Method for expressing emotion in a text message

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, while composing a textual message, a portion of the textual message is dynamically indicated as having heightened emotional value. In one embodiment, this is indicated by depressing a key on a keyboard for a period longer than a typical debounce interval. While the key remains depressed, a plurality of text parameters for the character associated with the depressed key are accessed and one of the text parameters is chosen. Animation processing is then performed upon the textual message and the indicated portion of the textual message is visually emphasized in the animated text message.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for expressing emotion in a text message, said method comprising:
 receiving a key press signal for a key on a keyboard for a period longer than a typical debounce interval;   accessing a plurality of text parameters for a character associated with said key while said key is depressed;   selecting a text parameter of said plurality of text parameters associated with said key, wherein said text parameter corresponds to a portion of said text message to be associated with heightened emotional value, and   processing said text message, wherein said portion of said text message is visually emphasized in an animated text message based on said text parameter.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 de-emphasizing a portion of said text message which has not been indicated as being associated with heightened emotional value.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said processing further comprises using a font parameter for displaying said portion to be associated with heightened emotional value. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said processing further comprises:
 accessing a first animation parameter to simulate motion of said text message in said animated text message; and   accessing a second animation parameter to simulate motion of said portion of said text message to be associated with heightened emotional value in said animated text message.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said text parameter is stored in XML (Extensible Markup Language) format for said processing. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said text parameter is stored as an XML attribute. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said text parameter comprises an opacity value. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said text parameter comprises a font size. 
     
     
         9 . A method for expressing emotion in a text message, said method comprising:
 determining a first data entry rate;   determining a second data entry rate corresponding to a portion of said text message having heightened emotional value, and   processing said text message wherein said portion of said text message is visually emphasized in an animated text message.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said processing further comprises using a font parameter for displaying said portion of said text message having heightened emotional value. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said font parameter comprises a font size. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said font parameter comprises an opacity value. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said font parameter is stored in XML format. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said font parameter is stored as an XML attribute. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said processing further comprises:
 accessing a first animation parameter to simulate motion in said animated text message; and   accessing a second animation parameter to simulate motion of said portion having heightened emotional value in said animated text message.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 processing said text message to de-emphasize a portion of said animated text message which was entered at said first data entry rate.   
     
     
         17 . An article of manufacture including a computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a key press signal for a key on a keyboard for a period longer than a typical debounce interval;   accessing a plurality of text parameters for a character associated with said key while said key is depressed;   selecting a text parameter of said plurality of text parameters associated with said key, wherein said text parameter corresponds to a portion of said text message having heightened emotional value, and   processing said text message, wherein said portion of said text message is visually emphasized in an animated text message based on said text parameter.   
     
     
         18 . The article of manufacture of  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of text parameters comprises a font size. 
     
     
         19 . The article of manufacture of  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of text parameters comprises an opacity value. 
     
     
         20 . The article of manufacture of  claim 17 , wherein said portion of said text message having heightened emotional value is visually emphasized with increased font size.