JPH09319545A - Character input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily input the character desired by a user through a little switching operation of character set by separately providing a character set for user definition with which the user can arbitrarily define characters. SOLUTION: When input position information is received from a whole control part 8, corresponding to the contents of that received input position information, whether it is the change of character set or the selection of selecting object character is judged by a character set managing part 12 and corresponding to the input position information, it is recognized which field in a character set selection area or the other character set area is selected. Thus, the position inputted from the user through a mouse 4 can be discriminated. When the user requests the change of character set, corresponding to the input position information, the character set managing part 12 specifies the selected character set name, extracts this character set from a character set table 10 and displays it in the character selection area as a list. In the case of selection of selecting character, a character display position number is specified and an object character is taken out of the table 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character input device, and more particularly to an input function in a device for selecting a character or the like displayed on a screen and inputting an arbitrary character string, and a character set editing function in the device. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a character is incorporated into an application operating on a computer, it is generally performed by using an attached keyboard. Also,
When operating an application having a graphical user interface (GUI), input is further performed using a pointing device such as a mouse. Further, in recent years, not only a general computer but also a general device such as a portable character input device without a keyboard or a television is required to have an input function. Is used for character input using only a pointing device.

As an apparatus for inputting from a screen using only a pointing device, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-1737
Japanese Patent Publication No. 48 discloses the character input device shown in FIG. In FIG. 18, an application window 61, a character input window 62, a cursor trajectory 63,
The cursor 64, the designated character 65 of the character set that can be sent to the application displayed in the character input window 62, the character 65 is sent to the application window 61, and the displayed character 66 and the character are displayed in the window 61. A scroll up button 67 and a scroll down button 68 are shown as means for changing the character set when they do not fit.

In this configuration, when the character 65 displayed in the character input window 62 is selected by the cursor 64, the selected character 65 is sent to the application and displayed like the character 66 in the window 61. When the number of characters in the character set is larger than the size of the character input window 62, the character displayed in the character input window 62 is changed by selecting the scroll up button 67 or the scroll down button 68 with the cursor 64. In recent years, a character input device provides a large number of not only alphanumeric characters but also various special symbols and the like in a character set table in the device to provide symbols and the like desired by a user.

[0005]

However, in the conventional case where input processing is performed using only a pointing device, a large number of characters, special symbols, etc. are uniformly applied regardless of the usage pattern or usage frequency of the user or application. Moreover, since it is fixedly provided in the character set table, there is a problem that it takes time to search for and input a character or the like desired by the user.

Further, no means has been provided for flexibly performing the editing process of the character set by the user.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to enable a character string input process and a character set editing process only by an input operation from the screen, and It is to provide a character input device that improves the input efficiency of each process.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above objects, a character input device according to the present invention displays a character set selection area for displaying a character set and a character to be selected registered in the character set. A display terminal that displays the selection candidates divided into a character selection area to be displayed, and selects one from the selection candidates by a pointing device or the like,
Character set storing means for registering a character set including a selectable character selectable by the user and a character set for user definition including a selectable selectable character defined by the user, and the designated character set for storing the character set A character set display control means for reading from a character set display area in the character selection area of the display terminal and a selected character recognition means for recognizing a designated selection target character in the character selection area. Characterized by inputting characters only by input operation. That is, in the present invention, since the user-defined character set described above is separately provided, the input efficiency can be improved.

Further, the character set display control means has a character set name management section for collectively managing the names of the character sets registered in the character set storage means, and the character set name management section is a character set name management section. Is displayed in the character set selection area of the display terminal.

Further, the character set name management section is characterized by adding and deleting a character set to and from the character set storing means in accordance with addition and deletion of a character set name. In this way, the character set name management unit is provided to manage the character set name, so that the character set can be flexibly added and deleted.

Further, it is characterized in that it has a character set editing means for performing an editing process on the selected character set.

Further, the character set editing means includes a character set editing area for displaying a character set to be edited,
An editing character selection area for displaying a character set used to perform a character input process for the object to be edited is displayed on the display terminal at the same time, and the editing process is performed only by an input operation from the display terminal. Characterize.

As described above, since the character set editing means is provided, it is possible to provide the editing function of the registered character set.

Further, the character set display control means reads a designated character set from the character set storage means and displays the designated character set in a character selection area of the display terminal in a switchable manner, and a designated character. A constant character set management unit for reading a set from the character set storage means and fixedly displaying the set in a constant character selection area separately provided in the display terminal, wherein the selected character recognition means is in the character selection area or It is characterized by always recognizing the selected character specified in the character selection area. In this way, the character set is fixedly and constantly displayed, so that the input efficiency can be improved.

Further, it has an application-compatible character set storage means for storing an application name and a character set name used by the application in association with each other,
The character set display control means changes the character set displayed in the character selection area according to an operating application based on the contents of the application-compatible character set storage means.

Further, the character set display control means determines a character set to be initially displayed in the character selection area by an operating application based on the contents of the application-compatible character set storage means.

Further, the character set display control means displays in the character set selection area only the character set name stored in the application corresponding character set storage means in correspondence with the operating application.
As described above, since the application-compatible character set storage means is provided, it is possible to perform efficient character input processing suitable for each application.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the same elements in each embodiment described later.

Embodiment 1 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a character input device according to the present invention. The character input device according to the present embodiment is a mouse as a pointing device that performs a selection operation from a display 2 that is a display terminal that performs character input and a selected character is displayed and a selection candidate displayed on the display 2. Four
And an input position recognition unit 6, an overall control unit 8, a character set table 10, a character set management unit 12,
It is composed of a control command management unit 14 and a main unit including an application execution unit 16 that executes an application. Of these, the input position recognition unit 6 included in the main body unit
Recognizes the input position designated by the selection operation with the mouse 4. The overall control unit 8 determines the content selected by the user based on the input position information obtained by the input position recognition unit 6 by the selection operation, activates the character set management unit 12 and the control command management unit 14, and executes a predetermined process. To execute. The character set table 10 is a character set storage means in which all character sets prepared by this apparatus are registered. The character set registered in the character set table 10 includes a character set including a character that can be selected by a user, which is conventionally used,
There is a user-defined character set that contains selectable selection characters defined by the user. The contents of the user-defined character set will be described later. The character set management unit 12 is a character set display control unit that reads a designated character set from the character set table 10 and displays it on the display 2, and an input position recognition unit sent via the overall control unit 8. It is a selected character recognition means for recognizing the specified selection target character in the character selection area based on the input position information from 6. The control command management unit 14 manages various control commands used according to the displayed character set. The application execution unit 16 receives the character to be selected sent from the character set management unit 12 and the control code sent from the control command management unit 14 and displays it on the display 2 or stores it in a database (not shown). Execute an application that performs a predetermined process such as

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of character sets registered in the character set table 10. Each character set is
Each includes a uniquely assigned name 10a, a character display position number 10b that specifies a position when displaying on the display 2, and a selection target character 10c displayed on the display 2 by the character set management unit 12. The present embodiment is characterized in that, as one of the character sets registered in the character set table 10, a user-defined character set that allows the user to arbitrarily define a character to be selected is provided. By pre-registering the selection target character that the user often uses in the user-defined character set provided separately, it is possible to easily input the selection target character desired by the user with a switching operation of a small number of character sets. In other words, since the number of input opportunities for displaying the user-defined character set that is considered to be frequently used is increased, the number of times of switching to another character set is reduced. Further, while a general character set is set one by one in each field of the selection target character 10c such as “Hiragana” and “Katakana”, the selection target character of the user-defined character set in the present embodiment is set. A character string can be set in 10c. As a result, the user can input a desired character string with a small number of selection operations using the mouse 4, which is efficient. Also, the number of times the character set is switched is reduced.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example on the display 2. On the display screen, the character set selection area 21,
A character selection area 22 and a control command area 23 are provided, and each displays a character set, a character to be selected, and a selection candidate of a control command. The user selected position 24 indicates the position selected by the mouse 4 and is displayed in reverse video. The character set selection area 21 is an area for displaying a character set name for allowing the user to select a character set, and the character set name is registered in the character set table 10. In this example, "Hiragana", "Katakana", etc. are character set names. The character selection area 22 is an area for displaying a list of contents of the character set selected from the character set selection area 21, and a specified character set is extracted from the character set table 10 and displayed. This figure shows an example when the character set name “user defined” is selected. As is apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3, the character display position numbers 10b are sequentially assigned from the left to the right and from the top to the bottom of the character selection area 22.
In addition, the field selected by the mouse 4 is displayed with effects such as inversion, change in brightness and color so that it can be seen that the field has been selected. Control command area 2
Reference numeral 3 is an area for displaying control commands that can be switched according to the displayed character set. For example, when "alphanumeric" is selected as the character set, "kanji conversion" is not displayed as a control command because it is unnecessary.
The character set selection area 21 and the character selection area 22 are displayed by the character set management unit 12, while the control command area 23 is displayed by the control command management unit 14.

Next, the operation of the character set management unit 12 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

When the general control unit 8 activates the character set management unit 12 as described above (step 101),
The following initialization process is performed (step 102). First, the names of the character sets registered in the character set table 10 are displayed in the character set selection area 21. Next, the character set “Hiragana” located at the left end of the character set selection area 21 is taken out from the character set table 10 as an initial value and displayed in a list in the character selection area 22. At this time, in order to indicate that "Hiragana" is selected, the field is displayed with an effect. After that, a state of waiting for input from the overall control unit 8 is entered (step 103).

Upon receiving the input position information from the overall control unit 8, the character set management unit 12 determines whether to change the character set or select the selection target character according to the contents of the received input position information (step 104). Since the character set management unit 12 can recognize which field in the character set selection area 21 or the character selection area 22 is selected based on the input position information, the input position by the mouse 4 of the user can be determined. In the case of selecting the control command area 23, the overall control unit 8 transfers control to the control command management unit 14, and therefore the input position information regarding the control command area 23 is not sent to the character set management unit 12.

Here, when the user requests to change the character set, the character set management unit 12 specifies the character set name selected by the input position information (step 10).
5) The character set is taken out from the character set table 10 and displayed in a list in the character selection area 22 (step 10).
6). At this time, the effect is displayed in the field of the selected character set name in the character set selection area 21.
Then, it returns to the input waiting state (step 103).

On the other hand, when the user selects the character to be selected, the character display position number 10b is specified (step 10
7), the selection target character 10c corresponding to the specified character display position number 10b is taken out from the character set table 10 and sent to the application execution unit 16 (step 10).
8). For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the selection target character "c
o. User selected position 24
In this case, the character set management unit 12 recognizes that the character display position number 10b is “3” from the input position information, and selects the corresponding selection target character “co.jp” in the character set table 10. It is extracted from the character set “user defined” and sent to the application execution unit 16. Then, it returns to the input waiting state (step 103).

By the operation of the character set management section 12 described above, the user can change the desired character set and select the desired selection target character. Note that the character set initially displayed in the character selection area 22 in the initialization process is “Hiragana” located at the left end of the character set selection area 21, but the present invention is not limited to this.

Next, the overall control unit 8 in the present embodiment
The operation will be described with reference to FIG.

When the overall control unit 8 is activated (step 121), it activates the character set management unit 12 and the control command management unit 14 (step 122). When the input position recognition unit 6 notifies the user selected position 24 (step 123), it is determined which region 21, 22, 23 the user selected position 24 indicates (steps 124, 125). . If the user selected position 24 is within the character set selection area 21, the character set management unit 12 is notified as input position information (step 126). If the user selected position 24 is within the character selection area 22, the character set management unit 12 is also notified as input position information (step 127). On the other hand, if the user-selected position 24 is within the control command area 23, the control command management unit 14 is notified as input position information (step 128).

If the input position recognition unit 6 has not notified the user selected position 24 (step 123), the character set management unit 12 confirms the presence or absence of the character set change notification (step 129). This notification is in step 12
6 is a report on the character set switching processing performed by the character set management unit 12 according to the notification in 6. If notified, the contents are notified to the control command management unit 14 (step 128). The control command management unit 14
Switches the display content of the control command area 23 to the control command corresponding to the received character set name.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the user-defined character set is separately provided, the characters frequently used by the user can be registered in the user-defined character set so that the user-defined character set can be registered. Since the chances of inputting by displaying the character set increase, it is possible to easily input the character desired by the user with a switching operation of the small character set. In addition, since a character string can be set as a character to be selected in the user-defined character set, the character string desired by the user can be input by a selection operation using a small number of the mouse 4. In this way, the user can easily select and input the desired character string.

In the present embodiment, the mouse 4 is provided as the input means, and the selection candidate on the display 2 is selected by the mouse 4. However, for example, a person touches the screen with a finger to input. It is also applicable to such an input device.

Embodiment 2 FIG . FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the character input device according to the present invention. In the character input device according to the present embodiment, the character set name management unit that collectively manages the names of the character sets registered in the character set table 10 as a part of the character set display control means in the configuration of the first embodiment. The feature is that 18 is further provided. In the first embodiment, the character set management unit 12 fetches the character set name from the character set table 10 and displays the character set name in the character set selection area 21. However, in the present embodiment, the character set management unit 12 processes the character set. The name management unit 18 is made to perform the processing. Further, in contrast to the first embodiment on the assumption that only one user-defined character set is used, in the present embodiment, each user-defined character set can be given a unique name, Added support for using multiple user-defined character sets. Further, it is possible to manage addition and deletion of character sets registered in the character set table 10.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of character sets registered in the character set table 10 in this embodiment. Each character set is given a name 10a of an arbitrary character set such as "text broadcast" by the user.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example on the display 2. The character set name management section 18 extracts the name of the character set registered in the character set table 10 and displays it in the character set selection area 21. Displays the character set name "Internet", "text broadcasting", etc.

Next, the operation of the character set name management unit 18 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The character set name management unit 18 includes the overall control unit 8
When activated by (step 201), all character set names are taken out from the character set table 10 (step 202) and displayed in the character set selection area 21 (step 203). Next, "Internet" located at the left end of the character set selection area 21 is regarded as selected, and the field is displayed with effect (step 204). Then, the selected character set name is notified to the overall control unit 8 (step 205). After that, a state of waiting for input from the overall control unit 8 is entered (step 206).

Here, when the input position information is received from the overall control section 8, the character set name selected by the content of the received input position information is specified (step 207),
The selected character set name field in the character set selection area 21 is displayed with effect (step 20).
8). Then, after the selected character set name is notified to the overall control unit 8 (step 209), a state of waiting for input from the overall control unit 8 is entered (step 206).

Next, the operation of the character set management unit 12 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

When the character set management unit 12 is activated by the general control unit 8 (step 221), it enters a state of waiting for input from the general control unit 8 (step 222). Upon receiving the input position information from the overall control unit 8, the character set management unit 12 determines whether the character set name or the selection target character is selected according to the content of the received input position information (step 223). If it is a character set name, the character set with the character set name is taken out from the character set table 10 and displayed in a list in the character selection area 22 (step 22).
4). This received character set name is step 209.
Is the name of the character set notified to the overall control unit 8 by the character set name management unit 18. Then, it returns to the input waiting state (step 222).

On the other hand, in the case of selecting a selection target character, the same processing as steps 107 and 108 described in the first embodiment is performed, and the designated selection target character is sent to the application execution unit 16 (steps 225 and 226). ).

When the input position by the mouse 4 is the character set selection area 21 (step 124 in FIG. 5), the process of the overall control section 8 is performed in step 126 in FIG.
In the above, the input position information is notified to the character set name management unit 18 instead of the character set management unit 12, and when the character set name is received from the character set name management unit 18, the character set name is notified to the character set management unit 12. It is the same as the first embodiment except that the notification is given.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the character set name management unit 18 is provided so that a unique name can be given to the user-defined character set. Can be used. Thereby, the input efficiency by the user can be further improved. The character set name is added or deleted by the user when the character input process by the user is not performed. Although not shown in the drawing, this can be performed on the character set name setting screen or the registration screen when registering the character set.

Embodiment 3. FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the character input device according to the present invention. The character input device according to the present embodiment is further provided with a character set editing unit 36 as a character set editing means for performing an editing process on a character set registered in the character set table 10 in the configuration of the first embodiment. It is characterized by that. In the present embodiment, an editing function for adding, changing, deleting, etc., a selection target character included in the character set is provided in the first embodiment. The transition from the normal character input function to the editing function is performed by the user selecting the command with respect to the control command management unit 14 having the “edit” command for editing the character set. Specifically, it is realized by selecting an "edit" field displayed in the control command area 23, which is not shown.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example on the display 2 in the present embodiment. The editing character selection area 26 shown in the upper part of the figure is an area used for performing character input processing as in the above-described respective embodiments. The character set editing area 28 shown in the lower part of the figure is provided in the present embodiment, and the editing target of the character set is displayed by selecting the "edit" command. In the character set editing area 28, the edit target field 30 specified by the selection operation by the mouse 4, the cursor 32 of the mouse 4, and the "end" for ending the editing process and returning to the normal character input process Field 34, is shown.

Next, the operation of the character set editing unit 36 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

When the editing process is selected by the user during the character input process, the control command management unit 14 causes the overall control unit 8 to operate.
The overall control unit 8 activates the character set editing unit 36 according to the notification (step 301). At this point, the character set management unit 12 and the control command management unit 14
The notification destination of the selection target character or the like is switched to the character set editing unit 36. When activated, the character set editing unit 36 reads the user-defined character set from the character set table 10 and displays it in the character set editing area 28 (step 302). In the present embodiment, since there is only one user-defined character set and the other character sets cannot be edited, the user-defined character set is automatically read. If the set is editable, the character set name can be input so that the character set to be edited can be specified.

When the character set editing unit 36 displays the display screen shown in FIG. 12, the character set editing unit 36 waits for an input from the user to the character set editing area 28 (step 303) and continues to the next character until "End" is selected. Edit processing (step 30)
5). First, the mouse 4 is used to identify which field of the character set editing area 28 is to be edited, and then the character set displayed in the editing character selection area 26 is used to input a character string in the field. To do. The character input method is the same as the character input function described above. By repeating this process, it is possible to edit a plurality of fields. When "End" is selected, the edited result is written and reflected in the character set table 10 in association with the character display position number and the selected character (step 306). When the editing process is completed, the notification destination of the selection target characters of the character set management unit 12 and the control command management unit 14 is switched to the application execution unit 16, and the normal character input process is resumed.

In this way, in the present embodiment, the character set editing process can be easily performed.
In addition, the editing character selection area 26 and the character set editing area 2
By displaying 8 and 8 on the display 2 at the same time, the editing process can be performed only by the input operation with the mouse 4.

Embodiment 4 FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the character input device according to the present invention. The character input device according to the present embodiment is different from the structure according to the first embodiment in that the specified character set is read from the character set table 10 as a part of the character set display control means, and is newly added in the present embodiment. It is characterized in that a constant character set management unit 38 for always displaying the constant character selection area is further provided. That is, like the display example on the display 2 shown in FIG. 15, a constant character selection area 40 is newly provided in FIG. 3 in the first embodiment, and a predetermined character set is fixedly and constantly displayed in the area. I decided to do it.

When activated by the overall control unit 8, the constant character set management unit 38 reads the "user-defined" character set from the character set table 10 and displays it in the constant character selection area 40. Since the character set that is always displayed in the character selection area 40 is fixedly displayed, the user-defined character set having a high degree of use is automatically extracted here. Of course, another character set may be used, and if a plurality of user-defined character sets are registered, selection may be made in the same manner as in the third embodiment. Which character set is always displayed in the character selection area 40 is a design matter. When the user selects the selection target character displayed in the constant character selection area 40, the constant character set management unit 38 causes the character display position designated based on the input position information obtained via the overall control unit 8. The selection target character corresponding to the number is taken out from the character set table 10 and sent to the application execution unit 16. When the selection target character displayed in the character selection area 22 is selected, the character set management unit 12 extracts the selection target character from the character set table 10 as in the first embodiment.
Send to 6. Further, the function of the selected character recognition means in this embodiment is possessed by the character set management unit 12 and the constant character set management unit 38.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, if the character selection area 40 is always provided on the display 2 and the character set which is frequently used is displayed here, the character set switching operation can be performed. The number of times is reduced, and the character string desired by the user can be efficiently input.

In the above embodiment, one character selection area 22 that can be displayed by switching the character set and one selection area of the constant character selection area 40 that fixedly displays the character set are provided. However, it is possible to provide a plurality of selection areas as necessary while considering the size of the display 2 and the like.

Embodiment 5 FIG . FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram showing a fifth embodiment of the character input device according to the present invention. The character input device according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment except that the application-compatible character set table 42 is used.
Is further provided. FIG. 17 shows an example of the contents of the application-compatible character set table 42. This table 42 is used by the application execution unit 16
It is an application-compatible character set storage means for storing the name of an application that operates in (1) and the character set name used when the application operates in association with each other.

Explaining the operation in the present embodiment, the overall control unit 8 notifies the name of the operating application when the character set management unit 12 is activated. The character set management unit 12 refers to the application-compatible character set table 42 and extracts the character set name corresponding to the received application name. Then, the character set is retrieved from the character set table 10 and displayed in the character selection area 22. That is, in the first embodiment, in the initialization process (step 102) shown in FIG. 4, the character set of "Hiragana" located at the left end of the character set selection area 21 is unconditionally set as the initial value.
In the present embodiment, the initial value can be set and registered in the application corresponding character set table 42 for each application.

Thus, if a character set that is frequently used by an application is set as an initial value, the possibility of performing the character set switching operation from the beginning is reduced, and the input efficiency can be improved.

Sixth Embodiment In the fifth embodiment,
Only one character set name is set for each application in the application-compatible character set table 42, and that character set is used as an initial value. The present embodiment is characterized in that a plurality of character set names can be registered in the application-compatible character set table 42 corresponding to each application, and only the registered character set can be used in each application. .

For example, in the second embodiment, when the character set name is displayed in the character set selection area 21, the character set name management section 18 searches the character set table 10 and displays the registered character set name. In the present embodiment, the character set name is fetched from the application-compatible character set table 42 and displayed in the character set selection area 21. That is, different character set names are displayed in the character set selection area 21 depending on the operating application.

As described above, since only the character set registered in the application-compatible character set table 42 can be selected in each application, a user-defined character set or the like which should not be referred to by an application can be selected in the application-compatible character set table. If it is not registered in 42, it can be deselected. On the other hand, in each application, since it is not necessary to display an unnecessary character set in the character set selection area 21, a work load of finding a character set whose display is to be switched from a large number of character sets in the character set selection area 21. It will be reduced. This is very effective when a large number of user-defined character sets are set. In each application, the same effect as that of the fifth embodiment can be obtained by setting the first (left) character set registered in the application-compatible character set table 42 as the initial value during application operation.

As described above, in the second to sixth embodiments,
Although the respective characteristic configurations have been described as the configurations added to the first embodiment, it is not denied that the configurations shown in the second to sixth embodiments are used in combination as needed.

[0061]

According to the present invention, since a user-defined character set that allows the user to arbitrarily define characters is provided,
By registering characters frequently used by the user in this user-defined character set, the number of input opportunities for displaying the user-defined character set increases. Therefore, it becomes possible for the user to easily input the desired character by switching the character set. In addition, in a general character set, while one character is usually registered as a character to be selected,
Since the user-defined character set according to the present invention can be set with a character string, it becomes possible for the user to input a character string desired by a selection operation with a small number of pointing devices. In this way, the user can easily and efficiently input a desired character string.

Further, since the character set name management unit is provided so that a unique name can be set for the user-defined character set, it is possible to set a plurality of user-defined character sets. This allows the user to input a desired character string more efficiently.

Further, by providing the character set editing means, it becomes possible to easily perform the editing process of the character set registered in the character set storing means.

Since the character set editing area and the editing character selection area are simultaneously displayed on the display terminal,
It is possible to perform editing processing only by input operation on the screen without using a keyboard.

Further, since the user-defined character set or the like which is frequently used is constantly and fixedly displayed on the display terminal, the character string desired by the user can be efficiently input.

Further, since the application-compatible character set storage means is provided so that the character set to be initially displayed in the character selection area can be set by the operating application, the character set switching operation can be performed from the beginning. Therefore, the input efficiency can be improved.

Further, it is possible to set a character set usable by each application for each application. This allows some applications not to select a character set that they do not want to see, and for applications, it does not need to display unnecessary character sets in the character set selection area. The work load of finding the character set you want to switch from the character set selection area is reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a character input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of character sets registered in a character set table according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example on a display in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart used to explain the operation of the character set management unit in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart used to explain the operation of the overall control unit in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of a character input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of character sets registered in a character set table according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example on a display according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart used to explain the operation of the character set name management unit according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart used to describe the operation of the character set management unit in the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a third embodiment of the character input device according to the present invention.
It is the block diagram which showed.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example on the display according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart used to explain the operation of the character set editing unit in the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a fourth embodiment of the character input device according to the present invention.
It is the block diagram which showed.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a display example on the display according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a fifth embodiment of the character input device according to the present invention.
It is the block diagram which showed.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of contents of an application-compatible character set table used in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a conventional character input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 display, 4 mouse, 6 input position recognition unit,
8 overall control unit, 10 character set table, 10a name, 10b character display position number, 10c character to be selected, 12 character set management unit, 14 control command management unit, 16 application execution unit, 18 character set name management unit, 21 characters Set selection area, 22 character selection area, 23 control command area, 24 user selection position, 26 editing character selection area, 28 character set editing area, 30 edit target field, 32 cursor, 36
Character set editor, 38 Constant character set manager, 4
0 constant character selection area, 42 application compatible character set table.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A selection candidate is displayed separately in a character set selection area for displaying a character set and a character selection area for displaying a selection target character registered in the character set, and the selection candidates are displayed by a pointing device or the like. A display terminal for selecting any of the above, a character set storing means for registering a character set including a selection target character selectable by the user and a character set for user definition including a selectable selection target character defined by the user; A character set display control means for reading the selected character set from the character set storage means and displaying it in a character selection area of the display terminal; and a selected character recognition means for recognizing a specified selection target character in the character selection area, And a character input device which allows a character to be input only by an input operation on the display terminal. 2. The character set display control unit has a character set name management unit that collectively manages the names of the character sets registered in the character set storage unit, and the character set name management unit is a character set name management unit. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the name of the character is displayed in the character set selection area of the display terminal. 3. The character set name management unit adds or deletes a character set to or from the character set storage unit in accordance with addition or deletion of a character set name. Character input device. 4. A character set editing means for performing editing processing on the selected character set is provided.
A character input device as described. 5. The character set editing means displays a character set editing area for displaying a character set to be edited, and an editing character selection area for displaying a character set used for performing character input processing on the editing object. 5. The character input device according to claim 4, wherein, and are simultaneously displayed on the display terminal, and the editing process is performed only by an input operation from the display terminal. 6. The character set display control means reads a specified character set from the character set storage means and displays it in a character selection area of the display terminal in a switchable manner, and a specified character set. A constant character set management unit for reading a set from the character set storage means and fixedly displaying the set in a constant character selection area separately provided in the display terminal; Alternatively, the character input device according to claim 1, wherein the selected character specified in the character selection area is always recognized. 7. An application-compatible character set storage means for storing an application name and a character set name used by the application in association with each other, wherein the character set display control means comprises: The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the character set displayed in the character selection area is changed based on the content according to an operating application. 8. The character set display control means determines a character set to be initially displayed in the character selection area by an operating application based on the contents of the application-compatible character set storage means. Character input device described. 9. The character set display control means displays, in a character set selection area, only the character set name stored in the application-compatible character set storage means in association with an operating application. Item 7. The character input device according to item 7.