Portable Touch Screen Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Using Emoji Characters

Abstract

In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method performed at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display includes simultaneously displaying a character input area operable to display text character input and emoji character input selected by a user, a keyboard display area, and a plurality of emoji category icons. In response to detecting a gesture on a respective emoji category icon, the method also includes simultaneously displaying: a first subset of emoji character keys for the respective emoji category in the keyboard display area and a plurality of subset-sequence-indicia icons for the respective emoji category. The method also includes detecting a gesture in the keyboard display area and, in response: replacing display of the first subset of emoji character keys with display of a second subset of emoji character keys for the respective emoji category, and updating the information provided by the subset-sequence-indicia icons.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a display;   one or more processors;   memory; and   one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 receiving an incoming message from a party to a user of the electronic device; 
 in response to receiving the incoming message, displaying at least part of the incoming message from the party to the user on the display; 
 detecting one or more predefined finger gestures, performed without using an emoji keyboard, that correspond to an emoji character; 
 detecting a predefined user action to initiate sending a response to the incoming message; and 
 in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the response to the incoming message, sending the response to the incoming message, wherein the response comprises the emoji character that corresponds to the one or more predefined finger gestures. 
   
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the electronic device receives an incoming message from a party to a user of the electronic device while the display is in a power-conserving state, the one or more programs further including instructions for, in response to receiving the incoming message, powering up the display. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 3 , wherein the electronic device is in a user-interface locked mode. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 3 , the one or more programs further including instructions for, in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the response to the incoming message, returning the display to the power-conserving state. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 3 , the one or more programs further including instructions for returning the display to the power-conserving state within a predetermined time period after the response to the incoming message is sent. 
     
     
         7 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a display, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 receiving an incoming message from a party to a user of the electronic device;   in response to receiving the incoming message, displaying at least part of the incoming message from the party to the user on the display;   detecting one or more predefined finger gestures, performed without using an emoji keyboard, that correspond to an emoji character;   detecting a predefined user action to initiate sending a response to the incoming message; and   in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the response to the incoming message, sending the response to the incoming message, wherein the response comprises the emoji character that corresponds to the one or more predefined finger gestures.   
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 7 , wherein the electronic device is in a user-interface locked mode. 
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 7 , wherein the electronic device receives an incoming message from a party to a user of the electronic device while the display is in a power-conserving state, the one or more programs further including instructions for, in response to receiving the incoming message, powering up the display. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , the one or more programs further including instructions for, in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the response to the incoming message, returning the display to the power-conserving state. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , the one or more programs further including instructions for returning the display to the power-conserving state within a predetermined time period after the response to the incoming message is sent. 
     
     
         12 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 at an electronic device with a display:
 receiving an incoming message from a party to a user of the electronic device while the touch screen display is in a power-conserving state; 
 in response to receiving the incoming message, displaying at least part of the incoming message from the party to the user on the touch screen display; 
 detecting one or more predefined finger gestures, performed without using an emoji keyboard, that correspond to an emoji character; 
 detecting a predefined user action to initiate sending a response to the incoming message; and 
 in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the response to the incoming message, sending the response to the incoming message, wherein the response comprises the emoji character that corresponds to the one or more predefined finger gestures. 
   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the electronic device is in a user-interface locked mode. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein the electronic device receives an incoming message from a party to a user of the electronic device while the display is in a power-conserving state, and the method further comprising, in response to receiving the incoming message, powering up the display. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , the method further comprising, in response to detecting the predefined user action to initiate sending the response to the incoming message, returning the display to the power-conserving state. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , the method further comprising returning the display to the power-conserving state within a predetermined time period after the response to the incoming message is sent.