TWI399665B - Method of inputting character and its electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Method for inputting characters and electronic device thereof

The present invention relates to a method of inputting characters, and more particularly to a method of inputting characters for an electronic device and a remote control device.

In the current digital media player (DMP), when a character is input, a character is usually input by a remote controller having a few keys, so that the user wants to use the remote controller. When inputting a character (such as a web address) to a digital multimedia player, the digital multimedia player needs to first generate a virtual keyboard 700 in one of the display units as shown in FIG. 1 and a computer keyboard configuration character button, and then Press the direction key and the confirmation key on the remote control to select the character to be input to achieve the purpose of inputting the character.

However, such an operation may cause inconvenience to the user in inputting a character. For example, if the position currently selected on the virtual keyboard 700 is on the character key h and the next character to be input is 1, The user needs to press at least seven times (upper presses the two keys and the left button five times) to shift to the character button 1, resulting in poor input efficiency. Therefore, how to achieve fast input characters with a few buttons of the remote control will be a subject worthy of improvement.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of inputting characters for fast input and simple operation.

Therefore, a preferred embodiment of the method for inputting characters of the present invention is applied between an electronic device and a remote control device for remotely controlling the electronic device, the method comprising displaying a virtual keyboard, a virtual keyboard on a display unit of the electronic device Having a complex digital metablock, and each character block has a plurality of different character keys; using a remote control device to first select a character block containing a character key to be selected on the virtual keyboard, and then the word The character button is selected in the metablock to input one character corresponding to the character key into an input area on the display unit.

Preferably, the character blocks of the virtual keyboard include a plurality of numeric keys and a plurality of English alphabet keys.

Preferably, the virtual keyboard further has a function block, and the function block includes a digital function key. If the characters to be input are all numbers, before the character is input, the remote control device is used to select the digital function key to make all The digital keys are displayed in the same character block, and the numeric keys to be input are selected in the character block.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device to which the method of inputting a character of the present invention is applied.

Therefore, a preferred embodiment of the electronic device of the present invention can be remotely controlled by a remote control device. The electronic device includes a display unit, a signal receiving unit and a processing unit. The display unit can display a virtual keyboard, the virtual keyboard has complex digital metablocks, and each character block has a plurality of different character keys, and the signal receiving unit can receive a remote control command from the remote control device, and the processing unit can be based on the signal Receiving, by the receiving unit, the remote control command of the remote control device, the virtual keyboard on the display unit first selects a character block containing one of the character keys to be selected, and then selects the character key in the character block to One of the characters of the character key is input to an input area on the display unit.

Preferably, the virtual keyboard further has a function block, and the function block has a digital function key. If the characters to be input are all digital characters, the processing unit can be in front of the input character according to the remote control instruction of the remote control device. The virtual keyboard on the display unit first selects the function block, and then selects the digital function key in the function block to display all the digital keys in the same character block, and then selects the desired character block. Enter the number button.

The invention distinguishes the complex digital meta-keys on the virtual keyboard into different character blocks, and when the control remote control device inputs the characters, first selects the character block having the character to be input, and then selects the word. The character key of the character to be input in the metablock can achieve the purpose of fast input and simple operation.

The above and other technical contents, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of the method for inputting characters in the present invention is applied between an electronic device 1 and a remote control device 3, and the remote control device 3 is used to remotely control the electronic device 1. In this embodiment, The electronic device 1 is a digital media player (DMP), and the remote control device 3 is a remote controller of a digital multimedia player, but not limited thereto. For example, the electronic device 1 and the remote control device 3 may also be digital. The TV is equipped with a remote control. In addition, in order to clearly display the image output by the electronic device 1, in the embodiment, the electronic device 1 can externally connect a display screen 2 through a transmission line 6 to enlarge the image frame for the user to view. Of course, if the electronic device 1 itself The display unit can meet the needs of the user, and the external display screen 2 is not required.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the electronic device 1 includes a display unit 11 , a processing unit 13 , and a signal receiving unit 12 . The display unit 11 and the signal receiving unit 12 are respectively coupled to the processing unit 13 and externally connected to the electronic device 1 . When the screen 2 is displayed, the processing unit 13 transfers the image image originally sent to the display unit 11 to the display screen 2, and when the user operates the remote control device 3, the remote control electronic device 1 displays a virtual keyboard 7, the signal receiving unit 12 The remote control command is received and transmitted to the processing unit 13, causing the processing unit 13 to generate a virtual keyboard 7 as shown in FIG. 4 and displayed on the display screen 2, while the display screen 2 displays an input area 8 for inputting characters ( As shown in FIG. 2, the input area 8 can be located at different positions on the display screen 2 according to actual needs, and the virtual keyboard 7 can be divided into four horizontally arranged character blocks, which are respectively the first character area. Block 71, second block block 72, third block block 73, and fourth block block 74 (the distinction of character blocks is not limited by the preferred embodiment), the words Metablocks 71~74 contain numeric buttons 0~9, English A ~ Z master keys and a plurality of symbol keys (e.g. comma, semicolon, etc.), and the order of characters is substantially the same as the general computer keyboard to facilitate the user's operation.

In addition, the virtual keyboard 7 also has a function block 75 located below each character block, and the function block 75 includes a plurality of function keys, which are a case conversion function key 751, a space function key 752, a numeric function key 753, and a symbol. The input key 754, the function of the case conversion function key 751 is to switch the case of the English characters of the first to fourth character blocks 71-74; the function of the space function key 752 is to input a space in the input area 8. The function of the numeric function key 753 is to be able to concentrate all the digital characters into a certain character block; the function of the symbol input key 754 is to convert one of the character blocks into a display of various commonly used symbols for input. However, the function keys of the function block 75 are not limited to the examples of the preferred embodiment, and may be adjusted and increased according to actual needs, and the operation mode of the virtual keyboard 7 will be described later, and the first to the first The four-character blocks 71-74 and the functional blocks 75 will be simply referred to as blocks 71-75.

Referring to FIG. 2, the remote control device 3 includes left and right two block direction keys 31, up, down, left, and right four character direction keys 32, a confirmation key 33, a return key 34, and a start key 35. By pressing each button of the remote control device 3, different remote control commands can be issued to control the virtual keyboard 7 displayed by the electronic device 1 for the purpose of inputting characters. The details are as follows: When the start button 35 is pressed, the remote control electronic device 1 can display a virtual keyboard 7 on the display screen 2. Of course, instead of setting the start button 35, the virtual keyboard 7 can be displayed by setting other buttons internally, for example: Press the confirmation button 33 for three seconds, etc.; press the left and right block direction keys 31 to sequentially select the blocks 71-75 on the virtual keyboard 7, for example, continuously pressing the block direction button 31 to the right Each block 71-75 is selected in sequence, and one of the blocks is selected by pressing the confirm button 33; pressing the up, down, left, and right character direction keys 32 can be up, down, and left in the selected block. Move to the right and enter the character by pressing the confirm button 33 to select one of the characters in the block. If the selected block is the function block 75, the function keys can be selected by the up, down, left, and right character direction keys 32 to move left and right, and the function set by the function key can be jumped through the return key 34. And return to the virtual keyboard 7 originally preset.

Referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, when the user wants to input a character, as shown in step 901, the user presses the start button 35 of the remote control device 3 to issue a start remote command, and the signal receiving unit 12 of the electronic device 1 receives the start remote command. Afterwards, the processing unit 13 displays the virtual keyboard 7 having the plurality of blocks 71-75 as shown in FIG. 4 on the display screen 2 according to the start remote command. Then, as shown in step 903, the user presses the left and right block direction keys 31 of the remote control device 3 to issue a block direction remote control command (determining the number of presses according to the position of the character block to which the character is to be input), and the electronic device 1 After the signal receiving unit 12 receives the block direction remote control command, the processing unit 13 moves a selection box 51 to a character block containing the character button to be selected on the virtual keyboard 7 according to the block direction remote command, and then After the user presses the remote control device 3 to confirm the key 33 to issue the confirmation remote control command, after the signal receiving unit 12 of the electronic device 1 receives the confirmation remote control command, the processing unit 13 determines to select the character block on the virtual keyboard 7 according to the confirmation remote control command. .

Then, as shown in step 905, the user presses the up, down, left, and right character direction keys 32 of the remote control device 3 to issue a character direction remote control command (determining the number of presses according to the position of the character to be input), and the electronic device 1 After the signal receiving unit 12 receives the character direction remote control command, the processing unit 13 selects the character key to be selected in the selected character block according to the character direction remote control command, and then the user presses the remote control device 3 After the confirmation key 33 sends a confirmation remote control command, the signal receiving unit 12 of the electronic device 1 receives the confirmation remote control command, and the processing unit 13 displays the character corresponding to the selected character button on the input area 8 of the display screen 2. . It is worth noting that by dividing the character button on the virtual keyboard 7 into a plurality of character blocks, when the character button to be input is selected, the character block is selected first and then the character is selected. The button can improve the input efficiency, and it is more convenient and time-saving in operation than the conventional input method of selecting characters.

Moreover, if the function key of the function block 75 needs to be used when inputting the character, the left and right block direction keys 31, the up, down, left, and right character directions of the remote control device 3 can be similarly used. The key 32 is selected and the confirmation key 33 is confirmed to enable the virtual keyboard 7 to display the function of the function key. For example, if the characters to be input are all numbers, the user can press the left and right block direction keys 31 and confirm. The key 33 selects the function block 75 on the virtual keyboard 7, and selects the digital function key 753 through the character direction key 32 and the confirmation key 33. At this time, all the digital keys 0~9 will be transformed into the first character block. 71, then, the user can select the number button in the same block to input the number, without having to select the numeric button across the block to achieve the purpose of convenient input, and the function keys of the remaining virtual keyboard 7 are similar in operation mode, Repeat them.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the difference in power between the conventional input method and the preferred embodiment of the input method of the present invention will be illustrated by inputting WISTRON. As shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the starting position of the cursor of the conventional virtual keyboard is at the character button W, and when the user presses the remote controller generally provided with the up, down, left, and right direction keys, the character I is sequentially input, When S, T, R, O, and N are deducted, the number of times the press confirmation key is deducted is required to press the direction key 28 times.

In contrast, as shown in FIG. 7 and with reference to FIG. 4, assuming that the start position of the cursor 52 of the virtual keyboard 7 is at the character button W and the character I is to be input, the right block direction key 31 is required to be pressed twice. The marquee 51 is passed from the first character block 71 through the second character block 72 to the third character block 73, since the character button W and the character button I are in the same position in the character block to which they belong. Therefore, it is only necessary to press the right block direction key 31 twice to select the character button I; when continuing to input the character S, the left direction block direction key 31 needs to be pressed twice, so that the selection box 51 is selected. From the third character block 73 through the second character block 72 to the first character block 71, and then pressing the downward character direction key 32, the character key S can be selected, which is to be input. The operation process of the characters T, R, O, and N is as shown in FIG. 7. Therefore, when the user inputs I, S, T, R, O, and N by using the remote control device 3, the number of times the pressing of the confirmation button 33 is deducted is It is only necessary to press the block direction key 31 and the character direction key 32 a total of 14 times. Therefore, in contrast, a preferred embodiment of the present invention can provide a fast input. Element method.

Incidentally, referring to FIG. 8, the key arrangement of the virtual keyboard according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention can also be converted into a virtual keyboard 7' which is identical to the computer keyboard, and the virtual keyboard 7' also has the first character block. 71', second character block 72', third character block 73', and fourth character block 74' are used in the same manner as described above. Moreover, since the complex digital key buttons on the virtual keyboard 7' are also distinguished into different blocks, the above functions can be achieved by using the virtual keyboard 7' when inputting characters.

In summary, the method for inputting characters according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention distinguishes the complex digital meta-keys on the virtual keyboard 7, 7' into different character blocks, and inputs them in the manipulation remote control device 3. When the character is selected, the character block having the character to be input is selected first, and then the character key of the character block to be input is selected, thereby achieving the purpose of fast input, and further, through the function block 75 The setting also makes the user more convenient and time-saving in operation, so it can achieve the object of the present invention.

The above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, that is, the simple equivalent changes and modifications made by the scope of the invention and the description of the invention are All remain within the scope of the invention patent.

1. . . Electronic device

11. . . Display unit

12. . . Signal receiving unit

13. . . Processing unit

2. . . Display screen

3. . . Remote control device

31. . . Block direction key

32. . . Character direction key

33. . . Enter

34. . . return key

35. . . Start button

51. . . Marquee

52. . . cursor

6. . . Transmission line

7, 7’. . . virtual keyboard

71, 71’. . . First character block

72, 72’. . . Second character block

73, 73’. . . Third character block

74, 74’. . . Fourth character block

75. . . Functional block

751. . . Case conversion function key

752. . . Space function key

753. . . Digital function key

754. . . Symbol input key

8. . . Input area

901, 903, 905. . . step

Figure 1 is a schematic view showing a conventional virtual keyboard;

2 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of the electronic device and the remote control device of the present invention;

3 is an architectural block diagram illustrating the internal architecture of the electronic device;

Figure 4 is a schematic view showing a preferred embodiment of the virtual keyboard of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a flow chart showing a preferred embodiment of the method of inputting characters of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a statistical diagram of the number of operations, showing the number of times the conventional input character WISTRON;

Figure 7 is a statistical diagram of the number of operations, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the number of times the input character WISTRON of the present invention; and

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing a preferred embodiment of a virtual keyboard in accordance with another aspect of the present invention.

901, 903, 905. . . step

Claims (9)

A method for inputting a character is applied between an electronic device and a remote control device for remotely controlling the electronic device, the method comprising: (A) displaying a virtual keyboard on a display unit of the electronic device, the virtual keyboard having a complex number a metablock, wherein each character block has a complex digital meta button; and (B) using the remote control device to select a character block containing a character key to be selected on the virtual keyboard, and then Selecting the character button in the character block to input one character corresponding to the character key to an input area on the display unit, when the character block including the character key to be selected is selected The display unit still displays the complex digital metablock of the virtual keyboard and the corresponding complex digital meta button. The method of inputting a character according to claim 1, wherein the character blocks of the virtual keyboard comprise a plurality of numeric keys and a plurality of English alphabetic keys. The method for inputting a character according to claim 1, wherein the virtual keyboard further has a functional block, the functional block includes a numeric function key; in the step (B), if the input is to be input When the characters are all numbers, before the character is input, the remote control device is used to select the digital function key first, so that all the digital keys are collectively displayed in the same character block, and then the character block is selected to be input. Digital button. An electronic device capable of being remotely controlled by a remote control device, the electronic device comprising: a display unit capable of displaying a virtual keyboard, the virtual keyboard There is a complex digital metablock, and each character block has a complex digital meta button; a signal receiving unit can receive a remote control command from the remote control device; and a processing unit can receive the remote control according to the signal receiving unit The remote command of the device first selects a character block including a character key to be selected on the virtual keyboard on the display unit, and selects the character key in the character block to match the character One of the keys is input to an input area of the display unit, and when the character block including the character key to be selected is selected, the display unit still displays the complex digital block of the virtual keyboard. And corresponding to the complex digital key button. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the character blocks of the virtual keyboard comprise a plurality of numeric keys and a plurality of English alphabetic keys. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the virtual keyboard further has a functional block, the functional block having a numeric function key, and if the characters to be input are all numeric characters, the processing The unit may select the function block according to the remote control instruction of the remote control device before the character is input, select the function block on the virtual keyboard on the display unit, and select the digital function key in the function block to select all the digital keys. Displayed in the same character block, and then select the number button to be input in the character block. A method for inputting a character between an electronic device and a remote control device for remotely controlling the electronic device, the method comprising: displaying a virtual keyboard on a display unit of the electronic device, The virtual keyboard simultaneously displays a plurality of English letter buttons A~Z, a plurality of number buttons 0~9 and a plurality of symbol buttons; the virtual keyboard is divided into complex digital blocks; and a selection box is moved according to a remote command of the remote control device Selecting one of the character blocks in the character block, and selecting a character key in the character block, and inputting one of the character keys to the display unit The input area, when the character block including the character key to be selected is selected, the display unit still displays the complex digital element block of the virtual keyboard and the corresponding complex digital element button. The method of inputting a character according to claim 7 , wherein the character blocks of the virtual keyboard comprise a plurality of numeric keys and a plurality of English alphabet keys. The method for inputting a character according to claim 7 , wherein the virtual keyboard further has a function block, wherein the function block includes a numeric function key, and if the characters to be input are all numbers, Before inputting the character, use the remote control device to select the digital function key first, so that all the digital keys are collectively displayed in the same character block, and then select the digital key to be input.