JP2001202173A - Electronic device control method and electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To easily and quickly search for a target key even if the size of the software key is maintained at an easily visible size, and to easily determine the number of software keys that can be displayed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control method of an electronic device and an electronic device that can be increased. SOLUTION: On a character input screen 20A, function keys are displayed in a predetermined size, and when the number of function keys that can be displayed on a function selection screen 22 is smaller than the number of function keys that can be displayed, the function keys can be displayed. In addition to displaying the function keys by the number, scroll keys 23 and 24 for changing the function keys to be displayed are displayed, and when the scroll keys 24 are operated, the function keys to be displayed are changed (FIG. 4).
(A) → FIG. 4 (B)).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a control method for an electronic device and an electronic device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a small electronic device, a keyboard is used by a user selecting and operating a desired character key or function key from character input software keys displayed on a display screen. And space-saving characters are available.

In this case, for example, all character keys and all selectable function keys are displayed for each character type, and the user can select a desired key by touch operation or the like.

[0004]

However, in a small electronic device in which the size of the display screen is limited, when many software keys are displayed, the key size may be too small to search for the target key. there were.

Particularly, in the case of an electronic device having a small display screen size (for example, an electronic device of 1/8 VGA size (240 dots × 160 dots)) or an electronic device in which the display area of a software key is to be reduced, a recognizable key size is required. There is a problem that it is difficult to display many software keys due to restrictions.

On the other hand, the functions of recent electronic devices can be expanded by installing the latest software or the like, so that software keys for inputting characters can be easily used in preparation for future function expansion. You also need to be able to increase the number of character keys.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to easily and quickly search for a target key even if the size of the software key is maintained at an easily recognizable size, and to reduce the number of software keys that can be displayed. An object of the present invention is to provide a control method of an electronic device and an electronic device that can be easily increased.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method of an electronic device for inputting characters by operating a software key displayed on a display screen. If the number of software keys that can be displayed on the display screen is smaller than the number of software keys that can be displayed, the display steps of displaying the software keys by the number that can be displayed on the display screen and displaying scroll keys, A changing step of changing a software key displayed on the display screen when operated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device control method according to the first aspect, in the changing step, when the scroll key is operated once within a predetermined first predetermined period, A first change process of changing a software key to be displayed on the display screen by a predetermined number is performed, and the scroll key is operated twice within a second predetermined period equal to or shorter than the predetermined first predetermined period. And a second change process of changing the number of software keys to be displayed on the display screen by a number larger than the number changed by the predetermined first change process. When the above is continued, a third change process is performed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device control method according to the second aspect, the third change processing includes:
Until the same operation state of the scroll key is stopped
The present invention is characterized in that the first change processing or the second change processing is continued.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device control method according to any one of the first to third aspects, the software key is at least one of a function key related to character input and a character key. It is characterized by:

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in an electronic device for inputting characters by operating a software key displayed on a display screen, a control means for displaying the software key in a predetermined size on the display screen is provided. When the number of software keys that can be displayed on the display screen is smaller than the number of software keys that can be displayed, the control unit displays the software keys by the number that can be displayed on the display screen, and includes a scroll key. Is displayed, and when the scroll key is operated, a software key displayed on the display screen is changed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device according to the fifth aspect, the control means displays the display screen when the scroll key is operated once within a first predetermined period. Performing a first change process of changing a software key to be displayed by a predetermined number, and operating the scroll key twice within a second predetermined period equal to or shorter than the predetermined first predetermined period; A second change process is performed in which the number of software keys displayed on the display screen is changed by a number greater than the number changed in the first change process, and the same operation state is continued for a predetermined period of time with the scroll keys. Then, a third change process is performed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device according to the sixth aspect, the third change processing is performed until the same operation state of the scroll key is stopped. It is characterized in that it is a process that continues the second change process.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic device according to any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, the software key is at least one of a function key related to character input and a character key. .

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(1) First Embodiment (1-1) Appearance of Portable Information Terminal FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a portable information terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The portable information terminal 1 has a display screen 2 for displaying various information, a multi-controller 3 for operating the portable information terminal 1, a cancel switch 4, a power switch 5, and a display. The cover 2 protects the screen 2 and functions as a GPS (Global Positioning System) antenna.

The display panel constituting the display screen 2 of the portable information terminal device 1 is 2 inches or less, for example, 1 /
4VGA (Video Graphics Array) (320 dots x 2
A liquid crystal display panel capable of touch input with a resolution of about 40 dots) and about 1/8 VGA (240 dots × 160 dots) is applied.

The multi-controller 3 is an operator capable of detecting the operation in the vertical and horizontal directions and the pressing operation by the user, and is an operator for the user to perform various operations such as character input.

The cancel switch 4 is a switch for canceling the process executed immediately before by the portable information terminal device 1 and returning to the state before executing the process.

The portable information terminal device 1 is formed in a size that can be carried by a user with one hand, and has a multi-controller 3 and a cancel switch 4 on the left side when the display screen 2 is directed to the user. It is arranged close.

Therefore, the user can operate the multi-controller 3 and the like with the left thumb while watching the display screen 2.

As a result, the user can operate the portable information terminal device 1 by selecting either the touch operation of the software key displayed on the display screen 2 or the operation of the multi-controller 3.

(1-2) Schematic Configuration of Portable Information Terminal Device FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the portable information terminal device 1.

The portable information terminal device 1 has a central processing unit (C) for controlling the entire portable information terminal device 1.
PU) 10, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 11 functioning as an execution memory when executing various processes, a flash ROM 12 for holding information that may be updated in a nonvolatile state, font information for display, a map ROM that holds information that is unlikely to be updated, such as basic information (Remote
ad Only Memory) 13, display device 14, and touch operation of display screen 2 by user or multi-controller 3
And a communication unit 16 for performing communication between an input device 15 for detecting an operation such as an infrared interface and a personal computer via an interface such as an infrared interface, or for wirelessly communicating with an external computer or the like via a PHS.
And a GPS unit 17 that receives a radio wave from a GPS satellite and calculates the current position of the portable information terminal device 1.

The portable information terminal device 1 can extend the functions of the device 1 by installing application software from an external device (not shown) via the communication unit 16.

(1-3) Schematic Operation of Portable Information Terminal Device Next, a schematic operation of the portable information terminal device 1 will be described.

When the portable information terminal device 1 is turned on, a process selection screen is displayed on the display screen 2. Here, on the process selection screen, a plurality of icons such as “address book”, “schedule”, and “navigation” corresponding to processes provided in the portable information terminal device 1 are displayed, and the first icon is displayed. A certain "address book"
A selection cursor is displayed on top of.

Then, the user can execute a process corresponding to the selected icon by selecting a desired icon by a touch operation.

Further, the user operates the multi-controller 3 up, down, left and right to move the selection cursor to a desired icon, and then presses the multi-controller 3 to execute a process corresponding to each icon. be able to.

Here, when the processing of the "address book" is executed, the pre-recorded address information is displayed, and the user can search for the desired address information from the address information or add new address information. And so on.

When the "schedule" process is executed, today's schedule information recorded in advance is displayed, and the user can confirm the schedule, add schedule information, and the like.

When the "navigation" process is executed, the map information including the current position is displayed together with the current position based on the current position information detected by the GPS unit 17, and the user can confirm the current position or perform the operation. A route search to the set destination can be performed.

When the portable information terminal device 1 is moving, that is, when the user is moving, the map information and the current position information displayed on the display screen 2 are also updated as needed.

When the user selects a function that requires character input such as information input while these processes are being executed, a character input screen described later is displayed on a part of the display screen 2. It is displayed on the screen of the process being executed, and switches to the character input mode.

(1-4) Character Input Screen Before Function Expansion Next, the character input screen will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the character input screen 20
It comprises a character selection screen 21 for displaying character keys and a function selection screen 22 for displaying function keys necessary for character input. Here, 2A is a character frame in the processing screen currently being executed.

In the function selection screen 22, "Kana",
“Alphabet”, “Kana”, and “Symbol” are function keys for switching the character type of the character keys displayed on the character selection screen 21 to Hiragana, Alphabet, Katakana, and Symbol, respectively, and “Convert” is conversion from Hiragana to Kanji. This is a function key for displaying candidates. "Input" is a function key for confirming the selection of a conversion candidate, and "BS" and "DEL" are function keys for deleting characters immediately before and after the cursor of the text displayed in the character frame 2A, respectively. It is. Further, "Rome" is a function key for inputting Roman characters, and "End" is a function key for terminating the character input mode.

FIG. 3 shows the character input screen 20 when the "English character" function key is selected.

Therefore, in the character input mode, when the user operates any of the character keys displayed on the character selection screen 21 in the character input mode, the character corresponding to the selected character key is displayed. When an input is made to the position of the cursor in the character frame 2A and one of the function keys displayed on the function selection screen 22 is operated by the user, the above-described processing is executed according to the selected function key. I have.

(1-5) Character Input Screen after Function Expansion Next, a character input screen when the character input function of the portable information terminal device 1 is expanded will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a case where a function of translating an input character into English or Japanese is added as a character input function will be described as an example.

When the user causes the portable information terminal device 1 to execute a process that requires a character input while operating the portable information terminal device 1, FIG.
A character input screen 20A shown in (A) is displayed on the display screen 2.

The character input screen 20A is the same as the character input screen 20 before function expansion (FIG. 3) except that a left scroll key 23 and a right scroll key 24 are displayed at both ends of the function selection screen 22. .

Here, the left scroll key 23 and the right scroll key 24 are function keys that are displayed only when there are function keys that are not displayed on the function selection screen 20B among the function keys that can be displayed. , Function keys for displaying function keys that are not displayed.

That is, when the left scroll key 23 or the right scroll key 24 is operated by the user, the portable information terminal device 1 virtually shifts the function keys displayed on the function selection screen 22 to the right or left in a unit of one line. Move to

Therefore, the character input screen 20A shown in FIG.
In FIG. 4, the character input screen 20B when the right scroll key 24 is operated once is displayed as shown in FIG. 4B, in which the function keys displayed before the operation are moved left by one row to the left, and " The function keys of "English translation" and "Japanese translation" are newly displayed at the right end instead of the function keys of "Conversion" and "Kana" being displayed (indicated by the symbol X in FIG. 4B). The “English translation” and “Japanese translation” function keys are function keys corresponding to the added character input function.

Therefore, when the user wants to execute the newly added English translation process or Japanese translation process, the user operates the left scroll key 23 or the right scroll key 24 to activate the function keys of “English translation” and “Japanese translation”. A corresponding process can be executed by displaying on the selection screen 22 and performing a selection operation.

Thus, when all the function keys cannot be displayed on the function selection screen 22, the portable information terminal device 1 sets the left scroll key 23 or the right scroll key 24
It is possible to sequentially display the function keys that can be displayed based on the operation of, even if there are many function keys or the display screen is small, the size of the function keys can be maintained at a size that is easily visible to the user, and Thus, the desired function key can be selected easily and quickly.

Even if the function is extended in this way, it is only necessary to add a function key associated with the function extension after the existing function keys, and it is easy to add a function key that can be displayed as a result of the function extension. It can be carried out.

Here, the case where ten function keys are displayed in two rows and five columns on the function selection screen 22 has been described, but it may be increased or decreased within a range that can be easily recognized by the user. Not even.

(1-6) Effect of First Embodiment The portable information terminal device 1 according to the present embodiment displays function keys in a predetermined size, and the number of function keys that can be displayed on the function selection screen. When the number of function keys is smaller than the number of function keys that can be displayed, the number of function keys that can be displayed is displayed, and scroll keys that change the displayed function keys are displayed. Even if the function key is maintained, the target function key can be easily and quickly searched, and the number of function keys that can be displayed can be easily increased.

(2) Second Embodiment The portable information terminal device according to the second embodiment is the same as the portable information terminal device 1 according to the first embodiment except that the character input screen and the operation method are different. Therefore, similar parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

FIG. 5A shows the portable information terminal device 3.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a character input screen 40 of 0. FIG. 5 (A)
As shown in FIG. 5, the function selection screen 42 of the character input screen 40 of the second embodiment is different from the function selection screen 22 of the character input screen 20 of the first embodiment in that function keys are displayed in two rows.
The function keys are displayed in a single row to halve the display area of the function selection screen. Here, an arrangement of all the function keys provided in advance in the portable information terminal device 30 is shown in FIG.

For this reason, on this function selection screen 42, the number of function keys that can be displayed (5) among all the function keys (10) is displayed, and the left scroll key 2
When the 3 and right scroll keys 24 are operated, the function keys to be displayed can be changed. Here, FIG.
(B) is a character input screen 40A when the right scroll key 24 is operated once in the character input screen 40 of FIG. 5 (A).

Further, this portable information terminal device 30 is
The function key change method (one unit, one screen unit, continuous) can be switched according to the operation method (single operation, double operation, hold operation) of the left scroll key 23 or the right scroll key 24 It has become.

(2-1) Operation of the Second Embodiment The operation of the portable information terminal device 30 at the time of character input will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in the portable information terminal device 30,
When the user selects a command that requires character input such as addition of new address information during execution of a process such as “address book”, the mode is switched to the character input mode, and the character input screen 40 is displayed on the display screen 2 ( Step SP
1).

In the portable information terminal device 30, when the target function key is not displayed on the function selection screen 42, the user operates the left scroll key 23 or the right scroll key 24 to display the target function key. An operation is performed (step SP2; YES).

Here, when the user operates the left scroll key 23 or the right scroll key 24 once (single operation) within a predetermined period (step SP3; YE
S), the function keys displayed on the function selection screen 42 are virtually shifted left or right by one unit, and the function keys displayed are changed (step SP4). For example, when the right scroll key is operated, as shown in FIG.
To the character input screen 40 shown in FIG.

When the user operates the left scroll key 23 or the right scroll key 24 twice (double operation) within a predetermined period equal to or shorter than the period for determining the single operation (step SP5; YES). Then, the function keys displayed on the function selection screen 42 are changed in screen units, that is, the displayed function keys are virtually moved left or right in units of five (step SP6). Here, for example, when the right scroll key 24 is double-operated, the character input screen 40 is switched from FIG. 8A to FIG. 8B.

On the other hand, if the user holds the operation state of the left scroll key 23 or the right scroll key 24 for more than a predetermined time (hold operation) (step SP7; YES), the hold operation is interrupted. Until the function keys displayed on the function selection screen 42 are continuously moved to the left or right virtually one by one, the function keys displayed are continuously changed (step SP8).

Therefore, the user operates the left scroll key 23
Alternatively, by selecting and operating the right scroll key 24 from three types of operation methods, a desired function key can be easily and quickly searched from among many function keys.

When the user displays a target function key on the function selection screen 42 and operates the function key (step SP9; YES), a process corresponding to the operated function key is executed (step SP10). . In this case, for example, when a function key for selecting a character type is operated, the character key displayed on the character selection screen 21 is switched to a character key of the corresponding character type.

Next, when the user operates any of the character keys displayed on the character selection screen 21 (step SP1).
1; YES), a character corresponding to the selected character key is input to character box 2A (step SP12).

In this way, the user can input characters in the character frame 2A by operating the software keys displayed on the character input screen 40 of the portable information terminal device 30.

(2-2) Effects of the Second Embodiment The portable information terminal device 30 according to the present embodiment has a case where the number of function keys that can be displayed on the function selection screen is smaller than the number of function keys that can be displayed. Displays function keys as many as can be displayed, and displays scroll keys for changing the function keys to be displayed.
By switching the method of changing the function keys to be displayed according to the type of operation, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, it is possible to easily and quickly search for a target function key.

(3) Modified Example (3-1) First Modified Example In the above embodiment, the case where the function keys are scroll-displayed has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
As shown in FIG. 9, the character keys may be scroll-displayed. In this case, for example, when the character type of the character key displayed on the character selection screen 21 is switched to hiragana by pressing the “kana” key, if the number of keys in the character selection screen 21 is smaller than the displayable kana characters, The left scroll key 23A and the right scroll key 24B are displayed as in the case of the function key. This makes up for the lack of character keys.

In this way, even if the number of software keys to be displayed on the character input screen is further reduced, a desired key can be easily and quickly searched.

Further, since it is not necessary to substantially limit the number of character keys, the number of character keys that can be displayed later can be easily increased.

When the character keys are displayed from the front row of the arrangement of the character keys provided in advance, only the scrollable right scroll key 23B is displayed (FIG. 9).
(A)), when the character keys are displayed up to the last row of the arrangement of the character keys provided in advance, only the scrollable left scroll key 23A may be displayed (FIG. 9).
(A)), the function keys may be the same. This allows
It is possible to easily indicate the scrollable direction.

Also, as shown in FIG. 9, the function selection screen 4
As a function key displayed in 2, the character with the cursor in the character frame 2A is changed to a voiced character or a semi-voiced character “゛ / ゜”
A key or a “lowercase” key for lowering the character of a displayed character key may be provided.

That is, every time the “゛ / ゜” key is pressed, the character with the cursor in the character frame 2A is changed to a voiced character or a semi-voiced character.

Therefore, for example, if the character at the cursor is “ha”, every time the “゛ / ゜” key is pressed, “ha” is displayed.
→ "ba" → "ぱ" → "ha", "ka" is changed to "ka" → "ga" → "ka", in the case of "a",
Since there are no voiced characters or half-voiced characters, do not change anything.

When the "lower case" key is pressed on the character selection screen 21 shown in FIG. 9A, the display screen 2 is displayed as shown in FIG. Of the characters having lowercase letters (aiueotsu), a lowercase (ぁ ぃ ぅ ぇ ぉ) character key is displayed.

As a result, it is possible to easily select and input a voiced character, a half voiced character, or a lowercase character.

(3-2) Second Modification In the above-described second embodiment, the function keys to be displayed according to whether the scroll key is operated by a single operation, a double operation, or a hold operation are each one unit and each screen key. ,
Although the case of continuous change has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the point is that the change state of the function key may be different depending on the operation method of the scroll key. Therefore, in the case of a single operation or a double operation, it is only necessary to change the function keys displayed in different units, and in the case of a hold operation, a method of continuously changing the function keys corresponding to the double operation is widely used. Can be applied.

(3-3) Third Modification In the above embodiment, the case where the function keys displayed on the character input screen are limited to the function keys related to the character input has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, various function keys related to the operation of the portable information terminal device may be displayed.

(3-4) Fourth Modification In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the present invention is applied to a method of displaying a software key for performing character input. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the present invention can be widely applied to a method of displaying various software keys for operating the portable information terminal device.

(3-5) Fifth Modification In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a portable information terminal device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in general, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) is generally used. )
It can be widely applied to small electronic devices called.

[0081]

As described above, the electronic device of the present invention can easily and quickly search for a target key even if the size of the software key is maintained at an easily recognizable size.
The number of software keys that can be displayed can be easily increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a portable information terminal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the portable information terminal device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a display screen of the portable information terminal device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a transition of a function selection screen on a display screen of the portable information terminal device.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a first transition of a function selection screen on a display screen of a portable information terminal device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an arrangement of all function keys provided in the portable information terminal device in advance.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of the portable information terminal device at the time of character input.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a second transition of a function selection screen on a display screen of the portable information terminal device.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing transition of a character selection screen on a display screen of a portable information terminal device according to a first modification.

FIG. 10 is a plan view for explaining function keys of the portable information terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Portable information terminal device, 2 ... Display screen, 3 ... Multi-controller, 4 ... Cancel button, 5 ... Power switch, 6 ... Cover, 10 ... Central processing unit, 11 ... RAM , 12 ... Flash ROM, 1
3 ROM, 14 display device 15 input device, 16 communication unit, 17 G
PS unit, 20, 20A, 20B, 40, 40A ...
... Character input screen, 21 ... Character selection screen, 22, 42 ...
… Function selection screen, 2A …… Character frame, 20A …… Selection screen

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5E501 AA04 AC03 AC12 BA05 CA04 CB03 CB05 CC06 EA05 EA06 EA10 EA11 EB19 FA01 FA03 FA04 FB03 FB32

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A control method for an electronic device in which characters are input by operating software keys displayed on a display screen, wherein the number of software keys that can be displayed on the display screen is smaller than the number of software keys that can be displayed. A display step of displaying the software keys as many as can be displayed on the display screen and displaying a scroll key; and a changing step of changing the software keys displayed on the display screen when the scroll key is operated. A method for controlling an electronic device, comprising: 2. The control method for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein in the changing step, when the scroll key is operated once within a first predetermined period, the software is displayed on the display screen. Performing a first change process of changing a key by a predetermined number; when the scroll key is operated twice within a second predetermined period equal to or shorter than the predetermined first predetermined period, the display screen is displayed; Performing a second change process of changing the software key to be displayed by a number larger than the predetermined number in the first change process, and when the same operation state of the scroll keys is continued for a predetermined period or more, A method for controlling an electronic device, comprising performing a third change process. 3. The electronic device control method according to claim 2, wherein the third change processing is performed until the same operation state of the scroll key is stopped. A control method for an electronic device, wherein the change process is a process for continuing the change process. 4. The electronic device control method according to claim 1, wherein the software key is at least one of a function key related to character input and a character key. How to control equipment. 5. An electronic device for inputting characters by operating a software key displayed on a display screen, comprising: control means for displaying the software key in a predetermined size on the display screen; When the number of software keys that can be displayed on the display screen is smaller than the number of software keys that can be displayed, the software keys are displayed by the number that can be displayed on the display screen, and scroll keys are displayed. An electronic device, wherein, when a key is operated, a software key displayed on the display screen is changed. 6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein, when the scroll key is operated once within a first predetermined period, a software key to be displayed on the display screen is set in advance. Software for performing a first change process of changing a predetermined number, and operating the scroll key twice within a second predetermined period equal to or shorter than the predetermined first predetermined period; A second key for changing the number of keys by a number larger than the number of keys to be changed in the predetermined first changing process;
An electronic device that performs a third change process when the same operation state of the scroll keys is continued for a predetermined period or longer. 7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the third change processing is performed until the same operation state of the scroll key is stopped. An electronic device characterized by processing that is continued. 8. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the software key is at least one of a function key related to character input and a character key.