EP 1 215 867 B1 ” HOVIMA ty EP 1 215 867 B1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION (45) Date of publication and mention (51) Int ofthe grant of the patent ‘oat 177252 Hoan 1/247 #020) 24.09.2008 Bulletin 2008/39 (21) Application number: 01129885.8 (22) Date of fling: 14.12.2001 (54) Emoticon input method for mobile terminal Verfahren zur eingabe von Emoticons far mobiles Endgerat Méthode de saisle d'émoticones dans un terminal mobile (84) Designated Contracting States: (74) Representative: Griinecker, Kinkeldey, DEFRGB Stockmalr & Schwanhdusser Anwaltssozietat (80) Priory: 16.12.2000 KR 2000077481 Leopoldstrasse 4 ‘80802 Minchen (DE) (43) Date of publication of application: 19.06.2002. Bulletin 2002/25 (66) Reterences cited: EP-A- 0930 760 Wo-A-0057617 (73) Proprietor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. US-A-5 784 001 ‘Suwon-City, Kyungki-do (KR) (72) lnventor: Hyon Seung-Tack clo SAMSUNG EL.CO.LTD.IN.PROP.TEAM ‘Suwon-shi, Kyunggi-do (KR) Note: Within nine months ofthe publication of the mention of the grant ofthe European patent in the European Patent BBuletn, any person may give notice to the Eutopean Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed untl the opposition fee has been paid. (Ar. 99(1) European Patent Convention).1 EP 1215 867 B1 2 Description [0001] The presentinvention relates generally oamo- bile terminal, and in particular, to @ method of easly in putting icons that represent emotions (emoticons) of @ [0002] In adaition 1 telephone calls, mobile terminal can provide a variety of additional functions such as an ‘SMS (Short Message Service). The SMS enables short text messages to be exchanged between terminals (or computers) regardless of whether the terminal of the oth cer party is busy or not. The relatively high cost of voice calls makes the SMS cost-effective enough to substitute for the voice calls. A user inputs a text message using the keys of the keypad on the terminal and transmits it Via the SMS, [0003] The SMS, however, mits a Korean text mes: ‘sage to 40 characters, as well as limits the text message In other languages. Moreover only a few specific small keys are usedtoinputthe text message, Therefore, great ‘amounts of time and effort are needed to input even @ short message and often the short message becomes ‘an abbreviation of what a user intends to express inthe first place. [0004] In an atampt to solve this problem, a mooile terminal may provide a variety of specialcharacters long with the standard characters and digits. The characters ‘and digits would vary with the programmed language, eg. Korean, English, ete FIG. 1 ilustrates input modes supportedby the conventional mobile terminal. As shown In FIG. 1, the mobile terminal cisplays avaliable charac: tersicigits in each input mode, [0005] The illustrated mobile terminal of FIG. 1 also has a shortcoming in that @ user must input a special character in a very complicated procedure (Le., mode conversion, entry ofan intended special character, input ofkey [CONFIRM], andete ) Therefore, the conventional ‘mobile terminal has limitations inthe input of characters ‘or symbols which can readily representing the emotions cof auser inthe form of an icon, [0006] Wo 00157617 A (NOKIA MOBILE PHONES; KRAFT, CHRISTIAN) 28 September 2000 discloses a communication terminal handling messages including graphics, Tre communication terminal may be a hand portable phone. When sending messages the user has the option to insert graphics into the message. The user ccan insert graphics from both the predefined clp art di rectory and from the ‘user graphics’ gallery. An option called insert graphic’ is disclosed where the user willbe iven alist of grephios groups. Pressing the softkey hav- ing the functionality ‘insert’ wil insert the graphs into the message text at the postion ofthe cursor, The pro- posed Graphical Messaging System (GMS) is able to transport text, pictures and animations as one entity in messages handled by, for example, the Nokia smart messaging format, [0007] The illustrated mobile terminal of FIG. 1 also has a shortcoming in that a user must input a special character in a very complicated procedure (Le., mode conversion, entry of an intended special character, input of key[CONFIRM], and ete). Therefore, the conventional ‘mobil terminal has limitations inthe input of characters ‘or symbols which can readly representing the emotions cof @user inthe form of an icon, [0008] Iti, therefore, the object of the present inven- tion to provide an emoticon input method in a mobile ter- minal, which enables a user to easly input icons that represent his emotions. [0009] This object is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are de- fined in the dependent claims, [0010] Accordingtoan aspectof the presentinvention, there is provided an emoticon input method in @ mobile terminal, which enables a userto easily enter a plurality of icons that represent his emotions by use of a series of special characters and symbols. [0011] The foregoing object is actieved by provieing ‘2method of easily inputtingicons representing user emo- tions (emoticons). In the emoticon input method in a me- bile terminal, a plurality of emoticons, formed by utlizing ‘plural of typical characters and symbols and special characters and symbols in combination, are groupedand stored by groups in the mobile terminal. The mobile ter minalenters an emoticon input mode, isplays the stored ‘emoticon groups, displays the emoticons of an emoticon group selected by a user, stores an emoticon selected by the user, and transmits an SMS message including atleast one emoticon selected by the user. [0012] The above object, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunc- tion with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 illustrates input modes supported in a con- ventional mobile terminal; FIG. 2is 2 schematic biock diagram of a mobile ter- ‘minal to which the present invention is applied; FIG. 3 le a flowchart ilustrating an emoticon Input ‘operation according to the present invention; FIG. 4 illustrates operational aisplays of the motile terminal according tothe present invention; and FIG. 5 ilustrates groups of emoticons according to ‘an embodiment ofthe present invention [0013] A preferred emboaiment ofthe present inven tion will be described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in un- necessary detail [0014] FIG. 2s aschematic block diagram ofa mobile terminal to which the present invention is applied. [0015] Referring to FIG. 2, 2 mobile terminal 10 in- cludes a transmitter 11 with & modulator 21 and trane- migsion amplifier 31 and a receiver 12 with @ reception ‘amplifier 32 and a demodulator 22 in order to exchange8 EP 1215 867 B1 4 signals wth a mobile communication system (notshown) that has a base station, an MSC (Mobile Switching Cent- 1), and an SMS center. Also shown is antenna ANT. [0016] A cispiay 16 outputs display data and text mes- ‘sages generated in the mobile terminal. An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) can be used as the dsplay 16. A key inputportion 17 has. plurality of digivcharacter and sym: ‘bol keys, function keys for user interfacing, and keys for Voice calls. A keypad.can be usedasthe key input portion 17 [0017] A controller 19 includes a DSP (Digtal Signal Processor), amicroprocessor, andother crcuitsthatcon. trols the transmitter 11 and the receiver 12 to allow the ser to conduct a voice call with another user through speaker 14 anda microphone 18. The controler 100 also performs an emoticon input operation according to an ‘embodiment of the present invention, [0018] Astorage 1Bis comprised ata ROM (Read Only Memory) anda RAM (Random Access Memory) for stor ingprograms and data, anda voice memory. Thestorage 18 stores an operation progrem for inputting emoticons ‘and a plurality of emoticons in the form of a bit map ac: cording tothe embodiment ofthe present invention. The plurality of emoticons are stored by groups inthe storage 18 to faciltate selection of emoticons. [0019] An emoticon is defined as hieroglyphic char: ‘acter and symbolthatsformedusing aplurlty of typical characters and symbols or special characters and sym- bois in combination to represent a user's emotions. The term emoticon" is a compound word of emotion andicon (an image representing a computer program function), Emoticons are part of alanguage unique to cyber space, bywhich emations, symbols, personalities, jobs, and ob- Jects are represented by using characters, symbols, and digits avaliable on the keyboard of a computer. They are widely used in cyber space since they are easily under: stood and easily facitate a description of an expression (of subtle emotions of a user. [0020] Emoticons are usually divided into two catego- ‘es: oriental ones used among Asians including Koreans ‘and Japanese, and occidental ones mainly used in the US. and Europe. Vertical hieroglyphics prevail in the formercase, whereas horizontalones prevailin the latter cease. Therefore, storage 18 stores oriental or occidental emoticons according tothe cultural area ofa user. [0021] In general, 2000 emetloons are used respec: tively in Asia and the U. S. & Europe and up to 60 emati cons are standardized, To ease selection, emoticons are stored by groups in a mobile terminal. Emeticon groups ccan be formed as shown below, for exemple. 1. facial expression: happiness/smile/greetinglove! nonsense/sieepidepression/ shynessitears/anger! fearletc. 2. person: racelcharacterfprofession 8. animals: raboitlcatidog/ape/pig/goaticowirat 4, reptiles, amphibla:tadpolettrog/sneke 5, fishes: goleishismall octopusishrimp/squid'sea horselcrab 6. insect: dragontlyfouttertly 7.plants: white rosefblack rose/oouquettree 8. fod: sushi/noodle/hamburger/PepsiCoke/can- dies 9. characters: Pikachu/Teletubbies [0022] FIG. Sis. fowchar illustrating an emoticon in- put procedure according to the present invention and FIG dilustrates operational displaysin amobileterminal ‘according tothe present invention, [0023] Referring to FIG. 3, a user enters an emoticon input mode by manipulating keys in a mobile terminal in step S10, The mobile terminal sequentially displays pre- stored emoticon group names as a user scrolls through ‘@ menu In step $20 and determines whether the user has entered a group select key step S30. Ifakey other than a group select ky is input in step S30, the mobile terminal performs an operation corresponding to the key input in step $35. Upon input ofthe group select key in step $30, the mobile terminal sequentially cisplays the ‘emoticons ofthe selected group asa user scrols through ‘a menu in step S40. In step S50, the mobile terminal determines whether the user has entered an emoticon selectkey. ithe user enters key otherthan an emoticon select key, the mobile terminal performs an operation corresponding to the key input in step $35. Upon input cof an emoticon select key, the mobile terminal stores as part of a short message an emoticon selected by the input emoticon select key in step S60. [0024] Referring to FIG. 4, a procedure of aisplaying ‘an emoticon representing a smile wil be described When the userinvokes a message management function by pressing a predetermined key, for example, a mes- sage hot kay, a display 1 is provided. Ifthe user selects "2. outgoing message" by manipulating a directional key or a dig kay inthe display 1, a display 2 is provided: ‘Then, ifthe user selects "2. wrte mail in the display 2, a display 3 Is provided, If the user selects "1, write new tex" In the display 3, a display 4 is provides, [0025] When the user presses a predetermined input ‘mode conversion key, for example, [MENU] a display 5 is provided. The display 5 displays the otherinputmodes available from the mobile terminal, that is, an English capitalinputmode, an English smallinout mode, aspecial character and symbol input mode, and an emoticon input ‘mode, Ifthe user selects “ematioon* inthe alspay 5, the ‘mobile terminal enters the emoticon input mode ($10 of FIG. 8) and displays the names of pre-stored emoticon ‘groups, thatis, smile, ove, happiness, greeting, and etc ina display 6 (S20 in FIG. 3). [0026] FIG. illustrates emeticon groups according to ‘an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. §, the emoticons are grouped into smile, love, hap- piness, greeting, and fear, though only the emoticons for smile and love are shown, [0027] If the user selects "smile" In the dieplay 6 by ‘manipulating a lefvight dlectional Key, emoticons that