JP2004030160A - Personal digital assistant, method for controlling input lock, and program for controlling input lock - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an erroneous input without imposing an operation burden on a user. <P>SOLUTION: A personal digital assistant 10 is provided with an input means 12 (a display/tablet integrated part 12 and a button operating part 14) for inputting data in accordance with an input operation. The personal digital assistant 10 is provided with a stylus pen housing part for housing a stylus pen 17 to be used for an input operation, and a stylus housing detection part 16a detects whether or not the stylus pen 17 is housed. When a lock control processing by an input lock control program 22c detects that the stylus pen 17 is housed in the stylus pen housing part, a CPU 20 executes control to invalidate data input from the input means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable information terminal for inputting data in response to an input operation using a device such as a stylus pen, an input lock control method and an input lock control program used in the terminal.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, a portable information terminal such as a PDA (personal digital assistant) is often provided with a tablet and a stylus pen as main data input means in order to reduce the size and weight. In such a portable information terminal, position (coordinate) data is input by being touched (tapped) on a tablet using a stylus pen, and based on the position data, various data to the terminal and various data including characters are input. Can be entered. In addition, the portable information terminal is provided with several buttons and the like in addition to a data input unit using a tablet.
[0003]
In the portable information terminal, in order to improve the operability, the portable information terminal can be set to a standby state by turning off the power, and can be immediately turned on and set to a normal operation state when any input operation is performed. Therefore, when the portable information terminal is in the standby state, if there is an erroneous input such as a button being pressed or the tablet being tapped, the portable information terminal will be in the operating state even though it is not used.
In addition, even in a normal use state, if there are a plurality of input means such as a tablet and a button, an erroneous operation may cause an erroneous operation.
[0004]
Conventionally, a key lock function is provided to prevent such erroneous input. In a key lock function of a conventional information device, a key lock is released when a predetermined operation such as continuously pressing for a predetermined time is performed on a button previously assigned for key lock setting. Input from an input means other than a button for the user can be prevented.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the conventional portable information terminal malfunctions due to an erroneous operation (tap) on the tablet or the button, or shifts from the standby state to the operation state (power on), and wastes power. There were inconveniences such as.
[0006]
Further, by providing a key lock function, erroneous input can be prevented. However, a predetermined operation must be performed in order to enter the key lock state and to release the key lock. Had to be enforced.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a portable information terminal, an input lock control method, and an input lock control program capable of preventing erroneous input without imposing an operation burden on a user. The purpose is to provide.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a portable information terminal provided with input means for inputting data in response to an input operation, wherein the storage means for storing equipment used for the input operation, and the equipment is stored in the storage means. Storage detection means for detecting whether or not the device is stored, and data input invalidation means for invalidating data input from the input means when the storage detection means detects that the appliance is stored. It is characterized by the following.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are views showing the external configuration of the portable information terminal 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the input surface 11a side of the main body 11, and FIG. 2 is a view from the direction of arrow A in FIG. The portable information terminal 10 is configured as, for example, a PDA (personal digital assistant), reads a program recorded on a recording medium, and has a computer function whose operation is controlled by the program.
[0010]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a portable information terminal 10 according to the present embodiment includes a display / tablet integrated unit 12, a button operation unit 14, a power button 15, and the like on the input surface 11 a side of a main body 11. .
[0011]
The display / tablet integrated portion 12 is for inputting data from the tablet to the display, and the data input surface of the tablet 12a and the display surface of the display 12b are integrally formed as a laminate. From the display / tablet integrated unit 12, the position data corresponding to the displayed target (icon) is input by tapping on the tablet using a predetermined tool (a stylus pen 17 described later), and input is performed for the target. Execution of processing can be instructed. In addition, by writing characters on the tablet using the stylus pen 17 in the displayed predetermined area, a character pattern (position data string) can be input and provided for character recognition processing.
[0012]
The button operation unit 14 is provided with direction buttons 14a for inputting up, down, left, and right directions and a plurality of buttons 14b to which specific functions are assigned.
[0013]
The input means provided in the portable information terminal 10 in the present embodiment includes a tablet of the display / tablet integrated unit 12 and a plurality of buttons (direction buttons 14a and 14b) of the button operation unit 14. Depending on the application executed on the portable information terminal 10, when the input operation is performed only on the button operation unit 14, when the input operation is performed only on the tablet using the stylus pen 17, or when both are performed. An input operation may be performed. When an input operation is performed only on the button operation unit 14, an unnecessary stylus pen 17 is stored in a stylus pen storage unit 16 described later.
[0014]
The main body 11 of the portable information terminal 10 is provided with a stylus pen storage section 16. The stylus pen storage unit 16 is for storing a stylus pen 17 which is an instrument used for input operation to the display / tablet integrated unit 12 in the housing. An insertion opening for inserting the stylus pen 17 of the stylus pen storage section 16 is provided in an upper portion of the main body 11, and the stylus pen 17 is stored in the stylus pen storage section 16 from above. A stylus storage detector 16a for detecting whether or not the stylus pen 17 is stored is provided inside the stylus pen storage unit 16. Details of the stylus storage detector 16a will be described later (FIG. 4).
[0015]
Further, the portable information terminal 10 is provided with a wireless module slot 18 and a card slot 19 into which an IC card-shaped module can be detachably mounted. An insertion slot for inserting a module in the slots 18 and 19 is provided at an upper portion of the main body 11. A module for wireless communication is mounted in the wireless module slot 18, and an IC memory card, an I / O card, and the like are mounted in the card slot 19.
[0016]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the portable information terminal 10. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, in the portable information terminal 10, the CPU 20 has a CPU 22 via a bus, a memory 22, a wireless module slot 18, a card slot 19, a display / tablet integrated unit 12 (tablet 12 a, display 12 b), and a button operation unit 14. And a stylus storage detection unit 16a (the configuration of a controller for connecting each device to the bus is omitted).
[0017]
The CPU 20 realizes various functions by executing various programs stored in the memory 22. For example, the CPU 20 executes the input lock control program 22c stored in the memory 22 to execute input from input means (the display / tablet integrated unit 12, the button operation unit 14, and the like) provided in the portable information terminal 10. Then, the input lock control which invalidates or validates the stylus pen 17 depending on whether the stylus pen 17 is stored in the stylus pen storage unit 16 is executed.
[0018]
The memory 22 stores various programs and data. For example, as programs, a system control program 22a for controlling basic functions of the terminal, an application program 22b for implementing various applications, an input lock control program 22c for implementing input lock control, and the like are stored. . A lock function setting process (FIG. 6) and a lock control process are executed by the input lock control program 22c. The data stored with execution of the input lock control program 22c includes input lock management data 22d used for input lock control. The details of the input lock management data 22d will be described later (FIG. 5).
[0019]
In addition, it is assumed that the portable information terminal 10 has a function of putting the portable information terminal 10 in a standby state by turning off the power in order to improve operability. In the standby state, the portable information terminal 10 can immediately turn on the power and enter a normal operation state when any input operation is performed on the input means for which data input is valid.
[0020]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the stylus storage detection unit 16a. FIG. 4 shows an internal state in which the stylus pen 17 is inserted into the stylus pen storage unit 16.
[0021]
4 (a1) and (a2) show a configuration example in which a stylus storage detection unit 16a is provided at the innermost part of the stylus pen storage unit 16. The stylus storage detecting section 16a is provided with a switch at the innermost position of the stylus pen storing section 16, and when the stylus pen 17 is completely stored in the stylus pen storing section 16, as shown in FIG. The pen is pressed (turned on) by the tip of the pen.
[0022]
4 (b1) and 4 (b2) show a configuration example in which a stylus storage detection unit 16a is provided near the innermost part of the stylus pen storage unit 16. The stylus storage detecting section 16a is provided with a switch on the inner surface of the stylus pen storage section 16, and when the stylus pen 17 is almost completely stored in the stylus pen storage section 16, as shown in FIG. The stylus pen 17 is pressed down by the outer surface.
[0023]
The stylus storage detection unit 16a detects that the stylus pen 17 has been stored by turning on the switch, and notifies the CPU 20 (input lock control program 22c) that storage detection is on. Note that the stylus pen storage unit 16 may have a configuration other than that shown in FIG. 4 as long as it can detect whether or not the stylus pen 17 is stored in the stylus pen storage unit 16.
[0024]
FIG. 5 shows an example of the input lock management data 22d set by a lock function setting process described later.
The input lock management data 22d includes a lock target indicating an input unit for which data input is to be validated or invalidated, and a lock indicating whether data input from the input unit to be locked is validated or invalidated. It is assumed that state information is set in association with each other.
[0025]
In the present embodiment, the input means provided on the portable information terminal 10 includes the tablet 12a, the direction button 14a and the button 14b (1 to 4) provided on the button operation unit 14, and locks each of them. The state can be set. In the locked state, it is assumed that the setting for the input unit in the normal operation when the power is turned on and the setting for the input unit in the standby state can be performed. In the lock control process described later, the setting content of the corresponding lock state is referred to depending on whether the operation is in the normal operation or the standby state.
[0026]
Next, the operation in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
[0027]
First, a lock function setting process for setting the input lock management data 22d will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.
In the portable information terminal 10 of the present embodiment, the stylus pen 17 is used to set the stylus pen 17 to invalidate data input by performing a lock function setting process on any of the plurality of input units. When stored in the pen storage unit 16, data input from the input means can be prevented.
[0028]
When the execution of the lock function setting process is instructed by a predetermined operation by the user, the portable information terminal 10 starts the input lock control program 22c and starts the lock function setting process.
[0029]
First, the portable information terminal 10 causes the display / tablet integrated unit 12 (tablet 12a) to display a screen for setting a lock function (step A1). For example, on the screen for setting the lock function, a list of a plurality of input means (tablet 12a, direction buttons 14a, and buttons 14b (1 to 4)) provided in the portable information terminal 10 is set for each. It is assumed that the contents of the locked state are displayed in association with each other.
[0030]
Here, a tap operation using the stylus pen 17 or an operation using the direction button 14a selects an input unit to be set from the list display, and enables or disables data input for the selected input unit. Can be arbitrarily specified.
[0031]
In the portable information terminal 10, the input means to be locked is specified from the list display, and the input means specifies whether the data input is valid or invalid when the stylus pen 17 is stored. When input (Step A2), the specified contents are temporarily stored. The portable information terminal 10 sequentially stores designations for individually designated lock states for the input means selected from the list display.
[0032]
It is assumed that the designation of the lock target and the lock state can be similarly executed in both the normal operation and the standby state.
[0033]
After the designation of the lock target and the lock state is arbitrarily input in this way, when the setting completion instruction is input (step A3), the portable information terminal 10 uses the temporarily stored setting contents based on the temporarily stored setting contents. Then, the input lock management data 22d is updated (step A4).
[0034]
After that, according to the setting contents of the input lock management data 22d, the input lock control is executed by the lock control process described later according to whether or not the stylus pen 17 is stored in the stylus pen storage unit 16.
[0035]
In the above description of the lock function setting process, it is described that invalid or valid data input is set individually for input means to be locked, but a plurality of input means are grouped, The setting may be made on a group basis. For example, a plurality of buttons (direction buttons 14a and buttons 14b (1 to 4)) provided in the button operation unit 14 are grouped into one group, and when a lock state is designated for this group, the group is included in this group. The designated lock state is set for each of the input means to be operated.
[0036]
Next, the lock control process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the portable information terminal 10 executes, for example, a constant lock control process by the input lock control program 22c. In addition, the mobile information terminal 10 refers to the lock state setting content corresponding to each of the input lock management data 22d according to whether the mobile information terminal 10 is in the normal operation or the standby state.
[0037]
The portable information terminal 10 constantly monitors whether or not the stylus pen 17 is stored in the stylus pen storage unit 16 by the stylus storage detection unit 16a (step B1).
[0038]
When the stylus pen 17 is stored inside and the switch is pressed down, the stylus storage detection unit 16a notifies the CPU 20 (input lock control program 22c) that storage detection is ON (step B1).
[0039]
Here, the CPU 20 refers to the input lock management data 22d and determines whether or not the lock function is set, that is, whether or not the setting for invalidating the data input is set. Here, if the setting for invalidating the data input is not made at all, the input lock control is unnecessary. That is, the data input from all the input units is kept valid.
[0040]
On the other hand, when the lock function is set, the portable information terminal 10 refers to the input lock management data 22d to determine the lock state set for each lock target (input means) (step B3). ), Invalidate the data input from the lock target whose lock state is set to invalid (step B4).
[0041]
For example, in the setting content of the lock state in the normal state shown in FIG. 5, only the direction button 14a is enabled and the data input of another lock target (input means) is disabled. That is, when the stylus pen 17 is stored in the stylus pen storage unit 16 and an input operation using the stylus pen 17 is not performed, an instruction to the terminal is input by an input operation using the direction button 14a. It has become. Therefore, by invalidating the data input for the other input means that are not the target of the input operation, there is no possibility of erroneous input from these input means.
[0042]
Further, for example, in the setting contents of the lock state in the standby state shown in FIG. 5, the setting is made such that only the tablet 12a is valid and the data input of another lock target (input means) is invalid. The portable information terminal 10 according to the present embodiment is configured to shift to an operating state when any input operation is performed in a standby state. When the stylus pen 17 is stored in the stylus pen storage unit 16 and is in the standby state, the data input to the tablet 12a is regarded as an erroneous input and the data input is invalidated. Therefore, when the portable information terminal 10 is put in a bag or the like in the standby state, no data is input even if another object in the bag comes into contact with the tablet 12a, and the operation state is not shifted. For this reason, it is possible to avoid wasteful power consumption caused by transition to the operation state due to an erroneous input. On the other hand, the data input using the buttons of the button operation unit 14 is not easily erroneous even in the same situation. Therefore, the data input is enabled, and the operation state can be shifted to the operation state by the input operation on the button operation unit 14. Keep it. Thereby, the operability for the portable information terminal 10 is not reduced.
[0043]
Meanwhile, when the stylus pen 17 that has been stored is taken out, the stylus storage detection unit 16a notifies the CPU 20 (input lock control program 22c) that storage detection is off (step B5).
[0044]
Here, the CPU 20 enables data input from the lock target (input means) for which data input is disabled, that is, enables data input from all input means (step B6). Therefore, for example, when the stylus pen 17 is taken out of the stylus pen storage unit 16, data input from the tablet 12a becomes valid, so that the operation state is shifted by tapping on the tablet 12a using the stylus pen 17. Can be.
[0045]
In this manner, when the stylus pen 17 is stored in the stylus pen storage unit 16, the data input from the input unit can be invalidated according to the preset input lock management data 22d. Erroneous input can be prevented. The operation of storing the stylus pen 17 in the stylus pen storage unit 16 is an operation normally performed by the user when an input operation using the stylus pen 17 is not performed, and is not a special operation for preventing erroneous input, but a user operation. It does not impose a burden on the user.
[0046]
In the lock control process, the setting contents of the lock state corresponding to each of the input lock management data 22d shown in FIG. 5 are referred to depending on whether the operation is in the normal operation or the standby state. The input lock control may be executed in accordance with the same lock state setting content in both the normal operation and the standby state.
[0047]
Further, the input lock management data 22d may be set by the lock function setting process in association with the application program 22b installed in the portable information terminal 10. For example, depending on the application, only a specific input unit may be used. For example, for the direction button 14a for the direction button 14a to instruct scrolling on the screen displayed by the display / tablet integrated unit 12 (display 12b) or for the application requiring only the operation for the tablet 12a, Is set valid, and the lock state for other input means is set invalid. Thus, when the stylus pen 17 is stored in the stylus pen storage unit 16 during execution of this application, only data input from the direction button 14a can be made valid.
[0048]
Further, in the above description, the stylus pen 17 is described as a tool used for the input operation, but another tool used for the input operation may be used.
[0049]
In addition, the method described in the above-described embodiment can be executed on a recording medium such as a magnetic disk (such as a flexible disk or a hard disk), an optical disk (such as a CD-ROM or a DVD), or a semiconductor memory as a program that can be executed by a computer. It can be written and provided to various devices. Further, it is also possible to transmit the data via a communication medium and provide the data to various devices. A computer that realizes the present apparatus reads the program recorded on the recording medium or receives the program via the communication medium, and executes the above-described processing by controlling the operation of the program.
[0050]
Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be variously modified in an implementation stage without departing from the gist of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, in a case where an effect can be obtained even if some components are deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment, a configuration in which the components are deleted can be extracted as an invention.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is detected whether or not an instrument used for an input operation is accommodated in the accommodating means. By invalidating the data input, erroneous input can be prevented without imposing an operation burden on the user.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an external configuration of a portable information terminal 10 according to an embodiment, on a side of an input surface 11a of a main body 11. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an external configuration of the portable information terminal 10 according to the embodiment, as viewed from a direction of an arrow A in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the portable information terminal 10.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a stylus storage detection unit 16a.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of input lock management data 22d set by a lock function setting process.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a lock function setting process for setting input lock management data 22d.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a lock control process.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Personal digital assistant 11 ... Main body 11a ... Input surface 11b ... Back surface 12 ... Display / tablet integrated part 12a ... Tablet 12b ... Display 14 ... Button operation part 14a ... Direction button 14b ... Button 15 ... Power button 16 ... Stylus pen storage part 16a: stylus storage detector 17: stylus pen 18: wireless module slot 19: card slot 20: CPU
22 memory 22a system control program 22b application program 22c input lock control program 22d input lock management data

Claims (6)

In a portable information terminal provided with input means for inputting data in accordance with an input operation,
Storage means for storing equipment used for input operation;
Storage detection means for detecting whether the device is stored in the storage means,
A portable information terminal, comprising: a data input invalidating means for invalidating data input from the input means when the storage detecting means detects that the appliance is stored. For the input means, comprising a setting means for setting whether to invalidate data input by the data input invalidating means,
2. The portable information terminal according to claim 1, wherein said data input invalidating means invalidates data input from said input means when invalidation is set by said setting means. When there are a plurality of said input means, said setting means sets, for each of said plurality of input means, whether or not to invalidate data input by said data input invalidating means. The portable information terminal according to 1. 3. The mobile phone according to claim 2, wherein the setting unit sets whether or not to invalidate data input from the input unit in an operation stop state started in response to an input from the input unit. Information terminal. An input lock control method in a portable information terminal provided with input means for inputting data in accordance with an input operation,
Detecting whether the instrument used for input operation is stored in the storage means,
An input lock control method, wherein the data input from the input means is invalidated when it is detected by this detection that the data is stored. In a portable information terminal provided with input means for inputting data in accordance with an input operation,
Computer
Storage detection means for detecting whether or not the appliance used for the input operation is stored,
An input lock control program for functioning as a data input invalidating means for invalidating data input from the input means when the storage detecting means detects that the appliance is stored.

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