US 2004/0018858 A1 · Emoticon input method and apparatus

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.

Claims64

Dependent claims

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.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Emoticon input method and apparatus

Life of this patent

Emoticon input method and apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims64