KR20170036337A - Method and apparatus for inputting symbols - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, a computer program stored in a computer-readable recording medium to allow a processor to perform a symbol input method, comprises: a first process of detecting touch for a first area corresponding to a first symbol button on a display panel; a second process of recognizing the first symbol button as input when touch for the first area is detected; a third process of detecting whether there is drag from the first area to a second area; and a fourth process of recognizing a second symbol bottom corresponding to the second area recognized as input when the drag is detected.

Description

[0001] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INPUTING SYMBOLS [0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for inputting a symbol through a touch on a display panel and more particularly to a symbol input method suitable for providing a simplified user operation when touching a symbol, And a device therefor.

As is well known, most portable digital devices such as portable terminals (e.g., digital devices such as mobile phones, smart phones, smart devices, navigation, watch phones, wearable devices, etc.) have small touch- Such a small keypad is widely used not only for a conventional short message (SMS) input but also for various data processing using memos and portable information devices.

In this case, in order to prevent unauthorized or illegal use, it is common to set a password according to the service mode of the portable terminal itself or the terminal. In this case, the password is usually composed of a number, a combination of numbers and symbols.

On the other hand, in the case of a watch phone or a wearable device, a screen (touch panel) having a size of less than 2 inches, for example, is usually mounted due to the structure and characteristics of the device. However, There is a problem that frequent erroneous input occurs when a symbol such as a password is touched.

Korean Patent Publication No. 2011-0089381 (Published on Aug. 08, 2011)

The present invention proposes a new symbol input method capable of realizing continuous input of desired symbol buttons through selective combination of touch and drag for a symbol button being displayed on a display panel of a portable terminal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for continuously inputting desired symbol buttons through a combination of touch and drag of a symbol button, a computer program for executing such a symbol input method, and a computer- Lt; / RTI >

The problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and another problem to be solved by the present invention can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description will be.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for detecting a touch, comprising the steps of: detecting a touch on a first area corresponding to a first symbol button on a display panel; A third step of detecting whether a drag is generated from the first area to a second area; a third step of inputting a second symbol button corresponding to the second area when the drag is detected; And a fourth step of recognizing the symbol input method as a symbol inputting step.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of detecting a touch of a first area corresponding to a first symbol button on a display panel, comprising the steps of: detecting a touch on the first area; Detecting a drag from the first area to a second area; and recognizing a second symbol button corresponding to the second area as an input when the drag is detected A symbol input method is provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium storing a computer program for causing a processor to perform the symbol input method of claim 10.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display apparatus including a screen display unit for displaying a symbol icon on a display panel of a terminal when a user operation for inputting a symbol occurs, and a display unit for displaying a symbol icon in a first area corresponding to the first symbol button in the symbol icon A first input recognizing unit for recognizing the first symbol button as an input when a touch on the first area is detected; and a second input recognizing unit for detecting a drag from the first area to the second area And a second input recognizing unit for recognizing a second symbol button corresponding to the second area as an input when the drag is detected.

The present invention realizes a continuous input of desired symbol buttons through a combination of touch and drag with respect to a symbol button being displayed on a display panel of a portable terminal so that a symbol input in a portable device equipped with a small touch panel can be realized more quickly In addition, it is possible to effectively suppress the erroneous input of symbols that may occur due to the small size of the touch panel.

1 is a block diagram of a symbol input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a main procedure for continuously inputting symbols through selective combination of a touch and a drag according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a main process of continuously inputting symbols through selective combination of a touch and a drag according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a diagram illustrating an example of displaying a plurality of symbol buttons on a display panel of a portable terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example in which symbol buttons identical to the touched symbol buttons are displayed at specific positions according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a diagram illustrating an example of continuously inputting two symbols through touch and drag according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a diagram illustrating an example of continuously inputting the same symbol through a touch and a clock or a counterclockwise regression drag according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the advantages and features of the present invention, and how to accomplish them, will be clarified with reference to the embodiments to be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

In the following description of the present invention, detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear. It is to be understood that the following terms are defined in consideration of the functions of the present invention, and may be changed according to intentions or customs of a user, an operator, and the like. Therefore, the definition should be based on the technical idea described throughout this specification.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a symbol input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The symbol input device may include a panel module 110 and a control module 120, The control module 120 may include a screen display unit 122, a first input recognition unit 124, and a second input recognition unit 124. The control unit 120 may include a panel 112, a touch detection unit 1142, and a drag detection unit 1144, (126), and the like. Here, the touch detection unit 1142 and the drag detection unit 1144 may be collectively referred to as a single sensing unit 114.

Referring to FIG. 1, the display panel 112 may mean a panel (a display panel of a portable terminal) such as an LED or OLED on which an electrostatic sensor is mounted, for example.

Here, the portable terminal may mean a digital device such as a watch phone, a wearable device, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a smart device, navigation, etc. When the portable terminal is a small digital device such as a watch phone or a wearable device, For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of symbol buttons may be arranged to surround an outer periphery of a circular or elliptical display panel, and a plurality of number buttons may be displayed in a random arrangement position .

4, the unexplained number 402 may mean a symbol display area in which a symbol such as a password to be selectively input by a combination of touch and drag is displayed. In the symbol display area 402, Specific symbols recognized as an input (touch input or drag input) through the input unit 124 or the second input recognizer 126 can be displayed (displayed).

Of course, the application of the symbol input technique according to the present invention is not limited to the circular or elliptical display panel. The present invention can also be applied to various display panel structures such as square, rectangle, and triangle inverse triangles. The buttons may also be displayed in various random arrangements according to the structure of the display panel.

The touch detection unit 1142 in the sensing unit 114 detects an area corresponding to a symbol button (for example, a first symbol button) among a plurality of symbol buttons being displayed on the display panel 112 when the symbol input mode is executed (For example, a touch detection using an electrostatic sensor, etc.) is detected for a touch (user interface) of the first symbol button To the first input recognizing unit 124 of the first input recognizing unit 124. [

The drag detection unit 1144 detects whether or not the drag is dragged from the area where the touch has occurred (the first area) to another area (the second area) by using the sensing value provided from the electrostatic sensor, When the touch-on state is maintained (touch-on state) for a predetermined time (for example, 0.3 second, 0.5 second, etc.) Or to notify the second input recognizing unit 126 when the touch is turned off in the area where the drag is stopped.

Next, the screen display unit 122 in the control module 120 displays a plurality (e.g., a plurality of) of display images on the display panel 112 of the portable terminal when a user operation for inputting a symbol A plurality of symbol buttons displayed on the display panel 112 may include, for example, a plurality of number buttons and at least one symbol button (or symbol) Button), and the like.

When the symbol input (touch input) is notified from the first input recognizing unit 124 or the symbol input (drag input) is notified from the second input recognizing unit 126, And to display (display) the input symbol on the symbol display area in the display panel 112. [

On the other hand, as another embodiment of the present invention, when the touch input to the specific symbol (for example, numeral 2) is notified from the first input recognizing unit 124, (For example, the number button 2) to be displayed in an area other than the displayed area of a plurality of symbol buttons (for example, a central area of the display panel, etc.) This is so that the same symbol can be additionally input through the touch drag. In FIG. 5, the unexplained reference numeral 502 may mean a symbol display area in which a symbol such as a password to be selectively input by a combination of touch, drag, etc. is displayed.

Next, the first input recognizing unit 124 recognizes the touch detection for the area (first area) corresponding to the specific symbol button as the input of the corresponding symbol from the touch detecting unit 1142, (Not shown) to the user terminal 122, for example.

As another embodiment of the present invention, the first input recognizer 124 counts the elapsed time that the touch-on state of the specific symbol button is maintained, and if the counted elapsed time is less than a predetermined reference time (e.g., 0.5 (For example, an additional input of the number 2 when the touched symbol is the number "2 ") when the corresponding symbol button is displayed on the screen display unit 122, And the like may be provided. Here, the additional input of the same symbol based on the elapsed time is not limited to two consecutive inputs, and it is of course possible to set N consecutive additional inputs as necessary.

On the other hand, when the drag from the first area where the touch is generated is notified from the drag detecting unit 11144 to the second area, the second input recognizing unit 126 recognizes the input of the symbol corresponding to the second area A continuous input after the input), and notifies the screen display unit 122 of the function.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the number "0" is touched and dragged to the number "1", it will be a continuous input of the numbers "0" and "1" It will be displayed at the corresponding position in the symbol display area 602. [

Next, various embodiments for continuously inputting symbols through selective combination of touch and drag using the symbol input device according to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described in detail.

[Example 1]

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a main process of continuously inputting symbols through selective combination of a touch and a drag according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the portable terminal performs the symbol input mode (step 202), for example, when a user operation for inputting a password or the like occurs, the screen display unit 122 displays the screen through the display panel 112 of the portable terminal A plurality of symbol buttons are displayed (step 204).

4 to 6 illustrate that only the number buttons are displayed as symbol buttons. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the number of symbols displayed on the display panel 112 The button may include at least one symbol button (or sign button). Here, the numeric buttons displayed through the display panel 112 may be displayed as a random arrangement position instead of a numerical sequence arrangement position.

Next, the touch detection unit 1142 checks whether a touch (user interface) is generated (detected) for the first area corresponding to a symbol button among a plurality of symbol buttons being displayed on the display panel 112 (Step 206). When a touch on the first area is detected as a result of the check here, it is notified to the first input recognizing part 124.

In response to this, the first input recognizing unit 124 recognizes the corresponding symbol as a touch input according to the touch detection result transmitted from the touch detecting unit 1142 (step 208), notifies this to the screen displaying unit 122, As a result, the screen display unit 122 displays (displays) symbols (e.g., numbers, etc.) recognized as a touch input at corresponding positions in the symbol display area of the display panel 112. [

At the same time, as shown in Fig. 5 as an example, in the screen display unit 122, a symbol recognized as a touch input in an area other than the area where a plurality of symbol buttons are displayed (for example, a central area of the display panel) The same symbol button as the button (for example, the number button 2) is displayed (step 210).

The drag detection unit 1144 detects whether the touch is dragged to the second area in a state where the touch for the first area is maintained on, that is, whether or not the drag is generated (step 212 ). Here, the second area may be any one of the areas of the symbol buttons except for the touched symbol button, or an area corresponding to the same symbol button as the touched symbol button newly displayed at another position.

As a result of the checking in step 212, when the drag is detected, that is, the touch is turned off at the stop position after the drag occurs, or the touch is performed for a predetermined time (e.g., 0.3 second, 0.5 second, When the on state is maintained, the drag detection unit 1144 recognizes the detection of the drag and notifies the second input recognition unit 126 of the detection.

In response to this, the second input recognizing unit 126 recognizes the corresponding symbol as a drag input according to the drag detection result transmitted from the drag detecting unit 1144 (step 214), notifies this to the screen displaying unit 122, As a result, the screen display unit 122 displays (displays) the recognized symbols (e.g., numbers, etc.) at the corresponding positions in the symbol display area of the display panel 112.

In the present embodiment, when a touch input is recognized (detected), an area other than the area where a plurality of symbol buttons are displayed (for example, a central area of the display panel, etc.) (For example, the number button 2) touched on the symbol button, the present embodiment is not necessarily limited to this. For example, as shown by an arrow A in Fig. 7, (Number button 2) of the same area is dragged (for example, the same number is added) by touching an area corresponding to the number button 2 (for example, the number button 2) and then dragging the clock or counterclockwise Input).

Further, in the present embodiment, it has been described that the touch input for one symbol is recognized and the drag input for the other symbol is recognized through the primary drag. However, the present embodiment is not necessarily limited to this, It is also possible to recognize that the N touch input is sequentially recognized and sequentially recognize the N drag inputs through the sequential drag of the Nth order.

[Example 2]

3 is a flowchart illustrating a main procedure for continuously inputting symbols through selective combination of a touch and a drag according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the execution contents in the steps 302 to 308 are substantially the same as the execution contents in the corresponding steps in the steps 202 to 208 shown in FIG. Therefore, detailed description of steps 302 to 308 is omitted in order to avoid unnecessary redundant description for the sake of simplification of the specification.

That is, when the touch input for one symbol is recognized through the progression up to the step 308, the first input recognizing part 124 recognizes that the touch-on state for the area corresponding to the corresponding touch- Time is counted, and it is checked whether or not the elapsed time counted reaches a preset predetermined time n (e.g., 0.5 seconds, 1 second, 1.5 seconds, etc.) (step 310). Here, the preset predetermined time n may be defined as a predetermined first predetermined time.

If it is determined in step 310 that the counted elapsed time has reached the preset predetermined time n, the first input recognizing unit 124 clears the counted elapsed time, As an additional input of the symbol (step 312). As a result, the screen display unit 122 judges secondary input to the same symbol and displays two identical symbols at corresponding positions in the symbol display area.

That is, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to realize additional (consecutive) N-th order inputs for the same symbol selected through the touch by repeating steps 310 and 312 by N-th order. As an example, when it is desired to input three consecutive symbols of the numeral 3 that is first touched, according to the present embodiment, the processes of steps 310 and 312 are repeated twice to input three consecutive symbols 3 Will be.

On the other hand, during the process of recognizing whether the same symbol is additionally inputted through comparison between the counted elapsed time and a preset predetermined time, the drag detection unit 1144 detects the touch of the first region corresponding to the first symbol button, For example, to the second area corresponding to the second symbol button, that is, whether or not a drag is generated (step 314).

As a result of the check in step 314, when the drag is detected, that is, when the touch-on state is maintained for a predetermined time (for example, 0.3 second, 0.5 second, ) Notifies the second input recognizing unit 126 of the detection of the drag. Here, the preset predetermined time may be defined as a predetermined second predetermined time.

In response to this, the second input recognizing unit 126 recognizes the corresponding symbol (second symbol) as a drag input in accordance with the drag detection result transmitted from the drag detecting unit 1144 (step 316) As a result, the screen display unit 122 displays (displays) symbols (e.g., numbers, etc.) recognized as a drag input at corresponding positions in the symbol display area of the display panel 112.

On the other hand, if the drag input for one symbol is recognized through the progress up to step 316, the second input recognizer 126 recognizes the region corresponding to the dragged symbol button after the drag recognition (For example, 0.5 seconds, 1 second, 1.5 seconds, and the like) (step 318 (step 318)) is counted and the counted elapsed time reaches a preset predetermined time m ). Here, the preset predetermined time m may be defined as a predetermined third predetermined time, and the third predetermined time may be set to be relatively larger than the second predetermined time.

If it is determined in step 318 that the counted elapsed time has reached the predetermined reference time m, the second input recognizing unit 126 clears the counted elapsed time, As a further input of the corresponding symbol (second symbol) (step 320). As a result, the screen display unit 122 determines secondary input to the same symbol (symbol selected through dragging), and displays two identical symbols at corresponding positions in the symbol display area.

That is, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to realize additional (consecutive) N-th order inputs for the same symbol selected through dragging by repeating steps 318 and 320 by N-th order. For example, when three consecutive numbers 8 symbols are to be input through dragging, according to the present embodiment, the process of steps 318 and 320 is repeated twice, .

Next, at step 322, it is checked whether or not the touch in the area (second area) corresponding to the symbol selected through dragging is turned off. If the touch is turned off, one or N inputs for the first symbol and One or N inputs for two symbols are terminated.

Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, a symbol (second symbol) corresponding to the area is recognized as a drag input when a preset predetermined time has elapsed from a state where the drag is performed and then stopped. However, It is needless to say that it is also possible to set the symbol (second symbol) corresponding to the region where the drag is stopped when the touch-off is detected after the drag is stopped to be recognized as the drag input. Of course, in this case, the second symbol will be able to have only one input, not N inputs.

Meanwhile, the symbol input method according to the present invention as described above can be implemented as a code (computer program code) that can be executed by a computer on a recording medium readable by a computer (or a portable computer) Readable < / RTI > medium may include any type of recording device in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of such computer-readable recording media include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage, mobile app, and the like.

And, combinations of each block of the accompanying block diagrams and each step of the flowchart may be performed by computer programstations. These computer program instructions may be loaded into a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus so that the instructions, which may be executed by a processor of a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, And means for performing the functions described in each step are created.

The computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer usable or computer readable memory capable of directing a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to implement the functionality in a particular manner, It is also possible for the instructions stored in the memory to produce manufacturing items that contain instruction means for performing the functions described in each block or flowchart of each block diagram.

Here, the computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing equipment, so that a series of operating steps may be performed on the computer or other programmable data processing equipment to create a computer-executed process to create a computer or other It is also possible that the instructions that perform the programmable data processing equipment provide the steps for executing the functions described in each block of the block diagram and at each step of the flowchart.

Also, each block or each step may represent a module, segment, or portion of code that includes at least one or more executable instructions for executing the specified logical function (s). It should also be noted that in some alternative embodiments, the functions mentioned in the blocks or steps may occur out of order. For example, two blocks or steps shown in succession may in fact be performed substantially concurrently, or the blocks or steps may sometimes be performed in reverse order according to the corresponding function.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. It is easy to see that this is possible. That is, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention but to limit the scope of the present invention.

Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be construed in accordance with the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope of equivalents should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a symbol input method that can realize continuous input of desired symbol buttons through selective combination of touch and drag with respect to the symbol button being displayed on the display panel of the portable terminal.

The present invention including such a technical arrangement realizes continuous input of desired symbol buttons through a combination of touch and drag with respect to a symbol button being displayed on a display panel of a portable terminal, The symbol input can be realized more quickly and the erroneous input of the symbol that may occur due to the small size of the touch panel can be effectively suppressed.

110: panel module 112: display panel
114: sensing unit 120: control module
122: screen display unit 124: first input recognizing unit
126: second input recognizer 1142: touch detector
1144:

Claims (12)

A first step of detecting a touch on a first area corresponding to a first symbol button on the display panel;
A second step of recognizing the first symbol button as an input when a touch to the first area is detected;
A third step of detecting whether a drag from the first area to the second area occurs,
A fourth step of recognizing, as an input, a second symbol button corresponding to the second area when the drag is detected;
A computer readable recording medium on which a processor can perform a symbol input method. The method according to claim 1,
In the display panel,
A plurality of symbol buttons including the first symbol button and the second symbol button are displayed,
Wherein the plurality of symbol buttons comprise:
Expressed as a random array position
A computer program stored on a computer readable recording medium for enabling a processor to perform a symbol input method. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the plurality of symbol buttons comprise:
A plurality of number buttons and at least one symbol button
A computer readable recording medium on which a processor can perform a symbol input method. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first region and the second region are arranged in a matrix,
Wherein the display panel is an area at different positions on the display panel,
Wherein the first symbol button and the second symbol button comprise:
The same symbol button
A computer program stored on a computer readable recording medium for enabling a processor to perform a symbol input method. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first symbol button and the second symbol button comprise:
The same symbol button,
Wherein the first region and the second region are arranged in a matrix,
Which is an area at the same position on the display panel
A computer program stored on a computer readable recording medium for enabling a processor to perform a symbol input method. The method according to claim 1,
After the second process,
When the touch-on state in the first area detected in the first step is maintained for a predetermined first predetermined time, the first symbol button is recognized as being further input
A computer program stored on a computer readable recording medium for enabling a processor to perform a symbol input method. The method according to claim 1,
In the fourth step,
When the touch-on state in the second area is maintained for a predetermined second predetermined time, the second symbol button is recognized as an input
A computer program stored on a computer readable recording medium for enabling a processor to perform a symbol input method. 8. The method of claim 7,
Recognizes that the second symbol button is further input when the touch-on state in the second area is maintained for a predetermined third predetermined time after recognizing the input of the second symbol button,
Wherein the third predetermined time is relatively larger than the second predetermined time
A computer program stored on a computer readable recording medium for enabling a processor to perform a symbol input method. The method according to claim 1,
In the fourth step,
And recognizes the second symbol button as an input when the touch for the second area is turned off
A computer program stored on a computer readable recording medium for enabling a processor to perform a symbol input method. Detecting a touch on a first area corresponding to a first symbol button on the display panel;
Recognizing the first symbol button as an input when a touch to the first area is detected;
Detecting whether a drag from the first area to the second area occurs;
Recognizing a second symbol button corresponding to the second area as an input when the drag is detected
≪ / RTI > 11. A computer-readable recording medium having a computer program for causing a processor to perform the symbol input method of claim 10. A screen display unit for displaying a symbol icon on a display panel of a terminal when a user operation for inputting a symbol occurs,
A touch detection unit for detecting a touch on a first area corresponding to a first symbol button in the symbol icon;
A first input recognizing unit for recognizing the first symbol button as an input when a touch to the first area is detected;
A drag detection unit for detecting whether a drag from the first area to the second area occurs,
When the drag is detected, a second symbol button corresponding to the second area is recognized as an input by the second symbol button,
And a symbol input device.

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