SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MESSAGE COMMUNICATION

• US 20160291822A1
• Filed: 03/29/2016
• Published: 10/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronic Arts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GLU Mobile Incorporated
• Inventors: Miyake, Nicholas Kenichi, Cox, Lori Leilani, Tao, Tao, Ahuja, Sourabh, Mok, Michael Andrew, Wu, Liang
• Granted Patent: US 10,812,429 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

A method at a first electronic device with a display and an input device includes: displaying a message input area along with a graphical input stream in a first application, where the graphical input stream includes a source of predefined graphical images and a source for a coded character set. The method includes detecting entry of one or more objects from the graphical input stream into the message input area and receiving a user input to transmit the contents of the message input area. In response to receiving the user input to transmit, and in accordance with a determination that the one or more objects includes a predefined graphical image, the method includes forming a merged message comprising the contents of the message input area, including the predefined graphical image, where a merged message is an image, and transmitting the merged message to a recipient or another application.

Claims

1. A method of creating messages on a portable electronic device comprising:

at the portable electronic device having one or more processors, a display, a user interface and memory for storing programs to be executed by the one or more processors;

displaying a message input area along with a graphical input stream in a first application of a plurality of applications, wherein the graphical input stream includes a source of predefined graphical images and a source for a coded character set, and wherein the graphical input stream is operable with any application of the plurality of applications;

detecting entry of one or more objects from the graphical input stream in the message input area;

receiving a user input to transmit the contents of the message input area;

in response to receiving the user input to transmit the contents of the message input area;

in accordance with a determination that the one or more objects includes a predefined graphical image from the graphical input stream;

forming a merged message comprising the contents of the message input area, including the predefined graphical image, wherein the merged message is an image; and

transmitting the merged message to a recipient or another application distinct from the first application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the merged message includes:

detecting that the graphical input stream was displayed in the first application of the plurality of applications; and

formatting the merged message to have a first appearance, wherein the first appearance corresponds to the first application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the merged message includes:

displaying a preview of the merged message; and

detecting an approval input to approve transmission of the merged message as displayed in the preview.

4. The method claim 1, wherein the first application is a messaging application, social media application, photo sharing application, video application, microblogging application or video game application.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical input stream is displayed as one or more keyboards.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical input stream is displayed as a plurality of concurrently displayed keyboards, including at least one keyboard for the coded character set, one keyboard for Unicode symbols and one keyboard for predefined graphical images.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined graphical images of the graphical input stream do not include emojis.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the graphical input stream further includes a source of emojis, Unicode symbols, emoticons, icons or logos.

9. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving a preview user input on an affordance on the user interface to display a preview of the contents of the message input area;

in response to receiving the preview user input;

displaying a preview of the merged message.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the merged message is searchable on the basis of text.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the merged message is searchable on the basis of predefined graphical images.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the merged message is searchable on the basis of hashtags.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first application is a social networking application, and forming the merged message includes formatting the contents of the message input area into a post on the social networking application.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first application is a microblogging application, and forming the merged message includes formatting the contents of the message input area into a post on the microblogging application.

15. The method claim 1, wherein the merged message is formed from a first component from the source of predefined graphical images and a second component from the source for the coded character set.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with one or more processors, a memory, a user interface, and a display, cause the device to:

display a message input area along with a graphical input stream in a first application of a plurality of applications, wherein the graphical input stream includes a source of predefined graphical images and a source for a coded character set, and wherein the graphical input stream is operable with any application of the plurality of applications;

detect entry of one or more objects from the graphical input stream in the message input area;

receive a user input to transmit the contents of the message input area;

in response to receiving the user input to transmit the contents of the message input area;

in accordance with a determination that the one or more objects includes a predefined graphical image from the graphical input stream;

form a merged message comprising the contents of the message input area, including the predefined graphical image, wherein a merged message is an image; and

transmit the merged message to a recipient or another application distinct from the first application.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the merged message is formed from a first component from the source of predefined graphical images and a second component from the source for the coded character set.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein forming the merged message includes:

detecting that the graphical input stream was displayed in the first application of the plurality of applications; and

formatting the merged message to have a first appearance, wherein the first appearance corresponds to the first application.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein forming the merged message includes:

displaying a preview of the merged message; and

detecting an approval input to approve transmission of the merged message as displayed in the preview.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, further including instructions that cause the device to:

receive a preview user input on an affordance on the user interface to display a preview of the contents of the message input area;

in response to receiving the preview user input;

display a preview of the merged message.

21. A method of creating messages at a server comprising one or more processors, and memory for storing programs to be executed by the one or more processors, the method comprising:

formatting for display on a portable electronic device, a message input area along with a graphical input stream in a first application of a plurality of applications, wherein the graphical input stream includes a source of predefined graphical images and a source for a coded character set, and wherein the graphical input stream is operable with any application of the plurality of applications;

receiving, from the portable electronic device, (i) contents inputted into the message input area and (ii) a user input to transmit the contents of the message input area;

in response to receiving the user input to transmit the contents of the message input area;

in accordance with a determination that the one or more objects includes a predefined graphical image from the graphical input stream;

forming a merged message comprising the contents of the message input area, including the predefined graphical image, wherein a merged message is an image; and

transmitting the merged message to a recipient or another application distinct from the first application.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the merged message is formed from a first component from the source of predefined graphical images and a second component from the source for the coded character set.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein forming the merged message includes:

detecting that the graphical input stream was displayed in the first application of the plurality of applications; and

formatting the merged message to have a first appearance, wherein the first appearance corresponds to the first application.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein forming the merged message includes:

formatting for display at the portable electronic device, a preview of the merged message; and

detecting an approval input to approve transmission of the merged message as displayed in the preview.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving, from the portable electronic device, a preview user input to display a preview of the contents of the message input area;

in response to receiving the preview user input;

formatting for display at the portable electronic device, a preview of the merged message.

26. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a server with one or more processor and a memory, cause the server to:

format for display on a portable electronic device, a message input area along with a graphical input stream in a first application of a plurality of applications, wherein the graphical input stream includes a source of predefined graphical images and a source for a coded character set, and wherein the graphical input stream is operable with any application of the plurality of applications;

receive, from the portable electronic device, (i) contents inputted into the message input area and (ii) a user input to transmit the contents of the message input area;

in response to receiving the user input to transmit the contents of the message input area;

in accordance with a determination that the one or more objects includes a predefined graphical image from the graphical input stream;

form a merged message comprising the contents of the message input area, including the predefined graphical image, wherein a merged message is an image; and

transmit the merged message to a recipient or another application distinct from the first application.

27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the merged message is formed from a first component from the source of predefined graphical images and a second component from the source for the coded character set.

28. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein forming the merged message includes:

detecting that the graphical input stream was displayed in the first application of the plurality of applications; and

formatting the merged message to have a first appearance, wherein the first appearance corresponds to the first application.

29. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein forming the merged message includes:

formatting for display, a preview of the merged message; and

detecting an approval input to approve transmission of the merged message as displayed in the preview.