JP2015219543A - Character input device and character input program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of input operations of character string.SOLUTION: The character input device includes: input keys (4) which includes plural keys allotted with plural characters; and a processing section (6, processor 28) that allots characters, each of which has a high possibility to be input following a character which is immediately previously input, to the keys (4-1, 4-2. . . 4-10) to which the characters are included. With this, since a character which has a high possibility to be input following to the previously input character while referring to an input history is allotted, the number of input operations for inputting the character string can be reduced.

Description

The technology of the present disclosure relates to a character input technology using a numeric keypad or the like for inputting a plurality of characters.

  An information processing apparatus such as a smartphone uses a flick input method, a toggle input method, or the like as a character input method. In the flick input method, characters on each line are assigned to the numeric keypad. For example, if you select “A” on the “A” line, “I”, “U”, “ ”And“ O ”are displayed, and when a character other than“ A ”is selected, the character is designated by a continuous operation of flicking the finger in the direction of the input character while pressing the“ A ”key. In addition, in the toggle input method, each line is assigned to each key of the numeric keypad. When selecting, for example, “U” on the “A” line, tap “A” to “U”, and the number of taps changes the character. specify.

Regarding such character input, in a hierarchical virtual keyboard, characters are divided into a plurality of layers, and a plurality of lower layers are centered on the touch character keys in the fingertip direction of the finger touching the displayed upper layer characters. It is known to display characters (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-033272 A

  In the conventional character input, the character position to be input is fixed. For this reason, in the flick input, the relationship between flicking a character to be input and a finger is clear, but there is a problem that an erroneous input is likely to occur, for example, a flick operation is forced in a direction in which the finger is difficult to move. In addition, the toggle input requires a plurality of tap operations to be repeated until reaching the character to be input, and there is a problem that an erroneous input due to a tap operation error is likely to occur.

Therefore, in view of the above problems, an object of the technology of the present disclosure is to reduce the number of character string input operations.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the technology of the present disclosure, the input key includes a plurality of keys to which a plurality of characters are assigned. The processing unit assigns a character that is likely to be input next to the character input immediately before to a key to which the character belongs.

According to the technology of the present disclosure, the number of character string input operations can be reduced.

It is a figure which shows an example of the character input device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the procedure of a character input. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of a character input. It is a figure which shows the information processing apparatus which is an example of the character input device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the smart phone which is an example of information processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of a character candidate database. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence of a character input. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence of extraction of a next candidate character. It is a figure which shows the process sequence of a statistical process. It is a figure which shows the procedure of a character input. It is a figure which shows the procedure of a character input. It is a figure which shows the procedure of a character input. It is a figure which shows the update process of a character candidate database. It is a figure which shows the comparison with the conventional flick input system. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which concerns on a modification. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the input candidate key display which concerns on a modification.

[First Embodiment]

  FIG. 1A shows a character input device according to the first embodiment. The character input device 2 can be used in various information processing devices such as a mobile phone and a game device. The character input device 2 includes an input key 4 and a processing unit 6 as an example.

  The input key 4 is key information generated by the processing unit 6, and this key information is, for example, a virtual key such as a numeric keypad displayed as visible information on the screen of the display unit on the touch panel. The input key 4 includes keys 4-1, 4-2, 4-3,... 4-10 as shown in FIG. Each key 4-1, 4-2, 4-3... 4-10 is assigned at least a row of vowels or common consonants. That is, the key 4-1 has a vowel “a” row, the key 4-2 has a common consonant “ka” row, the key 4-3 has a common consonant “sa” row,... 10 is assigned another “wa” line. In the initial state, the first character of each line is displayed as visible information on the key tops of the keys 4-1, 4-2, 4-3,.

  The processing unit 6 selects a character that is likely to be input next to the character input immediately before among the characters in each line, by using the keys 4-1, 4-2, 4-3,. Execute information processing assigned to 4-10.

  In the character input device 2, as shown in FIG. 2A, in the initial state, the character of the first sound in the line is assigned to the input key 4. In this input key 4, when “A” is input, for example, a character string that is likely to be input from a character input history is referred to. For example, if this character string is “Thank you”, as a character that is likely to be input next, as shown in FIG. Is assigned and displayed.

  When this “ri” is input, according to the above-described input history, “ga” is displayed on the key 4-2 in the “ka” line as shown in FIG. Is assigned and displayed. When this “ga” is input, “to” is assigned to the key 4-4 of the “ta” line as shown in FIG. . When this “to” is input, “u” is assigned to the key 4-1 in the “a” line and displayed as a character that is likely to be input next, as shown in E of FIG. .

  In this way, characters that are likely to be input are automatically assigned and displayed in conjunction with the character input entered by the user, so that a desired character string can be quickly input simply by touching the character. be able to. In the case of the above example, in the character string “Thank you”, the character string can be input with the same number of continuous inputs as the number of characters 5 in the character string.

  FIG. 3 shows a character input processing procedure of the character input device 2. This processing procedure is an example of input processing in the character input program of the present disclosure.

  In this processing procedure, different lines of characters are assigned to each key (S1). Each key is pre-assigned, for example, a row of vowels or common consonants.

  Any key is input from the input key 4 (S2). A character that is likely to be input next to the input character is determined (S3). As a result of this determination, the character is assigned to the line to which the character that is likely to be input belongs (S4).

<Effect of the first embodiment>

  If a character is input to the input key 4, a character that is likely to be input following the character is assigned to the input key 4 of the line to which the character belongs. If the character corresponds to the expected character, a desired character string can be input by inputting the character. Therefore, a desired character string can be input with a small number of operations.

  In addition, since the number of operations for character input is reduced, the frequency of flicks and the number of taps can be reduced, characters can be input quickly, and input errors can be reduced.

[Second Embodiment]

  FIG. 4 shows an information processing apparatus as an example of a character input apparatus according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 4, the same parts as those in FIG. The information processing apparatus 10 may be a mobile terminal such as a smart phone, a mobile phone, a tablet PC (Personal Computer), a digital camera, or a game device, or a mobile device such as a notebook computer or tablet terminal, or a stationary PC. It may be.

  In the information processing apparatus 10, a display unit 14 is installed on the front surface of the housing 12, and a touch sensor unit 18 is installed so as to cover the display screen 16 of the display unit 14. FIG. 4 shows an initial state for mail creation. As an example, a mail creation screen is displayed on the display screen 16 representing the initial state, and the input key 4 is displayed on the mail creation screen.

  The input keys 4 include numeric keys as well as keys 4-1, 4-2, 4-3,. A message display unit 20, a message input unit 22, and a send button 24 are displayed above the input key 4. A task key section 26 including a home button and the like is displayed below the input key 4.

  FIG. 5 shows a hardware configuration example of the information processing apparatus 10.

  The information processing apparatus 10 includes a display unit 14, a touch sensor unit 18, a processor 28, a communication unit 30, a storage unit 32, and an audio input / output unit 34. This information processing apparatus 10 is, for example, a configuration example of a smartphone.

  For example, the input key 4 shown in FIG. The touch sensor unit 18 detects a touch position and a touch state with respect to the key display of the displayed input key 4.

  The processor 28 is a data processing device, and executes a program stored in the storage unit 32 to execute a character input process. Information processing of the processor 28 includes display control of the display unit 14, monitoring of the frequency of use of characters and character strings, storage, and statistical processing.

  The communication unit 30 includes an antenna 36, and performs communication functions such as transmission / reception with the base station of the information processing apparatus 10 under the control of the processor 28.

  The storage unit 32 stores the program described above and a character candidate database (DB). The configuration example of the storage unit 32 includes a ROM (Read-Only Memory) 38 and a RAM (Random-Access Memory) 40. The ROM 38 stores information such as programs. The RAM 40 constitutes a work area for information processing. The storage unit 32 may include a storage device such as a memory and an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk.

  The audio input / output unit 34 inputs and outputs audio. The audio input / output unit 34 includes a microphone 42 for audio input and a speaker 44 for audio output.

<Character candidate DB>

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the data structure of the character candidate DB 46.

  This character candidate DB 46 is a database constructed in the storage unit 32. A fixed character string is registered in the character candidate DB 46, and the registered character string represents a history of character input previously input by the user. If this character candidate DB 46 is used, the next character candidate can be predicted from the input character, and the predicted character candidate can be assigned to the input key 4. Therefore, with the input character as a trigger, the frequency of use of the character string is set as a priority, and the next candidate character with the higher priority can be selected.

  The character candidate DB 46 stores, for example, a confirmed character string input by the user from the past to immediately before the input, and the confirmed character string and its use frequency. In this example, the item number 48, the input character string 50, and the usage frequency 52 are stored. The item number 48 is an order according to the frequency of use of the input character string. The input character string 50 is stored in units of character strings input and confirmed by the user, such as “thank you”. The usage frequency 52 is an index indicating how often the determined character string is used. In this example, the usage frequency of the same character string is stored. This usage number is the number of times the same character string is used.

  In this embodiment, the character candidate DB 46 for selecting the next candidate character from the frequency of use of the character string is configured. However, instead of the frequency of use, the passage of time may be used as a parameter. In other words, a character candidate DB may be used for treating the most recently input character string with the highest priority and allocating the next candidate character from the character string. Moreover, even if it is the use frequency of a character string, it is good also as a structure which resets a numerical value for every fixed time and updates a use frequency. Further, the priority of character strings may be set using parameters such as user attributes such as usage frequency, elapsed time, and user hobbies. In addition to the usage frequency, a plurality of different priorities may be set and selected and set.

<Character input processing procedure>

  FIG. 7 shows a character input processing procedure. The character input processing procedure may be either a toggle input method or a flick input method, and is performed regardless of these methods.

  In this processing procedure, for example, the first character input of the input key 4 is determined from the initial state (S11). If there is a first character input (YES in S11), the next candidate character is extracted from the character candidate DB 46 (S12). In this case, the extracted character or character string is acquired from the character candidate DB 46 (S13).

  The next candidate character is displayed on the display unit 14 (S14). In the display of the next candidate character, the next candidate character is displayed on the corresponding key of the input key 4 in the line to which the next candidate character belongs. If this next candidate character is touched, that character is confirmed.

  Determination of this input character string is determined (S15). If the input character string is not confirmed (NO in S15), the process returns to S12, and the processes in S13 and S14 are repeated.

  If the input character string is confirmed (YES in S15), the input character string is registered in the character candidate DB 46 (S16). By this registration process, the confirmed character is stored in the character candidate DB 46 (S17).

  After this registration process, an input character string statistical process is executed (S18). By this statistical processing, the frequency of use of the input character string in the character candidate DB 46 is updated, and this processing is terminated.

  In the extraction of the next candidate character from the character candidate DB 46 (S12), for example, the processing procedure shown in FIG. 8 may be executed. In this processing procedure, the character candidate DB 46 is referred to when a character is input (S21). Based on this, the next candidate character is read from the character candidate DB 46 based on the input character (S22), and the process returns to S12.

  In the statistical processing of the input character string, all the confirmed character strings are registered in the character candidate DB 46 among the input character strings. By this registration, the frequency of use of the input character string is updated, and this statistical process is executed whenever necessary, so that the frequency of the input character string input and confirmed by the user can be grasped. Therefore, as a result of this statistical processing, it is possible to always grasp the priority candidate of the next candidate input character for the input character string in the character candidate DB 46 and assign the character candidate to the input key 4.

<Statistical processing>

  This statistical processing may be executed, for example, according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. This statistical processing includes registration of a character string determined in the character candidate DB 46, character string sorting processing, or deletion processing. In the character string sorting process, priorities are assigned according to the frequency of use of the character strings, and the ranking is updated by maintenance of the registered contents of the character candidate DB 46.

  In this processing procedure, it is determined whether or not the character string is registered in the character candidate DB 46 by taking in the confirmed character string (S31) (S32). If the character string is registered in the character candidate DB 46 (YES in S32), the use frequency of the character string is incremented (S33). If not registered in the character candidate DB 46 (NO in S32), the character string is newly registered (S34). The frequency of use of this new character string is assumed to be 1.

  Sort processing is performed on the character strings (S35). In this sort process, the order of character strings is changed according to the frequency of use of registered character strings.

  Then, the usage state of the registered character string is monitored, and unused character strings are arranged (S36). In the arrangement of the character strings, the character string usage frequency and registration time are referred to, and the character string having a registration time exceeding a certain time and having a low usage frequency is deleted from the character candidate DB 46.

  If statistical processing of the registered character string is performed in this way, the extraction of the next candidate character can be referred to at high speed and efficiently with respect to the input of the first character. Further, if a character string that is not used at all after the sorting process is deleted from the character candidate DB 46, the registration capacity of the character candidate DB 46 can be reduced, which contributes to shortening of the search time.

  Instead of such statistical processing, as an efficient processing of the character candidate DB 46, for example, the next candidate character may be extracted by managing not by the frequency of use by the priority setting of the character candidate DB but by the temporal element. Good. For example, a process that preferentially extracts a character string used immediately before a fixed character string may be used, and management of usage time may be added to the statistical process.

  10 and 11 show an operation procedure for extracting and displaying the next candidate character string corresponding to the first character input. In this processing procedure, every time a user inputs one character, characters that are likely to be input next are extracted from the character candidate DB 46. For example, the processing when the user inputs a character string “thank you” is as follows.

<Character input, registration of fixed characters and statistical processing>

  As shown in FIG. 10A, the user touches “A” of the key 4-1 of the input key 4 in the initial state with a finger. In this case, for example, “thank you” and “akinosora” are recorded in the character candidate DB 46 as the character input history.

  In this case, since “a” is input as the first character input, the character candidate DB 46 is referred to by this input. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10B, a character string whose first character is “A” is extracted, the frequency of use is set as a priority, and the second character may be input based on this priority. Select a higher letter. In this example, no. 1, no. 2, no. 4, no. 5, no. 520, no. This corresponds to the character string 521. The candidates for the second character from these character strings, that is, the next candidate character, are used in the order of priority “ri”, “shi”, “o”, “ki”.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 11A, “RI” is displayed on the key top of the key 4-9 in the “RA” row. “SHI” is displayed on the key top of the key 4-3 in the “SA” row. “O” is displayed on the key top of the key 4-1 in the “A” row. Then, “ki” is displayed on the key top of the key 4-2 in the “ka” row. The display of the key tops on the other lines is reset, and the first character of each line may be displayed. If the first character of the line is displayed, the user can predict the character arrangement order of the keys.

  When “RI” is input as the second character, a character string “Yes” is extracted from the character candidate DB 46 as shown in FIG. Similarly, a character that is highly likely to be input as the third character is selected as the priority based on the usage frequency. In this case, candidates for the third character are “GA”, “NO”, and “JI”.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 12A, “GA” is displayed on the key top of the key 4-2 in the “KA” row. “NO” is displayed on the key top of the key 4-5 in the “NA” row. “Ji” is displayed on the key top of the key 4-3 in the “sa” row.

  When the user selects and inputs “GA”, the character string “TO” is extracted from the character candidate DB 46. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12B, “u” is displayed on the key top of the key 4-1 in the “a” row, and “to” is displayed on the key top of the key 4-4 in the “ta” row. Is displayed. Therefore, when the user selects and inputs “to”, the character string “thank you” is input by touching the displayed “u”. By confirming this character string “thank you”, the character string “thank you” in the character candidate DB 46 is registered.

  Thus, whenever a user inputs one character, the character with the high possibility of being input next is extracted from character candidate DB46, and the character display on the input key 4 is dynamically changed according to a priority. Therefore, for example, if the user inputs “thank you” to the character string to be input, the number of input operations is five digits, so that the user can input characters with the minimum number of input operations of five, resulting in an input error. And quick input operation.

  For such character input, regardless of whether the input method is flick or toggle, the display configuration of the input key 4 is the same, and the user operation is the same. Therefore, the user does not need a wasteful flick operation or toggle operation, and a character string with a high usage frequency can be input by only a tap operation.

  Next, A and B in FIG. 13 show an example of an input character string registration process.

  FIG. 13A shows the current character candidate DB 46 before the registration update. If this is the initial state, the character string “Restoran” is input. In this case, since there is no existing registration of the character string “Restoran” in the character candidate DB 46 before the update, the character string “Restoran” is newly registered as, for example, the last column of the character candidate DB 46 as shown in FIG. The usage frequency is 1.

  If the input character string is already registered, for example, “thank you”, the input character string in the character candidate DB 46 is not updated, and the numerical value of the usage frequency is incremented. That is, the usage frequency of “thank you” is incremented to 236 when the number of times of input is 1 without changing the character string.

<Contrast with previous flick method>

  FIG. 14A shows the input process of the character string “Thank you ...” according to the above embodiment. In this character input, if “a” is input as described above, “o” and “ka” row keys 4-1 are selected from the frequently used character strings in the character candidate DB 46. “Ki” is displayed on the key 2, “shi” is displayed on the key 4-3 on the “sa” line, and “ri” is displayed on the key 4-9 on the “ra” line. When “RI” is input, “GA” is assigned to the key 4-2 on the “KA” line and “JI” and “NA” are assigned to the key 4-3 on the “SA” line from the frequently used character strings in the character candidate DB 46. “NO” is displayed in the key 4-5 of the row.

  Since characters of frequently used character strings are sequentially extracted and displayed with respect to such input characters, the user can input the character string “Thank you ...” with a small number of operations.

  For such character input, FIG. 14B shows a conventional flick-type character input operation. In this flick type character input “Thank you ...”, if you enter “A” in the key 4-11 and then select “RI” in the “RA” line, the “RA” key 4-19 Need to touch. By this touch, “RI”, “RU”, “RE”, and “RO” are displayed in the cross direction around the “RA” key 4-19. The user inputs “RI” by flicking his / her finger in the direction of “RI” key 4-191 from the position “RA”. Then, the “ka” key 4-12 is touched, and the muddy point “′” of the key 4-20 is selected.

  In such a flick input method, an input operation of 5 strokes is required to input 3 characters “Thank you ...”. For example, if the operation direction is mistaken after touching the “R” line, a correction input is made. Will be forced. On the other hand, in the above embodiment, the operation can be performed very simply and quickly, and the number of operations is small, so that an operation error is not induced.

<Modification>

  FIG. 15 shows a modified example of the key input processing procedure. In this processing procedure, it is determined whether the key input is the first key input (S41). If it is the first key input (YES of S41), it will be judged whether it is an input candidate extraction mode (S42). If in this input candidate extraction mode (YES in S42), the character candidate DB 46 is referred to, a priority character is selected from the registered character string, and the input candidate key to which the character belongs is displayed (S43).

  After the input candidate key is displayed, it is determined whether the input is the second key (S44). If it is the second key input (YES in S44), the normal key is selected (S45). In this case, if it is not the first key input in S41 (NO in S41), S42, S43 and S44 are skipped, and the process proceeds to S45. If the input candidate extraction mode is not selected in S42 (NO in S42), S43 and S44 are skipped, and the process proceeds to S45.

  After the selection of the normal key, it is determined whether the character string has been confirmed (S46). If the character string is confirmed (YES in S46), the process returns to S41, and the processes of S41 to S46 are performed.

  If the character string is not confirmed (NO in S46), it is determined whether the key input is completed (S47). If the key input is not completed (NO in S47), the process returns to S45, and the processes of S45, S46, and S47 are performed. If the key input is finished (YES in S47), this process is finished.

  FIG. 16A shows the processing procedure of the input candidate key display (S43) of FIG.

  In this processing procedure, candidate keys to be input next to the first key input are extracted from the character candidate DB 46 (S51). It is determined whether the extracted input candidate key has been selected (S52). When the input candidate key is selected (YES in S52), the toggle order of the key including the input candidate key is advanced to the selection key (S53). Then, the character is displayed on the corresponding key of the character (S54). In this case, if the input candidate key is not selected (NO in S52), S53 is skipped, normal characters are displayed on the key (S55), and this process ends.

  In this processing procedure, in the processing of S53, for example, when the input candidate character string is “Thank you” or “Aozora”, if the key 4-1 is in the “A” row, as shown in FIG. Change the display to "A"-> "I"-> "U"-> "E"-> "O". In the case of the key 4-9 in the “RA” row, the display is changed as “RA” → “RI” as shown in FIG.

  In the above embodiment, the conventional flick input method and toggle input method may be used together.

  a) Combined use with flick input method

  In this case, for example, in the flick input, the characters after “I” in the “A” line are input by a normal flick operation, and when inputting “A”, for example, a double tap on the key top to which the character belongs, Input may be made by a long press operation.

  b) Combined use with toggle input method

  In this case, the input character of the prediction candidate with one tap may be defined as a normal character input after the second tap, and if the second tap or later with respect to the key on which the predicted character is displayed, the previous character is displayed. Character input from the “A” line may be possible.

  c) Other input forms

  The combined use with the above method is an example, and input other than the predicted character may be, for example, normal character input in addition to the predicted character input at the first tap. For this input character, it is also possible to change the display character of the key top while continuously storing data of the input character and estimating the next input character so that the input can be performed by tapping without performing flick input.

  In the input standby state for the second character, the top character display changes. At this time, if you want to input “A” and “RA” following the previous top character, press the “A” and “RA” keys. Input may be made possible by long-pressing or double-tapping.

<Functions and effects of the second embodiment>

  According to the second embodiment described above, the following functions and effects can be obtained.

  A) The next input character can be predicted from the input characters, and the character with the highest priority can be displayed on the key top of each key. By touching the displayed character, the next candidate character can be touched with one touch. Can be entered. As a result, the number of operations required for selecting characters can be reduced.

  B) Since the next candidate character is dynamically changed in response to the input character and displayed on the key top, inconveniences of the conventional flick input method and toggle input method can be improved. A flick operation in a direction in which it is difficult to move a finger by a conventional flick method is not forced, and an input error can be simplified and an input error can be prevented. Further, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that repeated tap operations cause a tap error and an erroneous input is likely to occur until the input character in the toggle input method is reached. That is, since the next candidate character is predicted and the character with the highest priority is displayed on the key top, it is possible to reduce the flick frequency and the number of taps.

  C) Since the character string determined from the input characters is registered in the character candidate DB 46, the input candidate DB 46 can register the input history of the character string used by the user. Therefore, user input tendency and input character tendency information are registered in the input candidate DB 46, and the input candidate DB 46 that is individualized can be constructed.

  D) By using such an input candidate DB 46, it is possible to recognize a character or a character string that is likely to be input next from characters input by the user, and to select a character that is highly likely to be input in proportion to the passage of usage time. Can be displayed on top. Thereby, the input of a character string can be simplified and speeded up.

  E) The input form shown in the above embodiment has a degree of freedom to be used together with the conventional flick input method, toggle input method or both, and can be easily changed to an input form according to the user's familiarity and preference, Characters can be input using a flick operation or a tap operation. For example, when a user inputs a character string that has not been used before, a flick input method or a toggle input method is preceded, and a character string entered to some extent and a fixed character string is registered in the character candidate DB 46 In addition, a usage form such as utilizing the input form of the above-described embodiment is also possible.

[Other Embodiments]

  (1) In the above embodiment, a smartphone has been exemplified, but an electronic device such as a game device or a remote control device may be used as an information processing device with character input.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the character input DB 46 is constructed by acquiring the character input history. However, as a means for grasping the input tendency, the character candidate DB 46 predicts the frequency of use and sets the database for the user to the Internet. It may be provided from the outside through such as.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the character candidate DB 46 is built inside the information processing apparatus 10, but the user's input characters are input to the storage device outside the information processing apparatus 10 in response to mail transmission and reception, It is good also as a structure which predicts a character from the past input performance and displays a character with a high priority on the key top of the information processing apparatus 10. In this case, if it is desired to input a different character, the normal flick operation can be performed for the flick operation, and the input can be performed by continuously tapping for the toggle operation. In addition, in the case of toggle input, the tap input may be made continuously by tapping for the second and subsequent times, or may be selected by a method other than the character selection means displayed on the key top. For example, the input may be performed by a key press operation.

  (4) In the above embodiment, a plurality of characters are assigned to each of the keys 4-1 to 4-10 of the input key 4 by the “a” line or the “wa” line. It is not limited to the “Wa” line. A plurality of selectable characters need only be assigned to each key, and in this case, the characters may include alphabets, symbols, pictograms, figures, and the like.

As described above, the most preferable embodiment of the technology of the present disclosure has been described. The present invention is not limited to the above description. Various modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art based on the gist of the invention described in the claims or disclosed in the embodiments for carrying out the invention. It goes without saying that such modifications and changes are included in the scope of the present invention.

2 Character input device 4 Input key 6 Processing section 4-1, 4-2, 4-3... 4-10, 4-11, 4-12, 4-19, 4-20, 4-191 Key 10 Information Processing device 12 Housing 14 Display unit 16 Display screen 18 Touch sensor unit 20 Message display unit 22 Message input unit 24 Send button 26 Task key unit 28 Processor 30 Communication unit 32 Storage unit 34 Audio input / output unit 36 Antenna 38 ROM
40 RAM
42 Microphone 44 Speaker 46 Character candidate DB
48 Item number 50 Input string 52 Frequency of use

Claims (4)

An input key including multiple keys to which multiple characters are assigned;
A processing unit that assigns a character that is likely to be input next to the character input immediately before to a key to which the character belongs;
A character input device comprising: The input key includes a numeric keypad, and each key of the numeric keypad is assigned at least a vowel or a character in a common consonant line;
2. The character input according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit assigns a character that is likely to be input next to a character input immediately before among characters in each line to a key to which the character belongs. apparatus. It has a display unit that displays visible information,
The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the key and the character are displayed on the display unit by the visible information. A character input program for causing a computer to execute,
Generate multiple key information to which multiple characters are assigned,
A character input program for causing the computer to execute a process of assigning a character that is likely to be input next to a character input immediately before to a key to which the character belongs.

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