JPH07175581A - Method and device for handwriting input - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the method and device for handwriting input which enable high-speed input operation by storing an image which is inputted by handwriting input and performing character recognition based on the image at a point of time when there is no hindrance to input operation. CONSTITUTION:The handwriting input device, which recognizes characters and symbols inputted by handwriting input, stores the image inputted by handwriting input in a main memory 12 when handwritten characters are inputted on a tablet 102. Then when an input and display function does not operate, a character recognition program is activated to perform the character recognition process based on the image stored in the main memory 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a handwriting input method and device for inputting characters and commands by handwriting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, computer equipment has become smaller and smaller and its processing capability has increased due to the development of semiconductor technology and circuit technology. Based on such a technical background, various computer devices have been developed in pursuit of user-friendliness. One such device is a handwriting input computer. An example of an external view of this handwriting computer device is shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, a main body 1 of the handwriting input computer device is integrally provided with a display 2 and an input tablet 3 thereon.
The operator inputs characters or commands by handwriting on the tablet 3 using the pen 4 while watching the display on the display 2.

In handwritten character input using such a pen, the handwritten character is usually recognized and the corresponding character or command is input. FIG. 5 shows a display example of the display 2 during the handwriting input. For example, in FIG. 5, when the character "hand" is input by handwriting in the displayed frame, the computer device starts the recognition processing of this handwritten character. As a result of recognizing the character in this way,
When the recognition candidate characters cannot be narrowed down to one character,
As shown in, the "hand" and "bottle" are displayed at the bottom of the screen of display 2.
Character candidates such as “hair” and “cow” are displayed. The operator selects a desired character “hand” from these character candidates by pointing the pen 4 on the screen, and determines the input character. As a result, the character "hand" is displayed in the character input portion of the display 2, as shown in FIG. Note that in FIG. 5, when the candidate characters are narrowed down to one character as a result of character recognition, the character candidate selection screen shown in FIG. 6 is not displayed, and the process moves directly from FIG. 5 to FIG. In such a computer device, when using, for example, a 16 to 32 bit microcomputer and standard handwriting recognition software, the time required for character recognition is about 0.
The current situation is about 5 to 2 seconds.

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional handwriting input computer device, a desired character can be input in the same manner as when writing a character without operating the keyboard, but on the other hand, a character can be input by handwriting. Since character recognition is performed every time the input is performed, there is a problem that it takes a lot of time to input one character. Such a problem is a fatal drawback when high-speed input is required, such as when inputting minutes of a meeting or memos of an interview.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, in which an image input by handwriting is stored, and character recognition is performed based on the image when the input operation is not hindered. It is an object of the present invention to provide a handwriting input method and device capable of high speed input.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the handwriting input device of the present invention has the following configuration.
That is, a handwriting input device for recognizing characters and symbols input by handwriting, an input unit for inputting various information by handwriting, a storage unit for storing an image input by handwriting in the input unit, and the storage unit. A character recognition means for performing character recognition based on an image stored in the means, and a character based on the image stored in the storage means by the character recognition means when at least the input in the input means is stopped. And a control means for executing recognition processing.

In order to achieve the above object, the handwriting input method of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, it is a handwriting input method for recognizing characters and symbols input by handwriting, and a step of inputting various information by handwriting, a step of storing the image input by handwriting, and at least the input function is stopped. And performing a character recognition process based on the image stored so far.

[0008]

With the above structure, various information is input by handwriting and the image input by handwriting is stored.
At least when the input is stopped, the character recognition means for recognizing the character based on the stored image operates to execute the character recognition process based on the stored image.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic arrangement of a handwriting input computer device of this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a handwriting input computer device main body of this embodiment. A system bus 10 of the computer device main body 100 is connected to a CPU 11 for controlling the entire computer device, memories 12, 13 and various peripheral interfaces. Various control signal lines such as an address bus, a data bus, and an interrupt signal line pass through the system bus 10. 11 is CP
U manages and controls the entire computer equipment. 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes a main memory, which is composed of, for example, a RAM, is used as a work area for executing a program, and has a control program such as an operating system (OS) which is a core of the computer main body 100. It is resident in the main memory 12. 13 is a ROM
Then, a boot program for starting the OS when the computer device 100 is powered on, and a BIOS (Basic I) for controlling and testing the hardware.
/ O / interface), a handwriting input program, a character recognition program, and a character display program are stored. Since the details of the handwriting input program, the character recognition program, etc. are known programs, detailed description thereof will be omitted. Reference numerals 14 and 15 are interface units of peripheral devices connected to the computer device body 100.

Reference numeral 101 denotes a display section (display) such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT, which is connected to the computer device main body 100 and is connected to the system bus 10 through the video interface 14. A video RAM 15 is connected to the video interface 14, and CP
When U11 writes the data to be displayed in the video RAM 15, the video RA is transmitted through the video interface 14.
The data in M15 is displayed on the display unit 101. 102
Reference numerals 103 and 103 denote tablets and pens for inputting handwritten characters, coordinates designated on the display screen of the display unit 101, etc., to the computer device main body 100, and connected to the system bus 10 through the tablet interface 16.

FIG. 2 shows a computer device 100 of this embodiment.
In, the main memory R managed by the CPU 11
It is a figure which shows the memory map including OM13.

The OS 21 and the work memory 22 are mapped in the main memory 12, and the work memory 22 is used as a work area for various programs such as a handwriting input program and a character recognition program, or a load area for various application programs. 23 is a video RAM
The area is mapped in the video RAM 15, and when the data to be displayed is written in this area, the display unit 101
The data is displayed in. Each of 24 and 25 is a ROM
13 is mapped, and 24 is a BIOS, and 25 is an area in which a handwriting input program, a character recognition program, and a character display program are stored. Each of 26 and 27 is mapped in the main memory 12, and
Is a character data area, and 27 is a handwriting data area. Data input by handwriting on the tablet 102 is stored in the handwriting data area 27 as handwriting input data, and the result of character recognition of this handwriting data is expanded in the character data area 26 by the character recognition program.

Next, an example of the operation of the handwriting input computer device 100 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The program that executes this process is ROM
13 are stored.

First, in step S1, the operator starts a handwriting input program. This is activated by, for example, the operator pointing the pointing area of the menu screen displayed on the display unit 101 with the pen 103 or pressing a mode switch or the like. Next, in step S2, when a character is written by hand on the tablet 102 using the pen 103 by the operator, the process proceeds to step S3, in which the CPU 11 uses the handwritten image from the tablet 102 as handwritten input data and handwritten data in the main memory 12. Store in area 27. Next, in step S4, it is determined whether or not the end of the handwriting input program is instructed. If not, the process returns to step S2 to wait for the next handwritten character input, and the end of the handwriting input program is instructed. Then, the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, it is determined whether or not another application program is running, and if it is running, the process proceeds to step S6, the program is executed, and the process returns to step S5. On the other hand, if another program is not executed in step S5, the process proceeds to step S7, and the input / display function of the computer device 100 is turned off (the input process is interrupted), that is, the display unit 101 and the tablet. 102 is off (sleep state)
If it is turned off, the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S8, the CPU 11 starts a character recognition program. In step S9, the handwriting input data stored in the handwriting data area 27 is character-recognized and converted into character data by the character recognition program. Store in area 26. Then, in step S10, it is checked whether all the handwritten input data in the handwritten data area 27 have been converted, and if converted, the process proceeds to step S11 to end the character recognition program, but if not converted, returns to step S9. hand,
Character recognition of the following handwritten input data is performed.

Next, the process proceeds from step S11 to step S12, waits until the input / display function of the computer device 100 is turned on (ON), and when the input / display function is turned on, the process proceeds to step S13 and the character display program is executed by the operator. Is activated. In this case as well, as in step S1, an instruction is given by a menu screen, a switch, or the like. Next, in step S14, the character display program causes
The content of the character data area 26 is converted into displayable character pattern data and written in the video RAM 15, whereby the recognized character data is displayed on the display unit 101.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the other application programs are not operating and the input / display function of the computer device is not operating, the character recognition processing input up to that time is performed. As described above, since the handwritten character is not recognized while the handwritten character is being input, high-speed handwritten character input is possible.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the schematic arrangement of a handwriting input computer device 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention.
The same parts as those in FIG. 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In this computer device, a secondary storage device 104 such as a hard disk is built in the device body.

As a result, in the above-described embodiment, the character data recognized as handwritten input data is stored in the main memory 12, but a secondary storage device 104 such as a hard disk is built in as shown in FIG. In this case, the handwritten input data and the recognized character data may be stored as the same or different files. By doing this, the main memory 12
The memory capacity of can be reduced.

If the secondary storage device 104 is built in as shown in FIG. 8, various programs such as a handwriting input program, a character recognition program, and a character display program are also stored in the secondary storage device 104 as files. It is possible to change the program easily.

Although not particularly described in this embodiment,
For example, when there are a plurality of recognition candidate characters, the plurality of candidate characters may be displayed so that a desired character can be selected.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program for implementing the present invention to a system or an apparatus.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, an image input by handwriting is stored, and character recognition is performed based on the image when the input operation is not hindered. This has the effect of enabling high-speed input.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a handwriting input computer device of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a handwriting input computer device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of an input operation in the handwriting input computer device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an external view showing an example of a general handwriting input computer device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a procedure of handwriting input and character recognition result in a conventional handwriting input device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a procedure of handwriting input and character recognition result in a conventional handwriting input device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a procedure of handwriting input and character recognition result in a conventional handwriting input device.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a handwriting input computer device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Handwriting computer 2 Display unit 3 Tablet 4 Pen 5 Hard disk

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A handwriting input device for recognizing characters or symbols input by handwriting, comprising: input means for inputting various information by handwriting; and storage means for storing an image input by handwriting in the input means. A character recognition means for performing character recognition based on the image stored in the storage means, and an image stored in the storage means by the character recognition means at least when input by the input means is stopped A handwriting input device, comprising: a control unit that executes a character recognition process based on. 2. The control means causes the character recognition means to execute a character recognition processing based on an image stored in the storage means when the input processing and the display processing of the device are not functioning. The handwriting input device according to claim 1. 3. The handwriting input device according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a result recognized by the character recognition means. 4. A handwriting input method for recognizing characters and symbols input by handwriting, comprising a step of inputting various information by handwriting, a step of storing the image input by handwriting, and at least an input function. And a step of executing a character recognition process based on an image stored so far when the handwriting is stopped.