EMOTICON INPUT METHOD FOR MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20110009109A1
• Filed: 09/20/2010
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: HYON, Seung-Taek
• Granted Patent: US 8,682,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages

Abstract

There is provided a method of easily inputting icons representing user emotions (emoticons). In the emoticon input method in a mobile terminal, a plurality of 5 emoticons, formed by utilizing a plurality of typical characters and special characters in combination, are grouped and stored by groups in the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal enters an emoticon input mode, displays the stored emoticon groups, displays the emoticons of an emoticon group selected by a user, stores an emoticon selected by the user, and transmits an SMS message including at least one emoticon selected by the user.

Claims

1. An emoticon input method adapted for a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of:

entering an emoticon input mode;

displaying stored emoticons in the emoticon input mode, wherein the emoticons are created by utilizing a plurality of characters in combination and wherein the emoticons are stored in the mobile terminal;

selecting at least one emoticon from the stored emoticons by a user; and

storing as part of a short message the at least one emoticon selected by the user.

2. The emoticon input method of claim 1, wherein the emoticons are stored by a manufacturer during manufacturing.

3. The emoticon input method of claim 1, wherein the emoticons are created and stored by the user.

4. The emoticon input method of claim 1, wherein the emoticons are received from one of a base station and the Internet and stored in the mobile terminal.

5. The emoticon input method of claim 1, further comprising changing and editing the emoticons by the user.

6. An emoticon input method in a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of:

entering an emoticon input mode;

displaying a list of emoticon groups;

selecting an emoticon group from the list according to an input of a user;

displaying emoticons included in the selected emoticon group;

selecting at least one emoticon from the displayed emoticons according to an input of the user; and

storing as part of a short message an emoticon selected by the user;

wherein the emoticons are created by utilizing a plurality of characters in combination and wherein the emoticons are stored in the mobile terminal.

7. The emoticon input method of claim 6, further comprising:

creating, by the user, the at least one emoticon; and

grouping the at least one emoticon and storing the grouped emoticons as the emoticon group in the mobile terminal.

8. The emoticon input method of claim 6, further comprising:

creating, by the user, the at least one emoticon; and

storing the at least one emoticon in the emoticon group selected by the user among the emoticon groups comprised of previously grouped emoticons according to a specific reference.

9. The emoticon input method of claim 7, wherein the emoticons are received from one of a base station and the Internet and stored in the mobile terminal.

10. The emoticon input method of claim 7, further comprising changing and editing the emoticons by the user.

11. A mobile terminal for inputting an emoticon, the mobile terminal comprising:

a display;

a storage for storing emoticons, wherein the emoticons are created by utilizing a plurality of characters in combination; and

a controller for entering an emoticon input mode, displaying the stored emoticons on the display in the emoticon input mode, selecting at least one emoticon from the displayed emoticons according to an input of the user, and storing as part of a short message the at least one emoticon selected by the input of the user.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the emoticons are stored in the storage by a manufacturer during manufacturing.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the emoticons are created and stored by the user.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the emoticons are received from one of a base station and the Internet and stored in the mobile terminal.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the controller changes and edits the emoticons according to an input of the user.

16. A mobile terminal for inputting an emoticon, the mobile terminal comprising:

a display;

a storage for storing emoticons and a list of emoticon groups, wherein the emoticons are created by utilizing a plurality of characters in combination; and

a controller for entering an emoticon input mode, displaying the list, selecting an emoticon group from the list according to an input of a user, displaying emoticons included in the selected emoticon group, selecting at least one emoticon from the displayed emoticons according to an input of the user, and storing as part of a short message the at least one emoticon selected by the user.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 16, wherein the controller creates the at least one emoticon according to an input of the user, groups the at least one emoticon, and stores the grouped emoticons as the emoticon group in the mobile terminal.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 16, wherein the controller creates the at least one emoticon according to an input of the user, and stores the at least one emoticon in the emoticon group selected by the user among the emoticon groups comprised of previously grouped emoticons according to a specific reference.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the emoticons are received from one of a base station and the Internet and stored in the mobile terminal.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the controller changes and edits the emoticons according to an input of the user.