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 ▼

1. A method for providing force effects for a web page, the method comprising:determining which of a plurality of web page objects are to be associated with at least one force effect, said web page objects to be displayed in said web page, wherein said web page is derived from web page information r

1. A method for providing force effects for a web page, the method comprising:determining which of a plurality of web page objects are to be associated with at least one force effect, said web page objects to be displayed in said web page, wherein said web page is derived from web page information received from a server machine over a network, said web page information including screen display information representing said web page objects; selecting a force effect to associate with a particular web page object based on a type of said particular web page object and based on a mapping that associates said type of web page object with said force effect, said mapping being stored on a client machine that received said web page; and sending a force signal to a force feedback interface device when a user-controlled cursor interacts with said particular web page object, said cursor and said force web page objects being displayed on said web page by said client machine, wherein said force signal is output to an actuator of a force feedback interface device coupled to said client machine to cause a force sensation to a user of said force feedback interface device, and wherein said force signal is based on said force effect.