KR100504846B1 - Key input method for mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key input method of a mobile terminal. In particular, one of the keys not used for editing can be set as a copy key, and the previously inputted letters or words can be quickly copied and pasted to the current location according to the time when the corresponding key is pressed. The present invention relates to a key input method of a portable terminal so that the convenience of key input can be improved. Conventionally, in order to re-enter a character or a character string repeatedly, the time and effort required for character input were excessively increased. Even though a mobile terminal provided with a text copy function is used, a character string is input using a menu key and a direction key. Because you have to select, copy to the buffer, and paste it back where you want it, complicated procedures and a lot of keystrokes are required, and simple characters sometimes require more keystrokes than retypes and additional storage space is required for the buffer. There was this. In addition, in order to continuously input the alphabetic characters, it is necessary to wait for a predetermined time or move the cursor to the next position by using a direction key. In view of the above problems, the present invention assigns a key that is not used for character input and editing as a copy key, and when the corresponding key is shortly pressed, the last character entered is copied to the current position and the last word is finally inputted when the key is pressed. By copying to the text, repeated letters or words can be entered very easily and quickly.

Description

Key input method for mobile terminal {KEY INPUT METHOD FOR MOBILE TERMINAL}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key input method of a mobile terminal. In particular, one of the keys not used for editing can be set as a copy key, and the previously inputted letters or words can be quickly copied and pasted to the current location according to the time when the corresponding key is pressed. The present invention relates to a key input method of a portable terminal so that the convenience of key input can be improved.

As the use of portable terminals has become common, the method of using them has also been diversified. Text messaging services are the most frequently used services except voice calls. Especially for the new generation, text messaging has long been commonplace.

Since the portable terminal has a limited number of keypads, the method of inputting a character using the portable terminal is very complicated. For example, in the case of English, several characters are assigned to one keypad, and you need to press it several times to select the desired character. Also, in the case of Hangul, a large number of keys must be pressed to complete Hangul Hanja.

Recently, the user's convenience has been improved by providing the ability to insert icons, symbols, boilerplate, and emoticons in various input / edit modes.These types of characters to be entered through menu keys (English / Korean / Special Characters). / Symbol / icon / commercial / emoji, etc.) and then press the key several times to enter the desired character.

Therefore, if you need to switch between different types of characters, you will have to go through two or more complex steps each time you change the type of character.

There is a mobile terminal with a text copy function to help with the repeated input, but even in this case, you need to select the desired text through various menus, and then copy it, move the cursor to the desired position, and paste it. The action must be performed in stages.

In particular, in the case of an English letter, it is inconvenient to repeatedly input the same English letter because several letters are assigned to one key.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a process of repeatedly inputting a conventional alphabet letter 'A', and as shown in FIG. 1, a numeric key 10 (key number "2") to which an alphabet letter "ABC" is assigned should be used.

First, when the numeric key 10 is pressed once, the letter “A” is displayed as shown in (a). In this case, pressing the key again changes "B", "C", "a", "b", "c", or "B", "C", "2", "a", "b", " It changes to "c", so either wait until the internal timer expires and move the cursor to the next position, or press the arrow keys to move the cursor to the next position. In other words, wait for a long time as shown in (b) or press direction key as shown in (c) to move the cursor to the next space as shown in (d) to accept the next character. Then press the numeric key (10) again, "AA" is input as shown in (e). To enter "A" again, go through the same procedure again.

If the conventional text copy function is used, it is necessary to select a menu, switch from input mode to edit mode, select a desired text string, copy, and paste. Or, move the cursor to the part to be copied without changing the menu and changing the input mode, select the character string, copy it to the buffer using the preset softkey, and move the cursor to the place to paste again. It is much easier to re-enter yourself, since you have to move and then paste using the soft keys.

Although the conventional editing method provides various functions, at least three key inputs are required before copying and pasting a character string, and more key input or menu setting procedures may be required. Therefore, the effectiveness is extremely low because a complicated procedure is required even for repeated input of simple characters or strings. In effect, the number of keystrokes required to copy and paste a string may be greater than if you retype the string.

As described above, in order to repeatedly input characters or character strings, the time and effort required for character input have been excessively increased, and even when using a portable terminal provided with a copy function, the menu key and the direction key can be used. You need to select a string, copy it to a buffer, and paste it back where you want it, which requires complex procedures and a lot of keystrokes.Simple characters sometimes require more keystrokes than retypes. There was a problem required. In addition, in order to continuously input the alphabetic characters, it is necessary to wait for a predetermined time or move the cursor to the next position by using a direction key.

In view of the above problems, the present invention assigns a key that is not used for character input and editing as a copy key, and when the corresponding key is shortly pressed, the last character entered is copied to the current position and the last word is finally inputted when the key is pressed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a key input method of a portable terminal, which enables a user to easily input a repeated character or word by copying it into a copy.

The present invention for achieving the above object comprises the steps of assigning a predetermined key which is not used for the input or editing of the character as a copy key; And pasting the character or word finally input in the current position according to the length of time when the copy key is pressed during the character input.

In the pressing of the copy key, the step of pasting the copy key may be determined by pressing the copy key, and if it is less than or equal to a predetermined time, copy and paste the last one letter of the last word entered into the current position, and press the copy key for a predetermined time. If it is above, it is characterized by pasting the finally entered word at the current position.

An embodiment of the present invention as described above will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Figure 2 is a flow chart showing a simple embodiment of the present invention, an embodiment that clearly shows the features of the present invention. As used herein, a "copy key" is one selected from among keys not used for input or editing of a character and assigned to perform a copy function proposed by the present invention. One of the function keys may be assigned or one of the side keys.

As shown in the drawing, first, when a user inputs a predetermined sentence in a process of inputting or editing a document and presses a copy key, the controller of the portable terminal determines the pressed time of the copy key.

As a result of the determination, if the pressed time is less than or equal to the predetermined time, it is recognized as a short press and the last input character is copied to the current position. If the character is an English letter or a symbol, a single byte character is copied, and if the character is two or more bytes, such as a Korean character or a symbol, the corresponding byte character is copied.

As a result of the determination, if the pressed time is longer than a predetermined time, it is recognized as a long press and the word finally input is copied to the current position. The delimiter for distinguishing the word may be based on a space.

In order to use this function, the user inputs a sentence by separating the contents of the sentence into spaces and stores the last word entered in the final buffer. This enables the user to press the "Copy key" several times to display the same contents. In the case of overwriting, it is possible to operate based on the user input rather than the currently displayed content. In this case, the size of the final buffer used is very small because only the last word entered by the user can be stored.

For example, if the user enters the letter "A" and then briefly presses the "Copy" key, "AA" is displayed on the screen. If the user presses the "Copy" key a short time, "AAA" is not "AAAA". "Can be displayed on the screen. Of course, this may also allow the designer to recognize and display duplicate characters or words displayed by pressing the "copy key". In this case, the final buffer is not needed and the user input can be checked on the display.

Now, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 4. First, FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating contents of overlapping a letter and a word by using an embodiment of the present invention.

When the user directly enters the article "1st LG Electronics! _" As shown in (a) and briefly presses the copy key 20, the screen displays "1st LG Electronics !! _" as shown in (b). . That is, the last entered character "!" Is copied from the current position and recorded. Where "_" is the position of the cursor.

If the copy key 20 is pressed for a long time, "1 LGE! LG Electronics! _" Is displayed on the screen as shown in (c). In other words, the final word for the spacer is "LG Electronics!"

If the designer has designed the copy function of the copy key 20 to operate only on the basis of the contents directly input by the user using the final buffer, in the case of (a), the content stored in the final buffer becomes "LG Electronics!" . Therefore, if the copy key 20 is briefly pressed to display as shown in (b), and then the copy key 20 is briefly pressed, “1st LG Electronics !!! _” is displayed on the screen. Similarly, in the case of (c), if the copy key 20 is pressed for a long time, "1st LG Electronics! LG Electronics! LG Electronics! _" Is displayed.

Figure 4 shows the case of repeatedly entering the English language in this case can be maximized the effect of the present invention. When the user wants to say "AA", the user presses the numeric key (10) to display " A " on the screen as shown in (a). Then, if the copy key 20 is shortly pressed, “A A ” is displayed on the screen as shown in (b). That is, in the related art, a procedure requiring two or more key inputs or waiting for a predetermined time can be reduced to one short key input.

The present invention can be usefully used in various internal text recording situations including a message input for a short message, a long message, an Internet email, etc. using a portable terminal, which can greatly increase the user's text input speed. . Such a function of the present invention will be an attractive function that can provide great convenience to the new generation of frequent character input.

As described above, in the key input method of the present invention, a key not used for text input and editing is assigned as a copy key, and a short press of the corresponding key copies the finally inputted character to the current position and finally presses the key. By copying a word to the current location, it is very easy to input repeated letters or words, and it is very helpful for the user to write the letters. The time spent writing letters can be repeated quickly. There is an effect to reduce.

1 is an input block diagram showing a process of a conventional repeat key input.

2 is a flow chart showing the operating procedure of an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is an input block diagram illustrating a key input process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is an input block diagram showing a key input process according to another embodiment of the present invention.

*** Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawing ***

10: Numeric Key 20: Copy Key

Claims (4)

Assigning a predetermined key, which is not used for inputting or editing characters, as a copy key; And pasting the character or word finally input in the current position according to the length of time when the copy key is pressed during the input of the character. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressing of the copy key to perform the pasting comprises determining a time when the copy key is pressed and copying and pasting the last one letter from the last word entered at a current position if the copy key is less than a predetermined time. If the pressing time is more than a predetermined time, the key input method of the mobile terminal, characterized in that to paste the last inputted word to the current position. The key input method of claim 1, wherein a criterion for distinguishing a word from the finally inputted content is a spacer (space character). The method of claim 1, wherein the user inputs a copy by storing a word finally recorded using a spacer as a separator and performing a copy function of a copy key by referring to the contents of the final buffer. A key input method of a mobile terminal, characterized in that the contents are based on the contents directly input by the user.