KR20070112515A - Method for auto completion of special character in portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic special character completion method of a portable terminal is provided to search emoticons associated with special characters or words inputted by a user from a DB so as to arrange the searched emoticons to display the emoticons on a separate window, thus a user is able to easily and quickly input the emoticons including the special characters. A controller receives special characters or characters inputted by a user(210), and decides whether the special characters are received(230). If so, the controller performs an automatic emoticon completion function associated with the special characters to input emoticons(250). The controller decides whether the currently performed application program is terminated(290). If so, the controller completes the automatic emoticon completion function.

Description

Automatic Character Completion of Special Characters in Mobile Devices {METHOD FOR AUTO COMPLETION OF SPECIAL CHARACTER IN PORTABLE TERMINAL}

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a portable terminal having a special character automatic completion function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for automatically completing special characters in a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3A is a flowchart specifically illustrating an operation process of step 250 illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3B is a flowchart specifically illustrating an operation process of step 270 illustrated in FIG. 2.

4A illustrates a database of emoticons associated with special characters in a method for automatically completing special characters in a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4B illustrates a database of emoticons or symbols associated with words in a method for automatically completing special characters in a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a user interface screen illustrating an example of using a method for automatically completing special characters in a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: key input unit 20: display unit

30: control unit 40: storage unit

50: transceiver 60: codec

70: sound input and output unit

The present invention relates to a method for automatically completing a special character of a portable terminal, and more particularly, to a method for automatically completing a special character of a portable terminal capable of easily inputting a special character.

As the spread of mobile communication terminals and portable terminals such as PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) is rapidly spreading, the proportion of users of short message services (SMS) is increasing rapidly. Unlike e-mail, SMS has little time difference between sending time and receiving time, and can store and edit messages, and can be used anytime and anywhere.

When sending a text message using a mobile device, when it is difficult to express one's feelings or situation properly by limiting the number of letters or sentences, the emoticon is mixed with the sentence and transmitted. Many times.

An emoticon is a combination of emotions and icons. It is a combination of special characters or combinations of special characters, numbers, and characters used mainly to express your emotions in mobile or computer communication. It is not suitable for writing or is used mainly to convey one's intention quickly.

Since the keypad provided in the portable terminal has fewer keys and smaller keys than a general computer keyboard, it is inconvenient to input special characters including letters or symbols.

For example, to input an emoticon while writing text using a mobile terminal, display a special character input screen on the display using a menu key, and assign the special character to be input on the displayed special character input screen. Enter special characters by entering numbers.

Therefore, the conventional portable terminal has a disadvantage in that the input of the special character is very inconvenient because the above process must be repeated every time the special character is input during text writing.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for automatically completing a special character of a portable terminal, which can facilitate the input of the special character.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method for automatically completing a special character of a portable terminal according to an aspect of the present invention includes an emoticon associated with at least one of the special character and the word in a database when at least one of the special character and the word is input. A related emoticon search step for searching and a display step for displaying the found related emoticon. The special character autocompletion method of the portable terminal may further include an alignment step of sorting the searched related emoticons. The sorting step may be sorted based on the frequency of use of the found related emoticon and the time at which the emoticon was used. In the displaying step, the aligned emoticon may be displayed at a position where the emoticon is to be input through a separate window. The automatic completion method of the special character of the portable terminal may further include recording at least one of the inputted special characters and words and the input emoticon in the database if the associated emoticon is not searched. The word-related emoticon search step may search for a symbol associated with the word in the database when the word is input.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the same reference numerals are used for the same components in the drawings, and duplicate descriptions of the same components are omitted.

Terms such as first and second may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as the second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as the first component. The term and / or includes a combination of a plurality of related items or any item of a plurality of related items.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a portable terminal having a special character automatic completion function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a portable terminal having a special character autocompletion function according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a key input unit 10, a display unit 20, a control unit 30, a storage unit 40, and a transceiver unit 50. , A codec 60, and an audio input / output unit 70.

The key input unit 10 includes a plurality of numeric keys for inputting a number from 0 to 9 and a plurality of function keys for executing a menu of a portable terminal or executing various application programs. Each numeric key includes a plurality of numeric keys. Korean consonants, vowels, or English alphabets are assigned.

For example, in addition to the '5', the Korean consonant and the English alphabet 'j', 'k', and 'l' may be used as a key for inputting the number '5' among the plurality of keys provided in the portable terminal according to the present invention. Is allocated. When the user inputs a Korean consonant or alphabet, the user switches the keyboard mode to Korean or English using a function key corresponding to the keyboard mode switch and then presses the corresponding key.

When the key is manipulated by the user, the key input unit 10 transmits a corresponding key input signal to the controller. For example, when a user manipulates a letter or numeric key, the key input signal may be a letter or numeric signal corresponding to the manipulated key.

The display unit 20 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), for example, and displays a user interface such as a menu of a portable terminal or an execution screen of an application program, and emoticons under the control of the controller 30 when text is input. A separate window with the or symbol is displayed.

The control unit 30 receives a word or a special character input by the user from the key input unit 10, retrieves an emoticon or a symbol associated with the received word or the special character from a database stored in the storage unit 40, and uses the searched frequency. And after sorting according to the use time, the sorted result is displayed on the display unit 20.

In addition, the controller 30 receives an emoticon or a symbol input by the user and records it in a database. When the user inputs an emoticon or symbol that already exists in the database, the frequency of use of the input emoticon or symbol is increased, and the database is updated by recording the usage time.

The storage unit 40 stores the database generated by the control unit 30. In addition, the storage unit 40 stores a system program (for example, an operating system) of the portable terminal, an application program, information input by a user, and the like.

The transceiver 50 converts a radio frequency (RF) signal received through the antenna ANT into a base band signal, and converts a base band signal output from the controller 50 into a radio signal to convert an antenna ( ANT) to output SMS, voice call, etc.

The codec 60 converts the digital format voice or sound signal output from the controller 30 into an analog signal and outputs the analog signal to the sound input / output unit 70 or the analog format voice or sound received from the audio input / output unit 70. The signal is converted into a digital format and output to the control unit 30.

The audio input / output unit 70 includes a speaker, an earphone terminal, and / or a microphone, and outputs an analog or audio signal received from the codec 60 to the speaker or earphone terminal or is input through a microphone. Is output to the codec 60.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for automatically completing special characters in a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, first, the controller 30 receives a special character or a character input by a user through the key input unit 10 (step 210), and determines whether a special character has been received (step 230).

If it is determined that the special character has been received, the controller 30 determines that the user inputs the emoticon, and searches the database for the emoticon associated with the received special character and displays the search result on the display unit 20 to display the emoticon. The automatic completion of the special character associated emoticon for allowing the emoticon to be input by selecting from among the emoticons displayed on the display unit 20 without directly inputting (step 250).

If it is determined that the currently running application program is terminated (step 290), and if it is determined that it is not terminated, the process returns to step 210, and if it is determined that the special character auto completion function is terminated.

In operation 230, when it is determined that the special character is not input, the controller 30 determines that the user inputs a word, searches the database for an emoticon or symbol associated with the received word, and displays the search result in the display unit 20. ), The user performs a word-related emoticon or symbol auto-completion function so that the user selects from among the emoticon or symbol displayed on the display unit 20 (step 270).

If it is determined that the currently running application program is terminated (step 290), and if it is determined that it is not terminated, the process returns to step 210, and if it is determined that the special character auto completion function is terminated.

3A is a flowchart specifically illustrating an operation process of step 250 illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the control unit 30 searches for the inputted special characters in the database stored in the storage unit 40 (step 251), and determines whether the special characters input by the user exist in the database (step 252). If it is determined in step 252 that the special character exists, the controller 30 determines whether an emoticon associated with the inputted special character exists (step 253).

That is, the controller 30 determines whether the inputted special character exists in the database when the user inputs the special character, and determines whether an emoticon starting with the inputted special character exists in the database.

If it is determined in step 253 that there is an associated emoticon, the controller 30 sorts the related emoticons in order from the highest frequency of use, and if the frequency of use is the same, determine the sorting order by referring to the usage time of the emoticon. . (Step 254).

According to another embodiment of the present invention, predetermined weights may be assigned to the frequency and time of use of the associated emoticons, and the priority may be determined based on the assigned weights and then sorted according to the priority.

Next, the controller 30 displays the sorted emoticons on the user interface screen of the display unit 20, so that the user can select a desired emoticon from the displayed emoticons (step 255).

The controller 30 determines which one of the emoticons is selected from the emoticons displayed on the user interface screen (step 256). If it is determined that the selection is made, the controller 30 increases the frequency of use of the emoticons selected by the user in the database, and the emoticons are displayed. The database is updated by recording the time used (step 257).

If it is determined in step 252 that the special character input by the user does not exist in the database, the controller 30 determines whether the user inputs an emoticon (step 258). If it is determined that the user inputs an emoticon, this means that the user inputs a new emoticon that does not exist in the database. Therefore, the controller 30 stores the special character and the associated emoticon input by the user in the database (step 259). .

In one embodiment of the present invention, when a user inputs two special characters in succession, it is regarded as inputting an emoticon.

If it is determined in step 253 that the related emoticon does not exist, the process proceeds to step 258. If it is determined in step 256 that the user has not selected any of the related emoticons displayed on the user interface screen, the process proceeds to step 258 to perform the subsequent steps Run sequentially.

FIG. 3B is a flowchart specifically illustrating an operation process of step 270 illustrated in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the controller 30 searches for the input word in a database stored in the storage 40 (step 271), and determines whether a word input by the user exists in the database (step 272). If it is determined in step 272 that the word input by the user exists, the controller 30 determines whether an emoticon or symbol associated with the input word exists (step 273).

That is, the controller 30 determines whether the input word exists in the database when the user inputs a word, and determines whether an emoticon or symbol corresponding to the input word exists in the database when the user inputs a word.

If it is determined in step 273 that the associated emoticon or symbol is present, the control unit 30 sorts the associated emoticon or symbol from the highest frequency to the lowest frequency, and if the frequency of use is the same, refer to the usage time of the emoticon or symbols. To determine the sort order (step 274).

According to another embodiment of the present invention, predetermined weights may be assigned to the frequency and time of use of the associated emoticons, and the priority may be determined based on the assigned weights and then sorted according to the priority.

Next, the controller 30 displays the sorted emoticons and symbols on the user interface screen of the display unit 20, so that the user can select a desired emoticon from the displayed emoticons or symbols (step 275).

The controller 30 determines whether the user selects one of the emoticons or symbols displayed on the user interface screen (step 276), and if it is determined that the user has selected one, increases the frequency of use of the emoticons or symbols selected by the user from the database. The database is updated by recording the time used (step 277).

If it is determined in step 272 that the word entered by the user does not exist in the database, this means that the user inputs a new word that has not been used before, and the controller 30 determines whether the user inputs an emoticon or symbol immediately after the word. If it is determined (step 278) and it is determined that the user inputs an ecoticon or symbol after the word, the controller 30 records the word and emoticon input by the user or the word and symbol input by the user in the database (step 279). ).

If it is determined in step 278 that none of the emoticons or symbols are entered after the word input by the user, the process proceeds to step 290 because it corresponds to a sentence composed only of words that do not include emoticons or symbols.

If it is determined in step 273 that the emoticon or symbol associated with the word input by the user does not exist, the controller 30 determines whether the user inputs the emoticon or symbol immediately after the word (step 280), and determines that the input has been made. In this case, since the user inputs a new emoticon or symbol after a word existing in the database, the controller 30 records the emoticon or symbol input by the user in the database (step 281).

As a result of the determination in step 280, if it is determined that none of the emoticons or symbols are entered after the word input by the user, this corresponds to a sentence consisting only of words that do not include emoticons or symbols.

In addition, if it is determined in step 276 that the user has not selected any of the associated emoticons or symbols displayed on the user interface screen, the process proceeds to step 280.

4A illustrates a database of emoticons associated with special characters in a method for automatically completing special characters of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B illustrates a database of emoticons or symbols associated with words.

4A and 4B, a database associated with a special character according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a special character field F1, an emoticon field F2, a frequency of use field F3, and a time of use field F4. The database associated with the word includes a word field F5, an emoticon / symbol field F6, a frequency of use field F7, and a usage time field F8.

The use time fields F4 and F8 are divided into T1, T2, and T3 fields, respectively, and the T1 field is from 6 to 12 o'clock, the T2 field is from 12 to 18 o'clock, and the T3 field is from 18 to 6 o'clock. Is set to. In another embodiment of the present invention, the use time fields F4 and F8 may be set to different time zones according to the use environment, or the time zones may be further subdivided.

For example of searching and sorting the database by the control unit 30 according to the input of the special character of the user, when the user inputs the special character '^' at 7:00, the control unit 30 displays the special character field of the database shown in FIG. 4A. Search for '^' in (F1) and sort the emoticon associated with '^' in emoticon field (F2) according to the frequency of use and the time of use.

In the emoticon field F2 of FIG. 4A, there are four emoticons associated with the special character '^', and the four emoticons are '^. ^', '^-^', '^) ^ Depending on the frequency and time of use. ',' ^^ ;;; ' The screens are arranged in order, and displayed on the user interface screen of the display unit 20 according to the sorted order.

Of the emoticons shown in the emoticon field F2 of FIG. 4A, '^) ^' and '^^ ;;;' are used twice, so the current time (7 o'clock) is included in the use time field F4. Comparable T1 fields to compare '^) ^' and '^^ ;;;' Sort emoticons in order.

For another example of searching and sorting the database by the controller 30 according to the user's input of special characters, if the user inputs the word 'happy', the controller 30 may display the word field F5 in the database shown in FIG. 4B. Search for 'happy' and sort the emoticons associated with 'happy' in the emoticon field (F6) by frequency and time of use.

In the emoticon field F2 of FIG. 4B, there are four emoticons associated with the word 'happy', and the four emoticons are ':-)', '* ^-^ *', '* depending on the frequency and time of use. ^^ * ',' (^-^) 'sorted in order, and displayed on the user interface screen of the display unit 20 according to the sorted order.

5 is a user interface screen illustrating an example of using a method for automatically completing special characters in a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the user executes a message writing program and inputs 'good today' through the key input unit 10, the control unit 30 displays the words 'today' and 'good' as shown in FIG. 4B. Search for the associated emoticon or symbol in the word database, and sort the emoticon associated with the word 'good' according to the frequency and time of use, and display a separate window (W1) displaying the sorted emoticon in the position where the word emoticon is to be input.

Then, in the same manner as described above, the emoticon or symbol associated with the word 'happy' is searched in the word database and the search results are sorted so that a separate window W2 displaying the sorted emoticons is displayed at the position where the emoticon is to be input.

The user inputs the desired emoticon number in the window (W1 or W2) on which the emoticon is displayed, or uses the navigation key or the direction key provided in the key input unit to position the inversion bar on the desired emoticon and the 'OK' key provided in the key input unit. Enter an emoticon by tapping.

According to the portable terminal having the special character autocompletion function as described above, the user interface screen is searched for an emoticon associated with the special character or word input by the user in the database, and the searched emoticons are sorted according to the frequency of use and the usage time. In a separate window.

Therefore, it is possible to quickly and easily input an emoticon including a special character in the portable terminal.

Although described with reference to the embodiments above, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be variously modified and changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Could be.

Claims (6)

An associated emoticon search step of searching for an emoticon associated with at least one of the special characters and words in a database when at least one of the special characters and words is input; And And a display step of displaying the searched related emoticon. The method of claim 1, The special character autocompletion method of the portable terminal further comprises a sorting step of sorting the searched related emoticon. The method of claim 2, And the sorting step is arranged based on a frequency of use of the found related emoticon and a time at which the emoticon is used. The method of claim 1, The displaying step is a special character automatic completion method of a portable terminal, characterized in that for displaying the sorted emoticon through a separate window (window) at the position where the emoticon is input. The method of claim 1, The special character autocompletion method of the portable terminal may further include recording at least one of the inputted special characters and words and the input emoticon in the database if the associated emoticon is not found. Character autocompletion method. The method of claim 1, The word-related emoticon searching step is to automatically search for a character associated with the word in the database when the word is input.

Images