Shared symbol and emoticon key and methods

• US 20080266262A1
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Helio LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Helio LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Duarte, Matias, Rossen, Jeremy D., Yan, Wesley, Kim, Sang Kyun
• Granted Patent: US 8,059,097 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for using a dedicated shared emoticon and symbol key on a keypad of a mobile electronic device. The shared key is adapted to access a menu of multiple symbols and emoticons using a toggle input and can be accessed with minimal user input and minimal user manipulation and displayed to a user or message recipient.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a display;

a processor; and

a keypad comprising a shared key having a first identifier and a second identifier,

the processor programmed to display a first menu associated with the first identifier on the display when the shared key is actuated a first time,

the processor programmed to display a second menu associated with the second identifier on the display when the shared key is actuated a second time.

2. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the processor is programmed such that actuating the shared key when the first menu is being displayed causes the second menu to be displayed.

3. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the processor is programmed such that actuating the shared key when the second menu is being displayed causes the first menu to be displayed.

4. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the first identifier is an emoticon and the second identifier is a symbol.

5. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the first identifier is a smiley.

6. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the first identifier is a symbol and the second identifier is an emoticon.

7. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the first identifier is an alphanumeric character.

8. A method of selecting a symbol for display on a mobile device, the method comprising the steps of:

actuating a key on a keypad on a mobile device, the key having a first identifier and a second identifier, wherein a first menu is associated with the first identifier and a second menu is associated with the second identifier;

displaying a first menu associated with the first identifier on the display screen when the key is actuated a first time in response to actuating the key;

actuating the key when the first menu is being displayed; and

in response to actuating the key when the first menu is being displayed, displaying a second menu associated with the second identifier on the display screen.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of actuating the key toggles between the first menu and the second menu.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of actuating the key when the second menu is being displayed causes the first menu to be displayed.

11. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the first identifier is an emoticon and the second identifier is a symbol.

12. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the first identifier is a smiley.

13. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the first identifier is a symbol and the second identifier is an emoticon.

14. The mobile device of claim 8 wherein the first identifier is an alphanumeric character.

15. A method of selecting an emoticon or a symbol for display on a mobile device, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a first menu to a user in response to a first actuation of a shared key, the first menu comprising a first plurality of menu elements;

displaying a second menu to the user in response to a second actuation of a shared key, the second menu comprising a second plurality of menu elements; and

controlling the display of the first menu and the second menu such that a subsequent actuation of the shared key toggles between the first menu and second menu.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the second actuation of the shared key is subsequent to and not simultaneous with the actuation of the first key.

17. The mobile device of claim 15 wherein the first identifier is an emoticon and the second identifier is a symbol.

18. The mobile device of claim 15 wherein the first identifier is a smiley.

19. The mobile device of claim 15 wherein the first identifier is a symbol and the second identifier is an emoticon.

20. The mobile device of claim 15 wherein the first identifier is an alphanumeric character.