JP2009015440A - Menu selection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a menu selection device allowing easy selection of a desired function setting menu without using a menu with a hierarchical structure displayed on a television. <P>SOLUTION: In this menu selection device 200, each numeric key of a remote controller 300 is allocated with a vowel line or a consonant line of a kana character including a line head character displayed on the key. When a user uses the remote controller 300 and displays a screen for setting image quality on the television 100, the user operates the numeric key corresponding to each of three kana characters of "ga", "shi", and "tsu" each in Japanese, each once, only three times in total. A digit sequence "2, 3, 4" input by three key operations is collated with a digit sequence of a conversion table T in the menu selection device 200, and a menu keyword Sk related to a corresponding function is selected. Based on the selected menu keyword Sk, the screen for setting the image quality is displayed on the television 100. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a menu selection device that selects a menu desired by a user from menus prepared for performing various settings for each function of an image display device.

  As a result of the widespread use of digital home appliances, there are a number of methods for selecting characters and menus that are different from character input and menu selection using a keyboard or mouse. A character input method (hereinafter referred to as a mobile phone input method) that is currently used in mobile phones is generally widespread. In this method, the user repeatedly presses one key (usually called a numeric key) to which one number and a plurality of kana characters are assigned, thereby selectively assigning the assigned numbers and a plurality of kana characters. You can enter. As a specific example, kana characters at the beginning of each consonant line with 50 sounds such as “a”, “ka”, “sa”, etc. in Japanese are displayed together with numbers at the top of the numeric keys. Each key is assigned a character of a consonant line to which the first displayed kana character belongs. For example, by repeatedly pressing the key with “A” displayed at the top, the consonants of “A”, “I”, “U”, “E”, and “O” are switched in order, and the target character is changed. When displayed, the target character can be input by pressing another key or pressing the enter key.

  In the case of a mobile phone, the numeric keys and the display screen are in the same field of view, so there is no unnecessary effort on the operator. However, when the mobile phone input method is applied to a remote controller that displays characters on an image display device such as a television and inputs desired characters, the following problems arise. In other words, the operator operates the remote control while visually checking the kana characters displayed on the top of the numeric keys, and changes to the character input field on the TV screen according to the operation while watching the kana characters displayed. Furthermore, it is necessary to perform a key pressing operation on the remote controller. Therefore, it is necessary to watch the key top of the remote control and the TV screen alternately, and it is difficult to input smoothly and at high speed.

  In order to improve such problems, a character input support method for a television receiver with a character input function using a remote controller (for example, see Patent Document 1) has been proposed. In this support method, the key arrangement of the remote control is displayed superimposed on the software keyboard displayed on the display screen of the television receiver, moved on the software keyboard displayed by the shift key of the remote control, and the key of the remote control is moved. The input of the corresponding software key is confirmed by pressing.

In addition, a mobile phone menu search system (for example, Patent Document 2) allows users to easily input a term from a menu or select a menu by providing a learning function without knowing the formal name of a function specific to the device or a function to be used. See also). The system includes a keyboard, a function name storage table, an associative function name storage table, a search unit, a search function name storage table, and a display. The keyboard is used for entering keywords, the function name storage table stores a plurality of function names together with the menu number, and the associative function name storage table stores the associative function names belonging to each function name stored in the function name storage table. The search unit searches for a function name including a keyword from the function name storage table and searches for an associative function name including the keyword from the function name storage table. The search function name storage table is a function searched by the search unit. All the names are stored and all the function names to which the searched associative function names belong are stored, and the display displays all the function names stored in the search function name storage table.
JP 2005-286835 A JP 2005-229398 A

  In an image display apparatus such as a television broadcast receiver or a video recorder, a list of menus (functions) can be displayed on a menu screen in order to make various settings for each associated function. Normally, related menus are displayed hierarchically on the menu screen, and the user selects a corresponding menu using a remote controller or a keyboard. When the user selects a corresponding function, an input screen for various settings related to the menu is displayed on the screen. The setting is completed when the user inputs necessary information on the input screen.

  In this way, when searching for the desired menu setting screen from the menu screen using the remote control or keyboard, it is necessary to press the enter key and the cursor movement key repeatedly until the desired function is reached. take time. In addition, the user needs to learn how to navigate the menu hierarchy (that is, the hierarchical structure of the menu).

  Instead of the function setting screen search method using the menu screen described above, there is also a method of searching the function setting screen by a character input support method (Patent Document 1). According to this method, when it is desired to select the menu “image quality”, it is necessary to directly input “ga”, “shi”, and “tsu”. For this purpose, the remote controller “6”, the remote controller “green”, the remote controller “↓”, the remote controller “2”, and the remote controller “7” require five key operations. That is, when inputting three kana characters “gashitsu”, an extra key operation is required twice more than the number of characters in order to select a target character. In addition, in the menu search system (Patent Document 2), it is necessary to narrow down by searching in addition to the character input operation of “image quality”, which further takes time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a menu selection device that can easily select a desired function setting menu without having to confirm characters to be input on a screen. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, a menu selection device according to the present invention provides:
A menu selection device that is used in a device having a plurality of functions that can be set based on a remote control signal transmitted from a remote controller provided with a plurality of character input keys, and that selects a function indicated by the remote control signal,
A conversion table representing heading information corresponding to a menu keyword assigned to each of the plurality of functions;
Character input key operation information extracting means for extracting, from the remote control signal, character input key operation information indicating the operated character input key and the operation order;
Menu key selection means for comparing the extracted character input key operation information with the conversion table and selecting the menu keyword corresponding to the heading information with which the character input key operation information matches is provided.

  Here, it is preferable that the character input key operation information and the heading information each include information representing a number. The heading information is preferably an information array corresponding to each of a vowel row and a consonant row of kana characters. Each piece of information constituting the heading information preferably corresponds to either a vowel row or a consonant row of kana characters displayed on each of the character input keys of the remote controller.

  The heading information is preferably an information array corresponding to a plurality of specific characters in the alphabet. Further, it is preferable that each piece of information constituting the heading information corresponds to one of alphabetic characters displayed on each of the character input keys of the remote controller.

  The menu selection device according to the present invention preferably further comprises first storage means for storing the conversion table, and further includes second storage means for storing the character input key operation information. Furthermore, it is preferable that the menu keyword sent from the menu keyword selection means to the device corresponds to a process related to a predetermined function performed in the device.

  According to the present invention, it is not necessary to remember from which remote control key the target setting menu should be entered and how to follow the menu hierarchy, and only the first letter of the kana of the function name or the first letter of the alphabet group is input. Just to display the corresponding function setting menu.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a menu selection device 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention is preferably used in a state where it is incorporated in a television receiver (hereinafter abbreviated as “TV”) 100. Menu selection device 200 includes an infrared light receiving unit 210, a CPU 220, a storage unit 230, and a temporary storage unit 240.

  The infrared light receiving unit 210 converts the infrared signal Ir emitted from the remote control 300 in which 50 sounds and alphabets are engraved on the character input key into an electrical signal. The converted electrical signal includes a remote control signal Sr generated by pressing a character input key of the remote control 300.

  The CPU 220 extracts information (hereinafter referred to as “key operation information”) STR indicating the order of the operated character input key and the operated key from the remote control signal Sr. The extracted key operation information STR is temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 240.

  The storage unit 230 stores a conversion table T indicating the relationship between the heading information St having the same configuration as the key operation information STR and the menu keyword Sk corresponding to each function included in the menu. The contents of the key operation information STR, the heading information St, and the menu keyword Sk will be described in detail later.

  The CPU 220 compares and collates the key operation information STR stored in the temporary storage unit 240 with the heading information St of the conversion table T stored in the storage unit 230. When there is matching heading information St, the CPU 220 selects a menu keyword Sk corresponding to the heading information St from the conversion table T and transfers it to the display unit 110 of the television 100. The display unit 110 has a GUI creation function and displays a setting screen corresponding to the menu keyword Sk.

  The CPU 220 realizes the functions of the character input key operation information extraction means and the menu keyword selection means, which are components of the present invention. The CPU 220 also functions as a control unit that controls operations of the infrared light receiving unit 210, the storage unit 230, and the temporary storage unit 240.

  The remote control 300 is provided with a character input key (generally called a numeric key), a shift key, and a determination key. The remote controller 300 is not limited to a television remote controller. That is, the infrared light receiving unit 210 can convert not only an infrared signal emitted from a television remote controller but also an infrared signal from a mobile phone or the like into an electrical signal.

  Next, an example of a menu configuration that can be selected by the menu selection device 200 will be described with reference to FIG. The television 100 receives a broadcast wave by a receiving unit (not shown), presents the content carried by the broadcast wave, and provides the user with viewing. The user may change the image quality and sound settings of the television 100 when viewing the content. Further, the television 100 has extended functions such as an SD card interface and a LAN interface, and the user may change the settings of these extended functions.

  The menu includes names of functions that can be set and adjusted by the user among the functions of the television 100. Generally, when a user requests a start menu display with a remote controller or the like, a plurality of large items that can be selected by the user are displayed on the display. In this example, “image quality”, “sound”, and “periphery” are set as major items. Note that “image quality” and “sound” include intermediate items that can be adjusted by the user regarding the displayed image and the output sound, respectively, but are not illustrated in this example.

  The “periphery” in the menu is a peripheral device that can be selected and used by the user, and includes an antenna, a modem, an SD, and a LAN in this example. For each of these peripheral devices, a small item that can be selected by the user may be provided. If necessary, subdivided items are provided below the small items. As described above, the menu has a hierarchical structure including a plurality of layers.

  For example, when the user changes the setting of the image quality using the remote controller 300 of the television, the large item “image quality” can be easily reached from the start menu. However, when the item selected by the user is deep in the hierarchical structure of the menu, or when it is not known which level it is, the remote control operation becomes complicated. In addition, as described above, it is complicated to select a menu by inputting a keyword or the like.

  In order to eliminate the complexity of the remote control operation caused by the menu hierarchy, the menu selection device 200 of the present invention allows the user to select regardless of the hierarchy of items and the depth of the items that can be selected. Enter the item name directly using the numeric keys on the remote control. However, unlike the prior art, it is not necessary to perform a key operation more than the number of kana characters in the item name in order to input the item name, that is, no key operation is required to select a target character.

  Therefore, characters or functions belonging to two or more character types are assigned to each of the 12 keys arranged in the lower part of the remote controller 300. These twelve keys are assigned 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 numbers, respectively. Based on this fact, the 12 keys are collectively referred to as numeric keys as before, and individually identified by quoting the assigned numbers.

  The numeric key 1 is assigned a vowel line consisting of five kana characters “a”, “i”, “u”, “e”, and “o”. On the key top of the number key 1, “1” and “a” which is the first character of the vowel line are displayed.

  The numeric keys 2 are assigned consonants belonging to the line and alphabets “A”, “B”, and “C”. On the key top of the numeric key 2, “2”, “ka”, and “ABC” are displayed. Similarly, the numeric key tops “3”, “4”, “5”, “6”, “7”, “8”, and “9” are respectively key tops as shown in FIG. The characters of the consonant line with the displayed kana as the first character and the displayed alphabet are assigned.

  The numeric key 10 has “.” Displayed on the key top and is assigned mainly punctuation marks. The numeric key 11 is displayed with “wa” on the key top and assigned to the consonant of my row. The numeric key 12 is displayed with “Kai” displayed on the key top and is assigned a function such as line feed. It should be noted that the character type can be set as necessary for input such as katakana and upper / lower case for each character type. The configuration of the numeric keys described above is not different from the configuration of the numeric keys of the mobile phone.

  The menu item name that the user inputs to the remote control 300 is a character string formed by a combination of a plurality of characters. All kana characters have bullets in their vowel lines and consonant lines including muddy and semi-voiced sounds. Similarly, numbers corresponding to alphabets are assigned to the numeric keys of the remote controller 300. “L” corresponds to “5” assigned to “J, K, L”, “A” corresponds to “2” assigned to “A, B, C”, and “N” corresponds to “M”. , N, O ”corresponds to“ 6 ”.

  For reference, FIG. 3 shows kana characters assigned to the numeric keys of the remote controller 300. FIG. 4 shows the alphabets assigned to the numeric keys of the remote controller 300.

  Using the remote controller 300 configured as described above, the menu selection apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment is exemplified by the case where the user inputs three kana characters “gashitsu” to change the image quality setting. The menu selection operation according to will be described. As described above, in the present invention, the user operates the keys corresponding to each of the three kana characters “GA”, “SH”, and “TSU” once for a total of three times to “ Enter "".

  As shown in FIG. 3, “GA” is a character included in the line, “SH” is a character included in the SA line, and “TSU” is a character included in the TA line. In addition, numbers corresponding to bullets of kana characters are assigned to the numeric keys of the remote controller 300. “Ka” corresponds to “2”, “sa” corresponds to “3”, and “ta” corresponds to “4”. Therefore, “Gashitsu” can be replaced with “2, 3, 4”. As described above, when “image quality” is set, the number of times the remote controller key is pressed by the above-described conventional character input support method is 5 while the number of times the menu selection device 200 is pressed is 3, and the operation can be simplified.

  The menu selection operation when inputting “SD” and “LAN” displayed in alphabets in the menu will also be briefly described. As shown in FIG. 4, “SD” corresponds to the numeric key 7 and the numeric key 3. Similarly, “LAN” corresponds to numeric key 5, numeric key 2, and numeric key 6. For example, when inputting “SD”, the user operates the keys corresponding to each of the two alphabets “S” and “D” once, for a total of two times. As a result, “SD” is replaced with the numeric string “7, 3”.

  In the present embodiment, the user does not directly input the corresponding single character by pressing the same button on the remote controller 300 a plurality of times, but operates the numeric key to which the consonant line including the target kana character is assigned only once. . In other words, by simply pressing the key (number key) to which the consonant line containing the target character is assigned, without switching between the different character types, the number assigned to the same key and the consonant line kana character. Can be entered indirectly. For example, when the user wants to change the LAN setting using the remote controller 300, the number of times of pressing can be greatly reduced as compared with the case of direct input.

  The remote controller 300 generates information that can identify the pressed key, for example, key operation information STR that represents a number assigned to the key or a character included in the consonant line. The remote controller 300 outputs an infrared signal Ir including the generated key operation information STR to the menu selection device 200 (FIG. 1).

  In the present embodiment, the key operation information STR represents a predetermined numeric string that is a sequence (arrangement) of numbers assigned to the pressed key. That is, the key operation information STR (numerical string) corresponding to the major items “image quality”, “voice”, and “periphery” shown in FIG. 2 is “2, 3, 4”, “1, 11, 3, 1 "and" 3, 8, 6, 11 ". The numbers corresponding to the middle items “antenna”, “modem”, “SD”, and “LAN” are “1, 11, 4, 5”, “7, 4, 7”, “7, 3”, And “5, 2, 6”.

  Thus, in order to input a target character, the user does not need to perform an operation of selecting a character type to which the character belongs, or an operation of selecting a target character from the character type. However, it is only necessary to press the numeric key to which the input character (kana character, katakana, alphabet) is assigned. Remote control signal Sr including a numeric string (key operation information STR) input by the user (key operation) is received by infrared light receiving unit 210. The infrared light receiving unit 210 converts the remote control signal Sr into a format suitable for internal processing in the menu selection device 200 and outputs it to the CPU 220. The CPU 220 extracts key operation information STR from the remote control signal Sr and outputs it to the temporary storage unit 240.

  The storage unit 230 stores a conversion table T for converting heading information St, which is a numeric string, into a keyword (function name) of a menu. The CPU 220 collates the numeric string (key operation information STR) held in the temporary storage unit 240 with the numeric string (heading information St) of the conversion table T stored in the storage unit 130, and the user uses the remote controller 300. The designated menu keyword Sk is selected.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the conversion table T. The conversion table T is composed of two areas: an area representing the heading information St, which is a numeric string, and an area representing the menu keyword Sk corresponding to each numeric string. In the area of the heading information St, numerical sequences corresponding to “image quality”, “sound”, “periphery”, “antenna”, “modem”, “SD”, and “LAN” are “2, 3, 4 ”,“ 1, 11, 3, 1 ”,“ 3, 8, 6, 11 ”,“ 1, 11, 4, 5 ”,“ 7, 4, 7 ”,“ 7, 3 ”, and“ 5 ” 2, 6 "are recorded respectively.

  On the other hand, in the area of the menu keyword Sk, “image quality”, “voice”, and “periphery” which are major items in the menu shown in FIG. 2, and “antenna” and “modem” which are middle items of “periphery”. , “SD”, and “LAN” are recorded. In FIG. 5, the menu item name of the menu of FIG. 2 is used as the menu keyword Sk. However, it is not particularly limited to characters, and any number or general code can be used as long as the function can be identified. good.

  As indicated by an arrow in FIG. 5, the CPU 220 compares the key operation information STR held in the temporary storage unit 240 with the heading information St of the conversion table T, and responds to the case where there is a match between the numeric strings. Menu keyword Sk is selected. Thereafter, the CPU 220 transfers the selected menu keyword Sk to the display unit 110 of the television 100. The display unit 110 displays a setting screen related to the function corresponding to the sent menu keyword Sk on the display.

  As described above, in the menu selection device according to the present embodiment, the number of times the remote control key is pressed can be reduced as compared with the conventional technique that employs the character input support method, so that the operation at the time of menu selection can be simplified.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the menu selection device is incorporated in a television has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even if the menu selection device according to the present embodiment is incorporated in other image display devices including a video recorder and a DVD recording / reproducing device.

  The present invention can be widely used as a menu selection device used when performing various settings for each function of an image display device using a remote controller.

The figure which shows the structure of the television incorporating the menu selection apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the menu structure which can be selected in the menu selection apparatus shown in FIG. The figure which shows the relation of the number key which corresponds to the kana character Diagram showing the relationship of the numeric keys corresponding to the alphabet The figure which shows the conversion table stored in the memory | storage part of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

100 TV 110 Display Unit 200 Menu Selection Device 210 Infrared Light Receiving Unit 220 CPU
230 Storage Unit 240 Temporary Storage Unit 300 Remote Control

Claims (9)

A menu selection device that is used in a device having a plurality of functions that can be set based on a remote control signal transmitted from a remote controller provided with a plurality of character input keys, and that selects a function indicated by the remote control signal,
A conversion table representing heading information corresponding to a menu keyword assigned to each of the plurality of functions;
Character input key operation information extracting means for extracting, from the remote control signal, character input key operation information indicating the operated character input key and the operation order;
A menu selection device comprising: a menu keyword selection unit that compares the extracted character input key operation information with the conversion table and selects the menu keyword corresponding to the heading information that matches the character input key operation information.   The menu selection device according to claim 1, wherein each of the character input key operation information and the heading information is configured by information representing a number.   The menu selection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heading information is an array of information corresponding to each of a vowel row and a consonant row of kana characters.   4. The menu selection device according to claim 3, wherein each piece of information constituting the heading information corresponds to one of a vowel row and a consonant row of kana characters displayed on each of the character input keys of the remote controller.   The menu selection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heading information is an array of information corresponding to a plurality of specific characters in the alphabet.   6. The menu selection device according to claim 5, wherein each piece of information constituting the heading information corresponds to one of alphabetic characters displayed on each of the character input keys of the remote controller.   The menu selection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising first storage means for storing the conversion table.   The menu selection device according to claim 1, further comprising second storage means for storing the character input key operation information.   The menu selection device according to claim 1, wherein the menu keyword sent from the menu keyword selection unit to the device corresponds to a process related to a predetermined function performed in the device.

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