Emoticon input method and apparatus
US6987991B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 17, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jan 17, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 18, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M1/7243
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.