JP5136916B2 - Character input method, character input device, and character input program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a character input method, a character input device, and a character input program, and more particularly, to a character input method, a character input device, and a character input program using numeric keys and left / right / up / down cursor keys. It can be suitably applied not only to mobile phones, but also to portable business terminals, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), fixed phones, etc. that do not have enough space to place Kana characters (Aiueo) keys and alphabetic keys (ABC). .

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in electronic devices such as portable terminals, various attempts have been made to save space by suppressing the increase in the number of keystrokes during character input and reducing the number of character input keys and control keys. It has been broken. For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-323949, “Document input system using keyboard and electronic device equipped with the system” in Patent Document 1, it can be applied to a portable terminal in which downsizing of a cellular phone or the like is essential. 13 for inputting five data keys for inputting numbers, alphabetic characters, kana characters, etc. and control information for character input mode designation, incoming / outgoing call / holding, mail transmission / reception, etc. An example using only one control key is described.

  The character input method in the electronic device described in Patent Document 1 is operated as follows. That is, first, the menu key of the control key is pressed to open the menu screen, and an item for designating the character input mode is selected by pressing any of the data keys. Next, the control keys that can be designated by switching the character input mode in the order of hiragana, katakana, alphabetic characters, numbers, and the like are continuously pressed until the desired character input mode is switched. By this operation, the character input mode is confirmed.

  After that, by hitting any one of the five data keys one or more times, the character corresponding to the character input mode set previously is selected from the character group assigned to the key that is keyed. A group is selected, and an instruction to extract characters corresponding to the number of keystrokes is given. By this operation, a desired character is displayed.

JP 2002-323949 A (page 5-7)

  The conventional technique such as Patent Document 1 has an advantage that it can save space by reducing the number of input keys for inputting characters, but a character input mode is set in advance. Therefore, it is necessary to perform an input operation of a desired character after performing the operation for this, and the number of keystrokes increases, and there is a problem in operability.

(Object of the present invention)
An object of the present invention is made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to input a desired character by using only a numeric keypad and up / down / left / right cursor keys without setting or changing a character input mode in advance. It is an object of the present invention to provide a character input method, a character input device, and a character input program.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the character input method, character input device, and character input program according to the present invention mainly adopt the following characteristic configuration.

  (1) A character input method according to the present invention is a character input method for inputting a desired arbitrary character using a numeric keypad and up / down / left / right cursor keys, wherein the numeric keypad is a key for inputting a number or a symbol. The up / down / left / right cursor key is assigned as a character switching key for switching a number or symbol input by pressing the previous numeric keypad to a character assigned in advance to the numeric keypad.

  (2) A character input device according to the present invention is a character input device for inputting a desired arbitrary character using a numeric keypad and up / down / left / right cursor keys, wherein the numeric keypad is a key for inputting a number or a symbol. The up / down / left / right cursor key is assigned as a character switching key for switching a number or symbol input by pressing the previous numeric keypad to a character assigned in advance to the numeric keypad.

  (3) A character input program according to the present invention is characterized in that the character input method described in (2) is implemented as a program executable by a computer.

  According to the character input method, character input device, and character input program of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  Press any key on the numeric keypad to display the number or symbol corresponding to the key, and then select the desired kana character from among the kana characters and alphabetic characters assigned to the pressed numeric keypad. By pressing the up / down / left / right cursor keys with the character switching key function for the number of times of pressing determined in order or in reverse order according to the order in which alphabetical characters are assigned, the displayed numbers or symbols can be changed to desired kana characters. Since it can be displayed by switching to English, etc., even if it is a character input device that does not have enough space to place Kana characters (Aiueo) keys and English keys (ABC), Kana characters, English characters, numbers, etc. Therefore, there is no need to set or change a character input mode for designating which of the characters to be input, and character input can be performed efficiently.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of the character input device which concerns on this invention. 3 is a table showing an example of a key setting table set in advance for characters / symbols assigned to each key of the numeric keypad of FIG. 1 and character switching key functions assigned to each key of the up / down / left / right cursor keys. is there. It is a transition table for demonstrating an example of the operation | movement at the time of the character input in the character input device of FIG. The character / symbol assigned to each key of the numeric keypad of the character input device of FIG. 1 and the character switching key function assigned to each key of the up / down / left / right cursor keys are different from those in FIG. It is a table which shows an example.

  Preferred embodiments of a character input method, character input device, and character input program according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, a character input method and a character input device according to the present invention will be described. However, the character input method may be implemented as a character input program executable by a computer, or a character input method. Needless to say, the program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

(Features of the present invention)
Prior to the description of the embodiments of the present invention, an outline of the features of the present invention will be described first. In the prior art, when a character is input using a numeric keypad in a character input device that does not have a space for placing a Kana character (Aiueo) key or an English character key (ABC), such as a cellular phone, a character input mode It is troublesome to input after deciding. For example, if the “4” key is pressed three times, “T” will be displayed if the Kana input mode has been set, “I” will be displayed if the Kanji input mode has been set, and the number mode will be set. If it has been, “444” is displayed.

  The present invention does not provide a character input mode for designating any character type such as kana character, alphabetic character, or numeric mode as the character type to be input. It is characterized by being able to input.

  More specifically, the present invention provides a combination of a numeric keypad and up / down / left / right cursor keys, as described below, by pressing down the up / down / left / right cursor keys immediately after pressing a numeric keypad for displaying numbers or symbols. The displayed character can be changed by pressing the numeric keypad.

  For example, when the right cursor key is pressed, kana characters assigned corresponding to the numeric key pressed immediately before are displayed in order according to the number of times the key is pressed. When the left cursor key is pressed, the kana characters assigned corresponding to the numeric key pressed immediately before are displayed in reverse order according to the number of times of pressing. On the other hand, when the down cursor key is pressed, alphabetic characters assigned corresponding to the numeric key pressed immediately before are displayed in order according to the number of times of pressing. When the up cursor key is pressed, the alphabetic characters assigned to the numeric key pressed immediately before are displayed in reverse order according to the number of times the key is pressed.

  Alternatively, if the left and right cursor key character switching key functions are switched and the left cursor key is pressed, depending on the number of presses, the kana characters assigned corresponding to the numeric keypad that was pressed immediately before are displayed in order, When the right cursor key is pressed, depending on the number of times the key is pressed, the kana characters assigned corresponding to the numeric key pressed immediately before may be displayed in reverse order. In addition, when the character switching key function of the upper and lower cursor keys is switched and the upper cursor key is pressed, the alphabetic characters assigned to the numeric keypad that was pressed immediately before are displayed in order according to the number of times the key is pressed. When the cursor key is pressed, the letters assigned corresponding to the numeric key pressed immediately before may be displayed in reverse order according to the number of times of pressing.

  Alternatively, if the character switching key function of the left and right cursor keys and the up and down cursor keys is switched and the down or up cursor key is pressed, the kana characters assigned to the numeric keypad that was pressed immediately before will be assigned according to the number of times the key is pressed. Are displayed in order or in reverse order, and when the right or left cursor key is pressed, the letters assigned to the numeric keypad that was pressed immediately before are displayed in order or in reverse order, depending on the number of presses. May be.

  Alternatively, the kana characters and the alphabets may be displayed in order without separating the kana characters from the alphabets. For example, when the down or up cursor key is pressed, Kana characters and alphabetic characters assigned to the pressed numeric keypad may be displayed in order or in reverse order.

  Furthermore, when the right or left cursor key is pressed, depending on the number of times the key is pressed, kana characters and alphabetic characters assigned to the numeric keypad that was pressed immediately before may be displayed in order or in reverse order. good.

(Configuration example of embodiment)
Next, a configuration example of the character input device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of a character input device according to the present invention. Like a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, a Kana character key or an alphabet key (ABC) is arranged as a character input device. This shows a case where there is not enough space, and the ten key 1, up / down / left / right cursor key 2 and enter key 3 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the numeric keypad 1 has a total of 12 numeric keys of “1”, “2”,..., “9”, “0” and symbol keys of “*”, “#”. There are 10 keys from “A” to “WA” for each of the 10 numeric keys from “1”, “2”, ˜, “9”, “0”. 5 kana characters are allocated (but more if lowercase and katakana characters are included), and multiple (3-4) alphabetic characters (6-8 when combined with uppercase and lowercase letters) and multiple The symbol is assigned. A plurality of symbols are also assigned to each of the symbol keys “*” and “#”. However, each key of the numeric keypad 1 is displayed by pressing the numbers “1”, “2”, “−9”, “0” or the symbol “*” corresponding to the key imprinted on the upper left of each key. ”And“ # ”are displayed, and kana characters, alphabetic characters, and symbols are not displayed on the upper right or lower side of each key.

  On the other hand, the up / down / left / right cursor key 2 shown in FIG. 1 has a function of switching numbers, kana characters, alphabets, and symbols assigned to each key of the numeric keypad 1 in the assigned order or in the reverse order. Key. For example, the numbers “1”, “2”,..., “9”, “0” or the symbols “*”, “#” displayed by the pressing operation immediately before any key of the numeric keypad 1 are assigned to the key. When you want to change to Kana characters, English letters, or symbols that are engraved on the upper right or lower side, you can change the number of the up, down, left, and right cursor keys 2 in the order assigned to the key or in the reverse order. By pressing any key, the displayed numbers “1”, “2”,..., “9”, “0” or the symbols “*”, “#” are changed to a desired character ( Kana characters, English letters, and symbols) can be switched and displayed.

  In the embodiment described below, a case where the character switching key function of the up / down / left / right cursor key 2 is assigned as follows will be described. Of the up / down / left / right cursor keys 2, the right cursor key switches the number or symbol assigned to each key of the numeric keypad 1 and the kana characters (including lower case letters such as prompt sounds) according to the number of pressings. The Kana character sequence switching key, and the left cursor key is the number or symbol assigned to each key of the numeric keypad 1 and the kana characters (including lower case letters such as sound prompts) according to the number of times the key is pressed. Is a character reverse order switching key for switching in reverse order. Of the up / down / left / right cursor keys 2, the down cursor key switches the number or symbol assigned to each key of the numeric keypad 1 and the alphabet (upper case, lower case) or symbol according to the number of times of pressing. The upper cursor key is in reverse order to the number or symbol assigned to each key of the numeric keypad 1 and the alphabet (upper case, lower case) or symbol according to the number of times the key is pressed. This is a reverse alphabetic order switching key.

  However, the character switching key function of the up / down / left / right cursor key 2 in the character input device according to the present invention is not limited to this case.

  For example, reverse the assignment of the Kana character sequence switch key and the Kana character reverse sequence switch key of the left and right cursor keys described above, assign the right cursor key to the Kana character reverse sequence switch key, and assign the left cursor key to the Kana character sequence switch key. It is also possible to reverse the assignment of the alphabetical switching key and the reverse alphabetic switching key of the up and down cursor keys described above, assign the lower cursor key to the alphabetic reverse switching key, and assign the upper cursor key to the alphabetic sequential switching key. Also good.

  Alternatively, of the up / down / left / right cursor keys 2, the assignment of the left / right cursor keys and the up / down cursor keys is reversed, the right cursor key is assigned to the alphabet sequential switching key or the alphabet reverse switching key, and the left cursor key is assigned to the alphabet reverse switching key or Alternatively, it may be assigned to the alphabetical sequential switching key, while being assigned to the Kana character sequential switching key or the Kana character reverse switching key of the lower cursor key, and to the Kana character reverse switching key or the Kana character sequential switching key of the upper cursor key.

  Alternatively, as the character switching key function of the up / down / left / right cursor key 2, in some cases, the function of displaying in reverse order is deleted so that only the forward display is performed, and both the right cursor key and the left cursor key are sequentially switched. It is possible to assign only to the key, and either the lower cursor key or the upper cursor key may be assigned only to the alphabetical sequential switching key, or the forward assignment is reversed between the left and right cursor keys and the up and down cursor keys, Both the right cursor key and the left cursor key may be assigned only to the alphabetical sequential switching key, and both the lower cursor key and the upper cursor key may be allocated only to the Kana character sequential switching key.

  Alternatively, the character switching key function of the up / down / left / right cursor key 2 is not separated into a kana character sequential (reverse order) switching key and an alphabetic sequential (reverse order) switching key; The symbols, kana characters, and all alphabetic characters may be switched and displayed in the order in which they are assigned (or in the reverse order of the assigned order).

  For example, when numbers or symbols, kana characters, alphabetic characters or symbols are assigned to each key of the numeric keypad 1, after pressing any key of the numeric keypad 1, pressing the right cursor key or the lower cursor key Then, in accordance with the number of times of pressing, the numbers or symbols assigned to the key are sequentially displayed in the order of kana characters, letters or symbols, and any key on the numeric keypad 1 is pressed. After that, if you press the left cursor key or the up cursor key, the number or symbol assigned to the key will be changed to the alphabetic character or symbol, or the kana character in accordance with the number of times the key is pressed (that is, in reverse order of the assigned order). You may make it switch and display.

  Here, after switching the character switching key functions of the right cursor key or the down cursor key, the left cursor key or the up cursor key, and pressing any key of the numeric keypad 1, the left cursor key or the up cursor When the key is pressed, the number or symbol assigned to the key is switched in order from the number or symbol to the kana character, alphabetic character, or symbol. If you press the right cursor key or the down cursor key after pressing the key, the number or symbol assigned to the key will change from the number or symbol assigned to the key in the order of letters, symbols, or kana characters (that is, the assigned order). May be switched and displayed.

  Alternatively, instead of the combination of the right cursor key or the down cursor key and the left cursor key or the up cursor key as described above, a combination of the left and right cursor keys and the up and down cursor keys is used. Or, if the symbols, kana characters, alphabetic characters, or symbols are assigned in that order, pressing any key of the numeric keypad 1 and then pressing the right cursor key or left cursor key The numbers and symbols assigned to the keys are switched in order from the number or symbol to the kana, alphabetic or symbol, and after pressing any key on the numeric keypad 1, the down cursor key or the up cursor key If you press, the number or symbol assigned to the key will change to an alphabetic character or symbol The order of the Kana characters may be going to display (and that is assigned the order is reversed to) switched.

  Here, after switching the character switching key functions of the right cursor key, left cursor key, down cursor key, or up cursor key and pressing any key of the numeric keypad 1, the down cursor key or up cursor When the key is pressed, the number or symbol assigned to the key is switched in order from the number or symbol to the kana character, alphabetic character, or symbol. If you press the right cursor key or the left cursor key after pressing the key, the number or symbol assigned to the key will change from the number or symbol assigned to the key in the order of letters, symbols, or kana characters (that is, the assigned order). May be switched and displayed.

  In addition, you may be able to enter numbers and alphabetic characters in half-width as well as full-width characters, you may be able to enter not only kana characters but also katakana characters (full-width and half-width), and not only English characters. It is also possible to enable input including characters in other languages.

(Description of operation of embodiment)
Next, an example of the operation of the character input device shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a key setting table in which characters / symbols assigned to each key of the numeric keypad 1 of FIG. 1 and character switching key functions assigned to each key of the up / down / left / right cursor keys 2 are set in advance. It is a table which shows an example. FIG. 3 is a transition table for explaining an example of the operation at the time of character input in the character input device of FIG. 1. Character input “Heisei 22 Nen” is input using the key setting table assigned as shown in FIG. An example of a key pressing operation order when performing the above is shown.

  First, the key setting table in FIG. 2 will be described. The key setting table shown in FIG. 2 illustrates a part of the numeric keypad. The numeric keys “1”, “2”,..., “9”, “0”, the symbol key “*”, Among the “#”, the numerical keys “1”, “2”,..., “9”, “0”, the character / symbol assigned to each key in order It is divided into letters and letters and shown in order. For example, for Kana characters assigned to the numeric key “1”, “1”, “A”, “I”, “U”, “E”, “O”, “A”, “I”, For the alphabetic characters assigned to the numeric key “1” in the order of “ぅ”, “e”, “ぉ”, “1”, “.”, “@” Are used as symbols for alphabetic characters. , “−”, “_”. The kana characters assigned to the numeric key “2” are assigned in the order of “2”, “ka”, “ki”, “ku”, “ke”, “ko”. The alphabetic characters assigned to the number key “2” are assigned in the order of “2”, “A”, “B”, “C”, “a”, “b”, “c”.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2, as described above, as the character switching key function assigned to each of the up / down / left / right cursor keys 2, the right cursor key is a kana character sequential switching key, and the left cursor key is a kana character. This is a reverse order switching key, the lower cursor key is an alphabetical sequential switching key, and the upper cursor key is an alphabetic reverse order switching key.

  In other words, as shown in the right cursor key column 11 of FIG. 2, for example, in the case of the numeric key “1” of the numeric keypad 1, “A”, “I”, “U” depending on the number of times the right cursor key is pressed. , “E”, “o”, “a”, “i”, “ぅ”, “e”, “ぉ”, the kana characters will be displayed sequentially from “1”, Depending on the number of times the left cursor key is pressed, “ぉ”, “e”, “ぅ”, “i”, “a”, “o”, “e”, “u”, “i”, “a” The display of the kana characters is sequentially switched from “1” to the reverse order.

  Also, as shown in the lower cursor key column 12 of FIG. 2, for example, in the case of the numeric key “2” of the numeric keypad 1, “A”, “B”, “C” are selected according to the number of times the lower cursor key is pressed. , “A”, “b”, and “c” are displayed in the order of “2”, and the letters “c” and “b” are displayed according to the number of times the up cursor key is pressed. , “A”, “C”, “B”, “A”, the alphabetical characters are switched from “2” in reverse order.

  That is, as shown in the right cursor key column 11 or the lower cursor key column 12 of FIG. 2, for example, when the numeric key “2” of the numeric keypad 1 is first pressed, the first character (number) “2” is displayed. The After that, when the right cursor key, which is a character sequence switching key, is pressed twice in succession, the kana character assignment order when the “numerical key” in FIG. 2 is “2” is shown in the right cursor key field in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, since “2”, “ka”, “ki”, “ku”, “ke”, “ko” are in this order, “2” is switched to the display of the first character “ka”. After that, “ka” is displayed by switching to the next character “ki”.

  Thereafter, when the numeric key “9” of the numeric keypad 1 is pressed, “ki 9” is displayed. Further, when the left cursor key, which is a Kana character reverse order switching key, is pressed once, the Kana character assignment order when the “Numeric key” in FIG. 2 is “9” is displayed in the right cursor key column 11 in FIG. As shown, the order of “9”, “ra”, “ri”, “ru”, “re”, “ro” is the order of the character “9” displayed at the cursor position in the reverse order. The kana character “RO” is changed, and “KI 9” is switched to “KIRO” and displayed.

  Thereafter, when the numeric key “7” of the numeric keypad 1 is pressed, “Kiro 7” is displayed. Furthermore, when the lower cursor key, which is an alphabetic sequential switching key, is pressed once, the alphabetical order when the “numerical key” in FIG. 2 is “7” is as shown in the lower cursor key column 12 in FIG. Are in the order of “7”, “P”, “Q”, “R”, “S”, “p”, “q”, “r”, “s”, and are displayed at the cursor position. The character “7” is changed to the first letter “P”, and “Kiro 7” is switched to “Kiro P” for display.

  Thereafter, when the numeric key “6” of the numeric keypad 1 is pressed, “Kiro P6” is displayed. Further, when the upper cursor key, which is a reverse alphabetical order switching key, is pressed twice in succession, the alphabetical assignment order in the case where the “numerical key” in FIG. 2 is “6” is displayed in the lower cursor key column 12 in FIG. As shown, since the order is “6”, “M”, “N”, “O”, “m”, “n”, “o”, the character “6” displayed at the cursor position Is changed to the first letter “o” in the reverse order and then changed to the next letter “n” in the reverse order, and “Kiro P6” is finally changed from “Kiro Po” to “Kiro Pn”. Will be displayed.

  Next, using the transition table of FIG. 3, the key pressing operation sequence when the character input “Heisei 22 Nen” is performed according to the key setting table of FIG. 2 will be described. The transition table of FIG. 3 includes an order column 21 indicating the pressing operation order of the numeric keypad 1 or the up / down / left / right cursor key 2 of the character input device, a key input column 22 indicating a key to be pressed, and a display column 23 indicating a displayed character. It has become.

  As shown in “1” in the order column 21 of the transition table in FIG. 3, first, when the numeric key “6” of the numeric keypad 1 is pressed, “6” is displayed as shown in the display column 23. After that, when the left cursor key, which is the Kana character reverse order switching key, is pressed twice in succession, first, as shown by “2” in the order column 21, “6” displayed at the cursor position is in reverse order. After switching to the display of the first kana character “ho”, “ho” is further switched to the display of the next kana character “to” in reverse order as indicated by “3” in the order column 21.

  Thereafter, when the numeric key “1” of the numeric keypad 1 is pressed as indicated by “4” in the order field 21, “He” is displayed as indicated by the display field 23. Further, when the right cursor key, which is a kana character sequential switching key, is pressed twice in succession, first, as indicated by “5” in the order column 21, “1” displayed at the cursor position is the first kana. After the character “a” is displayed and “hea” is displayed, “a” is switched to the next kana character “i” as indicated by “6” in the order column 21. Will be displayed.

  Thereafter, when the numeric key “3” of the numeric keypad 1 is pressed down as indicated by “7” in the order column 21, “Hei 3” is displayed as indicated in the display column 23. Furthermore, when the left cursor key, which is the Kana character reverse order switching key, is pressed twice in succession, first, as indicated by “8” in the order column 21, “3” displayed at the cursor position is the first in the reverse order. After switching to the display of the kana character “SO” and displaying “HEISO”, as shown by “9” in the order column 21, “K” is the next kana character “SE” in the reverse order. The display changes to “Heisei”.

  Thereafter, when the numeric key “1” of the numeric keypad 1 is pressed as indicated by “10” in the order field 21, “Heise 1” is displayed as indicated by the display field 23. Further, when the right cursor key, which is a kana character sequential switching key, is pressed twice in succession, first, as indicated by “11” in the order column 21, “1” displayed at the cursor position is the first kana. After switching to the display of the character “a” and displaying “heisea”, “a” is displayed as the next kana character “i” as indicated by “12” in the order field 21. The display switches to “Heisei”.

  Thereafter, when the numeric key “2” of the numeric keypad 1 is pressed as indicated by “13” in the order field 21, “Heisei 2” is displayed as indicated by the display field 23. Further, when the numeric key “2” of the numeric keypad 1 is pressed as shown by “14” in the order column 21, “Heisei 22” is displayed as shown in the display column 23. As described above, when the up / down / left / right cursor key 2 is not pressed after the numeric key 1 is pressed, the number or symbol assigned to the top of the numeric key 1 is displayed.

  Thereafter, when the numeric key “5” of the numeric keypad 1 is pressed down as indicated by “15” in the order column 21, “Heisei 225” is displayed as indicated in the display column 23. Further, when the left cursor key, which is the reverse character switching key, is pressed twice in succession, first, as indicated by “16” in the order column 21, “5” displayed at the cursor position is the first in the reverse order. After switching to the display of the kana character “no”, the display of “Heisei 22” is displayed, and then, as indicated by “17” in the order column 21, “no” is the next kana character “in reverse order”. “Ne” is displayed, and “Neighbor 22” is displayed.

  After that, when the numeric key “0” of the numeric keypad 1 is pressed down as indicated by “18” in the order field 21, “Heisei 22 Ne 0” is displayed as indicated in the display field 23. Furthermore, when the right cursor key, which is a kana character sequential switching key, is pressed down three times in succession, first, as shown by “19” in the order column 21, “0” displayed at the cursor position is the first kana. After switching to the display of the character “WA” and displaying “HEISEI 22 NEWA”, as indicated by “20” in the order field 21, “WA” is the next kana character “O”. The display is switched to “Heisei 22 Ne”, and as shown by “21” in the order column 21, “to” is switched to the next kana character “n” and “Heisei” is displayed. “22 years” is displayed.

(Explanation of effect of embodiment)
As described above, in the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  In the present embodiment, there is an effect that a desired character can be displayed without having to input or change an input mode for specifying an input character type such as Kana characters, English characters, and numbers in advance. It is done. The reason for this is that after inputting a number or symbol with the numeric keypad 1, the number or symbol entered with the numeric keypad 1 is changed to a desired kana character, alphabetic character or symbol by using the up / down / left / right cursor keys 2 having a character switching key function. Because it can.

  That is, in the case of the character input method according to the present embodiment, after pressing any key of the numeric keypad 1, the up / down / left / right cursor key 2 having the character switching key function is changed to the right cursor key or the kana character sequential switching key. Depending on the number of times the left cursor key, which is the Kana character reverse order switching key, is pressed, the Kana characters assigned to the pressed numeric keypad are switched in the order of assignment or in reverse order, and the alphabetical order is switched. Depending on the number of times the down cursor key (upper key) or up cursor key (upper character switching key) is pressed, the alphabetic characters assigned to the pressed numeric keypad can be switched and displayed in order of assignment or reverse order of assignment. Space, just place a Kana character (Aiueo) key or English key (ABC). Even if it is a character input device that does not have a character, there is no need to set or change the character input mode to specify whether Kana characters, alphabetic characters, or numbers are input in advance, and characters can be efficiently Input can be made.

  In the key setting table of FIG. 2 described above, for the up / down / left / right cursor key 2 having the character switching key function, the left / right cursor key is used as the kana character switching key function and the up / down cursor key is used as the alphabet switching key function. As described above, the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, as shown in the key setting table of FIG. 4, all the kana characters and alphabetic characters are assigned to each key of the numeric keypad 1. Depending on the number of times the right cursor key or left cursor key (or lower cursor key or upper cursor key, not shown) is pressed, the characters are switched in order or in reverse order according to the order in which they are displayed. Anyway.

  FIG. 4 is a key setting table in which characters / symbols assigned to each key of the numeric keypad 1 of FIG. 1 and character switching key functions assigned to each key of the up / down / left / right cursor keys 2 are set in advance. It is a table which shows the example different from FIG. In the key setting table of FIG. 4, instead of dividing into right cursor key column 11 and lower cursor key column 12 as in the case of the key setting table of FIG. The case where the key column 31 is set collectively is shown.

  In other words, in the key setting table of FIG. 4, by pressing any key of the numeric keypad 1 to display numbers or symbols, only the right cursor key or the left cursor key is pressed (or the lower cursor). Only by pressing the key or the up cursor key), depending on the number of times of pressing, the characters can be switched to kana characters, alphabetic characters or symbols assigned to the key of the numeric keypad 1 in order or in reverse order.

  The configuration of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, it should be noted that such examples are merely illustrative of the invention and do not limit the invention in any way. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that various modifications and changes can be made according to a specific application without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 Numeric keypad 2 Up / down / left / right cursor key 3 Enter key 11 Right cursor key field 12 Down cursor key field 21 Order field 22 Key input field 23 Display field 31 Right cursor key field

Claims (7)

A character input method for inputting a desired arbitrary character using a numeric keypad and up / down / left / right cursor keys, wherein the numeric keypad is a key for inputting numbers or symbols, and the up / down / left / right cursor keys are A character input method for assigning a character or key entered by pressing a numeric keypad as a character switching key for switching to a character assigned in advance to the numeric keypad ,
When one of the up / down / left / right cursor keys assigned as the character switching key is pressed continuously, a plurality of characters assigned in advance to the numeric keypad that is pressed immediately before are pressed according to the number of times of pressing. In the case of switching from the first assigned character to the character that is selected in order, and pressing any of the other keys of the up / down / left / right cursor keys continuously, A character input method comprising: switching from a last character assigned to a character selected in reverse order to a character selected in reverse order among a plurality of characters assigned in advance to the numeric key pressed . Of the up / down / left / right cursor keys assigned as the character switching key, the right cursor key and the left cursor key, or the left cursor key and the right cursor key are changed to the numeric keypad that has been pressed immediately before depending on the number of times of pressing. and Do character reverse order switching key to switch in reverse order from the last kana characters assigned to the character sequentially switching key wonder if switching to the order from the first kana characters assigned the kana characters are assigned in advance, under the cursor key and the up cursor key the, or the up cursor key and down cursor keys, depending on the press count, and alphabetic sequence switching key for switching from the first letter assigned letters that are pre-assigned to the ten keys is depressed immediately prior in sequence It is from the end of the letter, which allocated a letter reverse order switching key to switch in reverse order The character input method according to claim 1, characterized in that. Of the up / down / left / right cursor keys assigned as the character switching key, the down cursor key and the up cursor key, or the up cursor key and the down cursor key are used as the numeric keypad that has been pressed immediately before depending on the number of times of pressing. and Do character reverse order switching key to switch in reverse order from the last kana characters assigned to the character sequentially switching key wonder if switching to the order from the first kana characters assigned the kana characters are assigned in advance, right cursor key and the left cursor key the, or the left cursor key and right cursor keys, depending on the press count, and letters sequentially switching key for switching from the first letter assigned letters that are pre-assigned to the ten keys is depressed immediately prior in sequence It is from the end of the letter, which allocated a letter reverse order switching key to switch in reverse order The character input method according to claim 1, characterized in that. Of the up / down / left / right cursor keys assigned as the character switching key, the down cursor key and the up cursor key, or the up cursor key and the down cursor key are used as the numeric keypad that has been pressed immediately before depending on the number of times of pressing. characterized in that the Do character alphabetic reverse switch key to switch to the reverse order from a pre-allocated to and kana characters and the last character Do character alphabetic assigned sequentially switching key to switch from the first character assigned letters in sequence The character input method according to claim 1 . Of the up / down / left / right cursor keys assigned as the character switching key, the right cursor key and the left cursor key, or the left cursor key and the right cursor key are changed to the numeric keypad that has been pressed immediately before depending on the number of times of pressing. characterized in that the Do character alphabetic reverse switch key to switch to the reverse order from a pre-allocated to and kana characters and the last character Do character alphabetic assigned sequentially switching key to switch from the first character assigned letters in sequence The character input method according to claim 1 . A character input device for inputting a desired arbitrary character using a numeric keypad and up / down / left / right cursor keys, wherein the numeric keypad is a key for inputting numbers or symbols, and the up / down / left / right cursor keys are A character input device assigned as a character switching key for switching a number or symbol entered by pressing a numeric keypad to a character assigned in advance to the numeric keypad ,
When one of the up / down / left / right cursor keys assigned as the character switching key is pressed continuously, a plurality of characters assigned in advance to the numeric keypad that is pressed immediately before are pressed according to the number of times of pressing. In the case of switching from the first assigned character to the character that is selected in order, and pressing any of the other keys of the up / down / left / right cursor keys continuously, A character input device , wherein a character selected in reverse order from the last character assigned among the plurality of characters assigned in advance to the numeric keypad that has been pressed is displayed . The character input method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, character input program characterized by being implemented as a program executable by a computer.

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