JP2010122851A - Portable terminal device, character-inputting system, control program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable terminal device which enables a user not only to input characters, which the user wants to input, by the user's operation of operation buttons as few as possible but also to smoothly perform inputting work. <P>SOLUTION: The portable terminal device 1 includes: a displaying means 30; an inputting means 10 for inputting character information; a position-identifying means 20 which identifies positional information; and a controlling means which extracts a first input candidate which is a character string which corresponds to the identified positional information and includes characters constituting the input character information, when the character information is inputted by the inputting means 10, to display the first input candidate thus extracted on the displaying means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device, a character input system, a control program, and a recording medium having means for specifying position information, and when an e-mail is created or a schedule is registered, an input conversion candidate corresponding to the input character string is selected. The present invention relates to a portable terminal device, a character input system, a control program, and a recording medium.

  A general portable terminal device typified by a mobile phone or an electronic notebook can create an e-mail or register a schedule. When performing character input, it is desirable that the user can input characters to be input by operating as few operation buttons as possible. On the other hand, portable terminal devices that are equipped with a GPS function capable of acquiring position information and the like are becoming common. When the user inputs characters related to the position, it is desirable that the position information specified using the GPS function can be used.

  As a technique for using position information specified by using the GPS function when inputting characters related to the position, Patent Document 1 discloses that the GPS function is provided when previously registered character information such as “here” is input. It is disclosed that current position information specified by use is listed as an input conversion candidate.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, when a user inputs a character such as “bash”, the “amusement park” is based on the location situation specified using the GPS function, the mode set in the mobile phone, or the like. Techniques that list “in-vehicle” or the like as input conversion candidates are disclosed.

  Further, in Patent Document 3, when the user inputs the character “G”, the “current position” is detected from the input conversion candidates and specified by using the GPS sensor corresponding to the “current position”. The technique of enumerating “Osaki” as an input conversion candidate is disclosed.

JP 2005-165460 A JP 2006-4016 A JP 2007-193455 A

  When inputting contents related to the current position using the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1-3 in e-mail creation, schedule registration, etc., the user must select the character string that he / she wants to input, such as “here”, “bash”, “ge”, etc. It is necessary to enter different characters. When a character different from a part of the character string to be actually input is input, there is a problem that the input operation cannot be performed smoothly.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can convert a character string to be input by a user into a desired character string by operating as few operation buttons as possible, and can smoothly input a character string. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable terminal device that can be performed on the Internet.

  In order to achieve the above object, a portable terminal device according to the present invention has a display means, an input means for inputting character information, a position specifying means for specifying position information, and character information input by the input means. A control means for extracting a first input candidate that is a character string corresponding to the specified position information and including characters constituting the inputted character information, and displaying the extracted first input candidate on the display means; .

  In order to achieve the above object, a character input system according to the present invention includes an information terminal and a portable terminal device. The information terminal stores the first input candidate associated with the position information. In addition, the portable terminal device receives character information from the display means, input means for inputting character information, position specifying means for specifying position information, communication means for communicating with the information terminal, and input means. The first input candidate, which is a character string including characters constituting the character information corresponding to the specified position information and input from the information terminal via the communication means, and extracting the first input Control means for displaying candidates on the display means.

  In order to achieve the above object, a character input method according to the present invention is a character input method using a portable terminal device including a display means and an input means for inputting character information, and specifies position information. When character information is input by the input means, a first input candidate that is a character string that corresponds to the specified position information and that includes characters constituting the input character information is extracted, and the extracted first input Candidates are displayed on the display means.

  In order to achieve the above object, a control program according to the present invention is a computer in which character information is input based on a display procedure, an input procedure for inputting character information, a position specifying procedure for specifying position information, and an input procedure. A first input candidate that is a character string that corresponds to the specified position information and that includes characters constituting the input character information, and that displays the extracted first input candidate based on the display procedure And execute the procedure.

  In order to achieve the above object, a recording medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium, and includes a display procedure, an input procedure for inputting character information, and a location specifying procedure for specifying location information. When character information is input based on the input procedure, a first input candidate that is a character string that corresponds to the specified position information and that includes characters constituting the input character information is extracted and extracted first And a control procedure for displaying the input candidates based on the display procedure.

  In the mobile terminal device, the character input system, the control program, and the recording medium according to the present invention, the mobile terminal device or the information terminal includes a memory that stores the first input candidate group in association with the position information. When character information is input to the mobile terminal device, the first input candidate group corresponding to the specified position information is selected from the memory, and the character information is configured from the selected first input candidate group. The first input candidate including the character to be extracted is extracted and displayed on the display means. Therefore, the user can convert the character string to be input into a desired character string by operating as few operation buttons as possible, and can smoothly input the character string.

(First embodiment)
A mobile terminal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the mobile terminal device 1 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, the mobile terminal device 1 includes an input unit 10, a position specifying unit 20, a display unit 30, and a control unit 40.

  The input unit 10 includes operation buttons and the like for the user to input various types of information. When the user inputs character information using the operation buttons and the like, the input character information is transmitted to the control unit 40.

  The position specifying unit 20 specifies the position information of the mobile terminal device 1 by acquiring information related to the position of the mobile terminal device 1 from a base station, an external server, a GPS satellite, and the like, and the control unit 40 determines the specified position information. Send to. In the first embodiment, the position specifying unit 20 calculates the latitude and longitude of the mobile terminal device 1 based on a signal received from a GPS satellite, and specifies one area from the calculated latitude and longitude. Then, the specified area is transmitted to the control unit 40 as position information.

  The display unit 30 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like, and displays character information input by the user and position-corresponding input candidates described later on the LCD.

  When the control unit 40 receives character information from the input unit 10, the control unit 40 corresponds to the position information received from the position specifying unit 20 and is a character string including characters constituting the character information received from the input unit 10. Extract candidates. Further, the extracted position corresponding input candidates are displayed on the display unit 30.

  Here, the position corresponding input candidate is a character string indicating information related to a place such as a place name or a facility name. In the first embodiment, for each area specified by a predetermined latitude range and longitude range, a place name, a facility name, and the like in the area are set as position correspondence input candidates. In the first embodiment, the position-corresponding input candidate can be set in the mobile terminal device 1 or can be set in an external server or the like. The position corresponding input candidate can be described as a first input candidate.

  When a user inputs a character string related to a place using the mobile terminal device 1 according to the first embodiment, the user first inputs a character included in the character string to be input using an operation button or the like. The input unit 10 transmits character information related to the input character to the control unit 40. On the other hand, the position specifying unit 20 calculates the latitude and longitude of the mobile terminal device 1 based on the signal received from the GPS satellite, specifies the area using the calculation result, and transmits the specified area to the control unit 40 as position information. . The control unit 40 corresponds to the position information received from the position specifying unit 20 and outputs a position corresponding input candidate that is a character string including characters constituting the character information received from the input unit 10 in the mobile terminal device 1 or an external server. And the extracted position-corresponding input candidates are displayed on the LCD of the display unit 30.

  As described above, when the user inputs a character, the mobile terminal device 1 according to the first embodiment displays position information of the mobile terminal device 1 on the LCD, that is, a position corresponding input candidate related to the current position of the user. Is displayed. Therefore, the user can input a character string related to a place by operating a small number of operation buttons by designating a desired character string from the displayed position corresponding input candidates. Furthermore, since a character string including a character input by the user is displayed as a position corresponding input candidate on the LCD, the user can refer to a character string to be actually input, such as “here”, “bash”, “ge”, and the like. There is no need to input different characters, and the character string input operation can be performed smoothly.

  In the first embodiment, the latitude and longitude of the mobile terminal device 1 are calculated based on the signal received from the GPS satellite by the position specifying unit 20, the area is specified using the calculation result, and the specified area is set as the position information. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the received latitude and longitude data can be directly transmitted to the control unit 40 as position information, and the control unit 40 can specify an area from the received position information (latitude and longitude). Furthermore, the location specifying unit 20 can also acquire an area specified in advance from an external server or base station as location information by accessing an external server or base station.

Here, the portable terminal device 1 can be applied to a control program that causes the portable terminal device 1 to execute the above-described operation and a storage medium that records the control program. That is, the control program according to the first embodiment inputs character information to the mobile terminal device 1 based on the display procedure, the input procedure for inputting character information, the position specifying procedure for specifying position information, and the input procedure. If the first input candidate is extracted, a first input candidate that is a character string that corresponds to the specified position information and that includes characters constituting the input character information is extracted, and the extracted first input candidate is displayed based on the display procedure. And a control procedure is executed. The recording medium according to the first embodiment is a recording medium that can be read by the mobile terminal device 1, and specifies a display procedure, an input procedure for inputting character information, and position information on the mobile terminal device 1. When the character information is input based on the position specifying procedure and the input procedure, the first input candidate corresponding to the specified position information and including a character constituting the input character information is extracted, A control program for executing the control procedure for displaying the extracted first input candidates based on the display procedure is recorded.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment of the portable terminal device according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a mobile terminal device 1A according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 2, the mobile terminal device 1A includes an input unit 10A, a position specifying unit 20A, a display unit 30A, a memory 50A, and a control unit 40A.

  The input unit 10A includes a plurality of operation buttons 11 for a user to input various information and the like. When the user inputs a character using the operation button 11 in a mode such as mail creation or schedule registration, the character information is transmitted to the control unit 40A described later according to the selected operation button 11.

  When the position specifying unit 20A receives the control signal from the control unit 40A, the position specifying unit 20A receives the GPS signal from the GPS satellite, and calculates the latitude and longitude of the mobile terminal device 1 based on the received GPS signal. Furthermore, one area is identified from the calculated latitude and longitude, and the identified area is transmitted as position information to the control unit 40A. Here, the GPS satellite is composed of a plurality of satellites located in outer space, and a navigation message including information indicating the position of each satellite in outer space and information indicating time is transmitted from each satellite.

  The display unit 30A includes an LCD 31 and the like, and displays character information input by the user, position corresponding input candidates received from the control unit 40A, and the like. The character information input by the user is displayed in the input work area 311 of the LCD 31 and the position corresponding input candidates are displayed in the input candidate display area 312 of the LCD 31.

  The memory 50A stores a position corresponding input candidate group registration table. In the position corresponding input candidate group registration table, a position corresponding input candidate group including a plurality of position corresponding input candidates is registered in association with position information.

  The control unit 40A controls the entire mobile terminal device 1A. In the second embodiment, the control unit 40A transmits a control signal to the position specifying unit 20A at predetermined time intervals, and receives the position information specified by the position specifying unit 20A based on the GPS signal. Further, when the user receives character information from the input unit 10A while performing input work such as e-mail creation or schedule registration using the mobile terminal device 1A, the position acquired at that time from the memory 50A A position-corresponding input candidate group corresponding to the information is selected, and a position-corresponding input candidate starting from a character constituting the character information received from the selected position-corresponding input candidate group is extracted. Further, the extracted position corresponding input candidates are displayed in the input candidate display area 312 of the LCD 311.

  An example of the position corresponding input candidate group registration table stored in the memory 50A is shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, “Akita Shinkansen”, “Information Center”, “Otemachi”, and the like are registered in the memory 50 </ b> A in association with the position information “Area A”. In addition, “coast”, “former Shiba Rikyu Garden”, and the like are registered in association with the position information “area B”. In FIG. 3, area A is an area around “Tokyo Station”, and area B is an area around “Hamamatsucho Station”.

  Next, a case where the user inputs “Yamanote Line” on the e-mail creation screen using the mobile terminal device 1A will be described. FIG. 4 shows an operation flow of the mobile terminal device 1A.

  First, the control unit 40A periodically transmits a control signal to the position specifying unit 20A, so that the position specifying unit 20A receives a GPS signal from a GPS satellite, specifies position information based on the received GPS signal, and controls the control unit. Transmit to 40A (step 101). In the second embodiment, the control unit 40A transmits a control signal to the position specifying unit 20A every five minutes. In the second embodiment, the control unit 40A receives position information indicating the area A, that is, “near Tokyo Station” as position information.

  When the user inputs “ya” using the operation button 11 on the e-mail creation screen, the input unit 10A transmits character information indicating “ya” to the control unit 40A (step 102). Upon receiving the character information “YA”, the control unit 40A selects a position corresponding input candidate group corresponding to the position information “Area A (near Tokyo Station)” from the memory 50A. Further, a position-corresponding input candidate starting from the character “ya” constituting the character information received from the selected position-corresponding input candidate group is extracted, and the extracted position-corresponding input candidate is transmitted to the display unit 30A (step 103). . The display unit 30A displays the received position corresponding input candidate in the input candidate display area 312 of the LCD 31 (step 104).

  In this state, when the user designates “Yamanote line” from the position corresponding input candidates displayed in the input candidate display area 312 of the LCD 31 using the operation button 11 (YES in step 105), the control unit 40A The display unit 30A is controlled to replace the input “ya” in the unconfirmed state with the designated “Yamanote line” and display it in the input work area 311 of the LCD 31 in the confirmed state (step 106).

  On the other hand, when the user does not specify “Yamanote Line” from the position-corresponding input candidates in Step 105 (NO in Step 105), that is, when the number of position-corresponding input candidates displayed in the input candidate display area 312 is large. If the desired character string is displayed at the lower level, the user inputs more characters, and steps 102 to 105 are repeated again. In the second embodiment, when the user inputs “ma” after “ya”, the control unit 40A selects the character information “from the position corresponding input candidate group corresponding to the position information“ near Tokyo station ”. The position corresponding input candidates starting from “YAMA” are extracted, and the narrowed position corresponding input candidates are displayed in the input candidate display area 312 of the LCD 31.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the LCD 31 when the user inputs characters using the operation buttons 11. 5A shows an example of the LCD 31 when the user inputs “ya”, and FIG. 5B shows an example of the LCD 31 when the user inputs “ma” after “ya”. FIG. 5C shows an example of the LCD 31 when the user designates “Yamanote line” from the position corresponding input candidates displayed in the input candidate display area 312 in FIG. 5A or 5B.

  In FIG. 5A, in the input work area 311 in the center of the LCD 31, character information “Ya” input by the user using the operation buttons 11 is displayed in an unconfirmed state. In the input candidate display area 312 below the LCD 31, character strings such as “Yaesu” and “Yaesu Chuoguchi” are displayed as position corresponding input candidates corresponding to the position information “Near Tokyo Station” and the character information “Ya”. Has been. On the other hand, in FIG. 5B, the character information “Yama” input by the user using the operation button 11 is displayed in the input work area 311 in an unconfirmed state. Further, in the input candidate display area 312, the character string including “Yama” is narrowed down from the candidates displayed in FIG. 5A, and “Yamanote Line” and “Yamagata Shinkansen” are displayed. In FIG. 5C, the user designates “Yamanote line” from the position corresponding input candidates displayed in the input candidate display area 312, so that “Yamanote line” is confirmed in the input work area 311. Is displayed.

  As described above, the mobile terminal device 1A according to the second embodiment specifies the position information of the mobile terminal device 1A based on the GPS signal periodically received by the position specifying unit 20A. When the user inputs character information using the operation button 11, the control unit 40A selects a position corresponding input candidate group corresponding to the position information from the memory 50A, and selects from the selected position corresponding input candidate group. A position-corresponding input candidate starting from a character constituting character information is extracted. When the user designates a desired character string from the extracted position-corresponding input candidates, the input character information is converted into a desired character string.

  By extracting the position corresponding input candidate in consideration of the position information of the mobile terminal device 1A, that is, the current position of the user, the user can efficiently convert the input character into a desired character string. Therefore, the user can input a desired character string by a minimum input operation. Furthermore, since a character string starting from the character entered by the user is extracted as a position-corresponding input candidate, the user inputs a character that is different from the character string that the user actually wants to enter, such as “here”, “bash”, “ge”, etc. There is no need to do this, and the input operation of the character string can be performed smoothly.

  In the second embodiment, the control unit 40A automatically updates the position information to the latest information by transmitting a control signal to the position specifying unit 20A every five minutes. Therefore, even when the mobile terminal device 1A moves, it is possible to always extract a position corresponding input candidate corresponding to the latest position information. Note that the specific interval of the position information is not limited to 5 minutes. Furthermore, it is desirable that the user can appropriately change the specific interval of the position information.

Here, the mobile terminal device 1A can also be applied to a control program that causes the mobile terminal device 1A to execute the above-described operation and a storage medium that records the control program.

(Third embodiment)
A third embodiment will be described. A block diagram of a portable terminal device 1B according to the third embodiment is shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the mobile terminal device 1B includes an input unit 10B, a position specifying unit 20B, a display unit 30B, a memory 50B, and a control unit 40B.

  The input unit 10B includes a plurality of operation buttons 11 and transmits character information input by the user to the control unit 40B. The position specifying unit 20B periodically receives GPS signals from GPS satellites, specifies position information from the received GPS signals, and transmits the position information to the control unit 40A. The display unit 30B includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) 31 and the like, and displays character information input by the user, input candidates received from the control unit 40B, and the like. Here, the character information input by the user is displayed in the input work area 311 of the LCD 31, and the input candidates are displayed in the input candidate display area 312 of the LCD 31.

  In the third embodiment, a position corresponding input candidate group registration table and a character corresponding input candidate group registration table are registered in the memory 50B. In the position corresponding input candidate group registration table, a position corresponding input candidate group including a plurality of position corresponding input candidates is registered in association with position information. In the character correspondence input candidate group registration table, character correspondence input candidate groups including a plurality of character correspondence input candidates are registered in association with predetermined characters. The position corresponding input candidate group registration table is the same as that described in FIG. 3 of the second embodiment. The character-corresponding input candidate group registration table is the same as a so-called dictionary table provided in a general character input device. In the third embodiment, a plurality of character-corresponding input candidates are registered in the character-corresponding input candidate group registration table in correspondence with each character from “A” to “N”. Here, the character-corresponding input candidate can be described as a second input candidate.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the character-corresponding input candidate group registration table stored in the memory 50B. In Fig. 7, "A", "A", "A", "Tomorrow", "Morning", etc. are linked to the character information "A", and "SH", "SHI", "SH" are linked to the character information "SH". “Do”, “Work”, etc. are registered.

  The control unit 40B controls the entire mobile terminal device 1B. In the third embodiment, the control unit 40B transmits a control signal to the position specifying unit 20B at predetermined time intervals, and receives the position information specified by the position specifying unit 20B based on the GPS signal. When character information is received from the input unit 10B when the user is performing character input such as schedule registration using the mobile terminal device 1B, a position corresponding input candidate group corresponding to the position information acquired at that time Then, a character corresponding input candidate group corresponding to the first character of the received character information is selected from the memory 60B. Further, from the selected position-corresponding input candidate group and character-corresponding input candidate group, a position-corresponding input candidate and a character-corresponding input candidate corresponding to the character string constituting the received character information are extracted and displayed to the display unit 30B. Send. Here, in the third embodiment, the position-corresponding input candidate is extracted in addition to the position-corresponding input candidate starting from the character string constituting the character information, and the position including the character string constituting the character information in the middle. Corresponding input candidates are also extracted. On the other hand, in the extraction of character-corresponding input candidates, only character-corresponding input candidates starting from character strings constituting character information are extracted. Further, the control unit 40B arranges the position-corresponding input candidates in the previous stage and arranges the character-corresponding input candidates in the subsequent stage, and transmits them to the display unit 30B.

  Next, a case where the user inputs “Old Shiba Rikyu Garden” on the schedule registration screen using the mobile terminal device 1B will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the control unit 40B periodically transmits a control signal to the position specifying unit 20B, so that the position specifying unit 20B receives a GPS signal from a GPS satellite, specifies position information based on the received GPS signal, and controls the control unit. It transmits to 40B (step 201). In 3rd Embodiment, the control part 40B has received the positional information which shows the area B of FIG. 3 used in 2nd Embodiment, ie, "the Hamamatsucho station vicinity", as positional information.

  When the user inputs “shi” using the operation button 11 on the schedule registration screen, the input unit 10B transmits character information indicating “shi” to the control unit 40B (step 202). When the control unit 40B receives the character information “shi”, the control unit 40B selects a position corresponding input candidate group corresponding to the position information “area B (near Hamamatsucho station)” from the memory 50B, and selects the position corresponding input candidate group from the selected position corresponding input candidate group. Then, the position corresponding input candidate including the character information “shi” is extracted. Here, the control unit 40B extracts a character string including “shi” in the middle in addition to the character string starting with “shi” as the position corresponding input candidate. Further, the control unit 40B selects a character corresponding input candidate group corresponding to the received character information “shi” from the memory 50B, and extracts a character string starting from the character information “shi” from the selected character corresponding input candidate group. To do. When the character information is “shi”, all the character-corresponding input candidates constituting the character-corresponding input candidate group corresponding to “shi” are extracted. Then, the control unit 40B transmits the extracted position-corresponding input candidate and character-corresponding input candidate to the display unit 30B (step 203).

  Display unit 30B displays the received position-corresponding input candidate and character-corresponding input candidate in input candidate display area 312 of LCD 31 (step 204). In the third embodiment, the input candidate display area 312 displays position-corresponding input candidates in the previous stage and character-corresponding input candidates in the subsequent stage.

  In this state, when the user designates “Old Shiba Rikyu Garden” from the input candidates displayed in the input candidate display area 312 of the LCD 31 using the operation button 11 (YES in Step 205), the control unit 40B. Replaces the input “Shi” in the unconfirmed state with the designated “Old Shiba Rikyu Garden” and displays it in the input work area 311 of the LCD 31 in the confirmed state (Step 206).

  On the other hand, if the user does not specify “Old Shiba Rikyu Garden” from the position corresponding input candidates in step 205 (NO in step 205), steps 202 to 205 are repeated again. That is, when the user inputs “ba” after “shi”, the control unit 40B extracts the input candidates from the character information “shiba” and the position information “near Hamamatsucho station”, and inputs candidates for the LCD 31. It is displayed in the display area 312.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of the LCD 31 when the user inputs characters using the operation buttons 11. 9A shows an example of the LCD 31 when the user inputs “shi”. FIG. 9B shows an example of the LCD 31 when the user inputs “ba” after “shi”. FIG. 9C shows an example of the LCD 31 when the user designates “Old Shiba Rikyu Garden” from the input candidates displayed in the input candidate display area 312 in FIG. 9A or FIG. 9B. .

  In FIG. 9A, in the input work area 311 of the LCD 31, character information “shi” input by the user using the operation button 11 is displayed together with the registered contents in an unconfirmed state. The input candidate display area 312 includes character strings such as “Shiodome” and “Shiodome ABC Hotel” as position-corresponding input candidates and character-corresponding input candidates corresponding to the position information “near Hamamatsucho Station” and character information “shi”. It is displayed. Here, from “Shiodome” to “Takeshiba Pier” are position-corresponding input candidates, and behind “Sh” are character-corresponding input candidates. For “Old Shiba Rikyu Garden”, “Takeshiba”, etc., character strings including character information “shi” were extracted from the position corresponding input candidate group and displayed.

  In FIG. 9B, in the input work area 311, the character information “Shiba” input by the user using the operation buttons 11 is displayed together with the registered contents in an unconfirmed state. In addition, the input candidate display area 312 narrows down the character strings including “Shiba” from the candidates displayed in FIG. 9A, and displays “Old Shiba Rikyu Garden”, “For a while”, and the like. Yes.

  In FIG. 9C, the user designates “Old Shiba Rikyu Garden” from the position corresponding input candidates displayed in the input candidate display area 312, so that “Old Shiba Rikyu Garden” is entered in the input work area 311. Is displayed in a state where is confirmed.

  As described above, in the mobile terminal device 1B according to the third embodiment, the position corresponding input candidate group registration table and the character corresponding input candidate group registration table are stored in the memory 50B. When the character information is input, the control unit 40B extracts the position-corresponding input candidate and the character-corresponding input candidate from the memory 50B and displays them on the LCD 31. By displaying the position corresponding input candidates in consideration of the current position of the user, the user can efficiently extract a desired character string. Furthermore, since the character corresponding input candidate corresponding to the input character information is displayed, the user can also select a general character string. Therefore, the user can input a desired character string by a minimum input operation.

  Furthermore, since character strings that include characters entered by the user are extracted as position-related input candidates, the user can input characters that are different from the character string that he / she wants to input, such as “here”, “bash”, “ge”, etc. There is no need to do this, and the input operation of the character string can be performed smoothly. Note that the control unit 40B also extracts a character string that includes characters constituting the character information in the middle in addition to the character string starting from the first character constituting the character information from the position corresponding input candidate group. Therefore, even if the user does not remember the official name “Old Shiba Rikyu Garden”, it is possible to easily extract and enter the official name by entering the characters “shi” and “shiba” in the middle. Can do.

  Moreover, since the position information is automatically updated, the mobile terminal device 1B according to the third embodiment always extracts position-corresponding input candidates from the position-corresponding input candidate group corresponding to the latest position information. Can do.

  Here, in the third embodiment, the position-corresponding input candidates are displayed in the previous stage and the character-corresponding input candidates are displayed in the subsequent stage. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Character-corresponding input candidates can be displayed in the previous stage, and for example, position-corresponding input candidates can be displayed between character-corresponding input candidates with a high input frequency and character-corresponding input candidates with a low input frequency.

Here, the portable terminal device 1B can be applied to a control program that causes the portable terminal device 1B to execute the above-described operation and a storage medium that records the control program.

(Fourth embodiment)
A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 shows a configuration diagram of a character input system 100C according to the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 10, the character input system 100 </ b> C mainly includes a mobile terminal device 1 </ b> C and an information providing device 2.

  The information providing device 2 is a communication device that communicates with the mobile terminal device 1C via a communication network or the like, and is a general server or the like. The information providing apparatus 2 includes a memory 2a in which a position corresponding input candidate group registration table is stored. The position corresponding input candidate group registration table stored in the memory 2a of the information providing device 2 is the position corresponding input candidate group registration table (FIG. 3) stored in the memory 50A of the mobile terminal device 1B of the second embodiment. It is the same.

  On the other hand, the mobile terminal device 1C includes an input unit 10C, a position specifying unit 20C, a display unit 30C, a communication unit 60C, and a control unit 40C.

  The input unit 10C includes a plurality of operation buttons 11, and transmits character information input by the user to the control unit 40C. The position specifying unit 20C periodically receives GPS signals from GPS satellites, specifies position information from the received GPS signals, and transmits the position information to the control unit 40C. The display unit 30C includes an LCD 31 and the like, and displays character information input by the user, input candidates received from the control unit 40C, and the like. Here, the character information input by the user is displayed in the input work area 311 of the LCD 31, and the input candidates are displayed in the input candidate display area 312 of the LCD 31.

  The communication unit 60C includes an antenna and communicates with an external information terminal, a portable information terminal, and the like. In the fourth embodiment, when the communication unit 60C receives position information from the control unit 40C, the communication unit 60C accesses the information providing apparatus 2 via a communication network or the like, and selects a position corresponding input candidate group corresponding to the received position information. The information is selected from the memory 2a of the information providing apparatus 2 and transmitted to the control unit 40C.

  The control unit 40C controls the entire mobile terminal device 1C. In the fourth embodiment, when character information is received from the input unit 10C while the user is performing input operations such as e-mail creation and schedule registration using the mobile terminal device 1C, a control signal is sent to the position specifying unit 20C. The position specifying unit 20C receives the position information specified based on the GPS signal. Further, the position information is transmitted to the communication unit 60C, and the position corresponding input candidate group is received from the communication unit 60C. Moreover, a position corresponding input candidate is extracted from the position corresponding input candidate group and transmitted to the display unit 30C.

  Next, a case where the user inputs “Yamanote Line” on the e-mail creation screen using the mobile terminal device 1 </ b> C will be described. FIG. 11 shows an operation flow of the mobile terminal device 1C.

  When the user inputs “ya” using the operation button 11, the input unit 10C transmits character information indicating “ya” to the control unit 40C (step 301). When the character information is received from the input unit 10C, the control unit 40C transmits a control signal to the position specifying unit 20C. The position specifying unit 20C receives a GPS signal from a GPS satellite, specifies position information based on the received GPS signal, and transmits the position information to the control unit 40C (step 302). In the third embodiment, the control unit 40C receives the position information “Near Tokyo Station”.

  The control unit 40C transmits the received position information “Near Tokyo Station” to the communication unit 60C. The communication unit 60C accesses the information providing apparatus 2 via a communication network or the like, selects a position corresponding input candidate group corresponding to the position information “near Tokyo Station” received from the memory 2a of the information providing apparatus 2, and the control unit Transmit to 40C (step 303). The control unit 40C extracts a position-corresponding input candidate starting from the character information “ya” from the received position-corresponding input candidate group, and transmits it to the display unit 30C (step 304). The display unit 30C displays the received position corresponding input candidate in the input candidate display area 312 of the LCD 31 (step 305). Note that the state of the LCD 31 at this time is the same as that in FIG. 5A of the second embodiment.

  In this state, when the user designates “Yamanote line” from the position corresponding input candidates displayed in the input candidate display area 312 of the LCD 31 using the operation button 11 (YES in step 306), the control unit 40C The display unit 30C is controlled to replace the input “ya” in the unconfirmed state with the designated “Yamanote line” and display it in the input work area 311 of the LCD 31 in the confirmed state (step 307). The state of the LCD 31 at this time is the same as that in FIG. 5C of the second embodiment.

  On the other hand, if the user does not specify “Yamanote line” from the position corresponding input candidates in step 306 (NO in step 306), that is, if the user inputs more characters, step 301 to step 306 are repeated again. It is. The state of the LCD 31 when the user inputs “MA” after “YA” is the same as that in FIG. 5B of the second embodiment.

  As described above, in the character input system 100C according to the fourth embodiment, when the user inputs character information using the mobile terminal device 1C, the mobile terminal device 1C specifies the position information from the GPS signal and specifies the character information. A position corresponding input candidate group corresponding to the position information is selected from the memory 2 a of the information providing apparatus 2. Furthermore, the mobile terminal device 1C extracts a position-corresponding input candidate corresponding to the character information from the position-corresponding input candidate group, and displays it in the input candidate display area 312 of the LCD 31, so that the user can input the input character information as desired. Can be converted to a string.

  By extracting the position-corresponding input candidates in consideration of the current position of the user, the user can efficiently convert the input characters into a desired character string. Therefore, the user can input a desired character string by a minimum input operation. Furthermore, since a character string starting from the character entered by the user is extracted as a position-corresponding input candidate, the user inputs a character that is different from the character string that the user actually wants to enter, such as “here”, “bash”, “ge”, etc. There is no need to do this, and the input operation of the character string can be performed smoothly.

  Further, the mobile terminal device 1C selects and receives the position corresponding input candidate group from the memory 2a of the information providing device 2. Since it is not necessary to store the position corresponding input candidate group registration table with a large amount of information in the mobile terminal device 1C, the mobile terminal device 1C does not need to be provided with a large-capacity memory, and the cost of the mobile terminal device 1C can be reduced. it can.

  In addition, when the mobile terminal device 1C receives character information from the input unit 10C, the mobile terminal device 1C controls the position specifying unit 20C to specify the position information from the GPS signal. By specifying the position information as necessary, it is possible to suppress wasteful consumption of the power of the mobile terminal device 1C.

  In the fourth embodiment, the communication unit 60C accesses the information providing apparatus 2 to select a position corresponding input candidate group, and the control unit 40C selects a position corresponding input corresponding to character information from the position corresponding input candidate group. Although the candidate was extracted, it is not limited to this. The control unit 40C transmits the position information and the character information to the communication unit 60C, and the communication unit 60C extracts the position corresponding input candidate corresponding to the position information and the character information from the memory 2a of the information providing device 2 and controls the control unit 40C. Can also be sent to.

  Moreover, the information provision apparatus 2 may be plural. It is desirable to access the optimum information providing apparatus 2 according to the position information of the mobile terminal apparatus 1C. When the information providing device 2 is a base station of the mobile terminal device 1C, the mobile terminal device 1C accesses the optimum base station by registering one position corresponding input candidate group in one base station. The registered position corresponding input candidate group can also be acquired. In this case, the functions of the position specifying unit 20C and the communication unit 60C can be combined into one.

Here, the portable terminal device 1C can also be applied to a control program that causes the portable terminal device 1C to execute the above-described operation and a storage medium that records the control program.

(Fifth embodiment)
A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 12 shows a configuration diagram of a character input system 100D according to the fifth embodiment. In FIG. 12, a character input system 100D mainly includes a mobile terminal device 1D and an information providing device 2.

  The information providing apparatus 2 is the same as the information providing apparatus of the fourth embodiment, and includes a memory 2a that stores a position corresponding input candidate group registration table.

  The mobile terminal device 1D includes an input unit 10D, a position specifying unit 20D, a display unit 30D, a memory 50D, a communication unit 60D, and a control unit 40D.

  The input unit 10D transmits the character information input by the user using the operation buttons 11 to the control unit 40C. The position specifying unit 20D receives a GPS signal from a GPS satellite, specifies position information from the received GPS signal, and transmits the position information to the control unit 40C. Display unit 30 </ b> D displays character information in input work area 311 of LCD 31 and input candidates in input candidate display area 312 of LCD 31.

  The memory 50D stores a character correspondence input candidate group registration table. The character correspondence input candidate group registration table stored in the memory 50D is the same as that in FIG. 7 of the third embodiment.

  When the communication unit 60D receives position information from the control unit 40D, the communication unit 60D accesses the information providing apparatus 2 via a communication network or the like, and corresponds to position information input candidates corresponding to the position information received from the memory 2a of the information providing apparatus 2 Is transmitted to the control unit 40D.

  The control unit 40D controls the entire mobile terminal device 1D. In the fifth embodiment, when character information is received, the position specifying unit 20D is controlled to receive the position information specified from the GPS signal by the position specifying unit 20D. Furthermore, the position corresponding input candidate group corresponding to the position information is received from the communication unit 60D, and the position corresponding input candidate corresponding to the character information is extracted. Further, a character corresponding input candidate corresponding to the character information is extracted from the memory 50D.

  Here, in the fifth embodiment, the user can set selection conditions for the position-corresponding input candidate group and the position-corresponding input candidate for the mobile terminal device 1D. FIG. 13 shows an example of a selection condition setting screen.

  In FIG. 13, the user can set “matching state”, “extraction range”, and “information type” as selection conditions. For example, when the user wants to display a character string including characters constituting the character information as an input candidate, “partial match” is set in the match state column using the operation button 11 of the input unit 10D. With this setting, the control unit 40D extracts a position-corresponding input candidate that includes a character string that forms the character information at the head or in the middle from the position-corresponding input candidate group. As a match state, “complete match (completely match the character constituting the character information)”, “forward match (including the character constituting the character information at the head)”, or the like can be set.

  When the user wants to extract a place name and a facility name within a radius of 500 m of the current position as input candidates, “within 500 m” is set in the extraction range column, and “place name” and “facility name” are set in the information type column. The communication unit 60D transmits the selection condition set together with the position information to the information providing apparatus 2. Based on the position condition and the received selection condition, the information providing apparatus 2 searches the memory 2a for position-corresponding input candidates that match the “place name” and “facility name” that are “within 500 m” from the position of the mobile terminal apparatus 1D. The result is transmitted to the communication unit 60D as a position corresponding input candidate group. The communication unit 60D transmits the position corresponding input candidate group received from the information providing apparatus 2 to the control unit 40D. The control unit 40D extracts a position-corresponding input candidate that “partially matches” the character information from the position-corresponding input candidate group that matches “within 500 m”, “place name”, and “facility name”. Note that a general search technique or the like can be applied to the selection condition setting method and the search method.

  Next, as a selection condition, the user uses the mobile terminal device 1D in which “partial match” is set in the match status column, “within 500 m” in the extraction range column, and “place name” and “facility name” are set in the information type column. A case where “Old Shiba Rikyu Garden” is input on the schedule registration screen will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the user inputs “shi” using the operation button 11, the input unit 10D transmits character information indicating “shi” to the control unit 40D (step 401). When the control unit 40D receives character information from the input unit 10D, the control unit 40D transmits a control signal to the position specifying unit 20D. The position specifying unit 20D receives a GPS signal from a GPS satellite based on the control signal, specifies position information based on the received GPS signal, and transmits the position information to the control unit 40D (step 402). In the fourth embodiment, the control unit 40D receives the position information “near Hamamatsucho Station”.

  The control unit 40D transmits the received position information “near Hamamatsucho Station” to the communication unit 60D. The communication unit 60D transmits the position information “near Hamamatsucho Station” and the selection conditions “within a radius of 500 m” and “place name and facility name” to the information providing apparatus 2 via the communication network or the like (step 403). The information providing apparatus 2 searches for a position-corresponding input candidate that matches the position information “near Hamamatsucho Station”, the selection conditions “within a radius of 500 m”, and “place name and facility name”, and uses the search result as a position-corresponding input candidate. Send to 60D. The communication unit 60D transmits the position corresponding input candidate group received from the information providing device 2 to the control unit 40D (step 404).

  The control unit 40D extracts a character string (partial match) including characters constituting the character information from the received position-corresponding input candidate group as a position-corresponding input candidate, and transmits it to the display unit 30D (step 405). Further, the control unit 40D selects a character corresponding input candidate group corresponding to the character information “shi” from the memory 50D, and extracts a character string starting from the character information “shi” from the selected character corresponding input candidate group. Then, it is transmitted to the display unit 30D (step 406). When the character information is “shi”, all the character-corresponding input candidates constituting the character-corresponding input candidate group corresponding to “shi” are extracted.

  The display unit 30D displays the received position-corresponding input candidate and character-corresponding input candidate in the input candidate display area 312 of the LCD 31 (step 407). Note that the state of the LCD 31 at this time is the same as that in FIG. 9A of the third embodiment.

  In this state, when the user designates “Old Shiba Rikyu Garden” from the input candidates using the operation button 11 (YES in Step 408), the control unit 40D causes the input “Sh” in the unconfirmed state to be input. Is replaced with the designated “Old Shiba Rikyu Garden” and displayed in the input work area 311 of the LCD 31 in a determined state (step 408). The state of the LCD 31 at this time is the same as that in FIG. 9C of the third embodiment.

  On the other hand, if the user does not specify “Old Shiba Rikyu Garden” from the position corresponding input candidates in Step 408 (NO in Step 408), Step 401 to Step 408 are repeated again. The state of the LCD 31 when the user inputs “BA” following “SH” is the same as that in FIG. 9B of the third embodiment.

  Here, when returning from NO at step 408 to step 401 again, step 402 to step 404 can be omitted. That is, the position corresponding input candidate group acquired in the first step 404 is stored in the memory 50D, and in the second and subsequent steps 405, the character information “Shiba” is selected from the position corresponding input candidate groups stored in the memory 50D. The position corresponding input candidate corresponding to the above is extracted.

  As described above, in the character input system 100D according to the fifth embodiment, when the user inputs character information using the mobile terminal device 1D, the mobile terminal device 1D specifies position information from the GPS signal. Further, the mobile terminal device 1D extracts a position-corresponding input candidate corresponding to the character information from the position-corresponding input candidate group searched by the information providing device 2 in accordance with the set selection condition, and the character from the memory 50D. A position corresponding input candidate corresponding to the information is extracted.

  By extracting position-corresponding input candidates using the position information of the mobile terminal device 1D, the user can efficiently convert a desired character string into input characters. Therefore, the user can input a desired character string by a minimum input operation. Furthermore, since character strings that include characters entered by the user are extracted as position-related input candidates, the user can input characters that are different from the character string that he / she wants to input, such as “here”, “bash”, “ge”, etc. There is no need to do this, and the input operation of the character string can be performed smoothly.

  In the fifth embodiment, the mobile terminal device 1D selects a position-corresponding input candidate group from the information providing device 2 and a character-corresponding input candidate group from the memory 50D. The information stored in advance in the memory 50D can be minimized by acquiring the position corresponding input candidate group having a large amount of information by downloading from the outside. On the other hand, even when communication with the information providing apparatus 2 outside the service area is impossible, general character conversion can be performed using the character corresponding input candidate group registration table in the memory 50D.

  Furthermore, since the user can set selection conditions for extracting position-corresponding input candidates, it is possible to extract position-corresponding input candidates in accordance with the user's wishes. As a selection condition, in addition to “matching status”, “extraction range”, and “information type”, a “display order” for setting the display order such as the number of characters, the order of frequency of use, or the order of AI ”,“ Priority candidate ”for displaying the position-corresponding input candidate in the previous stage when the position-corresponding input candidate is designated. On the other hand, “information type” includes “restaurant name”, “public facility name”, “address”, “city code”, etc. in addition to “place name” and “facility name”. For example, a car navigation system search technique can be applied.

  In the fifth embodiment, the information providing apparatus 2 transmits the position corresponding input candidate group that matches the selection conditions in which the “extraction range” and the “information type” are set to the communication unit 60D. However, the present invention is not limited to this. . For example, the map information is stored in the memory 40D of the mobile terminal device 1D, and the communication unit 60D acquires the position-corresponding input candidate group corresponding to the position information as the temporary position-corresponding input candidate group, and stores the map information in the memory 40D. It is also possible to extract position-corresponding input candidates that match the selection condition by using and transmit them to the control unit 40D as a formal position-corresponding input candidate group.

  On the other hand, when the memory 2a of the information providing apparatus 2 includes a character-corresponding input candidate group registration table together with the position-corresponding input candidate group registration table, the mobile terminal device 1D displays both the position-corresponding input candidate group and the character-corresponding input candidate group. It can also be obtained from the memory 2a of the information providing apparatus 2.

  Here, the portable terminal device 1D can also be applied to a control program that causes the portable terminal device 1D to execute the above-described operation and a storage medium that records the control program.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of 1 A of portable terminal devices which concern on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the position corresponding | compatible input candidate group registration table which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement flow in the case of performing character input of 1 A of portable terminal devices which concern on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the content displayed on LCD31 in the case of performing character input of 1 A of portable terminal devices which concern on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of portable terminal device 1B concerning a 3rd embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the character corresponding input candidate group registration table which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement flow in the case of performing character input of the portable terminal device 1B which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the content displayed on LCD31 in the case of performing character input of the portable terminal device 1B which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the character input system 100C which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement flow in the case of performing character input of 1 C of portable terminal devices which concern on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the character input system 100D which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the content displayed on LCD31 in the case of performing selection condition setting of portable terminal device 1D which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the operation | movement flow in the case of performing character input of portable terminal device 1D which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D Mobile terminal device 2 GPS satellite 3 Information providing device 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D Input unit 11 Operation buttons 20, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D Position specifying unit 30, 30A, 30B , 30C, 30D Display unit 31 LCD
311 Input work area 312 Input candidate display area 40, 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D Control unit 50A, 50B, 50D Memory 60C, 60D Communication unit 100C, 100D Character input system

Claims (14)

Display means;
An input means for inputting character information;
Position specifying means for specifying position information;
When character information is input by the input means, a first input candidate that is a character string corresponding to the specified position information and including characters constituting the input character information is extracted, and the extracted first Control means for displaying one input candidate on the display means;
A mobile terminal device comprising: When the character information is input by the input means, the control means extracts a second input candidate that is a character or a character string starting from a character constituting the input character information, and extracts the extracted first Displaying the input candidate and the second input candidate in parallel on the display means;
The mobile terminal device according to claim 1. A memory for storing the second input candidates;
The control means extracts the second input candidates to be displayed on the display means from the memory;
The portable terminal device according to claim 2. The memory stores the first input candidate associated with position information;
The control means extracts the first input candidates to be displayed on the display means from the memory;
The portable terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Comprising communication means for communicating with an information terminal storing the first input candidate associated with position information;
The control means extracts the first input candidates to be displayed on the display means from the information terminal via the communication means.
The portable terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The control means extracts the first input candidate starting from a character constituting the input character information and including a character in the middle.
The portable terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The input means accepts an input of an extraction condition for the first input candidate;
The control means extracts a first input candidate corresponding to the specified position information and including a character constituting the input character information and a character string that matches the input extraction condition.
The portable terminal device according to claim 1. The position specifying means specifies the position information based on a GPS signal received from a GPS satellite;
The mobile terminal device according to claim 1. In a character input system including an information terminal and a mobile terminal device,
The information terminal stores a first input candidate associated with position information,
The portable terminal device
Display means;
An input means for inputting character information;
Position specifying means for specifying position information;
Communication means for communicating with the information terminal;
When character information is input by the input means, the first character string includes characters corresponding to the specified position information and including characters constituting the input character information from the information terminal via the communication means. Control means for extracting the input candidates and displaying the extracted first input candidates on the display means;
A character input system. The mobile terminal device includes a memory for storing the second input candidate,
When character information is input by the input unit, the control unit extracts, from the memory, a second input candidate that is a character or a character string starting from a character constituting the input character information, and displays the display The means displays the extracted first input candidate and second input candidate in parallel.
The character input system according to claim 9. A character input method using a mobile terminal device,
The portable terminal device includes display means and input means for inputting character information,
Identify location information,
When character information is input by the input means, a first input candidate that is a character string corresponding to the specified position information and including characters constituting the input character information is extracted.
Displaying the extracted first input candidates on the display means;
Character input method. When character information is input by the input means, a second input candidate that is a character or a character string starting from a character constituting the input character information is extracted;
Displaying the extracted first input candidate and second input candidate in parallel on the display means;
The character input method according to claim 11. When the character information is input based on the display procedure, the input procedure for inputting the character information, the position specifying procedure for specifying the position information, and the input procedure, the computer corresponds to the specified position information and the input A control program for extracting a first input candidate that is a character string including a character constituting the character information and displaying the extracted first input candidate based on the display procedure . When the character information is input based on the display procedure, the input procedure for inputting the character information, the position specifying procedure for specifying the position information, and the input procedure, the computer corresponds to the specified position information and the input A control program for extracting a first input candidate that is a character string including a character constituting the character information and displaying the extracted first input candidate based on the display procedure Is a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded.

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