IP Library Granted Patent US 10,587,748
Granted Patent B1
US 10,587,748 · App. 16/200,739 · Granted Mar 10, 2020

Current and forecast signal strength haptic feedback on mobile devices

Inventors: Michael Bender (Rye Brook, NY); Gandhi Sivakumar (Bentleigh, AU); Martin G. Keen (Cary, NC); Craig M. Trim (Ventura, CA)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
H04M1/72594G09B21/003H04B17/318H04W4/029
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,587,748
App. No.
16/200,739
Granted
Mar 10, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

An embodiment of the invention may include a method, computer program product and system for generating haptic feedback patterns by a mobile device. An embodiment may include generating a haptic feedback in response to a change in a geographic location of the mobile device resulting in a corresponding forecasted change in a network signal strength of the mobile device.

Claims (31)

1. A method comprising:

generating a haptic feedback, by a mobile device, in response to a forecasted change in a network signal strength of the mobile device, wherein the forecasted change in the network signal strength of the mobile device results from on a change in a geographic location of the mobile device, and wherein the forecasted change in the network signal strength of the mobile device is determined by a direction of travel of the mobile device and by queries of previously monitored network signal strengths stored with corresponding geographic locations, and wherein one or more of the geographic locations corresponding with the previously monitored network signal strengths are in the direction of travel of the mobile device, and wherein the direction of travel of the mobile device is along a user determined path of travel, and wherein the haptic feedback in response to a forecasted change in a network signal strength indicative of a strengthening network signal is according to a first pattern, and wherein the haptic feedback in response to a forecasted change in a network signal strength indicative of a weakening network signal is according to a second pattern.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating a haptic feedback in response to a current network signal strength of the mobile device falling below a maximum network signal strength; and

storing the current network signal strength along with a correlated geographic location.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

periodically recording the current network signal strength of the mobile device to create a set of recorded network signal strengths; and

storing each recorded network signal strength, of the set of recorded network signal strengths, along with a correlated geographic location for the recorded network signal strength.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the correlated geographic location is retrieved via a GPS service of the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the haptic feedback is according to one or more predefined patterns indicative of any one of a medium network signal strength, a low network signal strength, and a zero network signal strength.

6. A computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, the program instructions executable by a computer, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions to generate a haptic feedback, by a mobile device, in response to a forecasted change in a network signal strength of the mobile device, wherein the forecasted change in the network signal strength of the mobile device results from on a change in a geographic location of the mobile device, and wherein the forecasted change in the network signal strength of the mobile device is determined by a direction of travel of the mobile device and by queries of previously monitored network signal strengths stored with corresponding geographic locations, and wherein one or more of the geographic locations corresponding with the previously monitored network signal strengths are in the direction of travel of the mobile device, and wherein the direction of travel of the mobile device is along a user determined path of travel, and wherein the haptic feedback in response to a forecasted change in a network signal strength indicative of a strengthening network signal is according to a first pattern, and wherein the haptic feedback in response to a forecasted change in a network signal strength indicative of a weakening network signal is according to a second pattern.

7. The computer program product of claim 6 , further comprising:

program instructions to generate a haptic feedback in response to a current network signal strength of the mobile device falling below a maximum network signal strength; and

program instructions to store the current network signal strength along with a correlated geographic location.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 , further comprising:

program instructions to periodically record the current network signal strength of the mobile device to create a set of recorded network signal strengths; and

program instructions to store each recorded network signal strength, of the set of recorded network signal strengths, along with a correlated geographic location for the recorded network signal strength.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the correlated geographic location is retrieved via a GPS service of the mobile device.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the haptic feedback is according to one or more predefined patterns indicative of any one of a medium network signal strength, a low network signal strength, and a zero network signal strength.

11. A computer system comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions to generate a haptic feedback, by a mobile device, in response to a forecasted change in a network signal strength of the mobile device, wherein the forecasted change in the network signal strength of the mobile device results from on a change in a geographic location of the mobile device, and wherein the forecasted change in the network signal strength of the mobile device is determined by a direction of travel of the mobile device and by queries of previously monitored network signal strengths stored with corresponding geographic locations, and wherein one or more of the geographic locations corresponding with the previously monitored network signal strengths are in the direction of travel of the mobile device, and wherein the direction of travel of the mobile device is along a user determined path of travel, and wherein the haptic feedback in response to a forecasted change in a network signal strength indicative of a strengthening network signal is according to a first pattern, and wherein the haptic feedback in response to a forecasted change in a network signal strength indicative of a weakening network signal is according to a second pattern.

12. The computer system of claim 11 , further comprising:

program instructions to generate a haptic feedback in response to a current network signal strength of the mobile device falling below a maximum network signal strength; and

program instructions to store the current network signal strength along with a correlated geographic location.

13. The computer system of claim 12 , further comprising:

program instructions to periodically record the current network signal strength of the mobile device to create a set of recorded network signal strengths; and

program instructions to store each recorded network signal strength, of the set of recorded network signal strengths, along with a correlated geographic location for the recorded network signal strength.

14. The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the haptic feedback is according to one or more predefined patterns indicative of any one of a medium network signal strength, a low network signal strength, and a zero network signal strength.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 27, 2018
From: BENDER, MICHAEL; SIVAKUMAR, GANDHI; KEEN, MARTIN G.; TRIM, CRAIG M.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047587/0714 →
Cited By (2)
US 12,436,617 US 12,574,430