Selective Haptic Message Delivery in Group Messaging

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems lack the ability to selectively deliver haptic effects to specific recipients within a group messaging or social media context, limiting the customization and personalization of tactile feedback experiences.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that allow for the selective delivery of haptic messages to identified subsets of recipients, using a programmable circuit and memory to transmit haptic effect data only to designated devices, while receiving and analyzing feedback to update preferences for future messages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If haptic effect data is transmitted to all group message recipients, then information delivery is comprehensive, but device complexity and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation delivery completenessVSAvoidmessage management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the recipient group into subsets based on haptic preferences, transmitting haptic effect data only to the relevant subset rather than all recipients. This segmentation reduces the complexity of managing universal haptic delivery while ensuring complete information delivery to those who need it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by customizing haptic effect delivery for specific subsets of recipients based on their individual preferences, rather than applying a uniform approach to all recipients. This allows the system to optimize information delivery quality for each subset without the complexity of managing individual configurations for every recipient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of information

If haptic effect data is transmitted to all group message recipients, then information delivery is comprehensive, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation delivery completenessVSAvoidtransmitter energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The transmitter segments the recipient list and transmits haptic effect data only to the subset that has indicated interest in receiving haptics. This segmentation reduces the total energy consumption of the transmitter while ensuring that all recipients who need the information receive it completely.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by transmitting haptic effect data to only the necessary subset of recipients rather than all recipients. This partial transmission is sufficient to achieve complete information delivery to those who need it, while avoiding the excessive energy consumption of universal transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If haptic preferences are customized for each recipient, then personalization is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehaptic personalizationVSAvoidpreference management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by implementing a single haptic preference configuration that serves multiple functions: it identifies recipients who want haptics, segments them into subsets, and guides the transmission process. This universal preference mechanism enables personalization without requiring complex individual management for each recipient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows recipients to self-configure their haptic preferences, which then automatically guides the segmentation and transmission process. This self-service approach enables high personalization while reducing the complexity of preference management, as the system automatically uses the configured preferences to determine the appropriate recipient subsets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Use of energy by moving object

If haptic effect data is selectively transmitted to subsets, then energy consumption is reduced, but information delivery completeness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmitter energy consumptionVSAvoidinformation delivery completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses feedback from recipient haptic preferences to determine the appropriate subset for transmission. This feedback mechanism ensures that the selective transmission is based on actual recipient needs, thereby maintaining information delivery completeness while reducing energy consumption by avoiding transmissions to those who do not want haptics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10200332B2Delivery of haptics to select recipients of a message

Publication Date: 2019.02.05 IMMERSION CORP

AI summary

Systems and methods, by which a sender can deliver haptic messages to selected recipients within a larger group of recipients that are otherwise receiving a common message, are disclosed. The haptic messages can be individualized according to a recipient's profile, preference, and/or relationship with the sender. The haptic message can be created by the sender or selected from a pre-existing library of messages, and can be delivered automatically or assigned by the sender. The haptic messages can be dynamically changed in response to haptic feedback and supplemental data collected from the recipients that is used to update preferences and profiles of message recipients.