JPH07129595A - Electronic dictionary search device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent misoperation and to improve operability by switching the display state of the title of a display area corresponding to whether or not a cursor can be moved from one display area to another one when plural display areas, ate provided in a screen, thereby recognizing whether or not the cursor can be moved, at a glance. CONSTITUTION:A keyboard 5 and a display 6 are connected to CPU 1 through a ROM 2, a RAM 3 and an input/output interface 4. The ROM 2 stores a retrieving program memory 21, a dictionary data memory 22, a title display changing program 23 and a cursor control program memory 24. Then, a retrieving means retrieves a dictionary concerning inputted retrieving object data and displays the retrieving result on a display 6. At the same time, a title display switching means switches the display state of the title of the display area of the retrieving result according to whether a pertinent candidate exists or not, as the result of retrieving and a cursor control means prohibits the moving of a cursor display position when the pertinent candidate does not exist.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic dictionary search device, and more particularly to a technique for controlling display according to a search result.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an electronic dictionary search device of this type, dictionary data is stored in a storage device such as a ROM, a floppy disk, or a hard disk, and a user inputs a search target from a keyboard to search for information that the user wants to know. ,
There is one that can search the dictionary data and display the result on a display or the like. In such an electronic dictionary search device, a plurality of display areas such as an input area and a display area of search results are displayed on one screen, and the cursor is moved to an effective display area by inputting from a keyboard or operating a mouse. Then, the operation is performed in each display area.

[0003]

However, in the conventional electronic dictionary search device, if the search result of the search target does not find the corresponding one in the dictionary data, no search result is displayed. At that time, since it is meaningless in many cases to move the cursor to an empty display area or the like where the search result is not displayed, even if the key is operated, the cursor cannot be moved. However, it is not known at a glance whether the cursor can be moved or not by key operation.
A user often performs a key operation unnecessarily and performs an erroneous operation accompanying it, which is inconvenient.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and as a result of searching a dictionary for a search target, there are cases in which there is corresponding dictionary content, and cases where there is no corresponding dictionary content.
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic dictionary retrieval device that improves the usability by changing the display mode of a title or the like corresponding to the display area so that the cursor can be seen at a glance to prevent erroneous operations. To do.

[0005]

In order to achieve this object, an electronic dictionary search device of the present invention comprises a dictionary section storing data such as language information, input means for inputting a search target, and the input means. Search means for searching the dictionary part for the input search target; and display means having a plurality of display areas for displaying the search target input by the input means and the search result extracted by the search means, respectively. An electronic dictionary search device comprising :, as a result of the search by the search means, depending on whether there is a corresponding candidate,
Controlling title display switching means for switching the display mode of the title displayed corresponding to the display area, and the display position of the cursor indicating the input or selection position displayed on the display means,
As a result of the search by the search means, a cursor control means for prohibiting movement of the cursor display position when there is no corresponding candidate is provided.

[0006]

In the electronic dictionary search device of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the search means searches the dictionary for the input search target data, displays the search result on the display means, and the title display switching means performs the search. As a result, the display mode of the title of the search result display area is switched depending on whether or not there is a corresponding candidate, and the cursor control means prohibits the movement of the cursor display position when there is no corresponding candidate.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a word processor having an electronic dictionary search function according to this embodiment.
This word processor has a central processing unit (CPU) 1 for controlling the entire device, and the CPU 1 has a ROM.
2, RAM3, and input / output interface (I / O) 4
A keyboard 5 for inputting a word or the like to be searched through is connected to a display 6 made of a liquid crystal or the like for displaying the input word and dictionary contents. The ROM 2 displays a search program memory 21 storing a program for dictionary search and spell check, a dictionary data memory 22 storing word spelling and meaning, and a display area of the display 6. A title display change program memory 23 storing a program for switching the display mode of the title,
A cursor control program memory 24 for storing a program for controlling the display position of the cursor indicating the input or selected position displayed on the display 6 is stored.

The RAM 3 has an input buffer 31 for storing an input word and a mode memory 32 for storing a processing mode as a work area for processing a program.
A cursor counter 33 that indicates the cursor position in the input area, and a candidate word buffer 34 that stores the searched word.
A candidate number counter 35 for storing the number of candidate words and a block cursor counter 36 for indicating the position of the block cursor for displaying the candidate words are provided. The keyboard 5 is provided with well-known keys such as a character key, a return key, a tab key, an up / down cursor key, and a cancel key.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the screen display area of the display 6 of the present apparatus. At the upper part of the screen, there is an input area 7 for inputting a character string of a word following the display of "WORD:". The state is shown in which the cursor 8 is displayed at the beginning of the input area 7. Below this input area 7, there is a message display area 9 consisting of a rectangular frame for displaying a guide message. Below the message display area 9, “S
There is a title display portion 10 in which a character string "UGGESTATION:" is thinned out so that it looks thinner than a normal character font, or is displayed in a "normal character font". . Below the title display area 10, a candidate word display area 1 for displaying a plurality of candidates for a word obtained by correcting the word when the spelling is incorrect.
There is one.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the word input buffer 31 corresponding to the input area 7. 4 and 5 show the display state of the display 6 when the characters are input from the keyboard 5 into the input area 7 and the spell check process is performed, and FIG. 6 shows the display state of the display 6 when the candidate selection process is performed. .

Next, the dictionary search operation in the word processor thus constructed will be described with reference to FIGS. First, when the dictionary search process is selected on the menu screen, the initial setting process is executed. That is, all the menu screen displays on the display 6 are cleared (S1),
The word input buffer 31 shown in FIG. 3 is cleared (S
2) The cursor counter 33 and the candidate number counter 35 are set to zero (S3, S4), and the initial screen shown in FIG. 2 is displayed (S5). Next, the processing mode is set to the initial value “word input mode” and stored in the mode memory 32 (S
6). The processing modes include "word input mode" and "candidate selection mode".

Next, in this case, since the "word input mode" is selected (S7: YES), "word input" shown in FIG.
The process is called (S9). In the case of "candidate selection mode" (S8, YES), the "candidate selection" process shown in FIG. 10 is called. In the case of other modes such as the “end mode”, the processing shown in FIG. 7 ends.

Next, the "word input" process (S) shown in FIG.
9) will be described. First, the cursor is displayed at the position indicated by the cursor counter 33 (S11). Then, key input is performed (S12), and when a character key, a backspace key, a tab key, a return key, or a cancel key is input, the type of each input key is determined (S13 to S17). When a character key is entered (S13
-YES, check whether the input buffer 31 is full (S1
9) If it is full (YES in S19), ignore the input and return to S12. If there is still an empty space in the input buffer 31 (S19, NO), the input buffer 31
The code of the input character is stored at the end (cursor position) of the character string of the word (S20), the cursor counter 33 is incremented by 1 (S21), and the cursor is displayed after the last character of the character string (S22).

When the backspace key is pressed (S14, YES), the input buffer 31 is all cleared (S23), and the cursor counter 33 is set to zero (S2).
4) The cursor is displayed at the beginning of the input area (S22).
When the tab key is input (S15, YES), the value of the candidate number counter 35 is checked and the value is zero (no candidate word exists).
In the case (S25, NO), it is invalid and the "word input mode" is left as it is, and the process returns to S12. However, when there is a candidate word (S25, YES), the processing mode is set to the "candidate selection mode", and Is stored in the mode memory 32 (S
26), exit from the word input process. In this way, the "keyword input mode" and the "candidate selection mode" can be switched by the tab key operation.

Further, when the return key is pressed (S1
6. YES), it is checked whether or not there is character string data in the input buffer 31 (S27). If there is no character string (S27, YES), the "word input mode" is left as it is and the process returns to S12. If there is a character string (S27.
If NO, the spelling of the character string is checked, and if the spelling is incorrect, the "spell check" process for correcting it is called (S28). If a correction candidate word with an incorrect spelling is found during the spell check process (YES in S29), the processing mode is set to the "candidate selection mode", which is stored in the mode memory 32 (S30), and the process is exited. . In this way, by the operation of the return key, it is possible to shift to the "spell check" process, and if there are candidates, shift to the "candidate selection mode".

Next, the "spell check" process (S28) shown in FIG. 9 will be described. First, input buffer 3
It is searched whether the character string stored in 1 is a word in the dictionary (S41), and it is checked whether the spelling is correct (S42).
If the word has the correct spelling in the dictionary (S42, YES),
On the display 6, as shown in FIG. 4, “Correct spelling!” Is displayed in the message display area 9 (S49), and “SUGGEST” is displayed in the title display section 10.
The character string "ION:" is displayed in "thin dot font" (S50), and the candidate word display area 11 is cleared (S51). Then, the number of candidates counter 35 is set to zero (S55), and the process ends.

On the other hand, if the word has an incorrect spelling that is not in the dictionary (S42, NO), "Spel" is displayed in the message display area 9.
ling mistake! Is displayed (S43), the word with the wrong spelling is corrected in the input buffer 31, and a candidate word with the correct spelling is searched for (S44). In this process, it is checked (spell check) whether or not a character string formed by replacing, deleting, or adding some characters in the wrong spelling exists in the dictionary data memory 22, and the dictionary If it is found, the character string is set as a candidate word.

If no candidate word is found (S45.
NO), the character string "SUGGESTION:" is displayed in the message display area 9 of the display 6 in "thin dot font" (S52), as shown in FIG.
Further, the candidate word display area 11 is cleared (S53), and a message "No sugestion!" Is displayed in the center (S54). Then, the candidate number counter 35
Is set to zero (S55), and the process proceeds to S29 in FIG.

If a candidate word is found (S45.Y
ES) and store them in the candidate word buffer 34,
As shown in, the character string "SUGGESTION:" is displayed in "normal font" (S46), and one word is displayed in each line in the candidate word display area 11 (S4).
7). Then, after setting the number of candidate words in the candidate number counter 35 (S48), the process proceeds to S29 of FIG. If there is a candidate word by such "spell check" processing, the processing mode is set to "candidate selection mode" and stored in the mode memory 32 (S30 in FIG. 8).
The "word input" process is completed and the "candidate selection" process (S10) is called in the main process shown in FIG.

Next, the "candidate selection" process (S30) shown in FIG. 10 will be described. First, the block cursor counter 36 is initialized to zero (S61). Zero means that the block cursor for candidate word selection displayed in the candidate word display area 11 is located on the top word. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the block cursor 12 is displayed at the head word (S62). Next, key input is performed (S63), and the type of each input key of the up cursor, down cursor, tab, and cancel is determined (S63).
64-S67).

When the up cursor key is pressed (S64, YES), the block cursor 12 is moved up by one (S69) except when the block cursor 12 is at the top word (S68, NO). , Display (S7
0), and returns to key input (S63). If the candidate word display area 11 is scrolling and the previous word is outside the screen, the display data is scrolled and then the block cursor 12 is displayed. When the down cursor key is pressed (S65, YES), the block cursor 12
Except when is in the last word (S71, NO), the block cursor 12 is moved down by one (S72), is displayed (S70), and returns to the key input (S63). If the number of candidate words is larger than the number of lines in the candidate word display area 11 on the screen and the next word is not displayed on the screen, the display data is scrolled and then the block cursor 12 is displayed.

Further, when the tab key is input (S66)
・ YES), clear the block cursor 12 (S7
3) The processing mode is set to the "word input mode", which is stored in the mode memory 32 (S74), and the processing ends.
In this case, the "word input" process is called in the next main process, and the "word input mode" is set. If the cancel key has been pressed (YES in S67), the processing mode is set to the "end mode" (S75), and the process ends. In this case, the main process also ends.

As described above, spell check processing is performed in the "word input mode", and the spelling of the input word is
Whether the word is correct or incorrect can be checked, and in the case of a word with a wrong spelling, a candidate word that corrects the word is searched and output. In addition, the "candidate selection mode" and the "word input mode" can be switched back and forth by the tab key, but this is possible because there are candidate words as a result of the search and the title display unit 1
When the display of "SUGGESTION:" of 0 is displayed in the normal font, and when there is no candidate word, the display is displayed in a light dot font. At that time, from "word input mode" to "candidate selection mode" It means that the cursor 8 cannot be moved. In other words, it means that the word input state in which the cursor 8 is displayed in the input area 7 cannot be shifted to the candidate selection state in which the block cursor 12 is displayed in the candidate word display area 11. Therefore, the user can immediately see the display mode of this title to know whether or not the mode can be changed to another mode, so that unnecessary key operation and erroneous operation are prevented.

In the above embodiment, the candidate word search process in the spell check process is shown. However, the present invention is applicable to a case where a synonym (sinoim) is searched or a word meaning is searched. However, the same can be applied.

[0025]

As is apparent from the above description, in the electronic dictionary retrieval device of the present invention, when the screen has a plurality of display areas, whether or not the cursor can be moved from one display area to another display area is determined. The display mode of the title of the display area is switched according to whether the cursor is moved or the mode can be changed immediately by simply looking at the display mode of the title. The key operation and erroneous operation are prevented, and the operability is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a word processor having an electronic dictionary search function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display unit of the present apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of an input buffer of this device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display state of a display unit of this device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display state of a display unit of this device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display state of a display unit of this device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a word input mode of this device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a spell check operation of this device.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a candidate selection mode of this device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 ROM 3 RAM 5 keyboard 6 display 7 input area 8 cursor 9 message display area 10 title display area 11 candidate word display area 21 search program memory 22 dictionary data memory 23 title display change program memory 24 cursor control program memory

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A dictionary unit storing data such as language information, an input unit for inputting a search target, a search unit for searching the dictionary unit for the search target input by the input unit, and the input unit. In an electronic dictionary search device comprising a display unit having a plurality of display areas for displaying an input search target and a search result extracted by the search unit, a result of a search by the search unit, a corresponding candidate Depending on whether or not there is a title display switching means for switching the display mode of the title displayed corresponding to the display area, and the display position of the cursor indicating the input or selection position displayed on the display means However, as a result of the search by the search means, a cursor control means for prohibiting movement of the cursor display position when there is no corresponding candidate is provided. Book search device.