JP3422886B2 - Character input device in mobile radio telephone and character input method in mobile radio telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To input a necessary message without the need of a conversion table and without a large number of key operations. CONSTITUTION: A dictionary means 310, plural ten keys to which plural KANA (Japanese sylalbary) are allocated, a conversion/next cadidate key '*', a decision key '#', an output means 330 which displays/outputs the candidate character or the candidate character string of a conversion result and a character conversion means 320 retrieving the dictionary means 310 on the character string corresponding to the inputted key, obtaining the condidate character or the candidate character string and transmitting it to the output means 330 are provided. The inputted characters or the inputted character strings including meaningless characters or character strings become the allocation number of pieces (M)-th of the number of operation keys (N), that is, (=NM). They are character-converted referring to the dictionary means 310 by the operation of conversion/next candidate key.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character input terminal device.
In particular, the present invention provides a character input terminal device suitable for a portable information terminal, for example, a device having a limited number of keys.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various character input devices have been realized by portable information terminals such as portable wireless telephones. First, as shown in FIG. 77, ten keys (dial keys) 203 arranged in 4 rows and 3 columns from the center of the surface of the handset 201 of the portable wireless telephone to the lower side.
It is known to use. The following two input methods are known.

The first method uses a matrix character arrangement table as shown in FIG. That is, a pair of numbers and one character (symbol) are stored in association with each other. Then, referring to the above table, one character (symbol) can be input by inputting a pair of numbers corresponding to a matrix of desired characters (symbols). For example,
When it is desired to obtain the input of "Toukiyou (Tokyo)", as shown in FIG. 79, the user operates "4513228513" and the ten keys. As a result, on the display unit 202 of the mobile wireless telephone shown in FIG. 77, "Toukiyou" is displayed in correspondence with the pair of numbers.

In the second method, a numeric code and a fixed phrase are stored in association with each other, and a code corresponding to a desired fixed phrase is input by operating the ten-key 203 with reference to the code table of the fixed phrase. To do. For example, it is assumed that a character code string of a fixed sentence is stored corresponding to a two-digit code as shown in FIG. In this case, if the user wants to input "call the company", he / she operates the ten keys 203 to input "01". As a result, "Call the company" is displayed on the display unit 202 of the mobile wireless phone in FIG. 77 corresponding to the entered code.

[0005]

However, according to the above character input device, there is a problem in that key input cannot be performed without a conversion table, which is inconvenient. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 81, there is also known a mobile radio telephone in which a plurality of kana characters are assigned to each of the ten keys 203. In this device, the number of operations of each key and the character are stored in association with each other. When the number of operations on each key is 1, the leftmost character of the corresponding notation is input, and when the number of operations is increased by 1, the characters shifted to the right by 1 are input. For example, to obtain an input of "Toukiyou (Tokyo)", as shown in FIG.
122288111 ”and the numeric keypad 203 are operated. As a result, "Toukiyou" is displayed on the display unit 202 of the portable wireless telephone shown in FIG. 77 in correspondence with the number of key operations.

According to this character input device, the conversion table is unnecessary as described above, but the number of key operations becomes extremely large,
In some cases, there is a problem in that the number of operations is erroneously counted and an erroneous input is made. Also, inputting numbers by arranging vocabulary is also performed, for example, in a selective call receiver, etc., but it is premised that the user knows the numerical string for grammar matching and the message related to it, which is generally inconvenient. There was a problem. In addition, there are some messages that cannot be expressed simply by using vocabulary, making it difficult to accurately convey the intention to the other party.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional character input device as described above, and an object of the present invention is that a conversion table is unnecessary and the number of key operations is not increased. Character input terminal device that can input messages etc.
Is to provide storage .

[0008]

According to claim 1 of the present application, there are provided a plurality of numeric keys for inputting telephone numbers for making a call by radio, and for each numeric key,
A number key to which one number and hiragana of each row of the Japanese syllabary are assigned, the number and the reading of the hiragana of the Japanese syllabary corresponding to this number are stored, and
A dictionary means that stores a number string, a plurality of hiragana readings corresponding to this number string, and kanji corresponding to these readings, a conversion key for instructing character conversion, and a display for displaying character information. Means and one of the readings of hiragana of the Japanese syllabary corresponding to the number input by this input operation based on the input operation of the number key, and is displayed on the display means from the dictionary means. However, on the basis of the input operation of the number keys performed subsequently to the input operation of the number keys in the state where the reading of hiragana is displayed on the display means, the number input by this input operation and the input operation before this input operation are performed. The hiragana displayed on the display means is obtained from the dictionary means for one of a plurality of readings of hiragana corresponding to the consecutively entered numeral sequence consisting of the numeral or the numeral string input to Display control means for displaying in place of reading, and in a state where the reading of hiragana is displayed on the display means, based on the operation of the conversion key, kanji corresponding to the reading of hiragana is obtained from the dictionary means and displayed. Character conversion means for displaying in place of the reading of hiragana displayed on the means.

According to claim 3 of the present application, a plurality of numeric keys for inputting a telephone number for making a call by wireless, one numeric key and 50 for each numeric key.
The numeral keys to which the hiragana and hiragana of each row of sounds are assigned, the numbers and the hiragana readings of the Japanese syllabary corresponding to the numbers are stored, and the numeral string and a plurality of digits corresponding to the numeral string are stored. In a character input method in a portable wireless telephone equipped with a dictionary means for storing hiragana readings and kanji corresponding to these readings, and a conversion key for instructing character conversion, based on the input operation of the numeric keys. Then, the first step of obtaining and displaying one of the readings of the hiragana of the Japanese syllabary corresponding to the inputted number from the dictionary means, and the number of the hiragana reading being displayed. It consists of the number input by this input operation and the number or number string input before this input operation based on the input operation of the number key performed after the key input operation. A second step of obtaining one of a plurality of readings of hiragana corresponding to the consecutively input numeral string from the dictionary means and displaying the reading instead of the displayed reading of hiragana; Based on the operation of the conversion key in the state where the hiragana reading is displayed in step, the kanji corresponding to the displayed hiragana reading is obtained from the dictionary means and displayed instead of the displayed hiragana reading. And a third step of

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

[0019]

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A character input device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of each drawing, the same constituent elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. FIG. 1 shows a front view of a mobile radio telephone to which a character input device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The handset 101 is composed of a slightly flat rectangular parallelepiped casing, and a numeric keypad (dial key) consisting of four rows and three columns of keys from the center of the surface to the bottom.
A display unit 102 for displaying information such as characters and symbols is provided above the display unit 103. Also,
Above the display unit 102, there is provided a receiving unit 104A for listening to the voice that is sent, and below the ten-key pad 103, there is a transmitting unit 1 for inputting voice.
05A is provided.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the above portable radio telephone. The mobile radio telephone includes a controller 1 for controlling each unit, an input unit 2 for inputting information,
An antenna 5 for transmitting / receiving electric waves, a transmitting / receiving unit 3 connected to the antenna 5 for transmitting / receiving signals, and a communication circuit 4 for transmitting / receiving a voice signal between the transmitting / receiving unit 3 and the receiver 104 and the transmitter 105. It consists of and. Handset 10
4 and the transmitter 105 are respectively the receivers 104A of FIG.
And the transmitter 105A. The controller 1 includes a call control unit 6 for controlling a call and an input unit 2
And a character input / output unit 7 that performs a character input / output process based on the input from the. The call control unit 6 controls the transmission according to the input from the input unit 2, the antenna 5 and the transmission / reception unit 3.
Incoming call control in accordance with an incoming signal coming through the, and control such as adjustment of the amplification degree for the call circuit 4 are performed. Further, the call control unit 6 has a function of causing the data transmitted from the character input / output unit 7 to be transmitted via the transmission / reception unit 3 and transmitting the received data to the character input / output unit 7. In the input section 2,
A mode selector switch is provided for switching between the operation mode of the telephone and the operation of the character input device. The mode changeover switch may be a hook switch, and when the hook switch is used, for example, the operation mode as a character input device is set during on-hook.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram when the portable radio telephone of FIG. 1 is in the operation mode as a character input device. This structure is a part including the input unit 2 and the character input / output unit 7 in FIG. The character input device is
A keyboard 11 for inputting characters and the like, and a central control unit 1 for fetching information on key operations on the keyboard 11
3, the input control unit 12 for sending to 3, the central control unit 13 for integrally controlling each unit of the character input device, the input character or the input character string, and the candidate character or the candidate character string of the conversion result are stored in association with each other. The word dictionary 14 which is the dictionary means 310
From a dictionary search unit 15 that obtains a corresponding candidate character or candidate character string by referring to the word dictionary 14 for an input character or input character string given from the central control unit 13, and an LCD or the like on which information such as characters is displayed. The display device 16 includes a display device 16 and a display controller 17 that controls the display device 16 to display candidate characters or candidate character strings under the control of the central controller 13. Numeric keypad 1 on keyboard 11
A plurality of kana characters are assigned to each number key 03. In other words, the number key of the usual dial key arrangement, the "1" key is assigned the five characters of the Japanese syllabary "A" line, and the "2" key is the five keys of the Japanese syllabary "ka" line. Characters are assigned, and similarly, kana characters are assigned up to the "0" key. However, "8" key is "ya"
"Yu" and "Yo" are assigned, and "Wa" is assigned to the "0" key.
“Wo”, “n” and “-” are assigned. Also,
The “*” key is a conversion / next candidate key, and the “#” key is a confirmation key. In the above, the keyboard 11
Includes a plurality of keys to which a plurality of kana characters are assigned, a conversion / next candidate key for instructing character conversion, and an enter key for finalizing the conversion result. Which is the input means 300 of the display device 1
Reference numeral 6 denotes an output means 330 for displaying and outputting at least a candidate character or a candidate character string as a conversion result. The character conversion means 320 is configured to search the dictionary means 310 for a plurality of character strings corresponding to the selected keys to obtain candidate characters or candidate character strings, and to send the candidate characters or candidate character strings to the output means 330. ing.

The structure of the keyboard 11 is shown in FIG. A key matrix 10 is provided corresponding to each key of the ten-key pad 103, and one contact of each switch of the key matrix 10 has a pull-up resistor and a row (row).
) A voltage of 5V is constantly applied via the direction lines Out0 to Out3, and the end points of the row direction lines Out0 to Out3 reach the input control unit 12. Also, the key matrix 10
Column-direction lines M0 to M2 are connected to the other contacts of the switches, and the end points of the column-direction lines M0 to M2 reach the input control unit 12.

On the other hand, the input control section 12 is constructed as shown in FIG. The input control unit 12 includes a control unit 20 that performs overall control, a timer 21, a memory table 22, a memory (MEM2) 23, a memory (MEM1) 24, a latch 25,
And 26. The latch 25 is a circuit that latches drive signals for the column direction lines M0 to M2 sent from the control unit 20, and the latch 26 is a circuit that takes in and latches the signals of the row direction lines Out0 to Out3.
The timer 21 is provided to eliminate chattering that occurs during key operation, and notifies the control unit 20 of a predetermined time interval (1 mS) in order to read the key operation double. The drive signal output to the latch 25 is set in the memory 23, and the detection signal held in the latch 26 at that time is set in the memory 24. Memory table 2
Data 2 stores the data for specifying the operated key, the contents of which are as shown in FIG.
That is, the data set in the memory 23 is MEM2 in FIG.
When the set values of “0”, “1”, and “2” are set, the three patterns in which M2 to M0 in the lower three columns of MEM2 correspond to one set respectively are set and are set in the latch 25. Show. Therefore, in the latch 25, M2 in the bottom three columns of MEM2
When any one of the three patterns arranged in the horizontal direction with one set to ~ M0 is set, the set values "0", "1", and "2" in MEM2 of FIG. 6 are correspondingly set in the memory 23. One of the numbers is set, and in the latch 26, on the other hand, 0ut3 to 0u arranged in the lateral direction in the right four columns of MEM1 in FIG.
Any one of the four patterns with t1 as one set is set, and this value is set in the memory 24. Therefore, the number at the intersection of any of the four patterns arranged in the lateral direction of MEM1 in FIG. 6 and any of the set values “0”, “1”, and “2” of MEM2 indicates the number of the operated key. It will be.
For example, “1” is set in the memory 23, and the memory 24
When “1011” is set in the memory table 22
Outputs a code indicating the "5" key. At this time, it is indicated that "(M2-M0 =) 101" is set in the latch 25.

Since the control unit 20 performs key reading by the program of the flow chart shown in FIG. 7, the operation of the control unit 20 will be described according to this flow chart.
First, the latch 25 latches a signal to output "0" to all of the column direction lines M0 to M2 (S1), and the latch 26 latches that "0" appears in any of the row direction lines Out0 to Out3. Monitoring is performed based on the signal (S2).
When "0" appears, refer to the timer 21 and wait for 1 ms (S
3) The signals of the row-direction lines Out0 to Out3 are fetched from the latch 26 and set in the memory 24 (S4). further,
The timer 21 is referred to wait for 1 mS (S5), the signals of the row-direction lines Out0 to Out3 are fetched from the latch 26, and it is detected whether they are equal to the contents already set in the memory 24 (S6). Here, when they are not equal, the operation returns to step S2 again to continue the operation. On the other hand, when the first and second reading results are equal, a signal is sent to the latch 25 to output "0" only to the column direction line M0. "110 (=
M2M1M0) ”is set,“ 0 ”is set in the memory 23 (S7), and“ 0 ”is set to any of the signals of the row direction lines Out0 to Out3 latched by the latch 26.
It is detected whether there is any (S8). That is, when "0" is output only to the column direction line M0 and one of the four keys connected to the column direction line M0 in FIG. 4 is operated, the signals of the row direction lines Out0 to Out3 are output. "0" appears in any of the above. Here, the row direction line Out0 ~
If there is no "0" in any of the Out3 signals, the latch 25 latches the signal "101" to output "0" only to the column direction line M1, and the memory 23 is set to "1" ( S9), it is detected whether any of the signals of the row-direction lines Out0 to Out3 latched by the latch 26 has "0" (S10). That is, when "0" is output only to the column direction line M1 and one of the four keys connected to the column direction line M1 in FIG. 4 is operated, the signals of the row direction lines Out0 to Out3 are output. "0" appears in any of the above. Furthermore, here, the row direction line
If there is no "0" in any of the Out0 to Out3 signals, the latch 25 latches the signal "011" to output "0" only to the column direction line M2, and the memory 23 is set to "2". (S11), "0" is applied to any of the signals on the row-direction lines Out0 to Out3 latched by the latch 26.
It is detected whether there is any (S12). That is, when "0" is output only to the column direction line M2 and one of the four keys connected to the column direction line M2 of FIG. 4 is operated, the signals of the row direction lines Out0 to Out3 are output. "0" appears in any of the above.

As a result of the above processing, if "0" does not appear in any of the signals on the row-direction lines Out0 to Out3 in any case, the operation returns to step S1 and the operation is continued. When "0" appears in any of the signals on the row-direction lines Out0 to Out3 in either of S10 and S12, the signals on the row-direction lines Out0 to Out3 are fetched from the latch 26 and set in the memory 24 (S13). . Next, the control unit 20 instructs the memory table 22 to output,
As a result, the memory table 22 is searched based on the signals set in the memories 23 and 24 (S14), and the code of the key output from the memory table 22 is sent to the central control unit 13. Next, a signal is latched in the latch 25 to output "0" to all of the column direction lines M0 to M2 (S15), and all of the row direction lines Out0 to Out3 are set to "1".
It is detected (S16) whether or not it has been recovered (S16), and when all "1" is obtained, the timer 21 is referred to after detection and 1 ms
After the lapse of time (S17), it is detected whether all of the row-direction lines Out0 to Out3 have become "1" (restored) (S1).
8) When all "1" are obtained, the process returns to step S1 and continues the operation. As described above, a code indicating which key of the ten-key pad 103 has been operated (for example,
The code corresponding to the numeral) is sent to the central control unit 13.

FIG. 8 shows the display control unit 1 of the character input device.
7 is shown in detail. The display control unit 17 includes a character font memory 31 in which character fonts (character patterns) are stored, a character font expansion unit 32 that expands the fonts of the character font memory 31 into the image memory 33 under the control of the central control unit 13, (LCD ) Display device 16
An image (bitmap) memory 33 that holds the image data to be displayed in the form of a bit map, and a character position memory 34 for storing the display font data (character code) being displayed together with the display position.

The display control unit 17 includes a central control unit 13
The display font data, the display position data, the development start instruction signal, and the position data (address) of the character position memory 34 are given from the. That is, the display font data is sent together with the development start instruction signal, so that the character font development unit 32 accesses the character font memory 31 to extract the display font corresponding to the given display font data, and display position data (image It is stored in the corresponding position of the image memory 33 based on the coordinates of the memory 33). As a result, the pixel position of the screen of the LCD display device 16 is associated with the data position of the image memory 33 on a one-to-one basis, so that the pixel data of the display font expanded to the corresponding position is stored. On the other hand, in the character position memory 34,
The display font data and the display position data are stored in the position of the position data sent from the central control unit 13.
The central control unit 13 can read this using a read signal, read the data being displayed (display font data) together with its display position data, and transmit it via the call control unit 6, the transmitting / receiving unit 3 and the antenna 5 of FIG. Processing such as transmitting to another terminal.

FIG. 9 shows the dictionary retrieval unit 1 of the character input device.
5 is shown in detail. The dictionary search unit 15 controls the entire dictionary search unit 15 as a whole, a character input buffer 41 for storing codes of characters and character strings key-inputted, and a code pointer used for dictionary search of the word dictionary 14. 42 and a search result character output buffer 43 for holding the code of the candidate character or character string obtained as a result of the dictionary search.

FIG. 10 shows the contents stored in the word dictionary 14. That is, a character or character string in kana, a character or character string in kanji, and attribute information such as part-of-speech, place, time, etc., and dictionary information including other information are associated with each other in correspondence with the numerical code by operating the ten-key pad 103. Are remembered. More specifically, the configuration of the word dictionary 14 is configured as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13. First, as shown in FIG. 11, the word dictionary 14 is composed of blocks divided into units of characters. As shown in FIG. 12, the block corresponding to each number of characters is composed of a plurality of branches corresponding to the numeral string of the number of characters. Here, in a block with 5 characters, 5
There are a plurality of branches corresponding to the numerical string of characters, the branch corresponding to the numerical string “41281” therein is clearly shown, and the predetermined number is indicated by “*” in the other branches. Further, FIG. 13 shows the inside of the branch corresponding to the number string “41281”. Within the branch,
Tables corresponding to the subsequent digits (0) to (9) when present (thus, 2 tables when the subsequent digits are only (1) and (8), for example) SOS (00) indicating the beginning of the candidate corresponding to the numeric string
And a table corresponding to. Trailing digit (0)
In the table corresponding to (9) to (9), the corresponding subsequent numbers, the pointer NTP of the next table, and the pointer NBP of the next branch are set. On the other hand, SOS (0
In the table corresponding to (0), there is no subsequent number (that is, corresponding to the number string “41281” in this example), the code SOS (00) indicating the beginning of the candidate, the character or the character string code Str1 to Strn ( Character codes 1 to n represent n candidates), a code EOS (FF) indicating the end of a candidate character or candidate character string code, and a code EOB (FF) indicating the end of a branch are set. When there are a plurality of candidates, the court SOS (OO) indicating the head of the candidates is registered among the plurality of candidates. When the attribute information is stored, it is set next to each candidate character string code Str1 to Strn together with a code indicating the attribute information.

As described above, the reason that a plurality of candidate characters or candidate character strings exist in one branch is not only due to the presence of homonyms, as in a normal Japanese word processor, but also in one key. This is because multiple kana characters have been assigned. For example, if the "1" key and the "2" key are operated successively, the character strings of the "a" line and the "ka" line are input, so "red" and "autumn" are entered. , “Ike”, “oke”, etc. are present as candidate character strings. In the case of the numeral string “41281” illustrated in FIG. 13, “Tokyo” and “offer” are provided.
And so on. As you can see in the above example,
The voiced sound candidate, the semi-voiced sound candidate, etc. are replaced with the pure sound to create a dictionary.

The control unit 4 of the dictionary search unit 15 shown in FIG.
0 performs the search process of the word dictionary 14 by the program of the flowchart shown in FIG. 14, so the operation of the control unit 40 will be described according to this flowchart. The control unit 40 clears the character input buffer 41 (S21), and the code of the input character or the input character string (code of the numeric key)
Waits for arrival (S22). In this example, the operator sets “Tokyo” as the input character as shown in ST1 of FIG. Therefore, the operator uses the numeric keypad 1 of the portable wireless telephone.
The corresponding key of 03 will be operated. Unlike the numeric keypad 103 shown in FIG. 1, the numeric keypad 103 shown in FIG.
Kana characters are written on the key top itself with four rounded corners, and the kana characters are katakana instead of hiragana. This character input device indicates that appropriate input is possible with the numeric keypad 103 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 or the numeric keypad 103 of FIG. Numeric keypad 1
The numeric key of 03 is "4" as shown in ST2 of FIG.
1281 ”is operated. The operator is "4128" in ST2.
It indicates that, among the kana characters corresponding to “1”, the kana characters surrounded by a frame are desired and input.

Then, by the operation of the input control unit 12 described with reference to FIG. 7, a code corresponding to the numerical key related to the operation is obtained, and the code string corresponding to the above "41281" is stored in the character input buffer 41. Next, as shown in ST3 of FIG. 15, the operator operates the “*” key, which is the conversion / next candidate key, for conversion. The "*" key is also converted into a code by the operation of the input control unit 12 described in FIG. 7 and sent to the central control unit 13. Receiving this, the central control unit 13 sends a search start signal to the control unit 40 of FIG. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, the control unit 40, which was monitoring whether or not the search has started (S23), resets the code pointer 42 (S2).
4), the data selector signal is set (S2)
5). Next, the control unit 40 takes out the code stored in the character input buffer 41 from the beginning, and the word dictionary 14
The search is started from the block with 1 character. Since the search method is the same for any number, the search in the block having the number of characters of 3 will be described here.

FIG. 16 shows the processing from the search in the block having the number of characters of 3. According to the number string “412”, the table of the address “3F0F” of the block having the number of characters of 3 is reached. The subsequent number in this table is "1", and the number string "4" stored in the character input buffer 41 is
Since it is different from the fourth digit "8" of "1281", N
The next table is searched based on TP. Here, a candidate in which the number following the number string "412" is "1" and "8"
Since there are only candidates that are, the table with the subsequent number “8” can be searched immediately. Normally, the table with the subsequent number "1" is next to the table with the subsequent number "2", and the table with the subsequent number is "3" ...
In this way, the subsequent number reaches the table of "8".

When the subsequent numbers match, N in this table
Based on the BP, we arrive at the first table of the branch "4128" with 4 characters. In this table, the subsequent number is "1", which matches the fifth number "1" of the number string "41281" stored in the character input buffer 41. When the subsequent numbers match, the table of the next branch “41281” is reached based on the NBP of this table. Originally, since there is no subsequent number stored in the character input buffer 41, "00" is displayed in the subsequent number area.
Search the table where is set. In the example of FIG. 16, the number string “41281” is also in the word dictionary 14.
It is premised that there is no candidate that has a number following, that is, there is no table. From the table of branch "4128", immediately after the number "00 (= SO
S) ”is set in the table of address“ 98AC ”.

In the example of FIG. 16, "Tokyo" is set in the first candidate character string, and the code "Tokyo" is read in correspondence with the output value "0" of the code pointer 42. The above processing corresponds to the processing of the loop from "search" in step S25 to steps S26, S27, and S28 in FIG. The stepping of the code pointer 42 in step 27 corresponds to the case of sequentially searching the table in FIG. 16 and also to the case of designating and reading each candidate character in the target table. Therefore, actually, the search for the candidate characters performed in FIG. 16 is equivalent to the case where the word dictionary 14 shown in FIG. 10 is searched. In this example, "Tokyo"
However, if the candidate character corresponding to the input number string is not stored in the word dictionary 14, the NEXT signal is given to the code pointer 42 to advance the value (S27), and the step When the candidate character or the candidate character string cannot be finally detected by repeating the loop from S28 to step S26, YES in step S28.
Branch to. That is, the END signal is returned from the code pointer 42. Therefore, the control unit 40 sends "not applicable" to the central control unit 13 according to the search result information. The central control unit 13 receiving "not applicable" sends the character font of "not applicable" to the display control unit 17 and causes the LCD display device 16 to display that there is no applicable candidate (S29).

The "Tokyo" code obtained as described above is output to the search result character output buffer 43 (S3).
0). The result output notification is given to the central control unit 13 by the search result information, and the code of "Tokyo" is fetched from the search result character output buffer 43 to the central control unit 13 and further sent to the display control unit 17, as shown in FIG. It is provided for display on the (LCD) display device 16 as described in the description. That is, “Tokyo” is displayed on the (LCD) display device 16. The control unit 40 of the dictionary search unit 15 monitors the operation of the enter key or the operation of the next candidate key (S31,
S32). The operation of the enter key or the operation of the next candidate key is performed in the same manner as the operation of the conversion key described above, and the input control unit 12 is operated.
From the central control unit 13.

In the example of FIG. 15, since "Tokyo" is the desired character, the enter key is operated as shown in ST4. The central control unit 13 obtains the code of the confirmation key and makes the search start signal inactive. In response to this, the control unit 40 of the dictionary search unit 15 proceeds from step 31 to Y.
It branches to ES and fixes the candidate character. When the hiragana character "Tokyo" and the kanji character "Tokyo" are sequentially stored in the word dictionary 14 corresponding to "41281", as shown in parentheses in ST5 of FIG.
The next candidate key is operated in response to the display of the hiragana "Tokyo", and the NEXT signal is given to the code pointer 42 by this, and the value is advanced (S27) to obtain the code of the next candidate kanji "Tokyo". Then, the process proceeds from step S26 to S30. In this case as well, since the Chinese character "Tokyo" is the desired character, the enter key is operated as shown in ST4. Subsequent processing will be performed in the same manner as described above.

As described above, in the character input device according to the first embodiment, a plurality of kana characters are assigned to each key,
Moreover, since the conversion / next candidate key and the enter key are provided, the candidates are composed of candidate characters corresponding to the kana characters assigned to the operated key or a combination of kana character strings assigned to the operated keys. The character string can be properly input and selected. That is, it is suitable for an information terminal having a small number of keys.

In the first embodiment, if the conversion / next candidate key "*" key is not operated, the display unit 102
Since nothing is displayed on the screen, it is impossible to know whether or not the correct key operation is performed, and the operability is not always good.
Therefore, in the second embodiment, the program corresponding to the flowchart of FIG. 14 included in the control unit 40 of the dictionary search unit 15 is replaced with the program corresponding to the flowchart of FIG. That is, in step S22, the control unit 4
0 waits for the input character or the code of the input character string (code of the numeric key) to arrive. When the numeric key of the ten-key pad 103 is operated, the central control unit 13 stores the corresponding code in the character input buffer 41 and transfers it to the display control unit 17 as shown in step S100 of FIG. In this way, the dictionary search unit 15 (control unit 40)
When the ten-key pad 103 is operated, detects the code (numeric code) corresponding to this key and sends it to the display control unit 17 to function as a code sending means for display.
In the display control unit 17, this is patterned into the image memory 3
Write in 3 and display the corresponding number. Control unit 40
Monitors the operation of the conversion / next candidate key "*" key (S23), but if the code corresponding to this "*" key does not arrive, the process returns to step S22 to enter the input character or the input character string. Wait for the arrival of the code (code of numeric key).

"41281" corresponding to "Tokyo"
18 is input, each time the key is operated, as shown in FIG. 18, “4”, “41”, ...
The number corresponding to the operated key is increased and displayed, and the key input is accepted and the operation is correct, that is, the numeric key to which each kana character of "Tokyo" is assigned. You can confirm that is being operated. When the conversion / next candidate key “*” key is operated, character conversion using the word dictionary 14 is performed as in the first embodiment, and the corresponding candidate character code from the word dictionary 14 is executed. Is read out, and this is displayed in place of the display of the number string “41281”. In the example of FIG. 18, the word dictionary 1
This indicates that the first candidate character string in the table corresponding to the number string “41281” of 4 was written in Hiragana as “Tokyo”.

FIG. 19 shows a flowchart corresponding to a program provided in the control unit 40 of the dictionary search unit 15 in the character input device according to the third embodiment.
Also in this embodiment, in step S22,
The control unit 40 waits for the input character or the code of the input character string (code of the numeric key) to arrive. When the numeric keys of the numeric keypad 103 are operated, the central control unit 13 stores the corresponding code in the character input buffer 41 and
The line character corresponding to the numeral is transferred to the display control unit 17 as shown in S110 of FIG. That is, the central control unit 1
Reference numeral 3 has a conversion table for the numeric code and the line character, and obtains the line character from the numeric code and transfers it to the display control unit 17. The display control unit 17 patterns this and writes it in the image memory 33 to display the corresponding character. When the above table is described in detail, “1” code and “A” code, “2” code and “KA” code, “3” code and “SA” code, ..., “0” It is a table in which the code of "" and the code of "wa" are associated with each other.

As shown in FIG. 19, the control unit 40 monitors the operation of the conversion / next candidate key "*" (S).
23) If the code corresponding to the "*" key has not arrived, the process returns to step S22 and waits for the arrival of the code of the input character or the input character string (code of the numeric key). As in the case of the first embodiment, when "41281" is keyed in corresponding to "Tokyo", "ta", " Taha "...
.., "Taakayaa" and the line characters corresponding to the operated key are increased and displayed, and the key input is accepted and the operation is correct, that is, each pseudonym of "Tokyo" It is possible to confirm that the key to which the character is assigned is operated. When the conversion / next candidate key “*” key is operated, character conversion using the word dictionary 14 is performed as in the first embodiment, and the corresponding candidate character code from the word dictionary 14 is executed. Is read out and displayed in place of the display of the line character string “Takaaaya”. Note that the example of FIG. 20 shows that the first candidate character string in the table corresponding to the number string “41281” in the word dictionary 14 is written in Hiragana as “Tokyo”.

FIG. 21 shows a modification of the third embodiment in which line characters are displayed in Roman letters in the third embodiment. In the case of this modified example, in the table provided in the central control unit 13, the code “1” and “A”
, The code of “2” and the code of “K”, the code of “3” and the code of “S”, ..., The code of “0” and the code of “W” are associated with each other. Therefore, when "41281" is entered in the key corresponding to "Tokyo", as shown in FIG. 21, for each operation of each key,
"T", "TA", ..., "TAKYA" are displayed with the line characters corresponding to the operated key increased, that the key input is accepted and that the operation is correct, that is, It is possible to confirm that the key to which each Kana character of "Tokyo" is assigned is operated. In the third embodiment, the conversion is performed by the table included in the central control unit 13, but as another configuration, the memory table 22 included in the input control unit 12 illustrated in FIG. It is also possible to obtain the line name character with or the line name character in Roman letters. In this case, the word dictionary 14
Instead of associating a number or number string with a candidate character or character string, associate a character or character string in a hiragana line name with a candidate character or candidate character string, or a character or character string in a Roman line name. Characters or candidate character strings are made to correspond to each other. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to confirm that the key input is accepted and that the operation is correct, and of course, as in the first embodiment, an appropriate character can be input with a small number of keys. , You can get a string.

FIG. 22 shows a flowchart corresponding to a program provided in the control unit 40 of the dictionary search unit 15 in the character input device according to the fourth embodiment.
In this embodiment, the control unit 40 resets the code pointer 42 (S24) and sets the data selector signal to the set state (S25) without monitoring the operation of the conversion / next candidate key “*” key, Further, the code stored in the character input buffer 41 is taken out from the beginning, and the search is started from the block having the number of characters of 1 in the word dictionary 14.

In the fourth embodiment, when "41281" is entered in correspondence with "Tokyo", as shown in FIG. 23, each key operation is performed as shown in FIG.
“Ta”, “No.”, “Standby”, ..., “Tokyo” are displayed. That is, the first candidate in the table of candidate characters corresponding to “4” in the word dictionary 14 is “ta”, and the word dictionary 14
The first candidate in the table of candidate characters corresponding to “41” of is “first”, the first candidate in the table of candidate characters corresponding to “412” of the word dictionary 14 is “standby”, and the word dictionary 14 The first candidate in the table of candidate characters corresponding to “4128” is “leave”, and “4128” in the word dictionary 14
Since the first candidate in the table of candidate characters corresponding to “1” is “Tokyo”, the candidate characters or candidate character strings converted in the above order are displayed without any operation of the conversion / next candidate key. It

Unless the conversion / next candidate key is operated, the current search result is displayed (S33) and step S22.
Return to and continue processing. When the LCD display device 16 displays that there is no corresponding candidate (S29), the operation of the enter key or the conversion / next candidate key is detected (S34, S35), and if there is no such key operation, the step is performed. The process returns to S22 to continue the process, and the above step S3
4 or in S35, if the enter key or the conversion / next candidate key is operated, the process goes to the abnormal process. Therefore, according to the embodiment, when there is no candidate character or candidate character string corresponding to a numeral being input,
The configuration corresponds to an illegal operation in which the enter key or the conversion / next candidate key is operated.

In addition, in order to avoid running out of candidate characters in the middle of input, it is possible to assign the character of the line name to each number in the word dictionary 14. In this case, as a result of the conversion, the characters of the line name are displayed as shown in FIG. Further, in FIG. 24, in order to show that the conversion result is obtained when the conversion / next candidate key is not operated, the first table of the candidate characters corresponding to the numbers or the number strings of the word dictionary 14 is displayed.
The display result of the modified example in which the original first candidate hiragana code is set as the candidate is shown. That is, the word dictionary 14
The first candidate in the table of candidate characters corresponding to “4” is “ta”, the first candidate in the table of candidate characters corresponding to “41” in the word dictionary 14 is “dai”, and the word dictionary 14 No. 1 of the table of candidate characters corresponding to "412" of
The candidate is “Taiki” and is “4128” in the word dictionary 14.
The first candidate in the table of candidate characters corresponding to is “Taikiyo”, and the first candidate in the table of candidate characters corresponding to “41281” in the word dictionary 14 is “Tokyo”. As a result, when "41281" is keyed in, as shown in FIG. 24, for each key operation,
“Ta”, “dai”, “taiki”, ..., “Tokyo” are displayed. In this way, the hiragana characters are displayed according to the key operation, it is clear that the conversion / next candidate key is not operated, and it is possible to know whether or not the correct input has been made.

In each of the above embodiments, only one conversion candidate is displayed, but in the fifth embodiment, when there are a plurality of conversion candidate characters or candidate character strings, a predetermined number of them are displayed. . FIG. 25 shows a main part of a flowchart corresponding to a program included in the control unit 40 of the dictionary search unit 15 in the character input device according to the fifth embodiment. In the fifth embodiment, the processing corresponding to steps S30 to S32 and S27 of FIG. 14 of the first embodiment is performed as shown in FIG. That is, the word dictionary 14
When a candidate is extracted from, the existing candidates are extracted and output to the search result character output buffer 43 together with the selected number (S30-A). As a result, the display unit 1
On the display screen of 02, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 26, "Tokyo", "offer", "Tokyu", and "Teikyo" are selected numbers 1 to 1.
Displayed with 4.

The control unit 40 waits for the input of the selected number (S3
1-A), when input, this candidate character is confirmed. If the selected number is not input, the operation of the next candidate key is detected (S32), and when the next candidate key is operated,
The code pointer 42 is advanced by the predetermined number of candidates (4 in the example of FIG. 26) (S27-A), and the process proceeds to search for another candidate. As described above, in the fifth embodiment, when there are a plurality of candidates, they are simultaneously displayed and provided for selection, so that there is an effect that the candidate character can be determined quickly.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram of the character input device according to the sixth embodiment. In this embodiment, the touch panel 5 attached on the screen of the display device 16
0 is provided, and the input control unit 12-A detects the operation input coordinate value from the touch panel 50. That is, the transparent sheet 51 is attached to the screen of the display unit 102 corresponding to the display device 16 as shown in FIG. A transparent electrode 52 is provided at a predetermined position below the transparent sheet 51, and a transparent counter electrode 53 is provided at a position on the screen facing the transparent electrode 52 via, for example, a transparent different direction conductive rubber. There is. As shown in the figure, for example, four transparent electrodes 52 at predetermined positions below the transparent sheet 51 and transparent counter electrodes 53 facing the transparent electrodes 52 are provided, and these are provided in the same manner as the key matrix described in FIG. The column direction line and the row direction line are connected, and the input control unit 12-A detects which position has been operated as described with reference to FIGS. That is, the input control unit 12-A constitutes the position detection unit 55 that detects the input operation position on the touch panel 50.

FIG. 28 shows a flowchart corresponding to a program provided in the control unit 40 of the dictionary search unit 15 in the character input device according to the sixth embodiment.
In this embodiment, the processing corresponding to steps S30 to S32 and S27 of FIG. 14 of the first embodiment is performed as shown in FIG. That is, when extracting candidates from the word dictionary 14, up to a predetermined number of existing candidates are extracted,
The search result character output (for LCD display) buffer 43 is output together with the "next candidate" character (or "scroll") (S30-A). As a result, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 29, the display control unit 17 displays "Tokyo", "offer", "Tokyu", and "next candidate" at the position of the transparent electrode 52 on the display screen of the display unit 102 ( S36). The control unit 40 detects the operation position on the touch panel 50 (S37), detects the candidate character displayed corresponding to the coordinates of the operation position (S38), and fixes the candidate character (S4).
0). In this way, the dictionary search unit 15 functions as a confirmation means.

When the operation of the next candidate key is detected (S38), the display pointer is changed (S39),
The code pointer 42 is advanced by the predetermined number of candidates (three in the example of FIG. 29) (S27-A), and the process proceeds to search for another candidate. That is, when the pointer for displaying the candidate for the candidate character string in the corresponding table of the word dictionary 14 and the pointer for searching the candidate character in the table of the word dictionary 14 are common, both of them are advanced by three. As a result, the following three candidates are extracted and displayed when they exist. Thus, in the sixth embodiment,
When there are a plurality of candidates, they are displayed simultaneously and can be selected by the touch panel 50, so that there is an effect that the candidate character can be surely and swiftly confirmed.

The character input device according to each of the embodiments of the present invention displays the cursor C as shown in FIG. , And an erase key 63 are provided. Here, in order to display characters for one line, the cursor movement keys 61 and 62 are composed of a pair of left and right keys. In addition to this, a pair of vertical cursor movement keys is provided. Cursor movement keys 61, 6
The operation information of No. 2 is also detected by the input control unit 12 like the operation information of the other keys described with reference to FIGS.
It is given to the display control unit 17 via the central control unit 13.

Regarding the cursor display, the display control unit 17
Based on the cursor pointer, the cursor C is moved to and displayed in the lower line of the character display area in units of one character display area. Then, the display control unit 17 controls the cursor pointer by the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 31, based on the input of characters and the operation information of the cursor movement key. That is, the arrival of the character code is detected (S41), and when the character code arrives, the cursor pointer is advanced one step (S42). As a result, the cursor C moves forward by one character. If the character code does not arrive, it is detected whether the cursor movement has occurred by the arrival of the operation information of the cursor movement key (S4).
3) If the operation information has not arrived, the process returns to step S41 to continue monitoring, and when the cursor moves, the cursor pointer is increased or decreased according to the moving direction (S44). As a result, the cursor C moves forward or backward in character units. To correct an erroneously input character, move the cursor C to the position of the character to be corrected with the cursor movement keys 61 and 62, operate the erase key 63 to erase, and input the correct character. In this case, in the first embodiment,
Although the display is not performed until after the conversion / next candidate key is operated, it is LC that there is no corresponding candidate in step S29.
In the abnormal processing after the display on the D display device 16, the input numeral or the input numeral string is displayed as in the second embodiment, and the correction is guaranteed here. That is, in the abnormality processing, the numeral string set in the character string input buffer 41 is sent to the display control unit 17. When the conversion / next candidate key is operated after the correction, the processing from step S23 onward in the flowchart of FIG. 14 is performed.

FIG. 32 is a block diagram of the character input device according to the seventh embodiment. In this embodiment, the search SW (switch) 18 is connected to the central control unit 13 again, and when the result of the word dictionary search indicates that there is no corresponding candidate on the LCD display device 16, the input character or the input character is input. It is possible to change the character string and give an instruction to perform the conversion by the dictionary search again. That is, when the candidate character or the candidate character string is not obtained, the central control unit 13 and the dictionary search unit 15 perform the search S again.
On the condition that W18 is turned on, the input character or the input character string is changed and functions as a changing unit 60 for performing the conversion again. In addition, search SW again
Reference numeral 18 is not a mechanical switch but a register.

FIG. 33 shows a flowchart corresponding to a program provided in the control unit 40 of the dictionary search unit 15 in the character input device according to the seventh embodiment.
In this embodiment, in the search processing of the word dictionary 14, the control unit 40 clears the character input buffer 41 and resets the search SW 18 again (S48), and the code of the input character or the input character string (code of the numeric key). Waits for arrival (S22). The subsequent processing is the same as that of the first embodiment, and is different in that the processing from step S45 to step S47 is performed when the LCD display device 16 displays that there is no corresponding candidate in step S29. is doing.

That is, in step S29, when the LCD display device 16 displays that there is no corresponding candidate, the ON / OFF of the search SW 18 is detected again (S45). At the first time, since it has been turned off by the reset in step S48, it branches to NO,
Delete the last character (number) (S46) and search again S
W18 is turned on (S47), and the word dictionary 14 for the character (number) or character (number) string obtained as a result of the deletion.
In order to search for, the processing from step S24 is repeated. By deleting the last character of the character string in this way, it is expected that the auxiliary words such as particles will be deleted and match the candidate characters registered in the word dictionary 14. That is, according to the present embodiment, the input character string is automatically corrected.

Despite the change of the character string, when the LCD display device 16 displays that there is no corresponding candidate in step S29, the search SW 18 is already turned on again. Therefore, step S45
In YES, the process branches to YES and proceeds to the abnormality processing. In this abnormality processing, correction can be performed as described with reference to FIGS. 30 and 31. Further, regarding whether or not to perform the function of this embodiment, for example, a special number (key input that is not normally used,
If “# * #? (? = Number)? (? = Number)” is input, the setting is canceled and automatic correction is not performed. After that, when automatic correction is required, the same special number as above can be input to turn on the automatic correction function.

FIG. 34 is a block diagram of the character input device according to the eighth embodiment. In this embodiment, an error correction table 70, a memory (PMEM) 71, and a memory (KMEM) 72 are connected to the central controller 13.
The error correction table 70 of the present embodiment is a key candidate table that causes an erroneous operation at the time of key operation, and is configured as shown in FIG. That is, the keys that are likely to be erroneously operated (that is, the keys that are close to each other in arrangement) are arranged in descending order of probability, corresponding to the types of numeric keys “1” to “0”. The memory 71 stores the order of the number candidates used for the replacement, and the memory 72 is set with the number of the input character or the input character string to be replaced. Central control unit 13 and dictionary search unit 1
5 is, when no candidate character or character string is obtained,
The error correction table 70 is used to change the input character or the input character string and function as a changing unit 60-A for converting again.

36 and 37, the control unit 40 of the dictionary search unit 15 in the character input device according to the eighth embodiment is shown.
A flowchart corresponding to a program included in is shown. In this embodiment, in the search processing of the word dictionary 14, the control unit 40 clears the character input buffer 41 and clears the memory (PMEM) 71 and the memory (KMEM) 72 (S50), and the input character or the input character string. Waits for the code (number code) to arrive (S2
2). The subsequent processing is the same as that of the first embodiment, and in step S29, when the LCD display device 16 displays that there is no corresponding candidate, it proceeds to the pre-abnormality processing shown in FIG. 37. It's different.

In the pre-abnormality processing shown in FIG. 37, the value in the memory 71 is incremented by "1" (S51), and it is detected whether or not there is a candidate in the error table 70 (S52).
That is, it is detected whether there is a first candidate to be replaced.
Initially, as is clear from FIG. 35, there are candidates,
The process branches to YES, the content of the memory 72 is incremented by "1" (S54), and in this case, the input character or the first of the input character string should be replaced. Then, it is detected whether the character at the position designated by the memory 72 exists in the character input buffer 41 (S55). When there is one or more characters, the error correction table 70 is searched, and the corresponding character is searched from the character shown in the memory 72 and the candidate rank shown in the memory 71 (S56). The character at the position indicated by the memory 72 in the character string input buffer 41 is replaced, and the processing from step S24 of the flowchart of FIG. 36 is continued. That is, the word dictionary 14 is searched for the character string obtained as a result of the replacement, and the candidate character is obtained. If the above result or the search result is not obtained, the pre-abnormality process is performed again, and the replacement is performed for the next candidate. When there is no candidate for a certain character position, the process branches to NO in step S52, the memory 71 is reset (S53), and the content of the memory 72 is incremented by "1" (S54). As a result, the second character in the input character string is replaced. Thus, according to this embodiment, when an adjacent key is operated due to a key operation error, the replacement is automatically corrected and desired input can be performed. Even if the automatic replacement correction is performed in this manner, when the replacement of the last character in the character string is completed without obtaining the search result, the process branches to NO in step S55 and abnormal processing is performed.

In the above-mentioned abnormality processing, the correction can be performed as described with reference to FIGS. 30 and 31.
Further, regarding whether or not to perform the function of the present embodiment, for example, a special number (key input that is not normally used, for example, “# * #? (Number)? (Number)” is input from the keyboard 11.
Etc.) is input, the setting is canceled and replacement correction is not performed. After that, when replacement correction is required, the same special number as above can be input to turn on the automatic replacement correction function. In the present embodiment, the replacement is performed from the beginning side of the input character string, but the same effect can be expected even if the replacement is performed from the end side.

FIG. 38 is a block diagram of the character input device according to the ninth embodiment. In this embodiment, the central control unit 13 has a character range information table 75.
Is connected, and this character range information table 7
As shown in FIG. 39, a range of characters (whether kana or kana can be handled) corresponding to the identification information (for example, telephone number) of the transmission partner terminal is stored in advance in 5. The central controller 13 uses the character range information table 75.
The dictionary search unit 15 which is the character conversion means by obtaining the range information from
The range information acquisition means 76 to be passed to is constructed.

Central control unit 1 which is range information acquisition means 76
3 acquires range information by executing the program of the flowchart of FIG. That is, it is detected whether there is a destination designation (S61). In this embodiment,
Before entering the mode of the character input device, for example, a special number is used to instruct the other party to make an input, and the identification information (telephone number) of the other party's terminal is input. The central control unit 13 takes this (S62), searches the character range information table 75, and acquires range information indicating the range of characters that can be handled by the corresponding destination terminal (S63). The acquired range information is stored in the register together with the identification information (telephone number) (S64). After that, the process proceeds to the search routine for the word dictionary 14.

FIG. 41 shows a flowchart corresponding to a program provided in the control unit 40 of the dictionary search unit 15 in the character input device according to the ninth embodiment.
In this embodiment, the processing up to the detection of the candidate character or the candidate character string in step S26 is the same as that in the first embodiment. However, when a candidate is detected, it is detected by referring to the above-mentioned register whether the other terminal can handle the kanji (S60), and if the kanji cannot be handled, the kana code candidate is selected (S61). In this case, the kanji code may be selected for additional display. As a result, when the partner terminal cannot handle the kanji, a candidate based on the kana is selected and displayed (in addition to the kanji of the supplementary notation in the embodiment of the supplementary notation).

When the input character is fixed as described above,
As shown in FIG. 2, the character input / output unit 7 is connected to the call control unit 6.
Is given the character string code and the identification information of the partner terminal stored in the above-mentioned register, and calling and data transmission are performed via the transmitting / receiving unit 3 and the antenna 5. In this way, character conversion is performed according to the capability of the partner terminal, an appropriate code is sent, and the partner terminal does not become unable to perform processing. When the identification information that is not registered in the character range information table 75 is input, it is determined that the kanji cannot be handled. That is, it is possible to prevent the processing from being disabled in the partner terminal by performing the low function processing.

In the ninth embodiment, the range is set according to whether or not kanji can be handled. However, in addition, the range such as a range up to a numeral or a Roman alphabet or an external character of the same type can be used. There can be divisions. In these cases,
Correspondingly, the range information of the table is subdivided. In this case (as is the case with the ninth embodiment),
A dictionary structure that is suitable for low-performance processing is required. That is, a kana character code is prepared for the same word other than the kanji candidate. In addition, candidates for numbers and candidates for Roman letters are prepared and made into a dictionary.

Further, in the ninth embodiment, range information is prepared in advance, but this character range information table 75
The content of can be updated. That is, the contents of the character range information table 75 are instructed to be updated by a special number or the like, and a pair of partner identification information and range information is input. As a result, the central control unit 13 causes the character range information table 75
Update the contents of. In the case of the same destination identification information, the information is overwritten, and in the case of new destination identification information, new registration is performed. Furthermore, a pre-procedure may be provided at the time of communication with the partner terminal to obtain the range information from the DTMF signal, or the switching network may send the range information obtained from the partner terminal using the control channel. May be. Even in these cases, there is an effect that a character string such as a message according to the capability of the partner terminal can be transmitted.

Next explained is the tenth embodiment of the invention. The mobile radio telephone to which the character input device according to the present embodiment is applied has a mode key 64 for selecting a plurality of processing modes on the lower side of the numeric keypad 103 as shown in FIG. A left move key 65 and a right move key 66 for moving the cursor K indicating the position of the character or character string to be moved are provided. These keys can be entered on the numeric keypad 103 by entering a specified special number.
It is also possible to substitute any of the above. The mode key 64 is used to call up the possessed modes one after another for each operation. And so on. In such a case, the call mode is initially set, the call mode is set by operating the mode key 64 once, and the data communication mode is set by operating the mode key 64 once. In the last mode, if the mode key 64 is further operated, the mode is returned to the call mode. When a plurality of lines are displayed on the display unit 102 as shown in FIG. 42, by continuing to operate the left move key 65 or the right move key 66, the line can be moved over this line. That is, when the cursor K is located at the rightmost position on the first line, for example, the right move key 6
When 6 is continuously operated, it moves from the leftmost position on the first line to the rightmost position on the second line, and further moves toward the leftmost position on the second line. As described with reference to FIGS. 30 and 31, the display control of the cursor K is performed by the central control unit 13A illustrated in FIG. 43 through the input control unit 12 as described with reference to FIGS. By giving, the display control unit 1
7 is what it does.

In the present embodiment, the attribute of the character or character string related to the input can be specified, and an appropriate candidate character or candidate character string can be searched from the word dictionary 14 to quickly find a desired word (such as kanji). To get it. FIG. 43 shows the configuration of the character input device according to the present embodiment. That is, this character input device is assigned with a dictionary means 310 in which an input character or an input character string is associated with a candidate character or a candidate character string of the conversion result and its attribute information and stored, and a plurality of kana characters. An input unit 300 including a plurality of keys, a conversion / next candidate key for instructing character conversion, and a confirmation key for confirming the conversion result, and inputting a character or a character string and necessary information. An output unit 330 for displaying and outputting at least a candidate character or a candidate character string as a conversion result, and an attribute specifying unit 350 for specifying the attribute of the input character or the input character string based on the information input from the input unit 300. , The input means 3
When searching the dictionary means 310 for a character corresponding to a key input from 00 or a character string corresponding to a plurality of input keys to obtain a candidate character or a candidate character string,
Character conversion means 320A for obtaining a candidate character or a candidate character string corresponding to the attribute information specified by the attribute specifying means 350 and sending this candidate character or candidate character string to the output means 330. The attribute specifying means 35
0 is configured by the central control unit 13A and the input word attribute storage unit 19. The input word attribute storage unit 19 is used to store the attribute information of the character or character string currently input.

FIG. 44 shows a part of the contents of the word dictionary 14 which constitutes the dictionary means 310. That is, in correspondence with the numerical code by operating the ten-key pad 103, characters or character strings in kana, candidates for characters or character strings in kanji, etc. Alternatively, attribute information regarding character string candidates is stored. In this example, the attribute information is one for each character or character string candidate such as the Chinese character, but two or more may be stored. For example, the attribute “place name” is also the attribute “place”, and “act” can be applied as the attribute of the attribute “general”, for example, “please”. The actual configuration of the word dictionary 14 is as described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13.

Further, in the apparatus of the present embodiment, the central control unit 13A has a memory as shown in FIGS. 45 and 46 in order to specify the attribute. FIG. 45 shows an instruction content memory 77 in which a plurality of modes related to the processing of this apparatus and instruction content for obtaining attributes are stored in association with each other. Here, “0” is set for the call mode and the data communication mode, which indicates that the process related to the attribute is not performed. For the character input mode, “Instruction by key input” is displayed. It has been registered, and in the character input mode, it is shown that it will follow when the attribute information is directly input by key input, and it corresponds to the telephone number registration mode, fixed phrase 1 input mode, search 3 mode Then, the jump destination address “aaa” of the cursor position memory 78 is set, and in the search 1 and the search 2, the attribute information (“place name”, “group name”, etc.) is set as it is. P in FIG. 45 is a pointer and indicates which mode is being executed. In the example of FIG. 45, it is shown that the telephone number registration mode is being executed.

FIG. 46 shows the cursor position memory 78 in which the attribute information of the input character or character string is stored in association with the position of the cursor K. For example, in the telephone number registration mode, the jump destination address aaa is obtained from the instruction content memory 77, the address aaa of the cursor position memory 78 is jumped to, and which of the “cursor coordinates” the position of the cursor K belongs to (x ₁ to x). _2, x ₃ ~x _4, x
₅ ~x _6, x ₇ ~x _8, respectively, "name" of the input item, "affiliation", "address", representing the coordinates of the area of the "telephone number". ), It is specified whether the attribute is “personal name”, “group name”, “place name”, or “numerical value”. That is,
In the telephone number registration mode, the display as shown in FIG. 42 is displayed on the display unit 102, and the input item is “name”,
Since it is “affiliation”, “address”, and “telephone number”, the attributes “personal name”, “group name”, “place name”, and “numerical value” corresponding to these items are stored.

On the other hand, in the input mode of the fixed phrase 1,
As shown in FIG. 47, the display unit 102 displays a message for inputting a desired action at a desired location at a desired time. Therefore, at the coordinates x _{13 to} x ₁₄ , the attribute is displayed. There is a "time (time)", the coordinate x ₁₅ ~x ₁₆ in attribute is "place name", the attribute in the coordinate x ₂₁ ~x ₂₂ is "action". Depending on the input mode of this fixed phrase 1. "Let's meet tomorrow at noon" at the JPO (location).
(Act) ”or the like can be input. Further, the search 1 mode is for searching data of a person who lives in a specific place from the contents registered in the telephone number registration mode, for example, as shown in FIG. A message prompting you to enter a place name is displayed. For example,
You can enter "Tokyo" and use it to search for people who live in Tokyo. Therefore, in the search 1 mode,
The attribute is “place name”, and this attribute “place name” is directly stored in the instruction content memory 77 in association with the search 1. Furthermore, the mode of the search 2 is for searching the data of the person who belongs to a specific group from the contents registered in the above-mentioned telephone number registration mode, for example.
As shown in FIG. 49, a message prompting the user to enter an organization name is displayed. For example, "sales department" or the like can be input to search for a person who belongs to the sales department. Therefore, in the search 2 mode, the attribute is "group name",
This attribute "group name" is directly stored in the instruction content memory 77 in association with the search 2.

The central control unit 13A uses the program of the flowchart shown in FIG.
Since it operates as 0, this will be described. When this device is started, it is started and the mode is detected (S7).
1). That is, the pointer P in FIG. 45 is moved so as to point to the corresponding mode according to the operation of the mode key 64, and the mode pointed to by the pointer P is detected. Here, FIG.
By referring to the relevant mode "telephone number registration" in the instruction content memory 77 shown in (4), it is detected whether or not the attribute instruction content is set (S72). Since the jump destination address aaa to the coordinate position memory 78 is set in correspondence with "telephone number registration", the coordinates of the cursor K are obtained from the display control unit 17, and the coordinate value and the coordinate position memory 78 are stored. The cursor coordinate range stored in the jump destination address aaa is compared to detect which cursor coordinate range the cursor K is in, and the corresponding attribute information is obtained (S73). For example, when in the region of the cursor K is input item "belongs" as shown in FIG. 42, the coordinates of the cursor K is in a range on the coordinate x ₃ ~x ₄ cursor position memory 78, the attribute "organization name" Obtainable. In the case of the search 1 mode or the like, the attribute information can be directly obtained from the instruction content memory 77. Next, the central controller 13A
Sets this attribute information in the input word attribute storage unit 19 (S74) and returns to step 71 to continue the processing. When it is detected in step S72 that the attribute instruction content is not set (when "0" is set), "no attribute" is set in the input word attribute storage unit 19. (S75) Then, the process returns to step 71 to continue the process. In this way, the central control unit 13A constantly changes the attribute information.

FIG. 51 shows details of the dictionary retrieval unit 15A employed in this embodiment. The dictionary search unit 15A is provided with a search state holding unit 45 for storing the dictionary information when the central control unit 13A reads and sends the attribute information from the input word attribute storage unit 19 and is stored in FIG. This is different from the dictionary search unit 15 of. Control unit 40
A sets attribute information in the search state holding unit 45, and when it obtains the attribute information together with the word data from the word dictionary 14, compares it with the attribute information in the search state holding unit 45 to determine candidates.

The control section 40A operates according to the program of the flowchart shown in FIG. 52, which will be described below. The control unit 40A clears the character input buffer 41 (S21), receives the attribute information read from the input word attribute storage unit 19 and sent out by the central control unit 13A, and sets it in the search state holding unit 45 (S62). As a result, the attribute information of the input word attribute storage unit 19 or “no attribute information” is set in the search state holding unit 45. From the next step S22 to the step S26 of comparing the input number or number string with the code of the word dictionary 14, the same operation as in the case of the first embodiment is continued, where the input number or number string is input. If the candidate character corresponding to is not stored in the word dictionary 14, the NEXT signal is given to the code pointer 42 and the value is incremented (S27), and the step S28 is performed.
At, it is detected whether there is no candidate pointed to by the code pointer 42 and the last entry has ended. If there is another entry, the process returns to step S26 and continues. Then, when it is detected that it is the last in step S28, the contents of the search state holding unit 45 are examined to detect whether or not the attribute information is set (S63). If the attribute information is set here, it is reset and changed to "no attribute information" (S
64), and further returns to step S25 to continue the operation.

On the other hand, when a candidate is detected in step S26, the contents of the search state holding unit 45 are examined to detect whether or not the attribute information is set (S65). Here, if the attribute information is set, it is detected whether or not this attribute information matches the obtained candidate attribute information (S
66) If they do not match, the process proceeds to step S27 to search for another candidate. As described above, the attribute information is added and stored after each candidate (Str1 to n) in FIG. If the attribute information matches in step S66 while performing such processing, this candidate code is output to the search result character output buffer 43 (S30), and thereafter, the same processing as in the first embodiment is performed. In addition, step S65
If the attribute information is reset, that is, "no attribute information", the process similar to that of the first embodiment is continued without detecting the coincidence / non-coincidence of the attribute information.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, the attribute of the input character or character string is specified, and when the candidate character or the candidate character string is searched from the word dictionary 14, the candidate of the attribute is extracted. The desired word etc. (Kanji etc.) is output as
Can be obtained quickly. In other words, if there are multiple candidates corresponding to the input number or number string, only candidates with the desired attribute (for example, “place name”) are selected and output, so the operator is limited to a certain number of candidates. You can get the character (Kanji, etc.) related to the desired conversion result from the inside.
It is efficient.

In the above configuration example, the word dictionary 1
In the configuration example in which 4 has the usage frequency information for each word and the candidates with high usage frequency are output, candidates that are frequently used are output earlier, and the time until obtaining the conversion result is shortened. It is convenient and convenient.

Next, the character input device according to the embodiment of the present invention for English-speaking countries will be described. FIG. 53 shows a front view of a mobile radio telephone to which the character input device according to the present embodiment is applied. The handset 101 is composed of a slightly flat rectangular parallelepiped casing, and a ten-key (dial key) 103E made up of four rows and three columns of keys is provided from the center to the bottom of the surface, and letters, symbols, etc. are provided above it. A display unit 102 for displaying information is provided.
Further, above the display unit 102, there is provided a receiving section 104A for listening to the transmitted voice, and below the ten-key pad 103E, there is provided a transmitting section 105A for inputting the voice. There is.

The internal structure of the above portable radio telephone is shown in FIG.
It is equivalent to that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 54 shows a configuration diagram when the portable wireless telephone of FIG. 53 is in the operation mode as the character input device. This configuration corresponds to a portion including the input unit 2 and the character input / output unit 7 in the internal configuration of the mobile wireless phone of FIG. The character input device includes a keyboard 11 for inputting characters and the like, an input control unit 12 for fetching information on a key operation on the keyboard 11 and sending it to a central control unit 13,
A central control unit 13 that controls each unit of the character input device;
The dictionary means 31 in which the input character or input character string and the conversion result candidate character or candidate character string are stored in association with each other.
The word dictionary 14E, which is 0E, and the word dictionary 14E for the input character or the input character string given from the central control unit 13.
A dictionary search unit 15 for obtaining a corresponding candidate character or a candidate character string by referring to E, a display device 16 including an LCD for displaying information such as characters, and a candidate character or character under the control of the central control unit 13. The display control unit 17 is provided for controlling the display device 16 to display candidate character strings and the like.
For each numeric key of the ten-key pad 103E of the keyboard 11,
A plurality of alphabets are assigned. In other words, the numeral keys of the normal dial key arrangement, the “2” key is assigned three characters “A”, “B”, and “C”, and the “3” key is “D” and “E”. , "F" are assigned, and similarly, three letters are assigned to the "9" key, and "Q" and "Z" are assigned to the "0" key. Further, the "*" key is a conversion (conversion / next candidate) key, and the "#" key is a decision key. In the above, the keyboard 11 includes a plurality of keys to which a plurality of alphabets are assigned, a conversion / next candidate key for instructing character conversion, and an enter key for finalizing the conversion result. Is input means 300 for inputting, and the display device 16 is output means 330 for displaying and outputting at least the candidate character or the candidate character string of the conversion result, the central control unit 13 and the dictionary search unit 15.
Searches the dictionary means 310E for a character corresponding to the key input from the input means 300 or a character string corresponding to a plurality of input keys to obtain a candidate character or a candidate character string. Is the output means 3
The character conversion means 320 for sending to 30 is configured.

The structure of the keyboard 11 is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
The configuration of No. 2 is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5, and the contents of the memory table 22 included in the input control unit 12 are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The key reading operation performed by the control unit 20 included in the input control unit 12 is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 7. Further, the detailed configuration of the display control unit 17 of the character input device in this embodiment is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 8, and further, the dictionary search of the character input device in this embodiment is performed. The detailed configuration of the section 15 is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 55 shows the contents stored in the word dictionary 14E. That is, in correspondence with the numerical code by the operation of the ten-key pad 103E, alphabetic characters or character strings (words), attribute information such as part of speech, place, time, etc., and dictionary information including other dictionary information are associated and stored. Has been done. For example, the numeric keypad 103
By inputting "86596" by E, the dictionary configuration is such that "Tokyo" and its attribute information are obtained. More specifically, the configuration of the word dictionary 14E is shown in FIGS.
It is constructed as shown in FIG. First, the word dictionary 14E
As shown in FIG. 56, is composed of blocks divided in units of the number of characters. As shown in FIG. 57, the block corresponding to each number of characters is composed of a plurality of branches corresponding to the number string of the number of characters. Here, there are a plurality of branches corresponding to a number string of 5 characters in a block of 5 characters, the branch corresponding to the number string "25625" is clearly shown, and the branches corresponding to other number strings are The number is displayed as "*". Further, FIG.
Shows internal details of the branch corresponding to the number string “25625”. In the branch, a table corresponding to the subsequent digits (0) to (9) when present (thus, if the subsequent digits are only (1) and (8), for example, 2 tables), A table corresponding to SOS (00) indicating the head of the candidates corresponding to the number string when there is no number is included. In the table corresponding to the subsequent numbers (0) to (9), the corresponding subsequent numbers, the pointer NTP of the next table, and the pointer NBP of the next branch are set. On the other hand, in the table corresponding to the number string when there is no subsequent number (SOS (00) is set at the beginning), the beginning of the candidate when there is no subsequent number (that is, corresponding to the number string “25625”) Code S indicating
OS (00), character or character string candidate code Str1 to St
rn (indicating that it is composed of n characters), a code indicating the end of the candidate character or candidate character string code EOS (F
F), the code EOB (FF) indicating the end of the branch is set. The attribute information is added and stored together with a code indicating identification information after each of the candidate codes (constituted by Str1 to Strn).

As described above, a plurality of candidate characters or candidate character strings are present in one branch because a plurality of alphabetic characters are assigned to one key. For example,
If the "2" key and "3" key are operated in succession,
"A", "B", or "C" and "D", "E",
Of the nine candidate character strings that are combined with any of the “F”, “be” or the like having a meaning as a word exists as a candidate character string. The numeral string “2562” illustrated in FIG.
In the case of "5", there are significant words "clock", "block", etc. corresponding to this number string.

As in the first embodiment, the control unit 40 of the dictionary search unit 15 performs the search process of the word dictionary 14E by the program of the flowchart shown in FIG. The operation will be described. The control unit 40 clears the character input buffer 41 (S21) and waits for the code of the input character or the input character string (code of the numeric key) to arrive (S22). In this example, as shown in ST1 of FIG.
ck ”as an input character. Therefore, the operator operates the corresponding key of the ten-key pad 103E of the portable wireless telephone. In the ten-key pad 103E of FIG. 59, unlike the ten-key pad 103E of FIG. 1, alphabetic characters are written on the key top itself having four round corners. This character input device shows that appropriate input is possible with the ten-key pad 103 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 or the ten-key pad 103E of FIG. 59. The numeric key of the ten key 103E is operated as "25625" as shown in ST2 of FIG. The operator indicates that he / she has made an input by desiring an alphabetic character surrounded by a frame among the alphabetic characters corresponding to "25625" in ST2.

Then, by the operation of the input control unit 12 described with reference to FIG. 7, a code corresponding to the numeric key for the operation is obtained, and the code string corresponding to the above-mentioned "25625" is stored in the character input buffer 41. Next, as shown in ST3 of FIG. 59, the operator operates the “*” key which is the conversion / next candidate key for conversion. The "*" key is also converted into a code by the operation of the input control unit 12 described in FIG. 7 and sent to the central control unit 13. Receiving this, the central control unit 13 sends a search start signal to the control unit 40 of FIG. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, the control unit 40, which was monitoring whether or not the search has started (S23), resets the code pointer 42 (S2).
4), the data selector signal is set (S2)
5). Next, the control unit 40 takes out the code stored in the character input buffer 41 from the beginning, and the word dictionary 14
The search is started from the block of E with the number of characters 1. The search method is the same for any number, so here
The search in the block having three characters will be described.

FIG. 60 shows the processing from the search in the block having the number of characters of 3. Number string "25625"
When is input, a search is made from the first digit number "2", and further a search is performed on the second digit number string "25". Get to the table at block address "3F0F". The subsequent number in this table is "1", which is different from the fourth number "2" in the number string "25625" stored in the character input buffer 41, so the next table is searched based on NTP. Here, since there are only candidates whose number following the number string “256” is “1” and candidates whose number is “2”, it is possible to immediately search the table whose subsequent number is “2”. . Usually, the table with the subsequent number "1" is next to the table with the subsequent number "2", the next is the table with the subsequent number "3", and so on.
The table of desired subsequent digits is reached.

If the subsequent numbers match, the N in this table
Based on the BP, we arrive at the first table of the branch "2562" with 4 characters. In this table, the subsequent number is "5", which matches the fifth number "5" of the number string "25625" stored in the character input buffer 41. When the subsequent numbers match, the table of the next branch “25625” is reached based on the NBP of this table. Originally, since there is no subsequent number stored in the character input buffer 41, "00" is displayed in the subsequent number area.
Search the table where is set. In the example of FIG. 60, the number string “2562” is also displayed in the word dictionary 14E.
It is premised that there is no candidate that has a number following "5", that is, there is no table. From the table of branch "2562", the table of address "98AC" where "00" is immediately set in the area of the subsequent number. Has come to.

In the example of FIG. 60, "clock"(code; 63, 6c, ...) Is set in the first candidate character string, and it corresponds to the output value "0" of the code pointer 42. , "Clock" code is read. The above processing corresponds to the processing of the loop from "search" in step S25 to steps S26, S27, and S28 in FIG. Code pointer 42 in step 27
The step of corresponds to the case of sequentially searching the table in FIG. 60 and also corresponds to the case of designating and reading each candidate character in the target table. Therefore,
Actually, the search for the candidate character performed in FIG. 60 is equivalent to the case where the word dictionary 14E shown in FIG. 55 is searched. In this example, "clock" is obtained, but if the candidate character corresponding to the input number string is not stored in the word dictionary 14E, a NEXT signal is given to the code pointer 42 and its value is output. (S
27), the loop from step S28 to step S26 is repeated, and when no candidate character or candidate character string is finally detected, the process branches to YES in step S28. That is, the END signal is returned from the code pointer 42. Therefore, the control unit 40 sends "not applicable" to the central control unit 13 according to the search result information. Receiving "not applicable", the central control unit 13 sends the character font of "not applicable" to the display control unit 15 and causes the LCD display device 16 to display that there is no applicable candidate (S29).

“Clock” obtained as described above
Is output to the search result character output buffer 43 (S30). The result output notification is given to the central control unit 13 by the search result information, and the code “clock” is fetched from the search result character output buffer 43 to the central control unit 13 and further sent to the display control unit 17, as shown in FIG. As described, it is provided for display on the (LCD) display device 16. That is, the (LCD) display device 16 displays "cl
"ock" is displayed. The control unit 40 of the dictionary search unit 15 monitors the operation of the enter key or the operation of the next candidate key (S31, S32). The operation of the enter key or the operation of the next candidate key is sent from the input control unit 12 to the central control unit 13 in the same manner as the operation of the conversion key described above.

In the example of FIG. 59, since "clock" is the desired character, the enter key is operated as shown in ST4. The central control unit 13 obtains the code of the confirmation key and makes the search start signal inactive.
In response to this, the control unit 40 of the dictionary search unit 15 proceeds to step 3
The process branches from 1 to YES to fix the candidate character. In addition, the word dictionary 14E corresponds to "25625" and corresponds to "b.
When “lock” and “clock” are sequentially stored, the next candidate key is first operated with respect to the display of “block” as indicated by the parentheses in ST5 of FIG. The NEXT signal is given and the value is incremented (S27), and the next candidate "cloc" is obtained.
After obtaining the code "k", the process proceeds from step S26 to step S30. In this case as well, since "clock" is the desired character, the enter key is operated as shown in ST4. Subsequent processing will be performed in the same manner as described above.

As described above, in the character input device according to this embodiment, a plurality of alphabetic character keys are assigned to each key, and the conversion / next candidate key and the enter key are provided. A candidate character string corresponding to the selected alphabetic character or a candidate character string composed of a combination of alphabetic character strings assigned to a plurality of operated keys can be appropriately input and selected. That is, it is suitable for an information terminal having a small number of keys.

In the above embodiment, no display is made on the display section 102 unless the conversion / character candidate key "*" key is operated, so it is possible to know whether or not the correct key operation is performed. And the operability is not always good. Therefore, the program corresponding to the flowchart of FIG. 14 included in the control unit 40 of the dictionary search unit 15 is replaced with the program corresponding to the flowchart of FIG. As a result, "c
When "25625" is keyed in corresponding to "lock", as shown in FIG. 61, for each key operation,
The numbers corresponding to the operated keys such as “2”, “25”, ..., “25625” are increased and displayed, and the key input is accepted and the operation is correct, that is, “clock”. It is possible to confirm that the numeric keys to which the respective alphabetic characters of “” are assigned are operated. Conversion / Next candidate key "*"
When the key is operated, character conversion using the word dictionary 14E is performed, the code of the corresponding candidate character is read from the word dictionary 14E, and this is the numerical string "25".
625 ”is displayed instead. Note that FIG.
In the example of, the first candidate character string in the table corresponding to the number string “25625” of the word dictionary 14E is “clock”.

Further, as a table provided in the control unit 40 of the dictionary search unit 15 in the character input device according to the third embodiment, the table from "2" to "0" is assigned to the corresponding key. If the first character in the above is stored as the first candidate, that is, the code of “2” and the code of “a”, the code of “3” and the code of “d” are the code of “4”. When the code of “g” has a table in which the code of “5” and the code of “j” are associated with the code of “0” and the code of “q”, FIG. By executing the process of the flowchart corresponding to the program, when "25625" is key-input corresponding to "clock", as shown in FIG. 62, "a", "Aj" ...
.., "ajmaj" and the first character corresponding to the operated key are increased and displayed, and the key input is accepted and the operation is correct, that is, "cl
It is possible to confirm that the key to which each alphabetic character "ock" is assigned is operated. When the conversion / next candidate key “*” key is operated, character conversion using the word dictionary 14E is performed in the same manner as above, and the code of the corresponding candidate character is read from the word dictionary 14E. This is the line string "ajm"
It is displayed instead of the display of "aj". The example of FIG. 62 shows that the first candidate character string in the table corresponding to the number string “25625” in the word dictionary 14E is “clock”.

Further, FIG. 22 provided in the control unit 40 of the dictionary search unit 15 in the character input device according to the fourth embodiment.
By executing the process of the flow chart corresponding to the program of "No.", when "2337" is keyed in corresponding to "beer", "a" is displayed for each key operation, as shown in FIG. , "Be", "add", ...
-, "Beer" is displayed. That is, the word dictionary 14
The first candidate of the table of candidate characters corresponding to the number "2" of E is "a", and the first candidate of the table of candidate characters corresponding to the number string "23" of the word dictionary 14E is "be". , The first candidate in the table of candidate characters corresponding to the number string “233” in the word dictionary 14E is “add”, and the first candidate in the table of candidate characters corresponding to the number string “2337” in the word dictionary 14E is “add”. Since it is "beer", the candidate character or the candidate character string converted in the above order is displayed without any operation of the conversion / next candidate key.

Further, FIG. 25 provided in the control unit 40 of the dictionary search unit 15 in the character input device according to the fifth embodiment.
By executing the process of the flowchart corresponding to the program of (1), up to a predetermined number of existing candidates are extracted when extracting the candidates from the word dictionary 14E and output to the search result character output buffer 43 together with the selected number. As a result, in response to the key operation of “227”, the display screen of the display unit 102 displays “bar”, as shown in the lower part of FIG.
“Cap” and “car” are displayed together with selection numbers 1 to 3. The control unit 40 waits for the input of the selected number, and when it is input, fixes the candidate character. If the selected candidate number is not input, the operation of the next candidate key is detected, and when the next candidate key is operated, the code pointer 42 is walked by the predetermined number of candidates (three in the example of FIG. 64). And proceed to search for other candidates. When there are a plurality of candidates in this way, they are displayed simultaneously for selection, so that there is an effect that the candidate character can be determined quickly.

Furthermore, by adopting the configuration of the sixth embodiment in the device for the English-speaking world, the display control unit 17 causes the transparent electrode 52 of the display screen of the display unit 102 as shown in the lower part of FIG. "Bar", "cap", "ca"
r ”and“ next candidate (English) ”are displayed. When the operation of the next candidate key is detected, the display pointer is changed, the code pointer 42 is advanced by the predetermined number of candidates (three in the example of FIG. 65), and another candidate is searched. Go to. That is, when the pointer for displaying the candidate for the candidate character string in the corresponding table of the word dictionary 14E and the pointer for searching the candidate character in the table of the word dictionary 14E are common, these are advanced by three. As a result, the following three candidates are extracted and displayed when they exist. Thus, if there are multiple candidates,
Since these are displayed simultaneously and can be selected by the touch panel 50, there is an effect that the candidate character can be surely and promptly determined.

In the English-speaking device, the cursor C is displayed as shown in FIG. 66 in the same manner as the configuration of FIG. 62 and an erase key 63 are provided. Then, the display control unit 17 controls the cursor pointer by the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 31, based on the input of characters and the operation information of the cursor movement keys 61 and 62. Then, in the abnormality processing, the input numeral or the input numeral string is displayed, and the correction is guaranteed here. That is, in the abnormality processing, the numeral string set in the character input buffer 41 is sent to the display control unit 17.
When the conversion / next candidate key is operated after the correction, the processing from step S23 onward in the flowchart of FIG. 14 is performed. This makes it possible to properly correct an erroneous input.

Further, regarding the operation described in the tenth embodiment, the English word dictionary having the attribute information corresponding to the word dictionary 14 shown in FIG. 44 is provided, and the operation is similar to that of the tenth embodiment. By providing the other configuration, when a word whose attribute is known is input, a desired word or the like (English word or the like) can be quickly obtained. That is, when there are a plurality of English word candidates corresponding to the input number or number string, the candidate having the desired attribute is selected and output, and the operator selects a desired conversion result from the candidates narrowed down to some extent. You can get the relevant words (English words, etc.),
It is efficient.

Next, an embodiment in which the first character of a sentence is capitalized in the English-speaking character input device will be described. In a portable radio telephone to which this character input device is applied, as shown in FIG. 67, a keyboard 11A is configured by providing a space key 67 and a return key 68 below a ten-key pad 103E. There is.
A period (".") Is associated with the "1" key of the ten-key pad 103E. The input code from the keyboard 11A corresponds to the key, and the word dictionary 1
Each character code of the candidate character or the candidate character string of 3E is composed of a lower case code.

FIG. 68 shows the structure of the character input device. In this embodiment, the configuration of the central control unit 13A is different from that of FIG. That is, the central control section 13A has a sentence head discrimination means 1 for discriminating the characters at the beginning of the sentence based on the arrangement of the codes corresponding to the input keys.
32, an upper case conversion unit 133 that converts a given character code into an upper case character code and outputs the upper case character code, and a character code that is output according to the determination result by the sentence beginning determination unit 132, is output through the upper case conversion unit 133. Or switching means 134 for switching whether to output as it is. Further, the central control unit 13A is provided with a management means 131, which receives a code corresponding to an input key, and when the code is a predetermined code, stores it as it is or after converting and storing it. If the code is other than the above code, it is sent to the dictionary search unit 15 and the word dictionary 1
4E is used to search for a candidate by dictionary lookup, and the code of the candidate character or the candidate character string related to the search result is obtained. Next, the accumulated code and the code of the search result by the dictionary search unit 15 are arranged in order and are sent to the switching unit 134 and the sentence beginning discrimination unit 132. Here, the above-mentioned predetermined code is a code generated by operating the space key 67, the line feed key 68, and the "1" key to which the period is assigned.

When the sentence head discriminating means 132 detects a space code or a line feed code among the above predetermined codes from the sequence of codes given from the managing means 131, the first code in front of it (excluding the predetermined code) is detected. ) Is detected as a period code. Then, when the first code (excluding a predetermined code) before the space code and the line feed code is a period code, an instruction is given to the switching means 134 to convert one character code into an uppercase conversion means. If it is a code other than the period, the code is output as it is. Initially, the switching unit 134 sends the first one-character code to the uppercase conversion unit 133 and outputs the subsequent code as it is, and the one-character code is changed in accordance with the instruction from the sentence beginning discrimination unit 132. Uppercase conversion means 13
3 to send the code, and then output the code as it is. Further, it is assumed that the head character code is output from the management unit 131 when the sentence head discrimination unit 132 issues a switching instruction.

Specifically, the central control unit 13A is composed of a computer, and the CPU is shown in FIG.
The ON / OFF of the uppercase flag of the main memory is controlled on the basis of the program of the flow chart, and the code conversion is performed based on this, which will be described. When the power of the device is turned on, the operation starts, the value n of the character position register of the main memory is set to 1 (s201), and the capital letter flag is turned on (s202). Next, waiting for the key input result to be sent from the input control means 12 (s20
3), the key input is detected (s204), and the movement of the cursor K (FIG. 42, etc.) is displayed according to the key input.
(S205) to turn off the capital letter flag (s
206). As a result, the uppercase flag is set when the key is first input, so the code of the character related to the conversion result of that character is the uppercase code, and the character to be input next is the uppercase flag at that time. Is turned off, the character code relating to the conversion result is output as it is.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 73, "This
When an input is made so that the result is "is a pen. That is a book.", the leading "T" is capitalized and the following "h" is lowercased. Further, the central control unit 13A waits for the key input result to be sent from the input control means 12 (s207), detects the key input (s208), and in response to the key input, the cursor K (FIG. 42).
And the like) is instructed to the display control unit 17 (s209), and it is detected whether the character code n (= 1) characters before the cursor K is a space code or a line feed code (s21).
0). Here, since "his" is input after "T", the character before the cursor K is not a space code or a line feed code, and n is entered in step s210.
Branch to o, and the uppercase flag remains off (s21
7), the operation from step s207 is continued. While the above processing is continued, a space is input after "s" of "This", so that y is entered in step s210.
The process branches to es and the value n of the character position register is incremented by 1 to be "2" (s211). Then, it is detected whether the character code two characters before the cursor K is a period code (s212). In the above example, the code is "s" and not a period, so step s213
Then, it is detected whether the character code two characters before the cursor K is a space code (s213). In the above example, since it is neither a space code nor a code of "s", the value n of the character position register is returned to 1 (s21
6), the operation from step s217 is performed. Then, the same processing is performed thereafter, and when a space before "That" is detected, steps S210 and S21 are performed.
1, the process proceeds to S212, where the flow branches to yes, the value n of the character position register is returned to 1 (s214), the uppercase flag is turned on (s215), and the processes after step s207 are continued. As a result, the "T" in "That" is capitalized. The route branching to yes in step s213 and returning to step s211 is a process corresponding to the case where a plurality of spaces are input after the period.

As described above, since the on / off of the uppercase flag is controlled, the output code is converted to the display control unit 17 based on the on / off of the uppercase flag, and the first character of the sentence is converted to uppercase and output. It In the above character code conversion, the uppercase code and the lowercase code of the alphabet differ by 20H (H is hexadecimal) as shown in FIG. 70. Therefore, if 20H is subtracted from the lowercase code, the uppercase code is converted. Obtainable.

In the above description, a character input device having a plurality of keys to which a plurality of alphabets as shown in FIG. 67 are assigned has been described, but the function of automatically converting a lower case code into an upper case code has a full keyboard. It is applicable to a character input device such as a typewriter. That is, all alphabets 1 as shown in FIG. 71.
In the character input device that employs the full keyboard 11B in which one character is assigned to one key, lowercase letters are input in the normal shift state, and when the desired character key is operated while operating the shift key, this You can enter uppercase letters that correspond to the letter keys. That is, FIG.
As shown in 3, "This is a pen. That is a boo.
74, when the output of "K." is desired, as shown in FIG. 74, when the input of "T" of "This" is input, "That" is input.
When inputting "T", it is necessary to operate the letter key "T" while operating the shift key, which is troublesome. Note that “_” in FIGS. 73 to 76 indicates the input of the space key.

For other full keyboards, "caps"
A key is provided and is configured to switch between uppercase and lowercase. When using this type of full keyboard to obtain the output "This is a pen. That is a book.", As shown in FIG.
It is necessary to operate the “caps” key before and after the input of “T” of “is” and before and after the input of “T” of “That”, and the operation is also troublesome.

Therefore, the character input device is constructed as shown in FIG. That is, the full keyboard 1 shown in FIG. 71.
1B is adopted, and the lower case code is changed to upper case by the central control unit 13B. The input control unit 12 generates a character code corresponding to the character key (thus, a lower case character code in a normal shift state, and an upper case character code when input is performed with the operation of the shift key), and the management means 1
31B. The management unit 131B includes the dictionary search unit 1
5 is stored without sending a code, and the sentence beginning discrimination means 132
It is output in synchronization with the discrimination by. Actually, the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 69 is operated to control the ON / OFF of the uppercase flag, and the character code is converted based on this control. Thus, when operating the full keyboard 11B shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, in a normal shift state without performing any shift key operation, “THIS_IS_A_P
EN. _THAT_IS_A_BOOK. If you enter "", the first letter of the sentence will be automatically converted into uppercase letters and output, which has the advantage of being free from complicated key operations as in the past.

[0111]

As described above, according to the invention of the present application, the following effects can be obtained. (A) In the present invention, based on the operation of the numeral keys to which the hiragana of each row of the Japanese syllabary is assigned, one of the readings of hiragana corresponding to the numeral string input up to that operation is displayed. become. Thus, it is possible to confirm whether or not the characters in the Japanese syllabary can be input as intended by the operator by reading the hiragana displayed on the display unit. Further, this display switches to one of the readings of the hiragana corresponding to the number string input up to that time, for each number input operation, by inputting the number thereafter. As a result, for example, the entered numeric key "4"
Each of "1" and "2" is correct "ta line", "a line",
The operator can confirm whether or not it corresponds to "ka line" by looking at the transition of the display of "ta", "dai", and "taiki", for example. This means that, in the method of inputting one character by only one operation of the numeric keys as in the present invention, the number of characters is 50 as intended for each input operation.
Since it is possible to confirm whether or not a line of sound has been input by displaying the reading of hiragana, it is easier and more effective to confirm, for example, than when the input number is displayed. (B) In the input method of the present invention, one character is a numeric key
Since the input is performed by turning operation, there are a plurality of readings of hiragana for the input number string. That is, in many cases, the reading is not fixed to one by only inputting the numeric keys. At the stage where this reading is not confirmed, one of the plurality of readings corresponding to the numbers input up to that time is displayed, so that the displayed reading is desired by the operator or not. Depending on, it becomes possible to immediately shift to the operation for switching the reading or converting the displayed reading into kanji. (C) In addition, in the present invention, the more the number of input characters is, the higher the possibility that the desired reading will come out every time the number is input. Therefore, when inputting a word with a large number of input characters, it is input until then. In some cases, the reading of Hiragana corresponding to a number string can be confirmed by only operating the number keys, and in such a case, it is possible to immediately shift to the next Kanji conversion. (D) Further, as described above, the display content is one of the readings of the hiragana corresponding to the number string input up to that point every time the number is input. It changes with each key input operation. As a result, it is possible to secure a display area for displaying information that assists the operator's input, for example, text information consisting of the character strings that have been fixed, by not displaying the input numbers and other information. Becomes In particular, it is effective in a portable wireless telephone having a limited display area.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a mobile wireless telephone to which a character input device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a mobile wireless telephone to which the character input device according to the embodiment of the invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a character input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a configuration diagram of a key matrix portion which is a main part of the character input device shown in FIG.

5 is a configuration diagram of an input control unit which is a main part of the character input device shown in FIG.

6 is a configuration diagram of a memory table provided in an input control unit which is a main part of the character input device shown in FIG.

7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the input control unit, which is a main part of the character input device shown in FIG.

8 is a configuration diagram of a display control unit that is a main part of the character input device shown in FIG.

9 is a configuration diagram of a dictionary search unit which is a main part of the character input device shown in FIG.

10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a dictionary which is a main part of the character input device shown in FIG.

11 is a specific configuration diagram of a dictionary which is a main part of the character input device shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a specific configuration diagram of a dictionary which is a main part of the character input device shown in FIG.

13 is a specific configuration diagram of a dictionary which is a main part of the character input device shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a dictionary search unit that is a main part of the character input device shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining an input operation using the character input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining dictionary search by an input operation using the character input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a dictionary search unit that is a main part of the character input device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a display procedure by the character input device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of a dictionary search unit that is a main part of the character input device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a display procedure by the character input device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a display procedure by the character input device according to the modified example of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a dictionary search unit that is a main part of the character input device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a view for explaining a display procedure by the character input device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a display procedure by the character input device according to the modification of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of a dictionary search unit that is a main part of the character input device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a view showing a display example of candidates by the character input device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a configuration diagram of a character input device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of a dictionary search unit that is a main part of the character input device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a configuration of a touch panel, which is a main part of a character input device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, and a display example there.

FIG. 30 is a view showing a main part of a display unit and a keyboard which are main parts of the character input device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a cursor control operation in the character input device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a configuration diagram of a character input device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a dictionary search unit that is a main part of the character input device according to the seventh embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 34 is a configuration diagram of a character input device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing the inside of an error correction table which is a main part of a character input device according to an eighth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a dictionary search unit that is a main part of the character input device according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a dictionary search unit that is a main part of the character input device according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a configuration diagram of a character input device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing the inside of a character range information table which is a main part of a character input device according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart for explaining a character range information acquisition operation of the character input device according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a dictionary search unit that is a main part of the character input device according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 42 is a front view of a mobile wireless telephone to which the character input device according to the tenth embodiment of the invention is applied.

FIG. 43 is a configuration diagram of a character input device according to a tenth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 44 is a configuration diagram of a word dictionary of the character input device according to the tenth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 45 is a configuration diagram of an instruction content memory used in the character input device according to the tenth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 46 is a configuration diagram of a cursor position memory used in the character input device according to the tenth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 47 is a view showing a display example of a fixed phrase 1 in an input mode in the character input device according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 48 is a diagram showing a display example in the search 1 mode in the character input device according to the tenth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 49 is a diagram showing a display example in the search 2 mode in the character input device according to the tenth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 50 is a flowchart for explaining an attribute specifying operation in the character input device according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention.

51 is a configuration diagram of a dictionary search unit which is a main part of the character input device shown in FIG. 43.

FIG. 52 is a flowchart for explaining a candidate search operation in the character input device according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 53 is a front view of a mobile radio telephone to which the character input device according to the embodiment for English speaking of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 54 is a configuration diagram of a character input device according to an embodiment for English-speaking countries of the present invention.

FIG. 55 is a configuration diagram of a word dictionary of the character input device according to the embodiment for English-speaking countries of the present invention.

FIG. 56 is a specific configuration diagram of a word dictionary used in the character input device according to the embodiment for English-speaking countries of the present invention.

FIG. 57 is a specific configuration diagram of a word dictionary used in the character input device according to the embodiment for English-speaking countries of the present invention.

FIG. 58 is a specific configuration diagram of a word dictionary used in the character input device according to the embodiment for English-speaking countries of the present invention.

FIG. 59 is a diagram for explaining an input operation using the character input device according to the embodiment for English-speaking countries of the present invention.

FIG. 60 is a diagram for explaining dictionary search by an input operation using the character input device according to the embodiment for English-speaking countries of the present invention.

FIG. 61 is a diagram illustrating a first display procedure by the character input device according to the embodiment for English-speaking countries of the present invention.

FIG. 62 is a diagram illustrating a second display procedure by the character input device according to the embodiment for English-speaking countries of the present invention.

FIG. 63 is a diagram for explaining a third display procedure by the character input device according to the embodiment for English-speaking countries of the present invention.

FIG. 64 is a diagram showing a display example of candidates by the character input device according to the embodiment for English-speaking countries of the present invention.

FIG. 65 is a diagram showing a configuration of a touch panel which is a main part of the character input device according to the embodiment for English-speaking countries of the present invention, and a display example therein.

FIG. 66 is a diagram showing a main part of a display unit and a keyboard, which are main parts of the character input device according to the embodiment for English-speaking countries of the present invention.

FIG. 67 is a front view of a mobile wireless telephone to which the character input device according to the second embodiment for English speaking of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 68 is a configuration diagram of a character input device according to a second embodiment for an English-speaking country of the present invention.

FIG. 69 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the character input device according to the second embodiment for the English speaking world of the present invention.

FIG. 70 is a diagram showing codes in lowercase and uppercase letters of the alphabet.

FIG. 71 is a view showing a key layout of a full keyboard.

FIG. 72 is a configuration diagram of a character input device using a full keyboard according to an embodiment for English-speaking countries of the present invention.

73 is a diagram showing an input result by the character input device of FIGS. 68 and 72. FIG.

FIG. 74 is a view showing a character input operation procedure according to the conventional method.

FIG. 75 is a view showing a character input operation procedure according to another conventional method.

FIG. 76 is a diagram showing a character input operation procedure by the character input device of FIGS. 68 and 72;

77 is a front view of a mobile wireless telephone to which a character input device according to a conventional example is applied.

FIG. 78 is a diagram showing a conversion table used in conventional character input.

79 is a view for explaining the character input operation by the conversion table of FIG. 78. FIG.

FIG. 80 is a diagram showing a conversion table used in conventional fixed phrase input.

FIG. 81 is a diagram showing a numeric keypad portion of a character input device according to a conventional example.

82 is a diagram for explaining a character input operation using the ten keys of FIG. 81. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Controller 2 Input Section 3 Transmitting / Receiving Section 4 Call Circuit 5 Antenna 6 Call Control Section 7 Character Input / Output Section 10 Key Matrix 11, 11A Keyboard 12, 12-
A input control unit 13, 13A, 13B Central control unit 14, 14E
Word dictionary 15, 15A Dictionary search unit 16 (LC
D) Display device 17 Display control unit 20 Control unit 21 Timer 22 Memory table 23, 24 (MEM2, MEM1) memory 25, 26
Latch 31 Character font memory 32 Character font expansion unit 33 Image memory 34 Character position memory 40, 40A Control unit 41 Character input buffer 42 Code pointer 43 Search result character output buffer 50 Touch panel 51 Transparent sheet 52 Transparent electrode 53 Transparent counter electrode 55 Position detection Means 60, 60-
A change means 61, 62 cursor movement key 63 erase key 70 error correction table 71, 72
(PMEM, KMEM) memory 75 character range information table 76 range information acquisition means 77 instruction content memory 78 cursor position memory 101 handset 102, 10
2A display section 103, 103E ten-key pad 104 receiver 104A receiver section 105 transmitter 131, 131B management means 132 sentence start discrimination means 133 capital letter conversion means 134 switching means 105A, 105B transmitter section 300 input means 310, 310E dictionary means 320, 32
0A character conversion means 330 output means 350 attribute identification means

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI G06F 17/28 G06F 17/28 B (72) Inventor Toshihiko Minamihi 1-3 Asaigaoka, Hino-shi, Tokyo Toshiba Hino Co., Ltd. In-house (72) Inventor Minoru Iwaki 1-3-1, Asahigaoka, Hino-shi, Tokyo 1st Toshiba Hino Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshiro Nose 1-3-1, Asahigaoka, Hino-shi, Tokyo Toshiba Hino Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Katsunari Sasaki 1-3 Asahigaoka, Hino-shi, Tokyo 1 Hino Plant, Toshiba Corp. (72) Inventor John Riley 3-1-1 Asahigaoka, Hino City, Tokyo 1 Hino Plant, Toshiba Corp. (56) ) Reference JP-A-5-158990 (JP, A) JP-A-63-121010 (JP, A) JP-A-61-131952 (JP, A) JP-A-59-184932 JP, A) Patent Rights 3-65757 (JP, A) Patent Rights 6-348383 (JP, A) JP Akira 62-154170 (JP, A) JP Akira 60-252983 (JP, A)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of numeral keys for inputting a telephone number for making a call by wireless, wherein one numeral and hiragana of each row of Japanese syllabary are provided for each numeral key. The assigned numeric key, the number and the hiragana reading of the Japanese syllabary corresponding to this number are stored, and the number string and a plurality of hiragana readings corresponding to this number string and these readings are supported. A dictionary means in which the kanji to be stored are stored, a conversion key for instructing character conversion, a display means for displaying character information, and an input operation based on the input operation of the numeral keys. One of the readings of the hiragana of the Japanese syllabary corresponding to the numeral is obtained from the dictionary means and displayed on the display means, and the numeric key in the state where the hiragana reading is displayed on the display means. A series of consecutively entered numbers consisting of the numbers entered in this input operation and the numbers or sequence of numbers entered prior to this input operation, based on the input operation of the numeric keys performed after the input operation. Display control means for displaying one of a plurality of readings of hiragana corresponding to, instead of the reading of hiragana displayed on the display means, and displaying the reading of hiragana on the display means. And a character converting means for displaying the kanji corresponding to the reading of the hiragana from the dictionary means and displaying the kanji corresponding to the reading of the hiragana instead of the hiragana reading displayed on the display means. A character input device for a portable wireless telephone. 2. A confirming means for confirming the displayed hiragana reading or kanji by a predetermined operation in a state where the hiragana reading or kanji corresponding to the inputted numeral string is displayed on the display means. The character input device for a mobile wireless telephone according to claim 1, wherein 3. A plurality of numeral keys for inputting a telephone number for making a call by wireless, wherein one numeral and a hiragana of each row of Japanese syllabary are provided for each numeral key. The assigned numeric keys, the numbers and the hiragana readings of the Japanese syllabary row corresponding to the numbers are stored, and the number string and a plurality of hiragana readings corresponding to the number string and the corresponding readings are also stored. In a character input method in a portable wireless telephone equipped with a dictionary means for storing kanji to be stored and a conversion key for instructing character conversion, the input numeral corresponding to the input numeral on the basis of the input operation of the numeral key. One of the hiragana readings of the Japanese syllabary
The first step of obtaining and displaying one from the dictionary means, and in the state where the hiragana reading is displayed, based on the input operation of the number keys performed subsequent to the input operation of the number keys, this input operation is performed. From the dictionary means, one of a plurality of hiragana readings corresponding to a consecutively input number sequence consisting of a number and a number sequence input prior to this input operation, A second step of displaying the displayed Hiragana reading instead of the displayed Hiragana reading, and the displayed Hiragana reading based on the operation of the conversion key in the state where the Hiragana reading is displayed by the second step. And a third step of obtaining the kanji corresponding to the above from the dictionary means and displaying the kanji in place of the displayed reading of the hiragana. Character input how. 4. A confirming step of confirming the displayed hiragana reading or kanji by a predetermined operation in a state where the hiragana reading or kanji corresponding to the inputted numeral string is displayed. Claim 3
A method for inputting characters in the portable wireless telephone set forth in.