Haptic Signal Encoding for Silent Mobile Notifications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of mobile computing devices, such as smartphones, often face challenges in discreetly checking information about received calls or messages without disturbing others, as traditional visual or audio notifications can be inconvenient in meetings or quiet settings.

Innovation Solution

A mobile communication device equipped with a receiver and a signal generator that allows users to query information about received calls or messages through haptic signals, such as vibrations of varying intensity, enabling silent notification and information retrieval without disturbing others.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If visual or audio notifications are used to alert users of received calls or messages, then users can be notified of communications, but users may disturb others in meetings or quiet settings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification effectivenessVSAvoiddisturbance to others

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanical vibration through a haptic motor that generates vibrations of varying intensity and duration to convey communication information. The vibration pattern (intensity, duration, rhythm) encodes information about the communication type, sender, and urgency, allowing users to perceive notification details through tactile feedback alone without producing audible or visual disturbances to others.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Loss of information

If users check their phone display to view communication information, then users can see the source and urgency of communications, but users must navigate through several windows and menus which is inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the visual display interface with a haptic feedback system that directly conveys information through tactile sensations. Instead of requiring users to visually process text and icons on a display screen, the system translates communication metadata into vibration patterns that can be perceived through touch, eliminating the need to navigate through multiple interface windows and menus.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system encodes multiple information parameters (communication type, sender identity, urgency level) into variations of haptic signal parameters (vibration intensity, duration, frequency pattern). By mapping multiple information dimensions to different vibration characteristics, the system delivers comprehensive communication information through a single tactile notification without requiring sequential user actions to access different information layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the ringer produces audible signals to notify users, then users can hear incoming calls or messages, but the audible signal may disturb others in quiet environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification deliveryVSAvoidaudible disturbance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the acoustic notification system with a haptic vibration system. The haptic motor generates mechanical vibrations that travel through the device housing and are perceived by the user's finger or hand, completely eliminating audible sound while maintaining effective notification delivery. This substitution allows the device to function as a notification system without producing any acoustic output that could disturb others in quiet environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables users to check information about received communications without disrupting their surroundings, as only the user perceives the haptic signals, allowing for quiet and discreet notification of call or message sources and urgency.

Implementation Method 1

The signal generator may be configured to generate a vibration with a first intensity corresponding to a first classification of the source of the call or message and with a second intensity corresponding to a second classification of the source of the received call or message.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS8954115B2Method and apparatus for informing a user through haptic signals

Publication Date: 2015.02.10 FUJITSU LTD

AI summary

According to an embodiment, a computing device is provided that includes a receiver and a signal generator. The receiver may be configured to receive a user query for information regarding a received call or message. The user query may include a physical act performed on the computing device. The signal generator may be configured to generate a haptic signal indicating a response to the user query for the information regarding the call or message.