JP2012118582A - Software keyboard display device and television - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a software keyboard more excellent in visibility and operability.SOLUTION: A software keyboard display device that allocates plural characters to each virtual key, displays, on a screen, a software keyboard in which plural virtual keys with characters allocated thereto are arranged, and can receive an operation from the outside on the virtual keys, comprises virtual key display control means that, when a virtual key with plural characters allocated thereto is selected according to the operation, dynamically displays plural virtual keys to which respective characters allocated to the selected virtual key are allocated character by character around the position of the selected virtual key.

Description

  The present invention relates to a software keyboard display device and a television.

Multiple virtual keys (soft keys) displaying alphabets, numbers, and other various symbols (hereinafter collectively referred to as “characters”) are displayed on the screen, and characters are displayed according to user input for each virtual key. Software keyboards that can accept input are known.
As a related technique, when a character key area is touched by touch-type input means such as a stylus pen or a finger, the length of the bar touch operation ( A touch-type key input device that determines a distance) and a direction and selects and outputs a character set as a character key according to the determination result is known (see Patent Document 1). In addition, when a key displayed on the screen is selected by the touch-type input unit, a difference in touch method by the touch-type input unit is determined, and a plurality of types set for the key are determined according to the determined touch method. There is known a screen display type key input device that selects and outputs from the above characters and symbols (see Patent Document 2).

  In addition, when the position of one target key on the virtual keyboard displayed in the lower area of the display screen is tapped, an enlarged key indicating the target key is displayed in the upper area of the display screen. Around the virtual keyboard, other keys within a certain range from the target key are displayed as adjacent enlarged keys, and auxiliary candidate characters of the target key are displayed as auxiliary enlarged keys at the periphery of the enlarged key, depending on the tap position. A character input device that inputs the target key or the auxiliary candidate character as a confirmed character is known (see Patent Document 3). Also, when an arbitrary key is selected by the pointer, when the selected key is enlarged, the characters of the adjacent keys hidden behind the enlarged key are displayed in a small size in the enlarged key. A display method of a software keyboard is known (see Patent Document 4).

JP 2007-213615 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-325064 JP 2005-182487 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-177848

  According to the configuration in which a plurality of characters are set in one key as in the above-mentioned documents 1 and 2, a software keyboard for inputting many characters can be displayed with a smaller number of keys. However, in the above documents 1 and 2, the operation and processing for inputting a character desired by the user from a plurality of characters set to one key is complicated, and it is difficult to say that the configuration is easy to use for the user. It was. In addition, since the document 3 is configured to display a virtual keyboard in the lower area of the display screen and perform enlarged display of the selected target key in the upper area of the display screen, a large number of display areas are required. End up. For this reason, it is not possible to meet the demand for reducing the amount of display content and improving the visibility and ease of operation of each key of the software keyboard. In addition, the document 4 does not have a configuration in which a plurality of characters are set in one key, and thus cannot respond to the request.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides an apparatus that realizes a software keyboard that is superior in visibility and operability as compared with the prior art and that allows a user to input intuitively and accurately.

  One aspect of the present invention is that a plurality of characters are assigned to each virtual key, a software keyboard in which a plurality of virtual keys to which the characters are assigned is arranged is displayed on the screen, and external operations on the virtual keys are accepted. A software keyboard display device capable of assigning each character assigned to the selected virtual key one by one when a single virtual key assigned with a plurality of characters is selected in accordance with the above operation. Virtual key display control means for dynamically displaying a plurality of virtual keys around the position of the selected virtual key is provided.

  According to the configuration, when a software keyboard in which a plurality of virtual keys to which a plurality of characters are assigned is arranged is displayed on the screen, when one virtual key is selected, the selected virtual key is displayed. Multiple virtual keys that assign each assigned character one by one are dynamically displayed around the position of the selected virtual key, so each character has excellent visibility and easy character input operations A simple software keyboard can be provided. In other words, when the user wants to input a certain character, if the user selects a virtual key to which the character is assigned together with other characters, the virtual key to which the character is assigned is dynamically displayed. By performing an operation on the displayed virtual key, a desired character can be input easily and accurately.

It is a figure which illustrates schematic structure etc. of a software keyboard display apparatus. It is a figure which illustrates the initial stage software keyboard displayed on a display panel. It is a figure which shows the flowchart which a virtual key display control part performs. It is a figure which illustrates the mode of the dynamic display of the virtual key on a display panel. It is a figure which shows the other example of the mode of the dynamic display of the virtual key on a display panel.

In the present embodiment, the virtual key display control means places a plurality of virtual keys, each of which is assigned to each character assigned to the selected virtual key, at the position of the selected virtual key and around the position. It is good also as a structure which displays dynamically.
Moreover, as this embodiment, the said virtual key display control means is good also as a structure which expands and displays the virtual key displayed dynamically rather than another virtual key.
Further, in the present embodiment, the virtual key display control means is configured such that the key arrangement direction between the virtual keys to which a plurality of characters are assigned with respect to the virtual key that is dynamically displayed around the position of the selected virtual key. It is good also as a structure displayed on the position of a different direction.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of virtual keys to which a plurality of characters are assigned are displayed at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction in the screen, and the virtual key display control means is configured to display the selected virtual key. The virtual key that is dynamically displayed around the key position is a position that is oblique to the vertical and horizontal directions and includes a space between virtual keys to which a plurality of characters are assigned. It is good also as a structure to display.
According to the present embodiment, the virtual key display control means is configured so that the virtual key displayed dynamically around the position of the selected virtual key is adjacent to the selected virtual key in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. It is good also as a structure displayed on the position which does not overlap with each virtual key to which the several character located in is assigned.
According to the present embodiment, the virtual key display control means assigns a plurality of characters according to an operation for any one of the up, down, left, and right direction keys mounted on the input device for accepting the operation. Change the selected virtual key, and input to the dynamically displayed virtual key according to the operation on the center key and any one of the upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left direction keys mounted on the input device. It is good also as a structure which receives.

Further, in the present embodiment, a television (which is provided as a part of the function) on which the operation for the virtual key is accepted in accordance with an instruction from a remote control (hereinafter referred to as remote control) device as an input device and the above-described software keyboard display device is mounted. It may be.
However, the specific product on which the software keyboard display device is mounted is not limited to the television, and any product that can display the software keyboard on the display screen (for example, the software keyboard on the TV screen). A player or a recorder to be displayed) can be assumed. It is also possible to grasp the invention of a method comprising processing executed by a software keyboard display device and the invention of a program for causing a computer to execute the processing.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic configuration of a software keyboard display device 10 (hereinafter, display device 10) according to the present embodiment. The display device 10 is a television, for example. In other words, the television implements the display device 10 as part of its function. The display device 10 includes a display panel 11, a control unit 12, a remote control interface (remote control I / F) 13, and the like. The display panel 11 is, for example, a liquid crystal panel, a plasma display panel, an organic EL panel, or the like. The control unit 12 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls the entire display device 10 according to a predetermined program. The remote control I / F 13 receives an infrared signal transmitted from an external remote control device 20 (a type of input device) operated by the user, converts the infrared signal into an electrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to the control unit 12. The control unit 12 performs processing according to an electrical signal (control signal from the remote control device 20) input via the remote control I / F 13.

  The control unit 12 realizes a software keyboard display unit 12a, a virtual key display control unit 12b, and the like as its functions. The software keyboard display unit 12a executes processing for displaying an initial software keyboard described later on the display panel 11. The virtual key display control unit 12b performs a process of dynamically displaying the virtual key on the display panel 11 as will be described later, and receives an input to the virtual key. When the display device 10 is a television, it goes without saying that the display device 10 has various configurations known as a television, such as a tuner, a decoder, a digital signal processor, a display panel drive circuit, a power supply circuit, an audio output circuit, and a speaker. .

  As shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. 1, the remote control device 20 is equipped with remote control keys 20 a to 20 i for accepting an operation on the software keyboard by the user. The breakdown of the remote control keys 20a to 20i is an up key 20b, a left key 20d, a right key 20f, a down key 20h, a center key 20e, an upper left key 20a, an upper right key 20c, a lower left key 20g, and a lower right key 20i. is there.

  FIG. 2 illustrates an initial software keyboard that the control unit 12 (software keyboard display unit 12a) displays on the display panel 11 (screen). In FIG. 2 (and FIGS. 4 and 5 described later), a partial region of the display panel 11 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. The initial software keyboard is displayed by the software keyboard display unit 12a that detects the operation when the user performs a predetermined operation for calling the software keyboard on the display panel 11 to the remote control device 20. For example, when the display device 10 is in operation, the user calls the software keyboard when it becomes necessary to input a character string such as password input or program search. Here, the expression “initial” software keyboard is an expression for convenience in order to distinguish it from a scene where “dynamic display of virtual keys” described later is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the initial software keyboard, a plurality of substantially rectangular virtual keys (virtual keys 30 to 41) are arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction in the screen (about the adjacent virtual key). They are displayed with an interval between them so that one virtual key of approximately the same size is sandwiched between them. A plurality of characters are assigned to the virtual keys 30 to 41, respectively. For example, the upper left virtual key 30 is assigned with characters “A” and “B”, and is displayed with the characters “A” and “B” written inside. Similarly, the characters “9” and “0” are assigned to the virtual key 41 at the lower right, and the characters “9” and “0” are displayed inside. Hereinafter, each of the virtual keys 30 to 41 in which a plurality of characters are assigned to one key is referred to as a “multi-character virtual key”.

  FIG. 3 shows a flowchart executed by the virtual key display control unit 12b. As an assumption of the processing, an initial software keyboard is displayed on the screen. Further, when starting the processing, the multi-character virtual keys 30 to 41 are triggered by a predetermined remote control operation by the user after the initial software keyboard is displayed on the screen or at the same time when the initial software keyboard is displayed on the screen. It is assumed that the key at the default position (for example, the multi-character virtual key 30) is selected.

  In step S100, the virtual key display control unit 12b determines whether the selection of the multi-character virtual key has been changed. The user can arbitrarily select one multi-character virtual key on the screen by operating the up direction key 20b, the left direction key 20d, the right direction key 20f, and the down direction key 20h of the remote control device 20. That is, when the virtual key display control unit 12b detects an operation on any one of the up direction key 20b, the left direction key 20d, the right direction key 20f, and the down direction key 20h via the remote control I / F 13, It is determined that the selection of the character virtual key has been changed (the selected position has been moved in the vertical or horizontal direction) ("Yes" in step S100). When the virtual key display control unit 12b determines “Yes” in step S100, the virtual key display control unit 12b proceeds to step S110 and determines “No” (when it is determined that there has been no change in the selection of the multi-character virtual key). Proceed to step S120.

  In step S110, the virtual key display control unit 12b changes the multi-character virtual key to be selected according to the operation on the up direction key 20b, the left direction key 20d, the right direction key 20f, and the down direction key 20h detected in step S100. Then, “virtual key dynamic display” is performed on the basis of the position of the multi-character virtual key to be changed (newly selected). “Dynamic display of virtual key” means that when one multi-character virtual key is selected, a plurality of virtual keys to which each character assigned to the selected multi-character virtual key is assigned one character at a time. This is a process of dynamically displaying around the position of the selected virtual key. Hereinafter, a virtual key corresponding to one character displayed by “dynamic display of a virtual key” is referred to as a single character virtual key.

  FIG. 4 illustrates the state of “dynamic display of virtual keys” on the display panel 11. In the example of FIG. 4, the multi-character virtual key 34 (see FIG. 2) is selected from the multi-character virtual keys 30 to 41. Therefore, the characters “K” and “L” assigned to the multi-character virtual key 34 are selected. ”And“ M ”, single character virtual keys 34a, 34b, 34c are dynamically displayed (appear). Specifically, the single character virtual key 34a to which the character “K” is assigned appears at the position where the multiple character virtual key 34 was displayed. On the other hand, the single-character virtual key 34b to which the letter “L” is assigned and the single-character virtual key 34c to which the letter “M” is assigned are shown in the direction indicated by the solid arrow in FIG. The single character virtual key 34c appears in the upper right direction with respect to the position of the key 34, and the lower right direction with respect to the position of the multiple character virtual key 34).

  FIG. 5 shows another example of the state of “dynamic key dynamic display” on the display panel 11. In the example of FIG. 5, the multi-character virtual key 35 (see FIG. 2) is selected by operating the right direction key 20f of the remote control device 20 from the state where the multi-character virtual key 34 has been selected (FIG. 4). Shows the case. Therefore, the single character virtual keys 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d, and 35e to which the characters “N”, “O”, “P”, “Q”, and “R” assigned to the multi-character virtual key 35 are assigned, respectively. Is displayed dynamically. Specifically, the single character virtual key 35a to which the character “N” is assigned appears at the position where the multiple character virtual key 35 was displayed. A single character virtual key 35b to which the character “O” is assigned, a single character virtual key 35c to which the character “P” is assigned, a single character virtual key 35d to which the character “Q” is assigned, and a character “R” are assigned. The single character virtual key 35e is the direction indicated by the solid arrow in FIG. 5 (the single character virtual key 35b is the upper left direction with respect to the position of the multi-character virtual key 35, and the single character virtual key 35c is the multi-character virtual key 35 In the upper right direction with respect to the position, the single character virtual key 35d is in the lower left direction with respect to the position of the multi-character virtual key 35, and the single character virtual key 35e is in the lower right direction with respect to the position of the multi-character virtual key 35). Appear.

  In the process of changing from the state in which one multi-character virtual key is selected to the state in which another multi-character virtual key is selected, it is displayed when the former multi-character virtual key is selected. The single character virtual key disappears. For example, in the process of changing from the state where the multi-character virtual key 34 is selected to the state where the multi-character virtual key 35 is selected, the single-character virtual key 34a displayed at the position of the multi-character virtual key 34 is It disappears as it is (the multi-character virtual key 34 reappears), and at the same time, the single-character virtual key 34b and the single-character virtual key 34c displayed around the multi-character virtual key 34 are in the directions indicated by the chain arrows in FIG. Disappears dynamically towards The chain line arrows shown in FIG. 5 also indicate the direction in which the single character virtual keys 35b, 35c, 35d, and 35e disappear.

  As can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, the single character virtual key that is dynamically displayed around the position of the selected multi-character virtual key is the peripheral position of the selected multi-character virtual key, and is a multi-character virtual key. It is displayed at a position in a direction different from the key arrangement direction (vertical direction and horizontal direction) between keys. More specifically, among the peripheral positions of the selected multi-character virtual key, a position in a direction that is inclined with respect to the vertical and horizontal directions of the screen and is provided in advance between the multi-character virtual keys It is displayed at the position including the area. That is, the single character virtual key is displayed at a position where it does not overlap as much as possible with the multiple character virtual key around the multiple character virtual key selected at that time.

  In particular, a single-character virtual key that is dynamically displayed around the position of a selected multi-character virtual key is a multi-character virtual key that is positioned next to the selected multi-character virtual key in the vertical and horizontal directions ( In the example of FIG. 5, the multi-character virtual key 35 is displayed at a position that does not overlap with the multi-character virtual keys 31, 34, 36, 39) that are adjacent to each other in the vertical and horizontal directions. By adopting such a display mode, the user can operate any one of the up key 20b, the left key 20d, the right key 20f, and the down key 20h after selecting a certain multi-character virtual key. When a multi-character virtual key is to be selected, a multi-character virtual key that can be selected by a single operation can be seen on the screen without being hidden. Therefore, the visibility when the user selects the multi-character virtual key by operating the up direction key 20b, the left direction key 20d, the right direction key 20f, and the down direction key 20h is improved, and the selection process becomes easy. .

  As can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, the single character virtual key displayed on the screen has a larger size than the multi-character virtual key displayed at that time. Since the single character virtual key is a virtual key that can accept a character input by the user at that time, displaying the larger character character increases the visibility of the user who performs the character input and facilitates the character input. 4 and 5, among the multiple character virtual keys 30 to 41, a multiple character virtual key (multiple character virtual key 30, 31, 32, 33, 34) located at the end of the set of multiple character virtual keys. , 37, 38, 39, 40, 41) is selected, the single-character virtual key that is dynamically displayed around the selected multi-character virtual key is displayed inside the set, It is not displayed on the outside (see FIG. 4). On the other hand, when a multi-character virtual key (multi-character virtual key 35, 36) at a position that is not the end of the set is selected, the single-character virtual key that is dynamically displayed around the selected multi-character virtual key is: The selected multi-character virtual key is displayed at four locations, upper left, upper right, lower left and lower right (see FIG. 5).

  In step S120, the virtual key display control unit 12b continues the “dynamic key dynamic display” based on the position of the selected multi-character virtual key without changing the selection of the multi-character virtual key. To do.

  In step S130, the virtual key display control unit 12b determines whether or not there is an input for the single-character virtual key displayed at that time. In a state where any one of the multi-character virtual keys is selected (a state in which “virtual key dynamic display” is performed based on the position of the selected multi-character virtual key), the user operates the remote controller 20. By operating the center key 20e, the upper left key 20a, the upper right key 20c, the lower left key 20g, and the lower right key 20i, it is possible to input a single character virtual key on the screen. That is, when the virtual key display control unit 12b detects an operation on any one of the center key 20e, the upper left key 20a, the upper right key 20c, the lower left key 20g, and the lower right key 20i via the remote control I / F 13, It is determined that there is an input to the single character virtual key (“Yes” in step S130). If the virtual key display control unit 12b determines “Yes” in step S130, the virtual key display control unit 12b proceeds to step S140. If the determination is “No” (when it is determined that there is no input to the single character virtual key), the virtual key display control unit 12b performs step S150. Proceed to

  In step S140, the virtual key display control unit 12b accepts input of characters according to the operations on the center key 20e, the upper left key 20a, the upper right key 20c, the lower left key 20g, and the lower right key 20i detected in step S130 (character input). To confirm). That is, the input of the character assigned to the single character virtual key whose position corresponds to the operated center key 20e, upper left key 20a, upper right key 20c, lower left key 20g, and lower right key 20i is accepted. For example, in the state of FIG. 4, the virtual key display control unit 12b accepts input of the character “K” corresponding to the single character virtual key 34a when the center key 20e is operated, and operates the upper right key 20c. The single character virtual key 34b accepts input of the corresponding character “L”, and if the lower right key 20i is operated, the single character virtual key 34c accepts input of the corresponding character “M”.

  In the state of FIG. 5, the virtual key display control unit 12b accepts the input of the character “N” corresponding to the single character virtual key 35a when the center key 20e is operated, and operates the upper left key 20a. If the single character virtual key 35b accepts the input of the corresponding character “O” and the upper right key 20c is operated, the single character virtual key 35c accepts the input of the corresponding character “P” and if the lower left key 20g is operated. The single character virtual key 35d accepts input of the corresponding character “Q”, and if the lower right key 20i is operated, the single character virtual key 35e accepts input of the corresponding character “R”. As described above, the virtual key display control unit 12a accepts a character input to the single character virtual key according to an operation on the upper left key 20a, the upper right key 20c, the center key 20e, the lower left key 20g, and the lower right key 20i. An arbitrary character string can be input.

  In step S150, the virtual key display control unit 12b determines whether or not a predetermined end instruction (software keyboard end instruction) from the user has been received. If the end instruction is received, the virtual key display control unit 12b ends the flowchart and issues an end instruction. If not received, the process returns to step S100, and the processes after step S100 are repeated. Of course, when ending the flowchart, the virtual key display control unit 12b provides the character that has received the input as described above as information to other functions in the display device 10 that require the character.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the display device 10 allows the user to use the remote control device by the user on the initial software keyboard in which the plurality of character virtual keys 30 to 41 to which a plurality of characters are assigned are arranged at predetermined intervals in the vertical and horizontal directions. A single character virtual key in which each character assigned to the selected multiple character virtual key is assigned one character at a time is selected according to the operation of each of the up, down, left, and right direction keys. The position of the selected multi-character virtual key and the position around the selected multi-character virtual key that is oblique to the selected multi-character virtual key and substantially avoids the positions of other multi-character virtual keys around it. The position is dynamically displayed. Then, it is assumed that the input to the single character virtual key is accepted in accordance with the operation of the center, upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right keys by the user. In other words, by reducing the number of virtual keys (multiple character virtual keys) displayed for the types of characters that can be input, the visibility of each virtual key is increased and the number of movements between the multiple character virtual keys is reduced. The user's operational burden is reduced. Furthermore, the operation for inputting a desired character among a plurality of characters assigned to one multi-character virtual key is very intuitive as an input to the dynamically displayed single-character virtual key. By making the operation easy and easy, it is possible to provide a software keyboard that has much better visibility and operability than conventional ones.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Software keyboard display apparatus, 11 ... Display panel, 12 ... Control part, 12a ... Software keyboard display part, 12b ... Virtual key display control part, 13 ... Remote control I / F, 20 ... Remote control apparatus, 20a ... Upper left key, 20b ... Up key, 20c ... Upper key, 20d ... Left key, 20e ... Center key, 20f ... Right key, 20g ... Lower key, 20h ... Down key, 20i ... Lower key, 30-41 ... Multiple characters Virtual key, 34a, 34b, 34c, 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d, 35e ... Single character virtual key

Claims (8)

A software keyboard display device that assigns a plurality of characters to each virtual key, displays a software keyboard in which a plurality of virtual keys to which characters are assigned are arranged, and accepts an external operation on the virtual key. ,
When one virtual key to which a plurality of characters are assigned is selected according to the above operation, a plurality of virtual keys to which each character assigned to the selected virtual key is assigned one character at a time are selected. A software keyboard display device comprising virtual key display control means for dynamically displaying around a key position.   The virtual key display control means dynamically displays a plurality of virtual keys to which each character assigned to the selected virtual key is assigned one by one at the position of the selected virtual key and around the position. The software keyboard display device according to claim 1.   3. The software keyboard display device according to claim 1, wherein the virtual key display control means displays the dynamically displayed virtual key in an enlarged manner as compared with other virtual keys.   The virtual key display control means has a virtual key displayed dynamically around the position of the selected virtual key at a position in a direction different from the key arrangement direction between the virtual keys to which a plurality of characters are assigned. The software keyboard display device according to claim 1, wherein the software keyboard display device displays the software keyboard. A plurality of virtual keys assigned with a plurality of characters are displayed at predetermined intervals in the vertical and horizontal directions in the screen,
The virtual key display control means is a virtual key to be dynamically displayed around the position of the selected virtual key, and the virtual key display control means is a position in a direction that is oblique to the vertical and horizontal directions, and a plurality of characters are 5. The software keyboard display device according to claim 4, wherein the software keyboard display device is displayed at a position including a free area between the assigned virtual keys.   The virtual key display control means includes a plurality of characters that are adjacent to the selected virtual key in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction for the virtual key that is dynamically displayed around the position of the selected virtual key. The software keyboard display device according to claim 5, wherein the software keyboard display device is displayed at a position that does not overlap with each assigned virtual key.   The virtual key display control means is mounted on the input device for accepting the operation, and selects a virtual key to which a plurality of characters are assigned according to an operation on any one of the upper, lower, left, and right direction keys. The input to the dynamically displayed virtual key is accepted in accordance with an operation on any one of the center key mounted on the input device and each of the upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left direction keys. The software keyboard display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   A television comprising the software keyboard display device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which receives an operation on a virtual key in accordance with an instruction from a remote control device as an input device.

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