Emoji suggester and adapted user interface

• US 10,318,109 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2017
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Desjardins, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Thanh T
• Application Number:
  US15/618,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20180356957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/279 Recognition of textual entities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/30 Semantic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure describe an enhanced user interface that improves user interaction for suggestion and placement of emojis in a communication such as a message thread. An emoji, for insertion within a message thread, is selected through a user interface of an application. A plurality of selectable user interface features may be presented through the user interface, where the plurality of selectable user interface features are usable for insert of the selected emoji at different positions within the message thread. The plurality of selectable user interface features may be presented based on an analysis of the context of a message thread including signal data associated with the message thread. A selection may be received of one of the plurality of selectable user interface features. The emoji may be inserted into the message thread at a position that corresponds with the selection of a user interface feature.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

analyzing a context of a message thread and user signal data associated with one or more users of the message thread;

receiving, through a user interface of an application, a selection of an emoji to insert within the message thread;

presenting, through the user interface, a plurality of selectable user interface features for insert of the selected emoji at different positions within the message thread, wherein the presenting presents the plurality of selectable user interface features based on an analysis of the context of the message thread and an analysis of the user signal data;

receiving, through the user interface, a selection of one of the plurality of selectable user interface features; and

inserting the emoji at a position within the message thread that corresponds with the selection of the one of the plurality of selectable user interface features.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selectable user interface features provide placement positions for insertion of the emoji at two or more selected from a group consisting of:

at a beginning of a text input field, before a specific word in the message thread, after the specific word in the message thread, as a replacement for the specific word and at an end of the text input field.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

filtering and ranking emoji suggestions for insertion into the message thread based on the analysis of the context of the message thread and the analysis of the user signal data, and presenting the filtered and ranked emoji suggestions through the user interface of the application.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically inserting the emoji at a determined position based on the analysis of the context of the message thread and the analysis of the user signal data, wherein the presenting presents one or more of the plurality of selectable user interface features for re-positioning of the automatically inserted emoji.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting, through the user interface, the inserted emoji within the message thread; and

re-presenting the plurality of selectable user interface features for re-positions of the inserted emoji.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving another selection of the plurality of selectable user interface features; and

re-positioning the inserted emoji based on the another selection of the plurality of selectable user interface features.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

scanning the message thread for content that is replaceable with emojis;

analyzing the content of the message thread based on a contextual analysis of the message thread; and

providing suggestions for replacement of one or more portions of content with emojis based on the contextual analysis of the message thread.

8. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory, operatively connected with the at least one processor, storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to execute a method that comprises;

analyzing a context of a message thread and user signal data associated with one or more users of the message thread;

receiving, through a user interface of an application, a selection of an emoji to insert within the message thread;

presenting, through the user interface, a plurality of selectable user interface features for insert of the selected emoji at different positions within the message thread, wherein the presenting presents the plurality of selectable user interface features based on an analysis of the context of the message thread and an analysis of the user signal data;

receiving, through the user interface, a selection of one of the plurality of selectable user interface features; and

inserting the emoji at a position within the message thread that corresponds with the selection of the one of the plurality of selectable user interface features.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of selectable user interface features provide placement positions for insertion of the emoji at two or more selected from a group consisting of:

at a beginning of a text input field, before a specific word in the message thread, after the specific word in the message thread, as a replacement for the specific word and at an end of the text input field.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the method, executed by the at least one processor, further comprises:

filtering and ranking emoji suggestions for insertion into the message thread based on the analysis of the context of the message thread and the analysis of the user signal data, and presenting the filtered and ranked emoji suggestions through the user interface of the application.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the method, executed by the at least one processor, further comprises:

automatically inserting the emoji at a determined position based on the analysis of the context of the message thread and the analysis of the user signal data, wherein the presenting presents one or more of the plurality of selectable user interface features for re-positioning of the automatically inserted emoji.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the method, executed by the at least one processor, further comprises:

selecting, through the user interface, the inserted emoji within the message thread; and

re-presenting the plurality of selectable user interface features for re-positions of the inserted emoji.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the method, executed by the at least one processor, further comprises:

receiving another selection of the plurality of selectable user interface features; and

re-positioning the inserted emoji based on the another selection of the plurality of selectable user interface features.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the method, executed by the at least one processor, further comprises:

scanning the message thread for content that is replaceable with emojis;

analyzing the content of the message thread based on a contextual analysis of the message thread; and

providing suggestions for replacement of one or more portions of content with emojis based on the contextual analysis of the message thread.

15. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to execute a method comprising:

analyzing a context of a message thread and user signal data associated with one or more users of the message thread;

receiving, through a user interface of an application, a selection of an emoji to insert within the message thread;

presenting, through the user interface, a plurality of selectable user interface features for insert of the selected emoji at different positions within the message thread, wherein the presenting presents the plurality of selectable user interface features based on an analysis of the context of the message thread and an analysis of the user signal data;

receiving, through the user interface, a selection of one of the plurality of selectable user interface features; and

inserting the emoji at a position within the message thread that corresponds with the selection of the one of the plurality of selectable user interface features.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of selectable user interface features provide placement positions for insertion of the emoji at two or more selected from a group consisting of:

at a beginning of a text input field, before a specific word in the message thread, after the specific word in the message thread, as a replacement for the specific word and at an end of the text input field.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprising:

filtering and ranking emoji suggestions for insertion into the message thread based on the analysis of the context of the message thread and the analysis of the user signal data, and presenting the filtered and ranked emoji suggestions through the user interface of the application.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprising:

automatically inserting the emoji at a determined position based on the analysis of the context of the message thread and the analysis of the user signal data, wherein the presenting presents one or more of the plurality of selectable user interface features for re-positioning of the automatically inserted emoji.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprising:

selecting, through the user interface, the inserted emoji within the message thread; and

re-presenting the plurality of selectable user interface features for re-positions of the inserted emoji.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprising:

scanning the message thread for content that is replaceable with emojis;

analyzing the content of the message thread based on a contextual analysis of the message thread; and

providing suggestions for replacement of one or more portions of content with emojis based on the contextual analysis of the message thread.