(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2004/0018858A1
`Nelson
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Jan. 29, 2004
`
`US 20040018858A1
`
`(54) EMOTICON INPUT METHOD AND
`APPARATUS
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. ......................................... 455/566; 455/575..1
`
`(76) Inventor: losthan O. Nelson, Kirkland, WA
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Correspondence Address:
`SCHWABE, WILLIAMSON & WYATT, P.C.
`PACWEST CENTER, SUITES 1600-1900
`1211 SW FIFTHAVENUE
`PORTLAND, OR 97204 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`09/932,592
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Aug. 17, 2001
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl. ............................ H04M 3/42; HO4M 1/00;
`H04B 1/38
`
`An apparatus, Such as a communication device, is provided
`ov,
`with emoticon input logic associated with an input key to
`improve the ease-of-use of the apparatus for entering emoti
`cons, e.g. into a text message, while the apparatus is oper
`ating 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.
`
`Top
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`Left
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`I am sorry for wha
`happened.
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`Patent Application Publication Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 1 of 10
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`Patent Application Publication Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 2 of 10
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`Patent Application Publication Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 5 of 10
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`500
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`Text Messaging
`502
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`Display Driver - Key Driver
`506
`504
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`610
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`Processor
`602
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`GPIO 606
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`Input Keys 104
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`Figure 5
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`Memory 604
`Software
`500
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`Video
`Controller 608
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`Figure 6
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`Patent Application Publication Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 6 of 10
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`702 - Display Emoticons for
`Selection
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`704 -
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`Place “Current Focus'
`on first emoticon
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`707 -
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`No
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`No
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`Another
`Selection?
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`NO
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`Select “Current
`Focus' Emoticon
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`712 --
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`Yes
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`710 -u
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`Change Current
`Focus” Corresponds to
`User Scrolling
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`Figure 7
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`Patent Application Publication Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 7 of 10
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`Patent Application Publication Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 8 of 10
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`Patent Application Publication Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 9 of 10
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`1000
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`Figure 10
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`Patent Application Publication Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 10 of 10 US 2004/0018858A1
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`Fig.11
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`US 2004/0018858A1
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`Jan. 29, 2004
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`EMOTCON INPUT METHOD AND APPARATUS
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0001) 1. Field of the Invention
`0002 The present invention relates to the field of textual
`or non-verbal communication. More Specifically, the present
`invention relates to methods and apparatuses associated with
`the employment of emoticons in textual or non-verbal
`communications, Such as email or instant messaging, prac
`ticed on e.g. mobile communication devices, as in the case
`of wireless mobile telephones.
`0003 2. Background Information
`0004 Advances in integrated circuit, microprocessor,
`networking and telecommunication technologies have led to
`the development and wide spread adoption of networked
`computing devices and mobile communication devices. AS
`a result, email, instant messaging, and wireleSS telephone
`calls have all become important vehicles of communication
`for a large Segment of the population, if not the preferred
`forms of communication for these users.
`0005. It is known that for many users, their email and
`instant messaging communications (also referred to as tex
`tual or non-verbal communications) often involve the use of
`emoticons, Such as the "Smiling face' or the "sad face'.
`However, few email or instant messaging applications offer
`any assistance to a user to enter and use emoticons in their
`communications. Some instant messaging applications offer
`the minimal assistance of converting or replacing a handful
`of Widely used emoticon forming Sequences of characters to
`corresponding graphical Symbols. For example, when the
`characters “:' (colon), "=" (equal sign) and ") (right paren
`thesis) are Successively entered, Some instant messaging
`applications automatically replace the entered characters
`with the graphical symbol “”.
`0006 These prior art facilities suffer from a number of
`disadvantages. First, typically only a handful of these emoti
`con forming character Sequences are Supported. Thus, Vir
`tually no assistance is provided to a user who chooses to be
`creative, and uses an unconventional Sequence of characters
`to form an emoticon, e.g. the character Sequence of":”, “if”
`and “0” for a flabbergasted or astounded expression. Further,
`regardless whether the character Sequence is conventional or
`unconventional, a user typically has to enter the emoticon
`forming characters one at a time. This disadvantage is
`amplified in Situations where the user is conducting the
`textual or non-verbal communication using a communica
`tion device having limited input facilities, Such as wireleSS
`mobile phones.
`0007 Accordingly, facilities that are more user friendly
`in assisting a user to employ emoticons in their communi
`cations, especially on communication devices with limited
`input facilities, Such as wireleSS mobile phones, are desired.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`0008. The invention is illustrated by way of example and
`not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying
`drawings, in which like references indicate Similar elements
`and in which:
`0009 FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless mobile phone incor
`porated with the teachings of the present invention for
`assisting a user in inputting an emoticon, in accordance with
`one embodiment;
`
`0010 FIG. 2 illustrates a state of the wireless mobile
`phone of FIG. 1, where a list of emoticons is displayed for
`user Selection, responsive to an initial Selection of an input
`key;
`0011 FIG. 3 illustrates another state of the wireless
`mobile phone of FIG. 1, with the current focus being placed
`on one of the displayed emoticons, as directed by the user
`traversal actions on the displayed list;
`0012 FIG. 4 illustrates yet another state of the wireless
`mobile phone of FIG. 1, with a selected emoticon incorpo
`rated as part of a textual message being composed;
`0013 FIG. 5 illustrates the relevant software elements of
`the wireless mobile phone of FIG. 1, for practicing the
`present invention, in accordance with one embodiment;
`0014 FIG. 6 illustrates the relevant hardware elements
`of the wireless mobile phone of FIG. 1, for practicing the
`present invention, in accordance with one embodiment;
`0.015 FIG. 7 illustrates the operational flow of the rel
`evant aspect of the emoticon input Support logic provided in
`the key driver of FIG. 5, in accordance with one embodi
`ment,
`0016 FIGS. 8a-8b illustrate alternate associations of the
`emoticon input logic to other input keys,
`0017 FIG. 9 illustrates yet another alternate association
`of the emoticon input logic to other input keys, employing
`an additional key;
`0018 FIG. 10 illustrates yet another alternate association
`of the emoticon input logic to other input keys, employing
`a removal cover or skin; and
`0019 FIG. 11 illustrates another mobile communication
`device incorporated with the teachings of the present inven
`tion, in accordance with another embodiment.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`0020. The present invention includes the provision of
`emoticon input logic to enhance the usability of a commu
`nication device. For ease of understanding, the present
`invention will be primarily described in the context of
`wireleSS mobile phones. However, the present invention is
`not So limited. The present invention may also be practiced
`on other communication devices besides wireleSS mobile
`phones.
`0021. In the description to follow, various aspects of the
`present invention will be described. For purposes of expla
`nation, Specific numbers, materials and configurations are
`Set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
`present invention. However, in Selected instances, well
`known features are omitted or simplified in order not to
`obscure the present invention. The present invention may be
`practiced with only Some of the aspects described, and
`without Some of the Specific details enumerated.
`0022 Various operations will be described as multiple
`discrete Steps in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in
`understanding the present invention. However, the order of
`description should not be construed as to imply that these
`operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular,
`these operations need not be performed in the order of
`presentation.
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`0023 Parts of the description will be presented in terms
`of operations performed by a processor based device, using
`terms Such as displaying, focusing, Selecting, and the like,
`consistent with the manner commonly employed by those
`skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to
`others skilled in the art. As well understood by those skilled
`in the art, the quantities take the form of electrical, magnetic,
`or optical Signals capable of being Stored, transferred, com
`bined, and otherwise manipulated through mechanical, elec
`trical and optical components of the processor based device.
`The term processor as used in this specification includes
`microprocessors, micro-controllers, digital Signal proces
`Sors, and the like, that are Standalone, adjunct or embedded.
`0024. The description repeatedly uses the phrase “in one
`embodiment'. Ordinarily the phrase does not refer to the
`Same embodiment, although it may. The terms “compris
`ing”, “including, and “having are frequently used in the
`Specification and in the claims; the terms are Synonymous.
`0025. Overview
`0.026
`Referring now to FIG. 1, wherein a wireless
`mobile phone 100 incorporated with the teachings of the
`present invention, in accordance with one embodiment, is
`shown. As illustrated, for the embodiment, wireless mobile
`phone 100 comprises display 102 and input keys 104,
`including in particular, input key 110. Wireless mobile
`phone 100 operates in at least two modes, a voice or verbal
`mode, and a text or non-verbal mode. Further, wireleSS
`mobile phone 100 is endowed with emotion input logic (not
`shown) to facilitate a user in inputting emoticons, e.g. for a
`text message during the text or non-verbal mode of opera
`tion. For the embodiment, the emoticon input logic is
`associated with input key 110. That is, the emoticon input
`logic is activated by input key 110, e.g. while wireleSS
`mobile phone 100 operates in the text mode. As will be
`described in more detail below, using input key 110, Sup
`ported by the emoticon input logic, a user may enter an
`emoticon e.g. into a text message in a more user friendly
`C.
`Display 102 is provided to facilitate display of
`0.027
`data, Such as a textual message received or being composed,
`Status information, Such as “calling . . . " or “low battery',
`choice of applications, Such as “calendar' or "phone book',
`choice of options, such as “AM” or "PM" (when setting a
`system clock), and so forth. The term “text” and its related
`forms, Such as "textual', as used in the present application,
`are synonymous with the term “non verbal'. In other words,
`a "textual' message may comprise of characters from a
`Standard character Set as well as “special' characters, Sym
`bols, glyphs, icons and the like.
`0028. Input keys 104 are provided to facilitate input of
`data, command, user responses and/or Selections to phone
`100. For the embodiment, input keys 104 include control
`keys 106 and alphanumeric keys 108; and as described
`earlier, the emoticon input logic is associated with input key
`110 of alphanumeric keys 108. Control keys 106 may
`include “make call” or “end call” function keys, as well as
`"Scrolling keys to facilitate a user in directing Scrolling
`direction, i.e. up, down, to the right or to the left, when
`Scrolling through an enumerated list of options or choices.
`Alphanumeric keys 108, for the embodiment, has a total of
`12 alphanumeric keys, arranged in a 4x3 array configura
`tion, that is 4 rows and 3 columns, with input key 110
`
`(associated with the emoticon input logic) disposed at the
`4th row and 1st column position (with the row and column
`positions determined from top to bottom, and left to right
`respectively). Alphanumeric keys 108 are provided to facili
`tate input of alphanumeric data, including in particular, the
`input of emoticons through input key 110 (while phone 100
`operates in the text mode).
`0029 Operations
`0030 FIGS. 2-4 illustrate a contemplated usage of input
`key 110 and the associated emoticon input logic (while
`phone 100 operates in the text mode). More specifically,
`FIGS. 2-4 illustrate the external visible states of wireless
`mobile phone 100 under the contemplated usage. As illus
`trated in FIG. 2, in response to an initial Selection of input
`key 110 (while phone 100 is operating in the text mode, e.g.
`when a textual message is being composed), a list of
`emoticons 112 is displayed on display 102 for user selection.
`More specifically, for the illustrated embodiment, a list of
`emoticon forming character Sequences is displayed on dis
`play 102 for user selection. For example, the “smiling face”
`emotion is displayed by displaying the three character
`Sequence comprising the “:' (colon), the "-" (hyphen) and
`the ") (right parenthesis) character. In alternate embodi
`ments, Singular graphical Symbols, Such as (9, may be
`employed instead.
`0031. For the illustrated embodiment, emoticon forming
`character Sequences 112 (hereinafter simply emoticons) are
`displayed in a left-to-right, then top-to-bottom arrangement.
`In alternate embodiments, e.g. in Support of other languages,
`such as Hebrew, Chinese and so forth, emoticons 112 may
`be displayed in a right-to-left, then top-to-bottom arrange
`ment, a top-to-bottom then left-to-right arrangement, or a
`top-to-bottom then right-to-left arrangement.
`0032 For the illustrated embodiment, one of displayed
`emoticons 112 is also the “current focus' emoticon. Initially,
`under the left-to-right then top-to-bottom display arrange
`ment, the leftmost emoticon among the emoticons displayed
`in the top row is given the “current focus'. In one embodi
`ment, placing the “current focus on a emoticon formed with
`a Sequence of characters comprises highlighting all the
`characters. The term “highlighting as used in the present
`application, including the claims, includes all known tech
`niques to cause a Sequence of characters to be visually
`distinct from other neighboring Sequences of character, to
`draw a user's attention to the "highlighted Sequence of
`characters. These known techniques include but are not
`limited to underlying, italicizing or employing bold faces for
`the Sequence of characters.
`0033) As illustrated in FIG.3, by selecting input key 110
`again in a timely manner (thereby preventing an associated
`timer to expire), a user may scroll through the displayed list
`of emoticons 112. The emoticon having the “current focus’
`is updated correspondingly as the user Scrolls through the
`list. In alternate embodiments, other approaches, Such as
`using one or more of control keys 106, may be practiced to
`facilitate Scrolling through the displayed list of emoticons.
`In one embodiment, Scrolling through emoticons formed
`with character Sequences comprises Scrolling through the
`character Sequences, i.e. moving from one character
`Sequence to another character Sequence.
`0034. As illustrated in FIG. 4, for the embodiment, upon
`elapse of a predetermined amount of time after the last
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`selection of input key 110 (allowing the earlier mentioned
`associated timer to expire), the emoticon of the "current
`focus is Selected, and inserted into e.g. text message 114
`being composed. In alternate embodiments, Selection of the
`“current focus' emoticon may be made in other manners,
`e.g. by “double clicking” input key 110 (i.e. successively
`clicking input key 110 at a predetermined “rapid” rate) or by
`Selecting other input keys. Further, in alternate usages, it is
`contemplated that the Selected emoticon may be used in a
`Standalone manner instead, e.g. transmitted to a recipient
`directly (without having incorporated into a textual mes
`Sage). In one embodiment, selecting emoticon (formed with
`a sequence of characters) with the “current focus’ comprises
`Selecting all the characters of the emoticon with the "current
`focus'.
`0035. Note that upon selection, the characters of an
`emoticon forming character Sequence (whether the Sequence
`is being used in a Standalone manner or as part of a text
`message) may be individually edited. For example, upon
`selection of the three character sequence “:”, “-” and “)”, one
`or more of the three characters “:”, “-” and “)” may be
`individually edited, allowing a user to modify an emoticon
`to his/her liking. The “-” character may be modified to “if”,
`or the “)” character may be modified to “0”, and so forth.
`0036 Software and Hardware
`0037 FIGS. 5-6 illustrate a software and a hardware
`component view of the relevant elements of wireless mobile
`phone 100, in accordance with one embodiment. As illus
`trated in FIG. 5, the relevant software elements 500 of
`phone 100 includes textual communication component 502
`provided to facilitate textual communication, display driver
`504 provided to facilitate rendering of display onto display
`102, and input driver 506 provided to support usage of input
`keys 104. Input driver 506 is incorporated with the earlier
`described emoticon input logic to Support the earlier
`described emoticon input process. AS illustrated, input driver
`506 provides textual communication component 502 with
`the inputs received through input keys 104 (when textual
`communication component 502 is the “current” component
`having given control to receive the Services of key driver
`506). In the case of input key 110, while phone 100 is
`operating in the text mode, input driver 506 provides textual
`communication component 502 with the specific “selected”
`emoticon, after having assisted the user in Selecting one of
`the available emoticons.
`0038 FIG. 6 illustrates the relevant hardware compo
`nents of wireless mobile phone 100 for practicing the
`present invention, in accordance with one embodiment. AS
`illustrated, the relevant hardware components 600 include
`storage medium 604 and processor 602. For the embodi
`ment, the relevant hardware components 600 also include
`general purpose input/output (GPIO) interface 606 and
`video controller 608. The elements are coupled to each other
`via bus 610.
`0.039
`Storage medium 604 is provided to store the pro
`gramming instructions implementing key driver 506. In one
`embodiment, Storage medium 604 is a type of non-volatile
`memory, which is also employed to Store the programming
`instructions implementing display driver 504 and textual
`communication component 502. Processor 602 coupled to
`Storage medium 604 is provided to execute the programming
`instructions implementing key driver 506. In one embodi
`
`ment, processor 602 is also employed to execute the pro
`gramming instructions implementing display driver 504 and
`textual communication component 502. GPIO 606 and
`video controller 608 are provided for coupling input keys
`104 and display 102 respectively.
`0040 FIG. 7 illustrates the operational flow of the rel
`evant aspects of key driver 506 in support of the earlier
`described emoticon input process. AS illustrated, upon
`detecting the selection of key 110 while phone 100 is
`operating in the text mode, key driver 506 causes a list of
`emoticons 112 to be displayed for user selection, block 702.
`Upon displaying the list of emoticons 112, key driver 506
`further places a “current focus” on the “first emoticon
`displayed, block 704.
`0041) Thereafter, key driver 506 determines if a prede
`termined associated timer has expired, block 706. If the
`associated timer has not expired, key driver 506 determines
`if another input key has been selected, block 707. If another
`input key has not been selected, key driver 506 determines
`if input key 110 is selected again, block 708. The determi
`nations of blocks 706-708 are repeated continuously, until
`eventually either input key 110 is re-selected before another
`input key is Selected or the associated timer expires, or
`another input key is Selected, or the associated timer expires.
`0042. If input key 110 is re-selected before another input
`key is Selected or the associated timer expires, key driver
`506 interprets the user action as a Scrolling action, and
`updates the “current focus' to reflect the user's Scrolling
`action correspondingly, block 710. Further, key driver 506
`resets the associated timer. For the embodiment, Scrolling
`beyond the end of the list causes the “current focus” to be
`placed back on the first emoticon. In other words, the user
`may Scroll through the emoticons in a round-robin fashion,
`and return to Select a “passed’ emoticon. In alternate
`embodiments, where control keys 106 are employed to
`facilitate Scrolling, naturally, Scrolling in either forward or
`backward direction may also be Supported.
`0043. Eventually, either the user selects another input
`key, or after the user Stops Selecting input key 110 for the
`predetermined time period, the associated timer expires. At
`such time, key driver 506 sets the emoticon having the
`“current focus' as the Selected emoticon, and notifies textual
`communication 502 accordingly (which in the earlier
`described contemplated usage results in the Selected emoti
`con being incorporated as part of the textual message being
`composed), block 712.
`0044 As described earlier, the emoticons may be char
`acter Sequences of multiple characters or Single pixel-map
`based graphical Symbols. For emoticons implemented
`through character Sequences, the individual characters of the
`Selected character Sequence become individually editable
`upon incorporation into a textual message. A Single pixel
`map based graphical Symbol, upon Selection, may of course
`nevertheless be deleted from the textual message.
`004.5 Thus, it can be seen from the above description,
`usability of phone 100 is improved, with the advantageous
`provision of the emoticon input logic.
`0046 Alternate Embodiments
`0047 FIGS. 8a-8b illustrate a number of alternate
`embodiments for associating the emoticon input logic of the
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`present invention with input keys. As illustrated in FIG. 8a,
`in lieu of being associated with the “lower left corner' input
`key (which is often the “*” (asterisk) key when phone 100
`is operating in the voice mode), emotion input logic may be
`associated with the “lower right corner” key (which is often
`the "#" (pound) key when phone 100 is operating in the
`voice mode) instead. Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 8b,
`in lieu of being associated with either the “*” or the “if” key,
`emotion input logic may be associated with an actual
`“number” key instead, e.g. the number “5” key as shown, or
`other number keys, e.g. the “0” key.
`0048 FIG. 9 illustrates yet another alternate embodiment
`for associating emoticon input logic with an input key. AS
`illustrated, in lieu of being associated with one of the keys
`of the 12-key arrangement 108, emoticon input logic may be
`asSociated with a dedicated function key that is in addition
`to the 12-key arrangement instead. Dedicated function key
`110 is provided exclusively for the purpose of facilitating the
`earlier described emoticon input process.
`0049 FIG. 10 illustrates yet another alternate embodi
`ment for providing the emoticon input logic of the present
`invention, and associating the logic with an input key. AS
`illustrated, in lieu of directly providing the emoticon input
`logic to phone 100, and associating the logic with one of the
`keys of the 12-key arrangement 108, emoticon input logic
`and its association with one of the input key 110 is indirectly
`implemented on a removable cover or skin 1000 having a
`storage medium 1010, within which the enhanced key driver
`506 is disposed. Additionally, storage medium 1010 may
`also include the input key association information.
`0050. As illustrated, cover or skin 1000 also includes a
`number of cutouts 1002-1004 to facilitate “mating” with
`wireless mobile phone 100. Naturally, the sizes and shapes,
`as well as the precise placements of the cutouts are target
`device dependent. For the embodiment, wireless mobile
`phone 100 is designed to be able to receive removable cover
`or skin 1000. Further, wireless mobile phone 110 is designed
`to be able to access storage medium 1010 for key driver 506
`(and key association information if any). Thus, the usability
`of wireless mobile phone 100 may be “field” enhanced by
`having removable cover 1000 attached to it in the “field”
`(i.e. post initial Sale).
`0051. Note that different collections of emoticons, and/or
`different input key associations may be provided to different
`families of removable covers 1000.
`0.052
`Alternatively, in lieu of disposing the implement
`ing programming instructions and input key association
`information in storage medium 1010, some or all of the
`implementing programming instructions and association
`information may be replaced by a resource identifier (Such
`as a URL) instead. The replacement resource identifier
`identifies a location where the replaced implementing pro
`gramming instructions and input key association informa
`tion may be retrieved.
`0.053 Removable or interchangeable cover endowed with
`the capabilities to personalize or enhance the functionalities
`of a communication device is the Subject matter of provi
`sional application number <to be insertedd, entitled “Per
`Sonalizing Electronic Devices and Smart Covering', filed on
`Jul. 17, 2001. The specification of the provisional applica
`tion is hereby fully incorporated by reference.
`
`0054 FIG. 11 illustrates another communication device
`incorporated with the teachings of the present invention. For
`the illustrated embodiment, communication device 1100 is a
`palm sized personal digital assistant equipped with email
`and/or instant messaging capability. Communication device
`1100 is also equipped with display 1102, input key 1110 and
`the complementary key driver logic as earlier described for
`wireless mobile phone 100. Accordingly, it is readily appar
`ent that the present invention may be practiced on a wide
`range of communication devices.
`
`CONCLUSION AND EPILOGUE
`0055 Thus, a novel emoticon input method and a number
`of apparatuses embodying the Supporting logic for the
`method have been described. While the present invention
`has been described in terms of the above illustrated embodi
`ments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the
`invention is not limited to the embodiments described. For
`example, in Selected embodiments, in lieu of presenting a
`plurality of emoticons for Selection, the emoticons may be
`presented for Selection one at a time, with each "single
`clicking reselection of the input key causing another emoti
`con presented for Selection and a "double clicking reselec
`tion of the input key (or Selection of another input key or
`timeout) denoting selection of the displayed emoticon. Fur
`ther, in others or the same Selected embodiments, the list of
`emoticons available for selection may be user editable. That
`is, additional facilities (similar to e.g. name entries for an
`address book application) may be provided for a user to add
`to or subtract from a list of default emoticons provided by a
`vendor. Accordingly, the present invention can be practiced
`with modification and alteration within the Spirit and Scope
`of the appended claims. The description is thus to be
`regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present
`invention.
`
`What is claimed is:
`1. 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.
`2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first input key is
`an input key for entering an “*” (asterisk) when the appa
`ratus is operating in a voice mode.
`3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first input key is
`an input key for entering a “if” (pound) when the apparatus
`is operating in a voice mode.
`4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first input key is
`an input key for entering a digit when the apparatus is
`operating in a voice mode.
`5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein Said apparatus
`further comprises a 12-key input key pad having 12 input
`keys arranged in a 4x3 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.
`6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein Said first input key
`is the input key occupying a fourth row and first column
`position of Said 4x3 array configuration.
`
`IPR2023-00833
`Apple EX1010 Page 15
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`

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`US 2004/0018858A1
`
`Jan. 29, 2004
`
`7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein column positions of
`Said 4x3 array configuration are determined in a Selected one
`of a left-to-right and a right-to-left manner.
`8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein row positions of Said
`4x3 array configuration are determined in a Selected one of
`a top-to-bottom and a bottom-totop manner.
`9. 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 4x3 array
`configuration for entry of at least a Selected one of alphabet
`and numeric data.
`10. 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 dis
`play arrangement, a third top-to-bottom then left-to-right
`display arrangement, and a fourth top-to-bottom then right
`to-left display arrangement.
`11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein Said operating logic
`is designed to place a current focus on one of the one or more
`emoticons displayed for Selection.
`12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein Said operating
`logic is further designed to change Said placement of current
`focus to another one of Said one or more emoticons dis
`played for Selection responsive to a user input.
`13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein Said operating
`logic is designed to perform Said changes in accordance with
`the order the one or more emoticons are displayed for
`Selection.
`14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said first input key
`is also employed to provide Said user input.
`15. The apparatus of claim 12, 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.
`16. The apparatus of claim 11, 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.
`17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein Said ope