JP2006331066A - Character input device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate a defect that a user is unlikely to remember the positions of keys bearing assigned symbols as compared with keys bearing assigned characters and because the key assignment may be different depending on a model, frequently a user takes time to input a symbol. <P>SOLUTION: For instance, when a specific character string such as 'desu' (hiragana, an auxiliary verb to express designation) or 'masu' (hiragana, an auxiliary verb to express politeness) is input, a character candidate for the end of a sentence (period, pictorial symbol or the like) more likely to follow subsequently is automatically displayed to facilitate selection or the like, thus saving time and effort for inputting a symbol. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a character input device and method.

  Until now, as a device for inputting characters by key input, there are a keyboard in a personal computer, a numeric keypad by a mobile phone, and the like. In these character input methods, characters and symbols printed on the keys are input by pressing the character / symbol key, and a character conversion key (space key for a keyboard, conversion key or direction key on a mobile phone or above or below) ) Are sequentially displayed, and the input character is confirmed by pressing the confirmation key while the conversion candidate to be input is displayed (selected).

  Here, the key to which characters are assigned is relatively memorized by the user (character input person), whereas the position of keys to which symbols such as punctuation marks and exclamation marks are assigned is not memorized. In many cases, the symbol assignment method differs depending on the model of a mobile phone or the like. Therefore, it takes more time to input the symbol than to input the character. In particular, there is a high possibility that a symbol such as a punctuation mark is input at the end of a sentence, and the efficiency of inputting symbols at the end of the sentence is important in improving the efficiency of character input.

  In response to these problems, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-135531 identifies frequently used character strings used at the end of sentences such as “Da” and “Mas”, and after those characters are input, a predetermined time There has been proposed a method of automatically adding a punctuation mark or the like after elapse of time.

In recent mobile phones, there is a predictive conversion function as a function for assisting efficient character input. The predictive conversion function predicts a character that follows the input character and displays a character candidate. For example, just by inputting “O”, candidates such as “Good morning” and “Congratulations” are displayed. When “Good morning” is to be input, the input is completed by selecting and confirming the candidate. In addition, a character string frequently input in the past or a character string input recently may be added to the prediction candidates by the learning function to improve the prediction accuracy. As a result, you can learn as a candidate by inputting several times in a lump, including the phrase “mas.”, And after that, just enter “mas” to display the candidate “mas.” Is possible.
JP 59-135531 A

  However, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-135531, after inputting characters such as “mas”, it is necessary to wait for the character input until the punctuation is input because the punctuation is input after a time interval. However, it was not always possible to increase the character input speed. In addition, if the character input speed is different for each user and the user has a fast character input, the next character input is performed before the punctuation is inserted. There is a possibility that erroneous input occurs, for example, a punctuation point is input even though insertion is unnecessary.

  Also, the predictive transformation method is time-consuming because it requires learning, and if the symbols that follow the characters such as `` mas '' are not only punctuation but also other symbols such as question marks are frequently used, It may happen that the learning effect is weakened and is no longer displayed as a candidate.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problem, and automatically ends sentence candidate characters such as punctuation without waiting for a predetermined time after a frequently used character such as “mas”. The purpose is to make it possible to display and select, and to improve the end-of-sentence character input at the end of the sentence.

  In order to solve the conventional problem, a character input device according to the present invention includes a character input key and a display unit, and a determination unit for identifying a specific character arrangement included in a character string input by the character input key. When the specific character arrangement is identified, a sentence end character candidate is automatically displayed on the display unit.

  According to the character input device of the present invention, a specific character sequence included in the input character string is identified, and when a specific character sequence is identified, a sentence end character candidate is automatically displayed, thereby The trouble of inputting characters can be reduced.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overview of a character input terminal according to the present invention.

  The character input terminal in FIG. 1 includes a character input key 101, a direction input key 102, a confirmation key 103, and a display unit 104.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 2 shows an example of a character input flow according to the character input method in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. First, a character string that is frequently used at the end of a sentence, such as “mas”, is input by the character input key 101, and when the input of “mas” is confirmed by pressing the confirmation key 103, end-of-sentence candidates such as punctuation Is automatically displayed at the position following "mas". Here, if the sentence end character candidate is a character to be input, the confirmation key 103 is pressed to confirm the input of the sentence end character candidate. Alternatively, to input another sentence end character candidate, while the sentence end character candidate is displayed, press the upper or lower direction key 102 to select another sentence end character such as a question mark, emoji, or emoticon. The candidates are sequentially displayed, and when a candidate to be input is displayed, the confirmation key 103 is pressed to confirm the input of the sentence end character candidate. Alternatively, if it is desired to continue to input characters other than the end-of-sentence character candidate, the input of the displayed end-of-sentence character can be canceled (the display is erased) by inputting with the character input key 101 and input with the character input key 101. Displayed.

  Note that although the pressing of the confirmation key 103 has been described as an example of the means for determining the character, the direction input key 102 may be pressed in the right direction (cursor movement), or other means may be used.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 shows an example of a character input flow according to the character input method in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. First, a character string that is frequently used at the end of a sentence, such as “mas”, is input by the character input key 101, and the conversion candidate “mas” is selected by pressing the direction input key 102, which is a character conversion key, up or down. When “” is displayed, the candidate is displayed in a form (for example, “Masu”) in which a sentence end character candidate is automatically added to “Masa”. Here, if the sentence end character candidate is a character to be input, the confirmation key 103 is pressed to confirm the input of the sentence end character candidate. Alternatively, to input another sentence end character candidate, while the sentence end character candidate is displayed, press the upper or lower direction key 102 to select another sentence end character such as a question mark, emoji, or emoticon. The candidates to which the candidates are added are sequentially displayed, and when the candidate to be input is displayed, the confirmation key 103 is pressed to confirm the input of the end-of-sentence character candidate. Alternatively, if it is desired to continue to input characters other than the end-of-sentence character candidate, the input of the displayed end-of-sentence character can be canceled (the display is erased) by inputting with the character input key 101 and input with the character input key 101. Displayed.

  The character input terminal according to the present invention is useful for an apparatus for inputting characters using a key.

Overview of the character input terminal of the present invention The figure which shows the example of a character input flow in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the example of a character input flow in Embodiment 2 of this invention

Explanation of symbols

101 Character input key 102 Direction input key 103 Confirm key 104 Display section

Claims (27)

A determination unit for identifying a specific character sequence included in the character string input by the character input key, and a display unit that automatically detects when the specific character sequence is identified. A character input device characterized by displaying a sentence end character candidate. The end-of-sentence character displayed on the display unit when a direction is input by the direction input key while the end-of-sentence character candidate is displayed on the display unit. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein a sentence end character candidate different from the candidate is displayed. The end-of-sentence character displayed on the display unit when a direction is input by the direction input key while the end-of-sentence character candidate is displayed on the display unit. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein input of a candidate is confirmed. A direction input key is displayed on the display unit when an upper or lower direction is input by the direction input key while the end-of-sentence character candidate is displayed on the display unit. The character input device according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein a sentence end character candidate different from the sentence end character candidate is displayed. A directional input key, and when the right direction is input by the directional input key while the ending character candidate is displayed on the display portion, the previous ending character candidate displayed on the display portion is displayed. The character input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the input is confirmed. The character input device according to claim 1, further comprising a character confirmation key, wherein the input of the sentence end character candidate is confirmed by pressing the character confirmation key. When a character is input by the character input key while the end-of-sentence character candidate is displayed on the display unit, the end-of-sentence character candidate is deleted from the display unit and input by the character input key. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein a character is displayed. The character input device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the end-of-sentence character candidate is displayed at a position following the character input by the character input key. The character input device according to claim 1, further comprising a candidate display window capable of displaying a plurality of character candidates, wherein the sentence end character candidate is displayed in the candidate display window. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the sentence end character candidate is a punctuation mark (.). The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the sentence end character candidate is an exclamation mark (!). The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the sentence end character candidate is a question mark (?). The character input device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the sentence end character candidate is a period (.). The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the end-of-sentence character candidate is an emoticon. The character input device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the sentence end character candidate is a pictograph. The character input keys include “0”, “1”, “2”, “3”, “4”, “5”, “6”, “7”, “8”, and “9” numeric keys. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein a character is assigned. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the character input device is a mobile phone. A character input method characterized by identifying a specific character sequence included in an input character string and automatically displaying a sentence end character candidate when the specific character sequence is identified. 19. The character input method according to claim 18, wherein a sentence end character candidate different from the sentence end character candidate is displayed in response to a candidate change instruction. The character input method according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the input of the sentence end character candidate is confirmed by a character confirmation instruction. 21. The input according to claim 18, 19 or 20, wherein if a character is input before the end-of-sentence candidate is confirmed, the input of the end-of-sentence character is canceled and the input character is displayed. Character input method. The character input method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the sentence end character candidate is a punctuation mark (.). The character input method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the sentence end character candidate is an exclamation mark (!). The character input method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the end-of-sentence character candidate is a question mark (?). The character input method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the sentence end character candidate is a period (.). The character input method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the sentence end character candidate is an emoticon. The character input method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the sentence end character candidate is a pictograph.

Images