JP2628197B2 - Address input device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Summary] The present invention relates to an improvement of an address input device in which an input place name is displayed in an entry field of a display screen. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an address input device that can correctly fill in a column. An address dictionary having a plurality of place name data, and an upper-level place name data pointing to a lower-level place name data is prepared and input. When the place name is determined, the place name data in the address dictionary determined by the already determined place name and the newly determined place name is obtained, the lower-level place name data pointed by the place name data is obtained, and the lower-level place name data is obtained. The number of character frames and field names of the input fields are determined based on the The field name is displayed on the display screen, and the next character string is displayed in the entry field.

[Industrial applications]

The present invention relates to a data input device, and more particularly to an address input device for inputting address data at a window of a bank or a government office.

[Conventional technology]

In the conventional address input, as shown in FIG. 5, fixed entry fields corresponding to each level of the address are provided, and entry spaces are provided for each of them by the number of characters of the longest place name that can be entered. In addition, a method of displaying all the field names (city group, etc.) that may be entered in each field is generally used.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional address input method as shown in FIG. 5, an unnecessarily large number of character frames are displayed, and the screen becomes complicated.

Field name that is duplicated in each hierarchy (eg, "ku")
And confusion is likely to occur.

It is easy to write extra characters in the extra space (eg,
Enter the ward name and town name together in one field, etc.).

There is a drawback that confusion is likely to occur at the time of entry. That is, in the conventional address input method, since the idea was to prepare a fixed general-purpose format that can correspond to any address pattern, unnecessary information is always displayed on the spot, and the screen is extremely displayed. There is a problem that the operation becomes complicated and entry errors increase.

The present invention has been made in view of this point,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an address input device that allows a general customer to correctly enter a character string indicating an address in a predetermined entry field without hesitation.

[Means for solving the problem]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an address input device that is easier to understand and less likely to cause an entry error by dynamically changing the format of an address entry based on a dialog. The present invention uses the hierarchical structure of addresses to determine the range of lower-level place names mechanically if a higher-level place name can be specified. For example, the first-level place name is "Kanagawa prefecture". If it is determined that there is a certain place name, it can be inferred that the place name entered thereafter can be any of the place names in Kanagawa prefecture such as "Yokohama City", "Kawasaki City", "Ashigara-gun". Is based on If this principle is used, the format of the next address input field can be dynamically determined when the place name of the higher hierarchy is determined. For example, when “Kanagawa Prefecture” is determined, the number of characters N of the longest place name among the cities and counties under Kanagawa Prefecture is extracted, and at the same time, the field names (city, county) that actually exist are extracted to match the customer. To provide a complete entry format.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention. An address input device according to the present invention includes an input unit 1 for inputting data, and a display unit 3.
And an address dictionary 6 having a plurality of place name data, wherein the place name data of the upper hierarchy points to the place name data of the lower hierarchy.
, An address search unit 5, an entry format generation unit 7, and screen processing devices 2 and 4.

The screen processing means 2 and 4 enter a character string input from the input unit 1 into the latest entry field on the display screen, and pass the determined character string to the address search unit 5 when the input character string is determined. Then, a process of activating the address search unit 5 and a process of displaying the entry format passed from the entry format generation unit 7 on the display unit 3 are performed.

The address search unit 5 obtains place name data in the address dictionary 6 defined by the already determined character string and the newly determined character string, obtains the lower-level place name data pointed to by the relevant place name data, Then, the maximum number of characters and the field name are obtained based on the place name data, and the obtained maximum number of characters and the field name are passed to the entry format generation unit 7.

The entry format generation unit 7 creates an entry format based on the received maximum number of characters and the field name, and passes the created entry format to the screen processing units 2 and 4.

〔Example〕

One embodiment of the address input device of the present invention is shown in FIG. In the figure, 1 is a tablet, 2 is a screen control unit, 3 is a display unit, 4 is a recognition unit, 5 is an address search unit, 6 is an address dictionary, 7
Indicates an entry format generation unit. Note that a portion surrounded by a dotted frame indicates a new portion. The operation of the address input device of FIG. 2 will be described below.

The operator writes characters on the tablet 1 while watching the display unit 3.

The screen control unit 2 reads the input signal as stroke data and sends it to the recognition unit 4.

The recognition unit 4 confirms the stroke data, and returns the recognition result to the screen control unit 2 as a character code.

The screen control unit 2 displays the recognition result on the display unit 3.

If the result is correct, the operator notifies the screen control unit 2 from the tablet 1 to that effect. Upon receiving this notification, the screen control unit 2 sends the determined information (determined place name) to the address search unit 5 and activates the address search unit 5.

The address search unit 5 obtains place name data in the address dictionary uniquely determined by the newly received decision information and the already received decision information, and is connected to a lower level of the place name data by referring to the pointer information of the place name data. The location name data is read from the address dictionary, the maximum number of characters and the field name are extracted based on the location name data, and the information is sent to the entry format generation unit 7.

The entry format generation unit 7 generates an appropriate entry format based on the received maximum number of characters and the field name, and sends it to the screen control unit 2.

The screen control unit 2 sends the received entry format and display position to the display unit 3 for display.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data structure of an address dictionary. In the figure, N1 to N4 are the maximum number of characters of the lower-level place name data when the upper-level place name data is determined, M1
Or M4 indicates the maximum number of characters of the place name data of each level when the whole country is targeted. FIG. 4 shows the hierarchical structure of addresses related to Kanagawa Prefecture. Such a hierarchical structure of addresses exists in the address dictionary for each prefecture.

The place name data of Kanagawa Prefecture points to place name data of Kawasaki City, Yokohama City, Ashigara-gun (not shown), and the like.
The place name data of Kawasaki City points to place name data of Takatsu Ward, Nakahara Ward, Sachi Ward, and the like. The place name data called Nakahara Ward points to place name data such as Kami-Odanaka, Shimo-Odanaka, and Miyauchi.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an entry format based on fixed information. At first, the entry field and the field name of the first hierarchy are displayed on the screen of the display unit 3. The character frame of the entry field of the first hierarchy is 4, and the field name is "prefecture". When the operator writes "Kanagawa prefecture" on the tablet 1, "Kanagawa prefecture" is entered in the entry field of the first hierarchy. The operator sees that “Kanagawa Prefecture” is entered in the entry field on the first level,
The user recognizes that the desired place name has been correctly input, and presses a predetermined key on the tablet 1 in order to notify the screen controller 2 of the fact. When it is determined that the predetermined key has been pressed, the screen control unit 2 passes “Kanagawa Prefecture” as the fixed information to the address search unit 5 and activates the address search unit 5. The address search unit 5 reads the place name data corresponding to “Kanagawa prefecture” from the address dictionary 6, and then reads the place name data pointed to by the place name data corresponding to “Kanagawa prefecture” to the address dictionary 6.
Read from The read place name data is “Kawasaki City”
And "Yokohama" and "Ashigara-gun". By examining the number of characters in these place name data, it is found that the maximum number of characters is four, and since the character string included in these place name data ends with “city” or “county”, the field name is “city, county”. It turns out that it is. The address search unit 5 passes the maximum number of characters = 4 and the field name = “city, county” to the entry format generation unit 7. Upon receiving this information,
The entry format generation unit 7 creates an entry field having four character frames, and puts “city,
The field name “County” is added and passed to the screen control unit 2. The screen control unit 2 sends an entry field having four character frames to which a field name “city, county” is added and a display position to the display unit 3 for display. FIG. 3 (a)
This shows a state in which a field name “city, county” and an entry field having four character frames are newly displayed on the display screen. Note that the entry format refers to a combination of the entry field and the field name added to the entry field.

When the operator writes “Kawasaki City” on the tablet 1, the second
"Kawasaki City" is entered in the entry field of the hierarchy. The operator sees that “Kawasaki City” is entered in the entry field on the second level, recognizes that the desired place name data has been correctly entered, and presses a predetermined key on the tablet 1. When it is determined that the predetermined key has been pressed, the screen control unit 2 passes “Kawasaki City” as the fixed information to the address search unit 5 and activates the address search unit 5. The address search unit 5 obtains the place name data in the address dictionary 6 corresponding to “Kawasaki City”, and then reads out the place name data pointed by the place name data corresponding to “Kawasaki City” from the address dictionary 6. The read place name data corresponds to “Takatsu Ward”, “Nakahara Ward”, and “Saiko Ward”. By examining the number of characters of these place name data, it can be seen that the maximum number of characters is 3, and since the end of the character string included in these place name data ends with "ku", it is found that the field name is "ku". Address search section 5
Passes the maximum number of characters = 3 and the field name = “ku” to the entry format generation unit 7. Upon receiving this information,
The entry format generation unit 7 creates an entry field having three character frames, and assigns “ku” to the created entry field.
Is passed to the screen control unit 2. The screen control unit 2 sends an entry field having three character frames to which a field name “ku” is added and a display position to the display unit 3 for display. FIG. 3B shows a state in which a field name “ku” and an entry field having three character frames are newly displayed on the display screen.

When the operator writes “Nakahara-ku” on the tablet 1, the third
"Nakahara Ward" is entered in the entry field of the hierarchy. The operator sees that “Nakahara Ward” is entered in the entry field on the third level, recognizes that the desired place name has been correctly entered, and presses a predetermined key on the tablet 1. When it is determined that the predetermined key has been pressed, the screen control unit 2
“Nakahara Ward” is passed to the address search unit 5 as final information, and the address search unit 5 is started. The address search unit 5 obtains place name data in the address dictionary 6 corresponding to “Nakahara Ward”, and then reads out the place name data pointed to by the place name data corresponding to “Nakahara Ward” from the address dictionary 6. The read place name data corresponds to “Kamiodanaka”, “Shitaodanaka”, “Miyauchi”, and the like. By examining the number of characters of these place name data, it is found that the maximum number of characters is 6. Since the character string included in these place name data ends with "town" or "character", the field name is "town, character". It turns out that it is. The address search unit 5 passes the maximum number of characters = 6 and the field name = “town, character” to the entry format generation unit 7. Upon receiving such information, the entry format generation unit 7 creates an entry field having six character frames,
A field name “town, character” is added to the created entry field and passed to the screen control unit 2. The screen control unit 2
An entry field having six character frames to which a field name “town, character” is added and a display position are sent to the display unit 3 for display. FIG. 3C shows a state in which a field name “town, character” and an entry field having six character frames are newly displayed on the display screen.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, by utilizing the hierarchical structure of the address, it is possible to present an entry field having a minimum necessary character frame and an appropriate field name, so that entry errors are reduced. The effect is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a principle diagram of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an entry format based on fixed information, and FIG. 4 is a data structure of an address dictionary. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an address entry format in a conventional dictionary input method. 1 ... tablet, 2 ... screen control unit, 3 ... display unit,
4 ... Recognition unit, 5 ... Address search unit, 6 ... Address dictionary, 7
.... Entry format generation unit.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An input unit (1) for inputting data, a display unit (3), an address having a plurality of place name data, wherein an upper-level place name data points to a lower-level place name data. Dictionary (6)
And an address search unit (5), an entry format generation unit (7), and a screen processing means (2, 4). The screen processing means (2, 4) is inputted from the input unit (1). Writing the entered character string in the latest entry field on the display screen, passing the determined character string to the address search unit (5) when the input character string is determined, and activating the address search unit (5). And a process of displaying the entry format passed from the entry format generation unit (7) on the display unit (3). The address search unit (5) is configured to execute the already determined character string and the newly determined character string. Determining the place name data in the address dictionary (6) defined by the character string, obtaining the place name data of the lower hierarchy pointed to by the place name data, obtaining the maximum number of characters and the field name based on the place name data of the lower hierarchy, The most sought It is configured to perform a process of passing the number of characters and the field name to the entry format generation unit (7). The entry format generation unit (7) creates an entry format based on the received maximum number of characters and the field name, and creates the created entry. Format the screen processing means (2,
4) An address input device configured to perform a process to be passed to 4).