JP2002142001A - Communication terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication terminal that enhances the operability when dialing an optional telephone number by preventing a dialed telephone number from being leaked to surrounding people even without a ten-key. SOLUTION: When a dial number input mode is set, a display screen 104 displays numerals and symbols, when a 4-direction key is depressed, a selection bar 300 displayed in an overlapping state on the numerals and the symbols displayed on the display screen 104 is displayed in a way of being extended from the left end of the display screen 104, when the 4-direction key is detached, any of the numerals or the symbols displayed in overlapping on the tip of the selection bar 300 on the display screen 104 is selected and the selection bar 300 is displayed in a way of returning to the left end direction of the display screen 104, and when the selection bar 300 disappears from the display screen 104, the numeral or symbol finally selected is confirmed as a digit of a number to be dialed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication terminal device, and is particularly effective for a small-sized portable telephone having no numeric keypad.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the spread of mobile phones has been remarkable.
The forms are also diversified, and among those aimed at miniaturization, telephones such as wristwatch-type telephones without a numeric keypad have appeared.

[0003] In a telephone without such a numeric keypad, the dialing method is as follows: (1) input by selecting from a pre-registered telephone number by voice or button, etc. (2) telephone number of the other party (3) For the buttons provided on the telephone, assign a number for each number of times, such as "1" if pressed once, "2" if pressed twice, ... Enter the phone number one digit at a time using the button. (4) Display all the numeric keys on the display screen, and move the cursor on the numeric key using the cross key, for example, to sequentially select the phone number one digit at a time. There is a method of inputting by entering.

[0004]

However, when dialing an unregistered telephone number, the first method cannot be used, so the second, third, or fourth method is not possible. Although the second dialing method is used, there is a risk that the telephone number leaks to the surroundings in the second dialing method, and in the third and fourth dialing methods, a dial operation is performed. Is complicated.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention, even without a numeric keypad,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication terminal device in which operability when dialing an arbitrary telephone number is improved while preventing the dialed telephone number from leaking to the surroundings.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, in a communication terminal device according to the present invention, a display screen, operation keys operated by a user, and numerals, symbols, and characters are displayed in selection boxes of the display screen. Means for displaying a selection bar, and means for controlling the length of the selection bar to start expanding or shortening when a selection start operation is performed on the operation key,
Selecting means for selecting, from numbers and symbols displayed in the selection field, one corresponding to the length of the selection bar at the time when the operation for selecting is performed on the operation key; and the operation key And determining means for determining the last digit or symbol selected by the selecting means as one digit of the number to be dialed, in accordance with the operation status of.

With this configuration, for example, if the selection start operation is set to a state where the operation key is pressed down and the selection determination operation is set to a state where the operation key is released, the user can With a simple operation of pressing and releasing one operation key, a number or a symbol to be input as a dialed number can be selected and confirmed.

[0008] Further, there is provided a means for controlling the selection bar to start returning to a reference length when the operation for selecting is performed on the operation key, and the determination means is provided with the selection means. When the bar returns to the reference length, the confirmation processing may be performed.

With this configuration, if the user wants to confirm the selected number or symbol after performing the selection deciding operation on the operation key, the user returns the selection bar to the reference length. It is only necessary to wait, and the number and the symbol can be selected again by performing the selection start operation on the operation key before the selection bar returns to the reference length.

[0010] If the number or symbol selected last by the selecting means is selected continuously k times without being determined midway, the determining means may determine that number or symbol. May be determined continuously k times.

With this configuration, the user can select the same number or symbol continuously k times without determining the same number or symbol in the middle, so that the number or symbol can be continuously k times by one determination operation. Can be fixed.

Further, a means may be provided for returning the last determined digit as a number to be dialed to an undetermined state when an operation for canceling the determination is performed on the operation key.

With this configuration, even if the user determines an undesired number or symbol, the user can invalidate the number or symbol, and the user does not have to restart the operation of inputting the number to be dialed. As the operation for canceling the confirmation, for example, a double click (an operation of pressing down and releasing twice performed in a short time) may be used.

[0014] Further, means may be provided for displaying digits determined as numbers to be dialed in a determination column of the display screen.

According to this configuration, the user can easily check the number sequence composed of the numbers or symbols that have already been determined, which is effective in preventing an operation error from being overlooked. .

[0016] Further, there may be provided means for inverting and displaying, of the numbers and symbols displayed in the selection box, the last selected by the selection means.

With this configuration, the user can easily confirm the selected number or symbol, which is effective in preventing an operation error from being overlooked.

[0018] The operation keys may include a plurality of keys, and the initial value of the length of the selection bar may be different depending on which key the selection start operation is performed. .

With this configuration, the user can select the number or symbol to be selected in a shorter time by performing the selection start operation on an appropriate operation key corresponding to the number or symbol to be selected. become able to.

The operation keys are composed of a plurality of keys, and the speed at which the selection bar expands or contracts varies depending on which key the selection start operation is performed. Is also good.

According to this configuration, the user performs the selection start operation on an appropriate operation key corresponding to the number or symbol desired to be selected, so that the difference in the time required to select each number and each symbol can be reduced. Can be reduced.

Further, the speed at which the selection bar is returned to the reference length may be different depending on the number or symbol selected by the selection means.

With this configuration, the time until the selected number or symbol is determined can be made constant regardless of which number or symbol is selected.

Each number and each symbol displayed in the selection box may correspond to a plurality of types of lengths of the selection bar.

With this configuration, the user can easily select a desired number or symbol.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a pen-type mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 101 is a mobile phone main body, 102 is an antenna, 103
Is a speaker, 104 is a display screen, 105 is a four-way key,
106 is a key and 107 is a microphone.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram simply showing the internal configuration of a portion related to the present invention of the pen-type portable telephone according to the present embodiment. It should be noted that a radio unit, an audio circuit, and the like exist, but are omitted here.

The CPU 201 is a control unit that performs overall control, and executes communication control and the like using a memory that stores a control program and data used for calculation.
07, the input contents obtained from the keypad 205 via the I / O 206 are displayed on the display screen 104 via the I / O 204.

The ROM 207 is a read-only semiconductor memory which stores fixed data such as programs and communication control data required when the CPU 201 operates. RAM
Reference numeral 208 denotes a virtual screen and display data which are used as a working memory, such as storing data relating to dial number input and data used for calculation and temporarily storing calculation results. Is a semiconductor memory that can read and write.

The keypad 205 is an input unit including the four-way keys 105 and the keys 106. Each time a key is operated, the keypad 205 notifies the CPU 201 via the I / O 206 which key has been operated.

The display screen driver 203 includes a CPU 201
Receives an output instruction via the I / O 204, configures bitmap information, and displays characters and the like on the display screen 104.
The display screen 104 is an LCD capable of displaying, for example, 12 digits × 2 lines. On this display screen 104, numbers and symbols that can be selected at the time of dial number input and the determined dial number are displayed.

The operation in the dial number input mode (mode for receiving dial number input from the user) will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, initialization such as setting a variable x to be described later to 0 or resetting a selection flag to be described later is performed (S1). Next, as shown in FIG. 5A, all numbers and symbols that can be included in the dialed number are displayed in the lower row (second line) corresponding to the selection field of the display screen 104 (S2).

In the upper row (first row) corresponding to the confirmation column on the display screen 104, digits determined as dial numbers are sequentially displayed as described later. As will be described later, the display screen 104 displays a later-described selection bar overlapping with the numbers and symbols displayed in the lower row. When the dial number input mode is set, the length of the selection bar is changed. Is 0, that is, the selection bar is not displayed.

Next, when the four-way key 105 is depressed (Y in S3), a selection bar 300 (see FIG. 5) displayed in a form overlapping the numbers and symbols displayed in the lower part of the display screen 104 Is moved one step to the right, that is, the length of the selection bar 300 from the left end of the display screen 104 is one step longer than before (S4).

In S4, when the selection bar 300 is displayed from the left end to the right end of the display screen 104, the length of the selection bar 300 from the left end of the display screen 104 becomes one step longer than 0. State. Also, from S3 to S
At the time of shifting to 4, if any of the numbers or symbols displayed in the lower part of the display screen 104 is highlighted, the display is returned to the normal display.

On the other hand, if the four-way key 105 is not in a depressed state (N in S3), and if the later-described selection flag is set (Y in S5), the process proceeds to S5 described later.
Then, if the selection flag is not set (N in S5), the process proceeds to S20 described later.

After S4, if the four-way key has been released (Y in S6), the process proceeds to S7 described later. On the other hand, if the four-way key 105 has not been released (N in S6), the above-described process is performed. Move to S4.

In step S7, a number or symbol displayed on the lower portion of the display screen 104 is displayed so as to overlap the tip of the selection bar 300. After S7, among the numbers and symbols displayed in the lower part of the display screen 104, the number or symbol selected last in S7 is highlighted (S8).
In S8, the number or symbol selected last in S7 may be displayed in another color instead of being highlighted.

After S8, the selection flag is set (S8).
9). Next, it is determined whether the number or symbol selected last in S7 is the same as the number or symbol previously selected in S7 (S10). If they are the same (Y in S10), the value of the variable x is increased by 1 (S11).
If they are not the same (N in S10), the value of the variable x is set to 0 (S12). After S11 and S12, the tip of the selection bar 300 is moved to the left by one step, that is, the length of the selection bar 300 from the left end of the display screen 104 is one step shorter than before. Yes (S1
3).

Next, the tip of the selection bar 300 is displayed on the display screen 1
04, that is, the length of the selection bar 300 from the left end of the display screen 104 becomes 0, and the selection bar 3
If 00 disappears from the display screen 104 (Y in S14), the process proceeds to S15 described later, while the selection bar 300
If has not disappeared from the display screen 104 (N of S14), the process proceeds to S3 described above.

At S15, the last digit or symbol selected at S7 is determined as the next digit of the dial number (the value of the variable x + 1) continuously. After S15, the number or symbol finally determined in S15 is displayed in the (number of variable x + 1) digits next to the dial number displayed on the upper part of the display screen 104 (S16). Next, the display screen 104
Among the numbers or symbols displayed in the lower part of the figure, those which are highlighted are returned to the normal display (S17). Next, the selection flag is reset (S18). Next, the value of the variable x is set to 0 (S19).

After S19, the call command is sent to the keypad 20.
5 is determined (S20). When a call command is input (Y in S20), the process proceeds to a call process (S21) for dialing a number string composed of fixed numbers and symbols. On the other hand, if the call command is not input (S20
N) It is determined whether the four-way key 105 has been double-clicked (S22).

When the four-way key 105 is double-clicked (Y in S22), the last determined digit as the dial number is canceled (it is not determined).
(S23) Then, the display of the rightmost digit of the dial number displayed in the upper part of the display screen 104 is stopped (S2).
4). After S24, the process proceeds to S3 described above. on the other hand,
If the four-way key 105 is not double-clicked (N in S22), the process proceeds to S3 described above.

With the above operation, the dialing method in the pen-type portable telephone according to the present embodiment is as follows. First, the mode is switched to the dial number input mode, and FIG.
As shown in (a), numbers and symbols are displayed in the lower part of the display screen 104. Next, when the four-way key 105 is depressed, the selection bar 300 appears from the left end of the display screen 104 and extends rightward as shown in FIG. The four-way key 105 may be released with the tip of the selection bar 300 overlapping the number or symbol to be entered as the next digit. Less than,
As shown in FIG. 5 (c), when the tip of the selection bar 300 is in a state where it overlaps the numeral "6", the four-directional key 1
An example will be described where 05 is released.

When the four-way key 105 is released, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the numeral “6” is highlighted in the lower part of the display screen 104 and the selection bar 300 is contracted to the left, but the highlighted numeral “6” is the next digit of the dial number. If you want to enter as, select bar 3
Wait until 00 disappears from the display screen 104. As described above, the user can easily confirm the number or symbol by selecting it by reversing the display, which is effective in preventing an operation error from being overlooked.

When the selection bar 300 disappears from the display screen 104, the numeral "6" is determined as the next digit of the dial number. However, as shown in FIG. The displayed number “6” returns to the normal display, and the number “6” is displayed in the next digit of the dial number displayed in the upper part of the display screen 104. This makes it possible to easily confirm that the number “6” has been determined as the next digit of the dial number, which is effective in preventing an operational error from being overlooked. Note that the contents of the display screen 104 shown in (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f) of FIG. This is a case where the second digit is fixed to “7”.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user can select and confirm the number or symbol to be input as the number to be dialed by a simple operation of pressing and releasing the four-way key 105. . Therefore,
Even if there is no numeric keypad, operability when dialing an arbitrary telephone number can be improved while preventing the dialed telephone number from leaking to the surroundings.

On the other hand, in FIG.
If the number “6” highlighted in the lower part of 04 is not the one to be input as the next digit of the dial number, the four-way key 105 is pressed again before the selection bar 300 disappears from the display screen 104. By setting the state, as shown in FIG. 5B, the numeral “6”, which has been highlighted in the lower part of the display screen 104, returns to the normal display, and the selection bar 300 extends rightward again. As described above, numbers and symbols can be selected again from among those displayed in the lower part of the display screen 104 as described above.

Then, the number "6" is selected again by repeating the selection in this way (the four-way key 105 is released in the state shown in FIG. 5C) after the previous selection, and then the finalizing operation is performed. When (waiting for the selection bar 300 to disappear in the state shown in (d) of FIG. 5) is performed, as shown in (f) of FIG. 5, the numeral "6" is the next digit of the dial number. Is determined twice consecutively. Also, the number "6"
Is selected three times, four times, and so on, and the confirming operation is performed, the number “6” is successively three times, four times, and so on, respectively, as the next digit of the dialed number. Determine. That is, by selecting the same number or symbol continuously k times without finalizing the same number or symbol, the number or symbol can be determined continuously k times by one determination operation. As a result, the time required for continuously inputting the same number or symbol can be reduced.

By double-clicking the four-way key 105 while the selection bar 300 is not displayed, the last digit determined as the dial number can be canceled (returned to the undetermined state). As a result, even if the user determines an undesired number or symbol, it can be invalidated, and the user does not have to restart the input operation of the number to be dialed. For example, if the four-way key 105 is double-clicked in the state shown in FIG. 5E, the rightmost digit “6” of the dial number displayed in the upper part of the display screen 104 disappears. It is easy to confirm that the last determined digit has been canceled.

Here, since the four-way key 105 is composed of four keys of up, down, left and right, the selection bar 30 depends on which key of the four-way machine 105 has been pressed down.
The initial value of the length from the left end of the display screen 104 of 0 may be changed. For example, the up, down, left, and right keys of the four-way key 105 are “0”,
When “3”, “6”, and “9” are assigned and the upper key of the four-way key 105 is depressed, the selection bar 300 is displayed on the display screen 10 as described above.
When the down key of the four-direction key 105 is depressed from the left end of 4, the tip of the selection bar 300 is shifted from the position where the leading end of the selection bar 300 overlaps the numeral “3” displayed in the lower part of the display screen 104 (FIG. When the four-way key 105 is in a state where the left key is pressed down (from the state shown in (a)), the position of the tip of the selection bar 300 is overlapped with the number “6” displayed in the lower part of the display screen 104. When the four-way key 105 is in a state where the right key is pressed down (from the state shown in FIG. 6B), the selection bar 300 is displayed.
The selection bar 300 is made to extend rightward from the position where the tip of “.” Overlaps the number “9” displayed in the lower part of the display screen 104 (from the state shown in FIG. 6C). In this way, when the user wants to select the number "6", for example, the left key of the four-way key 105 is depressed. By holding down the appropriate key of 105, the number or symbol to be selected can be selected in a shorter time.

The speed at which the selection bar 300 is extended may be changed depending on which one of the four-way key 105 (up, down, left, and right) has been pressed. In this way, the user can select the selection bar 300
If the user selects a number or symbol displayed at a position far from the position where the extension starts, the four-way key 105
Of the selection bar 300, the key of which the extension speed is set to be higher is depressed, while the selection bar 300
If the user selects a number or symbol displayed at a position close to the position where the extension starts, the four-way key 105
Of the four-way key 105 is depressed according to the number or symbol to be selected, such as depressing a key whose extension speed of the selection bar 300 is set to be slower. As a result, it is possible to reduce the difference in the time required to select each numeral and each symbol.

By changing the speed at which the selection bar 300 shrinks in accordance with the position where the selected number or symbol is displayed in the lower part of the display screen 104, the selection can be made regardless of which number or symbol is selected. The time until the entered number or symbol is determined may be constant. In this way, for the user,
The time from the end of the selection of a number or a symbol to the start of the next selection becomes constant, and the input operation of the dial number can be performed smoothly.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, when the length of the selection bar 300 is three stages, the tip of the selection bar 300 and the numeral " If “5” is regarded as overlapping, that is, if each number and each symbol displayed in the lower part of the display screen 104 correspond to a plurality of types of lengths of the selection bar 300, the number or Symbols can be easily selected, and selection errors can be reduced.

Further, by increasing the speed of contracting the selection bar 300 faster than the speed of extending the selection bar 300, the waiting time until the next digit of the dial number can be input can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, selectable numbers and symbols are displayed on the same line. However, when the width of the screen is small, it may be displayed over a plurality of lines.
While the selection bar 300 is extended from the left end of the display screen 104 to the right while the four-way key 105 is pressed down, instead of this, the right end of the display screen 104 is From the left to the right, or may be displayed fully from the left end to the right end first, and may be shortened to the right end or the left end side.

[0057]

As described above, according to the communication terminal device of the present invention, a simple operation (in the embodiment, an operation of pressing / releasing a four-way key) is performed on one operation key. The number or symbol of each digit of the dialed number can be selected and confirmed, so that even if there is no numeric keypad, the dialed telephone number is not leaked to the surroundings, and then dial any telephone number. In this case, the operability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a pen-type mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a pen-type mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the pen-type mobile phone according to the embodiment of the present invention in a dial number input mode.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the pen-type mobile phone according to the embodiment of the present invention in a dial number input mode.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing contents displayed on a display screen of a pen-type mobile phone according to the embodiment of the present invention in a dial number input mode.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an initial value of the length of a selection bar.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the width of numbers and symbols displayed in the lower part of the display screen and the change width of the selection bar.

[Description of Signs] 101 Mobile phone main body 102 Antenna 103 Speaker 104 Display screen 105 Four-way key 106 Key 107 Microphone 201 CPU 203 Display screen driver 204 I / O 205 Keypad 206 I / O 207 ROM 208 RAM 300 Selection bar

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A display screen, operation keys operated by a user, means for displaying a number, a symbol, and a selection bar in a selection field of the display screen, and a selection start operation for the operation keys is performed. When performed, means for controlling the length of the selection bar to start extending or shortening, and a selection deciding operation is performed on the operation key from numbers and symbols displayed in the selection column. Selection means for selecting a length corresponding to the length of the selection bar at the time of the operation, and, according to an operation state of the operation key, a digit or a symbol selected last by the selection means as one digit of a number to be dialed. A communication terminal device, comprising: a determination unit that performs a determination process of determining. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for controlling the selection bar to start returning to a reference length when the operation for selection is performed on the operation key.
The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein when the selection bar returns to the reference length, the determination process is performed. 3. If the number or symbol selected last by the selecting device is selected continuously k times without being determined midway, the number or symbol is determined. 3. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein k is determined k times continuously. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for returning a last determined digit as a dialed number to a non-determined state when an operation for canceling the determination is performed on the operation key. 3. The communication terminal device according to any one of 3. 5. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying a digit determined as a number to be dialed in a determination column of the display screen. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit for inverting a number and a symbol displayed in the selection box, which are selected last by the selection unit. A communication terminal device according to any one of the preceding claims. 7. The operation key includes a plurality of keys, and an initial value of the length of the selection bar differs depending on which key the selection start operation is performed. The communication terminal device according to claim 1. 8. The operation key includes a plurality of keys, and the speed at which the selection bar expands or contracts differs depending on which key the selection start operation is performed. The communication terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 9. The communication terminal device according to claim 2, wherein a speed of returning the selection bar to the reference length differs depending on a number or a symbol selected by the selection unit. 10. The communication according to claim 1, wherein each number and each symbol displayed in the selection field correspond to a plurality of types of lengths of the selection bar. Terminal device.