JPH1049625A - Handwritten character input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a device using a character input frame wherein the movement of a pen for specifying a character kind is small and the specified character kind can visually be stored and discriminated by displaying character kind specification by display means for character kind specification at the four corners of the character input frames. SOLUTION: The display means for character kind specification at the four corners of the character input frame 703 displays the character kind specification. In this case, when character kind specification areas of the character input frame 703 of a character input area are assigned, areas 7031-7034 at the four corners of the handwritten character square input frame 703 are assigned to four character kinds so that the area 7031 is assigned to 'English letter', the area 7032 to 'number', the area 7033 to 'KATAKANA(square form of Japanese syllabary)', and the area 7034 to 'HIRAGANA(cursive form of Japanese syllabary) and KANJI(Chinese character). Then when handwriting information is pen touch information and the XY coordinate values of the pen are in one of the character kind specification areas 7031-7034 in the character input frame 703, the character kind of the corresponding area is character kind specification. Consequently, this device enables a user to visually discriminate what character kind the user has specified, so the character kind need not be stored.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a handwritten character input device, and more particularly, to a handwritten character input device capable of displaying a character type designation and changing the order of recognized character candidates in handwritten character recognition.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 58-189785, which is a conventional character type designation input method using a handwritten character input frame, in a character type designation input method for handwritten character recognition using an online handwritten character input device, There is a method of designating a character type by touching a pen with a specific area around a handwritten character input frame on a tablet as a touch panel as a menu. In this publication, the pen and the viewpoint must be moved to the menu position, and the character writing operation and the viewpoint movement are large in the character writing operation, and there is a problem in operability. In Japanese documents, if there are many types of characters and characters of the same type are not long and continuous,
The number of times of the character type designation increases, the number of operations of the character type designation increases, and the operation of writing a character becomes impossible.

The configuration and operation of a character type designation input method using a handwritten character input frame disclosed in this publication will be described below. FIG.
1 is a configuration diagram showing a handwritten character input device of the publication.
FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged view of an original sheet on a tablet panel for designating a character type in the publication. FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the processing operation of the character type designation input of the publication. 11, the tablet 111 is a device that reads the XY coordinate values of the pen 112 and the UP / DOWN state of the pen 112. The document holding frame 113 fixes the document paper 114 at a fixed position on the tablet 111. The character frame 115 is a character frame printed on the document paper 114. The area determining unit 106 determines in which area of the character the coordinate value of a point written outside the character 115 is located, and outputs the character type determined by the area to the recognition processing unit 108. The character input unit 107 is a character 1 on the manuscript paper 114
The stroke of the handwritten character written in
It is created from the temporal change of the coordinate position of. Recognition processing unit 10
Reference numeral 8 determines a character type to be recognized based on the character type designation from the area determination unit 106, and performs a recognition process for handwritten characters using the character stroke from the character input unit 107 and the dictionary 109 in response to a start command.

[0004] As shown in FIG. 12, when the character “E” is written with the pen 112 in the character input area of the character square 115,
When the pen 112 is in the DOWN state, the area determination unit 106 determines that the U surrounded by the character frame 120 and the character 115
It is determined which of the four character type designation areas 116, R117, D118, and L119 has been designated. Area 11
6 is “Kanji”, area 117 is “Hiragana”, area 118
Is determined as “alphanumeric”, and the area 119 is determined as “katakana”. Here, if the character written in the character mascot 115 is a kanji, after writing the character, the pen 112 is down in the area 116, that is, by writing a dot, the handwritten character in the character masquerade 115 is "kanji". Are recognized by the recognition processing unit 108. This can be done by similarly writing dots in the area of the required character type for other character types. Further, when a character is written from character 115 to another character 115 without specifying the character type, the character type is specified as that of the preceding character type.

Referring to FIG. 13, in step 131, the coordinate position of the pen 112 on the tablet 111 is read.
In step 132, it is checked whether or not the pen position is within the character mark 115.
If the character is not 115, step 133 is performed. In determining the pen position, the position of the document paper 114 is fixed at the position determined by the document holding frame 113, and the position of the character 115 on the document paper 114 is also determined in the same manner. This can be realized by comparing each coordinate with the coordinates of the character frame 120. Step 133 is Step 1 if the pen 112 is in the UP state.
Returning to step 31, if it is in the DOWN state, step 134 is performed. In step 134, if the position of the pen 112 is within the area 116, the character type is designated as “Kanji” to the recognition processing unit 108, and “alphanumeric” is used for the area 117, and “Hiragana” is used for the area 118. Is specified in the area 119, "Katakana" is designated, and the process of step 138 is performed.
If it is not any of the areas 116 to 119, error processing is performed outside the input area, and the process returns to step 131. A step 138 causes the recognition processing section to perform handwritten character recognition. In step 139, if the handwritten character input processing is completed, the processing is ended. If not, step 140 is performed.
In step 140, the position of the pen 112 is read.
In step 141, if the pen position is within the character 115, step 136 is performed.
In step 135, it is checked whether or not the position of the pen 112 is the same as that in the character box 115 at the time of the most recent character input. If it is the same, step 136 is performed, and if it is different, step 137 is performed. If the position of the pen 112 is different from the position of the nearest character 115, it indicates that the character type was not specified in the latest character input. Step 136 is the pen 11
The two positions and the state of the pen 112 are output to the character input unit 107. The character input unit 107 creates a character stroke from the state of the pen 112 and a change in the coordinate position, and generates a character stroke.
8 until it is activated. A step 137 instructs the recognition processing unit 108 with the most recently instructed character type.

[0006] As described above, the configuration and operation of the character type designation input method using the handwritten character input frame disclosed in the publication are described with reference to the pen 112.
When a point is written in any of the character type specification areas 116 to 119, the character type assigned to each area is recognized, and when a point is not written in any of the character type specification areas, the nearest specified character type is recognized. Recognition processing of a handwritten character specified as a character type and input of a handwritten character is performed, and no consideration is given to automatically returning the character type specification to an unspecified initial state. Since the specified character type is visually stored and cannot be visually recognized, if the character type specified by the user is not stored, the character type must be specified each time a handwritten character is input. Once one of the character types is specified, the specified character type is always valid, and the specification of the character type cannot be unspecified during handwritten character input.

[0007]

The first problem in the prior art is as follows.
The problem is that since the specified character type is visually stored and cannot be determined, if the character type specified by the user is not stored, the character type must be specified each time a handwritten character is input. It must not be.

A second problem is that, in the prior art, once any character type is designated, the character type assigned to each area of the character type designation area is always valid as the character type designation, and the character type is designated during handwritten character input. That is, the specification cannot be unspecified.

An object of the present invention is to provide a handwritten character input device using a handwritten character input frame in which the movement of a pen for designating a character type is small, and the designated character type can be visually stored and distinguished.

Another object is to provide a handwritten character input device which rearranges the order of recognized character candidates by specifying a character type, and automatically returns to the initial recognized character candidate order when the character type is unspecified.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided an input device including a character input frame for inputting handwritten characters and an input operation end frame on a touch panel according to the present invention, and an input operation means for inputting the handwritten characters and operation end, and the character An output device for displaying and outputting an input frame and the end frame, and a handwritten character input in the frame and the operation end in a figure similar to the arrangement on the touch panel in synchronization with the input operation; A data processing device for selecting according to the order of the recognized character candidates in the recognition dictionary and displaying the selected character type on the output device, wherein the input device includes a character type input and a specified character type at each of the four corners of the character input frame. Is provided, and the data processing device includes handwritten information for identifying the character type designation input and the handwritten character input. Another means, display means for displaying the character type designation by inverting the corner of the character input box corresponding to the designated character type, and recognition character candidate list for rearranging the order of the recognition character candidates corresponding to the designated character type Replacement means.

The character type designation is displayed by the character type designation display means at the four corners of the character input frame. Therefore, it is possible to visually determine the character type specified by the user. By the character type designation processing, it is possible to switch between a specific character type designation and non-designation. Furthermore, the order of the recognized character candidates in the handwritten character recognition processing can be rearranged by the recognized character candidate rearranging means.

[0013]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.
1, an input device 1 for inputting information, a data processing device 2 operated by program control, a storage device 3 for recording information, and an output device 4 for outputting information are included. The input device 1 includes an online handwritten character input unit 11
It has. The online handwritten character input device 11 is composed of a tablet and a pen. When the pen is brought into contact with the tablet, the XY coordinate values of the pen on the tablet and the UP / DOWN state of the pen can be read at regular time intervals. You can enter. The data processing device 2
Handwritten information identification means 21, handwritten character recognition means 22, recognition character candidate rearrangement means 23, recognition character candidate display means 24, and character type designation display means 25
And

The identification means 21 for handwritten information includes the input device 1
Character input or pen touch input is identified based on the length of time of the pen DOWN state of the handwritten information input by the user. If the character input is a character input, the character information storage unit 31 stores and stores the bitmap image. A character pattern is formed as a handwritten character including an element such as a stroke. If it is pen touch information, the XY coordinate value of the pen touch is further identified. If it is a character type designation area in the handwritten character input frame 703, a character type designation storage is performed. The character type designation is stored in the unit 33, and the character information is not included in the character type designation area in the handwritten character input frame 703. Form and store character information.

To specify the character type, the handwritten character is changed to "English character".
, "Numbers", "Katakana", and "Hiragana / Kanji"
Is not limited to a specific character type, and is divided into five character types of “automatic” that recognize all character types equally. “Auto” in the character type designation is a state in which a specific character type is not designated.
Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B showing the tablet of the online handwritten character input unit 11, the character type designation area of the character input box 703 of the character input area has four corners within the square handwritten character input box 703. Regions 7031 to 703
4 is previously set to the “alphabet” area 7031 and the “numeric” area 70
32, a katakana region 7033 and a hiragana / kanji region 7034 are assigned to four character types. The handwritten information is pen touch information and the XY coordinate values of the pen are character type designation areas 7031 to 731 in the handwritten character input frame 703.
If it is 034, the character type of the corresponding area is the character type designation.

The handwritten character recognition unit 22 compares the character information in the character information storage unit 31 with the character information of a plurality of recognition candidates stored in the character recognition dictionary storage unit 32 in advance, and stores the character information. A single or a plurality of recognized character candidates are extracted in the order close to the character information of the unit 31. The recognition character candidate rearranging unit 23 refers to the character type designation stored in the character type designation storage unit 33, and refers to the character recognition unit 22 of the handwritten character.
If the character of the designated character type is other than the first rank among the recognized character candidates extracted by (1), the recognition character candidates are rearranged to the first rank in the candidate rank of the character of the designated character type. When the character type is unspecified, the process returns to the list of recognized character candidates as initial values. The recognized character candidate display means 24 outputs the character codes of the plurality of recognized character candidates rearranged by the recognized character candidate rearranging means 23 to the display unit 41 of the output device 4 for display. The display means 25 for specifying the character type is
When the character type designation is “alphabet”, “number”, “katakana”, or “hiragana / kanji”, four areas 703 which are character type designation areas in the handwritten character input box 703 shown in FIG.
The corresponding area from 1 to 7034 is highlighted, and if the character type is not specified and “automatic”, the handwritten character input box 703 is displayed.
Regions 7031 to 70 which are character type designation regions in
Normal display without inverting all 34.

The storage device 3 includes a character information storage unit 31, a character recognition dictionary storage unit 32, and a character type designation storage unit 33. The character information storage unit 31 stores character information as handwritten characters including elements such as bitmap images and strokes. The character recognition dictionary storage unit 32 stores in advance character information including elements such as a bitmap image and a stroke for each character of a character to be recognized. The character type designation storage unit 33 stores “alphabet”, “number”,
Any one of five character types designated as "Katakana", "Hiragana / Kanji", and "Auto" is stored as the character type designation.

The output device 4 has a display unit 41. The display unit 41 displays output information. Referring to FIG. 7A, in the portable information terminal, a touch panel having both the online handwritten character input unit 11 and the display unit 41 is used.
0, a handwritten character input frame 703, an area 701 for marking the end of the input operation, and an area 702 for displaying a recognized character of the handwritten character. The handwritten characters in the handwritten character input frame 703 are targets for online handwritten character recognition. Referring to FIG. 7B, character type designation areas 7031 to 7301
Numeral 034 designates four areas at four corners in the square handwritten character input frame 703 as alphabetic areas 7031 and numeric areas 703.
2. Katakana area 7033, Hiragana / Kanji area 703
4, the lower left end of the handwritten character input frame 703 is defined as the origin (0, 0), and the square handwritten character input frame 703 is formed as a square.
Is the length of one side and b is an arbitrary length from each vertex (0 <
b <a / 2), the XY coordinate value P of the pen of the handwritten information
If (x, y) satisfies y ≦ a, x ≧ 0, y ≧ x + ab, the alphabetic region 7031, y ≦ a, a ≦ a, y ≧ −x +
If 2a-b is satisfied, the numeric region 7032, y ≧ 0, x ≦
If a, y ≦ x−a + b is satisfied, the katakana region 703
If 3, y ≧ 0, x ≧ 0, and y ≦ −x + b are satisfied, a hiragana / kanji area 7034 is obtained. Referring to FIG. 7 (c), a series of three handwritten character input frames 703 is a series of three, and the lower left end of the first handwritten character input frame 703 is the origin (0, 0), and each of the square handwritten character input frames 703 is square. Character input box 7
03 is XY of pen of handwritten information when length of one side is a
If the coordinate value P (x, y) satisfies 0 ≦ x ≦ 3a and 0 ≦ y ≦ a, the area is within the handwritten character input frame 703.

Referring to FIG. 8 (a), an alphabetic character type designation display 801 is displayed in such a manner that "alphabet" is designated by character type designation, and an assigned alphabetic area 7031 in all handwritten character input frames 703 is highlighted. Referring to FIG. 8B, the character type designation display 802 of “numeral” indicates that “numeral” is designated by character type designation, and all the handwritten character input frames 7 are displayed.
FIG. 8 (c) shows a state in which the assigned numeral area 7032 in 03 is highlighted.
Of the character type designation display 803 is "Katakana"
Is designated, and the assigned katakana area 7033 in all the handwritten character input frames 703 is highlighted, as shown in FIG. 8D, "Hiragana / Kanji" is designated and all the handwritten characters are designated. The hiragana / kanji area 7034 assigned in the input frame 703 is shown highlighted. "Automatic" character type designation display 805
Indicates that the character type is specified, and "Automatic" is specified, and the alphabetical area 7031, the numerical area 7032, the katakana area 7033, and the hiragana / kanji area 7034 in all the handwritten character input frames 703 are not displayed in reverse video. Indicates a state in which

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 and FIGS. 7 and 9A to 9E. The operation of the data processing device 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The character information storage unit 31 is initialized, and the character type is designated in the designated character type storage unit 33 as "auto" in the initial state (step 201). . If there is input of handwritten information (Yes in step 202), handwritten information is acquired (step 203), and if the XY coordinate value of the pen is in any of the areas in the handwritten character input frame 703 (Yes in step 204), the handwritten information is obtained. If the XY coordinate value of the pen is in the character type designation area 703 (Yes in step 206), the handwritten information is pen touch information (Yes in step 207), and there is no accumulation of character information in the handwritten character input frame 703 (step 206). 208, the handwritten information is subjected to character type designation processing as pen touch information in any of the character type designation areas 7031 to 7034 (step 4).
00). If the XY coordinate value of the pen in the handwritten information is not in any of the character type designation areas 7031 to 7034 (No in step 206), or the XY coordinate value of the pen in the handwritten information is in the character type designation area 7031 to 7034, but the handwritten information is a pen touch If not information (step 207
No), or if the XY coordinate value of the pen of the handwritten information is the character type designation area 7031 to 7034 and the handwritten information is pen touch information, but there is already character information in the handwritten character input frame 703 (Yes in step 208), The handwritten information is accumulated and stored in the character information storage unit 31 as character information in the handwritten character input frame 703 (step 20).
9). After performing either the character type designation processing (step 400) or the accumulation of the character information in the handwritten character input box 703 (step 209), the handwritten information becomes the first handwritten in the handwritten input box 703. It is checked whether the information is the first handwritten information (step 210).
Yes), character recognition processing of character information accumulated and stored in the handwritten character input frame 703 other than the handwritten character input frame 703 (step 300), and waits for input of the next handwritten information (step 202) If it is not the first handwritten information (No in step 210), the process returns to waiting for input of the next handwritten information (step 202).

There is input of handwritten information (step 202).
Yes), and obtain handwritten information (step 203),
When the XY coordinate values of the pen are in the handwritten character input area 700 excluding the handwritten character input frame 703 and the operation end 701, the character recognition process is performed (step 300), and the process returns to waiting for the input of the next handwritten information (step 202). If the acquired handwritten information is completed (Yes in step 205), the process ends. Whether the input operation is completed or not is determined by a handwritten character input frame 7.
The operation end 701 is provided in an area other than the area
If the user touches 1 with a pen, it can be realized as handwritten information indicating the end of the input operation. If there is no input of handwritten information (No in step 202), and if a predetermined time has elapsed (Yes in step 211), the character recognition process (step 30).
0), the process returns to waiting for the input of the next handwritten information (step 201). If the predetermined time has not elapsed (No in step 211), the process returns to the waiting for the input of the next handwritten information (step 202).

Referring to FIG. 3, in the character recognition process (step 300), if there is character information stored and stored in character information storage unit 31 (Yes in step 301), the character information is stored and stored in character information storage unit 31. The character information stored in the character recognition dictionary storage unit 32 is compared with a plurality of character information stored in advance in the character recognition dictionary storage unit 32 (step 302).
Then, one or more recognized character candidates are extracted in the order close to the character information (step 303). Next, the character type designation storage unit 3
3 is referred to (step 30).
4) Among the recognized character candidates, the character candidate whose character type is specified is the first
If not, the recognition character candidates are rearranged with the order of the character type designation first, and if not specified, the arrangement order is returned to the initial order (step 305), and the character code of the recognition character candidate is displayed on the display device. 41 (Step 30)
6) When the character information stored and stored in the character information storage unit 31 is initialized and terminated (step 307), and there is no character information stored and stored in the character information storage unit 31 (No in step 301), finish.

Referring to FIG. 4, in the character type designation processing (step 400), the XY coordinate values of the pen of the handwritten information are determined to be alphabetic area 7031, numeric area 7032, katakana area 7 or not.
033 or Hiragana / Kanji area 7034 (step 401, step 404, step 407,
(Step 410), if it is not any of the areas, the process is terminated (No in Step 410). In the case of the alphabetic area 7031 (Yes in step 401), the state of the character type designation is checked, and if the character type designation is not "alphabet" (step 402).
No), the "alphabet" is stored in the character type designation storage unit 33 as the character type designation, the alphabetic areas of all the handwritten character input frames 703 are highlighted, and the process is terminated (step 414). If the character type designation is "alphabet" If (Yes in step 402),
The unspecified “automatic” is stored in the character type designation storage unit 33 as the character type designation (step 413), and the alphabet area 7031, the number area 7032, the katakana area 7033, and the hiragana / kanji area 7034 of all the handwritten character input frames 703 are inverted. Normal display not to be displayed is performed and "automatic" is designated, and the process is terminated (step 414). The same applies to the case of the number area 7032, the katakana area 7033, the hiragana / kanji area 7034, and the case of the alphabet area 7031.

Next, referring to FIGS. 9A to 9E, the operation of this embodiment will be described with a specific example.
(A) is a state in which the katakana area 7033 of the character type designation area of the first handwritten character input frame 703 is touched with a pen. At this time, “Katakana” is stored in the character type designation storage unit 33 as the character type designation, and all the handwritten character input frames 7 are stored.
A katakana character type designation display 803 in which a katakana region 7033 of 03 is displayed in reverse video is shown. FIG. 9 (b)
This is a state in which the handwritten character “K” has been written in the first handwritten character input frame 703. At this time, the handwritten character input frame 7
03 is the character information storage unit 3 as the character information.
1 is stored. FIG. 9C shows a state in which the handwritten character “E” is continuously written in the second handwritten character input frame 703. At this time, the handwritten information in the handwritten character input frame 703 is stored and stored in the character information storage unit 31 as character information, and the handwritten character “K” in the first handwritten character input frame 703 is stored as character information of the storage and storage end. Recognized
By referring to the character type designation stored in the character type designation storage unit 33, the first place of the candidate order of the recognized character candidates is “Hiragana /
If it is "power" of "kanji", the order of the recognized character candidates is rearranged, and "ka" 903 of "katakana" is displayed as the first place in the candidate order and displayed.

FIG. 9D shows a state in which the handwritten character “ル” is written in the third handwritten character input frame 703.
At this time, the handwritten information in the handwritten character input frame 703 is stored and stored in the character information storage unit 31 as character information.
The handwritten character “D” in the second handwritten character input box 703 is recognized as character information indicating that storage and storage has been completed, and the character type designation stored in the character type designation storage unit 33 is referred to, and the character order designation of the recognized character candidate is ranked. If the first place is “Hi” of “Hiragana / Kanji”, the order of the recognition character candidates is rearranged, and “E” 904 of “Katakana” becomes the first place in the candidate order and is displayed. FIG. 9E shows that the handwritten character “R” in the third handwritten character input frame 703 is recognized as the character information of the end of the accumulation and storage after the fixed time has elapsed,
Referring to the character type designation stored in the character type designation storage unit 33, the first place of the candidate order of the recognized character candidates is “Katakana”.
In the case of “ル”, the reordering of the candidate order of the recognition character candidates is not performed, and “ル” 905 of “Katakana” becomes the first candidate order and is displayed.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 10 (a) to 10 (e). Referring to FIG. 5, the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the data processing device 5 has a configuration of the data processing device 2 and a designated character type display selecting means 20 is added. Is different. The character type designation display selection means 20 selects a character type designation display format by having a plurality of character type designation display formats. In the first embodiment, the display format of the character type designation is shown in FIGS.
Since there is only the format of (e), the display format for specifying the character type cannot be selected. In the second embodiment, the display format for specifying the character type can be selected by having a plurality of display formats for the specified character type. 10 (a) to 10
Referring to (e), the display format of the character type designation in the second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8 (a) to 8 (e) and 7 (b).
In the first embodiment, the display type of the character type designation in the first embodiment is reverse display of the character type designation areas 7031 to 7034, but the line type of the frame line of the handwritten character input frame 703 is changed. . Alphabet character type designation display 10 with dotted line
The character type designation display 101 for numbers with 0 and 1 dashed lines 101 and the character type designation display 102 for katakana with dashed lines and the character type designation display 103 for hiragana and kanji with wavy lines are designated alphabetic characters, numerals, and katakana, respectively. "And" Hiragana / Kanji "are specified, and all handwritten character input frames 7
This shows a state in which the frame line 03 is displayed in a different line type. The automatic character type designation display 104 has the same display format as the automatic character type designation display 805 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. There are a plurality of display formats for specifying the character type according to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 10A to 10E, and the first display format is shown in FIGS. 8A to 8E. By setting the display format of the specified character type in the first embodiment and the display format of the second embodiment in the second display format, the display format of the specified character type can be selected.

Referring to FIG. 6 showing the flow of the operation of the second embodiment, the operation of the second embodiment is that the selection of the character type designation display (step 600) is performed before the initialization (step 201). Use to select the display format for the specified character type. Subsequent operations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

As a modification of the first and second embodiments,
Although three handwritten character input frames 703 have been described, any number may be used. In addition, as the character type designation, "alphabet", "number", "katakana", "hiragana / kanji",
Other character types such as "Greek character type", "Russian character type", "Roman character type", "Arabic character type" may be used. Also, the specification of the character type has been described. Instead of specifying the character type, "full-width character" and "half-width character specification" may be used. Also, "full-width alphabet", "half-width alphabet", "full-width number", "half-width number" Character type, "full-width characters",
"Half-width characters" may be combined.

[0030]

As described above, the first effect of the present invention is that a character type designation is displayed.
This eliminates the need to visually determine the character type specified by the user and to store the character type.

A second effect of the present invention is that it is possible to automatically switch between specifying and not specifying a character type. This eliminates the need for the user to always input the character type designation during handwritten character input.

A third effect of the present invention is that the order of recognition candidates for handwritten input characters is changed by designating a character type, and when the character type is changed from character type designation to non-character type designation, the order of recognition candidates is initialized. Is to return automatically.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of an operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of a character recognition process of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of a character type designation process of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of an operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

7 (a) is a layout of the entire display of the online handwritten character input unit in FIG. 1, FIG. 7 (b) is a layout of a handwritten character input frame, and FIG. 7 (c) is a handwritten character input frame. Are shown below.

FIG. 8 shows the character type designation of alphabet (a), alphabet (b) of numbers, alphabet (c) of katakana, alphabet (d) of hiragana and kanji, and alphabet (e) of unspecified. The display is shown respectively.

9 is a diagram illustrating a handwritten character input operation in the embodiment of FIG.

FIGS. 10A to 10E are diagrams showing various character type designation displays in the second embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional technique.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration according to the related art.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flow of operation in the conventional technique of FIG. 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 input device 2 data processing device 3 storage device 4 output device 11 online handwritten character input section 21 identification means for handwritten information 22 character recognition means for handwritten characters 23 rearrangement means for recognized character candidates 24 display means for recognized character candidates 25 character type designation Display means 41 display unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] An input device for providing a character input frame and an input operation end frame for inputting a handwritten character on a touch panel, and an input operation means for inputting the handwritten character and the operation end; An output device for displaying and outputting the handwritten characters input in the frame and the end of the operation in a figure similar to the arrangement on the touch panel in synchronization with the input operation; A handwriting character input device having a data processing device for selecting according to the order and displaying the selected character order on the output device, wherein the input device provides a character type input and a specified character type display area at each of four corners of the character input frame; A data processing device comprising: a handwritten information identifying unit that identifies the character type designation input and the handwritten character input; Display means for displaying the character type designation by inverting the corner of the corresponding character input frame, and recognition character candidate rearranging means for rearranging the order of the recognition character candidates in accordance with the character type designation. A handwritten character input device characterized by the following. 2. The handwritten character input device according to claim 1, wherein the character types are English characters, numbers, katakana, hiragana kanji, and no character type designation. 3. The character type designation display means, according to the designated character type, selects a line type indicating the character input frame from a dotted line, a dashed line, a two-dot chain line, a wavy line, and a solid line. The handwritten character input device according to claim 1.