JP5615579B2 - Character input device, character input method, and character input program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a character input device, a character input method, and a character input program.

  In recent years, touch panels have been widely used to realize a small terminal device that enables intuitive operation and does not include a device that requires a physically large area such as a keyboard. . As a technique for inputting characters using the touch panel, a technique for inputting characters by handwriting on the touch panel (for example, Patent Document 1) and a virtual keyboard (hereinafter referred to as “virtual keyboard”) displayed on the touch panel. A technique (for example, Patent Document 2) for inputting characters using a character is known.

JP 2003-141448 A JP 2008-108233 A

  However, the conventional technique for inputting characters by handwriting on the touch panel has a problem that it is difficult to input characters at high speed because input and character recognition processing take time. Further, even in the conventional technique for inputting characters using a virtual keyboard, it is necessary to repeat the operation of raising and lowering the finger with respect to the touch panel for each key corresponding to the character to be input, so that high-speed character input is difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a character input device, a character input method, and a character input program that enable high-speed character input on a touch panel.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a character input device having a contact detection unit and a display unit that displays a plurality of keys each associated with a character. When the contact detection unit detects a continuous contact from one position to another position, the key displayed at the position where the contact has passed straight without staying in the continuous contact process. At least one of the characters associated with is extracted, and a character string is created using the extracted characters.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a character input device, and includes a contact detection unit and a display unit that displays a plurality of keys each associated with an alphabetic character. When the contact detection unit detects a continuous contact from one position to another position, the key displayed at the position where the contact has passed straight without staying in the continuous contact process. At least one of the alphabetic characters associated with is extracted, and a kana character is created using the extracted alphabetic character.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a character input device having a contact detection unit and a display unit that displays a plurality of keys each associated with a character. When the contact detection unit detects continuous contact from one position to another position, in the process of the continuous contact, a plurality of positions displayed at positions where the contact is linearly passed without staying At least some of the plurality of characters associated with each of the keys are extracted, and a plurality of character strings using each of the extracted plurality of characters is created.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a character input method, in which the character input device detects continuous contact from one position to another position. in the course of the continuous contact, extracting at least one of the contact associated with a key displayed on the linearly passing position without stay character string by using the extracted character Create

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a character input method, in which the character input device detects continuous contact from one position to another position. In the continuous contact process, extract at least one of the alphabetic characters associated with the key displayed at the position where the contact was passed linearly without stopping, and use the extracted alphabetic characters to extract kana characters. Create

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a character input method, in which the character input device detects continuous contact from one position to another position. In the process of the continuous contact, extract at least some of the plurality of characters associated with each of the plurality of keys displayed at the position where the contact has been linearly passed without staying , A plurality of character strings using each of the extracted plurality of characters is created.

Further, in order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a character input program, and when the character input device detects continuous contact from one position to another position, in the course of the continuous contact, extracting at least one of the contact associated with a key displayed on the linearly passing position without stay character string by using the extracted character Demonstrate the ability to create.

Further, in order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a character input program, and when the character input device detects continuous contact from one position to another position, In the continuous contact process, extract at least one of the alphabetic characters associated with the key displayed at the position where the contact was passed linearly without stopping, and use the extracted alphabetic characters to extract kana characters. Demonstrate the ability to create.

Further, in order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a character input program, and when the character input device detects continuous contact from one position to another position, In the process of the continuous contact, extract at least some of the plurality of characters associated with each of the plurality of keys displayed at the position where the contact has been linearly passed without staying , The function of creating a plurality of character strings using each of the extracted plurality of characters is exhibited.

The character input device, the character input method, and the character input program according to the present invention have the effect of allowing characters to be input at high speed on the touch panel.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an appearance of a mobile phone terminal. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a virtual keyboard displayed on the touch panel. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a finger passes through the button area. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the moving direction of the finger is changed in the button area. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a trajectory in which a finger rotates within a button area. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation example of character input. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of functions of the mobile phone terminal. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of virtual keyboard data. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of character input processing by the mobile phone terminal. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the input character buffer. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a temporary buffer. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an input character string candidate display area displayed on the touch panel. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for character input determination processing. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the character string search process. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a temporary buffer when priority is subdivided.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following description. In addition, constituent elements in the following description include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art, those that are substantially the same, and those in a so-called equivalent range. In the following, a mobile phone terminal will be described as an example of a terminal device. However, the application target of the present invention is not limited to a mobile phone terminal, and various devices including a touch panel, such as PHS (Personal Handyphone System), PDA, etc. The present invention can also be applied to portable navigation devices, personal computers, game machines, and the like.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing an appearance of a mobile phone terminal 1 which is an embodiment of the terminal device of the present invention. The mobile phone terminal 1 includes a touch panel 2 and an input unit 3 including a button 3A, a button 3B, and a button 3C. The touch panel 2 displays characters, figures, images, and the like, and detects various operations performed on the touch panel 2 using a finger, stylus, pen, or the like (hereinafter simply referred to as “finger”). When any button is pressed, the input unit 3 activates a function corresponding to the pressed button.

  The cellular phone terminal 1 displays a virtual keyboard 4 on the touch panel 2 as shown in FIG. 2 in order to accept input of characters from the user. The virtual keyboard 4 includes a plurality of virtual buttons that imitate physical keyboard keys. For example, when the user puts a finger on (touches) and releases the button “Q” in the virtual keyboard 4, the operation is detected by the touch panel 2, and the mobile phone terminal 1 displays the character “Q”. Is accepted as input.

  The cellular phone terminal 1 further accepts input of characters by a continuous method on the virtual keyboard 4. The continuous method is a method that allows a user to continuously input a plurality of characters by moving the virtual keyboard 4 while keeping a finger in contact with the touch panel 2. In the continuous method, for example, a user keeps a finger in contact with the touch panel 2 and moves the user to slide in the order of a “W” button, an “E” button, and a “T” button. You can enter a string.

  In this way, in the continuous method, a plurality of characters can be input simply by sliding the finger on the touch panel 2 without performing the operation of raising and lowering the finger for each button. Can be entered.

  However, in the continuous method, for each button on the locus where the user moves his / her finger, the user has intentionally touched to input the character corresponding to the button, or the user In order to move a finger over the button, it is necessary to determine if it was simply passed over it. For example, it is assumed that the arrangement of the virtual keyboard 4 is the QWERTY arrangement and the user wants to input the word “WET”. In this case, when the user's finger moves from the “E” button to the “T” button, the user's finger passes over the “R” button between the buttons. For this reason, if it cannot be determined that the “R” button is not intentionally touched, the character string “WERT” is accepted as an input against the user's intention.

  Therefore, in the mobile phone terminal 1, the user inputs a character among the buttons on the locus on which the user moves his / her finger, the button being displayed at the position where the specific operation is detected by the touch panel 2. Therefore, it is determined that the object is intentionally touched. Specifically, when the touch panel 2 detects an operation for starting finger contact, the mobile phone terminal 1 is said to be touched intentionally if there is a button at a position where the start of contact is detected. judge. Further, when the touch panel 2 detects an operation of moving the finger and moving away from the touch panel 2, the mobile phone terminal 1 is intentionally touched if there is a button at the position where the end of contact is detected. It is determined that

  Further, when an operation for changing the movement direction is detected by the touch panel 2 while the finger is touching the touch panel 2, if the mobile phone terminal 1 has a button at a position where the change of the movement direction is detected, the button is intended. It is determined that it has been touched. Specifically, the mobile phone terminal 1 compares the moving direction when the finger enters the button and the moving direction when the finger comes out of the button, and if the angle difference between the moving directions is larger than the threshold, the user Determines that the button is intentionally touched.

  This is because if the finger simply passes while moving to another button, the finger moves in a certain direction on the button, and as shown in FIG. 3, escapes with V1 indicating the moving direction (vector) at the time of entry. This is because the angular difference of V2 indicating the moving direction at that time is considered to be small. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, when the angle difference between V3 indicating the moving direction at the time of entry and V4 indicating the moving direction at the time of exit is large, another button after the user intentionally touches the button. This is because there is a high possibility that the moving direction has been changed to touch. That is, it can be determined that this button is one of the purpose buttons.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, when the touch panel 2 detects that the mobile phone terminal 1 moves while drawing a trajectory that rotates in a button area where the finger is still touching the touch panel 2, It is determined that the button is intentionally touched. This is because it is considered that the finger does not move along such a locus when it merely passes. In addition, it is determined that the user has intentionally touched the button when a trajectory of a characteristic shape such as a mountain shape or a wave shape is drawn with a finger in the button area, not limited to a rotating trajectory. Also good.

  Thus, when the movement of a finger that draws a trajectory of a characteristic shape in the button area is detected, it is determined that the button has been intentionally touched, so that the user can easily input the same character continuously. It becomes possible to do. For example, if the user wishes to input the letter “W” three times in succession, the user may move his / her finger to draw a circle three times within the “W” button area. Here, for example, the number of rotations can be counted by counting one rotation every time the total angle of finger movement vectors in the button region exceeds 360 degrees.

  FIG. 6 shows an operation example when the user inputs “electronics (EREKTORONIKUSU)” to the mobile phone terminal 1. In s1, after the finger is placed in the button area of “E”, the buttons are in the order of “R”, “E”, “H”, “J”, “K” with the finger touching the touch panel 2. Has passed over. In this case, the cellular phone terminal 1 intentionally includes an “E” button on which a finger is placed, and “R”, “E”, and “K” buttons in which the angle difference between the entry direction and the exit direction is greater than a threshold value. Judged that it was touched.

  In s2, the finger passes through the buttons in the order of “U”, “Y”, “T”, “Y”, “U”, “I” while touching the touch panel 2. In this case, the cellular phone terminal 1 determines that the “U” and “T” buttons whose angle difference between the approach direction and the exit direction is larger than the threshold value are intentionally touched. In s3, with the finger touching the touch panel 2, “O”, “I”, “U”, “Y”, “T”, “R”, “T”, “Y”, “U”, “I” ”Is passed over the buttons in the order. In this case, the mobile phone terminal 1 determines that the “O” and “R” buttons whose angle difference between the approach direction and the exit direction is larger than the threshold value are intentionally touched.

  In s4, the finger passes over the buttons in the order of “O”, “K”, “N”, and “J” while touching the touch panel 2. In this case, the mobile phone terminal 1 determines that the “O” and “N” buttons whose angle difference between the approach direction and the exit direction is larger than the threshold value are intentionally touched. In s5, with the finger touching the touch panel 2, “I”, “K”, “U”, “G”, “F”, “D”, “S”, “R”, “T”, “Y” ”Is passed over the buttons in the order. In this case, the mobile phone terminal 1 determines that the “I”, “K”, “U”, and “S” buttons whose angle difference between the approach direction and the exit direction is larger than the threshold value are intentionally touched.

  In s6, the finger moved to the “U” button while touching the touch panel 2 is separated from the touch panel 2 in the “U” button area. In this case, the mobile phone terminal 1 determines that the “U” button with the finger away from the touch panel 2 is intentionally touched.

  Through the above operation, the cellular phone terminal 1 can be connected to “E”, “R”, “E”, “K”, “U”, “T”, “O”, “R”, “O”, “N”. , “I”, “K”, “U”, “S”, “U” are determined to have been intentionally touched, and the characters corresponding to these buttons are connected in time series to “Electronics (EREKTORONIKUSU). ) "Is accepted as the input character string. This character string matches the character string that the user tried to input.

  As shown in the example of FIG. 6, the cellular phone terminal 1 has either intentionally touched each button on the trajectory that the user's finger moved while touching the touch panel 2 or simply passed over it. Whether or not it is too much is accurately determined based on the action that the user naturally performs, and character input is accepted. Therefore, the user can input characters to the mobile phone terminal 1 at high speed and accurately.

  Note that the cellular phone terminal 1 does not ignore characters corresponding to the button that is determined that the finger has just passed, but uses those characters in order to improve input accuracy. Specifically, the cellular phone terminal 1 collates a character string obtained by concatenating characters corresponding to a button determined to have been intentionally touched by the user with a dictionary, and if a corresponding word is not found, The character corresponding to the button determined to have only passed the finger is complemented, and collation with the dictionary is performed again to find a valid word.

  For example, when the user wants to input the word “WET” to the mobile phone terminal 1, the user places the finger in the “W” button area, and then touches the touch panel 2 with the finger “T”. "" Is moved in the direction of the button "", and the finger is released from the touch panel 2 within the button area "T". In this case, it is determined that the “W” button on which the finger is placed and the “T” button on which the finger is separated are intentionally touched, but “E” and “R” on the trajectory along which the finger moves. Since the angle difference between the approach direction and the exit direction is small, it is determined that the button has only passed.

  However, “WT”, which is a character string obtained by concatenating characters corresponding to a button determined to have been intentionally touched by the user in time series, does not exist in the dictionary. Therefore, the mobile phone terminal 1 complements the characters corresponding to the buttons that are determined to have just passed through in time series to create candidates “WET”, “WRT”, and “WERT”, and sets each candidate as Check against a dictionary. In this case, since the word “WET” is included in the dictionary, the cellular phone terminal 1 accepts “WET” as an input character. This character string matches the character string that the user tried to input.

  By the way, when inputting the word “WET”, the user moves the finger from the “W” button toward the “T” button while touching the touch panel 2, A trajectory that rotates inside may be drawn. By performing such an operation, the user can explicitly indicate to the mobile phone terminal 1 that the user has intentionally touched the “E” button, and can improve the identification accuracy of the input character string. .

  Next, the relationship between the function of the mobile phone terminal 1 and the control unit will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of functions of the mobile phone terminal 1 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the mobile phone terminal 1 includes a touch panel 2, an input unit 3, a power supply unit 5, a communication unit 6, a speaker 7, a microphone 8, a storage unit 9, a main control unit 10, A RAM (Random Access Memory) 11 is included.

  The touch panel 2 includes a display unit 2B and a touch sensor 2A superimposed on the display unit 2B. The touch sensor 2A detects various operations performed on the touch panel 2 using a finger together with the position on the touch panel 2 where the operation is performed. The operations detected by the touch sensor 2 </ b> A include an operation of bringing a finger into contact with the surface of the touch panel 2, an operation of moving the finger while keeping the surface in contact with the touch panel 2, and an operation of moving the finger away from the surface of the touch panel 2. It is. The touch sensor 2A may employ any detection method such as a pressure-sensitive method or an electrostatic method. The display unit 2B includes, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic EL (Organic Electro-Luminescence) panel, and the like, and displays characters, figures, images, and the like.

  The input unit 3 receives a user operation through a physical button or the like, and transmits a signal corresponding to the received operation to the main control unit 10. The power supply unit 5 supplies power obtained from a storage battery or an external power supply to each functional unit of the mobile phone terminal 1 including the main control unit 10. The communication unit 6 establishes a radio signal line by a CDMA system or the like with a base station via a channel assigned by the base station, and performs telephone communication and information communication with the base station. The speaker 7 outputs the other party's voice, ringtone, and the like in telephone communication. The microphone 8 converts the voice of the user or the like into an electrical signal.

  The storage unit 9 is, for example, a nonvolatile memory or a magnetic storage device, and stores programs and data used for processing in the main control unit 10. Specifically, the storage unit 9 includes a mail program 9A for sending / receiving and browsing mails, a browser program 9B for browsing WEB pages, and a character input program for receiving character input in the continuous mode described above. 9C, virtual keyboard data 9D including definitions relating to the virtual keyboard displayed on the touch panel 2 when a character is input, and dictionary data 9E in which a valid character string is registered are stored. The storage unit 9 also stores an operating system program that realizes basic functions of the mobile phone terminal 1 and other programs and data such as address book data in which names, telephone numbers, mail addresses, and the like are registered.

  The main control unit 10 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and comprehensively controls the operation of the mobile phone terminal 1. Specifically, the main control unit 10 executes the program stored in the storage unit 9 while referring to the data stored in the storage unit 9 as necessary, so that the touch panel 2, the communication unit 6, etc. Various processes are executed by controlling. The main control unit 10 expands the program stored in the storage unit 9 and the data acquired / generated / processed by executing the process to the RAM 11 that provides a temporary storage area as necessary. The program executed by the main control unit 10 and the data to be referred to may be downloaded from the server device by wireless communication by the communication unit 6.

  An example of the virtual keyboard data 9D stored in the storage unit 9 is shown in FIG. As shown in the example of FIG. 8, in the virtual keyboard data 9D, for each button included in the virtual keyboard, a character corresponding to the button, a position of the button (for example, upper left coordinates), a width, a height, and the like are registered. . In the example shown in FIG. 8, the character corresponding to a certain button is “Q”, the upper left coordinates of the button are X = 10, Y = 10, and the width and height of the button are 20 and 40. Etc. are registered.

  Next, the operation when the cellular phone terminal 1 accepts input of characters will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of character input processing by the cellular phone terminal 1. The character input process shown in FIG. 9 is realized by the main control unit 10 reading and executing the character input program 9C from the storage unit 9, and is repeatedly executed while the virtual keyboard 4 is displayed on the touch panel 2. . The virtual keyboard 4 is displayed on the touch panel 2 when the main control unit 10 executes the character input program 9C or another program.

  First, the main control unit 10 clears the input character buffer 12 as step S10, and clears the temporary buffer 13 as step S11. The input character buffer 12 is a storage area in which characters corresponding to the respective buttons on the trajectory moved with the finger touching the touch panel 2 are stored in association with the priority, and are provided in the RAM 11. Temporary buffer 13 temporarily stores characters corresponding to buttons determined that the finger has just passed over the buttons on the locus where the finger has moved while touching touch panel 2. This is a storage area and is provided in the RAM 11.

  An example of the input character buffer 12 is shown in FIG. FIG. 10 shows the input character buffer 12 when the operation shown in FIG. 6 is performed on the touch panel 2. In the example of FIG. 10, characters corresponding to the buttons on the locus where the finger moves while touching the touch panel 2 are stored in the upper part of the input character buffer 12, and the characters corresponding to the upper characters are stored in the lower part. Stores the priority. As shown in the example of FIG. 10, the input character buffer 12 stores characters corresponding to each button on the locus where the finger moves while touching the touch panel 2 in time series.

  The priority is used to determine whether or not to adopt the associated character when the character string is formed by concatenating the characters included in the input character buffer 12. In this embodiment, the smaller the priority value, the more preferentially the associated character is adopted. Specifically, the character corresponding to the button that is determined to have been intentionally touched by the finger is associated with “1” as the priority, and the character corresponding to the button that is determined to be that the finger has simply passed is used. Associates “2” as a priority.

  An example of the temporary buffer 13 is shown in FIG. FIG. 11 shows the temporary buffer 13 when the finger comes out of the “J” button in s1 of FIG. As shown in the example of FIG. 11, the temporary buffer 13 determines that a character corresponding to a button determined that the finger has just passed over it has intentionally touched any button. Until it is stored in time series.

  When the input character buffer 12 and the temporary buffer 13 are cleared, the main control unit 10 sets the input completion flag provided in the RAM 11 to 0 as step S12. The input completion flag is used to determine whether or not one character input has been completed. The character input for one time here means character input performed between the time when the finger is brought into contact with the touch panel 2 and the time when the finger is released.

  Subsequently, the main control unit 10 acquires the latest detection result of the touch panel 2 as step S13, and executes a character input determination process as step S14. In the character input determination process, the main control unit 10 stores the characters corresponding to the buttons displayed on the trajectory where the finger moves while touching the touch panel 2 in the input character buffer 12 and the temporary buffer 13. Details of the character input determination process will be described later.

  After executing the character input determination process, the main control unit 10 determines whether or not the input completion flag remains 0 as step S15. Here, when the input completion flag remains 0, that is, when the character input for one time is not yet completed (step S15, Yes), the main control unit 10 performs the character string search process as step S16. The character string matching the character string obtained by concatenating the characters stored in the input character buffer 12 is searched from the dictionary data 9E. Details of the character string search process will be described later.

  Subsequently, in step S17, the main control unit 10 displays one or more character strings obtained by the character string search process in the input character string candidate display area 14 as shown in FIG. The main control unit 10 then repeatedly executes step S13 to step S17 until it is determined in step S15 that the input completion flag is not 0, that is, one character input has been completed.

When the input completion flag is not 0 in step S15 (No in step S15), the main control unit 10 executes a character string search process and concatenates characters stored in the input character buffer 12 in step S18. The character string matching the character string thus searched is searched from the dictionary data 9E. Here, when there is only one character string obtained as the processing result of the character string search processing (step S19, Yes), the main control unit 10 obtains the processing result of the character string search processing as step S20. It accepts a string that has been as an input string.

  On the other hand, when there are a plurality of character strings obtained as a result of the character string search process (No in step S19), the main control unit 10 performs a plurality of character strings obtained as a result of the character string search process in step S21. The character string is displayed in the input character string candidate display area 14 as shown in FIG. And the main control part 10 acquires the newest detection result of the touch panel 2 as step S22, and determines whether any of the character strings displayed on the input character string candidate display area 14 was selected as step S23.

  Here, if no character string is selected (No at Step S23), the main control unit 10 repeatedly executes Steps S22 to S23 until any character string is selected. In addition, when the operation | movement which shows the cancellation of input that a user's finger | toe touches areas other than the input character string candidate display area 14 is detected in step S22, the main control part 10 will complete | finish a character input process. Also good.

If any of the character string displayed in the input character string candidate display area 14 is selected in step S23 (step S23, Yes), the main control unit 10, at Step S24, is entered the selected character string Accept as a character string.

  Next, the character input determination process executed in step S14 of FIG. 9 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In step S30, the main control unit 10 determines whether the operation detected by the touch panel 2 is an operation of starting contact with the touch panel 2, that is, an operation of bringing a finger into contact with the surface of the touch panel 2 as a detection result of the touch panel 2. Judgment based on.

  When the detected operation is an operation for starting contact with the touch panel 2 (step S30, Yes), the main control unit 10 compares the position where the contact is started with the virtual keyboard data 9D as step S31. Then, it is determined whether the position where the contact is started is in any button area. When the position where the contact is started is in any one of the button regions (step S31, Yes), the button is considered to have been touched intentionally, so the main control unit 10 responds to that button as step S32. The character to be added is associated with the priority “1” and added to the input character buffer 12. The character corresponding to the button is acquired from the virtual keyboard data 9D.

  In step S33, the main control unit 10 sets the output flag to “1” and ends the character input determination process. The output flag is provided in the RAM 11 and is used to determine whether or not the character corresponding to the button displayed at the position where the finger is currently in contact has been output to the input character buffer 12 or the temporary buffer 13. It is done. The value of the output flag being “0” indicates that the character corresponding to the button displayed at the position where the finger is currently in contact has not been output to any buffer yet. That the value of the output flag is “1” indicates that the character corresponding to the button displayed at the position where the finger is currently in contact has been output to any buffer.

  In step S31, when the position where the contact is started is not within the button area (No in step S31), the main control unit 10 ends the character input determination process without performing any particular process.

  In step S30, when the operation detected on the touch panel 2 is not an operation for starting contact with the touch panel 2 (No in step S30), the main control unit 10 performs the operation detected on the touch panel 2 as step S34. It is determined based on the detection result of the touch panel 2 whether the operation is to move the finger into the button area while keeping the touch to the touch panel 2. Whether or not the detected operation is an operation of moving a finger into the button area while maintaining contact with the touch panel 2 depends on the contact position indicated by the latest detection result of the touch panel 2 and the contact position indicated by the immediately preceding detection result. Are compared with the virtual keyboard data 9D.

  When the detected operation is an operation of moving a finger into the button area while maintaining contact with the touch panel 2 (Yes in step S34), the main control unit 10 clears the movement direction history as step S35. . The movement direction history is data in which a direction vector indicating in which direction the finger has moved in the button area is recorded in time series, and is stored in the RAM 11.

  Subsequently, in step S36, the main control unit 10 acquires a direction vector indicating the direction in which the finger has entered the button area, and adds the acquired direction vector to the movement direction history. In step S37, the main control unit 10 sets the output flag to “0” and ends the character input determination process.

  Note that when the detection result of the touch panel 2 includes information indicating the moving direction of the finger, the direction vector is acquired from the detection result of the touch panel 2. When the detection result of the touch panel 2 does not include information indicating the moving direction of the finger, the direction vector is calculated from the contact position indicated by the latest detection result of the touch panel 2 and the contact position indicated by the detection result immediately before that. .

  In step S34, when the operation detected by the touch panel 2 is not an operation of making a finger enter the button area while maintaining contact with the touch panel 2 (No in step S34), the main control unit 10 performs step S38. Based on the detection result of the touch panel 2, it is determined whether the operation detected by the touch panel 2 is an operation of putting a finger out of the button while maintaining contact with the touch panel 2. Whether or not the detected operation is an operation of moving a finger out of the button while maintaining contact with the touch panel 2 depends on the contact position indicated by the latest detection result of the touch panel 2 and the contact position indicated by the immediately preceding detection result. Is compared with the virtual keyboard data 9D.

  When the detected operation is an operation of moving a finger out of the button while maintaining contact with the touch panel 2 (step S38, Yes), the main control unit 10 sets the output flag to “0” as step S39. Determine if there is. Here, when the output flag is not “0”, that is, when the character corresponding to the button that the finger has been positioned inside has already been output to any buffer (step S39, No), the main control The unit 10 ends the character input determination process without performing any particular process.

  On the other hand, when the output flag is “0” (step S39, Yes), the main control unit 10 obtains the latest movement vector, that is, a direction vector indicating the direction in which the finger has moved out of the button, as step S40. Obtain the angle difference from the head direction vector of the movement direction history. The calculated angle difference represents the magnitude of the difference between the direction when the finger enters the button and the direction when the finger exits the button.

  When the calculated angle difference is equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold (No at Step S41), it is considered that the finger has simply passed through the button, and therefore the main control unit 10 performs the character corresponding to the button as Step S42. Is added to the temporary buffer 13 to end the character input determination process.

  On the other hand, when the calculated angle difference is larger than the predetermined threshold (step S41, Yes), since the button is considered to have been touched intentionally, the main control unit 10 causes the finger to pass the character corresponding to the button. The processing procedure after step S43 is executed so that the characters corresponding to the other buttons on the trajectory are stored in the input character buffer 12 in time series.

  In step S43, the main control unit 10 adds the character stored in the temporary buffer 13 to the input character buffer 12 in association with the priority “2”, and then in step S44, adds the character corresponding to the button. It is added to the input character buffer 12 in association with the priority “1”. In step S45, the main control unit 10 clears the temporary buffer 13 and ends the character input determination process.

  In step S38, when the operation detected by the touch panel 2 is not an operation of moving a finger out of the button while maintaining contact with the touch panel 2 (No in step S38), the main control unit 10 performs step S46. Based on the detection result of the touch panel 2, it is determined whether the operation detected by the touch panel 2 is an operation for ending contact with the touch panel 2, that is, an operation for releasing a finger from the touch panel 2.

  When the detected operation is an operation for ending contact with the touch panel 2 (step S46, Yes), the main control unit 10 compares the position where the contact is ended with the virtual keyboard data 9D as step S47. Then, it is determined whether the position where the contact is ended is in any button area. When the position where the contact is terminated is in any one of the button areas (step S47, Yes), since the button is considered to have been touched intentionally, the main control unit 10 determines that the character corresponding to the button is The processing procedure after step S48 is executed so that the characters corresponding to other buttons on the trajectory through which the finger passes are stored in the input character buffer 12 in time series.

  In step S48, the main control unit 10 determines whether the output flag is “0”. Here, when the output flag is “0”, that is, when the character corresponding to the button that is considered to have been touched intentionally has not been output to any buffer yet (step S48, Yes), the main control unit In step S49, the character stored in the temporary buffer 13 is added to the input character buffer 12 in association with the priority “2”. In step S50, the main control unit 10 adds the character corresponding to the button to the input character buffer 12 in association with the priority “1”.

  The fact that the operation for terminating the touch on the touch panel 2 has been performed means that the character input for one time has been completed, so the main control unit 10 sets the input completion flag to “1” in step S51. Is set to end the character input determination process.

  When the position where the contact is terminated is not within the button region (step S47, No), or when the output flag is not “0” (step S48, No), the main control unit 10 performs step S51. Only the process of setting the input completion flag to “1” is performed, and the character input determination process is terminated.

  In addition, when the position where the contact is ended is not within the button area, or when the output flag is not “0”, the character stored in the temporary buffer 13 is associated with the priority “2”. It may be added to the input character buffer 12.

  In step S46, when the operation detected on the touch panel 2 is not an operation for ending the contact with the touch panel 2 (No in step S46), the main control unit 10 performs the operation detected on the touch panel 2 as step S52. It is determined based on the detection result of the touch panel 2 whether the operation is to move the finger within the button area while keeping the touch to the touch panel 2.

  When the detected operation is an operation of moving a finger within the button area while maintaining contact with the touch panel 2 (step S52, Yes), the main control unit 10 determines that the finger is within the button area as step S53. A direction vector indicating the direction of movement is acquired, and the acquired direction vector is added to the movement direction history. Then, in step S54, the main control unit 10 refers to each direction vector recorded in the movement direction history, and determines whether the finger moves while drawing a locus rotating in the button area while touching the touch panel 2. judge.

  Here, if the finger is touching the touch panel 2 and moving while drawing a trajectory rotating in the button area (Yes in step S54), the main control unit 10 is considered to have touched the button intentionally. The processing procedure after step S55 is executed so that the character corresponding to the button is stored in the input character buffer 12 in time series together with the characters corresponding to other buttons on the trajectory through which the finger has passed.

  In step S55, the main control unit 10 adds the character stored in the temporary buffer 13 to the input character buffer 12 in association with the priority “2”, and then in step S56, selects the character corresponding to the button. It is added to the input character buffer 12 in association with the priority “1”. In step S57, the main control unit 10 sets the output flag to “1”, and in step S58, clears the movement direction history and ends the character input determination process.

  In step S <b> 52, when the operation detected by the touch panel 2 is not an operation of moving a finger within the button area while maintaining contact with the touch panel 2, that is, the finger is moving outside the button on the virtual keyboard 4. If it is found (step S52, No), the main control unit 10 ends the character input determination process without performing any particular process.

  In addition, when the operation | movement which puts a finger out of the virtual keyboard 4 with the contact to the touch panel 2 detected is performed, the same processing procedure as the case where the operation | movement which complete | finishes the contact to the touch panel 2 is detected is performed. When an operation for moving a finger into the virtual keyboard 4 is detected while maintaining contact with the touch panel 2, the same processing procedure as when an operation for starting contact with the touch panel 2 is detected is executed. It is good as well. By doing so, the user can quickly move on to the next input while keeping touching the touch panel 2 without raising or lowering the finger after finishing one input.

  Next, the character string search process executed in steps S16 and S18 in FIG. 9 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In step S70, the main control unit 10 acquires a character having a priority “1” from the input character buffer 12, and generates a first candidate character string by combining the acquired characters.

For example, four character strings “A”, “B”, “C”, “D” are stored in the input character buffer 12 in this order, and the priority of “A” and “D” is “1”. It is assumed that the priority of “B” and “C” is “2”. In this case, the main control unit 10 generates a first candidate character string “A D ” by concatenating characters having a priority “1” in the order of storage.

  Subsequently, in step S71, the main control unit 10 searches the dictionary data 9E for a character string that matches the first candidate character string.

  In the present embodiment, for example, when the first candidate character string is “ABC”, a character string that matches the pattern “A * B * C *” is searched from the dictionary data 9E. Here, “*” is a wild card that matches any character. That is, in this embodiment, the first candidate character string and the first character match, and the second and subsequent characters of the first candidate character string are the same as the first candidate character string with zero or more characters interposed therebetween. When a character string appearing in order matches the first candidate character string, it is searched as a character string.

  By matching in this way, it is possible to increase the possibility that the input character string can be correctly identified even when there is a button that cannot be determined to be intentionally touched by a finger.

  When a plurality of character strings are obtained as a search result (step S72, Yes), the main control unit 10 selects a character having a priority “2” from the input character buffer 12 as step S73 in order to narrow down the search result. And the acquired character is supplemented to the first candidate character string to generate one or more second candidate character strings.

For example, as described above, four character strings “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D” are stored in the input character buffer 12 in this order, and the priorities of “A” and “D” are set. It is assumed that the priority of “B” and “C” is “2” at “1”. In this case, the main control unit 10 supplements at least one character with a priority “2” to the first candidate character string “A D ” while maintaining the storage order, and performs “ABD”, “ACD”. , Three second candidate character strings “ACDB” are generated.

  Subsequently, in step S74, the main control unit 10 searches the dictionary data 9E for a character string that matches any of the second candidate character strings. The matching method is the same as that for the first candidate character string.

  In step S74, when any character string is searched (step S75, Yes), the main control unit 10 ends the character string search process using the searched character string as a search result in step S76. On the other hand, if no character string has been searched in step S74 (No in step S75), the main control unit 10 uses the character string matched with the first candidate character string in step S71 as a search result in step S77. Terminate the string search process.

  When only one character string is obtained as a search result in step S71 (step S72, No and step S78, Yes), the main control unit 10 uses the searched character string as a search result as a search result in step S76. End the column search process. When one character string is not obtained as a search result in step S71 (step S78, No), the main control unit 10 selects a first candidate character string, that is, a character having a priority of “1” as step S79. The character string search process is terminated with the character string concatenated in the storage order as a search result.

  As described above, since the mobile phone terminal 1 can input characters by moving on the virtual keyboard without releasing the finger from the touch panel 2, high-speed character input can be realized.

  The configuration of the mobile phone terminal 1 can be arbitrarily changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, “1” or “2” is associated with the character corresponding to each button on the trajectory in which the finger is moved away from the touch panel 2 as the priority. It may be further subdivided.

  For example, a character corresponding to a button determined to have been intentionally touched is associated with a priority “1”, and a character corresponding to a button determined to have only passed a finger has a priority. Any value of “2” to “5” may be associated. When subdividing the priority, in the character input determination process shown in FIG. 13, the priority is associated with each character stored in the temporary buffer 13 as in the example of FIG.

  In this case, for example, for a character corresponding to a button that has been determined that the finger has just passed, the angle difference between the moving direction when the finger enters the button and the moving direction when the finger leaves the button is large. Higher priority may be associated. This is because the larger the angle difference, the higher the possibility that the button is intentionally touched.

  In addition, for a character corresponding to a button that has been determined that the finger has just passed, a higher priority may be associated with the locus of the finger passing closer to the center of the button. This is because the closer the trajectory passed through to the center of the button, the higher the possibility that the button is intentionally touched.

  When the priorities are subdivided in this way, in the character string search process, the higher priority characters are preferentially used when the second candidate character string is created. Specifically, when a plurality of character strings match a first candidate character string in which characters having a priority of “1” are combined, first, a character having a priority of “2” is complemented to the first candidate character string. To narrow down the search results. If a plurality of character strings are matched even if the character having the priority “2” is complemented, the search result is further narrowed down by further complementing the character having the priority “3” to the first candidate character string. .

  Similarly, characters are used for completion in descending order of priority until the search result is narrowed down to one. In this way, by subdividing the priority, it is possible to generate a character string to be verified by combining characters with the highest possibility of being touched intentionally. Can be improved.

  In the character input process described with reference to FIG. 9, the main control unit 10 displays the searched character string in the input character string candidate display area 14 every time a new detection result is acquired from the touch panel 2. However, such a display is not performed until the character input for one time is completed, and it is searched only when a plurality of character strings are searched in the character string search process after the character input for one time is completed. The character string may be displayed in the input character string candidate display area 14.

  Further, the matching process with the dictionary data in the character string search process described with reference to FIG. 14 may use another matching method such as complete matching or forward matching. Moreover, it is good also as predicting the character string which a user is going to input using an input prediction technique, and treating the predicted character string as a search result. The input prediction technique is a technique for predicting a character string that a user is about to input from a character string that has already been input and a character string that is being input, based on the strength of string connection and the frequency of use.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, among the characters corresponding to the buttons displayed on the locus where the finger moves while touching the touch panel 2, it corresponds to the button displayed at the position where the specific action is detected. The character string input with priority given to the character is identified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the button displayed on or near the locus where the finger moves while touching the touch panel 2 Any character string may be used as long as it accepts a character string including characters corresponding to the input character string.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, as specific operations, the operation of touching the touch panel 2 in the button region, the operation of releasing the finger from the touch panel 2 in the button region, and the like have been described, but these operations are specific operations. It is an example, and other operations may be treated as specific operations.

As described above, the character input device, the character input method, and the character input program according to the present invention are effective for inputting characters, and are particularly suitable when it is necessary to input characters at high speed using a touch panel. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cellular phone terminal 2 Touch panel 2A Touch sensor 2B Display part 3 Input part 3A, 3B, 3C Button 4 Virtual keyboard 5 Power supply part 6 Communication part 7 Speaker 8 Microphone 9 Storage part 9A Mail program 9B Browser program 9C Character input program 9D Virtual keyboard Data 9E Dictionary data 10 Main controller 11 RAM
12 Input character buffer 13 Temporary buffer 14 Input character string candidate display area

Claims (9)

A contact detector;
A display unit for displaying a plurality of keys each associated with a character;
When the contact detection unit detects a continuous contact from one position to another position, in the process of the continuous contact, the key displayed at the position where the contact has passed straight without staying. at least one extract the character input device for creating a character string by using the extracted character of the associated character. A contact detector;
A display unit for displaying a plurality of keys each associated with an alphabetic character,
When the contact detection unit detects a continuous contact from one position to another position, in the process of the continuous contact, the key displayed at the position where the contact has passed straight without staying. A character input device that extracts at least one of the associated alphabetic characters and creates a kana character using the extracted alphabetic characters. A contact detector;
A display unit for displaying a plurality of keys each associated with a character;
When the contact detection unit detects a continuous contact from one position to another position, in the process of the continuous contact, a plurality of positions displayed in a position where the contact is linearly passed without remaining . extracting at least a portion of the plurality of character among the plurality of characters associated with each key, the character input device for creating a plurality of strings with a plurality of characters the extracted. When the character input device detects continuous contact from one position to another position, the key displayed at the position where the contact has passed straight without staying in contact during the continuous contact process. A character input method of extracting at least one of associated characters and creating a character string using the extracted characters. When the character input device detects continuous contact from one position to another position, the key displayed at the position where the contact has passed straight without staying in contact during the continuous contact process. A character input method for extracting at least one of the associated alphabetic characters and creating a kana character using the extracted alphabetic characters. When the character input device detects a continuous contact from one position to another position, in the process of the continuous contact, the plurality of characters displayed at the positions where the contact has passed linearly without stopping . At least a portion of a plurality of character extraction, character input method to create a plurality of strings with a plurality of characters the extracted among a plurality of characters associated with each key. If the character input device detects a continuous contact from one position to another, the key displayed at the position where the contact was passed straight without staying in contact during the continuous contact process. A character input program that exhibits a function of extracting at least one of associated characters and creating a character string using the extracted characters. If the character input device detects a continuous contact from one position to another, the key displayed at the position where the contact was passed straight without staying in contact during the continuous contact process. A character input program for extracting at least one of the associated alphabetic characters and demonstrating the function of creating a kana character using the extracted alphabetic characters. When a continuous contact from one position to another position is detected in the character input device, in the process of the continuous contact, a plurality of points displayed at positions where the contact has passed linearly without stopping . extracting at least a portion of the plurality of character among the plurality of characters associated with each key, the character input program to exhibit the ability to create a plurality of strings with a plurality of characters the extracted.

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