초록 ▼

Force feedback is provided to a user of a client computer receiving information such as a web page over a network such as the World Wide Web from a server machine. The client machine has a force feedback interface device through which the user experiences physical force feedback. The web page may in

Force feedback is provided to a user of a client computer receiving information such as a web page over a network such as the World Wide Web from a server machine. The client machine has a force feedback interface device through which the user experiences physical force feedback. The web page may include force feedback information to provide authored force effects. Force feedback is correlated to web page objects by a force feedback program running on the client and based on input information from the interface device, the web page objects, and the force feedback information. Generic force effects can also be provided, which are applied uniformly at the client machine to all web page objects of a particular type as defined by user preferences at the client machine. A web page authoring interface is also described that includes the ability to add force sensations to a web page. The user may assign force effects to web page objects and immediately feel how the web page will feel to an end user. A web page is output by the interface, including force information to provide the force effects at a client. The authoring tool can include or access a force design interface for creating or modifying force effects.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [18.] A method for implementing a web page authoring interface including the ability to add force sensations to a web page, the method comprising:causing said web page authoring interface to be displayed on a display device of a host computer, said web page authoring interface

[ What is claimed is:] [18.] A method for implementing a web page authoring interface including the ability to add force sensations to a web page, the method comprising:causing said web page authoring interface to be displayed on a display device of a host computer, said web page authoring interface displaying a web page including a plurality of web page objects, at least one of said web page objects being a hyperlink object;receiving input from a user to said web page authoring interface, said input selecting one of said web page objects and selecting a force effect to be associated with said selected web page object; andoutputting a web page including said web page objects and including force information to allow said force effect to be implemented when said web page is displayed by a client machine after being received by said client machine from a server machine over a network, wherein said force effect is commanded by said client machine and output as a force sensation by a force feedback interface device coupled to said client machine, said force feedback interface device including a user manipulatable object graspable and moveable by a user of said client machine.