U.S. patent application number 16/273553 was filed with the patent office on 2019-08-22 for generating actions based on a user's mood.
The applicant listed for this patent is Immersion Corporation. Invention is credited to David M. BIRNBAUM, William S. RIHN, Amaya Becvar WEDDLE.
Application Number | 20190258850 16/273553 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55453041 |
Filed Date | 2019-08-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190258850 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
RIHN; William S. ; et
al. |
August 22, 2019 |
GENERATING ACTIONS BASED ON A USER'S MOOD
Abstract
A system determines a mood of an associated user. Based on the
determined mood, an action to be performed by the system is
determined. The system then initiates the determined action by
transmitting an object that corresponds to the determined mood to
another system.
Inventors: |
RIHN; William S.; (San Jose,
CA) ; WEDDLE; Amaya Becvar; (San Jose, CA) ;
BIRNBAUM; David M.; (Oakland, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Immersion Corporation |
San Jose |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55453041 |
Appl. No.: |
16/273553 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15054587 |
Feb 26, 2016 |
10248850 |
|
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16273553 |
|
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62126185 |
Feb 27, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 51/10 20130101;
G06F 2203/011 20130101; H04M 1/72552 20130101; H04W 4/029 20180201;
G06F 3/015 20130101; G06Q 10/107 20130101; G06F 3/011 20130101;
H04M 1/72572 20130101; H04L 51/04 20130101; H04M 2250/12 20130101;
H04M 1/72569 20130101; H04M 2250/52 20130101; H04W 4/02 20130101;
G06F 3/016 20130101; G06F 3/0304 20130101; H04L 67/18 20130101;
H04L 51/32 20130101; G06K 9/00302 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06K 9/00 20060101
G06K009/00; H04L 12/58 20060101 H04L012/58; H04L 29/08 20060101
H04L029/08; G06F 3/01 20060101 G06F003/01; H04M 1/725 20060101
H04M001/725; G06Q 10/10 20060101 G06Q010/10; G06F 3/03 20060101
G06F003/03 |
Claims
1. A method of operating an electronic device, the method
comprising: determining a mood of a user associated with a first
electronic device; determining an action to be performed by the
first electronic device based on the determined mood; and
initiating the determined action, wherein the determined action
comprises transmitting an object that corresponds to the determined
mood to a second electronic device.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/054,587, filed on Feb. 26, 2016, which
claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
62/126,185, filed on Feb. 27, 2015, both of which have been
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
FIELD
[0002] One embodiment is directed generally to communications
between devices, and in particular to the communication of user
sensed parameters between devices.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0003] The use of mobile devices, including handheld electronic
devices, such as smartphones, tablets, etc., and wearable devices,
such as smartwatches, fitness bands, etc., has expanded the ways in
which people communicate with each other in real time. For example,
texting has become a popular way to send brief communications to
another user of a mobile device without having to call the person
on the phone or send an e-mail. One drawback from texting and
communicating via e-mail is the lack of emotion conveyed in such
written communications. The addition of emoticons, such as :), :(,
:D, =), etc., animated emoticons, emoji, kaomoji, etc., has allowed
some type of emotion to be included in written communications, and
the addition of electronic stickers selected from a predefined
stack or library of electronic stickers, such as , etc. has
provided even more ways to communicate emotions and allow shortcuts
when communicating to save time. However, even the use of
emoticons, animated emoticons, emoji, kaomoji, electronic stickers,
etc. does not provide any indication of the user's true mood and
meaning behind the words in a text message, for example.
[0004] In addition, hands-free operation of mobile devices is
becoming more prevalent. For example, voice commands may be used to
instruct a mobile device to trigger an action, such as dialing a
telephone number, or searching for information. It is desirable to
have other hands-free ways to trigger such actions.
SUMMARY
[0005] One embodiment is system that determines a mood of an
associated user. Based on the determined mood, an action to be
performed by the system is determined. The system then initiates
the determined action by transmitting an object that corresponds to
the determined mood to another system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The components of the following figures are illustrated to
emphasize the general principles of the present disclosure and are
not necessarily drawn to scale. Reference characters designating
corresponding components are repeated as necessary throughout the
Figures for the sake of consistency and clarity.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system in accordance with
embodiments of the invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a first electronic device
and/or a second electronic device in accordance with one
embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the processor of FIG. 2 in
accordance with one embodiment.
[0010] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an implementation of the system
in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of the processor of FIG. 2 when
generating actions based on a user's mood in accordance with
embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] One embodiment determines the mood of a user associated with
an electronic device, such as a smartphone. Based on the determined
mood, an embodiment generates a message to be sent to another
electronic device, where the message includes an automatically
selected visual or haptic component based on the mood. In other
embodiments, other types of actions can automatically be initiated
based on the determined mood.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system 100 in accordance with
an embodiment of the invention. As illustrated, system 100 includes
a first electronic device 110 and a second electronic device 120.
First electronic device 110 and second electronic device 120 are
configured to communicate with each other over one or more
communications networks 130. Communications network 130 may include
one or more of a wireless communications network, an Internet, a
personal area network, a local area network, a metropolitan area
network, a wide area network, and so forth. Communications network
130 may include local radio frequencies, wireless technologies
(BLUETOOTH), cellular (GPRS, CDMA, GSM, CDPD, 2.5G, 3G, 4G LTE,
etc.), Ultra-WideBand ("UWB"), wireless broadband network
technologies (WIMAX), wireless personal area network technologies
(ZIGBEE), and/or other ad-hoc/mesh wireless network
technologies.
[0014] First electronic device 110 and second electronic device 120
may be any electronic device, such as a desktop computer, laptop
computer, electronic workbook, electronic handheld device (such as
a mobile phone, smartphone, tablet gaming device, personal digital
assistant ("PDA"), portable e-mail device, portable Internet access
device, calculator, etc.), point-of-sale device, game controller,
wearable device (such as a smartwatch, fitness band, etc.) or other
electronic device. In an embodiment, each of first electronic
device 110 and second electronic device 120 is a mobile device,
such as a smartphone or tablet. In an embodiment, one of first
electronic device 110 and second electronic device 120 is a mobile
device and the other is a wearable device. To the extent that some
embodiments of the invention described below refer to first
electronic device 110 and second electronic device 120 as both
being mobile devices, it should be understood that the embodiments
of the invention are not so limited and first electronic device 110
and second electronic device 120 can be many different types of
devices, as listed above.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of first electronic device 110
and/or second electronic device 120 in accordance with one
embodiment. The description that follows may only refer to the
first electronic device 110 with the understanding that the
components described herein may also be included in the second
electronic device 120. Of course more or less components may be
included in the first electronic device 110 and the second
electronic device 120. The illustrated embodiment is not intended
to be limiting in any way.
[0016] As illustrated, first electronic device 110 includes a
processor 210, a memory device 220, and input/output devices 230,
which are interconnected via a bus 240. In an embodiment, the
input/output devices 230 may include a touch screen device 250, a
haptic output device 260, one or more sensors 270, which may
include a camera 280, and/or other input devices that receive input
from a user of first electronic device 110 and output devices that
output information to the user of first electronic device 110, such
as an audio output device in the form of a speaker 290. The input
devices may also include devices such as keyboards, keypads, cursor
control devices (e.g., computer mice), styluses, or other data
entry devices, or an audio receiver, such as a microphone.
[0017] Touch screen device 250 may be configured as any suitable
user interface or touch/contact surface assembly. Touch screen
device 250 may be any touch screen, touch pad, touch sensitive
structure, computer monitor, laptop display device, workbook
display device, portable electronic device screen, or other
suitable touch sensitive device. Touch screen device 250 may be
configured for physical interaction with a user-controlled device,
such as a stylus, a finger, etc. In some embodiments, touch screen
device 250 may include at least one output device and at least one
input device. For example, touch screen device 250 may include a
visual display 252 configured to display images and a touch
sensitive screen that includes at least one sensor superimposed
thereon to receive inputs from a user's finger or a stylus
controlled by the user. Visual display 252 may include a high
definition display screen. In an embodiment, visual display 252 may
be separate from touch screen device 250.
[0018] In various embodiments, haptic output device 260 is
configured to provide haptic feedback to the user of the first
electronic device 110 while the user is in contact with at least a
portion of first electronic device 110. For example, haptic output
device 260 may provide haptic feedback to touch screen device 250
itself to impose a haptic effect when the user is in contact with
touch screen device 250 and/or to another part of first electronic
device 110, such as a housing containing at least input/output
devices 230.
[0019] The haptic feedback provided by haptic output device 260 may
be created with any of the methods of creating haptic effects, such
as vibration, deformation, kinesthetic sensations, electrostatic or
ultrasonic friction, etc. In an embodiment, haptic output device
260 may include an actuator, for example, an electromagnetic
actuator such as an Eccentric Rotating Mass ("ERM") in which an
eccentric mass is moved by a motor, a Linear Resonant Actuator
("LRA") in which a mass attached to a spring is driven back and
forth, or a "smart material" such as piezoelectric materials,
electro-active polymers or shape memory alloys, a macro-composite
fiber actuator, an electrostatic actuator, an electro-tactile
actuator, and/or another type of actuator that provides a physical
feedback such as vibrotactile feedback. Haptic output device 260
may include non-mechanical or non-vibratory devices such as those
that use electrostatic friction ("ESF"), ultrasonic friction
("USF"), or those that induce acoustic radiation pressure with an
ultrasonic haptic transducer, or those that use a haptic substrate
and a flexible or deformable surface, or those that provide thermal
effects, or those that provide projected haptic output such as a
puff of air using an air jet, and so on.
[0020] Sensor(s) 270 may include a single sensing device or
multiple sensing devices that is/are configured to sense and
collect mood information relating to the user of first electronic
device 110. For example, sensor(s) 270 may be configured to detect
and/or collect mood information via various modalities or user's
mood states, including but not limited to the user's physical
attributes, such as facial expressions, voice pitches, and/or
biometrics. In an embodiment, camera 280 may be used to capture
images of the user's face and the images may be processed by
processor 210 to determine the user's mood, as described in further
detail below. A biometric sensor may be used to sense a biomarker,
such as body temperature, body humidity or perspiration, heart
pulse or rate, breathing rhythms, brain waves, body posture, hand
gestures or movements, etc. In an embodiment, the biometric sensor
may be provided in a wearable device, such as a wrist band or
necklace, and may be configured to sense the user's pulse, as well
as predict the user's mood over time.
[0021] Sensor(s) 270 may also include pressure sensing mechanisms
that can be used to determine a user's mood. For example, how
tightly a smartphone is gripped during a telephone call may be
sensed and analyzed to determine that a user is in an angry mood.
Further, for a keyboard, how hard a user is hitting the keys may be
sensed and also analyzed to determine the user's mood. Embodiments
can detect the pressure of a user input, and compare the user's
pressure to an input profile, to determine a deviation from a
"normal" pressure amount. Based on the difference, the user's mood
can be determined, and the determined mood can be used to generate
an action, such as modifying an haptic effect to be output based on
the determined mood.
[0022] In an embodiment, the sensing techniques used by sensor(s)
270 may also employ various sound or audio sensors to record and/or
facilitate voice analysis. For example, voice frequency and voice
intensity while the user is speaking, such as while talking on the
phone, may be used to infer the user's mood. Further, the fact that
a user may be laughing, angrily making a "grring" sound, cat
calling, snoring, etc., may be determined and used to determine a
mood of the user.
[0023] Sensor(s) 270 may also include a sensor configured to detect
ambient conditions. For example, one or more of sensor(s) 270 may
collect ambient information relating to surroundings such as
temperature, humidity, lighting, atmosphere pressure, etc. Data
output by an ambient sensor may be used to help assess the user's
mood. In an embodiment, one or more sensor(s) 270 may be used to
sense the user's location and movement, so it can be determined
whether the user is in a hostile or friendly environment, or
whether the user is stuck in traffic, etc. Surroundings may also be
detected to suggest automatically generated location-based
emoticons. For example, a sensor/camera detecting birthday cakes
and balloons may suggest generating/selecting birthday party based
emoticons.
[0024] Processor 210 may be a general-purpose or specific-purpose
processor or microcontroller for managing or controlling the
operations and functions of first electronic device 110. For
example, processor 210 may be specifically designed as an
application-specific integrated circuit ("ASIC") to control output
signals to haptic output device 260 to provide haptic effects.
Processor 210 may be configured to decide, based on predefined
factors, what haptic effects are to be generated based on a haptic
signal received or determined by processor 210, the order in which
the haptic effects are generated, and the magnitude, frequency,
duration, and/or other parameters of the haptic effects. Processor
210 may also be configured to provide streaming commands that can
be used to drive haptic output device 260 for providing a
particular haptic effect. Processor 210 may also be configured to
provide streaming commands to other output devices to initiate
other actions, as described below. In some embodiments, the
processor 210 may actually be a plurality of processors, each
configured to perform certain functions within first electronic
device 110. Processor 210 is described in further detail below.
[0025] Memory device 220 may include one or more internally fixed
storage units, removable storage units, and/or remotely accessible
storage units. The various storage units may include any
combination of volatile memory and non-volatile memory. The storage
units may be configured to store any combination of information,
data, instructions, software code, etc. More particularly, the
storage units may include haptic effect profiles, instructions for
how haptic output device 260 is to be driven, or other information
for generating haptic effects. Other profiles, such as physical
attribute and mood profiles, may also be stored in memory device
220.
[0026] Each of haptic electronic devices 110, 120 can include any
number of haptic output devices 260 and sensors 270. Further, each
of haptic electronic devices 110, 120 may include different types
of haptic output devices 260 and sensors 270, and haptic electronic
device 110 may include a different number and different types of
combinations of haptic output devices 260 and sensors 270 than
haptic electronic device 120.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of processor 210 of FIG. 2 in
accordance with one embodiment. Processor 210 may be configured to
execute one or more computer program modules. The one or more
computer program modules may include one or more of a sensor module
212, a mood determination module 214, an action determination
module 216, an output device control module 218, and/or other
modules. Processor 210 may also include electronic storage 219,
which may be the same as the memory device 220 or in addition to
the memory device 220. Processor 210 may be configured to execute
modules 212, 214, 216 and/or 218 by software, hardware, firmware,
some combination of software, hardware, and/or firmware, and/or
other mechanisms for configuring processing capabilities on
processor 210.
[0028] It should be appreciated that although modules 212, 214, 216
and 218 are illustrated in FIG. 3 as being co-located within a
single processing unit, in embodiments in which there are multiple
processing units, one or more of modules 212, 214, 216 and/or 218
may be located remotely from the other modules. The description of
the functionality provided by the different modules 212, 214, 216
and/or 218 described below is for illustrative purposes, and is not
intended to be limiting, as any of the modules 212, 214, 216 and/or
218 may provide more or less functionality than is described. For
example, one or more of the modules 212, 214, 216 and/or 218 may be
eliminated, and some or all of its functionality may be provided by
other ones of the modules 212, 214, 216 and/or 218. As another
example, processor 210 may be configured to execute one or more
additional modules that may perform some or all of the
functionality attributed below to one of the modules 212, 214, 216
and/or 218.
[0029] Sensor module 212 is configured to receive an input signal
from sensor(s) 270 that is generated when sensor(s) 270 detects a
physical attribute associated with a mood of the user of first
electronic device 110, such as the user's facial expression, the
user's heartbeat, the user's brain waves, etc. In embodiments in
which there are multiple sensors 270, sensor module 212 is
configured to receive and process input signals from multiple
sensors 270. Sensor module 212 is also configured to send a signal
to mood determination module 214 for further processing.
[0030] Mood determination module 214 is configured to determine the
mood of the user of first electronic device 110 based on the signal
received from sensor module 212 and can determine a "mood profile"
of the determined mood. For example, if camera 280 is used to
capture an image of the user with a smile, mood determination
module 214 may analyze the image to determine that the user is in a
good mood and is happy. If a biometric sensor is used to sense the
user's heartbeat and the sensor senses a rapid heartbeat, mood
determination module 214 may be used to determine that the user is
anxious and stressed. Mood determination module 214 may be
programmed with a library of physical attributes and associated
moods so that when senor(s) 270 sense one of the physical
attributes, mood determination module 214 may determine the mood of
the user of first electronic device 110. Mood determination module
214 may use the user's location, which may be a geo-location sensed
by a location sensor, such as GPS, or a situational location, such
as attending an important meeting, that may be retrieved from the
user's calendar, which may be stored on first electronic device 110
in memory device 220. Mood determination module 214 may also output
a signal to action determination module 216 for further
processing.
[0031] Action determination module 216 is configured to receive the
output signal from mood determination module 214 and determine an
action to initiate based on the determined mood of the user of
first electronic device 110. In an embodiment, the determined
action to initiate may include generating a visual, audio and/or
haptic effect on second electronic device 120 operated by a second
user. The visual effect may be a predetermined text message that
reflects the mood of the user of first electronic device 110, which
may include an emoticon, and/or a predetermined image, such as an
electronic sticker that reflects the mood of the user of first
electronic device 110. The audio effect may include a predetermined
sound or jingle that reflects the mood of the user of first
electronic device 110. The haptic effect may include a
predetermined vibration pattern that reflects the mood of the user
of first electronic device 110. In an embodiment, action
determination module 216 may determine one or more parameters of
the haptic effect, such as amplitude, frequency, duration, etc., of
the haptic effect.
[0032] In an embodiment, action determination module 216 may use an
input from one of sensor(s) 270 that is configured to sense a
location of the user of first electronic device 110 to modulate the
effect that is generated on second electronic device 120 to either
accentuate or diminish the effect and thereby provide additional
information about the mood of the user of first electronic device
110 to second user of the second electronic device 120.
[0033] In an embodiment, action determination module 215 may use an
input from one of sensors 270 that is configured to sense a
physical attribute associated with the mood of the second user of
second electronic device 120, and modulate the action to be
initiated based on the sensed physical attribute associated with
the mood of the second user so that the effect that is generated on
second electronic device 120 is accentuated, diminished, or
otherwise altered.
[0034] In an embodiment, the mood profile can modulate an
accompanying audio or haptic feedback effect. In embodiments where
haptic feedback effects are synthesized in real time or near real
time, the synthesis parameters can be changed such that they
reflect the mood of the sender. For example, in a system where
lower pitches are associated with "lower" moods, the frequency of
the audio and haptics effects can reflect those moods by becoming
lower.
[0035] In an embodiment, the action that the action determination
module 216 may determine to initiate may include initiating the
dialing of a telephone number with first electronic device 110.
Such an embodiment may allow the facial cues that are captured by
camera 280 to be used in place of a voice command or "speed dial"
number or button that correspond to dialing a particular phone
number. In an embodiment, the determined action to initiate may
include initiating a written communication with the first
electronic device 110. Such an embodiment may allow the facial cues
that are captured by the camera 280 to be used to dictate a message
to be sent as a text message or an e-mail by first electronic
device 110. Action determination module 216 may output a signal to
output device control module 218 for further processing.
[0036] Output device control module 218 is configured to receive
the output signal from action determination module 216 and send a
control signal to the output device that is to initiate the
determined action. For example, if the action to be initiated
includes generating a visual, audio and/or haptic effect on second
electronic device 210, output device control module 218 may output
a signal that can be communicated to second electronic device 210
and sent to the appropriate output device, such as display 252,
speaker 290 and/or haptic output device 260. In an embodiment,
output device control module 218 may determine one or more
parameters of the haptic effect, such as amplitude, frequency,
duration, etc., of the haptic effect, instead of the action
determination module 216. Similarly, if the action to be initiated
includes dialing a telephone number, output device control module
218 may output a signal so that the dialer of the phone of first
electronic device 110 opens a telecommunications line and dials the
telephone number. If the action to be initiated includes initiating
a written communication, output device control module 218 may
output a signal that mimics the signal that is output by a keyboard
or keypad.
[0037] Depending on the application, different modalities may be
used to generate targeted mood-based haptic feedback. For example,
to share a happy state of mind with a friend while talking over the
phone, the communication may be augmented by sending, from one
user's phone to another user's phone, haptic cues that signalize
the happy mood or pleasant state of mind. To capture a user's
emotional state while dialing or talking on a mobile phone, a
digital camera or video camera on the mobile phone may be used to
capture and then transmit the captured mood information or facial
expressions to the user being called.
[0038] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an implementation system 100
described above in accordance with embodiments of the invention. A
system 400 illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B includes a first
electronic device 410, which may be a mobile phone, such as a
smartphone, and a second electronic device 420, which may also be a
mobile phone, such as a smartphone. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, a
first user of first electronic device 410 may use a front facing
camera 480 on first electronic device 410 to capture an image 412
of the first user. A processor, such as processor 210 described
above, may receive a signal output by camera 480 and use mood
determination module 214 to determine the mood of the first user,
which in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4A is a happy mood.
Processor 210 may then use action determination module 214 to
determine an action to initiate based on the happy mood. Output
device control module 218 may then output a signal, based on the
determined action to be initiated, that may be communicated to
second electronic device 420 via communications network 130
described above. In the illustrated embodiment, a happy face
electronic sticker 422 is displayed in a text box 424 by a display
452 of the second electronic device 420. At the same time, a haptic
effect 462, which may include a relatively strong vibration that
may be associated with a happy mood, may be output by a haptic
output device, such as haptic output device 260 described
above.
[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the first user of first
electronic device 410 may use front facing camera 480 on first
electronic device 410 to capture another image 413 of the first
user. Processor 210 may receive a signal output by camera 480 and
use mood determination module 214 to determine the mood of the
first user, which in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4B is a sad
mood. Processor 210 may then use action determination module 214 to
determine an action to initiate based on the sad mood. Output
device control module 218 may then output a signal, based on the
determined action to be initiated, that may be communicated to
second electronic device 420 via communications network 130. In the
illustrated embodiment, a sad face electronic sticker 423 is
displayed in text box 424 by display 452 of second electronic
device 420. At the same time, a haptic effect 463, which may
include a relatively weak vibration (compared to the haptic effect
462 in FIG. 4A) that may be associated with a sad mood, may be
output by haptic output device 260.
[0040] In an implementation of embodiments of the invention, a
first user of system 100 may open a chat application on his/her
electronic device 110 to send a message to a second user of the
system 100. As the first user types the message, the camera 280 may
be activated. Activation of camera 280 may be automatic or the
first user may manually activate camera 280. Camera 280 may capture
facial cues that may be used to determine the mood of the first
user. Additionally or alternatively, sensors 270 may provide
biomarker data or location data to determine the mood of the first
user. In an embodiment, calendar data from first electronic device
110 may be used to provide context for the captured facial cues,
biomarker data and/or location data to help determine the first
user's mood. Processor 210 may determine an appropriate emoticon,
electronic sticker, and/or haptic effect to send to a second user
of system 100, potentially automatically, so that the second user
receives an indication of the first user's mood with the message to
help personalize the message and carry meaning in the notification
of the message.
[0041] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of processor 210 of FIG. 2 when
generating actions based on a user's mood in accordance with
embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, the
functionality of the flow diagram of FIG. 5 is implemented by
software stored in memory or other computer readable or tangible
medium, and executed by a processor. In other embodiments, the
functionality may be performed by hardware (e.g., through the use
of an application specific integrated circuit ("ASIC"), a
programmable gate array ("PGA"), a field programmable gate array
("FPGA"), etc.), or any combination of hardware and software.
[0042] As illustrated, flow diagram 500 starts at 510. At 520, a
physical attribute of a first user of an electronic device, such as
first electronic device 110 described above, is sensed with a
sensor, such as one of sensors 170 described above. At 530, the
first user's mood is determined based on the sensed physical
attribute. The determination may be completed by mood determination
module 214 of processor 210 described above when mood determination
module 214 is executed by processor 210. At 540, an action to be
initiated is automatically determined based on the determined mood.
The determination of the action to be initiated may be completed by
action determination module 216 of processor 210 described above
when action determination module 216 is executed by processor 210.
At 550, the determined action is initiated. The action may be
initiated by output device control module 218 of processor 210 when
output device control module 218 is executed by the processor 210.
Flow diagram 500 ends at 560.
[0043] The determined action at 550 can include automatically
transmitting the mood to another device by transmitting an object
that is representative of the mood. The object may be an emoticon
or any predetermined image such as an electronic sticker or
animated Graphics Interchange Format ("GIF") and may include any
type of audio and/or a haptic effect. Further, the object may
include only audio, only a haptic effect, or any combination. The
object may be transmitted in conjunction with the transmission of a
textual message, email, or other entity, or it may be transmitted
independently.
[0044] In an implementation of embodiments of the invention, a
first user of system 100 and a second user of system 100 may
communicate by using a chat application ("chat app") on their
respective electronic devices 110, 120, which may be in the form of
mobile devices, such as smartphones. The first user may type the
following message to the second user: "I have big news! I got a
promotion today!" The second user may react by making an
exaggerated "wow!" face. The front-facing camera on the second
user's device may capture the emotion of the second user by
capturing an image of his/her face while making the exaggerated
"wow!" face. The second user's device may determine that his/her
emotion is "surprise" and identify an electronic sticker in an
electronic sticker pack or library that matches the "surprise"
emotion. For example, the electronic sticker may be an animation of
a gorilla looking so surprised that his jaw drops to the floor with
a big *THUD!*, which may be felt as a haptic effect integrated with
the electronic sticker when the electronic sticker is delivered to
the first user.
[0045] In one embodiment, the mood profile is used to choose a set
of animation parameters that are applied to a visual asset, such as
a sticker or avatar. For example, one person might send their
friend an animated character. When and/or after the character is
sent, the virtual behaviors it exhibits can be modified by the mood
profile. If the sender is sad, the character may take on actions
and behaviors associated with sadness, such as looking down,
shuffling feet, etc. The haptic feedback could match the shuffling
of the feet, drawing the recipient's attention to the mood and
creating an emotional experience. If the sender's mood changes to
become excited, the character can begin jumping up and down, and
the recipient can feel an "excited" vibration pattern that matches
the jumping with a vibration pulse each time the character
lands.
[0046] In another implementation of embodiments of the invention, a
first user and a second user may be communicating with each other
by using a communication platform such as GOOGLE HANGOUTS. The
second user may be waiting for the first user to arrive to an event
with friends while communicating through the second user's laptop.
The second user may be wearing a wearable electronic device that
senses signs of stress being felt by the second user caused by the
first user being late, which may be confirmed by the first user's
GPS location. An emoticon may be sent to the first user's mobile
device that suggests the second user's stress level. The first user
may receive the message on his/her mobile device while on a bus,
for example, on the way to the event. The first user may see that
the second user is stressed. As the bus escapes traffic and rapidly
approaches the location of the event, the first user's device may
capture his/her smile and send a positive emoticon to inform the
second user that he/she will be on time. The second user may
receive the notification across numerous devices connected to
his/her GOOGLE account, including but not limited to the second
user's wearable electronic device, mobile phone, a mouse, and a
haptically-enabled laptop touchpad, etc.
[0047] In another implementation of embodiments of the invention,
when a first user of the system begins to type a message to a
second user of the system, the second user's device may provide an
indication of the second user's mood to the first user so that the
first user may take the second user's mood into consideration. For
example, the first user may want to send a message that includes a
mean joke to the second user. As the first user starts to type the
message, the first user may be notified on his/her electronic
device 110 that the second user is not in a good mood so that the
first user may reconsider whether he/she should alter the wording
or timing of the message.
[0048] In an implementation of embodiments of the invention, the
mood of the first user of the system may be used to determine an
action, as described above, and the determined action may be
further modulated by the sensed mood of the second user of the
system. For example, if the first user's mood is excited, but the
second user's mood is morose, the original action determined to be
taken based on the first user's mood may be modulated based on the
second user's mood so that the effect output to the second user is
altered.
[0049] Embodiments of the invention may be implemented in a gaming
environment. For example, in an implementation of embodiments of
the invention, the mood of the first user of the system may be used
to influence the first user's avatar in a game and/or may be used
to influence other players in a game. In an implementation in which
the avatar of the first user of the system severely wounds or
eliminates the avatar of the second user of the system, embodiments
of the invention may be used to detect whether the second user is
upset or angry as a result of the action and communicate the second
user's mood to the first user. Such communication of the second
user's mood may be helpful if the first user intends to taunt the
second user after such an action and would like to be better
informed as to whether taunting is a good idea or not, i.e. whether
the second user could handle such taunting.
[0050] As disclosed, embodiments sense a mood of a user of an
electronic device and automatically perform an action based on the
mood. Example of an action can be the generation and sending of an
electronic message to a second user that includes a visual and/or
haptic component reflective of the mood of the first user. The
visual and/or haptic component, such as an emoticon sticker, can be
automatically chosen based on the mood, thus alleviating the need
for the user to make a manual selection.
[0051] The embodiments described herein represent a number of
possible implementations and examples and are not intended to
necessarily limit the present disclosure to any specific
embodiments. Instead, various modifications can be made to these
embodiments as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the
art. Any such modifications are intended to be included within the
spirit and scope of the present disclosure and protected by the
following claims.
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