JP2001356870A - Information input terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide information input terminal equipment capable of properly inputting necessary information from a virtual keyboard. SOLUTION: A virtual keyboard control means 10 switches the input mode of a virtual keyboard 4 according to an input item 3 of an active information input window 2. Also, a character string inputted from the virtual keyboard 4 is displayed at an information display part 7 of the virtual keyboard 4. A window control means 9 inputs the character string inputted from the virtual keyboard 4, and displayed at the information display part 7 to the input item 3 of the information input window 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information input terminal device for inputting a character string to an input item of an information input window from a virtual keyboard displayed on an input screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, portable information terminal devices and ATMs
Some information input terminal devices do not have a hardware keyboard. In these information input terminal devices, numerical values and characters are input from a virtual keyboard displayed on a screen of the information input terminal device.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an information input terminal device for inputting information using a virtual keyboard.
On an input screen 1 of the information input device, an information input window 2 for inputting information is displayed, and a virtual keyboard 4 for inputting characters in input items 3a and 3b of the information input window 2 is displayed. You. Then, for example, the input item 2a for inputting the password is activated, the password is input from the virtual keyboard 4, and the enter button is operated to input the password in the input item 3a.
Similarly, an amount (numerical value) is input to the input item 2b for inputting the amount, and the enter button is operated.

[0004]

However, when the input information to the information input terminal device is complicated, FIG.
However, the simple virtual keyboard as shown in FIG. For example, when inputting a large number of character strings, and the type of character (Hiragana, alphabet, numeric value, etc.)
If they differ, the operation becomes complicated.

When a hard keyboard is assumed as an input device from the beginning, input information may not be specified. A simple virtual keyboard that can only enter numbers or letters cannot be used.

When there are a plurality of input items,
The target input item may not be known which item was input. Further, when a large amount of information is input to a certain input item and the information once input is changed and corrected, the information may be deleted once and then re-input.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an information input terminal device capable of properly inputting necessary information using a virtual keyboard.

[0008]

An information input terminal device according to the present invention is configured to sequentially input a character string to a plurality of input items in an information input window from a virtual keyboard displayed on an input screen. Virtual keyboard control means for switching an input mode of the virtual keyboard according to the input item and displaying a character string input from the virtual keyboard on an information display unit of the virtual keyboard; and the virtual keyboard. And a window control unit for inputting a character string input from the PC and displayed on the information display unit to an input item of the information input window.

In the information input terminal device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the virtual keyboard control means switches the input mode of the virtual keyboard according to the input item of the activated information input window. The character string input from the virtual keyboard is displayed on the information display section of the virtual keyboard. The window control unit inputs a character string input from the virtual keyboard and displayed on the information display unit to an input item of the information input window.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information input terminal device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the virtual keyboard control means displays the virtual keyboard in the vicinity of the input item in the information input window where input is enabled. It is characterized in that the position is moved.

In the information input terminal device according to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, the display position of the virtual keyboard is moved to the vicinity of the activated input item in the information input window. Thereby, the input item to be input next can be easily understood.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information input terminal device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the virtual keyboard control means corrects a character string which has been input to an input item of the information input window. In this case, the input character string is taken into the information display section of the virtual keyboard, and after correction, the character string is input to an input item of the information input window.

In the information input terminal device according to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first or second aspect of the present invention, when correcting a character string already input to an input item of the information input window, The input character string is taken into the information display section of the virtual keyboard. Then, after making corrections on the information display section of the virtual keyboard, input is made to the input items of the information input window. Thereby, the character string is corrected by the virtual keyboard, and after the correction, the character string is input to the information input window.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information input terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

On an input screen 1 of the information input device, an information input window 2 for inputting information is displayed, and input items 3a, 3b,
A virtual keyboard 4 for inputting characters to 3c is displayed.

The virtual keyboard 4 of the present invention has a mode control unit 5 for switching the input mode of the virtual keyboard. According to the input mode selected by the mode control unit 5, the virtual key arrangement display unit 6 displays virtual keys. Is displayed. The mode control section 5 selects various input modes. The input modes include "Hiragana", "Katakana", "Alphabet",
"Lowercase alphabet", "symbol character", "number",
"Code input", "Handwritten character recognition", "Total stroke count input"
There is "input of the number of radical strokes".

The virtual key layout display section 6 displays the virtual key layout according to the input mode selected by the mode control section 5, and includes "code input", "handwritten character recognition", and "total stroke count". If "input", "input of number of radical strokes" or the like is selected, a corresponding input interface is displayed.

The character string input from the virtual key array display section 6 is temporarily displayed on the information display section 7. The command control unit 8 converts kanji of information input to the information display unit 7 and instructs information transfer to the information input window 2. The commands include “half-width”, “full-width”, “delete all”, “delete”, “backward”, “line feed”, “conversion”, “fix”, “transfer”, “close”, and the like.

The information display section 7 displays not only information input from the virtual key array display section 6 but also information already input in the information input window 2. This is displayed via the window control means 9 and the virtual keyboard control means 10 when modifying the input information.

The window control means 9 converts the character string input from the virtual key array display section 6 of the virtual keyboard 4 and displayed on the information display section 7 through the virtual keyboard control means 10 into the input items 3a to 3 of the information input window 2. 3c.

On the other hand, when the character types of the input items 3a to 3b are predetermined, the virtual keyboard control means 10 switches the input mode of the virtual keyboard 4 according to the input items 3a to 3c, 4
The character string input from the virtual key array display unit 6 is displayed on the information display unit 7.

Further, the virtual keyboard control means 10 controls the input items 3 a to 3 of the information input window 2 which can be input.
When the display position of the virtual keyboard 4 is moved to the vicinity of the virtual keyboard 4b or when the character string already input to the input items 3a to 3c of the information input window 2 is corrected, the input character string is used The information is input to the display unit 7 and input to the input items 3a to 3c of the information input window 2 after correction.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the information input terminal device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, a virtual key array display section 6 and an information display section 7 are shown as the virtual keyboard 4, and the mode control section 5 and the command control section 8 are not shown.

When the input item 3a of the information input window 2 is active, the virtual keyboard control means 10 automatically sets the input mode of the virtual keyboard 4 to a character type input mode for inputting the input item 3a. The input item 3a is a password input. In the first embodiment, if the password is an uppercase alphabet, the input mode is the uppercase alphabet.

Then, when the input to the input item 3a is completed and a transition is made to the input item 3b for money input, the input mode is automatically changed to a numerical value. That is, when the attribute of the input item changes from uppercase alphabet input to numerical input, the input mode of the virtual keyboard 4 is automatically changed to a numerical value to improve operability at the time of inputting information.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the information input terminal device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, a virtual key array display unit 6 and an information display unit 7 are shown as the virtual keyboard 4, and the mode control unit 5 and the command control unit 8 are not shown.

The second embodiment shows a case in which the already-input information in the operation input window 2 is corrected. The information to be corrected is taken into the information display section 7 of the virtual keyboard 4 and is displayed on the virtual keyboard 4. This shows a case where the information is corrected and returned to the information input window 2.

When the input item 3c of the information input window 2 is activated and information that has already been input has been input, the virtual keyboard control means 10 takes the target information to be corrected into the information display section 7 of the virtual keyboard 4. .
In this case, the input mode of the virtual keyboard 4 is the input mode (hiragana) of the character type to be automatically input to the input item 3c. Then, the data is corrected on the information display section 6 of the virtual keyboard 4 and returned to the information input window 2. Thereby, the operability at the time of information correction can be dramatically improved.

That is, when the input item 3 transits to the input item 3c which is a message input, the input information of the information input window 2 is transferred to the information display section 6 of the virtual keyboard 4 and displayed. In FIG. 3, "Meeting starts at 3:00 tomorrow." To correct this information, the operator corrects not the input item 3c of the information input window 2 but the information displayed on the information display section 6 of the virtual keyboard 4. For example, a correction such as "Meeting tomorrow at 4:00" is added. Then, after confirming the correction, the corrected information is returned to the information input window 2. Therefore, operability at the time of information correction can be dramatically improved.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the information input terminal device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the virtual keyboard 4 includes a virtual key array display unit 6 and an information display unit 7, and the mode control unit 5 and the command control unit 8 are not shown.

In the third embodiment, the display position of the virtual keyboard 4 is moved to a position near an active (inputable) input item 3 in the information input window 2.

When the input item 3a of the information input window 2 is active, the virtual keyboard control means 10 displays the virtual keyboard 4 near the input item 3a for inputting a password. In this case, the virtual keyboard 4 is arranged so that the input item 3a is not hidden by the virtual keyboard 4.

Next, input item 3 in information input window 2
When the transition to b is made, the virtual keyboard control means 10 controls the position of the virtual keyboard 4 and moves it to the nearest to the input item 3b of the money amount input to be input. Again,
The virtual keyboard 4 is arranged so that the input item 3b is not hidden by the virtual keyboard 4. Thereby, the input item 3b to be input can be clarified.

Similarly, when a transition is made to the input item 3c of the information input window 2, the virtual keyboard control means 10
Controls the position of the virtual keyboard 4 and moves it to the immediate vicinity of the input item 3c of the message input to be input. Also in this case, the virtual keyboard 4 is arranged so that the input item 3c is not hidden by the virtual keyboard 4.

Thus, the input item 3b to be input is
Can be clarified, and the virtual keyboard 4 is arranged at a position where information necessary for information input is not hidden, so that operability can be dramatically improved.

Next, the operation of the virtual keyboard control means 10 will be described. The virtual keyboard control means 10 operates according to an instruction from the window control means 9 by a message. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a message configuration transmitted from the window control means 9 to the virtual keyboard control means 10. The message includes a message ID, a control item, a parameter w, and a parameter i.

The message ID "2000" is a control item indicating whether the virtual keyboard 4 is displayed as an icon or displayed as a non-icon. When the parameter w is "0", the icon is displayed, and "1" is displayed. Is a message that is normally displayed (non-iconified).

The message ID "2001" is a control item for designating the display position (X, Y) of the virtual keyboard 4, and a unit dot having the origin at the upper left of the screen is set in the parameter i.
Is a message in which the x coordinate and the y coordinate of are designated.

The message ID “2002” is a control item for designating the input mode division of the virtual keyboard 4.
This is a message in which the mode code is specified in the parameter w.

The message ID “2003” is a control item for a display character string, and is a message for specifying a character string that has already been input. The window control means 9 sets a character string in the message ID “2003” and sends the message. At this time, the virtual keyboard control means 10 does not return an answer message regarding the receipt of the message. When this message is received, the current character string is discarded and replaced with the received character string.

The message ID "2004" is a control item of a window handle for designating an input item to be activated in the information input window 2, and is a message in which the window handle is designated in the parameter i.

Next, the operation of the virtual keyboard control means 10 when inputting information to the input items 3a and 3b of the information input window 2 shown in FIG. 6 will be described. Now, it is assumed that the input item has transited to the input item 3a for password input.
Then, the window control means 9 sends a display position change message (ID
= 2001) and window handle message (ID
= 2004).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the virtual keyboard control means 10 in that case. First, it is determined whether or not the message ID is (ID = 2001) (S1). If the message ID is (ID = 2001), the virtual keyboard is de-iconified (S2).
Then, the virtual keyboard is moved to the position specified by ID = 2001 (S3). That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the virtual keyboard 4 is displayed near the input item 3a for password input.

Next, the message ID is (ID = 200
4) is determined (S4), and if the message ID is (ID = 2004), the designated window handle is set as the "character string" transfer destination (S5).
In this case, the input item 3a is specified.

In this state, the operator inputs, for example, the character string “ADK” from the virtual keyboard 4 and operates the transfer button of the command control unit 8. Therefore, it is determined whether or not the transfer button of the control command has been operated (S6). When the transfer button has been operated, it is determined whether the transfer category is "0" or "1" (S7).

Here, the transfer category is the one in which the operation when the transfer button is pressed is set in advance, and the transfer category is "0".
In this case, only the input character string is transferred, and when the transfer category is "1", "Enter" is transferred after the transfer of the input character string.

When the transfer category is "0", the information display section 7
Is used as the transfer character string as it is (S
8) As shown in FIG. 9, the transfer character string is transmitted to the window handle (input item 3a) designated as the transfer destination (S9), and the display of the information display section 7 is cleared (S10). Thus, the transferred character string “ADK” is displayed in the input item 3a.

Then, it is determined whether or not "Enter" is inputted by the operator (S11), and "E" is inputted by the operator.
"enter", the character string is followed by "Enter
Control is transferred to the next input item 3b to receive the "r" code (S12).

On the other hand, when the transfer category is "1", a character string displayed on the information display section 7 is added with an "Enter" code to form a transfer character string (S13), and as shown in FIG. Window handle specified in (input item 3a)
The transmission character string is transmitted to (S14). Thus, the transferred character string "ADK" is displayed in the input item 3a. Next, the display of the information display section 7 is cleared (S15). Then, the control is shifted to the next input item 3b to receive the “Enter” code following the character string (S
12).

When the input item 3 transits to the input item 3b for money input, the window control means 9 sends a display position change message (ID =
2001), window handle message (ID =
2004), and transmits the display character string (ID = 2003).

The virtual keyboard control means 10 determines whether or not the message ID is (ID = 2001) (S
16) If the message ID is (ID = 2001), the virtual keyboard is de-iconified (S17).
Then, the virtual keyboard is moved to the position specified by ID = 2001 (S18). That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the virtual keyboard 4 is displayed near the input item 3b for money input.

Next, the message ID is (ID = 200
4) is determined (S19), and the message ID is determined.
Is (ID = 2004), the designated window handle is set as the "character string" transfer destination (S2).
0). In this case, the input item 3b is specified.

Next, the message ID is (ID = 200
3) is determined (S21), and the message ID is determined.
Is (ID = 2003), the designated character string (538) is displayed on the information display section 7 (S22). That is, the input item 3 of the amount input in the information input window 2
Since the information of the character string (538) already exists in b, the corresponding information (538) specified by the message (ID = 2003) is transferred from the information input window 2 to the information display unit 7 of the virtual keyboard 4. As a result, the corresponding information (538) can be edited.

Then, the information is corrected and changed (S2).
3). For example, the corresponding information is modified and changed from “538” to “555” and transferred to the information input window 2 (S2
4). The window control means 9 controls the information input window 2
Since there is no next input item on the side, a message (ID = 2000) for iconifying the virtual keyboard 4 is transmitted. As shown in FIG. 11, the virtual keyboard control means 10 ends the process of hiding the virtual keyboard 4 (S2).
5).

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, the input mode (Hiragana / Katakana / ABC, etc.) can be automatically controlled in accordance with the input item 3 of the operation input window 2, so that the operator can control the input mode. You do not need to be aware of the item input mode. This eliminates the need for the operator to select a mode by himself, thereby improving operability. Even when the input mode is not automatically set, the input mode can be manually selected.

Since the display position of the virtual keyboard 4 is automatically controlled, it is possible to control the virtual keyboard so as not to hide necessary information (for example, input items) in the operation input window even on a small screen. Further, the input target can be clarified by positioning the virtual keyboard in the immediate vicinity of the input item.
In addition, editing can be performed after inputting information that has been input to the virtual keyboard, thereby improving editing efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information input terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory diagram of the information input terminal device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram of an information input terminal device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram of an information input terminal device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a message configuration transmitted from the window control unit to the virtual keyboard control unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an operation input window according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the virtual keyboard control means according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram when a virtual keyboard according to the embodiment of the present invention is displayed near an input item for inputting a password;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram when a transfer character string is transmitted for an input item in an operation input window according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a case where the virtual keyboard according to the embodiment of the present invention is displayed near an input item of money input;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram in the case where a virtual keyboard is hidden in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional information input terminal device for inputting information using a virtual keyboard.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Input screen, 2 ... Information input window, 3 ... Input item, 4 ... Virtual keyboard, 5 ... Mode control part,
6 virtual key array display, 7 information display, 8 command control, 9 window control, 10 virtual keyboard control

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An information terminal device wherein a character string is sequentially input to a plurality of input items of an information input window from a virtual keyboard displayed on an input screen. Virtual keyboard control means for switching an input mode and displaying a character string input from the virtual keyboard on an information display unit of the virtual keyboard; and inputting a character string input from the virtual keyboard and displayed on the information display unit into the information input An information input terminal device comprising: a window control means for inputting an input item of a window. 2. The information input terminal according to claim 1, wherein the virtual keyboard control means moves a display position of the virtual keyboard to a position near an input item in the information input window where input is enabled. apparatus. 3. The virtual keyboard control means, when correcting a character string already input to an input item of the information input window, loads the input character string into an information display section of the virtual keyboard, and corrects the character string. 3. The information input terminal device according to claim 1, wherein an input item of the information input window is input later.