WO2010058757A1

WO2010058757A1 - Information processing device

Info

Publication number: WO2010058757A1
Application number: PCT/JP2009/069447
Authority: WO
Inventors: 亮安田; 貴風巻; 亮本多
Original assignee: シャープ株式会社
Priority date: 2008-11-18
Filing date: 2009-11-16
Publication date: 2010-05-27

Abstract

The character string selection operation is made easier to reduce the burden of the operation on a user when a function is selected, and a target character string to execute said function is selected. The information processing device is equipped with a display unit for displaying content information that includes character strings, a memory unit for storing character type-function correspondence information that correlates functions and character types for characters that are executed for individual functions, a function selection unit for selecting a function to be executed, a character selection unit for selecting a desired character string from content information displayed on the display unit after a function is selected, a character identification unit for referencing the character type-function correspondence information and determining whether or not characters of a valid character type to enable execution of a selected function are present in a selected character string, and a valid character string decision unit for determining the valid target character string for executing said function from the aforementioned selected character string when a decision is made by the character identification unit that characters of a valid character type are present.

Description

Information processing device

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus having a function of selecting a range of a character string to which the function is applied after selecting a function to be executed on a displayed character string.

The present invention also relates to an information processing apparatus, and in particular, a character string that can select only a function applicable to a selected character string from among a plurality of functions after selecting a character string displayed on the screen. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having a selection function.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to an electronic device and an electronic device control method, and more particularly to an electronic device control device and a control method capable of selecting a plurality of functions.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electronic device having an information search function such as an electronic dictionary or PDA, a touch panel, a pointing device such as a mouse, a pen, or the like is used as an input device.
In addition, a large number of functions that can be executed on a character string displayed on the screen for information retrieval or the like are installed in advance. For example, if you want to examine the meaning of a specific character string in the text displayed on the screen, search the semantic content corresponding to the specific character string from the dictionary data installed in the electronic dictionary and display it. Some have a “jump” function.

Conventionally, in order to execute this “jump” function, first, a function to be executed is determined by depressing a specific key for executing the “jump” function, and then the user starts and ends the desired character string. An operation for designating the end position with a pen or the like was performed, and finally an operation for depressing a decision (execution) key, which means execution of a function, was performed.

Further, in Patent Document 1, when an operation of tracing a displayed character string with a pen is performed, the character string to be operated is determined based on the positional relationship between the character string and the pen that performed the tracing operation, the speed of the pen, and the like. And an information terminal device that reads out a character operation (character decoration or the like) to be executed with reference to a character operation table in which a number of character operation functions are determined in advance.

By the way, in addition to the above-described “jump” function, an electronic dictionary or the like is prepared in advance with a number of functions that can be used by the user, such as a voice playback function and a marker function for coloring and displaying a specific character string.
However, generally, the types of character strings that can be executed are determined in advance for each function, and the functions that can be executed on the character string specified by the user are limited. For example, the character string that can execute the “jump” function is limited to English characters such as alphabets or Japanese characters such as hiragana and katakana. When symbols such as punctuation marks are specified, the jump function is executed. Not.

Also, in the voice playback function for English words, the executable character string is limited to one English word consisting of alphabets, and when a character string other than that (for example, a character string including hiragana) is designated, The playback function was not performed. *

In general, when selecting a function first and then specifying a character string to execute that function, operations such as specifying the start position of the character string, selecting the range of the character string, and pressing the function execution key Are performed in the specified order, and the function is executed for all the character strings in the selected range.

If the function is always executed for all selected character strings, regardless of whether or not a character type that cannot execute the function is included, by executing the function, Results may differ from what the user intended.
Further, as in Patent Document 1, when a large number of operations on a character string and functions executed by the operations are determined, what kind of processing is performed by the user and what processing is performed. It is necessary to know to a certain extent that the operation burden on the user is large.
In addition, when there are a large number of functions to be executed, it is difficult to know in advance the types of characters that can be executed for each function, and it is troublesome to check the types of characters that can be executed manually in each case. The operation burden on the user is large.

Also, if the user accidentally selects a character string that contains a large number of character types, such as alphabets, hiragana, or symbols, the function is included to include character types that cannot perform the function intended by the user. There are cases where it cannot be executed, and it is necessary for an unfamiliar user to select the character string again without knowing why it cannot be executed.
In other words, as much as possible, the user needs to know in advance what type of characters the function can be executed for the previously selected function, and the user does not include characters that cannot be executed. Therefore, it is necessary to select a character string with care, and the operation burden on the user is heavy.

Further, in Patent Document 2, after a user performs an operation of designating a desired character string that the user wants to edit, the character string is highlighted, and the highlighted character is displayed separately from the fixed editing function menu. Information that causes a pop-up menu to be displayed in the vicinity of a column, and allows the user to intentionally perform an operation to select the desired function from among the many functions displayed in this pop-up menu. A processing device has been proposed.

The computer has a plurality of functions. Usually, after selecting an operation function, an instruction is given to which part the function is executed. For example, an electronic dictionary has a word voice playback function, a sentence voice playback function, an S jump function, a marker function, etc., and selects and launches one of these functions and designates a character range for executing the function. To do. Then, the selected function is executed for the character selected in the range.

Here, the “word voice playback function” is a function for outputting a single English word reading consisting of only one word of the alphabet (English letters) by voice. The “sentence voice reproduction function” is a function in which a selected character string is composed of a plurality of English words, and a plurality of English words are output as synthesized speech. “S jump function” means selected English word or selected Japanese (for example, a character string including kanji, hiragana, katakana) as an entry word, English dictionary or Japanese dictionary installed in electronic dictionary, etc. This is a function for searching for information corresponding to the headword. Note that the character string to be selected is not limited to English words or Japanese, and any language other than English or Japanese can be selected as long as it is a displayed character string. In that case, content information corresponding to the language is searched. The “marker function” is a function for coloring and displaying all selected character strings and symbol portions in a color different from the character display color. A function of adding an underline may be used instead of the color display function.

That is, as shown in FIG. 39, a hard key for instructing an operation function is provided in the electronic device, and when a hard key is selected and operated, a function corresponding to the key is activated. For example, in the case of an electronic dictionary, it has a word voice reproduction function, a text reading function, an S jump function, or a marker function, and when a key for instructing each operation function is operated, the instructed function is activated. Next, the character range for executing the selected function is designated. In the case of an electronic dictionary, a range selection operation must be performed for the character type corresponding to the selection function. That is, when performing a range selection operation, a character type that can be selected in accordance with the launched function, for example, can select a word, can select a plurality of consecutive words, can select English or Japanese It is necessary to make a selection considering whether English and Japanese can be mixed. In this way, when the range selection is completed, the selected function is executed for the characters selected in the range. That is, in this order, a function is selected and then range selection for the function is executed.

The electronic dictionary shown in FIG. 39A includes an S jump function button 251, an MP3 voice playback function button 252, a TTS text reading function button 253, and a marker function button 254. When the S jump function is executed, as shown in FIG. 39B, the character range “I” is instructed after the S jump function button 251 is pressed. When the MP3 audio reproduction function is to be performed, the character range “That” is designated after the MP3 audio reproduction function button 252 is pressed as shown in FIG. Further, when the TTS text reading function is performed, the character range “Thatｄgoes” is instructed by pressing the TTS text reading function button 253 as shown in FIG. When the marker function is to be performed, as shown in FIG. 39 (e), after the marker function button 254 is pressed, the character range “do as I say” is instructed.

As described above, the operation function and the character type that the operation function can implement are different for each operation function. Therefore, it is necessary to select an operation function first, and then select a character range including a character type that can execute the selected operation function. This is because the selectable character types included in the character range are different for each operation function, and the selectable character types are determined by selecting the operation function first. However, since the operation function is selected first, it is necessary to select the character range again when the selected character range includes a character type that cannot perform the operation function. Therefore, the user needs to remember the character types that can be selected for each operation function. If the user makes a mistake, the operation function will not be executed, and the character range that can be executed by the operation function must be selected again. . Further, since the operation to be started is different for each operation function, as shown in FIG. 39, the number of hard keys is increased and it is difficult to understand how to use.

Conventionally, an effort has been made to simplify the operation of the information processing apparatus.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228561 is designed to easily perform a character operation with a simple procedure in an information terminal device including a touch panel. That is, the display device and the tablet are overlapped, and when input from the tablet by a pen operation, the stroke is analyzed, and the positional relationship between the stroke and the displayed character is analyzed. The operation target character is specified from the analysis result, and the type of character operation to be executed is read from the table. If the same character decoration is attached to the read character operation and the target character, the character decoration is erased from the target character, and if the same character decoration is not attached, the character decoration is attached to the target character. It is.

Also, Patent Document 3 controls the menu display according to the input characters, and makes the function menu of the scientific calculator easy to use with the operation specifications. In other words, the combination information of each calculation character used in the input expression is stored, and based on the calculation character input according to the user's operation input and the combination information used, there is a possibility of being used in the input expression currently being input. A certain calculated character is displayed as a candidate calculated character in a menu, and one of the candidate calculated characters displayed in the menu is selected to input the calculated character.

Patent Document 2 improves operability in an information processing apparatus including an integrated display input device by reducing an operation range when shifting from a process target character string range specification to a processing function selection and reducing an operation amount. It is something to be made. That is, a plurality of parts for specifying a part of a document or the like displayed on the display device as a processing target range based on the coordinate data input from the coordinate input device, and selecting processing for the range specification according to the range specification. When the display position variable menu consisting of menu items is displayed in the vicinity of the specified range and the menu item of the display position variable menu is selected, the processing defined for the menu item is performed on the specified range. is there.

Patent Document 4 is to select an effective function using coordinates when a mouse button is clicked, and prevent a plurality of functions from operating. In other words, when the right button of the mouse is clicked, the control unit determines the coordinate position of the mouse cursor at that time, and if it is within the effective character creation effective range, the display device erases the display of the external character dot at that coordinate position. In addition, the external character editing unit erases the corresponding dot from the external character creation memory. If it is out of the effective range for creating external characters, the external character editing menu window is displayed to allow menu selection.

JP 2004-78509 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-189149 JP 2006-65768 A JP-A-8-76729

By the way, as described above, when a function is selected first and then a character string for executing the function is specified, specification of the start position of the character string, selection of the character string range, and pressing of the function execution key, etc. It is necessary to perform a large number of operations in the specified order, and the operations may be complicated. From the viewpoint of improving the operability for the user, it is preferable to specify a character string before selecting a function.

However, in the one described in Patent Document 2, the character string is specified before selecting the function, but the function displayed in the pop-up menu displays all the preset functions. A function that can be executed on a column is not always selected.
In other words, the pop-up menu also displays functions that cannot be executed for the specified character string, and the user may accidentally select such an inexecutable function. In some cases, the operability may be poor for a person.

In addition, even if the user specifies a character string that includes a large number of character types such as alphabets, hiragana characters, and symbols, and then performs an operation of selecting a desired function, the function is included to include the non-target character types. May not be able to be executed, and unfamiliar users do not know why it cannot be executed, and it is necessary to re-select the character string.

However, in the electronic dictionary shown in FIG. 39, the operation function is selected first, and then the character for executing the selected operation function is designated. Therefore, if the character type that can be selected for each operation function is incorrect, Is not implemented, the character range that the operation function can implement must be selected again.
Patent Document 1 described above facilitates character operations such as character decoration, Patent Document 3 relates to input assistance for a scientific calculator, and Patent Document 4 prevents a plurality of functions from operating. It is a thing and does not select an operation function.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 displays all preset functions using the display position variable menu and selects the displayed functions to execute the operation. However, all the preset functions are displayed in the display position variable menu. In this case, a function that cannot be executed for a specified character may be included, and the user may select a function that cannot be executed. Therefore, the operability may be poor for the user.

In view of the problems as described above, the present invention provides a control device and a control method for an electronic device with improved operability by displaying operation functions that can be executed on a character string selected in a range. For the purpose.

The present invention provides a display unit that displays content information including a character string, a storage unit that stores character type function correspondence information in which one or a plurality of functions are associated with character types of characters to be executed for each function, and A function selection unit for selecting a function to be executed, a character selection unit for selecting a desired character string from the content information displayed on the display unit after selecting the function, and the character type function correspondence information. A character determination unit that determines whether there is a character of an effective character type that can execute the function selected by the function selection unit in the character string selected by the character selection unit; When the character determining unit determines that there is a character of a valid character type, the effective character string for executing the function is determined from the selected character string selected by the character selecting unit. There is provided an information processing apparatus characterized by comprising a character string determining unit.
According to this, it is possible to facilitate the user's character string selection operation after selecting the function, reduce the number of re-selection of the character string for executing the function, and reduce the operation burden on the user.

The present invention also stores character type function correspondence information in which a character string display unit that displays content information including a character string, an executable function, and a character type of a character to be executed for each function are associated with each other. A storage unit; a character selection unit that selects a desired character string from the content information displayed on the character string display unit; and a character type acquisition unit that acquires a character type of the first character of the selected character string; A function acquisition unit that acquires an executable function associated with the acquired character type from the character type function correspondence information after selecting a character string by the character selection unit; and the acquired executable For each function, an effective character string determination unit that determines an effective character string for executing the function from among the selected character strings selected by the character selection unit, and among the acquired executable functions, There is provided an information processing apparatus that includes a function selection unit for selecting the should do function.

According to this, after selecting a selected character string, an executable function is acquired, and further, an effective character string for executing the function is determined. It can be reduced and the operability for the user can be improved.

In order to solve the above problems, an electronic device of the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a plurality of operation functions that can be executed by the electronic device and character types in association with each other, and a display unit that displays the operation functions and character strings. A character selection unit that selects a desired character from a character string displayed on the display unit, a character type acquisition unit that acquires a character type selected by the character selection unit, and a character type acquired by the character type acquisition unit A function acquisition unit that acquires an operation function from the storage unit, and a control unit that displays the operation function acquired by the function acquisition unit on the display unit.

The electronic device of the present invention is applied to, for example, an electronic dictionary, and the control device of the electronic device displays whether the electronic dictionary can perform any of the word voice playback function, sentence voice playback function, S jump function, or marker function. Used for control device. The word voice reproduction function is a function for outputting a reading of one English word consisting only of alphabets (English letters) by voice. The sentence voice reproduction function is a function for outputting a plurality of English words as synthesized voice. The S jump function finds a selected English word (word search), a plurality of selected English words (speech search), or a selected Japanese word (for example, a character string including kanji, hiragana and katakana). This is a function for retrieving information corresponding to the headword from an English dictionary or a Japanese dictionary installed in the electronic dictionary. The marker function is a function for coloring and displaying all selected characters and symbol portions in a color different from the character display color.
If the electronic dictionary has a dictionary for languages other than Japanese and English (such as Chinese), it can be executed not only for Japanese and English words and English but also for words and sentences in other languages. It is assumed that a function is predetermined and a specific function is executed corresponding to the selected character string.

In the present invention, the character type means an English word, a plurality of English words, Japanese, a character string of two or more languages, or a symbol included in the character string. In particular, a character string of two or more languages means a language used in a dictionary installed in an electronic dictionary.
And the control apparatus of the electronic device of this invention matches the said operation function and character type in a memory | storage part, and memorize | stores it as character type function corresponding | compatible information in a semiconductor memory device.
For example, when an English word is selected, the electronic device control device of the present invention can execute a word voice playback function, a sentence voice playback function, an S jump function for searching for a word, or a marker function. When a plurality of English words are selected, a sentence voice reproduction function, an S jump function for searching for phrases, or a marker function can be selected. When Japanese is selected, the S jump function or the marker function can be selected. When a character string or symbol in two or more languages is selected, the marker function can be selected. Therefore, the character type may be a word, a plurality of words, and a character string or symbol in two or more languages.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling an electronic device, comprising a storage unit that stores a relationship between a plurality of operation functions that can be executed by the electronic device and a character type. A display step for displaying; a character selection step for selecting a desired character from the displayed character string; a character type acquisition step for acquiring a character type of the selected character; and an operation function corresponding to the acquired character type. A function acquisition step acquired from the storage unit and a display control step for displaying the acquired operation function are executed.

According to the control display control apparatus for an electronic device of the present invention, an operation function that can be executed with respect to a character string selected for a range is displayed. Is done.
According to the present invention, when a character for executing a desired operation function is selected, an operable function is displayed, so that an operation error of the user is reduced and the operability of the electronic device is improved.

1 is a configuration block diagram of an embodiment of an information processing apparatus of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of one Example of the character type function corresponding | compatible information of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of one Example of character string selection operation of this invention. It is a flowchart of one Example of the user's function selection operation and character string selection operation in this invention. It is a flowchart of one Example of the function selection process of this invention. It is a flowchart of one Example of the first character selection process of this invention. It is a flowchart of 1st Example of the character string selection process of this invention. It is a flowchart of the 1st function execution process of this invention. It is a flowchart of the 2nd function execution process of this invention. It is a flowchart of 2nd Example of the character string selection process of this invention. In this invention, it is a flowchart of the function execution process performed after the process of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of one Example of the character string selection operation of this invention, and the position which remove | releases a pen. In this invention, it is explanatory drawing of one Example of character string selection operation corresponding to the process of FIG.

1 is a configuration block diagram of an embodiment of an information processing apparatus of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of one Example of the character type function corresponding | compatible information of this invention. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of Example 1 of the character string selection and function selection of this invention. It is a flowchart of the whole character string selection processing etc. of this invention. It is a flowchart of the character string selection process of this invention. It is a flowchart of the pen coordinate detection process of this invention. It is a flowchart of the character string selection process by pen movement of this invention. It is a flowchart of the character string analysis process of Example 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the character string analysis process of Example 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the function selection analysis information of Example 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the function selection screen display process of Example 1 of this invention. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of Example 2 of the character string selection and function selection of this invention. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of Example 2 of the character string selection and function selection of this invention. It is a flowchart of the character string analysis process of Example 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the character string analysis process of Example 2 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the function selection analysis information of Example 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the function selection screen display process of Example 2 of this invention.

1 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to the present invention. The block diagram of the data part of the electronic device by this invention is shown. The range selection character type correspondence table for every function used for the electronic device by this invention is shown. The operation | movement explanatory drawing of the electronic dictionary to which the electronic device by this invention is applied is shown. The operation | movement explanatory drawing of the S jump function of the electronic dictionary to which the electronic device by this invention is applied is shown. The operation | movement explanatory drawing of another S jump function of the electronic dictionary to which the electronic device by this invention is applied is shown. The operation | movement explanatory drawing of another S jump function of the electronic dictionary to which the electronic device by this invention is applied is shown. The flowchart figure of the electronic device by this invention is shown. The operation | movement explanatory drawing of the conventional electronic dictionary is shown.

Information processing apparatus when function is selected first Here, after selecting a desired operation first, only the part of the character string that can execute the function is determined as a valid character string, and the user An information processing apparatus capable of reducing the operational burden when executing a desired function and improving operability will be described.

In addition, the present invention further includes a display control unit, and the display control unit causes the display unit to display the character string selected by the character selection unit in a display form different from the character string not selected. It is characterized by.

Alternatively, the display control unit may cause the display unit to display the effective character string determined by the effective character string determination unit in a display form different from other character strings displayed on the display unit.
According to this, since the effective character string capable of executing the selection function is displayed in a display form different from other character strings, the user can determine which character string the function is scheduled to be executed. Can be easily grasped.

Furthermore, the present invention further includes a function execution unit that executes the function to be executed selected by the function selection unit with respect to the effective character string determined by the effective character string determination unit. .

In the present invention, the effective character string determined by the effective character string determination unit is a character string that includes characters having an effective character type capable of executing the selected function and is included in the selected character string. . Here, the valid character string may coincide with the selected character string, or may be a part of the selected character string.
According to this, a character string composed of characters having a valid character type in the selected character string can be a target to execute the function, and the user can select the function when selecting the character string. There is no need to select a character string in consideration of which valid character string can be executed, and the burden of the character string selection operation can be reduced.

The character types of the character type function correspondence information stored in the storage unit include alphabets and Japanese characters, and one or more character types to be executed are preset for each function. Features.
Here, the functions stored in the storage unit include, for example, a sound reproduction function, an S jump function, a reading function, and a marker function.

In the present invention, when the character determining unit determines that there is a character having an effective character type capable of executing the function selected by the function selecting unit in the selected character string, the effective character The character string determination unit is characterized in that a character string from the first character having the valid character type to a character having the valid character type continuously is determined as an effective character string.
According to this, not only when the first character of the selected character string is a character of a valid character type, but when the first character is not a valid character and there is a character of a valid character type in the selected character string, The character string that follows the character is determined as a valid character string, so even if you accidentally select a character string that cannot be selected, you can select the character string that the user wanted to select. The function can be executed, and the operation burden on the user can be reduced.

When the last position of the character string selected by the character selection unit is a character of a valid character type, the valid character string determination unit selects one or more of the selected character strings having a valid character type. The information processing apparatus according to the above, wherein a character string composed of consecutive characters is determined as an effective character string.
According to this, since the valid character string is determined from the selected character string only when the position of the last character at the end of selection of the character string is a character of the valid character type, conversely, the last character is the valid character type. If it is not a character, for example, if an area with no displayed character string is selected as the last character, the selected character string is not determined as a valid character string, and it is determined that the character string selection operation is incorrect. , You can avoid performing the function.

In the present invention, when the character selection unit is a pen and the character string displayed on the display unit is selected by bringing the pen into contact with the display screen, the display is performed while the character string is selected. The control unit is characterized by highlighting only the portion of the effective character string in the selected character string.
According to this, while the character string is being selected, only the valid character string portion is highlighted in the selected character string, so try to select including characters that are not valid character types by mistake. In such a case, a portion that is not a valid character string is not highlighted, and the user can easily notice that he is trying to select a character that cannot perform the selection function.

In addition, when the character selection unit is a pen and the character string displayed on the display unit is selected by bringing the pen into contact with the display screen, in the state where the character string is selected, the display control unit is The entire selected character string may be highlighted.
When the entire selected character string is highlighted, it is determined that the selection of the selected character string is completed when the pen is released from the display screen, and the position where the pen is released from the display screen is displayed. When the position is included in the position of the selected character string, the valid character string determination unit includes a character string having a character type capable of executing the selected function among the character strings included in the selected character string. Is determined as an effective character string, and the display control unit reversely displays the effective character string.

According to this, when the pen is released from the display screen, it is determined that the selection of the character string has been completed, so that the user does not perform a special operation such as a key input that means the end of the selection, The operation of releasing the pen is a selection end operation that is easy and easy for the user to understand.
In addition, while selecting a character string, all of the selected character string is highlighted, and after the pen is released from the display screen, the portion of the effective character string included in the selected character string is highlighted, so the user can It is possible to easily grasp which character string is a part where the selection function can be executed.

Further, the present invention stores character type function correspondence information in which display means for displaying content information including a character string, one or a plurality of functions, and character types of characters to be executed for each function are associated with each other. Means, a function selection means for selecting a function to be executed, a character selection means for selecting a desired character string from the content information displayed on the display means, and the character type function correspondence information, A character determination unit that determines whether there is a character of an effective character type that can execute the function selected by the function selection unit in the character string selected by the character selection unit; and the character determination unit When it is determined that there is a character of a valid character type, a valid sentence to be executed from the selected character string selected by the character selection means. As an active character string determination means for determining the column, there is provided a program of an information processing apparatus for causing a computer to function.

Further, the present invention stores a character type function correspondence information in which a display unit that displays content information including a character string, one or a plurality of functions, and a character type of a character to be executed for each function are associated with each other. Section, a function selection section, a character selection section, a character determination section, and an effective character string determination section, the character string selection method of the information processing apparatus, wherein the function selection section performs a function to be executed The character selection unit selects a desired character string from the content information displayed on the display unit, the character determination unit refers to the character type function correspondence information, and the character selection unit In the selected character string, it is determined whether there is a character of an effective character type that can execute the function selected by the function selection unit, and the effective character string determination unit is determined by the character determination unit. Valid statement When it is determined that there is a kind of character, the character string of the information processing apparatus is characterized in that, from the selected character string selected by the character selection unit, an effective character string to be executed is determined. A selection method is provided.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by description of the following examples.
<Configuration of Information Processing Apparatus of the Invention>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an information processing apparatus according to the present invention.
1, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention mainly includes an input unit 10, a display unit 20, a storage unit 30, a character determination unit 40, an effective character string determination unit 50, a display control unit 60, and a function execution unit 70. Is done.

Here, the information processing apparatus is realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I / O controller, a timer, and the like, and the function of each functional block is based on a control program stored in the ROM or the like. It is executed by operating various hardware. The CPU corresponds to a control unit (not shown) that operates each functional block in FIG. 1, and executes the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG.
The information processing apparatus is used by being incorporated in an electronic device such as an electronic dictionary, a PDA, a mobile phone, or a notebook personal computer.

The input unit 10 is a part for inputting characters, figures, symbols, and the like and selecting functions, and a keyboard or a pointing device such as a mouse or a pen is used.
From the viewpoint of the input function, the input unit 10 of the present invention includes a character selection unit 11 that selects a desired character string from the displayed content information, and a preset executable function. Among these, a function selection unit 12 that selects a function to be executed is provided.

Both functions of the character selection unit 11 and the function selection unit 12 are executed using a keyboard, a pen, or the like. For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, the character selection unit 11 is a functional block that selects a “A” portion using a pen from a character string displayed on the display screen 101. The selected character string “A” is stored in the storage unit 30 as the selected character string 33.
Moreover, the function selection part 12 is a functional block which selects the function by pushing down the exclusive key for selecting a specific function among the functions prepared beforehand. Alternatively, a function selection screen is displayed on the display unit 20, and a function item to be executed (S jump function or the like) is selected from the function items displayed on the screen using, for example, a pen. is there.
The selected function is stored in the storage unit 30 as the selection function 36.
In the present invention, before selecting a character string, a function is selected and a function to be executed is determined.

The display unit 20 is a part that displays content information including character strings, figures, symbols, and the like, and an LCD, an organic EL display, a PDP, a CRT, or the like is used.
In addition, the display unit 20 arranges a touch panel so as to overlap the display screen, allows a pen or the like to contact the display screen, and enables selection of information such as characters displayed at the touched position.

When a pen is used as the character selection unit 11, the character string displayed on the display unit is selected by bringing the pen into contact with the display screen. One or more characters following the character are selected by performing an operation of tracing with the touching. A series of character strings selected in this way is a selected character string.
Further, when the pen is released from the display screen, it is determined that the selection of the selected character string is completed by performing this operation.

In addition, it is preferable that the selected character string selected by the character selection unit 11 is displayed in a display form different from the character string that has not been selected so that the user can easily see it. For example, the display may be reversed.

As described above, the character determination unit 40 refers to the character type function correspondence information, and in the character string selected by the character selection unit, the effective character type that can execute the function selected by the function selection unit. This is the part that determines whether or not there is a character. In other words, it is a part for determining whether or not there is a character having a valid character type (character type) in the selected character string. Here, the character type is a character type, and means, for example, an alphabet (English character), a Japanese character (Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana), a symbol, or another language character.
For example, if “a” is selected in the display screen state of FIG. 3B, the character type of the selected character is determined to be katakana by identifying the character code value of the character. . Then, referring to the character type function correspondence information as shown in FIG. 2, the character type (katakana) is a character type that can execute the function (for example, the S jump function) that has already been selected by the function selection unit 12. Judge whether or not. In the case of FIG. 3B, the character type (katakana) is determined to be a character type that can execute the S jump function. If the character type is executable, the character type is stored in the storage unit 30 as the acquired character type 35. A character having an executable character type is called a valid character.

In addition, there are cases where a plurality of character types are included in the selected character string. In the present invention, in principle, the character type of the selected first character is acquired.
For example, if “A” is selected in FIG. 3B, “Katakana” that is the character type of the first character “A” is acquired as the acquired character type 35.
However, when the first character is a character type that cannot execute the selected function, the character may be excluded, and the character type of the executable character among the characters selected thereafter may be acquired.

For example, if it is determined that the first character in the selected character string is not a valid character and the second character is a character having a valid character type that can execute the selection function, the second character is It may be the first character of the valid character string. In this case, the second character is set as the first character having a valid character type, and the character string up to the character having a valid character type that continues thereafter is set as a valid character string.
Here, as a character having a continuously valid character type, for example, a character having the same character type as the character type of the second character may be used. For example, for the selected character string “.animation.motion”, when the effective character type is “katakana”, the second character “a” is regarded as an effective character, and “animation” having a valid character type continuously. Is determined as a valid character string.

When the character determining unit determines that there is a character of an effective character type, the valid character string determining unit 50 has already been selected by the function selecting unit 12 from the selected character string 33 selected by the character selecting unit 11. This is the part that determines the effective character string to be executed. The determined effective character string 34 is stored in the storage unit 30.
The selected function is executed on the valid character string 34 determined here. The effective character string means a character string having a character type (referred to as an effective character type) that can execute the selected function.

For example, if the selected character string is “animation”, it is determined that the character type is Japanese katakana, and for example, it is determined that the character string is an effective character string capable of executing the S jump function. .
In addition, if the selected function is “Voice Playback Function” and the selected character string is “Animation”, the character type of this selected string is the character type (Katakana) that cannot execute the voice playback function. It is not a string.
The valid character string 34 determined by the valid character string determining unit 50 may be the same as the selected character string 33, but is the same when the selected character string includes a character that cannot execute the function. Otherwise, a part of the selected character string may be an effective character string.

For example, when the selected function is “S jump function” and the selected character string is “animation.video.”, The selected character string 33 has a punctuation mark “.” That cannot execute the S jump function. Therefore, only the “animation” portion is determined as the effective character string 34. In this case, “. Moving image” in the selected character string 33 is excluded from the valid character string 34.
When the selection function is “S jump function” and the selected character string is “.video.”, The leading and trailing punctuation marks “.” Are excluded from the valid character strings, and Only the “moving image” portion is determined as the effective character string 34. In this case, the “moving image” portion is a character having an effective character type capable of executing the selected S jump function.
When the selection function is the “marker function”, all characters are to be executed. Therefore, the effective character string that can be executed is determined to be the entire “animation.
There are many functions that can be executed in an electronic dictionary or the like, but in the following embodiments of the present invention, there are four functions (voice reproduction function, S jump function, reading function, marker function) for the sake of explanation. Pay attention.

In the present invention, the “voice reproduction function” is a function of outputting a single English word reading by voice, which is a character string composed only of a selected alphabet (English letter).
The “S jump function” is a Japanese dictionary that uses one word consisting of only selected English letters or a selected Japanese character string (for example, a character string including kanji, hiragana, and katakana) as a headword. This is a function for searching information corresponding to the headword from the above.
Note that the character string to be selected is not limited to Japanese characters, and any other language can be selected as long as it is displayed. In this case, content information corresponding to the language can be searched. is there.

The “reading function” is a function for outputting a text composed of a plurality of selected English words with synthesized speech.
The “marker function” is a function that displays the background of all selected characters and symbol parts in a color different from the character display color.
If a dictionary other than English (such as Chinese) is installed in an electronic dictionary, etc., executable functions are determined in advance for words and sentences in other languages as well as English words and English sentences. It is assumed that a specific function is executed corresponding to the selected character string.
In the following embodiments, explanation will be made by paying attention to English characters and Japanese characters.

The storage unit 30 is a part that stores various information, and a semiconductor memory such as a RAM, a ROM, and a flash memory, a storage device such as a hard disk, and a storage medium such as a CD-R can be used.
The storage unit 30 stores, for example, character type function correspondence information 32, a selected character string 33, an effective character string 34, an acquired character type 35, a selection function 36, content information 37, and the like.
Here, the content information 37 is information included in a Japanese language dictionary or an English-Japanese dictionary.
In addition, the storage unit 30 stores a control program that causes the computer to function so as to realize each functional block of the information processing apparatus. This control program is provided by being stored in various storage devices or storage media, or provided by downloading via a network.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the character type function correspondence information 32 indicating the character types effective for the four functions. The character type function correspondence information is information in which one or a plurality of executable functions and character types (valid character types) of characters to be executed for each function are associated in advance.
FIG. 2 shows four function items and corresponding effective character types.
In FIG. 2, for example, when the character type of the portion selected as a valid character string is “English (alphabet)”, the voice playback function, S jump function, reading function, and marker function are executable functions. I understand.
Further, when the character type of the effective character string is “katakana”, two functions of the S jump function and the marker function can be executed.
In addition, when the “voice reproduction function” is selected, even if a hiragana character is selected, the character is not a valid character string, and when only an alphabetic character is selected, it becomes a valid character string.

In FIG. 1, the display control unit 60 sets characters and the like to be displayed on the display unit 20, and causes the display unit 20 to display the characters and the like based on the instructed display position, display color, character size, and the like. Part.
Moreover, in this invention, the display control part 60 is a part which displays the character string (selected character string) selected by the character selection part with the display form different from the character string which was not selected. Or it is a part which displays on the display part the character string determined as the effective character string with the display form different from the other character string displayed on the display part. For example, in the content information 37 displayed on the display unit, a process of highlighting the selected character string 33 or the effective character string 34 is performed.

The function execution unit 70 is a part that executes a function selected by the user.
Specifically, this is a part for executing the function to be executed selected by the function selecting unit 12 on the effective character string determined by the effective character string determining unit 50.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3C, when “S jump” is selected and input by the user and “animation” is selected as a selected character string, “animation” is katakana and the S jump function is executed. Since this is a valid character string, the S jump function is executed for “animation”. At this time, since the effective character string is “animation”, a dictionary search is performed using “animation” as a headword, and information stored corresponding to “animation” is displayed.

<Outline of character string processing after function selection>
FIG. 3 shows a schematic explanatory diagram of one embodiment of the character string selection processing after function selection according to the present invention.
FIG. 3A shows a state in which the content information 37 related to “animation” is displayed on the display screen 101 of the display unit 20 and “S jump function” has already been selected as a function to be executed. .
In this state, the user selects characters by performing an operation (character string selection operation) of tracing on the display screen 101 using a pen or the like. The selected character is displayed separately from other unselected characters by, for example, reverse display by the display control unit.
For example, FIG. 3B shows a state in which “a” is selected from the displayed character strings by performing a character string selection operation with a pen, and the selected character “a” is displayed separately. At this time, katakana (Japanese characters) is acquired as the acquired character type 35.

FIG. 3C shows a state where “animation” is selected by moving from “a” to “me” while the pen is placed on the screen.
In FIG. 3C, for example, the user traces the display screen 101 with a pen, selects a character string from “A” to “M”, and then lifts the pen from the screen at the position “M”. Then, a process for determining an effective character string is performed. Here, the case where the last position of the selected character string is a character of a valid character type is shown. At this time, it is determined using the character type function correspondence information 32 shown in FIG. 2 whether the character type of the selected character string is an effective character string that can execute the “S jump function”.
In the case of FIG. 3C, since the character type of the selected character string “animation” is a character type (katakana) that can execute the S jump function, “animation” is determined to be an effective character string. In this case, the selected character string matches the valid character string. In addition, the last position of the selected character string is the character “me” of the valid character type (katakana), and the “animation” part is a character string consisting of three consecutive characters having the valid character type. It becomes an execution target.
Thereafter, the “S jump function” selected in advance is executed for the effective character string “animation”.

FIG. 3D shows a case where, after FIG. 3B, the user traces the first characters “A” to “Picture” with the pen while the pen is placed on the display screen. .
Here, a reading mark “.”, Which is a character type that is not executed by the S jump function, is included between “animation” and “moving image”. That is, a character (invalid character) that cannot execute the function is included in the selected character string “animation. However, the “animation” portion is a character string composed of a plurality of consecutive characters having an effective character type (katakana), and is an effective character string that can execute the S jump function.

In the state where the character string is selected in this way, in FIG. 3D, only the “animation” portion which is an effective character string is highlighted in the selected character string by the display control unit. Even if the pen is placed on "Picture", the invalid character string ".Movie" is not highlighted.
Thereafter, if the user releases the pen from the display screen at the position of “image”, the S jump function is executed for the effective character string “animation”.

In the case of FIG. 3C, after the user selects a valid character string, the function that has already been selected is automatically executed with the release of the pen as a trigger. It can be easy and understandable.
In the case of FIG. 3D, even when the user selects a character string including a character that cannot execute the S jump function, only the portion of the character (effective character string) that can execute the function is highlighted. Since the S jump function is executed, even if the user does not know the character type that can execute the S jump function or selects a character by mistake, the selection function can be executed automatically, and the user's character string The burden of selection operation can be reduced.

<Description of User Input Operation of the Present Invention>
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of an input operation performed by the user in the information processing apparatus of the present invention.
It is assumed that content information 37 intended by the user is displayed on the display unit 20.
In step S1, first, the user performs an operation of selecting a function to be executed. Here, for example, a dedicated key provided in advance for each function is depressed. Alternatively, a specific key is depressed, a function selection screen including a number of function item names is displayed on the display unit, and an item of a desired function is selected and input using a key or a pen.
Here, the dedicated key and the pen correspond to the function selection unit 12. Thereby, the function to be executed is determined, and the selected function is stored in the storage unit 30 as the selection function 36.

Next, in step S <b> 2, the user performs an operation of selecting the first character in the character string that is a target for executing the selected function. For example, a desired character in the character string of the content information 37 displayed on the display screen is touched with a pen. In this case, the pen corresponds to the character selection unit 11.
The position coordinate touched with the pen is detected by the touch panel, and what is the touch-input character is determined from the correspondence between the detected position coordinate and the display position of the display character.

Here, the desired character input by touching is stored in the storage unit 30 as one character of the selected character string 33. The leading character is determined by the operation in step S2. Further, the character type of the determined first character is acquired as the acquired character type 35. Note that it may be checked whether or not the selected first character is a valid character by performing this operation.
Whether or not the first character is a valid character is determined by the character determination unit 40 referring to the character type function correspondence information 32 to check whether or not the character type of the first character is a character type that can execute the selection function. Do. If it is a valid character, the first character is stored in the storage unit 30 as one character of the valid character string 34.

Next, in step S3, the user performs an operation of tracing to the last character of the character string to be selected while the pen is placed on the display screen. That is, an operation of selecting and inputting from the first character to the last character of the character string to be selected.
However, instead of tracing with a pen, once you release the pen to confirm the first character, touch the last character part with the pen to specify the first and last characters of the selected character string, and One selected character string may be included including the character string in between. As a result, the selected character string is selected by the user's own intention.
At this time, the entire character string from the first character to the last character is stored as one selected character string 33. For example, when the selected character string includes characters of a character type that can execute the selection function 36, the selected character string also corresponds to the valid character string 34.

When the selection of the character string is finished, after touching the last character with the pen, in step S4, the user releases the pen from the display screen. The separation of the pen can be detected by the absence of coordinate input by pressing the touch panel.
Here, the fact that the pen has left the display screen means that the selection of the selected character string has been completed as described above. That is, when it is detected that the pen has left the display screen, the selected character string 33 and the effective character string 34 are determined.

The selected character string 33 selected in this way may be visually distinguished to distinguish it from characters that have not been selected. For example, the selected character string may be highlighted.
As will be described later, when a character that is not a valid character is included in the selected character string, the valid character string is determined by the valid character string determination unit 50 by removing the invalid character, and the valid character is determined. It is preferred to highlight the portion of column 34 and perform the selected function.
Alternatively, if the selected character string contains characters that are not valid characters, or if the pen is released over a character that is not a valid character or an area that does not have a display character, the user's selection error will cause It may not be executed.

The operations from steps S1 to S4 described above are operations performed by the user.
When it is detected in step S4 that the pen has been removed, the effective character string determining unit 50 automatically performs the effective character string determining process without any user operation. As shown in step S5, the function execution unit 70 executes the selection function for the valid character string.
The above is the outline of the input operation performed by the user and the function selection processing, leading character selection, character string selection, valid character string determination, and function execution processing associated with the operation. Each process is executed by a CPU corresponding to the control unit operating various hardware based on a control program.

<Function selection process>
FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of the function selection process of the present invention. Again, attention is paid to the four functions described above. This process is executed after the function selection operation in step S1.
In step S11, it is checked whether or not there is a function selection input by the user. If there is no input, step S11 is directly looped.
On the other hand, if there is a selection input, the process proceeds to step S12, and in S12 to S15, it is checked what the selected function is.

In step S12, it is checked whether or not the function selected and input is the “S jump function”. If it is the “S jump function”, the process proceeds to step S16; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S13.
In step S16, the character type function correspondence information 32 corresponding to the S jump function is read. That is, a character type (valid character type) that can execute the S jump function is read from the storage unit 30. Here, according to FIG. 2, English characters, kanji characters, hiragana, and katakana are read as effective character types. In this case, “S jump function” is stored in the storage unit 30 as the selection function 36.
After step S16, the function selection process ends, and the process proceeds to the next head character selection process (step S31).

In step S13, it is checked whether or not “audio playback function” has been selected. If it is selected, the process proceeds to step S17, and if not, the process proceeds to step S14.
In step S17, the character type function correspondence information 32 corresponding to the voice reproduction function is read, the voice reproduction function is stored as the selection function 36, the function selection process is terminated, and then the process proceeds to step S31. When the audio playback function is selected, English characters are read out as valid character types.

In step S14, it is checked whether or not the “reading function” has been selected. If it is selected, the process proceeds to step S18, and if not, the process proceeds to step S15.
In step S18, the character type function correspondence information 32 corresponding to the reading function is read, the reading function is stored as the selection function 36, the function selection process is terminated, and the process proceeds to step S31.
In step S15, it is checked whether or not “marker function” has been selected. If it is selected, the process proceeds to step S19, and if not, the process returns to step S11.
In step S19, the character type function correspondence information 32 corresponding to the marker function is read, the marker function is stored as the selection function 36, the function selection process is terminated, and the process proceeds to step S31.
In addition to these four functions, if there are other functions, it is checked whether or not the function is selected. If selected, the correspondence information 32 set in advance may be read.

<First character selection processing>
FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of the first character selection process.
Here, it is assumed that desired content information 37 is already displayed on the display unit 20 by the user's operation. The process of FIG. 6 is executed when the first character selection operation in step S2 is performed.
In step S31, it is checked whether or not the user has performed touch input for selecting the first character using a pen or the like. For example, it is checked whether or not an input for depressing an arbitrary position on the touch panel has been made. If the touch input is made, the process proceeds to step S32. If not, step S31 is looped.

In step S32, the coordinates of the position touched with a pen or the like are detected.
In step S33, it is checked whether or not there is a character on the detected position coordinate in the character string displayed on the display screen. That is, it is checked whether the user has selected a character. If no character exists on the position coordinates input by touch, the process returns to step S31.
On the other hand, if there is a character on the position coordinates touch-input, the process proceeds to step S34. At this time, the character type of the selected character is acquired and stored as the acquired character type 35.

In step S34, the character determination unit 40 checks whether or not the character selected by the user is a valid character, that is, whether or not it is a character type that can execute the selection function. Whether or not it is a valid character is determined by referring to the read character type function correspondence information 32 and determining whether or not the acquired character type 35 of the selected character is the character type set in this information 32.
For example, when the voice playback function is selected as the selection function 36, referring to the information 32, the corresponding valid character type is “alphabet (alphabet)”, and therefore the acquired character type 35 of the selected first character is alphabetic. If there is, the selected first character is determined to be a valid character.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the selection function is “S jump” and the selected first character “a” is katakana, according to the information 32, the valid character type is “English letter, Chinese character” , Hiragana, Katakana ”, the first character“ a ”is determined to be a valid character. If it is not a valid character, the process returns to step S31, and if it is a valid character, the process proceeds to step S35.

In step S35, since the first character is a valid character, the valid character string determination unit 50 determines the first character as one of the valid character strings, and stores the first character as the valid character string 34.
In step S36, the display control unit 60 reverse-displays the first character that is a valid character. However, the selected first character may be displayed so as to be visually easy to see, and may be displayed in a mode different from other character strings that are not selected. For example, the color may be changed or blinking may be displayed.
In step S36, the first character selection process is terminated, and then the process proceeds to the character string selection process in step S41.

<First Example of Character String Selection Process>
FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of the character string selection process of the present invention.
Here, mainly, the effective character string is determined and displayed when the display screen is traced to the last character of the character string that the user wants to select.
The process of FIG. 7 is executed when the character string selection operation in step S3 is being performed.
In step S41, it is checked whether or not the pen has left the display screen. Here, an operation that means the end of the selection input is that the pen has left the display screen.
When the pen leaves the display screen, the selected character string and the valid character string are confirmed, and the process proceeds to the function execution process of FIG. If the pen is still on the display screen, the process proceeds to step S42.
In step S42, it is checked whether or not the pen has been moved. If it has not moved, the process returns to step S41, and if it is detected that it has moved, the process proceeds to step S43.

In step S43, the position coordinates of the pen after movement are detected.
In step S44, characters existing on the detected position coordinates are extracted.
In step S <b> 45, the character determination unit 40 checks whether or not the extracted character on the detected position coordinate is a valid character using the character type function correspondence information 32. If it is a valid character, the process proceeds to step S46, and if it is not a valid character, the process returns to step S41. Also, if no character exists on the detected position coordinates, the process may return to step S41.

In step S <b> 46, the effective character string determination unit 50 determines the extracted character as a part of the effective character string and stores it in the effective character string 34. If a character is already stored in the effective character string 34, it is not overwritten but stored in addition to the stored character.
In step S47, the display control unit 60 reverse-displays the effective character string 34 in order to visually distinguish the selected effective character string. Then, it returns to step S41.
For example, in the case of FIG. 3C, by repeating the processing from step S41 to S47 of FIG. The display control unit 60 performs reverse display.

In addition, when the pen is moved from the state of FIG. 3C to the reading point “.” On the right side of “Me” without releasing the pen, the reading point “.” Can execute the S jump function. Since it is not a valid character type, it is determined in step S45 that the detected position coordinates are not valid characters, and the process returns to step S41.

<Function execution processing>
FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of the first function execution process of the present invention.
This process is a process executed after the operation of step S4 of FIG. 4 in the process of FIG.
In step S51, it is checked whether or not the valid character string 34 is stored in the storage unit 30. If there is no valid character string 34, no character that can execute the selected function is selected, and the process ends.
On the other hand, if there is a valid character string 34, the process proceeds to step S52, and the function execution unit 70 executes the selected function on the valid character string 34.
The processing in FIG. 8 is processing after the pen is released, but here, it is executed when the pen is released regardless of the position where the pen is released. That is, the process of FIG. 8 is executed even when the position where the pen is released is above the display character or even in an area where there is no display character.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the second function execution process of the present invention.
Here, unlike the processing of FIG. 8, the selected function is executed when the position where the pen is released is above the valid character string. The process of FIG. 9 is also executed after the operation of step S4.
In step S61, it is checked whether or not there is a valid character string 34 in the storage unit 30. If there is no valid character string, the process ends. If there is, the process proceeds to step S62.
In step S62, the coordinates of the position where the pen is released are detected.

In step S63, it is checked whether or not the position where the pen is released is on a valid character.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the position where the pen is released.
As shown in FIG. 12A, when the position where the pen is released is above the effective character “animation”, the process proceeds to step S64, and the function execution unit 70 selects the effective character string 34. Perform the function.
On the other hand, when the position where the pen is released is not on the valid character, for example, as shown in FIG. 12B, the position where the pen is released is on a character that is completely different from the selected character string “animation” or FIG. If the region is not a display character as in c), the process is terminated without executing the function.
However, if the user makes a setting in advance, the selected function is executed even when the position where the pen is released is not on the valid character string as shown in FIGS. 12B and 12C. Also good.

<Second Example of Character String Selection Process>
FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of the second embodiment of the character selection process.
Here, unlike the process of FIG. 7, the character string selected by the user is stored as the selected character string 33, and in the state where the character string is selected, the process of highlighting all the selected character strings is performed. Do.
FIG. 13 shows an explanatory diagram of the operation and display screen of the second embodiment.
The processing of steps S71 to S74 in FIG. 10 is the same processing as steps S41 to S44 of FIG. In step S71, it is checked whether or not the pen has been removed.
If it is detected that the pen is separated, the process proceeds to step S81 (function execution process) in FIG.

On the other hand, if the pen is not yet separated, the process proceeds to step S72.
In step S72, it is checked whether or not the pen position has moved. If the pen has not moved, the process returns to step S71. If the pen has moved, the process proceeds to step S73.
In step S73, the position coordinates of the pen after movement are detected.
In step S74, characters present at the detected position coordinates are extracted.
In step S75, the extracted characters are stored in the selected character string 33.
Here, when a character is already stored in the selected character string 33, the extracted character is added to the already stored character and stored. In this embodiment, since the effective character string 34 is determined later, the same character as the selected character string 33 is temporarily stored as the effective character string 34.

In step S76, the display control unit 60 reverse-displays the selected character string 33, and then returns to step S71.
For example, as shown in FIG. 13A, when “animation.video” is selected with a pen, “animation.video”, which is the entire selected character string, is stored as the selected character string 33 and displayed in reverse video. Is done. At this time, even if the selected “S jump function” cannot be executed (reading mark “.”), The character string is being selected as long as the pen is not released, so the character “.” Is included. Display in reverse video.
That is, in the process of FIG. 10, in the state where the character string is selected with the pen, all the character strings selected by the user are highlighted.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of a function execution process performed after the pen of FIG. 10 is released. Here, after releasing the pen, an effective character string that can execute the selected function is determined from the highlighted selected character string, and the function is executed for the portion of the effective character string 34. In addition, the highlighted character is changed to a valid character string.
In step S81, as in step S61 of FIG. 9, it is checked whether or not the valid character string 34 is stored in the storage unit 30. If it is not stored, the process ends. If it is stored, the process proceeds to step S82.

In step S82, the character determination unit 40 checks whether or not characters other than valid characters are included in the stored selected character string 33. Specifically, using the information 32, it is checked whether or not a character having a character type that cannot execute the selection function 36 is included in the selected character string 33.
If it is not included, the selected character string 33 is the same as the valid character string 34. Therefore, the valid character string determination unit 50 determines the selected character string 33 as the valid character string 34 as it is, and proceeds to step S85. The execution unit 70 executes the selected function on the valid character string 34.
For example, when the pen is released at the position shown in FIGS. 3C, 12A, and 12B, the process proceeds to step S85 after step S82, and the selected function is executed.
On the other hand, if the selected character string 33 includes an invalid character, the process proceeds to step S83. In this case, the selected character string 33 and the valid character string 34 stored in the storage unit 30 are different.

In step S83, the characters after the invalid character are deleted from the selected character string 33 including the invalid character. In other words, the valid character string determination unit 50 determines the character string excluding the characters after the invalid character from the selected character string 33 as the valid character string 34.
In step S84, the display control unit 60 reverse-displays only the portion of the valid character string 34. Thereafter, in step S85, the function execution unit 70 executes the selected function on the valid character string 34.

For example, in FIG. 13A, when the pen is moved and “animation.movie” is selected, “animation.movie” is stored as the selected character string 33 and is highlighted. In this state, it is assumed that the pen is released from the display screen at an arbitrary position as shown in FIG. Here, the position where the pen is released may be the position of the displayed selected character string, or may be an area without display characters. In this case, the selected character string 33 includes a punctuation mark “.” That is not a valid character, and the valid character string 34 is an “animation” part.

When the pen is released in the state of FIG. 13B, the character “.” Which is not valid is included in the selected character string 33, so that the process proceeds to steps S83 and S84 by the determination in step S82 of FIG. The display state is as shown in c).
That is, in the selected character string 33, the “.moving image” portion is removed from the selected character string and is not highlighted, and only the valid character string “animation” is highlighted. Thereafter, the function is executed for the effective character string “animation”.

In the case of the second embodiment, even if the selected character string selected by the user includes a character that cannot execute the selection function, only the executable character string (effective character string) is included. , Reverse video and execute the function. Therefore, even if the user selects a character that cannot be executed by mistake or selects it without knowing the character that cannot be executed, the effective character string is automatically determined, and the function intended by the user is It is possible to execute it on an effective character string, and the user's operation is easy and easy to understand, and the operation burden on the user can be reduced.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13B, when the position where the pen is released is not on the selected character string, for example, even if it is an area where no character is displayed, only the portion of the effective character string is highlighted, If the function is executed for the valid character string, the operation burden on the user can be reduced.
However, since the user may unintentionally remove the pen from the display screen unintentionally, the case where the pen is released at the position of the selected character string as shown in FIG. ), The function may be executed when the pen is released on another display character string or when the pen is released on the effective character string as shown in FIG. In the case of FIG. 12C, FIG. 13B, or the like, a warning may be displayed to the effect that the pen has been accidentally released without executing the function.

According to the present invention, after selecting a function, it is an object to determine whether there is a character of a valid character type that can execute the selected function in the selected character string and to execute the function. Since the valid character string is determined, it is easy for the user to select the character string, and the user wants to execute even if a character string containing a character type that is not valid is selected by mistake. Since the function can be executed on the effective character string, the operation load of the user for selecting the character string can be reduced.

Information processing apparatus when first selecting a character string Here, after selecting a desired character string first, a function that can be executed on the selected character string is automatically selected, so that the user's An information processing apparatus having a character string selection function capable of improving operability when executing a desired function will be described.

The present invention relates to a storage unit that stores character type function correspondence information in which a character string display unit that displays content information including a character string, an executable function, and a character type of a character to be executed for each function are associated with each other. And a character selection unit that selects a desired character string in the content information displayed on the character string display unit, a character type acquisition unit that acquires a character type of the first character of the selected character string, and A function acquisition unit that acquires an executable function associated with the acquired character type from the character type function correspondence information after selecting a character string by the character selection unit, and for each acquired executable function Among the selected character strings selected by the character selection unit, an effective character string determination unit for determining an effective character string for executing the function, and among the acquired executable functions, There is provided an information processing apparatus that includes a function selection unit for selecting the function.

In addition, a function selection screen display unit that displays items of executable functions acquired by the function acquisition unit are further provided, and the character string display unit and the function selection screen display unit are different in one display device. You may make it display on a screen or each screen of a different display apparatus. According to this, the user can easily confirm the executable functions.
Here, the function selection unit causes a desired function to be executed to be selected from items displayed on the function selection screen display unit.
Furthermore, the character string selected by the character selection unit may be displayed on the character string display unit in a display form different from that of the character string not selected.

The character type acquisition unit may acquire the character type of the first non-blank character that appears in the character string selected by the character selection unit when the acquired character type is a blank. . Thereby, even when a character string including a blank character at the head is selected due to an erroneous operation, the function intended by the user can be executed.

And a function execution unit that causes the function to be executed selected by the function selection unit to be executed on the effective character string of the function to be executed determined by the effective character string determination unit. And

The executable functions stored in the storage unit include, for example, a voice reproduction function, an S jump function, a reading function, and a marker function.
Here, the character types stored in the storage unit include alphabets and Japanese characters, and one or more character types to be executed are set in advance for each of the executable functions.

The effective character string determined by the effective character string determination unit is one or more character strings included in the selected character string.
Here, when the determined effective character string is one, the effective character string may be a character string including the first character.
In addition, when there are a plurality of determined effective character strings, the display device further includes an effective character string selection screen display unit that displays the items of the plurality of effective character strings in a selectable manner. The valid character string selection screen display unit may be displayed on a screen different from the display screen.

The present invention also stores character type function correspondence information in which character string display means for displaying content information including character strings, executable functions, and character types of characters to be executed for each function are associated with each other. Storage means; character selection means for selecting a desired character string from the content information displayed on the character string display means; and character type acquisition means for acquiring the character type of the first character of the selected character string. A function acquisition unit that acquires an executable function associated with the acquired character type from the character type function correspondence information after the character selection unit selects a character string; and the acquired executable type Effective character string determining means for determining an effective character string for executing the function from among the selected character strings selected by the character selecting means for each function; Of Do function, as the function selecting means for selecting a function to be performed, there is provided a program of an information processing apparatus for causing a computer to function.

The present invention includes a character string display unit that displays content information including a character string, a storage unit that stores character type function correspondence information in which a function and a character type of a character to be executed for each function are associated, and a character selection Section, a character acquisition unit, a function acquisition unit, an effective character string determination unit, and a function execution unit. A desired character string is selected from the content information displayed on the column display unit, the character type acquisition unit acquires the character type of the first character of the selected character string, and the character selection unit selects the character string. The function acquisition unit acquires the executable function associated with the acquired character type from the character type function correspondence information, and the valid character string determination unit acquires the executable function acquired. For each function A valid character string for executing the function is determined from the selected selection character string, and the function selecting unit selects a function to be executed from the acquired executable functions. A method for selecting a character string and a function of an information processing apparatus is provided.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by description of the following examples.
<Configuration of Information Processing Apparatus of the Invention>
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.
In FIG. 14, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention mainly includes an input unit 110, a display unit 120, a storage unit 130, a character type acquisition unit 140, an effective character string determination unit 150, a function acquisition unit 160, and a function execution unit 170. Is done.

Here, the information processing apparatus is realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an I / O controller, a timer, and the like, and the function of each functional block is based on a control program stored in the ROM or the like. It is executed by operating various hardware. The CPU corresponds to a control unit that operates each functional block of FIG. 14 and executes the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG.
The information processing apparatus is used by being incorporated in an electronic device such as an electronic dictionary, a PDA, a mobile phone, or a notebook personal computer.

The input unit 110 is a part for inputting characters, figures, symbols, and the like and selecting functions, and a keyboard or a pointing device such as a mouse or pen is used.
Further, from the viewpoint of input function, the input unit 110 according to the present invention includes the character selection unit 111 that selects a desired character string from the displayed content information and the execution acquired by the function acquisition unit 160. A function selection unit 112 that selects a function to be executed among possible functions is provided.
Both functions of the character selection unit 111 and the function selection unit 112 are executed using a keyboard, a pen, or the like. For example, the character selection unit 111 is a functional block that selects a “abc” portion of a character string displayed on the display screen 101 of FIG. The selected character string “abc” is stored in the storage unit 130 as the selected character string 133.
Further, the function selection unit 112 uses, for example, a pen to select a function item to be executed (S jump function) from the function items displayed on the “function selection screen 102” illustrated in FIG. Etc.).

The display unit 120 is a part that displays character strings, figures, symbols, and the like, and may include one display screen or a plurality of display screens.
Further, the display unit 120 arranges a touch panel on the display screen so that information displayed at a touched position on the display screen with a pen or the like is input.
Further, from the viewpoint of the display function, the display unit 120 of the present invention includes a character string display unit 121 that displays content information including a character string, and a function selection screen display unit 122 that displays items of executable functions. Is provided.

For example, reference numeral 101 in FIG. 16A corresponds to the character string display unit 121, and reference numeral 102 in FIG. 16B corresponds to the function selection screen display unit 122. The function selection screen 102 is not always displayed on the screen. From the viewpoint of improving the operability for the user, after selecting a desired character string from the content information displayed on the character string display unit, It is preferable to display automatically.
In addition, the function items displayed on the function selection screen 102 do not always display a large number of items, but executable function items can be selected according to the type (character type) of the selected character string. It is preferable to display as follows.

The item displayed on the function selection screen display unit 122 is an item of “executable function” acquired by the function acquisition unit 160, and the content displayed is the name of the function set in advance. That's fine.
The content information displayed on the character string display unit 121 includes various information such as symbols, figures and photographs in addition to the character string. In the present invention, information mainly consisting of character strings is displayed. To do.
In addition, the two display units (121, 122) may be displayed on the same screen in one display device such as an LCD or CRT, but the two display units are clearly distinguished so as to be easily understood by the user. Therefore, it may be displayed on a different screen (window) in the display device. Alternatively, when the information processing apparatus of the present invention includes two different display devices, the character string display unit 121 and the function selection screen display unit 122 are separately displayed on the respective screens of the display device. Also good.

Further, the selected character string selected by the character selection unit is preferably displayed in a display form different from that of the character string that was not selected, in order to make it easier for the user to see visually. For example, the display may be reversed.
Further, as will be described later, when there are a plurality of effective character strings determined by the effective character string determining unit, an effective character string selection screen display unit is provided that displays the items of the plurality of effective character strings in a selectable manner. .
This display unit is, for example, the screen denoted by reference numeral 103 shown in FIG. 25D, and is displayed on a different screen (window) from the other display screens (101, 102) in one display device.

The character type acquisition unit 140 is a part that acquires the character type (character type) of the character string selected by the character selection unit 112. Here, the character type is a character type, and means, for example, an alphabet (English character), a Japanese character (Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana), a symbol, or another language character.
For example, if “abc” is selected in the display screen state of FIG. 16A, the character type of the selected character string is determined to be alphabet by identifying the character code value of the character. The The acquired character type information is used when acquiring an executable function.

In addition, there are cases where a plurality of character types are included in the selected character string. In principle, according to the present invention, the character type of the first character of the selected character string is acquired.
For example, if “def aiueo” is selected in FIG. 16A, “alphabet” that is the character type of the first character “d” is acquired as the first character type 135.
If “Aiueo gh” is selected, “Hiragana”, which is the character type of the first character “A”, is acquired.

The effective character string determination unit 150 is a part that analyzes the selected character string selected by the character selection unit 111, and determines a target effective character string to be executed as an executable function acquired as a selection candidate by the function acquisition unit. It is a part to do. Here, for each acquired executable function, an effective character string for executing the function is determined.
For example, if the selected character string is “abc”, it is determined that the character type is only the alphabet, and the valid character string for executing a specific function is determined as “abc”.
When the selected character string is “def”, the selected character string includes two character types, alphabet and hiragana, so it is necessary to determine which one should be acquired as a valid character string. There is. In this case, only “def” is a valid character string, only “a” is a valid character string, “def” and “a” are two valid character strings, or “def is said” It is necessary to decide whether or not the whole should be a valid character string. This is because the executable function varies depending on the determined effective character string.
The effective character string determined by the effective character string determination unit is one or more character strings included in the selected character string.
In addition, when there is one determined effective character string, a character string including the first character may be used as the effective character string.

For example, when the selected character string is a character string “def aiueo” starting with an alphabet, four functions of a voice reproduction function, an S jump function, a reading function, and a marker function can be executed. Here, if the “sound reproduction function” is a function that is executed only for the alphabet, the effective character string that can be executed is determined to be “def”. In this case, “aiueo” in the selected character string is excluded from the valid character string.
Also, the effective character string that can be executed by the “marker function” is determined to be “def aiueo” as a whole.
Functions that can be executed in an electronic dictionary or the like are not limited to the above four functions, and there are many functions. However, in the following embodiments of the present invention, attention is paid to the above four functions for explanation.

The function acquisition unit 160 is a part that acquires an executable function associated with the character type based on the character type acquired by the character type acquisition unit 140.
For example, if “alphabet” is acquired as a character type, four functions of “voice reproduction”, “S jump”, “read out”, and “marker” are acquired as executable functions.
In addition, when “Hiragana” is acquired as a character type, two functions of “S jump” and “marker” are acquired as executable functions, and “sound playback” and “speech” functions are not acquired. The function is not executed.
The acquisition of this function is performed by referring to the character type function correspondence information 132 as shown in FIG. 15, for example. The function acquisition process is performed after the character selection unit selects a character string.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the character type function correspondence information 132 showing the character types effective for the four functions. The character type function correspondence information is information in which an executable function is associated with a character type of a character to be executed for each function.
In FIG. 15, for example, when the character type of the portion selected as a valid character string is “English (alphabet)”, the acquirable functions include an audio reproduction function, an S jump function, a reading function, and a marker function. I know that there is.
Further, when the character type of the effective character string is “Katakana”, two functions that can be acquired are the S jump function and the marker function.

In the present invention, the “voice reproduction function” is a function of outputting a single English word reading by voice, which is a character string composed only of a selected alphabet (English letter).
The “S jump function” is a national dictionary installed using one word consisting of only selected English letters or a selected Japanese character string (for example, a character string including kanji, hiragana, and katakana) as a headword. This is a function for searching information corresponding to the headword from the above.
Note that the character string to be selected is not limited to Japanese characters, and any other language can be selected as long as it is displayed. In this case, content information corresponding to the language can be searched. is there.

The function acquired by the function selection unit 160 may be one or plural. For example, in the case of one function, the function that can be executed with respect to the selected character string is determined as one of the functions. Therefore, when a determination key or the like is subsequently pressed, the function is immediately executed. May be.

On the other hand, when a plurality of functions can be executed, immediately after the character string is selected by the user, the function selection screen 102 including the item names of the plurality of functions is automatically displayed on the display unit 120 (see FIG. 16 (b)).
The user who sees the function selection screen 102 can identify which functions can be executed for the character string selected by the user.
Thereafter, when the user touches and inputs a display portion of a function to be executed among the displayed functions with a pen or the like, the touched function is executed.
If there is a function that cannot be executed with respect to the selected character string, the function item is not displayed on the function display screen 102, or a display (see FIG. 16C) showing that the function cannot be selected ( Just fill it out or display it in thin characters).

The function execution unit 170 is a part that executes a function selected by the user.
Specifically, this is a part for executing the function to be executed selected by the function selecting unit on the effective character string of the function to be executed determined by the effective character string determining unit.
For example, assuming that “S jump” is selected and input by the user in the selection screen 102 shown in FIG. 16B, among the selected character strings, an effective character string that can execute the S jump function is selected. , S jump function is executed. If the valid character string is “abc”, a dictionary search is performed using “abc” as an entry word, and the information stored corresponding to “abc” is displayed.

The storage unit 130 is a part that stores various types of information, and a semiconductor memory such as a RAM, a ROM, and a flash memory, a storage device such as a hard disk, and a storage medium such as a CD-R can be used.
The storage unit 130 stores, for example, character type function correspondence information 132, a selected character string 133, an effective character string 134, a first character type 135, function selection analysis information 136, content information 137, and the like.
Here, the function selection analysis information 136 is information as shown in FIG. 23, for example, and is used when acquiring an executable function for the selected character string and determining an effective character string. Information. The content information 137 is information included in a Japanese language dictionary or an English-Japanese dictionary.
The storage unit 130 also stores a control program that causes the computer to function so as to realize each functional block of the information processing apparatus. This control program is provided by being stored in various storage devices or storage media, or provided by downloading via a network.

<Overview of character string and function selection processing>
FIG. 16 is a schematic explanatory diagram of one embodiment of character string selection and function selection according to the present invention.
FIG. 16A shows a state in which a character string “abc def aiou gh” of certain content information 137 is displayed on the display screen 101 of the display unit 120.
In this state, the user selects characters by performing an operation (character string selection operation) of tracing on the display screen 101 using a pen or the like. The selected character is displayed separately from other non-selected characters by, for example, reverse display.
FIG. 16B and FIG. 16C show examples in which the selected character strings are distinguished and displayed by performing such a character string selection operation.
FIG. 16B shows a case where “abc def Aiueo” is selected, and FIG. 16C shows a case where “Aibuo gh” is selected.

In FIG. 16B, for example, when the user traces the display screen and selects a character string from “a” to “O” and then releases the pen from the screen, a character string analysis process is performed. At this time, the character type of the first character of the selected character string is identified, an effective character string is determined, an executable function is acquired, and the function selection screen 102 is displayed.
In the case of FIG. 16B, since the first character “a” of the selected character string is an alphabet (English letter), it is determined that there are four functions that can be executed from the character type function correspondence information 132 shown in FIG. The item names (function items) of the four functions are displayed on the function selection screen 102. The function selection screen 102 may be displayed in another display area as another window so that the selected character string in the display screen 101 is not lost, for example.
When the user looks at this function selection screen 102 and touches the display portion of the function to be executed among the four function items with a pen or the like, the touched function is executed on the valid character string.

In the case of FIG. 16B, when an executable function is acquired, an effective character string for each function is also determined. For example, when the “voice playback function” is acquired as an executable function, only “abc” is valid among the selected character strings “abc def aiueo” as a target effective character string for executing this function. It has been determined. Similarly, for “S jump function”, only “abc” is a valid character string.
Further, when the “reading function” is acquired, “abc def” becomes an effective character string as a target for executing this function. Further, in the case of the “marker function”, the entire selected character string “abc def Aiueo” becomes an effective character string. In other words, the effective decision character string to be executed differs depending on the executable function.
Thereafter, when the function to be executed by the user is instructed by touch input, the function is executed for the determined effective character string associated with the instructed function.

In the case of FIG. 16C, since the character type of the first character “A” is “Hiragana” for the selected character string “Aiueo gh”, “S jump function” is obtained by referring to the character type function correspondence information 132. Only two functions of “marker function” are acquired as executable functions.
Thereafter, the function selection screen 102 displays only two functions “S jump” and “marker”.
In addition, in the “S jump function” acquired as an executable function, the portion of “Aiueo” in the selected character string “Aiueo gh” is determined as a valid character string as a valid character string to be executed. The
In the case of the “marker function”, the entire selected character string “aiueo gh” is determined as an effective character string. In this case, only “gh” that is not at the head position is not selected as a valid character string, and the sound reproduction function and the reading function cannot be selected.

As described above, in the present invention, after the user selects a character string by his / her own intention, a function executable for the selected character string is acquired, and the acquired function item is automatically displayed. The function selection operation by the user is easy and easy to understand, and erroneous operations can be reduced.
In addition, since an executable function is acquired according to the character type of the first character of the selected character string, and an effective character string on which the function is to be executed is determined, a user who includes an unintended character, etc. Even if the character string selection operation is inappropriate, it is possible to select an appropriate function intended by the user as long as the first character is the intended character type, and the operability of the user can be improved.

<Example 1 of character string selection and function selection>
FIG. 17 shows an overall flowchart of an embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention.
In FIG. 17, it is assumed that the user has already selected content information 137 to be used and desired information (for example, a character string) of the content information 137 is displayed on the display screen 101.
In step S101, a character string selection process is executed.
Here, for example, in the display state as shown in FIG. 16A, when the user selects a desired character string from among the displayed character strings using the character selection unit 111 such as a pen, the character string 133 is displayed. It is stored in the storage unit 130, and is displayed in a distinguishable manner (for example, reverse display) on the character string display unit 121.
When it is detected that the user has removed the pen from the screen after the character string is selected, a character string analysis process is executed in step S102. Here, after the character type is acquired by the character type acquisition unit 140 for the selected character string, the function corresponding to the character type is acquired by the function acquisition unit 160, and the effective character string determination unit 150 determines the effective character string. The

Next, in step S103, a function selection screen display process is executed.
Here, a function selection screen 102 in which item names (function items) of the acquired functions are listed is displayed.
Thereafter, when the user touch-inputs the display area portion of the function to be executed from the function items displayed on the function selection screen with the pen, the function selection and execution processing is executed in step S104. Here, the function of the touched part is selected, and the function execution unit 170 executes the selected function on the valid character string in the selected character string.
The above is the overall schematic flow of the processing relating to the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of the character string selection process in step S101.
In step S110, it is assumed that the user places a pen on a character that the user wants to select on the display screen 101. At this time, the character selection unit 111 of the input unit 110 detects the input coordinates of the pen and stores the input coordinates in the storage unit 130 as the start position of the selected character string.
In step S120, it is assumed that the user traces the pen up to the last character to be selected. At this time, position information from the start position to the coordinates of the end position of the last character is stored in the storage unit 130.

In step S 130, the character displayed at the position is determined from the stored position information, and the selected character string 133 is acquired and stored in the storage unit 130.
In step S140, information on the characters at the pen start position and end position input by the user is stored as marker function information. This information is used when executing the marker function.
Thereafter, when the pen is released from the screen, the process proceeds to a character string analysis process in step S102.

FIG. 19 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of the process for acquiring the start position of the character designated by the pen in step S110 of FIG.
In step S111, the coordinates where the pen is placed are detected. This detection can be performed by, for example, coordinate detection using a resistive film or a method of calculating absolute coordinates of a touched position on the screen.
In step S112, it is checked whether or not the detected coordinate is on a character displayed on the display screen. If the position where the pen is placed is not on the character, the process is terminated.
On the other hand, if the pen is placed on the character, the process proceeds to step S113, and the character displayed at this position is determined as the first character of the selected character string 133 and stored. At this time, the character type of the first character (first character type 135) may be stored by the character type acquisition unit 140.
Further, in order to notify the user that a character has been selected, a display (for example, reverse display) that distinguishes the character from other characters may be performed.
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S120.

FIG. 20 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of processing when the character in step S120 of FIG. 18 is traced.
In step S121, it is checked whether the pen is not separated from the display screen. If it is away, it is determined that the selection input has been completed, and the process proceeds to step S126.
On the other hand, if not yet separated, the process proceeds to step S122.

In step S122, it is checked whether or not the pen position has moved. If not, the process returns to step S121. If it has moved, the process proceeds to step S123, and the position coordinates of the pen after the movement are detected.
In step S124, it is checked whether or not the detected position coordinate of the pen is above the display position of the displayed character. If not on the character, the process returns to step S121. If it is above the character, the process proceeds to step S125, and the area of the character existing from the head position coordinate to the current pen position coordinate is highlighted, and the process returns to step S221.

On the other hand, when the pen leaves the screen, in step S126, it is checked whether or not there is a selected character string 133, that is, whether or not there is a highlighted character string.
If there is no character string, the process ends. If the selected character string 133 exists, the process proceeds to the character string acquisition and storage process in step S130.
If step S101 ends and there is a selected character string 133 in step S126, the character string is stored in the storage unit 130, and the character type 135 of the first character is also stored in the storage unit 130.

21 and 22 are flowcharts showing an embodiment of the character string analysis process shown in step S102 of the present invention.
In this character string analysis process, mainly an executable function acquisition by the function acquisition unit 160 and an effective character string determination process for the acquired function by the effective character string determination unit 150 are performed. In this process, the “valid flag” and “copy flag” set for each function are used.
Here, the valid flag is a flag indicating whether or not the corresponding function can be executed. When the flag is “ON”, the function is executable. When the flag is “OFF” It shall not be possible.
The copy flag is a flag indicating whether it is possible to store an effective character string to be executed when the corresponding function is executed. “On” means that a valid character string can be stored, and “off” means that a valid character string cannot be stored. Means that.

FIG. 23 shows an example of the function selection analysis information 136 including these flags.
Here, information stored for four functions is shown, and each function includes a valid flag, a copy flag, and a data storage area for storing a valid character string. Here, one effective character string can be stored. However, the number of valid character strings is not limited to one.
In FIG. 23, the initial values of all valid flags are “ON”, and the initial values of all copy flags are “ON”.
For the marker function, since the entire selected character string is the target for executing the function, no copy flag is set, but information on the start position and end position of the selected character string (for example, the start position of a line The sequence number of the characters from).

In FIG. 21, when the character string analysis process is started, first, in step S151, all the valid flags for each function are initially set to ON.
In step S152, the invalid flag of the invalid function set in advance for the currently used content is turned off.
For example, in the case of content in which the marker function is disabled, the marker function cannot be executed, so the valid flag for that function is set to OFF.

In step S153, all the copy flags for each function are initially set to “ON”.
In step S154, the first character is read from the selected character string 133. At this time, the character type acquisition unit 140 acquires the character type of the first character.
However, if there is a space character at the beginning, the acquired character type is a space, and the space character is skipped. Then, a character other than the blank character that first appears behind is read, and the character type of the non-blank character is acquired. This is because if there is a space character at the beginning, the space is not a valid character in executing the function, and the user may have made a selection error.

In step S155, it is checked whether or not the acquired first character is a valid character that can execute the voice reproduction function. Whether or not it is a valid character is checked using the character type function correspondence information 132 shown in FIG. 15 to determine whether or not the character type of the first character is a valid character type corresponding to the voice reproduction function.
If it is not a valid character that can be executed by the voice reproduction function, the process proceeds to step S156, where the voice reproduction function valid flag is turned off (OFF), and the copy flag is turned off (OFF).
After step S156, or when the character is a valid character that can be executed by the voice reproduction function, the process proceeds to step S157.

In step S157, it is checked whether or not the first character is a valid character that can execute the S jump function. Here again, the check is performed using the character type function correspondence information 132 in the same manner as in step S155. If it is not a valid character, the process proceeds to step S158, and both the valid flag and copy flag of the S jump function are turned off.
Next, in step S159, it is checked whether or not the first character is a valid character that can execute the reading function. If it is not a valid character, the process proceeds to step S160, and both the valid flag and copy flag of the reading function are turned off (OFF).

In FIG. 16A, for example, when the selected character string is “abc def aiue”, the first character “a” is alphabetic. Therefore, when the above processing ends, the function selection analysis information 136 is A state as shown in FIG.
When the selected character string is “Aiueo gh”, the first character “A” is “Hiragana”, and thus the function selection analysis information 136 is in a state as shown in FIG.
In the case of FIG. 23A, all valid flags are on (ON), and all four functions are acquired as executable functions. However, in the case of FIG. 23B, only two functions of “S jump” and “marker” whose valid flag is on (ON) are acquired as executable functions.

After step S159 or S160 in FIG. 21, the process proceeds to step S161 in FIG.
In step S161, it is checked whether or not the copy flag of the audio reproduction function is “ON”. If the copy flag is on, the process advances to step S162 to check whether the currently read character is a character for which the sound reproduction function is valid.
If the voice playback function is not a valid character, the process proceeds to step S164, and the copy flag corresponding to the voice playback function is turned off.
If the voice reproduction function is valid, the process advances to step S163 to store the currently read character in the data area of the voice reproduction function in the function selection analysis information 136. For example, when the read character is “a”, it is an alphabetic character that can execute the voice reproduction function, and therefore “a” is stored in the data storage area of the voice reproduction function.

Next, even if any of the processes of steps S161, S163, and S164 is performed, the process proceeds to step S165.
In step S165, it is checked whether or not the copy flag of the S jump function is “ON”. When the copy flag is on, the process proceeds to step S166, and when it is not on, the process proceeds to step S169.
In step S166, it is checked whether or not the currently read character is a character for which the S jump function is valid. If it is a valid character, the process proceeds to step S167, and the character is stored in the data storage area of the S jump function.
On the other hand, if it is not a valid character, the copy flag of the S jump function is turned off.

Thereafter, in step S169, it is checked whether or not the copy flag of the reading function is on. If the copy flag is on, the process proceeds to step S170, and if not, the process proceeds to step S173.
If the currently read character is a character that can be read out in step S170, the process proceeds to step S171. If the character cannot be executed, the process proceeds to step S172.
In step S171, the currently read character is stored in the data storage area of the reading function. In step S172, the copy flag of the reading function is set to OFF.

After executing Steps S169, S171, or S172, in Step S173, it is checked whether or not the read character is the last character in the selected character string.
If it is the last character, the process is terminated. If it is not the last character, the process proceeds to step S174, the next character in the selected character string is read, and the process returns to step S161.
When character analysis is performed on all characters in the selected character string in this way, valid character strings to be executed for executable functions are stored in the respective data storage areas. For example, when the selected character string is “abc def aiue”, information 136 is determined as shown in FIG.

When attention is paid to the S jump function, “abc” is stored as an effective character string to be executed by the function. When attention is paid to the voice reproduction function, “abc” is an effective character string.
In the case of the read-out function, a character string “abc def” is stored as an effective character string.
If the selected character string is “Aiueo gh”, information 136 is set as shown in FIG.

Also, the marker data shown in FIG. 23E is set when step S104 is executed. FIG. 23E shows a case where the selected character string is “abc def aiue”.
Here, “10” of “WordNo” means a number assigned one-to-one for each headword, and the position of the first character of the selected character string is the “1” -th character, and the end character The position is the “12” th character, and the background color to be colored as the marker is set to “red”.

After the character string analysis process (step S102) as described above, the processes of steps S103 and S104 are executed, and the function designated by the user after the character selection is executed.

FIG. 24 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of the function selection screen display process (step S103).
In step S181, it is checked whether the audio playback function is valid. Here, it is checked whether or not the valid flag of the audio reproduction function of the information 136 is on (ON). If it is on, the process proceeds to step S183, and the function item for audio reproduction in the function selection screen 102 is displayed darkly.
On the other hand, if it is not on, the process proceeds to step S182, and the audio playback function item is displayed lightly. By making the display light, the user is informed that this function cannot be selected. Alternatively, the audio playback function item itself may not be displayed, or another distinction display indicating that the function item cannot be selected may be displayed.

Next, in step S184, it is checked whether the S jump function is valid. If it is valid, the process proceeds to step S186, and the function item of S jump is displayed darkly. If it is not valid, the process proceeds to step S185, and the S jump function item is displayed lightly.
Similarly, in steps S187 and S190, it is checked whether the reading function and the marker function are valid. If it is valid, the process proceeds to step S189 and step S192, respectively, and the reading or marker function item is displayed darkly.
If it is not valid, the process proceeds to step S188 and step S191, respectively, and each function item is displayed lightly. Thereby, a function selection screen as shown in FIGS. 16B and 16C is displayed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S104.

In this invention, the user needs a character string selection operation and a subsequent function selection operation. After the character string selection operation, as shown in FIG. 16B and FIG. The function selection screen 102 is displayed, and only the functions that can be executed corresponding to the character type of the first character of the selected character string are displayed on the screen so as to be selectable. Therefore, the user's operation until a desired function is executed is easy, and is easier to understand than when the function is selected first. In addition, since it is impossible to select a function that cannot be executed for the selected character string, it is possible to prevent an unintended function from being executed and to reduce erroneous operations by the user.

<Example 2 of character string selection and function selection>
25 and 26 are schematic explanatory views of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
Here, the character string selection process is the same as in the first embodiment, but the character string analysis process for the selected character string is different. Specifically, in the first embodiment, the effective character string to be executed is limited to one for the executable function, but in the second embodiment, the selected character string is separated by a blank character. If there are a plurality of character strings, not only the first character string but also the plurality of character strings are considered as valid character strings.

As shown in FIG. 25A, it is assumed that “abc def AIUE” is selected for the character string (abc def AIUEO GH) displayed on the display screen 101 as shown in FIG.
At this time, since the first character “a” is an alphabet, all four functions are acquired as executable functions, and four function items are displayed on the function selection screen 102.

In addition, in the selected character string, “abc”, “def”, and “aiue” are considered to be independent character strings separated by a space character, and therefore each of these character strings is regarded as a valid character. Can also be a candidate column.
Therefore, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 25C, a plurality of valid character strings can be stored in the data storage area for each function.

For example, for the audio reproduction function of FIG. 25C, the character strings “abc” and “def” starting with the alphabet are set as valid character strings.
For the S jump function, three character strings including the character string “Aiue” starting with hiragana are set as valid character strings. For the reading function, one character string “abc def” is set as an effective character string.
Further, the marker function sets one character string “abc def aiue” as an effective character string.

Assume that the user selects and inputs “voice playback function” with a pen in the state of FIG.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 25 (c), there are two character strings “abc” and “def” as valid character strings for which the “voice reproduction function” is executed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 25 (d), in order to have the user select which of the effective character strings to execute the “sound reproduction function”, the effective character string selection screen for the sound reproduction function. 103 is further displayed.
After the effective character string selection screen 103 is displayed, when the user selects either the “abc” or “def” display area with a pen, an effective character string for executing the voice reproduction function is determined. Then, the voice reproduction function is executed for the determined effective character string.
According to this, although the operation of displaying the selection screen 103 and having the user select is increased, since an effective character string is selected from the already selected character strings, it is more preferable than reselecting the selected character string. The series of operations is considered easy and easy for the user to understand.

FIG. 26 shows a case where “Aiueo gh” is selected as the selected character string. In this case, as shown in FIG. 26B, as in FIG. 16C, the function selection screen 102 is displayed so that four functions can be selected.
However, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 26C, an effective character string is determined for each function. For example, for the S jump function, two character strings “aiueo” and “gh” are effective character strings.
Therefore, when the S jump function is selected on the display screen 102, a screen for selecting one of the valid character strings “aiueo” and “gh” is displayed.

27 and 28 are flowcharts of the character string analysis process (S102) according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
Steps S201 and S202 are the same processes as steps S151 and S152 of FIG. 21, respectively.
In step S203, the copy flag of each function is initially set to “1”. In the second embodiment, the copy flag is not simply set to ON and OFF, but the valid character string is used as a flag indicating the position of the data storage area where copying is possible.

FIG. 29 shows an embodiment of the function selection analysis information 136 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 29A shows a state after step S203.
Here, the number of data storage areas for storing valid character strings is five, and up to five valid character strings can be stored for each function. However, the number of data storage areas is not limited to five, but may be two, six or more, and may be changed depending on the storage capacity.
Therefore, for example, when the copy flag is “1”, it means that the next valid character string to be stored is stored in the first data storage area.

In step S204, as in step S154, the first character is read and its character type is acquired.
If the first character is a blank character, it is skipped, and then the first non-blank character that appears in the selected character string is read out and its character type is acquired.
In step S205, it is checked whether the copy flag of the audio reproduction function is off. If the copy flag is not off, the process proceeds to step S206. If the copy flag is off, the process proceeds to step S211.

In step S206, it is checked whether or not the currently read character is a character for which the voice reproduction function is valid. Again, the character type of the read character is checked using the character type function correspondence information 132.
If it is a valid character, the process proceeds to step S207, and the currently read character is stored as a valid character in the data storage area of the voice reproduction function in the information 136. Here, the position of the data area to be stored is a numerical position set in the copy flag.

If the character is not valid, the process advances to step S208 to check whether the value of the copy flag of the current audio reproduction function is equal to or less than the number of data storage areas.
In the following cases, the process proceeds to step S209, and 1 is added to the copy flag. If not, the process proceeds to step S210, where the copy flag of the sound reproduction function is turned off, and the sound reproduction function is not copied to the data storage area.
After executing any of steps S207, S209, and S210, or when the copy flag is OFF in step S205, the process proceeds to step S211.

In step S211, it is checked whether the copy flag of the S jump function is off. If the copy flag is not off, the process proceeds to step S212. If the copy flag is off, the process proceeds to step S217.
The processing from step S212 to S216 is the same as the processing from step S206 to S210 in the audio reproduction function, and the audio reproduction function may be replaced with the S jump function.
If the read character is a valid character, the character is stored in the data storage area of the S jump function.
After executing any of steps S213, S215, and S216, the process proceeds to step S217.
In step S217, it is checked whether the copy flag of the reading function is off.

If this copy flag is not off, the process proceeds to step S218, and if not, the process proceeds to step S223.
The processing from step S218 to S222 is the same as the processing from step S206 to S210 described above, and the sound reproduction function may be replaced with the reading function.
If the read character is a valid character, the character is stored in the data storage area of the reading function.
After executing any of steps S219, S221, and S222, the process proceeds to step S223.

In step S223, it is checked whether or not the currently read character is the last character. If it is not the last character, the process proceeds to step S230, the next character in the selected character string is read, and the process returns to step S205. If it is the last character, the process proceeds to step S224 in FIG.
In steps S207, S213, and S219, when valid characters are stored, if characters are already stored, they are not overwritten but stored so as to be continuously added to the already stored characters.
If the process from step S205 to S223 is performed up to the last character of the selected character string, if there is a valid character string, the valid character string is stored in the data storage area for each corresponding function.

In step S224, it is checked whether or not a valid character string of the voice reproduction function is stored in the information 136. If no valid character string is stored in the data storage area of the voice reproduction function, the process proceeds to step S225, and the voice reproduction function valid flag is set to OFF.
When a valid character string is stored in step S224, or after the process of step S225, the process proceeds to step S226.

In step S226, it is checked whether a valid character string of the S jump function is stored. If not stored, the process proceeds to step S227. If stored, the process proceeds to step S228.
In step S227, the S jump function valid flag is set to OFF.
In step S228, it is checked whether or not an effective character string for the reading function is stored. If not stored, the process proceeds to step S229, and the valid flag of the reading function is set to OFF. If stored, or after the process of step S229, the character string analysis process is terminated.

FIG. 29A shows the function selection analysis information 136 when the selected character string is “abc def Aiue”, and FIG. 29B shows the function selection analysis information 136 when the selected character string is “Aiueo gh”. These show the state after step S203 is executed.
FIG. 29C shows the state of the information 136 after all the processes of FIGS. 27 and 28 are performed on the selected character “abc def Aiue”.
In FIG. 29C, for example, the voice reproduction function is an executable function, and two character strings “abc” and “def” are stored as effective character strings to be executed.
In the S jump function, three character strings are stored as effective character strings, and in the reading function, one character string “abc def” is stored.

FIG. 29 (d) shows information 136 for the selected character string “Aiueo gh”. Here, for example, in the S jump function, two character strings “aiueo” and “gh” are stored as valid character strings.
The marker data in FIG. 29 (e) is the same as in FIG. 23 (e).

FIG. 30 shows a flowchart of the function selection screen display according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
First, the same function selection screen display processing as the processing from steps S181 to S192 shown in FIG. 24 is performed. Thereby, the function selection screen 102 as shown in FIG. 25B is displayed.
In step S193, function selection processing is executed.
Here, the user is allowed to touch-input any one of the function items displayed on the function selection screen, and the function of the touch-input function item is selected as a function to be executed.
Next, it is checked whether or not there are a plurality of stored effective character strings for the function selected in step S194. When there are not a plurality of valid character strings, that is, when there is one valid character string, the process is terminated.

If there are a plurality of valid character strings, the process advances to step S195 to perform processing for displaying a screen for selecting a valid character string (for example, a valid character string selection screen 103 in FIG. 25D). The user can know that there are a plurality of character strings to be executed by looking at this screen 103, and therefore touch-input with the pen which character string is to be executed.
In step S196, when a touch input of an effective character string to be executed by the user is performed, a process of selecting the touched effective character string is performed.
Thereafter, the function selection execution process of step S104 is executed. In step S104, the function selected in step S193 is executed for the valid character string selected in step S196.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the user needs to perform a function selection operation using the function selection screen and an effective character string selection operation using the effective character string selection screen. However, the user need not be aware of what functions can be performed on the first selected character string, and does not need to perform a character string selection operation. Even so, the desired function can be executed, and the user's operation is easy and easy to understand. In addition, when the selected character string includes a plurality of valid character strings, not only the first character string but also other character strings behind can be selected as valid character string candidates. Compared with the case of selecting again, the user's operation is easier and easier to understand.

According to the present invention, after a desired character string is selected, a function that can be executed on the selected character string is selected, so that the operation is easy and understandable for the user, and erroneous operations are reduced. It is possible to improve user operability.

The electronic apparatus according to the present invention improves the operability by displaying the operation functions that can be executed on the character string selected in the range, and reduces the user's operation mistakes.
FIG. 31 shows a block diagram of an electronic device 200 according to the present invention.
The electronic device 200 according to the present invention is embodied as a small portable electronic device such as an electronic dictionary. The electronic device is divided into an upper body and a lower body, and the upper body and the lower body can be folded by a hinge mechanism. Combined with The upper body is provided with a display unit, and the lower body is provided with an electronic device control unit. The display unit provided in the upper body has a large screen that occupies most of the area of the upper body, and displays various types of information. For example, when the electronic device is an electronic dictionary, the entered headwords, instructions, and commands are displayed. In addition, a translation (meaning), explanation, related information, phonetic symbols, and example sentences corresponding to the headword are displayed. The electronic device 200 of the present invention controls display of a display unit provided in the upper main body. As described above, dividing the electronic device into the upper main body and the lower main body and foldably connecting them by the hinge mechanism is not essential in the present invention, and may be integrated.
On the surface of the lower main body, a keyboard is disposed and a small-screen touch panel is disposed. The small-screen touch panel is used as a handwritten character input unit, or as an instruction unit or a command unit using a pen or a finger. In the present invention, there may be a configuration in which there is no small-screen touch panel on the surface of the lower main body.
In the following description, an electronic dictionary will be described as an example. However, the electronic device control device of the present invention can be applied to a PDA, a mobile phone, a notebook personal computer, or the like.

The electronic device 200 of the present invention includes an input / output device unit 201, a program unit 202, a data unit 203, a control unit 204, and a temporary storage unit 205.

The input / output device unit 201 includes a display unit 211, a key input unit 212, a touch panel input unit 213, and a mouse input unit 214.
The display unit 211 is typically a liquid crystal display device, but it is also possible to use a display device such as an organic EL display device, a plasma display device, or electronic paper. For example, when the display unit 211 is an electronic device in which the upper main body and the lower main body are foldably coupled, the display unit 211 is disposed on the upper main body and has a display screen having the same area as the upper main body. The display unit 211 includes a content display unit 211a and a function selection display unit 211b. The content display unit 211a and the function selection display unit 211b may be displayed as windows on the display screen of the display unit 211.
The content display unit 211a displays the headwords input from the key input unit 212, and displays translations (meaning), explanations, related information, phonetic symbols, example sentences, and the like as search results of the headwords. The content display unit 211a also displays symbols, figures, tables, photographs, moving pictures, and the like in addition to the character string. In the present invention, it is assumed that the character string is mainly displayed.
The function selection display part 211b is a part that displays the action function items that can be executed after the user selects a character range, and is preferably displayed automatically. In addition, it is preferable that the function items displayed on the function selection display unit 211b are displayed only on executable function items based on the character type function correspondence information.

The key input unit 212 is a QWERTY keyboard and is arranged on the surface of the lower main body. Use this keyboard to enter headwords such as letters and numbers. In addition, instructions and commands are input to the electronic dictionary using the keyboard. Here, the keyboard is not limited to the QWERTY format keyboard described above, but may be an “aiueo keyboard” in which hiragana is arranged in the order of the Japanese syllabary or a dedicated keyboard corresponding to other languages.

The touch panel input unit 213 is a part that is input with a pen or a finger on a touch panel arranged on the front surface of the display unit 211, and is used as a handwriting input unit, a position instruction unit, a screen selection unit, and a range selection unit. There are analog resistance film method, ultrasonic surface acoustic wave method, infrared shading method, capacitance method, electromagnetic induction method, and image recognition method for touch panel. Any of these can be used, but here, analog resistance film method is used. did. In addition, a touch panel input unit may be provided in a display unit arranged in the vicinity of the keyboard unit arranged in the lower main body, and may be used as a handwriting input unit, position instruction, screen selection, and range selection. However, in this invention, you may be the structure which does not have a touchscreen input part on the surface of a lower side main body.
In place of the touch panel input unit 213 or together with the touch panel input unit 213, a mouse input unit 214 is provided. Using the mouse input unit 214, an arbitrary position is designated, a screen is selected, and an area such as a character range is displayed. Can be directed.

The program unit 202 includes a display processing unit 219, a key input receiving unit 220, a touch panel input receiving unit 221, a content headword search processing unit 222, a content example sentence search processing unit 223, a content phrase search processing unit 224, a content display processing unit 225, A display buffer unit 226, a touch panel input position information determination unit 227, a displayed content state determination unit 228, a character type acquisition unit 229, and a function acquisition unit 230 are provided. In addition, although not shown, an electronic dictionary control program, a document creation program, and a chart creation program are provided.

The display processing unit 219 is a part that processes display data of the display unit 211.
The key input receiving unit 220 is a part that receives an input from the key input unit 212 and processes key operation information.
The touch panel input receiving unit 221 is a part that receives input from the touch panel input unit 213 operated by a pen or a finger and detects input coordinates or an input coordinate area. In addition, it accepts an input from the touch panel input unit of the display unit 211 arranged in the vicinity of the keyboard, and detects an input coordinate or an input coordinate region. When the mouse input unit 214 is provided, an input operation of the mouse input unit 214 is accepted, and mouse operation information, for example, an instruction operation for designating an arbitrary position, a screen selection operation for selecting a screen, and an area operation for designating an area Process information.
The key input unit 212 for inputting the keyword, the touch panel input unit 213 for specifying a keyword range, or the mouse 214 for specifying a keyword range constitutes a character selection unit.

The content headword search processing unit 222 is stored in the data unit 203 using a keyword input from the key input unit 212, a keyword specified by the touch panel input unit 213, or a keyword specified by the mouse 214. This is a part for searching for a headword in the content headword search information database unit 231. The content headword search processing unit 222 is used when the input keyword is one English word, and searches the content headword search information database unit 231 using one English word as a keyword.
The content example sentence search processing unit 223 determines that the keyword input from the key input unit 212, the keyword specified by the touch panel input unit 213, or the keyword specified by the mouse input unit 214 is a plurality of English words. In addition, the content example sentence search information database unit 232 stored in the data unit 203 is searched. When the keyword input from the key input unit 212, the keyword specified by the touch panel input unit 213, or the keyword specified by the mouse input unit 214 is a plurality of English words, the content phrase search processing unit 224 The content phrase search information database unit 233 stored in the data unit 203 is searched.

The content display processing unit 225 includes a content headword list display information database unit 234, a content example sentence list display information database unit 235, a content phrase list display information database unit 236, a content headword explanation unit display information database unit 237, and a content example sentence unit display. The information database unit 238 and the content phrase part display information database unit 239 are connected to process the content display information.
The display buffer unit 226 is a part that temporarily stores display data to be processed by the display processing unit 219.
The touch panel input position information determination unit 227 is a part that determines an input position from the input coordinate information received by the touch panel input reception unit 221. The touch panel input position information determination unit 227 determines whether there is a character or no character at the input position.
The display content state determination unit 228 is a unit that determines the display state of the content being displayed from the display data temporarily stored in the display buffer unit 226. For example, it is determined whether one screen is being displayed or multiple screens are being displayed. In addition, it is determined whether the position designated by the touch pen or the mouse is a display part or a display part of the content.

The character type acquisition unit 229 discriminates and acquires a character string input from the key input unit 212, a character string specified by the touch panel input unit 213, or a character string specified by the mouse input unit 214. Part. For example, an English word, a plurality of English words, a sentence including two or more languages such as Japanese, Japanese and English, or a sentence including a symbol other than a language is determined, and the character type is acquired. Here, the characters of two or more languages are characters of two or more languages used in the dictionary installed in the electronic dictionary.
The function acquisition unit 230 is a part that acquires a function corresponding to a character type as character type function correspondence information from the range selection character type correspondence table 240 for each function shown in FIG.

The data unit 203 includes a content headword search information database unit 231, a content example sentence search information database unit 232, a content phrase search information database unit 233, a content headword list display information database unit 234, and a content example sentence list display information database. Part 235, content phrase list display information database part 236, content headword commentary part display information database part 237, content example sentence part display information database part 238, content phrase part display information database part 239, and range for each function A selected character type correspondence table 240 is provided.

The content entry word search information database unit 231 includes an entry word search information storage unit 231a for content 1, an entry word search information storage unit 231b for content 2, an entry word search information storage unit 231c,. The content headword search information database unit 231 stores search information whose search keyword is one English word. In the content headword search information database unit 231, when the keyword is one English word, the content headword search processing unit 222 searches the search information using the keyword. Here, the contents are language dictionaries such as a national language dictionary, a kanji dictionary, an English dictionary, a German dictionary, a French dictionary, and a Chinese dictionary. • A specialized terminology dictionary, including an encyclopedia, a modern term dictionary, a legal term dictionary, other dictionaries, and a dictionary. These contents are merely examples, and need not be provided with all, but can be selected as appropriate. The same applies to the following. The content headword search processing unit 222 searches for headwords in the information content headword search information database unit 231.

The content example sentence search information database unit 232 includes an example sentence search information storage unit 232a for content 1, an example sentence search information storage unit 232b for content 2, an example sentence search information storage unit 232c for content 3. The content example sentence search information database unit 232 stores example sentence search information whose search keyword is a plurality of English words. When the keyword is a plurality of English words, the content example sentence search processing unit 223 searches the content example sentence search information database unit 232 for the example sentence by the keyword.

The content phrase search information database unit 233 includes a phrase search information storage unit 233a for content 1, a phrase search information storage unit 233b for content 2, a phrase search information storage unit 233c for content 3. The content phrase search information database unit 233 stores phrase search information whose search keyword is a plurality of English words. When the keyword is a plurality of English words, the content phrase search processing unit 224 searches the phrase search information in the content phrase search information database unit 233 using the keyword.

Here, the phrase search will be described. For example, when performing a phrase search with two keywords having the first keyword “a” and the second keyword “lot”, the search keyword is a plurality of English words. The phrase search information storage unit 233b of the content 2 shown is searched. First, whether or not there is a list having the first keyword “a” in the list of the content phrase search information storage unit 233b with the first keyword is searched. As a result, the phrase information No1 and No3 in which “a” exists are searched in the content phrase search information storage unit 233b. Next, whether or not the second keyword “lot” exists is searched for the searched phrase information No1 and No3. As a result, the phrase information No1 is searched.
In the above example, a case where a search is performed using two keywords has been described. If there is a third keyword, the above search is repeated until there are no more keywords. The information in the content phrase display information storage unit 239b corresponding to the phrase information in the content phrase search information storage unit 233b remaining until the end is the phrase search result. In this example, “a lot of many” of the phrase information No 1 is displayed on the display unit 211.

The content headword list display information database unit 234 includes a headword list display information storage unit 234a for content 1, a headword list display information storage unit 234b for content 2, a headword list display information storage unit 234c for content 3. Is provided. The content headword list display information database unit 234 stores headword list display information of the contents 1 to n, and when the headword list display information of the content k is searched by a keyword, the searched headword list display is displayed. Information is output.

The content example sentence list display information database unit 235 includes an example sentence list display information storage unit 235a for content 1, an example sentence list display information storage unit 235b for content 2, an example sentence list display information storage unit 235c for content 3. The content example sentence list display information database unit 235 stores example sentence list display information of the contents 1 to n, and when the example sentence list display information of the content k is searched by a keyword, the searched example sentence list display information is output. The

The content phrase list display information database unit 236 includes a phrase list display information storage unit 236a for content 1, a phrase list display information storage unit 236b for content 2, a phrase list display information storage unit 236c for content 3, and so on. The content phrase list display information database unit 236 stores the phrase list display information of the contents 1 to n, and when the phrase list display information of the content k is searched by a keyword, the searched phrase list display information is output. The

The content headword commentary part display information database unit 237 includes a headword commentary part display information storage part 237a for content 1, a headword commentary part display information storage part 237b for content 2, and a headword commentary part display information storage part for content 3. 237c... The content headword commentary part display information database unit 237 stores headword word commentary part display information of the contents 1 to n. The content headword commentary part display information database unit 237 stores related data or link information related to the content headword commentary part display information database part 237 in addition to the headword word commentary part display information of the contents 1 to n. It doesn't matter. The content headword explanation section display information database section 237 stores headword explanation section display information of the contents 1 to n, and when the comment section display information of the content k is searched by a keyword, the searched headword explanation Part display information is output.

The content example sentence part display information database part 238 includes an example sentence part display information storage part 238a for content 1, an example sentence part display information storage part 238b for content 2, an example sentence part display information storage part 238c for content 3. The content example sentence display information database unit 238 stores example sentence information of the contents 1 to n. Content that does not have an example sentence can omit the example sentence part display information storage part. The example sentence is shown as related data corresponding to the comment section display information, and the related data may be stored. The content example sentence display information database unit 238 stores example sentence part display information of the contents 1 to n, and when the example sentence part display information of the content k is searched by a keyword, the searched example sentence part display information is output. The

The content phrase part display information database part 239 includes a phrase part display information storage part 239a for content 1, a phrase part display information storage part 239b for content 2, a phrase part display information storage part 239c for content 3, and so on. The content phrase display information database unit 239 stores phrase information of the contents 1 to n. The content without phrase information can omit the phrase display information storage unit. The content phrase part display information database part 239 stores the phrase part display information of the contents 1 to n, and when the phrase part display information of the content k is searched by a keyword, the searched phrase part display information is output. The

The control unit 204 reads out the electronic dictionary control program, document creation program, and chart creation program provided in the program unit 202, and sequentially operates each unit according to each program, thereby realizing the display control method of the present invention.
The temporary storage unit 205 is a part that temporarily stores various data.

32 shows a content headword search information database unit 231, a content headword list display information base unit 234, a content headword explanation unit display information database unit 237, a content phrase search information database unit 233, and a content phrase list display information database unit 236. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a content phrase part display information database part 239, a content example sentence search information database part 232, a content example sentence list display information database part 235, and a content example sentence part display information database part 238.
In FIG. 2, a content headword search information database unit 231, a content headword list display information base unit 234, and a content headword commentary display information database unit 237 constitute a set of databases for headword search. The content phrase search information database unit 233, the content phrase list display information database unit 236, and the content phrase display information database unit 239 constitute a set of databases for phrase search. Furthermore, the content example sentence search information database 232, the content example sentence list display information database 235, and the content example sentence part display information database unit 238 constitute a set of databases for example sentence search for example sentence search.

FIG. 32A shows an entry word search information storage unit 231a for content 1, entry word list display information storage unit 234a for content 1 and entry word commentary part display information storage for content 1 when content 1 is a national language dictionary. An example of the part 237a is shown only partially. Further, only a part of the phrase search information storage unit 233a of the content 1, the phrase list display information storage unit 236a of the content 1, and the phrase display information storage unit 239a of the content 1 are illustrated.
Since content 1 has no example sentence information, the example sentence search information storage unit, the example sentence list display information storage unit, and the example sentence part display information storage unit are omitted.

FIG. 32B shows a headword search information storage section 231b for content 2, a headword list display information storage section 234b for content 2, and a headword comment section display information storage for content 2 when content 1 is an English dictionary. An example of the part 237a is shown only partially. Further, only a part of the phrase search information storage unit 233b of the content 2, the phrase list display information storage unit 236b of the content 2, and the phrase display information storage unit 239b of the content 2 are shown. Furthermore, examples of the content 2 example sentence search information storage unit 232b, the content 2 example sentence list display information storage unit 235b, and the content 2 example sentence part display information storage unit 238b are only partially shown.

32, the headword search information storage unit 231k for the content k, the headword list display information storage unit 234k for the content k, the headword commentary display information storage unit 237k for the content k, and the phrase search information storage unit 233k for the content k. , The phrase list display information storage unit 236k of the content k, the phrase display information storage unit 239k of the content k, the example sentence search information storage unit 232k of the content k, the example sentence list display information storage unit 235k of the content k, and the example sentence display of the content k The information storage unit 238k is provided for each of n pieces of content, but is not shown.

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 32A, a headword search information storage unit 231k for content k, a headword list display information storage unit 234k for content k, and a headword commentary display information storage unit for content k 237k, phrase search information storage unit 233k for content k, phrase list display information storage unit 236k for content k, phrase display information storage unit 239k for content k, example sentence search information storage unit 232k for content k, example sentence list display for content k The information storage unit 235k and the example sentence part display information storage unit 238k of the content k are referred to as related contents. The contents stored in FIGS. 32A, 32B,... Are referred to as irrelevant contents.
That is, headword search information, headword list display information, headword commentary display information, phrase search information, phrase list display information, phrase phrase display information, example sentence search information, example sentence list display information, and example sentences having the same content number The part display information is related contents, and entry word search information, entry word list display information, entry word commentary part display information, phrase search information, phrase list display information, phrase part display information, and example sentence search information with different content numbers The example sentence list display information and the example sentence part display information are irrelevant contents.

32, the headword search

information storage units

231a, 231b,... Of the content k shown in FIG. When there are one or more search results, the corresponding headword is output from the headword list display

information storage units

234a, 234b,... And displayed on the display unit 211. If there is only one search result, the comment information corresponding to the head word is read from the head word comment part display

information storage units

237a, 237b,... And displayed on the display unit 211. However, when there are a plurality of search results, a plurality of headwords are displayed on the display unit 211. When one of a plurality of headwords is selected, the corresponding comment information is read from the headword comment section display

information storage sections

237a, 237b,... And displayed on the display section 211.

In the phrase search, when a plurality of words are keywords, the keyword search of the phrase search

information storage units

233a, 233b,. When there are one or more search results, the corresponding phrase is output from the phrase list display

information storage units

236a, 236b,... And displayed on the display unit 211. If there is only one search result, the phrase information corresponding to the phrase is read from the phrase part display

information storage units

239a, 239b,... And displayed on the display unit 211. However, when there are a plurality of search results, a plurality of phrases are displayed on the display unit 211, and when one of them is selected, corresponding phrase information is obtained from the phrase section display

information storage units

239a, 239b,. It is read out and displayed on the display unit 211.

Furthermore, in the example sentence search, when a plurality of words are keywords, the example sentence of the example sentence search

information storage units

232a, 232b,. When the search result is one or more, the corresponding example sentence is output from the example sentence list display

information storage units

235a, 235b,... And displayed on the display unit 211. If there is only one search result, the example sentence information corresponding to the example sentence is read from the example sentence part display

information storage parts

238a, 238b,... And displayed on the display part 211. However, when there are a plurality of search results, a plurality of example sentences are displayed on the display unit 211, and when one of them is selected, the corresponding example sentence information is obtained from the example sentence part display

information storage units

238a, 239b,. It is read out and displayed on the display unit 211.

FIG. 33 shows, in a tabular form, character type function correspondence information in which an operation function that can be executed by an electronic device and a character type of a character to be executed for each operation function are associated with each other. Table 240 is shown. The present invention selects an operating function based on this table.

As shown in FIG. 33, the electronic dictionary has an MP3 voice playback function, a TTS text reading function, an S jump function (English word search, phrase search and example sentence search), and a marker function. In the present invention, the “MP3 voice playback function” is a function that consists of only English words whose selected character string is an alphabet (English letter) and outputs a reading of one English word by voice. The “TTS sentence reading function” is a function in which a selected character string is composed of a plurality of English words and a plurality of English words are output as synthesized speech. “S jump function” means selected English word (word search), selected multiple English words (speech search), or selected Japanese (for example, a character string including kanji, hiragana, katakana) This is a function for searching commentary part display information, phrase part display information, and example sentence part display information corresponding to the headword from an English dictionary or Japanese dictionary installed in the electronic dictionary. Note that the selected character string is not limited to English words or Japanese character strings, and can be selected in languages other than English and Japanese as long as they are displayed. In that case, content information corresponding to the language is searched. The “marker function” is a function for displaying all selected characters and symbol portions in a color different from the character display color. Or, it is a function for adding an underline to all selected characters and symbols.
If the electronic dictionary has a dictionary for languages other than Japanese and English (such as Chinese), it can be executed not only for Japanese and English words and English but also for words and sentences in other languages. It is assumed that a function is predetermined and a specific function is executed corresponding to the selected character string.

The character types included in the range selection for these operation functions are limited as follows. The MP3 audio playback function can be executed when an English word (1 word) is selected. The TTS text-to-speech function can be executed when an English word (1 word) or a plurality of English words (English words of a plurality of words) is selected. A plurality of English words are determined by whether or not there is a space between English words. The S jump function can be executed when an English word (1 word), a plurality of English words, or Japanese is selected. When an English word (1 word) is selected, a word search is executed, and when a plurality of English words are selected, a phrase search and an example sentence search are executed. The marker function can be executed when an English word, a plurality of English words, Japanese, characters in two or more languages are included, or a symbol is selected. Here, the characters of two or more languages may be characters of two or more languages used in a dictionary installed in the electronic dictionary.
In this embodiment, the MP3 audio reproduction function can be executed for English words, but if word audio reproduction can be executed for other languages, it can be executed when the language is selected. Similarly, the TTS text-to-speech reading function can be executed for English words (1 word) or English texts (English words of a plurality of words). Executable when a language is selected.

In other words, when the character included in the range selection is an English word (1 word), any of the MP3 voice reproduction function, the TTS sentence reading function, the S jump function (word search), and the marker function can be executed. When the range-selected characters are a plurality of English words (a plurality of English words), the TTS sentence reading function, the S jump function (singe phrase search and example sentence search), and the marker function can be executed. . If the selected character is Japanese, the S jump function and the marker function can be executed. The marker function can be executed when the characters included in the range selection include characters in two or more languages used in a dictionary installed in the electronic dictionary, or for symbols.
The present invention acquires an operation function that can execute a character type by selecting a character string range and detecting a character type included in the character string range.

FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram for selecting an operation function of the electronic device of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 34 (a), the user starts selecting a desired character range from the meanings or example sentences of the headwords obtained by searching the headwords or headwords input from the key input unit 212. . FIG. 34A shows a case where a desired character range is selected from an example sentence “say”. The selection of the character range can be arbitrarily selected by the user regardless of the character type. FIG. 34B shows a state where a desired character range is selected. FIG. 34B shows a case where the English word “That” is selected as the first character of the selection range, and then the English word “without” is selected as the end of the selection range. The selected range is displayed to the user by inverting the monochrome display of characters.

In this way, when the user selects a desired character range, the electronic dictionary uses the character type acquisition unit 229 to analyze the character types included in the selected range. Based on this analysis, the function acquisition unit 230 acquires an executable function that can be executed from the table shown in FIG. In FIG. 34B, “That goes without” is selected, and in this case, a plurality of English words are selected. Therefore, the operation functions that can be executed in this case from the table of FIG. 33 are the TTS sentence reading function, the S jump function (speech search and example sentence search), and the marker function. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 34 (d), the function window is automatically displayed, and executable operation functions (TTS sentence reading function, S jump function (speech search and example sentence search), and marker function) are displayed. To display. As for the display location of the function window, the vicinity of the selected character string is easy for the user to understand and is convenient for operation. The operation functions (that is, MP3 sound) other than the executable operation functions (TTS sentence reading function, S jump function and marker function) displayed in the function window may be grayed out so as not to be selected by the user. When the user selects a desired operation function from the displayed operation functions, the selected operation function is activated and executed.
FIG. 34 (d) opens a window and displays the operation functions of the TTS text reading function, the S jump function, and the marker function. As shown in FIG. 34 (e), the display screen is divided into upper and lower parts. Each operation function of the TTS text reading function, S jump function, and marker function that can be executed may be displayed on the screen.
If the character range is selected incorrectly, the character range may be selected again without selecting the operation function displayed on the function window or the lower screen.

The above operation is also performed when English words, Japanese sentences, characters in two or more languages used in a dictionary installed in an electronic dictionary are included, or when a symbol is selected. Note that in the case of including characters in two or more languages used in the dictionary installed in the electronic dictionary, the only operation function that can be executed is the marker function, so FIG. 34 (d) or FIG. 34 (e) As shown, the marker function may be automatically executed without displaying an executable operation function and without causing the user to perform a selection operation. In other words, when two or more languages used in the dictionary installed in the electronic dictionary are included, or when a symbol is selected, a marker is immediately added to the selected character portion to reduce the user's operation. And the usability of the electronic device is improved.
This means that not only when characters in two or more languages are included, but when there is only one executable operation function, that operation function is automatically executed.

FIG. 34 shows a case where a plurality of words are selected, such as “That goes」 without ”, but the S jump function of the present invention operates differently when one word and a plurality of words are selected. Next, this will be described. That is, the S jump function includes a one-word search and a phrase search. In the present invention, a one-word search is performed for one word and a phrase search is performed for a plurality of words. Here, the plurality of words is, for example, the number of words included in one sentence, and is usually 2, 3 to 4, 5 words.

FIG. 35 shows an explanatory diagram of the S jump function (speech search or example sentence search) of the present invention. FIG. 35 (a) shows a screen in which the user selects a desired character range using an English-English dictionary. Show. Here, “look at” is selected from the English-English dictionary. As described above, when there are a plurality of selected English words, as described above, the executable operation functions are the TTS sentence reading function, the S jump function (sung phrase search and example sentence search), and the marker function. is there.
In FIG. 35 (b), executable operation functions (TTS sentence reading function, S jump function (phrase search and example sentence search), and marker function) are displayed on the display unit, and the MP3 voice reproduction function is grayed out. Show the state. Next, when the S jump function is selected, the phrase search is executed because the selected number of words is plural. FIG. 35 (c) shows the display result of the phrase search.
FIG. 35D shows a search result when the example sentence search is selected in the S jump function. That is, "Look at the time! We're going to be late. Can't you look where you're going?"

36 and 37 are explanatory diagrams of the S jump function different from FIG.
FIG. 36A shows a case where the selected English word is one word, and shows that “look” has been selected. When the selected word is one, it is a one-word search, so a one-word search is performed, and the search result is output as shown in FIG. However, as shown in FIG. 37 (a), when there are a plurality of selected English words (“look at”), the phrase search and the example sentence search are performed, so the phrase search or the example sentence search is performed, and the search is performed. The result is output. FIG. 37 (b) shows the result of phrase search, and FIG. 37 (c) shows the result of example sentence search.
The present invention can perform the S jump function (word search and phrase search or example sentence search) as shown in FIG. 35 or FIG. 36 and FIG. 37. However, as shown in FIG. Is preferably displayed on the display unit.

FIG. 38 shows a flowchart of the control device of the present invention.
In the flowchart of FIG. 38, in a state where a headword or content is displayed on the display screen of the display unit, in step S301, the user touches a desired character on the display screen using a touch pen. This touch operation is input from the touch panel input unit 213, processed by the touch panel input receiving unit 221, and the position on the display screen is detected by the display buffer 226. Although the operation using the touch pen is described here, the same operation can be performed using the key input unit 212 or the mouse input unit 214. The following operations are the same. By this operation, range selection is started in step S302. Next, in step S303, the user moves the touch pen to move the selection range. When the desired character range is selected, the user performs an operation of releasing the touch pen from the display screen (step S304). With this operation, the selection range is determined, and the range selection operation is terminated (step S305).

Next, in step S306, the electronic dictionary obtains the character string of the portion whose range has been selected by the display buffer unit 226 and the touch panel input position information determination unit 227. In step S307, the character type acquisition unit 229 determines the character type included in the character string, and acquires the character type. In step S308, it is determined whether or not the determination result in step S307 is only the alphabet. When it is only an alphabet (in the case of Yes), it transfers to step S309 and it is judged whether several English words are contained. Whether there is one or more English words is determined by whether or not there is a space between the English words. When a plurality of English words are included (Yes), the process proceeds to step S310, and it is determined that the character type of the selected character string is “English”. If it is determined in step S309 that a plurality of English words are not included (in the case of No), the process proceeds to step S311 and it is determined that the character type of the selected character string is “English words”.

In step S308, if the character string of the portion selected in the range is not only the alphabet (in the case of No), the process proceeds to step S312 and it is determined whether it is only Japanese. If it is only Japanese (in the case of Yes), the process proceeds to step S313, and it is determined that the character type of the selected character string is “Japanese”. However, if it is not only Japanese (in the case of No) in step S312, the process proceeds to step S314, and the character type of the selected character string is “characters of two or more languages used in the dictionary installed in the electronic dictionary, Or it is determined to be a symbol. For example, it is determined that the language is Japanese and English.
When a language other than English or Japanese (for example, Chinese) is determined, a step for determining other languages may be inserted between step S312 and step S314.

As described above, the character string of the selected part is “English”, “English word”, “Japanese” or “characters or symbols of two or more languages used in the dictionary installed in the electronic dictionary” In step S315, the character type of the selected character string is determined. In step S316, the function acquisition unit 230 accesses the correspondence table of range selection character types for each function shown in FIG. Next, in step S317, whether each function is valid or invalid is acquired from the correspondence table of FIG. Next, in step S318, the window is opened or the screen is divided, and the enabled function is displayed as “selectable” on the lower screen, and the disabled function is displayed as “not selectable”. That is, it is displayed as shown in FIG. 34 (d) or (e). In step S318, when there is one selectable operation function, that is, in step S314, it is determined that “a character or symbol of two or more languages used in a dictionary installed in the electronic dictionary”. In this case, an operation function (that is, a marker function) that can be selected immediately without opening the window may be executed.

Next, in step S319, it is determined whether or not the S jump function is selected from the functions displayed as “selectable”. When the S jump function is not selected (in the case of No), in step S320, the selected function, for example, the MP3 voice function, the TTS function, and the marker function is executed for the selected character string, and this flow is executed. finish.

When the S jump function is selected in the above step S319 (in the case of Yes), it is determined in step S321 whether or not a plurality of English words are included in the selected character string. If a plurality of English words are included (in the case of Yes), the process moves to step S322 to display that the phrase search and the example sentence search can be selected. The display format is the same as that shown in FIG. 34 (d) or FIG. 34 (e). In step S322, it is determined whether or not the phrase search is selected for the displayed phrase search or example sentence search. When the phrase search is selected, the process proceeds to step S323, and the content phrase search information storage unit 333b, the content phrase list display information storage unit 336b, and the content phrase part display information storage unit are selected using the selected plurality of English words as keywords. Search for 339b. Then, the search result is displayed on the display unit 311 and this flow is finished.
However, if an example sentence search instead of a phrase search is selected in step S322, the process proceeds to step S324, and the content example sentence search information storage unit 332b and the content example sentence list display information storage are performed using the selected English words as keywords. The part 235b and the content example sentence part display information storage part 238b are searched. And a search result is displayed on the display part 211 and this flow is complete | finished.
If a plurality of English words are not included in the selected character string in the above step S321, the process proceeds to step S325 to search for a headword that matches the selected English word from the headword search information database 231; The search result is displayed on the display unit 11, and this flow is finished.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Input part 11 Character selection part 12 Function selection part 20 Display part 30 Storage part 32 Character type function corresponding information 33 Selected character string 34 Effective character string 35 Acquisition character type 36 Selection function 37 Content information 40 Character judgment part 50 Effective character string determination part 60 Display control unit 70 Function execution unit

110 Input unit 111 Character selection unit 112 Function selection unit 120 Display unit 121 Character string display unit 122 Function selection screen display unit 130 Storage unit 132 Character type function correspondence information 133 Selected character string 134 Valid character string 135 First character type 136 Function selection analysis information 137 Content information 140 Character type acquisition unit 150 Effective character string determination unit 160 Function acquisition unit 170 Function execution unit

201 Input / Output Device Unit 202 Program Unit 203 Data Unit 204 Control Unit 205 Temporary Storage Unit 211 Display Unit 212 Key Input Unit 213 Touch Panel Input Unit 229 Character Type Acquisition Unit 230 Function Acquisition Unit 231 Content Headword Search Information Database Unit 232 Content Example Word Search Information Database section 233 Content phrase search information database section 234 Content headword list display information database section 235 Content example sentence list display information database section 236 Content phrase list display information database section 237 Content headword comment section display information database section 238 Content sentence section display information Database part 239 Content phrase part display information database part 240 Range selection character type correspondence table for each function

Claims

A display for displaying content information including character strings;
A storage unit that stores character type function correspondence information in which one or more functions are associated with character types of characters to be executed for each function;
A function selection section for selecting a function to be executed;
A character selection unit for selecting a desired character string from the content information displayed on the display unit after selecting a function;
With reference to the character type function correspondence information, it is determined whether or not there is a character of an effective character type capable of executing the function selected by the function selection unit in the character string selected by the character selection unit. A character judging section;
When the character determination unit determines that there is a character of an effective character type, the effective character string determination that determines the effective character string to be executed from the selected character string selected by the character selection unit And an information processing apparatus.
A display control unit is further provided, wherein the display control unit causes the display unit to display the character string selected by the character selection unit in a display form different from that of the character string not selected. Item 4. The information processing apparatus according to Item 1.
The display control unit further includes a display control unit configured to display the effective character string determined by the effective character string determination unit in a display form different from other character strings displayed on the display unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is displayed.
The function execution part which performs the function which should be performed selected by the said function selection part with respect to the effective character string determined by the said effective character string determination part is further provided. The information processing apparatus according to any one of the above.
The effective character string determined by the effective character string determining unit is a character string that includes characters having an effective character type capable of executing the selected function, and is included in the selected character string. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
When the character determining unit determines that there is a character having an effective character type that can execute the function selected by the function selecting unit in the selected character string, the effective character string determining unit The information processing according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a character string from the first character having the effective character type to a character having the effective character type is determined as an effective character string. apparatus.
When the last position of the character string selected by the character selection unit is a character of a valid character type,
The effective character string determination unit determines a character string including one or a plurality of consecutive characters having an effective character type from the selected character strings as an effective character string. Information processing device.
When the character selection unit is a pen, and the character string displayed on the display unit is selected by bringing the pen into contact with the display screen, the display control unit selects the character string in a selected state. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein only the portion of the valid character string is highlighted in the displayed character string.
When the character selection unit is a pen, and the character string displayed on the display unit is selected by bringing the pen into contact with the display screen, the display control unit selects the character string in a selected state. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the entire character string displayed is highlighted.
When the pen is released from the display screen, it is determined that the selection of the selected character string is completed, and the position where the pen is released from the display screen is a position included in the position of the displayed selected character string. 10. The display control unit according to claim 9, wherein the display control unit reversely displays a portion of the effective character string determined by the effective character string determination unit among character strings included in the selected character string. Information processing device.
The character types of the character type function correspondence information stored in the storage unit include alphabets and Japanese characters, and one or more character types to be executed are preset for each function. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus.
12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the functions stored in the storage unit include an audio reproduction function, an S jump function, a reading function, and a marker function.
Display means for displaying content information including character strings;
Storage means for storing character type function correspondence information in which one or more functions are associated with character types of characters to be executed for each function;
A function selection means for selecting a function to be executed;
Character selection means for selecting a desired character string from the content information displayed on the display means;
Referring to the character type function correspondence information, it is determined whether or not there is a character of an effective character type that can execute the function selected by the function selection unit in the character string selected by the character selection unit. Character judgment means;
When the character determining means determines that there is a character of an effective character type, an effective character string determination that determines an effective character string to be executed from the selected character string selected by the character selecting means As a means, a program of an information processing apparatus for causing a computer to function.
A display unit that displays content information including a character string, a storage unit that stores character type function correspondence information in which one or a plurality of functions and a character type of a character to be executed for each function are associated, and a function selection unit And a character string selection method for an information processing device including a character selection unit, a character determination unit, and an effective character string determination unit,
The function selection unit selects a function to be executed,
The character selection unit selects a desired character string from the content information displayed on the display unit,
The character determination unit refers to the character type function correspondence information, and in the character string selected by the character selection unit, there is a character of an effective character type that can execute the function selected by the function selection unit. Determine if there is
When the valid character string determination unit determines that there is a character of a valid character type by the character determination unit, the valid character to be executed from the selected character string selected by the character selection unit A character string selection method for an information processing apparatus, wherein a character string is determined.
A character string display section for displaying content information including character strings;
A storage unit storing character type function correspondence information in which an executable function is associated with a character type of a character to be executed for each function;
A character selection unit for selecting a desired character string from the content information displayed on the character string display unit;
A character type acquisition unit for acquiring the character type of the first character of the selected character string;
A function acquisition unit that acquires an executable function associated with the acquired character type from the character type function correspondence information after selecting a character string by the character selection unit;
For each of the acquired executable functions, an effective character string determination unit that determines an effective character string for executing the function from among the selected character strings selected by the character selection unit;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a function selection unit that selects a function to be executed among the acquired executable functions.
A function selection screen display unit that displays items of executable functions acquired by the function acquisition unit; and the character string display unit and the function selection screen display unit are different screens in one display device, The information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the information display apparatus displays on each screen of a different display device.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the function selection unit selects a desired function to be executed from items displayed on the function selection screen display unit.
18. The character string selected by the character selection unit is displayed on the character string display unit in a display form different from that of the character string not selected. 18. Information processing device.
The character type acquisition unit, when the acquired character type is a blank, in the character string selected by the character selection unit, acquires the character type of the first non-blank character that appears. The information processing apparatus according to any one of 15 to 18.
A function execution unit that causes the function to be executed selected by the function selection unit to be executed on the effective character string of the function to be executed determined by the effective character string determination unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 15.
Character types stored in the storage unit include alphabets and Japanese characters, and for each of the executable functions, one or a plurality of character types to be executed are set in advance. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 15 to 20.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the executable functions stored in the storage unit include an audio reproduction function, an S jump function, a reading function, and a marker function.
23. The information according to claim 15, wherein the effective character string determined by the effective character string determination unit is one or a plurality of character strings included in the selected character string. Processing equipment.
When there are a plurality of the determined effective character strings, the display device further includes an effective character string selection screen display unit that displays the items of the plurality of effective character strings so as to be selectable. The information processing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the valid character string selection screen display unit is displayed on a screen different from the screen.
A character string display means for displaying content information including the character string;
Storage means for storing character type function correspondence information in which an executable function and a character type of a character to be executed for each function are associated with each other;
Character selection means for selecting a desired character string from the content information displayed on the character string display means;
Character type acquisition means for acquiring the character type of the first character of the selected character string;
A function acquisition unit that acquires an executable function associated with the acquired character type from the character type function correspondence information after selecting a character string by the character selection unit;
Effective character string determining means for determining an effective character string for executing the function from among the selected character strings selected by the character selecting means for each of the acquired executable functions;
A program for an information processing apparatus for causing a computer to function as function selection means for selecting a function to be executed among the obtained executable functions.
A character string display unit that displays content information including a character string, a storage unit that stores character type function correspondence information in which a function and a character type of a character to be executed for each function are associated, a character selection unit, and a character A method for selecting a character string and a function of an information processing apparatus including an acquisition unit, a function acquisition unit, an effective character string determination unit, and a function execution unit,
The character selection unit selects a desired character string from the content information displayed on the character string display unit,
The character type acquisition unit acquires the character type of the first character of the selected character string,
After the character selection unit selects a character string, the function acquisition unit acquires an executable function associated with the acquired character type from the character type function correspondence information,
The effective character string determination unit determines an effective character string for executing the function from the selected selection character string for each of the acquired executable functions,
The method for selecting a character string and a function of an information processing apparatus, wherein the function selection unit selects a function to be executed among the acquired executable functions.
A storage unit that stores a plurality of operation functions and character types that can be executed by the electronic device in association with each other;
A display unit for displaying the operation function and the character string;
A character selection unit for selecting a desired character from the character string displayed on the display unit;
A character type acquisition unit for determining and acquiring a character type of the character selected by the character selection unit;
A function acquisition unit that acquires an operation function corresponding to the character type acquired by the character type acquisition unit from the storage unit;
An electronic apparatus comprising: a control unit that causes the display unit to display the operation function acquired by the function acquisition unit.
The electronic device according to claim 27, wherein the display unit displays the function acquired by the function acquisition unit and the function not acquired in different display forms.
28. The electronic device according to claim 27, wherein the display unit displays the function acquired by the function acquisition unit in a selectable manner.
30. The apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising a selection unit that selects an operation function displayed on the display unit so as to be selectable, wherein the control unit executes the operation function selected by the selection unit. Electronics.
31. The electronic device according to claim 27, wherein the operation function includes a word voice reproduction function, a sentence voice reproduction function, an S jump function, or a marker function.
The electronic device according to any one of claims 27 to 30, wherein the character type includes an English word, a plurality of English words, Japanese, characters of two or more languages, or a symbol.
The function acquisition unit acquires a word voice playback function, a sentence voice playback function, an S jump function for searching for English words, or a marker function when the character type is a word,
The function acquisition unit acquires a sentence voice reproduction function, a phrase search or an example sentence search, an S jump function or a marker function when the character type is a plurality of words,
The electronic device according to claim 27, wherein the function acquisition unit acquires a marker function when the character type includes characters of two or more languages or is a symbol.
28. The electronic device according to claim 27, wherein the control unit automatically executes the acquired operation function when there is one operation function acquired by the function acquisition unit.
28. The electronic device according to claim 27, wherein a marker function is automatically executed when the character type is a character or symbol of two or more languages.
A control method for controlling an electronic device including a storage unit that stores a plurality of operation functions executable by the electronic device and character types in association with each other,
A display step for displaying a character string;
A character selection step for selecting a desired character from the displayed character string;
A character type acquisition step of determining and acquiring a character type of the selected character;
A function acquisition step of acquiring an operation function corresponding to the acquired character type from the storage unit;
And a display control step of displaying the acquired operation function.