JPH08202520A - Input method by pointing device, and device thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To input characters without looking at a display and make the input fast when the characters are inputted to a computer by using the display and a pointing device together instead of a keyboard. CONSTITUTION: When one point on the display is indicated with the pointing device, input information on a consonant symbol, a vowel symbol, etc., is arranged at the intersection of a circle concentric with the point and radiation equally dividing the concentric circle, and indicated with the pointing device, which is repeated to input the characters.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for inputting characters by using a display and a pointing device instead of a keyboard in a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Characters such as a keyboard are virtually displayed on a display, and characters are input by pointing them with a pointing device.

[0003]

Conventionally, with emphasis on familiarity, buttons such as a keyboard are virtually displayed on the display as they are, and characters are input by instructing them with a pointing device. ． However, high speed character input is not possible because the moving distance of the pointing device and cursor is not taken into consideration.

Further, since the buttons correspond to the positions on the display, it is necessary to always input while watching the display, and do not look at the display while inputting while talking or reading a document. The point that you cannot enter the characters.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problem] Considering the characteristics of the pointing device, realizing the following items is a means for solving the above-mentioned problem. (A) There are few types of input information. (B) The input does not depend on the position and can always be performed at the position where the pointing device is located. (C) The operation amount of the pointing device for instructing the input information is small. Since the pointing device and the pointing device cursor on the display correspond to each other in one-to-one correspondence, depending on the pointing device instruction,
These are realized by redrawing the input information on the display. For this purpose, we first indicate a character with a combination of consonants and vowels. Then, the input information consisting of consonant symbols and vowel symbols is rearranged in correspondence with the position on the display pointed by the pointing device.
Characters to be input are determined by repeatedly instructing these input information with a pointing device. At this time, the input information of consonant symbols and vowel symbols arranged on the display is called an input information group. If the types of consonant symbols and vowel symbols in the input information group are limited by the input order, the input order is Prepare multiple types of input information groups according to the requirements.

Character input is performed as follows. (B) When an arbitrary point on the display is pointed by the pointing device, the input information group of consonant symbols and vowel symbols is placed on the intersection of the concentric circles centered on this point and the radiation in eight directions that divides this concentric circle at equal intervals. Placed. This point is called the first designated point. (B) Then, input this input information with a pointing device. The point designated here is called the second designated point. (C) If multiple consonants or vowels are needed to determine the character at this time, the input information group is newly displayed with the second pointing point as the first pointing point for displaying the subsequent input information group. I will give instructions on this. (D) Repeat step (c) until the character to be entered is specified. (E) Characters are input.

[0007]

Function When inputting a character whose reading consists of a combination of multiple consonants or vowels, multiple types of input information groups are prepared according to the input order, so the number of input information items arranged on the display at one time is small.

By inputting the input information by the positional relationship between the first pointing point and the second pointing point, the input work does not depend on the position on the display.

Further, since the input information is arranged so as to radiate in eight directions on a concentric circle centered on the first pointing point, the moving distance of the pointing device cursor to the second pointing point is short.

[0010]

[Example] As a specific example, a Japanese kana is input. The consonant and vowel symbols for pointing Japanese kana are shown in Roman letters. As shown in FIG. 1, Japanese kana are indicated by one or more and three or less consonants and vowels. Therefore, as input information groups for designating these, three types shown in a to c of FIG. 2 are used. prepare. Here, the symbol □ in FIG. 2A is a symbol indicating that there is no consonant, and the symbol * in FIG. 2B corresponds to the consonant symbol indicated in FIG. 2A.

As shown in FIG. 3, the input information 1 such as a consonant symbol and a vowel symbol is a concentric circle centered on a point designated by a pointing device and an intersection of radiation in eight directions that divides the concentric circle at equal intervals. Is placed in.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the main variables used in the implementation and their meanings. At this time, input is performed according to the following procedure. (A) The counter K and the phoneme stack are cleared (steps S1 and S2 in the flowchart of FIG. 5). (B) Move the pointing device cursor 3 shown in FIG. 6 with the pointing device to indicate an arbitrary point on the display (step S3). This is the first designated point. (C) 1 is added to the counter K (step S4). (D) The Kth input information group is arranged so as to radiate in eight directions on a concentric circle centered on the first designated point (step S
5 and the first input information group 4 in FIG. 7). (E) Then, when the input information on the display is designated by the pointing device (step S6), the input information is added to the phoneme stack (step S7).
The point designated here is the second designated point. (F) The phonological stack is compared with the phonological character correspondence database that records the correspondence between the combination of consonants and vowels and the character pointed to (step S8). (G) When the character is not determined by comparison with the phoneme character correspondence database, the second pointing point is set as the first pointing point for displaying the input information group that follows (step S5),
Return to (c) (second input information group 5 in FIG. 8 and third input information group 6 in FIG. 9). (H) When a character is determined by comparison with the phoneme character correspondence database, this character 7 is written in the position indicated by the text cursor 2 on the display and in the memory of the computer (step S10 and FIG. 10). A document is created by repeating this.

[0013]

【The invention's effect】

(A) When inputting a character whose reading is composed of a combination of a plurality of consonants or vowels, the input information group consisting of consonant symbols and vowel symbols arranged on the display is considered in the order of input, considering the input order. Prepare multiple types of input information groups according to. Then, the input information group on the display is redrawn according to the order of input. For this reason, the number of input information placed on the display is smaller than that of the conventional method, and as a result, the moving distance of the pointing device / cursor is shortened and high-speed character input is possible.

(B) Since the input information is indicated by the positional relationship between the first designated point and the second designated point, it is possible to input characters without looking at the display.

(C) Since the input information is arranged so as to radiate in eight directions on a concentric circle centered on the first pointing point, a pointing device cursor to the second pointing point for pointing the input information The movement distance of is short and high-speed character input is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an example of instructing a Japanese kana by a combination of a consonant and a vowel.

FIG. 2 is an example showing an input information group used for designating a Japanese kana.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a method of arranging input information.

FIG. 4 is an explanation of variables used for implementing the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for carrying out the present invention.

[Fig. 6]

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a process of inputting characters in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 input information 2 text cursor 3 pointing device cursor 4 first input information group 5 second input information group 6 third input information group 7 characters

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. When inputting information by using both a display and a pointing device instead of a keyboard in a computer, (a) a pointing device points to a point on the display. (B) Multiple input information that can be selected are displayed on the display,
It is placed on the intersection of a concentric circle centered on this point and the radiation in eight directions that divide this concentric circle at equal intervals. (C) The input information is determined by pointing this input information with a pointing device. Information input method characterized by the above. 2. When inputting a character by displaying a plurality of input information on a display of a computer and pointing the same with a pointing device, the reading is made in the input of a character consisting of a combination of a plurality of consonants or vowels. , (A) Character input is performed by inputting a combination of consonants and vowels. (B) Input information of consonant symbols and vowel symbols arranged on the display is called an input information group. However, considering the types of consonant symbols and vowel symbols depending on the input order, the input information according to the input order is considered. Prepare multiple types of groups. (C) Redraw the input information group on the display according to the input order. (D) Characters to be input are determined by repeatedly instructing these input information with a pointing device. Character input method characterized by the above. 3. In a computer, when a character is input by using a display and a pointing device in combination instead of a keyboard, if one point on the display is pointed by the pointing device, input information such as a consonant symbol and a vowel symbol will be displayed. A method of inputting characters by repeatedly placing a concentric circle centered on this point and the intersection of radiation in eight directions that divide this concentric circle at equal intervals, and pointing this with a pointing device. 4. An apparatus having a character input function for performing screen control according to an instruction from a pointing device by using the method according to claim 1, 2 or 3.