Context determination of an electronic device
A method and apparatus that features using haptics for actively probing the physical surrounding of a device, such as a mobile phone, and providing in response to the active probing a probable context of the device is presented. In one embodiment, a probing force is prepared and provided and imparted to the device. The displacement of the device relative to its physical surrounding in response to the probing force is sensed and a probable context is determined in response to the sensed displacement. In some embodiments, a context feedback signal indicative of the characteristics of the probable context is produced. In some embodiments, the device is configured for producing a haptic alert and for providing a haptic effect responsive to the haptic alert. In some embodiments the relative strength of a haptic alert is adjusted according to the determined probable context.
1 . A method, comprising:
actively probing the physical surrounding of a device, and
providing in response to the active probing a probable context of the device.
2 . The method according to claim 1 further comprising:
preparing a probing force for imparting a moving force to the device;
providing the probing force for imparting the moving force to the device;
sensing a displacement of the device relative to its physical surrounding in response to the moving force imparted to the device; and
determining in response to the sensed displacement a probable context of the device.
3 . The method according to claim 2 further comprising producing a context feedback signal indicative of the characteristics of the probable context of the device.
4 . The method according to claim 3 wherein the device is configured for producing a haptic alert.
5 . The method according to claim 4 wherein the device is configured for providing a haptic effect responsive to the haptic alert.
6 . The method according to claim 4 further comprising adjusting the relative strength of a haptic alert according to the determined probable context of the device.
7 . The method according to claim 6 further comprising increasing the strength of the haptic alert in response to a feedback signal indicative of the characteristic of the probable context of the device indicating a loose physical coupling between the device and its surrounding.
8 . The method according to claim 6 further comprising decreasing the strength of the haptic alert in response to a feedback signal indicative of the characteristic of the probable context of the device indicating a tight physical coupling between the device and its surrounding.
9 . A device, comprising:
one or more modules configured for actively probing the physical surrounding of the device, and
one or more modules responsive to the active probing configured for providing a feedback signal indicative of the characteristics of a probable context of the device.
10 . The device according to claim 9 further comprising:
one or more preparing modules configured for preparing a probing force for imparting a moving force to the device;
one or more modules configured for providing the probing force for imparting the moving force to the device;
one or more sensing modules configured for sensing a displacement of the device in response to the moving force imparted to the device; and
one or more determining modules configured for determining in response to the sensed displacement a probable context of the device.
11 . The device according to claim 10 further comprising one or more haptic alert modules configured for producing a haptic alert.
12 . The device according to claim 10 further comprising one or more haptic effect modules configured for providing a haptic effect.
13 . The device according to claim 11 further comprising one or more adjusting modules configured for adjusting the relative strength of a haptic alert in response to the determined probable context of the device.
14 . The device according to claim 13 wherein the device is a mobile communication terminal.
15 . A computer program product with a program code, which program code is stored on a machine readable carrier, for carrying out a method comprising actively probing the physical surrounding of a device, and providing in response to the active probing a feedback signal indicative of the probable context of the device when the computer program is run in a module of the device, such as a mobile communication terminal.
16 . A method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises implementing the actions of the method via a computer program running in a processor, controller or other suitable module in the device.
17 . Apparatus, comprising:
means for actively probing the physical surrounding of the apparatus, and
means for providing in response to the active probing a feedback signal indicative of a probable context of the apparatus.
18 . Apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising:
means for preparing a probing force for imparting a moving force to the device;
means for providing the probing force for imparting the moving force to the device;
means for sensing a displacement of the device relative to its physical surrounding in response to the moving force imparted to the device; and
means for determining in response to the sensed displacement a probable context of the device.
19 . Apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising;
means for producing a haptic alert;
means for providing a haptic effect; and
means for adjusting the relative strength of a haptic alert in response to the determined probable context of the device.
20 . Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the apparatus is a mobile communication device.