KR20080096218A - Apparatus and method for inputting letter - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for inputting character are provided to input alphabet conveniently by pressing two number keys on a number keypad or lining one line on a touch screen. A touch screen(110) recognizes input operation by contact. An input guideline module(120) indicates input guideline classified into a plurality of location areas on the touch screen. A number keypad arranges as 3 by 3 matrix. A line matching module(130) matches alphabet corresponding to a line inputted on the input guide line or matches alphabet corresponding to a plurality of number patterns inputted on the number keypad.

Description

Apparatus and method for inputting letter}

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a character input apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is an exemplary diagram in which input guidelines are displayed on a touch screen.

3 is an exemplary diagram of input guidelines according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is an exemplary diagram of line pattern data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a character input apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

6 is an exemplary view of numeric pattern data according to another embodiment of the present invention.

7 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an alphabetic character that may match one number.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a character input method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a flowchart illustrating a character input method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a flowchart illustrating a character input method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

110: touch screen

120: input guidelines module

130: line matching module

220: input guidelines

510: numeric keypad

520: number matching module

The present invention relates to a character input apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a character input apparatus and method that can easily enter the English characters on the touch screen or the numeric keypad.

As wireless communication develops today, various functions, such as a function of sending and receiving text messages, storing phone numbers, and wireless Internet functions, are being added to the functions of a mobile phone, a mobile terminal. In addition, small computers such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet PCs (tablet PCs), and UMPCs (Ultra-Mobile PCs) with editing functions such as documents and tables, which were conventionally possible in large devices such as desktop computers, MP3 players, PMPs With the advent of small devices such as (portable multimedia player), there is an increasing demand for small size and text input.

In addition, due to the development of network communication technology and the diversification of multimedia services, there is an increasing demand for technology for inputting text into home appliances. For example, a user may input an address of a web page to visit to access the Internet through a digital TV, or use an interactive service between a broadcaster and a user due to the spread of digital broadcasting.

Various methods are used to input characters into such small devices. In general, a mobile communication terminal adopting a numeric keypad of 3 * 4 keys is used by mapping a plurality of characters to each key. For example, in the case of English lower case input mode, 'q' and 'z' are mapped to the key (KEY 1) corresponding to the number '1' and 'q' and 'z whenever the corresponding key (KEY 1) is entered. 'Will be displayed alternately in the input window. Therefore, the user had to press the corresponding key (KEY 1) twice when he needed to enter 'z' repeatedly.

PDAs, tablet PCs and UMPCs are using touch screens due to their miniaturization. A stylus or a finger may be used to click a button on the screen or to input text or a figure on the touch screen. The portable computer allocates a predetermined space on the screen in order to receive a character or a figure, etc., which is called an input window. When the user writes a character form according to a predetermined appointment as a pen or the like in the input window, the corresponding character interpreted through the handwriting recognition program is input to the display window. However, because the writing methods are different for each person, the character recognition rate is low and the speed is slow, and as a result, they are not satisfied with those who are familiar with the keyboard input method.

Accordingly, there is a need for a method of easily inputting alphabetic characters on a numeric keypad or a touch screen.

The present invention has been devised to improve the above problems, and the technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method that can easily enter the English letters on the numeric keypad.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for easily entering English characters on a touch screen.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects that are not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, the character input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, an input guideline for displaying a touch screen that the input is recognized by the contact, and the input guideline divided into a plurality of location areas on the touch screen It includes a module, a matching module for matching the alphabetic characters corresponding to the pattern of the line input to the input guideline, and an output module for outputting the matched alphabetic characters.

In order to achieve the above object, the character input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, a three-row and three-column number keypad is arranged, and matching the alphabet letters corresponding to a plurality of numeric patterns input to the numeric keypad Module and an output module for outputting a matched alphabetic character.

In order to achieve the above object, the character input method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the step of receiving a line in the input guideline divided into a plurality of location areas on the touch screen, matching the English letters corresponding to the pattern of the input line And outputting a matched alphabetic character.

In order to achieve the above object, the character input method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the step of receiving a plurality of numbers in the numeric keypad where the numeric keys are arranged in three rows and three columns, the English letters corresponding to the plurality of numeric patterns input And matching and outputting a matched alphabetic character.

Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and the drawings.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various different forms, and only the embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and the general knowledge in the art to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to fully inform the person having the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings for explaining a character input apparatus and method according to embodiments of the present invention. At this point, it will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and combinations of flowchart illustrations may be performed by computer program instructions. Since these computer program instructions may be mounted on a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing equipment, those instructions executed through the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing equipment may be described in flow chart block (s). It creates a means to perform the functions. These computer program instructions may be stored in a computer usable or computer readable memory that can be directed to a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to implement functionality in a particular manner, and thus the computer usable or computer readable memory. It is also possible for the instructions stored in to produce an article of manufacture containing instruction means for performing the functions described in the flowchart block (s). Computer program instructions may also be mounted on a computer or other programmable data processing equipment, such that a series of operating steps may be performed on the computer or other programmable data processing equipment to create a computer-implemented process to create a computer or other programmable data. Instructions for performing the processing equipment may also provide steps for performing the functions described in the flowchart block (s).

In addition, each block may represent a portion of a module, segment, or code that includes one or more executable instructions for executing a specified logical function (s). It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of order. For example, the two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending on the corresponding function.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a character input apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The touch screen 110 is a screen on which an input is recognized by contact. The touch screen 110 may be variously implemented by those skilled in the art, such as resistive film type, ultrasonic type, infrared type, sound wave type, and capacitive type. The input guideline generated by the input guideline module 120 is displayed on the touch screen 110.

The input guideline module 120 displays the input guideline divided into a plurality of location areas on the touch screen 110.

2 is an exemplary diagram in which input guidelines are displayed on a touch screen. 2, an input guide line 220 is displayed on a part of the touch screen 110. When a line is displayed on the input guide line 220 using a stylus 230 or a finger, the line input by the input guide module 120 is recognized.

3 is an exemplary diagram of input guidelines according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the input guide line 220 includes an upper left end 1, a middle upper end 2, an upper right end 3, a left middle 4, a middle middle 5, a right middle 6, and a left side. It is divided into a lower end (7), a center lower end (8), a lower right end (9).

The line matching module 130 matches the line input to the input guide module 120 with an English letter. The line matching module 130 has line pattern data in which input lines and English letters match.

4 is an exemplary diagram of line pattern data according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, in the input guideline 220, the line from (1) to (4) is the alphabet letter b, the line from (5) to (6) is the alphabet letter c, and (3) to (6). The line leading from) to the letter d, the line from (8) to the letter e, the lines from (3) to (2) through (8) to the letter f, and from (5) to (8) 7) is the letter g, the lines from (1) to (4) and (5) to (8) are the letter h, the lines from (5) to (8) are the letter i, ( The line from 2) to (8) through (7) is j, the line from (3) to (5) through (9) is k, and from (2) to (8) The letter l, the line from (7) to (5) through (9) is the letter m, the line from (7) to (5) through (8) is the letter n, followed by (5) Is the letter o, the line from (4) to (7) is the letter p, the line from (6) to (9) is the letter q, and from (2) to (5) to (3). The line followed by the letter r, (6) through (5) and (8), followed by (7) is the letter s, and the line from (2) through (8) through (9) is the letter t. , The line from (2) to (5) is the letter u, the lines from (1) to (5) are followed by (2) the letter v, and (1) is from (5) to (3). The line is the letter w, the lines from (1) to (5) through (7) are the letter x, the lines from (3) to (7) are the letter y, and (4) to (5) and ( The line leading to (9) through 8) matches the letter z.

The output module 140 outputs a matched alphabet letter. The output module 140 outputs a matched alphabet letter on a screen or outputs it to another module to be used in another module. Matched alphabet letters are case-sensitive and output by the processing module.

5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a character input apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The numeric keypad 510 is arranged in three rows and three columns. The arrangement of the numeric keys is preferably arranged in ascending order as in a general mobile communication terminal. The numeric keypad 510 also includes a numeric keypad on a screen displayed on the touch screen 110.

The number matching module 520 matches a plurality of numbers input at the same time or at the same time to the numeric keypad 510 as alphabetic characters. The number matching module 520 has numerical pattern data that matches a plurality of input numbers and alphabet letters.

6 is an exemplary view of numeric pattern data according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, numerals 5 and 9 are alphabet a, numerals 1 and 4 are alphabet b, numerals 5 and 6 are alphabet c, numerals 3 and 6 are alphabet d, numeral 8 and numerals. 8 is the letter e, numbers 3 and 8 are the letter f, numbers 5 and 7 are the letter g, numbers 1 and 8 are the letter h, numbers 5 and 8 are the letter i, numbers 2 and the number 7 is the letter j, numbers 3 and 9 are the letters k, numbers 2 and 8 are the letters l, numbers 7 and 9 are the letters m, numbers 7 and 8 are the letters n, numbers 5 and the numbers 5 is the letter o, numbers 4 and 7 are the letters p, numbers 6 and 9 are the letters q, numbers 2 and 3 are the letters r, numbers 6 and 7 are the letters s, numbers 2 and the numbers 9 is the letter t, numbers 2 and 5 are letter u, numbers 1 and 2 are letter v, numbers 1 and 3 are letter w, numbers 1 and 7 are letter x, and number 3 Numeral 7 is an alphabetic character y, number 4 and number 9 is matched with an alphabetic character z.

The number matching module 520 preferably displays an alphabetic character that can be matched with one input number when one number is input to the numeric keypad 510.

7 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an alphabetic character that may match one number. Referring to FIG. 7, when the number 1 720 is input to the numeric keypad 510, the display 730 is displayed along with a second number to which an English letter that can match the number 1 must be input. That is, when the number 1 (720) is input, [b: 4 | h: 8 | v: 2 | w: 3 | x: 7] (730). Such display methods may be variously changed by those skilled in the art.

The output module 530 outputs a matched alphabetic character. The output module 530 outputs a matched alphabet letter on a screen or outputs it to another module to be used in another module. Matched alphabet letters are case-sensitive and output by the processing module.

In this case, the term 'module' used in the present embodiment refers to software or a hardware component such as an FPGA or an ASIC, and a module plays a role. However, modules are not meant to be limited to software or hardware. The module may be configured to be in an addressable storage medium and may be configured to play one or more processors. Thus, as an example, a module may include components such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components, and task components, and processes, functions, properties, procedures, subroutines. , Segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuits, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. The functionality provided within the components and modules may be combined into a smaller number of components and modules or further separated into additional components and modules. In addition, the components and modules may be implemented to play one or more CPUs in a device or secure multimedia card.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a character input method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When the user draws a line with the stylus 230 or a finger on the input guide line 220 on the touch screen 110, the input guide module 120 receives a line (S810).

The input line is matched with an alphabetic character corresponding to the pattern of the line by the line matching module 130 (S820). As described above, according to the line pattern data of FIG. 4, the lines from (1) to (4) are alphabet b, the lines from (5) to (6) are alphabet c, and (3) to (6) The line leading to the letter d, the line from (8) to the letter e, the lines from (3) to (2) through (8) to the letter f, and (5) to (8) through (7) The line from) to the letter g, the lines from (1) to (4) and (5) to (8) is the letter h, the line from (5) to (8) is the letter i, (2 ) From (8) to (7) for the letter j, from (3) to (5) to (9) for the letter k, and from (2) to (8) for the letter l, the line from (7) to (5) through (9) is the letter m, the line from (7) to (5) through (8) is the letter n, and the line from (5) is The letter o, the line from (4) to (7) is the letter p, the line from (6) to (9) is the letter q, and (2) to (5). (3) is the letter r followed by (6) to (5) and (8) and (7) is the letter s and (2) to (8) and (9). The line is the letter t, the line from (2) to (5) is the letter u, the line from (1) to (5), and the line from (2) is the letter v, and (1) to (5). The line leading to (3) is the letter w, the line from (1) to (5) to (7) is the letter x, the line from (3) to (7) is the letter y, and (4) The lines from (5) and (8) to (9) are matched with the letter z.

Matching alphabetic characters are output to the output module 140 on the screen or other modules (S830).

9 is a flowchart illustrating a character input method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

When the user presses a numeric key on the numeric keypad 510, the numeric keypad receives a number (S910). The user may press a plurality of numeric keys at the same time or at the same time, and the numeric keypad 510 may receive a plurality of numbers at the same time or at the same time.

The input two numbers are matched with the alphabet corresponding to the number pattern by the number matching module 520 (S920). As described above, according to the numeric pattern data of FIG. 6, numerals 5 and 9 are alphabetic characters a, numerals 1 and 4 are alphabetic characters b, numerals 5 and 6 are alphabetic characters c, numerals 3 and 6 are alphabetic characters. d, numbers 8 and 8 for the letter e, numbers 3 and 8 for the letter f, numbers 5 and 7 for the letter g, numbers 1 and 8 for the letter h, numbers 5 and 8 for the letter i, numbers 2 and 7 are letter j, numbers 3 and 9 are letter k, numbers 2 and 8 are letter l, numbers 7 and 9 are letter m, numbers 7 and 8 are alphabet letters n, numbers 5 and 5 are alphabetic characters o, numbers 4 and 7 are alphabetic characters p, numbers 6 and 9 are alphabetic characters q, numbers 2 and 3 are alphabetic characters r, numbers 6 and 7 are alphabetic characters s, numbers 2 and 9 are letter t, numbers 2 and 5 are letter u, numbers 1 and 2 are letter v, numbers 1 and 3 are letter w, and numbers The letters 1 and 7 match the letter x, the numbers 3 and 7 match the letter y, and the numbers 4 and 9 match the letter z.

Matching alphabetic characters are output to the output module 530 on the screen or other modules (S930).

10 is a flowchart illustrating a character input method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

When the user presses one number key on the numeric keypad 510, the numeric keypad receives one number (S1010).

The number matching module 520 displays an alphabetic character that can be matched with the input one number (S1020). For example, if the number 1 (720) is inputted, a [b: 4 | h: 8 | v: 2 | w: 3 | x: 7] (730). The display method may be variously changed by those skilled in the art.

When the user presses the second number with reference to the display 730, the numeric keypad 510 receives the second number (S1030).

The input two numbers are matched with alphabets by the number matching module 520 (S1040).

Matching alphabetic characters are output to the output module 530 on the screen or other modules (S1050).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of the following claims rather than the detailed description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and the equivalent concept are included in the scope of the present invention. Should be interpreted.

According to the name of the present invention as described above, there are one or more of the following effects.

First, it draws a single line on the touch screen and has the advantage of allowing easy input of English characters.

Second, there is an advantage that you can simply enter the English letters by pressing two numeric keys on the numeric keypad.

Third, the input of all languages using English letters as well as English, for example, in the case of input using the phonetic alphabet in the Chinese has the advantage of simplifying the input.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

Claims (5)

A touch screen on which input is recognized by touch; An input guide line module displaying an input guide line divided into a plurality of location areas on the touch screen; A matching module that matches an alphabetic character corresponding to a pattern of a line input to the input guide line; And Character input device comprising an output module for outputting the matched alphabetic characters. A numeric keypad arranged with three rows and three columns; A matching module for matching alphabetic characters corresponding to a plurality of numeric patterns inputted to the numeric keypad; And Character input device comprising an output module for outputting the matched alphabet. Receiving a line on an input guide line divided into a plurality of location areas on the touch screen; Matching an alphabetic character corresponding to the input line pattern; And Character input method comprising the step of outputting the matching alphabet. Receiving a plurality of numbers from a numeric keypad having numeric keys arranged in three rows and three columns; Matching an alphabetic character corresponding to the input plurality of numeric patterns; And Character input method comprising the step of outputting the matching alphabet. The method of claim 4, wherein Receiving a plurality of numbers in the numeric keypad where the numeric keys are arranged in three rows and three columns, Receiving one number from the numeric keypad; Displaying an alphabetic character that can match the input one number; And Character input method comprising the step of receiving a second number on the numeric keypad.

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