Abstract:
Position based tactile reporting provides for adequate and socially acceptable reporting. A tactile element is moved from a first position to a second position to indicate a status. The tactile element is maintained in the second position so that touching the tactile element and detecting the second position determines a status. In another aspect, the tactile element oscillates to indicate status. In this manner, a user may adequately and discretely detect a status of a computing device without engaging in socially inappropriate behavior.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Computing devices may provide for the status of messages such as emails, text messages, voicemails and/or telephone calls. Computing devices may also have several other statuses (e.g. low battery, signal strength, etc.). To report such statuses, computing devices may provide an auditory report, a visual report, and/or a vibratory report. These types of reportings are socially inappropriate in many settings. Audio and vibratory reporting may be loud and distracting. Visual reporting forces a user to check the computing device for a visual report (often at inappropriate times). 
         [0002]    These types of reportings may also be inadequate in many environments. An audio report may not be heard over loud noises. A vibratory report may not be felt when the computing device is not in contact with a user, and a visual report is ineffective when the user cannot see the computing device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key and/or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Also, this Summary is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0004]    Position based tactile reporting provides for adequate and socially acceptable status reporting. A tactile element is moved from a first position to a second position to indicate a new status. The tactile element is maintained in the second position so that touching the tactile element and detecting the second position identifies the new status. Also, the tactile element may be oscillated to identify the new status. In this manner, a user may detect a status of a computing device without looking at the computing device, producing a visual report, and/or producing an audio report. Also, position based tactile reporting may not have a reporting period. Accordingly, a user may discretely determine a status of a computing device without engaging in socially inappropriate behavior. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary computing device; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  represents one exemplary system overview for position based tactile reporting; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  represents one exemplary computing device for facilitating position based tactile reporting; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  represents an operational flow diagram for position based tactile reporting. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show specific exemplary embodiments. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope. Embodiments may be practiced as methods, systems or devices. Accordingly, embodiments may take the form of an entirely hardware implementation, an entirely software implementation or an implementation combining software and hardware aspects. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
         [0011]    The logical operations of the various embodiments are implemented (1) as a sequence of computer implemented steps running on a computing system and/or (2) as interconnected machine modules within the computing system. The implementation is a matter of choice dependent on the performance requirements of the computing system implementing the invention. Accordingly, the logical operations making up the embodiments described herein are referred to alternatively as operations, steps or modules. 
         [0012]      FIG. 2  represents a system overview for position based tactile reporting. System  200  represents a modular overview of a computing environment. System  200  may include computing device  202 . Computing device  202  may include a desktop computing device, mobile computing device, a laptop, a personal digital assistant, a notebook computer, a telephone, a cellular telephone, a key fob and/or any other type of computing device that may be configured to change status, report status, and/or report a status of another device. In one aspect, computing device  202  includes computing device  100  as exemplified in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0013]    System  200  represents a modular overview of computing device  202 . System  200  may be integrated as a combination of software and hardware elements, an operating system or any combination thereof. Hardware, software, applications, and/or programs referenced herein may be integrated as a single element or include various elements in communication with one another. Software and/or hardware elements are depicted herein for explanatory purposes only and not for limiting the configuration to multiple elements or a single element performing several functions. For example, as depicted in  FIG. 2 , system  200  includes computing device  202  having status detection module  204 , actuator  206  and tactile element  208 . Reference numbers  204 - 208  may include separate programs and separate hardware in communication. Reference numbers  204 - 208  may also include a single hardware element or any combination of single and multiple programs and/or hardware elements. 
         [0014]    Computing device  202  includes status detection module  204  for detecting a status of computing device  202 . In another aspect, status detection module  204  may detect a status of a device other than computing device  202 . For example, computing device  202  may include a key fob that detects the status of one or more associated computing devices. In this manner, the associated computing device passes the status information to the key fob to facilitate reporting. 
         [0015]    A status may include a status associated with a telephone call, a text message, an email message, a voice message, a battery level, a signal strength, and/or any other status that computing device  202  may facilitate. For example, status detection module  204  may detect that a message is waiting or that a battery level is low. Status detection module  204  may include a program for detecting a status, a servo for detecting a signal associated with a status and/or any other manner for detecting a status of computing device  202 . 
         [0016]    Computing device  202  may also include actuator  206  for actuating a tactile element. Actuator  206  may include a mechanical actuator, an electrical actuator, a magnetic actuator, and/or any other type of actuator to facilitate the movement of a tactile element. Even though a first position and a second position are recited herein, a tactile element may move between three or more positions to indicate status. A tactile element may move from an inwardly to an outwardly position to indicate a status. A tactile element may move between an upwardly and a downwardly position to indicate status. A tactile element may oscillate to indicate status. In general, a tactile element may move between any set of positions in any orientation to indicate a status. 
         [0017]    As examples of actuator types, actuator  206  may include a mechanical actuator having a biasing element for biasing a tactile element in a position. When actuated, a lock may release the tactile element and the biasing element may move the tactile element from a first position to a second position. An electrical actuator may include a servo for moving the tactile element from a first position to a second position. The servo may also move the tactile element from a second position to a first position. A magnetic actuator may include a magnet for maintaining a tactile element in a first position. When actuated, the magnet may release the tactile element and a biasing element may move the tactile element from a first position to a second position. 
         [0018]    Computing device  202  includes tactile element  208 . Tactile element  208  may include a button, tab, extension, and/or the like. Tactile element  208  may include an existing element of computing device  202  such as a key, button, soft key, antenna, directional pad, and/or the like. Tactile element  208  may include any movable element of computing device  202  that is functional to indicate a status of the computing device. Even though tactile element  208  is depicted as a single tactile element, multiple tactile elements may exist for indicating one status or many statuses. 
         [0019]    As an example associated with  FIG. 2 , computing device  202  may receive a text message. Status detection module  204  identifies the reception of the text message and instantiates actuator  206 . Actuator  206  positions tactile element  208  in a position that indicates that a text message has been received. The position may include an outward position of a button. The user may then discretely feel the button to determine whether the button position is outward. When the user desires, the user may push the button inward to reset the tactile element. In another aspect, the tactile element may oscillate. In this manner, a user may detect a status of the computing device at any time after the change of status. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  represents one exemplary computing device  300  for facilitating position based tactile reporting. Computing device  300  may include one or more keypad buttons  302 , soft key  304 , directional pad  306 , and/or antenna  308 . Computing device  300  also includes tactile element  310 .  FIG. 3  depicts tactile element  310  moving from a first position to a second position (represented by the dashed line and the solid line). Even though tactile element  310  is depicted as a single element, computing device  300  may include a plurality of tactile elements. Furthermore, keypad button  302 , soft key  304 , directional pad  306  and/or antenna  308  may also be tactile elements. A tactile element may include any element of computing device  300  functional to move between at least two positions to indicate a status. 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  represents an operational flow diagram for position based tactile reporting. Operational flow  400  begins at start operation  402  and flows to decision operation  404 . At decision operation  404  it is decided whether to indicate a new status. A new status may include the reception of a telephone signal, reception of a message, a waiting voicemail, reception of an email, reception of a text message, a low battery, a weak signal, a roaming signal, and/or the like. 
         [0022]    When it is decided not to indicate a new status, operational flow  400  loops back up. When it is decided to indicate a new status, operational flow  400  continues to operation  406 . At operation  406 , a tactile element is moved from a first position to a second position to indicate the new status. 
         [0023]    At decision operation  408 , it is decided whether to reset the position of the tactile element. Operational flow  400  loops back up when it is decided not to reset the position of the tactile element. Operational flow  400  continues to operation  410  when it is decided to reset the position of the tactile element. At operation  410 , the tactile element is moved from a second position back to the first position. Resetting the position of the tactile element may occur manually by the user. In another aspect, resetting the position of the tactile element is facilitated by an actuator and/or a servo. In another aspect, the tactile element oscillates to indicate status. 
         [0024]    At decision operation  412 , it is determined whether another status requires indication. If not, operation flow  400  continues to end operation  414 . If so, operational flow  400  loops back to operation  406 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary system for implementing the invention includes a computing device, such as computing device  100 . In a basic configuration, computing device  100  may include any type of stationary computing device or a mobile computing device. Computing device  100  typically includes at least one processing unit  102  and system memory  104 . System memory  104  typically includes operating system  105 , one or more applications  106 , and may include program data  107 . In one embodiment, applications  106  further include application  120  for position based tactile reporting. This basic configuration is illustrated in  FIG. 1  by those components within dashed line  108 . 
         [0026]    Computing device  100  may also have additional features or functionality. For example, computing device  100  may also include additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable). Such additional storage is illustrated in  FIG. 1  by removable storage  109  and non-removable storage  110 . Computing device  100  may also have input device(s)  112  such as a keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device, touch input device, etc. Output device(s)  114  such as a display, speakers, printer, etc. may also be included. 
         [0027]    Computing device  100  also contains communication connection(s)  116  that allow the device to communicate with other computing devices  118 , such as over a network or a wireless network. Communication connection(s)  116  is an example of communication media. Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. 
         [0028]    Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to structural features and/or methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or steps described. Rather, the specific features and steps are disclosed as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.