Portable Touch Screen Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Using Emoji Characters While in a Locked Mode

• US 20100125785A1
• Filed: 02/04/2009
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bas Ording, Bradford Allen Moore, Elizabeth Caroline Furches, Kenneth L. Kocienda, Stephen J. Chick
• Original Assignee: Bas Ording, Bradford Allen Moore, Elizabeth Caroline Furches, Kenneth L. Kocienda, Stephen J. Chick
• Inventors: Ording, Bas, Furches, Elizabeth Caroline, Moore, Bradford Allen, Kocienda, Kenneth L., Chick, Stephen J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method performed at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display includes simultaneously displaying a character input area operable to display text character input and emoji character input selected by a user, a keyboard display area, and a plurality of emoji category icons. In response to detecting a gesture on a respective emoji category icon, the method also includes simultaneously displaying: a first subset of emoji character keys for the respective emoji category in the keyboard display area and a plurality of subset-sequence-indicia icons for the respective emoji category. The method also includes detecting a gesture in the keyboard display area and, in response: replacing display of the first subset of emoji character keys with display of a second subset of emoji character keys for the respective emoji category, and updating the information provided by the subset-sequence-indicia icons.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, while the portable electronic device is in a user-interface locked mode;

receiving an incoming message from a party to a user of the portable electronic device while the touch screen display is in a power-conserving state;

in response to receiving the incoming message;

powering up the touch screen display, and

displaying at least part of the incoming message from the party to the user on the touch screen display;

detecting one or more predefined finger gestures on the touch screen display that correspond to an emoji character;

detecting a predefined user action to initiate sending a response to the incoming message; and

in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the response to the incoming message, sending the response to the incoming message, wherein the response comprises the emoji character that corresponds to the one or more predefined finger gestures detected on the touch screen display.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, including in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the response to the incoming message, returning the touch screen display to the power-conserving state.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, including returning the touch screen display to the power-conserving state within a predetermined time period after the response to the incoming message is sent.

4. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for, while the portable electronic device is in a user-interface locked mode;

receiving an incoming message from a party to a user of the portable electronic device while the touch screen display is in a power-conserving state;

in response to receiving the incoming message;

powering up the touch screen display, and

displaying at least part of the incoming message from the party to the user on the touch screen display;

detecting one or more predefined finger gestures on the touch screen display that correspond to an emoji character;

detecting a predefined user action to initiate sending a response to the incoming message; and

in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the response to the incoming message, sending the response to the incoming message, wherein the response comprises the emoji character that corresponds to the one or more predefined finger gestures detected on the touch screen display.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 4, including instructions for, in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the response to the incoming message, returning the touch screen display to the power-conserving state.

6. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, cause the device to, while the portable electronic device is in a user-interface locked mode:

receive an incoming message from a party to a user of the portable electronic device while the touch screen display is in a power-conserving state;

in response to receiving the incoming message;

power up the touch screen display, and

display at least part of the incoming message from the party to the user on the touch screen display;

detect one or more predefined finger gestures on the touch screen display that correspond to an emoji character;

detect a predefined user action to initiate sending a response to the incoming message; and

in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the response to the incoming message, send the response to the incoming message, wherein the response comprises the emoji character that corresponds to the one or more predefined finger gestures detected on the touch screen display.

7. The computer readable storage medium of claim 6, including instructions that cause the portable electronic device to return the touch screen display to the power-conserving state within a predetermined time period after the response to the incoming message is sent.

8. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, while the portable electronic device is in a user-interface locked mode;

receiving an incoming message from a party to a user of the portable electronic device while the touch screen display is in a power-conserving state;

in response to receiving the incoming message;

powering up the touch screen display,

displaying at least part of the incoming message from the party to the user on the touch screen display, and

displaying a plurality of predefined responses to the incoming message, wherein the predefined responses include a plurality of emoji characters;

detecting a predefined user action for selecting a predefined response in the plurality of predefined responses;

detecting a predefined user action to initiate sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message; and

in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message, sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message, wherein the selected predefined response comprises an emoji character in the plurality of emoji characters.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, including in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message, returning the touch screen display to the power-conserving state.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, including returning the touch screen display to the power-conserving state within a predetermined time period after the selected predefined response to the incoming message is sent.

11. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for, while the portable electronic device is in a user-interface locked mode;

receiving an incoming message from a party to a user of the portable electronic device while the touch screen display is in a power-conserving state;

in response to receiving the incoming message;

powering up the touch screen display,

displaying at least part of the incoming message from the party to the user on the touch screen display, and

displaying a plurality of predefined responses to the incoming message, wherein the predefined responses include a plurality of emoji characters;

detecting a predefined user action for selecting a predefined response in the plurality of predefined responses;

detecting a predefined user action to initiate sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message; and

in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message, sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message, wherein the selected predefined response comprises an emoji character in the plurality of emoji characters.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 11, including instructions for, in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message, returning the touch screen display to the power-conserving state.

13. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, cause the device to, while the portable electronic device is in a user-interface locked mode:

receive an incoming message from a party to a user of the portable electronic device while the touch screen display is in a power-conserving state;

in response to receiving the incoming message;

power up the touch screen display,

display at least part of the incoming message from the party to the user on the touch screen display, and

display a plurality of predefined responses to the incoming message, wherein the predefined responses include a plurality of emoji characters;

detect a predefined user action for selecting a predefined response in the plurality of predefined responses;

detect a predefined user action to initiate sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message; and

in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message, send the selected predefined response to the incoming message, wherein the selected predefined response comprises an emoji character in the plurality of emoji characters.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13, including instructions that cause the portable electronic device to return the touch screen display to the power-conserving state within a predetermined time period after the selected predefined response to the incoming message is sent.

15. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, while the portable electronic device is in a user-interface locked mode;

receiving an incoming message from a party to a user of the portable electronic device while the touch screen display is in a power-conserving state;

in response to receiving the incoming message;

powering up the touch screen display, and

displaying at least part of the incoming message from the party to the user on the touch screen display;

detecting a predefined user action to initiate display of a plurality of predefined responses to the incoming message, wherein the predefined responses include a plurality of emoji characters;

in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate display of the plurality of predefined responses to the incoming message, displaying the plurality of predefined responses;

detecting a predefined user action for selecting a predefined response in the plurality of predefined responses;

detecting a predefined user action to initiate sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message; and

in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message, sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message, wherein the selected predefined response comprises an emoji character in the plurality of emoji characters.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, including in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message, returning the touch screen display to the power-conserving state.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, including returning the touch screen display to the power-conserving state within a predetermined time period after the selected predefined response to the incoming message is sent.

18. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for, while the portable electronic device is in a user-interface locked mode;

receiving an incoming message from a party to a user of the portable electronic device while the touch screen display is in a power-conserving state;

in response to receiving the incoming message;

powering up the touch screen display, and

displaying at least part of the incoming message from the party to the user on the touch screen display;

detecting a predefined user action to initiate display of a plurality of predefined responses to the incoming message, wherein the predefined responses include a plurality of emoji characters;

in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate display of the plurality of predefined responses to the incoming message, displaying the plurality of predefined responses;

detecting a predefined user action for selecting a predefined response in the plurality of predefined responses;

detecting a predefined user action to initiate sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message; and

in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message, sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message, wherein the selected predefined response comprises an emoji character in the plurality of emoji characters.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 18, including instructions for, in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message, returning the touch screen display to the power-conserving state.

20. A computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, cause the device to, while the portable electronic device is in a user-interface locked mode:

receive an incoming message from a party to a user of the portable electronic device while the touch screen display is in a power-conserving state;

in response to receiving the incoming message;

power up the touch screen display, and

display at least part of the incoming message from the party to the user on the touch screen display;

detect a predefined user action to initiate display of a plurality of predefined responses to the incoming message, wherein the predefined responses include a plurality of emoji characters;

in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate display of the plurality of predefined responses to the incoming message, display the plurality of predefined responses;

detect a predefined user action for selecting a predefined response in the plurality of predefined responses;

detect a predefined user action to initiate sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message; and

in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the selected predefined response to the incoming message, send the selected predefined response to the incoming message, wherein the selected predefined response comprises an emoji character in the plurality of emoji characters.