CN1262749A - Portable terminal device, character selection input device, and character selection input method - Google Patents

Abstract

A pager is provided with a display for displaying characters of character groups and a rotary knob for selecting and specifying a desired character from the character groups for character input. The rotary knob is composed of a rotary encoder and a switch, and can perform a rotating operation and a pressing operation. A plurality of character sets are prepared. In the character group displayed on the display, an arrow-shaped mark is displayed, functioning as a soft key, for switching the character group. By selecting the arrow-shaped mark using the rotation knob, a plurality of character groups can be switched.

Description

Portable terminal device, character selection input device, and character selection input method

technical field

The present invention relates to a portable terminal device for character input, a character selection input device and a character selection input method suitable for character input in such a portable terminal device.

Background technique

Sometimes it is necessary to input characters into a portable terminal device such as a pager. For portable terminal devices such as pagers, many keys cannot be provided in order to achieve small size, light weight, and improved operability. For such a pager that does not have many keys, conventionally, the following character input method has been considered.

First, when a predetermined key is pressed, one candidate character is displayed at the input position, and the next candidate character is displayed when the key is pressed again, and the desired character can be input by the user continuously pressing the predetermined key until the desired character is displayed. Such a method has the advantage that character input can be performed with only one key.

However, such method needs to continuously press the specified key until the desired text is displayed. In the worst case, the user needs to continuously press the key until the desired text is displayed (for example, in Japanese, there are 50 syllables) +Numbers and symbols, etc.) are so many, so the operability is poor.

In addition, another input method is conceivable, that is, about 10 candidate characters are displayed on a part of the screen, and the user selects a desired character from these candidate characters, and performs character input by selecting the character. Such a method reduces the number of operations of the keys, thereby improving operational performance, because of selecting the desired word from the candidate words, compared with the above-mentioned method in which only one candidate word is displayed every time the key is pressed.

However, this method requires a key for selecting a desired character from candidate characters in addition to a key for displaying characters, and there is a problem that the number of keys increases. Although it is conceivable to use the left and right keys and the up and down keys as the keys for selecting desired characters, four or more keys must be provided as the left and right keys and the up and down keys. In addition, using such left and right keys and up and down keys to select text may easily cause misoperation.

Furthermore, a rotary knob formed of a rotary encoder and a switch is provided in the pager. Consider using a rotary knob like this for text entry.

That is, in such a method, characters in one set of characters are displayed on a part of the display area. The user selects a desired character from the group of characters using a rotary knob formed by a rotary encoder and a switch. When the desired character is not in the group of characters, switch to the next group of characters. When switching text groups, display the text in the next group of text. The user selects a desired character from the group of characters using a rotary knob formed by a rotary encoder and a switch. When the desired text is not in the group of text, then switch to the next group of text.

In such a method, since characters can be input without using keys, operability can be improved.

However, when switching a plurality of character groups, an operation for switching character groups is necessary. Therefore, character input cannot be performed only with the rotary knob, and it is necessary to provide a key for switching the character group, and to switch the character group by operating the key.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal device, a character selection input device and a character selection input method suitable for character input in such a portable terminal device, which have good operability and can perform character input without keys and buttons.

disclosure of invention

The portable terminal device of the present invention includes a receiving device for receiving a transmitted signal, a demodulating device for demodulating an output signal of the receiving device, an operating device operated by a user, a display device and a control device for displaying output data of the demodulating device, The control device displays a character set composed of a plurality of characters on the display device, switches the plurality of character sets displayed on the display device by operating the operating device, and displays a switching display mark for the switching.

The character selection input device of the present invention includes a storage unit for storing a plurality of character set data composed of a plurality of characters, a display unit for displaying based on the character set data read from the storage unit, an operation unit operated by a user, and a control unit. The control unit switches the plurality of character set data stored in the storage unit and displays a switching mark for the switching on the display unit, and simultaneously reads out the character set data from the plurality of character set data stored in the storage unit according to the operation result of the switching mark operation unit. 1 character set data is displayed on the display unit.

In the character selection input method of the present invention, one character set among the character sets composed of a plurality of characters stored in the display storage unit is displayed, and at the same time, a switch mark for switching and displaying a plurality of character set data is displayed, and the operation unit is operated to display the character set. At least one character in the character set is selected or determined, and when the switching mark is operated by the operation unit, switching is performed from the displayed character set to another character set.

A character group is displayed on the display, in which a symbol for switching the character group is displayed as a soft key. The mark is selected from the character group by rotating the rotary knob formed by the rotary encoder, and the character group can be switched by pressing. Therefore, without adding buttons and keys, character input can be performed only by the rotary knob, and operability can be improved.

A brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the external structure of a pager to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a display.

3A and 3B are perspective views for explaining the rotary knob.

Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a pager to which the present invention is applied.

5A and 5B are schematic diagrams for explaining information display screens.

6A to 6C are schematic diagrams for explaining received information display screens.

7A to 7E are schematic diagrams for explaining the display screen of the memory function.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining character groups.

The best form for carrying out the invention

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the external structure of a pager to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, a display 2, a rotary knob 3 and an escape key 4 composed of a rotary encoder and a switch are provided in a pager to which the present invention is applied.

The display 2 is used to either display indication marks representing various setting states and operating states, or display texts of received information and stored texts.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display screen of the display 2 . Various indication marks 51 to 57 are displayed on the display 2 .

An indicator mark 51 indicates whether the vehicle is within the service area. An indicator mark 52 indicates locked information. An indicator mark 53 indicates information that has not yet been read. An indicator mark 54 indicates insufficient battery capacity. An indicator mark 55 indicates that the alarm clock has been set. Indication marks 56 and 57 indicate that displayed information and menus are connected up and down. Indicating mark 58 represents to send and receive sound when signal is received. Indication mark 59 represents to send vibration when receiving signal.

In addition, display areas 60 to 62 are also provided on the display 2 . The display area 60 displays the date/information serial number. While waiting, the date is displayed here. In addition, when the time is displayed in 12-hour mode, the display area 61 displays 'AM'/'PM'.

The display area 62 displays information and stored text. As the display area 62 for displaying the characters, for example, 20 characters are used in one line, and an area for a maximum of 80 characters can be secured in four lines.

In FIG. 1, the rotary knob 3 is used to perform screen scrolling and menu options on the display of the display. In addition, as will be described later, in the pager 1 using the present invention, there is a function of storing memos such as telephone numbers and names. The rotary knob 3 is also used for character input using the memo function.

The rotary knob 3 is composed of a rotary encoder and a switch, and can be rotated as shown by the arrow 6 in FIG. 3B after being pressed as shown by the arrow 5 in FIG. 3A . When scrolling the display on the display 2 and selecting an item, a rotation operation as shown in FIG. 3B is used. When setting the selected item, the pressing operation as shown in FIG. 3A is used.

Escape key 4 is used for opening the pager and returning to the previous screen operation.

FIG. 4 shows the internal structure of a pager 1 using the present invention.

In FIG. 4 , radio waves sent from a pager company are received by an antenna 11 . The received signal of the antenna 11 is supplied to the receiving unit 12, and the receiving unit 12 selects the received signal of a predetermined modulation frequency.

The output of the receiving unit 12 is supplied to the demodulating unit 13 . The demodulation unit 13 performs FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) demodulation processing, for example. In the demodulation section 13, information data is demodulated from the received signal. The demodulated information data is sent to the microcomputer 14 .

The microcomputer 14 controls the pager 1 as a whole. The input to the microcomputer 14 includes the input from the rotary knob 3 formed by the rotary encoder 18 and the switch 19, and the input from the escape key 4 simultaneously. In addition, the output of the microcomputer 14 is supplied to the display 2 and simultaneously to the output unit 17 . The output unit 17 is, for example, a buzzer for notifying the reception of a signal, a speaker, or a vibrator for vibrating when a signal is received.

When pager 1 has a call, the pager company sends a message to the pager. This information data is transmitted using, for example, an FSK-modulated radio wave with a center frequency of 90 MHz. The signal is sent to the receiving unit 12 via the antenna 11, and the demodulation unit 13 demodulates information data from the signal. And, this information data is sent to the microcomputer 14 .

When the microcomputer 14 receives the information data, it displays the information data on the display 2 and at the same time sends a signal indicating that the information has been received to the output unit 17 . Thereby, a buzzer sound indicating that a signal has been received is emitted, or a vibration indicating that a signal has been received is generated. And, the sent information is displayed on the display 2 .

In addition, the sent information may be stored in the memory 15 . The user can display the saved information data on the display 2 by operating the rotary knob 3 and the escape key 4 .

FIG. 5 shows a display screen of the display 2 when a message is received. When a message is received, as shown in FIG. 5A , the text of the received message is displayed on the display area 62 of the display 2 . In addition, the message number is displayed on the display area 60 of the display 2 . When there is further information, the indication symbol 57 is displayed. When the rotary knob 3 is rotated, the display is scrolled, as shown in FIG. 5B, and information is subsequently displayed. Also, the message type and time stamp are displayed at the end of the message.

When reading the information stored in the memory 15, as shown in Figure 6, the rotary knob 3 is turned to select personal information (PERSONAL MESSAGES) or consultation service (INFORMATION SERVICE) in the ready mode. Displays the selected item with maximum brightness. The so-called enhanced display can consider framed words, emphasized words, underlined and reversed words, etc. When personal information or consultation service is selected, the rotary knob 3 is pushed in.

When personal information or counseling service is selected using the rotary knob 3 and the rotary knob 3 is pushed in, as shown in FIG. 6B , 18 characters in each information are displayed as one information block. The information blocks are configured so that the most recent information is always at the top of the display area. In addition, symbols 71 to 74 indicating "unread", "read", and "locked" are added to each piece of information.

Next, turn the rotary knob 3 to select the desired information from the information quick. Enhance the display of the selected information. If the information is selected, push the rotary knob 3 in. When the desired information is selected and the rotary knob 3 is pushed in, the text of the selected information is displayed as shown in FIG. 6C.

When the downward arrow indicator 57 is displayed during the display of the information, the indicator 57 indicates that there is further information to follow. If the rotary knob 3 is turned, the following information is displayed below. When the indicator 56 with an upward arrow is displayed during the display of the information, it means that there is still information on it. If the rotary knob 3 is turned upwards, the following information is displayed on it.

After the information display as shown in FIG. 6C is performed, press the escape key 4 to return to the information block display screen as shown in FIG. 6B. Under this information block display screen, other information can be selected. If the escape key 4 is pressed twice, the main menu shown in FIG. 6A is returned.

In addition, the pager 1 using the present invention has a memo function. The memo function is a function of storing letters and numbers of telephone numbers and names as a memo in the memory 15 of FIG. 4 . Character data is stored in ROM 20 in FIG. 4 . The character data stored in the ROM 20 is composed of, for example, four character groups.

When inputting characters, the characters in one character group are displayed. The user uses the rotary knob 3 to select a desired character from the characters in the character group. When there is no desired character in the character group, switch to the next character group.

The switching of the character group is performed by selecting the arrow symbol corresponding to the soft key in the character group. When the text group is switched, the text in the next text group will be displayed. The user uses the rotary knob 3 to select a desired character from the characters in the character group. When there is no desired character in the character group, switch to the next character group.

In this way, the switching of the character group is also performed by selecting the arrow symbol corresponding to the soft key in the character group. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide additional keys and buttons for character input, and character input can be performed only by operating the rotary knob 3 .

That is, when using the memorandum function, as shown in Figure 7A, when turning the rotary knob 3 in standby mode, the function menu (FUNCTION MENU) is selected and the rotary knob 3 is pushed in. After selecting the function menu and pushing the rotary knob 3. As shown in FIG. 7B, the function menu is displayed. Further, in the function menu screen, turn the rotary knob 3 to select the memo (MEMO), and push the rotary knob 3 in. When the memo (MEMO) is selected and the rotary knob 3 is pushed in, a memo function screen as shown in FIG. 7C is displayed.

The memo function screen shown in FIG. 7C is a selection screen for updating memos or retrieving memos.

When updating the memo, turn the rotary knob 3, select update (NEW), and push the rotary knob 3 in. When the update (MEMO) is selected and the rotary knob 3 is pushed in, a memo input screen as shown in FIG. 7D is displayed.

On the memo input screen, as shown in FIG. 7D , a character input area 71 and a character group area 72 are provided. The character input area 71 is an area for inputting and editing memos. In this example, an area of two lines is secured as the character input area 71 . A cursor 73 indicating a character input position is displayed in the character input area 71 .

In the character group area 72, a character group composed of a plurality of characters for selecting an input character is displayed. As shown in FIG. 8 , in this example, four character groups of character groups 21 a to 21 d are prepared as the character group 21 . The character group 21a is a character group of capital letters, the character group 21b is a character group of lowercase letters, the character group 21c is a character group of numerals and symbols, and the character group 21d is a character group of graphic symbols.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 8 , the characters of the character groups 21 a to 21 d displayed in the character group area 72 include symbols 23 a and 23 b , 24 a to 24 d , 25 , 26 , and 27 with special meanings.

The marks 23a and 23b function as soft keys for switching the character group 21, and they are shaped like arrows. When the rotary knob 3 is turned to select the symbol 23a and the rotary knob 3 is pushed in, the character group 21 displayed in the character group area 72 is switched in the order of the character group 21a→21d→21c→21b. Also, when the rotary knob 3 is turned to select the mark 23b and the rotary knob 3 is pushed in, the character groups 21 are switched in the order of the character groups 21a→21b→21c→21d.

The marks 24a and 24b function as soft keys for moving the cursor 73, and they are shaped like front, back, left, and right arrows. When the rotary knob 3 is turned to select the symbols 24a to 24d and the rotary knob 3 is pushed in, the cursor in the character input area 71 is moved forward, backward, left, and right.

The mark 25 has the function of displaying the soft key of the space key, the mark 26 has the function of displaying the soft key of the delete key, the mark 27 has the function of displaying the soft key of the insert key, and the mark 28 has the function of displaying the soft key of the input key.

When inputting characters, turn the rotary knob 3 to select desired characters from the character groups displayed in the character group area 72 . Enhanced display of selected text.

That is, in FIG. 4 , a rotary encoder 18 and a switch 19 are provided in connection with the rotary knob 3 . When the rotary knob 3 is rotated, the rotary encoder 18 rotates corresponding to the rotation of the rotary knob 3 . The output of the rotary encoder 18 is sent to the microcomputer 14 . The microcomputer 14 controls the address of the ROM 20 storing character data and moves the pointer 22 in the character group 21 in response to the output of the rotary encoder 18 . At this time, the pointer 22 for displaying the selected character is moved corresponding to the rotation direction of the rotary knob 3 .

For example, when there is a pointer 22 on the 'G' position of the character group 21a, if the rotary knob 3 is rotated in a prescribed direction, the pointer 22 will move in the order of 'G'→'H'→'I'→..., if Turn the rotary knob 3 in the opposite direction to the prescribed direction, and the pointer 22 will move in the order of 'G'→'F'→'E'→....

When the rotary knob 3 is used to select a character from the character group area 72 and the rotary knob 3 is pushed in, the character is input to the position of the cursor 73 in the character input area 71 . Also, the cursor 73 moves forward by one position. In this way, by turning the rotary knob 3, a desired character is selected from the characters of the character group 21 displayed in the character group area 72 and the rotary knob 3 is pushed in to input a character into the character input area 71.

To input a character that does not exist in the character group, select the arrow-shaped mark 23a or 23b. Thereby, the character group 21 displayed in the character group area 72 can be switched in the order of the character group 21a→21d→21c→21b or the sequence of the character group 21a→21b→21c→21d. And, after switching the character group, select the desired character from the characters displayed in the character group area 72 as in the above case, and then push the rotary knob 3 in, thereby inputting the character into the character input area 71 .

In addition, in the above-mentioned example, character input is performed for using the memo function, but character data left as a memo may be sent as a message.

For example, when transmitting information recorded in the memory 15, each character is converted into a code corresponding to each number (0123456789*#) used in a telephone, and the character data is output from the speaker of the output unit 16 as a dialing sound.

Specifically, after dialing the address (address of the other party) of the sending destination, when the loudspeaker is placed near the mouth of the telephone microphone, the dialing sound sent from the loudspeaker is sent to the paging company through the telephone line. The paging company transmits the incoming voice signal in the form of radio waves from the sending place. As a result, the paging receiver at the transmission destination performs reception, and displays the transmitted information on the display.

In addition, in this embodiment, an example of application to a pager was described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be applied to a mobile phone, a communication terminal having a network access function, and the like.

In this embodiment, the character group is switched back and forth by the symbols 23a and 23b displayed on the character group 21, but it is also possible to provide only one key to switch only to the next character group.

In addition, in this example, uppercase characters, lowercase characters, numerals, and special symbols are used as character groups, but character groups of hiragana and kanji may be prepared in addition to these character groups.

As described above, according to the present invention, the character group 21 is displayed on the character group area 72 of the display 2, and the symbols 23a, 23b for switching the character group are displayed as soft keys in the character group 21. Therefore, the mark 23a, 23b is selected from the characters in the character group 21 by rotating the rotary knob constituted by the rotary encoder 3, and the character group 21 can be switched by pressing. Therefore, character input can be performed only by the rotary knob 3 without adding buttons and keys, thereby improving operability.

Possibility of industrial use

As described above, the portable terminal device of the present invention, the character selection input device and the character selection input method suitable for the character input of such a portable terminal device are suitable for the character input of the pager.

Claims (16)

1, a kind of mobile terminal device is characterized in that, comprising:

The receiving trap of the signal that reception is sent;

To carry out the demodulating equipment of demodulation from the output signal of above-mentioned receiving trap;

Operating means by user's operation;

Demonstration is from the display device of the output data of above-mentioned demodulating equipment;

Control device, this control device are presented on the above-mentioned display device literal set that is made of a plurality of literal, the switching show tags that utilizes the operation of aforesaid operations device to show simultaneously to switch above-mentioned a plurality of character sets of showing on the above-mentioned display device to share.

2, the mobile terminal device of claim 1 record, it is characterized in that, the aforesaid operations end device has rotary manipulation portion, pass through rotating operation, the above-mentioned switching mark of utilizing above-mentioned display device to show is switched above-mentioned a plurality of literal set, simultaneously, select and (or) determine the literal in the above-mentioned literal set.

3, the mobile terminal device of claim 2 record, it is characterized in that above-mentioned display device has according to above-mentioned switching show label and shows the 1st display part of above-mentioned a plurality of literal set and show the 2nd display part that utilizes the literal that above-mentioned rotating operation determined in the literal set that above-mentioned the 1st display part shows.

4, the mobile terminal device of claim 3 record is characterized in that above-mentioned switching show label is presented on above-mentioned the 1st display part.

5, the mobile terminal device of claim 4 record is characterized in that, above-mentioned switching show label is the sign that shows arrow.

6, the mobile terminal device of claim 1 record is characterized in that, said apparatus and then have storage part, storage with by the definite relevant data of literal of aforesaid operations device.

7, the mobile terminal device of claim 6 record is characterized in that, said apparatus and then have dispensing device sends the data of storage portion stores.

8, the mobile terminal device of claim 7 record is characterized in that above-mentioned dispensing device is according to the data generation dial tone signal of above-mentioned storage portion stores.

9, input media selected in a kind of literal, it is characterized in that, comprising:

The storage part of a plurality of literal collective datas that storage is made of a plurality of literal;

The display part that shows according to the literal collective data of reading from above-mentioned storage part;

Operating portion by user's operation;

Control part, the switch flag that this control part switches above-mentioned a plurality of literal collective datas of above-mentioned storage portion stores and will be used for this switching is presented at above-mentioned display part, simultaneously, according to the operating result of the aforesaid operations portion of above-mentioned switch flag, from a plurality of literal collective datas of above-mentioned storage portion stores, read 1 literal collective data and show at above-mentioned display part.

10, input media selected in the literal of claim 9 record, it is characterized in that, aforesaid operations portion has rotary manipulation portion, pass through rotating operation, the above-mentioned switching mark of utilizing above-mentioned display device to show is switched above-mentioned a plurality of literal collective data, simultaneously, select and (or) determine at least one literal in the literal collective data that above-mentioned display part shows.

11, input media selected in the literal of claim 10 record, it is characterized in that above-mentioned display part has according to above-mentioned switching show label and shows the 1st viewing area of the literal collective data of reading from above-mentioned storage part and show the 2nd viewing area that utilizes the lteral data that above-mentioned rotating operation portion determined the literal collective data that above-mentioned the 1st viewing area shows.

12, input media selected in the literal of claim 11 record, it is characterized in that above-mentioned switching show label is presented on above-mentioned the 1st viewing area.

13, input media selected in the literal of claim 12 record, it is characterized in that, above-mentioned switching show label is the sign that shows arrow.

14, input media selected in the literal of claim 9 record, it is characterized in that said apparatus and then have storage part, storage and the literal relevant data of being determined by aforesaid operations portion.

15, a kind of character selected input method is characterized in that,

Show a literal set in the literal set that constitutes by a plurality of literal of storage portion stores, simultaneously, show the switch flag that is used to switch above-mentioned a plurality of literal collective datas,

Operating operation portion selects or determines at least 1 literal in the set of the literal of above-mentioned demonstration,

When utilizing aforesaid operations portion to operate above-mentioned switch flag, carry out being incorporated into the switching of another literal set from the character set of above-mentioned demonstration.

16, the character selected input method of claim 15 record is characterized in that, the literal of selecting or determining after said method and then the display operation aforesaid operations portion.

Images