JP2001337734A - Portable information terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable information terminal device with which an operator can input a password having a privacy function and certainly verify that the input character information is correct. SOLUTION: A displayed character changing block 124 displays the input character without changing on a display 130 when the character is input into a character inputting means 100. Then, after displaying in this manner, the displayed character changing block 124 resets the counter in a timer means 125 and inputs a next character. After the character changing block 124 completes the input of the last character in this way and the timer means 125 times up, the character changing block 124 replaces the last displayed character (i.e. unchanging displayed character) with a mark ('*') representing the character that is masked. Since the timer count value set into the timer means 125 in this condition is a minimum period when the operator can judge whether the character input by the operator with the portable information terminal device is correct, the operator can certainly verify the input password.

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 device which can easily determine whether or not input character information is appropriate and can easily correct the character information. And a portable information terminal device for inputting proper character information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A portable information terminal device is characterized by its great portability, so that the external shape of the device is generally small. Therefore, it is difficult for a keyboard of a portable information terminal device to have a full keyboard as used in a general personal computer. Also,
The screen display is also very small, such as 1/2 VGA (Video Graphics Array) or 1/4 VGA. For this reason, switching of character types such as uppercase / lowercase and English / numeric / kana characters is complicated, but it is difficult to secure all areas for displaying the types. However, even in such a restriction condition due to the small size, in a normal input state, the input character is displayed on the portable information terminal device, so the input user determines whether or not the designation of the character type is correct. Is easy to do.

[0003]

However, in a situation where an input user inputs a password, a mask symbol "*" is used instead of the input character in order to prevent a character string input by a third party from being peeped. Is displayed. As described above, when the mask symbol is displayed, even if an error occurs in the input designation, troubles such as inability to recognize the error are likely to occur, and in this aspect, the usability of the portable information terminal device is poor. There is.

A technique for easily determining whether an input password is appropriate is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2076.
No. 06, for example. According to this technique, the attribute of a character is determined based on the internal code of the input character, and the character selected for each attribute is displayed so as to express the attribute of the character. In addition, the attribute of the character is determined based on the internal code of the character, and upper / lower case conversion is performed.
You can convert lowercase letters. However, although the method of judging the validity of an input password as disclosed in this publication can be applied to a relatively large information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, the size and functions are limited as described above. It is difficult to apply to a portable information terminal device.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a purpose of the present invention is to enable input of a password having a concealment function, and to ensure that an operator inputs proper character information. It is to provide a portable information terminal device which can be used.

[0006]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable information terminal device capable of authenticating a password input by a key operator. In either a scene where the operator inputs a password or a screen for setting a password, the keyed character information is displayed on the screen as it is, and after a lapse of a preset time, the character information becomes Is converted into a mask symbol indicating that the display of the input character information is masked, and is displayed again on the screen.

A portable information terminal device according to a second aspect of the present invention is a portable information terminal device capable of authenticating a password input by an operator by a key, in which the operator inputs a password. Alternatively, in any of the screens for setting a password, character information input by a key is converted into a character type symbol indicating a character type corresponding to each character information, and is displayed on the screen.

A portable information terminal device according to a third aspect of the present invention is a portable information terminal device capable of performing authentication of a password input by a key operator, wherein the operator inputs a password, Or, in any of the screens for setting a password, the key input character information is switched to a character type symbol indicating a character type corresponding to each character information after a preset time has elapsed,
It is displayed on a screen.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the portable information terminal device according to the second or third aspect, the character type symbol displayed on the screen is a predetermined time. , The display of the character information converted into the character type is converted into a mask symbol indicating that the display is masked, and is displayed again on the screen.

A portable information terminal device according to a fifth aspect is the portable information terminal device according to the first aspect,
Input means for inputting character information, storage means for storing input character information, display means for displaying at least one of the input character information and character information stored in the storage means, and input character information And an information processing means for performing information processing by judging character information stored in the storage means, and restricting the information processing means from displaying the character information stored in the storage means on the display means. When,
In a display restriction state, when a character string that matches a password consisting of a character string entered in advance is input, a password lock function that releases the display restriction state and converts the keyed-in character information into a mask symbol It has a display character conversion function.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the portable information terminal device according to the second or third aspect, wherein input means for inputting character information and input character information are input to the portable information terminal device. Storage means for storing, display means for displaying at least one of the input character information and the character information stored in the storage means, and information processing by judging the input character information and the character information stored in the storage means And a restriction function for restricting display of the character information stored in the storage means on the display means, and in a display restriction state, a character string inputted in advance. Password lock function to release the display restriction state when a character string that matches the password entered is entered, and a character type description that switches the keyed-in character information to a character type symbol And having a conversion function.

A portable information terminal according to a seventh aspect is the portable information terminal according to the fourth aspect, wherein:
Input means for inputting character information, storage means for storing input character information, display means for displaying at least one of the input character information and character information stored in the storage means, and input character information And an information processing means for performing information processing by judging character information stored in the storage means, and restricting the information processing means from displaying the character information stored in the storage means on the display means. When,
In the display restriction state, when a character string that matches the password consisting of the character string entered in advance is input, a password lock function that releases the display restriction state, and the character information is replaced with the character type symbol and the character information becomes the mask symbol And a display character conversion function for conversion.

The portable information terminal device according to claim 8 is the portable information terminal device according to claim 5,
When the information processing means inputs the password by the operator,
Alternatively, in any one of the screens for setting a password, a timekeeping function is provided for switching the display of character information displayed immediately after a key input to a mask symbol after a predetermined time has elapsed.

A portable information terminal according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the portable information terminal according to the sixth aspect,
When the information processing means inputs the password by the operator,
Or, on any of the screens for setting a password,
It has a timekeeping function for switching the display of character information displayed immediately after a key input to a character type symbol indicating a character type after a predetermined time has elapsed.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the portable information terminal device according to the seventh aspect, wherein the information processing means sets a scene where an operator inputs a password or sets a password. In any one of the screens, the character type symbol displayed based on the key input is switched to a mask symbol after a lapse of a predetermined time.

In the portable information terminal device according to the eleventh aspect, in the portable information terminal device according to the eighth aspect, the timekeeping function can arbitrarily change the setting of the time until the display is switched. It is characterized by. Further, the portable information terminal device according to claim 12 is the portable information terminal device according to claim 9, wherein the timekeeping function can arbitrarily change the setting of the time until the display is switched. I do. The portable information terminal device according to a thirteenth aspect is characterized in that, in the portable information terminal device according to the tenth aspect, the timekeeping function can arbitrarily change the setting of the time until the display is switched. I do.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the portable information terminal device according to the eleventh aspect, wherein a password is unlocked by inputting a password, and a password is set. Is characterized in that the time from display of input character information to display switching to a mask symbol differs. Furthermore, the portable information terminal device according to claim 15 is the portable information terminal device according to claim 12, in which a password is unlocked by inputting a password, and a password is set, It is characterized in that the time from the display of the input character information to the switching of the display to the character type symbol is different.
The portable information terminal device according to the sixteenth aspect is the portable information terminal device according to the thirteenth aspect, in which a password is unlocked by inputting a password, and a password is set. It is characterized in that the time from display of the character type symbol to display switching to the mask symbol is different.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A portable information terminal device requires a mechanism for preventing internal information from being referred to by a third party when it is lost due to its portability. For this reason, a general portable information terminal device requires a password input when the power is turned on, or when returning from a resume state including a state in which the operation is not performed for a certain period of time, and a correct password character string. A mechanism is provided to enable access to internal information only when is input. Therefore, in the portable information terminal device of the present invention, when a user authenticates a password as described above, a character input by a key is once used as it is in a scene where a password is input or a screen for setting a password. It is characterized in that after a predetermined time has elapsed after being displayed on the screen, a display character such as a "*" symbol is displayed again as a symbol indicating that the display character has been masked.

Hereinafter, some embodiments will be described to clarify the technical contents of the portable information terminal device of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the portable information terminal device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This portable information terminal device has a character input unit 100 for inputting characters by a keyboard, a touch panel, and the like, information input by the character input unit 100, and input via an external interface such as a modem, a scanner, or a USB. A storage unit 110 for storing information, information input by the character input unit 100,
Information processing unit 1 that processes information stored in storage unit 110 and performs processing for displaying necessary information on display unit 130
20 and a display unit 130 for displaying various information.

Further, the information processing section 120 includes a CPU 121 for controlling the entire portable information terminal device, a program memory 122 for storing program information, and a working memory for storing working information to be executed based on the program contents. The display unit 130 includes a memory 123, a display character conversion unit 124 that performs display conversion of characters input by keys, and a time counting unit 125 such as a timer that counts time for displaying character information on the display unit 130.

More specifically, the display character conversion unit 12
4 is a function for determining whether or not to convert a character for which a display instruction is issued by the information processing unit 120 according to a state of the information processing unit 120 such as a password input or a password setting as necessary. It has. Further, the timer 125 has a function of measuring the time for switching the display of the mask character from the start of the display of the input character under the control of the display character conversion unit 124, and the like. The display character conversion unit 124 is described as a functional block, but may be implemented by the CPU 121, the program memory 122, or the working memory 123 in terms of implementation.

The information processing section 120 normally displays the information stored in the storage section 110 according to information from the character input means 100 such as a keyboard or the above-mentioned external interface.
Or to an external interface circuit. However, the information processing unit 120 shifts to the confidential mode when the portable information terminal device is activated or after a certain period of inactivity, and until the correct password is input, the information is transferred to the secret mode. It also has a function to stop output. In addition, the information processing unit 120 shifts to a password setting state in accordance with an operation of the character input unit 100 in a state where it can be normally used, and stores the character string input from the character input unit 100 as a password in the storage unit 110. It also has a function to store it in.

The count time determined by the time counting means 125 such as a timer is the minimum time during which the operator of the portable information terminal device can determine that the character he / she has attempted to input has been correctly input. Therefore, even if a third party looks into the character string input to the portable information terminal device,
It is difficult to accurately grasp the character string displayed instantaneously.

Next, the operation of the portable information terminal of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 2 shows FIG.
6 is a flowchart showing a flow of password input or password setting of the portable information terminal device shown in FIG. Also,
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing contents displayed on the display unit at the time of inputting or setting a password in the flowchart of FIG. Therefore, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the information processing unit 120 shifts to the password input state or the password setting state in response to the operation of the character input unit 100, the information processing unit 120 causes the display character conversion unit 124 to convert the characters to be displayed according to the flowchart of FIG. Then, the converted characters are displayed on the display unit 130. That is, in the input start state, as shown in FIG.
Displays "Enter password". Here, when the password input is started by the character input unit 100 (step S1), the information processing unit 120
It is determined whether there is a character input (step S2).

If there is a character input (step S2, Y
ES), whether or not a timer count time set in advance by the time counting means 125, that is, a minimum time which allows the operator of the portable information terminal device to determine that a character input by the user has been correctly input has elapsed. Is determined. Here, if the timer of the timer 125 has counted up (step S3, YES), the display character conversion unit 124 causes the display unit 130 to display the input character as it is (step S3).
4). That is, as shown in FIG. 3B, the input character "A" is displayed as it is in the password column.

After the display character conversion unit 124 performs the display processing of the character "A", the initialization processing of the timer 125, that is, the reset of the timer is performed (step S).
5) The timer of the timer 125 is restarted (step S6), a new character is input, and the above-described step S6 is performed.
The processing after step 2 is repeated. At this time, if the next character is input (step S2, YES) and the timer of the timer 125 has not counted up (step S3, N
O) Since the character is the last character currently input, the display character conversion unit 124 determines that the last displayed character (that is, the input character displayed as it is) is a masked character. The display is replaced with the symbol ("*") (step S7). The display state of the display unit 130 at this time is as shown in FIG.

In this way, when all the characters have been input and there are no more characters to be input (step S2, N
O) It is determined whether or not the timer of the time counting means 125 has counted up (step S8). If the timer has not counted up (step S8, NO), the state until there is no character input counts up. I see. On the other hand, if the timer counts up (step S8, Y
ES), the currently input character is determined to be the last character, and the display character conversion unit 124 indicates that the last displayed character (that is, the input character displayed as it is) is a masked character. The display is replaced with a symbol ("*") (step S9). Then, the timer 125 is stopped to initialize the timer count (step S10). The display state of the display unit 130 in step S9 is as shown in FIG.

Next, a second embodiment of the portable information terminal device according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the portable information terminal device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of password input or password setting of the portable information terminal device shown in FIG. Further, FIG.
6 is an example of a display character conversion table of the portable information terminal device shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing contents displayed on the display unit at the time of inputting or setting a password in the flowchart of FIG. Therefore, the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG.

The configuration of the second embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in that a character type conversion table 426 is added to the information processing section 420, and the other portions are different only in the sign. Are exactly the same as in the first embodiment, and the description of the overlapping parts will be omitted. That is, in the portable information terminal device of the second embodiment, in the password input or password setting state, the display character conversion unit 424 does not directly display the input characters on the display unit 430, and the character type conversion table 426 Are displayed on the display unit 430. Note that the character type conversion table 4
26, as shown in FIG. 6, a character code and a character type symbol are tabulated for each character type. For example, for the English uppercase letter “A”, the character code is displayed as “Ox41”, and the character type symbols are displayed as “A”, “Ox41”, and the like.

Next, according to the flowchart of FIG.
The operation of the portable information terminal device according to the second embodiment will be described. However, the same parts as those in the first embodiment cannot be omitted in the processing flow and will be described briefly. First, the password input is started by the character input means 400 (step S11), and it is determined that there is a character input (step S11).
12, YES), if the timer of the timer 425 counts up (step S13, YES), the display character conversion unit
The step 424 does not display the input character as it is, but converts it into a character type symbol according to the character type conversion table 426 (step S14). For example, in the display character conversion table of FIG.
For the English capital letter "A",
Convert to "A", "Ox41".

Then, the converted characters are displayed on the display unit 430 (step S15). The display state on the display unit 430 at this time is shown in FIG. Thereafter, the display character conversion unit performs an initialization process of the timer 425 (step S1).
6) Then, the timer of the timer 425 is restarted (step S17), a new character is input, and the processing from step S12 is repeated. At this time, the next character is input (step S12, YES), and if the timer of the timer 425 has not counted up (step S1).
3, NO), since the input character is the last character currently being input, the display character conversion unit 424 determines the last displayed character (that is, the character converted to the character type and displayed).
Is replaced with a symbol ("*") indicating that the corresponding character is a masked display (step S1).
8). The display state of the display unit 430 at this time is as shown in FIG.

In this way, the input of all characters is completed, and there are no more characters to be input (step S12, N
O) If the timer of the timer 425 counts up (step S19, YES), it is determined that the currently input character is the last character, and the display character conversion unit 424 determines the last displayed character (ie, A process is performed so that the character converted into the character type and displayed) is redisplayed as a symbol ("*" or the like) indicating that the corresponding character is masked (step S20). Then, the timer 425 is stopped to initialize the timer count (step S21). still,
The display state of the display unit 430 in step S20 is shown in FIG.
(C).

[0034]

As described above, according to the portable information terminal device of the present invention, by using the input character display means at the time of password input and password setting, the character type of the input character can be visually determined. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the information terminal operator from being confused by inputting the wrong character type. Furthermore, since it is possible to determine whether or not the character that the operator has attempted to input has been input only by adjusting the line of sight to the character input field, it is not necessary to move the line of sight to the display field of the input character type. In addition, since the display time is set to the minimum time during which the operator can confirm the input characters, there is no risk of peeping from the outside, and the confidentiality of the input information is sufficiently ensured.
Therefore, the information terminal operator does not have a possibility of causing a wrong designation of the password input having the concealment function, and can provide a portable information terminal device which is extremely easy to use.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a portable information terminal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of password input or password setting of the portable information terminal device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing contents displayed on a display unit when a password is entered or a password is set in the flowchart of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a portable information terminal device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart showing a flow of password input or password setting of the portable information terminal device shown in FIG.

6 is an example of a display character conversion table of the portable information terminal device shown in FIG.

7 is a diagram showing contents displayed on a display unit when a password is entered or a password is set in the flowchart of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100, 400 Character input means 110, 410 Storage unit 120, 420 Information processing unit 121, 421 CPU 122, 422 Program memory 123, 423 Working memory 124, 424 Display character conversion unit 125, 425 Timekeeping unit 130, 430 Display unit 426 Character types Conversion table

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A portable information terminal device capable of authenticating a password input by an operator using a key, wherein the operator inputs a password or a password setting screen. The keyed character information is displayed on the screen as it is, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the character information is converted into a mask symbol indicating that the display of the input character information has been masked and redisplayed on the screen. A portable information terminal device characterized by being performed. 2. A portable information terminal device capable of authenticating a password input by an operator using a key, wherein the operator inputs a password or a password setting screen. A portable information terminal device wherein key-input character information is converted into a character type symbol indicating a character type corresponding to each character information, and is displayed on the screen. 3. A portable information terminal device capable of authenticating a password input by an operator by a key, wherein the operator inputs a password or a screen for setting a password. Character information input by a key is switched to a character type symbol indicating a character type corresponding to each character information after a preset time has elapsed, and is displayed on the screen. Terminal device. 4. The character type symbol displayed on the screen is converted into a mask symbol indicating that the display of the character information converted into the character type has been masked after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the character type symbol is displayed on the screen. The portable information terminal device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the portable information terminal device is displayed again. 5. An input unit for inputting character information, a storage unit for storing the input character information, and a display unit for displaying at least one of the input character information and the character information stored in the storage unit. Information processing means for performing information processing by determining input character information and character information stored in the storage means, wherein the information processing means converts the character information stored in the storage means A restriction function for restricting display on the display means, and a password lock function for releasing the restricted state of display when a character string that matches a password consisting of a character string entered in advance is entered in the restricted state of display. 2. The portable information terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a display character conversion function of converting character information input by a key into a mask symbol. 6. An input unit for inputting character information, a storage unit for storing the input character information, and a display unit for displaying at least one of the input character information and the character information stored in the storage unit. Information processing means for performing information processing by determining input character information and character information stored in the storage means, wherein the information processing means converts the character information stored in the storage means A restriction function for restricting display on the display means, and a password lock function for releasing the restricted state of display when a character string that matches a password consisting of a character string entered in advance is entered in the restricted state of display. 4. A character type symbol conversion function for switching key-input character information to a character type symbol.
A portable information terminal device according to claim 1. 7. An input unit for inputting character information, a storage unit for storing the input character information, and a display unit for displaying at least one of the input character information and the character information stored in the storage unit. Information processing means for performing information processing by determining input character information and character information stored in the storage means, wherein the information processing means converts the character information stored in the storage means A restriction function for restricting display on the display means, and a password lock function for releasing the restricted state of display when a character string that matches a password consisting of a character string entered in advance is entered in the restricted state of display. 5. The portable information terminal device according to claim 4, further comprising a display character conversion function of converting character information into a mask symbol by replacing with a character type symbol. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information processing means displays the character information displayed immediately after the key input in a scene where the operator inputs a password or a screen for setting the password for a predetermined time period. later,
The portable information terminal device according to claim 5, further comprising a timing function of switching display to a mask symbol. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information processing means displays the character information displayed immediately after the key input in a case where the operator inputs a password or in a screen for setting the password for a predetermined period of time. later,
7. The portable information terminal device according to claim 6, further comprising a timing function of switching display to a character type symbol indicating a character type. 10. The information processing means according to claim 1, wherein a character type symbol displayed based on a key input is changed for a predetermined time in either a scene where an operator inputs a password or a screen for setting a password. 8. The portable information terminal device according to claim 7, further comprising a timekeeping function of switching display to a mask symbol after a lapse of time. 11. The portable information terminal device according to claim 8, wherein the time keeping function can arbitrarily change the setting of the time until the display is switched. 12. The portable information terminal device according to claim 9, wherein the time counting function can arbitrarily change the setting of the time until the display is switched. 13. The portable information terminal device according to claim 10, wherein the timekeeping function can arbitrarily change the setting of the time until the display is switched. 14. The time from the display of the input character information to the switching to the display of the mask symbol differs depending on the state in which the locked state is released by inputting the password and the state in which the password is set. Claim 11
A portable information terminal device according to claim 1. 15. The time from display of input character information to display switching to a character type symbol differs depending on a state in which a password is unlocked by inputting a password and a state in which a password is set. Claim 1
3. The portable information terminal device according to 2. 16. The time from when a character type symbol is displayed to when a display is switched to a mask symbol is different depending on a state in which a password is unlocked by inputting a password and a state in which a password is set. Item 14. The portable information terminal device according to item 13.