JP2008129687A - Special character input support device and electronic equipment with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input support device for reducing a time and the number of times of operations required for the input of pictorial symbols, and for displaying selection candidates only when the pictorial symbols is wished to be input. <P>SOLUTION: A special character input support device is provided with a storage device in which pictorial symbols and keywords are associated each other and stored. A control circuit part judges whether or not an operation showing that the input request of a pictorial symbol has been performed in such a state that an electronic mail creation picture 25 for enabling a user to input a pictorial symbol is displayed. This special character input support device is provided with a pictorial symbol prediction part for, when it is judged that the operation showing the input request of the pictorial symbol has been performed, retrieving whether or not any keyword stored in the storage device exists in an input character string. When any keyword stored in the storage device is retrieved, the pictorial symbol prediction part acquires the pictorial symbol associated with the keyword from the storage device. The control circuit part causes a prediction pictorial symbol display region 21 of the leading line of a pictorial symbol selection picture 20 to display the pictorial symbols acquired by the pictorial symbol prediction part as the candidates of selection by the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a special character input support device, an electronic device including the same, a special character input support method, and a program thereof.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an e-mail text input function in a mobile phone can input a large number of pictographs and emoticons in order to enrich the emotional expression of an e-mail sender.

  However, the input of pictograms and emoticons is performed by the user searching for a character to be input from among a large number of candidates displayed in the list with his / her own eyes, moving the cursor to the position of the character, and confirming the operation. A method of inputting a desired character is common.

  In such a method, it takes a lot of time to search for a character to be input and to move the cursor to the searched character, so that not only character input can be performed in a short time but also the number of times the key is pressed. Since there are many, there exists a subject that the burden to a finger is large.

  As a conventional technique made in view of such a problem, for example, there is a technique of Patent Document 1.

  In Patent Document 1, for example, when a character string “I'm sorry for being delayed” is input, a keyword search is performed in the character string, and a plurality of candidates associated with the keyword “I'm sorry” in advance are displayed on the display screen, for example. Then, when a desired emoticon (for example, “m (._.) M”) is selected by the user from among the plurality of emoticons listed as candidates, “m (._. .) M ”is added.

In the technique of Patent Document 1, since an input character string is automatically searched and emoticons associated with keywords are displayed as selection candidates by the user, the emoticons to be input are searched for, The time required to move the cursor to the time can be shortened, emoticon input can be performed in a short time, the number of key presses can be reduced, and the burden on the finger can be reduced.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-25312

  However, the technique of Patent Document 1 has a problem that a keyword search is automatically executed every time a character string is input, so that the processing load on the CPU is large and the power consumption is large.

  Moreover, in the technique of Patent Document 1, when a predetermined keyword is included in the searched character string, the emoticon corresponding to the keyword is automatically displayed on the display screen.

  For this reason, even when emoticons are not desired to be input, there is a problem that emoticon candidates are frequently displayed on the character input screen, which is extremely troublesome.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and can reduce the time and the number of operations required to input special characters such as pictograms and emoticons, and only when special characters are desired to be input. It is an object of the present invention to provide a special character input support device capable of displaying the selection candidates and an electronic device including the same.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the special character input support device according to the present invention includes a special character correspondence database in which special characters and keywords are stored in association with each other, and a character string input screen on which a user can input a character string. In the displayed state, special character input request determining means for determining whether or not an operation indicating a special character input request has been performed by the user, and an operation indicating the special character input request by the special character input request determining means If it is determined that the keyword stored in the special character correspondence database exists, the keyword search means for searching in the inputted character string whether or not the keyword stored in the special character correspondence database exists. When a keyword stored in is searched, the special character associated with the keyword is converted to the special character correspondence. Special character acquisition means acquired from the database, selection candidate display means for displaying the special characters acquired by the special character acquisition means on the display screen as candidates for selection by the user, and special characters displayed by the selection candidate display means Special character input means for inputting a special character selected and confirmed by the user from the characters to the character string input screen.

  In the special character input support device of the present invention, the special character is preferably a pictograph.

  In the special character input support device of the present invention, it is preferable that the special character is an emoticon.

  In the special character input support device of the present invention, when it is determined by the special character input request determination means that an operation indicating a special character input request has been made, the display of the display screen is changed from the character string input screen. Screen switching means for switching to a special character selection screen for displaying special character selection candidates is provided, and at least the special characters acquired by the special character acquisition means are displayed on the special character selection screen as candidates for selection by the user. It is preferable that the first region to be included is included.

  In the special character input support device of the present invention, the special character selection screen includes a list of special characters including the first area and the special characters acquired by the special character acquisition unit, or the special character acquisition. A second region for displaying a list of special characters excluding special characters acquired by the means as candidates for selection by the user, and an initial stage of switching to the special character selection screen by the screen switching means Then, it is preferable to display a cursor in the first area.

  In the special character input support device of the present invention, it is preferable that the first area is displayed on the first line of the special character selection screen.

  In the special character input support device of the present invention, the selection candidate display means is acquired by the special character acquisition means when the special character input request determination means determines that an operation indicating a special character input request has been made. It is preferable that the first candidate among the special characters that have been set is displayed as a selection candidate by the user at the current cursor position on the character string input screen.

  In the special character input support device of the present invention, the selection candidate display unit is configured to display the first of the special characters acquired by the special character acquisition unit each time the user performs a display request operation for the next candidate special character. Preferably, two or less candidates are sequentially displayed as selection candidates by the user at the current cursor position on the character string input screen.

  In the special character input support device of the present invention, the final candidate of the special characters acquired by the special character acquisition unit is displayed at the current cursor position on the character string input screen, and is Screen switching means for switching display of the display screen from the character string input screen to a special character selection screen for displaying special character selection candidates when a candidate special character display request operation is performed, On the special character selection screen, a list of special characters including special characters acquired by the special character acquisition unit or a list of special characters excluding special characters acquired by the special character acquisition unit is selected by the user. It is preferable to display as a candidate.

  In the special character input support device of the present invention, it is preferable that the operation means for performing a special character input request operation by the user and the operation means for performing a display request operation for the next candidate special character by the user are the same. .

  In the special character input support device of the present invention, when one special character is selected and confirmed by the user from the special characters displayed on the special character selection screen, the screen switching means displays the display screen. Is returned from the special character selection screen to the character string input screen, while the special character input means inputs one special character selected and confirmed by the user to the character string input screen.

  In the special character input support device of the present invention, the special character input means displays a special character selected and confirmed by the user from the special characters displayed by the selection candidate display means on the character string input screen. It is preferable to input at the current cursor position.

  In the special character input assist device of the present invention, it is preferable that the keyword search means searches the input character string one word at a time from the current cursor position to the front.

  In the special character input support device of the present invention, it is preferable that the search range by the keyword search means covers all the character strings input before the current cursor position.

  Alternatively, in the special character input support device of the present invention, it is preferable that the search range by the keyword search unit covers the entire one sentence input before the current cursor position.

  In the special character input support device according to the present invention, the keyword search means searches when a punctuation mark is detected before searching to the beginning of the sentence in one sentence input before the current cursor position. Is preferably terminated.

  The electronic device of the present invention is, for example, a mobile phone or other mobile communication terminal device, and is characterized by including the special character input support device of the present invention.

  A special character input support method according to the present invention is a method in which an electronic device configured to allow a user to input a character string supports a user to input a special character, and the user can input a character string. In a state where the input screen is displayed on the display screen, a first process for determining whether or not an operation indicating a special character input request is performed by the user, and the special character input request is indicated by the first process. A second step of searching in the inputted character string whether or not there is a keyword stored in a special character correspondence database in which special characters and keywords are stored in association with each other when it is determined that an operation has been performed; When the keyword stored in the special character correspondence database is searched by the second process, the special character associated with the keyword is changed to the special character. A third step of acquiring from the response database, a fourth step of displaying the special character acquired in the third step as a candidate for selection by the user on the display screen, and a display of the fourth step. And a fifth step of inputting a special character selected and confirmed by the user from the special characters to the character string input screen.

  The program of the present invention is a program that causes a computer to execute the special character input support method of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, a special character input database in which special characters and keywords are associated with each other and a special character input in a state where a character string input screen on which a user can input a character string is displayed on the display screen are displayed. Special character input request determination means for determining whether or not an operation indicating a request has been performed by the user, and the special character support when the operation indicating a special character input request is determined by the special character input request determination means When the keyword stored in the special character correspondence database is searched by the keyword search means for searching in the input character string whether or not the keyword stored in the database exists, and the keyword search means, the keyword Special character acquisition means for acquiring the special character associated with the special character from the special character correspondence database, and the special character Selection candidate display means for displaying the special character acquired by the acquisition means on the display screen as a candidate for selection by the user, and a special character selected and confirmed by the user from the special characters displayed by the selection candidate display means Special character input means for inputting characters on the character string input screen, and if a previously set keyword is included in the input character string, it is associated with this keyword. The special pictogram can be displayed on the display screen as a candidate for selection by the user, and the user can easily find and input the special character to be input. Therefore, the time and the number of operations required for inputting special characters such as pictographs and emoticons can be reduced. In addition, since the number of operations required to move the cursor to the special character to be input can be reduced, the burden on the finger can be reduced.

  Moreover, only when it is determined by the special character input request determination means that an operation indicating a special character input request has been made, the keyword search means is input whether or not there is a keyword stored in the special character correspondence database. Searching within a character string and performing an operation to acquire special characters corresponding to a keyword search from the special character correspondence database and an operation to display the acquired special characters on the display screen as candidates for selection by the user The selection candidates can be displayed only when it is desired to input special characters. Therefore, the burden on a processing device such as a CPU can be reduced, so that power consumption can be reduced, and special character candidates are frequently displayed on the character string input screen even when it is not desired to input special characters. There is no such thing as feeling.

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

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a mobile phone (electronic device, mobile communication terminal device) 100 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile phone 100.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mobile phone 100 has an antenna 1 and a radio circuit 2 and detects a voice of a user of the mobile phone 100 during a call with a radio unit 3 that transmits and receives radio waves for communication. A transmitter 5 having a receiver 4 therein, a receiver 7 having a speaker 6 for outputting the voice of the other party inside, a control circuit unit 8 for performing various control operations, and under the control of the control circuit unit 8 A display device 9 for performing various display operations, a key device 10 having a plurality of types of keys for a user to input operations, and a storage device 11 for storing a pictograph correspondence table (FIG. 4) to be described later. .

  Among these, the control circuit unit 8 and the storage device 11 constitute a special character input support device. Further, the control circuit unit 8 constitutes special character input request determination means, screen switching means, selection candidate display means, and special character input means. The control circuit unit 8 includes a pictograph predicting unit 12 described later, and the pictograph predicting unit 12 constitutes a keyword searching unit and a special character acquiring unit. The storage device 11 functions as a special character correspondence database.

  The control circuit unit 8 includes a storage unit (for example, a ROM) that stores and holds its own operation program (program), a processing unit (for example, a CPU) that performs various control operations in accordance with the operation program, and operations performed by the processing unit. A work area unit (for example, a RAM) that functions as an area.

  The display performed by the display device 9 includes a display for input support at the time of key input by the user.

  The keys of the key device 10 include a character input key 31 for inputting numbers 0 to 9 and alphabets, a cursor key 32 for moving the cursor up and down, left and right, and an operation for confirming a selection result. A confirmation key 33, a pictographic key (an operation means for performing a special character input requesting operation by the user) 34 for causing the display device 9 to display a list of pictographs are included.

  The control circuit unit 8 includes a pictograph prediction unit 12 (details will be described later).

  In the description of the present embodiment, for example, seven types of pictographs as shown in FIG. 3 are used.

  Here, since the pictogram does not have an appropriate phrase for uniquely expressing it, in the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, each pictogram is represented by using seven alphabets (A to G) shown in FIG. , Pictogram A, pictogram B,..., Pictogram G, or simply A, B,.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a pictogram correspondence table registered (stored) in the storage device 11.

  That is, as shown in the pictogram correspondence table in FIG. 4, the storage device 11 stores pictograms in association with various keywords.

  Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, pictogram A, pictogram C and pictogram E are associated with the keyword “thank you”, and pictogram B, pictogram D and pictogram are associated with the keyword “I'm sorry”. F is associated, and the keyword “good bye” is associated with the pictogram E, and the keyword “Yabai” is associated with the pictogram G and the pictogram F.

  The pictogram correspondence table may be registered in advance in the storage device 11 from the factory shipment stage, or the user may register a desired pictogram correspondence table in the storage device 11. The number of keywords and the number of predicted pictograms corresponding to one keyword are arbitrary.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a pictogram selection screen 20 displayed when inputting pictograms.

  When the pictogram key 34 is pressed during an e-mail input operation, the pictogram selection screen 20 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display screen of the display device 9, and the pictogram input can be selected.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the pictogram selection screen 20 includes a predicted pictogram display area 21 for displaying a list of predicted pictograms and a pictogram list display area 22.

  The pictogram (predicted pictogram) displayed in the predicted pictogram display area 21 is a pictograph acquired by the pictogram predicting unit 12 of the control circuit unit 8 according to the pictogram correspondence table as a candidate for a pictogram that is expected to be input by the user.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the predicted pictogram display area 21 is located in the first line of the pictogram selection screen 20.

  At the initial stage when the pictogram selection screen 20 is displayed, the cursor is positioned at the pictogram (predicted pictogram) displayed at the top of the predicted pictogram display area 21. That is, at the initial stage when the pictogram selection screen 20 is displayed, the cursor is positioned at the cursor initial position 23 in FIG.

  In consideration of the case where the pictogram that the user wants to input is not displayed as the predicted pictogram in the predicted pictogram display area 21, a list of pictograms is displayed in the pictogram list display area 22.

  The pictogram list display area 22 is located below the predicted pictogram display area 21, as shown in FIG.

  The pictograms displayed in the pictogram list display area 22 may include pictograms displayed in the predicted pictogram display area 21 or may not include pictograms displayed in the predictive pictogram display area 21. Also good.

  In addition, although pictograms other than pictograms A to G shown in FIG. 3 are also shown in the pictogram list display area 22 in FIG. 5, descriptions using alphabets are omitted.

  The pictogram prediction unit 12 of the control circuit unit 8 searches the text included in the e-mail creation screen for a keyword included in the pictogram correspondence table of FIG. 4, and according to the detected keyword, according to the pictogram correspondence table. The prediction pictogram to be displayed in the pictogram prediction area 21 (FIG. 5) is acquired.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the pictograph prediction unit 12 traces back from the current character input position (current cursor position) toward the beginning of the text, and whether the keyword included in the pictogram correspondence table in FIG. 4 exists in the text. When the keyword is detected, the search is terminated, and the predicted pictogram is acquired from the pictogram correspondence table. The control circuit unit 8 displays the predicted pictogram acquired by the pictograph prediction unit 12 in the predicted pictogram display area 21 of the pictograph selection screen 20.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  In the present embodiment, for example, an operation at the time of inputting a pictogram while creating an e-mail will be described.

  Specifically, a case where the user inputs “Thank you for today E” on the e-mail creation screen (character string input screen) 25 will be described. The E at the end is a pictograph E.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of a series of display operations on the display screen of the display device 9.

  First, as shown in FIG. 6A, the user inputs up to “Thank you for today”. Up to this point, the input operation is the same as in the case of using a conventionally known mobile phone.

  Next, in order to display the pictograph E, the user presses the pictograph key 34 of the key device 10. That is, the user performs an operation indicating a pictogram input request.

  Then, the control circuit unit 8 detects pressing of the pictogram key 34, and the pictogram prediction unit 12 of the control circuit unit 8 starts an operation of acquiring a predicted pictogram to be displayed in the predicted pictogram display area 21.

  That is, first, the pictograph prediction unit 12 goes back to the pictogram correspondence table of FIG. 4 stored in the storage device 11 while going back from the current input position (current cursor position) P in the sentence being created that has already been input by the user. It searches one word at a time whether or not there is a phrase that matches the included keyword.

  In the case of the present embodiment, for example, the search is ended when one phrase that matches the keyword included in the pictogram correspondence table of FIG. 4 is searched.

  In this case, since there is a phrase that matches the keyword “thank you”, the pictogram prediction unit 12 ends the search at that stage, and the predicted pictograms A and C corresponding to the keyword “thank you” from the pictograph correspondence table of FIG. , E is acquired.

  In the case of the present embodiment, for example, the pictogram prediction unit 12 also detects a punctuation mark (,) before searching for the beginning of a sentence in one sentence input before the current cursor position. End the search. The pictograph prediction unit 12 also ends the search when searching up to the beginning of one sentence input before the current cursor position.

  Next, the control circuit unit 8 switches the display screen from the e-mail creation screen 25 to the pictogram selection screen 20, and the predicted pictograms A, C, and E acquired by the pictogram prediction unit 12 are shown in FIG. In this way, the predicted pictogram display area 21 of the pictogram selection screen 20 is displayed. At this stage, the cursor is positioned at the cursor initial position 23 in the predicted pictogram display area 21.

  Subsequently, the user searches for a pictograph to be input from the predicted pictogram display area 21 of the pictograph selection screen 20 shown in FIG. In this case, since the pictograph E to be input third from the left is displayed, the pictograph E is selected by operating the cursor key 32 and moving the cursor to the position, and the confirmation operation is performed by pressing the enter key 33. I do.

  Then, as illustrated in FIG. 6C, the control circuit unit 8 switches the display screen to the e-mail creation screen 25 again, and displays “Thank you E today” on the creation screen 25.

  That is, the control circuit unit 8 displays the pictogram E selected and confirmed by the user at the current cursor position on the creation screen 25.

  If the pictogram that the user wants to input does not exist in the predicted pictogram display area 21, the cursor is moved to the pictogram list display area 22 below the predictive pictogram display area 21, and the pictogram is displayed from among the pictograms in the pictogram list display area 22. A pictograph to be input is searched, and the pictograph is input to the current cursor position on the creation screen 25 by selecting and confirming the pictograph.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the pictographic character prediction unit 12 after the pictograph key 34 is pressed.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the pictogram prediction unit 12 after the pictogram key 34 is pressed will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the current cursor position is set as the search position P (step S1).

  The search position P means a search start position when searching for a keyword going back in the sentence (same as the input position P in FIG. 6A).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the search position P is at the head of one sentence or immediately after a punctuation mark (,) (step S2).

  Note that the determination of whether or not it is the beginning of one sentence is, for example, whether or not it is immediately after a punctuation mark (.), Whether or not it is immediately after a line break, and the beginning of all input sentences. This is performed in combination with the determination of whether or not. That is, for example, when it is immediately after a punctuation mark (.), Immediately after a line break, or at the beginning of all input sentences, it is determined that it is at the beginning of one sentence.

  If the search position P is at the beginning of one sentence or immediately after a reading (YES in step S2), the search is terminated.

  If the search position P is not at the beginning of a sentence or immediately after a reading (NO in step S2), the word immediately before the search position P is acquired, and the search position P is updated to the position of the acquired word / phrase. (Step S3).

  Next, the acquired word and the keyword in the pictogram correspondence table are compared to determine whether or not there is a keyword that matches the acquired word (step S4).

  If there is no matching keyword (NO in step S4), the process returns to step S2, and the operation from step S2 is repeated.

  If there is a matching keyword (YES in step S4), the corresponding predicted pictograph is obtained from the pictograph correspondence table of FIG. 4 (step S5), and the search operation is terminated.

  According to the first embodiment as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

  The first effect is that since the pictogram that is predicted to be input is displayed on the top line on the pictogram selection screen 20, the user can find the pictogram to be input from the top line in a short time.

  The second effect is that the pictogram that is predicted to be input is displayed in the first line on the pictogram selection screen 20, so that the number of key presses required to move the cursor to the pictogram to be input can be reduced, and the user can shorten the time. The pictogram selection operation can be done in time.

  The third effect is that the pictogram that is predicted to be input is displayed in the first line on the pictogram selection screen 20, so the number of key presses required to move the cursor to the pictogram to be input can be reduced, and the user's finger can be reduced. It is possible to reduce the burden.

  The fourth effect is that only when the pictogram key 34 is operated by the user while the creation screen 25 is displayed, the pictogram prediction unit 12 determines whether or not the keyword of the pictogram correspondence table exists, The operation of acquiring a pictogram corresponding to a search for a keyword from the pictogram correspondence table, or the operation of displaying the acquired pictogram in the predicted pictogram display area 21 of the pictogram selection screen 20 as a candidate for selection by the user. Therefore, the selection candidate can be displayed only when it is desired to input a pictogram.

  The fifth effect is that, as a result of the fourth effect, the burden on the processing device of the control circuit unit 8 can be reduced and the power consumption can be reduced.

  The sixth effect is that, as a result of the fourth effect described above, if you do not want to enter a pictogram, no candidate for the pictogram will be displayed on the display screen. This means that there is no feeling of inconvenience because the candidates are displayed.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment described above, an example in which a predicted pictogram is displayed in the predicted pictogram display area 21 has been described. However, in the second embodiment, a predicted pictogram is directly displayed on the text when the pictogram key 34 is pressed, as in normal kana input. Are displayed as conversion candidates. If the displayed predicted pictograph is a pictograph that the user wants to input, the user presses the enter key 33, and thereby the text is input. If the displayed predicted pictogram is not the pictogram to be input, the next candidate of the predicted pictogram is sequentially displayed by pressing the subsequent pictogram key (an operation means for performing a display request operation of the special character of the next candidate) 34 by pressing the 34. Is done. Then, by pressing the pictogram key 34 after displaying the final predicted pictogram, a conventional pictogram list is displayed on the pictogram selection screen 20.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration of the mobile phone 100 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the pictogram correspondence table is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 4).

  The operation of the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the screen display method after the pictogram key 34 is pressed.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  In the present embodiment, a case where the user inputs “Thank you for today D” on the e-mail creation screen 25 will be described. The D at the end is a pictograph D.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flow of a series of display operations on the display screen of the display device 9.

  First, as shown in FIG. 8A, the user inputs up to “Thank you for today”. Up to this point, the input operation is the same as in the case of using a conventionally known mobile phone.

  Next, the user presses the pictogram key 34 of the key device 10 to display the pictogram.

  When the control circuit unit 8 detects that the pictogram key 34 is pressed, the pictogram prediction unit 12 of the control circuit unit 8 performs an operation of acquiring a predicted pictogram to be displayed in the predicted pictogram display area 21 as in the first embodiment. In this case, since there is a phrase that matches the keyword “thank you”, the pictograph prediction unit 12 ends the search at that stage, and the predicted pictograph A corresponding to the keyword “thank you” from the pictograph correspondence table of FIG. , C, E are acquired.

  Next, among the predicted pictograms A, C, and E acquired by the pictogram prediction unit 12, the control circuit unit 8 is located at the top (first) of the keyword “Thank you” column in the pictograph correspondence table (FIG. 4). A is displayed after “Thank you for today” as shown in FIG.

  Since the pictograph that the user wants to input is not the pictograph A but the pictograph D, the user presses the pictograph key 34 again.

  Then, the control circuit unit 8 detects the pressing of the pictogram key 34, and among the predicted pictograms A, C, and E acquired by the pictogram prediction unit 12, 2 in the column “Thank you” in the pictogram correspondence table (FIG. 4). The pictograph C located at the second position is displayed after “Thank you for today” as shown in FIG.

  Since the pictograph that the user wants to input is not the pictograph C but the pictograph D, the user presses the pictograph key 34 again.

  Then, the control circuit unit 8 detects the pressing of the pictogram key 34, and among the predicted pictograms A, C, and E acquired by the pictogram prediction unit 12, the last of the keyword “thank you” column in the pictogram correspondence table (FIG. 4). The pictograph E located at (the third in this example) is displayed after “Thank you for today” as shown in FIG.

  Since the pictograph that the user wants to input is not the pictograph E but the pictograph D, the user presses the pictograph key 34 again.

  Then, the control circuit unit 8 detects pressing of the pictogram key 34, switches the display screen of the display device 9 from the creation screen 25 to the pictogram selection screen 20, and displays a list of pictograms on the pictogram selection screen 20. At this stage, the cursor is positioned at the initial cursor initial position 24.

  Subsequently, the user searches for a pictograph to be input from the pictograph selection screen 20 shown in FIG. In this case, since the pictograph D to be input fourth from the left of the first line is displayed, the pictograph D is selected by operating the cursor key 32 and moving the cursor to the position, and the enter key 33 is pressed. To confirm.

  According to the second embodiment as described above, the key operation necessary for selecting the pictogram is required at least once. That is, for example, in the case of the operation of FIG. 8, when the pictograph to be input is the pictograph A, the desired pictograph A can be selected by simply pressing the pictograph key 34 once (FIG. 8B). State). For this reason, in the case of this embodiment, it can be expected to input pictograms in a shorter time than the first embodiment.

  When the pictogram to be input exists in the predicted pictogram, it is not necessary to press the cursor key 32, and a desired pictogram can be selected by pressing one key (pictogram key 34) a plurality of times. That is, in the case of the operation of FIG. 8, when the pictogram to be input is any one of pictogram A (FIG. 8B), pictogram C (FIG. 8C), and pictogram E (FIG. 8D), A desired pictogram can be selected without operating the cursor key 32. For this reason, in the case of the present embodiment, it is possible to perform pictogram input with simpler key operations than in the first embodiment.

[Third Embodiment]
In each of the above embodiments, as for keyword search, search to the beginning in one sentence, or search immediately after a punctuation mark, and use the first detected keyword (one keyword) to predict predicted pictograms In the third embodiment, the predicted pictograms corresponding to all keywords detected in the sentence as a search range are stored in the predicted pictogram display area 21 in the third embodiment. An example of display will be described. That is, in the case of the present embodiment, the keyword search range by the pictograph prediction unit 12 covers the entire one sentence input before the current cursor position.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration of the mobile phone 100 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the pictogram correspondence table is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 4).

  The operation of the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the operation of the pictogram prediction unit 12.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the pictographic character prediction unit 12 after the pictograph key 34 is pressed.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the pictogram prediction unit 12 after the pictogram key 34 is pressed will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the current cursor position is set as the search position P (step S1).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the search position P is the head of one sentence (step S21).

  If the search position P is the head of one sentence (YES in step S21), the search is terminated.

  If the search position P is not the beginning of one sentence (NO in step S21), the word immediately before the search position P is acquired, and the search position P is updated to the position of the acquired word (step S3). ).

  Next, the acquired word and the keyword in the pictogram correspondence table are compared to determine whether or not there is a keyword that matches the acquired word (step S4).

  If there is no matching keyword (NO in step S4), the process returns to step S21, and the operations from step S21 are repeated.

  If there is a matching keyword (YES in step S4), a predicted pictogram corresponding to the keyword determined to match in the previous step S4 is obtained from the pictogram correspondence table of FIG. 4 (step S5), and then to step S21. Returning, the operation from step S21 is repeated. That is, in the case of this embodiment, the search is not terminated when only one matching keyword is searched, but all matching keywords are searched from one sentence.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the pictograph selection screen 20 in the present embodiment.

  FIG. 10 shows a pictograph selection screen 20 when the pictograph key 34 is pressed after inputting a sentence “I'm sorry, but thank you” as an operation example.

  As shown in FIG. 10, pictograms G and F (corresponding to the keyword “Yabai”) and pictogram E (corresponding to the keyword “Yello”) are displayed in the predictive pictogram display area 21 as predicted pictograms corresponding to this one sentence.

  In the first embodiment, since the search range of the pictogram prediction 12 in this sentence is up to immediately after the reading (,), the predicted pictogram acquired by the pictogram prediction 12 corresponds to the pictogram E (keyword “Goodbye”). ) Only.

  According to the third embodiment as described above, since the keyword search range is wider than those in the first and second embodiments described above, a richer expression and appropriate expression can be obtained for the currently input sentence. An expression can be selected.

  In each of the embodiments described above, an example in which the special character stored in the storage device (special character correspondence database) 11 in association with the keyword is a pictogram, but is stored in the storage device 11 in association with the keyword. The special characters may be emoticons, or pictograms and emoticons may be stored in the storage device 11 in association with keywords. Furthermore, special characters other than pictograms and emoticons (for example, symbols that cannot be input by general kana conversion) may be stored in the storage device 11 in association with keywords.

  In each of the above embodiments, the mobile phone 100 is illustrated as an example of the electronic device. However, the mobile phone 100 may be a PHS, a PDA, other mobile communication terminal devices, or an electronic device configured to allow a user to input a character string. For example, the present invention can be similarly applied to other electronic devices.

  The keyword search range based on the pictographic prediction 12 is not limited to the above example, and may include all input character strings.

It is a front view which shows the mobile telephone which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the mobile telephone which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a pictogram. It is a figure which shows the example of a pictogram corresponding table. It is a figure which shows the example of the pictogram selection screen in the case of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow of a series of display operation | movement in the case of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement of the pictograph prediction part in the case of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flow of a series of display operation | movement in the case of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement of the pictograph prediction part in the case of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the pictogram selection screen in the case of 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

8 Control circuit (special character input request determination means, selection candidate display means, special character input means, screen switching means)
11 Storage device (Special character database)
12 Pictograph prediction unit (keyword search means, special character acquisition means)
34 pictographic keys (operating means for user to request special character input, operating means for user to request display of special character of next candidate)
100 Mobile phone (mobile communication terminal, electronic equipment)

Claims (21)

A special character correspondence database that stores special characters and keywords in association with each other;
Special character input request determination means for determining whether or not an operation indicating a special character input request is performed by the user in a state where a character string input screen on which the user can input a character string is displayed on the display screen;
When it is determined by the special character input request determining means that an operation indicating a special character input request has been made, a search is performed in the input character string to determine whether or not a keyword stored in the special character correspondence database exists. Keyword search means to
Special character acquisition means for acquiring a special character associated with the keyword from the special character correspondence database when the keyword stored in the special character correspondence database is searched by the keyword search means;
Selection candidate display means for displaying the special characters acquired by the special character acquisition means on the display screen as candidates for selection by the user;
A special character input means for inputting a special character selected and confirmed by the user from the special characters displayed by the selection candidate display means to the character string input screen;
A special character input support device comprising:   The special character input support device according to claim 1, wherein the special character is a pictograph.   The special character input support device according to claim 1, wherein the special character is an emoticon. When it is determined by the special character input request determination means that an operation indicating a special character input request has been made, the display screen is displayed and a special character selection is displayed from the character string input screen. With screen switching means to switch to the screen,
4. The special character selection screen includes at least a first area for displaying a special character acquired by the special character acquisition unit as a candidate for selection by a user. The special character input support device according to any one of the above. In the special character selection screen,
The first region;
A second list of special characters including the special characters acquired by the special character acquiring unit or a list of special characters excluding the special characters acquired by the special character acquiring unit is displayed as a candidate for selection by the user. Area,
Contains
5. The special character input support device according to claim 4, wherein a cursor is displayed in the first area at an initial stage of switching to the special character selection screen by the screen switching unit.   6. The special character input support device according to claim 4, wherein the first area is displayed on a first line of the special character selection screen.   The selection candidate display means displays the first candidate of the special characters acquired by the special character acquisition means when the special character input request determination means determines that an operation indicating a special character input request has been made. 4. The special character input support device according to claim 1, wherein the special character input support device is displayed as a selection candidate by a user at a current cursor position on the character string input screen. 5.   The selection candidate display means displays the second candidate or less of the special characters acquired by the special character acquisition means on the character string input screen every time the user performs a display request operation for the next candidate special character. 8. The special character input support device according to claim 7, wherein the special character input support device is sequentially displayed as a selection candidate by the user at the current cursor position. In the state where the final candidate of the special characters acquired by the special character acquisition unit is displayed at the current cursor position on the character string input screen, the user performs a display request operation for the special character of the next candidate. A screen switching means for switching the display screen display from the character string input screen to a special character selection screen for displaying special character selection candidates,
In the special character selection screen,
A list of special characters including the special character acquired by the special character acquisition unit or a list of special characters excluding the special character acquired by the special character acquisition unit is displayed as a candidate for selection by the user. The special character input support device according to claim 8.   10. The special means according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the operation means for the user to perform a special character input request operation and the operation means for the user to perform a display request operation for the special character of the next candidate are the same. Character input support device. When one special character is selected and confirmed by the user from the special characters displayed on the special character selection screen,
While the screen switching means returns the display screen display from the special character selection screen to the character string input screen,
The special character input device according to any one of claims 4, 5, 6, and 9, wherein the special character input means inputs one special character selected and confirmed by the user to the character string input screen. Character input support device.   The special character input means inputs the special character selected and confirmed by the user from the special characters displayed by the selection candidate display means at the current cursor position on the character string input screen. The special character input support device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.   The special character input support according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the keyword search means searches the input character string one word at a time from the current cursor position to the front. apparatus.   The special character input support device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the search range by the keyword search means covers all character strings input before the current cursor position.   The special character input support device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the search range by the keyword search means covers the entire one sentence input before the current cursor position.   2. The keyword search means ends search when a punctuation mark is detected before searching to the beginning of a sentence in one sentence input before the current cursor position. The special character input support device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.   An electronic device comprising the special character input support device according to any one of claims 1 to 16.   The electronic device according to claim 17, wherein the electronic device is a mobile communication terminal device.   The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone. An electronic device configured to allow a user to input a character string is a method for supporting a user to input special characters,
A first step of determining whether or not an operation indicating a special character input request has been performed by the user in a state where a character string input screen on which the user can input a character string is displayed on the display screen;
If it is determined in the first step that an operation indicating a special character input request has been made, whether or not there is a keyword stored in the special character correspondence database in which the special character and the keyword are stored in association with each other. A second process of searching within the input string;
A third step of obtaining a special character associated with the keyword from the special character correspondence database when a keyword stored in the special character correspondence database is retrieved by the second step;
A fourth step of displaying the special character acquired in the third step on the display screen as a candidate for selection by the user;
A fifth step of inputting, to the character string input screen, a special character selected and confirmed by the user from the special characters displayed in the fourth step;
A special character input support method comprising:   A program for causing a computer to execute the special character input support method according to claim 20.

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