# US 2014/0156762 A1 · Replacing Typed Emoticon with User Photo > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156762 A1 - Document ID: US20140156762A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/706,019 - Filed: 2012-12-05 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05 - Assignees: Facebook, Inc. - Inventors: Jenny Yuen; Luke St. Clair - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156762A1 ## CPC - H04L 51/10: Multimedia information - H04L 51/04: Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] - H04L 51/063: Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content - H04L 51/52: for supporting social networking services - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract In one embodiment, a computing device receives input from a user participating in a message session. The computing device detects an emoticon in the received input and identifies an image corresponding to the emoticon. The computing device accesses the image corresponding to the emoticon and replaces the emoticon with the image in the message session. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: by a computing device, receiving input from a user participating in a message session; by the computing device, detecting an emoticon in the received input; by the computing device, identifying an image corresponding to the emoticon; by the computing device, accessing the image corresponding to the emoticon; and by the computing device, replacing the emoticon with the image in the message session. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein identifying an image corresponding to the emoticon comprises identifying the image from a predefined mapping of emoticons to images. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein identifying an image corresponding to the emoticon comprises receiving a selection of the image from a list suggested to the user. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein identifying an image corresponding to the emoticon comprises identifying the image based on a previous emoticon replacement with an image by the user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein identifying an image corresponding to the emoticon comprises identifying the image from an image capture input device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, by the computing device, presenting the image to a second user if the second user has permission to view the image. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a server managing the message session. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein detecting an emoticon in the received input comprises: analyzing text of the received input; and identifying an emoticon based on the analysis of the text. ### Claim 9 One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media in one or more computing systems, the media embodying logic that is operable when executed to: receive input from a user participating in a message session; detect an emoticon in the received input; identify an image corresponding to the emoticon; access the image corresponding to the emoticon; and replace the emoticon with the image in the message session. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The media of claim 9, wherein identifying an image corresponding to the emoticon comprises identifying the image from a predefined mapping of emoticons to images. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The media of claim 9, wherein identifying an image corresponding to the emoticon comprises receiving a selection of the image from a list suggested to the user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The media of claim 9, wherein identifying an image corresponding to the emoticon comprises identifying the image based on a previous emoticon replacement with an image by the user. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The media of claim 9, wherein identifying an image corresponding to the emoticon comprises identifying the image from an image capture input device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The media of claim 9, further embodying logic operable when executed to present the image to a second user if the second user has permission to view the image. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The media of claim 9, wherein at least one computing device is a server managing the message session. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The media of claim 9, wherein detecting an emoticon in the received input comprises: analyzing text of the received input; and identifying an emoticon based on the analysis of the text. ### Claim 17 A first computing system comprising: a memory comprising instructions executable by one or more processors; and the one or more processors coupled to the memory and operable to execute the instructions, the one or more processors being operable when executing the instructions to: receive input from a user participating in a message session; detect an emoticon in the received input; identify an image corresponding to the emoticon; access the image corresponding to the emoticon; and replace the emoticon with the image in the message session. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, the one or more processors being further operable when executing the instructions to present the image to a second user if the second user has permission to view the image. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein identifying an image corresponding to the emoticon comprises identifying the image from a predefined mapping of emoticons to images. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein detecting an emoticon in the received input comprises: analyzing text of the received input; and identifying an emoticon based on the analysis of the text.