JP5988614B2 - Character input device, character input method, and character input program - Google Patents

Description

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

  With the spread of mobile phones and the like, the use of electronic mail using mobile phones and the like is increasing. In e-mail using a mobile phone or the like, pictograms are generally used in order to create an expressive e-mail. When inputting pictograms, basically, an operation of displaying a list of pictograms by pressing a specific key and selecting a desired pictogram from the list is required. In order to simplify such an operation, there is a method for storing a predetermined word and a pictogram associated with the word and displaying the associated pictogram as a conversion candidate when the predetermined word is input. It is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-15221 A

  By the way, in recent years, variations of pictograms are rapidly diversifying, and it is possible to color characters or attach animation images. Under such circumstances, the usage of pictograms by individuals has also diversified, and when a predetermined word is input, a predetermined word and a pictogram associated with the word are stored as in the past. The method of displaying the associated pictogram as a conversion candidate alone is not sufficient in terms of smoothly displaying the pictogram intended by the user, and a problem that a character input method that is highly convenient for the user cannot be provided. was there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a character input device, a character input method, and a character input program that can smoothly input pictograms intended by each user in response to diversification of the usage of pictograms. The purpose is to do.

A character input device according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a correspondence relationship between a reference character string and a pictogram, an input unit that inputs a character, and a character string in a specific range among character strings input by the input unit. extraction means for extracting a certain extraction string, comparing means and an extraction character string extracted by the reference character string and extracting means stored by the storage means to determine the number of characters that match with the last comparison, the comparison means A pictograph that is stored in the storage unit in association with a reference character string that has a large number of characters that are determined to match in the comparison in FIG.

  In this character input device, the storage means stores the reference character string and the pictogram in association with each other, and the latter half of the reference character string and a character string in a specific range among the character strings input by the input means ( The extracted character strings are compared with each other, and pictograms are presented as input candidates according to the result of the comparison. In the comparison by the comparison means, it is determined on a character-by-character basis whether or not the latter half of the reference character string matches the extracted character string while sequentially changing the number of characters in the latter half of the reference character string. That is, it is not determined whether or not the reference character string exactly matches the extracted character string as a word, but it is also possible to consider the case where only a part of the reference character string matches (partial match). Pictograms associated with such partially matched reference character strings can be presented as candidates.

  Since pictograms associated with the reference character string in consideration of partial matching can be presented as candidates, pictogram input candidates can be presented more flexibly than in the past, and it is possible to deal with diversified usage of pictograms. In addition, since various types of pictograph input candidates can be presented more easily than in the past, it is possible to smoothly input pictographs intended by the user.

  In the character input device according to the present invention, the extraction unit extracts an extracted character string in a range that is a specific number of characters back from the cursor position indicating the character input position, out of the character string input by the input unit. Is preferred. By extracting characters within the range of a specific number of characters from the cursor position, the character string immediately before the location where the pictogram is to be inserted can be adopted as the extracted character string, and more pictogram input candidates that match the user's intention are displayed. It becomes possible to do.

  The storage means preferably stores the reference character string and the pictogram in association with each other by a trie structure. By adopting the trie structure, for example, the processing time required for comparison with the extracted character string by the comparison means can be significantly shortened as compared with the case where data is stored in a table format.

  The presenting means preferably presents the pictograph as an input candidate that is input immediately after the extracted character string. In the comparing means, the latter half of the reference character string is compared with the extracted character string, and the presenting means presents pictograms corresponding to the reference character string as input candidates. That is, since the pictogram presented as an input candidate is the pictogram immediately after the latter half of the reference character string, the comparison means can be obtained by inputting the pictogram immediately after the extracted character string to be compared with the latter half of the reference character string. Thus, it is possible to present pictograms according to the comparison result, and to enter pictograms at positions intended by the user.

Moreover, presenting means, the more characters matching one of the reference character strings in the comparison by the comparing means, it can prioritize the character string. When there are multiple reference character strings, preferentially present pictograms that have a high probability that the user intends by preferentially presenting pictographs that have many matching character strings in the extracted character string and the reference character string. This improves the convenience for the user. The storage unit may store a time stamp indicating the date and time related to the pictogram, and the presentation unit may determine the priority order in consideration of the time stamp.

  The presenting means preferably lowers the priority of the character string as the number of characters that do not match in the comparison by the comparing means increases. If there are multiple reference character strings, lowering the display priority of pictograms that have many non-matching character strings in the extracted character string and the reference character string allows the pictograms that are unlikely to be intended by the user to be given higher priority. It can be prevented from being presented and convenience for the user is improved.

  A pictograph input unit that inputs a pictograph together with a character input by the input unit; a learning unit that stores the pictograph input by the pictograph input unit and the character string immediately before the pictograph in association with each other in the storage unit; Are preferably further provided. As a method for inputting pictograms, there are a method for inputting pictograms presented by the presenting means, a method for inputting pictograms converted from input characters to be described later, and a method for selecting and inputting pictograms from a pictogram list. All pictograms can be input by pictogram input means. Further, the learning means stores the pictogram input by the pictogram input means and the character string immediately before the pictogram in the storage means, so that the correspondence between the pictogram used by each individual user and the character string is stored in the storage means. It is possible to store them, and it is possible to display pictogram input candidates using the data at the next and subsequent uses.

  Further, it is preferable that the learning unit stores the storage unit in accordance with the time when the pictogram is input by the pictogram input unit, and the presentation unit determines the priority order of the reference character string in consideration of the time. By displaying the input time as a consideration for determining the priority order of reference character strings by the presentation means, the priority order of recently used reference character strings is raised, and the like, and display of pictogram input candidates that match the user's pictogram usage mode Is possible.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the pictograph input unit converts the character input by the input unit into a pictograph. It becomes possible to convert an unconfirmed character string being input into a pictogram linked to the character string, and in combination with a method of selecting and inputting a pictogram corresponding to the confirmed character string after input By using it, pictograms can be easily input both during input and after input confirmation.

A character input method according to the present invention is a character input method by a character input device including a storage unit that stores a reference character string and a pictogram in association with each other, and is input in an input step for inputting characters and an input step. and an extraction step of extracting an extraction character string is a character string of a particular range of the character string, and an extraction character string extracted in the reference string and extracting steps stored by the storage means and compared from the end The comparison step for determining the number of matching characters and the pictograms stored in the storage means in association with the reference character strings that are determined to match in the comparison in the comparison step are given higher priority and presented as input candidates. Presenting step. This character input method can achieve the same effect as the character input device described above.

The character input program according to the present invention is a character input program that causes a computer to perform character input processing, and that stores the storage means for storing the correspondence between the reference character string and the pictogram, and the input for inputting the character. Means for extracting an extracted character string that is a character string in a specific range from the character string input by the input means, a reference character string stored by the storage means, and an extracted character extracted by the extraction means comparison means for determining the number of characters that match by comparing the sequence from the end, which is stored in the storage means in association with the reference string character is determined to match often in comparison by the comparing means pictogram The higher the priority is, the more it is made to function as a presentation means for presenting as an input candidate. This character input program can achieve the same effect as the character input device described above.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a character input device, a character input method, and a character input program that can smoothly input pictograms intended by each user in response to diversification of pictogram usage modes.

It is a figure which shows the functional block of the character input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the context candidate display dictionary of the character input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the dictionary for conversion of the character input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the context mode of the character input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the search process of the pictogram input candidate of the character input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the learning process of the character input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the conversion mode of the character input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the conversion process of the character input device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the character input program which concerns on embodiment of this invention with a recording medium.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a character input device, a character input method, and a character input program according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  First, the functional arrangement of the character input device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing functional blocks of a character input device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the character input device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a storage unit 11, an input unit 12, an extraction unit 13, a comparison unit 14, a presentation unit 15, a pictogram input unit 16, and learning. And a portion 17. The character input device 1 is used, for example, for inputting characters such as a mobile phone, and particularly for inputting pictograms (for example, those used for decoration mails used for mobile phones). The character input device 1 has a hardware configuration including a CPU, a memory, and the like.

  The storage unit 11 is a storage unit that stores the correspondence between the reference character string and the pictogram. The storage unit 11 stores reference character strings and pictograms in association with each other by a trie structure (tree structure). As the main mode for inputting pictograms, a context mode for selecting and inputting pictograms corresponding to the confirmed character string after input from candidates, and an unconfirmed character string being entered as a part or all of the character string as a meta tag There is a conversion mode that can be converted into pictograms.

  The storage unit 11 includes a context candidate display dictionary 18 shown in FIG. 2 as a context mode dictionary and a conversion dictionary 19 shown in FIG. 3 as a conversion mode dictionary. These dictionaries are automatically switched when used by the user. When inputting pictograms corresponding to a confirmed character string, a context candidate display dictionary 18 is used. When an unconfirmed character string is converted, a conversion dictionary 19 is used. , Search for each. That is, these dictionaries operate complementary to each other.

  The input unit 12 is input means for inputting characters. For example, characters are input by accepting a user input operation. The character string input by the input unit 12 and the reference character string stored in the storage unit 11 are compared by the comparison unit 14 described later. When a character is input by the character input device 1, the character is input at the position of the cursor indicating the character input position, and the input character and the cursor are displayed on the display device. The cursor can be moved by a user operation.

  The extraction unit 13 is an extraction unit that extracts an extracted character string that is a character string in a specific range from the character string input by the input unit 12. The extraction unit 13 extracts an extracted character string in a range that is traced back a specific number of characters from the cursor position indicating the character input position, from the character string input by the input unit 12.

  The comparison unit 14 is a comparison unit that compares the second half of the reference character string stored in the storage unit 11 with the extracted character string extracted by the extraction unit 13 while changing the number of characters in the second half and determines a match. .

  The presentation unit 15 is a presentation unit that presents, as input candidates, pictograms that are associated with the reference character string and stored in the storage unit 11 in accordance with the comparison result by the comparison unit 14. Presenting as an input candidate means, for example, displaying as an input candidate. The presenting unit 15 presents the pictograph as an input candidate that is input immediately after the extracted character string extracted by the extracting unit 13. In addition, when there are a plurality of input candidates, the presenting unit 15 increases the priority of the character string as the number of matching characters among the reference character strings stored in the storage unit 11 in the comparison by the comparing unit 14 increases. In the comparison by the unit 14, the more characters that do not match among the reference character strings stored in the storage unit 11, the lower the priority order of the character strings. Further, the presenting unit 15 determines the priority order of the reference character strings in consideration of the time when the pictogram is input by the pictogram input unit 16 stored in the storage unit 11.

  The pictograph input unit 16 is a pictograph input unit that inputs pictographs together with characters input by the input unit. As a method for inputting pictograms, there are a method for inputting pictograms presented by the presentation unit 15, a method for converting pictographs from input characters to input pictograms, and a method for selecting pictograms from a pictograph list and inputting them. The pictogram input unit 16 inputs the pictograph.

  The learning unit 17 is a learning unit that associates the pictogram input by the pictogram input unit 16 with the extracted character string immediately before the pictogram and stores it in the storage unit 11. The learning unit 17 also causes the storage unit 11 to store the time (time stamp) when the pictogram is input by the pictogram input unit 16.

  This completes the description of the functional layout of the character input device 1 according to the present embodiment. Specific processing performed by each unit regarding character input will be described later with reference to the context mode processing of the character input device 1 in FIG.

  Next, the context candidate display dictionary 18 used in the context mode in which pictograms corresponding to the confirmed character string after input are selected from the candidates and input will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the context candidate display dictionary 18 of the character input device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this context candidate display dictionary 18, reference character strings and pictograms are stored in association with each other by a trie structure (tree structure). The context candidate display dictionary 18 is a reverse lookup dictionary that stores reference character strings in reverse reading.

  The context candidate display dictionary 18 is a set of records, and each record includes three sets of a reference character string, a pictographic material ID, and a time stamp. The reference character string includes not only characters but also a pictograph at the end. The pictographic material ID is an ID set for each pictograph. The time stamp indicates the date and time when the pictogram is input. The dictionary data structure is intended to efficiently perform partial matching of character strings and sorting of last use time of pictographic material, and key holding is implemented by a Patricia trie. As shown in FIG. 2, the leaves of the trie correspond to the reference character string and are connected in a bidirectional linked list in the order of the Japanese syllabary. In addition, about 200 reference character strings that are continuous in the order of the Japanese syllabary form a group, and in the group, a linked list is configured in the order of the latest time stamps of the pictographic material possessed by each reference character string.

  In FIG. 2, the branches of the tree are divided in three directions, and each represents one reference character string. Each reference character string stores various pictograms (?,!, Etc.) in association with each other. When a plurality of pictograms are stored in association with one reference character string, a new pictogram with a time stamp is stored so as to be preferentially selected.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3, a description will be given of the conversion dictionary 19 used in a conversion mode in which an undetermined character string being input can be converted into a pictograph having part or all of the character string as a meta tag. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the conversion dictionary 19 of the character input device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The dictionary 19 for conversion is the same as the dictionary 18 for context candidate display described above with respect to a dictionary data structure such as adopting a trie structure. As a difference from the context candidate display dictionary 18, the conversion dictionary 19 is not a reverse dictionary but a normal dictionary. Moreover, it displays using the meta tag based on a pictographic material, and at the time of a search, not an exact match search with respect to a meta tag but a sequential match search is performed.

  Next, the context mode processing of the character input device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The context mode is a mode in which a pictogram corresponding to a confirmed character string after input is selected from candidates and input.

  As shown in FIG. 4, first, a character is input by the input unit 12 and the input is confirmed (S01, input step). After the input is confirmed, the n characters before the cursor are acquired as context keys, and pictogram input candidates are searched with the extracted character string based on the context keys (S02, extraction step, comparison step, presentation step). The n characters can be arbitrarily set for each character input device 1. Details of the pictogram input candidate search process will be described with reference to FIG.

  After searching for a pictograph input candidate, it is determined whether there is a pictograph input candidate (S03, presentation step). When there is a pictograph input candidate, the presenting part 15 displays the pictograph input candidate (S04, presentation step), and waits for a user operation (S05). When a pictogram input candidate displayed by the user is selected while waiting for the user operation, the selected pictogram is input by the pictogram input unit 16, and the learning unit 17 immediately before the input pictogram and the pictogram. The extracted character string is associated and stored in the storage unit 11 (S06). The learning process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In addition, when an operation is performed to display the next pictogram input candidate while waiting for a user operation, the other candidate is displayed in S04. When character input is started while waiting for a user operation, the character is unconfirmed and the conversion mode is set. If the cursor is moved while waiting for a user operation, the character string to be acquired as the context key in S02 is changed, so that the process in S02 is performed again. Even if there is no pictogram input candidate in S03, the user operation waiting state (S07) is entered, and the pictogram input candidate cannot be displayed at the cursor position, so the character input is started and the mode is set to the conversion mode. Or, until the cursor is moved and the process of S02 is performed again, the process waits for a user operation. This is the end of the description of the context mode processing of the character input device 1.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a search process for pictogram input candidates will be described. First, the extraction unit 13 acquires a character string of a maximum of 8 characters before the cursor position after character input determined in S01 from the text area being edited (S08, extraction step). Next, the extraction unit 13 determines whether or not the acquired character string is less than 8 characters (S09, extraction step). If it is less than 8 characters, the extraction unit 13 adds a start symbol to the beginning of the acquired character string (S10, extraction step). The start symbol is added to the beginning of the context key and clarifies the beginning of the character string. Next, the extraction unit 13 determines whether the acquired character string includes punctuation marks (S11, extraction step). If punctuation marks are included, the extraction unit 13 takes out the character string up to the point immediately before the punctuation marks and uses the start symbol at the beginning as a context key (S12, extraction step). Next, the extraction unit 13 determines whether a pictograph is included other than the last n characters of the acquired character string (S13, extraction step). When a pictograph is included in addition to the last n characters, the extraction unit 13 extracts the last pictogram and subsequent characters other than the consecutive pictographs of the last n characters, and uses a start symbol at the beginning as a context key (S14, Extraction step). Next, the extraction unit 13 determines whether or not the context key complies with the rule (S15, extraction step). Specifically, the determination is performed according to S17 to S21. When the extraction unit 13 determines that the context key does not comply with the rule, the extraction unit 13 returns a result of no candidate as a search result of the pictogram input candidates. On the other hand, if the context key conforms to the rule, the extraction unit 13 determines that the context key is a valid key and extracts the context key as an extracted character string (S16, extraction step).

  The extracted character string extracted in S16 is reversely read and compared with the latter half part including the end of the reference character string stored in the storage unit 11 by the comparison unit 14 (S22, comparison step). The latter half includes the entire reference character string. That is, you may compare with the whole reference character string. Further, the latter half of the arbitrary number of characters including the end of the extracted character string may be the extracted character string (similar to reverse reading and comparison). Specifically, in the comparison by the comparison unit 14, the character match / mismatch is determined while changing the number of characters in the latter half of the reference character string. The extracted character string and the reference character string must always match the last few characters (valid end), and the comparison unit 14 determines whether or not the valid end matches, and the matching reference character string (S23, comparison step). In order to be adopted as an effective end, the number of characters is three or more, two characters including a kanji, or one kanji that is set as an effective kanji. It is necessary to correspond to either of them. Finally, with respect to the reference character string extracted by the comparison unit 14, the presentation unit 15 determines the priority order in consideration of the number of matched characters, the number of mismatched characters, and the time stamp, and displays pictogram input candidates in that order (S24, presentation step) ). Note that the above three requirements are preferentially determined in the order of the number of matched characters, the number of mismatched characters, and the time stamp. The subsequent processing after displaying the pictogram input candidates is described in S03 to S07 of FIG.

  The process in the extraction steps of S08 to S16 will be described with a specific example. It is assumed that “Koi Hamaji” is input by the input unit 12 and the input is confirmed (S01, input step). The extraction unit 13 can acquire a maximum of 8 characters in front of the position of the cursor after the input is confirmed. However, since “Koi Hamaji” is 5 characters, the 5 characters are acquired by the extraction unit 13 ( (S08, extraction step), and since there are less than 8 characters, the extraction unit 13 adds a start symbol to the beginning of the character string (S9, S10, extraction step). Then, the extraction unit 13 determines that the context key is a valid key because “Koihasumaji” does not include punctuation marks, does not include pictograms in the character string, and the context key conforms to the rule. , “Koihasumaji” is extracted as an extracted character string (S11 to S16, extraction step).

  Next, the processing in the comparison step and the presentation step in S22 to S24 after “Koi Hamaji” is extracted as an extracted character string will be specifically described with reference to FIG. The comparison unit 14 reverse-reads the extracted character string “Koi Hamaji” and compares it with the latter half of the reference character string stored in the storage unit 11 (S22, comparison step). Now, reference character strings “Permissive Magic”, “That Serious Magic”, and “Maji” are stored in the context candidate display dictionary 18 shown in FIG. Compared with the extracted character string “Koi Hamaji” while changing the number of characters in the latter half of each reference character string, “Legacy” is a match of two characters, “Make it” is a match of two characters, A 4-character mismatch “Maji” is a 2-character match and a 1-character mismatch. Next, in order to extract as a matching reference character string, there are three types of reference character strings: “Forgiveness”, “Telejiji”, and “Maji”, whose effective end “magic” matches in the extracted character string and the reference character string. Are all extracted by the comparison unit 14 (S23, comparison step). Originally, in the process of S23, when the effective end is two characters, it is necessary to include a kanji character. However, in order to make the explanation easy to understand, the two-character hiragana “maji” is used as the effective end.

For the three types of reference character strings “permissive magic”, “sore magic” and “maji” extracted by the comparison unit 14, the presentation unit 15 determines the priority order in consideration of the number of matched characters, the number of mismatched characters, and a time stamp. The pictogram input candidates are displayed in the priority order. Now, the presentation unit 15 gives first priority to “forgiveness”, which has the largest number of matching characters, “major”, which has a lower number of non-matching characters, to “second”, and “those it” to third. With priority, the pictograms corresponding to the respective reference character strings are displayed as pictogram input candidates in the priority order (S24, presentation step). When the pictogram input candidates are presented in accordance with the above priority order, “*”, “!!!! ₃ ”, “!!!! ₁ ”, “?”, “!!!! ₂ ” are displayed, but since duplicate pictograms are not presented as candidates, eventually Pictogram input candidates are presented in the order of “*”, “!!”, and “?”. This is the end of the description of the search process for the pictogram input candidates.

  Next, the learning process of the character input device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. First, when the input of a pictograph is confirmed, the cursor position moves behind the position where the pictograph is inserted (S25). Next, it is determined whether or not a conversion key has been used, that is, whether or not a pictogram has been input in the conversion mode (S26). When the conversion key is used, the time stamp of the selected pictographic material is updated to the current time in the conversion dictionary shown in FIG. 3 (S27), and the context key is acquired at the position before the cursor movement ( S28). Next, in the context candidate display dictionary 18 shown in FIG. 2, it is determined whether or not the extracted character string matches the entire reference character string (S29). If they match all, the time stamp of the selected pictographic material is updated to the current time (S291). If they do not match all, a new record is created with the extracted character string as a reference character string (S292). Note that the case where the entire character string does not match means that the reference character string that matches the extracted character string does not exist in the existing dictionary, and so far, it has been used as a combination of the extracted character string and the pictogram. It was that it never happened. Next, it is determined whether or not there is a reference character string that partially matches the extracted character string from the end (S293). In this case, both the extracted character string and the reference character string may be a part including the ending, or one may be the entire character string. That is, whether or not there is a record in the context candidate display dictionary 18 in which a part or all of the extracted character string including the ending part and a part or all of the reference character string including the ending part match (extracted character string and reference A case where the whole character strings match each other (except when YES in S29) is determined. If there is a partially matching reference character string, the time stamp of the pictographic material linked to the reference character string is updated to the current time (S294), and the learning process is completed. The learning process description of the character input device 1 is as described above.

  The processing of S29 to S294 will be described with a specific example with reference to FIG. Whether the extracted character string matches the reference character string as a whole when the extracted character string is “Koi Hamaji” and the reference character string is “Permitted”, “That Seriously”, and “Maji” As a result of the determination (S29), the entire character string does not match, so that a record with the extracted character string “Koi Hamaji” as a reference character string is created (S292). Next, it is determined whether or not there is a reference character string partially matching the extracted character string “Koi Hamaji” from the end of the word (S293). Therefore, the time stamp of the pictographic material linked to the reference character string is updated to the current time (S294).

  Next, the conversion mode processing of the character input device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The conversion mode is a mode in which an undetermined character string being input can be converted into a pictograph having part or all of the character string as a meta tag.

  As shown in FIG. 7, first, a character is input by the input unit 12 (S30), and the IM kanji conversion mode is activated in a state where the input is not confirmed, and the input character is added to the converted character string. Then, IM conversion candidates are displayed (S31). Next, the conversion character string is acquired as a conversion key, and pictogram input candidates are searched using the conversion dictionary shown in FIG. 3 based on the conversion key (S32). The pictogram input candidate search process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  After searching for a pictograph input candidate, it is determined whether there is a pictograph input candidate (S33). If there is a pictograph input candidate, the pictograph input candidate is displayed (S34), and a user operation waiting state is entered (S35). When the displayed pictogram input candidate is selected while waiting for the user operation, the selected pictogram is input by the pictogram input unit 16, and the learning process described in detail in FIG. 6 is performed by the learning unit 17 (S36). ). Note that the context mode is changed after the learning process. In addition, when an operation is performed to display the next pictogram input candidate while waiting for a user operation, the other candidate is displayed in S34. If character input is started while waiting for a user operation, the process of S31 is performed again. If the cursor is moved while waiting for a user operation, the mode is changed to the context mode. Also, when the candidate selected by the IM is inserted into the text, the mode is changed to the context mode (S37). Note that even if there is no pictograph input candidate in S33, the user operation waiting state (S38) is entered, and the pictograph input candidate cannot be displayed at the cursor position. Therefore, in order to input the pictograph, character input is started. The process of S31 is performed again, the cursor is moved to the context mode, or the candidate selected by the IM is inserted into the text, and the user operation is waited until the context mode is changed (S39). The process description of the conversion mode of the character input device 1 is as described above.

  Next, a search process (conversion process) for pictogram input candidates will be described with reference to FIG. First, the conversion dictionary 19 is searched using the conversion key (S40). Next, a reference character string including the conversion key at the head is extracted (S41), and finally the pictogram materials included in each reference character string are sorted in the order of final use (S42), and the conversion process is completed. This is the end of the description of the search process for the pictogram input candidates.

  Next, operations and effects of the character input device 1 and the character input method according to the present embodiment will be described.

  In this character input device 1, the storage means stores the reference character string and the pictogram in association with each other, compares the latter half of the reference character string with the extracted character string, and determines the pictogram according to the comparison result. As an input candidate. In the comparison by the comparison means, it is determined on a character-by-character basis whether or not the latter half of the reference character string matches the extracted character string while sequentially changing the number of characters in the latter half of the reference character string. That is, it is not determined whether or not the reference character string exactly matches the extracted character string as a word, but it is also possible to consider the case where only a part of the reference character string matches (partial match). Pictograms associated with such partially matched reference character strings can be presented as candidates. Since pictograms associated with the reference character string in consideration of partial matching can be presented as candidates, pictogram input candidates can be presented more flexibly than in the past, and it is possible to deal with diversified usage of pictograms. In addition, since various types of pictograph input candidates can be presented more easily than in the past, it is possible to smoothly input pictographs intended by the user.

  Further, as in the character input device 1 according to the present embodiment, among the character strings input by the extraction unit by the extraction unit, an extracted character string in a range that is back by a specific number of characters from the cursor position indicating the character input position. By extracting, it is possible to adopt the character string immediately before the place where the pictogram is to be inserted as the extracted character string, and it is possible to display pictogram input candidates that more match the user's intention.

  Further, as in the character input device 1 according to the present embodiment, the storage unit stores the reference character string and the pictogram in association with each other by the trie structure, so that the comparison unit uses the comparison unit, for example, as compared with the case where the data is stored in a table format. The processing time required for comparison with the extracted character string can be significantly shortened.

  In addition, as in the character input device 1 according to the present embodiment, the presenting means presents pictograms as input candidates to be input immediately after the extracted character string, thereby presenting pictograms according to the comparison result by the comparing means. The pictogram can be input at the position intended by the user.

  Further, as in the character input device 1 according to the present embodiment, the presentation unit increases the priority of the character string as the number of matching characters in the reference character string increases in the comparison by the comparison unit, and the comparison unit. The more characters that do not match among the reference character strings in the comparison, the lower the priority of the character strings, so that it is possible to preferentially present pictographs that are likely to be intended by the user. Improved convenience.

  In addition, like the character input device 1 according to the present embodiment, by providing a pictogram input means and a learning means, the pictogram input by various methods is performed by the pictogram input means, and the pictogram input by the pictogram input means The character string immediately before the pictogram can be stored in the storage means. By storing the correspondence with character strings for pictograms used by individual users, it is possible to display pictogram input candidates using the data at the next and subsequent uses, improving user convenience To do.

  Further, as in the character input device 1 according to the present embodiment, the learning unit stores the time when the pictogram is input by the pictogram input unit in the storage unit, and the presentation unit considers the time and the priority order of the reference character strings. Thus, it is possible to present pictogram input candidates that match the user's pictogram usage mode, such as increasing the priority of recently used reference character strings.

  In addition, like the character input device 1 according to the present embodiment, the pictogram input unit converts the character input by the input unit into a pictograph, thereby associating the undetermined character string being input with the character string. It becomes possible to convert to pictograms, and it can be used in combination with the method of selecting and entering pictograms corresponding to the confirmed character string after input from candidates, so that it can be easily both during and after input You can enter emoji.

  By the way, as a method of presenting pictograms corresponding to character strings after input confirmation as candidates as in the present invention, a technique for performing morphological analysis on sentences before the cursor position and presenting insertion candidate pictograms after nouns, etc. Can be considered. This technology focuses on inserting pictograms after text input is confirmed, and does not consider real-time pictogram insertion during text editing by the user. In the prior art, a matter that hinders real-time pictogram insertion on a mobile terminal is that morphological analysis with a large processing load is performed. The dictionary data for morphological analysis becomes enormous and tends to be a problem on mobile terminals. Also, this method does not assume the case where pictograms are inserted continuously or the case where pictograms are inserted after words that do not have a specific meaning such as particles, and it is difficult to display pictograms intended by the user. There was also a problem.

  With respect to the above problem, the present invention is a method in which context keys are acquired not in units of words but in units of characters, and morphological analysis is not performed. It is also possible to insert an emoji after a word that does not have a specific meaning, such as a particle or a particle. That is, real-time processing on the mobile terminal and input of pictographs intended by the user can be performed, and user convenience can be improved.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The present invention is modified without departing from the scope described in the claims or applied to others. It may be.

  For example, although the character input device 1 is used for character input of a mobile phone, for example, it can be used for character input of all computers that input other characters such as a tablet computer.

  Moreover, although the case where the character string stored in the context candidate display dictionary 18 and the conversion dictionary 19 is in Japanese has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and other languages and numbers may be used. For example, in the case of English, the present invention can be applied without requiring a new parser by processing a group (word) separated by a space as one character in the above embodiment. .

  Subsequently, a character input program for causing a computer to execute the character input processing of the series of character input devices 1 described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the character input program 30 is inserted into a computer and accessed, or stored in a program storage area 21 formed on a recording medium 20 provided in the computer.

  The character input program 30 includes a main module 31 for overall control of character input processing, a storage module 32, an input module 33, an extraction module 34, a comparison module 35, a presentation module 36, and a pictogram input module 37. And a learning module 38. The functions realized by executing the storage module 32, the input module 33, the extraction module 34, the comparison module 35, the presentation module 36, the pictogram input module 37, and the learning module 38 are the character input described above. Functions of the storage unit 11, the input unit 12, the extraction unit 13, the comparison unit 14, the presentation unit 15, the pictogram input unit 16, and the learning unit 17 of the device 1 are the same.

  A part or all of the character input program 30 may be transmitted via a transmission medium such as a communication line, and received and recorded (including installation) by another device. Each module of the character input program 30 may be installed in any one of a plurality of computers instead of one computer. In that case, the process of determining the design parameters for the resin injection molding of the series of character input programs 30 described above is performed by the computer system of the plurality of computers.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Character input device, 11 ... Memory | storage part, 12 ... Input part, 13 ... Extraction part, 14 ... Comparison part, 15 ... Presentation part, 16 ... Pictogram input part, 17 ... Learning part, 18 ... Context candidate display dictionary, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 ... Conversion dictionary, 20 ... Recording medium, 21 ... Program storage area, 30 ... Character input program, 31 ... Main module, 32 ... Storage module, 33 ... Input module, 34 ... Extraction module, 35 ... Comparison module, 36 ... Presentation module, 37 ... pictogram input module, 38 ... learning module.

Claims (11)

Storage means for storing the correspondence between the reference character string and the pictogram;
An input means for inputting characters;
Extraction means for extracting an extracted character string that is a character string in a specific range from the character string input by the input means;
Comparison means for determining the number of characters that match the extracted character string extracted by the reference character string and the extraction means stored by the storage means and compared from the end,
Presenting means for increasing the priority and presenting as input candidates the pictograms stored in the storage means in association with the reference character string having more characters determined to match in the comparison by the comparison means;
A character input device comprising:   2. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the extraction unit extracts an extracted character string in a range retroactive from a cursor position indicating a character input position by a specific number of characters from the character string input by the input unit.   The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores a reference character string and a pictograph in association with each other by a trie structure.   The said input means is a character input device as described in any one of Claims 1-3 which presents a pictograph as an input candidate input immediately after the said extracted character string. The storage means stores a time stamp indicating a date and time related to the pictogram,
  The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the presenting unit determines the priority order in consideration of the time stamp.   The character input device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the presentation unit lowers the priority of the character string as the number of unmatched characters in the reference character string increases in the comparison by the comparison unit. Pictogram input means for inputting pictograms together with characters input by the input means;
Learning means for associating and storing the pictogram input by the pictogram input means and the character string immediately before the pictogram in the storage means;
The character input device according to claim 1, further comprising: The learning means stores in the storage means according to the time when a pictogram is input by the pictogram input means,
The character input device according to claim 7, wherein the presenting unit determines a priority order of the reference character string in consideration of the time.   The character input device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the pictograph input unit inputs a pictograph by converting the character input by the input unit into a pictograph. A character input method by a character input device comprising a storage means for storing a reference character string and a pictogram in association with each other,
An input step for entering characters;
An extraction step of extracting an extracted character string that is a character string in a specific range among the character strings input in the input step;
A comparison step of determining the number of characters that match the extracted extracted character string in the extraction step with a stored reference string by said storing means and comparing from the end,
A presenting step of increasing the priority of the pictograms stored in the storage unit in association with the reference character string having more characters determined to match in the comparison in the comparison step and presenting them as input candidates;
A character input method comprising: A character input program that causes a computer to perform character input processing,
The computer,
Storage means for storing the correspondence between the reference character string and the pictogram;
An input means for inputting characters;
Extraction means for extracting an extracted character string that is a character string in a specific range from the character string input by the input means;
Comparison means for determining the number of characters that match the extracted character string extracted by the reference character string and the extraction means stored by the storage means and compared from the end,
Presenting means for increasing the priority and presenting as input candidates the pictograms stored in the storage means in association with the reference character string having more characters determined to match in the comparison by the comparison means;
A character input program that makes it work.

Images