JP2002207555A - Character input method for portable electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform a character input by a small frequency of button pressing in a cellular phone. SOLUTION: An input mode is selected by pressing an input mode switching key 4. When a dial button 2 formed of figures of 0-9, * and # is pressed once, characters assigned thereto in each input mode are scrolled in order one by one in a display part 3. The character under display is selected by pressing the same dial button 2 once again. When '1' of the dial buttons 2 to which the 'a' column, for example, is assigned is pressed once in the state where the input mode is set to the 'kanji and hiragana syllabary' to input 'a', the characters of the 'a' column are scrolled on the display part 3 one by one in a fixed period. When the '1' of the dial buttons 2 is pressed once when 'a' is displayed in the display part 3, 'a' is selected. When a character line displayed on the display part 3 is converted to kanji, convertible kanji characters are scrolled on the display part 2 for each kind by continuously pressing twice the dial button 2. When the dial button 2 is pressed once again, the kanji is selected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for inputting characters in a portable electronic device, and more particularly to a method for inputting characters in a telephone directory or an e-mail message in a portable electronic device such as a portable telephone. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, it is an essential function of a portable telephone to be able to input characters for registering a telephone directory and creating a mail text. Generally, a character input method in a mobile phone is such that characters such as kana and alphabets are assigned to dial buttons in addition to numbers, and one button can be switched to numbers, alphabets and kana by pressing an input mode switching button. It allows you to enter numbers, kana and alphabets.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a generally used portable telephone. The mobile phone 1 has a telephone directory function, an e-mail transmission / reception function, and the like. The mobile phone 1 includes a dial button 2 composed of numbers from 0 to 9 and * # used for dialing, inputting a telephone directory, and creating an e-mail text, a number for entering characters, and a kana. , An input mode switching key 4 for switching the format of alphabets, etc., a kanji conversion button 5 used for kanji conversion, a confirm button 6 for confirming the entered characters, and for displaying the entered characters and the like. And a display unit 3.

Next, a description will be given of a character input method in a conventional portable telephone. Conventionally, in the mobile phone 1, as a method of inputting a character at the time of inputting a telephone directory or creating an e-mail text, a conventional method is to press an input mode switching key 4 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the input mode is switched between numbers, kana, and alphabets, and for each input mode, kana and alphabets are assigned to the numbers 0 to 9 and * # dial buttons 2 as shown in FIG. It was possible to input characters other than numbers. For example, assuming that it is in the “kanji hiragana input mode”, “kan” is displayed on the display unit 3. Here, when the switching key 4 is pressed, the mode is switched to “full-width kana input mode”, and the display on the display unit changes to “full-width kana”. Hereinafter, each time the switching key is pressed, the input mode is switched to “half-width kana input mode”, “full-width alphabet input mode”,..., And the display on the display unit is also switched as shown.

The characters that can be input by the dial button 2 in each input mode are as shown in FIG. 3. For example, if "U" is to be input, the input mode switching key 4 is depressed and the state of the "kanji hiragana input mode" is entered. When "1" of the dial button 2 to which the "a" line is allocated is pressed, "a" is displayed, and when the button of "1" is further pressed, the display is switched to "i" and further continuously, "a" is displayed again. Pressing the key "1" switches the display to "U".
When inputting the character "Ando" and converting it to Kanji, press the input mode switching key 4 and select "Kanji Hiragana input mode" to select the dial button 2 to which the "A" line is assigned. When "1" is pressed once, FIG.
As shown in (a), “A” is displayed on the display unit 3. Next, press "0" of dial button 2 to which "wa" line is allocated three times and input "n", and press "4" of dial button 2 to which "ta" line is allocated five times And input "to", press "*" of dial button 2 to which the symbol is assigned once and enter "@", and enter "1" of dial button 2 to which "a" line is assigned. When the user presses the key three times and inputs "u", "and" is displayed on the display unit 3 as shown in FIG. 8B.

Here, when the kanji conversion button 5 is pressed, kanji that can be converted for the input kana character "ando" is displayed on the display unit 3. In this case, as in the case of inputting the kana character or the like, every time the kanji conversion button 5 is pressed, the kanji character which can be converted is switched and displayed on the display unit 3 as shown in FIG. In the case of "Ando", pressing the kanji conversion button 5 displays "Ando", pressing the kanji conversion button 5 displays "Ando", and pressing the kanji conversion button 5 again displays "003: Ando". Is displayed. When the target kanji is displayed, the user presses the confirm button 6 to confirm the input as shown in FIG. That is, when “Ando” is input by the conventional method, the number of times the necessary button is pressed is “1” of the dial button 2 once,
Dial button 2 "0" three times, dial button 2 "4" five times, dial button 2 "*" once, dial button 2 "1" three times, Kanji conversion button 5 three
One time, the confirmation button 6 is required, and a total of 17 times are required.

[0007]

In the above-described conventional character input method, when the last character or symbol such as "G" or "$" is input, the dial button "4" or "1" is used. "Must be pressed 5 to 10 times. Also, when the number of kanji that can be converted for the input kana character is large, the number of times the button is pressed increases. Therefore, the conventional method has a problem that it takes time to input characters. In particular, when using a mail function such as an e-mail, the number of characters to be input increases, which is very troublesome. An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems of the conventional example, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to perform character input with a smaller number of button presses.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided an input mode switching key for switching an input mode, a plurality of dial buttons each assigned a plurality of characters, and In a character input method of a portable electronic device having a display unit, when one of the dial buttons is pressed once, characters assigned to the dial button are scrolled and displayed one by one on the display unit. A character input method for a portable electronic device is provided, wherein the character being displayed on the display unit is selected when the button is pressed again.

[0009]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples. First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile phone in which a first embodiment of the present invention is performed. As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile phone has a kanji conversion button (5) provided conventionally, but the other configuration is the same as that of the conventional example. The input modes switched by the input mode switching key 4 and the characters and symbols assigned to each button of the dial button 2 for each mode are as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. There is no difference from the case of. Therefore, in the description of the present embodiment, portions that are the same as those of the conventional example will be omitted as appropriate. In the present embodiment, when the dial button 2 composed of numbers from 0 to 9 and * # is pressed once, the characters allocated in each input mode are displayed one character at a time on the display unit 3 in a fixed cycle. It is scrolled and displayed. Pressing the same dial button 2 once again selects a character and stops scrolling. For example, when inputting "A", press the input mode switching key 4 and select "Kanji Hiragana input mode", and press "1" of the dial button 2 to which "A" line is assigned once. As a result, as shown in FIG.
The characters on the line are scrolled and displayed one by one in order at a fixed cycle. When "A" is displayed on the display section 3, "A" is displayed again.
By pressing "1" of the dial button 2 to which the line is assigned once, a character is selected and displayed on the display unit 3 as shown in FIG. 4B. At this time, a character input mode (input character scrolling state) is selected by pressing the dial button once together with the selected “A”, and a kanji selection mode (selected kanji) is selected by pressing the dial button twice consecutively. Scrolling) is selected,
Further, when the confirm button 6 is pressed, it is displayed that "a" being displayed is decided.

When the character "Ando" is input and converted to kanji, the input mode switching key 4 is depressed to select "Kanji Hiragana input mode" and the dial to which the "A" line is allocated Press "1" of button 2 once, and when "A" is displayed during scrolling display, press "1" of dial button 2 once again, and then dial button to which "wa" line is allocated 2 is pressed once, and when "n" is displayed during scroll display, "0" of the dial button 2 is pressed once again, and "0" of the dial button 2 to which the "ta" line is assigned is pressed. Press "4" once, and when "to" is displayed during scroll display, press "4" of dial button 2 once again, and press "*" of dial button 2 to which the symbol is assigned once. When "゛" is displayed during scroll display And pressed once again dial button 2 "*", and pressed once the "A" and "1" of the line is allocated dial button 2, scroll display in FIG. 4
When "U" is displayed through the state shown in (c), "1" of the dial button 2 is pressed once again.

After selecting the last character of the character to be converted to kanji, in this example, selecting "U", and pressing any dial button 2 twice in succession, As shown in FIG. 4 (e), the kanji that can be converted from the kana character is scrolled and displayed one by one on the display unit 3 at a constant period, and by pressing the arbitrary dial button 2 once again, the kanji such as “Ando” Is selected. Then, when the dial button is pressed once with the selected "Ando", the character input mode (input character scroll state) is selected, and when the dial button is pressed continuously twice, the kanji selection mode (selected kanji scroll) is displayed. (State) is selected, and when the confirm button 6 is pressed, it is displayed that "Ando" being displayed is confirmed.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the required number of times of pressing the button is "1" of the dial button 2 twice, "0" of the dial button 2 twice, and "4" of the dial button 2
Twice, dial button 2 "*" twice, dial button 2 "1" twice, dial button 2 for kanji conversion twice, dial button 2 for kanji determination once. It needs 13 times. Compared with the conventional case, when "Ando" is input conventionally, the number of times the button is pressed is 17 times, so that the input can be performed with four times fewer button presses. In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4 (f), when characters are continuously input after the kanji conversion, the character input is continued by pressing the dial button 2 to which the characters to be input are assigned once. (In this case, the selected kanji is determined.) If the kanji is erroneously selected and re-conversion is desired, two or more arbitrary dial buttons 2 are continuously pressed to perform re-conversion. When the character input is completed, the character input is confirmed by pressing the enter button 6. When the character input is determined by using the kana character as it is without performing the kanji conversion, the character input is determined by pressing the determination button 6 in the state shown in FIG.

[Second Embodiment] In the mobile phone of the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a mode for selecting from scrolled characters is displayed and a dial button is pressed as in the conventional example. Thus, it is possible to switch between a mode for obtaining a desired selected character.
Therefore, the mobile phone of the second embodiment is provided with a kanji conversion button (5) as in the case of the conventional example (see FIG. 7). FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a mode switched by the input mode switching key (4) in the second embodiment. When the input mode switching key (4) is pressed once, FIG.
Are sequentially displayed on the display section (3). When the "kanji hiragana input mode" is scroll-displayed on the display section (3), if the input mode switching key (4) is pressed again, this mode is selected and a state in which the kanji hiragana input can be performed.

Next, when the input mode switching key (4) is pressed again in this state, the input modes shown in FIG. 5 are sequentially scrolled again. Here, when the enter button (6) is pressed while the "scroll input mode" is displayed on the display section (3), the same scroll input mode as in the first embodiment is selected. However, the scroll display of the input mode is continued. When the input mode switching key (4) is pressed again while the "kanji hiragana input mode" is displayed on the display section (3), this mode is selected, and the kanji hiragana input is performed by the method of the first embodiment. It can be performed. When it is desired to select the input method of the conventional example, the input mode switching key (4) is pressed once to scroll the input mode shown in FIG. 5, and the "button press input mode" is displayed on the display section (3). When the enter button (6) is pressed in the displayed state, a method of switching a character displayed on the display unit by pressing a dial button in a conventional example is adopted. When the input mode switching button (4) is pressed again when a desired input mode is displayed from among the scroll-displayed input modes, the input mode is set to a state in which an input can be performed by the conventional method.

[Third Embodiment] The third embodiment of the present invention is an application of the character input method of the present invention to a watch-shaped portable telephone. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the watch-shaped mobile phone. The mobile phone 7 has functions such as a telephone directory function and e-mail transmission / reception. Also mobile phone 7
Is a select button 8 used for inputting numbers, characters, and the like when dialing, entering a telephone directory, or creating an e-mail sentence.
And a confirmation button 9 for confirming the input character;
An input mode switching key 10 for switching the format of numbers, kana, alphabets, etc. when entering characters, a call button 11 for making a call for making a call, and an end button 12 for ending the call And a display unit 13 for displaying input characters and the like.

Next, the operation of the portable telephone 7 of the present embodiment will be described. At the time of dialing, inputting a telephone directory, creating an e-mail text, and the like, the user presses the select button 8 in the input mode for numbers, kana, alphabets, and the like set by pressing the input mode switching key 10. Then, in the selected input mode, characters are scroll-displayed on the display unit 13 one by one at regular intervals. When the target character is displayed, pressing the select button 8 once selects the character and stops scrolling. For example, when inputting "a", the user presses the input mode switching key 10 and presses the dial button 8 once in the state of "kanji hiragana input mode".
Symbols such as all hiragana, cloud point, long sound, etc.
Scroll by character. By pressing the select button 8 once when "A" is displayed on the display unit 13, a character is selected. When the character "Ando" is converted to Kanji, the input mode switching key 10 is pressed, and the dial button 8 is pressed once in the state of "Kanji Hiragana input mode", and "A" is displayed during scroll display. When the display is displayed, the select button 8 is pressed once, then the select button 8 is pressed once, and when "n" is displayed during the scroll display, the select button 8 is pressed once, and the select button 8 is pressed once. Press the select button 8 once when "and" is displayed during the scroll display, press the select button 8 once, and press the select button 8 when the "゛" is displayed during the scroll display. The user presses the select button 8 once, presses the select button 8 once, and presses the select button 8 once when "U" is displayed during scroll display.

After selecting the last character of the character to be converted to kanji, in this example, selecting "U", and pressing the select button 8 twice in succession, the input kana character is The kanji that can be converted are scroll-displayed one by one on the display unit 13 at a constant cycle, and the kanji is selected by pressing the select button 8 once again. When the character input is completed, the character input is confirmed by pressing the enter button 9.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and appropriate changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment, the character or the kanji in the scroll display is selected by pressing the dial button (select button). However, without performing this, the character in the scroll display is directly determined by pressing the determination button. It may be.

[0019]

As described above, according to the character input method of the present invention, when the dial button (select button) is pressed once, selectable characters / symbols are scrolled and the dial button (select button) is pressed again. Then, since the character / symbol being displayed at that time is to be selected, the dial button (select button) is also pressed.
Pressing the key continuously will scroll the kanji that can be converted, and pressing the dial button (select button) again will select the kanji displayed at that time, so that the following effects can be enjoyed. . 1. Character input can be performed with fewer button presses. 2. All characters such as alphanumeric characters, kana, and kanji can be input by operating three buttons.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile phone to which a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a change in an input mode for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention and a conventional example.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between dial buttons and characters and symbols assigned to the buttons for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention and a conventional example.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display state of a display unit for explaining the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a change in an input mode for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mobile phone to which a third embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a conventional mobile phone.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display state of a display unit for explaining an operation of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 7 Mobile phone 2 Dial button 3, 13 Display 4, 10 Input mode switching key 5 Kanji conversion button 6, 9 Confirm button 8 Select button 11 Call button 12 End call button

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An input mode switching key for switching an input mode, at least one character selection button to which a plurality of characters / symbols are assigned, a display unit, and a character / symbol displayed on the display unit are determined. And a confirm button for performing, a character input method of a portable electronic device comprising:
When the character selection button is pressed once, the characters assigned to the character selection button are scrolled and displayed one by one on the display unit, and when the character selection button is pressed again, the character being displayed on the display unit is selected. A character input method for a portable electronic device, comprising: 2. When the character selection button is continuously pressed twice while an undecided kana is displayed on the display section,
2. The kanji that can be converted according to the undecided kana is scroll-displayed, and when the character selection button is pressed once in this state, the kanji displayed on the display unit is selected. Character input method for portable electronic devices. 3. In a state where the kanji selected by pressing the character selection button once is displayed on the display unit, when the character selection button is pressed twice consecutively, the character related to the displayed kanji is displayed. 3. The character input method for a portable electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the convertible kanji is scroll-displayed again, and pressing the character selection button once selects the kanji displayed on the display unit. 4. When the kanji selected by pressing the character selection button once is displayed on the display unit, and the enter button or the character selection button is pressed, the selected kanji is displayed. The character input method for a portable electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the character is determined. 5. A scrolling character displayed on the display unit is directly determined when a determination button is pressed in a state where scroll display is being performed on the display unit. 3. The character input method for a portable electronic device according to any one of 3. 6. When the input mode switching key is pressed once, input modes that can be selected are sequentially scrolled and displayed on the display unit, and when the input mode switching key is pressed again, the input mode is displayed on the display unit. The character input method for a portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein an input mode is selected. 7. The character input method according to claim 1, wherein each time the character selection button is pressed once, a character assigned to the character selection button is displayed on the display unit one character at a time. A character input method for a portable electronic device, wherein a character input method displayed sequentially can be switched. 8. The character input method for a portable electronic device according to claim 6, wherein switching of the character input method is performed by operating the input mode switching key and the enter button.