JP2001228959A - Communication equipment and television remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide communication equipment and a television remote controller capable of inputting Japanese and English with simple key operation by using small number of input keys. SOLUTION: In this communication equipment constituted by providing plural input keys to input signs, allocating prescribed signs to the input keys and capable of inputting the prescribed signs by depressing each input key for prescribed times, numerals 1 to 9 are allocated to each of nine input keys one by one and two alphabetical characters are allocated to each of the input keys to which the numerals are allocated in such a way. In addition, signs (a), (i), (u), (e), (o) are allocated to each of five input keys so that the signs (a), (i), (u), (e), (o) are inputted by a single depression of the input key.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a portable telephone and a PHS
The present invention relates to a communication device capable of inputting a symbol such as a symbol and a television remote control device capable of inputting a symbol.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of mail and the Internet, the number of cases of inputting characters from a mobile phone or a PHS is increasing.

[0003] With the rapid progress of computerization, it has been sufficient to input a simple message in the past.
In S too, there has been a need to input and send longer e-mails.

[0004] The keyboard of a mobile phone is provided with a minimum number of numeric keys for inputting the telephone number of the other party.
Assign alphabets and hiragana to the numeric keys,
Character input is enabled. This key layout is relatively easy to understand, so it is suitable for inputting short messages. However, when inputting a long mail using a mobile phone, the number of key presses is large, which is not practical.

[0005] In addition, with the fusion of television and the Internet, there will be a need for inputting symbols and mails on Internet homepages using a television remote control.

[0006] When the television is integrated with the Internet, a function is required that allows the user to easily input an address of a homepage using alphabets and the like and Japanese input with a remote control of the television.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to make it possible to input Japanese and English by a simple key operation by arranging characters rationally on a keyboard having few numeric keys.

[0008]

A preferred solution according to the present invention is a communication device according to claims 1 to 6 and a television remote control device according to claims 7 to 13.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention is an improvement in the arrangement of symbols assigned to input keys in communication devices such as portable telephones, PHSs, ultra-small PDAs, and television remote control devices.

In the present invention, character input is performed by alphabet input. Japanese is entered using Roman conversion. Roman alphabet conversion by the alphabet is widely used in word processors and personal computers. Hiragana has more than 50 characters including voiced voices, semi-voiced voices, small characters, etc., and the assignment to fewer keys is complicated. On the other hand, the alphabet is 26 characters, and 13 keys are sufficient if two characters are assigned to one key. In the future, as the use of the Internet advances, English input will increase. For this reason, it is convenient to perform Japanese input by Roman alphabet conversion by alphabet input.

[0011] In addition, when assigning alphabets to input keys, two characters are assigned to one key so that most alphabets can be input by clicking or double-clicking. ... AB, CD,.
• Assign to input keys for easy understanding. The keys of "A, E, I, O, U" which are frequently used in the Romaji conversion Japanese input can be input by one action. "Space", ",", "." Or "," required for long sentence input
And “.” Are also assigned to the input keys.

Further, the communication device and the television remote controller of the present invention have a conversion key and a line feed key. The conversion key has a function of selecting an input mode (numeric, English, Japanese) and converting symbols (kana-kanji conversion, English uppercase conversion).

[0013] The number keys of the mobile phone and the TV remote control are 3 ×
4 = 12 is the minimum, but commercialized equipment has function keys in addition to numeric keys.
~ 18 keys. An input key for inputting a space, a line feed key, and a conversion key are assigned to those keys.

An input key for inputting a space, a line feed key and a conversion key are keys frequently used for character input on a personal computer. By providing these keys to the communication device or the television remote controller of the present invention, a character input operation can be performed smoothly.

In a typical example of the present invention, a plurality of input keys for inputting symbols are provided, and predetermined symbols are assigned to the input keys, and each input key is pressed a predetermined number of times to input a predetermined symbol. In a communication device capable of performing such operations, numbers 1 to 9 are assigned to each of the nine input keys, and two alphabet characters are assigned to each of the input keys to which the numbers and symbols are assigned. Have been.

Preferably, Kana characters are not assigned to the input keys, and each input key is pressed a predetermined number of times to input only the alphabet and to perform the Roman character conversion to perform Japanese input.

[0017] Preferably, it has an input key to which a space symbol for inputting a space, a reading mark or a comma, and a punctuation mark or a period are assigned.

Preferably, a conversion key for selecting a type of a symbol to be input and a conversion key for performing a conversion from the input symbol to another type of symbol are provided. To have.

As another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of input keys for inputting symbols are provided, and predetermined symbols are assigned to these input keys. Each input key is pressed a predetermined number of times to input a predetermined symbol. In a communication device capable of inputting, two or more alphabetic characters are assigned to at least nine input keys, and symbols a, i, u, e are assigned to each of the five input keys. , O, input key 1
It is also preferable to assign so that the input is made by pressing the button twice.

Further, in another embodiment of the present invention,
In a television remote control device having a plurality of input keys for inputting symbols, the input keys are assigned predetermined symbols, and each input key can be pressed a predetermined number of times to input a predetermined symbol. Numbers 1 to 10 are assigned to each of the input keys, and two alphabetic characters are assigned to each of the input keys to which the numbers and symbols are assigned.

Preferably, Kana characters are not assigned to the input keys, and each input key is pressed a predetermined number of times to input only the alphabet and to perform the Roman character conversion to perform Japanese input.

Preferably, the apparatus has an input key to which a space symbol for inputting a space, a reading point or a comma, and a period or a period is assigned.

Preferably, a line feed key is provided.

Preferably, the apparatus has a conversion key for selecting an input mode for selecting the type of a symbol to be input and converting the input symbol to another type of symbol.

Further, as another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of input keys for inputting symbols are provided, and predetermined symbols are assigned to these input keys. In a television remote control device capable of inputting symbols, two or more alphabetic characters are assigned to at least 10 input keys, and symbols a, i, and u, e,
It is also preferable that o be assigned by pressing the input key once.

[0026]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an input key of a portable telephone according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The mobile phone according to the present embodiment has input keys 101 to 112 for inputting symbols. Numbers 1 to 9, a symbol *, a number 0, and a symbol # are assigned to the input keys 101 to 112, respectively. Further, the mobile phone according to the present embodiment includes an input key 113 for inputting a space, a punctuation mark or a comma, and a period,
A line feed key 114 and a conversion key 115 for selecting an input mode and converting symbols, which will be described later, are provided.

Furthermore, alphabets a and b are assigned to the input keys 101. The input keys 102 are assigned alphabets c and d. The input keys 103 are assigned alphabets e and f. The input keys 104 are assigned alphabets g and h. The input keys 105 are assigned alphabets i and j. The input keys 106 are assigned alphabets k and l. The input keys 107 are assigned alphabets m and n. The input keys 108 are assigned alphabets o and p. The input keys 109 are assigned alphabets q and r. The input keys 110 are assigned alphabets s and t. The input keys 111 are assigned alphabets u, v, w. The input keys 112 include an alphabet x,
y and z are assigned.

Next, a method of inputting symbols will be described.

When inputting a symbol, an input mode is selected. There are three types of input modes: a numeric mode, an English mode, and a Japanese mode. Input mode is conversion key 1
Switching is performed by pressing 15 a predetermined number of times.

When the conversion key 115 is pressed once, the input mode changes to the numeric mode. In number mode, numbers, symbols *,
# Can be entered.

When the conversion key 115 is pressed twice, the input mode changes to the English mode. You can enter alphabets in English mode. The alphabet is input by pressing a predetermined input key a predetermined number of times according to the English input table shown in Table 1 below.

[0033]

[Table 1] In Table 1, for example, “t (**)” means that the input key 110 assigned with “*” is pressed twice to input “t”.

For example, when inputting "r", the input key 109 is pressed twice. When inputting "a", the input key 101 is pressed once. When inputting "w", the input key 111 is pressed three times. As can be seen from Table 1, most alphabets are entered by pressing the input key once or twice. Also, "a", "i", "u",
"E" and "o" are input by pressing the input key only once. Further, when the input lowercase alphabet is to be converted to uppercase alphabet, the conversion key 115 is pressed once to convert to uppercase alphabet.

In the English mode, the input key 113 is pressed a predetermined number of times to input a blank (space), a comma "," or a period "." A blank space is input by pressing the input key 113 once in the English mode. The comma "," is input by pressing the input key 113 twice in the English mode. Period "." Is input key 1 in English mode
Press 13 three times to enter. And blank (space)
Enter a word or English sentence using a comma or comma "," or a period ".". Line feed key 114 for line break of English sentence
Press (E) to start a new line.

Words and English sentences input as described above are
It is displayed on a symbol display section (not shown) of the mobile phone.

When the conversion key 115 is pressed three times, the input mode becomes the Japanese mode. In Japanese mode, you can enter kana characters. Kana characters are input by inputting the alphabet and performing Roman character conversion. Table 2
FIG. 7 shows a Roman character conversion input table in the mobile phone of the present embodiment.

[0038]

[Table 2] In Table 2, for example, "ho (44) 8" means "ho".
Input key 1 with the number "4" assigned to
04 is pressed twice, and the input key 108 assigned with the number “8” is pressed once.

For example, when inputting "nu", "nu" is input when the input key 107 is pressed twice and the input key 111 is pressed once because the spelling of Roman characters is "nu".
When "ki" is input, "ki" is input when the input key 106 is pressed once and the input key 105 is pressed once because the spelling of Roman characters is "ki".

The vowels "a", "i", "u", "e", and "o" frequently used in spelling in the Roman alphabet are input by pressing the input key only once, as described above.

Further, the input kana character is converted into a conversion key 1
Press 15 to convert to Kanji. For example, when inputting "Shinjuku", the user presses an input key to which each symbol is assigned as "* 5 777 550 60" according to the Roman character conversion input table in Table 2 and inputs "Shinjuku". After inputting "Shinjuku", the conversion key 115 is pressed to convert "Shinjuku" to "Shinjuku" in kanji.

In the Japanese mode, the input keys 113
Press a predetermined number of times to enter blanks and punctuation. Space (space) is input key 11 in Japanese mode
Press 3 once to enter. The reading point “,” is input by pressing the input key 113 twice in the Japanese mode. Period "."
Is input by pressing the input key 113 three times in the Japanese mode. Then, a word or a sentence is input using a space (space), a reading point “,”, a punctuation mark “.”, Or the like. When a line is sent or a word is determined, a line feed key 114 is used.
Press (E).

The words and sentences input as described above are
It is displayed on a symbol display section (not shown) of the mobile phone.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing input keys of a television remote controller showing one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The TV remote controller (television remote controller) according to this embodiment includes input keys 201 to 2 for inputting symbols.
12. Numerals 1 to 12 are assigned to the input keys 201 to 212, respectively. The TV remote controller according to the present embodiment includes an input key 213 for inputting a space, a punctuation mark or a comma, and a period.
A line feed key 214 and a conversion key 215 for selecting an input mode and converting symbols, which will be described later, are provided.

Furthermore, alphabets a and b are assigned to the input keys 201. The input keys 202 are assigned alphabets c and d. The input keys 203 are assigned alphabets e and f. The input keys 204 are assigned alphabets g and h. The input keys 205 are assigned alphabets i and j. The input keys 206 are assigned alphabets k and l. The input keys 207 are assigned alphabets m and n. The input keys 208 are assigned alphabets o and p. The input keys 209 are assigned alphabets q and r. The input keys 210 are assigned alphabets s and t. The input keys 211 are assigned alphabets u, v, and w. The input keys 212 include an alphabet x,
y and z are assigned.

Next, a method of inputting symbols will be described.

When inputting a symbol, an input mode is selected. There are three types of input modes: a numeric mode, an English mode, and a Japanese mode. Input mode is conversion key 2
Switching is performed by pressing 15 a predetermined number of times.

When the conversion key 215 is pressed once, the input mode changes to the numeric mode. In the number mode, you can enter numbers.

When the conversion key 215 is pressed twice, the input mode becomes the English mode. You can enter alphabets in English mode. The alphabet is input by pressing a predetermined input key a predetermined number of times according to the English input table shown in Table 3 below.

[0051]

[Table 3] In Table 3, for example, “u 11 ” means that the input key 211 assigned with the number “11” is pressed once to input “u”.

For example, when inputting "h", the input key 204 is pressed twice. When inputting "c", the input key 202 is pressed once. When inputting "z", the input key 212 is pressed three times. As can be seen from Table 3, most alphabets are entered by pressing the input key once or twice. Also, "a", "i", "u",
"E" and "o" are input by pressing the input key only once. Further, when the input lowercase alphabet is to be converted to uppercase alphabet, the conversion key 215 is pressed once to convert to uppercase alphabet.

In the English mode, the input key 213 is pressed a predetermined number of times to input a blank (space), a comma ",", and a period ".". A blank space is input by pressing the input key 213 once in the English mode. The comma "," is input by pressing the input key 213 twice in the English mode. Period "." Is input key 2 in English mode
Press 13 three times to enter. And blank (space)
Enter a word or English sentence using a comma or comma "," or a period ".". Line feed key 214 for line break of English sentence
Press (E) to start a new line.

The words and English sentences input as described above are
It is displayed on the symbol display section (not shown) of the TV remote control or on the TV screen.

When the conversion key 215 is pressed three times, the input mode becomes the Japanese mode. In Japanese mode, you can enter kana characters. Kana characters are input by inputting the alphabet and performing Roman character conversion. Table 4
9 shows a Roman character conversion input table in the television remote controller of the present embodiment.

[0056]

[Table 4] In Table 4, for example, "sha 10 ( 12 12 ) 1"
To input “sha”, press the input key 210 to which the number “10” is assigned once, press the input key 212 to which the number “12” is assigned twice, and press the input key 212 to which the number “1” is assigned. This means pressing 201 once.

For example, in the case of inputting "be", "be" is input by pressing the input key 201 twice and pressing the input key 213 once because the spelling in Roman characters is "be".
When "mo" is input, "mo" is input when the input key 207 is pressed once and the input key 208 is pressed once because the spelling of the Roman alphabet is "mo".

The vowels "a", "i", "u", "e", and "o" frequently used in spelling in the Roman alphabet are input by pressing the input key only once, as described above.

Further, the input kana character is converted into a conversion key 2
Press 15 to convert to Kanji. For example, when inputting "technique", the user presses an input key to which "45 55 11 10 10 11 " is assigned in accordance with the Roman character conversion input table in Table 2 and inputs "gijutsu".
After inputting "gijutsu", the conversion key 215 is pressed to convert "gijutsu" into "technique" in kanji.

In the Japanese mode, the input key 213
Press a predetermined number of times to enter blanks and punctuation. The space (space) is input key 21 in Japanese mode.
Press 3 once to enter. The reading point “,” is input by pressing the input key 213 twice in the Japanese mode. Period "."
Is input by pressing the input key 213 three times in Japanese mode. Then, a word or a sentence is input using a space (space), a reading point “,”, a punctuation mark “.”, Or the like. When a line is to be sent or a word is determined, a line feed key 214
Press (E).

The words and sentences input as described above are
It is displayed on a symbol display section (not shown) of the TV remote control or on a TV screen (not shown).

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

The present invention can be applied not only to mobile phones but also to communication devices such as PHSs and ultra-small PDAs.

Furthermore, symbols other than alphabets, numerals, * and # can be appropriately assigned to the symbols assigned to the input keys of the communication device and the television remote controller of the present invention.

[0065]

According to the present invention, the number of input keys to be provided can be kept small, and most alphabets can be input by pressing each input key once or twice. That is, the number of input keys to be provided can be kept small, and the number of alphabets that need to be pressed three times is smaller than in the past. Therefore, the number of input keys to be provided can be kept small, and the alphabet can be easily and smoothly input by a simpler operation.

Further, according to the present invention, Japanese input is performed by Roman character conversion, and vowels "a", "i", "u",
"E" and "o" can be input with a single press. Therefore, the number of input keys to be provided can be reduced, and the number of times the input keys are pressed can be reduced, so that Japanese can be input by Roman character conversion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an input key of a mobile phone showing one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing input keys of a television remote controller according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101-113, 201-213 Input key 114, 214 Line feed key 115, 215 Conversion key

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H04N 5/00 G06F 3/023 310A 5K101 5/445 H04Q 9/00 311 F term (reference) 5B020 AA01 AA02 AA15 FF13 5B089 GA25 JB01 KA03 LB05 5C025 CA09 CB00 5C056 AA01 BA01 CA11 EA06 5K048 AA04 BA03 CA08 DA01 DB01 DB04 DC01 EA11 EB02 FB08 FB15 FC01 HA01 HA02 HA05 HA07 5K101 KK11 LL12 NN02 NN18 NN25 NN34 SS07 TT06

Claims (12)

[Claims] A communication system having a plurality of input keys for inputting symbols, a predetermined symbol being assigned to each of the input keys, and a predetermined symbol being input by pressing each input key a predetermined number of times. The device is characterized in that numbers 1 to 9 are assigned to each of the nine input keys, and two alphabet characters are assigned to each of the input keys to which the numbers and symbols are assigned. And communication equipment. 2. A communication system comprising a plurality of input keys for inputting symbols, a predetermined symbol being assigned to the input keys, and a predetermined symbol being input by pressing each input key a predetermined number of times. In the device, two or more alphabetic characters are assigned to at least nine input keys, and symbols a, i, and
A communication device, wherein u, e, and o are assigned so as to be input by pressing an input key once. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the kana characters are not assigned to the input keys, and each input key is pressed a predetermined number of times to input only the alphabet and to perform a Roman character conversion, thereby performing Japanese input. Or the communication device according to 2. 4. The communication according to claim 1, further comprising an input key to which a space symbol for inputting a space, a punctuation mark or a comma, and a punctuation mark or a period are assigned. machine. 5. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a line feed key. 6. A conversion key for selecting an input mode for selecting a type of a symbol to be input and converting the input symbol to another type of symbol. The communication device according to claim 1. 7. A television having a plurality of input keys for inputting a symbol, a predetermined symbol assigned to the input keys, and a predetermined symbol being input by pressing each input key a predetermined number of times. In the remote control device, it is assumed that numbers 1 to 10 are assigned to each of the ten input keys, and that two alphabet characters are assigned to each of the input keys to which the numeric symbols are assigned. Characteristic TV remote control device. 8. A television which has a plurality of input keys for inputting symbols, a predetermined symbol is assigned to each of the input keys, and a predetermined symbol can be input by pressing each input key a predetermined number of times. At least one remote control device
Two or more alphabetic characters are assigned to zero input keys, and each of the five input keys has
A television remote control device, wherein symbols a, i, u, e, and o are assigned so as to be input by pressing an input key once. 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the kana characters are not assigned to the input keys, and each of the input keys is pressed a predetermined number of times to input only the alphabet and to perform a Roman character conversion to perform Japanese input. Or the television remote control device according to 8. 10. The television according to claim 7, further comprising an input key to which a space symbol for inputting a space, a punctuation mark or a comma, and a punctuation mark or a period are assigned. Remote control device. 11. The television remote control device according to claim 7, further comprising a line feed key. 12. A conversion key for selecting an input mode for selecting a type of a symbol to be input and converting the input symbol into another type of symbol. The television remote control device according to any one of the above.