JP2005182345A - Character input device and character input method - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to reduce the burden of an operation of selecting a character to be input from a plurality of characters on a character input palette.
An input result of a character input in the past using a character input palette is stored, and based on the stored past character input result and a character being input using the character input palette, Next, the input character is estimated, and the estimated character is selected. As a result, it is possible to reduce an operation burden of performing a selection operation of a character to be input next by the user.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a character input device and a character input method for selecting and inputting a character from a plurality of characters on a character input palette.

  An apparatus for selecting a desired character from a 50-sound palette displayed on the screen and inputting the character is known (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-193475 A

  However, the conventional apparatus has a problem that it takes time and effort to select characters one by one on the 50 sound palette in order to input characters.

  The character input device and the character input method according to the present invention estimate the character to be input next based on the result of character input in the past using the character input palette and the character currently being input using the character input palette. The estimated character is selected from a plurality of characters on the character input palette.

  According to the character input device and the character input method of the present invention, the character to be input next is estimated based on the past character input result and the character being input, and a plurality of characters on the character input palette are selected. Thus, the estimated character is selected, so that it is possible to reduce the operation burden of selecting the character to be input next by the user.

-First embodiment-
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a character input device according to the present invention. The character input device according to the first embodiment includes an operation switch 1, a control unit 2, a display 3, and a database 4. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the operation switch 1. The operation switch 1 includes a direction button 1a that can be operated in up, down, left, right, and diagonal directions, and an enter button 1b.

  The control unit 2 includes a CPU 2a, a ROM 2b, and a RAM 2c, and estimates a character to be input next by the user based on characters input by operating the operation switch 1 and past character input results of the user. Details of the processing contents by the control unit 2 will be described later. The display 3 displays a character input palette as shown in FIG. 3 based on a command from the control unit 2. The database 4 stores the genre of the name searched most frequently as a result of the user's character input in the past, as will be described later.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of performing character input using the character input device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3A is a view showing a screen displayed on the display 3 when inputting 50 sounds. On the screen for inputting 50 sounds, as shown in FIG. 3A, a character input palette 10 having at least 10 rows and 5 columns of 50 kana characters, a search button 11, and a confirmed character display column 12 are displayed. On the character input palette 10, the character surrounded by the cursor ("A") is the currently selected character.

  A character is selected by operating the direction button 1a of the operation switch 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the direction button 1a is operated to the left based on the state where the character “a” is selected, the character “ka” is selected and the character “a” is displayed. When the direction button 1a is operated downward from the state where is selected, the character “I” is selected. When the enter button 1b is pressed while a desired character is selected, the character input is confirmed. The entered character is displayed in the confirmed character display field 12.

  Here, an example will be described in which the character input device according to the first embodiment is applied to a car navigation device and the name of the destination is input in order to set the destination. Therefore, it is assumed that the ROM 2b stores map information including names of facilities and the like for setting the destination. In the following description, it is assumed that the user sets “Sagamiko Picnic Amusement Park” as the destination.

  FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the user has input “Sagamiko” by the method described above. When the CPU 2a of the control unit 2 determines that a proper noun (place name) has been input, the CPU 2a detects the most searched genre based on the past 50-sound input search results stored in the database 4. Furthermore, among names (facility names) included in the detected genre, a name that matches the name of “Sagamiko” is detected from the names of the facilities stored in the ROM 2b. For example, assuming that the genre of the facility that the user has performed a 50-sound input search in the past was “Amusement Park”, “Sagamiko Picnic Amusement Park” was detected as a facility whose name matches the name of “Sakamiko”. To do.

  The CPU 2a estimates that the character input after “Sakamiko” is “hi”, which is the first character of “picnic amusement park”, and as shown in FIG. Move the cursor to. If the character to be input next is “HI”, the user presses the OK button 1b. Subsequently, the cursor is moved to the button indicating the semi-turbid point (°), and when the user presses the enter button 1b, the cursor is moved to the character “ku” (see FIG. 3D). Thereafter, the same processing is repeated until “Sagamikopnikku Yuenchi” is input.

  In other words, the character input device according to the first embodiment determines the character to be input next based on the genre of the destination where the user has input characters in the past and the character currently input (in the middle of input). Estimate and automatically move the cursor to the estimated character position. This saves the user from having to select characters one by one. Further, even when the prediction of the character to be input next is off, the user can perform a normal operation of selecting the character to be input by operating the direction button 1a.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the contents of processing performed by the character input device according to the first embodiment. The process starting from step S10 is performed by the CPU 2a of the control unit 2, and starts when the user presses a switch (not shown) for starting a destination search process (50-sound search process) using the character input palette. Is done.

  In step S10, a screen (see FIG. 3A) for performing a 50-sound search process including the character input palette 10 is displayed on the display 3, and the process proceeds to step S20. In step S20, it is determined whether or not the direction button 1a of the operation switch 1 has been operated. If it determines with the direction button 1a having been operated, it will progress to step S30, and if it determines with having not been operated, it will wait by step S20.

  In step S30, the cursor on the character palette 10 is moved by the operated amount in the direction in which the direction button 1a is operated in step S20. In the initial screen of the 50-sound search process, as shown in FIG. 3A, the cursor is at the position of the character “A”. In step S40 following step S30, it is determined whether or not the decision button 1b has been pressed. If it is determined that the enter button 1b has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S50. If it is determined that the enter button 1b has not been pressed, the process returns to step S20.

  When the enter button 1b is pressed in step S40, the input of the character at the cursor position is confirmed and displayed in the confirmed character display field 12. In step S50 following step S40, it is determined whether or not the search button 11 has been pressed. The search button 11 can be pressed by operating the direction button 1b, bringing the cursor to the position of the search button 11, and pressing the enter button 1b. If it is determined that the search button 11 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S110, and if it is determined that the search button 11 is not pressed, the process proceeds to step S60.

  In step S60, it is determined whether or not a proper noun has been input based on the characters displayed in the confirmed character display field 12, that is, the characters whose input has been confirmed. The proper noun here is, for example, a place name, and it is determined whether or not a proper noun has been input based on whether or not the place name stored in the ROM 2b matches the input character string. If it is determined that a proper noun has been input, the process proceeds to step S70. If it is determined that a proper noun has not been input, the process returns to step S20.

  In step S70, the most frequently searched genre based on the characters displayed in the confirmed character display field 12 and the genres stored in the database 4 and the user has performed a 50-sound search process in the past. It is determined whether or not there is a name that matches the character being input among the names corresponding to. This genre includes, for example, an amusement park, a restaurant, an accommodation facility, and a golf course. As in the example described above, when the user determines that a proper noun has been input as a result of inputting the character “Sagamiko”, the most frequently searched genre is detected based on the past 50-sound input search results. Then, among names (facility names) included in the detected genre, a name that matches the name “Sagamiko” is detected.

  If it is determined that there is a name corresponding to the most searched genre among genres searched for in the past, the process proceeds to step S80. If it is determined that there is no name, the process returns to step S20. In step S80, the cursor is moved to the next character of the name determined to be applicable in step S70. In the above-described example, when “Sagamiko Picnic Amusement Park” is detected, the cursor is moved to “hi”, which is the next character after “Sagamiko”. When the cursor is moved to the next character, the process proceeds to step S90.

  In step S90, it is determined whether or not the enter button 1b has been pressed. If it is determined that the enter button 1b has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S100. If it is determined that the enter button 1b has not been pressed, the process returns to step S20. When returning to step S20, the user himself / herself performs an operation of selecting a character to be input. In step S100, it is determined whether or not the search button 11 has been pressed. If it is determined that the search button 11 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S110. If it is determined that the search button 11 has not been pressed, the process returns to step S80 to move the cursor to the next character.

  In step S110, since the search button 11 has been pressed, the search result of the input name is displayed on the display 1, and all the processes are terminated.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for storing the searched genre in the database 4 when the 50-sound search process is performed. When the user inputs a name to be searched and presses the search button 11, the process of step S200 is started. In step S200, a list of searched facilities is displayed on the display 1 based on the input name, and the process proceeds to step S210.

  In step S210, the user selects a name desired to be set as the destination from the facility list, and determines whether or not the enter button 1b has been pressed. If it is determined that the enter button 1b has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S220. If it is determined that the enter button 1b has not been pressed, the process waits in step S210. In step S220, the genre of the selected facility is stored in the database 4.

  According to the character input device in the first embodiment, the character to be input next is estimated based on the result of the character input by the user in the past and the character being input using the character input palette. Select an estimated character from a plurality of characters in the input palette. Especially, if the name corresponding to the genre with the most input is detected based on past character input results, and the detected name matches the character being input, the character that inputs the next character of the matching part It was estimated and selected from the character input palette. Thereby, even when the user inputs a character that has not been input in the past, it is possible to effectively estimate the character to be input next and reduce the operation burden of the user selecting the character.

-Second Embodiment-
In the character input device according to the first embodiment, a character on the character input palette is selected and determined using the operation switch 1 including the operation button 1a and the determination button 1b that can be operated in eight directions. An example of inputting characters has been described. In the character input device according to the second embodiment, a switch having a jog dial is used as the operation switch 1x.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the operation switch 1x of the character input device according to the second embodiment. The operation switch 1x includes a jog dial 1m, a direction button 1n, and an enter button 1b. The jog dial 1m can be rotated in the left-right direction, and the direction button 1n can be operated in four directions, up, down, left and right.

  FIG. 7A to FIG. 7D are views for explaining a method of inputting characters using the operation switch 1x. In the character input palette 10 displayed on the display 3, each line such as “A” line, “KA” line, and the like can be selected by operating the jog dial 1 m in the left-right direction. The selected line is highlighted. For example, FIG. 7A shows a state in which the “A” row is selected. When the jog dial 1m is operated to the left from this state, “A” is displayed as shown in FIG. 7B. The “ka” line on the left of the line is selected.

  When the direction button 1n is operated downward from the state shown in FIG. 7B, the characters in the “ka” line, that is, “ka” → “ki” → “ku” → “ke” → “ko” in this order. A character is selected. As shown in FIG. 7B, when the “OK” character is selected and the OK button 1b is pressed, the “KO” character is input.

  Also in the character input device according to the second embodiment, when a unique name such as a place name is input, among the names corresponding to the genre searched most frequently among genres searched in the past, the name being input It is determined whether or not there is a name that matches. Here, it is assumed that the most frequently searched genre in the past is “golf course”, and “Sagamiko Country Golf Course” is detected as the corresponding name. In this case, it is presumed that the character input after “Sagamiko” is “ka”, and the cursor is moved to the estimated character of “ka” (see FIG. 7C). When the user presses the enter button 1b, the cursor is then moved to the character “n” (see FIG. 7D).

  In the character input device according to the second embodiment, as in the character input device according to the first embodiment, the character to be input next is determined based on the past character input result and the character being input. Since the estimated character is selected, the operation for the user to select the character can be omitted.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, the most searched genre is detected based on the past 50-sound input search results, and among the names (facility names) included in the detected genre, The character to be input next was estimated by detecting a name that matches the name being input. However, a character that partially matches a character that is currently being input may be detected from characters input in the past, and a character to be input next may be estimated and selected based on the detected character. For example, if the character being entered is “Hakkejima” and you have entered “Hakkeijima Aquarium” in the past, it is assumed that the next character to be entered is “Su”. "Is selected.

  Moreover, although the estimation / selection process of the character inputted next was performed by CPU2a of the control unit 2, it can also be performed in the information center which exchanges information via a radio | wireless with a vehicle. That is, the character input result is transmitted from the vehicle to the information center, the past character input result is stored on the information center side, and the character input by the user is transmitted to the information center, on the information center side, It is also possible to estimate the character to be input next and transmit the estimated character information to the vehicle side. Even in this case, the next input character can be estimated by the method described above. In this case, since it is not necessary to store the past 50-sound input search results in the vehicle, the capacity of the vehicle database can be reduced, and the estimation of the next input character is estimated on the vehicle side. Therefore, the CPU can be made inexpensive.

  In this case, it is possible to store the input search results from a plurality of vehicles. For example, by specifying the user's preference, the input search results from the plurality of vehicles and the input Based on the characters on the way, you have never been in the past, but you can get a destination that matches your preferences.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the operation switch 1 having the direction button 1a and the determination button 1b or the operation switch 1x having the jog dial 1m is exemplified as a device for selecting a character from the character input palette. As mentioned above, other operation switches such as a joystick can also be used. Further, in the operation switch 1x having the jog dial 1m, by operating the jog dial 1m, first, a line in which the character to be input exists is selected and the enter button 1b is pressed, and then the jog dial 1m is operated to select a desired character. You may make it input.

  Moreover, although the example using hiragana was shown in the above-described embodiment, the same effect can be obtained by using katakana, alphabets, and numerals.

  The correspondence between the constituent elements of the claims and the constituent elements of the first and second embodiments is as follows. That is, the display 3 constitutes display means, the operation switch 1 constitutes operation means, the database 4 constitutes storage means, the CPU 2a of the control unit 2 constitutes input character estimation means and genre detection means, and the ROM 2b constitutes input character candidate storage means. To do. In addition, unless the characteristic function of this invention is impaired, each component is not limited to the said structure.

The figure which shows the structure of 1st Embodiment of the character input device by this invention. The figure which shows the detailed structure of the operation switch 1 The figure for demonstrating the method of performing a character input using the character input device in 1st Embodiment The flowchart which shows the processing content performed by the character input device in 1st Embodiment The flowchart which shows the procedure which memorize | stores the searched genre in a database when a 50 sound search process is performed. The figure which shows the structure of the operation switch 1x of the character input device in 2nd Embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the method of performing a character input using the character input device in 2nd Embodiment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1x ... Operation switch 1a, 1n ... Direction button 1b ... Decision button 1m ... Dial part 2 ... Control unit 2a ... CPU
2b ... ROM
2c ... RAM
3 ... Display 4 ... Database

Claims (6)

Display means for displaying a character input palette for selecting and inputting characters;
An operation means for selecting and determining a character for input from a plurality of characters on the character input palette;
Storage means for storing a result of character input in the past using the character input palette;
Based on a character input result stored in the storage means and a character being input using the character input palette, a character to be input next is estimated from a plurality of characters on the character input palette. A character input device comprising: an input character estimation means for selecting the input character; The character input device according to claim 1,
The input character estimation means uses the character input palette, and when a character being input and a part of a previously input character stored in the storage means match, A character input device for selecting a character. The character input device according to claim 1,
Input character candidate storage means for storing a plurality of input character candidates;
Genre detection means for detecting the most genres among the genres to which the vocabulary by the input characters belongs based on past character input results stored in the storage means;
The input character estimation unit corresponds to a genre detected by the genre detection unit from among a plurality of characters stored in the input character candidate storage unit, and a part of the character is in the middle of input A character input device for selecting a character next to the matched portion when a character is present. In the character input device in any one of Claims 1-3,
The character input device, wherein the operation means is a jog dial or a joystick. In the character input device in any one of Claims 1-4,
The display means and the operation means are provided in a moving body, the storage means and the input character estimation means are provided in an external information center,
The information center is configured to input characters based on the characters selected and determined by the operation means provided on the moving body and transmitted from the moving body and the character input result stored in the storage means. A character input device, wherein a character to be input next is estimated from a plurality of characters on a palette and transmitted to the mobile body. In a character input method for inputting a character by a user selecting and determining a character to input from a plurality of characters on a character input palette for selecting and inputting a character,
Storing the result of character input using the character input palette;
Based on the stored past character input results and characters being input using the character input palette, the character to be input next is estimated from a plurality of characters on the character input palette. A character input method characterized by selecting.

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