Networked applications including haptic feedback

A method for providing haptic feedback, comprising:

• receiving a remote computer information from a first computer at a second computer over a network, wherein said first computer is remote from said second computer, and wherein said remote computer information comprises information representing force information,
• generating a graphical environment;
• receiving an input information at said second computer from a haptic feedback device;
• and
• causing a force signal to be provided to said haptic feedback device from said second computer, said force signal being based, at least in part, on said remote computer information and said input information, wherein said force signal causes said haptic feedback device to output a force.

A method for providing haptic feedback between a first computer and a second computer comprising:

• sending a first computer information to said second computer over a network, wherein said first computer information comprises force information, wherein said first computer is remote to said second computer;
• causing a first haptic feedback signal to be sent to a second haptic feedback device from said second computer, said first haptic feedback signal being based, at least in part, on said force information, wherein said first haptic feedback signal causes said second haptic feedback device to output a haptic sensation;
• sending a second computer information to said first computer over said network, wherein said second computer information comprises a position of a manipulandum of a second haptic feedback device;
• and
• causing a second haptic feedback signal to be sent to said first haptic feedback device from said first computer, said second haptic feedback signal being based, at least in part, on said second computer information, wherein said haptic feedback signal causes said first haptic feedback device to output a haptic sensation.

A method for providing haptic feedback comprising:

• receiving a first computer information from a first computer at a server computer over a network;
• providing said first computer information to a second computer, wherein said first computer is remote from said second computer, wherein said first computer information comprises first force information and information operable to update a simulated graphical object in a graphical environment output by said second computer, and wherein at least one of said second computer and said server computer uses said first computer information to update a game program running on at least one of said second computer and said server computer, and wherein said second computer provides a second haptic feedback signal based at least in part on said first force information to a second haptic feedback device;
• receiving a second computer information from said second computer over said network;
• and
• providing said second computer information to said first computer, wherein said second computer information comprises second force information and information operable to update a simulated graphical object in a graphical environment output by said first computer, and wherein at least one of said first computer and said server computer uses said second computer information to update a game program running on at least one of said first computer and said server computer, and wherein said first computer provides a first haptic feedback signal based at least in part on said second force information to a first haptic feedback device.

A method for providing haptic feedback over a computer network comprising:

• receiving a first information from a remote computer over a network, said first information comprising force information and position information for a graphical object displayed by said remote computer;
• using said first information to update a visual display
• providing a haptic feedback signal based at least in part on said force information to a haptic feedback device, wherein said haptic feedback device outputs a tactile sensation based, at least in part, on said haptic feedback signal and correlated with said updated visual display;
• and
• sending a second information to said remote computer over said network.

A method comprising:

• executing a first local model of a computer-gaming simulation on a first computer in communication with a network;
• executing, substantially simultaneously with said first local model, a second local model of said computer-gaming simulation on a second computer in communication with said first computer over said network, said second computer remote from said first computer;
• updating a location of a first graphical object of said first local model based at least in part on position data output by a sensor in communication with a haptic input device in communication with said first computer, said haptic input device comprising an actuator configured to output haptic feedback to said haptic input device;
• updating a location of a second graphical object based at least in part on information received over said Internet from said second network interface of said second computer, said information comprising a gaming event;
• and
• determining, by said first computer, whether said first graphical object and said second graphical object interact, and, if so:
• determining a haptic effect to be output based at least in part on force information received from said second computer, and
• outputting said haptic effect to said haptic input device, said haptic effect configured to be substantially synchronized with said gaming event.

A system comprising:

• a first computer, said first computer comprising:
• a first processor in communication with a network,
• a first memory coupled to said first processor,
• a first force feedback device in communication with said first processor, said first force feedback device configured to provide a first input signal, said first force feedback device coupled to a first actuator, said first actuator configured to provide tactile sensations in response to a first haptic feedback signal, and
• wherein said first processor is configured to:
• produce a first image, and
• provide said first haptic feedback signal to said first force feedback device, said first image and said first haptic feedback signal based at least in part on a first force information received from a second computer over said network and based at least in part on said first input signal;
• and
• said second computer remote from said first computer, said second computer comprising:
• a second processor,
• in communication with a network,
• a second memory coupled to said second processor,
• a second force feedback device coupled to said second processor, said second force feedback device configured to provide a second input signal, said second force feedback device coupled to a second actuator, said second actuator configured to provide a tactile sensation in response to a second haptic feedback signal, and
• wherein said second processor is configured to:
• produce a second image, and
• provide said second haptic feedback signal to said second interface device, said second image and said second haptic feedback signal based at least in part on a second force information received from said first computer over said network and based at least in part on said second input signal.

A system comprising:

• a first computer, comprising:
• a first processor capable of generating a first image signal, said first processor in communication with a network,
• a first force feedback device capable of providing a first input signal, comprising:
• a first actuator configured to provide tactile sensations in response to a first haptic feedback signal, and
• said first image signal and said first haptic feedback signal based at least in part on a first force information received from a second computer over said network and based at least in part on said first input signal;
• and
• said second computer remote from said first computer, said second computer, comprising:
• a second processor capable of generating a second image signal, said second processor in communication with said network, a second force feedback device capable of providing a second input signal to said second processor, comprising:
• a second actuator configured to provide tactile sensations in response to a second haptic feedback signal, and
• said second image and said second haptic feedback signal based at least in part on a second force information received from said first computer over said network and based at least in part on said second input signal.

A device comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• receive a first information from a remote processor over a network, said first information comprising force information and position information for a graphical object to be displayed,
• update a visual display coupled to said processor based at least in part on said first information;
• generate a haptic feedback signal based at least in part on said force information, said haptic feedback signal configured to cause a haptic feedback device to output a tactile sensation based at least in part on said haptic feedback signal and correlated with said updated visual display;
• and
• transmit a second information over said computer network.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code to cause a processor to perform the steps of:

• receive a first information from a remote processor over a network, said first information comprising force information and position information for a graphical object displayed by said second computer;
• update a visual display based at least in part on said first information;
• provide a haptic feedback signal based at least in part on said force information to a haptic feedback device, wherein said haptic feedback device outputs a tactile sensation based, at least in part, on said haptic feedback signal and correlated with said updated visual display;
• and
• send a second information over said network.