JP2009181305A - Information terminal with character inputting means, and its character inputting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a configuration for substantially reducing the number of times of pressing a key by a user, relating to an input key of an information terminal. <P>SOLUTION: The information terminal includes: a plurality of input keys 11 equipped with a display part 12 which indicates a character or characters to be inputted; a conversion prediction part 13 which acquires, from a storage part 14, a plurality of conversion candidates comprising a new character or characters corresponding to a character or characters inputted with one of the plurality of input keys 11; and a display control part 15 which controls so that a plurality of conversion candidates, comprising a new character or characters which have been acquired, are displayed on any one of the plurality of input keys 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an input means such as a mobile phone or a portable information device.

  As a technique related to the present invention, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. 7, the paragraph [0020] and the drawing of the same document show that the function of each key is displayed and the display contents can be freely configured by incorporating the monochrome display device 21 in the key top 22 and forming it. It is shown.

  In paragraph [0013] of Patent Document 2, when a fixed operation key display unit is used, a slide operation key display unit and a slide switch for switching display contents and switching functions are described.

  Paragraphs [0029] and [0030] of Patent Document 3 show the arrangement relationship of characters and symbols on a keyboard with the number of keys halved. A plurality of input operation methods capable of mechanical identification with respect to a plurality of characters and symbols assigned to one key can be displayed on the display. As a plurality of input operation methods to be adopted, a left character (left hand operation key) and a right character (right hand operation key) are assigned by single touch and double touch, short touch and long touch.

In paragraphs [0011] and [0012] of Patent Document 4, a key press using a specific finger or a finger part, a single key press (for example, key press), or a double key press (for example, continuously at short time intervals). Key press and voice / word recognition by light key press (or touch) or strong key press, and short-time interaction (for example, short-time key press) or long-time key press, etc. An integrated keypad for a data entry method using the system is shown.
JP 2002-354079 A JP-A-9-36935 JP 2002-297292 A JP 2006-523904 A

However, the prior art described in the above literature has room for improvement in the following points.
Even if a monochrome display device is built in the key top, the user can select only one character, and when selecting and confirming the character desired by the user, the four-way key and the confirmation key must be used. Therefore, the number of times the user presses the key cannot be reduced. Also, the total movement distance of the thumb cannot be reduced because the four-way key and the enter key must be used.

According to the present invention, a plurality of input keys including a display unit on which characters or character groups to be input are displayed;
A predictive conversion unit that acquires a plurality of conversion candidates composed of new characters or character groups corresponding to the characters or character groups determined by one of the plurality of input keys, from the storage unit;
A display control unit for controlling the plurality of conversion candidates including the acquired new character or character group to be displayed on any of the plurality of input keys;
An information terminal is provided.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a character input method for an information terminal having an input key provided with a display unit for displaying a character or character group to be input, the display control for controlling the display unit of the input key. The unit displays one character representing the assigned character or character group on the input key,
When the displayed one character is confirmed by the input key displaying one character representing the assigned character or character group, the predictive conversion unit adds a new character corresponding to the character assigned to the input key. A plurality of conversion candidates consisting of simple characters or character groups from the storage unit,
The display control unit is provided with a character input method for an information terminal that displays the obtained conversion candidates one by one on one input key as long as the number of usable input keys is limited.

  According to the present invention, the number of times the user presses the input key of the information terminal can be dramatically reduced. In addition, the total movement distance of the thumb can be drastically reduced because it is not necessary to use the four-way key and the confirmation key in the key input of the information terminal.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same components, and the description will be omitted as appropriate.

(First embodiment)
First, the structure of the information terminal of each embodiment mentioned later is demonstrated.
The information terminal according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of input keys 11 including a display unit 12 on which characters or character groups to be input are displayed, and characters or characters input by one of the plurality of input keys. The prediction conversion unit 13 that acquires a plurality of conversion candidates including new characters or character groups corresponding to the group from the storage unit 14, and the plurality of conversion candidates including the acquired new characters or character groups are any of the plurality of input keys. And a display control unit 15 that controls the display so as to be displayed.

  The character input method of the information terminal is a character input method of an information terminal having an input key 11 provided with a display unit 12 on which a character or a character group to be input is displayed. The display control unit 15 that controls 12 displays one character representing the assigned character or character group on the input key 11 and the input key 11 on which one character representing the assigned character or character group is displayed. When the displayed one character is confirmed, the predictive conversion unit 13 acquires a plurality of conversion candidates composed of new characters or character groups corresponding to the characters assigned to the input key 11 from the storage unit 14, and The display control unit 15 displays the obtained conversion candidates on one input key 11 one by one as long as the number of usable input keys 11 is limited.

A functional block of the present embodiment is shown in FIG.
The input key 11 is formed integrally with the display unit 12, and the input key 11 is used for an operation when the user edits characters.
When the user presses any input key 11, the predictive conversion unit 13 acquires a plurality of conversion candidates composed of characters or character groups that the user intends to input next from the storage unit 14 in which past conversion results are stored. To do. The display control unit 15 displays the conversion candidates on the display units 12 of the plurality of input keys 11.
Next, when the user selects any one of the conversion candidates and presses the input key 11 to confirm, the character or character group displayed on the display unit 12 of the input key 11 is displayed on the character editing display 16. . The display control unit 15 displays conversion candidates on the input key 11 and simultaneously displays all conversion candidates on the character editing display 16. With such a configuration, all conversion candidates can be confirmed even when they cannot be displayed on the display unit 12 of the input key 11.

Next, the case where this embodiment is applied to a mobile phone will be described with reference to FIGS.
The input key 11 of the mobile phone and the display unit 12 are configured as a single physical button. In addition to the input key 11, a clear key 17 is shown. The character editing display 16 is used to edit a character or character group input by the user.

  When the user activates the function of editing a character or a group of characters, the display control unit 15 switches the display unit 12 of the input key 11 to, for example, the Japanese hiragana mode, and, as shown in FIG. "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" Etc. "are displayed (S10).

  When editing the character, the user presses an input key corresponding to the first character of the word to be input (S20).

  Next, the predictive conversion unit 13 selects a new character group corresponding to the character displayed on the display unit 12 of the input key 11 that has been determined by the user, for example, “ta”, for example, “ta line” or “ta line”. A plurality of conversion candidates consisting of character groups beginning with characters are acquired from the storage unit 14 (S30).

Next, the display control unit 15 displays the conversion candidates one by one on one input key as long as the number of usable input keys 11 is limited (S40).
FIG. 3 shows an example of a state after the user presses the input key 11 corresponding to “ta”. On the display unit 12 of the input key 11, words starting from the characters of the “ta” line are displayed according to the position of the input key 11.

  The user presses the input key 11 on which his / her desired conversion candidate A is displayed to confirm (S50).

  The display control unit 15 displays the conversion candidate A on the character editing display 16 (S60), and simultaneously stores the selection of the conversion candidate A in the storage unit 14.

  Next, the predictive conversion unit 13 selects a conversion candidate including a new character or character group corresponding to the character or character group input by one of the plurality of input keys 11 from the storage unit 14 in which past conversion results are stored. A plurality are acquired (S70).

When the display control unit 15 displays a plurality of conversion candidates acquired by the predictive conversion unit 13 on the display unit 12 of the input key 11 (S80), there is no character or character group desired by the user in the conversion candidates. In this case, the content displayed on the display unit 12 of the input key 11 is deleted by pressing the clear key (S90).
The display control unit 15 returns the display unit 12 of the input key 11 to the same initial state as when the function is activated (S100).

  The user inputs a character that has not been finalized in the character group to be input, for example, the second character of the first input word (S110).

  The prediction conversion unit 13 is displayed on the display unit 12 of the input key 11 corresponding to the first character pressed by the user last time and on the display unit 12 of the input key 11 corresponding to the second character. The character or character group that the user is going to input is predicted based on the character, and the pressed character is composed of a new character or character group corresponding to the character group assigned to each input key from the storage unit 14. A plurality of conversion candidates are acquired (S120).

  Next, the display control unit 15 displays the conversion candidates on one input key 11 one by one, as long as the number of input keys 11 that can be used is limited (same as S40).

Next, the user presses the input key 11 on which his / her desired conversion candidate B is displayed to confirm (same as S50).
The display control unit 15 displays the conversion candidate B on the character editing display 16 (same as S60), and simultaneously stores in the storage unit 14 that the conversion candidate B has been selected.

When the number of conversion candidate characters exceeds the number of characters displayed on the input key 11, the following is performed.
First, the display control unit 15 displays one conversion candidate on the plurality of input keys 11 and displays the number of usable input keys 11 as much as possible. In this way, the number of items to be displayed is reduced, but the contents to be displayed can be accurately grasped.

  The display control unit 15 displays only the first specific number of characters on one input key 11, displays only the last specific number of characters on the next input key 11, and subsequent conversion candidates are also displayed on the first input key 11. Only the specific number of characters is displayed, the next specific number of characters is displayed on the next input key 11, and the number of usable input keys 11 is displayed as much as possible. In this way, only half the number of items of the input key 11 can be selected, but the overall outline can be grasped compared to the case where one item is represented by one input key 11.

  The predictive conversion unit 13 selects a conversion candidate including a new character or character group corresponding to the character or character group corresponding to the input key 11 in the descending order of the possibility of being input next. The conversion candidates are displayed from the input keys 11 as many as the number of usable input keys 11. When displayed in this way, it becomes easy for the user to select a necessary character or character group. Here, the method of arranging the conversion candidates in the order of the highest possibility of being input next is based on the past conversion results stored in the storage unit 14.

Next, the position of the input key 11 that is easy to select is as follows.
The display control unit 15 removes the input key 11 that has confirmed one of the conversion candidates, and the prediction conversion unit 13 selects a conversion candidate including a new character or character group corresponding to the character or character group corresponding to the input key 11. Then, the number of input keys 11 that can use the conversion candidates from the input keys 11 near the determined input key 11 is displayed in the descending order of the possibility of being input next. The reason for excluding the input key 11 that confirmed one of the conversion candidates is that it takes time to release the input key 11 and then push it again to select the confirmed input key 11 again. Also, the conversion candidates are displayed in the order in which they are likely to be confirmed. After pressing one of the conversion candidates, confirm that the display changes to the input keys 11 around the conversion candidates. This is because it can be selected quickly with the same finger.

The display control unit 15 sets a new character or character corresponding to the character or character group corresponding to the input key 11 except for all the input keys 11 in the lower right, with the confirmed input key as a base point. The conversion candidates are displayed from the input key 11 near the input key 11 based on the conversion candidates of the group in descending order of possibility of being confirmed next.
When input is performed with the right hand and the right thumb, even if a conversion candidate based on the input is displayed on the input key 11 after the input, the lower right side of the confirmed key is hidden and cannot be seen. Therefore, when the next input is performed quickly, all the keys at the lower right of the input key 11 have no meaning of displaying conversion candidates.

Similarly, when operating with the left hand, the following configuration may be used.
The display control unit 15 uses the input key that has been input as a base point, except for all the input keys at the lower left, the prediction conversion unit 13 is a conversion candidate consisting of a new character or character group corresponding to the display of the input key 11 The conversion candidates are displayed from the input key 11 near the input key 11 based on that in the descending order of the next possibility.

The following effects are expected from the character input means according to the present invention.
Since the user can complete the character editing without using the four-way key or the confirmation key, the total movement distance of the thumb is drastically reduced, and the fatigue of the thumb and the hand can be reduced.

  In addition, with a conventional mobile phone, a user who has operated with both hands during character editing can also operate with one hand, and the convenience of character editing especially when going out is increased.

  Further, since the user can select and confirm the conversion candidate without confirming the character editing display 16 and confirm the continuation of the editing, the frequency of alternately viewing the character editing display 16 and the input key 11 is dramatically increased. Can reduce eye fatigue.

  Further, if the predictive conversion unit 13 can continuously acquire conversion candidates desired by the user, the user can perform an operation of selecting characters or character groups one time at a time, and the burden on the user is drastically increased. It can be reduced.

  In addition, since the user directly presses the display of the conversion candidate, the selection of the conversion candidate is rarely mistaken.

  Furthermore, by displaying conversion candidates on the input device, a part of the area of the character editing display 16 that has conventionally been reserved for displaying conversion candidates is not necessary, and can be used effectively for other purposes. Become.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In the initial state of the input key display section (S210), after the user presses the display section 12 of the input key 11 corresponding to the first character to be input (S220), the timer starts counting (S230). Even if the user inputs a plurality of times for a predetermined period (S240, S260), the timer can be reset and the user can repeat the input if the certain period has not passed (S250). The display unit 12 of the input key 11 continues the initial state. After a predetermined time (S270), the display control unit 15 causes the display unit 12 of the input key 11 to display a plurality of conversion candidates acquired by the prediction conversion unit 13 from the storage unit 14 (S280) (S290).
Thereafter, when the user confirms and inputs the conversion candidate displayed on the display unit 12 of the input key 11 (S300), the display control unit displays the user-desired conversion candidate on the character editing display 16 (S310).

  In the present embodiment, character input is repeatedly input, and even if the input is incomplete as a word and a certain period passes, a conversion candidate desired by the user can be obtained on the editing display 16 by predictive conversion.

(Third embodiment)
A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In the initial state of the input key display unit (S410), the character or character group to be input by the user is repeatedly input in order from the first character by pressing the input key 11 corresponding to the character desired by the user (S420, S440). ). During this time, the timer starts counting to confirm whether it has been pressed for a long time. When the input key 11 corresponding to the last character is continuously pressed for a predetermined period (hereinafter referred to as long press) (S460), the predictive conversion unit 13 acquires conversion candidates from the storage unit 14, and the display control unit 15 Displays the conversion candidate on the input key.

The display control unit 15 maintains the initial state of the display unit 12 of the input key 11 until the user presses the input key 11 for a long time. When the display control unit 15 detects that the user presses the input key 11 for a long time, the display conversion unit 13 Acquires a plurality of conversion candidates from the storage unit 14 based on the plurality of input keys 11 previously pressed by the user (S470), and the display control unit 15 causes the display unit 12 of the input keys 11 to display the conversion candidates (S480). .
When the user selects and confirms the conversion candidate displayed on the display unit 12 of the input key 11 (S490), the display control unit 15 displays the user-desired conversion candidate on the character editing display 16 (S500).

  Also in this embodiment, even if character input is repeatedly input and the input is long-pressed in an incomplete state as a word, a user-desired conversion candidate can be obtained on the editing display by predictive conversion.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, these are illustrations of embodiment and various structures other than the above are also employable.
For example, the input key 11 is a touch panel that detects a place and an area touched by the user, and is displayed on a pseudo key (hereinafter referred to as a soft key) by the display control unit 15 as the display unit 12 of the input key 11.
The display control unit 15 displays characters on the soft key as an initial state of the display unit 12 of the input key 11.
The soft key may imitate a numeric keypad provided on a mobile phone, or may imitate a full keyboard provided on a personal computer or the like.

  The user continuously presses the soft key corresponding to the first character of the character or character group to be input, and after a predetermined period, the predictive conversion unit 13 has pressed in the past. The display control unit 15 causes the display unit 12 of the input key 11 to display the conversion candidate acquired based on the plurality of soft keys on the soft key.

  Alternatively, when the user continuously presses the soft key corresponding to the desired length of the character or character group to be input and presses and holds the last character, the prediction conversion unit 13 presses the past in the past. The display control unit 15 displays the conversion candidates on the soft keys of the display unit 12 of the input keys 11 for the conversion candidates acquired based on the plurality of soft keys.

It is a functional block diagram of the information terminal concerning the 1st Embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the display part of an input key at the time of starting of the mobile telephone concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and a character edit screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the display part of an input key at the time of the character input of the mobile telephone concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and a character edit screen. It is a figure which shows the character input flow of the information terminal concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the character input flow of the information terminal concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the character input flow of the information terminal concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the key display apparatus of a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Input key 12 Display part 13 Prediction conversion part 14 Memory | storage part 15 Display control part 16 Character edit display 17 Clear key 21 Black-and-white display apparatus 22 Key top

Claims (18)

A plurality of input keys having a display for displaying a character or a group of characters to be input;
A predictive conversion unit that acquires a plurality of conversion candidates composed of new characters or character groups corresponding to characters or character groups determined by one of the plurality of input keys from the storage unit;
A display control unit configured to control the plurality of conversion candidates including the acquired new character or character group to be displayed on any of the plurality of input keys;
Information terminal equipped with. The information terminal according to claim 1,
The predictive conversion unit obtains a plurality of conversion candidates including new characters or character groups corresponding to characters or character groups determined by one of the plurality of input keys from a storage unit in which past conversion results are stored. Information terminal. The information terminal according to claim 1 or 2,
When the number of characters of the conversion candidate exceeds the number of display characters of the input key,
The display control unit displays one conversion candidate on a plurality of input keys,
An information terminal that displays as many input keys as possible. The information terminal according to claim 1 or 2,
When the number of characters of the conversion candidate exceeds the number of display characters of the input key,
The display control unit displays only the first specific number of characters on one input key, displays only the last specific number of characters on the next input key, and the subsequent conversion candidates also include the first specific number of characters on one input key. An information terminal that displays only the last specified number of characters on the next input key and displays the number of usable input keys as much as possible. The information terminal according to claim 1 or 2,
The prediction conversion unit includes conversion candidates including new characters or character groups corresponding to the characters or character groups corresponding to the input keys, in the order of the highest possibility of being input next, near the input keys that have been input. An information terminal that displays the number of input keys that can use the conversion candidates from the input keys as much as possible. The information terminal according to claim 1 or 2,
The display control unit, except for an input key for which one of the conversion candidates is confirmed, includes a conversion candidate including a new character or character group corresponding to the character or character group corresponding to the input key. An information terminal that displays the number of input keys that can use the conversion candidate from the input keys near the input key in order of the highest possibility of being input next. The information terminal according to claim 1 or 2,
The display control unit uses the input key that has been input as a base point, except for all the input keys at the lower right, and the prediction conversion unit has a new character or character corresponding to the character or character group corresponding to the input key. An information terminal that displays the conversion candidates from the input keys near the input key as the base point in descending order of the possibility that the conversion candidates consisting of groups will be input next. The information terminal according to claim 1 or 2,
The display control unit uses the input key that has been input as a base point, except for all the input keys at the lower left, and the prediction conversion unit selects a conversion candidate consisting of a new character or character group corresponding to the display of the input key. An information terminal that displays the conversion candidates from the input keys near the input key as the base point in descending order of possibility of being input next. The information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The display control unit causes the character editing display to display the character or character group determined by one of a plurality of input keys,
An information terminal that stores the character or character group input by one of a plurality of input keys in the storage unit. The information terminal according to claim 9,
The display control unit is an information terminal that displays a plurality of acquired conversion candidates next to the confirmed character or character group on the character editing display. In the information terminal in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 10,
If there are no characters or character groups to be confirmed among the conversion candidates to be obtained from the storage unit,
By pressing the clear key, the display control unit assigns one character representing the character group to each input key,
An information terminal that is input by an input key displaying characters other than the previously determined character among the input keys. The information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
The input key is an information terminal that is a button-like key to be pressed down. The information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
The input key is an information terminal that is a touch panel type input key for detecting a point or an area. The information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
The input key is an information terminal that is a soft key for detecting a point and an area touched by a user. A character input method of an information terminal having an input key with a display unit on which characters or character groups to be input are displayed,
The display control unit for controlling the display unit of the input key displays one character representing the assigned character or character group on the input key,
When the displayed one character is confirmed by the input key displaying one character representing the assigned character or character group,
The prediction conversion unit obtains a plurality of conversion candidates including new characters or character groups corresponding to the characters assigned to the input key from the storage unit,
The display control unit is a character input method for an information terminal that causes the obtained conversion candidates to be displayed one by one on one input key as long as the number of usable input keys is limited. The character input method for an information terminal according to claim 15,
The display control unit displays the acquired conversion candidates on the display unit of the plurality of input keys and displays the characters on the character editing display. The character input method for an information terminal according to claim 15,
When a character or character group displayed on one of the plurality of input keys is confirmed, and a different character or character group is subsequently confirmed from an input key other than the input key within a specific time T. ,
The predictive conversion unit corresponds to the character assigned to the input key based on the character or character group assigned to both input keys by both confirmation by the first input key and confirmation of the second input key. A plurality of conversion candidates consisting of new characters or character groups to be acquired from a storage unit storing past conversion results,
The display control unit displays the conversion candidates one by one on one input key as long as the number of usable input keys is limited after the specific time T has elapsed since the second input key determination. ,
Furthermore, when one input key of a conversion candidate is confirmed, the character input method of the information terminal displays the conversion candidate on the character editing display. The character input method for an information terminal according to claim 15,
The display control unit displays one character representing the character group assigned to each input key on the display unit of the input key,
When a plurality of input keys are continuously pressed and the last input key is continuously pressed for a certain period, the prediction conversion unit predicts based on the character group assigned to the plurality of input keys that have already been pressed,
The prediction conversion unit obtains a plurality of conversion candidates including new characters or character groups corresponding to the characters assigned to the input key from a storage unit in which past conversion results are stored,
The display control unit displays characters or character group conversion candidates as long as the number of input keys that can be used is limited.
Next, when the character input device is pressed to input a desired conversion candidate, the conversion candidate is displayed on the character editing display.

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