Smart variable expressive text or graphics for electronic communications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017286366-A1
Application number	US-201615156290-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 16, 2016
Priority date	Mar 31, 2016
Publication date	Oct 5, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and method for creating, sending, receiving, or displaying messages with smart variable expressive text or graphics is described. The method includes providing a user interface for inputting content and specifying an appearance of the content, receiving the content and an appearance control input via the user interface, responsive to the appearance control input, creating a message including the content and formatting information, and sending the message including the content and the formatting information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
providing, using one or more computing devices, a user interface for inputting content and specifying an appearance of the content; receiving, using the one or more computing devices, the content and an appearance control input via the user interface; responsive to the appearance control input, creating, using the one or more computing devices, a message including the content and formatting information; and sending, using the one or more computing devices, the message including the content and the formatting information.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface includes an expressiveness control indicator for specifying the appearance of the content, the expressiveness control indicator movable in the user interface to vary the appearance of the content.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface includes a slider bar and an indicator that allows a user to control expressiveness of the appearance of the content along a range of values corresponding to positions of the indicator on the slider bar.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the user interface includes a visual cue indicating an amount of expressiveness that will be added to the appearance of the content based on a position of the indicator on the slider bar, the visual cue positioned proximate an end of the slider bar.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
modifying, using the one or more computing devices, the appearance of the content responsive to the appearance control input; and updating, using the one or more computing devices, the user interface to include the content with the modified appearance based on the appearance control input.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the formatting information is a visual effect.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, using one or more computing devices, whether the appearance control input satisfies a threshold; responsive to the appearance control input satisfying the threshold, replacing the content with a substitute message.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the substitute message includes a graphic and animation.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , further comprising;
determining, using the one or more computing devices, a context for the content; and selecting the substitute message and an appearance of the substitute message based on the determined context.

10 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform operations comprising:
providing a user interface for inputting content and specifying an appearance of the content; receiving the content and an appearance control input via the user interface; responsive to the appearance control input, creating a message including the content and formatting information; and sending the message including the content and the formatting information.

11 . The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the user interface includes an expressiveness control indicator for specifying the appearance of the content, the expressiveness control indicator movable in the user interface to vary the appearance of the content.

12 . The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the user interface includes a slider bar and an indicator that allows a user to control expressiveness of the appearance of the content along a range of values corresponding to positions of the indicator on the slider bar.

13 . The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the user interface includes a visual cue indicating an amount of expressiveness that will be added to the appearance of the content based on a position of the indicator on the slider bar, the visual cue positioned proximate an end of the slider bar.

14 . The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
modifying the appearance of the content responsive to the appearance control input; and updating the user interface to include the content with the modified appearance based on the appearance control input.

15 . The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the formatting information is a visual effect.

16 . The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the operations further comprise:
determining whether the appearance control input satisfies a threshold; responsive to the appearance control input satisfying the threshold, replacing the content with a substitute message.

17 . The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the substitute message includes a graphic and animation.

18 . The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise:
determining a context for the content; and selecting the substitute message and an appearance of the substitute message based on the determined context.

19 . A system comprising:
a processor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
providing a user interface for inputting content and specifying an appearance of the content;
receiving the content and an appearance control input via the user interface;
responsive to the appearance control input, creating a message including the content and formatting information; and
sending the message including the content and the formatting information.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the user interface includes an expressiveness control indicator for specifying the appearance of the content, the expressiveness control indicator movable in the user interface to vary the appearance of the content.

21 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the user interface includes a slider bar and an indicator that allows a user to control expressiveness of the appearance of the content along a range of values corresponding to positions of the indicator on the slider bar.

22 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the user interface includes a visual cue indicating an amount of expressiveness that will be added to the appearance of the content based on a position of the indicator on the slider bar, the visual cue positioned proximate an end of the slider bar.

23 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the operations further comprise:
modifying the appearance of the content responsive to the appearance control input; and updating the user interface to include the content with the modified appearance based on the appearance control input.

24 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the formatting information is a visual effect.

25 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the operations further comprise:
determining whether the appearance control input satisfies a threshold; responsive to the appearance control input satisfying the threshold, replacing the content with a substitute message.

26 . The system of claim 25 , wherein the substitute message includes a graphic and animation.

27 . The system of claim 25 , wherein the operations further comprise:
determining a context for the content; and selecting the substitute message and an appearance of the substitute message bas

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Chang Mark
• Austin Matthew
• Buyayo James
• Cornwell Jason
• Kim Debbie
• Lo Richard
• Schlemmer Johnathon
• Tompkins Christopher
• Torkildson Megan
• Barlow Joy
• Volkov Anton

Classifications

• H04W4/14

  Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD] · CPC title

• G06F3/04883

  for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text · CPC title

• G06F3/04847

  Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials · CPC title

• G06T13/80

  Two-dimensional [2D] animation, e.g. using sprites · CPC title

• H04L51/046

  Interoperability with other network applications or services · CPC title