JP5507646B2 - Operation key group layout method and operation key group layout device in portable terminal device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation key group layout method and an operation key group layout device in a mobile terminal device, and more particularly to an operation key group layout method and an operation key group layout device in a mobile terminal device that uses a touch panel when inputting information. is there.

  In recent years, not only in personal computers but also in mobile terminal devices such as mobile phones, opportunities to exchange information by manually inputting various information such as e-mails are increasing rapidly.

  In a portable terminal device, unlike a desktop personal computer, it is necessary to reduce the size of the terminal body in order to carry the portable terminal device. Along with this, it is necessary to balance the conflicting demands of downsizing the key input system and ensuring a certain level of operability. Therefore, in this type of portable terminal device, various techniques for improving operability at the time of key input are desired.

  As a technique for improving the operability of key input in a conventional mobile terminal device, for example, when the user changes the way of viewing the display screen, that is, when the operation is performed by changing the orientation of the mobile terminal device, the key operation system key arrangement Or what changed the setting of the display of a key operation part so that the stress at the time of a user's key operation can be reduced is proposed (for example, refer to patent documents 1 and 2).

  According to the techniques described in these patent documents, even when the operation is performed by changing the orientation of the mobile terminal device, the operation key is rotated in accordance with the change of the orientation of the mobile terminal device. The operation keys can always be maintained in a certain direction, so the user does not need to learn the key layout according to the orientation of the mobile terminal device, and even when operating the mobile terminal device with the right hand, hold it with the left hand. In this case, a certain level of operability can be maintained by inverting the operation key in accordance with each case.

JP 2002-51124 A JP 2005-12493 A

  However, the technique according to the above-mentioned patent document essentially ensures the visibility of the display screen on which information is displayed in various directions, or whether the terminal body is held, that is, whether the terminal body is operated with the right hand. This is a technique for maintaining the original operability even when the left hand is operated or not, and does not improve the operability of the key input itself during normal use.

  In these conventional portable terminal devices, every user performs an operation according to the same key configuration during normal use, and eventually, each user side has to operate according to the portable terminal device. The movable range of the finger depending on the size of the user's hand, the position where the terminal device is held, and the movable range of the finger depending on whether the operating hand is the right hand or the left hand are not considered. For this reason, there was a problem that it might be difficult for some users to use the terminal device.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention made in view of such a point is that the layout of the operation key group displayed on the touch panel of the mobile terminal device can be set according to the user, and the usability of the operation key group can be improved. To provide a layout method and an operation key group layout device.

The invention of the operation key group layout method in the portable terminal device according to claim 1 that achieves the above object is the operation key in the portable terminal device in which the operation key group is displayed on the display unit and input operation is performed via the touch panel. A group layout method,
The display position and range of the operation key group displayed on the display unit are determined based on a user operation for drawing a diagram on the touch panel, and the operation key group is displayed on the display unit based on the determined display position and range. It is characterized by doing.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the operation key group layout method in the portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the display position and range of the operation key group is a drawing position of a figure continuously drawn on the touch panel by the user. A display position and a region surrounded by the figure are determined as a display range.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the operation key group layout method in the portable terminal device according to the first or second aspect, after the operation key group is displayed on the display unit, one point of the operation key group is a starting point. According to continuous input, the display position of the operation key group is adjusted by moving the display position of the operation key group.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the operation key group layout method in the portable terminal device according to the third aspect, the display position of the operation key group according to continuous input starting from one point of the operation key group When the key is moved, at least a part of the operation key group is prohibited from being out of the display range of the display unit.

Furthermore, the invention according to claim 5 that achieves the above object is an operation key group layout device in a portable terminal device.
An operation key group layout device in a portable terminal device that displays an operation key group on a display unit and performs an input operation via a touch panel,
Storage means for storing a plurality of patterns of the layout of the operation key group;
Determining means for determining a display position and a range of an operation key group displayed on the display unit based on an input operation on the touch panel;
Selection means for selecting the operation key group from the storage means based on the display position and range determined by the determination means;
Control means for controlling to display the operation key group selected by the selection means on the display position and range of the display unit determined by the determination means;
It is characterized by comprising.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the operation key group layout device in the portable terminal device according to claim 5, wherein the storage means stores a plurality of patterns of operation key groups for right hand operation and left hand operation, respectively, and the selection means. Is characterized in that either one of the right-hand operation key group and the left-hand operation key group is selected from the storage unit according to the display position and range of the display unit determined by the determination unit. It is.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the operation key group layout device in the portable terminal device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the control means starts from one point of the operation key group displayed on the display unit. Control is performed so that the display position of the operation key group is moved in response to continuous input.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the operation key group layout device in the portable terminal device according to the seventh aspect, the control means performs the operation according to continuous input starting from one point of the operation key group. When moving the display position of the key group, the movement of the display position of the operation key group is controlled so that at least a part of the operation key group is out of the display range of the display unit. It is a feature.

  According to the present invention, in the mobile terminal device in which the operation key group is displayed on the display unit and the input operation is performed via the touch panel, the terminal user sets the layout of the operation key group with a finger of a hand, etc. The movable range of the finger is determined by drawing a simple diagram on the touch panel, and based on this, the layout of the operation key group considering the movable range of the user's finger is selected and displayed on the touch panel. The Therefore, even when users of various hand sizes use this mobile terminal, the layout of the operation key group optimized according to the user is set, and the user selects the operation key group during normal use of the mobile terminal. The operability during the operation can be greatly improved.

It is a figure which shows the outline of the portable terminal device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the input part of the portable terminal device shown in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the control circuit of the portable terminal device shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the outline of the operation key group layout method in the portable terminal device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a key layout by 1st Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining details of layout processing shown in FIG. 5. It is a figure for demonstrating the layout process by 1st Embodiment. Similarly, it is a figure for demonstrating a layout process. It is a figure which shows the example of a layout of the operation key group which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Similarly, it is a figure which shows the example of a layout of the operation key group which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the layout process by 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a layout of the operation key group which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. Similarly, it is a figure which shows the example of a layout of the operation key group which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the movement of the layout by 4th Embodiment.

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

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a mobile phone as a mobile terminal device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The portable terminal device 1 includes a rectangular input unit 2 in which a user performs an input operation with a finger or the like, and a monitor unit 3 that displays input information and the like. As shown in a schematic cross-sectional view in FIG. 2, the input unit 2 includes a display 4 that is a display unit that displays a group of operation keys, and a touch panel 5 that has a large number of contacts arranged in a matrix. The touch panel 5 is adapted to accept key operation inputs in conjunction with the display 4. Therefore, for example, when the user tries to touch the “1” portion of the number of the operation key displayed on the display 4 with his / her finger, the display of “1” on the display 4 is actually in front of the display 4. The touch panel 5 corresponding to the part is touched, and the touch panel 5 outputs a signal corresponding to the part.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control circuit related to the mobile terminal device 1 according to the present embodiment.

  The mobile terminal device 1 includes the display 4 and the touch panel 5, the layout display means 6 for displaying the layout (key layout) of the operation key group on the display 4, and the layout of the operation key group when setting the layout of the operation key group. A range determining unit 7 for determining a possible range, a position determining unit 8 for determining a position, and a memory 9 storing a plurality of input patterns of the touch panel 5 corresponding to the layout of the operation key group and the layout of the operation key group; A selection means 10 for selecting data of a pattern corresponding to the data determined by the range determination means 7 and the position determination means 8 from the memory 9, and a control means 11 for controlling the whole.

  The outline of the operation key group layout method according to this embodiment will be described below.

  When the user is using the mobile terminal device 1 with one hand, it is difficult to perform key operations in the layout of the operation key group displayed by the initial setting, or in the layout display of the currently used operation key group. When the user feels that the key operation is difficult, as shown in FIG. 4, the user uses the finger normally used for the key operation on the touch panel 5 to display a simple diagram 12 (approximately circular or polygonal). (Hereinafter referred to as a circular diagram) is drawn in a single stroke. At this time, it is easy to confirm the actual diagram 12 input by the user by drawing the locus in dots in real time at the location of the corresponding display 4 with respect to the diagram 12 drawn on the touch panel 5. You can also

  In a normal key operation, a finger touching the touch panel only touches a point for a moment, so that it can be distinguished from a continuous input such as an operation of drawing a circular diagram 12 intentionally. The mobile terminal device 1 detects this continuous input and switches to the operation key group layout setting mode.

  Note that a switching means (such as operation keys) for switching to the operation key group layout setting mode may be provided separately, and the display position and range input may be received after switching to the operation key group layout setting mode by this switching means.

  The position determining means 8 determines the display position of the operation key group based on the information of the circular diagram 12 drawn by the user, and the range determining means 7 determines the display range of the operation key group. At this time, the position determining means 8 determines whether the user's input is a right-hand operation or a left-hand operation from the position where the user starts writing the circular diagram 12, the direction from the start point to the end point of the locus to be drawn, and the like. Further, the range determining means 7 determines the movable range 13 within which the finger can easily reach the inside of the circular diagram 12 drawn by the user with the finger, and determines the display range of the operation key group based on this.

  In addition, when the user determines that the layout of the operation key group will be too small in the previously drawn circular diagram 12, it is possible to continuously draw a circular diagram 12 having a larger area. is there. For this purpose, the continuous operation starts when the finger first touches the touch panel 5, and the continuous input is ended and the input operation is completed with the finger drawing the circular diagram 12 moving away from the touch panel as a trigger. It is desirable to consider and send corresponding signals to the decision means 7 and 8. When the user performs a conscious operation of drawing a circular diagram 12, the portable terminal device 1 is switched to the operation key group layout setting mode. It is possible to prevent malfunction such as activation of the range determining means 7 or the position determining means 8 with a slight touch.

  If the movable range 13 determined by the range determining means 7 is too small, and it is determined that effective key operation cannot be performed even if the corresponding operation key group layout is displayed, the operation key group layout setting mode is used. The standard key layout used until just before the key layout or the key layout at the time of initial setting is selected and displayed on the display 4.

  In this way, when the drawn circular diagram 12 is too small, a warning sound is sounded and the user is prompted to re-input, or the previous key layout (or the initial setting) It is also possible to notify that the key layout is selected. When the mobile terminal device 1 is used while being gripped with only one hand, it is assumed that the finger used for key operation by the user during normal operation is mostly the thumb. For this reason, when the layout of the operation key group is set too small, a key layout that is easy to be erroneously input to the user can be obtained by issuing a warning as described above or using a preset key layout. Providing can be prevented.

  Further, when no key input is performed for a long time, the sleep mode (energy saving mode) in which the display 4 is not driven can be set in order to prevent battery consumption. In this case, the sleep mode can be canceled by drawing a diagram on the touch panel 5 by a one-stroke writing operation with a finger or the like, and this locus can be displayed on the display 4. Of course, when a finger touches a point on the touch panel 5 for a moment, it is possible to shift to a normal key operation mode.

  With reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the operation key group layout method of the portable terminal device 1 concerning this Embodiment is demonstrated in detail.

  First, in step S101, it is detected that the user touches the touch panel 5 with a finger or the like. If the user is in the sleep mode at that time, the sleep mode (energy saving mode) is canceled in step S102.

  Next, in step S103, the user determines whether continuous input is performed by drawing a circular diagram 12 in a single stroke on the surface of the touch panel 5 with a finger or the like. If not, that is, if it is determined that the user desires normal operation, the process proceeds to step S104. Here, it is determined whether or not the setting for displaying the key layout used immediately before is set. If it is not set to use the immediately preceding key layout, the process proceeds to step S105, the default key layout stored in the memory 9 is displayed on the display 4, and the process proceeds to step S115. In this case, the control means 11 controls the selection means 10 to take out the data of the default key layout from the memory 9.

  If it is set in step S104 to use the key layout that was used immediately before, the key layout that was used immediately before is displayed on the display 4 in step S106, and the process proceeds to step S115.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S103 that continuous input has been made on the surface of the touch panel 5, it is determined that the user wants to change the layout of the operation key group, and the layout of the operation key group is determined in step S107. Switch to operation key group layout setting mode for setting.

  Next, in step S108, the locus of the position touched by the finger is displayed in dots on the display 4 in order to indicate that the input is performed by touching the touch panel 5 with the finger of the user.

  Thereafter, in step S109, it is determined whether or not the continuous input has been completed by the user's finger or the like being removed from the touch panel 5. If the continuous input has not been completed, the locus is continuously displayed on the display 4 in step 108. . As a result, the user can confirm the locus drawn by the user, can see the input position in real time, and can continue to draw a larger diagram if he feels that the drawn diagram is too small. .

  If it is determined in step S109 that the user has lifted a finger or the like from the touch panel 5, that is, if it is determined that the continuous input of the circular diagram 12 has been completed, the process proceeds to step S110.

  In step S110, it is determined whether or not the circular diagram 12 is drawn a plurality of times. If the diagram is drawn a plurality of times, a large trajectory shape is selected in step S111, and the process proceeds to step S112. Transition.

  On the other hand, if a plurality of circular diagrams 12 do not exist in step S110, the currently drawn diagram is selected and the process proceeds to step S112.

  In step S112, it is determined whether or not a preset minimum key layout can be set at a position and range based on the selected diagram. If the minimum key layout cannot be set, or if an appropriate key layout based on the selected diagram cannot be found, the process proceeds to step S113 to warn the user and returns to the continuous input in step S103. By doing so, it is possible to prevent selection of a key layout that is too small and impractical.

  If it is determined in step S112 that the key layout can be displayed at the position and range based on the diagram, the process proceeds to the key layout process in step S200. The key layout process in step S200 will be described later.

  In step S114, the key layout based on the information subjected to the key layout processing is read from the memory 9 by the control means 11, displayed at the designated position and range of the display 4, and the process proceeds to step S115.

  In step S115, it is determined whether or not a user's finger or the like has touched the touch panel 5. If it is determined that the touch has been made, key input processing is performed in step S116. This assumes a mode in which a normal key operation is performed, that is, a key operation when the operation key group layout setting mode is not set.

  When the user touches the touch panel 5 at a location corresponding to the position of each key displayed on the display 4 with a finger or the like, the user recognizes that the key is pressed, emits a confirmation sound, and performs key input processing. Do. After performing the key input process in step S116, the process returns to step S115 and waits for the next key input.

  If it is determined in step S115 that there is no key input from the touch panel 5, the process proceeds to step S117, and the time from the last key input is measured and is within the preset time. Return to step S115 to wait for the next key input. On the other hand, if there is no key input even after a preset time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S118, and the display 4 is switched to the sleep mode.

  6A and 6B are diagrams showing an example of key layout by the operation key group layout method according to the present embodiment.

  When the user draws, for example, a circular diagram 12 on the touch panel 5, the inside of this locus is determined as the movable range 13 in which the finger can be moved without difficulty. At this time, the range is determined by the range determining means 7 reading this locus. A key layout based on the range thus determined is read from the memory 9 by the selection means 10, and this key layout is displayed on the display 4 by the layout display means 6. These controls are performed by the control means 11, and a large number of key layouts corresponding to various cases are stored in the memory 9 in advance.

  As a key layout pattern stored in the memory 9, for example, a pattern shown in FIG. 6A that allows the entire key layout to fit inside a circular diagram 12 drawn by the user, Assuming that the drawn circle diagram line 12 is included in the movable range 13 of the finger, the entire key is arranged so that the locus passes around the center of each of the four keys arranged at the four corners of the entire key layout. The pattern shown in FIG. 6B to be laid out can be considered.

  In addition, some keys, for example, keys such as “telephone”, “manner” and “off”, are regarded as infrequently used keys when inputting e-mail on the mobile terminal device. With reference to four keys (for example, “1”, “3”, “#”, and “*” in this case) arranged in the four corners of the entire key layout with these keys excluded, FIG. It is also possible to set a key layout pattern configuration as shown in FIG.

  Next, the key layout process of step S200 described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In this example, it is assumed that a large number of key layout patterns having a fixed aspect ratio are stored in the memory 9.

  First, in step S201, the center of gravity of the drawn figure is obtained from the circular diagram 12 drawn on the touch panel 5. At this time, if the drawn figure is not a closed figure, the process of connecting the start point and the end point can be performed to approximate the circle.

  Next, in step S202, as shown in FIG. 8, the distance in the angle α direction is calculated from the center of gravity. The angle α is a predetermined angle from the x axis when the center of gravity of the figure is the origin and the x axis and the y axis perpendicular to each side of the rectangular input unit 2 are taken. For example, α = 45 °. Assuming that the center of gravity obtained in step S201 is O, the four intersections of the two straight lines drawn in the direction of the angle ± α and the trace figure are a, b, c, and d, respectively, and line segments Oa, Ob, Oc, and Od. Find the length of.

  In step S203, the line segment Oa, Ob, Oc, and Od having the shortest length is selected, and the line A is selected, and the process proceeds to step S204. Here, for example, it is assumed that the line segment Oa is the shortest, that is, Oa = A.

  In step S204, a reference key layout that falls within the locus is selected from the memory 9. Here, as shown in FIG. 9, since the line segment Oa is the shortest (Oa = A), the key layout is selected so that the circular diagram 12 drawn by the user satisfies A ≧ A ′ passing through the point P1. To do. This key layout is included in the locus of the circular diagram 12 drawn by the user's finger.

  Next, in step S205, when the user desires a larger key layout, that is, a key layout having a larger key interval, it is determined whether or not a key layout that is slightly enlarged can be selected. For example, in a key layout such that A≈B ′, the diagram drawn by the user passes P2, and the key layout becomes larger than the key layout that satisfies A ≧ A ′. Similarly, in a key layout in which A≈C ′, a diagram drawn by the user passes P3, and the configuration is larger than the key layout in which A≈B ′.

  In step S205, if the circular diagram 12 is drawn with the maximum size within the range of the key display area of the display 4, the key layout included in the locus of the diagram (A ≧ A ′) Therefore, the key layout is read by referring to the memory 9 in step S207 and displayed on the display 4.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S205 that a larger key layout can be displayed than when A≈A ′, the process proceeds to step S206.

  In step S <b> 206, it is determined whether or not the size of the key layout desired by the user for the diagram to be drawn is set in advance. That is, whether the user wants a key layout that is entirely contained in the drawn diagram, or the center of each of the four corner keys (for example, “phone”, “off”, “#”, and “*” keys). It is determined whether the user has preset whether the user wants a key layout that is almost on the line of the diagram, or a key layout that circumscribes the four corner keys.

  If the user setting has been made for the desired key layout in step S206, the corresponding key layout is referenced in the memory in step S207 and displayed on the display 4. On the other hand, if the user setting has not been made, the user is prompted to input the reference position in step S214, and the corresponding key layout is referenced from the memory 9 and displayed on the display 4 in step S207.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the main part of the operation key group layout method of the portable terminal device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present embodiment is different from the key layout method shown in FIG. 5 of the first embodiment in the key layout processing in step S200.

  As shown in FIG. 4, normally, when the portable terminal device 1 is grasped with the right hand and a circular diagram 12 is drawn on the touch panel 5 with the thumb, the starting point of the locus is located on the left side or the upper left side. Furthermore, the trajectory is often drawn in a clockwise direction. In addition, the center position of the drawn locus is located slightly to the left or upper left than the center position of the touch panel 5. Based on these three pieces of information (the position of the starting point of the locus, the direction of the locus, and the center position of the locus), it is estimated whether the finger operated by the user when drawing the circular diagram 12 is the right hand or the left hand. be able to.

  Here, considering the case where the user operates the keys of the mobile terminal device 1 with the right hand, in the normal key layout, the keys located near the base of the thumb (that is, “#”, “9” in the case of the right hand operation). ”And“ 0 ”keys, etc.) are difficult to operate because they are forced to operate with their thumbs folded considerably. On the other hand, a key positioned away from the base of the thumb can be operated with natural finger movement even if it is shifted slightly further away.

  Therefore, when the position determining means 8 of the mobile terminal device 1 determines that the user is operating the terminal with the right hand, the entire key layout is slightly shifted to the upper left as shown in FIG. By doing so, the operability of the key can be significantly improved. The shift distance can be adjusted by the user. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the entire key layout to the upper left without shifting the position of the upper left key at all.

  On the contrary, when the circular diagram 12 is drawn on the touch panel 5 with the left hand while holding the mobile terminal device 1 with the thumb, the starting point of the locus is usually located on the right side or the upper right side. Furthermore, the trajectory is often drawn in a counterclockwise direction. In addition, the center position of the drawn locus is located slightly to the right or above the center of the touch panel 5. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10B, the same effect as in the right-hand operation can be obtained by shifting the entire key layout to the upper right or reducing it to the upper right.

  In addition, when the center position of the locus of the drawn circular diagram 12 is not so different from the center position or the center line of the touch panel 5, the user holds the mobile terminal body 1 with one hand and the finger of the other hand In this case, it is possible to display a large key layout on the display 4 that is not biased right and left.

  Further, when a key layout preset by the user is stored in the memory 9 and a continuous input such as a vertical line or a horizontal line is made on the touch panel 5 even when the circular diagram 12 is drawn, for example. The key layout corresponding to the user can be set by displaying on the display 4 a key layout corresponding to a range determined based on the continuously input lines.

(Third embodiment)
Next, the main part of the operation key group layout method of the portable terminal device according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, in the key layout processing in step S200, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the size of each key of the operation key group is the same. Then, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, it is possible to select a key layout in which the size of each key of the operation key group is different. That is, after the position determining means 8 determines whether the hand to operate the key is the right hand or the left hand, the area of each key near the base of the thumb is increased, and as the distance from the bid price portion of the thumb increases, It is also possible to configure a key layout that reduces the area.

  Further, each key near the base of the thumb is enlarged, and a configuration in which the keys return to the original key layout size as they move away from the base of the thumb can be selected. The key enlargement / reduction ratio may be configured so that the user can freely set it.

  Hereinafter, the key layout processing in step 200 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Steps S201 to S204 are the same as those in FIG.

  In step S208, it is determined whether the user's hand operating the mobile terminal device 1 is the right hand. Here, regarding the circular diagram 12 drawn on the touch panel 5 by the user's finger, (1) the locus is drawn clockwise, and (2) the starting position of the locus is located on the left or upper left. (3) At least one of the three items in which the center (or center of gravity) position of the locus is located to the left of the center of the touch panel 5 in the horizontal direction (the direction of the keys “1” to “3”). When it corresponds, it judges that it is a right-hand operation and progresses to step S212. In some cases, it is possible to determine that the right-handed operation is performed using any combination of the above three conditions as a requirement.

  If it is determined in step S208 that the operation is not a right hand operation, the process proceeds to step S209, where it is determined whether the operation is a left hand operation.

  Here, a circular diagram 12 drawn on the touch panel 5 shows (1) the locus is drawn counterclockwise, (2) the start position of the locus is located on the right or upper right, (3 ) When the center (or center of gravity) of the locus is located to the right of the center of the touch panel 5 in the horizontal direction (the direction of keys “1” to “3”), and at least one of the above three items is applicable In step S211, it is determined that the user has performed left-hand input. In some cases, it is possible to determine that the left-hand operation is an arbitrary combination of the above three conditions.

  If it cannot be determined in step S209 that the user has performed a left-hand operation, the process proceeds to step S210, and the user is directly asked whether the user has performed a right-hand operation, thereby determining whether the operated hand is the right hand or the left hand. You can do that.

  When the determination of the hand performing the key operation is completed, the process proceeds to step S213, and whether or not the user has been set, that is, what size of the key layout is desired for the circular diagram 12 drawn by the user. It is determined whether it is set in advance. In this user setting, for example, in the case of a right-hand operation, (1) Should the entire position of the key layout be shifted? (FIG. 10 (A)), (2) Is the position of the “telephone” key fixed and should the whole be reduced so that “#” shifts? (3) Are some keys enlarged and some keys reduced? (FIG. 11A), etc., and a specific key layout for the item can be set.

  Thereafter, the key layout corresponding to the user setting is read from the memory 9 in step S207. If the user setting in step S213 has not been made, the user setting is requested from the user in step S214.

  If the user setting is a setting related to key enlargement, the corresponding key layout is referred to from the memory 9 and the key layout is displayed on the display 4. However, in the user setting, when the entire key layout is shifted, whether or not the shift is within the display range of the display 4 is determined in step S216 as to whether or not there is an area on the display 4 where the entire key layout is moved. Confirm by judging whether.

  If the shift is within the range, the corresponding key layout is displayed on the display 4 with reference to the memory 9, and if the shift is not within the range, a warning is given to the user in step S217. The key layout that falls within the display range of the display 4 is referred to from the memory 9, and this key layout is displayed on the display 4. In this case, for example, in the case of a right-hand operation, if there is no area for shifting the key layout in the upper right, the position of the “telephone” key is fixed, and the key layout in which the whole is reduced so that “#” is shifted is stored in memory. The layout is displayed with reference to 9.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, the main part of the operation key group layout method of the form terminal device 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, the user draws a circular diagram 12 on the touch panel 5 so that the layout of the operation key group corresponding to the movable range of the user's finger is displayed on the display 4. However, there may be a case where the position of the entire layout of the operation key group may be slightly adjusted thereafter depending on the use of the function to be used, the user's preference, or when the user changes the mobile terminal device 1. is assumed. In this case, if it is desired to change the configuration including the size of the entire layout of the operation key group, the operation key group layout method described in the first to third embodiments is re-executed from the beginning, so that a desired layout can be obtained. Can be reconfigured. However, when it is desired to change only the position without changing the size of the layout of the operation key group, the circular line diagram 12 having the same size at different locations can be obtained by the method described in the first to third embodiments. The operation is relatively difficult.

  In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to easily adjust only the position without changing the size of the layout once formed. Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 13A shows the layout of the operation key group displayed on the display 4 in accordance with the movable range of the user's finger by the operation key group layout method described in the first embodiment. For convenience of explanation, the ten key characters and the like to be displayed in the key layout shown in the figure are omitted except for a part. Here, a case where it is desired to move the entire layout display to the right will be described.

  In this case, a finger touches an arbitrary point on the display 4 on which the key layout is displayed, for example, the part of the touch panel 5 corresponding to the key “5”, and the finger is continuously traced to the right side while being touched. . As described above, the continuous input for performing the tracing operation on the touch panel 5 can be clearly distinguished from the operation for touching the position of an arbitrary point for a moment like a normal button operation. When the user traces the “5” key to the right side, a signal corresponding to the key is transferred from the touch panel 5 to the control unit 11 and, as shown in FIG. 13B, the display 4 according to the amount of movement of the traced point. The control means 11 controls the layout display means 6 so that the entire key layout displayed on the right side moves to the right without changing the size.

  If the user continues to move the key layout to the right by tracing with his / her finger and the right end of the entire key layout has moved to the right end of the displayable area of the display 4, the key layout display is moved further to the right. The entire layout cannot be displayed on the display 4. Therefore, in this case, even if the user further traces his / her finger to the right, the control means 11 controls the layout display means 6 so that the key layout display on the display 4 is not moved any further.

   Although the case where the key layout is moved to the right side has been described above, the entire key layout can be moved to the left side by performing the same processing by tracing the touch panel 5 to the left side. The entire key layout can be moved in the vertical direction by the same processing as the horizontal movement as described above.

  14A and 14B show, for example, an operation when the entire operation key group layout is moved in the lower right direction and a change in display on the display 4 due to the operation.

  As shown in FIG. 14A, for example, when the key layout center “5” is held down and the entire key layout is moved to the lower right by tracing the touch panel 5 in the lower right direction. explain. In FIG. 14A, the space between the right end of the entire key layout before movement and the right end of the displayable range of the display 4 and the space between the lower end of the entire key layout and the lower end of the displayable range of the display 4. Compared with, the space below the key layout is wider. Therefore, for example, when the user moves the key layout displayed on the display 4 by tracing his / her finger on the touch panel 5 in the direction of an angle of 45 ° at the lower right, the entire key layout is more than reaching the lower end of the display 4. First, the right end is reached (FIG. 14A). Up to this point, the display of the key layout also moves on the display 4 according to the movement of the user's finger. However, when the right edge of the key layout display reaches the right edge of the displayable range of the display 4 and the user still traces the finger in the direction of the lower right 45 ° angle, the key layout display is displayed in the X direction. Do not move any further. Therefore, when the user further traces his / her finger in the direction of 45 ° at the lower right, the key layout display is performed in the Y direction until the lower end of the key layout display reaches the lower end of the displayable range of the display 4. That is, it moves only downward (FIG. 14B).

  As shown in FIG. 14B, when the lower end of the display of the key layout reaches the lower end of the displayable range of the display 4, even if the user further drags his finger in the direction of an angle of 45 ° at the lower right, The key layout display no longer moves to the right or down. Although not shown in the state of FIG. 14B, the user can move the entire key layout display in the corresponding direction by tracing the touch panel 5 in the upward direction, the left direction, or the upper left direction. is there.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining the movement processing operation of the layout of the operation key group described above.

  First, it is determined whether or not there is an input on the touch panel 5 (step S301), and if there is an input, it is determined whether it is an input detected for a moment at a single point or a continuous input by a tracing operation ( Step S302). If it is a momentary detection at a single point, it is determined as an input by a normal key operation (step S303).

  If the input operation is a tracing operation, it is not determined as a key pressing operation, and the control means 11 is set to the key layout movement mode (step S304). In the flowchart of FIG. 15, the processing performed in the key layout movement mode described below is very fine as a unit of movement amount (hereinafter referred to as movement unit) (for example, one dot at a time on the display 4) ) Explain that it is separated.

The key layout movement mode, first, the absolute value of X-coordinate X _E of the moving direction end portion in the entire operation key group layout displayed on the display 4, the absolute X coordinate X _th display range end of the display 4 It is determined whether or not the value has been exceeded (step S305). If it does not exceed, the display can still be moved in the direction of the user's finger, so the layout display means 6 is controlled to move on the display 4 by the amount of movement (step S306). However, when the absolute value of X-coordinate X _E of the end portion of the operation key group layout is absolute value than the X coordinate X _th display range end of the display 4, the key layout is moved further Since at least part of the image cannot be displayed, the movement in the X direction is canceled (step S307).

Next, the same determination as in the X direction is also performed in the Y direction. That is, the absolute value of the Y coordinate Y _E of the moving direction end portions of the overall displayed operation key group layout display it is determined whether or not exceeded the absolute value of the Y coordinate Y _th display range end of the display 4 (step S308), exceeds moved by the amount display 4 on the mobile unit if it does not (step S309), cancellation for absolute value moves in the Y direction if the above absolute value of the Y _th of Y _E (Step S310).

  As a result, in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction, the actual input is reflected in the movement of the display, or the actual input is canceled and is not reflected in the movement display. Thereafter, the process returns to step S301, and the presence or absence of further key input is determined.

  In addition, this invention is not limited only to each embodiment mentioned above, Many changes or deformation | transformation are possible. For example, in the first to third embodiments, instead of reading a predetermined key layout from the memory 9 by the selection means 10, after the movable range 13 is determined, an operation based on the data is performed to determine the key layout. The layout can also be calculated. Further, the key layout size or the like may be calculated based on the determined movable range 13, and a predetermined key layout stored in the memory 9 may be enlarged or reduced according to the calculation result.

  Further, although not shown, when determining the movable range 13 of the finger, the user does not require the user to draw a circular diagram 12 on the touch panel 5, but a substantially linear diagram that is slanted with a single stroke. Whether the key layout based on this is selected from the memory 9 by determining that the starting point and the ending point of this diagram are one of the diagonal lines when the entire key layout is regarded as a rectangle. Alternatively, it can be calculated and displayed on the display 4.

  Further, in the fourth embodiment, when the user traces his / her finger on the touch panel 5, the “5” key is used in the operation key group, but a key other than the “5” key is used. Of course, it is possible to perform an input operation. Also, the input operation is not limited to arbitrary keys, but can be any key end or key edge, or a boundary line displayed between keys or the end of the entire key layout. It is also possible to set so that the display of the entire key layout is moved using one point. Furthermore, the arbitrary point used for the input operation does not necessarily need to be an arbitrary point, and a predetermined point predetermined when performing the input operation on the touch panel 5 corresponding to the key layout displayed on the display 4 is used. It can also be set to be used.

  Further, in the fourth embodiment, the distance that the layout of the operation key group moves on the display 4 is determined according to the distance that the user traces the finger on the touch panel 5. If the correspondence of is one-to-one, the tracing distance and the moving distance are the same, and visual operation becomes easy. However, the correspondence between the distance to be moved and the distance to be traced does not necessarily have to be one-to-one. For example, the distance actually moved on the display 4 even if the distance traced on the touch panel 5 is large as in the case of fine adjustment purposes. It is also possible to set so that the number is less.

  The mobile terminal device 1 according to each embodiment of the present invention can be typically a terminal device such as a mobile phone, but is not limited to this, and a mobile terminal device such as a PDA is used. It can also be applied to various portable terminal devices including the above.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable terminal device 2 Input part 3 Monitor part 4 Display 5 Touch panel 6 Layout display means 7 Range determination means 8 Position determination means 9 Memory 10 Selection means 11 Control means 12 Circular diagram 13 Movable range

Claims (2)

A display unit on which operation keys are displayed and a touch panel;
Based on continuous operation on the touch panel, in addition to changing the display position and size of the operation key group displayed on the display unit, it can be changed to an operation key group for the left hand, and A portable terminal device that can be changed to a right-handed operation key group. In a mobile terminal device including a display unit on which operation key groups are displayed and a touch panel,
Based on continuous operation on the touch panel, in addition to changing the display position and size of the operation key group displayed on the display unit, it can be changed to an operation key group for the left hand, and A control method for a mobile terminal device, wherein control is performed such that the right-hand operation key group can be changed.

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