JP2007219594A - Key input confirmation method for information terminal, information terminal device, and key input confirmation program for information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To confirm keys input in input confirmation of an information terminal, and more specifically in key input operation of the information terminal, with voice. <P>SOLUTION: Input codes input from operation keys are acquired, and the input codes are converted into voice corresponding to the acquired input codes every acquisition of the input codes and output in voice. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to input confirmation of an information terminal, and more particularly to a key input confirmation method, an information terminal device, and a key input confirmation program for an information terminal for confirming a key input in a key input operation of the information terminal by voice.

  With the spread of personal computers and networks, e-mail has started in the business field due to its convenience, and has further expanded to the personal level due to the rapid penetration of mobile phones. E-mail is now widely used regardless of gender.

  In creating an e-mail message, a user performs a character input operation from the keyboard or keypad provided in the information terminal, and according to the input operation, the user composes a sentence while checking the characters displayed on the display. It is common. However, when the display area of the display is small like a mobile phone, the size of the displayed character is also small, and there is a problem in that it is difficult for the elderly to confirm the input character, and many erroneous inputs occur. For this reason, mobile phones with larger display characters have become commercially available, but the number of characters that can be displayed is limited, and scrolling is often performed when reading received e-mails. The problem arises. Furthermore, it is difficult for visually handicapped persons to use the e-mail service because characters cannot be confirmed by screen display.

  There has already been proposed a method for converting received electronic mail into voice and outputting it. For example, the received character string information is separated into phrase units, converted into voices with reference to a voice memory storing voice data in the separated phrase units, and output. According to this proposal, even a person with visual disabilities can use the e-mail service (Patent Document 1).

In addition, proposals have been made to create a message by inputting characters, convert the created message into voice, and send it as voice mail. If it is a voice mail, even a visually impaired person can receive an electronic mail service (Patent Document 2).
JP 2001-7939 A JP 2001-339483 A

  As shown above, for example, when creating an e-mail message, when inputting keys from an information terminal, especially for elderly people, it is difficult to confirm the input characters when the display area of the display is small, and many erroneous inputs occur. There is a problem to say. In addition, there is a problem that a person who is visually impaired cannot confirm the input characters.

  Both Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 shown above are convenient for elderly people and visually impaired people because they can listen to the received mail by voice, but both are for the received e-mail and create a message Thus, input confirmation for key input in the case of sending an e-mail is not considered.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a key input confirmation method for an information terminal, an information terminal device, and a key input confirmation program for confirming an input key using voice in key input operations such as e-mail message creation. It is in.

An information terminal key input confirmation method, an information terminal device and an information terminal key input confirmation program according to the present invention are configured as follows.
(1) 1st invention 1st invention is the key input confirmation method which performs an audio | voice output whenever an operator presses a key.

  The principle will be described with reference to FIG. The first invention comprises an input code acquisition procedure 10 and an audio output procedure 20.

  The input code acquisition procedure 10 acquires an input code input from an operation key provided in the information terminal.

  The voice output procedure 20 converts the voice to the voice corresponding to the acquired input code every time the input code acquisition procedure acquires the input code, and outputs the converted voice.

According to the first invention, every time the operator presses the key, the voice corresponding to the key is output and the input can be confirmed.
(2) Second invention The second invention is an input confirmation method in which when an operator presses a character confirmation key, voice output corresponding to the key input so far is performed.

  The principle will be described with reference to FIG. The second invention comprises an input code acquisition procedure 10, an input code storage procedure 30, and an audio output procedure 40.

  The input code acquisition procedure 10 is the same as in the first invention.

  When the input code acquired by the input code acquisition procedure is a character code, the input code storage procedure 30 stores the character code in the memory. The character code includes a symbol code, which is a punctuation mark, a punctuation mark, a question mark, or the like.

  When the input code acquired by the input code acquisition procedure is a character determination control code, the voice output procedure 40 converts the character code stored in the memory into a voice corresponding to the character code in the input order and outputs the voice. In the case of a symbol, for example, “Ten” is read for a punctuation mark, “maru” for a punctuation mark, “kueshon makku” for a question mark, and so forth.

According to the second aspect of the invention, it is possible to confirm the key that has been input so far at the timing (for example, in phrase units) that the operator wants to confirm.
(3) Third Invention The third invention is a key input confirmation method in which when the operator presses a voice confirmation key, the voice output immediately before is confirmed by performing another voice output.

  The principle will be described with reference to FIG. The third invention includes an input code acquisition procedure 10, an input code storage procedure 30, a voice output procedure 40, and a voice confirmation procedure 50.

  Since the input code acquisition procedure 10, the input code storage procedure 30, and the voice output procedure 40 are the same as those in the second invention, description thereof will be omitted.

  When the input code acquired by the input code acquisition procedure is a control code for voice confirmation, the voice confirmation procedure 50 outputs the voice output immediately before by the voice output procedure.

According to the third invention, when the operator misses the voice output, the voice can be confirmed again.
(4) 4th invention 4th invention is the information terminal device of 1st invention.
(5) Fifth Invention The fifth invention is a key input confirmation program of the first invention.

  According to the first invention, the key input by voice can be confirmed every time the key is pressed, so that it is possible to provide a key input confirmation method for assisting the input operation of the information device of the visually impaired person. It also helps input operations for those who cannot perform blind touch.

  According to the second invention, in addition to the effects of the first invention, it is possible to confirm the key input so far at the timing of the operator's preference.

  According to the third aspect, reconfirmation can be made when a voice is missed when there is noise in the surroundings.

  According to the fourth invention, the information terminal device of the first invention can be provided.

  According to the fifth aspect, the key input confirmation program of the first aspect can be provided.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(First embodiment)
The first embodiment is an example in which a voice is output for each key input.

  First, a configuration example of the information terminal device will be described with reference to FIG. The information terminal device 100 includes a processor 200 that controls programs and data, a memory 300 that executes programs and stores character data, voice data, and the like, a key operation unit 400 such as a keyboard and a keypad, and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). And a display 500 and a speaker 600 using a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube). When the operator presses the key “A” from the key operation unit, the processor 200 extracts character data corresponding to the code of the key from the character data storage unit of the memory 300 and displays the character “A” on the display 500. To do. At the same time, the processor 200 also extracts the audio data corresponding to the key code from the audio data storage unit of the memory 300, and outputs “A” audio from the speaker 600.

  An example in which the present invention is applied to a mobile phone having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 5 (FIG. 5 shows only what is necessary for the description of the present invention). First, various operation keys are arranged on the main body of the mobile phone. A character key 410, which is one of the operation keys, is a key for inputting characters, and shows an example of “0” to “9”, “*”, and “#”. In these character keys, for example, the “a” line is assigned to the number “1” key, and each line of 50 sounds shown in the figure is assigned to the other character keys. These can be switched between numbers and hiragana using a character input mode key (not shown). Here, an end key 420 is shown as a key other than the character key. The end key is a control key to be pressed at the end of character input.

  A display 500 and a speaker 600 are arranged on the upper part of the main body. The display 500 further includes a message display area 510 for displaying a message and a character confirmation display area 520 for confirming the character of the input key. The characters displayed in the message display area 510 are, for example, about 11 points in size, and the character strings input by keys are sequentially arranged. As the characters displayed in the character confirmation display area 520, one character input by keying is displayed for a certain period of time with a size of about 16 points, for example, and then the display disappears.

  An earphone 610 can be used as an external speaker connected to the main body. For example, when the user is worried about the surrounding noise or does not want other people to hear the input content, the sound can be confirmed via the earphone 610 (the sound output to the speaker 600 can be performed by the connection of the earphone 610). To switch to earphone 610).

  Next, the flow of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When the operator presses the character key of the mobile phone shown in FIG. 5, the processor 200 of FIG. 4 acquires the input code output corresponding to the pressed character key (S100, S110).

  Based on the acquired input code, the corresponding audio data is extracted from the audio data storage unit of the memory 300, and the extracted audio data is output from the speaker 600 or the earphone 610. Also, corresponding character data is extracted from the character data storage unit of the memory 300 based on the acquired input code, the extracted character data is displayed in the message display area of the display 500, and the extracted character data is also displayed in the character confirmation display area 520. Display data. The message display area 510 displays a character string input subsequent to the message input so far as in the conventional case. The character displayed in the character confirmation display area 520 is one character corresponding to the input key, which is enlarged and displayed, and the display is erased after the display time is displayed for a certain time (S120 to S160).

  FIG. 7 shows an example of voice output and display output of the input key. FIG. 7 shows an example of the case where the “A” line key is pressed in the “Kana input method”. Every time the “A” line key is pressed, both the display and the sound are “A” → “I” → “ "U" → "E" → "O" is output. FIG. 7 shows the output when the key is pressed five times, but when the key is pressed after that, the sound and display from “A” to “O” are repeated.

As described above, an operator who is visually impaired or an operator who is not good at blind touch can confirm the pressed key because this sound is output every time the key is pressed. Further, an operator whose visual acuity is weak can confirm the same by looking at a large character displayed in the character confirmation display area 520.
(Second embodiment)
In the second embodiment, when the character confirmation key is pressed, the voice of the character input so far is output. In addition, here, a voice confirmation key is provided so that the voice output can be performed again when the voice output is missed. These embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the configuration of the information terminal device, which is the same as FIG. 4 described in the first embodiment except that the memory 310 is different. In addition to the contents of the memory 300 in FIG. 4, the memory 310 includes a first memory unit that stores key-input codes and the like, and a second memory unit that stores audio data output based on the memory.

  FIG. 9 shows the appearance of a cellular phone when applied to a cellular phone. In FIG. 5 described in the first embodiment, a character confirmation key / end key 421 and a voice confirmation key 430 are different. The character confirmation key / end key 421 uses a key for confirming an input character and an end key for ending character input as one key. When a character input is performed and the character confirmation key / end key 421 is pressed, the character is determined, and when this key is subsequently pressed, the character is ended. Furthermore, the voice confirmation key 430 is a key for outputting again the voice that was output immediately before the key is pressed.

  Next, a key input confirmation flow will be described with reference to FIG. First, the first memory unit of the memory 310 that stores the input code is cleared. Next, key input is performed by the operator, and the input code is acquired (S200 to S220).

  It is determined whether the acquired input code is a character code or a control code. If it is a character code, the acquired input code is stored in the first memory unit. Next, character data corresponding to the input code is extracted from the character data storage unit of the memory 310, and the character data is displayed in the message display area 510. After the display, the process returns to the key input (S240 to S260).

  If the acquired input code is a control code, it is further determined whether it is a character confirmation code, a voice confirmation code, or an end code. In the case of the character confirmation code, the voice data storage unit of the memory 310 is referred to, the voice data corresponding to the input code stored in the first memory unit is sequentially extracted from the voice data storage unit, and the voice output from the speaker 600 or the earphone 610 is performed. Do. Next, the second memory unit is cleared and the voice data output by voice is stored. Further, the character data is enlarged and displayed in the character confirmation display area 520. The characters displayed in the character confirmation display area 520 are displayed for 2 seconds, for example. After the display instruction to the character confirmation display area 520 is performed, the process returns to the clear (S200) of the first memory part of the first process (S270 to S310).

  If the acquired input code is a voice confirmation code, the voice data in the second memory unit is sequentially taken out and output from the speaker 600 or the earphone 610. Then, the process returns to the key input process (S210).

  If the acquired input code is an end code, the process ends.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of voice output and display output of the input key. FIG. 11 shows the voice output and display output (character confirmation display area and message display area) when “I” is input by the “Kana input method” and the character confirmation key 421 is pressed as in the first embodiment. An example is shown. When the key input is “wa” → “ta” → “sa” → “sa”, the voice output and the output to the character confirmation display area 520 are not performed in the meantime, but “wa”, “Ta”, “sa” → “shi” and character display output. The character confirmation key 421 is pressed, and “I” is output as a voice and output to the character confirmation display area 520. The display of the message display area 510 at that time remains “I” as the final display, and the display does not change.

  As described above, it is possible to confirm the key by the voice and the enlarged character in the phrase preferred by the operator. Even if the user has missed the voice output, the voice that was output immediately before can be heard by pressing the voice confirmation key.

  In the above embodiment, at the timing when the character confirmation key 421 is pressed, the sound corresponding to the character code that has been key-input is output to the speaker 600 or the earphone 610 and output to the character confirmation display area 520 for the enlarged character. However, the output to the character confirmation display area 520 may be displayed for each key input as in the first embodiment (that is, the sound is output at the timing when the character confirmation key 421 is pressed). The character display in the character confirmation display area 520 is displayed when the key is pressed).

  Further, a character confirmation key may be provided in the same manner as the voice confirmation key 430 so that the confirmation can be displayed again by pressing the key after the display of the character confirmation display area 520 disappears for a certain time.

  In the above embodiment, a mobile phone has been described as an example. However, a PDA (Personal Digital Assis-tance), a notebook PC, a desktop PC, or the like may be used. Further, the keyboard of the key operation unit 400 may be a braille keyboard.

  In addition to the above examples, the following additional notes are disclosed.

(Appendix 1)
An input code acquisition procedure for acquiring an input code input from an operation key;
Each time the input code acquisition procedure acquires an input code, a voice output procedure for converting the voice into a voice corresponding to the input code and outputting the voice,
A key input confirmation method for an information terminal characterized by comprising:

(Appendix 2)
An input code acquisition procedure for acquiring an input code input from an operation key;
When the input code acquired by the input code acquisition procedure is a character code, an input code storage procedure for storing the character code in a memory;
If the input code acquired by the input code acquisition procedure is a control code for character confirmation, a voice output procedure for converting the character code stored in the memory into a voice corresponding to the character code in the input order and outputting the voice; ,
A key input confirmation method for an information terminal characterized by comprising:

(Appendix 3)
The key input confirmation method of the information terminal further includes: a voice confirmation procedure for outputting the voice output immediately before the voice output procedure when the input code acquired by the input code acquisition procedure is a control code for voice confirmation; ,
The method for confirming input of an information terminal according to supplementary note 1 or supplementary note 2, characterized by comprising:

(Appendix 4)
An input code acquisition means for acquiring an input code input from an operation key;
Sound output means for converting the sound into a sound corresponding to the input code and outputting the sound each time the input code acquiring means acquires the input code;
An information terminal device comprising:

(Appendix 5)
In the computer of the information terminal,
An input code acquisition procedure for acquiring an input code input from an operation key;
Each time the input code acquisition procedure acquires an input code, a voice output procedure that converts the voice into a voice corresponding to the input code and outputs the voice.
Key input confirmation program for information terminals to execute

(Appendix 6)
The key input confirmation method of the information terminal further erases the character code stored in the memory when the input code acquired by the input code acquisition procedure is a character code after the voice output procedure outputs a voice. Character code erasure procedure,
The input confirmation method for an information terminal according to claim 2, further comprising:

  The key input confirmation method of the information terminal according to supplementary note 1 or supplementary note 2, characterized by:

(Appendix 7)
The audio output procedure outputs audio from a speaker provided in the information terminal or an external speaker connected to the portable information terminal.
The key input confirmation method of the information terminal according to supplementary note 1 or supplementary note 2, characterized by:

(Appendix 8)
The operation key is a braille keyboard.
The key input confirmation method of the information terminal according to supplementary note 1 or supplementary note 2, characterized by:

(Appendix 9)
In the voice output procedure, the voice corresponding to the character code output by voice and the voice code is displayed on the display provided in the information terminal at a predetermined size for a predetermined time.
The key input confirmation method of the information terminal according to supplementary note 1 or supplementary note 2, characterized by:

It is a principle diagram of the first invention. It is a principle diagram of the second invention. It is a principle diagram of the third invention. It is a structural example (1st Example) of an information terminal device. There is an application example (first embodiment) to a mobile phone. It is a flow example (1st Example) of an audio | voice output and a display output. It is the output example (1st Example) with respect to key input. It is a structural example (2nd Example) of an information terminal device. This is an application example (second embodiment) to a mobile phone. It is a flow example (2nd Example) of an audio | voice output and a display output. It is the output example (2nd Example) with respect to key input.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Input code acquisition procedure 20 Voice output procedure 30 Input code storage procedure 40 Voice output procedure 50 Voice confirmation procedure 100 Information terminal device 200 Processor 300 Memory 310 Memory 400 Input operation unit 410 Character key 420 End key 421 Character confirmation / end key 430 Voice Confirmation key 500 Display 510 Message display area 520 Character confirmation display area 600 Speaker 610 Earphone

Claims (5)

An input code acquisition procedure for acquiring an input code input from an operation key;
Each time the input code acquisition procedure acquires an input code, a voice output procedure for converting the voice into a voice corresponding to the input code and outputting the voice,
A key input confirmation method for an information terminal characterized by comprising: An input code acquisition procedure for acquiring an input code input from an operation key;
When the input code acquired by the input code acquisition procedure is a character code, an input code storage procedure for storing the character code in a memory;
If the input code acquired by the input code acquisition procedure is a character determination control code, the character output stored in the memory is converted into a voice corresponding to the character code in the order of input, and a voice output procedure for outputting the voice ,
A key input confirmation method for an information terminal characterized by comprising: The key input confirmation method of the information terminal further includes: a voice confirmation procedure for outputting the voice output immediately before the voice output procedure when the input code acquired by the input code acquisition procedure is a control code for voice confirmation; ,
The input confirmation method for an information terminal according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by comprising: An input code acquisition means for acquiring an input code input from an operation key;
Sound output means for converting the sound into a sound corresponding to the input code and outputting the sound each time the input code acquiring means acquires the input code;
An information terminal device comprising: In the computer of the information terminal,
An input code acquisition procedure for acquiring an input code input from an operation key;
Each time the input code acquisition procedure acquires an input code, a voice output procedure for converting the voice into a voice corresponding to the input code and outputting the voice,
Key input confirmation program for information terminals to execute

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