite haptic signal.[000104] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the haptic pattern generator 101 may be configured to receive a haptic command from the host system 900 and generate the combined haptic signal based on the haptic command.[000105] According to various non-limiting embodiments, when N is an integer greater than or equal to 3, for each m, 2 < m < N-l, the m-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors may be configured to relay an m-th modulated signal to the (m+l)-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors, wherein the m-th modulated signal is modulated based on the (m-l)-th modulated signal and the m-th signal of the first to N-th signals.[000106] According to various non-limiting embodiments, when N may be an integer greater than or equal to 3, for each m, 2 < m < N-l, the m-th haptic processor of the first to N-th processors 110 may be configured to relay the m-th modulated signal to the (m+l)-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors 110 located in a close proximity of the m-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors 110. According to various non-limiting embodiments, the first to N-th haptic processors 110 may be divided in groups, and each group of haptic processors may be arranged in a line and the lines of the groups of the haptic processors are parallel. The arrangement of the first to N-th processors 110 will be described in greater details with reference to FIG. 7.[000107] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the haptic pattern generator 101 may be further configured to generate and transmit a subsequent combined haptic signal that includes first to N-th subsequent signals, each of the first to N-th subsequent signals having a signal identifier, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The combined haptic signal may be transmitted in a first time period and the subsequent combined haptic signal may be transmitted in a second time period, and a time interval exists between the first time period and the second time period. The transmission of the subsequent combined haptic signal will be described in greater details with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.[000108] FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting an example haptic system 200 in connection to the host system 900 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The system 200 may be similar to the system 100 of FIG. 1, and thus various embodiments described with reference to FIG. 1 are analogously valid for the system 200 of FIG. 2, and vice versa.[000109] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the system 200 may include a haptic pattern generator 201 configured to generate and transmit a combined haptic signal that includes first to N-th signals, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 2. Each of the first to N-th signals may have a signal identifier. The system 200 may further include first to N-th haptic processors including haptic processors 211, 212, 213, 214 as shown in FIG. 2. The first haptic processor 211 may be configured to receive the combined haptic signal and relay a first modulated signal to the second haptic processor 212. The first modulated signal may be modulated based on the combined haptic signal and the first signal of the first to N-th signals. [000110] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the signal identifiers of the first to N-th signals may include a series of first to N-th timeframes. Each of the series of timeframes may include a variable length of time. For example, the series of timeframes may include a length of time of 500 ms, 200 ms, or 100 ms. Each of the series of timeframes may alternatively or additionally include a same length of time. For example, each of the series of timeframes may include a length of time of 500 ms, 200 ms, or 100 ms. The combined haptic signal may be a haptic pattern 203 in digital format, i.e. digital haptic pattern 203. The first to N-th haptic processors may be configured to convert the haptic pattern in digital format to haptic signals in analog format, that is, convert the digital haptic pattern to analog haptic signals. The conversion of the signal will be described in greater details with reference to FIG. 3.[000111] In an exemplary embodiment, the combined haptic signal (i.e. the haptic pattern 203) is shown as “1010110011001110” in FIG. 2. The combined haptic signal may include afirst signal “1010” having a first identifier 203a, a second signal “1100” having a second identifier 203b, a third signal “1100” having a third identifier 203c, and a fourth signal “1110” having a fourth identifier 203d. The first identifier 203a may be a first timeframe of the series of first to N-th timeframes, the second identifier 203b may be a second timeframe of the series of first to N-th timeframes, the third identifier 203 c may be a third timeframe of the series of first to N-th timeframes, and the fourth identifier 203 d may be a fourth timeframe of the series of first to N-th timeframes. In this embodiment, N is equal to 4.[000112] According to various non-limiting embodiments, for each k, 1 < k < N, the k-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors may be configured to identify the k-th signal in the k-th timeframe of the series of first to N-th timeframes. In other words, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first signal “1010” may be in the first timeframe of the series of first to N-th timeframes, the second signal “1010” may be in the second timeframe of the series of first to N-th timeframes, the third signal “1010” may be in the third timeframe of the series of first to N-th timeframes, and the fourth signal “1010” may be in the fourth timeframe of the series of first to N-th timeframes.[000113] In the exemplary embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the combined haptic signal “1010110011001110” may be generated and transmitted by the haptic pattern generator 201 to the first haptic processor 211. The first haptic processor 211 may receive the combined haptic signal “1010110011001110” through an “IN” interface thereof. The first haptic processor 211 may further be configured to modulate the combined haptic signal “1010110011001110” so as to generate a first modulated signal “110011001110”. In other words, the first haptic processor 211 may extract the first signal “1010” from the combined haptic signal “1010110011001110” and generate the first modulated signal “110011001110”. That may mean that the first haptic processor 211 may identify the first signal “1010” in the first timeframe of the series of first to N-th timeframes, that is, by the first identifier of the first signal. The first haptic processor 211 may be further configured to relay the first modulated signal “110011001110” through an “OUT” interface to the second haptic processor 212 through an “IN” interface of the second haptic processor 212. The “IN” and “OUT” interfaces of the first haptic processor 211 may be a same interface.[000114] The second haptic processor 212, the third haptic processor 213 and the fourth haptic processor 214 may function similarly to the first haptic processor 211. The second haptic processor 212 may extract the second signal “1100” from the first modulated haptic signal “110011001110” and generate a second modulated signal “11001110”. That may meanthat the second haptic processor 212 may identify the second signal “1100” in the second timeframe of the series of first to N-th timeframes, that is, by the second identifier of the second signal. The second haptic processor 212 may be further configured to relay the second modulated signal “11001110” through an “OUT” interface to the third haptic processor 213 through an “IN” interface of the third haptic processor 213. The “IN” and “OUT” interfaces of the second haptic processor 212 may be a same interface.[000115] The third haptic processor 213 may extract the third signal “1100” from the second modulated haptic signal “11001110” and generate a third modulated signal “1110”. That may mean that the third haptic processor 213 may identify the third signal “1100” in the third timeframe of the series of first to N-th timeframes, that is, by the third identifier of the third signal. The third haptic processor 213 may be further configured to relay the third modulated signal “1110” through an “OUT” interface to the fourth haptic processor 214 through an “IN” interface of the fourth haptic processor 214. The “IN” and “OUT” interfaces of the third haptic processor 213 may be a same interface.[000116] The fourth haptic processor 214 may extract the fourth signal “1110” from the third modulated haptic signal “1110”. That may mean that the fourth haptic processor 214 may identify the fourth signal “1110” in the fourth timeframe of the series of first to N-th timeframes, that is, by the fourth identifier of the fourth signal. The first haptic processor 211 may be further configured to detect that the third modulated signal “1110” includes only the fourth signal “1110” and stop modulating to generate a further modulated signal. The fourth haptic processor 214 may further include an “OUT” interface for output further signals (if any). The “IN” and “OUT” interfaces of the fourth haptic processor 214 may be a same interface.[000117] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the system 200 may further include first to N-th haptic devices, wherein for each k, 1 < k < N, the k-th haptic device of the first to N-th haptic devices may be in electrical connection with the k-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors and actuated by a haptic signal in analog format converted by the k-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors.[000118] In the exemplary embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, the first haptic processor 211 may be configured to convert the first digital signal “1010” to a first analog haptic signal and further configured to transmit the first analog haptic signal to the first haptic device 221 so as to actuate the first haptic device 221 to have haptic effects. Similarly, the second haptic processor 212 may be configured to convert the second digital signal “1100” to a secondanalog haptic signal and further configured to transmit the second analog haptic signal to the second haptic device 222 so as to actuate the second haptic device 222 to have haptic effects; the third haptic processor 213 may be configured to convert the third digital signal “1100” to a third analog haptic signal and further configured to transmit the third analog haptic signal to the third haptic device 223 so as to actuate the third haptic device 223 to have haptic effects; and the fourth haptic processor 214 may be configured to convert the fourth digital signal “1110” to a fourth analog haptic signal and further configured to transmit the fourth analog haptic signal to the fourth haptic device 224 so as to actuate the fourth haptic device 224 to have haptic effects. The first to N-th haptic devices 221, 222, 223, 224 may sequentially or serially receive the first to N-th analog haptic signals from the first to N-th haptic processors 211, 212, 213, 214 and be sequentially or serially actuated to have haptic effects.[000119] FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting the first haptic processor 211 of the haptic system 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As described above, the second haptic processor 212, the third haptic processor 213 and the fourth haptic processor 214 may function similarly to the first haptic processor 211.[000120] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the first haptic processor 211 may include a digital to analog conversion circuit 21 la and a signal driving circuit 21 lb. The digital to analog conversion circuit 211a may be configured to convert the first digital signal (e.g. “1010”) extracted from the combined haptic signal (e.g. “1010110011001110”) into analog haptic signal 301. The signal driving circuit 211b may be configured to amplify (e.g. by an amplifier embedded therein) the analog haptic signal 301 to amplified analog haptic signal 302 and transmit the amplified analog haptic signal 302 to the haptic device 221 so as to actuate the haptic device 221.[000121] FIG. 4 is a diagram 400 showing various haptic patterns Pl, P2, P3, P4, that may be generated by the haptic pattern generator 201 of the haptic system 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a block diagram 500 depicting haptic patterns generated and transmitted over time by the haptic pattern generator 201 of the haptic system 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a block diagram 600 depicting a relay system of the haptic system 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.[000122] According to various non-limiting embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, the haptic pattern generator 201 of the haptic system 200 may generate various (periodic) haptic patternsPl, P2, P3, P4, over time 405. The various (periodic) haptic patterns Pl, P2, P3, P4 may each include various amplitudes and periods over time 405.[000123] According to various non-limiting embodiments, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, at time t, the haptic pattern generator 201 of the haptic system 200 may generate and transmit a combined haptic signal 401 including first portions of the haptic patterns Pl, P2, P3, P4, at time t, i.e. representing by the dash line above the time t. Subsequently, at time t+1, the haptic pattern generator 201 of the haptic system 200 may generate and transmit a first subsequent combined haptic signal 402 including second portions of the haptic patterns Pl, P2, P3, P4, at time t+1, i.e. representing by the dash line above the time t+1; at time t+2, the haptic pattern generator 201 of the haptic system 200 may generate and transmit a second subsequent combined haptic signal 403 including third portions of the haptic patterns Pl, P2, P3, P4, at time t+2, i.e. representing by the dash line above the time t+2; and at time t+3, the haptic pattern generator 201 of the haptic system 200 may generate and transmit a third subsequent combined haptic signal 404 including fourth portions of the haptic patterns Pl, P2, P3, P4, at time t+4, i.e. representing by the dash line above the time t+4.[000124] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the combined haptic signal 401 may be transmitted in a first time period (e.g. t) and the first subsequent combined haptic signal 402 may be transmitted in a second time period (e.g. t+1), and a first time interval 501 (e.g. a gap) may exist between the first time period and the second time period. Similarly, the second subsequent combined haptic signal 403 may be transmitted in a third time period (e.g. t+2), and a second time interval 502 (e.g. a gap) may exist between the second time period and the third time period. That may mean during the first time interval 501, the second time interval 502, the haptic pattern generator 201 may not transmit signals to the first haptic processor 211. The first time interval 501 and the second time interval 502 may serve as separators for the haptic signals 401, 402, 403, in a manner that the haptic processors (e.g. 211, 212, 213, 214) may differentiate haptic signals 401, 402, 403 at time t, t+1, and t+2. The transmission speed of the haptic signals (e.g. at IMhz) is orders of magnitude higher than the transmission speed of the haptic effects (e.g. at 4Khz), so that there may be no pauses in the haptic effects even though there are gaps in the haptic signal transmission.[000125] Now referring to FIG. 6 and as described herein, the combined haptic signal and the subsequent combined haptic signals may each include first to N-th (subsequent) signals, for example, including first to n-th pattern signals including 1stpattern signal, 2ndpattern signal, nthpattern signal. The combined haptic signal (e.g. DI) may be generated andtransmitted by the haptic pattern generator 201 to the first haptic processor 211. The first haptic processor 211 may further be configured to modulate the combined haptic signal (e.g. DI) so as to generate a first modulated signal (e.g. D2). In other words, the first haptic processor 211 may extract the 1stpattern signal from the combined haptic signal (e.g. DI) and generate the first modulated signal (e.g. D2). The first modulated signal (e.g. D2) may be transmitted by the first haptic processor 211 to the second haptic processor 212. The second haptic processor 212 may further be configured to modulate the first modulated haptic signal (e.g. D2) so as to generate a second modulated signal (e.g. D3). In other words, the second haptic processor 212 may extract the 2ndpattern signal from the first modulated haptic signal (e.g. D2) and generate the second modulated signal (e.g. D3).[000126] Sequentially and likewise, the m-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors may be configured to relay an m-th modulated signal to the (m+l)-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors, wherein the m-th modulated signal is modulated based on the (m-l)-th modulated signal and the m-th pattern signal of the first to n-th pattern signals. The (n-l)*11modulated signal (e.g. DN)) may be transmitted by the (N-l)thhaptic processor to the Nthhaptic processor. The Nthhaptic processor may be configured to detect that the (n-l)*11modulated haptic signal (e.g. DN) includes only the nthpattern signal and therefore stops modulating and generating a further modulated signal. In other words, the Nthhaptic processor may be configured to detect that the (n-l)*11modulated haptic signal (e.g. DN) includes only the nthpattern signal by identifying the signal identifier associated with nthpattern signal being the sole identifier in the (n- l )thmodulated haptic signal.[000127] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an exemplary arrangement of haptic processors of a haptic system 700 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The haptic system 700 with reference to FIG. 7 (e.g. a gaming vest) may be similar to the system 100 of FIG. 1 and system 200 of FIG. 2, and thus various embodiments described with reference to FIG. 7 are analogously valid for the systems 100, 200 of FIGS. 1 and 2, and vice versa.[000128] As described above, the m-th haptic processor of the first to N-th processors may be configured to relay the m-th modulated signal to the (m+l)-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors located in a close proximity of the m-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors. In other words, a respective haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors may relay the modulated signal generated by the respective haptic processor to its neighboring haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors.[000129] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the first to N-th haptic processors may be divided in groups, and each group of haptic processors may be arranged in a line and lines of the groups of the haptic processors are separated apart. In an exemplary embodiment of a gaming vest 700 as shown in FIG. 7, the first to N-th haptic processors may be divided in two groups including a first group of haptic processors 701, 703, 705 and 707 arranged on the right side of the gaming vest. It should be appreciated that the first to N-th haptic processors may include a second group of haptic processors (not shown) which may be symmetrically arranged on the left side of the gaming vest.[000130] The first group of haptic processors 701, 703, 705 and 707 may be further divided into four subgroups 701, 703, 705 and 707 and the subgroups 701, 703, 705 and 707 may each include a same number of haptic processors and be serially connected. That is, the first subgroup of haptic processors 701, is in serial connection with the second subgroup of haptic processors 702, and so forth. The four subgroups of haptic processors 701, 703, 705 and 707 may be arranged in a respective straight line and straight lines of the four subgroups of the haptic processors 701, 703, 705 and 707 may be parallel. Each of the four subgroups of haptic processors 701, 703, 705 and 707 may be vertically disposed on the gaming vest 700. The first haptic processor may be a right starting haptic processor (701a or 707a) located on either end of the serially connected haptic processors 701, 703, 705 and 707. Accordingly, a user of the gaming vest 700 may feel the right-side haptic effects starting from the right starting haptic processor (701a or 707a) and serially transmitting along a right signal line 702 to a right end haptic processor located on the other end (707a or 701a). Consecutively, the user of the gaming vest 700 may feel the left-side haptic effect starting from a left starting haptic processor connected with the right end haptic processor located on the other end (707a or 701a) of the serially connected haptic processors 701, 703, 705 and 707 and located on one end of a serially connected haptic processors disposed on the left side of the gaming vest and serially transmitting along a left signal line to a left end haptic processor located on the other end of the serially connected haptic processors disposed on the left side of the gaming vest.[000131] In an alternative embodiment, the gaming vest 700 may include a first set of first to N-th haptic processors located on the right side of the gaming vest 700 and a second set of first to N-th haptic processors located on the left side of the gaming vest 700. Accordingly, a user of the gaming vest 700 may feel the haptic effects simultaneously starting on the right and left sides of the gaming vest, instead of sequentially or serially as described in the above embodiment.[000132] It should be appreciated that although the four subgroups of the haptic processors 701, 703, 705 and 707 are vertically disposed on the gaming vest as shown in FIG. 7, the arrangement of the four subgroups of the haptic processors 701, 703, 705 and 707 shall not be limited to such an arrangement and shall include any possible arrangement such as horizontally disposed, diagonally disposed, and spiral / rotating / surrounding circles.[000133] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method 800 implemented by an example haptic system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. According to various non-limiting embodiments, the method 800 may be implemented by any suitable system as described herein, for example, systems 100 and 200, particularly, a haptic system.[000134] The method 800 may include generating and transmitting a combined haptic signal that includes a plurality of signals having first to N-th signals, (for example, by the haptic pattern generators 101, 201), each of the first to N-th signals having a signal identifier, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 2 (at step 801).[000135] The method 800 may further include receiving the combined haptic signal by a first haptic processor of at least one group of haptic processors, each group of haptic processors including first to N-th haptic processors (at step 803), for example, the first haptic processors 111, 211. The method 800 may also include relaying by the first haptic processor of the at least one group of haptic processors (e.g. the first to N-th haptic processors) a first modulated signal to the second haptic processor of the at least one group of haptic processors (e.g. the first to N-th haptic processors), wherein the first modulated signal is modulated based on the combined haptic signal and the first signal of the plurality of signals (e.g. the first to N-th signals) (at step 805).[000136] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the signal identifiers of the first to N-th signals may each include a signal identifier that enables the first to N-th haptic processors identify the first to N-th signals. For example, the signal identifiers of the first to N-th signals may include a sequence, a data type or a label of the first to N-th signals.[000137] In the context of various embodiments, “a combined haptic signal” may refer to a haptic signal originally generated by a haptic pattern generator and including a plurality of segment / component signals (e.g. sub-signals). That may mean that the combined haptic signal includes multiple sub-signals which may be extracted or separated from the combined haptic signal. The combined haptic signal may be used interchangeably with a composite haptic signal.[000138] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the method 800 may further include receiving a haptic command from a host system (e.g. the hots system 900) and generating the combined haptic signal based on the haptic command.[000139] According to various non-limiting embodiments, when N is an integer greater than or equal to 3, for each m, 2 < m < N-l, the method 800 may include relaying, by the m-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors, an m-th modulated signal to the (m+1)- th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors, wherein the m-th modulated signal is modulated based on the (m-l)-th modulated signal and the m-th signal of the first to N-th signals.[000140] According to various non-limiting embodiments, when N may be an integer greater than or equal to 3, for each m, 2 < m < N-l, the method 800 may include relaying, by the m- th haptic processor of the first to N-th processors, the m-th modulated signal to the (m+l)-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors located in a close proximity of the m-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors.[000141] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the first to N-th haptic processors may be divided in groups, and each group of haptic processors may be arranged in a line and the lines of the groups of the haptic processors are parallel.[000142] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the method 800 may include generating and transmitting, by the haptic pattern generator, a subsequent combined haptic signal that includes first to N-th subsequent signals, each of the first to N-th subsequent signals having a signal identifier, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The combined haptic signal may be transmitted in a first time period and the subsequent combined haptic signal may be transmitted in a second time period, and a time interval exists between the first time period and the second time period.[000143] While the method described above is illustrated and described as a series of steps or events, it will be appreciated that any ordering of such steps or events are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense. For example, some steps may occur in different orders and / or concurrently with other steps or events apart from those illustrated and / or described herein. In addition, not all illustrated steps may be required to implement one or more aspects or embodiments described herein. Also, one or more of the steps depicted herein may be carried out in one or more separate acts and / or phases.[000144] FIG. 9 is a block diagram depicting a haptic system 1100 in connection to a host system 900 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. According to variousnon-limiting embodiments, the system 1100 may be physically and communicatively coupled to the host system 900 via an interface of the host system 900. The system 1100 may also be wirelessly and communicatively coupled to the host system 900 via the interface of the host system 900. The host system 900 may include any suitable system and / or device such as, by way of example and not as a limitation, a personal computer, a laptop, a game console, and the like. The system 1100 may include any suitable system and / or device that generates haptic feedback or haptic effects and includes a software (e.g. a firmware) to generate haptic signals and a hardware to actuate haptic effects in response to the haptic signals, such as, by way of example and not as a limitation, a wearable device (e.g. watch, wrist or leg bands, glasses, clothes, etc.), a tablet, a phone, and the like.[000145] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the system 1100 may include at least one group of processors 1102, configured to transmit information relating to the at least one group of processors 1102 to the host system 900. The at least one group of processors 1102 may include a first group of processors 1110, a second group of processors 1120, a third group of processors 1130, a fourth group of processors 1140, a fifth group of processors 1150, a sixth group of processors 1160, as shown in FIG. 9. Any group of processors of the at least group of processors 1102 may include first to Nth haptic processors as described hereinbefore (e.g. in FIG. 1). It should be appreciated that the at least one group of processors 1102 is not limited to six groups of processors as shown in FIG. 9 but may include any number of groups of processors in various embodiments. As shown in FIG. 9, the second group of processors 1120 and the third group of processors 1130 may connect with the first group of processors 1110; the sixth group of processors 1160 may connect to the second group of processors and the fourth group of processors 1140 may connect to the third group of processors 1140; and the fifth group of processors 1150 may connect to the fourth group of processors. It should be appreciated that the at least one group of processors 1102 is not limited to the configuration as shown in FIG. 9 but may include any configuration in various embodiments. For example, the fifth group of processors 1150 may connect to any of the second group of processors 1120, the third group of processors 1130, the sixth group of processors 1160. In some embodiments, the at least one group of processors 1102 may be connected in daisy chain formation. In some embodiments, processors of each group of the at least one group of processors 1102 may be in serial connection.[000146] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the information relating to the at least one group of processors 1102 may include processor identifiers of the at least one groupof processors 1102 and group identifiers with respect to each group of the at least one group of processorsl l02. For example, information relating to processors of the first group of processors 1110 of the at least one group of processors 1102 may include processor identifiers configured to identify (e.g. once processed by the software) a respective processor of the processors of the first group of processors 1110 of the at least one group of processors 1102, e.g. with regards to its sequence of the respective processor with reference to other processors of the first group of processors 1110. In some embodiments, the processor identifiers of the at least one group of processors 1102 may include location information of the at least one group of processors 1102. The location information of the at least one group of processors 1102 may have 2-dimensional coordinates, and / or 3-diemensional coordinates and the at least one combined haptic signal generated and transmitted by the host system 1100 may be associated with the location information.[000147] In some embodiments, information relating to processors of the first group of processors 1110 of the at least one group of processors 1102 may include group identifiers configured to identify (e.g. once processed by the software) that a respective processor of the processors of the first group of processors 1110 of the at least one group of processors 1102 belongs to the first group of processors 1110. The group identifiers with respect to each group of the at least one group of processors may include a device type of a respective group.[000148] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the at least one group of processors 1102 may be associated with at least one group of haptic actuators. In some embodiments, each processor of the at least one group of processors 1102 may be associated with a haptic actuator. A processor and a haptic actuator associated with the processor may be referred as a node. Accordingly, the system 1100 may include at least one group of nodes.[000149] In some embodiments, the system 1100 may include a haptic pattern generator (not shown) configured to generate and transmit a combined haptic signal (e.g. based on the haptic pattern generated by the host system 900) that includes first to N-th signals, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 2. In other embodiments, the system 1100 may not include the haptic pattern generator, and the combined haptic signal may be generated (e.g. based on the haptic pattern generated by the host system 900) and transmitted by the host system 900.[000150] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the at least one group of processors 1102 may be further configured to receive at least one combined haptic signal generated and transmitted by the host system 900 or by a haptic pattern generator based on theinformation relating to the at least one group of processors 1102. A corresponding respective group of processors of the at least one group of processors 1102 may be configured to relay a respective combined haptic signal of the at least one combined haptic signal. In other words, the at least one combined haptic signal may be generated for the at least one group of processors 1102 in a manner that a respective combined haptic signal of the at least one combined haptic signal is for a corresponding respective group of processors of the at least one group of processors 1102. For example, a first combined haptic signal of the at least one combined haptic signal is for the first group of processors 1110 of the at least one group of processors 1102 to actuate haptic actuators of the first group of processors 1110.[000151] In various embodiments, a respective combined haptic signal of the at least one combined haptic signal may include first to N-th haptic segments corresponding to first to N- th processors of the corresponding respective group of processors of the at least one group of processors 1102. The first to N-th processors of the corresponding respective group of processors may be configured to: for each k, 1 < k < N, relay the (k+l)-th to N-th haptic segments of the first to N-th haptic segments of the respective combined haptic signal by the k-th processor to the (k+1) processor of the first to N-th processors of the corresponding respective group of processors. Each of the first to N-th processors may be associated with a haptic actuator, collectively, first to N-th haptic actuators, and the k-th haptic actuator included in the k-th processor may be configured to be actuated by the k-th haptic segment. The k-th processor of the first to N-th processors may be located in a close proximity of the (k+l)-th processor of the first to N-th processors.[000152] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the at least one group of processors 1102 may further include at least one group of sensors and the information relating to the at least one group of processors 1102 may include sensor data. In some embodiments, the at least one group of sensors may include pressure sensors, temperature sensors and / or lighting controls. When the at least one group of sensors include lighting controls, the at least one group of processors 1102 may be further configured to receive at least one group lighting signals generated and transmitted by the host system 900 based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors 1102.[000153] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the at least one group of processors 1102 of the haptic system 1100 may be regrouped to include a regrouped number of groups of processors. The regrouped number of groups of processors may include a second number of groups of processors, the second number of groups being different from a firstnumber of groups that the at least one group of processors 1102 includes. For example, the regrouped number of groups of processors may include the first group of processors 1110, the fourth group of processors 1140, the fifth group of processors 1150, and the sixth group of processors 1160. That may mean to remove the second group of processors 1120 and the third group of processors 1130 from the at least one group of processors 1102 to obtain the regrouped number of groups of processors. The regrouped number of groups of processors may be configured to transmit regrouped information relating to the regrouped number of groups of processors to the host system 900. The regrouped information relating to the regrouped number of groups of processors may include processor identifiers of the regrouped number of groups of processors and group identifiers with respect to each group of the regrouped number of groups of processors. The regrouped number of groups of processors may be associated with a regrouped number of haptic actuators. The regrouped number of groups of processors may be further configured to receive a regrouped number of combined haptic signals generated and transmitted by the host system 900 or the haptic pattern generator based on the regrouped information relating to the regrouped number of groups of processors. A corresponding respective group of processors of the regrouped number of groups of processors may be configured to relay a respective combined haptic signal of the regrouped number of combined haptic signals.[000154] FIG. 10 is a block diagram depicting a haptic system 1200 in connection to the host system 900 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The system 1200 may be similar to the system 1100 of FIG. 9 and include the features of the system 1100, and thus various embodiments, modifications and variations described with reference to the system 1100 of FIG. 9 are analogously valid for the system 1200 of FIG. 10, and vice versa.[000155] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the system 1200 may include at least one group of processors 1202, configured to transmit information relating to the at least one group of processors 1202 to the host system 900. The at least one group of processors 1202 may include a first group of processors 1, 2, 3, ..., a second group of processors 10, 11, 12, ..., a third group of processors 20, 21, 22, ..., as shown in FIG. 10. In some embodiments, processors of each group of the at least one group of processors 1202 may be in serial connection.[000156] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the system 1200 may further include a device processor 1220. Accordingly, the at least group of processors 1202 may communicate with the host system 900 via the device processor 1220. The device processor1220 may receive the information relating to the at least one group of processors 1202 from the at least group of processors 1202 and transmit the information relating to the at least one group of processors 1202 to the host system 900. The device processor 1220 may include a haptic pattern generator (not shown) configured to generate and transmit combined haptic signal(s) (e.g. based on the haptic pattern generated by the host system 900), each of the combined haptic signal may include first to N-th signals[000157] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the information relating to the at least one group of processors 1202 may include processor identifiers (e.g. processor information) of the at least one group of processors 1202 and group identifiers (e.g. processor information) with respect to each group of the at least one group of processors 1202.[000158] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the at least one group of processors 1202 may be associated with at least one group of haptic actuators. In some embodiments, each processor of the at least one group of processors 1202 may be associated with a haptic actuator.[000159] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the at least one group of processors 1202 may be further configured to receive, via the device processor 1220, at least one combined haptic signal generated and transmitted by the host system 900 based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors 1202. That is, the device processor 1220 may receive the at least one combined haptic signal generated and transmitted by the host system 900 based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors 1202, and transmit respective combined haptic signal to a respective group of processors of the at least one group of processors 1202. Accordingly, a corresponding respective group of processors of the at least one group of processors 1202 may be configured to relay the respective combined haptic signal of the at least one combined haptic signal among the respective group of processors.[000160] In various embodiments, the at least one combined haptic signal may include three combined haptic signals as shown in FIG. 10. A first combined haptic signal of the three combined haptic signals may include first to N-th haptic segments corresponding to first to N- th processors of the first group of processors 1, 2, 3, N, of the at least one group of processors 1202. A second combined haptic signal of the three combined haptic signals may include first to N-th haptic segments corresponding to first to N-th processors of the second group of processors 10, 11, 12, ..., N, of the at least one group of processors 1202. A third combined haptic signal of the three combined haptic signals may include first to N-th hapticsegments corresponding to first to N-th processors of the third group of processors 20, 21, 22, N, of the at least one group of processors 1202.[000161] The first processor 1 of the first group of processors 1, 2, 3, N, may be configured to relay the 2nd to N-th haptic segments of the first to N-th haptic segments of the first combined haptic signal to the second processor 2 of the first to N-th processors of the first group of processors 1, 2, 3, N. Each of the first to N-th processors of the first group of processors 1, 2, 3, N, may be associated with a haptic actuator, collectively, first to N-th haptic actuators. The first haptic actuator associated with the first processor 1 may be configured to be actuated by the first haptic segment of the first combined haptic signal. The second processor 2 of the first group of processors 1, 2, 3, N, may be configured to relay the 3rd to N-th haptic segments of the first to N-th haptic segments of the first combined haptic signal to the third processor 3 of the first to N-th processors of the first group of processors 1, 2, 3, N. The second haptic actuator associated with the second processor 2 may be configured to be actuated by the second haptic segment of the first combined haptic signal. The third 3 to N-th processors of the first group of processors 1, 2, 3, N, may function similarly to the second processor 2 of the first group of processors 1, 2, 3, N.[000162] The N-th processor of the first group of processors 1, 2, 3, N, may further be configured to transmit the information relating to the N-th processor of the first group of processors 1, 2, 3, N, to (N-l)-th processor of the first group of processors 1, 2, 3, N, and so forth, the first processor 1 of the first group of processors 1, 2, 3, ..., N, may further be configured to transmit the information relating to the first to N-th processors of the first group of processors 1, 2, 3, N, to the host system 900 via the device processor 1220. Stated differently, the first processor 1 of the first group of processors 1, 2, 3, N, may transmit the information relating to the first processor and the information relating to the second to N- th processors of the first group of processors 1, 2, 3, ..., N, received from the second processor 2, to the device processor 1220, and the device processor 1220 transmit the information relating to the first to N-th processors of the first group of processors 1, 2, 3, .. N to the host system 900.[000163] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the second group of processors 10, 11, 12, ..., N, and the third group of processors 20, 21, 22, ..., N, may function similarly to the first group of processors 1, 2, 3, ..., N, in accordance with a second combined haptic signal and a third combined haptic signal from the device processor 1220, respectively.[000164] FIG. 11 is a block diagram depicting a processor 1300 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The processor 1300 may be similar to the processors of the system 100 of FIG. 9 and the processors of the system 200 of FIG. 10, and thus various embodiments, modifications and variations described with reference to the processors of the system 100 of FIG. 9 and the processors of the system 200 of FIG. 10 are analogously valid for the processor 1300 of FIG. 11, and vice versa. The processor 1300 may be associated with a haptic actuator 1310 similar to the processors of the system 100 of FIG. 9 and the processors of the system 200 of FIG. 10. The processor 1300 may in connection with a processor upstream and a processor downstream. Accordingly, the processor 1300 may transmit information relating to the processor 1300 and information relating to processors downstream received from the processor downstream to the processor upstream, and receive haptic signal from the processor upstream and relay the haptic signal to the processor downstream.[000165] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the processor 1300 may further include at least one group of sensors and the information relating to the processor 1300 may include sensor data. The sensor data may be acquired at time intervals, i.e. acquiring interval sensor data including a first interval data acquired at the beginning of a first time interval, a second interval data acquired at the end of the first time interval / the beginning of a second time interval, and so forth. The time intervals may have a same length of period (e.g. at a regular interval). In some embodiments, the at least one group of sensors may include a pressure sensor 1320, a temperature sensor 1330 and / or lighting control 1340. When the at least one group of sensors include lighting control 1340, the processor 1300 may be further configured to receive lighting signal generated and transmitted by the host system 900 based on the information relating to the processor 1300. The light control 1340 may be controlled by the received lighting signal.[000166] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the processor 1300 may include a pair of input ports and a pair of output ports and be in connection with an immediately upstream processor and an immediately downstream processor via the input and output ports. Accordingly, the processor 1300 may transmit information (e.g. processor and group identifiers) relating to the processor 1300 and information relating to downstream processors (including the immediately downstream processor) received from the immediately downstream processor to the immediately upstream processor, and receive haptic signal from the immediately upstream processor, consume a first haptic segment of the received haptic signal, and relay the remaining of the received haptic signal to the immediately downstreamprocessor. Transmitting the information (e.g. processor and group identifiers) relating to the processor 1300 and the information relating to downstream processors (including the immediately downstream processor) received from the immediately downstream processor to the immediately upstream processor may include receiving the information relating to downstream processors (including the immediately downstream processor) from the immediately downstream processor, appending the information relating to the processor 1300 to the information relating to downstream processors, and send new information (i.e. the information relating to downstream processors appended with the information relating to the processor 1300) to the immediately upstream processor.[000167] In some embodiments, the processor 1300 may also transmit sensor reading obtained by the at least one group of sensors of the processor 1300 and sensor reading obtained by sensors of downstream processors (including the immediately downstream processor) received from the immediately downstream processor to the immediately upstream processor. Transmitting the sensor reading obtained by the at least one group of sensors of the processor 1300 and sensor reading obtained by sensors of downstream processors (including the immediately downstream processor) received from the immediately downstream processor to the immediately upstream processor may include receiving the sensor reading obtained by sensors of downstream processors (including the immediately downstream processor) from the immediately downstream processor, appending the sensor reading obtained by the at least one group of sensors of the processor 1300 to the sensor reading obtained by sensors of downstream processors, and send new sensor reading (i.e. the sensor reading obtained by sensors of downstream processors appended with the sensor reading obtained by the at least one group of sensors of the processor 1300) to the immediately upstream processor.[000168] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing data communication in a haptic system 1400 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The system 1400 may be similar to the system 100 of FIG. 9 and the system 200 of FIG. 10, and include the features of the systems 100, 200. Accordingly, various embodiments, modifications and variations described with reference to the system 100 of FIG. 9 and the system 200 of FIG. 10 are analogously valid for the system 1400 of FIG. 12, and vice versa.[000169] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the system 1400 may include at least one group of processors 1402, configured to transmit information relating to the at least one group of processors 1402 to a host system (e.g. the host system 900). The at least one group of processors 1402 may at least include a first group of processors including upstreamprocessor(s) 43, processor 44, processor 45, processor 46, and downstream processor(s) 47, as shown in FIG. 12. In some embodiments, the first group of processors of the at least one group of processors 1402 may be in serial connection.[000170] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the information relating to first group of processors of the at least one group of processors 1402 may include processor identifiers (e.g. processor information for identifying the processor) of the first group of processors and group identifiers (e.g. processor information for identifying a type of haptic device, e.g. a vest, a sleeve, a glove, etc) with respect to the first group.[000171] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the first group of processors of the at least one group of processors 1402 may be associated with a first group of haptic actuators. In some embodiments, each processor of the first group of processors may be associated with a haptic actuator. According to various non-limiting embodiments, the first group of processors may further include a first group of sensors and the information relating to the first group of processors of the at least one group of processors 1402 may include sensor data. In some embodiments, the group of sensors may include a pressure sensor.[000172] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the first group of processors may be configured to receive a first combined haptic signal and a first group lighting signal (e.g. LED color information) generated and transmitted by the host system based on the information relating to the first group of processors of the at least one group of processors 1402.[000173] In various embodiments, the first combined haptic signal may include downlink data corresponding to upstream processor(s) 43, processor 44, processor 45, processor 46, and downstream processor(s) 47, as shown in FIG. 12, of the at least one group of processors 1402. the first group lighting signal may include downlink data corresponding to upstream processor(s) 43, processor 44, processor 45, processor 46, and downstream processor(s) 47, as shown in FIG. 12, of the at least one group of processors 1402. The first combined haptic signal and the first group lighting signal may be combined as downstream data set.[000174] According to various embodiments, the processor 44 of a first group of processors including upstream processor(s) 43, processor 44, processor 45, processor 46, and downstream processor(s) 47 may be configured to transmit the information relating to the processor 44, processor 45, processor 46, and downstream processor(s) 47, to the upstream processor 43.[000175] According to various embodiments, the processor 44 of the first group of processors of the at least one group of processors 1402 may be configured to receive downlink data 44 of the downlink data received from the host system from the upstream processor 43,consume haptic segment D44 of the downlink data 44, relay the downlink data 45 (i.e. including the remaining segment of the downlink data 44) of the first combined haptic signal to the processor 45 of the first group of processors. Process of the first group lighting signal may be similar to the process of the first combined haptic signal as described herein. The processor 45 to the downstream processor(s) 47 of the first group of processors may function similarly to the processor 44 of the first group of processors.[000176] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a processor configuration of a haptic system 1500 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The system 1500 may be similar to the system 100 of FIG. 9, the system 200 of FIG. 10 and the system 400 of FIG. 4, and include the features of the systems 100, 200, 400. Accordingly, various embodiments, modifications and variations described with reference to the system 100 of FIG. 9, the system 200 of FIG. 10 and the system 400 of FIG. 4 are analogously valid for the system 1500 of FIG. 13, and vice versa. The haptic system 1500 may include a haptic enabled mattress protector or bed cover. FIG. 13 also shows a frame of reference 1501 having two orthogonal axes. The frame of reference 401 includes a first axis in a first direction (e.g., the X-direction) and a second axis in a second direction (e.g., the Y-direction). The first and second directions are perpendicular to each other. The haptic system 1500 may have a XY-dimension of 180 cm x 180 cm.[000177] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the system 1500 may include a group of processors 1502, configured to transmit information relating to the group of processors 1502 to a host system (e.g. the host system 900). The group of processors 1502 may include 17 x 17 processors arranged in a grid as shown in FIG. 13. The processors of the group of processors 1502 with coordinates (1, 1), (2, 1) are denoted as 1511, 1512, respectively, and the other processors of the group of processors 1502 are not shown to avoid cluttering the figure. It should be appreciated that the group of processors 1502 is not limited to the configuration of the 17 x 17 processors as shown in FIG. 13 but may include any configuration in various embodiments.[000178] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the information relating to the group of processors 1502 may include processor identifiers of the group of processors 1502 and group identifiers with respect to the group of processors 1502. In some embodiments, the processor identifiers of the group of processors 1502 may include location information of the group of processors 1502, for example, 2-dimensional coordinates. That is, the information relating to the processor 1511 of the group of processors 1502 may include coordinate (1, 1)to indicate the location of the processor 1511. In some embodiments, the group identifiers with respect to the group of processors 1502 may be omitted. In others embodiments, the group identifiers with respect to the group of processors 1502 may include a device type and accordingly be the same for the group of processors 1502.[000179] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the group of processors 1502 may be associated with a group of haptic actuators. In some embodiments, each processor of the group of processors 1502 may be associated with a haptic actuator. According to various nonlimiting embodiments, the group of processors 1502 may further include a group of sensors and the information relating to the group of processors 1502 may include sensor data. In some embodiments, the group of sensors may include a pressure sensor and each processor of the group of processors 1502 may include a pressure sensor. Each processor of the group of processors 1502 may measure pressure acting on it and transmit the pressure reading (i.e. sensor data or sensor reading) to the application software in the host system. In the exemplary embodiment of the haptic enabled mattress protector or bed cover, the application software may detect and construct the contour of a human body using the pressure reading from each processor of the group of processors 1502, and intelligently and dynamically generate and alter haptic pattern for the group of processors 1502. For instance, disable or lower the haptic strength for processors that are not in contact with the human body, increase the haptic strength at the torso, and lower the haptic strength at the head, etc. According to various non-limiting embodiments, the first group of processors 1502 may be configured to receive a combined haptic pattern generated, altered and transmitted by the application software in the host system. [000180] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an exemplary configuration of groups of processors of a haptic system 1600 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an adjusted configuration of groups of processors of the haptic system 1600 of FIG. 14 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The haptic system 1600 with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15 may be similar to the system 1100 of FIG. 9, the system 1200 of FIG. 10, the system 1400 of FIG. 12 and the system 1500 of FIG. 13, and thus various embodiments described with reference to the system 1600 are analogously valid for the systems 1100, 1200, 1400, 1500 of FIGS. 9, 10, 12 and 13, and vice versa. The haptic system 1600 may include a haptic suit consisting a body suit / vest 1610, sleeves 1620, 1630, gloves 1640, 1650 and pants 1660.[000181] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the system 1600 may include a first group of processors 1610, a second group of processors 1620, a third group of processors1630, a fourth group of processors 1640, a fifth group of processors 1650, a sixth group of processors 1660, as shown in FIG. 14, collectively, a first plurality of groups of processors in daisy chain formation. The first plurality of groups of processors may be configured to transmit information relating to the plurality of groups of processors to a host system (e.g. the host system 900). As shown in FIG. 14, the second group of processors 1620 and the third group of processors 1630 may connect with the first group of processors 1610; the sixth group of processors 1660 may connect to the first group of processors 1610; the fourth group of processors 1640 may connect to the second group of processors 1620; and the fifth group of processors 1650 may connect to the third group of processors 1630. Accordingly, a first haptic chain denoted as L61 is formed from the first group of processors 1610, to the second group of processors 1620 and further to the fourth group of processors 1640; a second haptic chain denoted as L62 is formed from the first group of processors 1610, to the third group of processors 1630 and further to the fifth group of processors 1650; a third haptic chain denoted as L3 is formed from the first group of processors 1610 to the sixth group of processors 1660. [000182] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the first plurality of groups of processors may be configured to transmit first information relating to the first plurality of groups of processors to the host system. The first information relating to the first plurality of groups of processors may include processor identifiers of the first plurality of groups of processors and group identifiers with respect to each group of the first plurality of groups of processors. For example, information relating to processors of the first group of processors 1610 of the first plurality of groups of processors may include processor identifiers configured to identify a respective processor of the processors of the first group of processors 1610, e.g. with regards to its sequence of the respective processor with reference to other processors of the first group of processors 1610. In some embodiments, information relating to processors of the first group of processors 1610 of the first plurality of groups of processors may include group identifiers configured to identify that the processors of the first group of processors 1610 belongs to the first group of processors 1610 (e.g. body suit / vest). The group identifiers with respect to each group of the first plurality of groups of processors may include a device type of a respective group (e.g. body suit / vest for the first group of processors 1610).[000183] According to various non-limiting embodiments, each processor of the first plurality of groups of processors may be associated with a haptic actuator.[000184] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the first plurality of groups of processors may be further configured to receive a first plurality of combined haptic signalsgenerated and transmitted by the host system based on the first information relating to the first plurality of groups of processors. A corresponding respective group of processors of the first plurality of groups of processors may be configured to relay a respective combined haptic signal of the first plurality of combined haptic signals. In other words, the first plurality of combined haptic signals may be generated for the first plurality of groups of processors in a manner that a respective combined haptic signal of the first a plurality of combined haptic signals is for a corresponding respective group of processors of the first plurality of groups of processors. For example, a first combined haptic signal of the first plurality of combined haptic signals is for the first group of processors 1610 of the first plurality of groups of processors to actuate haptic actuators of the first group of processors 1610.[000185] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the haptic system 1600 may be adjusted to include a second plurality of groups of processors, e.g. including the first group of processors 1610, the fourth group of processors 1640, the fifth group of processors 1650, and the sixth group of processors 1660. That may mean to remove the second group of processors 1620 and the third group of processors 1630 from the first plurality of groups of processors to obtain the second plurality of groups of processors. As shown in FIG. 15, the sixth group of processors 1660 may remain in connection with the first group of processors 1610; the fourth group of processors 1640 may now directly connect to the first group of processors 1610; and the fifth group of processors 1650 may now directly connect to the first group of processors 1610. Accordingly, a first haptic chain denoted as L71 is formed from the first group of processors 1610 to the fourth group of processors 1640; a second haptic chain denoted as L72 is formed from the first group of processors 1610 to the fifth group of processors 1650; a third haptic chain L3 is still formed from the first group of processors 1610 to the sixth group of processors 1660.[000186] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the second plurality of groups of processors may be configured to transmit second information relating to the second plurality of groups of processors to the host system. The second information relating to the second plurality of groups of processors may include processor identifiers of the second plurality of groups of processors and group identifiers with respect to each group of the second plurality of groups of processors. The second plurality of groups of processors may be associated with a second plurality of haptic actuators. The second plurality of groups of processors may be further configured to receive a second plurality of combined haptic signals generated and transmitted by the host system based on the second information relating to the second pluralityof groups of processors. A corresponding respective group of processors of the second plurality of groups of processors may be configured to relay a respective combined haptic signal of the second plurality of combined haptic signals.[000187] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a user may dynamically add or remove haptic component(s) (e.g. group(s) of processors) during game play. The haptic effect may be redirected seamlessly from one haptic component to another. Each haptic component may be identified by a group identifier (e.g. device identifier), e.g., vest = 1, sleeve = 2, glove = 3, pant = 4.[000188] There are three haptic chains in this configuration shown in FIG. 14:L61 : Vest -> right sleeve -> right gloveL62: Vest -> left sleeve -> left gloveL3: Vest -> pants[000189] The application software installed in the host system may detect the removal of sleeves (i.e. the second group of processors 1620 and the third group of processors 1630) when a device processor of the host system updates upstream data (e.g. information relating to the processors). Hence, the application software may redirect the haptic effect from arm (sleeves) to torso (vest) in order to maintain the gaming experience. In addition, the application software may detect the “quality of contact” based on the sensor information (e.g. sensor data or sensor reading). This may provide additional avenue to improve user experience.[000190] FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method 1800 implemented by an example haptic system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. According to various non-limiting embodiments, the method 1800 may be implemented by any suitable system as described above, for example, systems 1100, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, particularly, a haptic system.[000191] The method 1800 may include transmitting (step 1801) information relating to at least one group of processors to a host system, wherein the information relating to the at least one group of processors includes processor identifiers of the at least one group of processors and group identifiers with respect to each group of the at least one group of processors, wherein the at least one group of processors are associated with at least one group of haptic actuators.[000192] The method 1800 may further include generating and transmitting (step 1803) at least one combined haptic signal by the host system to the at least one group of processors based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors.[000193] The method 1800 may further include receiving (step 1805) the at least one combined haptic signal by the at least one group of processors to actuate the at least one group of haptic actuators.[000194] The method 1800 may further include relaying (step 1807) a respective combined haptic signal of the at least one combined haptic signal by a corresponding respective group of processors of the at least one group of processors.[000195] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the at least one group of processors may further include at least one group of sensors and the information relating to the at least one group of processors includes sensor data. The at least one group of sensors may include pressure sensors, temperature sensors and / or lighting controls. When the at least one group of sensors includes lighting controls, the method 1800 may further include: generating and transmitting at least one group lighting signals by the host system to the at least one group of processors based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors.[000196] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the processor identifiers of the at least one group of processors may include location information of the at least one group of processors having 2-dimensional coordinates, and / or 3-dimensional coordinates and the at least one combined haptic signal generated and transmitted by the host system may be associated with the location information.[000197] According to various non-limiting embodiments, processors of each group of the at least one group of processors may be in serial connection, and the at least one group of processors may be connected in daisy chain formation.[000198] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the method 1800 may further include: constructing a haptic network based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors. In the exemplary embodiment of the haptic enabled mattress protector or bed cover, the application software may construct a haptic network (e.g. the contour of a human body) based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors (e.g. based on the processor identifiers (and group identifiers) and the pressure reading associated with each processor of the group of processors 1502).[000199] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the method 1800 may further include: synthesizing the at least one combined haptic signal from the host system and distributing the synthesized at least one combined haptic signal. Receiving the at least one combined haptic signal by the at least one group of processors may include receiving thesynthesized at least one combined haptic signal by the at least one group of processors. A device processor of the haptic system may receive haptic pattern from the host system, synthesize the haptic signal from the received haptic pattern and distribute the haptic signal to the at least one group of processors.[000200] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the group identifiers with respect to each group of the at least one group of processors may include a device type of a respective group.[000201] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the method 1800 may further include: determining the number of the at least one group of processors based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors; and determining the number of the at least one group of sensors which are active based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors. In various embodiments, determining the number of the at least one group of processors may be based on the processor identifiers and optionally group identifiers of the information relating to the at least one group of processors; and determining the number of the at least one group of sensors which are active may be based on the sensor data of the information relating to the at least one group of processors.[000202] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the respective combined haptic signal of the at least one combined haptic signal may include first to N-th haptic segments corresponding to first to N-th processors of the corresponding respective group of processors of the at least one group of processors. Relaying a respective combined haptic signal of the at least one combined haptic signal by a corresponding respective group of processors of the at least one group of processors may include: for each k, 1 < k < N, relaying the (k+l)-th to N- th haptic segments of the first to N-th haptic segments of the respective combined haptic signal by the k-th processor to the (k+1) processor of the first to N-th processors of the corresponding respective group of processors.[000203] According to various non-limiting embodiments, each of the first to N-th processors may be associated with a haptic actuator, collectively, first to N-th haptic actuators, the method 1800 may further include: actuating the k-th haptic actuator associated with the k- th processor by the k-th haptic segment.[000204] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the k-th processor of the first to N-th processors may be located in a close proximity of the (k+l)-th processor of the first to N-th processors.[000205] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the method 1800 may further include: acquiring the sensor data at time intervals to obtain interval sensor data, wherein the information relating to the at least one group of processors includes the interval sensor data. Accordingly, the steps (1801, 1803, 1805, 1807) of the method 1800 as described hereinbefore may be repeated at each time interval based on each interval sensor data obtained at each time interval (e.g. at the beginning of each time interval) of the interval sensor data. In other words, the at least one group of processors may dynamically transmit the information including each interval sensor data at each time interval to the host system and the host system may in turn dynamically generate and transmit the at least on combined haptic signal at each time interval based on the information including each interval sensor data at each time interval to the at least one group of processors. The at least one group of processors may then receive the at least one combined haptic signal to actuate the at least one group of haptic actuators at each time interval and relay a respective combined haptic signal of the at least one combined haptic signal by a corresponding respective group of processors of the at least one group of processors at each time interval.[000206] According to various non-limiting embodiments, the method 1800 may further include: regrouping the at least one group of processors to include a regrouped number of groups of processors, wherein the regrouped number of groups of processors are associated with a regrouped number of groups of haptic actuators. The method 1800 may further include: transmitting regrouped information relating to a regrouped number of groups of processors to the host system, wherein the regrouped information relating to the regrouped number of groups of processors includes processor identifiers of the regrouped number of groups of processors and group identifiers with respect to each group of the regrouped number of groups of processors, wherein the regrouped number of groups of processors are associated with a regrouped number of haptic actuators; generating and transmitting a regrouped number of combined haptic signals by the host system to the regrouped number of groups of processors based on the regrouped information relating to the regrouped number of groups of processors; receiving the regrouped number of combined haptic signals by the regrouped number of groups of processors to actuate the regrouped number of haptic actuators; and relaying a respective combined haptic signal of the regrouped number of combined haptic signals by a corresponding respective group of processors of the regrouped number of groups of processors. The regrouped number of groups of processors may have a second number of groups of processors, the second number of groups being different from a first number ofgroups that the at least one group of processors includes. In other words, the steps (1801, 1803, 1805, 1807) of the method 1800 as described hereinbefore may be dynamically repeated by the regrouped number of groups of processors (e.g. at a succeeding time interval after the regrouping at a present time interval).[000207] According to various non-limiting embodiments, wherein the at least one combined haptic signal are haptic patterns in digital format, the method 1800 may further include: converting, by a device processor, the haptic patterns in digital format to haptic signals in analog format.[000208] While the method described above is illustrated and described as a series of steps or events, it will be appreciated that any ordering of such steps or events are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense. For example, some steps may occur in different orders and / or concurrently with other steps or events apart from those illustrated and / or described herein. In addition, not all illustrated steps may be required to implement one or more aspects or embodiments described herein. Also, one or more of the steps depicted herein may be carried out in one or more separate acts and / or phases.[000209] FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an example electronic device 1900, according to an implementation of the present disclosure. The electronic device 1900 may be a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, an automobile computer, a gaming device, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, a server, a haptic system or other electronic devices capable of running computer applications. In some implementations, the electronic device 1900 includes a processor 1902, an input / output (VO) module 1904, memory 1906, a power unit 1908, and one or more network interfaces 1910. The electronic device 1900 can include additional components. In some implementations, the processor 1902, input / output (VO) module 1904, memory 1906, power unit 1908, and the network interface(s) 1910 are housed together in a common housing or other assembly.[000210] The example processor 1902 can execute instructions, for example, to generate output data based on data inputs. The instructions can include programs, codes, scripts, modules, or other types of data stored in memory (e.g., memory 1906). Additionally or alternatively, the instructions can be encoded as pre-programmed or re-programmable logic circuits, logic gates, or other types of hardware or firmware components or modules. The processor 1902 may be, or may include, a multicore processor having a plurality of cores, and each such core may have an independent power domain and can be configured to enter and exit different operating or performance states based on workload. Additionally oralternatively, the processor 1902 may be, or may include, a general -purpose microprocessor, as a specialized co-processor or another type of data processing apparatus. In some cases, the processor 1902 performs high-level operation of the electronic device 1900. For example, the processor 1902 may be configured to execute or interpret software, scripts, programs, functions, executables, or other instructions stored in the memory 1906.[000211] The example VO module 1904 may include a mouse, keypad, touch screen, scanner, optical reader, and / or stylus (or other input device(s)) through which a user of the electronic device 1900 may provide input to the electronic device 1900, and may also include one or more speakers for providing audio output and a video display device for providing textual, audiovisual, and / or graphical output.[000212] The example memory 1906 may include computer-readable storage media, for example, a volatile memory device, a non-volatile memory device, or both. The memory 1906 may include one or more read-only memory devices, random -access memory devices, buffer memory devices, or a combination of these and other types of memory devices. In some instances, one or more components of the memory can be integrated or otherwise associated with another component of the electronic device 1900. The memory 1906 may store instructions that are executable by the processor 1902. In some examples, the memory 1906 may store instructions for an operating system 1912 and for application programs 1914. The memory 1906 may also store a database 1916.[000213] The example power unit 1908 provides power to the other components of the electronic device 1900. For example, the other components may operate based on electrical power provided by the power unit 1908 through a voltage bus or other connection. In some implementations, the power unit 1908 includes a battery or a battery system, for example, a rechargeable battery. In some implementations, the power unit 1908 includes an adapter (e.g., an AC adapter) that receives an external power signal (from an external source) and coverts the external power signal to an internal power signal conditioned for a component of the electronic device 1900. The power unit 1908 may include other components or operate in another manner.[000214] The electronic device 1900 may be configured to operate in a wireless, wired, or cloud network environment (or a combination thereof). In some implementations, the electronic device 1900 can access the network using the network interface(s) 1910. The network interface(s) 1910 can include one or more adapters, modems, connectors, sockets, terminals, ports, slots, and the like. The wireless network that the electronic device 1900accesses may operate, for example, according to a wireless network standard or another type of wireless communication protocol. For example, the wireless network may be configured to operate as a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a Personal Area Network (PAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), or another type of wireless network. Examples of WLANs include networks configured to operate according to one or more of the 802.11 family of standards developed by IEEE (e.g., Wi-Fi networks), and others. Examples of PANs include networks that operate according to short-range communication standards (e.g., BLUETOOTH®, Near Field Communication (NFC), ZigBee), millimeter wave communications, and others. The wired network that the electronic device 1900 accesses may, for example, include Ethernet, SONET, circuit-switched networks (e.g., using components such as SS7, cable, and the like), and others.[000215] Various aspects of what is described here have provided a haptic system with improved haptic effects.[000216] Some of the subject matter and operations described in this specification can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. Some of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented as one or more computer programs, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions, encoded on a computer storage medium for execution by, or to control the operation of, data-processing apparatus. A computer storage medium can be, or can be included in, a computer-readable storage device, a computer- readable storage substrate, a random or serial access memory array or device, or a combination of one or more of them. Moreover, while a computer storage medium is not a propagated signal, a computer storage medium can be a source or destination of computer program instructions encoded in an artificially generated propagated signal. The computer storage medium can also be, or be included in, one or more separate physical components or media (e.g., multiple CDs, disks, or other storage devices).[000217] Some of the operations described in this specification can be implemented as operations performed by a data processing apparatus on data stored on one or more computer- readable storage devices or received from other sources.[000218] The term “data processing apparatus” encompasses all kinds of apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including by way of example a programmable processor, a computer, a system on a chip, or multiple ones, or combinations, of the foregoing. Theapparatus can include special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit). The apparatus can also include, in addition to hardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, a cross-platform runtime environment, a virtual machine, or a combination of one or more of them.[000219] A computer program (also known as a program, software, software application, script, or code) can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, declarative or procedural languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, object, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program may, but need not, correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules, sub programs, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers that are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.[000220] Some of the processes and logic flows described in this specification can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform actions by operating on input data and generating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performed by, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit).[000221] While this specification contains many details, these should not be understood as limitations on the scope of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular examples. Certain features that are described in this specification or shown in the drawings in the context of separate implementations can also be combined. Conversely, various features that are described or shown in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable sub-combination.[000222] Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may beadvantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single product or packaged into multiple products. [000223] A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications can be made. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method for generating haptic effects, the method comprising: generating and transmitting a combined haptic signal that includes a plurality of signals having first to N-th signals, each of the first to N-th signals having a signal identifier, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 2; receiving the combined haptic signal by a first haptic processor of at least one group of haptic processors, each group of haptic processors including first to N-th haptic processors; and relaying by the first haptic processor of the at least one group of haptic processors a first modulated signal to the second haptic processor of the at least one group of haptic processors, wherein the first modulated signal is modulated based on the combined haptic signal and the first signal of the plurality of signals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal identifiers of the first to N-th signals comprise a series of first to N-th timeframes.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: for each k, 1 < k < N, identifying the k-th signal of the first to N-th signals in the k-th timeframe of the series of first to N-th timeframes by the k-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 3, the method further comprising: for each m, 2 < m < N-l, relaying by the m-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors an m-th modulated signal to the (m+l)-th haptic processor of the first to N- th haptic processors, wherein the m-th modulated signal is modulated based on the (m-l)-th modulated signal and the m-th signal of the first to N-th signals.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the series of timeframes comprises a variable length of time.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the series of timeframes comprises a same length of time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined haptic signal is a haptic pattern in digital format, the method further comprising: converting, by the first processor of the first to N-th haptic processors, the haptic pattern in digital format to a haptic signal in analog format.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: actuating a haptic device in electrical connection with a first haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors by the haptic signal in analog format converted by the first haptic processor.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a haptic command from a host system; and generating the combined haptic signal based on the haptic command.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the (m+l)-th haptic processor of the first to N-th haptic processors is located in a close proximity of the m-th haptic processor of the first to N- th haptic processors.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first to N-th haptic processors are divided in groups, and wherein each group of haptic processors is arranged in a line and lines of the groups of the haptic processors are parallel.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating and transmitting a subsequent combined haptic signal that includes first to N-th subsequent signals, each of the first to N-th subsequent signals having the signal identifier, wherein the combined haptic signal is transmitted in a first time period and the subsequent combined haptic signal is transmitted in a second time period, and wherein a time interval exists between the first time period and the second time period.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising:transmitting information relating to the at least one group of haptic processors to a host system, wherein the information relating to the at least one group of haptic processors comprises processor identifiers respectively associated with the haptic processors of the at least one group of haptic processors and a group identifier associated with the at least one group of haptic processors, wherein the combined haptic signal is generated based on the information relating to the at least one group of haptic processors.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one group of haptic processors is associated with at least one group of haptic actuators, wherein the at least one group of haptic processors receives the combined haptic signal to actuate the at least one group of haptic actuators.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising(i) transmitting information relating to two or more groups of haptic processors to the host system, wherein the information relating to the two or more groups of haptic processors comprises processor identifiers of the haptic processors of the two or more groups of haptic processors and group identifiers of the two or more groups of haptic processors, wherein the two or more groups of haptic processors are respectively associated with two or more groups of haptic actuators;(ii) generating and transmitting two or more combined haptic signals by the host system or by a haptic pattern generator respectively to the two or more groups of haptic processors based on the information relating to the two or more groups of haptic processors;(iii) receiving the two or more combined haptic signals by the two or more groups of haptic processors respectively to actuate the two or more groups of haptic actuators; and(iv) relaying a corresponding combined haptic signal of the two or more combined haptic signals by a corresponding group of the two or more groups of haptic processors.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one group of processors further comprise at least one group of sensors and the information relating to the at least one group of processors comprises sensor data.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: acquiring the sensor data at time intervals to obtain interval sensor data, wherein the information relating to the at least one group of processors comprises the interval sensor data; and(v) repeating steps in (i) to (iv) at each time interval.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein when the at least one group of sensors comprises lighting controls, the method further comprising: generating and transmitting at least one group lighting signals by the host system to the at least one group of processors based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the processor identifiers of the at least one group of processors comprises location information of the at least one group of processors having 2- dimensional coordinates and / or 3-dimensional coordinates and the at least one combined haptic signal generated and transmitted by the host system is associated with the location information.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein processors of the each group of the at least one group of processors are in serial connection, and the at least one group of processors are connected in daisy chain formation.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising: constructing a haptic network based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising: synthesizing the at least one combined haptic signal from the host system and distributing the synthesized at least one combined haptic signal, wherein receiving the at least one combined haptic signal by the at least one group of processors comprises receiving the synthesized at least one combined haptic signal by the at least one group of processors.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the group identifiers with respect to each group of the at least one group of processors comprise a device type of a respective group.

24. The method of claim 16, further comprising: determining the number of the at least one group of processors based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors; and determining the number of the at least one group of sensors which are active based on the information relating to the at least one group of processors.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the respective combined haptic signal of the at least one combined haptic signal comprises first to N-th haptic segments corresponding to first to N-th processors of the corresponding respective group of processors of the at least one group of processors; wherein relaying a respective combined haptic signal of the at least one combined haptic signal by a corresponding respective group of processors of the at least one group of processors comprises: for each k, 1 < k < N, relaying the (k+l)-th to N-th haptic segments of the first to N-th haptic segments of the respective combined haptic signal by the k-th processor to the (k+1) processor of the first to N-th processors of the corresponding respective group of processors.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein each of the first to N-th processors is associated with a haptic actuator, collectively, first to N-th haptic actuators, the method further comprising: actuating the k-th haptic actuator associated with in the k-th processor by the k-th haptic segment.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the k-th processor of the first to N-th processors is located in a close proximity of the (k+l)-th processor of the first to N-th processors.

28. The method of claim 15, further comprising: regrouping the at least one group of processors to include a regrouped number of groups of processors, wherein the regrouped number of groups of processors are associated with a regrouped number of groups of haptic actuators;transmitting regrouped information relating to the regrouped number of groups of processors to the host system, wherein the regrouped information relating to the regrouped number of groups of processors comprises processor identifiers of the regrouped number of groups of processors and group identifiers with respect to each group of the regrouped number of groups of processors; generating and transmitting a regrouped number of combined haptic signals by the host system or by the haptic pattern generator to the regrouped number of groups of processors based on the regrouped information relating to the regrouped number of groups of processors; receiving the regrouped number of combined haptic signals by the regrouped number of groups of processors to actuate the regrouped number of groups of haptic actuators; and relaying a respective combined haptic signal of the regrouped number of combined haptic signals by a corresponding respective group of processors of the regrouped number of groups of processors.

29. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one combined haptic signals are haptic patterns in digital format, the method further comprising: converting, by a device processor, the haptic patterns in digital format to haptic signals in analog format.

30. A haptic system comprising: a host system or a haptic pattern generator configured to generate and transmit a combined haptic signal that includes a plurality of signals having first to N-th signals, each of the first to N-th signals having a signal identifier, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 2; and at least one group of haptic processors, each group of haptic processors including first to N-th haptic processors, wherein the first haptic processor of the at least one group of haptic processors is configured to receive the combined haptic signal and relay a first modulated signal to the second haptic processor of the at least one group of haptic processors, and wherein the first modulated signal is modulated based on the combined haptic signal and the first signal of the plurality of signals.

31. The haptic system of claim 30, wherein the at least one group of processors are configured to transmit information relating to the at least one group of processors to a host system, wherein the information relating to the at least one group of processors comprises processor identifiers respectively associated with the haptic processors of the at least one group of haptic processors and a group identifier associated with the at least one group of haptic processors, wherein the combined haptic signal is generated based on the information relating to the at least one group of haptic processors.

32. The haptic system of claim 31, wherein the at least one group of haptic processors is associated with at least one group of haptic actuators, and that the at least one group of haptic processors receives the combined haptic signal to actuate the at least one group of haptic actuators.

33. The haptic system of claim 32, wherein the at least one group of processors comprises two or more groups of processors configured to transmit information relating to the two or more groups of processors to the host system, wherein the information relating to the two or more groups of processors comprises processor identifiers of the two or more groups of haptic processors and group identifiers of two or more groups of haptic processors, wherein the two or more groups of haptic processors are respectively associated with two or more groups of haptic actuators, wherein the two or more groups of haptic processors are further configured to receive two or more combined haptic signals, generated and transmitted by the host system or the haptic pattern generator respectively to the two or more groups of haptic processors based on the information relating to the two or more groups of haptic processors, to actuate the two or more groups of haptic actuators, and a corresponding group of two or more groups of haptic processors is configured to relay a corresponding combined haptic signal of the two or more combined haptic signals.

34. A computer program element comprising program instructions, which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 29.

35. A computer-readable medium comprising program instructions, which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 29.

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