JPH01230115A - input device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to devices such as Japanese word processors and personal computers, and particularly to input devices for these devices.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, for example, in a Japanese word processor, there are functions such as document loading, document saving, and
The names of various functions, such as line deletion, centering, ruled lines, and printing, are displayed in a horizontal line to serve as a guide for operating each function key on the keyboard. Then, the operator executes the function by pressing the function key corresponding to the function name.

Incidentally, the number of types of functions has increased significantly in recent years as Japanese word processors have become more multifunctional.

Nevertheless, there is a desire for the area for document processing on the screen of a display device to be as large as possible, so the display area for function names is limited to a small size.

Also, due to the limitation of the number of function keys on the keyboard, currently the names of all functions are not displayed in a small area at the bottom of the screen, but functions are divided into groups and displayed by switching between groups as appropriate. , each function is selected.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such an input device, a function that is often selected and used or a function that is used continuously may be a function that is not often selected and used or a function that is not used continuously. The operator is always forced to perform tedious operations such as switching between groups of functions, even when selecting frequently selected functions or functions that are used continuously. ing.

In view of the above-mentioned problems with conventional input devices, the present invention makes use of a means for storing the history of selected functions to efficiently display the names of functions that are often selected or functions that are selected continuously. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a new input device that eliminates troublesome operations.

[Means for Solving the Problem] Claims 1 to 30 of the present invention provide a function selection means for selecting functions such as document reading and line deletion, and a history of selection frequency and selection order of each selected function. A function history storage means for displaying a function, a function display instruction means for instructing display of a function, an instruction from the function display instruction means and the memory contents of the function history storage means are input, and each function is displayed in a predetermined order based on the history. a function display control means for instructing to display a function;
and display means such as a display for displaying functions according to the output of the function display control means,
Achieve the above objectives.

"Operation" According to the present invention according to claims 1 to 3, with the above configuration, the function history storage means stores the history of the selection frequency, selection order, etc. of the selected function, and when display is instructed by the function display means, The function display control means uses the output from the function history storage means to display a predetermined function on the input device according to history such as selection frequency and selection order.

[Examples] The present invention will be described below based on drawings showing examples thereof.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of an input device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a basic block diagram of an embodiment in which the present invention is implemented using a computer.

In FIG. 2, a central processing unit (CPU) 6 is a device that performs arithmetic control, and a read-only storage means 7 is an RO
The input means 8 is a means such as a keyboard for inputting characters, symbols, functions, etc., and has the function of only reading out information.
The input control means 9 inputs the output of the input means 8, and
The read/write storage means 10 is a memory in which information can be read and written freely, and the display means 12 outputs characters, symbols, etc. via a display control circuit 11. It is a display device such as a cathode ray tube for displaying images, the printing means 16 is means such as a dot printer that prints characters, symbols, etc. on paper via a print control circuit 15, and the auxiliary storage means 14 is
These are means such as magnetic disks, magnetic tapes, magnetic bubble storage devices, etc. that store a large amount of information such as characters and symbols via the auxiliary storage means control circuit 13.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the input means 8. The programmable function keys 17 are programmable keys that can select various functions, and the character keys 18 are keys for inputting information such as kana characters, alphabets, or numbers. The function keys 19 are keys with fixed functions, such as conversion keys and non-conversion keys, and the cursor keys 20 are used to move the cursor on the screen of the display means 12 to the left or right. The function display switching key 21 is a key for switching the display 22 of various function names displayed at the bottom of the screen of the display means 12 for each group, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment in which the present invention is implemented by a word processor as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, as described above.
, which consists of the programmable function keys 17 and the like, are keys for selecting various functions such as document reading, document saving, line deletion, centering, ruled lines, and printing. The function history storage means 2 is comprised of the read/write storage means 10 and the like, and is a means for storing a history of past function selections that have been used, such as the slope of the number of times a function has been selected and the order in which the functions have been selected. The function display instructing means 3 includes the function display switching key 21 and the like, and is an instructing means for instructing the display of the functions 3.

The function display control means 4 receives instructions from the function display instruction means 3 and the contents stored in the function history storage means 2, and instructs the display means 1 to display each function in a predetermined order based on the history.
2, and is realized by using the central processing unit 6, the read/write storage means 10, and the like.

Next, the operation of the embodiment described above will be explained.

Normally, in a word processor, a document is created by inputting characters and symbols, processed as appropriate using various function keys, and the document is completed and printed out. Further, to explain in detail, the input means 8 inputs characters,
When inputting a symbol or the like, move the cursor to the place where the character or symbol should be input on the screen using the cursor key 20, input the character etc. via the input control circuit 9 using the character key 18, and read/write memory means. Store in lO. The characters and symbols thus input are displayed by the central processing unit 6 on the display means 12 via the display control circuit 11 according to the input processing procedure program stored in the read-only storage means 7. Furthermore, the displayed character string is converted into a sentence containing kana, kanji, and kanji using the conversion and non-conversion keys of the fixed function key 19, and is stored in the read/write storage means 10 as document data.

When the capacity of the read/write storage means 10 becomes insufficient, or when saving a document, the document data stored in the read/write storage means 10 is stored in the auxiliary storage means 14 via the auxiliary storage control circuit 13. be done.

Next, the operation when using the function selection means 1 will be explained using an example in which the function history is a selection gradient.

As mentioned above, when a certain document is displayed on the screen, in order to select functions such as document deletion, line copy, etc., select the function displayed at the bottom of the screen, as shown in Figure 4. The name display 22 is switched as appropriate until the target function is displayed. Fifth
Figures (a), (b), and (C) show changes in the function display.

FIG. 5(a) shows a state in which the names of 10 types of functions such as document loading and document saving are displayed.
FIG. 5(b) shows a state in which the state of FIG. 5(a) is switched by the function display switching key and the names of 10 types of functions such as print, partial print, layout, etc. are displayed. 5(c) is a diagram showing a state in which the state of FIG. 5(b) has been further changed, and seven types of function names such as indentation and hatching are displayed.

While displaying various functions in this manner (the order of display will be described later), when a target function name is displayed, the operator presses the corresponding programmable function key 17. As before, the central processing unit 6 performs processing corresponding to the function.
This is done according to the program stored in the read-only storage means 7.

On the other hand, at the same time, a process for displaying the function name from the next time onwards is performed. The process flow is explained in the 6th section.
As shown in the figure. Incidentally, FIG. 7 shows a selection frequency table stored in the function history storage means 2. In this selection frequency table, function numbers (identification numbers assigned in advance to various functions) are arranged in the left column, and the number of times each of these functions has been pressed in the past is stored in the right column.

Now, when the blogma bubble function key 17 is pressed, the function history storage means 2 searches the selection frequency table (step Sl), and the slope number of the function number corresponding to the selected function is set to 1. It is added (step S2). For example, if the selected function is "Document reading", the function number is 1, as described later, so the selection frequency table in FIG. 7(a) is changed to the one shown in FIG. 7(b). The frequency information for the function number 1 is changed from 67 to 68.

Next, the flow of processing for displaying the function name on the screen in this state will be described below with reference to FIGS. 7 to 1O.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow. 9th
The figure is a table showing function numbers and the contents of the corresponding functions.

As shown in FIG. 8, the selection frequency table in the function history storage means 2 is sorted in descending order using the frequency information as a key (step S3). Figure 7 (C
) indicates the sorted state. As can be seen, the most frequent function number is 9, which is the row copy function, as can be seen in FIG. Next, the function display control means 4
The top position of the selection gradient table is set in the program counter (PTR) (step S4). Next, the function number at the position set in the PTR is checked (step S5). Next, the function corresponding to the function number is selected using FIG. 9 and displayed on the screen (step S6). Next, the P
TR is made to point to the next position (second) in the selection frequency table (step S7). It is checked whether there is a record of the function number at the position pointed to by PTR, that is, whether it has been displayed to the end. If it is finished, this process is finished, and if it is not finished yet, the process returns to step S5 and continues the process (step S8). Figure 7(c)
FIG. 10 shows the state of the function names displayed on the screen based on the frequency information.

In this way, the names of the functions are displayed in the order of their frequency, allowing the operator to quickly display the desired function without switching the display over and over again.

Next, the operation of an embodiment in which the function history is the selection order will be described.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation.

As mentioned above, when a certain document is displayed on the screen, in order to select functions such as document deletion, line copy, etc., the function name displayed at the bottom of the screen, as shown in Figure 4, is displayed. The display 22 is switched as appropriate until the target function is displayed.

While displaying various functions in this manner, the operator presses the corresponding programmable function key 17 to display the target function name. As is conventional, the central processing unit 6 checks the function number corresponding to the function (step 5IO) and executes the function according to the program stored in the read-only storage means 7 (step 520).

On the other hand, at the same time, processing for displaying the function name from the next time is performed (steps 830 to 590).
.

FIG. 12 shows a selection order table stored in the function history storage means 2. In this selection order table, the function numbers are stored in order from the top in the order in which they were used in the past.

However, if the same numbered function is used twice,
The previous number will be deleted.

Now, when the blogma bubble function key 17 is pressed, the selection order table is searched (step 53).
0), the function history storage means 2 determines whether the same number exists on the table.

If it exists, for example, when the selection order table has function number 1 as shown in FIG. 12(a),
If function number 1 is input, it will exist, but in that case, function history storage means 2 deletes function number 1 to create a blank tank, and deletes function number 1 from the beginning of the selection order table. As shown in FIG. 12(b), each number is sequentially lowered to the point at which a blank tank is generated at the beginning (step S40.5).
50). Then, the function number l is written in the blank tank as shown in FIG. 12(f) (step 590).

If it is determined in step S40 that there is no empty tank, it is further determined whether there is an empty tank in the selection order table (step 560). In step S60, if there is an empty tank, for example, in the case of a selection order table as shown in FIG. 12(C), and function number 3 is selected, from the beginning of the selection order table to the position of function number Each number is incremented one by one (step 570), and a blank tank is generated at the beginning as shown in FIG. 12(d). Thereafter, the function number 3 is written in the blank tank at the beginning (step 590).

In step S60, if there is no empty tank, for example,
In the case of the selection order table as shown in FIG. 12(a), when function number 3 is selected, the last function number 6 is deleted and the first function number 9 is selected.
From then, move down one function number from the end to function number 27, as shown in Figure 12(e).
Step 580). Then, in the blank tank created at the beginning,
Enter function number 3 (step 590).

Next, the flow of processing for generating a function name on the screen in this state will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow. As shown in the figure, the function display control means 4 sets the top position of the selection order table in the program counter (PTR) (step 5100). Next, it is checked whether there is a record of the function number at the position pointed to by PTR, that is, whether it has been displayed to the end (step 5ilo). If it is not finished yet, check the function number at the set position, select the function corresponding to that function number using the table in Figure 9, and display it on the screen (step S).
120). Next, after the PTR is set to point to the next position (second) in the selection order table (step 5130), the process returns to step 5110 and a determination is made. When the selection order table has been displayed to the end, the functions that have not been displayed up to that point are displayed at the bottom of the screen in the order of function numbers (see Figure 9).The result is as shown in Figure 10. be.

In this way, the names of the functions are displayed in the order of the most recently used, so the operator can quickly display the desired function without switching the display over and over again.

In the embodiments described above, the function history storage means stores a function selection frequency table and a selection order table, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may store other history tables. , it can also include cases where it is used.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, the present invention utilizes a means for storing the past history of selected functions to store the names of frequently selected functions or functions that are continuously selected. This is an input device that can efficiently display information and eliminate troublesome operations by the operator.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the input device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the input device using a microcomputer, and FIG. 3 is an input means of the device. 4 is a front view of the display means of the device, and FIGS. 5(a), (b), and (C) are front views showing function displays on the screen of the display device of the device. 6
The figure is a flowchart showing the operation of the device, FIG.
), (b). (c) is a configuration diagram of the selection gradient table stored in the device, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device, and FIG. 9 is a table showing the correspondence between function numbers and function contents of the device. 10 is a front view of the screen of the display device of the same device, FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of another embodiment of the same device, FIG. 12(a),
(b), (c). (d), (e), and (f) are configuration diagrams of a selection order table stored in the same device, and FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the same embodiment. 1... Function selection means 2... Function history storage means 3... Function display instruction means 4... Function display control means 12.
...Display means applicant Brother Industries, Ltd. Agent Patent attorney Matsu 1) Masamichi Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5] 2 Figure 6 Figure 7 (2) (b) Figure 8 Figure 12 (a) ) (b)
(C) (d) (e)
(f) Figure 13

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) Function selection means for selecting a function, function history storage means for storing the history of each selected function, function display instruction means for instructing display of a function, instructions from the function display instruction means, and Function display control means for instructing to display each function in a predetermined order based on the memory contents of the function history storage means, and displaying the functions corresponding to the function selection means according to the output of the function display control means. An input device comprising: display means. (2) The input device according to claim 1, wherein the function history is the frequency with which each function was selected. (3) The input device according to claim 1, wherein the history of the functions is the order in which each function was selected.