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:
 detecting an amount of force exerted upon a key of a keyboard;   receiving a key press signal indicative of a greater amount of force than that required to register said key press to indicate 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.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said processing further comprises using a font parameter for displaying said portion of said text message in said animated text message. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said font parameter comprises a font size. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said font parameter comprises an opacity value. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said processing further comprises:
 accessing a first animation parameter to simulate a first motion of said text message in said animated text message; and   accessing a second animation parameter to simulate a second motion of said portion of said text message in said animated text message.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said first animation parameter is stored in XML (Extensible Markup Language) format. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said first animation parameter is stored as an XML attribute. 
     
     
         8 . A method for expressing emotion in a text message, said method comprising:
 receiving a text message via a pressure sensitive graphics tablet;   receiving an amount of force signal greater than that required to register an input upon said pressure sensitive graphics tablet to indicate 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 said animated text message.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said processing further comprises using a font parameter for displaying said portion of said text message in said animated text message. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said font parameter comprises a font size. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said font parameter comprises an opacity value. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said processing further comprises:
 accessing a first animation parameter to simulate a first motion of said text message in said animated text message; and   accessing a second animation parameter to simulate a second motion of said portion of said text message in said animated text message.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said first animation parameter is stored in XML format. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said first animation parameter is stored as an XML attribute. 
     
     
         15 . 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:
 detecting an amount of force exerted upon a key of a keyboard;   receiving a key press signal indicative of a greater amount of force than that required to register said key press to indicate 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.   
     
     
         16 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein said processing further comprises using a font parameter for displaying said portion of said text message in said animated text message. 
     
     
         17 . The article of manufacture of  claim 17 , wherein said font parameter comprises a font size. 
     
     
         18 . The article of manufacture of  claim 17 , wherein said font parameter comprises an opacity value. 
     
     
         19 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein said processing further comprises:
 accessing a first animation parameter to simulate a first motion of said text message in said animated text message; and   accessing a second animation parameter to simulate a second motion of said portion of said text message in said animated text message.   
     
     
         20 . The article of manufacture of  claim 15 , wherein said first animation parameter is stored in XML format.