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US 8,712,383 B1Granted
Tactile output device for computing device notifications
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsBarry Hayes, Peter Dolan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In general, this disclosure describes techniques for providing a user with an alert device that provides alert options indicatives of events associated with applications or actions of a computing device. The provided alert options may be such that they do not create additional distractions, and eliminate the need for the user to have to constantly check for upcoming appointments or events. Specifically, a user can utilize a device to receive alerts from an associated computing device. The alerts may be associated with applications and actions running on the computing device.
Claims21
A method comprising:
- wirelessly receiving, by an alert device, a notification signal communicated by a computing device, wherein:
- the notification signal is indicative of an event and a level of urgency associated with the event,
- the alert device is external to the computing device, and
- the alert device is wirelessly and communicatively coupled with the computing device;
- determining, by the alert device and based on one of a plurality of applications executable by the computing device, a type associated with the notification signal;
- responsive to receiving the notification signal, selecting, by the alert device and based on the level of urgency associated with the event indicated by the notification signal and on the type associated with the notification signal, a tactile signal having at least a specified level of intensity, wherein the tactile signal is selected from a plurality of tactile signals each having a respective level of intensity, and wherein the specified level of intensity of the tactile signal differs from the respective level of intensity of another tactile signal from the plurality of tactile signals;
- and
- outputting, by the alert device, the tactile signal at the specified level of intensity, wherein the tactile signal is detectable by a user of the computing device.
5 more elements
A device comprising:
- one or more processors;
- and
- a communication interface operable by the one or more processors to wirelessly receive a notification signal communicated by a computing device, wherein the notification signal is indicative of an event and a level of urgency associated with the event, wherein the device is external to the computing device, and wherein the device is wirelessly and communicatively coupled with the computing device,
- wherein the one or more processors are configured to, responsive to receiving the notification signal, determine, based on one of a plurality of applications executable by the computing device, a type associated with the notification signal, and select, based on the level of urgency associated with the event indicated by the notification signal and on the type associated with the notification signal, a tactile signal having at least a specified level of intensity, wherein the tactile signal is selected from a plurality of tactile signals each having a respective level of intensity, and wherein the specified level of intensity of the tactile signal differs from the respective level of intensity of another tactile signal from the plurality of signals, and wherein the one or more professors are further configured to output the tactile signal at the specified level of intensity, wherein the tactile signal is detectable by a user of the computing device.
1 more element
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
- wirelessly receiving a notification signal communicated by a computing device,
- wherein the notification signal is indicative of an event and a level of urgency associated with the event,
- wherein the device is external to the computing device, and
- wherein the device is wirelessly and communicatively coupled with the computing device;
- determining, based on one of a plurality of applications executable by the computing device, a type associated with the notification signal;
- responsive to receiving the notification signal, selecting, based on the level of urgency associated with the event indicated by the notification signal and on the type associated with the notification signal, a tactile signal having at least a specified level of intensity, wherein the tactile signal is selected from a plurality of tactile signals each having a respective level of intensity, and wherein the specified level of intensity of the tactile signal differs from the respective level of intensity of another tactile signal of the plurality of tactile signals;
- and
- outputting the tactile signal at the specified level of intensity, wherein the tactile signal is detectable by a user of the computing device.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.