JPH09237146A - Device and method for assigning key - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a key assigning device and a key assigning method whereby a key where a function is already assigned and the key except it are easily recognized at the time of assigning the function to the single key or the plural combined keys. SOLUTION: A display part displays a keyboard screen 11 where the key arrangement of the keyboard is indicated by a keyboard image and a function list 12 where the functions capable of being assigned to the keys are displayed by sight inside a same display screen. When the function within the function list 12 is selected, the selected function is inverted and displayed and the whole keys to which the selected function cannot be assigned since one of the functions is already assigned to them are displayed in gray.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key assigning device and a key assigning method for assigning arbitrary functions to a single key or a plurality of combined keys of a keyboard for input operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a computer system such as a personal computer, when a function such as printing or saving is executed, a method of inputting a command for executing the function has been adopted. There was a problem that it took time. Therefore, recently, a function is assigned in advance to a single key of the keyboard or a plurality of combined keys, and the assigned function is executed when the key is operated. That is, it is possible to execute the function simply by operating the key to which the desired function is assigned, and it is possible to greatly reduce the labor required for the operation when executing the function.

In the above-mentioned key assignment device, when setting the assignment of a function to a key, it is common to input a function and then select a single key or a plurality of combined keys. Target. When the function already assigned to the key is selected, the type of the key to which the function is assigned is displayed by the key name so that the user can easily confirm the key to which the function is assigned. It has become.

When a single key or a plurality of combined keys to which a certain function is already assigned is to be assigned another function, a warning message is output and the key to which the function is assigned is output. I urge you to change it.

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional key assignment device, the user cannot distinguish between a key to which a function has already been assigned and a key to which a function has not been assigned, so that a new function is assigned. In such a case, it is necessary to search for an assignable key through trial and error, and there is a problem that it takes a long time to set a function to be assigned to the key.

Further, since the type of assigned key is displayed only by the key name (engraving), for the user who does not memorize the key arrangement on the keyboard, the position of the displayed key is displayed. There is also a problem that it takes time to confirm the key because I do not know it.

An object of the present invention is to assign a function to a single key or a plurality of keys in combination,
(EN) A key assigning device and a key assigning method capable of easily confirming a key to which a function has already been assigned and a key other than that.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a key assigning device and a key assigning method capable of easily confirming already assigned keys and the positions of the keys in the keyboard for arbitrary functions. And

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a key assigning device for selecting a desired function from a plurality of functions and a keyboard display means for displaying each key arrangement position of the keyboard as a keyboard image. Function selecting means, key selecting means for selecting a single key or a plurality of combined keys, and function allocating means for allocating the function selected by the function selecting means to the key selected by the key selecting means. And the keyboard display means,
On the keyboard image, there is included means for distinguishing and displaying the keys to which the function has already been assigned and the other keys.

In this structure, when the function is to be assigned to the key, the function assigning means assigns the function selected by the function selecting means to the key selected by the key selecting means. The key in this case may be a single key or a combination of keys. The keyboard display means displays the keyboard layout of the keyboard as a keyboard image, and distinguishes the keys to which functions have already been assigned and the other keys from the keyboard image. Therefore, when assigning a function to a key, it is possible to easily confirm the type and position of the key to which the function can be assigned (the key to which the function is not currently assigned).

Further, a key assigning device according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises a keyboard displaying means for displaying each key arrangement position of the keyboard as a keyboard image, and a function selecting means for selecting an arbitrary function from a plurality of functions. And a key selection means for selecting a single key or a plurality of combined keys, and a function allocation means for allocating the function selected by the function selection means to the key selected by the key selection means. When the function already assigned to any of the keys is selected by the function selecting means, the display means separates the key to which the function is assigned from the other keys on the keyboard image. It is characterized by including means for displaying separately.

With this configuration, when the function is to be assigned to the key, the function assigning unit assigns the function selected by the function selecting unit to the key selected by the key selecting unit. The key in this case may be a single key or a combination of keys. The keyboard display means displays the keyboard layout of the keyboard as a keyboard image, and when a function already assigned to any key is selected, the key to which the function is assigned and the other keys are displayed. It is displayed separately on the keyboard image. Therefore, it is possible to easily confirm the position of the key to which the selected function is assigned.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is characterized by comprising a function list display means for displaying a list of functions selectable by the function selecting means on a display screen of the keyboard image.

With this configuration, the function list display means displays a list of functions selectable by the function selection means on the screen on which the keyboard image is displayed. Therefore, the user can easily know the function that can be assigned to the key.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the function list display means assigns a function to a single key selected by the key selection means or a plurality of combined keys, the key is displayed. It is characterized in that it includes means for distinguishing and displaying the function assigned to the and other functions.

In this structure, the function list display means distinguishably displays the function assigned to the key selected by the key selection means and the other functions. Therefore, the user can easily confirm the function assigned to the key by selecting the key.

Further, in the invention described in claim 5, the keyboard display means displays on the keyboard image a single key selected by the key selection means or a plurality of combined keys and other keys. It is characterized in that it includes means for distinguishing and displaying.

In this configuration, the key selection means distinguishes and displays the selected key and the other keys on the keyboard image. Therefore, the user can easily confirm whether or not the key is correctly selected.

The key assignment method described in claims 6 to 10 corresponds to the key assignment device described in claims 1 to 5.

[0020]

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a key assignment device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The key assignment device 1 includes a control unit 2, an input unit 3, a display unit 4 for displaying, an assignment table storage unit 5 for storing an assignment table described later, and an assignment table updating unit 6 for updating the assignment table. ing. A keyboard 3a and a mouse 3b that perform an input operation are connected to the input unit 3. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen of the display unit 4. In this figure, the initial screen of the key assignment mode on the display unit 4 is shown.
This mode is set by a specific operation (menu selection, etc.). On the upper left side of the screen, a keyboard screen 11 is displayed in which each key arrangement position of the keyboard 3a is represented as a keyboard image. On the right side of the screen, the function list 12 that lists the function items that can be assigned to the keys
Is displayed. Further, below the keyboard screen 11, a delete button 13, a change button 14, and a cancel button 15 are displayed. A cursor 16 of the mouse 3b is also displayed on the screen as shown in the figure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the allocation table 20 stored in the allocation table storage unit 5. In the allocation table 20, a plurality of allocation records 21 that store a function and a key to which the function is allocated are registered. In the allocation record 21, the function name, CTRL attribute, S
An area for storing a HIFT attribute, an allocation key, and a selection flag is provided. In this embodiment, SH
The function can be assigned to a single key other than the IFT key and the CTRL key, or the function can be assigned to the SHIFT key and / or a combination of the CTRL key and other keys. In the latter case, the function is executed by operating the assign key together with the CTRL key and / or SHIFT key whose attribute is 1. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the "CTRL key" and the "W key" are operated to execute the function "conversion". Also,
When the function of deleting one character in which both the CTRL attribute and the SHIFT attribute are not 1 is executed, only the "BS key" needs to be operated.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the processing of this key assignment device. In this embodiment, an input operation is performed by operating the mouse 3b. When the key assignment mode is entered, the screen shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display unit 4. Key assignment device 1
Controls the controller 2 to constantly monitor whether the button of the mouse 3b has been operated (n1). When it is detected that the button of the mouse 3b has been operated, the cursor 1 of the mouse 3b 1
The following processing is performed according to the display position of 6. Cursor 16
If the display position of is within the keyboard screen 11, key selection processing is executed (n2, n3). If the display position of the cursor 16 is within the function list 12, function selection processing is executed (n4, n5). If the display position of the cursor 16 is on the delete button 13, delete processing is executed (n6, n7), and if it is on the change button 14, change processing is executed (n8, n).
9). When the display position of the cursor 16 is other than the above-mentioned position, it is determined that an input error has occurred and the process returns to n1. When the key selection process, the function selection process, the deletion process, and the change process described above are completed, the process returns to n1.

The key selection process, the function selection process, the deletion process, and the change process will be described in detail below.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the key selection process. Display position of cursor 16 (selected key)
Is a "CTRL key" or a "SHIFT key" or a key other than that (n11, n12). If it is determined that the "CTRL key" has been pressed, the display is switched to reverse display if the "CTRL key" is not highlighted and switched to normal display if it is highlighted (n13).
~ N15). Similarly, when it is determined that the "SHIFT key" has been pressed, the display is switched to the reverse display if the "SHIFT key" is not highlighted and switched to the normal display if it is highlighted (n16 to 18). In addition,
In this embodiment, "CTRL key", "SHIFT"
When "key" is highlighted, it is the state of attribute 1,
The normal display is the attribute 0 state. For example, FIG.
When the "CTRL key" is selected on the screen shown in, the display of the "CTRL key" is switched to the reverse display as shown in FIG. 6 (A). Further, when the "SHIFT key" is selected on the screen shown in FIG.
As shown in (B), the display of the "SHIFT key" is switched to the reverse display.

The selected keys are "CTRL key" and "S".
If the key is other than the "HIFT key", the "CTR
If there is a highlighted key other than the "L key" and the "SHIFT key", switch that key to the normal display (n1
9) Switch the selected key to reverse display (n2
0). Then, the currently set CTRL attribute, SH
It is determined whether or not a function is assigned to the key selected under the IFT attribute (the key highlighted in n20) (n21). If there is an assigned function, only the display of this function in the function list 12 is switched to the reverse display (n22). If there is no assigned function, the fact is displayed on the display unit 4 and the process is completed (n23). For example, the CTRL attribute is 1 and SHIFT is
If the W key is selected when the attribute is 0,
As shown in FIG. 7A, only the function item “conversion” in the function list 12 is highlighted. Further, in the keyboard screen 11, "CTRL key" and "W key" which are keys to be operated when executing the function "conversion".
Only is highlighted. Also, the CTRL attribute is 1
When the SHIFT attribute is 0 and the "A key" is selected (the function is not assigned to the combination of the "CTRL key" and the "A key"), FIG. As shown in (B), the message "No function is assigned to this key." Is displayed on the display unit 4.

As described above, the CTRL attribute or SHI
FT attribute and "CTRL key" and "SHIFT key"
The selection of keys other than can be easily judged from the display of the keys, and if there is a function assigned to the highlighted key combination in the function list 12, that function item is displayed. Since it is highlighted, you can easily check the function assigned to the key.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the function selection processing. In the function list 12, only the selected function is highlighted (n31, n32). Then, it is detected whether or not this function is assigned to the key (n33). If it is assigned to a key, only the key to which this function is assigned is highlighted (n34, n35). If the key is not assigned, a message to that effect is displayed (n36). For example, when the selected function is "conversion", the two keys "CTRL key" and "W key" are highlighted as shown in FIG.

As described above, when the function in the function list 12 is selected, only the key to which the function is assigned is highlighted. Therefore, by selecting the function, it is easy to determine which key is assigned. Can be confirmed. Also, since the key arrangement of the keyboard is shown in the image, the position of the key can be easily confirmed.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the deletion process. It is determined whether or not the keys other than the "CTRL key" and the "SHIFT key" are highlighted (n4).
1). As described above, the keys other than the "CTRL key" and the "SHIFT key" are highlighted.
This is when the key is selected and when the function assigned to the key is selected. When the keys other than the "CTRL key" and the "SHIFT key" are not highlighted, it is determined that an operation error has occurred and the processing is completed. "CT
When keys other than the "RL key" and the "SHIFT key" are highlighted, a message for confirming whether to delete the function assignment for the highlighted key is displayed on the display unit 4. (N42) (Fig. 11
reference). When an input to delete is made to this message (n43), the assignment of the function to the highlighted key is deleted, and the highlighted key is switched to the normal display (n44, n45). Complete the process. At this time, the display unit 4 becomes the screen shown in FIG. When the input of not deleting the message of n42 is made, the displayed message is erased and the process is completed.

As described above, the assignment of the function to the key can be easily canceled by this deleting process.

12 and 13 are flowcharts showing the changing process. It is determined whether any function item in the function list 12 is highlighted (whether any function is selected) (n51). If there is no function item selected, the process is completed.
If there is a selected function item, all keys except the "CTRL key" and the "SHIFT key" are returned to the normal display (n52). And now the CTRL attribute and SH
Both IFT attributes are 1, CTRL attribute is 1 and SHIFT attribute is 0, CTRL attribute is 0 and SHIFT attribute is 1, CT
It is determined which of the four types the RL attribute and the SHIFT attribute are both 0 (n53 to n59). The function assignment device 1 switches the key to which some function is already assigned with the currently set attribute to gray display (n60) (see FIG. 14). That is, keys to which no function is assigned (keys to which a function can be assigned) are normally displayed, and keys to which a function is assigned (keys to which a function cannot be assigned) are grayed out. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether the key can be assigned a function or not.

If the cancel button 15 is selected, the process is stopped (n61). When the "CTRL key" or the "SHIFT key" is selected, the current attribute is switched (n62 to n65), and the processing from n53 is repeated. When a key not displayed in gray is selected, the selected key is switched to reverse display (n
66, n67). Then, a message for confirming whether to assign the highlighted function in the function list 12 to the highlighted key in the keyboard 11 is displayed on the display unit 4 (n68) (see FIG. 15). When an input is made to assign a function to this message (n69), an assignment record 21 in which the highlighted function is assigned to the highlighted key is created and registered in the assignment table 20 ( n71). Then, the display is returned to the initial screen shown in FIG. 2 to complete the process (n72).
When it is input that the function is not assigned to the message of n65 (n70), the displayed message is deleted and all the display except the "CTRL key" or the "SHIFT key" is returned to the normal display (n73), and n61 is set. Return.

As described above, when assigning an arbitrary function to an arbitrary key in this changing process, it is possible to easily determine which key can assign a function and which cannot assign the function. The time required for allocation can be shortened. Further, since the key to which the selected function is assigned is highlighted and it is confirmed whether or not the function is assigned, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the key is selected incorrectly.

In the above-described embodiment, when the function assigned to any key is assigned to another key, the assignment of the function to the previous key is not canceled, but it may be canceled.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a key to which a function is assigned is selected, the key to which the function is already assigned and the other keys are displayed separately on the keyboard image. Therefore, it is possible to easily confirm the key to which the function is assigned, and it is possible to reduce the time required for the process of assigning the function to the key.

Further, the key arrangement of the keyboard is displayed in a keyboard image, and the keys to which the function selected on the image is assigned and the other keys are displayed separately, so that the function is assigned. You can easily check the position of the key.

Further, by displaying a list of the functions that can be assigned to the keys, it is possible to easily confirm the functions that can be assigned to the keys.

When a key is selected with the keyboard image and the list of the above functions displayed on the same screen, the function assigned to the selected key and the other functions are distinguished. Since it is displayed, you can easily check the function assigned to the key.

Further, since the selected key and the other keys are displayed separately, the selected key can be easily confirmed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a key assignment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display screen of a key assignment device of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a function allocation table in this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process of the key assignment device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a key selection process.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example when a “CTRL key” and a “SHIFT key” are selected.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example when a key other than a “CTRL key” and a “SHIFT key” is selected.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a function selection process.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example when a function is selected.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a deletion process.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example when a delete button is selected.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing change processing.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing change processing.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a display example before a key to which a function is assigned is selected.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a display example after a key to which a function is assigned is selected.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-Key assignment device 2-Control unit 3-Input unit 4-Display unit 5-Assignment table storage unit 6-Assignment table update unit 11-Keyboard screen 12-Function list 20-Assignment table 21-Assignment record

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard display means for displaying each key arrangement position of the keyboard as a keyboard image, a function selecting means for selecting an arbitrary function from a plurality of functions, and a single key or a plurality of keys in combination. And a function assigning unit that assigns the function selected by the function selecting unit to the key selected by the key selecting unit, wherein the keyboard displaying unit assigns the function already on the keyboard image. A key assigning device, comprising means for distinguishing and displaying existing keys and other keys. 2. A keyboard display means for displaying each key arrangement position of the keyboard as a keyboard image, a function selecting means for selecting an arbitrary function from a plurality of functions, and a single key or a plurality of keys in combination. And a function assigning unit that assigns the function selected by the function selecting unit to the key selected by the key selecting unit, wherein the keyboard display unit is already selected by the function selecting unit. When a function assigned to a key is selected, the key assigning device includes means for displaying on the keyboard image the key to which the function is assigned and the other keys are displayed separately. . 3. The function list display means for displaying a list of functions selectable by the function selection means on a display screen of the keyboard image, according to claim 1 or 2. The described key allotment device. 4. The function list display means, when the function is assigned to a single key or a plurality of combined keys selected by the key selection means, the function assigned to the key and other functions. 4. The key allotment apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for displaying the function separately from the function. 5. The keyboard display means includes means for displaying, on the keyboard image, a single key selected by the key selection means or a plurality of combined keys and other keys in a distinguishable manner. The key assignment device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or 4, characterized in that it is a key assignment device. 6. A key assignment method for assigning a function to a selected single key or a plurality of keys in combination, wherein each key position of the keyboard is displayed as a keyboard image, and the function is already displayed on the image. A key assignment method characterized by displaying assigned keys and other keys separately. 7. A key assignment method for assigning a function to a selected single key or a plurality of keys in combination, wherein each key position of the keyboard is displayed as a keyboard image, and any one of them is already displayed on the image. When the function assigned to the key is selected, the key assigned to the function and the other keys are displayed separately. 8. The key assigning method according to claim 6, wherein the selectable functions are displayed in a list. 9. When a single key or a plurality of keys in combination are selected, if the function of the key is already assigned, the assigned function and other functions are displayed on the keyboard image. 9. The key assignment method according to claim 8, wherein the keys are displayed separately. 10. When a single key or a plurality of keys in combination are selected, the selected key and other keys are displayed separately on the keyboard image. The key assignment method according to any one of to 8 or 9.