JP5627372B2 - 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 character input device that enables intuitive operation and does not include a device that requires a physically large area such as a keyboard. Yes. 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, which includes a touch panel that detects an operation on a surface, and a control unit that displays text on the touch panel. When a specific action performed while touching the surface of the touch panel is detected in the text display area, the part edits a portion of the text corresponding to the position where the predetermined action is detected. As a criterion for the above, the text editing process is performed.

  Here, the control unit displays a plurality of buttons each associated with a specific character on the touch panel, and contact is started at a first position on the surface of the touch panel. When a contact operation that maintains contact up to position 2 is detected by the touch panel, contact is detected while contact is maintained up to the second position after contact is started at the first position. It is preferable that a character string including characters corresponding to the buttons displayed on the trajectory connecting the positions is received as an input, and the character strings received as the input are connected and displayed as the text.

  Further, it is preferable that the control unit inserts a character string that has been newly accepted into a portion of the text corresponding to the position where the predetermined action is detected as the editing process.

  Further, the control unit, as the editing process, includes a first portion corresponding to a position where a first predetermined action is detected and a second position corresponding to a position where a second predetermined action is detected in the text. It is preferable to replace the part surrounded by the part with a character string that has been newly input.

  Further, the control unit, as the editing process, includes a first portion corresponding to a position where a first predetermined action is detected and a second position corresponding to a position where a second predetermined action is detected in the text. It is preferable to replace the part surrounded by the part with a character string obtained by conversion processing based on the character string before conversion of the part.

  In addition, when the second predetermined action is detected, the control unit is configured to make a part of the text surrounded by the first part and the second part different from other parts. It is preferable to display.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said control part detects the operation | movement which changes a moving direction as one of the said predetermined operation | movements.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said control part detects the operation | movement which draws the locus | trajectory of a specific shape as one of the said predetermined operation | movement.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said control part detects the operation | movement which stays in a specific position for a predetermined period or more as one of the said predetermined operation | movement.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a character input method executed by a character input device having a touch panel for detecting contact with a surface, and displays text on the touch panel. A step of detecting a predetermined action performed while touching the surface of the touch panel in the text display area; and a portion of the text corresponding to the position where the predetermined action is detected And a step of editing the text as a reference.

  Further, in order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a character input program for displaying text on the touch panel on a character input device having a touch panel for detecting contact with the surface. And a step of detecting a predetermined action performed while touching the surface of the touch panel in the text display area, and a portion of the text corresponding to a position where the predetermined action is detected is used as a reference of an editing portion. And a step of performing the text editing process.

  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 when a candidate is selected. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an operation example when a character string is added to the input text. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation example when editing a part of the input text. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of functions of the mobile phone terminal. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of virtual keyboard data. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of character input processing by the mobile phone terminal. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the specific operation detection process. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a region in which a specific operation is detected. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an operation example in the case of changing the word break position in the predictive conversion. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an operation example when re-converting a part of the input text. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu for selecting processing related to a range designated by a specific operation.

  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 character input device, but the application target of the present invention is not limited to a mobile phone terminal, and various devices including a touch panel, such as a PHS (Personal Handyphone System), The present invention can also be applied to PDAs, portable navigation devices, personal computers, game machines, and the like.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an appearance of a mobile phone terminal 1 which is an embodiment of the character input 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.

  When receiving an input of characters from a user, the mobile phone terminal 1 provides an input character string candidate display area 14 and a text display area 15 on the touch panel 2 and displays a virtual keyboard 4 as shown in FIG. Let The input character string candidate display area 14 is an area in which words and the like including characters input using the virtual keyboard 4 are displayed as candidates for the character string that the user intends to input. The text display area 15 is an area where text composed of characters whose input has been confirmed is displayed.

  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. In FIG. 2, buttons corresponding to each alphabet are arranged on the virtual keyboard 4 in a QWERY arrangement, but the buttons may be arranged arbitrarily.

  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, the mobile phone terminal 1 displays a button displayed at a position where a specific operation (predetermined operation) is detected by the touch panel 2 among the buttons on the locus where the user moves the finger. It is determined that the character is intentionally touched to input a character. 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.

  The mobile phone terminal 1 determines that the user has intentionally touched the button when the finger remains on the touch panel 2 and stays in the button area for a predetermined period or longer. The period longer than the predetermined time here is a time sufficiently longer than the time required for the finger to simply pass through the button region, and may be a period of about 0.5 seconds, for example.

  In this way, the technique for specifying the position intended by the user by detecting a specific action is also used when selecting a candidate or editing input text, as shown in FIGS. The In addition, the example shown below is an example in case Japanese is input by the Roman character input.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation example when a candidate is selected. In step S11, after the finger is placed in the button area of “E”, the buttons are touched in the order of “R”, “E”, “H”, “J”, “K” while the finger is touching the touch panel 2. It passes through the area and stays in the “U” button area for a predetermined period or longer. In this case, the mobile phone terminal 1 has the “E” button on which the finger is placed, the “R”, “E” and “K” buttons whose angle difference between the entry direction and the exit direction is larger than the threshold, It is determined that the “U” button whose period is equal to or longer than the predetermined time is intentionally touched.

  Then, the cellular phone terminal 1 displays “Ereku” obtained by converting “EREKU” in which characters corresponding to these buttons are concatenated into Roman characters in the text display area 15. This display is performed to indicate to the user which button has been intentionally touched, and “Eraku” is underlined to indicate that this character string is an undetermined character string. Is done. At this time, in the text display area 15, a cursor (displayed as a black triangle in the figure) indicating a position where a character is newly added is displayed immediately before “Eraku”. In addition, a line feed symbol indicating a line feed position is displayed immediately after “Eraku”.

  Further, the cellular phone terminal 1 displays two character strings “Electone” and “Electronics” obtained by predictive conversion of “Eraku” as input character string candidates in the input character string candidate display area 14. . Predictive conversion is a technique for predicting a character string that a user is about to input from characters that are being input based on the strength of connection with the input characters and the frequency of use.

  Subsequently, in step S12, after entering the “electronics” display area in the input character string candidate display area 14 with the finger touching the touch panel 2, the traveling direction is changed to move outside the display area. Yes. In this case, the mobile phone terminal 1 determines that “electronics” has been selected because the angle difference between the entry direction to the display area of “electronics” and the escape direction is larger than the threshold value.

  In step S <b> 13, the cellular phone terminal 1 deletes “Eraku”, which is an undetermined character string, and displays the selected “electronics” immediately after the cursor. Then, the cellular phone terminal 1 moves the cursor immediately after “electronics” to indicate that a newly input character is added after “electronics”.

  Thus, by determining which of the input character string candidates displayed in the input character string candidate display area 14 is selected based on the position where the specific action is detected, the user can The input character string can be selected smoothly while touching the touch panel 2.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an operation example when a character string is added to the input text. Step S21 shows a scene in which the text "Due to the development of electronics" has been input by the operation shown in FIG. In this scene, the text “Due to the development of electronics” is displayed in the text display area 15, and a cursor and a line feed symbol are displayed immediately after the text. The user's finger is placed in the virtual keyboard 4 while touching the touch panel 2.

  Here, it is assumed that the user wants to perform editing by adding a character string “industrial” between the input “electronics” and “no”. In this case, the user changes the direction of travel after moving it between “electronics” and “no” displayed in the text display area 15 while keeping the finger touching the touch panel 2 in step S22. Return to the virtual keyboard 4.

  Then, the mobile phone terminal 1 determines that the area between “electronics” and “no” is selected because the angle difference between the direction of entering and exiting the space between “electronics” and “no” is larger than the threshold value. . In step S23, the cellular phone terminal 1 moves the cursor between “electronics” and “no” to indicate that the selected position is the insertion position of a newly input character.

  Subsequently, in step S24, the user inputs “SANGI” by the above-described continuous method. Then, the cellular phone terminal 1 displays “Sangi” by inserting an underline indicating that it is unconfirmed and inserting it immediately after the cursor in the text display area 15. In addition, the cellular phone terminal 1 displays two character strings “industry” and “three lines” obtained by predictive conversion of “Sangi” in the input character string candidate display area 14 as input character string candidates. To do.

  Subsequently, in step S25, the user moves the display to the “industry” display area in the input character string candidate display area 14 while keeping the finger touching the touch panel 2, and then displays the display by changing the traveling direction. It is moved outside the area. Then, the mobile phone terminal 1 determines that “industry” is selected because the angle difference between the entry direction and the exit direction to the display area of “industry” is larger than the threshold value.

  In step S <b> 26, the cellular phone terminal 1 deletes “Sangi”, which is an undetermined character string, and displays the selected “Industry” immediately after the cursor. Then, the mobile phone terminal 1 moves the cursor immediately after “Industry” to indicate that a newly input character is added after “Industry”.

  In this way, by specifying the position where the character string is inserted into the input text displayed in the text display area 15 based on the position where the specific action is detected, the user can place the finger on the touch panel 2. The insertion position can be designated smoothly while touching.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation example when editing a part of the input text. Step S31 shows a scene in which the text “Due to the development of three electronics lines” has been input by the operation shown in FIG. In this scene, the text “Due to the development of three lines of electronics” is displayed in the text display area 15, and a cursor and a line feed symbol are displayed immediately after the text. The user's finger is placed in the virtual keyboard 4 while touching the touch panel 2.

  Here, it is assumed that the user wants to correct the input “three lines” to “industry”. In this case, the user changes the direction of travel after moving between “electronics” and “three lines” displayed in the text display area 15 while keeping the finger touching the touch panel 2 in step S32. Then, move the finger between “three lines” and “no”. Further, the user changes the traveling direction and returns it to the virtual keyboard 4.

  Then, the cellular phone terminal 1 has an angle difference between the direction of entering and exiting the space between “electronics” and “three rows” larger than the threshold, and the space between “three rows” and “no” Since the angle difference between the approach direction and the exit direction is larger than the threshold value, it is determined that “electronics” and “three lines” and “three lines” and “no” are selected. When two places are selected in succession in this way, the mobile phone 1 displays the range between the two places as a selection range and displays it in a different manner from the other parts, and moves the cursor to the start position of the selection range. Move. In the example of FIG. 8, in step S33, the cellular phone terminal 1 highlights the “three rows” portion as a selection range, and moves the cursor to a position immediately before that portion.

  Subsequently, in step S34, the user inputs “SANGI” by the continuous method described above. Then, the mobile phone terminal 1 displays “Sangi” with an underline indicating that it is unconfirmed instead of “three rows” as the selection range. In addition, the cellular phone terminal 1 displays two character strings “industry” and “three lines” obtained by predictive conversion of “Sangi” in the input character string candidate display area 14 as input character string candidates. To do.

  Subsequently, in step S35, the user moves the display to the “industry” display area in the input character string candidate display area 14 while keeping the finger touching the touch panel 2, and then displays the display while changing the traveling direction. It is moved outside the area. Then, the mobile phone terminal 1 determines that “industry” is selected because the angle difference between the entry direction and the exit direction to the display area of “industry” is larger than the threshold value.

  In step S <b> 36, the mobile phone terminal 1 deletes “Sangi”, which was an undefined character string, and displays the selected “Industry” immediately after the cursor. Then, the mobile phone terminal 1 moves the cursor immediately after “Industry” to indicate that a newly input character is added after “Industry”.

  In this way, by specifying the replacement range of the input text displayed in the text display area 15 based on the position where the specific action is detected, the user can keep the finger touching the touch panel 2. The replacement range can be specified smoothly.

  Next, the relationship between the function of the mobile phone terminal 1 and the control unit will be described. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of functions of the mobile phone terminal 1 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, 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 mail, a browser program 9B for browsing a WEB page, and a position based on character input processing and a specific operation in the continuous mode described above. Stores a character input program 9C for executing editing processing based on designation, virtual keyboard data 9D including definitions related to a virtual keyboard displayed on the touch panel 2 when characters are input, and dictionary data 9E in which valid character strings are registered. . 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. 10, 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. 10, 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. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of character input processing by the mobile phone terminal 1. The character input process shown in FIG. 11 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 sets a detection flag to 0 as step S41. The detection flag is a flag that is set to 1 when the specific operation described above is detected, and is provided in the RAM 11. Subsequently, in step S42, the main control unit 10 executes a specific operation detection process and determines whether a specific operation is detected on the touch panel 2. If the detection flag remains 0 after execution of the specific action detection process, that is, if a specific action is not detected (No in step S43), the main control unit 10 returns to step S42 and performs the specific action detection process. Try again. Details of the specific operation detection process will be described later.

  When the detection flag has changed to 1 after execution of the specific operation detection process, that is, when a specific operation is detected (Yes in step S43), the main control unit 10 detects a specific operation as step S44. It is determined whether the set position is within the virtual keyboard 4.

  When the position where the specific action is detected is in the virtual keyboard 4 (step S44, Yes), the main control unit 10 corresponds to the button displayed at the position where the specific action is detected as step S45. Appends characters to the temporary input buffer. The temporary input buffer is a buffer in which characters input using the virtual keyboard are stored in time series. The temporary input buffer is provided in the RAM 11 and is initialized to empty beforehand.

  In step S46, the main control unit 10 executes a predictive conversion process based on a character string obtained by concatenating characters stored in the temporary input buffer in the order of storage, and obtains an input character string candidate. Here, the predictive conversion process is realized, for example, by collating a character string obtained by concatenating characters stored in the temporary input buffer in the storage order with a character string registered in the dictionary data 9E. Each of the input character string candidates (hereinafter referred to as “predictive conversion candidates”) obtained by the predictive conversion process is information for specifying the display position in the input character string candidate display area 14 (for example, the upper left of the display area). The coordinates are stored in the RAM 11 in association with the coordinates, width and height.

  Subsequently, the main control unit 10 sets a selection start flag to 0 as step S47. The selection start flag is a flag used for detecting an operation for setting a selection range for the text displayed in the text display area 15, and is provided in the RAM 11.

  The selection start flag is initially set to 0 in advance, and is set to 1 when a specific operation is detected in the text display area 15. When a specific action is detected again in the text display area 15 while the selection start flag is set to 1, a range sandwiched between the positions where two specific actions are detected is set as the selection range. Is set. On the other hand, if a specific operation is detected outside the text display area 15 while the selection start flag is set to 1, the selection start flag is returned to 0. Thus, the selection range is set when a specific operation is detected twice in succession in the text display area 15.

  Here, the main control part 10 determines whether the selection range is set to the text currently displayed on the text display area 15 as step S48. If the selection range is set (step S48, Yes), the selection range is a replacement target as shown in FIG. 8, and therefore the main control unit 10 changes from the fixed input buffer to the selection range as step S49. Delete the corresponding character.

  The definite input buffer is a buffer that stores text composed of character strings input by a continuous method or the like, and is provided in the RAM 11. The text stored in the fixed input buffer is displayed in the text display area 15 under the control of the main control unit 10. The position where each character constituting the text stored in the fixed input buffer is displayed in the text display area 15 is based on the type and size of the typeface set in advance, the height between lines, the prohibition processing rule, and the like. Is calculated.

  The RAM 11 stores information for specifying the cursor position as information related to the fixed input buffer. Information for specifying the position of the cursor is used to determine where in the text stored in the definite input buffer a character string newly input by a continuous method or the like is to be inserted. Information for specifying the position of the cursor is initialized in advance so that a character string is added to the end of the text stored in the fixed input buffer.

  Further, the RAM 11 stores information for specifying the selection range as information related to the confirmed input buffer. Information for specifying the selection range is used to determine from where to where in the text stored in the definite input buffer is handled as the selection range. Information for specifying the selection range is initially set in advance so that no part of the text stored in the fixed input buffer is treated as the selection range.

  Then, in step S63, the main control unit 10 updates the display content of the touch panel 2 and completes the character input process. Specifically, the main control unit 10 displays the predictive conversion candidates stored in the RAM 11 in the input character string candidate display area 14 according to information for specifying the display position. In addition, the main control unit 10 displays each character included in the text stored in the fixed input buffer based on the type and size of the typeface, the height between lines, the prohibition processing rule, and the like as described above. Is displayed in the text display area 15 while calculating. At this time, the main control unit 10 inserts a character string obtained by concatenating characters stored in the temporary input buffer in the order of storage at the position indicated by the information for specifying the cursor position, and displays it with an underline. To do. When the Roman character conversion is valid, a character string obtained by converting the character string into a Roman character is inserted instead of the character string obtained by concatenating the characters stored in the temporary input buffer in the order of storage.

  In addition, when the information for specifying the selection range indicates that there is a part to be handled as the selection range in the text stored in the fixed input buffer, the main control unit 10 selects a character corresponding to the part. It is displayed in a different manner from the other parts, such as by displaying it in reverse video. Further, the main control unit 10 displays the cursor according to the information for specifying the position of the cursor, and displays a line feed symbol at the line feed position of the text stored in the fixed input buffer.

  When the position where the specific action is detected in the specific action detection process is not in the virtual keyboard 4 (No at Step S44), the main control unit 10 sets the position where the specific action is detected as the text display area 15 as Step S50. It is determined whether it is within. When the position where the specific action is detected is the text display area 15 (step S50, Yes), the main control unit 10 determines whether or not the selection start flag is 0 as step S51.

  When the selection start flag is 0 (step S51, Yes), the main control unit 10 as step S52, information for specifying the position of the cursor so that the cursor moves to the position where the specific operation is detected. Update. For example, when a specific action is detected between the display position of the fifth character and the display position of the sixth character of the text stored in the fixed input buffer, the information for specifying the cursor position is: The cursor is updated so that the cursor is displayed between the display position of the fifth character and the display position of the sixth character.

  Subsequently, the main control unit 10 sets a selection start flag to 1 in step S53. Then, the main control unit 10 clears the temporary input buffer as step S54 and predictive conversion as step S55 because the process becomes complicated if an undetermined character string remains when the selection range is set. Delete a candidate. In step S56, if the selection range has already been set, the main control unit 10 updates information for specifying the selection range so that the selection range is canceled.

  In step S63, the main control unit 10 updates the display content of the touch panel 2 as described above, and completes the character input process.

  On the other hand, when the selection start flag is not 0, that is, when the cursor is set at the position that is the start point of the selection range (step S51, No), the main control unit 10 determines a specific position from the cursor position as step S57. Information for specifying the selection range is updated so that the range up to the position where the motion is detected this time is the selection range. Then, the main control unit 10 returns the selection start flag to 0 as step S58. Here, the selection start flag may be set to 1 without returning to 0 so that the selection range can be reset without resetting the position to be the starting point.

  In step S63, the main control unit 10 updates the display content of the touch panel 2 as described above, and completes the character input process.

  When the position where the specific action is detected in the specific action detection process is neither within the virtual keyboard 4 nor the text display area 15, that is, when the position where the specific action is detected is the input character string candidate display area 14 ( In step S50, No), the main control unit 10 inserts the predictive conversion candidate displayed at the position where the specific action is detected, into the definite input buffer as step S59. Here, the predictive conversion candidate displayed at the position where the specific action is detected is a character string selected by the user as a character to be input by the user. The prediction conversion candidate displayed at the position where the specific action is detected is inserted immediately before the position indicated by the information for specifying the cursor position, and the information for specifying the cursor position is inserted. It is updated so that it is displayed immediately after the predictive conversion candidate.

  Subsequently, the main control unit 10 sets a selection start flag to 0 as step S60. Then, the main control unit 10 clears the temporary input buffer as Step S61 and deletes the predictive conversion candidate as Step S62 because the undetermined character string is confirmed. In step S63, the main control unit 10 updates the display content of the touch panel 2 as described above, and completes the character input process.

  Next, details of the specific action detection process executed in step S42 of FIG. 11 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the specific operation detection process. As shown in FIG. 12, the main control unit 10 first acquires the detection result of the touch panel 2 as step S71.

  When the detected operation is an operation for starting contact with the touch panel 2 (Yes at Step S72), the main control unit 10 determines whether the position where the contact is started is within any region as Step S73. judge.

  Here, the “region” in the processing procedure shown in FIG. 12 will be described with reference to FIG. In the “area” in the processing procedure shown in FIG. 12, a button display area in the virtual keyboard 4, a prediction conversion candidate display area in the input character string candidate display area 14, and a cursor in the text display area 15 can be set. And area.

  The button display area in the virtual keyboard 4 is, for example, the display area of the “Q” button or the display area of the “W” button shown in FIG. The position and size of the display area of each button in the virtual keyboard 4 are set in the virtual keyboard data 9D.

  The predictive conversion candidate display area in the input character string candidate display area 14 is, for example, the display area of the character string “Industry” or the display area of the character string “3 lines” shown in FIG. The position and size of the display area of each prediction conversion candidate in the input character string candidate display area 14 can be obtained from information for specifying the display position. As described above, the information for specifying the display position is stored in the RAM 11 in association with the prediction conversion candidate.

  The cursor settable area in the text display area 15 is an invisible area set in the vicinity of the position where the cursor may be set. Specifically, the head of the text displayed in the text display area 15 is set. It is set between the line feed part and the display position of the characters included before and after the text. The cursor settable area in the text display area 15 corresponds to, for example, a rectangular area indicated by a dotted line in the text display area 15 shown in FIG. The position and size of the cursor settable area in the text display area 15 depends on the type and size of the typeface used as a reference for calculating the display position of the character included in the text, the height between lines, the prohibition processing rule, etc. Can be based on. It should be noted that the cursor settable areas in the text display area 15 are preferably wide enough to overlap each other.

  Returning to the explanation of FIG. 12, when the position where the contact is started is in any region (step S <b> 73, Yes), it is considered that the region has been touched intentionally. In step S74, the detection flag is set to 1. In step S75, the output flag is set to 1, and the specific operation detection process is completed.

  The output flag is provided in the RAM 11 and is used to determine whether or not a specific action has been detected in the region where the finger is currently in contact. A value of the output flag being 0 indicates that a specific action has not yet been detected in the region where the finger is currently in contact. The value of the output flag being 1 indicates that a specific action has been detected in the region where the finger is currently in contact.

  In step S73, when the position where the contact is started is not in any region (No in step S73), the main control unit 10 completes the specific operation detection process without performing any particular process.

  In step S72, when the operation detected on the touch panel 2 is not an operation for starting contact with the touch panel 2 (No in step S72), the main control unit 10 performs the operation detected on the touch panel 2 as step S76. It is determined based on the detection result of the touch panel 2 whether the operation is to move the finger into the area while keeping the touch to the touch panel 2. Whether or not the detected operation is an operation of causing a finger to enter the 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. Is compared with the position and size of each region.

  When the detected operation is an operation that causes the finger to enter the region while maintaining contact with the touch panel 2 (Yes in Step S76), the main control unit 10 clears the movement direction history as Step S77. The movement direction history is data in which a direction vector indicating in which direction the finger has moved in the region is recorded in time series, and is stored in the RAM 11.

  Subsequently, in step S78, the main control unit 10 acquires a direction vector indicating the direction in which the finger has entered the area, and adds the acquired direction vector to the movement direction history. Then, in step S79, the main control unit 10 sets the output flag to 0 and completes the specific operation detection 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 S76, when the operation detected by the touch panel 2 is not an operation of moving a finger into the region while maintaining contact with the touch panel 2 (step S76, No), the main control unit 10 determines as step S80. It is determined based on the detection result of the touch panel 2 whether the operation detected by the touch panel 2 is an operation of moving a finger out of the region while maintaining contact with the touch panel 2. Whether or not the detected operation is an operation of moving a finger out of the area while maintaining contact with the touch panel 2 is determined based 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 position and size of each region.

  When the detected operation is an operation of moving the finger out of the region while maintaining contact with the touch panel 2 (step S80, Yes), the main control unit 10 determines whether the output flag is 0 as step S81. Determine. Here, when the output flag is not 0, that is, when a specific action has been detected in the area where the finger has been positioned so far (No in step S81), the main control unit 10 performs the processing in particular. The specific action detection process is completed without performing it.

  On the other hand, when the output flag is 0 (Yes in step S81), the main control unit 10 acquires the latest movement vector, that is, a direction vector indicating the direction in which the finger goes out of the region, in step S82. Then, the angle difference from the head direction vector of the movement direction history is calculated. The angle difference calculated here represents the magnitude of the difference between the direction when the finger enters the area and the direction when the finger exits the area.

  When the calculated angle difference is equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold (No in step S83), the main control unit 10 does not perform any particular processing, because the finger is considered to have simply passed through the region. To complete.

  On the other hand, when the calculated angle difference is larger than the predetermined threshold (step S83, Yes), the region is considered to have been touched intentionally, so the main control unit 10 sets the detection flag to 1 as step S84. Then, the specific operation detection process is completed.

  In step S80, when the operation detected on the touch panel 2 is not an operation of moving a finger out of the region while maintaining contact with the touch panel 2 (No in step S80), the main control unit 10 performs step S85. 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 S85, Yes), the main control unit 10 determines whether the output flag is 0 as step S86. Here, if the output flag is not 0, that is, if a specific action has been detected in the area where the finger has been in contact (No in step S86), the main control unit 10 does not perform any particular processing. To complete the specific action detection process.

  On the other hand, when the output flag is 0 (step S86, Yes), the main control unit 10 determines in step S87 whether the position where the contact has ended is in any region. If the position where the contact is terminated is in any of the regions (Yes in step S87), the region is considered to have been touched intentionally, so the main control unit 10 sets the detection flag to 1 in step S88. Set to complete the specific action detection process.

  When the position where the contact is terminated is not in any region (No in step S87), the main control unit 10 completes the specific operation detection process without performing any particular process.

  In step S85, when the operation detected on the touch panel 2 is not an operation for ending the touch on the touch panel 2 (No in step S85), the main control unit 10 determines the contact detected on the touch panel 2 as step S89. It is determined based on the detection result of the touch panel 2 whether the position is in any region.

  When the position of the contact is in any region (step S89, Yes), the main control unit 10 acquires a direction vector indicating the direction in which the finger has moved in the region as step S90, and acquires the acquired direction. Add vector to direction history. Then, in step S91, the main control unit 10 refers to each direction vector recorded in the movement direction history and determines whether the finger has moved while drawing a trajectory that rotates within the area while touching the touch panel 2. To do.

  Here, when the finger is moving while drawing a trajectory that rotates in the region while touching the touch panel 2 (step S91, Yes), the region is considered to have been intentionally touched. In step S94, the detection flag is set to 1. Then, the main control unit 10 sets the output flag to 1 in step S95, clears the movement direction history in step S96, and completes the specific operation detection process.

  In step S91, when the finger has not touched the touch panel 2 and moved while drawing a trajectory rotating in the region (No in step S91), the main control unit 10 has an output flag of 0 as step S92. Determine whether. Here, if the output flag is not 0, that is, if a specific action has already been detected in the region where the finger is staying (step S92, No), the main control unit 10 specifies without performing any particular processing. Complete the motion detection process.

  On the other hand, when the output flag is 0 (step S92, Yes), the main control unit 10 determines whether or not the time during which the finger stays in the current area is greater than or equal to a predetermined time as step S93. Here, the staying time may be obtained based on the number of direction vectors included in the movement direction history. If the staying time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time (step S93, Yes), the main control unit 10 sets the detection flag to 1 as step S94 because the area is considered to have been touched intentionally. Then, the main control unit 10 sets the output flag to 1 in step S95, clears the movement direction history in step S96, and completes the specific operation detection process.

  If the stay time is not equal to or longer than the predetermined time (No at Step S93), it is unclear whether the area has been touched intentionally, so the main control unit 10 completes the specific action detection process without performing any particular process.

  In step S89, when the contact position is not in any region (step S89, No), the main control unit 10 completes the specific action detection process without performing any particular process.

  As described above, the mobile phone terminal 1 is configured to be able to input characters, specify the insertion position of the characters, and the like without releasing the finger from the touch panel 2. Allows you to enter characters.

  In addition, the aspect of this invention shown by said embodiment can be arbitrarily changed in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the insertion position and the replacement range of the character string are determined based on the specific operation detected in the text display area 15, but the specific operation detected in the text display area 15 Based on the above, the word break position in the predictive conversion may be changed.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an operation example in the case of changing the word break position in the predictive conversion. Step S101 shows a scene in which the user intends to input “international” after the text “Due to the development of the electronics industry”. In this scene, the user inputs “KOKUSAITEKI”, but the word break is misinterpreted as being between “Koku” and “Saisui”. Inappropriate characters such as “Darker optimal” and “Notice optimal” are displayed. In Japanese, unlike English and the like, there is no space character that separates words, and thus the word separation position may be misinterpreted in this way.

  In this case, the user changes the traveling direction after moving the finger between “Kokusai” and “Ki” displayed in the text display area 15 while keeping the finger touching the touch panel 2 in Step S102. To do.

  Then, the cellular phone terminal 1 deliberately has a difference between “Kokusai” and “Ki” because the angle difference between the direction of entering and leaving the space between “Kokusai” and “Ki” is larger than the threshold value. It is determined that it has been touched. As described above, when a specific action is detected in the display area of an undetermined character string in the middle of conversion, the mobile phone terminal 1 assumes that the position where the action is detected is a word break position, and predictive conversion Try again.

  As a result, in step S <b> 103, the predicted conversion candidate including the desired character string “international” is displayed in the input character string candidate display area 14. In step S104, the user moves the finger to the “international” display area in the input character string candidate display area 14 while keeping the finger touching the touch panel 2, and then displays the display while changing the traveling direction. It is moved outside the area. Then, the mobile phone terminal 1 determines that “international” is selected because the angle difference between the entry direction and the exit direction to the “international” display area is larger than the threshold value.

  In step S <b> 105, the mobile phone terminal 1 deletes “Kokusai come”, which is an undetermined character string, and displays the selected “international” immediately after the cursor. Then, the cellular phone terminal 1 moves the cursor immediately after “international” to indicate that a newly input character is added after “international”.

  Thus, by specifying the word break position based on the position where the specific action is detected, the user can smoothly specify the break position while keeping the finger touching the touch panel 2.

  In the above embodiment, the insertion position and replacement range of the character string are determined based on the specific operation detected in the text display area 15. However, the specific operation detected in the text display area 15 is determined. Based on the above, it may be possible to designate a range for performing reconversion.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an operation example when re-converting a part of the input text. Step S111 shows a scene in which the text “Due to the development of three lines of electronics” has been input by the operation shown in FIG. In this scene, the text “Due to the development of three lines of electronics” is displayed in the text display area 15, and a cursor and a line feed symbol are displayed immediately after the text. The user's finger is placed in the virtual keyboard 4 while touching the touch panel 2.

  Here, it is assumed that the user wants to reconvert the input “three lines” into “industry”. In this case, in step S112, the user changes the traveling direction after moving between “electronics” and “three lines” displayed in the text display area 15 while keeping the finger touching the touch panel 2. Then, move the finger between “three lines” and “no”.

  Then, since the angle difference between the direction of entering and exiting the space between “electronics” and “three rows” is larger than the threshold, the mobile phone terminal 1 has a reconversion range between “electronics” and “three rows”. It is determined that the start point is selected. Then, the cellular phone terminal 1 displays a portion where the finger has passed after “electronics” and “three rows” are selected in a manner different from the other portions. In the example of FIG. 15, the mobile phone terminal 1 highlights the “three rows” portion.

  Then, in step S113, the user changes the traveling direction while keeping the finger touching the touch panel 2. Then, since the mobile phone terminal 1 has an angle difference between the direction of entering and exiting the space between “three rows” and “no” greater than the threshold, the range between “three rows” and “ It is determined that it has been selected as the end point.

  When the start point and end point of the reconversion range are specified in this way, the mobile phone terminal 1 acquires the pre-conversion character string of “three lines” as the reconversion range. Here, the character string before conversion may be obtained by comparing the converted character string with the dictionary data 9E, and the character string before conversion corresponds to the character string after conversion at the time of predictive conversion. In addition, it may be stored in the storage unit 9 or the like, and may be acquired based on the stored information. And the mobile telephone terminal 1 re-executes prediction conversion based on the character string before conversion.

  In step S114, the mobile phone terminal 1 adds an underline indicating that the character string before conversion is “unfixed” instead of “three lines” that is the re-conversion range. To display. In addition, the mobile phone terminal 1 uses the two character strings “industry” and “three lines” obtained by predictive conversion of “sangyo” as input character string candidates in the input character string candidate display area 14. indicate.

  Subsequently, in step S115, the user moves the display to the "industry" display area in the input character string candidate display area 14 while keeping the finger touching the touch panel 2, and then displays the display by changing the traveling direction. It is moved outside the area. Then, the mobile phone terminal 1 determines that “industry” is selected because the angle difference between the entry direction and the exit direction to the display area of “industry” is larger than the threshold value.

  In step S116, the cellular phone terminal 1 deletes “Sangyo”, which is an undefined character string, and displays the selected “Industry” immediately after the cursor. Then, the mobile phone terminal 1 moves the cursor immediately after “Industry” to indicate that a newly input character is added after “Industry”.

  In this way, by specifying the reconversion range of the input text displayed in the text display area 15 based on the position where the specific action is detected, the user keeps the finger touching the touch panel 2. The re-conversion range can be specified smoothly.

  Note that the user may be able to select whether the range specified by a specific operation is handled as a replacement range or a reconversion range. Such a selection can be realized by, for example, displaying a menu as shown in FIG. 16 on the touch panel 2 when a range is designated by a specific operation. That is, the mobile phone terminal 1 is configured to display a menu as shown in FIG. 16 when the range of “three lines” of the text displayed in the text display area 15 is designated by a specific operation. To do. Then, when the “reconversion” item is selected by a specific operation, the operation shown in FIG. 15 is performed, and a new character string is created using the virtual keyboard 4 without selecting any item. Is input, the operation as shown in FIG. 8 is performed.

  Further, when a menu as shown in FIG. 16 is displayed, when a “delete” item is selected, a range-designated portion may be deleted. Further, when the item “Cut” or “Copy” is selected, a cut and paste operation or a copy and paste operation may be performed on a range-specified portion. The position where the selection range is inserted by the cut and paste operation or the copy and paste operation may be specified by a specific operation after the selection of the menu item.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the predictive conversion process is performed based on the character string input using the virtual keyboard 4, but the kana-kanji conversion or the correction / complement process is performed instead of the predictive conversion process. Also good. Here, the correction / complement processing is obtained by collating a word similar to the input character string with the dictionary data 9E and correcting the erroneous character so that the input character string becomes a correct word. Or the process of complementing missing characters.

  In the above-described embodiment, the text string is inserted for the text displayed on the screen provided by the character input program 9C. However, it is displayed on the screen provided by another program such as the mail program 9A. It is also possible to insert a character string for the text to be processed. In this case, the processing procedure shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 is realized by cooperation of the function provided by the character input program 9C and the function provided by another program. The character input program 9C may be divided into a plurality of programs or may be integrated with other programs.

  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
14 Input character string candidate display area 15 Text display area

Claims (11)

A touch panel that detects movement on the surface;
A control unit for displaying text on the touch panel,
The control unit
Displaying a keyboard area including a plurality of buttons each associated with a specific character on the touch panel;
When you are entering text via the plurality of buttons, said starting from keyboard area over the display area of the text, when a predetermined operation performed while in contact with the surface of the touch panel is detected In addition, the text input device performs the text editing process by using a portion of the text corresponding to the position where the predetermined motion is detected as a reference of an editing portion. Before SL is contacted starts at the first position on the surface of the touch panel, when the contact operation to maintain contact to a second position of the surface of the touch panel is detected by the touch panel, the contact in the first position Accepting as input a character string including characters corresponding to the buttons displayed on the trajectory connecting the positions where contact was detected while contact was maintained from the start to the second position;
The character input device according to claim 1, wherein character strings received as input are connected and displayed as the text.   The control unit inserts a character string newly accepted as input into a portion of the text corresponding to a position where the predetermined action is detected as the editing process. The character input device described in 1.   The control unit, as the editing process, includes a first part corresponding to a position where a first predetermined action is detected and a second part corresponding to a position where a second predetermined action is detected in the text. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein a portion surrounded by the character string is replaced with a character string newly accepted.   The control unit, as the editing process, includes a first part corresponding to a position where a first predetermined action is detected and a second part corresponding to a position where a second predetermined action is detected in the text. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein a part surrounded by is replaced with a character string obtained by a conversion process based on a character string before conversion of the part.   When the second predetermined action is detected, the control unit displays a part of the text surrounded by the first part and the second part in a manner different from other parts. The character input device according to claim 4, wherein the character input device is a character input device.   The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit detects an operation for changing a moving direction as one of the predetermined operations.   The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit detects an operation of drawing a trajectory of a specific shape as one of the predetermined operations.   The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit detects an operation that remains at a specific position for a predetermined period or longer as one of the predetermined operations. A character input method executed by a character input device having a touch panel for detecting contact with a surface,
Displaying text on the touch panel;
Displaying a keyboard region including a plurality of buttons each associated with a specific character on the touch panel;
Detecting when you are entering text, the predetermined operation performed while starting in contact with the surface of the touch panel over a display region of the text from the keyboard area through the plurality of buttons,
And a step of editing the text using a portion of the text corresponding to the position where the predetermined motion is detected as a reference of an editing portion. In a character input device having a touch panel that detects contact with the surface,
Displaying text on the touch panel;
Displaying a keyboard region including a plurality of buttons each associated with a specific character on the touch panel;
Detecting when you are entering text, the predetermined operation performed while starting in contact with the surface of the touch panel over a display region of the text from the keyboard area through the plurality of buttons,
And a step of performing an editing process on the text with a portion corresponding to a position where the predetermined action is detected as a reference of an editing portion.

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