Apple patent involves user interfaces for searching, entering Animoji, Memoji

Apple has been granted a patent (number US 11609640 B2) for emoji user interfaces. It involves the company’s Animoji and Memoji features.

Animojis allow a user to choose an avatar (e.g., a puppet) to represent themselves. The Animoji can move and talk as if it were a video of the user. Animojis enable users to create personalized versions of emojis in a fun and creative way, and Memoji is the name used for Apple’s personalized “Animoji” characters that can be created and customized right within Messages by choosing from a set of inclusive and diverse characteristics to form a unique personality. 

In the patent, Apple notes that user interaction with electronic devices has increased significantly in recent years. These devices can be devices such as computers, tablet computers, televisions, multimedia devices, mobile devices, and the like.

In some circumstances, users wish to search for or enter emojis (e.g., small digital images or icons used to express an idea, emotion, etc.) into user interfaces displayed by the electronic device (e.g., word-processing user interfaces, messaging user interfaces). An electronic device can provide a user with user interfaces for performing such actions associated with emojis.

Apple’s patent involves user interfaces for searching for and/or entering emojis into a user interface. The tech giant says that enhancing these interactions improves a user’s experience with the device and decreases user interaction time, which is particularly important where input devices are battery-operated.