KR100461523B1 - Japanese character input device and method, Japanese character input method in mobile phone and mobile phone terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

A dictionary memory having a conversion table for converting an input character (Kana) into a character string (kanji) corresponding to the reading of the input character, and when the character string is input, corresponding to information on reading of the input character string from the conversion table in the dictionary memory. A dial-type selector having a converting unit for searching for a character string of a candidate to be rotated rotates to select reading of a character as a conversion target. By clicking the dial selector, characters are input one by one. When the readout of the character is input as the conversion target, the dial selector is double-clicked. When the dial type selector is double clicked, it enters the conversion candidate mode. In the conversion candidate mode, when the dial type selector rotates, the character string corresponding to the reading of the input character string is read out from the pre-memory and displayed as the conversion candidate. When the desired conversion candidate is selected, by clicking the dial selector, the character is determined and the converted character string is input.

Description

Japanese Character Input Device and Method, Mobile Phone Terminal and Japanese Character Input Method

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a Japanese character input device, and in particular, an input string is converted into a character string (kanji) corresponding to the reading of the input character string (Kana), and a language represented by the converted character string such as Japanese is a mobile phone terminal. The present invention relates to a character input device suitable for use in the case of being input to a small information device such as the above.

In analog mobile phones such as cellular systems, digital mobile phones such as GSM systems, and telephone terminals such as PHS (Personal Handy Phone Systems), miniaturization and light weight are pursued. Such mobile phone terminals as mentioned above are rapidly spreading. Many such communication terminals have a memory function. When a user stores a phone number or the like of a party with whom the user frequently talks, the user inputs characters such as the name and the phone number of the other party. In a conventional communication terminal, a character code such as a letter (one of Japanese character strings) and an alphabet is assigned to a ten-key for inputting a telephone number or the like. In the case of entering a character, the user presses the ten-key corresponding to the alphabet or the alphabet to enter. When the ten-key is pressed, the approach or alphabet is input corresponding to the pressed key, and the entered approach or alphabet is displayed. Since the number of letters or alphabets is larger than the number of keys on the ten-key, a number of words and alphabets are assigned to one key, and the desired letter is selected from them.

For example, in a conventional portable communication terminal used in Japan, a telephone number or the like is input by entering a character such as an alphabet or the like using a ten-key. However, in the above-described character input, only simple characters such as alphabets or alphabets can be written. In the conventional portable communication terminal, although the use of the character input is limited to the case of using the memory function, the conventional notation in Japanese cannot be simply written using only the alphabet or the alphabet, and thus it is difficult to read the character. Moreover, it is estimated that in the future, communication using computer networks will be actively used, and e-mail will be used more frequently. In the future, it is contemplated that a user will actively perform processes such as connecting to a computer network using a mobile phone, extracting necessary information from the computer network, and sending and receiving information using an e-mail. It is natural that when a user uses e-mail with the above-described mobile phone, the user may not be satisfied with the conventional Japanese input using only the alphabet and the alphabet.

Of course, similar problems will arise in the case of character input of other languages.

Therefore, in a portable information communication terminal, it is required to be able to perform character input in normal Japanese notation in which kappa and kanji are present. However, in the conventional portable communication terminal, only the ten-key for inputting a telephone number and the function key for setting the mode and the like are provided. Therefore, the number of keys is insufficient, and therefore, both Kanada and Kanji are present. It is difficult to input characters in normal Japanese notation. That is, in character input in Japanese notation on a normal day, as is already used in a word processor or the like, a character is entered by using a keyboard to enter Roman characters or characters, and the characters are converted from characters to Chinese characters. Is the general way. However, such a full-size keyboard that can enter both letters and Roman characters cannot be installed in a portable information communication terminal. In the portable communication terminal, since the miniaturization and the light weight are pursued, even when a full-size keyboard is installed, the size of each key is small and the spacing between the keys is narrow, so that the keys are formed in a key arrangement that is difficult to press. . Moreover, in most cases, the portable information communication apparatus is used in an unstable state, such as when the user stands in the car or uses the apparatus. Since input by the keyboard is performed using both hands, it is inconvenient to input in such an unstable state.

As an input device for inputting characters in ordinary Japanese notation, a device for inputting using a pen is known, in addition to a device using a keyboard. That is, a character is input by writing on the display device using a pen, and the input character written by hand is recognized as a character by the character recognition software, thereby performing the input operation. According to the input using the pen, the input operation can be performed even in an unstable state without using a full-size keyboard. In the present situation, however, the character recognition program is not perfect, there are many false entries, and it takes a long time to recognize. Therefore, in the present situation, input using a pen is not always readily available.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Japanese character input device which can easily input Japanese in normal notation in which kappa and kanji are present and can be easily input to a portable information communication terminal even in an unstable state.

According to the present invention, the Japanese character input apparatus has a dictionary memory having selection means for selecting information in accordance with an operation amount, a conversion table for converting into a character string corresponding to reading, and information for input string reading when the character string is input. And a control unit having a conversion unit for retrieving the corresponding candidate string from the conversion table in the pre-memory, and a display unit for displaying the input character string and the character string after conversion, wherein the selection means are operated and the operation amount of the selection means. If the character (Kana) is selected in response to the character, the character (Kana) is read as the conversion target, and the character string corresponding to the input read is searched from the dictionary memory when the character (Kana) is input as the conversion target. The conversion candidate is displayed, the selection means is operated, and the conversion candidate is determined in accordance with the operation amount of the selection means.

For character input, the dial selector can be used to select information according to the amount of rotation. The dial selector is operated to select a character corresponding to the rotation amount, and input of the character to be read as a conversion target. When a read is input as a conversion target, a conversion candidate of a string corresponding to the input read is displayed. The dial selector is operated and the desired character string is selected from such conversion candidates to confirm.

The above and other objects and forms of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The present invention is suitable for use in, for example, a cellular phone terminal having an e-mail function. 1 shows an example of an external configuration of a cellular phone terminal to which the present invention is applied. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a cellular phone terminal. The keypad 2 is provided in front of the cellular phone terminal 1. The keypad 2 includes a ten-key 2A for inputting a telephone number and the like, a memory key 2B for storing the name and telephone number of the other party the user frequently calls, and a call key for starting a call ( 2C) and a clear key 2D for canceling the call. The keypad 2 further comprises a Japanese input key 2E. As will be described below, when inputting Japanese in normal notation in which a mixture of characters and kanji characters is present, the keypad 2 is used to set the mode of kanada / kanji selection. As will be described in detail below, by using the dial type selector 11, it is possible to input Japanese in normal notation in which Kanada and Kanji are mixed.

The liquid crystal display 3 is provided in front of the mobile phone terminal 1. The liquid crystal display 3 displays the other party's telephone number and the name of the other party stored. Mode setting status and various alarms are also displayed. Moreover, the cellular phone terminal to which the present invention is applied is equipped with an e-mail function. The created e-mail or transmitted e-mail can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 3. By using the dial selector 11, Japanese characters of a common notation in which a mixture of Chinese characters and kanji are present can be input, so that an e-mail can be read and written in Japanese in an ordinary notation. The microphone 4 and the speaker 5 are also arranged in front of the mobile phone terminal 1. At the time of a call, the generated voice is collected by the microphone 4 and the received voice from the other side is output from the speaker 5.

The antenna 6 is attached to the upper surface of the cellular phone terminal 1. The antenna 6 is formed of a type to which it is fitted. In the normal state, the antenna 6 is in a fitted state, and is extended in a call. As shown in Fig. 1, the external connection interface 7 is provided on the bottom surface of the cellular phone terminal 1. The terminal can, for example, be connected to an external computer via an external connection interface 7.

As shown in FIG. 1, the power switch 10 and the dial type selector 11 are provided on one side of the cellular phone terminal 1. When rotating the dial selector 11, the information is changed in accordance with the rotation angle of the dial. When the dial type selector 11 is clicked or double-clicked (double-clicked), information is input. The dial type selector 11 can be used to input Japanese in normal notation, which is a mixture of Chinese and Chinese characters.

The function key 12 and the deletion key 13 are provided on the other side of the cellular phone terminal 1. The dial selector 11, the function key 12, and the delete key 13 operate the dial selector 11 easily with an index finger when the user grabs and uses the cellular phone terminal 1 with one hand. And the thumb is placed in a position to easily operate the function key 12 and the delete key (13).

The battery 8 is detachably attached to the back side of the mobile phone terminal 1. As the battery 8, a nickel-cadmium battery, a nickel-hydrogen battery, a lithium ion battery, or the like can be used.

2 shows a configuration of a mobile phone terminal to which the present invention is applied. In the case of normal voice communication, the terminal is set to the voice mode by the input unit 21. The input unit 21 includes a keypad 2, a dial selector 11, a function key 12, a delete key 13, and the like. In the voice mode state, a call from the other side is received, or a call from the other side is generated. When the connection operation is completed, the voice from this side is input to the microphone 4, and the voice from the other side is output from the speaker 5, so that the user can talk to the other party.

The audio signal input from the microphone 4 is supplied to the A / D converter 22 and digitized by the A / D converter 22. The output of the A / D converter 22 is supplied to the voice encoder 23. The sound ray signal is encoded by the speech encoder 23 with high efficiency. The output of the voice encoder 23 is supplied to the encoder 24 for the voice transport. The output of the voice encoder 23 is encoded by the voice channel encoder 24 so that the voice quality is hardly affected by the condition of the path. The output of the voice rhythm encoder 24 is supplied to the modulator 25. The transmission signal is modulated by the modulator 25. The output of the modulator 25 is fed to the transmitter 26. The local oscillation output from synthesizer 27 is fed to transmitter 26. The oscillation frequency of the synthesizer 27 is controlled by the control unit 20, so that the transmission channel is set. The output of the transmitter 26 is transmitted from the antenna 6 through the antenna common 28.

Radio waves captured by the antenna 6 are received by the receiver 31 via the antenna common 28. The local oscillation output output from the synthesizer 27 is supplied to the receiver 31. The oscillation frequency of the synthesizer 27 is controlled by the control unit 20, whereby a reception channel is set. The output of the receiver 31 is demodulated by the demodulator 32 and supplied to the decoder 33 for voice transmission. Errors added to the transportation path are corrected as much as possible by the decoder 33 for voice transmission. The compressed code is decoded by the voice decoder 34. The output of the audio decoder 34 is supplied to the D / A converter 35 to return an analog audio signal. The output of the D / A converter 35 is supplied to the speaker 5, and sound from the other side is generated from the speaker 5.

In the cellular phone terminal to which the present invention is applied, in addition to the voice mode, a data transmission / reception mode can be set. E-mail can be used for data transmission / reception mode. As described above, the Japanese in normal notation can be input by using the dial type selector 11. As will be described below, characters are entered using the dial selector 11, and characters are entered using the approach / kanji conversion function of the control unit 20. The input kana characters and the kana characters and Chinese characters after completion of conversion are displayed on the liquid crystal display 3. In this manner, the mail can be written in normal Japanese notation using the dial type selector 11.

In the case of transmission data, when a data communication protocol is installed, the apparatus is in a state capable of performing data communication. The data to be transmitted is transmitted from the control unit 20 to the transmission control unit 41 on the transmission side. The transmission control section 41 on the transmission side works together with the transmission control section 44 on the reception side. The output of the transmission control part 41 on the transmission side is supplied to the encoder 42 for data transportation. The error correction encoding of the wireless transmission path is executed by the data transmission path encoder 42. The output of the transit encoder 42 for data is supplied to the modulator 25. The transmission signal is modulated by the modulator 25. The output of the modulator 25 is fed to the transmitter 26. The output of the transmitter 26 is transmitted from the antenna 6 through the antenna common 28.

In the case of receiving data, radio waves captured by the antenna 6 are received by the receiver 31 through the antenna common 28. The output of the receiver 31 is demodulated by the demodulator 32. The output of the demodulator 32 is supplied to the data path decoder 43, and the data path decoder 43 performs the decoding process of the error correction code on the wireless transmission path. The output of the data path decoder 43 is supplied to the transmission control section 44 on the receiving side. The transmission control section 44 on the reception side performs transmission control of the reception data together with the transmission control section 41 on the transmission side. The obtained data is displayed on the liquid crystal display 3. In this way, an e-mail or the like sent from the other side is displayed on the liquid crystal display 3.

The cellular phone terminal 1 can be connected to a personal computer via an external interface. When the terminal 1 is connected to a personal computer, data can be input to or output from the personal computer via the serial interfaces 45 and 46, and thus data can be transmitted to and received from the other side.

As described above, the dial type selector 11 is provided in the cellular phone terminal to which the present invention is applied. The dial selector 11 can be used for inputting Japanese in normal notation, which is a mixture of Kanada and Kanji. The dial selector 11 is an input device whose information is changed in accordance with the rotation angle of the dial. When the dial selector 11 is clicked or double-clicked, the information is input. The dial selector 11 is configured as shown in FIG. 3, for example.

3 shows the configuration of the dial type selector 11. As shown in Fig. 3, the dial type selector 11 is composed of a disk member 51 (constituting a rotary encoder) which rotates in the circumferential direction (arrows A and B) about the rotation axis O as the rotation center. And a slide plate (not shown) slidable in the radial direction (arrows C and D), and a slide switch 52. The slide plate and the slide switch 52 are biased in the direction of the arrow C. FIG.

The rotating shaft O is fixed to the slide plate. When the dial type selector is pressed in the direction of the arrow D, the rotary encoder 51 slides with the slide plate to press the switch 52. Thus, the switch 52 is controlled to the on state. By detecting the on / off state of the switch 52, it is determined whether the dial type selector is clicked or not.

As shown in Figs. 4A and 4B, the rotary encoder 51 sliding with the slide plate is composed of two disks 53A and 53B. The disk 53A is a moving member laminated on the upper surface of the disk 53B. It is attached to be rotatable relative to the disk 53B fixed on the slide plate. A pair of counter electrodes 54A are provided on the disk 53A on the moving side. The pair of counter electrodes 54A is configured such that when they are assembled, they can come into contact with, for example, 20 pairs of counter electrodes 54B arranged along the circumference of the disk 53B. The contact resistance between the counter electrodes 54A and 54B changes with the rotation of the disk 53A on the moving side. As a result, an output corresponding to the rotation angle of the disk 53A on the moving side can be obtained.

5 is a block diagram functionally showing the configuration of a Japanese input device using the dial type selector 11. As shown in Fig. 5, the control unit 20 includes a pre-memory 61 having a conversion table for converting to a character string corresponding to a read, and when the character string is input, the read-out of the read-out from the conversion table in the dictionary memory 61. And a conversion unit 62 for searching for candidate strings corresponding to the information. The output of the rotary encoder 51 of the dial type selector 11 and the output of the slide switch 52 are sent to the converter 62. When the rotary encoder 51 of the dial selector 11 rotates, a character or a conversion candidate changes according to the rotation amount of the rotary encoder 51. When the dial type selector 11 is clicked or double clicked, an output is generated from the switch 52 and sent to the converter 62.

When the dial selector 11 is rotated and the readout of the character is selected as the conversion target, the dial selector 11 is clicked, the characters are input one by one, and the readout of the character string is input as the conversion target. The type selector 11 is double clicked. When the dial type selector 11 is double clicked, the device enters the conversion candidate mode. In the conversion candidate mode, when the dial selector 11 rotates, the character string corresponding to the read out of the input character string is read out from the dictionary memory 61 and displayed as the conversion candidate. When the desired conversion candidate is selected, the dial selector 11 is clicked. When the character is determined, the string after conversion is input.

In other words, Fig. 6 shows an input state transition diagram when Japanese is input using the dial type selector 11. Pressing the Japanese input key 2E on the keypad 2 enters the Chinese character selection mode S1. In the near / kanji selection mode S1, when the dial type selector 11 rotates, a state S2 in which the near or the characters (symbols such as 50 sounds and punctuation marks) continuously change is induced. The entered kana characters are displayed on the liquid crystal display 3.

When the dial selector 11 is rotated so that the desired character is selected and the dial selector 11 is clicked, one of the characters is decided. After one letter is confirmed, the dial selector 11 is further rotated, the next letter is selected, and the dial selector 11 is clicked. As a result, the next character of Ghana is determined. In this way, by entering the character string by rotating the dial type selector 11 and repeating the operations S1 and S2 such as selecting a character and clicking the selector 11.

On the other hand, when a character string is input, the dial type selector 11 is double clicked. When the dial type selector 11 is double clicked, the conversion candidate display mode S3 is set. In the conversion candidate display mode S3, when the dial selector 11 rotates, a state in which the conversion candidate corresponding to the character string inputted by the character is changed continuously is induced. Further, the conversion candidate corresponding to the character string is displayed on the liquid crystal display 3. The dial selector 11 rotates and the desired Chinese character is selected. When the desired Chinese character is selected, the dial selector 11 is clicked. When the dial type selector is clicked, the conversion string is confirmed and the mode moves out of the conversion candidate mode and returns to the kanji selection mode.

When the function key 12 and the delete key 13 are used in combination to correct an input error or perform another editing operation during the input operation, the use efficiency is further improved. For example, when the dial selector 11 rotates simultaneously with pressing the function key 12, the cursor moves left or right in accordance with the rotational direction of the dial selector 11. When the cursor is moved to the position of the wrongly input character, the input character is deleted by pressing the delete key 12.

7A to 7F show processing when a character of "漢字" (read "Kanji") is input. As shown in Fig. 7A, when a character of "漢字" is inputted, since its hiragana readout is "Kanji" (read "Kanji"), first rotate the dial selector 11 to "KA" ("Ka"). Read "."

When the hiragana letter "ka" is selected, as shown in Fig. 7B, the dial type selector 11 is clicked. When the dial selector 11 is clicked, the hiragana letter “k” is confirmed and the cursor moves to the next column.

Next, the dial selector 11 is rotated to select the hiragana letter "ん" (read as "Un"). When the hiragana letter "ん" is selected, the dial selector 11 is clicked. In this way, by repeating the operation such as selecting the dial type selector 11, selecting the hiragana character, and clicking the dial type selector 11, as shown in Fig. 7C, the hiragana character "Kanji" ("Kanji") is shown. Is read).

When the hiragana character string "Kanji" is input, the dial type selector 11 is double-clicked as shown in Fig. 7D. When the dial type selector 11 is double clicked, it enters the conversion candidate display mode. In the conversion candidate display mode, when the dial type selector 11 is rotated, as shown in Fig. 7E, the characters, such as "感 じ" (read "Kanji"), "幹事" (read "Kanji"), "換 字" (read "Kanji"),. Conversion candidates corresponding to the character string entered by., Etc. are displayed continuously. When the dictionary has a learning function, the order of transform candidates is updated according to the frequency of use. By rotating the dial selector 11, when the desired kanji "漢字" is derived, click on the dial selector 11 as shown in Fig. 7F. When the dial type selector 11 is clicked, the desired conversion string "漢字" is input.

In this way, when Japanese is input by using the dial type selector 11, the desired Japanese can be input only by rotation and click of the dial type selector 11 or double click operation. Since the rotation of the dial selector 11 and the operation of clicking or double-clicking can be performed with one hand, the operation can be easily performed even when the user walks with the mobile phone in hand.

In the above embodiment, although the dial type selector 11 is used for input, one of various other designating apparatuses having a click function or the like may be used. The present invention is not limited to the mobile phone terminal but can be similarly applied to inputting Japanese in another case, such as title input of a VTR. The present invention can also be applied to inputting characters of other languages as well as Japanese used by converting an input string into a character string corresponding to its reading, such as Kana and Kanji.

According to the present invention, for example, information can be selected according to the amount of rotation, and Japanese in general expression in which a dial type selector used for character input and a mixture of Kanada and Kanji exist can be input by a dial type selector. . Since there is no need to use the keyboard to input the Japanese in general expression, the Japanese in general expression can also be input by a small device. Since the dial selector can be operated with one hand, the user can easily input Japanese even when the user is walking or driving. A similar effect can be obtained when Japanese and other languages are entered that require conversion corresponding to the reading of a string.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes and modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the appended claims of the present invention.

1 is a front view, a side view and a bottom view showing an external configuration of a mobile phone terminal to which the present invention is applied.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a cellular phone terminal to which the present invention is applied;

3 is a side view for explaining a dial type selector used in the present invention.

4A and 4B are side views for explaining the rotary encoder in the dial type selector used in the present invention.

5 is a functional block diagram illustrating a Japanese input device to which the present invention is applied.

Figure 6 is a state transition diagram for explaining the Japanese input device to which the present invention is applied.

7A to 7F are schematic diagrams for explaining a Japanese input device to which the present invention is applied.

* Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

1. Mobile phone terminal 2. Keypad

3. Liquid Crystal Display 4. Microphone

5. Speaker 6. Antenna

7. External interface 10. Power switch

11. Dial type selector 20. Control part

21. Input section 24,42. Shipping encoder

26. Modulator 26. Transmitter

31. Receiver 32. Demodulator

33,43. Transport Decoder 51. Rotary Encoder

52. Slide switches 53A, 53B. disk

54A, 54B. Counter electrode

Claims (12)

In the Japanese character input device of the ordinary notation of Kana and Kanji characters that can be operated by the first and second designation, Selection determination means for selecting a Ghana character corresponding to the amount of operation in the first designation and for determining the Kana character selected by operation in the second designation; At least a dictionary memory having a conversion table for converting an input kana character into a kanji character corresponding to reading of the input kana character, and the conversion table in the dictionary memory when the kana character determined by the selection determining means is input; A control unit, further comprising a converting unit for retrieving a candidate Hanja character corresponding to the reading of the Ghana character determined by the selection determining means from; Japanese character input device comprising a display unit for displaying the input kana character and the Chinese character after the conversion. The method of claim 1, And after selecting the Ghana character by operating the selection determination means in the first designation, the selection determination means determines the selected Ghana character by performing the pressing operation in the second designation once. The method of claim 2, And by performing the pressing operation of the selection determining means twice in the second designation, the apparatus enters a conversion mode in which the apparatus performs the character conversion operation on an input kana character. The method of claim 3, wherein In the conversion mode for performing the character conversion operation, a Chinese character of a candidate corresponding to the reading of an input value or character is retrieved from the conversion table in the dictionary memory in response to the operation amount of the selection determining means in the first designation. Japanese character input device, characterized in that displayed on the display. The method of claim 1, When the selection determining means is operated in the first designation while pressing another key, the cursor of the display portion is moved in correspondence with the operation amount of the selection determining means, and by pressing the separately set delete key, the character at the cursor position Japanese character input device, characterized in that deleted. A mobile phone terminal having display means for displaying an e-mail transmitted and received from the outside through a line, A Kana character is inputted to compose a mail to be sent, and includes a Japanese character input device capable of acting as a first and second designation; Selection determination means for selecting and determining the selected Ghana character by movement in the second designation; A dictionary memory having a conversion table for converting an input kana character into a kanji character corresponding to reading of the input kana character; And a control unit having a conversion unit for retrieving a candidate Hanja character corresponding to the reading of the Kana character from at least the conversion table in the dictionary memory when the Kana character determined by the selection determination means is input. terminal. In the Japanese character input method of the common notation of Kana and Kanji characters, Providing an input device operable with first and second designations, Selecting the Ghana character corresponding to the operation amount in the first designation; Determining a Kana character selected by operation in a second designation, Providing a dictionary memory having a conversion table for converting the input kana characters into Chinese characters corresponding to reading of the input kana characters when a kana character is input; Retrieving a Hanja character of a candidate corresponding to the reading of the Ghana character from the conversion table in the dictionary memory; Japanese character input method comprising the step of displaying the input Kana character and the Chinese character after the conversion is completed. The method of claim 7, wherein And after the kana character is selected by operating the input device in the first designation, the selected kana character is determined by performing the pressing operation in the second designation once. The method of claim 7, wherein And the control mode is designated as a conversion mode for performing the character conversion operation on the input kana character by performing the pressing operation of the input device twice in the second designation. The method of claim 7, wherein In a conversion mode in which the character conversion operation is performed, candidate Hanja characters corresponding to reading of input characters or characters are retrieved and displayed from the conversion table in the dictionary memory corresponding to the operation amount of the input device in a first designation. Japanese character input method. The method of claim 7, wherein When the input device is operated at the first designation while pressing another key, the cursor moves in correspondence with the amount of operation of the input device, and the character at the cursor position is deleted by pressing the separately-installed delete key. How to input Japanese characters. In the Japanese character input method of a mobile phone terminal capable of displaying mail sent to and received from the outside through a line, Providing a Japanese character input device which inputs the Kana character which composes the mail to be sent, and which can be operated in the first and second designations; Selecting a Kana character corresponding to an operation amount of the Japanese character input apparatus in a first designation; Determining a selected Kana character by movement of the Japanese character input device in a second designation; Providing a dictionary memory having a conversion table for converting an input kana character into a kanji character corresponding to reading of the input kana character; And searching for a candidate Hanja character corresponding to the read of the input Kana character from the conversion table in the dictionary memory when the Kana character determined by the selection decision step is input.

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