JPH09190328A - Portable information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a display device small in size, low in cost and low in power consumption and then to output the received electronic mail data to users in an easy-to-understand way in a portable information terminal that has an electronic mail function. SOLUTION: This information terminal is provided with a character code/ voice conversion means 201 which converts the character codes acquired from a character string storage control means 14 into the voice signals, a voice output means 202 which converts the voice signals into voices, and a synchronization control means 200 which secures the synchronization between the voice output and the character display in every clause. The means 202 outputs the voices while the character strings are shown on a display means 19, and the characters outputted in voices are displayed by a cursor. Under such conditions, the size and the cost of a display device can be reduced with use of an LCD (liquid crystal display) having a small number of display characters. Then the electronic mail data can be shown and outputted in voices to the users in an easy-to-understand way.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable information terminal having an electronic mail function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a portable information terminal having an electronic mail function, a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) of a relatively large size is used in order to display a received electronic mail in an easily understandable manner for a user. It was

[0003]

Generally, in a portable information terminal having an electronic mail function, a display device is downsized, cost is reduced, power consumption is reduced, and received mail data is displayed in a user-friendly manner. Is required.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable information terminal which outputs received electronic mail data in an easy-to-understand manner to a user, and also realizes a downsized display device, low cost and low power consumption.

[0005]

In order to solve this problem, the portable information terminal of the present invention automatically generates and moves a cursor in phrase units for character string data received by an electronic mail transmission / reception control means. In addition, the screen is automatically scrolled to display on the display device (the invention according to claim 1). According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to display the electronic mail data which is easy for the user to understand while realizing the downsizing and cost reduction of the display device by using the LCD having a small number of display characters.

Further, the portable information terminal of the present invention is such that while displaying a character string on the display means, at the same time a voice is output to the voice output means and the character output by voice is displayed by the cursor. There is (the invention according to claim 2). According to the second aspect of the present invention, the user can confirm by voice at the same time as the display, and it is possible to provide a more user-friendly interface.

Further, in the portable information terminal of the present invention, in the display means, when the display control means performs the cursor display for the first phrase of the character string on the display means, the cursor display of the first phrase is displayed. After a certain period of time has passed after the completion, a means for displaying a cursor on the next phrase is provided (the invention according to claim 3). According to the invention as set forth in claim 3, when the user traces the character output by voice with the cursor display, after a certain period of time elapses after the cursor display of the first phrase is finished, the user can move to the next phrase. Since the cursor is displayed by using the cursor, it is easy to visually trace the phrase.

Furthermore, the portable information terminal of the present invention makes it possible to set the screen scroll speed of the character string displayed on the display means to a speed that is easy for the user to read (the invention of claim 4). ). Claim 4
According to the described invention, it is possible to set the scroll speed that is most easy for the user to read.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is an electronic mail transmitting / receiving means for receiving an electronic mail or the like from an external device using a modem or the like, and an electronic mail for controlling the electronic mail transmitting / receiving means. Transmission / reception control means, information processing means for processing information obtained from the electronic mail transmission / reception control means and overall processing of each means, character string storage means for storing a character string input from an electronic mail, and the character Character string storage control means for controlling the column storage means, cursor control means for generating and controlling a cursor based on an input character string, and scroll control means for controlling screen scrolling based on the input character string And a display control hand for generating display information from the internal information generated by the information processing means based on the information generated by the cursor control means and the scroll control means. And display means for displaying the display information generated by the control display means, and automatically generate and move a cursor in phrase units with respect to the character string data received by the electronic mail transmission / reception means, and automatically. The portable information terminal is characterized in that the screen is scrolled to display on the display device, and a cursor is automatically added to the character string data received by the electronic mail transmitting / receiving means in units of phrases. Is generated and moved, and the screen can be automatically scrolled to display on the display device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a character code / speech conversion means for converting a character code obtained from the character string storage control means into a sound signal, a sound output means for converting a sound signal into sound, and a clause. A synchronization control unit for synchronizing the voice output and the character display in units is provided, and while the character string is displayed on the display unit, the voice output unit outputs the voice, and the character output by the voice is displayed. The portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein a character string is displayed on the display means, a voice is output to the voice output means, and a character output by voice is displayed on the cursor. It has the effect of being able to.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the cursor display data generated by the cursor control means is sent to the display control means, and the display control means displays the cursor for the first phrase of the character string. After displaying the cursor on the first phrase, after a certain period of time,
The portable information terminal according to claim 2, further comprising means for displaying a cursor to the next clause, wherein the voice output means outputs a voice while displaying a character string on the display means. When displaying the character output by, with a cursor, after the cursor display of the first phrase is finished, after a certain period of time, the cursor can be displayed for the next phrase so that the phrase can be tracked visually. It has the effect of making it easier.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided screen scroll speed setting means, and means for setting the screen scroll speed of the character string displayed on the display means to a speed that is easy for the user to read. The portable information terminal has the effect that the speed of screen scrolling of the character string displayed on the display means can be set to a speed that is easy for the user to read.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In all the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding members.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a functional configuration block diagram according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 is an electronic mail transmitting / receiving means for receiving an electronic mail or the like from an external device by using a modem, 12 is an electronic mail transmitting / receiving control means for controlling the electronic mail transmitting / receiving means 11, and 13 is an electronic mail transmitting / receiving. Information processing means for processing information obtained from the control means 12 and overall processing of each means, 15 is a character string storage means for storing a character string input from an electronic mail, and 14 is a control for the character string storage means 15. Character string storage control means 16, cursor control means 16 for generating and controlling a cursor based on the input character string, 17 scroll control means for controlling screen scrolling based on the input character string, and 18 a cursor A table for generating display information from the internal information generated by the information processing means 13 based on the information generated by the control means 16 and the scroll control means 17. Control means, 19 display control means 18
Is a display means for displaying the display information generated by.

FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration block diagram according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 21 is a pen input device typified by a touch panel, and 23 is an electronic mail transmission / reception control means 12, information processing means 13, scroll control means 17, cursor control means 16, character string storage control means 14, display control means. 18 is a ROM for storing a program for inputting / outputting an electronic mail by using 18.

Further, 24 is a RAM for storing the character string data of the received electronic mail and a program work, 2
Reference numeral 2 is a central processing unit (CPU) that executes various programs stored in the RAM 24 and ROM 23, 26 is a modem which is one of the electronic mail transmitting / receiving means 11, 25 is a phone for connecting to a public telephone line. Jack (PH
ONE JACK), 27 is a display device having a display screen composed of a small LCD or the like, and 30 is a bus for connecting the respective elements of the device to exchange data.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart specifically showing the operation of one embodiment of the present invention. An embodiment of the present invention will be described along the flow of the flowchart of FIG.

First, the electronic mail transmitting / receiving means 11 receives an electronic mail [step 301, hereinafter simply referred to as "S3
01 ”, and so on for the subsequent steps]. The character string of the received electronic mail is stored in the character string storage means 15 as character string data [S302]. The display control unit 1 displays the character string stored in the character string storage unit 15.
8 (S303). Display control means 18
Displays the received character string on the display unit 19 by the number of displayable characters [S304].

The cursor display data generated by the cursor control means 16 is sent (transferred) to the display control means 18 [S305]. The display control means 18 displays the cursor on the first phrase of the character string on the display means 19 [S30.
6]. After the cursor display of the first phrase is completed and a certain time has elapsed [S307], the cursor display is performed for the next phrase [S308].

Thereafter, the above operation is repeated, and when the cursor movement of the one-line sentence to be displayed is completed [S309], the scroll control means 17 automatically scrolls the screen [S310]. Then, the display of the line sentence to be displayed next is similarly continued.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize the miniaturization and cost reduction of the display device by using the LCD having a small number of display characters, and to display the e-mail data which is easy for the user to understand. You can

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, 28 is a voice synthesizing device for synthesizing voice information from information similar to that of the display device 27, and 29 is a voice for outputting voice information from the voice synthesizing device 28 as voice, for example, voice for outputting voice of a speaker or the like. It is an output device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a circuit configuration according to another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, 201 is a character code / speech conversion means for converting the character code from the information processing means 13 into sound information in synchronization with the display of the display means 19 by the character string storage control means 14 and the synchronization control means 200 [described later]. Reference numeral 202 denotes a voice output means for outputting voice information from the character code / voice conversion means 201 as voice. Reference numeral 200 denotes a screen display in which the character code is displayed from the information processing means 13 via the display control means 18 and the character code / voice conversion. Means 20
It is a synchronization control means for synchronizing the voice output converted into voice at 1.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart specifically showing the operation of another embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, description will be given along the flow of the flowchart of FIG.

First, the electronic mail transmitting / receiving means 11 receives an electronic mail [S601]. The character string of the received e-mail is stored in the character string storage means 15 as character string data [S602]. The character string stored in the character string storage means 15 is sent (transferred) to the display control means 18 [S
603]. The display control means 18 displays the received character string on the display means 19 by the number of displayable characters [S60.
4].

The cursor display data generated by the cursor control means 16 is sent (transferred) to the display control means 18 [S605]. Immediately after that, the character data of the phrase displayed by the cursor is sent to the character code / speech conversion means 201 [S606]. The display control means 18 displays the cursor on the first phrase of the character string on the display means 19 [S6
07]. When the cursor display of the first phrase is completed, the synchronization control means 200 waits until the cursor display instruction of the next phrase is output [S608].

When the voice synthesis output of the first phrase is output from the voice output unit 202 [S609], the character code / voice conversion unit 201 notifies the synchronization control unit 200 of voice output end [S610].

Upon receiving the voice output end notification, the synchronization control means 200 notifies the display control means 18 of the cursor display start instruction of the next clause, and then the character code / voice conversion means 20.
1 is also notified of the voice output start instruction of the next clause [S61
1].

After that, the above operation is repeated, and when the cursor movement and the voice output of the one line sentence on display are completed [S61
2], the screen is automatically scrolled by the scroll control means 17 [S613].

As described above, according to the present invention, the user can confirm by voice at the same time as displaying, and it is possible to provide a user interface that is easier to understand.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. Here, the electronic mail transmission / reception means 11 to the display means 19 and the synchronization control means 200.
Character code / speech conversion means 201 / speech output means 202
The above is the same as the description of FIG. 5 described in the second embodiment (another embodiment).

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 203 denotes a screen scroll speed setting means for presetting a scroll speed that is easy for the user to read.

A circuit configuration block diagram in another embodiment of the present invention is the same as FIG. 5 shown in the second embodiment.

As described above, according to the present invention, by providing the screen scroll speed setting means 203, the screen scroll speed and the audio output speed can be set in accordance with the user's preference.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, a small-sized display device such as an LCD is used to realize the miniaturization and the cost reduction, but the received e-mail is automatically transmitted. Since the scrolling is performed and the voice is output according to the cursor display, it is possible to provide an advantageous effect that it is possible to provide a portable information terminal that is very easy to read and easy for the user to use.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional configuration block diagram according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration block diagram according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a functional configuration block diagram according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit configuration block diagram according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a functional configuration block diagram according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 electronic mail transmission / reception means 12 electronic mail transmission / reception control means 13 information processing means 14 character string storage control means 15 character string storage means 16 cursor control means 17 scroll control means 18 display control means 19 display means 21 input means 22 central processing unit ( CPU) 23 ROM 24 RAM 25 PHONE JACK 26 modem 27 display device 28 voice synthesizer 29 speaker 30 bus 200 synchronization control means 201 character code / voice conversion means 202 voice output means 203 screen scroll speed setting means

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An electronic mail transmission / reception means for receiving an electronic mail etc. from an external device using a modem, an electronic mail transmission / reception control means for controlling the electronic mail transmission / reception means, and an electronic mail transmission / reception control means. Information processing means for performing processing of information and overall processing of each means, character string storage means for storing a character string input from an electronic mail, character string storage control means for controlling the character string storage means, and input Cursor control means for generating and controlling a cursor based on the input character string, scroll control means for controlling screen scrolling based on the input character string, the cursor control means and the scroll control means Display control means for generating display information from internal information generated by the information processing means based on information, and display information generated by the control display means Display means for displaying, and while automatically generating and moving the cursor in phrase units with respect to the character string data received by the electronic mail transmission / reception means, automatically scrolling the screen and displaying on the display device. A portable information terminal that performs 2. A character code / speech conversion means for converting a character code obtained from the character string storage control means into a sound signal, a sound output means for converting a sound signal into sound, and sound output and character display in phrase units. And a synchronization control means for synchronizing with, while displaying a character string on the display means,
The portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein a voice is output to the voice output means, and a character output by voice is displayed by a cursor. 3. The cursor display data generated by the cursor control means is sent to the display control means, and the display control means displays the cursor on the first phrase of the character string on the display means. 3. The portable information terminal according to claim 2, further comprising means for displaying a cursor for the next phrase after a lapse of a certain time after the cursor display of the phrase is finished. 4. A screen scroll speed setting means is provided,
The portable information terminal according to claim 2, further comprising means for setting a screen scroll speed of the character string displayed on the display means to a speed that is easy for the user to read.