# US 9,883,022 B2 · Tactile messaging via a wearable device

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- Number: US 9,883,022 B2
- Document ID: US9883022B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/937,509
- Filed: 2015-11-10
- Published: 2017-05-11
- Granted: 2018-01-30
- Earliest claimed: 2015-11-10
- Assignees: Wisewear Corporation
- Applicants: WiseWear Corporation
- Inventors: Ronald A. Barnes; David P. Elam, Jr.; Bennett L. Ibey; Gerald J. Wilmink; Jason B. Wilson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9883022B2

## CPC

- H04M 1/72436: for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
- G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt}
- G06F 1/1694: {the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer}
- G06F 3/011: {Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00)}
- G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user}
- G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)}
- G08B 15/004: {using portable personal devices (hand-held or body-worn self-defence devices using repellent gases or chemicals F41H9/10)}
- G08B 25/016: {Personal emergency signalling and security systems (emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12)}
- H04L 51/222: using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
- H04L 67/306: User profiles
- H04M 1/72454: according to context-related or environment-related conditions
- H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds}
- H04W 4/12: Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
- F41H 9/10: Hand-held or body-worn self-defence devices using repellant gases or chemicals
- G06F 2200/1636: Sensing arrangement for detection of a tap gesture on the housing
- G08B 1/08: using electric transmission {; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal}
- G08B 15/02: with smoke, gas, or coloured or odorous powder or liquid
- H04M 1/72424: with manual activation of emergency-service functions
- H04M 2250/12: including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- F41H: ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

In a particular embodiment, methods, apparatuses, computer program products, and devices for tactile messaging include receiving motion data from an accelerometer within a wearable device and determining that the received motion data matches a particular defined motion pattern of a plurality of defined motion patterns. In the particular embodiment, tactile messaging includes in response to determining that the received motion data matches the particular defined motion pattern, identifying one or more recipients and a message content that correspond to the particular defined motion pattern. Tactile messaging, according to the particular embodiment, also includes in response to identifying the one or more recipients and the message content that correspond to the particular defined motion pattern, initiating transmission, to the identified one or more recipients, a text message that includes the message content.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of tactile messaging via a wearable device, the method comprising:
by a processor of a computing device:
receiving motion data from an accelerometer within the wearable device;
determining that the received motion data matches a particular defined motion pattern of a plurality of defined motion patterns, wherein each defined motion pattern is predetermined to correspond to motion data generated in response to a user tapping, in a particular sequence, on the wearable device;
in response to determining that the received motion data matches the particular defined motion pattern, identifying one or more recipients and a message content that correspond to the particular defined motion pattern including:
analyzing a plurality of user profile data to identify a person that has user profile data indicating that their location is within a predetermined proximity to the wearable device; and
selecting the person as the identified one or more recipients; and
in response to identifying the one or more recipients and the message content that correspond to the particular defined motion pattern, initiating transmission, to the identified one or more recipients, a text message that includes the message content.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more recipients and the message content that correspond to the particular defined motion pattern includes:
identifying one or more mobile devices within a predetermined proximity to the wearable device; and
selecting, as the identified one or more recipients, at least one of the identified one or more mobile devices.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more recipients and the message content that correspond to the particular defined motion pattern includes:
identifying a recipient list that is associated with the particular defined motion pattern, wherein the recipient list indicates one or more particular recipients; and
selecting, as the identified one or more recipients, the one or more particular recipients.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the recipient list is user configurable.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the message content is user configurable.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing a plurality of user profile data to identify a person that has user profile data indicating that their location is within a predetermined proximity to the wearable device includes accessing and analyzing social media content indicating a location for a person.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein analyzing a plurality of user profile data to identify a person that has user profile data indicating that their location is within a predetermined proximity to the wearable device includes determining if a device associated with the person is within a threshold distance of the wearable device.

### Claim 8

A method of tactile messaging via a wearable device, the method comprising:
by a processor of a computing device;
receiving, from a user, indications of an input message content and one or more recipients;
receiving from the user, a selection of a particular defined motion pattern of a plurality of defined motion patterns, wherein each defined motion pattern is predetermined to correspond to motion data generated in response to tapping, on the wearable device, in a particular sequence; and
associating the particular defined motion pattern with the input message content and the one or more recipients including analyzing a plurality of user profile data to identify a person that has user profile data indicating that their location is within a predetermined proximity to the wearable device; and
selecting the person as the identified one or more recipients.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
in response to detecting motion data that corresponds to the particular defined motion pattern, initiating transmission, to the identified one or more recipients, of a text message that includes the message content.

### Claim 10

A method of tactile messaging via a wearable device, the method comprising:
by a processor of a computing device:
determining a tapping pattern based at least in part on one or more inputs from one or more sensors;
identifying a response based at least in part on a correspondence between the tapping pattern to one of a plurality of tapping patterns, where the plurality of tapping patterns correspond to respective responses wherein identifying the response includes sending one or more messages to one or more recipients over one or more communication channels wherein sending one or more messages to one or more recipients includes:
analyzing a plurality of user profile data to identify a person that has user profile data indicating that their location is within a predetermined proximity to the wearable device; and
selecting the person as the identified one or more recipients; and
initiating performance of the response corresponding to the tapping pattern.

### Claim 11

A wearable device comprising a computer processor and a non-transitory computer memory coupled to the computer processor, wherein the non-transitory computer memory stores computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the computer processor to carry out the steps of:
receiving motion data from an accelerometer within the wearable device;
determining that the received motion data matches a particular defined motion pattern of a plurality of defined motion patterns, wherein each defined motion pattern is predetermined to correspond to motion data generated in response to a user tapping, in a particular sequence, on the wearable device;
in response to determining that the received motion data matches the particular defined motion pattern, identifying one or more recipients and a message content that correspond to the particular defined motion pattern including:
analyzing a plurality of user profile data to identify a person that has user profile data indicating that their location is within a predetermined proximity to the wearable device; and
selecting the person as the identified one or more recipients; and
in response to identifying the one or more recipients and the message content that correspond to the particular defined motion pattern, initiating transmission, to the identified one or more recipients, a text message that includes the message content.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The wearable device of claim 11, wherein the computer program instructions, when executed by the computer processor, further cause the computer processor to carry out the steps of:
confirming at least one of a group of confirmation tasks; and
in response to confirming at least one of the group of confirmation tasks, instructing a tactile feedback generator within the wearable device to provide tactile feedback to the user of the wearable device.