JP3522180B2 - Character input device and method for mobile phone device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character input device and method for a mobile phone device, and more particularly to a character input device and method for improving the efficiency of character input in a mobile phone device having a mail sending / receiving function and the like and frequently using character input. Input device and method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The character input method of a conventional mobile phone device is as follows.
It is called the kana input method and will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a kana input system operation section of a conventional mobile phone device, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a kana input system character table of a conventional mobile phone device.

By pressing the character keys shown in FIG. 9, the input mode is switched from "Hiragana input mode" to "Katakana input mode" to "English character input mode" to "Numeric input mode", and then to FIG. As shown in, the "a" to "wa" stamped on the dial keys of the operation unit of the mobile phone device.
No Hiragana, English letters from "ABC" to "WXYZ", "0"
As shown in the table of FIG. 10, by referring to the numbers, “9” indicates that the key is pressed once or a plurality of times, for example, the button (dial key) 1 is pressed. "A" → "I" → "U" → "E" →
"O" → "A" and "A" if "Kana input mode" →
"I" → "U" → "E" → "O" → "A", and again
In case of "English character input mode", "A" → "B" → "C" →
The character is fixed by cyclically selecting the input character with "A" and pressing the Enter key or another key to enter another character, so that you can enter any different type of character It was.

Furthermore, when converting hiragana to kanji,
By pressing the key assigned to kanji conversion, hiragana was converted to kanji, and it was possible to confirm by pressing the enter key.

Further, different types of characters are cyclically changed from "A" to "A" to "U" to → without switching the character input mode.
"E" → "O" → "1" → "A" → "I" → "U" →
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-23261 discloses a method of changing from "e" to "o" to "a" and confirming with a registration key.

[0007]

The first problem with the above-mentioned conventional character input method for a portable telephone device is that it is very inefficient when inputting a sentence in which a plurality of character types are mixed. .

[0008] The reason for this is that the characters are input by pressing the character keys to switch the type of characters to be input.
When entering a date such as "day" or time, enter "Hiragana" → "English letters" → "Numbers" → enter numbers → "Hiragana"
→ Hiragana input → "Hiragana" → "English characters" → "Numbers"
This is because it is necessary to switch the character input mode with the character keys and input characters each time the type of input characters changes, such as → number input → "hiragana" → hiragana input.

The second problem is that depending on the characters to be input, the number of key presses is extremely large, resulting in poor input efficiency.

The reason is that one key is pressed a plurality of times to cyclically switch and input characters, and therefore it is necessary to press the key five times depending on the character. In particular, JP-A-9
In the method described in Japanese Patent No. 23261,
To input "o", press "a" → "i" → "u" → "d".
→ "o" → "1" → "a" → "i" → "u" → "e" →
It was necessary to press the "1" key 11 times to switch the character from "o".

A third problem is that after pressing a dial key to input a character, when pressing the same dial key to input a character, the enter key is always pressed, or another dial key is pressed to fix the first character. This is because the character input is inefficient because it is necessary to do so.

The reason for this is that when inputting "ai", after pressing the "1" key to display "a", the character is not confirmed once, and if the "1" key is pressed, the character "a" is displayed. This is because it will switch to "Yes".

A fourth problem is that when the user presses the key too much and passes the target character, the key must be pressed many times until the target character is input.

The reason is that pressing the "1" key causes "O".
To enter, press "A" → "I" → "U" → "E" →
I have to press the "1" key five times with "O",
If you mistakenly press the button 6 times and pass through "O" to become "A", then → "I" → "U" → "E" → "O".
This is because it is necessary to press the "1" key four times.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile phone device which improves the character input efficiency of a mobile phone by enabling different types of characters to be input with a smaller number of key presses without switching the input character mode. To provide a character input device and method.

[0016]

A character input device and method for a mobile phone device according to the present invention controls a device by a radio unit for transmitting and receiving, a display unit for displaying inputted characters and various kinds of information, and a device. The control unit and the area for storing programs and data have multiple keys imprinted on the dial keys with the first key press.
Select a character and press the second dial key to "Hiragana"
Select "Katakana" and "English characters" and decide the input character
The ROM part that stores the character table that stores the character code, the ROM part that stores the character table that stores the character code, the phonebook data, and the key that was pressed the first time A RAM section having a key code storage area to be memorized, an operation section for dialing or inputting characters, a voice input / output section for voice input / output,
When the key is pressed by the operation unit as the first key, the control unit receives the key code, and the control unit refers to the character table stored in the ROM unit to check whether the received key code is a valid key. Judge, if the key input is invalid, wait for the first key input again. If the key is valid, store the key code in the key code storage area, display the first key on the display, and then display the second key. When a key is pressed on the operation unit, the control unit receives the key code, refers to the character table stored in the ROM unit to determine whether the key is valid, and if it is invalid, the second key input is performed again. Wait, if it is a valid key, determine whether the pressed key is the confirm key, if it is the confirm key, confirm the character already displayed on the display, and if another key is pressed, key code Stored in the storage area From the key code and the key code of the key pressed the second time, the corresponding character code is obtained by referring to the character table stored in the ROM section, the character displayed on the display section is updated, and the displayed character is displayed. Is configured to determine.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a character input device and method for a portable telephone device according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the portable telephone device of the present invention controls a device such as a wireless unit 1 for transmitting and receiving, a display unit 2 for displaying inputted characters and various information as shown in FIG. Control unit 3 to perform and RO to store programs and data
An M section 4, a RAM section 5 for storing data such as a telephone directory,
It is composed of an operation unit 6 for dialing and inputting characters, and a voice input / output unit 7 for inputting and outputting voice.

The RAM section 5 is provided with a key code storage area 51 for temporarily storing the key pressed the first time.

Further, the ROM section 4 stores a character table 41 in which character codes corresponding to the first pressed key and the second pressed key are stored.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a character table according to an embodiment of a character input device and method for a portable telephone device of the present invention.

The character table 41 is shown in FIG.
Unlike what is shown in the conventional kana input method character table shown in 0, pressing one key once or multiple times does not display multiple characters cyclically, but by entering the key twice. Display characters.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the control unit in one embodiment of the character input device and method of the portable telephone device of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, the operation unit 6 is used as the first key.
When the 1 key is pressed, the control unit 3 receives the key code (step S100), and the control unit 3 refers to the character table 41 stored in the ROM unit 4 to determine whether the received key code is a valid key. If the key input is invalid, the first key input waiting is performed again. If the key is valid, the key code is stored in the key code storage area 51 (step S102), and "1" is displayed on the display unit 2 Is displayed (step S103).

[0027] When the start key is Ru pressed in the operation unit 6 as the second key, the control unit 3 receives the key code (step S104), and effective with reference to the character table 41 stored in the ROM unit 4 Key is determined (step S105), if it is an invalid key input, the second key input waiting is performed again. If it is a valid key, it is determined whether the pressed key is the confirm key (step S106), and if it is the confirm key. For example, confirm the characters already displayed on the display unit 2 (step S
109), if the other key is pressed, the key code stored in the key code storing area 51, the key code of the key pressed second time, the character table 41 stored in the ROM unit 4 To obtain the corresponding character code, update the character displayed on the display unit 2 (step S107), and confirm the displayed character (step S10).
8).

Next, the character table 41 of the portable telephone device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the operation unit of the conventional mobile phone device has characters engraved on the dial keys.

If the "2" key is used, "2", "ka", and "ABC" are engraved on the key. If the hiragana is "ka" to "ko", and if it is an English character, "A""B""C". , Katakana means that you can enter "ka" to "ko".

In the character table 41 of the portable telephone device of the embodiment of the present invention, the character is input by pressing the key twice.

FIG. 4 is a view showing valid / invalid buttons at the time of inputting hiragana characters in one embodiment of the character input device and method of the mobile phone device of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is the character input of the mobile phone device of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a valid / invalid button at the time of inputting an alphabetic character in one embodiment of the device and method, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing valid / invalid at the time of katakana input in one embodiment of the character input device and method of the mobile phone device of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an invalid button.

FIG. 4 shows Hiragana, FIG. 5 shows English characters, and FIG. 6 shows valid and invalid keys at the first and second key depressions when inputting Katakana.

As is apparent from the valid keys shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the first key to be pressed refers to the characters engraved on this dial key, and the character to be input is engraved. Press the key.

When inputting hiragana, the key with hiragana is pressed, when inputting the alphabet, the key with engraved letter is pressed, and when the katakana is input, the key with hiragana is pushed.

As is apparent from the effective keys shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the keys to be pressed a second time are divided into three columns of dial keys of the portable telephone device, and the keys in each column are in hiragana, It is assigned to English letters and Katakana.

The assigned keys in the first column are, in order from the top,
Characters imprinted on the key pressed the first time or a plurality of characters represented by the characters are assigned.

That is, when the "2" key is pressed for the first time, the "start", "1", "4",
If you press "7" or "*" to select hiragana, "ka", "ki", "ku", "ke",
"K" is input, and when any one of the keys "2", "5", "8" in the center row is pressed as the second key, "A", "B", "C" are input. , And as the second key, the keys in the right column "Power", "3", "6",
When any one of the keys "9" and "#" is pressed, "f", "ki", "ku", "ke" and "ko" are input respectively.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a valid / invalid button at the time of inputting a numeral in one embodiment of the character input device and method of the portable telephone device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows the valid and invalid keys for the first and second times when a number is entered. When entering a number, press the key marked with the number you want to enter the first time and confirm the second time. A number is entered by pressing the key.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a comparison between an embodiment of a character input device and method for a mobile phone device according to the present invention and a conventional kana input method.

FIG. 8 is a comparison between the case where the character string "February" is input by the mobile phone device adopting the conventional kana input method and the mobile phone device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the conventional kana input method, the character key is pressed three times to switch from the hiragana input mode to input "2" to the hiragana → katakana → alphabet → numeric mode and the character input mode. After inputting "2", the character key must be pressed once in order to switch between the number → hiragana mode and the character input mode.

In addition, in order to input "tsu", it is necessary to press the "4" key three times, "ta" → "chi" → "tsu". Therefore, to input "February" using the conventional kana input method, "character (kana)" → "character (alphabet)" → "character (number)" → "2" → "character (hiragana)" → "4"
→ "4 (chi)" → "4 (tsu)" → "2 (ka)" → "2
It is necessary to press the key 12 times in order of (ki) ”→ (kanji conversion) →“ confirm ”.

Since it is not necessary to switch the character input mode in the character input device and method of the portable telephone device of the present invention,
To enter "February", enter "2" → "Confirm" → "4" →
Input can be made by pressing the key eight times, such as "4", "2", "1", Kanji conversion, and "Confirm".

As described above, the character input device and method of the mobile phone device of the present invention can perform character input more efficiently than the character input of the conventional mobile phone device.

Further, as another embodiment of the present invention, a conventional kana input method character table, the present invention character table, and a single dedicated key for switching the character input method (a character key may be used) Is provided, and by pressing the special key for switching, the character input method can be switched off,
By enabling the conventional kana input, the character input of the present invention can be used in addition to the conventional character input method.

[0047]

As described above, the first effect of the character input device and method of the portable telephone device of the present invention is that different kinds of characters can be input without switching the input mode.

The reason is that by pressing the second key,
This is because "Hiragana", "English characters" and "Katakana" can be selected.

The second effect is that the number of key presses for character input can be reduced.

The reason for this is that in the conventional kana input method, "A" to "O" are entered by pressing the key a plurality of times, so it is necessary to press the key a maximum of 5 times.
The character input device and method of the mobile phone device according to the present invention uses two keys.
This is because the character can be entered by pressing it twice.

The third effect is that it is not necessary to press the confirm key to confirm the character, and the character can be efficiently input.

The reason is that the character to be input is always displayed by pressing the key twice, and it is not necessary to press the enter key to enter the character. This is because you can enter characters by pressing.

The fourth effect is that, compared with the conventional kana input method, the chance of inducing an error such as pressing a key too much can be reduced.

The reason for this is that in the conventional kana input method, one key is pressed multiple times to cyclically change the characters to be input, so it is easy to induce mistakes such as pressing 5 times 6 times. This is because the character input device and method of the mobile phone device of the invention always inputs a character by pressing the key twice.

The fifth effect is that the character input device and method of the portable telephone device of the present invention can be used in combination with the existing character input method by switching.

The reason can be realized without changing the key arrangement of the conventional portable telephone device and the numbers, hiragana, and English characters engraved on the keys, so that the conventional kana input method character table and the present invention can be used. By providing the character table and the character input method switching key, it is possible to easily switch between the conventional character input method and the character input method of the mobile phone device of the present invention at the time of character input.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a character input device and method of a mobile phone device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a character table according to an embodiment of a character input device and method of a mobile phone device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit in the embodiment of the character input device and method of the mobile phone device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a valid / invalid button at the time of hiragana input in the embodiment of the character input device and method of the mobile phone device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing valid / invalid buttons at the time of inputting English characters in the embodiment of the character input device and method of the mobile phone device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a valid / invalid button at the time of katakana input in the embodiment of the character input device and method of the mobile phone device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing valid / invalid buttons at the time of inputting numbers in one embodiment of the character input device and method of the mobile phone device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a comparison between an embodiment of a character input device and method of a mobile phone device of the present invention and a conventional kana input method.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a kana input method operation unit of a conventional mobile phone device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a kana input method character table of a conventional mobile phone device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 radio section 2 Display 3 control unit 4 ROM section 5 RAM section 6 Operation part 7 Voice input / output section 41 character table 51 Key code storage area

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Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. In a mobile telephone device in which hiragana or English characters are engraved on a dial key, a plurality of characters engraved on the dial key are selected by the first key depression, and "hiragana" is depressed by the second key depression. A character input device for a mobile phone device, which is equipped with a character table adapted to select "Katakana" and "English characters" and determine input characters. Hiragana and the wherein the operation unit dial keys, alphabetic characters are engraved, switch the character type to be input by a single dedicated key, by pressing in succession the dial keys to enter have use the character table A character input method for selecting characters and selecting multiple characters engraved on the dial keys by pressing the first key and selecting and inputting "Hiragana", "Katakana" and "English characters" by pressing the second dial key A character input device for a mobile phone device, wherein a character input method for inputting characters using a character table adapted to determine characters and a character input method switching key for instructing are switched. Hiragana and the wherein the operation unit dial keys, alphabetic characters are engraved, switch the character type to be input by a single dedicated key, by pressing in succession the dial keys to enter have use the character table A character input method for selecting characters and selecting multiple characters engraved on the dial keys by pressing the first key and selecting and inputting "Hiragana", "Katakana" and "English characters" by pressing the second dial key A character input method for a mobile phone device, wherein a character input method for inputting characters using a character table adapted to determine characters and a character input method switching key for instructing are switched. 4. Dial keys in three vertical columns of a mobile phone device are assigned to hiragana, alphabet, and katakana for each row of keys, and each key of the row is engraved on the key pressed first from top to bottom. Allocate multiple characters or multiple characters represented by engraved characters, refer to the characters engraved on the key with the key you press the first time, press the key on which the character you want to enter is pressed, and then enter the hiragana, alphabet, Katakana sentence
When entering characters , press the second key to determine the type of hiragana, alphabet, or katakana among the characters engraved on the selected key, and change the input character mode without changing the input character mode. Select, enter the character, and enter the number.
If you can, by pressing the enter key in the second key input, character input device of the mobile phone device, characterized in that to enter a number that has been imprinted on the dial key you press for the first time. 5. The dial keys in the vertical three rows of the mobile phone device are assigned to hiragana, alphabet and katakana for each row of keys, and each key of the row is engraved on the key pressed first from top to bottom. Allocate multiple characters or multiple characters represented by engraved characters, refer to the characters engraved on the key with the key you press the first time, press the key on which the character you want to enter is pressed, and then enter the hiragana, alphabet, Katakana sentence
When entering characters , press the second key to determine the type of hiragana, alphabet, or katakana among the characters engraved on the selected key, and change the input character mode without changing the input character mode. Select, enter the character, and enter the number.
If you can, by pressing the enter key in the second key input, character input method for a mobile telephone device according to claim to enter a number that has been imprinted on the dial key you press for the first time. 6. A wireless unit for transmitting and receiving, a display unit for displaying inputted characters and various kinds of information, a control unit for controlling the apparatus, and a first area in an area for storing programs and data .
Pressing a key selects multiple characters engraved on the dial key.
And pressing the dial key for the second time will cause "Hiragana" and "Kataka"
Select "Na" and "English characters" and determine the input characters.
RO that stores the character table that stores the character code
The M section, the RAM section having a key code storage area for storing the data of the telephone directory and temporarily storing the key pressed the first time, the operation section for dialing and character input, and the voice input / output. and a voice output unit for performing, when key operation unit as a first key is pressed, the control unit receives the key code, before the controller stored in the ROM unit
Judge whether the received key code is a valid key by referring to the notation table, and if it is an invalid key input, wait for the first key input again, and if it is a valid key, store the key code in the key code storage area. Then, when the first key is displayed on the display unit and the key is pressed on the operation unit as the second key,
The control unit receives the key code, refers to the character table stored in the ROM unit to determine whether the key is valid, and if the key is invalid, waits for the second key input again,
If it is a valid key, it is determined whether the pressed key is the confirm key, if it is the confirm key, the character already displayed on the display is confirmed, and if another key is pressed, the key code storage area ROM section A character input device for a mobile phone device, wherein a corresponding character code is acquired by referring to the character table stored in, the character displayed on the display unit is updated, and the displayed character is fixed. 7. The control unit receives a key code when the key is pressed by the operation unit as the first key, and the control unit receives the RO code.
Pressing the first key stored in the M section will bring up the dial key
Select multiple engraved characters and press the second dial key
Select "Hiragana", "Katakana" and "English characters" below and enter
Determines whether the received key code is a valid key by referring to the character table that is used to determine force characters. If it is an invalid key input, wait for the first key input again, and if it is a valid key, enter the key code. Store the key code in the storage area,
Is displayed on the display unit the first key, when the key is pressed on the operation section as a second key, the control unit receives the key code, a valid key by referring to the character table stored in the ROM unit If it is an invalid key input, it waits for the second key input again. If it is a valid key, it is determined whether the pressed key is the confirm key. If it is the confirm key, the character already displayed on the display is confirmed. finalized, if another key is pressed, the key code stored key code stored in the area, from the key code of the key pressed a second time, by referring to the character table stored in the ROM unit A character input method for a mobile phone device, characterized in that the corresponding character code is acquired, the character displayed on the display unit is updated, and the displayed character is confirmed.