JP4940728B2 - Character input system and character input method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a character input system and a character input method for inputting characters by switching a plurality of input modes, and more particularly to a character input system and a character input method in which switching of input modes is automated.

  In a computer system or the like, it is common to input characters using a keyboard. Various techniques have been devised in order to improve the efficiency of character input. For example, Patent Document 1 automatically inputs corresponding characters used as a pair when a specific start character is used, and automatically sets the character input mode between the specific start character and the corresponding character to the insertion mode. Thus, a technique for shifting to the next character input process without any trouble after the enclosed character input is disclosed.

JP 7-44545 A

  By the way, since it is practically impossible to provide the keyboard with the number of input switches that cover all the characters, it is possible to assign different character inputs for each input mode for the same operation by switching multiple input modes. Is widely practiced.

  For example, Japanese input includes a half-width alphabet input mode, a full-width alphabet input mode, a half-width katakana input mode, a full-width katakana input mode, a full-width hiragana input mode, and the like.

  Conventionally, however, there is a problem that the user has to switch the input mode, and a technique for reducing the labor of the user has been demanded.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems caused by the prior art and to solve the problems. The character input that automates the switching of the input mode, reduces the labor of the user, and makes the character input more efficient. It is an object to provide a system and a character input method.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a character input system according to the present invention is a character input system that performs character input by switching a plurality of input modes, and an index for detecting the input of a specific index character Character detection means, and input mode automatic change means for switching to an input mode corresponding to the index character when input of the index character is detected are provided.

According to the present invention, when the input of a specific index character is detected, the character input system switches to the input mode corresponding to the index character.

Further, in the present invention, the input mode automatic change means retrospectively searches a sentence in which the index character is being input, and determines the input mode based on a character immediately after the most recent same index character. To do.

According to the present invention, when the input of a specific index character is detected, the character input system searches the index character for the index character being entered and selects it based on the character immediately after the most recent same index character. Switch to input mode.

The character input method according to the present invention is a character input method for performing character input by switching a plurality of input modes, including an index character detection step for detecting input of a specific index character, and input of the index character. And an input mode automatic changing step of switching to an input mode corresponding to the index character when detected.

According to the present invention, when an input of a specific index character is detected, the character input method switches to an input mode corresponding to the index character.

According to the present invention, when the input of a specific index character is detected, the character input system and the character input method are switched to the input mode corresponding to the index character. Therefore, the input mode switching is automated, and the user's effort is reduced. There is an effect that it is possible to obtain a character input system and a character input method that reduce the efficiency of character input.

In addition, according to the present invention, when the input of a specific index character is detected, the character input system searches the index text for the index character retroactively, and based on the character immediately after the most recent same index character. Since the input mode is switched to the selected input mode, it is possible to obtain a character input system that automatically switches the input mode and matches the character format in the sentence.

  Exemplary embodiments of a character input system and a character input method according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a character input system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A character input system 10 shown in the figure is an IME program for Japanese input that operates on a computer system, and includes a key input receiving unit 11, an input mode changing unit 12, a character input unit 13, a conversion unit 14, A character output unit 15, an index character detection unit 16, an input mode automatic change unit 17, a dictionary database 21, and an index character database 22 are included.

  The key input receiving unit 11 is a processing unit that receives an operation input performed by a user operating a keyboard or the like. Moreover, the input mode change part 12 performs the process which switches several input modes.

  Specifically, the input mode is a half-width alphabet input mode, a full-width alphabet input mode, a half-width katakana input mode, a full-width katakana input mode, a full-width hiragana input mode, for example, a half-width alphabet input mode when the user operates the same key. "A (half-width)", "a" in full-width alphabet input mode, "a" (half-width) in half-width katakana input mode, "a" in full-width katakana input mode, "a" in full-width hiragana input mode Treat as a thing.

  The switching of the input mode is performed based on a user's designation, and is also performed based on an instruction from the input mode automatic changing unit 17 in the present embodiment.

  The character input unit 13 performs a process of replacing the operation input from the user with the character input in accordance with the input mode set by the input mode changing unit 12.

  For example, when the user operates the conversion key, the conversion unit 14 converts the input character or character string with reference to the dictionary database 21 and outputs it as a conversion candidate. Then, for example, when the user operates the confirmation key, the character (or character string) displayed as the conversion candidate at that time is confirmed.

  The character output unit 15 performs a process of outputting the input characters and character strings, conversion candidates, and characters (or character strings) determined by the conversion to the outside. Specifically, for example, it is generally output to another application program such as a document creation program, and the output from the character input system 10 is processed as character input to the output destination program.

  The index character detection unit 16 determines whether the confirmed character or the last character of the confirmed character string is an index character registered in advance, and if it is an index character, the input mode automatic changing unit 17 Notify the detected indicator character.

  The index character is a character that should use a specific input mode when inputting the character immediately after that, or is likely to use a specific input mode, and is registered in the index character database 22.

  A specific example of the index character database 22 is shown in FIG. In the figure, [(inked), (, [, [, ", <,", ... are registered as index characters, but any character or character string must be registered as the index character. Is possible.

  When an input of an index character is detected, the input mode automatic change unit 17 selects an input mode corresponding to the index character, and instructs the input mode change unit 12 to switch to the input mode.

  Thus, by detecting the input of a specific character and changing the input mode, it is possible to automate the switching of the input mode that occurs fixedly after the input of the character, thereby reducing the user's labor. In addition, it is possible to prevent inconsistency in the character string format when the user forgets to switch the input mode, and to create a document in a unified format.

  Next, the processing operation of the character input system 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The processing operation shown in the figure is repeatedly executed as a main routine of the character input system 10.

  First, the character input system 10 accepts key input (step S101). If the input key is a conversion key (step S102, Yes), the character or character string input so far is converted to be a conversion candidate. Display (step S110), end the process, and wait for the next key input.

  On the other hand, if the input key is not a conversion key (step S102, No), it is next determined whether or not the input key is a confirmation key (step S103). As a result, if it is not a confirmation key (step S103, No), it is accepted as a normal character input (character input corresponding to the input mode), the process is terminated, and the next key input is awaited.

  If the input key is a confirmation key (step S103, Yes), the character input system 10 will confirm the character (or character string) currently displayed as a conversion candidate (step S104). Then, the final character of the confirmed character string is extracted (step S105), and the index character database 22 is searched using the extracted character as a key (step S106).

  As a result, if the extracted character does not exist in the index character database 22, that is, if the extracted character is not the index character (No in step S107), the processing is terminated as it is, and the next key input is awaited.

  On the other hand, when the extracted character exists in the index character database 22, that is, when the extracted character is the index character (Yes in step S107), the input mode automatic change unit 17 performs the input mode automatic change process. (Step S108) After that, the process is terminated and the next key input is waited.

  Next, a specific example of the input mode automatic change process will be described. First, the input mode automatic change process based on the in-document search will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the input mode automatic change process shown in the figure, the input mode automatic change unit 17 searches the sentence currently being input by using the extracted index character as a key and searches for the nearest same index character (step S201).

  As a result, if the same index character does not exist in the document (No in step S202), the input mode automatic change process is terminated as it is, and if the same index character exists (step S202, Yes), it corresponds. The character immediately after the most recent index character is extracted as the input mode determination character (step S203).

  If the input mode determination character is an alphabetic character (step S204, Yes), it is next determined whether or not the input mode determination character is a single-byte character (step S205). As a result, if the input mode determination character is a single-byte character (step S205, Yes), the input mode is changed to a single-byte alphabetic character (step S206), the input mode automatic change process is terminated, and the input mode determination character is a double-byte character. (Step S205, No), the input mode is changed to double-byte English characters (Step S207), and the input mode automatic change processing is terminated.

  On the other hand, when the input mode determination character is not an alphabetic character (step S204, No), the input mode automatic changing unit 17 determines whether or not the input mode determination character is katakana (step S208).

  If the input mode determination character is katakana (step S208, Yes), it is next determined whether or not the input mode determination character is single-byte (step S209). As a result, if the input mode determination character is a single-byte character (step S209, Yes), the input mode is changed to a single-byte katakana (step S210), the input mode automatic change process is terminated, and the input mode determination character is a double-byte character. (Step S209, No), the input mode is changed to full-width katakana (Step S211), and the input mode automatic change process is terminated.

  If the input mode determination character is not katakana (step S208, No), the input mode automatic changing unit 17 changes the input mode to full-width hiragana (step S212) and ends the input mode automatic change process.

  In this way, the same index character is searched by in-document search, and the input mode is changed so that the character input in the same format as the character input immediately after the same index character can be performed. Can support the text input.

  In this example, the input mode is changed according to the input after the most recent index character, but the input mode is selected depending on the frequency of the input mode used after the same index character, for example. You may make it do. Furthermore, the input mode used in the past input history or similar documents may be selected without being limited to the same document.

  As another input mode automatic change process, as shown in FIG. 5, an input mode database for storing the correspondence between the index character and the input mode may be provided. The processing operation of the input mode automatic change processing using the input mode database is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  In the input mode automatic change process using the input mode database, the input mode automatic change unit 17 first searches the input mode database using the detected index character as a key (step S301), and selects the input mode registered in the input mode database. Then, the input mode is changed (step S302).

  Furthermore, the input database may be automatically updated. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of the input mode automatic change processing that involves updating the character input database.

  In the input mode automatic change process shown in the figure, the input mode automatic change unit 17 first searches the input mode database using the detected index character as a key (step S401). As a result, if the input mode corresponding to the detected index character is registered (step S402, Yes), the input mode registered in the input mode database is selected and the input mode is changed (step S403). Then, the input mode automatic change process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the detected index character is not registered (No in step S402), the input mode used by the user for the input immediately after the index character is registered in the input mode database (step S404), and the input mode automatic change processing is performed. Exit.

  As described above, by using the input mode database, it is possible to reliably perform character input after the index character in an appropriate input mode. The input mode database may be shared with the index character database 22 or may be provided independently.

  As described above, in the character input system according to the present embodiment, a specific input mode should be used when inputting the next character, or a character that is highly likely to use the specific input mode is used as an index character. When the index character detection unit 16 detects the input of the index character, the mode is automatically switched to the input mode corresponding to the input index character. It is possible to automate the switching of the input mode to be generated, reduce the user's labor, and improve the character input.

(Supplementary note 1) A character input system for inputting characters by switching a plurality of input modes,
Index character detection means for detecting the input of a specific index character;
An input mode automatic change means for switching to an input mode corresponding to the index character when an input of the index character is detected;
A character input system comprising:

(Additional remark 2) The said input mode automatic change means searches the sentence which is inputting the said index character retroactively, and determines the said input mode based on the character immediately after the nearest same index character, The additional note characterized by the above-mentioned. The character input system according to 1.

(Additional remark 3) It is further provided with the input mode memory | storage means to memorize | store the correspondence of the said index character and the said input mode, The said input mode automatic change means switches to the input mode corresponding to the detected index character, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. The character input system according to appendix 1.

(Supplementary Note 4) When the input mode corresponding to the detected index character is not registered in the input mode storage unit, the input mode automatic changing unit inputs the input mode used immediately after the index character. The character input system according to appendix 3, wherein the character input system is registered in a mode storage means.

(Additional remark 5) It further has an indicator character storage means for storing a plurality of indicator characters, and the indicator character detecting means is configured to search for the indicator character by searching the indicator character storage means using a final character of a character string determined by a user as a key. The character input system according to any one of appendices 1 to 4, wherein the input is detected.

(Supplementary Note 6) A character input method for inputting characters by switching a plurality of input modes,
An index character detection process for detecting an input of a specific index character;
When the input of the index character is detected, an input mode automatic change step for switching to the input mode corresponding to the index character;
The character input method characterized by including.

(Supplementary note 7) A character input program for inputting characters by switching a plurality of input modes,
An indicator character detection step for detecting an input of a specific indicator character;
An input mode automatic change step for switching to an input mode corresponding to the index character when an input of the index character is detected;
A character input program for causing a computer to execute.

  As described above, the character input system and the character input method according to the present invention are useful for improving the efficiency of character input, and are particularly suitable for automating the switching of input modes.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the schematic structure of the character input system which is an Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the index character database shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the processing operation of the character input system shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the input mode automatic change process by the search in a document. It is explanatory drawing explaining an input mode database. It is a flowchart explaining the input mode automatic change process using an input mode database. It is a flowchart explaining the input mode automatic change process accompanied with the update of an input mode database.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Character input system 11 Key input reception part 12 Input mode change part 13 Character input part 14 Conversion part 15 Character output part 16 Index character detection part 17 Input mode automatic change part 21 Dictionary database 22 Index character database

Claims (3)

A character input system for inputting characters by switching a plurality of input modes,
Index character detection means for detecting an input of an index character that is an enclosing character;
When the input of the index character is detected, the index character is searched retrospectively and the frequency of the input mode used immediately after the same index character, or immediately after the same index character immediately before Based on the input mode used for the input mode, input mode automatic change means for switching the input mode immediately after the indicator character ,
A character input system comprising:   The character input system according to claim 1, wherein the input mode automatic changing unit switches to the same input mode as a character string surrounded by the latest same index character in the same sentence. A character input method for inputting characters by switching a plurality of input modes,
An indicator character detection step for detecting an input of an indicator character that is a surrounding character;
When the input of the index character is detected, the index character is searched retrospectively and the frequency of the input mode used immediately after the same index character, or immediately after the same index character immediately before Based on the input mode used for the input mode, the input mode automatic change step for switching the input mode immediately after the indicator character ,
The character input method characterized by including.

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