JP4586063B2 - Terminal device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to creation, transmission / reception, and display of a text message, and more particularly, to a system and apparatus for converting a text message into a moving image for text communication and displaying the same.

  In recent years, along with the development of computers and communications, text communication, that is, text communication, such as electronic mail, instant messaging, and chat, via communication networks, has become widespread.

  In verbal communication, emotions (feelings) can be expressed by the strength, intonation, reverberation, and speed of speech, and different meanings can be expressed even with the same words. However, it is not easy to include emotion, personality, taste, and the like (collectively referred to as tastes in the present specification), which are important elements in personal communication, in text communication. A conventional text message is displayed in standard font type (typeface), size (number of points), and color, has a uniform and static appearance, has no emotions, and is tasteless and dry.

Conventionally, it has been possible to change the character attributes such as the typeface, the number of points, the color, and the like at the time of character input with respect to the characters input by the user (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
JP 2002-207671 (Abstract) JP 2002-207673 A (summary) JP 2002-32306 A (summary)

  However, this method selects and highlights the part of the text that you want to change the attribute of, select the font type (typeface) from the pull-down menu, select the number of points from the other size pull-down menu, and color Since it requires a very complicated operation such as selecting a color from a palette, it has not been used on a daily basis in e-mails. Moreover, even if such character attributes are changed in this way, it is difficult to appropriately convey emotions only with the character attributes. The recipient of the text message could not immediately recognize how the sender created the message from the display form of the message.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for detecting a phrase indicating an emotion in an email text and reflecting it in the motion of an animation (doll) when the email is displayed. However, the doll itself does not change depending on the phrase, and its movement is uniquely determined by the phrase itself, which is a character string. Also, this technique does not change the text itself.

  In recent years, portable terminal devices represented by mobile phones and the like (in this specification, terminal devices are also simply referred to as terminals) have become widespread, and such portable terminals also have a communication network (including the Internet). You can exchange text messages and browse web data. In a terminal including such a portable terminal, a user interface screen for displaying an operation menu or the like is prepared in order to support a user operation. A portable terminal having a call / communication function such as a mobile phone is provided with a standby screen that is a display screen in a state of waiting for an incoming call. Such conventional user interface screens and standby screens are uniform and fixed in advance. I could paste my favorite image on the standby screen, but it wasn't always used effectively even though it was the most frequently viewed screen.

  The present invention has been made in such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal device capable of visually adding expressions representing emotions and the like when a user performs personal communication by text message. To do.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a terminal device in which a writer of a text message can reflect his / her feelings and the like as a taste in the message.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a terminal device that can reflect the taste of a transmitted or received text message on a user interface screen.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a terminal device that can reflect the taste of a transmitted or received text message on a standby screen.

  A terminal device according to the present invention includes means for allowing a user to select one of a plurality of predetermined tastes, means for receiving text input by a user, display means for displaying information on a display screen, input Means for adding a predetermined display attribute to the selected text in accordance with the selected taste, display control means for displaying text information to which the display attribute is added on the display screen, and a predetermined display attribute Means for transmitting the text information added with a message as a message via a communication network; and means for receiving the message via the communication network, and the predetermined display attribute includes at least each of the plurality of tastes. Including a character motion or background image assigned in advance.

  The predetermined display attribute that varies depending on the taste may further include at least one of a character size, a character font, and a character color.

  When the user selects a taste and inputs a text, a predetermined display attribute is added to the input text according to the selected taste. This display attribute includes at least a character movement or a background image previously assigned to each of the plurality of tastes. Therefore, when the text information to which the display attribute is added is displayed on the display device by the display control means, at least the characters move according to the taste, or the background image according to the taste is displayed. . This background image can be dynamic as well as static.

  In the terminal device described above, the display attribute corresponding to the taste is added to the text by the terminal device itself, but the addition can also be performed by a server on the communication network. Such a terminal device includes means for allowing a user to select one of a plurality of predetermined tastes, means for receiving text input by the user, display means for displaying information on a display screen, Means for transmitting the inputted text information together with the selected taste information as a message via a communication network; means for receiving the message via the communication network; and the received text with the predetermined display attribute added thereto Display control means for displaying information on the display screen, wherein the predetermined display attribute includes at least a character movement or a background image previously assigned to each of the plurality of tastes. .

  The terminal device may further include a plurality of prediction conversion dictionaries corresponding to a plurality of predetermined tastes, and means for selecting one of the plurality of prediction conversion dictionaries according to a user instruction. . In this case, the taste is selected by selecting the predictive conversion dictionary.

  The display control means displays a display area for displaying the candidate word / phrase group obtained by the predictive conversion dictionary at the time of text input, and the predetermined display attribute of the predetermined display attribute can be recognized in the display area. At least one of them may be applied to the display in the display area. Thereby, according to the taste currently selected, the display attribute of the phrase and the background in the display area of the candidate phrase group reflects the taste. As a result, the user can select which taste is currently selected.

  You may further provide the means to download the prediction conversion dictionary corresponding to a taste from a server via a communication network. As a result, the user can sequentially add new predictive conversion dictionaries.

  Another terminal device according to the present invention has substantially the same content as the means for receiving or transmitting a text message having a display attribute to which any one of a plurality of predetermined tastes is added. Means for generating different user interface screens corresponding to the tastes of the user, and a user interface screen matching the display attribute associated with the taste of the text message received or transmitted immediately before from the different user interface screens. And a means for switching the display screen to select.

  In this terminal device, when a text message having a display attribute associated with a taste is received or transmitted, the display attribute associated with the taste of the text message received or transmitted immediately before is transmitted from a different user interface screen. The display screen is switched to select the matching user interface screen. In this case, the display screen can be switched with at least one of incoming or outgoing mail.

  In this terminal device, means for automatically switching to the first user interface screen after a predetermined time has elapsed after switching from the default first user interface screen to another second user interface screen. Further, it may be provided.

  The user interface screen is, for example, a menu screen or a standby screen. In the latter case, for example, the application resides on the standby screen, and the standby screen itself functions as a main menu of the application.

  A server related to the present invention is a server connected to a terminal device via a communication network, and temporarily stores a text message received together with information specifying any of a plurality of predetermined tastes; Means for adding a predetermined display attribute to the input text in accordance with the selected taste; and means for transmitting a message to which the predetermined display attribute is added to the destination of the text message. The predetermined display attribute includes at least a character movement or a background image previously assigned to each of the plurality of tastes.

  This server receives a text message received together with information specifying any of a plurality of predetermined tastes from a terminal on the transmission side, and performs a predetermined display for designating character movement or a background image according to the taste. Add attributes. Thereafter, the text message to which the display attribute is added is transmitted to the destination.

  Another server related to the present invention is a server connected to a terminal device via a communication network, and means for temporarily storing a text message received together with information specifying any of a plurality of predetermined tastes And means for converting a phrase in the text message into a predetermined character image corresponding to the taste and embedding it as an image in the received text message, and transmitting the text message embedded with the image to the destination of the text message. And a means for performing. This functions when the receiving terminal transmits image information instead of a character code, for example, when the font of the corresponding typeface is not held.

  Still another server according to the present invention is a server connected to a terminal device via a communication network, and means for temporarily storing a text message received together with information specifying any of a plurality of predetermined tastes. A means for adding a predetermined display attribute to the input text according to the selected taste, and a message to which the predetermined display attribute is added in the form of web information. Means for accumulating so that the user can browse, and the predetermined display attribute includes at least a character motion or a background image previously assigned to each of the plurality of tastes. This server does not transmit text messages to the receiving terminal, but stores them as web information so that the user can view them.

  The present invention can also be understood as a program or a program storage medium that realizes the main functions of the terminal device and the server.

  According to the present invention, by selecting a taste, the user can automatically give a display attribute of a background and characters suitable for the taste to a simple text message. Thus, the user simply selects a taste according to the emotion and mood at that time, and the user designates display attributes (preferably a combination of predetermined display attributes) that match the emotion and mood for text communication. Can be given automatically without the need to expand the expressive power. The recipient of this message can also easily see the writer's emotions and intentions and subtle nuances that are not included in the original text by looking at the display of the message with such display attributes. A richer, more enjoyable and meaningful text communication can be realized.

  Further, by providing a prediction conversion dictionary for each taste, prediction conversion suitable for each taste can be performed, and the display attribute of the text message can be automatically selected by selecting the prediction conversion dictionary.

  By reflecting the taste of the email you just wrote or received on the user interface screen, the user interface itself becomes part of your personal communication, and as a result you can create a lively feeling. .

  When an application is resident on the standby screen and the standby screen itself functions as the main menu of the application, when an email is received or sent, the taste is expressed on the standby screen, so the user sends his / her feelings and email. You can feel the expression of the other party's feelings on the standby screen.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a system to which the present invention is applied. Here, an electronic mail (also simply called mail) system is shown as an example of a system that transmits and receives text messages. This system includes a plurality of terminal devices (terminals) 100, 102, 104 and a server 400 connected to each other via a communication network (not shown).

  In the system shown in FIG. 1A, a message 240a in a predetermined format (here, XML) as a text message including display attribute information is sent from the transmitting terminal to the server 400. The server 400 transmits an XML document 240b as a message that is the same as the message 240a or a display attribute information added or changed to the receiving terminal. The types of terminals may include personal computers (PCs) and the like in addition to portable terminals such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs). In the figure, only a mobile phone is shown as a terminal on the transmission side. This is because the mail creation according to the present invention is suitable for application to a terminal having a limited display area or input function such as a mobile phone, but the present invention is applied to a terminal other than the mobile phone as a transmitting terminal. It does not mean that it is not applicable.

  FIG. 1B shows a system in which a message 210 in a text format and taste information 242 selected by a user, which will be described later, are transmitted to the server 400 from the transmission side terminal. That is, in the present invention, it is not always necessary to create an XML document at the transmission side terminal, and the XML document 240b may be created at the server 400 based on such information. The server 400 transmits this XML document 240b to the receiving terminal.

  FIG. 1C shows a schematic configuration of another mail system called so-called web mail, browser mail or the like. In this system, an XML document 240a or a text message 210 and taste information 242 is transmitted from the transmitting terminal to the server 400, and the server 400 receives the XML document 240a and receives the XML document 240a as it is (or an appropriate display). Display attribute information is added to the text 210 according to the taste information 242 and stored on the server so that the destination user can browse (browse) in the form of web information. The server 400 further notifies the destination user (terminal) of the arrival of a new message. In response to this notification, the receiving-side terminal accesses the server 400 through a web browser and browses the message. The function of the server 400 may be realized by a plurality of distributed servers.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of terminal (mobile terminal) 100 according to the present embodiment.

  The terminal 100 includes an antenna 200, a duplexer (antenna duplexer) 301, a receiver (RX) 302, a transmitter (TX) 303, a digital signal processor DSP (Digital Signal Processor) as parts related to the telephone and communication functions. 304, a speaker 305, a microphone 306, and an ear receiver 307. The terminal 100 further includes a control unit 308, a display unit 309, an input operation unit 311, a ROM 313, a RAM 314, and the like as parts related to the control of the terminal. The control unit 308 includes a central processing unit (CPU). The input operation unit 311 corresponds to various keys, buttons, jog dials, and the like of the terminal. The ROM 313 stores a control program for realizing operations described later in the present embodiment. The ROM 313 may include a rewritable memory such as a flash ROM. Dictionary data, font data, and the like in the present embodiment are stored in the ROM 313 and / or the RAM 314. Data such as various documents is stored in the RAM 314.

  FIG. 3 shows a hardware configuration of the server 400.

  A central processing unit (CPU) 410 executes an OS (Operating System) and various application programs, and controls each part of the server. The ROM 411 stores programs executed by the CPU 410 and fixed data. The RAM 412 provides a work area for the CPU 410 and a temporary storage area for data. The ROM 411 and the RAM 412 are connected to the CPU 410 via the bus 430. An input device 414 such as a keyboard, a display device 415 such as a CRT and a liquid crystal display, and an external storage device 416 such as a hard disk device, MO, and CD-ROM are connected to the bus 430 via an interface 413. The bus 430 is connected to a network such as the Internet via the communication unit 420. The hardware configurations of the terminal 104 such as a PC and the terminal 102 such as a PDA are basically the same as this.

  The message format and processing elements in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, two processing forms shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B are shown.

  In the form of FIG. 4A, a text format message (text message) 210 input by the user is added to a predetermined format (here, a display attribute is added by a text animation engine 230 (described later) based on taste information 242). Then, the document is converted into an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) document 240 (or XML document 240a). XML is a markup language that adds information for adding an attribute called a tag to a text string. Here, a markup language conforming to SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is taken as an example. The SVG can define a two-dimensional image using an XML-compliant tag that defines image attributes, thereby generating an animated image. SVG can display bitmap graphics and text as well as two-dimensional vector graphics shapes.

  The XML document 240 is converted into a text message (motion text message) 260 that is animated by another text animation engine 250. The motion text message 260 is reproduced by a predetermined player on the terminal and displayed as a moving image. The conversion of the text into the XML document 240 by the first text animation engine 230 corresponds to the processing of the transmitting terminal in FIGS. 1A and 1C or the processing of the server 400 in FIG. The conversion from the XML document to the motion text message 260 by the animation engine 250 corresponds to the processing of the receiving terminal in FIGS. 1A and 1B and the processing of the server 400 in FIG.

  Note that the text message 210 may be converted directly into the motion text message 260 by the text animation engine 230. As a result, the XML document before transmission at the transmission side terminal can be previewed as a motion text message.

  In FIG. 4B, the text message 210 is converted into a document 270 in another format by the text animation engine 236 based on the taste information 242. This format is used when the terminal (computer) 280 on the receiving side does not have a function equivalent to the text animation engine 250. For example, a format such as QuickTime file, Real Player file, Macromedia Flash file, etc. This is a document. The computer 280 converts this document 270 into a motion text message 260. The motion text message may be in a format such as a QuickTime file, a Real Player file, or a Macromedia Flash file.

  FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the text animation engine 230. The text animation engine 230 includes a text plug-in 211, an XML module 231, and an animation plug-in 232. The text animation engine 230 extracts the text content 212 in the input text message 210. If the user has specified display attributes (for example, typeface, character size, color, etc.) for a specific character string or the entire text, it is extracted as text parameter information 213. On the other hand, the contents of the animation parameter 233 include (1) background color, still image, moving image, (2) font type, size, color, transparency, (3) scroll, text fade-in / fade-out, blinking, etc. Movement, etc. are included. In the present embodiment, these combinations are selected in a predetermined relationship in accordance with the taste selection by the user. The taste will be described later. The XML module 231 generates the XML document 240 based on the currently selected content of the text content 212, the text parameter information 213, and the animation parameter 233. The XML module 231 can output an XML document 241 equivalent to the XML document 240 to the animation plug-in 232, and the animation plug-in 232 can convert the XML document 241 into the motion text message 260. The animation plug-in 232 may be Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Director, Java, JavaScript, AdobeAftereffects, AdobePremier, C ++ (all are trademarks), and the like.

  By the way, as a more efficient character input method suitable for a device having an input means with limited functions such as a mobile phone, the user is expected to input a phrase to be input with respect to the character input. A search technique for outputting it as a selection candidate has been proposed. For example, when the first character of the target word is input, all the words including the character are read from the dictionary and output as a list on the display screen as selection candidates. If there is a target word in this list output, the user can select the word by moving the cursor or the like, and can confirm the selection of the word by key operation. If the second character before the confirmation is input, the dictionary is searched again for the two characters, and the corresponding selection candidate is output as a list. In this case, the number of selection candidates (number of hits) output in the list decreases. As the number of input characters increases, the number of selection candidates decreases. It is known that the matching of readings is not an exact match, but a search that is somewhat ambiguous, such as ignoring the difference between clear sound, muddy sound, and semi-voiced sound. For example, POBox (Predictive Operation Based On eXample) is known as one of predictive conversion methods adopting such “prediction” and “fuzzy search” (POBox is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation).

  A specific example of the predictive conversion method employed in the terminal 100 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Now, as shown in FIG. 6A, it is assumed that the user inputs the character “te” from the input operation unit (numerical key) of the terminal into the mail text input area 21 on the display screen of the terminal 100. On the screen, this input character is highlighted (for example, highlighted). At this time, the word / phrase group corresponding to this input character is displayed in a list in the selection candidate display field 23 as a selection candidate. This selection candidate word / phrase group is extracted as a search result of a plurality of dictionaries. At this time, the user tries to input the word “denwa”. The corresponding phrase “denwa” is not found in the selection candidate display field 23. (Note that “denwa” may be given as a selection candidate for “te” input, but here, for convenience of explanation, “denwa” is not included as a selection candidate.) Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6B, the user next inputs a cloud point. The input word / phrase group predicted from the characters “de” input up to this point is displayed in a list in the selection candidate display field 23. In this state, “denwa” is displayed as the third selection candidate. In this state, if the user selects a word “denwa” by performing a predetermined operation, for example, moving the cursor 24 using the jog dial and performing a “select” operation, the selected word / phrase as shown in FIG. “Denwa” is displayed in the input area 21. In this state, the selection candidate display field 23 displays selection candidates that may follow “denwa”.

  By using the predictive conversion method in this way, characters can be input with relatively few key operations. In general, a mobile phone or the like has a plurality of kana characters assigned to a single numeric keypad. For example, five characters (Kakikukeko) in the K line are assigned to the key “2”, and the number of times the key is input increases as the character in the back of the line increases. Therefore, if the number of input characters increases, the average total number of key inputs increases dramatically. On the other hand, according to the prediction conversion method as described above, the number of key inputs can be greatly reduced.

  For predictive conversion, a special dictionary for that purpose is prepared, and predictive search is performed according to a predetermined algorithm. The content of the predictive conversion dictionary is updated by the learning function as the user uses it.

  Conventional predictive conversion dictionaries only had differences in vocabulary, and did not have information on expression parts such as typefaces, character size and color, movement, and background images.

  In the present embodiment, as this predictive conversion dictionary, it is possible to optionally add a predictive conversion dictionary for each taste representing the user's emotion, personality, etc., and different tastes according to the selection results of these different predictive conversion dictionaries. To automatically select a display attribute of a text message, particularly a different attribute with movement.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a taste selection screen. Here, various tastes such as a love love mode, an anger mode, a happy mode, a father mode, a princess mode, and a shock mode can be selected in a menu format. This also changes the optional predictive conversion dictionary used. This user interface is not limited to the menu format (including pull-down, pop-up, etc.), and may be any other format such as a radio button format or an icon designation format.

  FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of the predictive conversion dictionary. As the predictive conversion dictionary 90, there are a common dictionary 91 that is applied in common regardless of an option taste, and dictionaries 92, 93,. The option dictionary can be downloaded from a server via a communication network and added. The option dictionary relating to the taste is selected according to the taste selection by the user as described with reference to FIG. By selecting the prediction conversion dictionary for each taste, words that match the taste are easily displayed in the selection candidate display field 23 at the time of prediction conversion. For example, in the love love mode dictionary 92, phrases such as “love”, “I love you”, and “I Love You” are assigned to the input character “a”.

  FIG. 9 shows two display examples for allowing the user to recognize the currently selected taste on the screen when using the predictive conversion dictionary. In the example of FIG. 9A, an icon 26 as identification information representing a taste currently in use is displayed in the title display column 20 of the currently executed process. In FIG. 9B, a plurality of similar icons 27 are distributed and displayed in the background of the selection candidate display field 23 here. Although not essential, if the background icon moves in a predetermined manner when the received mail is displayed, the same icon may be moved in the selection candidate display field 23. In addition, when a character is moved in a different manner for each taste (or for a specific taste) when the received mail is displayed, the same character movement may be performed in the selection candidate display field 23. For example, in the anger mode, it is possible to give a movement such that a character moves in small increments.

  In addition to the text movement, the text flows from the side and flows as it is, the text appears to breathe by repeated scaling, or the text appears on the screen in a large size first and gradually becomes smaller. Or text randomly enters from various directions on the screen and disappears from the other side, and new words appear on top of other old words at the same time, while old words gradually rise toward the top of the screen. Various forms are possible, such as each word or phrase swinging like a spring around a single point.

  FIG. 10 shows a display example when the typeface of the character is changed for each taste. In this figure, only the mail text input area 21 and the selection candidate display field 23 are shown as a display screen for convenience. Here, FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b) show examples of tastes in the father mode and the princess mode, respectively. In the selection candidate display field 23, selection candidate words / phrases are displayed in a typeface suitable for the selected taste, and the words / phrases selected from these are also displayed in the mail body input area 21 in the same typeface. In addition, when a word / phrase in the common dictionary 91 (FIG. 8) is displayed in the selection candidate display field 23, the word / phrase may be displayed in the same typeface, but may be displayed in a default typeface. Good. In the latter case, words of different typefaces are mixed in the selection candidate display field 23.

  FIGS. 11A and 11B show display examples of received mails in the love love mode and the anger mode, respectively. Each background is displayed with a symbol (icon) suitable for the mode (in this example, a mark representing a heart or anger), and these individual icons are set to perform movements specific to the mode. In addition, the characters input by the user are also displayed in a typeface specific to the mode, and the characters are set to move in a predetermined manner. Character strings are given motion in units of relatively short words or phrases. In the example of FIG. 11A, “denwa” and “cineten” are independent units. This unit can be determined according to the selection or confirmation operation when the user inputs characters. In the example of FIG. 11B, “Maji” and “Kayo” are independent units. For example, an XML document may be created using a relatively short character string as a unit for one-screen display, and a longer character string may be divided and displayed sequentially.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of an XML document corresponding to the display example of FIG. The description unit 71 is initial setting information, and determines the size and color of the SVG area and the background area. Here, an area having a size of width 128 and height 96 is set. The origin of the coordinates is the upper left corner of the area. The description units 72 and 73 are portions that determine initial positions (x and y coordinates), sizes, and graphics constituting the icons of the heart-shaped individual icons that appear in the background of the love love mode, and define their movements. is there. In this example, there are 10 heart-shaped icons, and 10 similar description parts (partially omitted in the figure) corresponding to each of them are prepared. Image information (here called a file called heart3.gif) is specified as a figure. This image information is stored in the terminal together with the dictionary data. In the example of the description unit 72, the movement of the graphic is defined to repeat the operation of moving the y coordinate from the value 140 to −30 in a cycle of 4 seconds infinitely. The start point and end point are set outside the area. As a result, when this is repeated, a heart symbol appears from the bottom of the screen, rises, disappears on the screen, and then disappears from the bottom again become. Note that the initial position and operation of the icon are individually set for each icon.

  The description units 74 and 75 define the initial positions, font types, sizes, and colors of the character strings “Denwa” and “Sine”, and the movements thereof. The movement of the character string in the example of the description unit 74 will be described. In this example, the x-coordinate of the character string “DENWA” is repeated infinitely at a cycle of 2 seconds. Within that period, the values of −50, −5, 15, and 130 are taken for the x coordinate at each of 0 second, 0.5 second, 1.9 second, and 2 seconds, respectively, and interpolated movements are obtained during that period. In this way, by designating the time and position individually by dividing the intervals in the cycle, it is possible to change the speed of movement of the icon. For example, after the icon has accelerated and entered the screen, it can move slowly and then accelerate again to get out of the screen. The same designation is made for the y coordinate.

  When special character fonts cannot be used in the terminal, it is possible to dynamically create images (eg, gif images) for individual character strings in the server and embed them in XML. is there. If the server can preliminarily determine whether or not the required typeface is available based on the registered user information for the server service, etc., based on the model information of the receiving terminal, the server determines whether the character string needs to be converted into an image. Judgment can be made. In the example of FIG. 12, only a specific background image and character movement are shown, but these are merely examples, and other movements are possible.

  FIG. 17 shows an example of a table 233a constituting a part of the animation parameter 233 as a configuration example. This table is maintained by the terminal or the server as the case may be. For each taste type, an attribute of “background size / color, etc.”, an attribute of “background image motion, etc.” and an attribute of “text position / font / motion, etc.” are defined as predetermined pattern data (template) in advance. Yes. For example, the background size / color attribute corresponds to the description unit 71 in the example of FIG. 7, and the attributes such as the background image motion correspond to the description units 72 and 73 of the example of FIG. Further, attributes such as text position / font / motion correspond to the description portions 74 and 75 in the example of FIG. 7 (character strings are embedded as blanks later).

  FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of the mail creation / transmission process in the transmission side terminal in this embodiment. As described above, the user selects a mode (taste) prior to creating the mail (S11). Alternatively, the mode can be specified or changed at the end of mail creation. If the mode is designated, it is checked whether or not the corresponding dictionary exists in the terminal (S12). If it does not exist, it accesses a predetermined server (not necessarily the same as the server 400) on the network and downloads the dictionary (S13). This corresponds to a case where only the dictionary menu is stored, or a case where the main body of the dictionary once downloaded is deleted. It is also possible to download a new dictionary that is not in the menu from the server.

  If a mode is selected, the font, background, etc. of the mail suitable for this mode are set (S14). Therefore, according to the input operation of the user, the message input process is performed by applying the predictive conversion by the dictionary in the mode (S15). When the message input is completed (S16, Yes), as described above, the input text message is converted into an XML document (S17). Therefore, the XML document is converted into the motion text message described above and previewed (S18). The creation message previewed at this time is a combination of the typeface, character color, motion, and background image of the selected taste, and display attribute information additionally input at the time of character input. If the user wants to correct the message as a result of viewing the preview (S19, No), the user can return to the character input mode and add / correct the character input and additional information. If there is no problem, the XML document is transmitted to the server (S20).

  FIG. 14 shows the mail reception process of the terminal that receives this message from the server. When the terminal receives an XML document, for example, automatically in accordance with an incoming mail notification or in accordance with a user instruction (S31), as described above, the text animation engine 250 converts the XML document into a motion text message. (S32). Further, the motion text message is displayed on a predetermined player (S33).

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the taste information 242 is transmitted from the transmitting terminal together with the text message 210 that does not include any display attribute information, and the server 400 adds the corresponding display attribute information based on the taste information 242. It may be.

  The data conversion process of the server 400 in the system of FIG. 1B will be described with reference to FIG. The server receives a text message with a destination together with taste information (S41). Therefore, the text message is converted into an XML document based on this taste (S42). This XML document is transmitted to the destination in response to a user request or an automatic reception request in response to an incoming call notification (S43).

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the web mail creation process of the server in the web mail system described with reference to FIG.

  In this process, when the server receives the message (XML) (S45), the XML document is converted into a motion text message by means equivalent to the text animation engine 250 shown in FIG. 2 (S46). Further, the motion text message is stored as web data in a folder for the mail destination user (S47). Therefore, the destination user is notified of the message arrival (S48). Link information for accessing the web data is embedded in the notification of the incoming call. The user who has received this notification can access the server from the terminal and browse the web data in the folder assigned to the user.

  According to the present embodiment, the completed message is pleasant to see, unlike normal text that is static and tasteless. In addition, the sent message reflects the sender's feelings, and the recipient can enjoy a lively live feeling as if the sender was not there. .

  Next, a second embodiment in which the above-described mail taste is reflected on the user interface screen will be described. The conventional user interface has a function-first priority and is tasteless and dry. Also, when I received e-mails, I didn't know what I had to open. In this embodiment, the taste of mail written or received immediately before (that is, at the end) is also reflected on the user interface screen. For example, when the user returns to the main user interface screen after receiving the mail in the love love mode, the user interface screen is expressed in the love love mode.

  FIG. 18 shows a display example of a menu (index menu) screen 600 as a user interface screen of the terminal 100. In the menu screen 600, icons 601 to 604 for switching various menus are displayed on the left side of the screen. The icon 601 indicates a custom menu. When the user designates this, a menu item of the custom menu is displayed in the menu item area 611. The icon 602 is used to display menu items for performing telephone-related settings in the menu item area 611. The icon 603 is used to display menu items of various tools (for example, web browsing, moving image text, application, memo pad, address book, schedule, calculator, etc.) in the menu item area 611. The icon 604 is used to display menu items for various settings (manner mode, security, etc.) other than those related to the telephone in the menu item area 611. Note that a title area 610 for displaying the title of the currently selected menu item group is provided at the top of the menu item area 611 of the menu screen 600.

  The example of the index menu in FIG. 18A shows a state in which the custom menu is selected. In this state, it is assumed that mails of tastes of love love mode, anger mode, and shock mode as shown in FIG. 18B are received. In each case, as shown in FIG. 18C, when the screen returns to the index menu screen, the background of the mail received immediately before is reflected.

  In this way, the taste of the mail you just wrote or received is reflected in the user interface screen, so that the user interface itself becomes part of your personal communication, resulting in a lively feeling. Can be produced. In particular, the expression of the user interface itself is not just for functions, but reflects personal personal communication, increasing friendliness. The user interface itself feels alive, and the user's familiarity with the terminal increases. In addition, it is possible to guess what the received message is before opening the mail. In other words, since the expression on the user interface screen changes to the emotional taste of newly received mail, it is possible to know what tone the mail is without opening the mail. The emotional information added at the time of text message creation is applied not only in the email but also to the user interface expression, so everything from the text message to the user interface that stores and displays it is everything. Can express emotions.

  Note that the background display itself on the user interface screen as shown in FIG. 18C can be prepared in advance as a background image (moving image or still image) corresponding to each taste.

  After the index menu screen reflecting the taste, after a predetermined time has elapsed, as shown in FIG. 18D, the original “neutral (or normal)” index menu screen is automatically displayed. (I.e., the default user interface screen without taste). As a result, it is possible to express that the emotions are not dragged too much, cool down over time, and that the user interface itself is alive.

  FIG. 19 shows a flowchart of terminal processing for realizing this embodiment.

  When the transmission or reception of the message is completed (S51), the mode is confirmed (S52). In this mode, the user interface (UI) screen is changed (S53, S54, S55). Thereafter, when a predetermined time (in this example, 10 minutes) has elapsed, the UI is changed to the normal mode (S58). If there is another transmission or reception process before the predetermined time has elapsed (S57, Yes), the process returns to step S52, and the UI is changed again according to the mode (S52 to S55).

  Note that in this embodiment, the user interface screen is changed in response to both transmission and reception of a message, but only one of transmission or reception determined in advance or selected by the user is triggered. You may do it.

  Next, a modification of the second embodiment will be described.

  Some recent mobile phones have a function called “standby application” in which a standby screen has an application in a resident state and automatically starts in response to a predetermined event. In such a mobile phone, the standby screen itself functions as the user interface screen as described above.

  FIG. 20 shows a display example of a screen according to a modification of the second embodiment. In this example, a message application as mailer software including the functions of the present embodiment resides on the standby screen, and the standby screen itself functions as the main menu of the application. Therefore, it is possible to shift directly from the standby screen to a screen such as “received mail”, “transmitted mail”, “create new mail”. FIG. 20A shows a standby screen in a normal state (that is, a default user interface screen with no taste). When an incoming mail is received in this state, as shown in FIG. 20B, the mail contents as described above are displayed according to the taste (mode). When returning to the standby screen after receiving this mail, the taste is reflected in the background of the standby screen as shown in FIG. As in the case of FIG. 18, after a predetermined time has elapsed, as shown in FIG. 20D, the original normal mode standby screen is displayed again.

  FIG. 21 shows a flowchart of terminal processing for realizing the present embodiment.

  When the transmission or reception of the message is completed (S61), the mode is confirmed (S62). In this mode, the standby screen is changed (S63, S64, S65). Thereafter, when a predetermined time (in this example, 10 minutes) elapses, the standby screen is changed to the normal mode (S68). If there is another transmission or reception process before the predetermined time has elapsed (S67, Yes), the process returns to step S62, and the standby screen suitable for the mode is changed again (S62 to S65).

  In this case as well, the standby screen may be changed in response to only one of transmission or reception determined in advance or selected by the user.

  In the past, when a new mail arrived on the standby screen, the message “Incoming mail” was displayed, and it was possible to jump to the mail by operations such as jog dialing, but it was not possible to understand what kind of mail it had to be opened. In this embodiment, before opening a mail, it is possible to recognize the emotion of the sender of the mail by changing the standby screen.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but various modifications and changes other than those mentioned above are possible. For example, the illustrated screen and the specific description of XML are merely illustrative examples, and the present invention is not limited to them. Although the selection of an optional predictive conversion dictionary is used for the taste selection, the predictive conversion dictionary is not essential, and the taste can be selected independently even when the predictive conversion dictionary is not used.

1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system to which the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram showing the hardware constitutions of the terminal in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the server in embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing about the format and processing element of the message in embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a text animation engine 230 illustrated in FIG. 4. It is explanatory drawing about the specific example of the prediction conversion method employ | adopted as the terminal of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the taste selection screen in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the prediction conversion dictionary in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display for enabling a user to recognize the taste currently selected on the screen at the time of use of the prediction conversion dictionary in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display when the typeface of a character is changed according to taste in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the received mail of the love love mode and anger mode in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the XML document corresponding to the example of a display of Fig.11 (a). It is a flowchart of the mail preparation and transmission process in the transmission side terminal in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the mail reception process of the terminal which receives the message transmitted by the process of FIG. 13 from a server. It is a flowchart which shows the data conversion process of the server in the system of FIG.1 (b). It is a flowchart of the webmail creation process of the server in the webmail system demonstrated in FIG.1 (c). It is a figure which shows the structural example of the animation parameter shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the menu (index menu) screen as a user interface screen of a terminal regarding the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the terminal for implement | achieving embodiment described in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the screen of the modification of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the terminal for implement | achieving this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  90 ... Predictive conversion dictionary, 91 ... Common dictionary, 92 ... Love love mode dictionary, 100, 102, 104 ... Terminal, 210 ... Text message, 211 ... Text plug-in, 212 ... Text content, 213 ... Text parameter information, 230 ... Text Animation engine, 231 ... module, 232 ... animation plug-in, 233 ... animation parameter, 236 ... text animation engine, 240a ... message, 240b ... document, 241 ... document, 250 ... text animation engine, 260 ... motion text message, 270 ... Document, 280 ... Computer, 308 ... Control part, 309 ... Display part, 311 ... Input operation part, 400 ... Server, 600 ... Menu screen, 601 to 604 ... Icon, 610 ... Tight Area, 611 ... menu item area

Claims (5)

Means for receiving or transmitting a text message having a display attribute to which any of a plurality of predetermined tastes is added;
Means for generating a different user interface screen corresponding to each of the plurality of tastes, which is a screen different from a screen related to transmission and reception of the text message;
A user corresponding to the taste of the received or transmitted text message from the different user interface screens when switching from the screen related to transmission / reception of the text message to the user interface screen after the text message is received or transmitted. Means for switching the display screen to select an interface screen;
A terminal device comprising:   After switching from a default first user interface screen which is a user interface screen having no taste to a second user interface screen which is one of different user interface screens corresponding to each of the plurality of tastes, a predetermined The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising means for automatically switching to the first user interface screen after elapse of time.   The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the user interface screen is a menu screen.   The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the user interface screen is a standby screen.   5. The terminal device according to claim 4, wherein the application resides on the standby screen, and the standby screen itself functions as a main menu of the application.

Images