JP2014204137A - Input system of touch type display and display method for input panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input system for easy inputting.SOLUTION: An input panel 100 containing keys in 3×3 arrangement is displayed on a screen 201 of a touch screen. A "jkl" key arranged at a center is defined as a home key. For inputting "r", a finger is made to slide as far as a "pqrs" key with the home key as a starting point. When the finger reaches the "pqrs" key, a position of the input panel 100 moves so that the home key is displayed at the coordinates where the "pqrs" key was displayed (screen 203). In a screen 205, in order to input "e", the finger is made to slide from the home key to a "def" key. When the finger reaches the "def" key, the position of the input panel 100 moves so that the home key is displayed at the coordinates where the "def" key was displayed (screen 207). Thus, sliding input can be made with a home key as a starting point at always.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for providing an environment for smoothly inputting characters through a touch-type display.

  In tablet terminals and multi-function phones (smartphones), characters are input by operating an input panel (also referred to as software keyboard) displayed on a touch screen with a finger. The input panel includes a QWERTY key, a flick key, or a T9 (Text on 9 keys) key. In the QWERTY system, since a relatively small number of characters such as one or two are assigned to one key, when the touch screen is small, the area of the key is smaller than the size of the finger. As a result, the frequency of erroneous input increases and the application window is hidden behind the input panel, making it difficult to use. When the QWERTY method is adopted in a relatively large touch screen or physical keyboard, characters can be input smoothly.

  In the flick method, by assigning five or more characters to one key, the area of the entire input panel can be reduced while increasing the area of the key to an extent convenient for finger operation. When the finger touches any key, a plurality of keys corresponding to the characters assigned to the key are displayed around the touched key. A specified character is input by moving the finger from the touched key to any of the keys displayed in the vicinity without sliding the finger from the touch screen.

  Such an input method is called slide input or flick input. To input the next character, touch the key containing the character in the same procedure, and then input the slide. Similarly, in the T9 method, a plurality of characters are assigned to one key, but when a slide input is performed in the order of the character of the word with respect to the key to which the character constituting the word is assigned, the sequence of keys input by the system A word inputted from is predicted and a plurality of prediction candidates are displayed. When the prediction is successful, the user taps and confirms the input word from a plurality of prediction candidates.

  Patent Document 1 discloses the T9 system. Patent Document 2 discloses a character input device including two types of soft keyboards and pointers displayed on a touch screen. When the pointer is moved with a finger and a character in any row is selected with respect to the first soft keyboard, a second soft keyboard for displaying characters in a column included in the selected row is displayed. Subsequently, the character of the column to be obtained can be input by moving the pointer with the finger in the direction in which the character of the column is displayed.

US Pat. No. 5,818,437 JP 2013-255579 A

  In the flick method, it is necessary to first select a key that potentially contains characters to be input. At that time, it is necessary to release the key from the key that was confirmed by the slide input immediately before. However, it may not always be possible to input rhythmically. The T9 method is characterized in that a word can be learned by the movement of a finger operating a key because a slide input can be sequentially performed on keys to which characters constituting one word are assigned. In the T9 system, it is possible to input words with almost the same key stroke as the QWERTY key, assuming that the predictive conversion is complete and there is no erroneous input. Therefore, as the user gets used to input and the computer repeats learning and the prediction dictionary is enriched, the input time can be shortened.

  FIG. 12 shows the trajectory of the finger when inputting the word “request” in the T9 method. In FIG. 12, as indicated by an arrow, the finger moves between nine keys in a 3 × 3 array in the order of the character array of words to be input from “r” to “t”. Since the angle and length that the finger trajectory creates from the starting key to the target key when inputting one character changes depending on the character arrangement of the word, it is difficult for a beginner to take a rhythm. When the finger is slid from the [pqrs] key to the [def] key to input “e” following “r”, the finger passes over the [jkl] key. At this time, if the surface of the touch screen is dirty or unfamiliar with the operation, and the finger temporarily stops on the [def] key, the “jkl” key is erroneously input. Therefore, there is a need for an improved input panel that is easier to operate.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an input system that facilitates input using a touch input type display. A further object of the present invention is to provide an input system capable of reducing the input time. A further object of the present invention is to provide an input system that makes it easy to remember the position of a key with a finger. A further object of the present invention is to provide an input system with few erroneous inputs. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method, an electronic device and a computer program for such an input system to display an input panel.

  The present invention provides a method in which an input system displays an input panel on a touch-input display operated by a finger. The input system displays an input panel including a home key and a plurality of adjacent keys on the display. The input system detects a slide input to any of a plurality of adjacent keys starting from the home key. The input system moves the display position of the input panel so that the home key is displayed at the coordinates where the adjacent key that has been slid is displayed.

  During the input, the positional relationship between the home key and the adjacent key does not change. Each time the finger moves to the adjacent key in the slide input, the display position of the input panel moves so that the position of the finger of the movement destination matches the position of the home key. Therefore, the slide operation up to the adjacent key starting from the home key has a certain number of patterns, and even a beginner can easily learn the arrangement of the adjacent keys, making it easy to input. Each of the plurality of adjacent keys can be arranged around the home key so that the finger does not pass through the other adjacent keys at the time of slide input. Therefore, the possibility of erroneous input at the time of slide input can be reduced.

  Each of the plurality of adjacent keys can be arranged so that the movement distance of the finger with respect to the home key is substantially equal. In this case, it becomes easy to input at a constant rhythm, and at the same time, the input time can be shortened by shortening the distance of the slide. In one example, home keys and a plurality of adjacent keys can be arranged in a matrix with a 3 × 3 arrangement, and the home keys can be arranged in the center of the matrix.

  The home key and adjacent key may be assigned a single character, but may be assigned multiple characters, multiple symbols, or characters and symbols. At this time, the movement of the input panel and the slide input for a plurality of adjacent keys can be repeated to determine a plurality of inputs for the adjacent keys. When multiple characters are assigned to each of each key, the input system can predict multiple candidate words in a T9 manner for the key sequence. The input system can display a plurality of predicted candidate words and allow the user to select them. The home key can be tapped instead of slide input. In the tap input to the home key, the display position of the input panel is not changed, so that the finger keeps touching the home key even after the home key is input.

  When the coordinates of the input panel move following the slide input, the display of the input panel may be lost. When it is determined that a defect occurs, the display position of the input panel can be moved to a position where the defect does not occur. When moving the display position, the user moves the home key by dragging and dropping it, or the input system moves to a position where the display panel does not have a defect in response to detection of a display position defect. You can make it.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an input system that facilitates input using a touch input type display. Furthermore, according to the present invention, an input system capable of shortening the input time can be provided. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an input system in which the key position can be easily learned with a finger. Furthermore, according to the present invention, an input system with few erroneous inputs can be provided. Furthermore, according to the present invention, a method, an electronic device, and a computer program for displaying such an input panel by such an input system could be provided.

3 is a functional block diagram for explaining a configuration of an input system 50 realized by a tablet computer 10. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an input panel 100. FIG. It is a figure explaining the following movement of the input panel 100 when inputting the character "requester". It is a figure explaining the following movement of the input panel 100 when inputting the character "requester". It is a figure explaining the following movement of the input panel 100 when inputting the character "requester". It is a figure explaining the following movement of the input panel 100 when inputting the character "requester". It is a figure explaining the following movement of the input panel 100 when inputting the character "requester". It is a state transition diagram of the input system 50 when inputting a sentence into a text editor. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the input system 50. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the input system 50. It is a figure explaining the other structure of an input panel. It is a figure explaining the locus | trajectory of the finger | toe at the time of inputting the word "request" by T9 system.

[Input system]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram for explaining a configuration of an input system 50 realized by the tablet computer 10. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the input panel 100. The hardware of the computer 10 includes a touch screen or touch panel 11, a basic hardware 13 including a CPU, a main memory, and a chip set, an SSD 15, a wireless module 17, an audio device 19, a camera module 21, and the like. Yes. The touch screen 11 includes a flat panel display such as an LCD or an organic EL, and a capacitive coordinate input device. However, the detection method of the coordinate input device is not particularly limited, and a resistance type or an infrared type may be adopted.

  The input system 50 is configured by software stored in the basic hardware 13 and the SSD 15. The software cooperates with the basic hardware 13 to make the input system 50 function as a hardware element of the computer 10. The event generation unit 51 is a known element including an OS and a device driver, and sends the coordinates of the touch screen 11 touched by the finger to the panel control unit 53. The panel control unit 53 recognizes various operation types for the touch screen 11 such as touch, tap, or slide from the received coordinates. The panel control unit 53 manages the input panel 100 displayed on the touch screen 11 in accordance with an operation on the input panel 100. The panel control unit 53 sends the key codes of the character keys input to the input panel 100 to the candidate word prediction unit 57 in order.

  The panel control unit 53 determines the coordinates of the input panel 100 to be displayed on the touch screen 11 in accordance with an operation on the input panel 100. The panel control unit 53 monitors the coordinates of the input panel 100 and performs a process for returning to a position where it is completely displayed when it is determined that a part of the input panel 100 is not displayed on the touch screen 11. The panel control unit 53 displays the candidate words received from the candidate word prediction unit 57 on the touch screen 11 so that the user can select them. The panel control unit 53 sends an event to the application execution unit 63 when an auxiliary key group such as a line feed or a space is input.

  The image data generation unit 55 is a well-known element including an OS, a device driver, and the like, and an input panel for content specified at a specified position on the touch screen 11 in response to an instruction from the panel control unit 53. 100 is displayed. The candidate word prediction unit 57 stores the key code of the character key received from the panel control unit 53 in the input buffer 65 in order as a key sequence. The key sequence is composed of a key code of one or more input character keys.

  The candidate word prediction unit 57 refers to the key sequence, the user dictionary 59 and the basic dictionary 61 each time a key code is added when a character is assigned to the key code. Predict the word entered by. The candidate word prediction unit 57 sends the predicted plurality of candidate words to the panel control unit 53. When the received key code corresponds to the auxiliary key of the auxiliary key group 103 that corrects the input character, the candidate word predicting unit 57 predicts a new candidate word from the corrected key sequence, and the panel control unit 53 Send to. The user dictionary 59 registers words that the user has confirmed to input.

  The user dictionary 59 can record the frequency of words whose input has been confirmed in the past. The candidate word prediction unit 57 has a learning function, and refers to the past history when a plurality of candidate words can be predicted with the same key sequence. Candidate word prediction unit 57 can send a plurality of candidate words to panel control unit 53 in the order of the high probability of determining that the user has input as characters constituting the word are additionally input. The application execution unit 63 is a well-known element composed of an application program for inputting words or sentences from the input panel 100 such as a mailer, a web browser, or a text editor, and an OS and a device driver. It is.

  FIG. 2 shows a state in which the input panel 100 is displayed in front of the screen of the text editor 109. The input panel 100 includes a character key group 101 including nine character keys H and A1 to A8, an auxiliary key group 103 including three auxiliary keys S1 to S3, and five candidate words CW1 to CW5. The window 105 is displayed. In the character key group 101, the home key H and adjacent keys A1 to A8 arranged around the home key H are arranged in a 3 × 3 matrix.

  A characteristic configuration of the character key group 101 is that a plurality of adjacent keys A1 to A8 are radially arranged around one home key H. There is one home key H, but the number of adjacent keys A1 to A8 may be more or less than eight. The home key H and the adjacent keys A1 to A8 may have different symbol sizes and shapes. With such a configuration, the distance from the home key H to all the adjacent keys A1 to A8 can be made substantially equal. The arrangement of the character key group 101 need not be limited to a 3 × 3 arrangement, and any arrangement that can exhibit the features of the present invention described later can be employed. FIG. 11 illustrates a configuration of a character key group 500 including a home key H and adjacent keys A1 to A8 as another example.

  The character key group 101 is displayed when the input position 107 of the text editor 109 is tapped. The character key group 101 is always displayed on the forefront of the screen. Therefore, minimize the size of each symbol within the range that does not hinder the operation with the finger so that the input characters are not hidden, and the input panel is used when following the input operation as described later. It is desirable to reduce the overall area so that 100 does not disappear from the screen as much as possible.

  Each character key of the character key group 101 includes characters (a, b, c...) And symbols (!, &, ¥...) Frequently used when inputting text, or a plurality of combinations thereof. Assign functions. For example, Q1! RTY # $% can be assigned to the A2 key. The character key group 101 assigns a number of character keys by assigning a plurality of characters and symbols such as 5 to 9 to each character key or a function of mixing them. Compared to the QWERTY key, it is significantly less.

  The assigned function can be displayed on the symbol of each character key so that the user can recognize it. The home key H may be assigned a function as a part of the character key as in the adjacent keys A1 to A8. However, the home key H can be used to move the display position of the input panel 100 displayed on the touch screen 11, or Only a special function for instructing display / non-display of the group 103 may be assigned.

  Each of the auxiliary keys S1 to S3 of the auxiliary key group 103 is assigned one additional function necessary for inputting sentences such as “line feed”, “space”, and “backward”. However, the functions of the auxiliary keys S1 to S3 can be assigned to any character key of the character key group 101 without providing the auxiliary key group 103. The number of auxiliary keys 103 need not be limited to three, and more auxiliary keys assigned functions such as “capital letters”, “overwrite”, and “character type” are arranged around the character keys 101. May be. The display timing of the auxiliary key group 103 may be synchronized with the display of the character key group 101, or it is not displayed while the operation of the auxiliary key is not necessary, and the area around the character key group 101 is tapped when necessary. Alternatively, the adjacent keys A1 to A8 may be tapped and displayed.

  The auxiliary key group 103 is preferably displayed in the vicinity of the character key group 101. The display position of the auxiliary key group 103 with respect to the character key group 101 is not limited to the lower side, and may be the left side, the right side, or the upper side. The display position of the auxiliary key group 103 relative to the character key group 101 need not be fixed during the input operation. For example, the character key group is displayed when the input system 50 detects that the auxiliary key group 103 displayed on one side of the character key group 101 disappears from the touch screen 11 when the character key group 101 moves following. You may make it display on the opposite side of 101. FIG.

  In the window 105, a word composed of one character, one symbol, or a plurality of characters predicted by the candidate word predicting unit 57 with respect to a key sequence composed of the order of character keys input from the character key group 101, etc. Candidate words CW1 to CW5 are displayed. In the following, the predicted one character, one symbol, or word is generically referred to as a candidate word. Since each key of the character key group 101 is assigned a plurality of functions, the candidate word prediction unit 57 is uniquely defined by the user even if the user sequentially inputs the keys including the characters constituting the word. Since an intended word cannot be determined, an input word is predicted from a plurality of characters that can possibly be composed of an input key sequence.

  Candidate word prediction unit 57 displays candidate words CW1 to CW5 in descending order of the probability that the user intends. The number of candidate words displayed in the window 105 need not be limited to five. The window 105 may always be displayed near the character key group 101, but the panel control unit 53 displays only when a candidate word is received from the candidate word prediction unit 57 in order to hide the background as much as possible. It is desirable to do.

[Tracking movement of input panel]
3 to 7 are diagrams for explaining the follow-up movement of the input panel 100 when the characters “requester” are input. In the follow-up movement of the input panel 100, each time the adjacent keys A1 to A8 are slid, the coordinates of the character key group 101 move, and the coordinates of the auxiliary key group 103 and the window 105 move accordingly. First, an operation method for the input panel 100 is defined.

  Touch refers to an operation of touching the touch screen 11 with a finger. Note that when detecting the coordinates of a finger approaching the touch screen 11 as in the infrared detection method, the state of detecting the coordinates is referred to as touch. The tap is an operation of releasing after touching and touching again within a predetermined short time. Tap input refers to an operation of tapping the home key H or the auxiliary keys S1 to S3. “Release & touch” refers to an operation of releasing after touching and touching again after a time longer than tapping.

  A slide refers to an operation of moving a finger while maintaining a state of touching the touch screen 11. The slide input is an operation in which a finger is slid to any one of the adjacent keys A1 to A8 starting from the home key H or the home position of the character key group 101. The home position refers to a predetermined position defined on the input panel 100, and the coordinates of the home position on the touch screen 11 change according to the display position of the input panel 100. The character key arranged at the home position corresponds to the home key H. Drag and drop refers to an operation of sliding the finger touching the home key H or the home position to move the character key group 101 to a released position.

  On the screens 201 to 239, auxiliary lines indicating the coordinates are displayed in order to make the coordinates of the character key group 101 on the touch screen 11 easy to understand. On the screen 201, the character key group 101 is displayed on the touch screen 11 by tapping the input position 107 of the text editor 109. As shown in the figure, a plurality of alphabetic characters or a plurality of symbols are assigned to each character key.

  The characters or symbols assigned to each character key need not be limited to the example shown in the figure, and can be assigned so that candidate words for the key sequence can be easily predicted. The input system 50 defines the [jkl] key arranged at the center of the 3 × 3 key matrix as the home key. On the screen 201, the character key group 101 is displayed at the default position so that the home key is located at coordinates [6, 4]. In the following, the coordinates of the character key group 101 are indicated by the coordinates of the home key.

  The input to the character key group 101 always starts from the home key. Tap input is performed for the home key, and slide input is performed for the adjacent key starting from the home key. The user slides the finger touching the home key to input the alphabet “r” as shown by the arrow to the adjacent key ([pqrs] key) to which “r” is assigned. On the screen 201, since the [pqrs] key is displayed at the coordinates [7, 3], the finger moves from the coordinates [6, 4] to the coordinates [7, 3]. The input system 50 recognizes the slide to the adjacent key starting from the home key as an input to the adjacent key, and simultaneously moves the character key group 101 to the coordinates [7, 3] of the input adjacent key.

  As a result, the character key group 101 moves so that the home key is displayed at the coordinates [7, 3] on the screen 203. At this time, the input system 50 registers the key code of the [pqrs] key as the first key sequence. However, although the user inputs “r” intentionally, a plurality of functions (characters) are assigned to the [pqrs] key, so that the input system 50 recognizes that one of the functions is instructed. The input system 50 displays the candidate words predicted to be input from the words frequently input in the past, with each character of pqrs and the first character as the first character, in the window 105.

  On the screen 203, the finger has moved to the coordinates [7, 3], and the character key group 101 is displayed at the coordinates [7, 3]. In the moved character key group 101, the [def] key is displayed at coordinates [6, 4]. On the screen 205, the user slides the finger touching the home key to input the alphabet “e” to the [def] key to which the alphabet “e” is assigned. In the screen 207, as in the screen 203, the finger moves to the coordinates [6, 4] where the [def] key is displayed, and the character key group 101 also moves to the same coordinates [6, 4].

  The input system 50 registers the key code of the [def] key as the second code of the key sequence. The input system 50 displays the word predicted from the combination of a plurality of character strings in which the character assigned to the [pqrs] key is the first character and the character assigned to the [def] key is second in the window 105, and the character A predetermined number of words frequently input in the past including the combinations are displayed as candidate words with priorities.

  On the screens 209, 213, 217, and 221, alphabets “q, u, e, s” are sequentially input by slide input with the home key as a base point in the same procedure. If it is necessary to input any of the characters “j”, “k”, and “l”, tap the home key. At this time, the coordinates of the character key group 101 do not change. The input system 50 displays the predicted candidate character on the window 105 each time the key code of the input character key is added to the key sequence.

  By the slide input to the adjacent key, the coordinates of the character key group 101 are moved so that the home key is displayed at the coordinates of the adjacent key touched by the finger of the slide destination on the screens 211, 215, 219, and 223. Therefore, as long as the slide input to the adjacent key or the tap input to the home key is performed, the input system 50 keeps the finger touching the home key. When the auxiliary key group 103 is displayed at the position of FIG. 2 in synchronization with the character key group 101, the auxiliary key group 103 is displayed when the character key group 101 is displayed at coordinates [8, 3] on the screen 223. Disappears from the screen 223.

  The input system 50 may monitor the coordinates of the auxiliary key group 103 and display the auxiliary key group 103 on the upper side of the character key group 101 as in the screen 223 when the [pqrs] key is slid on the screen 221. it can. On the screen 223, the coordinates of the auxiliary key group 103 may be set to the left or right side of the character key group 101. In some cases, the auxiliary key group 103 is displayed only when the user calls the auxiliary key group 103 by tapping either the edge of the character key group 101 or an adjacent key. When the auxiliary key group 103 is called before inputting “t” on the screen 225, the input system 50 can display the auxiliary key group 103 at a position that can be completely displayed on the screen 227. At this time, the display position of the window 105 can be changed as appropriate.

  On the screen 225, the alphabet “t” is input to the character key group 101 displayed at the coordinates [8, 3]. On the screen 225, the [tuv] key is displayed at coordinates [9, 3]. When the home key is used as a starting point and a slide input is made to the [tuv] key, a part of the character key group 101 disappears from the screen 227 as shown in the screen 227 and no further input is possible. The input system 50 needs to be returned to a position where it can be input when a defect occurs in the display of the character key group 101 due to the follow-up movement of the input panel 100. The method will be described later.

  On the screen 231, the input system 50 moves the character key group 101 from the coordinates [9, 3] to the coordinates [6, 4] on the screen 227 by any method. On the screen 233, the alphabet “e” is input, and on the screen 237, the last alphabet “r” is input. The input system 50 predicts candidate words and displays them in the window 105 each time a key code is received. In many cases due to the learning ability of the input system 50, “requester” is displayed as a candidate word in the window 105 of the screen displayed before the last alphabet “r” is input. When the user taps the intended candidate word, the input system 50 passes the confirmed candidate word to the text editor 109.

  The following movement of the input panel 100 has the following advantages over the conventional input panel. First, since the finger always touches the home key that is the starting point of the operation, the positional relationship between the finger position and the adjacent key becomes constant, so even a beginner can easily learn the position of the character key with the finger. Further, since the moving distance from the home key to each adjacent key is substantially constant, it is easy to input with a constant rhythm. Furthermore, it is possible to minimize the distance of finger movement when performing slide input with respect to any adjacent keys.

  Further, since the other keys are not touched while sliding from the starting key to the input key as in the T9 method, erroneous input can be prevented. Further, in the T9 method, in order to distinguish between a passing key and an input key, it is necessary to continue touching the input key for a predetermined time, so that the input is stagnated for a moment, but the input panel 100 slides to the adjacent key. In this case, the input time can be shortened because the input can be confirmed at the moment when the slid finger reaches the adjacent key.

[Operation of input system]
FIG. 8 is a state transition diagram of the input system 50 when a sentence is input to the text application 63, and FIGS. 9 and 10 are flowcharts showing an operation procedure of the input system 50. When the input position 107 of the text editor 109 displayed on the touch screen 11 is touched in the block 401 of FIG. 9, the panel control unit 53 displays the character key group 101 at the default display position of the touch screen 11 (state 301). ).

  The input system 50 can set the default display position to a position where the input work is easy according to the type and display state of the text editor 109. In this state, the input system 50 accepts only tap input to the home key and slide input to the adjacent key. The input system 50 ignores the release & touch & for the home key, and also ignores the tap for the auxiliary key when the auxiliary key group 103 is displayed. At block 403, input can be initiated by touching the home key with a finger. In block 405, the panel control unit 53 determines whether tap input for the home key or slide input for the adjacent key has been performed.

  When a slide input is performed on any of the adjacent keys, the panel control unit 53 sends the key code of the input adjacent key to the candidate word prediction unit 57 in block 407. When the tap input is performed on the home key, the panel control unit 53 sends the key code of the home key to the candidate word prediction unit 57 in block 431. In block 409, the panel control unit 53 instructs the image data generation unit 55 to use the input adjacent key coordinates as new coordinates of the character key group 101. The image data generation unit 55 changes the display position of the window 105 so that the character key group 101 moves to the designated coordinates.

  Through the path from block 455 to block 403 in FIG. 10, the panel control unit 53 can send a plurality of key codes corresponding to the input character keys to the candidate word prediction unit 57. In block 411, the candidate word prediction unit 57 stores the received key codes in the key buffer 65 in order. The candidate word prediction unit 57 refers to the user dictionary 59 and the basic dictionary 61 from a plurality of character strings formed by combinations of functions of the key sequence, and predicts one or more candidate words. When the key sequence includes only one key code, characters assigned to the key code can be included in the candidate word.

  In block 413, the candidate word prediction unit 57 sends the plurality of predicted candidate words to the panel control unit 59. The number of candidate words decreases as the number of input character keys increases. The panel control unit 53 displays a plurality of candidate words received from the candidate word prediction unit 57 on the window 105 (states 303, 305, and 307). In the states 303, 305, and 307 in FIG. 8, the finger touches the home key. At this time, the state of the input system 50 does not change even if a release & touch operation is performed on the home key or a tap input is performed on the adjacent key.

  In block 415, the panel control unit 53 determines whether or not a part of the character key group 101 disappears from the screen when moving to follow new coordinates by slide input. When it is determined that it will disappear, the panel control unit 53 changes the coordinates of the character key group 101 in block 417 (state 309). At this time, the key sequence stored in the key buffer 65 is maintained. Further, the display content of the window 105 does not change, but the coordinates change according to the change of the coordinates of the character key group 101. Even if a release and touch operation is performed on the home key or a tap input is performed on the adjacent key in the state 309, the state of the input system 50 does not change. As a method for changing the coordinates of the character key group 101, there are a first method to a third method.

  In the first method, on the condition that display loss on the character key group 101 occurs, the user touches the home key with a finger and moves it to an arbitrary position by a drag and drop operation. In this case, since the finger does not leave the home key, input can be continued at the destination without breaking the rhythm. At this time, the panel control unit 53 determines that a part of the character key group 101 disappears from the screen and then slides the finger from the home key without determining the slide input to the adjacent key. Judged as a drag and drop operation to move. The panel control unit 53 can prompt the user to perform a drag-and-drop operation by changing the color of the character key group 101 or giving a vibration to the display when it is determined that a display defect occurs.

  When the panel control unit 53 determines that the character key group 101 has moved to a new coordinate having no display defect, the panel control unit 53 determines that the drag-and-drop operation has ended when the finger is released from the home key thereafter. The character key group 101 is stopped at the position. The panel control unit 53 processes the subsequent slide operation starting from the home key as a slide input for the adjacent key. In the second method, the panel control unit 53 moves the character key group 101 to the default coordinates displayed in the block 401. In the third method, the panel control unit 53 moves the character key group 101 to the coordinates moved by the minimum distance at which no display defect occurs.

  In block 451 of FIG. 10, editing may be performed by tapping any of the auxiliary keys of the auxiliary key group 103 to insert a line break, a space, or an input character. In block 453, the panel control unit 53 sends the key code of the character to be erased to the candidate word prediction unit 57 when the editing is to erase one character. The candidate word prediction unit 57 corrects the input buffer 65, predicts a candidate word for the corrected key sequence, and sends it to the panel control unit 53.

  The panel control unit 53 displays the corrected candidate word on the touch screen 11. When editing does not affect the processing of the candidate word prediction unit 57, such as line feed or space insertion, the panel control unit 53 sends an event to the text editor 109 (state 311). In the state 311, the key sequence stored in the key buffer 65 is maintained, and the state of the input system 50 does not change even if a release & touch operation is performed on the home key or a tap input is performed on the adjacent key.

  If the word that the user intended to input is displayed in the window 105 in block 455, the candidate word is tapped in block 457 to confirm the input of the word (state 313). Panel control unit 53 sends the confirmed word to text editor 109. The text editor 109 displays the received word at the input position 107. The character key input is repeated until the intended candidate word is displayed in the window 105 by the path returning from block 455 to block 403. In block 459, when the input of all words is completed, the display of the character key group 101 and the window 105 disappears when the display of the text editor 109 is turned off or a predetermined position is tapped.

  So far, the input panel 100 has been described by exemplifying the 3 × 3 character key group 101 and the T9 method, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied to other input panels such as a numeric keypad capable of slide input starting from the home key. The input panel according to the present invention is suitable for a tablet computer having a touch screen that is large enough to move the character key group 101 in the left and right and downward directions by about 4 to 5 steps, although not limited thereto.

  Further, the example in which the movement amount of the input panel 100 is set to one key has been described so far, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the center of the input panel 100 can be moved to the position of the user's finger when the key selection is confirmed, or the movement distance of the input panel 100 is limited to about 2/3 of one key, for example. Thus, the movement range of the input panel 100 can be further reduced while ensuring the visibility of the keys.

  Although the present invention has been described with the specific embodiments shown in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings, and is known so far as long as the effects of the present invention are achieved. It goes without saying that any configuration can be adopted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Tablet-type computer 50 Input system 100, 500 Input panel 101 Character key group 103 Auxiliary key group 105 Window 107 which displays a candidate word Input position 109 Text editor 201-239 Touch screen screen H Home key A1-A8 Adjacent Key S1-S3 Auxiliary key

Claims (20)

A method in which an input system displays an input panel on a touch input display operated by a finger,
Displaying the input panel including a home key and a plurality of adjacent keys on the display;
Detecting a slide input to any of the plurality of adjacent keys starting from the home key;
Moving the display position of the input panel so that the home key is displayed at the coordinates at which the slide-input adjacent key was displayed.   The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of adjacent keys is arranged around the home key so that a finger does not pass through another adjacent key during the slide input.   3. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of adjacent keys is disposed at a position where a movement distance of a finger from the home key is approximately equal.   The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the home key and the plurality of adjacent keys are arranged in a matrix in a 3x3 arrangement, and the home key is arranged in the center of the matrix. .   The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of characters or a plurality of symbols are assigned to each of the home key and the adjacent key. Repeating the movement of the input panel and slide input for the plurality of adjacent keys;
6. The method of claim 5, comprising displaying candidate words for a key sequence of input adjacent keys.   The method of claim 6, wherein displaying the candidate word comprises predicting the candidate word with a T9 input method.   The method according to claim 5, further comprising a step of performing a tap input with respect to the home key. Determining whether or not the display of the input panel is defective by moving the display position;
The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of moving the display position of the input panel to a position where no defect occurs when it is determined that a defect occurs.   The method of claim 9, wherein moving the display position includes receiving a drag and drop operation on the home key.   The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of moving the display position includes the step of moving the display panel to a position where no defect occurs in response to detecting a defect in the display position. A method in which an input system displays an input panel on a touch input display operated by a finger,
Displaying the input panel including a plurality of keys on the display;
Defining a home position in the input panel;
Detecting movement of a finger from the home position to any key;
Moving the display position of the input panel so that the home position is positioned at the destination of the finger.   The method of claim 12, wherein the home position is defined approximately in the middle of the arrangement of the plurality of keys. An electronic device including a touch screen capable of displaying an input panel composed of a plurality of keys,
An input event generation unit for recognizing the coordinates of the accessed touch screen;
A home key is defined for any of the plurality of keys, and when there is a slide input for another key starting from the home key, the home key is displayed at the coordinates where the other key is displayed. A panel controller that determines the coordinates of the input panel so that
An electronic apparatus comprising: an image data generation unit that displays the input panel at coordinates on the touch screen determined by the panel control unit.   The electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the input panel includes a character key group in which a plurality of functions are assigned to each key and an auxiliary key group in which one function is assigned to each key.   The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the character key group is displayed while a character is being input, and the auxiliary key group is called and displayed only when input is necessary.   The panel control unit determines new coordinates that can display the entire input panel when it is determined that the entire input panel cannot be displayed on the touch screen with the determined coordinates. The electronic device in any one. An input system for receiving input through a touch screen capable of displaying an input panel composed of a plurality of keys,
An input event generation unit for recognizing the coordinates of the accessed touch screen;
The coordinates at which the slide input key is displayed when a home position is defined in any of the input panels and a slide input is made to any of the plurality of keys starting from the home position A panel controller that determines the coordinates of the input panel so that the home position is positioned at
An input system comprising: an image data generation unit that displays the input panel at coordinates on the touch screen determined by the panel control unit. To a computer that receives character input from a touch-input display operated by a finger,
A function for displaying a character key group in which a home position is defined on the display;
A function for recognizing a slide input to any of the character keys starting from the home position;
A computer program for realizing a function of following and moving the display position of the character key group so that the home position is positioned at the coordinates where the character key input by the slide is displayed.   The computer program according to claim 19, wherein the home position is defined by a home key arranged at a center of the character key group, and includes a function of receiving a tap input for the home key.

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