JP2013125376A - Search system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a "search system" which is capable of facilitating search operations in a plurality of different applications with the same keyword.SOLUTION: When a user operates a search button 402 after inputting a character string "ABC" to a character string input box 401 on the window of an application A (a3), a search with the character string "ABC" as a search key is executed by the application A. The character string "ABC" inputted to the character string input box 401 is registered by an operating system. Next, when an application B of the same type as the application A is started and a selecting operation for a character string input box 401 for search key input on the window of the application B occurs, the operating system automatically inputs the registered character string "ABC" to the character string input box 401 (b3).

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for supporting search work.

  As a technology for supporting the search operation, the input of a character string as a search keyword is automatically estimated by estimating the rear part following the front part of the character string input by the user using a character string database provided in advance. A technique for assisting by inputting is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-085222 A

  Now, when a desired result is not obtained by a search performed by inputting a search keyword in a certain application, a search using the same keyword may be executed in another application. In such a case, it is necessary to perform a complicated operation of re-inputting the keyword in another application.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to facilitate a search operation using the same keyword performed in a plurality of different applications.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention displays a character string input box and executes a plurality of applications for performing a search using a character string input by the user's character input operation in the character string input box as a search key. In the system, a character string storage means for registering a character string used as a search key for a search executed by the application, and a character string registered in the character string storage means in the character string input box displayed by the application And an automatic input means for performing automatic input.

  According to such a search system, when a desired result is not obtained by a search performed on a certain application, the user is automatically input when searching for another application with the same search key. It is sufficient to use the character string as a search key as it is, and there is no need to perform a complicated operation of re-inputting the character string.

  Here, in such a search system, a group management table in which each application is registered in association with a group for each type of the application to which the application belongs is provided, and the search executed by the application in the character string storage unit The character string used as the search key is registered in association with the group in which the application executing the search is registered in association with the group management table, and the automatic display means displays the application Automatic input for inputting a character string registered in the character string storage means in association with a group in which the application displaying the character string input box is registered in association with the group management table in the character string input box To do It may form.

  Here, if a user does not obtain a desired result by searching for a certain application, the user can expect to search for the same type of application with the same search key. Thus, a character string having a higher probability of being reused as a search key can be automatically input.

  In this case, the application is an application that operates in cooperation with an application on the external device connected to the search system, and is the same type as the type of the application on the external device in the group management table. It may be registered in association with the group.

  Further, the above search system is configured so that only the character string input box that is displayed first after the application is started or after the application transitions to a state in which user operation can be accepted in the automatic input unit. You may comprise so that the automatic input which inputs the character string registered into the said character string memory | storage means into a character string input box may be performed.

  In the above search system, the automatic input means performs automatic input for inputting a character string registered in the character string storage means in the character string input box, and then enters the character string input box of the user. When the character input operation is performed, the character string input to the character string input box by the automatic input may be deleted. In this way, when a user inputs a new character string in the character string input box in order to use a search key different from the automatically input character string, the character string automatically input prior to the input is deleted. This eliminates the need for the user to perform special operations.

  Further, the above search system may be configured to perform the automatic input when the user selects a character string input box in the automatic input unit.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a search operation using the same keyword performed in a plurality of different applications can be facilitated.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the vehicle-mounted apparatus and smart phone which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the application group table and final input character string table which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the last input character string update process and automatic input process which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the process example of the automatic input process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the other structural example of the vehicle equipment which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and a smart phone.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described taking application to an in-vehicle device to which a smartphone is connected as an example.
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of such an in-vehicle device and a smartphone.
As illustrated, the smartphone 1 includes a peripheral device 10 such as a mobile communication device for accessing a mobile telephone network, an operation unit 11, a display 12, a voice input / output unit 13 including a microphone and a speaker, an in-vehicle device 2, and the like. A host interface 14 for connection, an SP-operating system 15 that is an OS of the smartphone 1, a plurality of SP-APs 16 that are applications managed by the SP-operating system 15 and run on the SP-operating system 15 are provided. ing. The SP-operating system 15 includes an SP-GUI control unit 151 for controlling the GUI of each SP-AP 16 using the operation unit 11, the display 12, and the voice input / output unit 13.

  The smartphone 1 also includes a mobile phone application that causes the smartphone 1 to function as a mobile phone using the mobile communication device, the voice input / output unit 13, and the operation unit 11. The smartphone 1 also includes an SNS client application, a navigation application, a map browser application, a music distribution service client application, a news distribution service client application, a Web browser application, a restaurant search service client application, and the like. One type or a plurality of types of applications are provided as SP-AP 16 for each type.

  Next, the in-vehicle device 2 is a device mounted on an automobile. As shown in the figure, a peripheral device 20, such as a GPS receiver, a TV tuner, a DVD player, an input device 21, a display device 22, a microphone, a speaker, and the like are provided. The voice input / output device 23 provided, the device interface 24 for connecting to the smartphone 1, the H-operating system 25 which is the OS of the in-vehicle device 2, and the H-operating system 25 managed by the H-operating system 25 And an application group table 27 and a final input character string table 28. The H-operating system 25 includes an H-GUI control unit 251 for controlling the GUI of each H-AP 26 using the input device 21, the display device 22, and the voice input / output device 23.

  Here, the H-AP 26 provided in the in-vehicle device 2 is provided corresponding to each SP-AP 16 of the smartphone 1, operates in cooperation with the corresponding SP-AP 16 and corresponds to the input device 21 of the SP-AP 16. And an agent application that provides a GUI using the display device 22 via the H-operating system 25.

Next, FIG. 2 a shows an application group table 27 provided in the in-vehicle device 2.
As shown in the figure, in the application group table 27, for each group provided corresponding to each type of application use / function, the H-AP 26 classified into the type corresponding to the group is registered. Yes.
Here, in FIG. 2 a, “music”, which is a type in which a client application of the music distribution service is classified, is classified as “navigation / map”, which is a type in which a navigation application or a map browser application is classified, news, “News”, which is a type in which client applications of the distribution service are classified, “SNS”, which is a type in which client applications of SNS are classified, “Web”, in which types of web browser applications are classified, and restaurant search service “Gourmet” is a type of client application.

  Of the H-APs 26, the type of usage / function of the H-AP 26 that is an agent application that operates in cooperation with the SP-AP 16 and provides the GUI of the SP-AP 16 is as follows. Since it provides a GUI, it is the same type of SP-AP 16 that operates in cooperation. That is, for example, the type of the H-AP 26 that is an agent application that operates in cooperation with the SP-AP 16 of the type “music” is “music”, and for example, the SP-AP 16 of the type “news” is linked. The type of the H-AP 26 that is an agent application that operates as “news” is “news”.

Next, FIG. 2 b shows the contents of the final input character string table 28.
As shown in the figure, the final input character string table 28 has entries (each line in the figure) provided corresponding to each group described above, and each entry includes a corresponding group and a character string. And the registration date and time indicating the date and time when the last input character string was registered.

  In such a configuration, the H-GUI control unit 251 sets one of the activated H-APs 26 as an active application in response to a user operation, and displays the active application window as an active window. The GUI control processing is displayed on the display 22 and controls the display content of the active window in response to a request from the active application, accepts an input operation on the active window by the user via the input device 21, and notifies the active application of the input content. I do. Here, in this GUI control processing, for example, as shown in FIG. 4a2, when a character string input box 401 for search key input and a search button 402 are provided as a set in the active window, the user search key Upon accepting the selection operation of the input character string input box 401, the character string input box 401 is set as the active object, and the software keyboard 403 is displayed as shown in FIG. 4a3. The character string input box 401 becomes the active object. In response to the character input operation in the character string input box 401 in response to the character input operation using the user's software keyboard 403 in the set state or the user's search button 402 operation, the character at that time The character string input in the column input box 401 is used as a search key. With purport of the search button operation occurrence includes processing for notifying the active application. Note that when the active application is notified from the H-GUI control unit 251 that the search key and the search button operation are generated, the active application executes a predetermined search using the search key.

Further, the H-GUI control unit 251 of the in-vehicle device 2 performs a final input character string update process and an automatic input process in order to support a user's search operation.
First, the final input character string update process will be described.
FIG. 3a shows the procedure of the final input character string update process.
As shown in the figure, in the final input character string update process, the H-GUI control unit 251 includes a search button 402 provided as a set with a character string input box 401 for search key input in the active window as shown in FIG. 4a3, for example. The occurrence of a user operation on is monitored (step 302). Note that the H-GUI control unit 251 uses the search key input character string input box 401 and the search button 402 in the active window to input the display contents of the active window, the display object configuration, and the character strings in the active window. The script defined in the box 401 or each button may be analyzed and recognized. Alternatively, when the display / display update request for the window of the H-AP 26 is issued from the H-AP 26, the search key input character string input box 401 and the search button 402 included in the window are registered in the H-GUI control unit 251. Accordingly, the H-GUI control unit 251 may recognize the character string input box 401 and the search button 402 for search key input in the active window.

  If a user operation of the search button 402 occurs, the last entry of the entry of the group to which the active application of the last input character string table 28 belongs with the character string that has been input in the search key character string input box at that time. The character string is updated, and the registration date / time of the entry is updated to the current date / time (step 304). Here, the group to which the active application belongs is identified with reference to the application group table 27.

Then, the process returns to the monitoring in step 302.
The final input character string update process has been described above.
Next, automatic input processing will be described.
FIG. 3b shows the procedure of automatic input processing.
As shown in the figure, in the automatic input process, the H-GUI control unit 251 monitors whether the active application is switched (step 352). If the active application is switched, the search button 402 is displayed in the active window as shown in FIG. 4a2. The occurrence of a selection operation by the user with respect to the search key input character string input box 401 provided as a set is monitored (step 354). However, in step 352, only the switching of the newly activated application to the active application associated with the activation may be monitored.

  If a selection operation by the user with respect to the search key input character string input box 401 occurs, the entry of the group to which the active application belongs in the final input character string table 28 is registered as a registration date and time within a past predetermined period (for example, 20 (Min) is checked whether both the date and time and the last input character string are registered (step 356). If either is not registered, the process returns to step 352 to monitor the occurrence of switching of the next active application. To do.

  On the other hand, if both the date and time within the past predetermined period and the last input character string are registered as the registration date and time in the entry of the group to which the active application belongs in the final input character string table 28 (step 356), The same character string as the last input character string registered is automatically input into the character string input box 401 for inputting the search key (step 358).

Thereafter, the occurrence of a user character input operation on the search key input character string input box 401 (step 360) and the occurrence of a user operation on the search button 402 (step 362) are monitored.
When a user character input operation to the search key input character string input box 401 occurs (step 360), a search key input character string corresponding to the user character input operation by the GUI control processing described above. Prior to the character input to the input box 401, the character string automatically input in the search key input character string input box 401 in step 358 is deleted (step 364), and the process returns to step 352 to generate the switching of the next active application. To monitor. On the other hand, when a user operation with respect to the search button 402 occurs (step 362), the process returns to step 352 to monitor the occurrence of switching of the next active application.

The automatic input process has been described above.
Here, FIG. 4 shows a processing example of the final input character string update processing and automatic input processing as described above.
Assume that the application A belonging to the group “music” is set as an active application, and the window of the application A is displayed as an active window as shown in FIG. 4a1.
At this time, either the date / time in the past predetermined period or the last input character string is not registered as the registration date / time in the entry of the group “Music” to which the application A of the last input character string table 28 belongs. To do.
In this case, in accordance with the user's operation of the search menu 451, the display content of the active window is provided with a search key input character string input box 401 and a search button 402 as shown in FIG. 4a2. Switch to display contents. Thereafter, when the user operates the character string input box 401 for inputting the search key, a software keyboard 403 is further displayed as shown in FIG. 4a3.

  Thereafter, when the user operates the keyboard software, characters are sequentially input into the character string input box 401 for inputting the search key. When the user operates the search button 402 after completing the input of the character string “ABC” in the character string input box 401, the character string “ABC” input in the character string input box 401 is changed to the final input character string table. In the last input character string of the entry of the group “music” to which the 28 application A belongs, the current date and time is registered as the registration date and time of the entry.

Further, in response to the operation of the search button 402, a search using the character string “ABC” as a search key is executed, and the display content of the active window is switched to the display of the search result as shown in FIG. 4a4.
Here, the search result is not the user's desired search result, and the user thinks that another application B belonging to the group “music” will again execute a search using the character string “ABC” as a search key. And
In this case, the user activates the application B and sets the application B as an active application.
Then, the window of the application B is displayed as an active window as shown in FIG. 4b1. Then, according to the user's operation of the search menu 452, the display content of the active window is a display in which a character string input box 401 for search key input and a search button 402 are provided as a set as shown in FIG. 4b2. Switch to content.

Thereafter, when the user operates the character string input box 401 for inputting a search key, a software keyboard 403 is further displayed as shown in FIG. 4b3.
At this time, the latest date and time and the last input character string “ABC” are registered as the registration date and time in the entry of the group “music” to which the application B of the last input character string table 28 belongs. As described above, the character string “ABC” is automatically input to the character string input box 401.

  4B3, when the user operates the search button 402, the character string “ABC” automatically input to the character string input box 401 is included in the group “music” to which the application B of the last input character string table 28 belongs. The current date / time is registered as the registration date / time of the entry in the last input character string of the entry. Further, in response to the operation of the search button 402, a search using the character string “ABC” as a search key is executed, and the display content of the active window is switched to display of the search result as shown in FIG. 4b4.

  As a result, the user does not input the character string “ABC” as a search key for the application B, but performs a search using the character string “ABC” previously input as the search key for the application A as a search key. Application B can be used. Therefore, when the result of a search performed by inputting a keyword in the application is not sufficient, a search operation using the same keyword performed in another application can be facilitated.

  On the other hand, when the user operates the software keyboard 403 in the state of FIG. 4b3, the character string “ABC” input to the character string input box is deleted as shown in FIG. 4c1, and as shown in FIGS. 4c2 and c3. The characters input from the software keyboard 403 are sequentially input to the character string input box 401. After that, when the user operates the search button 402, the character string input by the user in the character string input box 401 at that time is the entry of the group “music” to which the application B of the final input character string table 28 belongs. The current date and time are registered in the last input character string as the registration date and time of the entry. Further, in response to the operation of the search button 402, a search is executed using the character string input by the user in the character string input box 401 at that time as a search key.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
By the way, the above embodiment can be applied to an arbitrary apparatus that executes a plurality of applications such as a computer. That is, an application group table 27 and a final input character string table 28 are provided in the device, and applications are grouped and registered for each type so that the above-described final input character string update processing and automatic input processing are executed. You can do it.

  More specifically, for example, even in the in-vehicle device 2 that does not include an agent application that operates in cooperation with the SP-AP 16 of the smartphone 1, the H-AP 26 is grouped by type in the application group table 27. The final input character string update process and the automatic input process described above may be executed after registration. Alternatively, the application group table 27 and the final input character string table 28 are provided in the smartphone 1, and each SP-AP 16 is grouped and registered in the application group table 27 for each type, and the SP-GUI control unit 151 performs the above-described processing. The final input character string update process and the automatic input process may be executed.

Further, the above embodiment may be applied to the in-vehicle device 2 that does not include an agent application that operates in cooperation with the SP-AP 16 and that simply functions as an input / output device of the smartphone 1.
That is, in this case, the in-vehicle device 2 is configured as shown in FIG. 5, for example, and the H-operating system 25 of the in-vehicle device 2 is displayed via the SP-operating system 15 from the SP-AP 16 of the smartphone 1. Is displayed on the display device 22, and the operation content received by the input device 21 is transmitted to the SP-AP 16 via the SP-operating system 15.

  The in-vehicle device 2 includes a final input coordinate string table 200 instead of the final input character string table 28. In the application group table 27, the SP-AP 16 of the smartphone 1 is registered in groups for each type of use / function. In addition, the H-operating system 25 identifies the SP-AP 16 that the in-vehicle device 2 performs input / output in response to the notification from the smartphone 1.

  Then, the H-operating system 25 analyzes the display content of the display device 22, and the software keyboard input from the input device 21 while the search button 402 and the software keyboard 403 are displayed on the display device 22. If the input coordinate sequence in the display area 403 is held and the coordinate input in the search button 402 occurs, the SP- in which the in-vehicle device 2 is inputting / outputting at that time in the final input coordinate sequence table 200. Register for the group to which the AP 16 belongs.

  Further, the H-operating system 25 switches to the final input coordinate sequence table 200 when the SP-AP 16 that the in-vehicle device 2 inputs / outputs is switched and the search button 402 and the software keyboard 403 are displayed on the display device 22. At this time, the smartphone 1 is sequentially notified of the input coordinate sequence registered for the group to which the SP-AP 16 to which the in-vehicle device 2 is performing input / output belongs, as the input coordinates from the input device 21.

As a result, since the software keyboard displayed for each SP-AP 16 window is displayed by the SP-operating system 15 and is common, the SP-AP 16 has the same software keyboard as the above embodiment. Automatic input of the search key input immediately before the SP-AP 16 and other SP-APs in the same group is realized.
In the above embodiment, when the user performs a selection operation on the search key input character string input box 401, automatic input to the character string input box 401 is performed. When the character string input box 401 is displayed, automatic input to the character string input box 401 may be performed. That is, in this case, the occurrence of display of the character string input box 401 for search key input may be monitored in step 354 of the automatic input process, and if the display has occurred, the process may proceed to step 356.

  Note that the portable device in the above embodiment may be any portable device other than the smartphone 1, such as a mobile phone, a PDA, a portable game machine, and a portable player.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Smartphone, 2 ... In-vehicle apparatus, 10 ... Peripheral device, 11 ... Operation part, 12 ... Display, 13 ... Voice input / output part, 14 ... Host interface, 15 ... SP-operating system, 16 ... SP-AP, 20 ... Peripheral device, 21 ... input device, 22 ... display device, 23 ... voice input / output device, 24 ... device interface, 25 ... H-operating system, 26 ... H-AP, 27 ... application group table, 28 ... last input character string Table: 151... SP-GUI controller, 251. H-GUI controller, 401. Character string input box, 402. Search button, 403.

Claims (7)

A search system that displays a character string input box and executes a plurality of applications that perform a search using a character string input by a user's character input operation in the character string input box as a search key,
A character string storage means for registering a character string used as a search key in a search executed by the application;
An automatic input means for performing automatic input for inputting a character string registered in the character string storage means in the character string input box displayed by an application. The search system according to claim 1,
A group management table in which each application is registered in association with a group for each type of the application to which the application belongs;
The character string storage means registers a character string used as a search key for a search executed by an application in association with a group in which the application that executed the search is registered in association with the group management table,
The automatic input means associates the character string storage means with the character string input box displayed by the application in association with a group in which the application displaying the character string input box is registered in association with the group management table. A search system characterized by performing automatic input to input a character string registered in. The search system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
The automatic input means is configured such that the character string input box includes only the character string input box that is displayed first after the application is started or after the application transitions to a state in which user operation can be accepted. A search system for automatically inputting a character string registered in a storage means. The search system according to claim 1, 2, or 3,
The automatic input means, when the user performs a character input operation to the character string input box after performing automatic input to input the character string registered in the character string storage means to the character string input box And a character string input to the character string input box by the automatic input is deleted. The search system according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4,
The search system according to claim 1, wherein the automatic input means performs the automatic input when the user selects the character string input box. The search system according to claim 2,
The application is an application that operates in cooperation with an application on an external device connected to the search system, and is registered in association with a group of the same type as the application type on the external device in the group management table. Search system characterized by being. A computer program that is read and executed by a computer,
A computer program for causing the computer to function as the search system according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.