JP2002116870A - Method and device for inputting character - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a character inputting method and device capable of reducing the labor and time of an operation for inputting the characters of a portable telephone set without changing the structure of a conventional portable telephone set or various kinds of characters assigned to ten keys. SOLUTION: An input characters deciding part 21 judges whether or not any character input from an input part 1 is present. When the ten keys of the input part 1 are operated, a display character control part 23 successively displays the characters previously assigned to the keys at a display part 4 every after the lapse of the time of a timer value storage part 31. Also, when the next character input from the input part 1 is present, the input character deciding part 21 decides the character which is being displayed at the display part 4 as the input character.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character input method and an apparatus mainly used for portable telephones and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A portable telephone which has been reduced in size and weight has been developed.
You can enter the phone number or name of a particular person, or letters, numbers, or kana characters for e-mail creation and store them in internal memory. In the conventional mobile phone, the operator uses the numeric keys (6e to 6n) as shown in FIG. 2 for inputting alphabetic characters, numbers, and kana characters, and switches input modes to enable input of various characters. That is, since the types of alphabetic characters and kana characters to be input are larger than the number of numeric keys, a plurality of characters are assigned to one numeric keypad, and are associated with the number of times the operator depresses the numeric keys.
In FIG. 2, "1" key 6e, "2" key 6f,
For the "3" key 6g ...
Kana characters on each line of “KA”, “SA”,... Correspond to each other. For example, every time the operator presses the "1" key 6e corresponding to the "a" line once, the display unit 4 displays "a", "i", "u", "e", "o". , The characters are switched and displayed in the order of “A”.

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional method, the operator has to depress the numeric keypad many times to input various characters to the portable telephone. For this reason, there has been a problem that the operation for character input is troublesome. In contrast, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-1654
As described in JP-A-99-99, there is a method of configuring a plurality of contacts corresponding to individual characters on one numeric keypad, and inputting a target character only by pressing the numeric keypad once. However, the technology described in this publication requires a device having a special structure in the numeric keypad portion, and cannot be realized using the structure of a conventional mobile phone as it is.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and without changing the structure of a conventional mobile phone or various characters assigned to numeric keys, an operation for character input of the mobile phone is performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a character input method and apparatus that can reduce labor.

[0005]

According to an aspect of the present invention, a numeric keypad for inputting numbers, alphabets, and kana characters, and a character string input by the numeric keypad are displayed. A character input method for a small terminal having a display unit that performs a first step of designating one of a character input mode among a number input mode, an alphabet input mode, and a kana character input mode, and pressing the numeric keypad once. By operating, a second procedure for sequentially displaying the characters assigned to the numeric keypad in the character input mode on the display unit every time a predetermined time elapses, and the numeric keypad corresponding to the character to be input next is displayed. And determining a display character on the display unit when an operation key including the operation key is pressed as an input character.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a means for changing the predetermined time is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation key for inputting a number, an alphabetic character, and a kana character. An input unit, a display unit for displaying a character string input by the numeric keypad, and when the numeric keypad is pressed once, a character assigned to the numeric keypad in the character input mode elapses a predetermined time. Control means for sequentially displaying on the display unit every time, and determining a display character on the display unit as an input character when an operation key including the numeric keypad corresponding to a character to be input next is pressed down. Features.

[0008]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a character input device used in a mobile phone according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an input unit, 2 is a control unit, 3 is a storage unit, 4 is a display unit, and the character input device is composed of these four units.

First, details of the input unit 1 and the display unit 4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an external view of the mobile phone for explaining the input unit 1 and the display unit 4 in FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 6b denotes a "conversion" key for converting an input kana character into a kanji. Reference numerals 6c and 6d denote a "clear" key for canceling a character input by the caller and a "power" key for performing power ON / OFF operation, respectively.

Reference numerals 6e to 6n denote "1" to "0" keys, which are ten keys for inputting ten kinds of numbers 1 to 0, respectively. The "1" key 6e to "0" key 6n simultaneously correspond to the kana characters in each of the "a" to "wa" lines of the kana character. It is also assumed that the “0” key 6n includes “n”. Further, the ten keys of the “2” key 6 f to the “9” key 6 m excluding the “1” key 6 e and the “0” key 6 n are:
Three to four types of alphabets A to Z are assigned to each. 6o and 6p are a “*” key and a “#” key, respectively. The “*” symbol and the “#” symbol can be input, and at the same time, the position of the cursor below the character displayed on the display unit 4 is changed. Left and right arrow keys for shifting in the direction of the displayed arrow are also used.

In FIG. 1, a control unit 2 controls the display unit 4 to display characters input from the input unit 1 under program control. Here, reference numeral 21 denotes an input character determination unit for determining an input character, which is connected to the input unit 1. A timer control unit 22 counts a timer inside the character input device. Reference numeral 23 denotes a display character control unit that displays input characters on the display unit 4, and is connected to the display unit 4.
The input character determination unit 21, the timer control unit 22, and the display character control unit 23 are connected to each other.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a timer value storage unit in the storage unit 3. The timer value storage unit 31 stores a timer value (time interval) when the control unit 2 updates the display characters at regular time intervals. This timer value can be changed by the user. The display unit 4 is a small liquid crystal display and displays characters, symbols, and the like.

Next, an operation of inputting a kana character and converting it into a kanji in the above-described character input device will be described.
Here, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, an example of a series of operations in which an operator inputs a kana character “Umi” and converts it into a Chinese character “Umi” will be described. First, the operator sets the character input mode of the mobile phone to the kana character input mode. next,
The operator enters "U", so the "A" line ("A",
One press of the "1" key 6e, which is a numeric keypad of "i", "u", "e", "o"). At this time, the input character determination unit 21 determines whether or not a character has been input from the input unit 1 by pressing the numeric keypad (Step S).
1). When the result of the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S2,
In the case of NO, it waits for an input from the operator again.

In the display character control unit 23, the characters displayed on the display unit 4 are the first characters of each line corresponding to the "1" key 6e to the "0" key 6n, that is, "A", "KA", "SA".・
Set to "wa" (step S2). In this embodiment, since the "1" key 6e is pressed, the corresponding line is the "a" line. Therefore, the first character "A" of the "A" line is set in the display character control unit 23, and B1 in FIG.
Is displayed on the display unit 4 (step S3). Also, the timer control unit 22 resets the timer counter to 0, and starts counting with a predetermined timer value (step S4).

Next, the input character determination section 21 determines whether or not the operator has made an input from the input section 1 by pressing a numeric key (step S5). If the determination is NO, the process proceeds to step S6, and if YES, the process proceeds to step S8. The timer control unit 22 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the count was started after resetting the timer in step S4 (step S6). When the result of the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S7, and when the result of the determination is NO, the process returns to step S5 and waits for input from the ten keys.

If there is no character input from the input unit 1 by pressing the numeric keypad, the display character control unit 23 updates the display character every predetermined time (step S7). In this embodiment, the display character on the display unit 4 is "A", and the next display character is "I" as shown by B2 in FIG. And if the display character is “A” line, “A” → “I” → “U” → “E” → “O” →
"A" is repeatedly updated. When the display character is updated, the process returns to step S3 to display the character, resets the timer, and starts counting.

Next, in step S5, when there is a character input from the input unit 1 by pressing a numeric key, the input character determination unit 21 determines the character currently displayed as an input character (step S8). For example, by pressing the "7" key 6k when "U" is displayed on the screen as shown by B3 in FIG. 4, the input of "U" is determined, and the next display character is displayed. It is set to the first character "ma" of the "ma" line corresponding to the "7" key 6k. The display unit 4 at this time is displayed as B4 shown in FIG.

As described above, in this embodiment, while the character to be determined is displayed on the screen, the ten keys ("1" key 6e to "0" key 6n) corresponding to the character to be next input are pressed. By operating, the operator can input a target character string to the mobile phone (step S9).

Next, when it is desired to determine the last character of the target character string, when the character to be determined is displayed on the display unit 4, the operator presses the "#" key, which is also used as the right arrow key. Press the key 6p or the "convert" key 6b. In FIG. 2, there is a character "ma" on the cursor of the display unit 4, and when this character is switched to "mi" as shown at B5 after a certain period of time, the operator determines the character by the above method. . For example, when the "#" key 6p is pressed, it is displayed on B6 in FIG. 2, and the process proceeds to step S1 to wait for input of a new character (step S10).

On the other hand, when the "#" key 6p is not depressed and the "conversion" key 6b is depressed, a kanji conversion mode is entered (step S11). Then, in the kanji conversion mode, the operator converts kana characters to kanji (step S12). In this embodiment, the description of the method of converting kanji is omitted. At this time, the display unit 4
Is displayed as B7 in FIG. When the kanji conversion is completed and the input character is determined, the process returns to step S1 to wait for key input. Further, since the update time interval of the display characters is stored in the timer value storage unit 31, the operator can change the update time interval. As described above, when the numeric key is pressed once, the display character is updated at a fixed time interval by the control unit 2, so that the input character can be determined at the next timing of pressing the numeric key. The kana character input method has been described above.

Next, the operation of inputting English characters will be described with reference to FIG. Each of the numeric keys of the mobile phone of FIG. 2 is assigned not only a kana character but also a plurality of English characters. For example, "W""X""Y"
Four characters "Z" are assigned. Since the operations of the block diagram shown in FIG. 1 and the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 are the same, a description thereof will be omitted, and the operation will be described using character display on the display unit 4 in FIG. .

For example, when the operator wants to input the character string "IN" into the portable telephone, he first presses the "4" key 6h to which "I" is assigned once. At this time, the leading character "G" of the English character corresponding to the "4" key is displayed on the screen by step S2 in FIG. 2 (C1). Thereafter, every time a predetermined time elapses, step S
7 changes the display character from “G” to “H” (C2), “H”
→ "I" is displayed (C3).

Here, while "I" is displayed on the screen, the "6" key 6j to which the next "N" is assigned is pressed. As a result, the first character "M" of the English character corresponding to the "6" key is displayed on the screen in step S2 (C4). Similarly, after a certain time has elapsed, the display character is updated and "N" is displayed (C5).
By pressing the key 6p, the input of the character string "IN" is determined (C6). The present invention can be used as a character input device not only in a mobile phone but also in a small terminal having a limited number of operation keys.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first procedure for designating one character input mode and the operation of depressing the ten-key once to assign the character to the ten-key in the character input mode. By having a second procedure in which characters are sequentially displayed, and a third procedure in which a displayed numeric character is determined as an input character by depressing a numeric key corresponding to a character to be input next, Thus, it is possible to reduce the time and effort required for inputting characters on the mobile phone without changing the parts of the mobile phone and various characters assigned to the numeric keypad.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a character input device in a mobile phone for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a mobile phone for explaining an input unit 1 and a display unit 4 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a character input method of a mobile phone for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between a kana character displayed on a display unit 4 and a numeric keypad to be pressed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between alphabetic characters displayed on the display unit 4 and numeric keys to be pressed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Input part 2 Control part 3 Storage part 4 Display part 21 Input character determination part 22 Timer control part 23 Display character control part 31 Timer value storage part 6b "Conversion" key 6c "Clear" key 6d "Power" key 6e "1" Key 6f “2” key 6g “3” key 6h “4” key 6i “5” key 6j “6” key 6k “7” key 61 “8” key 6m “9” key 6n “0” key 6o “*” Key 6p "#" key

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) H04M 1/725

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A character input method for a small terminal having a numeric keypad for inputting numbers, alphabetic characters, and kana characters, and a display unit for displaying a character string input by the numeric keypad. Mode, a first procedure of specifying one of the character input modes of the kana character input mode, and by pressing the numeric key once, the character assigned to the numeric keypad in the character input mode is displayed for a fixed time. A second procedure for sequentially displaying the characters on the display unit every time the operation is performed; and determining a display character on the display unit when an operation key including the numeric keypad corresponding to a character to be input next is pressed down as an input character. And a third procedure. 2. The character input method according to claim 1, further comprising means for changing the predetermined time. 3. An input unit for inputting numbers, alphabetic characters, and kana characters, the input unit having an operation key for designating one character input mode among a number input mode, an alphabetic character input mode, and a kana character input mode; A display unit for displaying a character string input by the user, when the numeric keypad is pressed once, the characters assigned to the numeric keypad in the character input mode are sequentially displayed on the display unit every time a predetermined time elapses. A character input device comprising: a control unit for displaying and determining a display character on the display unit as an input character when an operation key including the numeric keypad corresponding to a character to be input next is pressed.