METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A VARIABLE VIBRATION AND AN AUDIO OUTPUT FEEDBACK FOR SELECTED OBJECT IN A
TOUCH SCREEN DEVICE

A) TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a variable vibration feedback resulting from the touch of a photographic object or verbal sentence on the touch screen based storage systems such as PDA, laptop, tablet PC and desktops. More particularly the present invention relates to a method and system for providing a variable vibration and an audio output feedback for a plurality of selected objects in a touch screen device.

B) BACK GROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A touch screen is an electronic visual display device that can detect the presence and location of a touch within a display area and navigate through the display without requiring any intermediate device that would need to be held in the hand.

[0003] Currently, the touch screen devices provide a haptic feedback to the user by producing a vibration alert in the device. The shortcoming of this technology is that irrespective of the object touched on the touch screen, the device produces the vibration of same frequency.

[0004] Hence there is a need for a method and system for providing a variable vibration and an audio output feedback for a plurality of objects selected in a touch screen device that helps the user to experience the sense of the object and the audio feedback of the selected object.

[0005] The above mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein and which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.

C) OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0006] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a variable vibration and an audio output feedback for a plurality of selected objects in a touch screen device.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a variable vibration and an audio output feedback for a plurality of objects in a touch screen device by downloading and installing an application agent in the touch screen device.

[0008] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a variable vibration and the audio output feedback that helps the user to experience the sense of the object and audio feedback related to selected object in touch screen device.

[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a variable vibration feedback using the one or more vibrators in the touch screen device.

[0010] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a variable vibration and an audio output feedback for a plurality of objects in a touch screen device by comparing the objects with a plurality of signature files stored in a database either locally or on a remote server.

[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a variable vibration and an audio output feedback for a plurality of objects in a touch screen device by determining a close match of the objects selected with the plurality of signature files stored in the database.

[0012] Yet another object of the present invention is to generate the signature files for the plurality of predefined objects in the database.

D) SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The various embodiments of the present invention provide a method for providing a variable vibration and an audio output feedback for a plurality of objects selected by the user in a touch screen device. The method includes downloading and installing an application agent in the touch screen device. Further the method includes selecting the object through the application agent interface in the touch screen device. The method further includes comparing the selected object with a plurality of signature files stored in a database. The method further includes determining a close match of the selected object with the signature files in the database. The method further includes sending the matched signature file from the central database to the touch screen device and providing the variable vibration and the audio output feedback based on the signature file for the selected object.

[0014] The various embodiments of the present invention provide a system for producing a variable vibration feedback and an audio output feedback to a user in a touch screen device. The system includes a touch screen device, a server and a database. The touch screen device further comprises of an input unit for selecting the plurality of objects through the application agent. The touch screen device further comprises of a display unit for providing the feedback through a variable vibration and an audio output based on the close match of the selected objects with the signature files in the database and an application processor for downloading and installing an application agent in the touch screen device. The server further comprises of a processor for comparing the selected objects with signature files stored in the database of the server and determine a close match of the objects selected with the plurality of signature files in the database.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the signature files includes at least one of an image file, a text file, a metadata file, an audio file associated with the image, an audio file associated with the text, a vibrator signature file associated with the image and a vibrator signature file associated the text.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the vibrator signature file produces the variable pattern vibration feedback based on determination of edges, slopes and peak, colour, shape and text meaning of the selected objects.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the signature file generated is assigned with a plurality of metadata tags. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the comparing of the objects with the signature files database includes matching the image file or a text of the selected object with the signature files and matching the metadata attached with the selected object with the metadata of signature files stored in the central database of the server.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the user is notified with a message, the user is notified with a message, when no match is found in the signature file database for the selected object. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the user is provided an option to request for providing a signature file corresponding to the selected object from the plurality of third party databases, when no match is found in the signature file database for the selected object.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, when a user selects a text or an image object on the touch screen, an internal algorithm is executed and the selected image object or the text is interpreted in form of variable vibration feedback and sound feedback to the user. The algorithm scans the selected image or text and searches the best possible match by comparing the selected image or text object file with the signature files stored in the database and provides variable vibration and sound feedback related to the selected image or text object.

[0020] According to another embodiment of the present invention, when an image object is selected by the user, the touch screen device produces a plurality of variable vibration patterns for the selected image object based on the edges, sloped, peaks and other recognizable shapes present on the object thereby providing the sense of actual touch of an object to the user.

[0021] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the feedback is provided through a variable vibration using one or more vibrators in the touch screen device.

[0022] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the vibrator signature file sends a command to the one or more vibrators to provide the variable vibration feedback.

[0023] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

E) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of the server and the plurality of touch screen devices for producing a variable vibration feedback and an audio output feedback for a selected object, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG.2 illustrates a block diagram of the server and the touch screen device in detail for producing a variable vibration feedback and an audio output feedback for selected object, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG.3 illustrates a flowchart of a method for providing a variable vibration and an audio output feedback for a plurality of objects selected by the user in the touch screen device, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Although the specific features of the present invention are shown in some drawings and not in others. This is done for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the present invention.

F) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] In the following detailed description, a reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which the specific embodiments that may be practiced is shown by way of illustration. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and it is to be understood that the logical, mechanical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0030] The various embodiments of the present invention provide a method for providing a variable vibration and an audio output feedback for a plurality of objects selected by the user in a touch screen device. The method includes downloading and installing a application agent in the touch screen device. Further the method includes selecting the object through the application agent interface and comparing the selected object with a plurality of signature files stored in a database of a server. The method further includes determining a close match of the selected object with the signature files in the database and sending the matched signature file from the central database to the touch screen device and providing the variable vibration and the audio output feedback based on the signature file for the selected object.

[0031] The various embodiments of the present invention provide a system for producing a variable vibration feedback and an audio output feedback to a user in a touch screen device. The system includes a touch screen device, a server and a database. The touch screen device further comprises of an input unit for selecting the plurality of objects through the application agent, a display unit for providing the feedback through a variable vibration and an audio output based on the close match of the selected objects with the signature files in the database and an application processor for downloading and installing a application agent in the touch screen device. The server further comprises of a processor for comparing the selected objects with signature files stored in the database of the server and determine a close match of the objects selected with the plurality of signature files in the database. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the signature files are generated for the plurality of predefined objects in the database.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the signature files includes at least one of an image file or a text file, a metadata file, an audio file associated with the image or the text, and a vibrator signature file associated with the image or the text.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the vibrator signature file produces the variable pattern vibration feedback based on determination of edges, slopes peak, colour, shape and text meaning of the selected objects..

[0034] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the signature file generated is assigned with a plurality of metadata tags.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the comparing of the objects with the signature files database includes matching the image file or a text of the selected object with the signature files and matching the metadata attached with the selected object with the metadata of signature files stored in the central database.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the user is notified with a message, the user is notified with a message, when no match is found in the signature file database for the selected object. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the user is provided an option to request for providing a signature file corresponding to the selected object from the plurality of third party databases, when no match is found in the signature file database for the selected object.

[0037] According to one embodiment of the present invention, when a user selects a text or an image object on the touch screen, an internal algorithm is executed and the selected image object or the text is interpreted in form of variable vibration feedback and sound feedback to the user. The algorithm scans the selected image or text and searches the best possible match by comparing the selected image or text object file with the signature files stored in the database and provides variable vibration and sound feedback related to the selected image or text object.

[0038] According to another embodiment of the present invention, when an image object is selected, the touch screen device produces a plurality of variable vibration patterns for the selected image object based on the edges, sloped, peaks and other recognizable shapes present on the object thereby providing the sense of actual touch of an object to the user.

[0039] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the feedback is provided through a variable vibration using one or more vibrators in the touch screen device.

[0040] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the vibrator signature file sends a command to the one or more vibrators to provide the variable vibration feedback. FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of the server and the plurality of touch screen devices for producing a variable vibration feedback and an audio output feedback for the selected object, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram includes touch screen devices 105a, 105b and 105c connected to a server 110. The server 110 comprises of a central database 115, and is further connected to a plurality of third party databases such as a database 120a, and a database 120b.

[0041] The signature files are generated for the plurality of predefined objects in the central database 115 of the server 110. The signature files includes least one of an image file, a text file, a metadata file, an audio file associated with the image, an audio file associated with the text, a vibrator signature file associated with the image and a vibrator signature file associated the text.

[0042] The user downloads and installs a application agent on his touch screen device 105a from the server 110. The user then selects the single object or plurality of objects through the application agent interface in the touch screen device 105a. The objects are then compared with the signature files stored in the central database 115 of the server 110. An internal algorithm is executed in the server 110 and the selected image object or the text is interpreted in form of variable vibration feedback and sound feedback to the user. The algorithm scans the selected image or text and sends the same to the server 110 and compared with the signature files stored in the central database 115 and the matched signature file is sent to the user device 105a providing the variable vibration and the sound feedback related to the selected image or text object.

[0043] FIG.2 illustrates a block diagram of the server and the touch screen device in detail for producing a variable vibration feedback and an audio output feedback in the touch screen device, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The touch screen device 105a includes an input unit 205, a display unit 210 and an application processor 215. The user can select the single object or plurality of objects through input unit 205. The display unit 210 provides the feedback through a variable vibration and an audio output based on the close match of the selected objects with the signature files in the central database 115 of the server 110. The application processor 215 downloads the application agent and installs in the touch screen device 105a and further executes the signature file of the selected objects in order to send instructions to vibrators and audio unit of the touch screen device 105a for providing the vibration and audio feedback.

[0044] The server 110 includes a processor 220 for comparing the selected objects with signature files stored in the central database 115 (as shown in Fig.l) of the server 110 and determine a close match of the objects selected with the signature files.

[0045] When the user makes a contact on the touch screen, the touch screen senses the touch through sensors placed in the touch screen device 105a and executes an algorithm to find the co-ordinates of the touched location in the touch screen and recognizes the object image or object text.

[0046] If an image is present in the touched co-ordinate location, an image recognition algorithm is executed to know the nature and content of the picture. The application agent in the touch screen device 105a send the selected object to the server 110 and the selected object is compared with the signature files stored in the central database 115 (as shown in Fig.l). Based on the best possible match, the processor 220 send the matched signature file to the device 105a.

[0047] The vibrators placed at various locations on the touch screen device 105a provide the vibration based on various parameters provided in the signature file for the selected object. The various parameters include but are not limited to the edges, slopes, peak, color and shape and text meaning of the selected objects.

[0048] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method for providing a variable vibration and an audio output feedback for a plurality of objects in a touch screen device, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The user downloads and installs the application agent (step 305) in the touch screen device 105a (as shown in Fig. 1 & Fig. 2). The user selects a single object or a plurality of objects through the application agent interface (step 320) in the touch screen device 105a (as shown in Fig. 1 & Fig. 2).

[0049] The selected objects file is sent to the server 110 (as shown in Fig. 1 & Fig. 2) and the object file is compared with the signature files stored in the database 115 (as shown in Fig. 1) of the server 110 (step 315). The processor 220 (as shown in Fig. 2) of the server 110 compares the objects file with the plurality of signature files stored in the database 115 of the server 110 and a close match is determined (Step 320). The matched signature file is sent to the touch screen device 105a and the application processor 215 (as shown in Fig. 2) sends vibrators instructions and audio output instructions (step 325). The vibrators and audio components of the touch screen device 105a provide variable vibration and audio feedback to the user for the selected object (step 330).

G) ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0050] The various advantages of the present invention are that a user is able to experience the sense of the selected object and the audio feedback of the selected object in a touch screen device. The sense of the selected object is experienced by a user through a variable vibration feedback provided by the one or more vibrators present in the touch screen device.

[0051] Although the invention is described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the invention with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims.
[0052] It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the present invention described herein and all the statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall there between.

CLAIMS

What is claimed is:

1. A method for providing a variable vibration and an audio output feedback to a
user for a plurality of objects in a touch screen device, the method comprising:
downloading and installing a application agent in the touch screen device;
selecting the object through the application agent interface in the touch
screen device;
comparing the object with a plurality of signature files stored in a central
database of a server;
determining a close match of the selected object with the signature files in
the central database;
sending the matched signature file from the central database to the touch
screen device; and
providing the variable vibration and the audio output feedback based on the
signature file for the selected object.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signature files are generated for the plurality of predefined objects in the central database of the server.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signature files comprises at least one of an image file, a metadata file, an audio file associated with the image, and a vibrator file associated with the image.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the vibrator signature file produces a variable pattern vibration feedback based on determination of edges, slopes peak, colour and shape and text meaning of the selected objectsof the selected object.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the signature files comprises at least one of a text file, a metadata file, an audio file associated with the text, and a vibrator file associated with the text.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the signature file generated are assigned with a plurality of metadata tags.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein comparing the selected object with
the signature files comprises :
matching the metadata files of signature files with metadata of the selected object; and
matching the image file or a text with the signature files associated with the selected object.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user is provided an option to
request for providing a signature file corresponding to the selected object from
the plurality of third party databases, when no match is found in the signature
file database for the selected object.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vibrator signature file sends a
command to the one or more vibrators to provide the variable vibration
feedback.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the feedback is provided through
the variable vibration using one or more vibrators in the touch screen device.

11. A system for producing a variable vibration feedback and an audio output
feedback to a user in a touch screen device, the system comprising:
a touch screen device, the touch screen device comprising:
an input unit for selecting the plurality of objects through the application agent;
a display unit for providing the feedback through a variable vibration feedback and an audio feedback for the selected object; and
an application processor for downloading and installing a application agent in the touch screen device; a central server, the server comprising:
a central database to store a plurality of signature files; and a processor for:
comparing the selected objects with the plurality of signature files stored in the database of the server; and determining a close match of the selected objects with the plurality of signature files in the database.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the signature files are generated for
the plurality of predefined objects in the central database of the server.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the signature files comprises at least one of an image file, a metadata file, an audio file associated with the image, and a vibrator file associated with the image.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the vibrator signature file produces a variable pattern vibration feedback based on determination of edges, slopes peak, colour and shape and text meaning of the selected objectsof the selected object.

15. A system according to claim 11, wherein the signature files comprises at least one of a text file, a metadata file, an audio file associated with the text, and a vibrator file associated with the text.

16. A system according to claim 11, wherein each of the signature file generated are assigned with a plurality of metadata tags.

17. A system according to claim 11, wherein comparing the selected objects with
the signature files comprises :
matching the metadata files of signature files with metadata of the selected objects; and
matching the image file or a text with the signature files associated with the selected objects.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein the matched signature file from the central database is sent to the touch screen device for providing the vibration and audio feedback to the user.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein the vibrator signature file sends a command to the one or more vibrators to provide the variable vibration feedback.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein the feedback is provided through
the variable vibration using one or more vibrators in the touch screen device.

21. The system according to claim 11, wherein the user is notified with a message, when no match is found in the signature file database for the selected objects.

22. A method for providing a variable vibration and an audio output feedback for a plurality of objects in a touch screen device, the touch screen device as described herein and in accompanying figures.