JP4336888B2 - Mobile terminal and character input method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable terminal and a character input method, and more particularly to a portable terminal and a character input method for inputting characters using a joystick.

  Since portable terminals such as cellular phones are small in size due to demands for portability and weight reduction, various keys for inputting characters are required to be arranged in a limited narrow space, and the number of keys is limited. For this reason, conventionally, character input using the dial and the cross key has become the mainstream, and methods using these devices have been developed (T9 method, two-touch input method, kana method). Conventionally, portable terminals in which the space of the key input unit is reduced are known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  Patent Document 1 discloses a display unit that displays data including characters and a cursor for selecting the data, a selection key that selects data in the display unit by moving the cursor, and data selected by the selection key. A mobile phone having a configuration that realizes a reduction in the number of keys by eliminating the need for numeric keys (tenkeys), and a circuit that performs processing corresponding to the content determined by the input determination key. A terminal is disclosed.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, in a mobile terminal device having a multi-function key having a different meaning depending on the pressing direction and one or a plurality of function keys operated in association with the operation of the multi-function key, A portable terminal device having a configuration in which the most frequently used key (for example, a confirmation key) is arranged at a position obliquely lower right with respect to the center of the multifunction key is disclosed.

JP-A-9-261111 JP 2000-115324 A

  However, all of the above-described conventional portable terminals have a large number of input units, and it is necessary to provide a space for arranging the keys of these input units, and the space saving of the input unit is insufficient.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a portable terminal and a character input method capable of realizing space saving of an input unit by using only one joystick as a character input unit. Objective.

In order to achieve the above object, a mobile terminal according to a first aspect of the present invention is a mobile terminal including at least a character input unit and a display unit that displays an input character. Depending on the left / right tilt direction of the joystick operation bar and the left / right direction of the joystick operation bar, which can be tilted in the forward, rearward, leftward and rightward directions and can be pressed in the axial direction The character input movement and confirmation means for moving the next character input position and confirming the previous character input by moving to the next character input position, and the upward and downward inclination of the joystick operation bar The input character is converted by operating one of the predetermined tilt directions of the directions, and muddy, semi-turbid, lower case and clear characters are operated by the other predetermined tilt direction of the upper and lower tilt directions. Character conversion and switching means for cyclically switching characters, and a plurality of characters that can be input are intermittently pressed in the axial direction of the joystick operation bar and when the operation bar is pressed in the axial direction. It is divided into the pressing time, which is the elapsed time from, and the pressing time is divided in seconds from 0 seconds to a predetermined time in each of the divided pressing times from one time to a predetermined number of times. When a plurality of character groups for each pressing time are set to a plurality of output group ranks, the number of pressings in the plurality of output group ranks is reduced each time the joystick is continuously pressed in the axial direction. Input character selection means for selecting one character corresponding to the pressing time from each character group in the corresponding output group rank .

  In the present invention, since a preset character can be selected and input according to the combination of the number of times the joystick is pressed and the continuous pressing time, it is possible to input characters using a single input unit with only the joystick.

In order to achieve the above object, the second invention provides a joystick having an operating rod that can be tilted forward, backward, leftward, and rightward with one end as a fulcrum and that can be pressed in the axial direction. The first method of determining whether the joystick operation bar is pressed or tilted in the axial direction , and the joystick operation bar is tilted leftward or rightward in the first step. A second step of moving the character input position in a direction corresponding to the tilt direction and confirming the previous character input by moving to the next character input position, and a first step When the inclination of one of the upward and downward directions of the operation stick of the joystick is determined, the input character is converted and the inclination of the other predetermined direction is determined. Whenever the inclination in the direction is judged, the third step of sequentially switching the characters to muddy sound, semi-turbid sound, lower case and clear sound, and a plurality of characters that can be input are displayed on the operation stick of the joystick. It is divided into the number of intermittent presses in the axial direction and the press time that is the elapsed time since the operation bar is pressed in the axial direction. In each of the above, when a plurality of character groups for each pressing time divided into seconds from 0 seconds to a predetermined predetermined second are set to a plurality of output group ranks, When determining the intermittent pressing in the axial direction, the pressing time is determined and the pressing time is determined from each character group in the output group rank corresponding to the number of pressing times in the plurality of output group ranks for each pressing. One letter And a fourth step of-option, and performs repeated character input to return to the first step after the processing of the second to fourth steps.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to input characters by a single input unit of only the joystick by selecting and inputting a predetermined character according to the combination of the number of times the joystick is pressed and the continuous pressing time. In a portable terminal where a large number of keys cannot be arranged, it is possible to realize space saving of the character input unit.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of an embodiment of a character input method according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of an embodiment of a mobile terminal according to the present invention.

  FIG. 2 shows a mobile phone 10 as an example of a mobile terminal. The mobile phone 10 has a display unit 11 for displaying various images, a joystick 12 for inputting characters, a numeric keypad 13 made up of numeric keys, and a speaker 14 for generating a received voice or a ring tone on the surface of the casing. A microphone 15 that collects the transmitted voice is provided. The cellular phone 10 according to the present embodiment is characterized in that a joystick 12 is provided in the approximate center of the housing and is arranged as an input unit in a narrow space together with the numeric keypad 13.

  The configuration of the joystick 12 itself is well known, and the user can input desired information by tilting the operation rod of an appropriate length manually forward, backward, leftward or rightward with one end as a fulcrum. This is a pointing device in which the operating bar is automatically returned to the original standby position perpendicular to the surface of the housing by releasing the force applied to the bar. Further, in the present embodiment, the joystick 12 is configured to be able to push the operating rod downward in the axial direction (vertical direction).

  FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an example of the mobile phone 10. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the display unit 11, the joystick 12, the numeric keypad 13, the speaker 14, and the microphone 15, the mobile phone 10 includes a control unit 16 that comprehensively controls the entire mobile phone, and a built-in antenna. 17, a wireless unit 18 that wirelessly communicates with the nearest base station (not shown) via the antenna 17, a signal processing unit 19 that performs signal processing of transmission signals and reception signals, and a speaker 14 For this purpose, a voice processing unit 20 that processes a received voice signal and various voice signals and processes a voice signal obtained by acoustic-electric conversion by the microphone 15, and a program, telephone book data, and the like are stored. The storage unit 21 and the display drive unit 22 that drives the display unit 11 to display an image are included in the housing.

  In the cellular phone 10, during a call, a dial number (during outgoing call) input from the numeric keypad 13 or a predetermined incoming call response operation signal is input to the control unit 16, whereby the control unit 16 transmits a signal processing unit 19 and a radio unit. A transmission signal is wirelessly output to the nearest base station (not shown) via 18 and the antenna 17, and a communication path is established from the base station to a partner terminal via a public network according to a predetermined sequence. The

  Thereafter, the call signal from the partner terminal is received by the antenna 17 via the public network and the base station, further received and processed by the radio unit 18, and then converted into a received voice signal by the signal processing unit 19 for further voice processing. The sound is supplied to the speaker 14 via the unit 20, and is subjected to electro-acoustic conversion to generate a received voice. On the other hand, the transmission voice is acoustic-electrically converted by the microphone 15 to become a transmission voice signal, which is supplied to the radio section 18 via the voice processing section 20 and the signal processing section 19, where a transmission signal of a predetermined frequency band is Then, it is wirelessly transmitted to the base station via the antenna 17, and further transmitted from the base station to the other terminal via the public network. The above voice communication operation is well known.

  The cellular phone 10 that performs such voice communication is characterized in that characters are input by the joystick 12 when an e-mail is transmitted. Information input by operating the joystick 12 is analyzed by the control unit 16 as input characters in accordance with a program from the storage unit 21. Hereinafter, this character input operation will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  First, in the state of waiting for input (step S1), the controller 16 determines whether the joystick 12 has been pressed or tilted to the right or left (step S2). Strictly speaking, this is an operation of depressing or tilting the operation stick of the joystick 12, but in the following description, it will be described as an operation of the joystick 12 for convenience.

  When the joystick 12 is tilted to the right or left, it moves to the next input position of the character (step S3) and then returns to the input waiting state of step S1, but when the joystick 12 is pressed, the display unit 11 is displayed. One of the characters of the output group A rank is displayed (step S4). Here, in the operation of the joystick 12, when the joystick 12 is tilted to the right, it moves to the next character input location, and when it is tilted to the left, it returns to the previous character input location. Will be overwritten.)

  The characters in the output group A rank are 10 characters “A, K, S, T, N, H, Y, R, W”, and the elapsed time from when the joystick 12 is pressed is 0. One of the characters is displayed in seconds. Note that which of the 10 characters is displayed (whether input is determined) depends on the number of times the joystick 12 is pressed, as will be described later.

  When any one of the characters of the output group A rank is displayed in the above step S4, the operation of the joystick 12 is subsequently determined (step S5). If it is determined in step S5 that the joystick 12 has been continuously pressed, the control unit 16 displays any of the characters in the output group X rank on the display unit 11. Here, the character of the output group X rank is a character of the output group of any one of the output group B rank, the output group C rank, the output group D rank, and the output group E rank.

  The above-mentioned characters of the output group B rank are 10 characters “I, Ki, Shi, Chi, Ni, Hi, Mi, Yu, Ri, o”, and the time elapsed since the joystick 12 was pressed is 1 second. Or a single character. In addition, the characters of the above-mentioned output group C rank are 10 characters “U, KU, SU, TSU, NU, FU, MU, YO, RU, N”, and the elapsed time from when the joystick 12 is pressed is 2 seconds Any one character is displayed. In addition, the characters of the above-mentioned output group D rank are 8 characters “E, K, S, T, N, H, M, R”, and any one character is 3 seconds after the joystick 12 is pressed. Is displayed. Furthermore, the above-mentioned characters of the output group E rank are eight characters “O, Ko, So, Tono, Ho, Moro”, and any one character is 4 seconds after the joystick 12 is pressed. Is displayed. Note that which of the 10 or 8 characters of each output group constituting the output group X rank is displayed (whether input is determined) depends on the number of times the joystick 12 is pressed, as will be described later.

  When any one of the characters in the output group X rank is displayed in the above step S6, the operation of the joystick 12 is subsequently determined (step S7). If it is determined in step S7 that the joystick 12 has been tilted downward, character conversion (ie, kanji conversion) is performed (step S8), and then the process waits for input (step S1). If it is determined in step S7 that the joystick 12 has been tilted to the right or left, the location of the character to be input is moved (moving between input units) (step S9), and then the input standby state is restored. (Step S1).

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S5 that the joystick 12 is operated, character conversion (that is, kanji conversion) is performed (step S8), and the joystick 12 is tilted right or left. When it is determined that the character has been input, movement of the character input location (movement between input units) is performed (step S9). After the process of step S8 or S9, it returns to the state of waiting for input (step S1).

  Note that when the joystick 12 is pressed in the above steps S2 and S5, the joystick 12 can be tilted upward. Switching is performed by “muddy sound → (the same applies hereinafter)”. Table 1 summarizes the relationship between the above operations and input characters.

上記の表１において、縦方向はα入力群（ジョイスティック１２の押下回数）を示し、ここでは１回から１０回まである。また、横方向はβ入力群（ジョイスティック１２の押下時からの経過時間）を示し、ここでは、０秒から１秒単位で４秒まである。このジョイスティック１２の押下時からの経過時間とは、ジョイスティック１２を連続して押下したときには、その最後の押下時点から引き続き押下している継続時間である。

In Table 1 above, the vertical direction indicates the α input group (the number of times the joystick 12 is pressed), and here is from 1 to 10 times. Further, the horizontal direction indicates a β input group (elapsed time from when the joystick 12 is pressed), and here, from 0 seconds to 4 seconds in 1 second units. The elapsed time from when the joystick 12 is pressed is the duration that the joystick 12 is continuously pressed from when it was last pressed.

  Thus, for example, when inputting the character “Imamai”, the joystick 12 is operated as follows. First, the joystick 12 is pressed four times to display “ta” on the display unit 11 (steps S1, S2, S4), and then the joystick 12 is tilted to the right to move the character input location (steps S5, S9). , S1). Next, after depressing the joystick 12 four times, the joystick 12 is tilted once to display “DA” at the next character position on the display unit 11 (steps S2 and S4), and the joystick 12 is moved to the right. Tilt to move the character input location (steps S5, S9, S1).

  Next, by pressing the joystick 12 once and holding it for 1 second as it is, “I” is displayed at the next character position on the display unit 11 (steps S2 and S4), and then the joystick 12 is tilted to the right. The character input location is moved (steps S5, S9, S1). Finally, the joystick 12 is pressed seven times to display “MA” at the input position of the next character on the display unit 11 (steps S2 and S4). As a result, the character “I'm right” can be input simply by operating the joystick 12.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the present invention can be applied to an input device having a number of keys equal to or greater than the number shown in FIG. Even if a character different from this embodiment is output, the present invention can be applied by setting the character. Furthermore, the present invention is also applicable to other portable terminals such as portable information terminals other than cellular phones.

It is a flowchart for operation | movement description of one Embodiment of the method of this invention. It is a general | schematic external appearance front view of one Embodiment of the portable terminal of this invention. It is a block diagram of an example of the portable terminal of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mobile telephone 11 Display part 12 Joystick 13 Numeric keypad 16 Control part 21 Memory | storage part

Claims (2)

In a mobile terminal including at least a character input unit and a display unit that displays the input characters,
The character input part is
A joystick having an operation bar that can be tilted forward, rearward, leftward, and rightward with one end as a fulcrum, and that can be pressed down in the axial direction;
Character input that moves the next character input position according to the left and right tilt directions of the operation stick of the joystick to the left and right, and confirms the previous character input by moving to the next character input position Movement and confirmation means;
The input character is converted by an operation in one of the predetermined upward and downward inclination directions of the upward and downward inclination directions of the operation stick of the joystick, and the predetermined inclination direction of the other of the upward and downward inclination directions is converted. Character conversion and switching means for sequentially switching characters to muddy sound, semi-voiced sound, lower case and clear sound by operation,
A plurality of characters that can be input are divided into the number of intermittent presses of the operation rod of the joystick in the axial direction and the press time that is an elapsed time since the operation bar is pressed in the axial direction. In each of a plurality of times of the divided number of times of pressing from 1 to a predetermined number of times, a plurality of character groups for each of the pressing times in which the pressing time is divided in seconds from 0 seconds to a predetermined number of seconds Each of the character groups in the output group rank according to the number of presses in the plurality of output group ranks each time the joystick is intermittently pressed in the axial direction. Input character selection means for selecting one character according to the pressing time from the mobile terminal. A character input method using a joystick having an operation bar that can be tilted forward, rearward, leftward and rightward with one end as a fulcrum and can be pressed in the axial direction,
A first step of determining whether the operating rod of the joystick is pressed or tilted in the axial direction ;
When it is determined in the first step that the operation stick of the joystick is tilted leftward or rightward, the character input position is moved in a direction corresponding to the tilt direction, and to the next character input position. A second step of confirming previous character input by moving
In the first step, when the inclination of one predetermined direction of the upper and lower directions of the operation stick of the joystick is determined, the input character is converted, and the inclination of the other predetermined direction is determined. When it is determined, a third step of sequentially switching characters to muddy sound, semi-turbid sound, lower case and clear sound every time the inclination in the direction is determined;
A plurality of characters that can be input are divided into the number of intermittent presses of the operation rod of the joystick in the axial direction and the press time that is an elapsed time since the operation bar is pressed in the axial direction. In each of a plurality of times of the divided number of times of pressing from 1 to a predetermined number of times, a plurality of character groups for each of the pressing times in which the pressing time is divided in seconds from 0 seconds to a predetermined number of seconds Is determined as a plurality of output group ranks, when it is determined that the joystick is intermittently pressed in the axial direction in the first step, the pressing time is determined and the pressing time is determined for each pressing. and a fourth step of selecting a character in accordance with the depression time from the character group in the output group rank corresponding to the pressing number of a plurality of output groups rank, process of the second to fourth steps Character input method and performing character input by repeating a return to the first step.

Images