Patent ID: 8255810

Claim:
A computer-implemented method, comprising: at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, while the portable electronic device is in a user-interface locked mode: receiving an incoming message from a party to a user of the portable electronic device while the touch screen display is in a power-conserving state; in response to receiving the incoming message: powering up the touch screen display, and 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 on the touch screen display, 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 detected on the touch screen display.