JP4913795B2 - Display control device for character input screen and display control program for character input screen - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a character input screen display control device and a character input screen display control program used for inputting characters by remote control operation.

  In recent years, digital TVs that have become widespread can be operated using an attached remote control terminal, and can also be connected to the Internet to use network services such as Web browsing and IPTV (Internet Protocol TeleVision). . On the other hand, some PCs (Personal Computers) have a remote control function.

  Such a PC may be viewed at a position slightly away from a main body to which a keyboard, a mouse, or the like is connected, and may be operated using a remote control terminal. In this case, the use form of the PC is the same as the use form of the digital TV.

  In order to use a network service on a PC or digital TV, a function for inputting characters such as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for web browsing and a search word is required. Such a character input function can be realized by a soft keyboard. The soft keyboard is a software implementation of input processing that is originally performed with a keyboard.

  For example, a soft keyboard containing a character table or numeric keypad is displayed on the screen, and the desired character can be selected from the character table displayed on the screen using the cursor enter key on the remote control terminal, or as necessary. There are known methods for inputting characters by instructing Kana-Kanji conversion.

  However, in general, the number of keys provided in the remote control terminal is smaller than the number of keys provided in the PC keyboard. Therefore, when the remote control terminal is used, there is a problem that the character input speed is reduced as compared with the case where the PC keyboard is used. In addition, when the remote control terminal is used, the number of key operations necessary for character input is increased as compared with the case where a PC keyboard is used.

In view of this, a technique is known in which a predictive conversion function, an incremental search function, or the like is employed to increase the speed of character input or reduce the number of key operations. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an algorithm of a predictive conversion function that reduces the number of key operations.
JP 2001-242992 A

  When characters are input using the predictive conversion function according to the technique of Patent Document 1, the screen displayed on the PC or digital TV includes an input character display field, a soft keyboard display field, a mode switching list field, a predictive conversion candidate. Usually, it is divided into modules like the list column.

  In this case, the user operates the remote control terminal while viewing the screen displayed on the PC or digital TV. On this screen, the distance between the soft keyboard display column and the prediction conversion candidate list column is long. There is a time. For this reason, it is difficult for the user to input a character when trying to confirm a predictive conversion candidate, and conversely, it is difficult to confirm a predictive conversion candidate when trying to maintain the efficiency of character input. That is, even if the technique of Patent Document 1 is used, there is a problem that the speed and accuracy are lowered as compared with the case where characters are input using the keyboard of the PC.

  In addition, when entering characters, to switch from Kana character input mode to predictive conversion candidate or Kanji conversion candidate selection mode, there is a separate method for selecting the mode conversion list field with the cursor enter key and the numeric keypad. It is necessary to operate the key for mode conversion, and it is necessary to confirm the form position of the numeric keypad each time or visually confirm it on the screen. It was.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and provides a display control device for a character input screen and a display control program for a character input screen that can improve the speed and accuracy of character input. Objective.

The display control apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem is a display control apparatus that causes a display device to display a character input screen composed of soft keys that are input keys implemented by software. A storage unit that stores a candidate list in which one or a plurality of characters and conversion candidate characters are associated with each other, and operation history information that stores soft key transition information that has been operated in the past as operation history information a storage unit, from among the storage of the stored candidate list to the unit characters, a conversion candidate extracting unit for extracting a character conversion candidates associated with the characters entered by using the soft keys, the conversion candidate A character input screen updating unit for updating the character input screen so that the respective conversion candidate characters extracted by the extraction unit are displayed in a predetermined area in one of the soft keys; Wherein said character input screen updating unit, sorts the said conversion candidate extracting unit each conversion candidate character extracted by order of priority of the display, which is the most recent input operation in this sorted order An operation stored in the operation history information storage unit is displayed when a plurality of soft keys having the same distance from the latest input soft key are displayed in a predetermined area in any soft key from a position close to the soft key. Characters of conversion candidates having a high priority are displayed in a predetermined area in the soft key in the direction from the most recently operated soft key specified by the history information to the most recently operated soft key. As described above, the character input screen is updated .

The display control device of the present invention according to claim 2 is a display control device for displaying on the display device a character input screen composed of soft keys which are input keys realized by software. A storage unit that stores a candidate list in which a plurality of characters and conversion candidate characters of the characters are associated with each other, an operation history information storage unit that stores transition information of soft keys operated in the past as operation history information, A conversion candidate extraction unit that extracts a conversion candidate character associated with a character input using the soft key from characters in the candidate list stored in the storage unit, and the conversion candidate extraction unit extracts the conversion candidate character. A character input screen updating unit for updating the character input screen so that the respective conversion candidate characters are displayed in a predetermined area in any one of the soft keys. The screen update unit rearranges the characters of the respective conversion candidates extracted by the conversion candidate extraction unit in order of display priority, and then is specified by the operation history information stored in the operation history information storage unit. The character of the conversion candidate having a high priority is displayed in a predetermined area in the soft key in the direction from the most recently operated soft key to the most recently operated soft key. The input screen is updated.

Further, a third aspect of the present invention is the character input screen display control device according to the second aspect, wherein the character input screen update unit displays the characters of the respective conversion candidates extracted by the conversion candidate extraction unit. A direction from the latest operated soft key specified by the operation history information stored in the operation history information storage unit to the latest operated soft key after sorting in descending order of priority If there is more than one corresponding soft key in a predetermined area in the previous soft key and there are multiple corresponding soft keys, the conversion candidate with the highest priority is selected from the position near the latest input soft key. The character input screen is updated so that a character is displayed in a predetermined area in one of the soft keys.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display control apparatus for displaying a character input screen composed of software keys, which are input keys realized by software, on a display apparatus, A storage unit that stores a candidate list in which a plurality of characters and conversion candidate characters of the characters are associated with each other, an operation history information storage unit that stores transition information of soft keys operated in the past as operation history information, A conversion candidate extraction unit that extracts characters of conversion candidates associated with the character input using the soft key from the characters of the candidate list stored in the storage unit;
A character input screen updating unit for updating the character input screen so that the characters of the respective conversion candidates extracted by the conversion candidate extraction unit are displayed in a predetermined area in any soft key; The operation history information stored in the operation history information storage unit includes required time information between each operation, and the character input screen update unit is configured to convert each conversion candidate character extracted by the conversion candidate extraction unit. Are sorted in descending order of display priority, and are displayed in a predetermined area in one of the soft keys from a position close to the latest input operated soft key in the sorted order, and the latest input operation is performed. When there are a plurality of soft keys at the same distance from the soft key, the latest operation from the soft key operated based on the required time information between operations stored in the operation history information storage unit. As to display a high conversion candidate character priority in a predetermined region in the softkey duration of work is predicted to shortest, characterized in that for updating the character input screen.

The display control device of the present invention according to claim 5 is a display control device for displaying on the display device a character input screen composed of soft keys which are input keys implemented by software. A storage unit that stores a candidate list in which a plurality of characters and conversion candidate characters of the characters are associated with each other, an operation history information storage unit that stores transition information of soft keys operated in the past as operation history information, A conversion candidate extraction unit that extracts a conversion candidate character associated with a character input using the soft key from characters in the candidate list stored in the storage unit, and the conversion candidate extraction unit extracts the conversion candidate character. A character input screen update unit for updating the character input screen so that the respective conversion candidate characters are displayed in a predetermined area in any one of the soft keys. The operation history information stored in the information storage unit includes required time information between operations, and the character input screen update unit displays characters of each conversion candidate extracted by the conversion candidate extraction unit. After sorting in descending order of priority, the time required for the operation from the latest operated soft key is predicted to be the shortest based on the required time information between operations stored in the operation history information storage unit. The character input screen is updated so that a conversion candidate character having a high priority is displayed in a predetermined area in the soft key.

Further, a sixth aspect of the present invention is the character input screen display control device according to the fifth aspect, wherein the character input screen update unit displays each conversion candidate character extracted by the conversion candidate extraction unit. After sorting in descending order of priority, the time required for the operation from the latest operated soft key is predicted to be the shortest based on the required time information between operations stored in the operation history information storage unit. When a high-priority conversion candidate character is displayed in a predetermined area in the soft key and there are multiple corresponding soft keys, the conversion candidate character with the high priority is selected from the position closest to the latest input soft key. The character input screen is updated so as to be displayed in a predetermined area in the soft key.

Further, the display control program for character input screen according to claim 7 is a program for configuring a computer display control device of the character input screen according to any one of claims 1 to 6 Features.

  As is apparent from the above description, the character input screen display control device and the character input screen display control program according to the present invention can improve the speed and accuracy of character input.

<< First Embodiment >>
<Configuration of Character Input System According to First Embodiment>
A configuration of a character input system using a digital TV as a display control device for displaying a character input screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the character input system according to this embodiment includes a remote control terminal 1 and a digital TV 2. The user can operate the digital TV 2 using the numeric keypad, cursor enter key, posture sensor, and the like of the remote control terminal 1. Of course, if the digital TV 2 is connected to the Internet, network services such as Web browsing and IPTV can be used.

  The digital TV 2 has a display screen (hereinafter simply referred to as “screen”) 3. In this embodiment, the screen 3 is assumed to display a soft keyboard including a numeric keypad. The user can operate the soft keyboard displayed on the screen 3 using the remote control terminal 1. In the following description, each input key included in the soft keyboard is referred to as a “soft key”.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the remote control terminal 1 in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the remote control terminal 1 is an instruction terminal for issuing various instructions to the digital TV 2. Functionally, a numeric keypad input unit 11, a cursor enter key input unit 12, and an attitude sensor input unit are provided. 13, a microcomputer unit 14, and a transmission unit 15.

  The numeric keypad input unit 11 inputs the operation content of the numeric keypad by the user. The cursor enter key input unit 12 inputs the operation contents of the cursor enter key by the user. The posture sensor input unit 13 inputs the operation content of an operation for changing the posture (tilt) of the remote control terminal 1 by the user.

  The microcomputer unit 14 processes the operation signal input from the numeric keypad input unit 11, the cursor enter key input unit 12, or the attitude sensor input unit 13 and sends it to the transmission unit 15.

  The transmission unit 15 transmits the operation signal processed by the microcomputer unit 14 to the digital TV 2.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the digital TV 2 in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the digital TV 2 includes a remote control operation receiving unit 21, an operation key input receiving unit 22, a character input unit 23, a mode switching unit 24, a storage unit 25, and character string conversion candidate extraction. A unit 26, a kanji conversion candidate extraction unit 27, and a character input screen update unit 28.

  The remote control operation receiving unit 21 receives an operation signal transmitted from the remote control terminal 1. The operation key input receiving unit 22 receives the operation signal received by the remote control operation receiving unit 21 and sends it to the character input unit 23 or the mode switching unit 24 according to the contents of the operation signal. Specifically, when a character input signal for inputting characters is received, this signal is sent to the character input unit 23, and a mode switching signal for switching between kana character input, kana character input, and alphabet input is acquired. Sometimes this signal is sent to the mode switching unit 24.

  The character input unit 23 acquires the character input signal sent from the operation key input receiving unit 22, and inputs character information based on this signal. The mode switching unit 24 acquires the mode switching signal sent from the operation key input receiving unit 22, and switches the input mode based on this signal.

  The storage unit 25 stores a candidate list in which one or more characters are associated with a character string or kanji of conversion candidates for the characters. In addition, the storage unit 25 acquires and stores software key identification information on a character input screen (to be described later) corresponding to the latest operated numeric keypad button.

  The character string conversion candidate extraction unit 26 extracts a character string of conversion candidates associated with the character input from the character input unit 23 from the characters in the candidate list stored in the storage unit 25. The kanji conversion candidate extraction unit 27 extracts the conversion candidate kanji associated with the character input from the character input unit 23 from the characters in the candidate list stored in the storage unit 25.

  The character input screen update unit 28 converts the conversion candidate character string extracted by the character string conversion candidate extraction unit 26 or the conversion candidate kanji extracted by the kanji conversion candidate extraction unit 27 into any soft key. The character input screen is updated so as to be displayed in the predetermined area, and is displayed on the display screen 3.

  The character input screen displayed on the display screen 3 according to the present embodiment includes a character input field 310 for displaying input characters and soft keys 321 to 321 corresponding to the numeric keypad buttons of the remote control terminal 1 as shown in FIG. 332. Each of the soft keys 321 to 332 has a fixed display area A and a dynamic display area B. The fixed display area A is an area for displaying characters such as “ka”, “2”, and “ABC” that are fixed to the keys. The dynamic display area B is an area for displaying conversion candidate character strings (including English words) or kanji extracted by the character string conversion candidate extraction unit 26 or the kanji conversion candidate extraction unit 27.

<Operation of Character Input System According to First Embodiment>
Next, in the character input system according to the present embodiment, an operation when a conversion candidate character string is displayed on the character input screen will be described.

  First, when one of the numeric keys is pressed by the remote control terminal 1, an operation signal of the pressed numeric key is input from the numeric keypad input unit 11, signal processing is performed by the microcomputer unit 14, and then infrared or wireless communication is performed from the transmission unit 15. Is transmitted to the digital TV 2. The input operation method for character input by the numeric keypad input unit 11 is mainly a multi-tap method, a pager method, or a T9 method. In this embodiment, the multi-tap method will be described.

  The operation when the digital TV 2 receives an operation signal from the remote control terminal 1 is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  In the digital TV 2, the remote control operation receiving unit 21 is on standby until a numeric keypad operation signal transmitted from the remote control terminal 1 is received (“false” in S 101). When the operation signal of the numeric keypad is received by the remote control operation reception unit 21 (“true” in S101), the character input unit 23 or the mode switching unit 24 receives the operation signal received by the operation key input reception unit 22 according to the content of the operation signal. Sent out. If the received operation signal is a character input signal, it is sent to the character input unit 23, and if it is a mode switching signal, it is sent to the mode switching unit 24. Here, it is assumed that the character input signal is received and sent to the character input unit 23 after the character input mode is switched by the mode switching signal as required (S101).

  When the character input signal is acquired in the character input unit 23, it is determined whether or not the numeric key pressed on the remote control terminal 1 is pressed long (S102). If the digital signal rises from “0” to “1” when the numeric keypad is depressed, whether the time from the rise to the fall exceeds a preset threshold value. It is judged by whether or not.

  Here, it is determined that the character is pressed shortly (“false” in S102), and the character displayed in the fixed display area A of the corresponding soft key in the character input screen is input (S103). When the character is input, the identification information of the latest operated soft key is stored in the storage unit 25 (S104).

  If it is determined in step S102 that the key has been pressed for a long time (S102 “true”), the character displayed in the dynamic display area B of the corresponding soft key in the character input screen is input (S105). The identification information of the latest operated soft key is stored in the storage unit 25 (S104).

  Here, as an example, it is assumed that the character string “Kani” is input. The input character string is displayed in the character input field 310 in the character input screen.

  Next, the character string conversion candidate extraction unit 26 extracts the conversion candidate character string associated with the input character string “crab” from the storage unit 25 (S106). An example of the character string of the extracted conversion candidate is shown in FIG. Here, as the conversion candidate character strings corresponding to the character string “Kani”, the top ten character strings “Machinery ship boom”, “Masonry ship boom” with the highest number of hits among the keywords estimated from “Kani”, It is assumed that “Kani Dorakura”, “Kaniban”, “Kanishino”, “Kani Honke”, “Kanitama”, “Kani ballism”, “Kani City”, “Scorpio” are extracted.

  The character input screen update unit 28 changes the screen so that the extracted character strings of these conversion candidates are displayed in any one of the dynamic display areas B in the soft keys 321 to 332 of the character input screen. Updated. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the display position is determined so that the extracted conversion candidate character strings are sequentially displayed from the upper left soft key 321 toward the lower right soft key 332, respectively. (S107).

  Similarly to the process in which the character string conversion candidate extraction unit 26 extracts the conversion candidate character string and the display position is determined in steps S106 and S107, the kanji conversion candidate extraction unit 27 also extracts the conversion candidate kanji. The display position is determined.

  An example of a state in which the character input screen is updated and displayed on the display screen 3 so that the conversion candidate character strings and kanji are displayed at the positions determined in this manner is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 8, fixed characters are displayed in the fixed display area A of each of the soft keys 321 to 331 on the character input screen, and the conversion candidate characters determined in step S107 are displayed in the dynamic display area B. The row is displayed in the lower row, and the conversion candidate kanji is displayed in the upper row.

  In this way, the conversion candidate character string and kanji are dynamically displayed in the soft key together with the fixed character, so that the user can perform the input operation while inputting the fixed character in the soft key. A conversion candidate character string and kanji can be checked and selected near the corresponding soft key, and the speed and accuracy of character input can be improved.

<< Second Embodiment >>
Since the configuration of the character input system according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the character input system according to the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation when an operation signal is received from the remote control terminal 1 in the digital TV 2 of the character input system according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 9, the processes in steps S101 to S106 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  When a conversion candidate character string is extracted in step S106, the character input screen update unit 28 has a high prediction accuracy and a high display priority in the order of the number of hits obtained by past searches for the extracted character string. They are rearranged as things (S201). An example of the rearranged conversion candidate character strings is shown in FIG. Here, from the highest priority, the string "Scorpio" → "Kani-shi" → "Construction ship" → "Cannibalism" → "Construction ship boom" → "Kani Tadaku" → "Kanitama" → "Kani It is assumed that they are rearranged in the order of "Ban"-> "Kanimoto"-> "Kanishino".

  As shown in FIG. 11, the display position is determined so that the conversion candidate character strings are respectively displayed from the upper left soft key 321 toward the lower right soft key 332 in the rearranged order (S107). .

  Similarly to the process in which the character string of the conversion candidate is extracted in the character string conversion candidate extraction unit 26 in steps S106 and S107 and rearranged in order of priority, the kanji conversion candidate extraction unit 27 also extracts the conversion candidate kanji. They are rearranged in order of priority, and the display position is determined by the character input screen update unit 28.

  An example of a state in which the character input screen is updated and displayed on the display screen 3 so that the conversion candidate character strings and kanji are displayed at the positions determined in this manner is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 12, fixed characters are displayed in the fixed display area A of the soft keys 321 to 331 on the character input screen, respectively, and the conversion candidate characters determined in step S107 are displayed in the dynamic display area B. The row is displayed in the lower row, and the conversion candidate kanji is displayed in the upper row.

  In this way, the conversion candidate character strings and kanji characters are dynamically displayed in the soft key together with the fixed characters in order of priority, so that the user can input the fixed characters in the soft key. However, it is possible to check and select a conversion candidate character string and kanji near a soft key corresponding to this input operation, and to improve the speed and accuracy of character input.

<< Third Embodiment >>
Since the configuration of the character input system according to the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the character input system according to the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation when the operation signal is received from the remote control terminal 1 in the digital TV 2 of the character input system according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 13, the processes in steps S101 to S201 are the same as those in the second embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  When the conversion candidate character strings extracted in step S201 are rearranged in descending order of priority, the character input screen update unit 28 performs the latest operation on the character input screen of the soft key in the rearranged order. The display position of the conversion candidate character string is determined so as to be sequentially displayed on the soft keys that are close to the position at (S301).

Calculation of the distance between the soft keys will be described with reference to FIG. The position coordinates (X ₁ , Y ₁ ), (X ₂ , Y ₂ ), (X ₃ , Y ₃ )... Of the soft keys 321 to 331 are managed by the character input screen update unit 28. These indicate specific positions (for example, center positions) of the respective soft keys. When a character is input in the character input field 310, the character input screen update unit 28 determines the distance from the position coordinate of each soft key with the position coordinate of the latest operated soft key updated in step S104 as a reference position. Calculated.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the display position is determined so that the character string of the conversion candidate having the higher priority is displayed on the soft key closer to the reference position. Here, when there are a plurality of soft keys at the same distance (“true” in S302), the character input screen update unit 28 is prioritized as it is closer to the upper left, and is displayed in order toward the lower right. The display position is determined (S303).

  Similarly to the process in which the character string of the conversion candidate is extracted in the character string conversion candidate extraction unit 26 in steps S106 and S201 and rearranged in order of priority, the kanji conversion candidate extraction unit 27 also extracts the conversion candidate kanji. The display position is determined by the character input screen update unit 28 so that the kanji characters that are rearranged in order of priority and are displayed on the soft keys closer to the reference position are displayed as conversion candidates with higher priority.

  FIG. 16 shows an example of a state where the character input screen is updated and displayed on the display screen 3 so that the conversion candidate character string and kanji are displayed at the positions determined in this way.

  In FIG. 16, fixed characters are displayed in the fixed display area A of each of the soft keys 321 to 331 on the character input screen, and the conversion candidates determined in steps S301 and S303 are displayed in the dynamic display area B. Is displayed in the lower row, and the conversion candidate kanji is displayed in the upper row.

  As described above, the conversion candidate character strings and kanji characters are dynamically displayed in the soft key from the position closest to the latest operated soft key in order of priority, so that the user can select the soft key. You can easily check and select conversion candidate character strings and kanji characters near the soft keys that support this input operation while inputting characters that are fixed in the key. Can be improved.

<< 4th Embodiment >>
Since the configuration of the character input system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the character input system according to the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 25 also has a function as an operation history information storage unit that stores operation history information of soft keys operated in the past.

  The operation when the operation signal is received from the remote control terminal 1 in the digital TV 2 of the character input system according to the present embodiment is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  In FIG. 17, the processes in steps S101 to S302 are the same as those in the third embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  If there are a plurality of soft keys at the same distance from the reference position in step S302 ("true" in S302), the display position of the conversion candidate character string with high priority is determined in a direction that is easy for the user to use. (S401).

  Here, the determination of “the direction in which the user can easily use” will be described. When the user operates the soft key on the character input screen, the user's line of sight flows from the most recently operated soft key to the most recently operated soft key. If it is repeatedly hit, it is ignored, and the case where soft keys with different positions are continuously pressed corresponds to this), and the direction of the flow of the line of sight is defined as “a direction that is easy for the user to use”. The “latest operated soft key” and “latest operated soft key” are specified based on the soft key operation history information stored in the storage unit 25. Then, it is predicted from the latest operated soft key that the soft key in this direction is a soft key that is easy for the user to operate, and the display position is displayed so that the conversion candidate character string with high priority is displayed. Is determined.

  In this embodiment, since the character input “Kani” is performed, the user's line of sight is the direction from the operated “ka” row soft key 322 to the “na” row soft key 325, that is, from the top to the bottom of the screen. It is flowing toward the center, and the downward focus is working. Therefore, although the distance from the latest operated soft key 325 to the soft key 322 and the soft key 328 is the same, the lower soft key 328 is predicted to be easier for the user to operate and has a higher priority. A conversion candidate character string is displayed.

  If there are still a plurality of keys with the same distance and priority even after performing the process in step S401 (“true” in S402), the closer to the upper left, the higher the priority, and the lower right is displayed in order. The display position is determined (S403). The display positions of the conversion candidate character strings thus determined are shown in FIG.

  Similarly to the process in which the character string of the conversion candidate is extracted in the character string conversion candidate extraction unit 26 in steps S106 and S201 and rearranged in order of priority, the kanji conversion candidate extraction unit 27 also extracts the conversion candidate kanji. The display position is determined by the character input screen update unit 28 so that the kanji characters that are rearranged in order of priority and are displayed on the soft keys closer to the reference position are displayed as conversion candidates with higher priority.

  An example of a state in which the character input screen is updated and displayed on the display screen 3 so that the conversion candidate character strings and kanji are displayed at the positions determined in this manner is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 19, fixed characters are displayed in the fixed display area A of each of the soft keys 321 to 331 on the character input screen, and the dynamic display area B is determined in steps S301, S401, and S403. The conversion candidate character strings are displayed in the lower row, and the conversion candidate kanji characters are displayed in the upper row.

  In this way, the fixed character and the conversion candidate character string and kanji are dynamically displayed in accordance with the movement of the line of sight from the position closest to the latest operated soft key in order of priority in the soft key. The user can easily check and select the conversion candidate character string and kanji near the soft key corresponding to the input operation while inputting the fixed character in the soft key. The speed and accuracy of input can be improved.

<< 5th Embodiment >>
Since the configuration of the character input system according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the character input system according to the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  An operation when the operation signal is received from the remote control terminal 1 in the digital TV 2 of the character input system according to the present embodiment is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  In the above-described fourth embodiment, after the process of determining the display position of the character string of the conversion candidate is performed based on the distance from the position of the latest operated soft key, The processing for determining the display position is performed based on the operation direction of the soft key determined from the position of the last soft key operated, but the order of these processing may be reversed. .

  In the present embodiment, the case where the display position of the conversion candidate character string is first determined based on the operation direction of the soft key will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In FIG. 20, the processes in steps S101 to S201 are the same as those in the second embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  When the conversion candidate character strings extracted in step S201 are rearranged in descending order of priority, the character input screen update unit 28 uses the same processing as step S401 in the fourth embodiment in the rearranged order. The display position of the character string of the conversion candidate having a high priority is determined in a direction that is easy for the user to use (S501).

  Here, the high priority when the display position is determined will be described with reference to FIG. In the box, the user's line of sight is flowing from the top to the bottom of the screen, and since the focus is on the bottom, high-priority character strings are displayed on the soft keys 327 to 332 below, and the middle row is displayed. It is determined that a character string having the next highest priority (medium level) is displayed on a certain soft key 324 to 326, and a character string having a lower priority is displayed on the upper soft keys 321 to 323.

  If there are a plurality of keys having the same priority in step S501 ("true" in S502), the display position is determined so that the closer to the upper left, the higher priority is given and the lower right is displayed in order (S503). . The display positions of the conversion candidate character strings thus determined are shown in FIG.

  Similarly to the process in which the character string of the conversion candidate is extracted in the character string conversion candidate extraction unit 26 in steps S106 and S201 and rearranged in order of priority, the kanji conversion candidate extraction unit 27 also extracts the conversion candidate kanji. The display position is determined by the character input screen update unit 28 so that the characters are rearranged in the order of priority and displayed on the soft keys in the direction of the line of sight from the character string having the higher priority as shown in FIG.

  An example of a state in which the character input screen is updated and displayed on the display screen 3 so that the conversion candidate character strings and kanji are displayed at the positions determined in this manner is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 23, characters fixed in advance are displayed in the fixed display area A of each of the soft keys 321 to 331 of the character input screen, and the conversion candidates determined in steps S501 and S503 are displayed in the dynamic display area B. Is displayed in the lower row, and the conversion candidate kanji is displayed in the upper row.

  In this way, the character strings and kanji characters that are conversion candidates together with the fixed characters are dynamically displayed according to the user's line-of-sight movement in descending order of priority, so that the user can While inputting a fixed character, you can easily check and select a conversion candidate character string and kanji near a soft key that supports this input operation, further improving the speed and accuracy of character input. Can be made.

<< 6th Embodiment >>
Since the configuration of the character input system according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention is the same as that of the character input system according to the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The operation when the operation signal is received from the remote control terminal 1 in the digital TV 2 of the character input system according to the present embodiment is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  In FIG. 24, the processing in steps S101 to S502 is the same as that in the fifth embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  If there are a plurality of keys having the same priority in step S502 (“true” in S502), the latest operated soft keys are sequentially displayed on the soft keys that are close to the position on the character input screen. Next, the display position of the conversion candidate character string is determined (S601).

  If there are still a plurality of keys with the same priority and distance even after performing the process in step S601 (“true” in S602), the closer to the upper left, the higher priority is given, and the lower right keys are displayed in order. The display position is determined (S603). The display positions of the conversion candidate character strings thus determined are shown in FIG.

  Similarly to the process in which the character string of the conversion candidate is extracted in the character string conversion candidate extraction unit 26 in steps S106 and S201 and rearranged in order of priority, the kanji conversion candidate extraction unit 27 also extracts the conversion candidate kanji. The display position is determined by the character input screen update unit 28 so that the characters are rearranged in order of priority and displayed on the soft key in the direction of the line of sight from the character string having the higher priority.

  FIG. 26 shows an example of a state in which the character input screen is updated and displayed on the display screen 3 so that the conversion candidate character strings and kanji are displayed at the positions determined in this way.

  In FIG. 26, a fixed character is displayed in the fixed display area A of each of the soft keys 321 to 331 on the character input screen, and the dynamic display area B is determined in steps S501, S601, and S603. The conversion candidate character strings are displayed in the lower row, and the conversion candidate kanji characters are displayed in the upper row.

  In this way, the character strings and kanji characters that are conversion candidates, together with the fixed characters, are dynamically displayed in the soft keys in order of priority according to the user's line-of-sight movement, so that the user can Allows you to easily check and select conversion candidate character strings and kanji near the soft keys that support this input operation while inputting fixed characters in the soft key. And accuracy can be improved.

  In step S401 of the fourth embodiment, S501 of the fifth embodiment, and the sixth embodiment, the direction of the most recently operated soft key is changed to “use” from the most recently operated soft key. ”Direction that is easy for the user to use”, and the case where the latest operated soft key is predicted to be the “soft key that is easy for the user to operate” from the latest operated soft key. The “soft key easy to operate by the user” may be specified based on the required time between each operation of the soft key operated in the past.

  In this case, the operation history information stored in the storage unit 25 includes time information for each operation in the past operation of the soft key, and the time required for the operation from the latest operated soft key is the shortest. Are predicted as “soft keys easy for the user to operate”.

  In the first to sixth embodiments, the fixed display area A and the dynamic display area B are input when the numeric keypad button of the remote control terminal 1 is long-pressed or short-pressed. Although the case where the operation signal is input from the numeric keypad input unit 11 is described, the fixed display area A or the dynamic display area B is specified using the cursor enter key, and the operation signal is input from the cursor enter key input unit 12. It is also possible to input, and it is also possible to input the operation signal from the attitude sensor input unit 13 by designating the fixed display area A or the dynamic display area B using the attitude sensor. By using this posture sensor, the user can input an operation signal without moving his / her finger, and the user's operation can be simplified.

  In the first to sixth embodiments described above, the case where the soft key corresponding to the numeric keypad is displayed on the character input screen has been described. The same algorithm can be applied to soft keys corresponding to the hiragana or katakana character table or the alphabetical character table displayed in alphabetical order.

  In the first to sixth embodiments, the case where the digital TV 2 has all functions as a display control device has been described. However, a server or the like in which some functions such as the storage unit 25 are connected via a network. You may make it have.

  Also, by building the functions of the digital TV in the first to sixth embodiments into a computer and incorporating it into a computer, a display control program for displaying a character input screen that causes the computer to function as a display control device is constructed. It is also possible.

It is a whole figure which shows the structure of the character input system using digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 1st Embodiment-6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the remote control terminal used with the character input system using digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 1st Embodiment-6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 1st Embodiment-6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a screen block diagram which shows the structure of the screen for character input displayed on the display screen which digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 1st Embodiment-6th Embodiment of this invention has. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the character string of the conversion candidate acquired with digital TV as the display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display position of the character string of the conversion candidate acquired with digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a screen block diagram which shows an example of the screen for character input displayed on the display screen of digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the character string of the conversion candidate acquired and rearranged by digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display position of the character string of the conversion candidate acquired with digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a screen block diagram which shows an example of the screen for character input displayed on the display screen of digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the position coordinate of each soft key of the screen for character input displayed on the display screen of digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display position of the character string of the conversion candidate acquired with digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a screen block diagram which shows an example of the screen for character input displayed on the display screen of digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display position of the character string of the conversion candidate acquired with digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a screen block diagram which shows an example of the screen for character input displayed on the display screen of digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 5th Embodiment of this invention. The relationship between the priority of the conversion candidate character in the screen for character input displayed on the display screen of the digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 5th Embodiment of this invention, and a display position is shown. It is explanatory drawing. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display position of the character string of the conversion candidate acquired with digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a screen block diagram which shows an example of the screen for character input displayed on the display screen of digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display position of the character string of the conversion candidate acquired with digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a screen block diagram which shows an example of the screen for character input displayed on the display screen of digital TV as a display control apparatus which displays the screen for character input by 6th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1. Remote control terminal 2. Digital TV
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Display screen 11 ... Numeric keypad input part 12 ... Cursor enter key input part 13 ... Attitude sensor input part 14 ... Microcomputer part 15 ... Transmission part 21 ... Remote control operation reception part 22 ... Operation key input reception part 23 ... Character input part 24 ... Mode switching unit 25 ... Storage unit 26 ... Character string conversion candidate extraction unit 27 ... Kanji conversion candidate extraction unit 28 ... Character input screen update unit 310 ... Character input fields 321 to 332 ... Soft keys

Claims (7)

A display control device that displays on a display device a character input screen composed of software keys that are input keys implemented by software,
A storage unit that stores a candidate list in which one or a plurality of characters are associated with conversion candidate characters of the characters;
An operation history information storage unit for storing transition information of soft keys operated in the past as operation history information;
A conversion candidate extraction unit that extracts characters of conversion candidates associated with characters input using the softkeys from characters in the candidate list stored in the storage unit;
A character input screen update unit that updates the character input screen so that the characters of the respective conversion candidates extracted by the conversion candidate extraction unit are displayed in a predetermined area in any of the soft keys;
Equipped with a,
The character input screen update unit rearranges the characters of the respective conversion candidates extracted by the conversion candidate extraction unit in the order of display priority, and then performs the latest input soft key in the rearranged order. Operation history information stored in the operation history information storage unit when there are a plurality of soft keys at the same distance from the latest input operated soft key. The character of the conversion candidate having a high priority is displayed in a predetermined area in the previous soft key in the direction from the most recently operated soft key specified in the above to the most recently operated soft key. The character input screen display control apparatus , wherein the character input screen is updated . A display control device that displays on a display device a character input screen composed of software keys that are input keys implemented by software,
  A storage unit that stores a candidate list in which one or a plurality of characters are associated with conversion candidate characters of the characters;
  An operation history information storage unit for storing transition information of soft keys operated in the past as operation history information;
  A conversion candidate extraction unit that extracts characters of conversion candidates associated with characters input using the softkeys from characters in the candidate list stored in the storage unit;
  A character input screen update unit that updates the character input screen so that the characters of the respective conversion candidates extracted by the conversion candidate extraction unit are displayed in a predetermined area in any of the soft keys;
  With
The character input screen update unit rearranges the characters of the respective conversion candidates extracted by the conversion candidate extraction unit in descending order of display priority, and then stores the operation history information stored in the operation history information storage unit. The character of the conversion candidate having a high priority is displayed in a predetermined area in the previous soft key in the direction from the most recently operated soft key specified in the above to the most recently operated soft key. , Update the character input screen
A display control device for a character input screen.   The character input screen update unit rearranges the characters of the respective conversion candidates extracted by the conversion candidate extraction unit in descending order of display priority, and then stores the operation history information stored in the operation history information storage unit. Display the character of the conversion candidate having a high priority in a predetermined area in the soft key in the direction from the most recently operated soft key to the most recently operated soft key identified by When there are a plurality of soft keys to be displayed, the character input screen is displayed so that characters of conversion candidates with high priority are displayed in a predetermined area in any soft key from a position close to the latest input soft key. Update
The display control apparatus for a character input screen according to claim 2. A display control device that displays on a display device a character input screen composed of software keys that are input keys implemented by software,
A storage unit that stores a candidate list in which one or a plurality of characters are associated with conversion candidate characters of the characters;
An operation history information storage unit for storing transition information of soft keys operated in the past as operation history information;
A conversion candidate extraction unit that extracts characters of conversion candidates associated with characters input using the softkeys from characters in the candidate list stored in the storage unit;
A character input screen update unit that updates the character input screen so that the characters of the respective conversion candidates extracted by the conversion candidate extraction unit are displayed in a predetermined area in any of the soft keys;
With
The operation history information stored in the operation history information storage unit includes required time information between each operation,
The character input screen update unit rearranges the characters of the respective conversion candidates extracted by the conversion candidate extraction unit in the order of display priority, and then performs the latest input soft key in the rearranged order. When there are a plurality of soft keys having the same distance from the latest input operated soft key, the operation history information stored in the operation history information storage unit is displayed. Based on the required time information, the character is selected so that the conversion candidate character having a high priority is displayed in a predetermined area in the soft key that is predicted to have the shortest required operation time from the latest operated soft key. Update input screen
A display control device for a character input screen . A display control device that displays on a display device a character input screen composed of software keys that are input keys implemented by software,
  A storage unit that stores a candidate list in which one or a plurality of characters are associated with conversion candidate characters of the characters;
  An operation history information storage unit for storing transition information of soft keys operated in the past as operation history information;
  A conversion candidate extraction unit that extracts characters of conversion candidates associated with characters input using the softkeys from characters in the candidate list stored in the storage unit;
  A character input screen update unit that updates the character input screen so that the characters of the respective conversion candidates extracted by the conversion candidate extraction unit are displayed in a predetermined area in any of the soft keys;
  With
  The operation history information stored in the operation history information storage unit includes required time information between each operation,
The character input screen update unit rearranges the characters of the respective conversion candidates extracted by the conversion candidate extraction unit in the order of display priority, and then stores the operations stored in the operation history information storage unit. Based on the required time information, the character is selected so that the conversion candidate character having a high priority is displayed in a predetermined area in the soft key that is predicted to have the shortest required operation time from the latest operated soft key. Update input screen
A display control device for a character input screen.   The character input screen update unit rearranges the characters of the respective conversion candidates extracted by the conversion candidate extraction unit in the order of display priority, and then stores the operations stored in the operation history information storage unit. Based on the required time information, display the characters of conversion candidates with high priority in a predetermined area in the soft key that is predicted to have the shortest operation time from the latest operated soft key, and the corresponding soft key When there are a plurality of characters, the character input screen is updated so that the conversion candidate character having a high priority is displayed in a predetermined area in one of the soft keys from a position close to the latest input soft key.
The display control apparatus for a character input screen according to claim 5. A display control program for a character input screen for configuring the display control device for a character input screen according to any one of claims 1 to 6 by a computer.

Images