WO2023125155A1 - Input method and input apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present application discloses an input method and an input apparatus. The method comprises: when an electronic device displays an input method interface, receiving a first input with respect to a first region, the first region being a region other than a keyboard region of the input method interface; in response to the first input, displaying N candidate input objects in a candidate region, the N candidate input objects corresponding to M virtual keys in the input method interface, N and M being positive integers, and N being greater than or equal to M; receiving a second input with respect to a first candidate input object of the N candidate input objects; and in response to the second input, displaying the first candidate input object in an input box.

Description

Input method and input device

Cross References to Related Applications

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202111619008.2 filed in China on December 27, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

technical field

The present application belongs to the technical field of communication, and in particular relates to an input method and an input device.

Background technique

With the wide application of electronic equipment, input methods have also been developed rapidly. The user can input characters and various symbols in the electronic device by operating the virtual keyboard of the input method.

At present, when a user operates a virtual keyboard, he needs to operate at the display position of the virtual key, resulting in a single input method in the electronic device.

Contents of the invention

The purpose of the embodiments of the present application is to provide an input method and an input device, which can solve the problem of a single input mode.

In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the application is implemented as follows:

In the first aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides an input method, the method includes: when the electronic device displays the input method interface, receiving the first input for the first area, the first area is the input method interface The area outside the keyboard area; in response to the first input, N candidate input objects are displayed in the candidate area, and the N candidate input objects are candidate input objects corresponding to the M virtual keys in the input method interface, and N and M are A positive integer, N greater than or equal to M; receiving a second input for a first candidate input object among the N candidate input objects; in response to the second input, displaying the first candidate input object in an input box.

In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an input device, which includes a receiving module and a display module. The receiving module is configured to receive the first input for the first area when the electronic device displays the input method interface, and the first area is an area other than the keyboard area of the input interface. The display module is used to display N candidate input objects in the candidate area in response to the first input, and the N candidate input objects are candidate input objects corresponding to the M virtual keys in the input method interface, and N and M are positive integers, N is greater than or equal to M. The receiving module is further configured to receive a second input for the first candidate input object among the N candidate input objects. The display module is further configured to display the first candidate input object in the input box in response to the second input.

In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an electronic device, the electronic device includes a processor, a memory, and a program or instruction stored in the memory and operable on the processor, and the program or instruction is The processor implements the steps of the method described in the first aspect when executed.

In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a readable storage medium, on which a program or an instruction is stored, and when the program or instruction is executed by a processor, the steps of the method described in the first aspect are implemented .

In the fifth aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides a chip, the chip includes a processor and a communication interface, the communication interface is coupled to the processor, and the processor is used to run programs or instructions, so as to implement the first aspect the method described.

In the embodiment of the present application, when the electronic device displays the input method interface, the first input for the first area is received; in response to the first input, N candidate input objects are displayed in the candidate area, and the N candidate input objects It is a candidate input object corresponding to the M virtual keys in the input method interface; receiving a second input to the first candidate input object among the N candidate input objects; in response to the second input, displaying the first candidate input in the input box object. By receiving the first input for the first area, the electronic device displays N candidate input objects corresponding to the M virtual keys in the candidate area. Therefore, the electronic device can respond to the input of a certain candidate input object, Display the candidate input object. In this way, when the user needs to input content in the input box, in addition to operating in the display position of the virtual key, it can also operate in an area other than the keyboard area of the input method interface, thereby solving the operation of the input method A single problem.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1(a) is a schematic diagram of a display interface of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 1 (b) is one of the schematic diagrams of the input method interface provided by the embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 1 (c) is the second schematic diagram of the input method interface provided by the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is one of the schematic flow diagrams of the input method provided by the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is one of the interface schematic diagrams of the input method application provided by the embodiment of the present application;

Figure 4(a) is the second schematic interface of the input method application provided by the embodiment of the present application;

Figure 4(b) is the third schematic diagram of the interface of the input method application provided by the embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 4(c) is the fourth schematic diagram of the interface of the input method application provided by the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is the fifth schematic diagram of the interface of the input method application provided by the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6 is the second schematic flow diagram of the input method provided by the embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 7 is the sixth schematic diagram of the interface of the input method application provided by the embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 8 is the seventh schematic diagram of the interface of the input method application provided by the embodiment of the present application;

Figure 9(a) is the eighth schematic diagram of the interface of the input method application provided by the embodiment of the present application;

Figure 9(b) is the ninth schematic diagram of the interface of the input method application provided by the embodiment of the present application;

Figure 10(a) is the tenth schematic diagram of the interface of the input method application provided by the embodiment of the present application;

Figure 10(b) is the eleventh schematic diagram of the interface of the input method application provided by the embodiment of the present application;

Fig. 11(a) is the twelfth schematic diagram of the interface of the input method application provided by the embodiment of the present application;

Figure 11(b) is the thirteenth schematic diagram of the interface of the input method application provided by the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of an input device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of hardware of an electronic device provided by an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed ways

The following will clearly describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, but not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments in this application belong to the protection scope of this application.

The terms "first", "second" and the like in the specification and claims of the present application are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not used to describe a specific sequence or sequence. It should be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the application can be practiced in sequences other than those illustrated or described herein, and that references to "first," "second," etc. distinguish Objects are generally of one type, and the number of objects is not limited. For example, there may be one or more first objects. In addition, "and/or" in the specification and claims means at least one of the connected objects, and the character "/" generally means that the related objects are an "or" relationship.

The input method provided by the embodiment of the present application will be described in detail below through specific embodiments and application scenarios with reference to the accompanying drawings.

For ease of understanding, firstly, an input method interface of an electronic device is introduced with reference to FIG. 1( a ) to FIG. 1( c ).

Fig. 1(a) shows a display interface of an electronic device. As shown in Figure 1(a), the display interface of the electronic device includes an input box 10. After the user inputs into the input box 10 (for example, clicks on the input box 10), the electronic device can detect the user's input operation on the input box 10, and then Enter the input state. In the input state, the electronic device will display the editing interface of the input method editor, as shown in FIG. 1( b ), this interface is the input method interface 20 . As shown in FIG. 1( b ), before the user inputs on the input interface 20 , the input method interface 20 may include a toolbar area 20A and a keyboard area 20B. Wherein, the keyboard area 20B may include various virtual keys, such as punctuation keys 201 , number keys 204 , letter keys 202 , function keys 203 and so on. The tool bar area 20A may include several tool buttons, such as an emoticon button 205 , an input method switching button 206 , a setting button 207 , a voice button 208 and so on. As shown in FIG. 1( c), after the user inputs on the input interface 20, the toolbar area 20A in the input method interface 20 is replaced with a candidate area, and the candidate area may include a pinyin bar area 20C and a candidate bar area 20D. Among them, the pinyin column area 20C is used to display character strings (such as pinyin sequences, letter sequences, numbers) input by the user. The candidate column area 20D is used to display candidate input objects (such as Chinese characters, English words, numbers, etc.) that match the character string input by the user. The user can operate the input method interface 20 to input content in the input box 10 . For example, the user can click the emoticon button 205 in the toolbar area 20A to make the electronic device display the emoticon, and then click the emoticon to input the emoticon in the input box 10 . For another example, the user may press a virtual key in the keyboard area 20B to input corresponding text content in the input box 10 . For example, after the user presses the key "WXYZ" and the key "MNO" in the keyboard area 20B, the corresponding character string "wo" will be displayed in the pinyin column area 20C, and the corresponding character string "wo" will be displayed in the candidate column area 20D at the same time. Several candidate input objects "I", "yo", "oh", "wo" and so on. After the user clicks one of the candidate input objects (such as “I”), the electronic device will display “I” in the input box 10 .

It should be noted that the input method interface shown in Fig. 1(b) and Fig. 1(c) is only an example provided by the embodiment of the present application, and does not constitute a limitation to the embodiment of the present application. It can be understood that in practical applications, the position and function of the virtual keys in the input method interface may be slightly different from the input method interfaces shown in Figure 1(b) and Figure 1(c), for example, the expression button 205 may also be located on the keyboard In region 20B, a re-enter key may not be included in keyboard region 20B. In addition, the keyboard area 40 in the input method interface shown in Figure 1 (b) and Figure 1 (c) is a virtual keyboard in the form of 9 keys, and in practical applications, the keyboard area 40 can also be a virtual keyboard in the form of 26 keys.

For clear and concise description, in the embodiment of the present application, the input method provided in the embodiment of the present application is introduced mainly by taking a virtual keyboard in the form of 9 keys as an example. For the virtual keyboard in the form of 26 keys, its specific display method is similar to that corresponding to the virtual keyboard in the form of 9 keys. In order to avoid repetition, this embodiment of the present application does not elaborate on this.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the embodiment of the present application provides an input method, and the method may include the following S201-S204.

It should be noted that the execution subject of the input method provided in the embodiment of the present application may be an input device, or a control module in the input device for executing the input method, or may be an electronic device. The input method provided by the embodiment of the present application will be exemplarily described below by taking an electronic device as an example.

Optionally, in the embodiment of the present application, when the execution subject of the input method provided in the embodiment of the present application is an electronic device, the electronic device may include the input device provided in the embodiment of the present application, or be externally connected to the input device. Specifically, it may be determined according to actual usage requirements, and is not limited in this embodiment of the application.

S201. When the electronic device displays an input method interface, the electronic device receives a first input for a first area.

Wherein, the first area may be an area other than the keyboard area 20B in the input method interface, for example, the first area may be the candidate bar area in the input method interface, and for another example, the first area may also be the toolbar area. The first input may be a user's gesture input in the first area, for example, the first input may be a sliding operation, a double-tap operation, a long-press operation, and the like.

Exemplarily, as shown in FIG. 3 , the first input may be a rightward sliding input in the candidate column area 20D. In the prior art, no corresponding function is defined for the right-swipe input in the candidate bar area, so this operation gesture is used as the first input to trigger the control of the input method interface, which does not conflict with the existing operation of the input method interface . That is to say, the operation mode of the input method interface in the embodiment of the present application does not conflict with the customary operation of the electronic device. Exemplarily, the first input may also be a double-click input in 20C.

S202. In response to the first input, the electronic device displays N candidate input objects in the candidate area.

Wherein, the candidate area may be a candidate bar area in the input method interface, or may be another area for displaying candidate input items in the display interface of the electronic device, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. It should be noted that, in the examples of this application, the candidate area is taken as an example of the candidate column area in the input method interface.

In addition, the above N candidate input objects may be candidate input objects corresponding to M virtual keys in the input interface, N and M are positive integers, and N is greater than or equal to M. That is to say, one virtual key may correspond to one or more candidate input objects.

It should be noted that the above M virtual keys may be virtual keys determined by the electronic device according to the default settings of the input method application program, virtual keys determined by the electronic device according to user settings, or virtual keys determined by the electronic device according to the first input method. The virtual keys determined by the input parameters. Wherein, how to determine the M virtual keys according to the input parameters of the first input will be described in detail in subsequent embodiments, and will not be described here.

In addition, the above M virtual keys may include virtual keys in any area of the input method interface. For example, in some embodiments, with reference to Fig. 1 (b), the above-mentioned M virtual keys may include virtual keys (such as emoticon keys 205) in the toolbar area 20A, and may also include virtual keys (such as punctuation keys) in the keyboard area 20B. button 201, number button 204, etc.). In some other embodiments, the above M virtual keys may also include function keys (such as a delete key, a re-enter key, an enter key, etc.).

In this embodiment of the present application, a candidate input object corresponding to a virtual key may be a symbol, letter, number, character string, Chinese character, word, phrase, or phrase corresponding to the virtual key. For example, in the case where the virtual key is the punctuation key 201, the corresponding candidate input object may be the punctuation mark corresponding to the punctuation key; in the case where the virtual key is the emoticon key 205, the corresponding candidate input object may be one or A plurality of emoticons; in the case that the virtual key is a number key 204, the corresponding candidate input object can be one or more numbers; the virtual key is a letter key in the virtual keyboard of the 9-key form (such as Fig. 1 (b) In the case of the letter button "DEF"), the corresponding candidate input object can be a single letter (such as the letter "D", the letter "E" and the letter "F"), or a string (such as "DEF") , can also be Chinese characters (such as "de", "get", "di", "hungry", "er", "fa", etc.), phrases (such as "wait", "get", "only", " son", "found", "law", etc.) or phrases (such as "wait a minute", "are you hungry", "send it to me", etc.). For another example, when the virtual key is a letter key (such as the letter key "f") in the virtual keyboard of the 26-key form and the input method is in the English input mode, the corresponding candidate input object can be an English word (such as "for" , "feel", "from", "father", etc.). In the case that the virtual key is a function key, the corresponding candidate input object may be a default character, such as a symbol, phrase, or phrase set by the user. For example, when the virtual key is a delete key, the corresponding candidate input object may be "delete"; for another example, when the virtual key is an enter key, the corresponding candidate input object may be "confirm".

Certainly, the above is only a simple example provided by the embodiments of the present application for easy understanding, and does not constitute a limitation to the present application. It can be set according to the actual situation during specific implementation, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. For example, the candidate input object corresponding to the virtual key may be a candidate input object determined by the electronic device according to user settings. For another example, the candidate input object corresponding to the virtual key may also be a candidate input object determined by the electronic device according to the user's common words recorded by the input method editor.

Exemplarily, with reference to Fig. 4 (a), suppose that above-mentioned M virtual keys comprise 3 punctuation keys (punctuation key A1, punctuation key A2 and punctuation key A3) in symbol area (hereinafter referred to as area A), then above-mentioned N The candidate input objects may be the three punctuation marks corresponding to the three punctuation keys (ie, punctuation mark ",", punctuation mark ".", punctuation mark "?"). In this way, after the electronic device receives the user's first input, as shown in FIG. 4( b ), the electronic device may display the three punctuation marks in the candidate column area of the input method interface.

As another example, assuming that the above-mentioned M virtual buttons include the emoticon button 205 in the toolbar area 20A, then the above-mentioned N candidate input objects can be several emoticons corresponding to the emoticon button 205 (such as smiling emoticons, depressed emoticons, angry emoji). Referring to FIG. 4(a), after the user performs the first input of sliding to the right in the candidate bar area of the input method interface, as shown in FIG. 5, the electronic device may display a smile in the candidate bar area in response to the first input Emoji 205A, Frustrated Emoji 205B, Angry Emoji 205C.

S203. The electronic device receives a second input for a first candidate input object among the N candidate input objects.

Wherein, the second input may be a click operation, or other feasible gesture operations. Of course, in actual implementation, it can also be any other possible input, which can be determined according to actual use requirements, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

Exemplarily, taking Figure 4(b) as an example, the N candidate input objects are punctuation marks ",", punctuation marks "." Any one of, for example, the punctuation mark ",", then the above-mentioned second input may be a click operation on the punctuation mark ",".

S204. In response to the second input, the electronic device displays the first candidate input object in the input box.

For example, the electronic device may display the first candidate input object in the input box as input content. It should be noted that the operation of the electronic device to display the selected candidate input object in the candidate area in the input box may generally be referred to as an upper screen.

Exemplarily, continue to take Fig. 4 (b) as an example, assuming that the second input is the input of the punctuation mark "," in the candidate column area (that is, the first candidate input object is the punctuation mark ","), then as shown in As shown in 4(c), after the electronic device receives the second input, the electronic device may display a punctuation mark "," in the input box.

Based on the input method provided by the embodiment of the present application, by receiving the first input for the first area, the electronic device displays N candidate input objects corresponding to the M virtual keys in the candidate area. Therefore, the electronic device can respond to a certain The input of the candidate input object, and display the candidate input object in the input box. In this way, when the user needs to input content in the input box, in addition to operating in the display position of the virtual key, it can also operate in an area other than the keyboard area of the input method interface, thereby solving the operation of the input method A single problem.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 6, after the above S204, the input method provided by the embodiment of the present application may further include the following S205.

S205. The electronic device keeps displaying N candidate input objects in the candidate area.

That is, before the user triggers the electronic device to cancel the display of the N candidate input objects, the electronic device always displays the N candidate input objects in the candidate area.

Exemplarily, referring to FIG. 4(a), FIG. 4(b), FIG. 4(c) and FIG. 7, FIG. 4(a) shows the input method interface before the electronic device receives the first input, and FIG. 4( b) shows the input method interface after the electronic device receives the first input, FIG. 4(c) shows the input method interface after the electronic device receives the second input, and FIG. An input method interface displaying N candidate input objects. When the user clicks on a candidate input object in the candidate bar area in Figure 4(b), such as the punctuation mark "," the electronic device can display the punctuation mark "," in the input box, so that the input box The content changes to "OK,". At the same time, as shown in Figure 7, the electronic device did not cancel the three candidate input objects displayed in the candidate column area (that is, the punctuation mark ",", the punctuation mark ".", and the punctuation mark "?"), that is, the electronic device is in the The three candidate input objects are kept displayed in the column area.

Based on the above solution, since the electronic device can keep displaying the above N candidate input objects in the candidate area, when the user needs to frequently operate the M virtual keys in the input method interface, it can avoid the user frequently triggering the electronic device to display in the candidate area. M candidate input objects are displayed in , so that the user can avoid repeated operations in the electronic device and simplify the operation process. In this way, the convenience of inputting the electronic device can be further improved.

Optionally, in the embodiment of the present application, the above M virtual keys may be at least some of the virtual keys near the target side of the electronic device in the input method interface.

Wherein, the target side of the electronic device may be the left side or the right side of the electronic device.

In some embodiments, the electronic device may determine the aforementioned target side according to the user's preset settings. For example, the electronic device may provide the user with an input method setting interface, the setting interface may include an option for the user to set the dominant hand, and the electronic device may determine the target side according to the setting of the option by the user. For example, when the user sets his dominant hand as the right hand, the electronic device may determine that the target side is the left side. Conversely, when the user sets his dominant hand as the left hand, the electronic device may determine that the target side is the right side.

In some other embodiments, the electronic device may determine the aforementioned target side according to the first input for the first area. For example, the electronic device may determine the target side according to the input direction of the first input. For example, when the first input is sliding up, the electronic device may determine that the target side is the right side of the electronic device; when the first input is sliding down, the electronic device may determine that the target side is the left side of the electronic device side.

At present, in order to bring better user experience to users, the screen size of electronic devices is also getting larger and larger. Taking mobile phones as an example, the screen size of most mobile phones can reach 6 inches or more. Although the large-size screen can improve the user experience, it also increases the difficulty of the user's one-handed operation. When the user holds the mobile phone with one hand, due to the large screen size, it may be difficult for the user's fingers to touch the virtual keys near the left side of the mobile phone in the virtual keyboard, resulting in inconvenient one-handed operation of the electronic device.

Based on the above scheme of the embodiment of the present application, since the candidate area is located in the input method interface where the user can touch it with one hand, after the electronic device displays the candidate input object corresponding to the virtual key near the side in the candidate area, the user can use a single These candidate input objects displayed in the candidate area can be manipulated by hand, so that the electronic device will display the selected candidate input object in the input box, so that the user can realize the input method located near the side of the electronic device in the input method interface with one hand. The indirect operation of the virtual key makes the one-handed operation of the electronic device more convenient.

Optionally, the input method provided in the embodiment of the present application further includes the following S206.

S206. The electronic device cancels displaying the M virtual keys at the first display position in response to the first input.

Wherein, the above-mentioned first display position may be the display position of the above-mentioned M virtual keys before the electronic device receives the first input.

Exemplarily, referring to FIG. 4( a ) and FIG. 8 , FIG. 4( a ) shows the input method interface before the electronic device receives the first input. As shown in Figure 8, after the electronic device receives the first input, the electronic device can display the punctuation marks corresponding to the punctuation keys A1, A2 and A3 in the candidate column area, and cancel the display of the punctuation keys A1, A2 and A3 in area A. A3.

Optionally, after the above S206, the input method provided in the embodiment of the present application further includes the following S207 and S208.

S207. The electronic device receives a third input.

Optionally, the third input may be an input to a candidate input object in the candidate area, or the third input may be an input to a virtual key in an input method interface. It can be understood that, in the case that the third input is an input to a candidate input object in the candidate area, the corresponding user action may be to select a candidate input object in the candidate area.

In some embodiments, the third input may also be a specific gesture input, and the corresponding user action may be typing again. In this case, the corresponding user action may be performing a preset gesture operation. Wherein, the preset gesture operation mentioned above may be sliding down in the input method interface, sliding up in the input method interface, or double-clicking a certain virtual button on the input method interface, etc. Specifically, it may be determined according to actual usage requirements, and is not limited in this embodiment of the application.

S208. In response to the third input, the electronic device cancels displaying N candidate input objects in the candidate area, and displays M virtual keys at the first display position.

Exemplarily, as shown in FIG. 9( a ), after the user selects the candidate input object "I" in the candidate column area, the input method display interface may be updated to the interface shown in FIG. 9( b ). As shown in Figure 9(b), the electronic device can display the input content "I" in the input box, and cancel the display of the punctuation mark ",", the punctuation mark "." and the punctuation mark "?" in the candidate column area, and In area A, the corresponding virtual keys are displayed again.

As another example, as shown in FIG. 10( a ), after the user inputs a virtual key in the input method interface, the input method display interface may be updated to the interface shown in FIG. 10( b ). As shown in Figure 10(b), the electronic device can display the character string (such as pinyin) corresponding to the virtual key in the pinyin column area, display the candidate input object corresponding to the character string in the candidate column area, and simultaneously display the corresponding character string in the candidate column area Cancel the display of the punctuation mark ",", the punctuation mark "." and the punctuation mark "?", and restore the virtual keys corresponding to the punctuation mark ",", the punctuation mark "." and the punctuation mark "?" in area A.

Also exemplary, as shown in FIG. 11( a ), after the user performs a preset gesture operation of sliding down, the input method display interface may be updated to the interface shown in FIG. 11( b ). As shown in FIG. 11( b ), the electronic device can cancel the display of the punctuation mark ",", the punctuation mark ".", and the punctuation mark "?" in the candidate bar area, and resume displaying the corresponding virtual keys in area A.

In the above scheme, since the electronic device can restore the virtual key to its original display position according to the user's input, that is, the user can trigger the electronic device to restore the input method interface to the original interface of the input method by inputting, thereby making the input method The way is more flexible.

Optionally, before the above S202, the input method provided in the embodiment of the present application may further include the following S209.

S209. The electronic device determines M virtual keys according to the first input parameter.

That is, the electronic device may determine, according to the input parameters of the first input, which candidate input objects corresponding to which virtual keys are displayed in the candidate area.

Exemplarily, in the case that the first input is a gesture operation, the input parameter of the first input may be an operation parameter of the gesture operation. For example, when the first input is a sliding operation, the input parameter of the first input may be a sliding distance of the sliding operation. For another example, when the first input is a click operation, the input parameter of the first input may be the number of clicks of the click operation. For another example, when the first input is a long press operation, the input parameter of the first input may be the pressing time of the long press operation.

The following takes the first input as an example of a sliding operation to illustrate how the electronic device determines the aforementioned M virtual keys according to the input parameters of the first input.

1. The electronic device detects the sliding distance of the sliding operation, for example, the sliding distance may be expressed in units of pixels.

2. The electronic device determines the number M of candidate input objects to be displayed in the candidate column area according to the sliding distance. For example, when the sliding distance is less than 5 pixels (Pixel), the number of candidate input objects is 0. When the sliding distance increases by 5 pixels, the number of corresponding candidate input objects increases by 1.

3. The electronic device uses the punctuation marks at the first M positions in the symbol area as the punctuation marks displayed in the candidate bar area. Referring to Table 1, the punctuation marks in the symbol list in Table 1 correspond to the punctuation marks displayed in the symbol area of the input method interface; the punctuation marks in the temporary list in Table 1 correspond to the punctuation marks displayed in the candidate bar area. As shown in Table 1, when the sliding distance does not exceed 5 pixels, the number of candidate input objects is 0, and correspondingly, the temporary list is empty; when the sliding distance is between 5 pixels and 10 pixels, the number of candidate input objects is 1. Correspondingly, the temporary list includes a punctuation mark (that is, a comma ","), which is the punctuation mark at the first position of the symbol area, and the punctuation mark will be displayed in the candidate bar area. At this time, the four punctuation marks after the punctuation mark "," are included in the symbol list, which are punctuation mark ",", punctuation mark ".", punctuation mark "?" and punctuation mark "!", and the symbol area will display the above The four punctuation marks.

Table 1

sliding distance	symbol list	temporary list
(0,5)	[",",".","?","!"]	[]
[5,10)	[“.”, “?”, “!”, “…”]	[","]
[10,15)	["?", "!", "...", ":"]	[",","."]
[15,20)	["!", "...", ":", ";"]	[",",".","?"]

The input device provided by the embodiment of the present application will be described below by taking the input method device executing the input method as an example.

As shown in FIG. 12 , the embodiment of the present application provides an input device 1100 , and the input device 1100 includes a receiving module 1101 and a display module 1102 . The receiving module 1101 is configured to receive a first input for a first area when the electronic device displays an input method interface, and the first area is an area other than the keyboard area of the input method interface. The display module 1102 is configured to display N candidate input objects in the candidate area in response to the first input, and the N candidate input objects are candidate input objects corresponding to the M virtual keys in the input method interface, and N and M are positive integers , N is greater than or equal to M. The receiving module 1101 is further configured to receive a second input for a first candidate input object among the N candidate input objects. The display module 1102 is further configured to display the first candidate input object in the input box in response to the second input.

Optionally, the display module 1102 is further configured to keep displaying N candidate input objects in the candidate area after displaying the first candidate input object in the input box.

Optionally, the M virtual keys may be at least some of the virtual keys on the input method interface near the target side of the electronic device.

Optionally, the display module 1102 is further configured to, in response to the first input, cancel displaying the M virtual keys at the first display position, where the first display position is the display position of the M virtual keys before the first input is received.

Optionally, the receiving module 1101 is further configured to receive a third input after canceling the display of the M virtual keys at the first display position; the display module 1102 is further configured to cancel the display of the N virtual keys in the candidate area in response to the third input candidate input objects, and display M virtual keys at the first display position.

Optionally, the third input is an input to a candidate input object in the candidate area, or the third input is an input to a virtual key in an input method interface.

Optionally, the input device 1100 provided in the embodiment of the present application may further include a determination module 1103 . The determining module 1103 is configured to determine M virtual keys according to the input parameters of the first input before displaying the N candidate input objects in the candidate area.

Based on the input device provided by the embodiment of the present application, since the input device displays the N candidate input objects corresponding to the M virtual keys in the candidate area by receiving the first input for the first area, the input device can respond to For the input of a candidate input object, the candidate input object is displayed in the input box. In this way, when the user needs to input content in the input box, in addition to operating in the display position of the virtual key, it can also operate in an area other than the keyboard area of the input method interface, thereby solving the operation of the input method A single problem.

The input device in this embodiment of the present application may be a device, or may be a component, an integrated circuit, or a chip in a terminal. The device may be a mobile electronic device or a non-mobile electronic device. Exemplarily, the mobile electronic device may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a handheld computer, a vehicle electronic device, a wearable device, an ultra-mobile personal computer (ultra-mobile personal computer, UMPC), a netbook or a personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant). assistant, PDA), etc., non-mobile electronic devices can be servers, network attached storage (Network Attached Storage, NAS), personal computer (personal computer, PC), television (television, TV), teller machine or self-service machine, etc., this application Examples are not specifically limited.

The input device in this embodiment of the present application may be a device with an operating system. The operating system may be an Android (Android) operating system, an ios operating system, or other possible operating systems, which are not specifically limited in this embodiment of the present application.

The input device provided by the embodiment of the present application can realize each process realized by the above method embodiment, and achieve the same technical effect, and to avoid repetition, details are not repeated here.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 13 , the embodiment of the present application further provides an electronic device 1200, including a processor 1201, a memory 1202, and programs or instructions stored in the memory 1202 and operable on the processor 1201, When the program or instruction is executed by the processor 1201, each process of the above-mentioned input method embodiment can be realized, and the same technical effect can be achieved. To avoid repetition, details are not repeated here.

It should be noted that the electronic devices in the embodiments of the present application include the above-mentioned mobile electronic devices and non-mobile electronic devices.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a hardware structure of an electronic device implementing an embodiment of the present application.

The electronic device 1300 includes, but is not limited to: a radio frequency unit 1301, a network module 1302, an audio output unit 1303, an input unit 1304, a sensor 1305, a display unit 1306, a user input unit 1307, an interface unit 1308, a memory 1309, and a processor 1310, etc. part.

Those skilled in the art can understand that the electronic device 1300 can also include a power supply (such as a battery) for supplying power to various components, and the power supply can be logically connected to the processor 1310 through the power management system, so that the management of charging, discharging, and function can be realized through the power management system. Consumption management and other functions. The structure of the electronic device shown in FIG. 14 does not constitute a limitation to the electronic device. The electronic device may include more or fewer components than shown in the figure, or combine certain components, or arrange different components, and details will not be repeated here. .

Wherein, the input unit 1304 is configured to receive the first input for the first area when the electronic device 1300 displays the input method interface, and the first area is an area other than the keyboard area of the input method interface; the display unit 1306, It is used to display N candidate input objects in the candidate area in response to the first input, and the N candidate input objects are candidate input objects corresponding to M virtual keys in the input method interface, N and M are positive integers, and N is greater than or equal to M; the input unit 1304 is also used to receive a second input to the first candidate input object in the N candidate input objects; the display unit 1306 is also used to display the first candidate in the input box in response to the second input Enter the object.

Based on the electronic device provided by the embodiment of the present application, by receiving the first input for the first area, the electronic device displays N candidate input objects corresponding to the M virtual keys in the candidate area. Therefore, the electronic device can respond to a certain The input of the candidate input object, and display the candidate input object in the input box. In this way, when the user needs to input content in the input box, in addition to operating in the display position of the virtual key, it can also operate in an area other than the keyboard area of the input method interface, thereby solving the operation of the input method A single problem.

Optionally, the display unit 1306 is further configured to keep displaying N candidate input objects in the candidate area after displaying the first candidate input object in the input box.

Optionally, the M virtual keys may be at least some of the virtual keys on the input method interface near the target side of the electronic device.

Optionally, the display unit 1306 is further configured to, in response to the first input, cancel displaying the M virtual keys at the first display position, where the first display position is the display position of the M virtual keys before the first input is received.

Optionally, the input unit 1304 is further configured to receive a third input after canceling the display of the M virtual keys at the first display position; the display unit 1306 is further configured to cancel the display of the N virtual keys in the candidate area in response to the third input candidate input objects, and display M virtual keys at the first display position.

Optionally, the third input is an input to a candidate input object in the candidate area, or the third input is an input to a virtual key in an input method interface.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 14 , the electronic device 1300 provided in this embodiment of the present application further includes a processor 1310 . The processor 1310 is configured to determine M virtual keys according to the input parameters of the first input before displaying the N candidate input objects in the candidate area.

It should be understood that, in this embodiment of the present application, the input unit 1304 may include a graphics processor (Graphics Processing Unit, GPU) 13041 and a microphone 13042, and the graphics processor 13041 is used for the image capture device ( Such as the image data of the still picture or video obtained by the camera) for processing. The display unit 1306 may include a display panel 13061, and the display panel 13061 may be configured in the form of a liquid crystal display, an organic light emitting diode, or the like. The user input unit 1307 includes a touch panel 13071 and other input devices 13072 . Touch panel 13071, also called touch screen. The touch panel 13071 may include two parts, a touch detection device and a touch controller. Other input devices 13072 may include, but are not limited to, physical keyboards, function keys (such as volume control keys, switch keys, etc.), trackballs, mice, and joysticks, which will not be repeated here. Memory 1309 can be used to store software programs as well as various data, including but not limited to application programs and operating systems. The processor 1310 may integrate an application processor and a modem processor, wherein the application processor mainly processes operating systems, user interfaces, and application programs, and the modem processor mainly processes wireless communications. It can be understood that the foregoing modem processor may not be integrated into the processor 1310 .

The embodiment of the present application also provides a readable storage medium, on which a program or instruction is stored. When the program or instruction is executed by a processor, each process of the above-mentioned input method embodiment can be achieved, and the same Technical effects, in order to avoid repetition, will not be repeated here.

Wherein, the processor is the processor in the electronic device described in the above embodiments. The readable storage medium includes computer readable storage medium, such as computer read-only memory (Read-Only Memory, ROM), random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM), magnetic disk or optical disk, etc.

The embodiment of the present application further provides a chip, the chip includes a processor and a communication interface, the communication interface is coupled to the processor, and the processor is used to run programs or instructions to realize the above-mentioned input method embodiments. process, and can achieve the same technical effect, in order to avoid repetition, it will not be repeated here.

It should be understood that the chips mentioned in the embodiments of the present application may also be called system-on-chip, system-on-chip, system-on-a-chip, or system-on-a-chip.

It should be noted that, in this document, the term "comprising", "comprising" or any other variation thereof is intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion such that a process, method, article or apparatus comprising a set of elements includes not only those elements, It also includes other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent in the process, method, article, or device. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising a ..." does not preclude the presence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus comprising that element. In addition, it should be pointed out that the scope of the methods and devices in the embodiments of the present application is not limited to performing functions in the order shown or discussed, and may also include performing functions in a substantially simultaneous manner or in reverse order according to the functions involved. Functions are performed, for example, the described methods may be performed in an order different from that described, and various steps may also be added, omitted, or combined. Additionally, features described with reference to certain examples may be combined in other examples.

Through the description of the above embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by means of software plus a necessary general-purpose hardware platform, and of course also by hardware, but in many cases the former is better implementation. Based on such an understanding, the technical solution of the present application can be embodied in the form of computer software products, which are stored in a storage medium (such as ROM/RAM, magnetic disk, etc.) , optical disc), including several instructions to enable a terminal (which may be a mobile phone, computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in various embodiments of the present application.

The embodiments of the present application have been described above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but the present application is not limited to the above-mentioned specific implementations. The above-mentioned specific implementations are only illustrative and not restrictive. Those of ordinary skill in the art will Under the inspiration of this application, without departing from the purpose of this application and the scope of protection of the claims, many forms can also be made, all of which belong to the protection of this application.

Claims (16)

1. An input method comprising:

   When the electronic device displays the input method interface, receiving a first input for the first area, the first area is an area other than the keyboard area of the input method interface;

   In response to the first input, N candidate input objects are displayed in the candidate area, the N candidate input objects are candidate input objects corresponding to the M virtual keys in the input method interface, and N and M are positive integers , N is greater than or equal to M;

   receiving a second input to a first candidate input object of the N candidate input objects;

   In response to the second input, the first candidate input object is displayed in an input box.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, after displaying the first candidate input object in the input box, the method further comprises:

   The N candidate input objects are kept displayed in the candidate area.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the M virtual keys are: at least some of the virtual keys close to the target side of the electronic device in the input method interface.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

   In response to the first input, cancel displaying the M virtual keys at a first display position, where the first display position is a display position of the M virtual keys before receiving the first input.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, after canceling the display of the M virtual keys at the first display position, the method further comprises:

   receiving a third input;

   In response to the third input, cancel displaying the N candidate input objects in the candidate area, and display the M virtual keys at the first display position.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the third input is an input to a candidate input object in the candidate area; or, the third input is an input to a virtual key in the input method interface .
7. An input device, the device comprising: a receiving module and a display module;

   The receiving module is configured to receive a first input for a first area when the electronic device displays an input method interface, and the first area is an area other than the keyboard area of the input interface;

   The display module is configured to display N candidate input objects in the candidate area in response to the first input, and the N candidate input objects are candidate input objects corresponding to the M virtual keys in the input method interface , N and M are positive integers, and N is greater than or equal to M;

   The receiving module is also used to receive a second input to the first candidate input object in the N candidate input objects;

   The display module is further configured to display the first candidate input object in an input box in response to the second input.
8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the display module is further configured to keep displaying the N candidate input objects in the candidate area after displaying the first candidate input object in the input box .
9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the M virtual keys are: at least some of the virtual keys close to the target side of the electronic device in the input method interface.
10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the display module is further configured to cancel displaying the M virtual keys at a first display position in response to the first input, and the first display position is the received The display positions of the M virtual keys before the first input.
11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the receiving module is further configured to receive a third input after canceling the display of the M virtual keys at the first display position;

    The display module is further configured to, in response to the third input, cancel display of the N candidate input objects in the candidate area, and display the M virtual keys at the first display position.
12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the third input is an input to a candidate input object in the candidate area; or, the third input is an input to a virtual key in the input method interface .
13. An electronic device, comprising a processor, a memory, and a program or instruction stored on the memory and operable on the processor, when the program or instruction is executed by the processor, claims 1-6 are realized The steps of any one of the input methods.
14. A readable storage medium, storing programs or instructions on the readable storage medium, and implementing the steps of the input method according to any one of claims 1-6 when the programs or instructions are executed by a processor.
15. A computer program product, the computer program product is executed by at least one processor to implement the steps of the input method according to any one of claims 1-6.
16. An electronic device configured to execute the steps of the input method according to any one of claims 1-6.

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