US6987991B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Emoticon input method and apparatus
Assignee: Varia Holdings LLC
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Filing: 2001-08-17
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Granted: 2006-01-17
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Expires: 2021-08-17
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus, such as a communication device, is provided with emoticon input logic associated with an input key to improve the ease-of-use of the apparatus for entering emoticons, e.g. into a text message, while the apparatus is operating e.g. in a text mode. Responsive to a selection of the associated input key, one or more emoticons are displayed for selection. A user may “scroll” through the one or more displayed emoticons to “select” an emoticon. In one embodiment, current focus is placed on one of the displayed emoticons, and the emoticon with the current focus is automatically selected upon elapse of a predetermined amount of time after the current focus was placed.
Inventors
- 👤 Jonathan O. Nelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:24
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72403; H04M1/7243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus comprising: a display; a first input key; and operating logic associated with the first input key to display on said display one or more emoticons for selection by a user, responsive to a selection of said first input key, when the apparatus is operating in a text mode; wherein said operating logic is designed to place a current focus on one of the one or more emoticons displayed for selection; wherein said operating logic is further designed to automatically select the emoticon with the current focus upon occurrence of a selected one of elapse of a predetermined amount of time after the first input key was last selected, and selection another input key.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus comprising: a display; a first input key; and operating logic associated with the first input key to display on said display one or more emoticons for selection by a user, responsive to a selection of said first input key, when the apparatus is operating in a text mode; wherein said operating logic is designed to place a current focus on one of the one or more emoticons displayed for selection; wherein said operating logic is further designed to automatically select the emoticon with the current focus upon occurrence of a selected one of elapse of a predetermined amount of time after the first input key was last selected, and selection another input key.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first input key is an input key for entering an “*” (asterisk) when the apparatus is operating in a voice mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first input key is an input key for entering a “#” (pound) when the apparatus is operating in a voice mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first input key is input key for entering a digit when the apparatus is operating in a voice mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a 12-key input key pad having 12 input keys arranged in a 4×3 array configuration for entry of at least a selected one of alphabet and numeric data, and said first input key being one of said 12 input keys.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said first input key is the input key occupying a fourth row and first column position of said 4×3 array configuration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein column positions of said 4×3 array configuration are determined in a selected one of a left-to-right and a right-to-left manner.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein row positions of said 4×3 array configuration are determined in a selected one of a top-to-bottom and a bottom-to-top manner.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein in addition to said first input key, said apparatus further comprises a 12-key input key pad having 12 input keys arranged in a 4×3 array configuration for enty of at least a selected one of alphabet and numeric data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said operating logic is designed to display said emoticons for selection in a selected one of a first left-to-right then top-to-bottom display arrangement, a second right-to-left then top-to-bottom display arrangement, a third top-to-bottom then left-to-right display arrangement, and a fourth top-to-bottom then right-to-left display arrangement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said operating logic is further designed to change said placement of current focus to another one of said one or more emoticons displayed for selection responsive to a user input.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said operating logic is designed to perform said changes in accordance with the order the one or more emoticons are displayed for selection.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said first input key is also employed to provide said user input.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said apparatus further comprises at least one other input key, and said at least one other input key is employed to provide said user input.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said operating logic is further designed to select the emoticon with the current focus, responsive to a user input.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of said one or more emoticons comprises a plurality of characters.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said placement of a current focus on a first of displayed emoticons comprises highlighting all characters of the first emoticon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said highlighting comprises a selected one of underlying, italicizing and employing bold faces for the characters.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said selecting of the emoticon with the current focus comprises selecting all characters of the emoticon with the current focus.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of said one or more emoticons comprises a pixel map based single graphical symbol.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further comprises: storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions designed to implement said operating logic; and a processor coupled to the storage medium to execute the programming instruction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is a communication device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said communication device is a wireless mobile phone.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises facilities for adding an emoticon to, or subtracting an emoticon from said one or more emoticons to be displayed for user selection.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
81 words
A communication device comprising: a display; a first input key; and operating logic associated with the first input key to display on said display one or more emoticons for selection by a user, including placing a current focus on a first of the displayed one or more emoticons, responsive to a selection of said first input key, and to automatically select the emoticon having the current focus upon expiration of a predetermined amount of time since the current focus was placed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
81 words
A communication device comprising: a display; a first input key; and operating logic associated with the first input key to display on said display one or more emoticons for selection by a user, including placing a current focus on a first of the displayed one or more emoticons, responsive to a selection of said first input key, and to automatically select the emoticon having the current focus upon expiration of a predetermined amount of time since the current focus was placed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The communication device of claim 25 , wherein the first input key is an input key for entering an “*” (asterisk) when the apparatus is operating in a voice mode.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The communication device of claim 25 , wherein the first input key is an input key for entering a “#” (pound) when the apparatus is operating in a voice mode.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The communication device of claim 25 , wherein the first input key is an input key for entering a digit when the apparatus is operating in a voice mode.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
52 words
The communication device of claim 25 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a 12-key input key pad having 12 input keys arranged in a 4×3 array configuration for entry of at least a selected one of alphabet and numeric data, and said first input key being one of said 12 input keys.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
47 words
The communication device of claim 25 , wherein in addition to said first input key, said apparatus further comprises a 12-key input key pad having 12 input keys arranged in a 4×3 array configuration for entry of at least a selected one of alphabet and numeric data.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
56 words
The communication device of claim 25 , wherein said operating logic is designed to display said one or more emoticons for selection in a selected one of a first left-to-right then top-to-bottom display arrangement, a second right-to-left then top-to-bottom display arrangement, a third top-to-bottom then left-to-right display arrangement, and a fourth top-to-bottom then right-to-left display arrangement.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
The communication device of claim 25 , wherein said operating logic is further designed to change said placement of current focus to another one of said one or more emoticons displayed for selection responsive to a user input.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
The communication device of claim 32 , wherein said operating logic is designed to perform said changes in accordance with the order the one or more emoticons are displayed for selection.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communication device of claim 32 , wherein said first input key is also employed to provide said user input.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
33 words
The communication device of claim 32 , wherein said apparatus further comprises at least one other input key, and said at least one other input key is employed to provide said user input.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The communication device of claim 25 , wherein each of said one or more emoticons comprises a plurality of characters.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
32 words
The communication device of claim 36 , wherein said placement of a current focus on a first of the displayed one or more emoticons comprises highlighting all characters of the first emoticon.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
The communication device of claim 37 , wherein said highlighting comprises a selected one of underlying, italicizing and employing bold faces for the characters.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
28 words
The communication device of claim 25 , wherein said selecting of the emoticon with the current focus comprises selecting all characters of the emoticon with the current focus.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The communication device of claim 25 , wherein each of said one or more emoticons comprises a pixel map based single graphical symbol.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
41 words
The communication device of claim 25 , wherein said apparatus further comprises: storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions designed to implement said operating logic; and a processor coupled to the storage medium to execute the programming instruction.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
16 words
The communication device of claim 25 , wherein said communication device is a wireless mobile phone.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
55 words
A method comprising: displaying one or more emoticons for selection responsive to a selection of an input key; placing a current focus on a first of the displayed one or more emoticons; and automatically selecting the emoticon with the current focus upon elapse of a predetermined amount of time after the current focus was placed.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
55 words
A method comprising: displaying one or more emoticons for selection responsive to a selection of an input key; placing a current focus on a first of the displayed one or more emoticons; and automatically selecting the emoticon with the current focus upon elapse of a predetermined amount of time after the current focus was placed.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 43 , wherein the method further comprises moving the current focus to a second of the displayed one or more emoticons responsive to a user input.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 43 , wherein each of said one or more emoticons comprises a plurality of characters.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 45 , wherein said placing of a current focus on a first of the displayed one or more emoticons comprises highlighting all characters of the first emoticon.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim claim 45 , wherein said automatic selection of the emoticon with the current focus comprises automatically selecting all characters of the emoticon with the current focus.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
21 words
The method of claims 47 , wherein the method further comprises facilitating editing of the automatically selected characters of the emoticon.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-01-16 | 2009-07-18 | 2010-01-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-01-16 | 2013-07-18 | 2014-01-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-01-16 | 2017-07-18 | 2018-01-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |