# US 2017/0255359 A1 · Portable electronic device for instant messaging > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0255359 A1 - Document ID: US20170255359A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/464,248 - Filed: 2017-03-20 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2006-09-06 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Stephen O. LEMAY; Marcel VAN OS; Scott HERZ; Greg Christie - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170255359A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)} - G06F 3/04817: using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) - G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials - G06F 3/0485: Scrolling or panning - G06F 3/04855: Interaction with scrollbars - G06F 3/0487: using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser - G06Q 10/10: Office automation; Time management - H04L 51/04: Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] - H04L 51/043: using or handling presence information - H04L 51/216: Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads - H04M 1/27475: using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations - H04M 1/72403: with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality - H04M 1/72436: for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails - H04M 1/72466: with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device - H04M 1/2747: Scrolling on a display - H04M 2250/12: including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion - H04M 2250/22: including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector - H04M 2250/70: methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract A portable electronic device for instant messaging is disclosed. One aspect of the invention involves a graphical user interface (GUI) on a portable electronic device with a touch screen display. The GUI has a set of messages exchanged between a user of the device and another person. The set of messages are displayed in a chronological order. In response to detecting a scrolling gesture comprising a substantially vertical movement of a user contact with the touch screen display, the display of messages are scrolled in accordance with a direction of the scrolling gesture. The detecting of the scrolling gesture is substantially independent of a horizontal position of the user contact with the touch screen display. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 An electronic device, comprising: a display; one or more processors; and memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for: displaying, on the display, a message compose region comprising: a text box for displaying characters of a message entered by a user; a virtual keyboard having a plurality of keys for entering characters in the text box; and a send affordance for sending the message; receiving selection of a respective key of the virtual keyboard, the respective key representing a respective character; and in response to receiving selection of the respective key of the virtual keyboard: displaying the respective character in the text box, and modifying the visual appearance of the send affordance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic device of claim 2, the one or more programs further including instructions for: while displaying the respective character in the text box, receiving selection of the send affordance; and in response to receiving selection of the send affordance, sending the message displayed in the text box. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic device of claim 3, the one or more programs further including instructions for: while displaying the message compose region, displaying a message display region including a set of messages exchanged between a user of the device and a first person; and in response to receiving selection of the send affordance, updating the set of messages to include the message. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electronic device of claim 4, wherein updating the set of messages to include the message includes displaying an animation of the message moving from the text box to the message display region. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The electronic device of claim 2, the one or more programs further including instructions for: in response to receiving selection of the respective key of the virtual keyboard, displaying word suggestions adjacent to the text box, wherein one or more of the word suggestions are based on the respective character. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electronic device of claim 6, the one or more programs further including instructions for: receiving selection of a respective word suggestion; and in response to receiving selection of the respective word suggestion, replacing the respective character in the text box with the respective word suggestion. ### Claim 8 A method, comprising: at an electronic device with a display: displaying, on the display, a message compose region comprising: a text box for displaying characters of a message entered by a user; a virtual keyboard having a plurality of keys for entering characters in the text box; and a send affordance for sending the message; receiving selection of a respective key of the virtual keyboard, the respective key representing a respective character; and in response to receiving selection of the respective key of the virtual keyboard: displaying the respective character in the text box, and modifying the visual appearance of the send affordance. ### Claim 9 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a display, the one or more programs including instructions for: displaying, on the display, a message compose region comprising: a text box for displaying characters of a message entered by a user; a virtual keyboard having a plurality of keys for entering characters in the text box; and a send affordance for sending the message; receiving selection of a respective key of the virtual keyboard, the respective key representing a respective character; and in response to receiving selection of the respective key of the virtual keyboard: displaying the respective character in the text box, and modifying the visual appearance of the send affordance.