JP5701522B2 - Character input device and method using touch screen of terminal - Google Patents

Description

  More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for inputting characters via a touch screen of a terminal.

  Personal terminal is a term commonly used for portable small terminals, and includes PDA (Personal Data Assistant), wireless communication terminal, MP3 player, Bluetooth device, digital camera, and the like. I will explain. In general, a PDA includes a central processing unit (CPU) that is the basis of a computer, a memory, an OS (Operating System), various software based on the OS, and peripheral devices, and collects, stores, creates, and retrieves information. Recently, it has been developed as a composite device capable of voice communication and data communication (use of the Internet) by mounting a mobile phone module.

  In general, a PDA includes a touch screen, and the touch screen includes a display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a touch panel disposed on the display. The user executes a corresponding application by touching an icon displayed on the touch screen with a finger or a pointer, or inputs characters by touching a touch keyboard displayed in a predetermined area on the touch screen. You can do it.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a general keyboard layout among touch keyboard layouts of a conventional terminal.
Referring to FIG. 1, a touch screen of a terminal includes a display unit that displays input characters on a screen and a touch keyboard to which characters are input. The touch keyboard includes a general personal computer ( The keyboard layout of Personal Computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) is applied.

However, when the conventional keyboard layout is applied to the touch screen of the terminal as described above, the size of the touch keyboard displayed on the touch screen is reduced due to the limitation of the size of the touch screen. For this reason, in the conventional input method using the touch screen, each key of the touch keyboard displayed on the touch screen becomes small, so it is inconvenient to see and touch. This makes it difficult to input characters and reduces the speed of character input.
Accordingly, there is a demand for a method of inputting characters using a touch keyboard that facilitates character input on a touch screen of a terminal.

Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2001-0000692 Specification Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2003-0018665 Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2005-0038422 JP 2006-023950 A JP 2002-108543 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a character input device and method for inputting characters using a touch keyboard that facilitates character input on a touch screen of a terminal. is there.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for inputting characters in a terminal includes a basic key set including consonant keys and one input via the basic key set. When the consonant key is input via the basic key set, a touch screen that displays an extended key set including a character key that can be combined with a consonant corresponding to one consonant key, and the extended key set. A control unit for controlling the touch screen to display a set on the input consonant key and inputting at least one character via the basic key set and the extended key set. Features.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for inputting characters in a terminal includes a step of displaying a basic key set including consonant keys, and one consonant key of the consonant keys via the basic key set is displayed. Displaying on the touch screen an extended key set including a character key including a character that can be combined with a consonant corresponding to the consonant key, and at least one character key via the extended key set. Is input.
According to still another aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for inputting characters in a terminal includes a basic key set including a plurality of predetermined rectangular basic character keys, and the basic characters via the basic key set. A plurality of quadratic second character keys to which a plurality of second characters related to the first character are respectively assigned around the first character corresponding to the first character key selected from the keys A touch screen that displays an extended key set formed on at least the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the first character, and the extended key set is displayed when the first character key is selected via the basic key set. And a control unit that controls the touch screen and receives an input of at least one character via the extended key set. Here, each of the second character keys has the same size as the first character key. The second character key is formed around the first character so as to surround the first character with the first character as a center. A touch keyboard for displaying the basic key set is formed at a lower part of the touch screen, and a display unit for displaying characters input by the touch keyboard is formed at the upper part of the touch screen. Is displayed on the display unit. Further, the character assigned to the second character key formed in the direction in which the touch movement input input on the touch screen is directed is displayed on the display unit. The extended key set is larger than the first character key, and is formed so as not to block characters displayed on other first character keys adjacent to the first character key. The extended key set is highlighted and displayed.
According to still another aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, a method for inputting characters in a terminal includes: displaying a basic key set including a plurality of predetermined square basic character keys on a touch screen; Receiving a selection of a first character key among the basic character keys through a set, and relating the first character to the first character corresponding to the selected first character key A step of displaying an extended key set in which a plurality of quadratic second character keys to which a plurality of second characters are respectively assigned are formed at least on the top, bottom, left and right sides of the first character; Receiving the input of at least one character key among the second character keys. Here, each of the second character keys has the same size as the first character key. The second character key is formed around the first character so as to surround the first character with the first character as a center. Furthermore, a touch keyboard for displaying the basic key set is formed at the lower part of the touch screen, and a display unit for displaying characters input by the touch keyboard is formed at the upper part of the touch screen. A part of the key set is displayed on the display unit. The extended key set is highlighted and displayed.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, in the touch keyboard, the extended key set is displayed as a pop-up window including the next inputable character with respect to the input key, so that it is possible to easily input the character. Become.
Also, according to the present invention, since the extended key set including the next inputable character is enlarged and displayed on the terminal having a small screen, the user can input a desired character quickly and easily.
In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to minimize the number of character keys arranged on the initial input screen via the touch screen using the extended key set in the terminal.

It is a figure which shows a general keyboard arrangement | sequence among the touch keyboard arrangement | sequences of the conventional terminal. It is a figure which shows the example of the basic key set for the input of Chinese by embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the basic key set for the input of Chinese by embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the extended key set for the input of Chinese by embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the extended key set for the input of Chinese by embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the extended key set for the input of Chinese by embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the extended key set for the input of Chinese by embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the touch keyboard using the basic key set and extended key set by embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the touch keyboard using the basic key set and extended key set by embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method of inputting characters through a touch keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method of inputting characters through a touch keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method of inputting characters through a touch keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing a character input device using a touch keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a character input method using a touch keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the embodiments of the present invention, for the purpose of clarifying only the gist of the present invention, specific descriptions relating to related known functions or configurations are omitted.
The main gist of the present invention is to display all the consonant keys on the touch keyboard for inputting characters, and when one consonant key is touched and input on the touch keyboard, the input consonant key and The purpose is to enlarge and display a pop-up window including character keys that can be combined.

Hereinafter, in this specification, an initial screen of a touch keyboard including all consonant keys is defined as a 'basic key set', and character keys that can be combined with consonant keys input through the basic key set are included. Define the popup window as an 'extended key set'.
In this specification, a specific example of a touch keyboard including consonant and vowel keys is mentioned. However, the number of keys arranged on the touch keyboard increases according to the use frequency and purpose of each key. Or it may be reduced and other key arrangements may be used. Although a method of inputting Chinese and English will be described here, the embodiment of the present invention can be applied to any language as long as it has characters having vowels and consonants.

2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating examples of basic key sets for inputting Chinese according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 2A, a basic key set for inputting Chinese according to an embodiment of the present invention is a 6 * 4 array, and consonants excluding vowels (a, e, i, o, u) are arranged in alphabetical order. B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, W, X, Y, Z arranged on each key Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2B, the consonants are arranged on each key in a QWERTY keyboard layout, and Q, W, R, T, Y, U, I, O, P, A, S, D, F , G, H, J, K, L, Z, X, C, V, B, N, M. The basic key set further includes an Er key, which is a character that can be initially input, in order to configure a Chinese pin sound in addition to the consonant. In addition to the consonant and the Er key, the basic key set may further include a key that functions as a space bar, a key that functions as a back space, and an “aueo” key for direct input of a vowel. it can.

In the basic key set shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the C, S, and Z keys are used to input C or Ch, S or Sh, Z or Zh, respectively. C or Ch, S or Sh, Z or Zh are respectively displayed on the touch screen when touched by the pointer or dragged briefly within the corresponding key area.
On the other hand, when the basic key set is applied to a language other than Chinese and English, h displayed as subscripts on the C, S, and Z keys on the touch keyboard shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. , R displayed as a subscript on the E key can be omitted.

When one consonant key is input in the basic key set of FIG. 2A or FIG. 2B, the extended key set is displayed on the input consonant key or in the display area. A case where it is displayed in the keyboard area will be described. Examples of extended key sets that can be used for the basic key set of FIG. 2A or FIG. 2B are shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D.
3A to 3D are diagrams illustrating examples of extended key sets for inputting Chinese according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, each key of the extended key set has a size that does not cause inconvenience for pointing, and the area of the extended key set does not cause inconvenience for pointing of other consonants in the basic key set. What is necessary is just to have a magnitude | size.

In the extended key set of FIG. 3A, a key (for example, M) input from the basic key set is arranged at the center, and a, e, i, o, u keys that are vowel keys that can be combined with the input key. And n and g keys that often end in Chinese are placed around the input key.
In the extended key set of FIG. 3B, keys (for example, M) input from the basic key set are arranged, and a, e, i, o, u keys that are vowel keys that can be combined with the input key are It is arranged around this input key.
In the extended key set of FIG. 3C, a, e, i, o, and u keys that are vowel keys that can be combined with the input key are arranged.
In the extended key set of FIG. 3D, a, e, i, o, u, and y keys that are vowel keys that can be combined with the input key are arranged.

  Although not shown, in the extended key set of the present invention, the n key and g key that often appear at the end in Chinese may be dynamically arranged according to the situation, and can be combined with the input key. It may further include various function keys (for example, space key, back key (←)).

の入力に使用され、ｕキーが該当するキー領域内で、ポインターでタッチされるか、または短くドラッグされると、そのタッチスクリーンにｕまたは

で表示される。また、ｅキーが該当するキー領域内で、ポインターでタッチされるか、該当するキー領域内で短くドラッグされると、タッチスクリーンにｅまたはｅｒで表示される。
なお、拡張キーセットから母音キーのａ、ｅ、ｉ、ｏ、ｕキーのうち一つのキーが入力される場合には、入力された母音キーは、語尾によく使われるｎキーに変更され、この変更されたｎキーが入力される場合には、このｎキーは、語尾によく使われるｇキーに変更される。上記変更されたキーを含む変更された拡張キーセットは、所定の時間が経過すると初期拡張キーセットに復帰される。 In the extended key set shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D, the u key is u and

When the u key is touched with a pointer or dragged shortly within the corresponding key area, u or

Is displayed. Further, when the e key is touched with a pointer in the corresponding key area or is dragged briefly within the corresponding key area, the e key is displayed on the touch screen as e or er.
When one of the vowel keys a, e, i, o, u is input from the extended key set, the input vowel key is changed to the n key that is often used at the end of the vowel key. When the changed n key is input, the n key is changed to a g key often used at the end of the word. The changed extended key set including the changed key is returned to the initial extended key set when a predetermined time elapses.

4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a touch keyboard using a basic key set and an extended key set according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 4A, when an M key is inputted through a basic key set using a 6 * 4 arrangement, the inputted M key is arranged in the center and can be combined with the inputted M key. There are vowel keys (for example, a, e, i, o, u, y, which are Chinese vowels) and frequently used character keys (for example, n key, g key often used for ending in Chinese) The extended key set arranged around the inputted M key is displayed so as to overlap the inputted M key on the basic key set.
As shown in FIG. 4B, when an M key is input via a basic key set using a QWERTY keyboard layout, the input M key is arranged and can be combined with the input M key ( For example, an extended key set in which a Chinese vowel a, e, i, o, u) is arranged around the inputted M key overlaps the inputted M key in the basic key set. Is displayed.

5 to 7 are diagrams illustrating a method of inputting characters via the touch keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 5, a case where the user inputs “NiHao” via a touch keyboard having a basic key set arranged in a 6 * 4 arrangement will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 5A, the user touches the N key 501 with a pointer to input the consonant N that is the first character of “NiHao” in the basic key set displayed on the touch keyboard. If the pointer is not released for a predetermined time after touching, the consonant N is displayed on the display unit 500, and the touch keyboard has an extended key set 502 for the N key 501 as shown in FIG. Is displayed. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, the user touches the i key 503 with a pointer among the keys included in the extended key set 502 or does not release the pointer for a predetermined time after the touch. Alternatively, when drag and drop is performed from the N key 501 to the i key 503, Ni is displayed on the display unit 500.

In order to input a consonant H, which is the next character, the user touches the H key 504 with a pointer or touches in the basic key set displayed on the touch keyboard as shown in FIG. When the pointer is not released for a predetermined time from the time i, or drag and drop is performed from the i key 503 to the H key 504, H is displayed on the display unit 500, and as shown in FIG. An extended key set 505 for the key 504 is displayed on the touch keyboard. At this time, since Ni corresponds to a Chinese pin sound, instead of Ni, a corresponding Chinese character and H can be displayed on the display unit 500. In the touch keyboard, the extended key set 502 for the N key 501 may be removed when another consonant (ie, consonant H) is displayed on the display unit, and the consonant (ie, N) is displayed on the display unit. It may be removed when it is deleted from. Next, as shown in FIG. 5D, in order for the user to input a, among the keys included in the extended key set 505, the a key 506 is touched with a pointer, or a predetermined key is touched. If the pointer is not released for a period of time or if drag and drop is performed from the H key 504 to the a key 506, Ha is displayed on the display unit. At this time, instead of Ni, the corresponding Chinese character and Ha can be displayed on the display unit 500.
Finally, in order to input the vowel o, which is the next character, the user touches the o key 508 with a pointer in the extended key set 507 as shown in FIG. If the pointer is not released for a period of time or if drag and drop is performed from the a key 506 to the o key 508, Hao is displayed on the display unit 500. At this time, when a specific key is touched, the above Hao corresponds to a Chinese pin sound, so instead of Ni, the corresponding Chinese character and the corresponding Chinese character instead of Hao are displayed on the display unit. 500 can be displayed.

Referring to FIG. 6, a case where a user inputs “Shang” through a touch keyboard having a basic key set arranged in a 6 * 4 arrangement will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 6A, in the basic key set displayed on the touch keyboard, in order to simultaneously input the consonant S and the consonant h, which are the first characters of “Shuang”, the S key 601 After touching with the pointer, if the pointer is dragged for a short time in a specific area (that is, within the S key area) without releasing the pointer for a predetermined time, Sh is displayed on the display unit, as shown in FIG. As shown, an extended key set 602 for the S key 601 is displayed on the touch keyboard. Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, among the keys included in the extended key set 602, the user touches the u key 603 with the pointer or does not release the pointer for a predetermined time after the touch. Alternatively, when drag and drop is performed from the S key 601 to the u key 603, Shu is displayed on the display unit. At this time, the extended key set 1202 is changed to an extended key set 1204 including an “n” key instead of the “u” key 1203.
Thereafter, in order to input the vowel a, which is the next character, the user touches the a key 605 with a pointer in the extended key set 604 as shown in (C) of FIG. When the pointer is not released during the period, or when drag and drop is performed from the u key 603 to the a key 605, Shua is displayed on the display unit, and as shown in FIG. 606 is displayed. The changed extended key set 1206 means that the “a” key 1205 of the extended key set 1202 has been converted to the “n” key 1207. When the user touches the n key 607 with the pointer in the extended key set 606 or does not release the pointer for a predetermined time after the touch, Shuan is displayed on the display unit, as shown in FIG. The changed extended key set 608 is displayed. The changed extended key set 1208 means that the “n” key 1207 of the extended key set 1206 has been converted to the “g” key 1209. When the user touches the g key 609 with the pointer in the extended key set 608 or does not release the pointer for a predetermined time after the touch, Shunag or kanji corresponding thereto is displayed on the display unit.

を入力する場合について説明する。図７の（Ａ）に示すように、タッチキーボードに表示された基本キーセットにおいて、ユーザーが

の最初の文字である子音Ｓを入力するためにＳキー７０１をポインターでタッチするか、タッチしてから所定の時間の間ポインターを離さないと、子音Ｓがディスプレイ部に表示され、図７の（Ｂ）のように、タッチキーボードにＳキー７０１に対する拡張キーセット７０２が表示される。続いて、拡張キーセット７０２において、ユーザーが次の文字である母音ｕを入力するためにｕキー７０３をポインターでタッチするか、タッチしてから所定の時間の間ポインターを離さないか、または、Ｓキー７０１からｕキー７０３まで図７に示す矢印のように、短くドラッグアンドドロップを行うと、ディスプレイ部に

またはこれに該当する漢字が表示される。 Referring to FIG. 7, a user can use a touch keyboard having a basic key set arranged in a 6 * 4 layout.

The case where is input will be described. In the basic key set displayed on the touch keyboard as shown in FIG.

If the S key 701 is touched with a pointer to input the consonant S which is the first character of the character, or if the pointer is not released for a predetermined time after the touch, the consonant S is displayed on the display unit. As shown in (B), an extended key set 702 for the S key 701 is displayed on the touch keyboard. Subsequently, in the extended key set 702, the user touches the u key 703 with the pointer to input the next character, the vowel u, or does not release the pointer for a predetermined time after the touch, or If the user drags and drops from the S key 701 to the u key 703 as shown by the arrows in FIG.

Or the kanji corresponding to this is displayed.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a character input device using a touch keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 8, a character input device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a touch screen 810 including a touch keyboard (not shown) and a display unit (not shown), an input sensing unit 830, a control unit 850, Is provided.

The touch screen 810 displays a touch keyboard with a basic key set or a combination of a basic key set and an extended key set under the control of the control unit 850, and the characters corresponding to the keys input via the displayed touch keyboard. Is displayed on the display unit.
The input sensing unit 830 touches a specific key of the touch keyboard displayed on the touch screen 810 with the pointer, does not release the pointer for a predetermined time after the touch, or drags and drops the pointer. Or when the pointer is dragged in a specific area without releasing the pointer for a predetermined time, the input of the specific key is detected and the input key is sent to the control unit 850.
The control unit 850 controls the character corresponding to the sent key or the combination thereof to be displayed on the touch keyboard and / or the display area of the touch screen 810, and the basic key set or the basic key set and the extended key set are displayed. The combination is displayed on the display unit of the touch screen 810. That is, the control unit 850 first displays the basic key set, and when the character corresponding to the key input in the basic key set is a consonant, the extended key set is displayed on the basic key set. The touch screen 810 is controlled. Here, the display of the combination on the touch keyboard is to display the combination state with the previously input characters.

Hereinafter, a character input method performed by the controller 850 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a character input method using a touch keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 9, in step 901, the control unit 850 controls the touch screen 810 to display a basic key set or a combination of a basic key set and an extended key set, and waits for a user's key input.
In step 903, when an input of a specific key displayed on the touch screen 810 is sensed by the input sensing unit 830, the control unit 850 receives a result of the sensing and receives a key through the basic key set or the extended key set. Check input. Here, the result of the detection includes whether the specific key is touched with the pointer, the pointer is not released for a predetermined time after the touch, the pointer is dragged and dropped, or the pointer is held for the predetermined time. It includes whether you dragged in a specific area without releasing.

In step 905, the control unit 850 determines whether the input key is a character, and proceeds to step 909 if it is a character. On the other hand, if it is not a character, the process proceeds to step 907 and an operation corresponding to the input key is performed.
In step 909, the control unit 850 checks whether a combination of a character corresponding to the input key and a character corresponding to the previously input key is possible, and if such a combination is possible, When the character corresponding to the input key and the character corresponding to the previously input key are combined, the combined character is determined as a character to be displayed on the touch screen 810, and the combination is impossible. That is, when there is no previously input key, the character corresponding to the input key is determined as a character to be displayed on the touch screen 810.

を、表示する文字として決定する。 For example, in Chinese input, the control unit 850 combines the character corresponding to the input key and the character corresponding to the previously input key, and the combined result corresponds to the Chinese pin sound. If there is a corresponding kanji after confirming whether or not to do, the corresponding kanji can be determined as a character to be displayed on the touch screen 810. For Chinese input, the control unit 850 allows the user to drag the pointer touched by C, S, and Z within a specific area (that is, within each area of the C key, S key, and Z key). When the detection result is received, the character corresponding to the input key is combined with h, and the combined characters Ch, Sh, Zh are determined as characters to be displayed on the touch screen 810. In addition, when the control unit 850 receives the result of the above-described detection result that the user has dragged the pointer touched by the u key of the extended key set within a specific area (that is, the U key area),

Are determined as characters to be displayed.

In step 911, the control unit 850 performs control so that the confirmed character is displayed on the touch screen 810.
In step 913, the control unit 850 determines whether a character corresponding to the input key is input using the basic key set. If the character is input using the basic key set, the control unit 850 sets an extended key set for the input key. In order to display, the process proceeds to step 915, and if not input with the basic key set (that is, input with the extended key set), it is determined whether or not to change the already displayed extended key set. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 917.

In step 915, the control unit 850 controls the touch screen 810 so that an extended key set for the input key is displayed so as to overlap the input key, and then returns to step 901 to return to the user key. Wait for input. At this time, if an extended key set for the previously input key exists on the touch keyboard in step 915, the control unit 850 removes the extended key set for the previously input key and inputs the currently input key set. The touch screen 810 is controlled so that a touch keyboard including only an extended key set for keys is displayed.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step 913 that the input is made with the extended key set, in step 917, the control unit 850 determines whether or not to change the extended key set, and if the extended key set should be changed. When the process proceeds to step 919 to change the extended key set and there is no need to change the extended key set, the process returns to step 901 to wait for the user's key input.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to specific embodiments, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to Chinese, and can be easily applied to other languages having consonants and vowels without significant modification. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiments, but should be defined within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

810 Touch screen 830 Input sensing unit 850 Control unit

Claims (12)

A device for inputting characters in a terminal,
A basic key set including a plurality of predetermined rectangular basic character keys, and the first character corresponding to the first character key selected from the basic character keys via the basic key set. A touch screen for displaying an extended key set in which a plurality of quadratic second character keys to which a plurality of second characters associated with one character are respectively assigned are formed on at least the top, bottom, left and right sides of the first character;
The touch screen is controlled to display the extended key set when the selection of the first character key is received via the basic key set, and at least one character is input via the extended key set. for example Bei and a control unit that receives,
The character input device, wherein the basic key set includes at least one consonant, and the extended key set includes only a vowel that can be combined with the selected first character key . The character input device according to claim 1, wherein each of the second character keys has the same size as the first character key. The character according to claim 1, wherein the second character key is formed around the first character so as to surround the first character with the first character as a center. Input device. A touch keyboard for displaying the basic key set is formed at a lower part of the touch screen, and a display unit for displaying characters input by the touch keyboard is formed at the upper part of the touch screen. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein a part of is displayed on the display unit. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein a character assigned to a second character key formed in a direction in which a touch movement input input on the touch screen is directed is displayed on the display unit. . The extended key set is larger than the first character key, and is formed so as not to block characters displayed on another first character key adjacent to the first character key. Item 12. The character input device according to Item 1. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the extended key set is highlighted and displayed. A method of inputting characters on a terminal,
Displaying a basic key set including a plurality of predetermined rectangular basic character keys on the touch screen;
Receiving a selection of a first character key among the basic character keys via the basic key set;
A plurality of quadratic second character keys to which a plurality of second characters related to the first character are respectively assigned around the first character corresponding to the selected first character key are the first character key. Providing an extended key set formed on at least the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the character;
Receiving at least one character key input among the second character keys via the extended key set ;
The character input method, wherein the basic key set includes at least one consonant, and the extended key set includes only a vowel that can be combined with the selected first character key . The character input method according to claim 8, wherein each of the second character keys has the same size as the first character key. The character according to claim 8, wherein the second character key is formed around the first character so as to surround the first character with the first character as a center. input method. A touch keyboard for displaying the basic key set is formed at a lower part of the touch screen, and a display unit for displaying characters input by the touch keyboard is formed at the upper part of the touch screen. The character input method according to claim 8, wherein a part of is displayed on the display unit. The character input method according to claim 8, wherein the extended key set is highlighted and displayed.

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