JP2012048406A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor capable of inputting pictorial symbols with excellent operability.SOLUTION: An information processor comprises: an input unit for inputting characters and pictorial symbols; a display unit for displaying the characters input by the input unit and input candidates based on the characters; a determination unit for determining input of the characters input by the input unit; a character dictionary unit for storing characters and reading of the characters in association; a pictorial symbol dictionary unit for storing pictorial symbols and reading of the pictorial symbols in association; and an input candidate processing unit for retrieving a pictorial symbol having the same reading as reading of characters associated with input determined characters from the pictorial symbol dictionary, and displaying the retrieved pictorial symbol as an input candidate on the display unit.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an information processing apparatus.

  In recent years, information processing apparatuses such as mobile phones have become widespread as communication tools for one person and have become indispensable items. In particular, the e-mail function is an indispensable function in the information processing apparatus, and not only ordinary characters but also special characters representing emotions and situations such as pictograms, emoticons, and animated pictograms (hereinafter simply referred to as “pictograms”). Also frequently used. In addition, it has become possible to add new pictograms and attach images to the mail text by so-called decoration mail that decorates mail using the html format.

  Pictographs are effectively used to increase the expressiveness of e-mails, and e-mails with improved expressiveness are actively transmitted and received between users. In addition, mobile phones have been prepared with different pictograms for each business operator, but in recent years, pictorial characters of the same meaning can be shared between different business operators so that they can be used and viewed in common, or images can be directly displayed in decoration mail. Can be pasted and can be used without being aware of the operator.

  Conventionally, pictograms have been input using a method of selecting and inputting pictograms from a pictogram list or a method of selecting and inputting pictograms displayed as input candidates based on the input characters.

JP 2008-129687 A

  The user may insert a pictograph having the same meaning as the word immediately after inputting the character. For example, immediately after inputting the word “beer”, there is a case where a pictograph depicting a beer mug or the like synonymous with “beer” is inserted. In this case, the user can input a pictograph by displaying a list of pictographs and selecting a desired pictograph, or by inputting the word “beer” again and displaying the pictograph of beer as an input candidate.

  In this case, the user needs to perform an operation of displaying the pictogram list again or an operation of inputting the same word / phrase after inputting the character once, and the operation is complicated.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of inputting pictograms with good operability.

  The information processing apparatus according to the embodiment includes an input unit that inputs characters and pictograms, a display unit that displays characters input by the input unit, input candidates based on the characters, and input of the characters input by the input unit. A confirmation unit to be confirmed, a character dictionary unit for storing characters and character readings in association with each other, a pictogram dictionary unit for storing in association with pictograms and readings generated from the pictograms, and characters associated with characters whose input has been confirmed An input candidate processing unit that searches the pictogram dictionary unit for pictograms having a reading that matches the reading of the text, and displays the searched pictograms as input candidates on the display unit.

The schematic functional block diagram which shows the main functional structures of the portable terminal which is an example of the information processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows an example of a word dictionary part and a pictogram dictionary part. The flowchart explaining the input candidate display process performed by the portable terminal in this embodiment. The screen transition figure of a display part at the time of input candidate display processing being performed. The flowchart explaining the input candidate display process which performs the pictogram list display performed with the portable terminal in this embodiment. The screen transition diagram of a display part at the time of the input candidate display process which performs a pictogram list display being performed.

  An embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic functional block diagram showing a main functional configuration of a mobile terminal 1 which is an example of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

  The mobile terminal 1 can perform voice communication and data using a predetermined wireless communication method such as the W-CDMA method, the GSM method, the cdma2000 1x RTT method, the EVDO method, and the E-UTRA method that is a wireless access of the 3.9th generation LTE system. A communication function for performing communication is provided. Further, the antenna 11, the radio transmission / reception unit 12, and the signal processing unit 13 correspond to a predetermined method.

  The antenna 11 receives from a space a radio signal transmitted by a predetermined communication processing system from a base station accommodated in a mobile communication network. The antenna 11 radiates a radio signal of a predetermined access method to the space so that wireless communication can be performed with a predetermined communication processing system.

  The radio transmission / reception unit 12 performs radio communication with a base station accommodated in the mobile communication network via the antenna 11 by a predetermined communication processing method. The radio transmission / reception unit 12 generates a radio signal having a carrier frequency instructed from the control unit 19 based on the modulation signal generated by the signal processing unit 13. The radio transmission / reception unit 12 receives a radio signal having a carrier frequency instructed from the control unit 19, mixes it with a local oscillation signal output from the frequency synthesizer, and converts the frequency into an intermediate frequency signal (down-conversion). And the radio | wireless transmission / reception part 12 carries out orthogonal demodulation of this downconverted intermediate frequency signal, and outputs a reception baseband signal. This reception result is output to the signal processing unit 13 and the control unit 19.

  The signal processing unit 13 is configured by a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or the like, and performs predetermined signal processing on the received baseband signal to obtain received packet data in a predetermined transmission format. The signal processing unit 13 demodulates the audio signal included in the received packet data and decodes the demodulation result to obtain audio data and the like. The audio data obtained by the decoding process is supplied to the PCM codec 14. The PCM codec 14 PCM-decodes the voice data and outputs an analog audio data signal after the PCM decoding to the reception amplifier 15. The analog audio signal is amplified by the reception amplifier 15 and then output from the speaker 16.

  On the other hand, the voice signal (analog audio signal) of the speaker (user) input to the microphone 17 is amplified to an appropriate level by the transmission amplifier 18 and then PCM encoded by the PCM codec 14. The audio signal after PCM encoding is input to the signal processing unit 13. The signal processing unit 13 encodes the audio signal, generates a modulation signal based on audio data and other data obtained by the encoding, and outputs the generated modulation signal to the radio transmission / reception unit 12.

  The input unit 20 receives various operations on the mobile terminal 1 by the user. In particular, in the present embodiment, the input unit 20 accepts operations for inputting hiragana, katakana, alphanumeric characters, and pictograms. The input unit 20 receives an instruction to display a list of pictograms as input candidates. Here, a pictogram is a simple picture-like shape that can be used in place of words, letters, symbols, or a combination of letters and symbols. The input unit 20 may be a hardware keyboard or a software keyboard.

  The display unit 21 is a display provided with an area for displaying a display screen including characters and images. The display unit 21 includes, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (ElectroLuminescence) display.

  The control unit 19 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The CPU executes various processes in accordance with programs stored in the ROM or various application programs and control programs including the operating system (OS) loaded from the storage unit 23 into the RAM. In addition, the CPU generates various control signals and supplies them to each unit to control the mobile terminal 1 in an integrated manner. The RAM appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU to execute various processes.

  Particularly in the present embodiment, the control unit 19 includes a character input processing unit 31 and an input candidate processing unit 32. The character input processing unit 31 performs general character input processing for inputting or converting characters (hirakana, katakana, alphanumeric characters) input from the input unit 20. For example, the character input processing unit 31 performs a process of converting the input hiragana into kanji displayed as input candidates. The input candidate processing unit 32 displays input candidates based on the characters input from the input unit 20. Input candidates are predicted to be input following words or pictograms that are predicted to be input or converted based on the input characters, words or pictograms that match the input characters, or words that have been confirmed to be input. Words and pictograms. In the present embodiment, the character input processing unit 31 and the input candidate processing unit 32 function as an input candidate processing unit.

  The storage unit 23 includes, for example, a flash memory element that is an electrically rewritable and erasable nonvolatile memory, an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), and the like. The storage unit 23 stores various application programs executed by the CPU of the control unit 19 and various data groups, and the control program and control data of the mobile terminal 1. Particularly in the present embodiment, the storage unit 23 includes a word dictionary unit 33, a pictogram dictionary unit 34, and a learning dictionary unit 35.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the word dictionary unit 33 and the pictogram dictionary unit 34.

  A word dictionary unit 33 (character dictionary unit) shown in FIG. 2A is a dictionary that stores, for example, a word composed of kanji and the reading and category of the word in association with each other. The words stored in the word dictionary unit 33 have a reading in advance and belong to a predetermined category. The pictogram dictionary unit 34 shown in FIG. 2B is a dictionary that stores pictographs and readings and categories generated from the pictographs in association with each other. The pictograms stored in the pictogram dictionary unit 33 have readings generated from the pictograms in advance and belong to a predetermined category. A plurality of categories associated with words and pictograms are provided in advance, such as “nature”, “body”, “food”, “feelings”, “vehicle”, and the like. For example, a word “flower”, a pictograph indicating a flower, a word “rain”, and a pictograph indicating rain are associated with the category “nature”.

  The learning dictionary unit 35 stores information for displaying input candidates, which is referred to when the input candidate processing unit 32 displays input candidates. Specifically, the learning dictionary unit 35 stores information on past input history such as the frequency selected by the user for the displayed input candidates. Based on the learning dictionary unit 35, the input candidate processing unit 32 preferentially displays input candidates selected in the past with high frequency.

  The power supply circuit 24 generates a predetermined operating power supply voltage Vcc based on the output of the battery 25 and supplies it to each circuit. The clock circuit (timer) 26 measures the current time or a certain time.

  Next, input candidate display processing executed when the mobile terminal 1 in the present embodiment inputs characters will be described. This input candidate display process is executed in, for example, an application (for example, e-mail or memo pad) that is provided on the mobile terminal 1 and requires character input.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining input candidate display processing executed by the mobile terminal 1 in the present embodiment.

  FIG. 4 is a screen transition diagram of the display unit 21 when the input candidate display process is performed.

  FIG. 4A is a display example of the display unit 21 before inputting characters. The display unit 21 is provided with a character input area 21 a for displaying characters input by the input unit 20. A predetermined soft key 40 is arranged below the character input area 21a.

  In step S <b> 1, the character input processing unit 31 receives a character input operation from the user via the input unit 20. Here, when the character input processing unit 31 accepts a character input operation, the input candidate processing unit 32 displays words or phrases having a part or all of the input characters as input candidates.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 4B, the display section 21 is provided with an input candidate display area 21b together with a character input area 21a. The input candidate display area 21b is a dictionary that the word dictionary section 33, the pictogram dictionary section 34, the learning dictionary section 35, and other portable terminals 1 have, based on the characters input by the input section 20 and displayed in the character input area 21a. This is an area for displaying input candidates output from the section.

  For example, when “Hana” composed of hiragana is input, the input candidate processing unit 32 refers to the word dictionary unit 33 and reads the word “Hana” as a reading or the word “flower” including “Hana”. , “Fireworks”, “talk”, and “nose” are displayed as input candidates in the input candidate display area 21b. Further, the input candidate processing unit 32 refers to the pictogram dictionary unit 34 and sets the reading to “Hana” or includes pictograms including “Hana” (in FIG. 4B, the pictograms indicating flowers and the nose). (Emoji) is displayed. The input candidate processing unit 32 refers to the learning dictionary unit 35 and preferentially displays input candidates that are likely to be selected by the user, thereby improving user operability.

  The input candidates displayed in the input candidate display area 21b are displayed so as to be selectable using a cursor. In FIG. 4B, the word “flower” as an input candidate is selected. In FIG. 4E, the word “nose” which is an input candidate is selected. In addition, the display unit 21 is provided with a soft key 40 (“OK” in FIG. 4B or the like) for confirming selection of input candidates. In the present embodiment, the soft key 40 functions as a determination unit that determines the input of characters input by the input unit 20.

  In step S <b> 2, the character input processing unit 31 determines whether or not the input character is converted into a Chinese character and the input is confirmed. For example, the conversion is confirmed by selecting the word “flower” composed of kanji displayed in the input candidate display area 21 b and then confirming it through the soft key 40. If the character input processing unit 31 determines that the input character is converted into kanji and is not confirmed, for example, if it is converted into hiragana or katakana other than kanji and confirmed, the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the character input by the character input processing unit 31 has been converted into Kanji and confirmed (that is, when a word displayed as an input candidate is selected and confirmed), the character (word that has been confirmed to be input) ) Is displayed in the character input area 21a. For example, when the conversion of hiragana “Hana” to the word “flower” consisting of kanji is confirmed, the character input processing unit 31 places the word “flower” in the character input area 21a as shown in FIG. indicate. In addition, when the hiragana “hana” is determined to be the word “nose” composed of kanji, the character input processing unit 31 displays the word “nose” in the character input area 21a as shown in FIG. To do.

  In step S <b> 3, the input candidate processing unit 32 refers to the determined word reading and category from the word dictionary unit 33. For example, when the conversion to the word “flower” is confirmed, the input candidate processing unit 32 refers to the reading “hana” of the word “flower” and the category “nature” from the word dictionary unit 33 shown in FIG. . For example, when conversion to the word “nose” is confirmed, the input candidate processing unit 32 refers to the word “nose” reading “Hana” and the category “body” from the word dictionary unit 33.

  In step S4, the input candidate processing unit 32 refers to the pictogram dictionary unit 34 and searches for a pictograph that matches the reading and category of the word referred to in the word dictionary reference step S3. For example, the input candidate processing unit 32 refers to the pictogram dictionary unit 34 to search for pictographs in which the reading “hana” of the word “flower” matches the category “nature”. In the pictogram dictionary unit 34 shown in FIG. 2B, the input candidate processing unit 32 searches for pictographs indicating flowers whose readings and categories match the word “flower”. In addition, the input candidate processing unit 32 refers to the pictogram dictionary unit 34 to search for pictographs in which the reading “hana” of the word “nose” matches the category “body”. In the pictogram dictionary unit 34 shown in FIG. 2B, the input candidate processing unit 32 searches for pictographs indicating the nose whose reading and category match the word “nose”.

  In step S5, the input candidate processing unit 32 displays the searched pictogram in the input candidate display area 21b. For example, when the input of the word “flower” is confirmed in the confirmation determination step S2, the input candidate processing unit 32 displays a pictograph indicating a flower that is a searched pictogram as an input candidate as shown in FIG. Displayed in the area 21b. In addition, when the input of the word “nose” is confirmed in the confirmation determination step S2, the input candidate processing unit 32 displays a pictograph indicating the nose that is the retrieved pictograph as an input candidate display as shown in FIG. Displayed in the area 21b.

  The input candidate processing unit 32 may display pictograms as input candidates, and may also display input candidates that are predicted to be input following words that have already been input (FIG. 4C and FIG. 4). 4 (F)).

  In step S6, the character input processing unit 31 determines whether or not the pictogram displayed as the input candidate is selected by the cursor and the input is confirmed. If the character input processing unit 31 determines that the input has not been confirmed, the character input processing unit 31 stands by until the input is confirmed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the input has been confirmed, the character input processing unit 31 displays the selected pictogram in the character input area 21a. For example, when a pictograph indicating a flower is selected and confirmed, the character input processing unit 31 displays the pictograph indicating a flower in the character input area 21a as shown in FIG. Moreover, when the pictogram showing the nose is selected, the character input processing unit 31 displays the pictogram showing the nose in the character input area 21a as shown in FIG.

  In the determination step S6, an example has been described in which it is determined whether or not the pictogram displayed in the input candidate display area 21b has been selected and confirmed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a phrase other than the pictogram is selected. Even when other characters are input from the input unit 20, the input candidate display process is terminated in the same manner as when it is determined that the pictograph has been selected and the input has been confirmed.

  This portable terminal 1 can input pictograms with good operability. Specifically, when the user inputs and confirms a certain phrase and wants to input a pictogram that is synonymous with the input phrase, the mobile terminal 1 reads a pictogram that has the same reading and category as the phrase that has already been input. It can be presented to the user as an input candidate. For this reason, the user can omit the trouble of displaying a list of pictograms and selecting a desired pictogram, and the operation of repeatedly inputting the same letters to display them as input candidates.

  Further, when repeatedly inputting the same character as the word that has already been confirmed as in the past, for example, the user inputs a pictograph indicating a flower that has the same reading and category as the word “flower” that has already been confirmed to be input. In this case, the user inputs “Hana” again. However, since the homonyms corresponding to the reading “Hana” include “flower” and “nose”, pictograms representing flowers and pictograms representing the nose correspond to pictograms as input candidates. Here, when both a pictograph indicating a flower and a pictograph indicating a nose are displayed, the user is requested to perform an operation of selecting a desired pictograph from a plurality of pictographs.

  On the other hand, the mobile terminal 1 according to the present embodiment can search and display pictograms as input candidates based on the reading and category of the word whose input is confirmed. For this reason, it is particularly effective in that it is possible to quickly input a pictograph having a homonym reading.

  In the input candidate display process of FIG. 3, the mobile terminal 1 searches for a pictograph that shares a reading and category with a word whose input has been confirmed and displays it as an input candidate. However, the mobile terminal 1 may search for a pictograph that shares one of the word that has been confirmed to be input and the reading and category, and display it as an input candidate. For example, when searching for a pictograph that matches only a word and a reading as an input candidate, the word does not need to be composed of kanji and may be hiragana or katakana. For example, when the input is confirmed as “Hana” in hiragana or when “Hana” is confirmed as input in katakana, the reading of these words is “Hana”. The mobile terminal 1 searches the pictogram dictionary unit 34 for pictographs associated with the reading “Hana”.

  The mobile terminal 1 can also be applied to English input by storing English words and pictograms in association with each other. For example, the mobile terminal 1 is an English word “flower” which means a flower and an emoticon indicating a flower, an English word “floor” which means a flour, an emoticon showing a wheat, and an English word which means a flow. A case where “flow” and a pictograph indicating a river flow are stored in association with each other will be described as an example.

  If you want to enter a pictogram indicating a flower after the user inputs "flower", entering a pictogram indicating a flower, a pictogram indicating wheat, and a pictograph indicating a river flow are input when the word "flo" is input. It will be displayed as a candidate. On the other hand, the mobile terminal 1 in the present embodiment can display a pictograph indicating a flower associated with “flower” as an input candidate when “flower” has already been input immediately before. For this reason, the user can abbreviate | omit operation which selects a desired pictogram from the pictogram which shows a flower, the pictogram which shows wheat, and the pictogram which shows the flow of a river.

  In the input candidate display process described above, an example has been described in which pictograms and words are displayed as input candidates after the input word is confirmed. On the other hand, in order to input pictograms with better operability, a function of displaying only pictograms in a list may be provided. Hereinafter, it demonstrates in detail using a flowchart.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining input candidate display processing for displaying a pictographic list executed by the mobile terminal 1 in the present embodiment.

  FIG. 6 is a screen transition diagram of the display unit 21 when input candidate display processing for displaying a pictogram list is performed.

  Steps S11 to S15 are substantially the same as the input operation step S1 to the search step S5 in the input candidate display process of FIG.

  In step S16, the input candidate processing unit 32 determines whether or not an instruction for calling a list of pictograms has been received. The input candidate processing unit 32 receives an instruction to call a list of pictograms, for example, via a pictogram call key 40a (see FIG. 6A) that receives an instruction to call a list of pictograms provided on the soft key 40 of the input unit 20. Accept. If the input candidate processing unit 32 determines that an instruction for calling a list of pictograms has not been received, for example, when a word or a pictogram displayed as an input candidate is selected and input without calling the list of pictograms, If another character is input from 20, the process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the input candidate processing unit 32 determines that an instruction to call a list of pictograms has been received, in step S17, the input candidate processing unit 32 searches the pictogram dictionary unit 34 for pictographs whose reading matches the displayed input candidate, and finds the pictograph searched for. A list is displayed in the input candidate display area 21b.

  When an instruction to call a list of pictograms is received, for example, as shown in FIG. 6B, pictograms whose readings coincide with the word “flower” whose input has already been confirmed are displayed in the input candidate display area 21b. In the example of FIG. 6B, a plurality of pictograms associated with readings that match the reading “Hana” of the word “flower” are displayed. At this time, the input candidate processing unit 32 may preferentially display a pictograph whose category matches that of a word whose input has already been confirmed, and may display a pictograph indicating a nose that matches the reading but has a different category.

  In the pictogram list display step S17, an example has been described in which pictograms whose readings coincide with words that have already been entered are displayed as a pictogram list. However, pictograms whose categories match the already determined words may be displayed as a pictogram list.

  Step S18 is the same as the input confirmation determination step S6 in FIG.

  According to this portable terminal 1, since only pictograms are displayed in a list, the operability when selecting pictograms can be improved for a user who performs pictogram input. In addition, since the mobile terminal 1 displays a list of pictograms only when an instruction to call a list of pictograms is received, it is effective in that it does not unnecessarily narrow the user's usability.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied not only to the portable terminal 1 but also to an information processing apparatus having a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a personal computer, and other pictogram input functions.

  The series of processes described in the embodiments of the present invention can be executed by software, but can also be executed by hardware.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the steps of the flowchart show the processing examples performed in time series in the order described, but they are not necessarily processed in time series but are executed in parallel or individually. It also includes the processing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile terminal 19 Control part 20 Input part 21 Display part 21a Character input area 21b Input candidate display area 23 Memory | storage part 31 Character input process part 32 Input candidate process part 33 Word dictionary part 34 Pictogram dictionary part 35 Learning dictionary part 40 Soft key 40a Emoji call key

Claims (4)

An input section for inputting characters and pictograms;
A display unit that displays the characters input by the input unit and input candidates based on the characters;
A confirmation unit for confirming the input of the character input by the input unit;
A character dictionary part for storing the character and the reading of the character in association with each other;
A pictogram dictionary unit for storing the pictograms and the readings generated from the pictograms in association with each other;
Input candidate processing that searches the pictogram dictionary unit for the pictogram having a reading that matches the reading of the character associated with the character whose input is confirmed, and displays the searched pictogram on the display unit as an input candidate And an information processing apparatus. The characters and the pictograms are divided into categories in advance,
The character dictionary unit further stores the character and the category to which the character belongs in association with each other,
The pictogram dictionary unit further stores the pictogram and the category to which the character belongs in association with each other,
The input candidate processing unit displays the pictogram having the reading and the category that match the reading and the category associated with the character for which the input has been confirmed as the pictogram input candidate on the display unit. Information processing device. The input candidate processing unit displays, on the display unit, a character input candidate that is predicted to be input following the character whose input has been confirmed together with the pictogram input candidate,
The input unit further accepts an instruction to display the pictogram input candidate after the pictogram input candidate and the character input candidate are displayed,
When the input unit accepts an instruction to display the pictogram input candidate, the input candidate processing unit displays the pictogram having the reading that matches the reading associated with the character whose input is confirmed. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 displayed on the screen. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the input candidate processing unit preferentially displays the pictogram having the category that matches the category associated with the character for which the input is confirmed.

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