JP2008242817A - Character input device and character input program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a character input device, capable of raising efficiency of character input. <P>SOLUTION: When a character or character string is defined, characters or character strings following the defined character string are predicted and displayed as phrase predicted candidates. When an undefined character or character string is input during displaying the phrase predicted candidates, the phrase predicted candidates are narrowed by the input undefined character or character string and displayed. When predicted conversion candidates are also selected based on the undefined character or character string, the phrase predicted candidates are displayed preferentially to the predicted conversion candidates. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a character input device and a character input program.

  When performing character input using an information terminal, predictive conversion is known as a character input assist function. Predictive conversion refers to a dictionary for predictive conversion in which a phrase and its reading are registered based on an unconfirmed character string input by the user, and a character or character string that the user is supposed to confirm input. This is a function of predicting and presenting it to the user as a character or character string as an input confirmation candidate.

The prediction conversion candidate is displayed in the conversion candidate display area (shown in FIG. 1) of the display screen when even one character to be converted is input.

  FIG. 1 is a screen transition diagram when performing character input using predictive conversion. The character input screen includes a character string input area 10 and a conversion candidate display area 11. In the character string input area 10, a confirmed character or character string and an unconfirmed character or character string are displayed. In the conversion candidate display area 11, conversion candidates corresponding to unconfirmed characters or character strings displayed in the character string input area 10 are displayed. For example, when a hiragana character “ki”, which is a character to be converted, is input from the operation unit, an unconfirmed character “ki” is displayed in the character string input area 10 as indicated by P1 in FIG. At this time, the conversion candidate display area 11 displays conversion candidates that start reading “ki”, such as “today”, “yesterday”, and “listen”.

  The list of conversion candidates displayed in the conversion candidate display area 11 is determined so that characters or character strings that are likely to be input are displayed at positions where input is not time-consuming. When one of the conversion candidates displayed in the conversion candidate display area 11 is selected by a user operation (P2), the selected character or character string is confirmed (P4). Further, it is possible to continuously receive input of characters without receiving a selection operation of the displayed conversion candidates. For example, there is a case (P3) in which a character to be converted “yo” is input after “ki”. At this time, the conversion candidate displayed in the conversion candidate display area 11 is a conversion candidate whose reading starts from “Kyo”, such as “today” or “last year”.

  In addition, as a text input assist function other than the predictive conversion function, there is a phrase prediction function for predicting and searching for words or phrases that appear after a character or character string that has already been confirmed, a utilization ending, or an attached word (hereinafter referred to as a phrase). There is a mobile terminal. For example, when the character string “Today” is selected / confirmed as shown in P2 of FIG. 1, the phrases “what”, “to play”,.. Is displayed in the conversion candidate display area 11 (P4). Then, when a phrase prediction candidate is presented (P4) and a hiragana character “MA” that is a conversion target character is input, prediction conversion is performed, and a conversion candidate whose reading begins with “MA” is displayed. (P5). As described above, when a character input operation is received while a phrase prediction candidate is displayed, the phrase prediction candidate is not utilized and a conversion candidate completely different from the phrase prediction candidate is often displayed.

  Since the input candidates presented to the user in phrase prediction are characters or character strings that are strongly related to the already determined characters or character strings, the probability (hit rate) that the user is trying to input next is high. . Therefore, a large number of words are registered in a dictionary used for phrase prediction, and the number of phrases selected as phrase prediction candidates is increased. For this reason, since a large number of phrase prediction candidates are displayed, the user does not notice (or at the moment when he / she notices) even though the next phrase to be input is displayed as a phrase prediction candidate. ), Character input operation may be performed subsequently. In such a case, if only the prediction conversion candidate is used without using the phrase prediction candidate, it takes time to input a character.

Therefore, when a character input operation is performed while displaying the phrase prediction candidate, both the phrase prediction candidate and the prediction conversion candidate selected based on the input character, A text creation device that determines conversion candidates to be output has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-234742 A

  However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, not all of the phrase prediction candidates are displayed in such a case, and the prediction conversion candidate and the phrase prediction candidate that have undergone prediction conversion based on the input characters match. Just showing. For this reason, it takes time to input a phrase that is not selected by predictive conversion even if it is a phrase prediction candidate for a confirmed character or character string. For example, when “Dinner together” is confirmed, “Eat”, “Eat”, “Take”, and “Buy” are displayed as prediction conversion candidates (see FIG. 8 of Patent Document 1). This is because it is determined that “eat”, “eat”, “take”, and “buy” are likely to be used after “everyone has dinner”. However, when "ta" is entered, "eating" is also the word that has the reading "ta" at the head, but only "eating" that matches the prediction conversion candidate and the phrase prediction candidate is displayed. (See FIG. 9 of Patent Document 1). This is because the word “eating” is input less frequently than other words having the head reading “ta” and is not selected by predictive conversion. If the word “eating” is the character that should be entered and “eating” is displayed as a predictive conversion candidate, and the word “ta” is entered, the candidate “eating” Do not show. As described above, in Patent Document 1, there is a problem in that a phrase prediction candidate having a high hit rate is not effectively used and the efficiency of character input may not be improved.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a character input device and a character input program capable of increasing the efficiency of character input by narrowing down the candidates for phrase prediction by character input. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above object, a character input device according to the present invention includes an operation unit having at least a character input key and a confirmation key, a character or character string input by operating the operation unit, and the character or character. Phrase prediction dictionary in which a display unit that displays column conversion candidates, a confirmed character or character string that is confirmed by the operation of the operation unit, and a character or character string that follows the confirmed character or character string is stored in association with each other When the fixed character or character string is determined, a phrase prediction unit that extracts a character or character string that is likely to be input subsequent to the fixed character or character string with reference to the phrase prediction dictionary When the conversion candidate extracted by the phrase prediction unit is displayed on the display unit, a new character or character string is input by the operation of the operation unit. A character conversion control unit that preferentially displays conversion candidates including the newly input character or character string as a reading among conversion candidates displayed on the display unit. .

  The character input program of the present invention includes a function for converting characters by referring to the conversion dictionary, a display function for displaying converted characters in the input area of the display unit, and displaying conversion candidates in the conversion candidate display area, and an operation unit. When a character or character string in the input area or conversion candidate display area is confirmed, a phrase prediction function that refers to a phrase prediction dictionary and extracts a character or character string candidate that follows the confirmed character or character string; and When the candidate extracted by the phrase prediction function is displayed in the conversion candidate display area and the next conversion target character or character string is input from the operation unit, the conversion among the extracted candidates And a character conversion control function that preferentially displays candidates having readings that coincide with the target character or character string.

  According to the information terminal of the present invention, the efficiency of character input can be increased by narrowing down the phrase prediction candidates by character input.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the appearance of a mobile phone as an embodiment of the character input device of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile phone 51 is provided with a display screen 52 and a key 53. The display screen 52 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and displays images and characters according to the operation status of the mobile phone 51. A key 53 is a determination key 54 used for determining an operation or determining a candidate for character conversion, a direction key 55 used for moving a cursor or changing a screen, and a function key to which a unique function is assigned for each application program. 56, a character input key 57 used for character input is provided.

  When one of the character input keys 57 is pressed while the display screen 52 is displaying a screen that accepts character input (for example, a screen for creating a mail document), the character assigned to that key is displayed. It is displayed on the screen 52. The character types input by the character input key 57 include hiragana, katakana, alphabet, numbers, and symbols.

  A description will be given using a kana input method as a character input method of the mobile phone 1. The Kana input method is widely used for registering facsimile phonebooks and recording program titles of recording devices in addition to mobile phones. Note that the present invention can also be applied to information terminals using other input methods such as a pager input method and keyboard input.

  In the Kana input method, a plurality of hiragana characters, a plurality of katakana characters, a plurality of alphabets (not shown), numbers, etc. are assigned to each of the character input keys 57. When the function key 56 is pressed, an input is made. The character type (mode) to be switched is switched. For example, the “2” key is assigned hiragana in the “ka” line, katakana in the “ka” line, and alphabets a, b, and c. Each time the function key 56 is pressed, the hiragana input mode is selected. The input mode is switched from the Katakana input mode to the Katakana input mode and from the Katakana input mode to the alphabet input mode.

  When the character type is set to the hiragana mode, a single character input key 57 can be used to input a plurality of types of hiragana. The character to be input is determined by the number of times the character input key 57 is continuously pressed. For example, when a key “2” that is one of the character input keys 57 is pressed once, “ka” is input. When the key “2” is pressed twice in succession, the character “ki” is input. The input hiragana is displayed on the display screen 52 in an unconfirmed character string state.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the mobile phone 51 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the mobile phone 51 includes a control unit 101. The control unit 101 controls the entire mobile phone 51. In addition, an audio signal processing unit 102, a transmission / reception unit 103, an operation unit 104, a display unit 105, a storage unit 106, and a character conversion control unit 107 are connected to the control unit 101. Further, the character conversion control unit 107 is connected to a phrase prediction unit 108, a prediction conversion unit 109, and a kana-kanji conversion unit 110. The character conversion control unit 107, the phrase prediction unit 108, the prediction conversion unit 109, and the kana-kanji conversion unit 110 are configured by hardware or a program.

  The audio signal processing unit 102 inputs and outputs audio signals using a speaker for calling, a microphone, a guidance speaker, and the like. The transmission / reception unit 103 includes an antenna that communicates with a base station (not shown), and transmits and receives audio signals and data signals. The operation unit 104 includes a key 53 and the like, and is used to input a user instruction to the control unit 101. The display unit 105 includes a display screen 52 and the like, and displays an operation status of the mobile phone 51, operation guidance, input contents, and the like. The storage unit 106 stores user data, various setting information such as a telephone directory, application programs, and the like, a phrase prediction dictionary 106a, a prediction conversion dictionary 106b, and a kana-kanji conversion dictionary 106c used for character conversion. .

  The character conversion control unit 107 rearranges the unconfirmed characters or character string conversion candidates input using the operation unit 104 according to a predetermined rule, and outputs them to the display unit 105. Conversion candidates include phrase prediction candidates, prediction conversion candidates, and kana-kanji conversion candidates. Phrase prediction candidates are selected by the phrase prediction unit 108, prediction conversion candidates are selected by the prediction conversion unit 109, and kana-kanji conversion candidates are selected by the kana-kanji conversion unit 110.

  The kana-kanji conversion is a conversion function for converting unconfirmed characters or character strings input using the operation unit 104 into kanji (or numbers, alphabets, etc.). The kana-kanji conversion unit 110 receives the input unconfirmed character or character string through the control unit 101 and the character conversion control unit 107, and refers to the kana-kanji conversion dictionary 106c from the received unconfirmed character or character string. Select conversion candidates. For example, when the input character “E” is converted to Kana-Kanji, Kana-Kanji conversion candidates such as “Picture”,... “E”,. The kana-kanji candidate is displayed in the kana-kanji candidate presentation window 161 as shown in FIG. The kana-kanji candidate presentation window 161 is displayed on the display screen 52 when the function key 56 is pressed. In the kana-kanji candidate presentation window 161, all candidates retrieved from the kana-kanji conversion dictionary 106c are displayed. However, kana-kanji candidates that are frequently used may be displayed in the conversion candidate display area 11 as predictive conversion candidates.

  The predictive conversion unit 109 searches the predictive conversion dictionary 106b for words having unconfirmed characters or character strings input using the operation unit 104 at the beginning of reading. In the predictive conversion dictionary 106b, converted characters or character strings and their readings are registered as shown in FIG. For example, when the predictive conversion unit 109 receives the input character “ki” to be converted next, the predictive conversion dictionary 106 b searches for a word whose reading matches the “ki” in front. However, there are a large number of predictive conversion candidates in which “reading” of the first character matches. Therefore, for each word registered in the predictive conversion dictionary 106b, information such as the input frequency and input time of the word is also registered. By using this information, it is possible to determine a plurality of predictive conversion candidates that have a high input frequency or that have been input most recently. Since it is considered that there is a high possibility that a predictive conversion candidate that coincides with a frequently input word or phrase that has been input most recently, such a predictive conversion candidate is preferentially displayed.

  Here, “preferential display” is to display at a position where the number of input operations for selecting a conversion candidate is small. For example, prediction conversion candidates such as “today” and “listen” are presented in the conversion candidate display area 11 of the display screen of the mobile phone 51 shown in P1 of FIG. In order to input “today” in a state where the screen of P1 is displayed, the cursor is moved by pressing the direction key 55 once, and the cursor is moved once, and the key 54 is pressed once in total. is required. On the other hand, in order to input “listen”, a total of four key pressing operations are required in which the direction key 55 is pressed three times to move the cursor, and the enter key 54 is pressed once. Thus, it can be said that the number of operations for inputting “today” is smaller than the number of operations for inputting “listen”, and is displayed preferentially.

  The phrase prediction unit 108 searches the phrase prediction dictionary 106 a for a phrase that follows the character or character string that has been input and confirmed using the operation unit 104. The phrase prediction dictionary 106a stores the confirmed characters or character strings and their readings, and the information of the subsequent phrases characters or character strings and their readings as shown in FIG. In the phrase prediction dictionary 106a, phrases that are expected to be used when a general user creates a sentence are registered in advance. In addition to this, the cellular phone 51 has a function in which the character conversion control unit 107 acquires the phrase used when the user inputs characters and automatically registers it in the phrase prediction dictionary 106a. In this way, a large number of phrases are registered in the phrase prediction dictionary 106a in order to increase the hit rate of phrase prediction candidates.

  As described above, a large number of phrases are registered in the phrase prediction dictionary 106a, so that many phrase prediction candidates may be detected from the phrase prediction dictionary 106a. Therefore, the phrase prediction dictionary 106a can also store information such as phrase input frequency and input time. By using this information, it is possible to easily determine a frequently input phrase or a recently input phrase among a plurality of phrase prediction candidates. There is a high possibility that a phrase prediction candidate with a high input frequency or a phrase prediction candidate that has been input most recently will be selected by the user. Therefore, such phrase prediction candidates are preferentially displayed and presented to the user.

  Instead of using two types of dictionaries, the phrase prediction dictionary 106a and the prediction conversion dictionary 106b, a single dictionary may serve as these two types of dictionaries. For example, the “reading” item in the prediction conversion dictionary 106b is read from the “determined character string reading” item in the phrase prediction dictionary 106a, and the “converted character string” in the prediction conversion dictionary 106b is read as the “determined character” in the phrase prediction dictionary 106a. If it is read from the “column”, it can be composed of one dictionary.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the character conversion control unit 107 in the case where the phrase prediction candidates are displayed based on the input confirmed character or character string, and further the character to be converted is input at this time. FIG. 8 is a screen transition diagram showing an example in which conversion candidates are displayed on the display screen 52. The character conversion candidate display operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 3.

  First, when a character input operation is performed by the operation unit 104, the control unit 101 determines an input character using a user operation and input character comparison table (not shown). The determined input character is displayed in the character string input area 10 of the display screen 52. In addition, the input character or character string is sent to the character conversion control unit 107.

  The character conversion control unit 107 receives the character or character string sent from the control unit 101 (S201), and if the character or character string is an undetermined character, sends the character to the prediction conversion unit 109. At this time, if the character or character string that has been input most recently is also in an undetermined state, it is sent to the prediction conversion unit 109 as an undetermined character or character string together with the character or character string.

  The predictive conversion unit 109 searches for a reading item in the predictive conversion dictionary 106b using unconfirmed characters or character strings, and selects a word that matches forward (S202). At this time, when characters are input by the Kana input method, for example, in order to input the character “O”, it is necessary to press the character input key 57 in the “A” line five times in succession. take time. In order to save the input effort, the final character of the undetermined character string may be selected even if it corresponds to the character in the input process. For example, when “Aka” is input, “Aki”, “Aku”, “Aki” is entered when the character input key 57 (“K” line) of the last character “K” of the unconfirmed character string is pressed. , It is determined that the character string “Ako” may be input. Therefore, at the time when “Aka” is entered, the prediction dictionary 106 b is also searched for a phrase having a reading that directly matches “Aki”, “Aku”, “Ake”, and “Ako”.

  As a result of the search, if there is a predictive conversion candidate (Yes in S203), the predictive conversion unit 109 arranges the predictive conversion candidates so that those with a high past input frequency or those with a close input time point are displayed preferentially, It is sent to the character conversion control unit 107. The character conversion control unit 107 displays the predicted conversion candidates in the conversion candidate display area 11 as shown in P251 of FIG. 8 (S204). If the conversion candidates cannot be displayed collectively in the conversion candidate display area 11, the conversion candidate display area 11 can be scrolled by operating the direction key 55 to change the display range.

  Next, as shown in P252 of FIG. 8, one of the prediction conversion candidates displayed in the conversion candidate display area 11 is selected with the cursor by the direction key 55, and when the determination key 54 is pressed, the selected character or The character string is confirmed. The fixed character or character string is not only determined from the predicted conversion candidates, but may be determined by kana-kanji conversion candidates or no conversion.

  Further, it is possible to continue inputting the unconfirmed character string without confirming the character or the character string (No in S205). P255 in FIG. 8 shows a screen when the unconfirmed character string “Kyo” is input without confirming the unconfirmed character “ki”. At this time, in the conversion candidate display area 11, a predicted conversion candidate that matches forward with “Kyo” is displayed.

  When the selected character or character string is confirmed (Yes in S205), the phrase prediction unit 108 searches the phrase prediction dictionary 106a for a phrase prediction candidate based on the confirmed character or character string (S206). If a phrase prediction candidate based on a confirmed character or character string is not detected (No in S207), the phrase prediction unit 108 sends information that there is no phrase prediction candidate to the character conversion control unit 107. At this time, since the character conversion control unit 107 cannot display the phrase prediction candidates, it waits for a character input from the user (S201).

  If the phrase prediction unit 108 selects a phrase prediction candidate (Yes in S207), the phrase prediction unit 108 rearranges the phrase prediction candidates so that those with a high past input frequency or those with a close input time point are displayed preferentially, It is sent to the character conversion control unit 107. The character conversion control unit 107 displays the phrase prediction candidates in the conversion candidate display area 11 as shown in P253 of FIG. 8 (S208).

  If one of the phrase prediction candidates is selected by the operation unit 104 in a state where the phrase prediction candidate is displayed in the conversion candidate display area 11 as in P253 in FIG. 8 (Yes in S209), the phrase prediction candidate is fixed. To do. The character conversion control unit 107 sends the confirmed character or character string to the phrase prediction unit 108. Then, the phrase prediction unit 108 searches the phrase prediction dictionary 106a based on the received confirmed character or character string, and further searches for phrase prediction candidates associated with the word (S206).

  If the phrase prediction candidate displayed in the conversion candidate display area 11 is not selected (No in S209) and character input is received from the operation unit 104 (Yes in S210), the phrase prediction unit 108 inputs the phrase prediction candidate. Narrow down to those that have a reading that matches the character in front (S211). For example, when a character “MA” is received by the operation unit 104 while a screen like P253 in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display screen 52, the character conversion control unit 107 receives the input character “MA”. Is sent to the phrase prediction unit 108. Then, the phrase predicting unit 108 extracts a candidate having a reading that matches the front of “ma” from the phrase prediction candidates that can be selected from the conversion candidate display area 11 of P253 in FIG. However, not only candidates with readings that match the word “ma”, but also candidates that have readings that match the word “ma” (“mi”, “mu”, “me”, “mo”). indicate. This is because the input character “MA” is a process of inputting the next character “MI” or “MU”.

  When there is a phrase prediction candidate narrowed down by the input character (Yes in S212), the phrase prediction unit 108 sends the phrase prediction candidate to the character conversion control unit 107. Then, the character conversion control unit 107 displays the phrase prediction candidate in the conversion candidate display area 11 of the display screen 52. In this way, the phrase prediction candidates that can be selected from the conversion candidate display area 11 of P253 in FIG. 8 are input to the phrase “up to” with the reading of the first line as the character input “ma”. The phrase prediction candidates after being narrowed down to “waiting”, “seen”, etc. are displayed in the conversion candidate display area 11 as shown in P254 of FIG. “M” and “Unreasonable” are not displayed on the first page of the conversion candidate display area 11 of P253 in FIG. 8, but are displayed when the conversion candidate display area 11 is scrolled. In P254 of FIG. 8, “seen”, “mo”, and “unreasonable” are displayed as conversion candidates in addition to “until” and “waiting”. That is, the character conversion control unit 107 also has a function of displaying a candidate having a reading that matches the character or character string in which the character to be changed or the last character of the character string is replaced with another character among the selected candidates.

  When there is no phrase prediction candidate narrowed down by the input character (No in S212), the process returns to step S202, and a prediction conversion candidate having a prefix matching reading with the character or character string input after the input is confirmed is searched from the prediction conversion dictionary 106b. .

  Thus, by displaying the phrase prediction candidates narrowed down by the input characters as the character conversion candidates, the character conversion candidates having a high hit rate can be preferentially displayed. However, when inputting a character or character string after the phrase prediction candidate is displayed, not only a predicted phrase candidate narrowed down by the input unconfirmed character or character string but also a prediction conversion candidate selected based on the unconfirmed character or character string Both can be presented.

  As a method of displaying both of these conversion candidates, the phrase prediction candidate is preferentially displayed and then the prediction conversion candidate is presented, or when the number of input characters is small, the phrase prediction candidate is preferentially displayed. When the number of input characters exceeds a certain value, there is a method of displaying a predictive conversion candidate with priority.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the phrase prediction candidates are displayed preferentially and then the prediction conversion candidates are displayed. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which a phrase prediction candidate is preferentially displayed until two characters are input, and when three or more characters are input, a prediction conversion candidate is preferentially displayed. In FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the phrase prediction candidates are shown surrounded by broken lines for explanation.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the phrase prediction candidates are displayed with priority, the character conversion control unit 107 displays the phrase prediction candidates with priority regardless of how many characters to be converted are input. For example, P301 to P304 in FIG. 9 are screen transition diagrams when characters or character strings of “Machi”, “Machi”, “Machia”, “Machiai” are input after the “usual” confirmed character string. It is.

As indicated by the broken lines of P301 to P303, the phrase prediction candidates are preferentially displayed regardless of the number of input characters. However, if the phrase prediction candidate is not searched as shown in P304, the prediction conversion candidate is displayed at the top.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, when the conversion candidate to be preferentially displayed is switched when three or more characters are input, when the next conversion target character “MA” is input (FIG. 10). P351) and at the time when the character string “Machi” is input (P352 in FIG. 10), since the character conversion control unit 107 preferentially displays the phrase prediction candidates, the same screen display as P301 and P302 in FIG. 9 is displayed. . However, when the character string “Machia” is input, the character conversion control unit 1
07 preferentially displays predictive conversion candidates as in P353 of FIG.

  As described above, whether the character conversion control unit 107 preferentially displays the phrase prediction or the prediction conversion preferentially, and whether to switch the conversion method preferentially displayed according to the number of input characters. You may provide the setting screen which can select a setting from a screen.

  FIG. 11 is an example of a setting screen related to input prediction. An input prediction setting item is displayed as one of the setting items on the character input setting screen P401. When the screen of P401 is displayed, when the cursor is moved to the input prediction setting item by the direction key 55 and the determination key 54 is pressed, the input prediction setting screen P402 is displayed. In the input prediction setting, ON / OFF of the prediction conversion function and the phrase prediction function (P403, P404), which of the phrase prediction and the prediction conversion is preferentially displayed (P405), and conversion candidates to be preferentially displayed are set. The number of input characters in the conversion target character string (P406), which is a threshold value to be switched, in the phrase predictive conversion, pre-registered words or phrases are preferentially presented, or words or phrases registered by learning according to character or character string input It is possible to set whether to preferentially present (P407).

  The display color of the character conversion candidate selected by the phrase prediction unit 108 may be different from the display color of the character conversion candidate selected by the prediction conversion unit 109. For example, the characters or character strings of the phrase prediction candidates are displayed in red in the conversion candidate display area 11, and the characters or character strings of the prediction conversion candidates are displayed in blue. Further, when a character conversion candidate display color is changed and displayed in the conversion candidate display area 11, when a cursor is positioned on one of the phrase prediction candidates, a specific key (for example, the function key 56) is pressed. The cursor is moved to the head position of the prediction conversion candidate, and conversely, if a specific key is pressed while the cursor is positioned on one of the prediction conversion candidates, the cursor is moved to the head position of the phrase prediction candidate. The cursor may be moved.

  As described above, when the cursor can be moved to the start position of the conversion candidate having a different character display color by pressing a specific key, the number of input operations can be reduced. For example, in a state where the screen of P351 in FIG. 10 is displayed on the display screen 52, if the user is going to input the prediction conversion candidate “Machida”, the direction key 55 needs to be pressed nine times. However, since the cursor moves from the position of the phrase prediction candidate to the head position of the prediction conversion candidate by pressing the function key 56, the cursor can be set to “Machida” by pressing the function key once. Thereby, when the phrase prediction candidate is preferentially displayed, the number of operations required when selecting the prediction conversion candidate can be reduced.

  By adopting such a configuration of the embodiment, when receiving an input of a character or a character string to be converted at the time of phrase prediction candidate presentation, it is possible to narrow down and display phrase prediction candidates with a high hit rate. Thereby, the efficiency of character input can be increased.

  In addition, it is not limited to the said embodiment, You may change suitably in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

The figure which shows the example of prediction conversion. 1 is an external view of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the mobile telephone which concerns on embodiment. The example of the screen which displays the kana-kanji conversion candidate of the mobile telephone which concerns on embodiment. The example of the prediction conversion dictionary of the mobile telephone which concerns on embodiment. The example of the phrase prediction dictionary of the mobile phone which concerns on embodiment. The flowchart which shows operation | movement until the conversion candidate is displayed after the character conversion control part of the mobile telephone concerning an embodiment receives the character for conversion. The example which the mobile telephone which concerns on embodiment presents a phrase prediction candidate preferentially. The example which the mobile telephone which concerns on embodiment displays both a phrase prediction candidate and a prediction conversion candidate. An example in which the mobile phone according to the embodiment presents a phrase prediction candidate preferentially until a two-character conversion character string target character input, and preferentially presents a prediction conversion candidate from a three-character input. The example of the input prediction setting screen of the mobile phone which concerns on embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 character string input area, 11 conversion candidate display area, 51 mobile phone, 52 display screen, 53 key, 54 enter key, 55 direction key, 56 function key, 57 character input key, 101 control unit, 102 audio signal processing unit, 103 transmission / reception unit, 104 operation unit, 105 display unit, 106 storage unit, 106a phrase prediction dictionary, 106b prediction conversion, 106c kana-kanji conversion dictionary, 107 character conversion control unit, 108 phrase prediction unit, 109 prediction conversion unit, 110 kana-kanji conversion dictionary 161 Kana-kanji candidate presentation window

Claims (9)

An operation unit having at least a character input key and a confirmation key;
A display unit that displays characters or character strings input by operating the operation unit and conversion candidates of the characters or character strings;
A confirmed character or character string confirmed by the operation of the operation unit, and a phrase prediction dictionary in which a character or character string subsequent to the confirmed character or character string is associated and stored;
When the fixed character or character string is determined, a phrase prediction unit that extracts a character or character string that is likely to be input subsequent to the fixed character or character string with reference to the phrase prediction dictionary;
When the conversion candidate extracted by the phrase prediction unit is displayed on the display unit, when a new character or character string is input by the operation of the operation unit, the conversion candidate displayed on the display unit And a character conversion control unit that preferentially displays a conversion candidate that includes the newly input character or character string as a reading at the top of the character input device. An operation unit having at least a character input key and a confirmation key;
A character or a character string input by operating the operation part, and a display part for displaying a change candidate of the character or the character string;
A confirmed character or character string confirmed by the operation of the operation unit, and a phrase prediction dictionary in which a character or character string subsequent to the confirmed character or character string is associated and stored;
When the confirmed character or character string is specified, a phrase predicting unit that extracts a character or character string that is likely to be input subsequent to the confirmed character or character string with reference to the phrase prediction dictionary When,
When the conversion candidate extracted by the phrase prediction unit is displayed on the display unit, when a new character or character string is input by the operation of the operation unit, the conversion candidate displayed on the display unit Conversion candidates including the newly input character or character string at the beginning as a reading, and the final character of the new character or character string among the conversion candidates displayed on the display unit, the final character as A character input device comprising: a character conversion control unit that preferentially displays a candidate having a reading that coincides with a character string replaced with another character that can be input by an operation unit used for input. . An operation unit having at least a character input key and a confirmation key;
A character or a character string input by operating the operation part, and a display part for displaying a change candidate of the character or the character string;
A phrase prediction dictionary in which a confirmed character or character string whose input is confirmed by the operation of the operation unit and a character or character string subsequent to the confirmed character or character string are stored in association with each other;
Predictive conversion dictionary in which the character or character string after character conversion and its reading are stored in association with each other, and when the confirmed character or character string is specified, the confirmed character or character string is referred to the phrase predictive dictionary A phrase prediction unit that extracts characters or character strings that are likely to be input subsequently as conversion candidates;
When a character or a character string is input by an operation of the operation unit, a prediction conversion unit that extracts candidates to be predicted to be input with reference to the prediction conversion dictionary;
When a candidate extracted by the phrase predicting unit is displayed on the display unit and a new character or character string is input by the operation of the operating unit, among the candidates extracted by the phrase predicting unit A character input device comprising: a conversion candidate that includes the newly input character or character string as a reading at the beginning; and a character conversion control unit that displays the candidate extracted by the prediction conversion unit.   The said character conversion control part preferentially displays the conversion candidate which contains the said new character or character string as a reading among the candidates extracted by the said phrase estimation part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. Character input device.   The character conversion control unit displays, in the first display color, a conversion candidate that includes the new character or character string as a reading among candidates extracted by the phrase prediction unit, and is extracted by the prediction conversion unit. The character input device according to claim 3, wherein the candidate is displayed in a second display color.   The operation unit further includes a function key, and the character conversion control unit moves a cursor located at the candidate extracted by the phrase prediction unit to the candidate extracted by the prediction conversion unit by pressing the function key. The character input device according to claim 3. A function to convert characters by referring to the conversion dictionary,
A display function for displaying conversion characters in the input area of the display unit and displaying conversion candidates in the conversion candidate display area;
Phrase prediction that extracts a candidate of a character or character string that follows the fixed character or character string with reference to a phrase prediction dictionary when a character or character string in the input area or conversion candidate display area is confirmed by the operation unit Function and
When the candidate extracted by the phrase prediction function is displayed in the conversion candidate display area and the next conversion target character or character string is input from the operation unit, the conversion among the extracted candidates A character input program comprising: a character conversion control function that preferentially displays candidates having readings that coincide with the target character or character string. A function to convert characters by referring to the conversion dictionary,
A display function for displaying conversion characters in the input area of the display unit and displaying conversion candidates in the conversion candidate display area;
Phrase prediction that extracts a candidate of a character or character string that follows the fixed character or character string with reference to a phrase prediction dictionary when a character or character string in the input area or conversion candidate display area is confirmed by the operation unit Function and
When the candidate extracted by the phrase prediction function is displayed in the conversion candidate display area and the next conversion target character or character string is input from the operation unit, the conversion among the extracted candidates A candidate that has a reading that matches the target character or character string in advance, and the last character of the character to be changed or the character string among the extracted candidates that can be input with a key used to input the final character A character input program having a character conversion control function for displaying a candidate having a reading that matches the character string replaced with the character string. A function to convert characters by referring to the conversion dictionary,
A display function for displaying conversion characters in the input area of the display unit and displaying conversion candidates in the conversion candidate display area;
Phrase prediction that extracts a candidate of a character or character string that follows the confirmed character or character string with reference to a phrase prediction dictionary when a character or character string in the input area or conversion candidate display area is confirmed by the operation unit Function and
Predictive conversion that extracts a candidate of a character or character string to be predicted to be input next with reference to a predictive conversion dictionary when the next conversion target character or character string is input to the input area from the operation unit Function and
When the candidate extracted by the phrase prediction function is displayed in the conversion candidate display area and the next conversion target character or character string is input from the operation unit, the candidate extracted by the phrase prediction function A character input program having a character conversion control function for displaying a candidate having a reading that matches forward with the character or character string to be converted, and a candidate extracted by the predictive conversion function.

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