JP2011118735A - Document creation support system and information terminal therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a document creation support system and an information terminal therefor for further improving the efficiency of document creation. <P>SOLUTION: User terminals 1 include a user dictionary DB 100 that is optimized according to the history of character input or document creation by a user, and an external device 2 includes a shared dictionary DB 200 that is shared among a plurality of user terminals 1. The shared dictionary DB 200 can be classified into a plurality of categories A, B, C... so that a number of users with different attributes such as hobbies or taste can share, and each user selects and uses a category adapted to user's own attribute. The user terminal 1 extracts predicted words from the user dictionary DB 100 of the user's own terminal and the shared dictionary DB 200 of the external device 2 in response to a character input operation, displays them in a list on a terminal display to make a user select any of them, and updates the user dictionary DB 100 and shared dictionary DB 200 on the basis of a result of selection. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a document creation support system and its information terminal, and more particularly to a document creation support system that supports document creation by simultaneously searching a plurality of dictionaries and presenting word candidates to a terminal user.

  Small information terminals such as mobile phones and PDAs need to input characters using a numeric keypad or software keyboard due to size restrictions. However, such work is more complicated than character input using a keyboard. For this reason, in the conventional small information terminal, as shown in FIG. 12, for example, a predicted conversion candidate word group corresponding to an input character [FIG. (A)] or a predicted connection candidate word group [FIG. (B)]. Generally, a method of searching for and presenting these to a user and selecting them is used.

  In the predictive conversion candidate word group, a plurality of words following an arbitrary character string in the middle of input are arranged considering the possibility of being selected by the user, and the word group is displayed according to the input character string The order changes. In the example of FIG. 5A, when “fu” is input by the user, prediction conversion candidate words such as “file”, “file”, “minute”, and “ship” are presented.

  In the predicted connection candidate word group, each time a single word input is confirmed, a plurality of words connected to the word are arranged in consideration of the high possibility of being selected. In the example of FIG. 5B, when the input of the word “futsal” is confirmed, predicted concatenated candidate word groups such as “Yarude”, “I will do”, “Ha”, “M” are presented.

  The user dictionary used when the prediction candidate word group is presented is updated as needed based on the appearance frequency and the appearance time of each word input by the user in the past. Such customization of the user dictionary makes it possible to present to the user in order from candidates that are more likely to be selected.

  In this way, even if the updating of the user dictionary depends only on the input history of the terminal user, as long as the user frequently creates a similar document, the necessary words are easily presented in the prediction candidate word group, The efficiency of document creation can be expected. However, since the prediction candidate word group can be presented only in the expression normally used by the user, there is a possibility that the width of the document expression is narrowed by the user who is used to selection from the prediction candidate word group. In addition, when a different expression is used, it is not possible to present a word necessary for the user as a prediction candidate word group, so that document creation becomes a complicated task.

  In order to deal with such a technical problem, Patent Document 1 groups user dictionaries customized for a plurality of users according to the similarity of the contents, and complements prediction candidate word groups between user dictionaries belonging to the same group. A method has been proposed. That is, among the user dictionaries classified into a certain group, among the words not registered as prediction candidate words with high priority, those registered with high priority in many other user dictionaries belonging to the group are: This is newly registered as a prediction candidate word having a high priority.

  According to the method of Patent Document 1, although it is an expression used by another user who likes the same expression but was unthinkable, priority is given to a word that is likely to be selected if presented as a candidate. Therefore, it is possible to widen the range of the user's document expression and improve the efficiency of document creation.

JP 2007-188199 A

  Even when the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used, a prediction candidate word can be presented only as an extension of a document expression normally created by the user. That is, the document expressions that are not normally used by the user, but are frequently used in documents addressed to a specific person, and the document expressions that the user does not normally use but are frequently used in documents created for a certain category or group. Therefore, it is impossible to present the prediction candidate words necessary for the user, and the document creation becomes complicated.

  Further, as the number of members belonging to one group increases, more prediction candidate words are complemented from other user dictionaries. Therefore, the priority of the prediction candidate words that the user preferably uses decreases, so that the user frequently There is a possibility that the work efficiency is deteriorated in the document creation by the expression used.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above technical problem, and when a user inputs a character, not only a prediction candidate word group based on a user dictionary unique to the user but also a plurality of users are shared with each user. By presenting to the user a prediction candidate word group based on the shared dictionary reflecting the conversion history of the user, it is possible to select from any prediction candidate word group, so that not only a frequently used expression but also a specific user or An object of the present invention is to provide a document creation support system and its information terminal capable of further improving the efficiency of document creation by utilizing both expressions used in documents created for a group.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following means in a document creation support system including an information terminal that displays a list of word candidates predicted from input characters and allows a user to select the word candidates. There is a feature.

  (1) An external device including a shared dictionary shared by a plurality of information terminals is provided, and the information terminal extracts a first word candidate from the user dictionary based on a user dictionary unique to the terminal user and input characters Means for transmitting a prediction request describing an input character to an external device, means for obtaining a second word candidate from a prediction response returned in response to the prediction request, and first and second words A means for displaying a list of candidates, a means for allowing a user to select one of the word candidates displayed in a list, a means for updating a user dictionary based on the selected word candidate, and a sharing based on the selected word candidate And means for requesting a dictionary update. Further, the external device extracts the second word candidate from the shared dictionary based on the input character described in the prediction request received from the information terminal, and the search response in which the second word candidate is described. Means for returning to the information terminal, and means for updating the shared dictionary based on the update request received from the information terminal are provided.

  (2) The shared dictionary is classified into a plurality of categories, and the information terminal includes means for transmitting a category identifier to an external device. The external device converts an input character from a category specified by the category identifier of the shared dictionary. Based on this, the second word candidate is extracted.

  (3) The information terminal has means for prohibiting updating of the shared dictionary.

  According to the present invention, the following effects are achieved.

  (1) When the user of each information terminal inputs characters, not only the user dictionary of the terminal itself but also a shared dictionary shared by a plurality of other users and updated by the other users can be searched. Not only frequently used expressions but also expressions with high utility value that are frequently used by other users can be presented as conversion candidates and connection candidates.

  (2) Shared dictionaries are classified into multiple categories, and only the most appropriate category is searched based on the attributes of users who input characters, the purpose of use of characters, destinations, etc. Only candidates can be presented to the user.

  (3) Since each information terminal can prohibit the updating of the shared dictionary by the user's selection, it is possible to prevent the conversion candidates and connection candidates associated with the personal information from being given higher priority and presented to other users. become.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a document creation support system according to the present invention. It is the functional block diagram which showed the structure of the principal part of a user terminal and an external apparatus value. It is a block diagram of a digital signage system to which the present invention is applied. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the user terminal in a digital signage system. It is the figure which showed the example of a display of the prediction conversion candidate word in the user terminal of a digital signage system. It is the figure which showed the example of a display of the prediction connection candidate word in the user terminal of a digital signage system. 1 is a block diagram of a mail system to which the present invention is applied. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement of the user terminal in the mail system to which this invention is applied. It is the figure which showed the example of a display of the prediction conversion candidate word in the user terminal of a mail system. It is a block diagram of a bulletin board system to which the present invention is applied. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the user terminal in the bulletin board system to which this invention is applied. It is the figure which showed the example of presentation of the prediction conversion candidate word group corresponding to the conventional input character, and a prediction connection candidate word group.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a document creation support system according to the present invention. Each information terminal 1 is a user dictionary DB 100 (optimized according to the character input or document creation history of each terminal user). 100a, 100b, 100c), and the external device 2 includes a shared dictionary DB 200 that is shared and updated by a plurality of user terminals 1.

  The shared dictionary DB 200 can be classified into a plurality of categories A, B, C... So that a large number of users having different attributes such as hobbies and preferences can be shared, and each user selects and uses a category suitable for his / her attributes. By doing so, prediction with higher accuracy becomes possible. In response to the user's character input operation, each user terminal 1 receives a prediction conversion candidate word and a prediction connection candidate word (hereinafter collectively referred to as “prediction word”) from the user dictionary DB 100 of its own terminal and the shared dictionary DB 200 of the external device 2. The user dictionary DB 100 and the shared dictionary DB 200 are updated based on the selection result.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the main parts of the user terminal 1 and the external device 2, and here, the configuration unnecessary for the description of the present invention is omitted.

  In the user terminal 1, an input operation unit 101 is a numeric keypad or a software keyboard that accepts a key operation of a terminal user. A user dictionary specific to the terminal user is registered in the user dictionary DB 100. The shared dictionary selection unit 102 requests the external device 2 to select a search target category when the shared dictionary DB 200 of the external device 2 is classified into a plurality of categories. The character code output unit 103 interprets a character input key operation and outputs a character code.

  The prediction candidate acquisition unit 110 searches the user dictionary DB 100 based on the input character code and acquires a first word candidate. In this embodiment, the prediction candidate acquisition unit 110 includes a prediction conversion candidate word extraction unit 110a and a prediction connection candidate word extraction unit 110b. The predictive conversion candidate word extraction unit 110a searches the user dictionary DB 100 based on the input character code, and assigns a plurality of predictive conversion candidate words Wy1 following an arbitrary character string in the process of input to a priority inherent to the user dictionary DB 100. Extract by degree. The predicted connection candidate word extraction unit 110b searches the user dictionary DB 100 each time a word input is confirmed, and extracts a plurality of predicted connection candidate words Wy2 connected to the determined word with a priority specific to the user dictionary DB 100. To do.

  The prediction request unit 107 generates a prediction request Req1 in which the input character code or definite word is described and transmits the prediction request Req1 to the external device 2. The prediction candidate receiving unit 112 receives the prediction response Rep1 returned from the external device 2 in response to the prediction request Req1, and the prediction conversion candidate word Wc1 and the prediction concatenated candidate word Wc2 described in the prediction response Rep1 (whichever Also, the second word candidate) is extracted. The display control unit 108 causes the terminal display 109 to display a list of the predicted conversion candidate words Wy1 and Wc1 and / or the predicted connection candidate words Wy2 and Wc2. The word determination unit 104 selects one of the prediction candidates displayed in the list based on a user key operation on the input operation unit 101. The selected word is passed to a document creation application and used for document creation.

  The user dictionary update unit 111 recalculates the priority of the predicted conversion candidate word and the predicted connection candidate word in the user dictionary DB 100 based on the selection result, and updates the user dictionary DB 100 based on the calculation result. The update request unit 105 requests the external device 2 to update the shared dictionary DB 200 based on the selection result in response to an update request operation by the terminal user or automatically at a predetermined timing.

  The communication unit 106 includes a short-range wireless communication interface compliant with Bluetooth or IrDA (Infrared Data Association), a cellular phone network or a wireless LAN network interface, or a wired connection interface, and is input by a user key operation. A prediction request Req1 including a character code or a confirmed word, a category selection request Req2 including a category identifier of the shared dictionary DB, and an update request Req3 of the shared dictionary DB 200 are transmitted to the external device 2 directly or via a network via short-range wireless communication In addition, a prediction response Rep1 returned from the external device 2 in response to the prediction request Req1 is received.

  In the external device 2, the communication unit 201 includes an interface for short-range wireless communication conforming to Bluetooth or IrDA, or a cellular phone network or a wireless LAN network interface. The category selection unit 203 identifies a category to be searched from the shared dictionary DB 200 based on the category identifier described in the category selection request Req2 received from the user terminal 1.

  The prediction candidate extraction unit 202 searches the selected category of the shared dictionary DB 200 based on the character code described in the prediction request Req1 received from the user terminal 1, and acquires a second word candidate. In the present embodiment, the prediction candidate extraction unit 202 includes a prediction conversion candidate word extraction unit 202a and a prediction connection candidate word extraction unit 202b.

  The prediction conversion candidate word extraction unit 202a searches the selected category of the shared dictionary DB 200 based on the character code described in the prediction request Req1 received from the user terminal 1, and converts it into an arbitrary character string in the middle of input. A plurality of subsequent predictive conversion candidate words Wc1 are extracted with a priority specific to the shared dictionary DB 200. The predicted connection candidate word extraction unit 202b searches the selected category of the shared dictionary DB 200 based on the confirmed word described in the prediction request Req1, and selects a plurality of predicted connection candidate words Wc2 to be connected to the confirmed word. Then, extraction is performed with a priority specific to the shared dictionary DB 200. The extracted prediction conversion candidate word Wc1 and prediction connection candidate word Wc2 are described in the prediction response Rep1 and returned to the user terminal 1.

  Based on the update request Req3 received from the user terminal 1, the shared dictionary update unit 204 recalculates the priority of the predicted conversion candidate word and the predicted linked candidate word for the selected category of the shared dictionary DB 200, The shared dictionary DB 200 is updated based on the calculation result.

  For updating the shared dictionary DB 200, for example, a method generally used for updating the user dictionary based on the use frequency and use period of each word is used from all users who share the shared dictionary DB without distinguishing the users. Can be applied as That is, the priority of words frequently used by all users who share the shared dictionary DB and words used in the past are high.

  The updating of the shared dictionary DB 200 can be permitted or prohibited by the terminal user at his / her own will, and the user's own privacy can be protected by deliberately specifying a word that is not used for the updating.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a digital signage (digital signage) system to which the present invention is applied, and is configured by the user terminal 1 and the digital signage 5.

  The digital signage 5 is an advertising medium that displays images and information on a flat display or projector using digital technology for display and communication, and is installed in a shopping street, a tourist information center, a movie theater, a hospital, a station, etc. Local information can be displayed on the screen in real time, and information can be exchanged with the user terminal 1 by wireless communication.

  In this embodiment, the digital signage 5 has the function of the external device 2, and the shared dictionary DB 200a includes a prediction conversion candidate word group and a prediction connection candidate word group specific to the installation facility and area of the digital signage 5. User dictionary functions are stored. In other words, if the digital signage 5 is installed in a tourist information center or the like for providing tourist information to tourists, the shared dictionary DB 200a stores the search character code entered by the user from the mobile phone. On the other hand, words relating to names, characteristics, history, products, etc. unique to tourist spots are preferentially predicted compared to other words.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present embodiment, and mainly shows the operation of the user terminal 1.

  In step S <b> 1, it is determined whether a short-distance wireless communication channel has been established between the user terminal 1 and the digital signage 5. In this embodiment, the user terminal 1 and the digital signage 5 are provided with a communication interface compliant with Bluetooth, and the description will be continued here assuming that it is determined whether or not a Bluetooth connection has been established. When the Bluetooth connection is established, the process proceeds to step S2, and a search application is activated. The terminal display 109 displays a search key input screen.

  If character input by the terminal user is detected in step S3, the corresponding character code is output from the character code output unit 103 in step S4. In step S5, the prediction request Req1 in which the character code is described is transmitted from the prediction request unit 107 to the digital signage 5. In step S6, the user dictionary DB 100 is referred to based on the character code, and at least one prediction conversion candidate word Wy1 predicted from the character code is extracted by the prediction conversion candidate word extraction unit 110a.

  In the digital signage 5, a character code is extracted from the prediction request Req1, the shared dictionary DB 200a is referred to, and at least one prediction conversion candidate word Wc1 predicted from the character code is extracted by the prediction conversion candidate word extraction unit 202a. The This prediction conversion candidate word Wc1 is described in the prediction response Rep1 and is returned to the user terminal 1.

  In the user terminal 1, when the prediction response Rep1 is received by the prediction candidate receiving unit 112 in step S7, the process proceeds to step S8, and the prediction conversion candidate word Wc1 described in the prediction response Rep1 is extracted. In step S9, the prediction conversion candidate word Wy1 extracted from the user dictionary DB 100 and the prediction conversion candidate word Wc1 extracted from the shared dictionary DB 200a are displayed in a list on the terminal display 109 by the display control unit 108.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of the prediction conversion candidate words. Each prediction conversion candidate word Wy1 and Wc1 may be displayed for each DB as shown in FIG. ), And may be displayed together according to priority.

The terminal user confirms the list display and selects one of the prediction conversion candidate words. When the selection result is detected by the word determination unit 104 in step S10, the selection result is notified to the active search application and used for character conversion in step S11. If the next character input is performed without selecting the predictive conversion candidate word, this is detected in step S4, and each of the above processes is repeated.
In step S12, the user dictionary update unit 111 updates the user dictionary DB 100 based on the selection result. In step S <b> 13, the update request unit 105 transmits the update request Req <b> 3 describing the selection result to the digital signage 5. In step S14, it is determined whether or not the character input has been completed. If it has not been completed, the process returns to step S2 and the above processes are repeated.

  In the digital signage 5, the update request Req3 is received by the shared dictionary update unit 204, the selection result is extracted, and the shared dictionary DB 200a is updated based on the selection result.

  When the input word is confirmed as described above (for example, the word “futsal” is confirmed for the input character “F”), the prediction request unit 107 sends the confirmed word to the digital signage 5 in step S5. The described prediction request Req1 is transmitted. In step S6, the user dictionary DB 100 is referred to based on the confirmed word, and at least one predicted linked candidate word Wy2 predicted from the confirmed word is extracted by the predicted linked candidate word extraction unit 110b.

  In the digital signage 5, a confirmed word is extracted from the prediction request Req1, the shared dictionary DB 200a is referred to, and at least one predicted linked candidate word Wc2 predicted from the confirmed word is extracted by the predicted linked candidate word extraction unit 202b. The This prediction connection candidate word Wc2 is described in the prediction response Rep1 as described above, and is returned to the user terminal 1.

  In the user terminal 1, when the prediction response Rep1 is received by the prediction candidate receiving unit 112 in step S7, the process proceeds to step S8, and the prediction linked candidate word Wc2 described in the prediction response Rep1 is extracted. In step S9, the predicted connection candidate word Wy2 extracted from the user dictionary DB 100 and the predicted connection candidate word Wc2 extracted from the shared dictionary DB 200a are displayed in a list on the terminal display 109 by the display control unit 108.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of the predicted connection candidate word. Each prediction connection candidate word Wy2, Wc2 may be displayed for each DB as shown in FIG. ), And may be displayed together according to priority.

  The terminal user confirms the list display and selects one of the predicted connection candidate words. When the selection result is detected by the word determination unit 104 in step S10, the selection result is notified to the active search application and used for character conversion in step S11. In step S12, the user dictionary update unit 111 updates the user dictionary DB 100 based on the selection result. In step S <b> 13, the update request unit 105 transmits the update request Req <b> 3 describing the selection result to the digital signage 5. In step S14, it is determined whether or not the character input has been completed. If it has not been completed, the process returns to step S2 and the above processes are repeated.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the shared dictionary DB 200a of the digital signage 5 is not classified into a plurality of categories has been described as an example. However, when the shared dictionary DB 200a is classified into a plurality of categories, the search request Prior to this, category selection is performed by the user, and this is notified from the shared dictionary selection unit 102 to the digital signage 5. In the digital signage 5, the prediction word search and the update based on the selection result are performed only for the selected category.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of an electronic mail system to which the present invention is applied. In addition to the mail server 6, a shared dictionary server 7 having a function as the external device 2 is connected to the network. Has been. In the shared dictionary server 7, the shared dictionary DB 200b is classified into a plurality of categories.

  In this embodiment, the shared dictionary DB 200b is classified into a plurality of categories A, B, C..., And each terminal user has at least one user attribute such as age, gender, hobby, preference, affiliation, and the like. Categories are associated. When the terminal user performs character input, the predicted conversion candidate words and predicted concatenation candidate words having a high appearance frequency are preferentially searched from the corresponding category and displayed in a list.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present embodiment, and mainly shows the operation of the user terminal 1. Here, it is assumed that terminal users U1, U2, and U3 share category A of shared dictionary DB 200b, and terminal users U1 and U3 share category B, and character input for mail transmission by terminal user U1 is taken as an example. explain.

  When the mail client is activated in step S31, in step S32, user information for uniquely identifying the terminal user U1 is transmitted as one of category identifiers from the shared dictionary selection unit 102 to the shared dictionary server 7 via the network. The In response to this, the shared dictionary server 7 preliminarily selects categories A and B of the shared dictionary DB 200b. In step S33, it is determined whether a destination address has been input.

  When the destination address is input, the process proceeds to step S34, and this destination information is transmitted as one of category identifiers to the shared dictionary server 7 via the network. Here, it is assumed that the destination address is the address of the terminal user U2. When the shared dictionary server 7 receives this destination information, the category A common to the two users U1 and U2 who are parties is selected as the current reference category.

  In the user terminal 1, when character input is detected in step S35, the corresponding character code is output from the character code output unit 103 in step S36. In step S37, the prediction request Req1 in which the character code is described is transmitted from the prediction request unit 105 to the shared dictionary server 7. In step S38, the user dictionary DB 100 is referred to based on the character code, and at least one prediction conversion candidate word Wy1 predicted from the character code is extracted by the prediction conversion candidate word extraction unit 110a.

  In the shared dictionary server 7, a character code is extracted from the prediction request Req1, the category A of the shared dictionary DB 700b is referenced, and at least one prediction conversion candidate word Wc1 predicted from the character code is extracted. This prediction conversion candidate word Wc1 is described in the prediction response Rep1 and is returned to the user terminal 1.

  In the user terminal 1, when the prediction response Rep1 is received by the prediction candidate receiving unit 112 in step S39, the process proceeds to step S40, and the prediction conversion candidate word Wc1 described in the prediction response Rep1 is extracted. In step S41, the prediction conversion candidate word Wy1 extracted from the user dictionary DB 100 and the prediction conversion candidate word Wc1 extracted from the shared dictionary DB 200b are displayed in a list on the terminal display 109 by the display control unit 108.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing how the predicted conversion candidate word Wc1 that is extracted changes according to the category referenced in the shared dictionary DB 200b. In FIG. 9, (a) refers to the category A in the shared dictionary DB 200b. (B) is a display example when category B is referred to.

  When one of the predicted conversion candidate words is selected by the terminal user who has confirmed this list display, and this is detected by the word determining unit 104 in step S42, in step S43, the selected word is sent to the active mail client. It is notified and used for character conversion. In step S44, the user dictionary DB 100 is updated by the user dictionary update unit 111 based on the selection result. In step S45, the update request unit 105 transmits the update request Req3 in which the selection result is described to the shared dictionary server 7. In step S46, it is determined whether or not the character input is completed. If not completed, the process returns to step S35 and the above-described processes are repeated.

  In the shared dictionary server 7, the selection result is extracted from the update request Req3, and the category A of the shared dictionary DB 200b is updated based on the selection result. Note that the extraction of the predicted linked candidate words Wy2 and Wc2 based on the confirmed word and the update of the DB (category) are performed in the same manner as described above.

  In step S34, if the destination address is the address of the terminal user U3, the shared dictionary server 7 selects two categories A and B. In such a case, the shared dictionary server 7 may use two categories A and B as reference categories, or allow the user to select one of the categories A and B.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the bulletin board system to which the present invention is applied. The same reference numerals as those described above represent the same or equivalent parts. In this embodiment, a shared dictionary server 9 that manages a common dictionary DB 200c that is referred to by each user terminal 1 when writing to the bulletin board is connected to the bulletin board server 8 that reflects a message posted from the user terminal 1 on the bulletin board. ing. In the common dictionary DB 200c, the priority of words having a high appearance frequency when creating a comment is set high.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present embodiment, and mainly shows the operation of the user terminal 1.

  When access to the bulletin board is detected in step S61, it is determined in step S62 whether or not the mode has been shifted to the input mode for the bulletin board. When the transition to the input mode is confirmed, the process proceeds to step S63, and when the character input of the comment is detected, the process proceeds to step S64 and the corresponding character code is output from the character code output unit 103. In step S65, the prediction request Req1 in which the character code is described is transmitted from the prediction request unit 107 to the shared dictionary server 9 via the bulletin board server 8. In step S66, the user dictionary DB 100 is referred to based on the character code, and at least one prediction conversion candidate word Wy1 predicted from the character code is extracted by the prediction conversion candidate word extraction unit 110a.

  In the shared dictionary server 9, a character code is extracted from the prediction request Req1, the shared dictionary DB 200c is referred to, and at least one prediction conversion candidate word Wc1 predicted from the character code is extracted. This prediction conversion candidate word Wc1 is described in the prediction response Rep1 and is returned to the user terminal 1.

  In the user terminal 1, when the prediction response Rep1 is received by the prediction candidate receiving unit 112 in step S67, the process proceeds to step S68, and the prediction conversion candidate word Wc1 described in the prediction response Rep1 is extracted. In step S69, the prediction conversion candidate word Wy1 extracted from the user dictionary DB 100 and the prediction conversion candidate word Wc1 extracted from the shared dictionary DB 200b are displayed in a list on the terminal display 109 by the display control unit 108.

  When one of the predicted conversion candidate words is selected by the terminal user confirming the list display, and this is detected by the word determination unit 104 in step S70, the selection result is notified to the comment input application in step S71. Used for character conversion. In step S72, the user dictionary DB 100 is updated by the user dictionary update unit 111 based on the selection result. In step S <b> 73, the update request unit 105 transmits the update request Req <b> 3 describing the selection result to the shared dictionary server 9. In step S74, it is determined whether or not the character input is completed. If not completed, the process returns to step S63 and the above processes are repeated.

  In the shared dictionary server 9, the selection result is extracted from the update request Req3, and the shared dictionary DB 200c is updated based on the selection result. Note that extraction and updating of the predicted linked candidate words Wy2 and Wc2 based on the confirmed word are also performed in the same manner as described above.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the shared dictionary DB 200c is not classified into a plurality of categories has been described as an example, but the shared dictionary DB 200c is classified into a plurality of categories A, B,. The category is selected by the user prior to the search request, and this is notified from the shared dictionary selection unit 102 to the shared dictionary server 9. In the shared dictionary server 9, the prediction word search and the update based on the selection result are performed only for the selected category.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... User terminal, 2 ... External device, 5 ... Digital signage, 6 ... Mail server, 7 ... Shared dictionary server, 8 ... Bulletin board server, 9 ... Shared dictionary server

Claims (17)

In a document creation support system including an information terminal that displays a list of word candidates predicted from input characters and allows a user to select a list,
An external device including a shared dictionary shared by a plurality of information terminals;
The information terminal is
A user dictionary specific to the terminal user,
Means for extracting a first word candidate from a user dictionary based on input characters;
Means for transmitting a prediction request in which input characters are described to an external device;
Means for obtaining a second word candidate from a prediction response returned in response to the prediction request;
Means for displaying a list of the first and second word candidates;
Means for allowing a user to select one of the word candidates displayed in the list;
Means for updating a user dictionary based on the selected word candidates;
Means for requesting an update of a shared dictionary based on the selected word candidates,
The external device is
Means for extracting a second word candidate from the shared dictionary based on input characters described in the prediction request received from the information terminal;
Means for returning a search response describing the second word candidate to the information terminal;
A document creation support system comprising means for updating a shared dictionary based on an update request received from an information terminal. The shared dictionary is classified into a plurality of categories;
The information terminal comprises means for transmitting a category identifier to an external device;
The document creation support system according to claim 1, wherein the external device extracts a second word candidate from a category specified by the category identifier of a shared dictionary based on the input character.   3. The document creation support system according to claim 1, wherein in the information terminal, the means for requesting update of the shared dictionary requests update in response to an update request operation of the terminal user.   4. The document creation support system according to claim 1, wherein the means for displaying a list of the word candidates displays the first and second word candidates separately.   4. The document creation support system according to claim 1, wherein the means for displaying a list of word candidates displays the first and second word candidates without distinction.   6. The document creation support system according to claim 1, wherein the word candidate is a predictive conversion candidate word following an arbitrary character string being input.   The document creation support system according to claim 1, wherein the word candidate is a predicted connection candidate word connected to a confirmed word.   8. The external device is digital signage, and in the shared dictionary, the priority of words with high appearance frequency is set high in character input to the digital signage. Document creation support system.   The external device is a shared dictionary server of an e-mail system, and in the shared dictionary, the priority of a word that appears frequently when an e-mail transmitted from an information terminal is created is set high. Item 8. The document creation support system according to any one of Items 1 to 7.   8. The external dictionary is a shared dictionary server of a bulletin board system, and in the shared dictionary, the priority of a word that appears frequently when posting to the bulletin board site is set high. Document creation support system described in Crab. In the information terminal of the document creation support system that displays a list of word candidates predicted from input characters and allows the user to select,
A user dictionary specific to the terminal user,
Means for extracting a first word candidate from a user dictionary based on input characters;
Means for transmitting a prediction request in which input characters are described to an external device having a shared dictionary shared by a plurality of information terminals;
Means for obtaining a second word candidate extracted from the shared dictionary based on an input character from a prediction response returned in response to the prediction request;
Means for displaying a list of the first and second word candidates;
Means for allowing a user to select one of the word candidates displayed in the list;
Means for updating a user dictionary based on the selected word candidates;
Means for requesting updating of a shared dictionary based on the selected word candidates. The shared dictionary is classified into a plurality of categories;
Means for transmitting the category identifier to an external device;
The means for acquiring the second word candidate acquires a second word candidate extracted based on the input character from a category specified by the category identifier of a shared dictionary. The described information terminal.   The information terminal according to claim 111 or 12, further comprising means for prohibiting updating of the shared dictionary.   14. The information terminal according to claim 11, wherein the means for displaying a list of the word candidates displays the first and second word candidates separately.   14. The information terminal according to claim 11, wherein the means for displaying a list of word candidates displays the first and second word candidates without distinction.   16. The information terminal according to claim 11, wherein the word candidate is a predicted conversion candidate word following an arbitrary character string being input.   The information terminal according to claim 11, wherein the word candidate is a predicted connection candidate word connected to a confirmed word.

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