KR20040032768A - Hand-held wireless information device having improved key pad structure and method for inputting and processing an information in the hand-held wireless information device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A portable wireless information terminal device equipped with an improved keypad and a method for processing information input on the same are provided to miniaturize the keyboard by minimizing a number of input keys on the keypad as enabling the input of another sort of character, number, or a symbol except one sort of character if one input key and other special key are combined/selected. CONSTITUTION: An operation processor(310) processes an operation of a transceiving signal by electrically connecting to a transceiver(100) through a data modem(120). A memory(320) stores an application needed for processing the operation by electrically connecting to the operation processor. An information input part(330) inputs a signal and includes a 3-line keypad having 3 input values for each input key. A display(340) displays a result that the signal received from the transceiver or inputted from the information input part is processed by the operation processor.

Description

HAND-HELD WIRELESS INFORMATION DEVICE HAVING IMPROVED KEY PAD STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR INPUTTING AND PROCESSING AN INFORMATION IN THE HAND-HELD WIRELESS INFORMATION DEVICE}

The present invention relates to a portable wireless information terminal device, and more particularly, to a portable wireless information terminal device having an improved keypad structure.

Recently, with the development of information and communication technology, the base of wireless communication service has been expanded, and portable wireless communication terminals such as cellular phones have been widely used. Subscribers to such wireless communication services are provided with various information such as text message transmission and reception, finance, weather, and news, in addition to the voice call service through the cellular phone. With the expansion of various information providing services, wireless information terminals that can expand the functions of existing cellular phones and perform various information input and management efficiently and wireless data providing services are attracting attention. personal data assistants (PIM) and personal information managers (PIM). However, the wireless information terminal such as PD is gradually miniaturizing to minimize the size and light weight while expanding its function. The miniaturization of the wireless information terminal has advantages such as the ease of carrying the PD, while the size of the input unit for inputting information is also smaller due to the miniaturization. Therefore, it is generally difficult to directly input letters or numbers with a finger. Also caused. In order to solve such a problem, a method of using an input pen or the like has also been proposed, but inputting is difficult and unnatural than inputting a finger directly. In particular, the keyboard in the wireless telephone was inconvenient to use because there were too few buttons. In the case of PDA, the keyboard had a four-row keypad almost similar to a computer keyboard, but this configuration was not suitable for a portable terminal device.

Therefore, in the technical field to which the present invention belongs, there is an urgent need to provide a technology for solving the problem that the keypad is also miniaturized according to the miniaturization of a wireless information terminal such as PD.

An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal apparatus having an improved input key structure in consideration of the problem that the keypad is also miniaturized in accordance with the miniaturization of the wireless information terminal of the prior art.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal device that can easily perform the input process by having an additional input device such as a track key in addition to the keypad.

In addition, the present invention is a three-row keypad having three input values per one input key that allows input of other types of characters, numbers, or symbols in addition to one type of character when the combination of one input key and at least one special key is selected. It is an object to provide a terminal device having a.

1 is a perspective view of a portable wireless information terminal device of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing a portable wireless information terminal device of the present invention consisting of a logic device unit, a radio frequency transceiver and a power supply unit.

3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a portable wireless information terminal device of the present invention.

4 is a block diagram of a radio frequency transceiver of the terminal device of FIGS. 2 and 3.

5 is a diagram illustrating a keypad configuration of the terminal device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a general process of displaying an input value of a corresponding key when an input key of the terminal device of FIG. 1 is selected.

7 is a diagram illustrating a processing state of a keypad when an input key of the keypad of the terminal device of FIG. 1 is selected.

8 is a diagram illustrating a pop-up menu displayed on a display unit when a track key of the terminal device of FIG. 1 is pressed.

9 is a view showing a conventional PC keyboard.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

8: Entry key on 3-row keypad

10: left and right arrow keys 12: space key

14: Delete and Backspace Keys

16: Sym / CAP key 18: ALT key

20: embossed irregularities that are the standard for typing

30: keypad 40: display unit 50: wheeler (track key)

100: transceiver 110: Vcc regulator of the transceiver and logic unit

120: modem 200: power supply

300: logic unit

310: arithmetic processing unit 320: memory unit

330: information input unit 340: display unit 350: signal output unit

360: interface unit 370: jack

The portable wireless information terminal device of the first aspect of the present invention

A transceiver for receiving a signal from or transmitting a signal to the wireless information service provider;

An arithmetic processing unit electrically connected to the transceiver and performing arithmetic processing of the signals;

A memory unit electrically connected to the arithmetic processing unit and storing an application program required for arithmetic processing of the signals;

An information input unit electrically connected to the arithmetic processing unit for inputting a signal, and having a three-row keypad having three input values per input key;

And a display unit which displays a result of processing the signal received by the transceiver and the signal input to the information input unit by the arithmetic processing unit.

The portable wireless information terminal device of the second aspect of the present invention further includes a track key (wheel key) for inputting a signal by rotating and pressing the information input portion in the wireless information terminal device of the first aspect.

In addition, in the portable wireless information terminal device of the present invention, a method for inputting information through a three-column keypad having three input values per one input key,

Select one of the input keys of the three-row keypad, or at least one special key for inputting letters, numbers, or symbols other than the letters originally assigned to the one input key, and then press the one input key. Choosing a step,

Delivering a hardware key code corresponding to the location information of the selected key to a software block which is a higher block;

Generating a software keycode by converting the hardware keycode into a keycode value printed on the keypad in the software block;

After discriminating whether only one input key is selected or the combination of the at least one special key and the one input key is selected, an input value of the selected one input key is determined and a corresponding software key event is determined. Creating step,

An application program stored in the memory of the wireless information terminal device interprets the parameters of the software key event and transmits the result to the arithmetic processing unit of the wireless information terminal device;

The operation processing apparatus includes displaying an input value of the selected one input key on a display device according to a key event analysis result.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings as an example for description without limiting the present invention.

1 is a perspective view of a portable wireless information terminal device of the present invention that is a device that can send and receive text information (SMS, chat, e-mail, etc.) wirelessly, a keypad capable of inputting letters, numbers, symbols, etc. in the front lower part thereof. 30 is provided, and a front panel is provided with a display unit 40 on which wirelessly received information or information input through the keypad 30 is displayed, and at the upper right side thereof, signals are rotated and pressed. A track key (wheeler) 50 is provided to enable the input of a and to display a pop-up menu on the display unit 40 when pressed.

2 and 3 are block diagrams illustrating in detail the configuration of the wireless information terminal device of FIG.

First, referring to FIG. 2, the radio information terminal apparatus of the present invention includes a radio frequency transceiver 100 for receiving a signal from a radio information service provider or transmitting a signal to the radio information service provider. It is largely composed of a logic unit 300 electrically connected, and a power supply unit 200 for supplying constant power to the transceiver 100 and the logic unit 300.

In addition, the wireless information terminal device of the present invention, as shown in Figure 2 Vcc so that a constant voltage, for example, 3V is applied to the radio frequency transceiver 100 and the logic unit 300 from the power supply unit 200 The regulator 110 may be provided between the radio frequency transceiver 100, the power supply 200, and the logic unit 300.

In addition, a data modem 120 for receiving and transmitting a signal between the RF transceiver 100 and the logic unit 300 may be provided. In the present embodiment, the FX909 model is used as the data modem 120. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and any modem used in the art may be used.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 2, the logic unit 300, which is a key component of the wireless information terminal device of the present invention is electrically connected to the transceiver 100 through the data modem 120 to calculate the transmission and reception signal An arithmetic processing unit 310 for performing processing, a memory unit 320 electrically connected to the arithmetic processing unit 310 to store an application program required for arithmetic processing of the transmission / reception signal, and the arithmetic processing unit ( And an information input unit 330 electrically connected to the input signal 310 and having a three-column keypad 30 having three input values per one input key, and a signal received from the transceiver 100 and the The display unit 340 may display a result of processing the signal input to the information input unit 330 by the arithmetic processing unit 310. A CPU (ARM7 32bit RISC) may be used as the arithmetic processing unit 310, and the memory unit 320 may include a DRAM or an SRAM and a flash ROM. As shown in FIG. 3, the information input unit 330 is a three-row keypad 30 having three input values per one input key (see FIG. 5), and when a signal can be input by rotating and pressing. It is preferably configured with a track key (wheeler) 50 (see Figs. 1 and 8) for causing the pop-up menu to be displayed on the display unit 40. In addition, an LCD and an electroluminescence (EL) module may be used as the display unit 340. In addition to the LCD / EL module, an LCD / EL driver for driving the display unit 340 may be provided.

In addition, the logic unit 300 may include an interface unit 360 for wired data communication with the outside, for example, a serial I / O port of RS-232C, a speaker (buzzer) or an LED. The signal output unit 350 may also be provided.

Meanwhile, the power supply unit 200 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 includes a rechargeable battery such as a lithium ion battery, which is charged by an external power source. In addition, the power supply unit 200 may include an alkaline battery or a nickel-metal hydride battery (Ni-MH).

In connection with the configuration of the wired interface unit 360 and the power supply unit 200, the wireless information terminal device of the present invention has a connection jack (receptacle) 370 having a single hole, as shown in FIG. Is connected to the power supply unit 200 and is connected to the wired data communication interface unit 360. The connection jack 370 is connected to the connection line from the external power source and the connection line connected from the external information processing device and one projection plug connected to the external power supply and wired (serial) data communication can be made with one jack. have.

4 is a block diagram of a radio frequency transceiver of the radio information terminal device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, which includes an antenna, a low pass filter, a low noise amplifier (LNA), a surface acoustic wave filter, a mixer, and a voltage controlled oscillator. (VCO), buffers, PLLs, preamplifiers, power amplifiers, and couplers to send data over a packet-based wireless data communications network (e.g., a wireless data communications network like the 013 service provided by Real Telecom). It is possible to receive.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a keypad of the wireless information terminal device of FIG. 1, which shows a keypad 30 characterized by three input values per one input key and a three-column type.

The configuration of a three-row keypad having three input values per input key will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5.

In the keypad of the present invention, a space key 12 is provided below three key buttons, and left and right direction keys 10 are provided on both sides of the space key. In the lower left of the keypad, there is an Alt key 18, which converts between two characters (for example, Hangul / English) by pressing the Alt key 18 and the space key 12 simultaneously or sequentially. do. This Alt key 18 also functions as a shift key of a conventional keyboard. In addition, the Alt key 18 also functions as a numeric input selection key. When the Alt key 18 is pressed once, one or a predetermined number of numbers can be input. Press two times in succession to set the number until you deselect it.

At the far right of the second column of the keypad, a combination key for deleting and backspace functions is provided, and the Sym / CAP key 16 is provided at the second from the right in the third column of the keypad. have. When the Sym / CAP key 16 is pressed simultaneously with the Alt key 18 or sequentially, and then any input key is pressed, an input value assigned to each input key, for example, a symbol other than Korean or English alphabets. This can be input. In addition, the Sym / CAP key 16 also functions as an English uppercase letter input selection key. When the Sym / CAP key 16 is pressed once, a single letter or a predetermined number of uppercase letters can be set. When the Sym / CAP key 16 is pressed two times in succession, a capital letter can be input until the selection is cancelled.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 5, an embossed convex-convex (protrusion) 20, which is a reference at the time of typing, is provided outside the G and H buttons of the keypad.

The keypad 30 and the wheeler (also called a track key) 50 of the wireless information terminal device of the present invention have various features as described above. This is shown in the table below.

Meanwhile, in the present specification and drawings, "mobit talk" is the trademark of the applicant for the terminal device of the present invention, "mobit talk" or "MOBITALK" refers to the terminal device.

Compare Plain keyboard MobyTalk Keypad 1. Keyboard layout 4 lines 3 lines 2. Number of inputs per key 2 inputs 3 inputs 3. Direction Key Separate placement of up, down, left and right keys Place the left and right keys next to the space key 4. Korean / English conversion Korean / English toggle key Alt + space 5. Delete / Backspace Separate delete and backspace keys Combine Delete / Backspace Keys into One 6. Symbol input key none Alt + SYM key assignment 7. Once Cap / Caps Lock No cap key, only Caps lock key Cap once Press Cap OnceCap Quickly press twice Caps Lock 8. One time Alt / Alt Lock none Alt once Press Alt OnceAlt Press twice quickly Alt Lock (a feature that replaces Num Lock) 9. Shift key Shift key Alt Shift function 10. Dual consonant input method Shift + corresponding consonant Press the consonant key twice 11. Standard key irregularities Uneven placement on F and J keys Uneven placement between F and G keys and between H and J keys 12. Trackkey function none Press the track key to pop up the menu, enter key function, or move the track key to scroll or move the cursor.

Hereinafter, the characteristics of the keypad of the wireless information terminal device of the present invention will be described in comparison with a general computer keyboard in the order described in Table 1.

1 and 2. Number of keyboard columns and number of inputs per key

Generic PC keyboard: 4 lines / 2 inputs per key

MobyTalk keypad: 3 inputs / 3 inputs per key (see 8 in FIG. 5)

3. Direction key position

General PC keyboard: Place up, down, left, and right keys in one place

MobyTalk Keypad: Place the left and right arrow keys next to the space key (see 10 in FIG. 5).

4. Korean-English conversion

Generic PC Keyboard: One / English Key

MobyTalk keypad: Alt key (see 18 in FIG. 5) + space key (see 12 in FIG. 5)

5. Delete / Backspace

Regular PC Keyboard: Separate Delete and Backspace Keys

MobyTalk Keypad: Delete and Backspace keys (see 14 in FIG. 5)

6. Symbol input key

Generic Keyboard: None

MobyTalk Keypad: Alt key (18 in FIG. 5) + Sym / CAP key (16 in FIG. 5)

7. Once Cap / Caps Lock

Generic PC keyboard: No Cap key once. Only Caps Lock Key Exists

Moby Torque Keypad: Press Sym / CAP key (16) once to apply Cap one time ("c" is displayed on the screen status bar), then release automatically, press CAP twice quickly to perform Caps Lock function ("C" on screen status bar) " Display)

8. One time Alt / Alt Lock

Generic PC Keyboard: None

MobyTalk Keypad: Press Alt key (18) once to apply Alt once (shown "a" in the screen status bar), then release it automatically, Alt twice to press Alt lock and replace Num Lock function for numbers. "A" in the screen status bar)

9. Shift key

Common PC Keyboard: Shift Key

MobyTalk keypad: replaced with Alt key (see 18 in FIG. 5)

10. Dual consonant input method

Generic PC keyboard: Shift key + corresponding consonant key

MobyTalk keypad: press Alt key (18) + the corresponding consonant key or the corresponding consonant key twice

11. Embossed bumps (protrusions) as the standard for typing

Standard keyboard: 2 protrusions on F and J keys

Mobit Torque: Two projections installed between F and G keys and between H and J keys (see reference numeral 20 in FIG. 5).

12. Track key (wheeler) (see FIGS. 1 and 8)

Generic Keyboard: None

Moby Talk: (1) Pressing the track key displays a pop-up menu, performing the Enter key function. (2) Moving the track key up and down scrolls (Page Up / Page Down and wheel mouse functions), and the cursor. Perform move function

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a general process until an input value of a corresponding key is displayed on the display unit 40 when an input key of the terminal device of FIG. 1 is selected. Referring to this flowchart, a general process will be described below. same.

First, when any one input key is pressed, the hardware key code corresponding to the position information of the pressed key is transferred to the software block, which is a higher block (S600), and the hardware key code is converted into a key code value printed on the keypad to convert the software. Generate a key code (S610), distinguish whether the pressed key is English or Korean or function keys (direction, symbols, etc.) to generate the corresponding software key event to pass to the upper application (S620), the application stored in the memory The program interprets the parameter of the software key event and transmits the result to the operation processing unit (S630), and displays the corresponding key information (English, Korean, direction or symbol, etc.) according to the key event analysis result in the operation processing unit. It is displayed on (S640).

Hereinafter, the process until the input value is displayed on the display will be described by taking a case where a specific input key of the keypad of the wireless information terminal device of the present invention is pressed as an example.

First, simply select one of the input keys on the three-row keypad, for example, "J", or enter a character ("ㅓ") other than the letter ("J") originally assigned to this "J" key. Press the Alt key (18) and the space key (12) simultaneously or sequentially to select an input key whose original input value is "J", or to enter a symbol ("*") Press Sym / CAP (16) key simultaneously or sequentially and select the input key whose original input value is "J". Then, the hardware keycode corresponding to the location information of the selected keys is transferred to the software block which is the upper block, converts the hardware keycode into a keycode value printed on the keypad, and generates a software keycode, and only the "J" key. Is pressed, the Alt key 18 and the space key 12 are pressed simultaneously or sequentially and the " J " key is selected, or the Alt key 18 and the Sym / CAP 16 key are pressed simultaneously or sequentially. After distinguishing whether the "J" key is selected, the input value of the selected "J" key is determined to generate a corresponding software key event. Thereafter, the application program stored in the memory of the wireless information terminal device interprets the parameter of the software key event and transmits the result to the processing unit of the wireless information terminal device. One of three input values of "J", "ㅓ", or "*" is displayed on the display device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a processing state of a keypad when an input key of the keypad of the wireless information terminal device of FIG. 1 is selected. In the first state, the input key of the keypad is selected to generate a hardware key code. The second state is a state in which the hardware input is converted into a logical key code. The third state analyzes the logical key code. Auto meta process (2) English process (3) Special key process (4) It is a state to distinguish whether it is a function key process. The fourth state is the state that determines the input value of the selected input key and generates the corresponding key event. The fifth state is a state that delivers the generated key event to the application.

8 is a diagram illustrating a pop-up menu displayed on a display unit when a track key of the wireless information terminal device of FIG. 1 is pressed. The pop-up menu displayed when the track key of the wireless information terminal device is pressed provides a user input interface. The user can, for example, move a menu such as storing a new address or adding an E-mail by rotating the track key, and then simply selects the menu by pressing the track key. In addition, when the track key of the wireless information terminal device is pressed, an enter key function may be performed, and when the track key is rotated, a scroll function (page up / page down and wheel mouse functions) and a cursor movement function may be performed.

The present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed in the drawings. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications can be made in accordance with the spirit of the invention, and such modifications also fall within the scope of the invention.

In the wireless information terminal device of the present invention, when a combination of one input key and at least one special key is selected, it is possible to input other types of letters, numbers, or symbols in addition to one type of characters, thereby providing the number of input key numbers on a keypad of a limited space. By minimizing the size of the wireless information terminal device can minimize the problem that the keypad is also miniaturized.

In addition, the wireless information terminal device of the present invention is provided with an additional input device such as a track key in addition to the keypad, it is possible to easily perform the input process. That is, the pop-up menu displayed on the display unit when the user presses the track key provided in the wireless information terminal device of the present invention provides a user input interface so that the user can enter a menu such as storing a new address or adding an e-mail. After rotating by rotating, press the track key to select the menu.

Claims (22)

A transceiver for receiving a signal from or transmitting a signal to the wireless information service provider; An arithmetic processing unit electrically connected to the transceiver and performing arithmetic processing of the signals; A memory unit electrically connected to the arithmetic processing unit and storing an application program required for arithmetic processing of the signals; An information input unit electrically connected to the arithmetic processing unit for inputting a signal, and having a three-row keypad having three input values per input key; And a display unit for displaying a result of processing the signal received by the transceiver and the signal input to the information input unit by the arithmetic processing unit. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information input unit has an input value for each input key capable of inputting other types of characters, numbers, or symbols in addition to one type of character when selecting one input key and one or two or more special keys in combination. Portable wireless information terminal device having a three-row three-key keypad. The portable wireless information terminal device of claim 2, wherein the special key is one or more special keys selected from a group consisting of a space key, an Alt key, a symbol input selection key, and a capital letter input selection key. 4. The portable wireless information terminal device according to claim 3, wherein a conversion between two or more types of characters is performed by pressing the Alt key and the space key simultaneously or sequentially. 4. The portable wireless information terminal device according to claim 3, wherein a symbol is input by pressing the Alt key and the symbol input selection key sequentially or simultaneously. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein pressing the upper case letter input selection key once allows a user to input a capital letter by one letter or a predetermined number of letters, and pressing the upper case letter input selection key two times in succession cancels the selection. A portable wireless information terminal device that is set up to input uppercase letters. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein pressing the Alt key once enters one or a predetermined number of numbers, and pressing the Alt key two times consecutively enters a number until the selection is released. Portable wireless information terminal device is set to be. 4. The portable wireless information terminal device according to claim 3, wherein the Alt key performs a function of a shift key of a conventional keyboard. The portable wireless information terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a reference protrusion for a hitter at a predetermined position in the center of the keypad. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The information input unit further comprises a track key for inputting a signal by rotating and pressing. The portable wireless information terminal device of claim 10, wherein when the track key is pressed, a pop-up menu is displayed on the screen. 11. The portable wireless information terminal device of claim 10, wherein pressing the track key performs an enter key function. The portable wireless information terminal device of claim 10, wherein the rotating of the track key performs a scroll function. The portable wireless information terminal device of claim 10, wherein the rotating of the track key performs a cursor movement function. One, two or more special keys for selecting one of the three-key keypad keys per input key, or for entering letters, numbers, or symbols other than the letters originally assigned to this one key. Selecting and then selecting the one input key; Delivering a hardware key code corresponding to the location information of the selected key to a software block which is a higher block; Generating a software keycode by converting the hardware keycode into a keycode value printed on the keypad in the software block; After discriminating whether only one input key is selected or the combination of the at least one special key and the one input key is selected, an input value of the selected one input key is determined and a corresponding software key event is determined. Creating step, An application program stored in a memory of the wireless information terminal device interpreting the parameter of the software key event and transferring the result to the arithmetic processing unit of the wireless information terminal device; And a step of displaying the input value of one input key whose phase is selected according to a key event analysis result on the display device. 16. The portable wireless information terminal device of claim 15, wherein in the selecting step, when a combination of one input key and one or two or more special keys is selected, other types of letters, numbers, or symbols can be input in addition to one type of characters. How to input information. 17. The method of claim 15 or 16, wherein the special key is at least one special key selected from the group consisting of a space key, an Alt key, a symbol input selection key, and a capital letter input selection key. . 18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the portable wireless information terminal apparatus converts two or more types of characters by pressing the Alt key and the space key simultaneously or sequentially. 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the portable radio information terminal apparatus inputs a symbol by sequentially or simultaneously pressing the Alt key and the symbol input selection key. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein pressing the uppercase input selection key once makes it possible to input an uppercase letter by one letter or a predetermined number of characters, and pressing the uppercase input selection key two times in succession cancels the selection. A method of inputting information in a portable wireless information terminal device which is set to input uppercase letters until it is input. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein pressing the Alt key once allows a user to enter one or a predetermined number of numbers, and pressing the Alt key two times continuously inputs a number until the selection is released. A method of inputting information in a portable wireless information terminal device configured to be enabled. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the Alt key performs a function of a shift key of a conventional keyboard.