CN110990419B

CN110990419B - Electronic dictionary device and method for searching electronic dictionary

Info

Publication number: CN110990419B
Application number: CN201910925891.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 海野俊介
Original assignee: Casio Computer Co Ltd
Current assignee: Casio Computer Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-10-02
Filing date: 2019-09-27
Publication date: 2023-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 2039-09-27
Also published as: JP7477006B2; CN110990419A; JP2020057213A; JP7259252B2; JP2023073341A

Abstract

An electronic dictionary device, a search method of the electronic dictionary, and a recording medium, the electronic dictionary device executing the following processing in response to a character string being specified by a user operation from character information displayed on a main screen: displaying a sub-screen including a 1 st area and a 2 nd area, retrieving 1 st information corresponding to the specified character string from the 1 st dictionary data, displaying the 1 st information in the 1 st area, displaying a 1 st icon operable by a user in the 2 nd area, retrieving 2 nd information corresponding to the specified character string from the 2 nd dictionary data in response to the operation of the 1 st icon by the user, and displaying the 2 nd information in the main screen.

Description

Electronic dictionary device and method for searching electronic dictionary

Technical Field

The invention relates to an electronic dictionary device, a method for searching an electronic dictionary, and a control program thereof.

Background

Portable electronic dictionary devices for inquiring the meaning or content of words and the like have been widely used. The electronic dictionary device includes dictionary databases of various dictionaries such as english-japanese dictionaries and chinese-language dictionaries, searches for entry of a dictionary corresponding to a search term such as a word input by an operation of a character input key, and displays explanatory information such as meaning associated with the searched entry (word).

In addition, an electronic dictionary device is known which has a skip search function and can search an entry of the dictionary by selecting an arbitrary character string from the explanatory information displayed in this way and using the selected character string as a new search entry.

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2006-228045

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The object of the present invention is to present information corresponding to an arbitrary character string selected as a search target from character information displayed on a screen to a user in an electronic dictionary in a more efficient manner.

Solution for solving the problem

An electronic dictionary device is characterized by comprising a control unit, wherein the control unit

In response to the specification of the character string by the user operation from the character information displayed in the main screen,

(a) Displaying a sub-picture including a 1 st area and a 2 nd area,

(b) 1 st information corresponding to the specified character string is retrieved from the 1 st dictionary data,

(c) The 1 st information is displayed in the 1 st area,

(d) A 1 st icon operable by the user is displayed in the 2 nd area,

in response to the user's operation of the 1 st icon described above,

(e) Processing for targeting the above specified character string is performed.

A method for searching an electronic dictionary is characterized in that,

control part of the electronic dictionary

(a) Displaying a sub-picture including a 1 st area and a 2 nd area,

(c) The 1 st information is displayed in the 1 st area,

(d) A 1 st icon operable by the user is displayed in the 2 nd area,

in response to the user's operation of the 1 st icon described above,

(e) Processing for targeting the above specified character string is performed.

A recording medium, characterized in that a computer-readable control program is recorded,

the control program causes a computer to execute

In response to a character string being specified by a user operation from character information displayed on the main screen, the following processing is performed:

(a) Displaying a sub-picture including a 1 st area and a 2 nd area,

(c) The 1 st information is displayed in the 1 st area,

(d) A 1 st icon operable by the user is displayed in the 2 nd area,

In response to the user's operation of the 1 st icon described above,

(e) Processing for targeting the above specified character string is performed.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view showing an external configuration of an electronic dictionary device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic circuit of the electronic dictionary device.

Fig. 3A is a diagram showing a first half of a flowchart showing information display processing of the electronic dictionary apparatus.

Fig. 3B is a diagram showing a second half of the flowchart showing the information display processing of the electronic dictionary apparatus.

Fig. 4A is a diagram showing an example of a display operation when an arbitrary character string is selected from an explanatory information display screen displayed on a main screen in accordance with information display processing of an electronic dictionary device.

Fig. 4B is a diagram showing an example of a display operation when the [ entry ] key of the menu selection area of the sub-screen is selected in accordance with the information display process of the electronic dictionary device.

Fig. 4C is a diagram showing an example of a display operation in the case where skip list information is displayed in a lump when the [ entry ] key is selected in accordance with the information display process of the electronic dictionary device.

Fig. 4D is a diagram showing an example of a display operation in the case where the skip list information is displayed in the dictionary when the entry key is selected last time in accordance with the information display process of the electronic dictionary device.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a front view showing an external configuration of an electronic dictionary device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The electronic dictionary device may be configured not only as the learning support-dedicated electronic dictionary device 10 described below, but also as a tablet PDA (personal digital assistants; personal digital assistant), PC (personal computer; personal computer), mobile phone, electronic book, portable game machine, or the like having a learning support function.

The electronic dictionary device 10 is configured to include a folding type case in which a main body case 11 and a cover case 12 can be opened and closed via a hinge portion 13. A key operation unit 14 (keyboard), a voice output unit 15 (including a speaker), and a voice input unit 16 (including a microphone), each including a home key 14a, a function designation key 14b, a character input key 14c, a decision key 14d, a return key 14e, a cursor key 14f, a Shift key 14g, and the like, are provided on the surface of the main body casing 11 after the folding casing is unfolded.

A touch panel display 17 is provided on the surface of the cover case 12. The touch panel display 17 is formed by integrating a touch position detecting device for detecting a position touched by a user with a pen, a finger, or the like with a display device, and is configured such that a transparent touch panel is superimposed on a color liquid crystal display screen with a backlight.

A touch key area 17A is provided at the right end of the touch panel display 17, and a key or function identifier ([ home page ], [ gym ], [ return ], [ function menu ]) for performing a pressing operation of a part of keys in the key operation unit 14 or a designation operation of a part of functions of the electronic dictionary device 10 by a touch operation is fixedly printed on the touch key area 17A.

The [ home ] key 14a of the key operation unit 14 is a key for causing the display unit 17 to display a home screen. Although not particularly shown, a plurality of icons registered in accordance with the initial setting or user operation of the electronic dictionary device 10 are displayed on the home screen. Each icon is a graphic, a symbol, or the like for activating a function corresponding to the identification of the icon. On the home screen, for example, an application icon for directly starting a function (application) using dictionary contents is included, and a group icon of an icon list screen for displaying a plurality of functions belonging to one category is displayed.

The function specification key 14b of the key operation unit 14 is a key for directly specifying dictionary contents ([ large dictionary ] or the like), categories of dictionary contents ([ national language ], [ classical ], [ Han day ], [ English day ] or the like), a [ content list ], or a category of tools [ learning book ], respectively, identified by the respective keys.

Further, by operating the key of the key operation unit 14 after operating the [ Shift ] key 14g, it is possible to function as a key described in the bounding box at the top of the key, not as a key described without a bounding box. For example, when the [ K ] key is operated after the [ Shift ] key 14g is operated, [ K ] becomes [? An input key, not a [ K ] input key.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic circuit of the electronic dictionary device 10.

The electronic circuit of the electronic dictionary device 10 includes a CPU21 as a computer. The CPU21 controls operations of the respective circuit units in accordance with a control program stored in advance in a storage unit 22 such as a flash ROM. The control program may be read from an external recording medium 23 such as a memory card by the recording medium reading unit 24 and stored in the storage unit 22, or may be downloaded from a Web server (in this case, a program server) 30 on the communication network N via the communication unit 25 and stored in the storage unit 22.

The CPU21 is connected to the above-described key operation unit 14, voice output unit 15, voice input unit 16, and touch panel display unit 17, in addition to the above-described storage unit 22, recording medium reading unit 24, and communication unit 25, via a data bus and a control bus.

The storage unit 22 includes a normal dictionary content data storage unit 22b, a simple dictionary content data storage unit 22c, a tool data storage unit 22d, a display data storage unit 22e, a search result storage unit 22f, a last-selected-skip-list information storage unit 22g, a last-selected-dictionary information storage unit 22h, and the like, in addition to the control program storage unit 22a storing the control program.

The control program storage unit 22a includes: a system program for managing the entire operation of the electronic dictionary device 10; a program for performing communication connection with an external electronic device via the communication unit 25; and programs and the like for executing various functions corresponding to the respective contents or tools by using various data stored in the respective storage units 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e, 22f, 22g, and 22 h.

The normal dictionary content data storage unit 22b stores normal dictionary content data (national language system) 22b1, normal dictionary content data (english language system) 22b2, and the like containing a plurality of types of dictionary contents for each type of dictionary as applications using the corresponding contents. The general dictionary content data (national language system) 22b1 includes: data such as [ national dictionary ] in which interpretation information of japanese is described in association with an entry of a kanji, [ chinese-japanese dictionary ] in which interpretation information of japanese is described in association with an entry of a kanji, [ encyclopedia ] in which interpretation information of japanese is described in association with an entry of a kanji/romaji, and [ katakana dictionary ] in which interpretation information of japanese is described in association with an entry of a kana. The general dictionary content data (english) 22b2 includes: the term "english dictionary" in which english is described in association with the term of roman alphabet "english" in which japanese is described in association with the term of roman alphabet "english" in which english is described in association with the term of kanji/kana "japanese" in which english is described in association with the term of kanji/kana.

The simple dictionary content data storage unit 22c stores simple dictionary content data (national language system) 22c1, simple dictionary content data (english language system) 22c2, and the like containing a plurality of simple dictionary contents for each dictionary type as applications using the corresponding contents. The simple dictionary content data (national language system) 22c1 includes data such as "national small dictionary ]," han ri small dictionary ], "encyclopedia small dictionary ]," katakana small dictionary ", etc., which are simplified to be only main information, excluding information in brackets included in explanatory information described in the" national dictionary ". The simple dictionary content data (english) 22c2 includes data such as "english small dictionary ]," japanese small dictionary ] which are simplified to only main information, excluding information in brackets included in explanatory information described in "english small dictionary".

The tool data storage unit 22d stores [ englist leson ] data, learning book ] data, and the like including a plurality of learning support functions for each category of tools. The [ englist onson ] data is data for an ENGLISH learning support function such as listening or speaking, and the [ learning book ] data is data when a user marks or writes comments in a dictionary.

The display data storage unit 22e stores image data in, for example, a bitmap format, which the CPU21 causes the touch panel display unit 17 to display, in response to the operation of the electronic dictionary device 10.

The search result storage unit 22f stores a search result obtained by searching for an entry corresponding to the search target character string from the normal dictionary stored in the normal dictionary content data storage unit 22 b.

The last-time-selected-skip-list-information storage unit 22g stores last-time-selected-skip-list information indicating whether the list display that is finally used when the last-time-selected-skip function is executed is a summary list display or a dictionary list display.

The last-time selection dictionary information storage unit 22h stores last-time selection dictionary information indicating which dictionary content is finally used when the last-time selection skip function is executed and displayed for each dictionary.

In the electronic dictionary device 10 thus configured, the CPU21 controls the operations of the respective circuit units in accordance with the commands described in the control program storage unit 22a, and causes software and hardware to operate in cooperation, thereby realizing the control functions described in the following operation description.

Next, the operation of the electronic dictionary device 10 configured as described above will be described.

Fig. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing a series of flows of information display processing representing the electronic dictionary apparatus.

First, when a dictionary is selected in response to a user's operation of the function specification key 14b of the key operation section 14, the CPU21 starts up a normal dictionary selected from the normal dictionary content data of the storage section 22, and displays a search term input screen (not shown) of the normal dictionary on the display screen of the display section 17. The CPU21 displays, on the search term input screen, a search term input in response to a user operation of the character input key 14c of the key operation unit 14 (step S11). Then, in response to the user's operation of the [ decision ] key 14d of the key operation unit 14, the CPU21 searches for an entry corresponding to the inputted search term from the above-mentioned selected normal dictionary, reads out the interpretation information of the searched entry, and stores it in the search result storage unit 22f of the storage unit 22. Then, the CPU21 creates image data based on the stored interpretation information and stores it in the display data storage section 22e, thereby displaying the interpretation information on the main screen of the display section 17 (step S12).

Fig. 4A shows a display example in the case where, for example, [ english-japanese dictionary ] is selected and the english word "establish" is input as a search term. The display unit 17 includes the touch key area 17A and the main screen area 17B for displaying information. The retrieved and read out interpretation information is displayed as the interpretation information display screen 171 in the main screen area 17B.

In the interpretation information display screen 171, when any character string in the displayed interpretation information is selected by a touch operation of the user U, the CPU21 discriminates the character string selected by the user U based on the touch position thereof (step S13). The character string may be selected by a so-called long press operation in which a touch is continued to one portion for a predetermined time or longer. The CPU21 determines, from the touch position, a split of character strings of characters including interpretation information corresponding to the touch position, and determines the selected character string. This can be achieved by various techniques, for example, by referring to a word dictionary not shown, or by judging from differences in character types such as kanji or hiragana, or by judging from spaces, punctuations, or the like. Further, the character string may be selected by a touch operation performed on the character string. In this case, the range of the character string can be easily determined from the start position and the end position of the touch operation.

When the character string is selected by the user U in this way, the CPU21 performs a designation display HL such as reverse display of the selected character string as a search target character string, as shown in fig. 4B. At the same time, the CPU21 writes the image data of the sub-screen into the display data storage section 22e of the storage section 22, thereby displaying the sub-screen 172 on the interpretation information display screen 171 of the main screen area 17B (step S14). The sprite 172 includes: a simple dictionary area 172A which is an area 1 for displaying the explanatory information retrieved from the simple dictionary content data storage unit 22c of the storage unit 22; and a menu selection area 172B, which is a 2 nd area where various menu icons are displayed. The menu selection area 172B can include, as menu icons, [ candidate ] icons 172B1, [ entry ] icons 172B2, [ example sentence ] icons 172B3, [ idiom ] icons 172B4, [ voice ] icons 172B5, [ mark ] icons 172B6, [ teaching material body ] icons 172B7, [ X ] (closed) icons 172B8. Regarding these menu icons, only selectable menu icons are displayed according to the situation at the time. In the example of fig. 4B, [ teaching material body ] icon 172B7 is in an inactive state, which is not selectable, and is shown in broken lines.

When the user U selects a character string, the CPU21 searches the simple dictionary corresponding to the normal dictionary selected in step S11 from the simple dictionary content storage unit 22c of the storage unit 22 for an entry corresponding to the search target character string that is the selected character string, and determines whether or not the search target character string matches the entry of the simple dictionary (step S15). That is, when a character string selection operation is performed, the CPU21 starts the search of the simple dictionary even without any other user instruction such as key operation.

If it is determined that there is a matching term (yes in step S15), the CPU21 reads out simple interpretation information of the term and stores the simple interpretation information in the search result storage 22f of the storage 22. Then, the CPU21 creates image data based on the stored simple interpretation information, and rewrites the image data stored in the display data storage unit 22e into the created image data, thereby displaying the simple interpretation information in the simple dictionary area 172A of the sub-screen 172 of the display unit 17 as shown in fig. 4B (step S16). Further, the simple interpretation information in the simple dictionary area 172A of the sub-screen 172 can be scrolled by the up-down key operation of the cursor key 14 f.

On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no matching term (no in step S15), the CPU21 rewrites the image data stored in the display data storage unit 22e with the image data of the message that there is no matching term, and thereby displays the message in the simple dictionary area 172A of the sub-screen 172 of the display unit 17 (step S17).

After the display of the simple dictionary area 172A of the sub-screen 172 in step S16 or step S17 is performed, the CPU21 determines whether or not the [ term ] icon 172B2 of the menu selection area 172B of the sub-screen 172 of the display unit 17 is selected by the touch operation of the user U (step S18). The menu icon may be selected not by a touch operation but by an operation of the left and right keys of the cursor key 14f and the [ decision ] key 14 d.

Here, if it is determined that the [ term ] icon 172B2 is selected (yes in step S18), the CPU21 determines whether or not the last selected skip list information stored in the last selected skip list information storing unit 22g of the storing unit 22 is a summary display indicating that the list display that is finally used when the last selected skip function is executed is a summary list display (step S19). Note that, as to the last-time-selected skip list information, as a default setting at the time of factory shipment of the electronic dictionary device 10, a summary display is stored in the last-time-selected skip list information storage unit 22 g.

When it is determined that the previous selection skip list information is displayed in a lump (yes in step S19), the CPU21 determines whether or not the complete matching search for all the normal dictionaries has been performed by the search target character string (step S20). The judgment may be performed from the stored content of the search result storage unit 22f of the storage unit 22, or may be performed by setting a flag in the CPU21 or the storage unit 22, setting the flag when the search is performed, and determining the state of the flag. Here, if it is determined that the complete matching search for all the normal dictionaries has been performed (yes in step S20), the CPU21 advances the process to step S22 described later.

If it is determined that the search target character string has not been used to perform the complete matching search for all the normal dictionaries (no in step S20), the CPU21 searches for an entry that completely matches the search target character string from all the dictionaries in the normal dictionary content data storage 22b in the storage 22, reads out the interpretation information of the searched entry, and stores it in the search result storage 22f in the storage 22 (step S21).

Then, the CPU21 creates image data representing the summary list of the search results based on the search results stored in the search result storage unit 22f, and stores the image data in the display data storage unit 22e, whereby the summary list display screen 173 as shown in fig. 4C is displayed in the main screen area 17B of the display unit 17 (step S22). The summary list display screen 173 includes: title bar 173A, entry list area 173B, and preview area 173C. The title bar 173A includes a [ dictionary display ] icon 173A1. The entry list area 173B is an area in which dictionary names and entries of a normal dictionary corresponding to the search target character string are displayed as a list. The preview area 173C is an area for displaying the head of the explanatory information of the entry of the selected normal dictionary among the normal dictionaries displayed in the entry list area 173B in a list manner. In the entry list area 173B, the selected normal dictionary is subjected to a designation display HL such as an inversion display. In this example, the entry list area 173B and the preview area 173C are displayed in parallel, but the display mode may be a display mode in which they are switched according to a user operation.

Next, the CPU21 determines whether or not switching of display is instructed, based on whether or not the [ dictionary display ] icon 173A1 in the summary list display screen 173 is selected by the touch operation of the user U (step S23). When it is determined that the switching of the display is instructed (yes in step S23), the CPU21 advances the process to step S27 described later.

Here, when it is determined that the switching of the display is not instructed (no in step S23), the CPU21 determines whether or not another dictionary, which is another list item of the entry list area 173B, is selected by the touch operation of the user U or the operation of the up-down key and [ decision ] key 14d of the cursor key 14f (step S24). If it is determined that the item selection is not performed (no in step S24), the CPU21 advances the process to step S26 described later.

If it is determined that another list item in the entry list area 173B is selected (yes in step S24), the CPU21 reads out the explanatory information of the selected dictionary from the search result storage 22f of the storage unit 22, creates image data to be displayed in the preview area 173C, and writes the image data in the display data storage 22e, thereby updating the display of the preview area 173C (step S25).

Further, although not particularly illustrated, when a selection operation is further performed for a selected item (dictionary) by a touch operation of the user U or an operation of the up-down key and the [ decision ] key 14d of the cursor key 14f, the CPU21 is switched to be able to view all the explanatory information through the explanatory information display screen 171 as illustrated in fig. 4A.

Then, the CPU21 determines whether to end the processing (step S26). For example, when the selected item (dictionary) is further selected and the electronic dictionary device 10 is switched to be able to view all the explanatory information, when the electronic dictionary device 10 is powered off, when the function specification key 14b of the key operation unit 14 is operated by the user, when the touch key region 17A is operated by the user, or the like, the CPU21 determines that the process is ended. If it is determined that the process has not been completed (no in step S26), the CPU21 returns the process to step S23 described above. When it is determined that the process is completed (yes in step S26), the CPU21 advances the process to step S37 described later.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S19 that the previous selected skip list information is not displayed in a lump, that is, when it is determined in step S19 that the previous selected skip list information is displayed in a dictionary (no in step S19), or when it is determined in step S23 that the display is instructed to be switched (yes in step S23), the CPU21 determines whether or not the search for one normal dictionary has been completed by the search target character string (step S27). The judgment can be performed by the state of the storage contents or the flag of the search result storage unit 22f of the storage unit 22. Here, if it is determined that the search of one normal dictionary has been performed (yes in step S27), the CPU21 advances the process to step S29 described later.

If it is determined that the search of one normal dictionary has not been performed by the search target character string (no in step S27), the CPU21 searches for an entry matching the search target character string from one normal dictionary indicated by the last-selected dictionary information stored in the last-selected dictionary information storage unit 22h of the plurality of normal dictionaries stored in the normal dictionary content data storage unit 22b of the storage unit 22, reads out explanatory information of the searched entry, and stores the same in the search result storage unit 22f of the storage unit 22 (step S28). Further, regarding the last-time selected dictionary information, as a default setting at the time of factory shipment of the electronic dictionary device 10, the dictionary of the beginning of the normal dictionary content data (national language system) 22b1 and the normal dictionary content data (english system) 22b2 ([ national language dictionary ], [ english japanese dictionary ]) is stored in the last-time selected dictionary information storage unit 22h according to the type of character string (japanese/english). In addition, the search for the one normal dictionary may be performed by various search methods such as original search, in addition to complete matching.

Then, the CPU21 creates image data representing a summary list of the search results based on the search results stored in the search result storage unit 22f, and stores the image data in the display data storage unit 22e, whereby the dictionary list display screen 174 as shown in fig. 4D is displayed in the main screen area 17B of the display unit 17 (step S29). The dictionary list display screen 174 includes: title bar 174A, entry list area 174B, and preview area 174C. The title bar 174A includes a single dictionary switching tab 174A1 and a [ summary display ] icon 174A2. The dictionary used for the search in the tag 174A1 is displayed in a designated manner HL such as by reversing. The term list area 174B is an area in which terms corresponding to the search target character string are displayed as a list. The preview area 174C is an area for displaying the beginning of the explanatory information of the selected term among the terms displayed in the term list area 173B in a list manner. In the term list area 174B, the selected term is displayed in a designated manner HL such as by inversion. In this example, the entry list region 174B and the preview region 174C are displayed in parallel, but the display format may be such that they are displayed in a switching manner according to a user operation.

Next, the CPU21 determines whether or not switching of display is instructed, based on whether or not the [ summary display ] icon 174A2 in the dictionary list display screen 174 is selected by the touch operation of the user U (step S30). When it is determined that the switching of the display is instructed (yes in step S30), the CPU21 returns the process to step S20 described above. Accordingly, the summary list display screen 173 as shown in fig. 4C can be displayed in the main screen area 17B of the display unit 17.

When it is determined that the switching of the display is not instructed (no in step S30), the CPU21 determines whether or not another entry, which is another list item in the entry list area 174B, is selected by the touch operation of the user U or the operation of the up-down key and the [ decision ] key 14d of the cursor key 14f (step S31). If it is determined that the item selection is not performed (no in step S31), the CPU21 advances the process to step S33 described later.

If it is determined that another list item of the term list area 174B is selected (yes in step S31), the CPU21 reads out the interpretation information of the selected term from the search result storage unit 22f of the storage unit 22, creates image data to be displayed in the preview area 174C, and writes it in the display data storage unit 22e, thereby updating the display of the preview area 174C (step S32).

Further, although not particularly illustrated, when a selection operation is further performed for a selected item (term) by a touch operation of the user U or an operation of the up-down key and [ decision ] key 14d of the cursor key 14f, the CPU21 is switched to be able to view all the explanatory information through the explanatory information display screen 171 as illustrated in fig. 4A.

Further, the CPU21 determines whether or not the label 174A1 for switching of the single dictionary is selected by the touch operation of the user U or the operation of the left and right keys of the cursor key 14f and the [ decision ] key 14d, that is, whether or not the CPU21 instructs switching of the dictionary for search (step S33). If it is determined that the dictionary switching is not instructed (no in step S33), the CPU21 advances the process to step S35 described later.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the dictionary switching is instructed (yes in step S33), the CPU21 searches for an entry matching the search target character string from the selected one of the plurality of normal dictionaries stored in the normal dictionary content data storage 22b of the storage unit 22, stores the search result in the search result storage 22f of the storage unit 22, and updates the display content of the dictionary list display screen 174 based on the result (step S34).

Then, the CPU21 stores information for specifying the switched dictionary as the last-time selection dictionary information in the last-time selection dictionary information storage unit 22h of the storage unit 22 (step S35).

Needless to say, in the dictionary list display screen 174 updated in this way, when a selection operation is further performed for a selected item (term), the screen is switched to be able to view all explanatory information through the explanatory information display screen 171.

The processing in step S31 and step S32 and the processing in step S33 and step S34 may be interchanged.

Then, the CPU21 determines whether to end the process (step S36). If it is determined that the process has not been completed (no in step S36), the CPU21 returns the process to step S27 described above. When it is determined that the process is completed (yes in step S36), the CPU21 advances the process to step S37 described later.

When it is determined in the above-described step S26 or the above-described step S36 that the processing is ended (yes in the step S26 or the step S36), the CPU21 saves the last-selection-skip-list information indicating the last-selection-skip-list information in the summary display or the dictionary display to the last-selection-skip-list information storage 22g of the storage section 22, depending on whether the current list display is performed in the summary list display screen 173 or the dictionary-list-by-dictionary display screen 174 (step S37). Then, the CPU21 ends the information display processing. If the dictionary is selected in response to the user's operation of the function specification key 14b of the key operation unit 14, the information display processing is performed again.

In the above steps S11 to S13, the case where any character string is set as the search target character string from the searched interpretation information has been described as an example, but the search target character string is not limited to this. Of course, the character string may be selected in a state where a content different from the retrieved interpretation information is displayed, and set as the retrieval target character string.

In addition, in the above-described step S18, when it is determined that the [ term ] icon 172B2 is not selected (no in step S18), other processing is executed. Here, other processes are briefly described.

When the [ candidate ] icon 172B1 of the menu selection area 172B of the sub-screen 172 is selected, the CPU21 changes the search target character string and searches the simple dictionary. That is, in the step S15, the simple dictionary is searched for using the character string determined to be selected by the user U in the step S13 as the 1 st candidate of the search target character string, but the selection of the [ candidate ] icon 172B1 means that the search target character string is not a character string desired by the user, and thus, the search is performed using the next candidate of the search target character string. For example, when it is determined that the selected character string is "Fuji mountain" and the [ national language small dictionary ] is searched, the 1 st candidate of the search target character string is set to "Fuji mountain" and the search is performed. Every time the candidate icon 172B1 is selected, the search is performed using the 2 nd candidate "fuji" and the 3 rd candidate "fuji" as the search strings. Therefore, the simple dictionary search result of the first candidate search target character string is displayed in the simple dictionary area 172A of the sub-screen 172, and the [ candidate ] icon 172B1 is touched, whereby the display of the simple dictionary area 172A can be switched to the simple dictionary search result of the 2 nd and 3 rd candidate search target character strings.

When the [ example sentence ] icon 172B3 of the menu selection area 172B of the sub-screen 172 is selected, the CPU21 searches for an example sentence including the search target character string from the first or last selected one of the plurality of normal dictionaries stored in the normal dictionary content data storage 22B of the storage unit 22, and displays an example sentence list screen for displaying the example sentence in a list on the main screen area 17B of the display unit 17.

Similarly, when the [ idiom ] icon 172B4 of the menu selection area 172B of the sub-screen 172 is selected, the CPU21 searches for an idiom including the search target character string from one of the plurality of normal dictionaries stored in the normal dictionary content data storage 22B of the storage unit 22, which is the first or last selected, and displays an idiom list screen for displaying the idiom in the main screen area 17B of the display unit 17.

When the [ voice ] icon 172B5 of the menu selection area 172B of the sub-screen 172 is selected, the CPU21 causes the voice output unit 15 to reproduce and output the voice linked to the selected character string included in the normal dictionary selected in step S11 after scrolling the explanatory text displayed on the explanatory information display screen 171 to the first line of the selected character string. At this time, the CPU21 superimposes and displays a menu selection screen for the voice mode on the interpretation information display screen 171. The menu selection screen includes: a [ listen ] icon for indicating reproduction, a [ record ] icon for indicating a recording, volume (-and + ] icons for indicating volume, reproduction speed (-and + ] icons for indicating reproduction speed, a [ listen compare ] icon for indicating a listen compare, and the like. The [ listen compare ] icon is initially inactive. When the [ record ] icon is selected, the CPU21 records the voice input from the voice input unit 16 at the selected time point into a voice recording area, not shown, of the storage unit 22. The recording may be performed for a predetermined recording time such as 1 minute, or the recording may be instructed by the [ decision ] key 14 d. When the recording is completed, the CPU21 sets the [ listening comparison ] icon of the menu selection screen to an active state, and when the [ listening comparison ] icon is selected, the CPU21 causes the voice output unit 15 to sequentially reproduce and output the voice linked to the selection character string and the recorded voice.

When the [ mark ] icon 172B6 of the menu selection area 172B of the sub-screen 172 is selected, the CPU21 causes the mark selection screen to be displayed superimposed on the explanatory information display screen 171 and causes the mark to be displayed superimposed on the selection character string. The mark selection screen includes, for example, icons of 3 colors of red, blue and yellow, and a red mark as the first color is marked on the selection character string. The CPU21 switches the color of the mark according to the left and right key operations of the cursor key 14 f. When an icon of any one color is selected by a touch operation, the CPU21 displays the mark-up word book screen on the main screen region 17B of the display unit 17. The mark word book screen is a screen for registering character strings marked with marks in a word book area, not shown, of the storage unit 22, and is a screen for selecting which of a predetermined number of registration areas, for example, 50 is registered. When the registration destination is selected by the touch operation, the CPU21 stores a mark of what color is marked with which character of the explanatory information of which entry of which dictionary to the word book area of the storage section 22, and returns the display of the display section 17 to the above-described explanatory information display screen 171. At this time, the selection character string is displayed in a state of being marked with the mark of the selected color. When the [ tag ] icon 172B6 is selected again in a state where the character string marked with the tag is selected, the CPU21 displays the tag deletion screen on the interpretation information display screen 171 instead of the tag selection screen, and enables tag deletion.

When the [ teaching material body ] icon 172B7 of the menu selection area 172B of the sub-screen 172 is selected, the CPU21 displays the first character in the selected character string in a scaled manner to a size almost occupying the main screen area 17B by the teaching material body font stored in the font storage unit, not shown, of the storage unit 22.

When the [ X ] (off) icon 172B8 of the menu selection area 172B of the sub-screen 172 is selected, the CPU21 ends the superimposed display of the sub-screen 172. This is the same processing as in the case where the [ return ] key 14e is operated.

When a touch operation is performed on the [ function menu ] of the touch key area 17A, the CPU21 causes the interpretation information display screen 171 to display a function menu screen for displaying a list of operable functions in an overlapping manner. The function menu screen may include, as menu icons: setting icon, guide icon, character size icon, split screen search icon, learning book icon, X (off) icon. In a case where a touch operation is performed on the [ function menu ], only the operable functions are displayed as an active state.

As described above, according to the electronic dictionary device 10 of the embodiment of the present invention, the user U can view simple detailed information displayed on the sub-screen 172 only by a touch operation, and therefore, when only a simple translation is desired to be known, the user U can know the summary of the unrecognized word by one key without executing a plurality of steps.

When further detailed search is desired, the search can be performed by an operation from the sub-screen 172. In this case, by displaying the entry retrieved from the plurality of dictionaries as a summary list on the summary list display screen 173, the meaning can be immediately known or the dictionaries can be easily compared. Further, the screen 174 can be easily switched to the dictionary list display screen, and by switching to the list of each dictionary, it is possible to cope with a case where, for example, only a specific dictionary such as a dictionary designated by a school is used, or a search method such as performing a shape search in addition to complete matching.

In the case of searching through the operation from the sub-screen 172, it is possible to determine which screen of the summary list display screen 173 and the dictionary list display screen 174 is used first, by storing information of which screen was used last in advance in the last-time-selection skip list information storage unit 22 g. That is, the list display screen appropriate for the use situation of the user is displayed without the user U performing a selection operation.

In the above embodiment, in response to the specification of the character string, simple explanatory information in which the character string is used as a term is retrieved from the simple dictionary and displayed in the simple dictionary area 172A of the sub-screen 172, and further, when the [ term ] icon 172B2 as a skip icon is operated, normal explanatory information in which the character string is used as a term is retrieved from the normal dictionary data and displayed in the main screen, but the present invention is not limited to this example.

For example, information other than the explanatory information corresponding to the entry such as an example sentence or a idiom having the specified character string as the entry may be displayed in a display area (simple dictionary area 172A) provided in the sub-screen 172.

In addition, when simple explanatory information is displayed in the display area (simple dictionary area 172A) provided on the sub-screen 172 and the example sentence icon 172B3 or the idiom icon 172B4 as a skip icon is further manipulated in this state, the example sentence or idiom related to the character string may be searched from the normal dictionary and displayed in the main screen, and the combination of the information displayed on the main screen and the information displayed in the area provided on the sub-screen 172 may be free.

That is, in response to a user's designation of a character string, some pieces of advanced display information are displayed using a part of the display area instead of overwriting the entire main screen displayed previously, and thus, a user who has seen the advanced display information judges whether further information search or display is necessary for the character string, and in the case where further information is desired to be displayed, it is sufficient to operate an icon (button indicating further information search or display) displayed together with the advanced display information so that additional information can be displayed as necessary, and thus, there is an advantage that: in the event that it is not necessary, no unnecessary search or display may be performed.

The processing methods of the electronic dictionary device 10 described in the above embodiments, that is, the information display processing methods shown in the flowcharts of fig. 3A and 3B, can be stored as computer-executable programs in a medium of an external recording device such as a memory card (ROM card, RAM card, etc.), a magnetic disk (flexible (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.), or a semiconductor memory. Further, by reading a program recorded in a medium of the external recording device to a storage device and controlling an operation using the read program, a Computer (CPU) of the electronic dictionary device having a display function can realize the control function described in the above embodiment and execute the same processing using the above-described method.

The data of the program for realizing the respective methods may be transmitted in the form of a program code over the communication network (N), or the data of the program may be introduced from a computer device (program server) connected to the communication network (N) into an electronic dictionary device having a display function and stored in a storage device, thereby realizing the control function.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made in the implementation stage without departing from the gist thereof. The above embodiments include inventions in various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed. For example, even if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in each embodiment or some constituent elements are combined in different forms, if the problem described in the section of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved and the effect described in the section of the effect of the invention can be obtained, the constituent elements deleted or combined constituent can be extracted as the invention.

For example, the following constitution can be extracted as the invention: the control unit of the electronic dictionary device according to the present embodiment, in response to a specification of a character string by a user operation from character information displayed on a main screen, (a) displays a sub-screen including a 1 st area and a 2 nd area, (b) searches 1 st information corresponding to the specified character string from 1 st dictionary data, (c) displays the 1 st information in the 1 st area, (d) displays a 1 st icon operable by the user in the 2 nd area, and in response to a user operation of the 1 st icon, (e) executes processing targeting the specified character string.

In this case, the control unit may display the sub-screen superimposed on a part of the main screen.

The control unit may be configured to display the sub-screen in response to a user operation designating a character string from among character information displayed on the main screen, (a) while maintaining a display state of a portion of the character information displayed on the main screen, the portion not overlapping the sub-screen.

The 2 nd dictionary data may be normal dictionary data in which normal interpretation information is recorded, the normal interpretation information being normal interpretation information corresponding to each of a plurality of words, the 1 st dictionary data may be simple dictionary data in which simple interpretation information is recorded, the simple interpretation information being interpretation information simplified from the normal interpretation information corresponding to each of a plurality of words, the control unit may search, as the 1 st information, the simple interpretation information recorded in the 1 st dictionary data in association with a word corresponding to the predetermined character string, and search, as the 2 nd information, the normal interpretation information recorded in the 2 nd dictionary data in association with a word corresponding to the predetermined character string.

The display device may further include a dictionary storage unit configured to store at least 1 simple dictionary data and a plurality of normal dictionary data, wherein the control unit may be configured to, in response to a character string being specified by a user operation from among character information displayed on the main screen, (b) search the simple interpretation information recorded in the 1 simple dictionary data in association with a word corresponding to the specified character string as the 1 st information, (c) display the searched 1 simple interpretation information in the 1 st area, and in response to a user operation on the 1 st icon, (e) search a plurality of normal interpretation information recorded in the plurality of normal dictionary data in association with a word corresponding to the specified character string as the 2 nd information, and (f) display the searched plurality of normal interpretation information or a plurality of words corresponding to the plurality of normal interpretation information in a list in the main screen.

In the case where a plurality of words corresponding to the plurality of pieces of normal interpretation information are displayed in a list on the main screen, the control unit may be configured to display the normal interpretation information corresponding to the specified word in response to an operation to specify any one of the words displayed in the list.

The dictionary storage unit may store a plurality of simple dictionary data, and the control unit may select 1 simple dictionary data out of the plurality of simple dictionary data stored in the dictionary storage unit as the 1 st dictionary data in response to a character string being designated by a user operation from character information displayed on the main screen.

The control unit may be configured to search for a word corresponding to the specified character string from one of the plurality of normal dictionary data stored in the dictionary storage unit in response to the user's operation on the 1 st icon, and to display the searched word or the normal interpretation information corresponding to the searched word on the main screen.

The control unit may be configured to cause the main screen to display a 2 nd icon, and switch the main screen in response to an operation of the 2 nd icon: 1 st, displaying a list of a plurality of words retrieved from one of the normal dictionary data in correspondence with the specified character string or a plurality of pieces of the normal interpretation information corresponding to the retrieved words in the main screen; and a 2 nd display unit for displaying a plurality of words retrieved from the plurality of normal dictionary data in association with the specified character string or a plurality of pieces of normal interpretation information corresponding to the plurality of words retrieved in a list on the main screen.

The control unit may be configured to search for information necessary for the 1 st display or the 2 nd display after the switching from the normal dictionary data in response to the operation of the 2 nd icon.

The control unit may search for information necessary for the 1 st display and the 2 nd display from the normal dictionary data in advance, store the information, and read out and display information corresponding to the 1 st display or the 2 nd display after switching in response to the operation of the 2 nd icon.

The control unit may store last selection information indicating which of the 1 st display and the 2 nd display is to be used as an end, and may determine which of the 1 st display and the 2 nd display is to be performed based on the stored last selection information when a user operation is performed on the 1 st icon displayed in the 2 nd region of the sub-screen.

In the display of the first aspect 1, the control unit may be configured to switch to display a plurality of words retrieved from one of the normal dictionary data or a plurality of normal explanatory information corresponding to the plurality of words in response to a user selecting one of the plurality of dictionary name label icons on the main screen on which a plurality of words retrieved from any one of the normal dictionary data or a plurality of dictionary name label icons corresponding to the plurality of normal explanatory information corresponding to the plurality of words are displayed.

The control unit may store previous-selection dictionary information indicating which one of the plurality of general dictionary data corresponds to the selected dictionary name label icon, and may display, on the main screen, a plurality of words retrieved from the plurality of general dictionary data indicated by the stored previous-selection dictionary information or a plurality of pieces of general interpretation information corresponding to the plurality of words, respectively, in response to a user's operation on the 2 nd icon.

The control unit may be configured to cancel the display of the sub-screen in response to a user operation of the 1 st icon.

The control unit may be configured to perform (d) displaying a plurality of icons including the 1 st icon, which are operable by the user, in the 2 nd area in response to a designation of a character string from character information displayed on the main screen by the user operation, and (e) selecting a process corresponding to the icon operated by the user from among the plurality of processes in response to an operation of any one of the plurality of icons by the user.

Claims

1. An electronic dictionary device, characterized in that,

the device is provided with: a display control unit that, when a search string is specified by a user operation from character information displayed on a main screen, causes a sub-screen including a 1 st area and a 2 nd area to be displayed in an overlapping manner on a part of the main screen,

The display control unit causes the 1 st information obtained by searching the 1 st dictionary data with the search string to be displayed in the 1 st area, and switches the display content of the main screen so that a list of other dictionary data including the search string among the strings collected as the entry is displayed in the 2 nd area together with the search string in the main screen.

2. The electronic dictionary apparatus according to claim 1,

when the icon is operated, the display control unit causes the main screen to display, together with the list and the search string, the 2 nd information obtained by searching the 2 nd dictionary data selected from the list with the search string.

3. An electronic dictionary device, characterized in that,

the display control unit causes 1 st information obtained by searching 1 st dictionary data with the search string to be displayed in the 1 st area, and switches display contents of the main screen so that a list of other dictionary data including the search string among strings collected as entries is displayed in the 2 nd area together with predetermined information in the main screen,

The predetermined information is the 2 nd information obtained by searching the 2 nd dictionary data selected from the list by the search string.

4. The electronic dictionary device according to claim 2 or 3,

the display control unit causes the second dictionary information selected from the list to be displayed so as to be identifiable when the second information is displayed.

5. The electronic dictionary device according to claim 1 or 3,

the 1 st dictionary data is recorded with the explanatory information so that predetermined explanatory information can be displayed in a simplified manner as the 1 st information.

6. A search assisting method for electronic dictionary execution is characterized in that,

comprising: a display control process for, when a search character string is designated by a user operation from character information displayed on a main screen, overlapping and displaying a sub-screen including a 1 st area and a 2 nd area on a part of the main screen,

the display control process causes the 1 st information obtained by searching the 1 st dictionary data with the search string to be displayed in the 1 st area, and causes an icon displayed together with the search string on the main screen to be displayed in the 2 nd area by switching the display content of the main screen so that a list of other dictionary data including the search string among the strings collected as the entry is displayed.

7. A search assisting method for electronic dictionary execution is characterized in that,

the display control processing causes 1 st information obtained by searching 1 st dictionary data with the search string to be displayed in the 1 st area, and causes an icon, which is displayed in the 2 nd area together with predetermined information, to be displayed in the main screen by switching the display content of the main screen so that a list of other dictionary data including the search string among strings collected as entries,

8. A recording medium having a computer-readable control program recorded thereon, characterized in that,

the control program causes a computer to function as display control means for, when a search string is specified by a user operation from character information displayed on a main screen, displaying a sub-screen including a 1 st area and a 2 nd area on a part of the main screen in an overlapping manner,

The display control means causes the 1 st information obtained by searching the 1 st dictionary data with the search string to be displayed in the 1 st area, and switches the display content of the main screen so that a list of other dictionary data including the search string among the strings collected as the entry is displayed in the 2 nd area together with the search string in the main screen.

9. A recording medium having a computer-readable control program recorded thereon, characterized in that,

the display control means causes 1 st information obtained by searching 1 st dictionary data with the search string to be displayed in the 1 st area, and causes an icon, which is displayed in the 2 nd area together with predetermined information, to be displayed in the main screen by switching the display content of the main screen so that a list of other dictionary data including the search string among the strings collected as the entry is displayed in the 2 nd area,