System, device, and method for providing haptic feedback responsive to transfer of digital content

Abstract

A system, method, and device for providing haptic feedback is presented. The system comprises a first device, a second device, and a third device. The first device has a first haptic output device, a first processor, and a first wireless communication unit. The second device has a second haptic output device, a second processor, and a second wireless communication unit. The third device has a third processor and a third wireless communication unit configured to transfer digital content between the third device and at least the first device. At least one processor of the first processor, second processor, and third processor is configured, when digital content is transferred or is being transferred between the third device and the first device, to cause the first haptic output device to output a first haptic feedback and to cause the second haptic output device to output a second haptic feedback.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computing device for controlling haptic feedback, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a wireless communication unit configured to communicate with: i) a first device having a first haptic output device, and ii) a second device having a second haptic device, wherein the at least one processor is configured to
 cause digital content to be transferred between the second device and at least one of the computing device or a remote storage device, and 
 when the digital content is transferred or is being transferred between the second device and at least one of the computing device or a remote storage device, cause the first haptic output device to output a first haptic feedback and cause the second haptic output device to output a second haptic feedback, wherein both the first haptic feedback and the second haptic feedback are responsive to the transferring of the digital content to or from the second device. 
   
     
     
         22 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the first haptic output device and the second haptic output device to output the respective first haptic feedback and the second haptic feedback sequentially, such that the second haptic feedback is output either before or after the first haptic feedback. 
     
     
         23 . The computing device of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to simulate movement of the digital content by:
 causing the second haptic output device to output the second haptic feedback after the first haptic output device outputs the first haptic feedback when the digital content is transferred or is being transferred from the at least one of the computing device or the remote storage device to the second device, and   causing the second haptic output device to output the second haptic feedback before the first haptic output device outputs the first haptic feedback when the digital content is transferred or is being transferred from the second device to the at least one of the computing device or the remote storage device.   
     
     
         24 . The computing device of  claim 23 , wherein the computing device further comprises a computing device haptic output device, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to simulate the movement of the digital content by:
 causing the first haptic output device to output the first haptic feedback after the computing device haptic output device outputs a computing device haptic feedback when the digital content is transferred or is being transferred from the at least one of the computing device or the remote storage device to the second device, and   causing the computing device haptic output device to output a computing device haptic feedback after the first haptic output device outputs the first haptic feedback when the digital content is transferred or is being transferred from the second device to the at least one of the computing device or the remote storage device.   
     
     
         25 . The computing device of  claim 22 , further comprising a third device that is an intervening wearable device between the first device and the second device, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause a sequential output of haptic feedbacks by causing the third device to output a third haptic feedback between when the first device outputs the first haptic feedback and when the second device outputs the second haptic feedback. 
     
     
         26 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the first haptic output device and the second haptic output device to output the respective first haptic feedback and the second haptic feedback simultaneously. 
     
     
         27 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein the digital content is at least one of: i) payment information that is sent or being sent from the computing device to a point of sale device; or ii) purchase receipt information received or being received by the computing device from the point of sale device. 
     
     
         28 . The computing device of  claim 27 , wherein the computing device is a mobile phone, the first device is a wearable device, and the second device is an electronic wallet device that stores at least one of the payment information or the purchase receipt information. 
     
     
         29 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the computing device, the first device, or the second device has a storage device storing a node map that associates devices with respective body locations, and
 wherein the at least one processor configured to cause the first haptic output device to output a first haptic feedback and cause the second haptic output device to output a second haptic feedback is configured to
 identify a plurality of body locations associated with the transfer of digital content, and to identify the first device and the second device as each being associated in the node map with a respective one of the plurality of body locations, and 
 cause the first device and the second device that are identified from the node map to output the first haptic feedback and the second haptic feedback, respectively. 
   
     
     
         30 . The computing device of  claim 29 , wherein the first device is associated in the node map with a fingertip location or a wrist location, and the second device is associated in the node map with a pocket location. 
     
     
         31 . The computing device of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to generate a path through the first device and the second device based on the node map, wherein the first haptic feedback and the second feedback are output based on the path. 
     
     
         32 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein the computing device is configured to send the same digital content to the first device and the second device, and the at least one processor is configured to cause the first device to output the first device haptic feedback before the second device outputs the second haptic feedback when the same digital content is sent or being sent to the first device and the second device. 
     
     
         33 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first haptic feedback and the second haptic feedback is based on a status of the transfer of digital content. 
     
     
         34 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein the computing device is a master device or a centralized controller that controls at least one of the first device or the second device. 
     
     
         35 . The computing device of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the computing device, the first device, or the second device is a wearable device. 
     
     
         36 . A method of controlling haptic feedback by a computing device configured to communicate with a first device having a first haptic feedback device and a second device having a second haptic feedback device, the method comprising:
 causing digital content to be transferred between the second device and at least one of the computing device or a remote storage device; and   when the digital content is transferred or is being transferred between the second device and at least one of the computing device or a remote storage device, causing the first haptic output device to output a first haptic feedback and causing the second haptic output device to output a second haptic feedback, wherein both the first haptic feedback and the second haptic feedback are responsive to the transferring of the digital content to or from the second device.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 causing the first haptic output device and the second haptic output device to output the respective first haptic feedback and the second haptic feedback sequentially, such that the second haptic feedback is output either before or after the first haptic feedback.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising simulating movement of the digital content by:
 causing the second haptic output device to output the second haptic feedback after the first haptic output device outputs the first haptic feedback when the digital content is transferred or is being transferred from the at least one of the computing device or the remote storage device to the second device, and   causing the second haptic output device to output the second haptic feedback before the first haptic output device outputs the first haptic feedback when the digital content is transferred or is being transferred from the second device to the at least one of the computing device or the remote storage device.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the computing device further comprises a computing device haptic output device, and wherein the method further comprises simulating the movement of the digital content by:
 causing the first haptic output device to output the first haptic feedback after the computing device haptic output device outputs a computing device haptic feedback when the digital content is transferred or is being transferred from the at least one of the computing device or the remote storage device to the second device, and   causing the computing device haptic output device to output a computing device haptic feedback after the first haptic output device outputs the first haptic feedback when the digital content is transferred or is being transferred from the second device to the at least one of the computing device or the remote storage device.   
     
     
         40 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium included in a computing device configured to communicate with a first device having a first haptic feedback device and a second device having a second haptic feedback device, the non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor of the computing device, cause the processor to:
 cause digital content to be transferred between the second device and at least one of the computing device or a remote storage device, and   when the digital content is transferred or is being transferred between the second device and at least one of the computing device or a remote storage device, cause the first haptic output device to output a first haptic feedback and cause the second haptic output device to output a second haptic feedback, wherein both the first haptic feedback and the second haptic feedback are responsive to the transferring of the digital content to or from the second device.