JPH10124228A - Input image display apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] A distinction between a pair of keyboard images having a relationship for standard input and shift input is clearly shown, and switching display by a normal shift operation is enabled. SOLUTION: As shown in FIGS.
And the icon d of the second keyboard image 302 includes
An arrow graphic corresponding to whether or not a shift key of a normal keyboard provided with a key switch is pressed is attached, and an icon d with an upward arrow indicates a normal image (unlocked state) and a downward arrow An icon d with an arrow indicates a shift image (locked state). When the user presses the icon d of the first keyboard image 302, the second keyboard image 302 is displayed, and the arrow of the icon d is changed to downward. When the user presses the icon d of the second keyboard image 302, the first keyboard image 302 is displayed, and the arrow of the icon d is changed upward.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input image display device for selecting and displaying, by a user's operation, any one of a plurality of keyboard images used for data input to a small portable computer, and an input image display device therefor. About the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, portable computers which are very small in shape as compared with node-type personal computers, can be used as data terminals, and are easy to carry have been widely used. It has become to. However, there is no place in a portable computer to provide a keyboard or the like having many switches. Therefore, a portable computer displays an image of a keyboard on a liquid crystal display (LCD) having a transparent touch panel disposed on a surface thereof, and captures data by associating a user's press on the display image with a displayed key. (Pen input method using software keyboard) is often used.

In some cases, a software keyboard includes a pair of a keyboard image for standard input and a keyboard image for shift input, and these keyboard images are used for standard input or shift input. In addition to clearly showing whether there is, by a switching operation of the same sense as a shift operation on a normal keyboard having a key switch,
There is a request to switch and display one of these keyboard images.

The present invention has been made in response to such a demand. For example, a plurality of keyboards displayed on a display screen of a small portable computer and used for inputting data corresponding to an operation on display contents are provided. When images form a pair having a relationship for standard input and shift input, clearly indicate to the user whether these input images are for standard input or shift input. It is an object of the present invention to provide an input image display device and a method therefor. Also, the present invention provides a method in which a user switches and displays a keyboard image forming a set of two images having a relationship between a standard input and a shift input in a manner similar to a shift operation on a normal keyboard having a key switch. It is an object of the present invention to provide an input image display device and a method therefor.

[0000]

In order to achieve the above object, an input image display apparatus according to the present invention selects one of a plurality of input images used for data input in accordance with an operation. An input image display device for displaying, wherein each of the plurality of input images has a unique attribute (unique attribute), and each of the plurality of input images having a common attribute (common attribute) is one set. (Input image set), a common attribute specifying means for specifying one of the common attributes of the input image set in accordance with an operation, and the input image set having the specified common attribute. Input image display means for displaying any of the plurality of input images to be input, and a unique attribute table for displaying, on the displayed input image, a designation graphic indicating an operation for designating the unique attribute of the input image. Means, a unique attribute designating means for designating any one of the plurality of input images constituting the input image set in response to an operation on the displayed designation graphic, Display changing means for changing a display to any one of the plurality of input images constituting the input image set having the specified unique attribute.

Preferably, each of the input image sets is composed of two input images that are switched by a shift operation, and the two input images included in each of the input image sets are: A standard image or a shift image as a unique attribute, the unique attribute display means displays the designation graphic indicating a state in which a shift key is not pressed on the input image having the standard image as the unique attribute, On the input image having a shift image as the unique attribute, the designation graphic indicating a state in which a shift key is pressed is displayed, and the unique attribute designation means includes the input image having a standard image as the unique attribute. In response to the operation on the designation image, a shift image is designated as the unique attribute, and a shift image is designated as the unique attribute. In response to an operation on the designation image of the input image, a standard image is designated as the unique attribute, and the display change unit displays the input image by using the designated standard image or shift image as the unique attribute. Is changed to the input image.

The input image display device according to the present invention, for example, displays a plurality of keyboard images displayed on the display screen of a small portable computer and used for inputting data corresponding to an operation on the display contents, in a standard manner. In the case of forming a pair of two sheets having a relationship for input and shift input, the user is clearly shown to the user whether the displayed keyboard screen is for standard input or shift input by a graphic, and A keyboard image for standard input and a keyboard image for shift input are switched and displayed according to a user operation on the figure.

The common attribute designating means is an attribute (common attribute) that a pair of keyboard screens have in common, for example, an image for inputting English text, an image for inputting Japanese using Roman characters, or Specifies an attribute indicating whether or not the image is a Japanese input image using kana characters. The image display unit for input is a unit in which the common attribute is designated by the common attribute designation unit.
One of the set of keyboard images is displayed. More specifically, for example, when a common attribute is specified for the first time after the portable computer is started up by initial setting, the input image display means sets a pair of keyboard images each having the specified attribute. Display keyboard for standard input.

The unique attribute display means includes, for example, a standard input keyboard having a standard image as a unique attribute (unique attribute) of a pair of keyboard images, and a shift key of a normal keyboard having a key switch. A state in which the key is not pressed is indicated by an upward arrow, and a shift input keyboard image having a shift image as a unique attribute is indicated by a downward arrow in a shift input keyboard image. By displaying the designation graphic, the user can clearly display whether the displayed keyboard screen is for standard input or for shift input.

The unique attribute designation means is a designation image (upward arrow) displayed on the standard input keyboard by the user.
If you press, specify the shift image as a unique attribute. If the user presses the specification image (downward arrow) displayed on the shift input keyboard, specify the standard image as the unique attribute. Allows users to
It is possible to switch between a standard input keyboard image and a shift input keyboard image with the same operational feeling as a normal keyboard shift operation. The display changing means changes the display of the input image to an input image having a designated standard image or shift image as a unique attribute.

In other words, from the user's point of view, as in the case of the normal shift operation, if the user presses the instruction image of the standard input keyboard image, the shift operation is locked and the shift input keyboard image is displayed. Conversely, if the user presses the instruction image of the shift input keyboard image as if displayed, the shift operation is released (unlocked) and the standard input keyboard image is displayed. looks like.

The input image display method according to the present invention is an input image display method for selecting and displaying any one of a plurality of input images used for data input in accordance with an operation. The two input images having a relationship of an image and a shift image respectively constitute one set (input image set), designate the input image set, and constitute the designated input image set 2 One of the input images is displayed, and in the displayed input image,
Whether the input image is a standard image or a shift image is displayed by a graphic corresponding to the state of the shift key, and the two input images constituting the input image set are displayed in accordance with an operation on the displayed graphic. Switch and display one of the images.

[0000]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a portable computer 1 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the portable computer 1 includes a microprocessor (CPU) 100, a ROM 102, and a RAM (Bank 1; VR) interconnected by a main bus 114.
AM work, Bank 3; user data) 104, 108, real-time clock circuit (RTC) 106, IC card 110,
IC card slot 112, analog / digital converter (A / D) 116, touch panel 118, system controller 120, liquid crystal display (LCD) 12
2, key switch 124, external input / output connector 126,
Infrared communication unit (IR) 128, modem (MODEM) 130, line detection circuit 132, analog / digital / digital /
An analog (A / DD / A) converter 136, a microphone 138, a speaker 140, and a power supply circuit 148 are housed in a small housing (not shown) which is convenient to carry.
An AC adapter 142, a battery 144, and a lithium battery 146 are mounted for power supply, and a telephone line 134 is connected during communication.

The portable computer 1 realizes a data storage / recording function, a calculation function, a communication function, and the like similar to those of a normal computer by using these components, and an input image such as a keyboard on the touch panel 118 (software). Keyboard), and accepts input data such as kana characters or Roman characters (kana character data; first character string data) according to the user's operation on the software keyboard, displays the kana characters with good visibility, and displays the displayed kana characters. A function of performing kana-kanji conversion processing in units of phrases for each area selected by the user according to data, and generating sentence data (kana-kanji data; second character string data) in which kana characters and kanji are mixed (Japan (Word writing function).

Hereinafter, each component of the portable computer 1 will be described. The microprocessor 100 has a ROM 10
2 to execute the program stored in the key switch 12
4 and data input in response to user operations on the touch panel 118, data input from the IC card 110, the external input / output connector 126, the infrared communication unit 128, and the telephone line 134. While controlling the parts, the generated data is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 122 or output from the IC card 110, the external input / output connector 126, the infrared communication unit 128, and the telephone line 134.

The first RAM 104 stores image data generated by the processing of the microprocessor 100 and displayed on the touch panel 118. Second RAM 108
Stores data input by a user operation from the touch panel 118 or the like, data used by the microprocessor 100 for processing, data generated as a result of processing by the microprocessor 100, and the like.

The real-time clock circuit 106 counts a clock signal generated by a crystal oscillator or the like and supplies each component of the portable computer 1 with data indicating the time used for processing in these components. IC
The card slot 112 receives the IC card 110 and transmits and receives data between the IC card 110 and the microprocessor 100.

The system controller 120 includes a liquid crystal display device 122, a key switch 124, an external input / output connector 126, an infrared communication unit 128, and a line detection circuit 132.
To control these components and the microprocessor 10
Sends and receives data with 0. The liquid crystal display device 122 is disposed, for example, on the upper surface of the housing of the portable computer 1, and displays display data generated by the microprocessor 100 and input through the system controller 120.

The touch panel 118 is formed, for example, in the form of a transparent film, is disposed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device 122, and allows the user to point with a finger or a pen according to the display on the liquid crystal display device 122. A signal indicating the coordinate is generated and output to the analog / digital converter 116. The analog / digital converter 116 converts the coordinate signal input from the touch panel 118 into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to the microprocessor 100 as coordinate data.

The key switch 124 is disposed, for example, on the upper surface of the housing of the portable computer 1 and adjacent to the liquid crystal display device 122, and transmits operation data indicating a user's operation to the microprocessor 100 via the system controller 120. Output to External input / output connector 126
Connects the portable computer 1 to external devices (such as a keyboard and another computer). Infrared communication unit 1
28 transmits and receives data to and from another portable computer or the like using an infrared signal.

The line detection circuit 132 detects an event such as an incoming call from the telephone line 134 to the portable computer 1 or detects a busy sound, and outputs data indicating the detected event to the microprocessor 1 via the system controller 120.
00 and an incoming call to / from the telephone line 134 under the control of the system controller 120.
Perform outgoing call control.

The modem 130 is connected to the microprocessor 10
The transmission data input from 0 is digitally modulated and transmitted to the telephone line 134 via the line detection circuit 132, and the reception data is demodulated from the reception signal input from the telephone line 134 to the microprocessor 100. Output. The analog / digital / digital / analog converter 136 converts the audio signal input from the microphone 138 from analog to digital and outputs it to the microprocessor 100, and also converts the audio data input from the microprocessor 100 into a digital / analog signal. The signal is converted and output from the speaker 140 to the outside.

The power supply circuit 148 includes an AC adapter 142,
The power supplied by the battery 144 and the lithium battery 146 is supplied to the 36V power for driving the liquid crystal display device 122, the 5V power supplied to the 5V power supply element, and the 3.3V (3V) power supply element. The power is converted to 3.3 V (3 V) and supplied to each component of the portable computer 1.

In the following, software for realizing the Japanese sentence creation function of the portable computer 1 will be described. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of Japanese processing software 2 stored in a ROM 102 of the portable computer 1 shown in FIG. 1 and executed by a microprocessor 100 to realize a Japanese sentence creation function. FIG. 3 shows an input image 3 displayed on the liquid crystal display device 122 of the portable computer 1 shown in FIG.
It is a diagram illustrating a _1. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a kana-kanji conversion work image 3 ₂ displayed on the liquid crystal display device 122 of the portable computer 1 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the Japanese processing software 2 includes an input analysis unit 200, a display screen control unit 202, a kana-kanji conversion control unit 204, a kana-kanji conversion processing unit 206,
It comprises a text management unit 208, a converted text management unit 210, and an input screen management unit 212. As shown in FIG. 3, the input image 3 _1, work area 300, a keyboard image 302, status display area 304, a plurality of icons 30
6 _1, 306 _2, 306 icon area 30 including _3, ... a
6 is comprised. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a kana-kanji converting operation image 3 _2, with the exception of the input image 3 ₁ keyboard image 302 to increase the area of the work area 300, converting the display unit 308, and an operation unit 312 has a configuration in which a operation area 310 with _{1-312 3.}

The input analyzer 200 includes a touch panel 118
The coordinate data input from FIG. 1 through the analog / digital converter 116 is analyzed, and the input image 3 ₁ is analyzed.
And Kana-Kanji conversion work image 3 ₂ Keyboard image 3
02 and the position of each character displayed in the work area 300 are collated with the coordinate data, and are associated with each other to generate operation data (event information) on the portable computer 1 by the user, kana character data, and the like. Display screen control unit 202 and kana-kanji conversion control unit 2
04 is output.

The display screen control unit 202 controls the input screen management unit 212, and an input image 3 ₁ and kana-kanji conversion process for image 3 ₂ to be displayed by switching the liquid crystal display device 122 (FIG. 1). The display screen control unit 202 inputs the data indicating the coordinates of the graphic character by the input screen management unit 212 included in the input image 3 ₁ and kana working image 3 ₂ displayed on the liquid crystal display device 122 analyzes Part 20
Output for 0.

The kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 outputs the kana character data directly from the input analysis unit 200 when the kana character data is a Roman character (alphabet) character string. , And converts the Roman characters into kana and stores the converted characters.
Output to Also, the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204
Selects an arbitrary selection target area (selected character string) of kana character data based on the operation data input from the input analysis unit 200 and outputs the selected area to the text management unit 208.

The kana-kanji conversion control section 204 receives an area (conversion target area) to be subjected to the kana-kanji conversion processing determined by the text management section 208 and outputs it to the kana-kanji conversion processing section 206. Also, the kana-kanji conversion control unit 2
04 determines the final conversion result based on the conversion result of the kana-kanji conversion processing unit 206 and the operation data input from the input analysis unit 200, and sends the final conversion result to the text management unit 208 and the conversion text management unit 210. Output.

The text management unit 208, work area 30 of the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 input image kana character data inputted from the 3 ₁ and kana-to-kanji conversion work image 3 ₂
0, and outputs the coordinates of each character included in the kana character data to the input analysis unit 200. Further, the text management unit 208 sequentially replaces the kana character data in the work area 300 with the conversion result of the kana-kanji conversion processing unit 206 based on the operation data input from the input analysis unit 200.
Alternatively, based on the operation data input from the input analysis unit 200, the display content is changed such that the area of the kana character data selected by the user is specially displayed. Further, text management section 208 determines the next conversion target area based on the current selection target area and the next selection target area, and outputs it to kana-kanji conversion control section 204.

The kana-kanji conversion processing unit 206 performs kana-kanji conversion processing on the conversion target area of the kana-kanji character data input from the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204, and converts the conversion result (converted character string) to the kana-kanji conversion control. To the part 204 sequentially
Output. Converting text management unit 210 sequentially from the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204, the conversion result of the kana-kanji conversion processing unit 206 to be input is displayed on the display transformation unit 308 of the kana-kanji conversion work image 3 _2.

First Operation Example Hereinafter, a first operation example of the portable computer 1 will be described focusing on a Japanese sentence creation function. The input user of the kana character data operates the portable computer 1 (FIG. 1) to display the input image 3 ₁ (FIG. 3) on the liquid crystal display device 122, and touches the key head of the keyboard displayed on the keyboard image 302. Press sequentially with your finger or pen, for example, see Table 1.
The sentence of the kana character shown in (Example sentence 1) is input in Roman characters (alphabet). The input analysis unit 200 (FIG. 2) inputs analog /
The coordinate data input via the digital converter 116 is converted into Roman character data, and the Roman character data is further converted into kana character data, which is output to the kana / kanji conversion control unit 204.

[0048]

[Table 1] (Example sentences 1) However, the man was taken into the kitchen, and the man was working on the kana. … (1)

The input ends kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 of the kana character data, stores the kana characters data, and outputs the text management unit 208, text management unit 208, the input image 3 ₁ workspace 30
The kana character data (example sentence 1) is scroll-displayed at 0.
When the input of the sentence is completed, the user sets the input image 3 ₁
Radio button of the keyboard image 302 (the button of the X mark in the lower right corner of the keyboard image 302) is pressed.

The input analysis section 200 displays operation data indicating that the user has pressed the radio button,
2 and the text management unit 208, the display screen control unit 202 controls the input screen management unit 212,
Kana-Kanji conversion work image 3 ₂ instead of input image 3 ₁
Is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 122, and the text management unit 20 is displayed.
8, a kana character data entered, partial Oite work area 300 of the input image 3 ₁ which was on the outside of the screen also to allow the user to see the work of kana-kanji conversion work image 3 ₂ The scroll display is performed in the area 300.

[0051] When the selection and determination kana working image 3 _second selection area is displayed, the user, in one direction of the liquid crystal display device 122 from the beginning of the sentence with a pen along the display of the kana character data (order (Drag) in the direction), for example, a character string between [] in Table 2 is selected as the selection target area A.

[0052]

[Table 2] (Examples of areas selected by the user) [ Nihongo Nihon Nikkyo in Niigata University ] The house was opened from the Nihon Nihon Soft Home Studio. He took in the kana-moji, and the kami-moji was taken into the kami-moji, and the kana-moji was carried out. … (2)

The input analysis unit 200 sequentially outputs operation data corresponding to the user's drag operation to the text management unit 208, and the text management unit 208 outputs the operation data based on the operation data input from the input analysis unit 200. For example,
The selection target area selected by the user is sequentially displayed in black and white in reverse, indicating to the user that the text management unit 208 has recognized this area as the selection target area. When the user releases the pen from the liquid crystal display device 122, the input analysis unit 200 outputs operation data indicating this to the text management unit 208, and the text management unit 208 adds the operation data shown in Table 2 [].
And outputs the kana character data between the start position and the end position of the area to the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 as a selection target area. .

The kana-kanji conversion processing and display kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 converts the kana character data between the head position and the end position of the selection target area A input from the text management unit 208 into the processing target area A. It is determined and output to the kana-kanji conversion processing unit 206. The kana-kanji conversion processing unit 206 divides the kana character data included in the processing target area A input from the kana-kanji conversion processing unit 206 into phrases as shown by | The conversion processing is performed, and the kana-kanji data obtained as the conversion result is output to the kana-kanji conversion processing unit 206.

[0055]

[Table 3] (Example of conversion result) | {conventional} | mobile required | on computer | Japanese | input | ... (3)

The kana-kanji conversion control section 204 outputs the conversion result input from the kana-kanji conversion processing section 206 to the conversion text management section 210, and outputs the conversion result to the conversion text management section 21.
0, separated the converted result to clause displayed in the conversion display unit 308 of the kana-kanji conversion work image 3 _2, further the subject of the conversion process at that point in that subjected to Table 3 {} The clause is shaded.

Referring to the display contents of the conversion display unit 308, Table 3
When the user notices that the conversion result of the third phrase of the conversion result shown in (1) is wrong, the user presses the wrong phrase with the pen. The input analysis unit 200 outputs operation data to that effect to the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204, and the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 controls the kana-kanji conversion processing unit 206 to perform the conversion shown in Table 3. The kana-kanji conversion process of the third phrase of the result is redone. The kana-kanji conversion processing unit 206
The kana-kanji conversion process of the phrase is performed again, and for example, the conversion result shown in Table 4 is output to the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 again. The kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 controls the converted text management unit 210 to cause the conversion display unit 308 to display the conversion result again.

[0058]

(Table 4) (Example of conversion result) | Conventional | {Portable} | On computer | Japanese | Input | ... (4)

As shown in Table 4, when the kana character string of the selected kana character data is correctly converted, the user
For example, as shown in Table 5, the next kana character string (selection area B) is selected.

[0060]

[Table 5] (for example, of the region that the user selects) Japan in the form computer of conventional your input [so blood, generally from the software keyboard] is input He took in the kana-moji, and the kami-moji was taken into the kami-moji, and the kana-moji was carried out. … (5)

When the user releases the pen again from the display screen of the liquid crystal display device 122 and the selection of the selection target area B is completed, the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 determines the conversion result of the processing target area A and performs text management. Output to the unit 208. As shown in Table 6, the text management unit 208 replaces and displays the selection target area A with the determined kana kanji data of the conversion result.

[0062]

[Table 6] (display of the deterministic the conversion results) Japanese input in the conventional portable computer [so blood, general Niso suddenly from the hardware keyboard] the Strings A character kana has been input However, the hail was taken into the area where it had been removed, and the area was undergoing kanji. … (6)

Hereinafter, similarly, the kana-kanji conversion work image 3
_The selection of the selection target area, the determination of the processing target area, and the kana-kanji conversion processing are repeated until the end of the kana character data displayed in the _second work area 300. Note that even when dragging from the back of kana character data in the forward direction (reverse direction), the text management unit 208 selects the start position and the end position of the selection target area, and performs kana-kanji conversion control. By outputting to the unit 204, the portable computer 1 can perform the kana-kanji conversion process in exactly the same way as when dragging in the forward direction. Further, the user does not perform the next selection, by pressing the operation unit 312 _1, 312 _2, to confirm the results of the kana-kanji conversion processing, or, without kana-kanji conversion, kana character data It is also possible to operate the portable computer 1 (Japanese processing software 2) so as to leave it as it is.

Second Operation Example Hereinafter, a second operation example of the portable computer 1 will be described. From the input start to the input end of the kana character data, the user inputs the text of the kana character shown in Table 1, for example, using the keyboard displayed on the keyboard image 302 in the same manner as in the first operation example. management unit 208 scrolls display the kana character data (sentence 1) in the input image 3 ₁ of the work area 300. If text input is completed, the user presses the radio button of the input image 3 ₁ keyboard image 302.

When the user presses a radio button,
Input screen management unit 212, displays the kana-kanji conversion work image 3 ₂ instead of input image 3 ₁ to the liquid crystal display device 122, text management unit 208, a kana character data entered, kana-kanji conversion work scroll displayed in use image 3 ₂ workspace 300.

Selection and Determination of Selection Target Area When the first kana-kanji conversion result is displayed by the user's operation and the operation of the Japanese processing software 2 shown in Tables 2 to 6, the user operates the pen with the liquid crystal. Display device 12
2 in the forward direction from the beginning of the sentence.
Is selected as the selection target area B. The input analysis unit 200 continuously and sequentially stores the operation data according to the drag of the user.
, And the text management unit 208 sequentially reverses the black and white display of the area of the kana character data dragged by the user.

[0067]

[Table 7] Japanese input in (user example of the area to be selected) conventional portable computer [so blood, general Niso suddenly Niu from hardware keyboard] force has been kana string Was taken into the area where the name was changed, and the kanakanji was performed at the same time. … (7)

The selection target range B shown in Table 7 is inappropriate for the target of the kana-kanji conversion processing.
There is a high possibility that the last part "Nyu" of "" is not correctly processed for kana-kanji conversion. Therefore, as shown in Table 8, the user reverses the drag direction without releasing the pen from the liquid crystal display device 122 to reduce the selection target area B. The text management unit 208 responds to the user's area reduction by
Reduce the area that is displayed in black and white reversed.

[0069]

Table 8 (Example of the region that the user selects) Japanese input in the conventional portable computer [so blood, general Niso suddenly from the hardware keyboard] the Strings A character kana has been input However, the hail was taken into the area where it had been removed, and the area was undergoing kanji. … (8)

When the user releases the pen from the liquid crystal display device 122, the text management unit 208 selects not the region shown in Table 7 but the region shown in Table 8 as the selection target region B, and the conversion control unit 204 Output to

The kana-kanji conversion processing and display kana-kanji conversion control section 204 determines the kana character data between the start position and the end position of the selection target area B input from the text management section 208 as the processing target area B. Then, the kana-kanji conversion processing unit 206 performs the kana-kanji conversion processing by dividing the processing target area B into segments as shown by, for example, | in Table 9, and the conversion text management unit 210 converting the display unit 30 of the result of the kana-kanji conversion work image 3 ₂
8 is displayed.

[0072]

[Table 9] (Example of conversion result) | ｛Device is｝ | General | Software | Keyboard | From | ... (9)

Looking at the display contents of the conversion display unit 308, Table 9
After confirming that the conversion result shown in is correct,
For example, as shown in Table 10, the next selection target area C is selected. When the user releases the pen again from the display screen of the liquid crystal display device 122 and the selection of the selection target area C is completed, the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 determines the conversion result of the processing target area B, and the text management unit 208 In this case, the selection target area B is replaced with the determined kana-kanji data of the conversion result and displayed.

[0074]

Table 10 (Example of the region that the user selects) Japanese input device of the conventional portable computer is typically from the software keyboard [the inputted kana character string,] to the Hyojigamen He was taken into the damaged area, and was engaged in kana-kanji in that area. … (10)

Hereinafter, similarly, the kana-kanji conversion work image 3
_The selection of the selection target area, the determination of the processing target area, and the kana-kanji conversion processing are repeated until the end of the kana character data displayed in the _second work area 300. When the user drags in the opposite direction to reduce the head of the selection target area, the text management unit 208 also determines the position at which the user has released the pen from the liquid crystal display device 122 at the top of the selection target area. By selecting the position, the portable computer 1 can perform the kana-kanji conversion process in exactly the same way as when reducing the end of the selection target area.

Third Operation Example Hereinafter, a third operation example of the portable computer 1 will be described. Kana character data input start to input end The user inputs the text of the kana character shown in Table 1 in the same manner as in the first operation example and the second operation example, and the text management unit 208 31 ₁ work area 300
Scrolls the kana character data (example sentence 1). If text input is completed, the user presses the radio button of the input image 3 ₁ keyboard image 302. Input screen management unit 2 in response to the user pressing a radio button
12, the liquid crystal display device 1 of the kana-kanji conversion process for image 3 ₂
Displays 22, text management unit 208 scrolls display the kana character data entered in kana-kanji conversion process for image 3 ₂ workspace 300.

When the results of two kana-kanji conversions are displayed by the user's operation and the operation of the Japanese processing software 2 shown in Tables 2 to 9, the selection and determination of the selection target area are performed. Drags the liquid crystal display device 122 from the beginning of the text in the forward direction with a pen, and selects, for example, a character string between [] in Table 11 as the selection target area D. The input analysis unit 200 outputs the operation data to the text management unit 208 continuously and sequentially according to the drag of the user, and the text management unit 208
The area of the kana character data dragged by the user is sequentially
Reverse black and white display.

[0078]

Table 11 (Example of the region that the user selects) Japanese input device of the conventional portable computer is typically entered from the software keyboard [a a kana character string,] to the Hyojigamen He was taken into the damaged area, and was engaged in kana-kanji in that area. … (11)

The selection target range D shown in Table 11 is inappropriate for the target of the kana-kanji conversion processing, and the first part of the selection target area D “Takana-moji” can be correctly converted to the kana-kanji conversion processing. Absent. Therefore, the user stops selecting the selection target area D and releases the pen from the liquid crystal display device 122. When the user releases the pen from the liquid crystal display device 122, the text management unit 208 selects the area shown in Table 11 as the selection target area D, and outputs it to the conversion control unit 204.

Next, the user operates the liquid crystal display device 1 with a pen.
22 is dragged in the forward direction from the beginning of the text, and, for example, as shown in Table 12, a character string having a portion overlapping with the selection target area D shown in Table 11 is selected as the selection target area E. When the selection of the selection target area E is started, the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 replaces the selection target area E with the processing target area E.
And the kana-kanji conversion processing unit 206 performs kana-kanji conversion. The conversion text management unit 210 displays the conversion result input from the kana-kanji conversion processing unit 206 on the conversion display unit 308 as shown in Table 13.

[0081]

Table 12 (Example of the region that the user selects) Japanese input device of the conventional portable computer, generally [inputted] from the software keyboard mustard also Jiretsu, its Hyojigamen He was taken into the damaged area, and was engaged in kana-kanji in that area. … (12)

[0082]

[Table 13] (Example of conversion result) | {letter kanamo} |

When the user who has selected the selection target area shown in Table 12 drags the overlapping part "RE" of the selection target areas D and E, the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 selects the area shown in Table 11 as the selection target area. The conversion result of the area D is invalidated, and the converted text management unit 210 returns the display of the conversion display unit 308 to kana characters. Further, as shown in Table 14, the user continues dragging and selects all the parts of "Kanajiri Kana Mojitsure," and releases the pen. Is determined as the processing target area E,
The text management unit 208 reversely displays the processing target area E in black and white.

[0084]

Table 14 (Example of the region selected as the processing target area) the conventional Japanese input device in a portable computer, generally from the software keyboard [the inputted kana character string,] the display He was taken into the area where he had been picked up, and he was doing kanakanjie with that. … (14)

The kana-kanji conversion processing and display kana-kanji conversion processing section 206 converts this processing target area E into
For example, the kana-kanji conversion process is performed by dividing into kana and kanji characters as shown with |
Performs display of the kana-kanji conversion process for image 3 ₂ conversion display unit 308 of the conversion result.

[0086]

[Table 15] (Example of conversion result) | {input} | kana character string | (15)

Looking at the display contents of the conversion display unit 308, Table 1
When the user confirms that the conversion result shown in FIG. 5 is correct, the user selects the next selection target area F as shown in Table 16, for example.
Select When the selection of the selection target area F is completed, the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 determines the conversion result of the processing target area E, and the text management unit 208 stores the selection target area E and the determined kana-kanji data of the conversion result. Replace and display.

[0088]

[Table 16] (Example of area selected by user) A Japanese input device in a conventional portable computer generally converts a kana character string input from a software keyboard into a character string . ] I had taken it into the lab, and had been doing the kanji camp in the lab. … (16)

Hereinafter, similarly, the kana-kanji conversion work image 3
_The selection of the selection target area, the determination of the processing target area, and the kana-kanji conversion processing are repeated until the end of the kana character data displayed in the _second work area 300. In addition, from the user's side, the operation of the portable computer 1 shown in the third processing example is such that the selection of the selection target area, the kana-kanji conversion processing, and the display related thereto are combined, as if the selection target area D were released. Further, the conversion result of the processing target area D is also discarded, and it appears that the selection target area E is converted to the kana-kanji character instead of the processing target area D.

Also, when there is an overlap between the end portion of the current selection target area and the head part of the next selection target area, the text management unit 208 causes the user's drag to reach the overlap part. At this point, the next selection target area is output to the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204, and the area including these is determined by the kana-kanji conversion processing unit 206 as the processing target area. The Kana-Kanji conversion process can be performed in exactly the same way as when the head part of the selection target area and the next part overlap.

Fourth Operation Example Hereinafter, a fourth operation example of the portable computer 1 will be described. Kana character data input start to input end The user inputs the text of the kana character shown in Table 1 in the same manner as in the first operation example and the second operation example, and the text management unit 208 31 ₁ work area 300
Scrolls the kana character data (example sentence 1). If text input is completed, the user presses the radio button of the input image 3 ₁ keyboard image 302. Input screen management unit 2 in response to the user pressing a radio button
12, the liquid crystal display device 1 of the kana-kanji conversion process for image 3 ₂
Displays 22, text management unit 208 scrolls display the kana character data entered in kana-kanji conversion process for image 3 ₂ workspace 300.

When the results of the three kana-kanji conversions are displayed by the user's operation and the operation of the Japanese processing software 2 shown in Tables 2 to 16, the selection and determination of the selection target area are performed. Is the key switch 1
Press 24 (FIG. 1). The input analysis unit 200 responds to the pressing of the key switch 124, and the kana-kanji conversion control unit 20
4, the operation data indicating that the extended function has been requested is output. While the user presses the key switch 124 with a pen as shown in Table 17 with [],
The user presses a predetermined position of the sentence displayed on the liquid crystal display device 122 to select the selection target area F.

[0093]

[Table 17] (Example of area selected by user) In a conventional Japanese-language input device of a portable computer, a kana character string input from a software keyboard is generally input to a Japanese character input device . ] I had taken it into the lab, and had been doing the kanji camp in the lab. … (17)

The input analysis unit 200 outputs operation data to the text management unit 208 in response to a user's press. When the user releases the pen, the text management unit 208 stores an area between the character of the kana character data pressed by the user and the character immediately after the selection target area E (Table 14) in Table 1.
As shown in [] in FIG. 8, the selected area is selected as the selection target area F, output to the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204, and the display of the liquid crystal display device 122 is inverted.

[0095]

[Table 18] (Example of area selected by user) A Japanese input device in a conventional portable computer generally uses a kana character string input from a software keyboard as a key word [ the ] I had taken it into the lab, and had been doing the kanji camp in the lab. … (18)

[0096] kanji conversion processing and display Next, the user starts the selection of the next selected target area, the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 determines the selected target region F in the processing target area F. When the user finishes selecting the next selection target area, the kana-kanji conversion processing unit 206
Kana-kanji conversion is performed, and the resulting kana-kanji data is determined. The text management unit 208 and the converted text management unit 210 store the determined conversion result in Table 19 and Table 2.
0, the work area 300 and the conversion display unit 308
To be displayed.

[0097]

[Table 19] (Example of area selected by user) A conventional Japanese input device of a portable computer generally uses a kana character string input from a software keyboard to display a kana character string arranged on a display screen thereof. He took it into Tsubafuna, and was doing the same. … (19)

[0098]

[Table 20] (Example of determined conversion result) | {part} || arranged | on display screen | (20)

Hereinafter, similarly, the kana-kanji conversion work image 3
_The selection of the selection target area, the determination of the processing target area, and the kana-kanji conversion processing are repeated until the end of the kana character data displayed in the _second work area 300.

As described above, by pressing the key switch 124, the extended function of the Japanese-language processing software 2 (Kana-Kanji conversion control unit 204) can be selected, so that the next operation can be performed without dragging the entire range. The selection target area can be selected, and the operability is improved. In addition,
When the user presses a character before the head of the current selection target area in the next selection while pressing the key switch 124, the text management unit 208 calculates the last character of the current selection target area from the pressed character. The area up to is the selection target area. Further, the kana-kanji conversion control section 204 sets this area as a processing target area, and
However, by performing the kana-kanji conversion processing again on the processing target area, the user can simply press a character on the liquid crystal display device 122 even before the head of the current selection target area in the next selection. The same operation as re-executing the kana-kanji conversion for the current selection target can be performed.

The operation of the portable computer 1 (Japanese processing software 2) will be further described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 shows a portable computer 1 (FIG. 1).
3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the Japanese processing software 2 (FIG. 2). As shown in FIG.
In (S100), the user sets the liquid crystal display device 122
Is dragged or pressed, the display screen control unit 202, the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204, and the text management unit 208 indicate that the starting point of the drag or the pressed position is the input image 3 displayed on the liquid crystal display device 122. ₁ and Kana-Kanji conversion work image 3 ₂ (FIGS. 3 and 4), work area 300, keyboard image 302 and conversion display section 3
08 is determined. If the starting point is in the work area 300 or the like, the Japanese processing software 2 or the like executes the Japanese sentence creation function shown in the first operation example to the fourth operation example (S110), and executes the work area. If not, the display screen control unit 202 or the like ends the processing.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the processing contents of S110 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG.
In (S112), the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204
It is determined whether or not the current selection target area has already been selected. If it has been selected, the process proceeds to S114. If it has not been selected, the process proceeds to S116. Step 114 (S11
In 4), the text management unit 208 of the Japanese processing software 2 selects the next selection target area. In step 116 (S116), the text management unit 208 of the Japanese processing software 2 continues to select the current selection target area.

At step 118 (S118), the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 of the Japanese processing software 2
Determines the current selection target area as the processing target area, and the kana-kanji conversion processing unit 206 performs the kana-kanji conversion processing on the determined processing target area. Step 120 (S1
In 20), the text management unit 208 and the converted text management unit 210 of the Japanese processing software 2 display the kana-kanji data obtained as a result of the kana-kanji conversion process on the work area 300 and the conversion display unit 308.

FIG. 7 shows the Japanese processing software 2 (FIG. 2) of the portable computer 1 (FIG. 1) when the key switch 124 shown in the fourth operation example is pressed to select a selection target area. It is a flowchart which shows a process. As shown in FIG. 7, in step 130 (S130), the text management unit 208 of the Japanese processing software 2
Determines whether the key switch 124 has been pressed, and if so, proceeds to the process of S132,
If not, the process proceeds to S134.

In step 132 (S132), the Japanese language processing software 2 performs the operation shown in the operation example 4. In step 134 (S134), the Japanese language processing software 2 performs the operations shown in Operation Examples 1 to 3.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing of the Japanese language processing software 2 of the portable computer 1 (FIG. 1) shown as a third operation example. As shown in FIG.
In step 140 (S140), the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 determines whether the end point (end) or the start point (head) of the next selection target area has been determined, and if the end or head has been determined, , S142.

In step 142 (S142), kana-kanji conversion control section 204 determines whether or not the current selection target area partially overlaps the next selection target area. The process proceeds to S144, and if not overlapping, proceeds to S146.

In step 144 (S144), the Japanese processing software 2 discards the previous (current) kana-kanji conversion result as described in the third operation example.
In step 146 (S146), the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 determines the current conversion target area. In step 148 (S148), the text management unit 208
Outputs the current selection target area to the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204, and the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 sets the current selection target area between the start point (head) and end point (end) as the processing target area. decide.

It should be noted that the kana-kanji conversion control unit 204 (FIG. 2)
Accepts Hangul character string data or character string data in which Chinese sounds are represented in alphabetical characters, and converts the Kana-Kanji conversion processing unit 206 to convert Hangul characters into sentence data mixed with Kanji characters, or in Chinese By transforming the word into kanji sentence data, the Japanese sentence creation function of the portable computer 1 can be used in other languages that use ideographic characters, such as Korean language.
It is also applicable to Korean and Chinese. Also. The Japanese sentence creation function of the portable computer 1 can be applied regardless of the language for the purpose of processing the character string data once input again. Further, in FIG. 3, as the keyboard image 302 of the input image 3 _1, a case of using the image of the keyboard that displays the alphabet, for kana input, using the image of the keyboard displays the kana characters Thus, the kana character may be directly input to the portable computer 1.

Second Embodiment Hereinafter, as a second embodiment of the present invention, control of a data input screen by the display screen control unit 202 of the Japanese processing software 2 (FIG. 2) will be described. As described above in the first embodiment, the input image 3 is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 122.
₁ (FIG. 3) is displayed, and by pressing desired characters on the keyboard image 302 with a pen or a finger, the user inputs text data to the portable computer 1 (FIG. 1).

Here, for example, when the user presses the liquid crystal display device 122 (touch panel 118) with a pen, it is more convenient to display a small number of key heads of the keyboard image 302, and the user presses with a finger. In this case, the key head of the keyboard image 302 needs to be increased to some extent, and the number cannot be increased.

Further, for example, when the user sets the sentence data to J
If you are familiar with the IS layout keyboard,
If the keyboard image 302 having the S arrangement is displayed and the user is familiar with the keyboard having the Japanese syllabary arrangement, it is preferable to display the keyboard having the Japanese syllabary arrangement. Further, for example, when the user inputs text data of katakana, it is preferable to display the keyboard image 302 of katakana display, and when the user inputs text data of hiragana, it is preferable to display the keyboard image 302 of hiragana display. . For example, when the user inputs text data in Roman characters, a keyboard image 302 of a pattern suitable for inputting Roman characters is input. When a user inputs English data, a keyboard image 302 of a pattern suitable for inputting English characters is input. Preferably, it is displayed.

As described above, the keyboard used depends on the means used by the user to press the software keyboard, the user's preference, the data input environment to which the user is accustomed, or whether to input Japanese sentences or English sentences. Changing the contents of the image 302 improves the efficiency of the user's data input operation. The second embodiment is a modification of the operation (processing content) of the display screen control unit 202 of the Japanese processing software 2 shown in the first embodiment from such a viewpoint. advance a plurality of keyboard images suitable for prepares, in response to a user selection to select one of a plurality of keyboard images, displayed on the keyboard image 302 of the input image 3 _1, user comfortable data Provide an input environment.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 9, display screen control section 202 and input screen management section 21 in the second embodiment will be described.
The outline of the process 2 (FIG. 2) will be described. 9, the display screen control unit 202 (FIG. 2) is a diagram showing the state transition when selecting an image to be displayed on the keyboard image 302 of the input image 3 ₁ according to the user's operation. In FIG. 9, the symbol attached to the tip of the branch indicates the figure number of the figure showing the keyboard image finally displayed by the display screen control unit 202. As shown in FIG. 9, the display screen control unit 2
02 is the first to twelfth keyboard images 3 prepared in advance.
02 [FIG. 10 (A), (B) to FIG. 15 (A), (B)]
Of, one that matches the attributes specified by the user's operation is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 122 (part of the input image 3 ₁ keyboard image 302).

The designation of the attributes of the keyboard image to the display screen control unit 202 is performed in the initial setting screen (FIG. 17) and in the first to twelfth keyboard images 302 by a toggle operation for making a choice. Other keyboard images 302 selectable according to the state transition shown in FIG.
Is performed by the display screen control unit 202 in response to a user operation on the icons a to d for selecting
Reference numeral 2 stores the plurality of keyboard images, and displays any one of the keyboard images that matches the attribute specified by the display screen control unit 202.

The attributes of the keyboard image are, for example, the number of characters of the keyboard (four-step key / 3-step key (FIG. 9e)) designated at the time of initial setting and not changed during the actual text data input operation. There is a first type of attribute (first attribute) such as a character array [syllabary arrangement kana key (FIG. 9f)]. Another attribute of the keyboard image is a second type of attribute (second attribute) such as an input method (Roman / Kana characters (FIG. 9B)) in which the setting is not changed frequently during the input operation. . Other attributes of the keyboard image include Roman characters or English characters that are frequently changed during input work, Kana characters or English characters, Hiragana or Katakana, full-width characters or half-width characters (FIG. 9).
c) and a third type of attribute (third attribute) such as normal screen or shift screen (FIG. 9D).

As described above, since the area of the display screen of the liquid crystal display device 122 of the portable computer 1 is small, for example, characters and symbols that can be displayed on a keyboard for the purpose of pressing a key displayed on the keyboard image 302 with a finger. The number of is limited. In addition, all of a set of characters such as alphabets used for inputting Japanese Roman characters or numbers from 0 to 9 need to be displayed on one keyboard image without being divided into a plurality of keyboard images. Therefore, it is necessary to distribute characters and symbols to each of the plurality of keyboard images 302 prepared in advance according to the type of characters and the priority order based on the frequency of use in Japanese input and e-mail.

The following describes combinations of characters to be allocated to the plurality of keyboard images 302 and priority of symbols. The number of characters and symbols that can be displayed on the keyboard image 302 used for data input by depressing with a character finger distributed for Japanese input in Roman characters is limited to 29, for example, excluding a predetermined function key such as a return key. Can be On the other hand, in the case of inputting Japanese characters in Roman characters, the letters Q and L (q, l) are not required among the 26 alphabets. It is convenient to display more.

Therefore, the characters to be distributed to the keyboard image 302 for inputting Japanese characters in Roman characters are Q, L (q,
l) 24 letters of the alphabet excluding 2 letters [A ~
K, M to O, P to Z (a to k, m to o, p to z), where X (x) is used to describe a prompting sound, a sound-repelling flight, etc.). The vowels [A, I, U, E, O
(A, i, u, e, o)] may be marked with a frame or the like.

However, if 24 of the 29 keys are used for the 24 letters of the alphabet, 10 numbers (0 to 9) cannot be displayed on the same keyboard image 302. Therefore, another keyboard image 30 that is switched by a shift operation on the keyboard image 302
The remaining five keys of the keyboard image 302 displaying the 24 letters of the alphabet with the numbers and the like allocated to 2 are the five symbols most frequently used in Japanese input and e-mail and having the highest priority. It is preferred to distribute.

[0000] Shift operation when inputting Japanese in Roman characters
The keyboard image 302, which is displayed by switching to the keyboard image 302 that displays 24 letters of the alphabet by the character shift operation that is displayed by the operation, includes 10 numbers as described above, and the above five characters in Japanese input and e-mail. It is preferable to allocate 19 symbols which are used next to symbols and have the highest priority.

Examples of Symbol Priorities Symbols which are used most frequently in Japanese input and e-mail and should be given the highest priority (first priority) include, for example, the reason given in Table 21 below. The symbols shown can be cited.

[0000]

Table 21 (symbols of first priority),. || Frequently used as punctuation marks-| Represents a long sound, for example, "" | frequently used in the description of foreign words "| | Frequently used as angle brackets | | For example, kanji notation such as" letters and symbols " Often used to indicate word boundaries. ~ | It is frequently used to indicate a range, for example, "1-5". … (21)

It is frequently used in Japanese input, etc.
As a symbol to be given the second highest priority (second priority) next to the first priority symbol, for example, a symbol shown in Table 22 below with a reason can be given.

[0000]

[Table 22],. | (Comma, period) Frequently used when entering letters and numbers. − | (Hyphen) Frequently used in alphabetic and numeric input and Japanese input. () | (Parentheses) Frequently used in alphabetic and numeric input and Japanese input. : | (Colon) Frequently used in time display and the like. / | (Slash) Frequently used in date display and the like. ! ? | Frequently used in alphabet input. # | Also used to write comments in e-mail. … (22)

Further, as a third symbol which is used relatively frequently in Japanese input and the like and to which the first priority and the second priority are to be assigned the next highest priority (third priority), for example, The symbols shown in Table 23 can be mentioned.

[0000]

[Table 23] & | (ampersan) Frequently used to describe foreign proper nouns. 〒 | (postal code mark) Frequently used for addressing. + | (Plus) * | (asterisk) = | (equal) ”| (double quotation)% | (percent) ... (23)

Further, as a fourth symbol to be given a priority (fourth priority) next to the first to third priority symbols, which is relatively infrequently used in Japanese input or the like, for example,
The symbols shown in Table 24 below can be mentioned.

[0000]

[Table 24] * | (So-called rice sign); | (Semicolon) '| (Single quote) <<> | (Large or less) [] | (Square brackets) ＠ | (At mark) ｜ | ) ¥ | (yen) ... (24)

Further, as a fifth symbol to be given a priority (fifth priority) next to the first to fourth priority symbols, the frequency of use of which is lower in Japanese input and the like, for example,
Included in standard ASCII keyboards,
“＾ (hat)”, “_ not included in the fourth priority symbol
(Underscore) "and" | ".

[0000] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 10 to 15, for explaining the contents of the keyboard image 302 display screen control unit 202 and an input screen management unit 212 is displayed in the input image 3 ₁ (Figure 3). FIG. 10A shows a first keyboard image 302 having a four-step key (a four-step Roman key) as a first attribute, a Roman character as a second attribute, a hiragana or katakana as a third attribute, and a standard screen. And (B)
Is a four-step key (Roman four-step key) as the first attribute,
It is a figure which shows the 2nd keyboard image 302 which has a Roman character as a 2nd attribute, a hiragana or a katakana as a 3rd attribute, and a shift screen. However, FIG.
(A) and (B) show a case where hiragana is designated as the third attribute (the same applies to each drawing shown in the second embodiment).

As shown in FIG. 10A, the first keyboard image 302 has 51 keys excluding a return key and the like, is suitable for Japanese input in Roman characters using a pen, and has a small area. Standard keyboard part for Japanese / Romaji input that displays keys in four columns (Japanese / Romaji /
A standard keyboard), an icon a for specifying a second attribute (Roman / Kana), an icon b for specifying English / Roman among the third attributes, and a hiragana / Katakana for specifying Icon c, and
An icon d for designating a standard screen / shift screen.

The Japanese / Roman / Standard keyboard of the first keyboard image 302 is composed of two alphabets excluding the letters q and l which are not used in Japanese Roman alphabet.
4 characters, 10 numeric characters (0 to 9), and some of the 17 symbols [,. -"!" ? ()-: / ,. #] Key,
For convenience in inputting Japanese characters using Roman characters, vowels (a, i, u, e, o) are marked with a frame.

When the user presses any one of the icons a to d, the state transition shown in FIG. 9 occurs according to the pressed icon, the display content is changed, and the icon a of the first keyboard image 302 is pressed. Then, the display is changed from “Roma” to “Oh”. When icon b is pressed, the display is changed from “Roma” to “English”. When icon c is pressed, the display is changed from “A”. When the icon is changed to “A” and the icon d is pressed, the direction of the displayed arrow is reversed.

As shown in FIG. 10 (B), the second keyboard image 302 is suitable for inputting Japanese characters in Roman characters using a pen, and displays Japanese and Roman characters in which keys with a small area are displayed in a four-stage configuration. It has a shift keyboard portion for input (Japanese / Roman / Shift keyboard) and the same icons a to d as the first keyboard image 302.

The Japanese / Roman / Shift keyboard of the second keyboard image 302 is the first keyboard image 3
02 has 51 keys, and other symbols of the second priority described above, symbols of the third to fourth priorities, and
Among the symbols of the fifth priority, including a key with a symbol that is considered to be the most frequently used, and for convenience of input,
In the first keyboard image 302, [“-”. ,] In the second keyboard image 302 at the position of the key "[". ,] Are arranged.

When the user presses any of the icons a to d of the second keyboard image 302, the state transition shown in FIG. 9 occurs according to the pressed icon, the display content is changed, and the icon a is pressed. Then, the display is changed from “Roma” to “Oh”. When icon b is pressed, the display is changed from “Roma” to “English”. When icon c is pressed, the display is changed from “A”. When the icon is changed to “A” and the icon d is pressed, the direction of the displayed arrow is reversed.

First and second keyboard images 302
Is used when the user by Roman character input, the kana character data entered in the input image 3 ₁ and kana working image 3 ₂ workspace 300 is displayed in hiragana or katakana in response to an operation on an icon c Can be

FIG. 11A shows a third attribute having a four-step key (a four-step alphabet key) as a first attribute, an alphabet as a second attribute, a full-width or half-width as a third attribute, and a standard screen. A keyboard image 302 is shown, wherein (B) shows a four-step alphabetic key (a four-step alphabetic key) as a first attribute, an alphabet as a second attribute, a full-width or half-width as a third attribute, and
It is a figure showing the 4th keyboard picture 302 which has a shift screen. However, FIGS. 11A and 11B show a case where full-width is specified as the third attribute (the same applies to each drawing shown in the second embodiment).

As shown in FIG. 11A, the third keyboard image 302 has 51 keys excluding the return key and the like, and is different from the Japanese / Roman keyboard, in that all lowercase letters including the letters q and l are provided. 26 letters of the alphabet, numerals and some symbols of the first priority and the second priority are attached,
Standard keyboard part for inputting alphabetic characters (alphabet / standard keyboard) of four-stage configuration with no frame at the key top of vowels, icon a for specifying the second attribute, and alphabetic / Roman alphabet among the third attribute It has an icon b for designating, an icon c for designating full-width / half-width, and an icon d for designating a standard screen / shift screen.

When the user presses any of the icons a to d of the third keyboard image 302, the state transition shown in FIG. 9 occurs according to the pressed icon, the display contents are changed, and the icon a is pressed. Then, the display is changed from “Ah” to “Roma”, and when the icon b is pressed, the display is changed from “English” to “Roma” or “Kana”. When the icon c is pressed, the display is changed. When "all" is changed to "half" and the icon d is pressed, the displayed character (caps) is highlighted in black and white.

As shown in FIG. 11B, the fourth keyboard image 302 is the third keyboard image 302.
4 keys having a total of 26 uppercase letters, numbers, fourth priority symbols, and fifth priority symbols that are not displayed in the second keyboard image 302 as in the case of It has a shift keyboard portion for inputting alphabetic characters (alphabet / shift keyboard), and the same icons a to d as the third keyboard image 302.

When the user presses any of the icons a to d of the fourth keyboard image 302, the state transition shown in FIG. 9 occurs according to the pressed icon, the display contents are changed, and the icon a is pressed. Then, the display is changed from “Ah” to “Roma”, and when the icon b is pressed, the display is changed from “English” to “Roma” or “Kana”. When the icon c is pressed, the display is changed. When "all" is changed to "half" and the icon d is pressed, the displayed character (caps) is highlighted in black and white.

For convenience of input, the third keyboard image 302 and the fourth keyboard image 302
[(),. :;] Is displayed. Furthermore, first to fourth [FIG. 10 (A) to FIG.
(B)], the keyboard image 302 is designed so as to display all printable ASCII codes excluding symbols such as ESCAPE and DELETE as the whole of the third keyboard image 302 and the fourth keyboard image 302. By switching and displaying these keyboard images 302, all printable ASCII codes can be directly input from the keyboard images 302.

Third and fourth keyboard images 302
Is used when the user inputs a sentence in English (a language in alphabetical notation) from the keyboard image 302 and displays the input sentence in the alphabet.

FIG. 12A shows a three-step key (Romaji three-step key) as the first attribute, a Roman character as the second attribute,
A third attribute shows a hiragana or katakana character and a fifth keyboard image 302 having a standard screen, (B)
Is a three-level key (Romaji three-level key) as the first attribute,
It is a figure which shows the 6th keyboard image 302 which has a Roman character as a 2nd attribute, a hiragana or katakana as a 3rd attribute, and a shift screen.

As shown in FIG. 12 (A), the fifth keyboard image 302 has 29 keys excluding the return key and the like, except for the letters q and l, and has a vowel frame. 24 letters of the alphabet, a three-tiered Japanese / Roman / Standard keyboard with a first priority symbol, an icon a for designating a second attribute (Roman / Kana), and a third attribute for each Among them, an icon b for specifying alphabetic / roman characters, an icon c for specifying hiragana / katakana, and a standard screen / shift screen (num / R
oman).

When the user presses any of the icons a to d of the fifth keyboard image 302, the state transition shown in FIG. 9 occurs according to the pressed icon, the display contents are changed, and the icon a is pressed. Then, the display is changed from “Roma” to “Oh”. When icon b is pressed, the display is changed from “Roma” to “English”. When icon c is pressed, the display is changed from “A”. It is changed to "A" and when the icon d is pressed, the displayed character nu
m (short for numerical) is changed to the letter Roman.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12B, the sixth keyboard image 302 is the fifth keyboard image 302.
The same as the fifth keyboard image 302, which has 29 keys in the same manner as in the above, and has a three-stage Japanese / Roman / Shift keyboard with numbers and symbols of the second and third priorities. It has icons a to d. In the fifth and sixth keyboard images 302, consideration is given to operability, such as placing ",." At the same position as ",.".

When the user presses any of the icons a to d of the sixth keyboard image 302, the state transition shown in FIG. 9 occurs according to the pressed icon, the display content is changed, and the icon a is pressed. Then, the display is changed from “Roma” to “Oh”. When icon b is pressed, the display is changed from “Roma” to “English”. When icon c is pressed, the display is changed from “A”. It is changed to "A" and when icon d is pressed, the displayed character Ro
man is changed to the letter num.

Fifth and sixth keyboard images 302
Correspond to the first and second keyboard images 302 [FIG.
(A), in the same manner as (B)], by the user Roman character entered from the keyboard image 302, the kana character data entered in the input image 3 ₁ and kana working image 3 ₂ workspace 300, icons c Is used when displaying in hiragana or katakana according to the operation for.

FIG. 13A shows a seventh attribute having a three-stage key (alphabetic three-stage key) as the first attribute, alphabetic characters as the second attribute, full-width or half-width as the third attribute, and a standard screen. A keyboard image 302 is shown, wherein (B) shows a third attribute having a three-step key (alphabetic three-step key) as a first attribute, an alphabet as a second attribute, a full-width or half-width as a third attribute, and a shift screen. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an eighth keyboard image 302.

As shown in FIG. 13A, the seventh keyboard image 302 has 29 keys excluding the return key and the like, has a three-stage alphabetic / standard keyboard, and has a second attribute. An icon a for specifying, an icon b for specifying alphabetic / roman characters, an icon c for specifying full-width / half-width, and a standard screen / shift screen among the third attributes. Icon d.

When the user presses any of the icons a to d of the seventh keyboard image 302, the state transition shown in FIG. 9 occurs according to the pressed icon, the display contents are changed, and the icon a is pressed. Then, the display is changed from "Roma" to "Oh", when icon b is pressed, the display is changed from "English" to "Roma", and when icon c is pressed, the display is changed from "All". When the icon is changed to “half” and the icon d is pressed, the displayed character is displayed in black and white inverted.

As shown in FIG. 13B, the eighth keyboard image 302 is the seventh keyboard image 302.
, And has 29 keys, a three-stage alphabetic / shift keyboard, and the same icons a to d as the third keyboard image 302.

When the user presses any of the icons a to d of the eighth keyboard image 302, the state transition shown in FIG. 9 occurs according to the pressed icon, the display contents are changed, and the icon a is pressed. Then, the display is changed from "Roma" to "Oh", when icon b is pressed, the display is changed from "English" to "Roma", and when icon c is pressed, the display is changed from "All". When the icon is changed to “half” and the icon d is pressed, the displayed character is displayed in black and white inverted.

The seventh keyboard image 302 and the eighth keyboard image 302 correspond to the third keyboard image 302.
Like the fourth keyboard image 302 and the fourth keyboard image 302, the user inputs an English sentence from the keyboard image 302 and uses the input sentence in alphabetical display.

FIG. 14A is a ninth table having a Japanese syllabary key as a first attribute, a kana character as a second attribute, hiragana or katakana as a third attribute, and a standard screen.
(B) shows a syllabary key as a first attribute, kana characters as a second attribute, hiragana or katakana as a third attribute, and a tenth keyboard image having a shift screen FIG. FIGS. 14A and 14B show a case where a hiragana is used as the third attribute (hereinafter, the same applies to each drawing shown in the second embodiment).

As shown in FIG. 14A, the ninth keyboard image 302 has 51 keys excluding the return key and the like, and has the kana characters arranged in the order of the Japanese syllabary. 46 characters of "Yayuyo-on") and predetermined symbols [dakuten / semi-dakuten, punctuation (.,) And "-"
), An icon a for designating a second attribute (Roman / Kana character), and an icon b for designating an English character / Kana character in the third attribute, respectively. , An icon c for designating Hiragana / Katakana, and an icon d for designating a standard screen / shift screen.

When the user presses any of the icons a to d of the ninth keyboard image 302, the state transition shown in FIG. 9 occurs according to the pressed icon, the display contents are changed, and the icon a is pressed. Then, the display is changed from “Ah” to “Roma”. When the icon b is pressed, the display is changed from “Kana” to “English”. When the icon c is pressed, the display is changed from “A”. When the icon is changed to “A” and the icon d is pressed, the direction of the displayed arrow is reversed.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Of the ninth keyboard image 30
As with 2, it has 51 keys, and lowercase letters (ぁ, ぃ, ぅ, ぇ, ぉ, tsu, ゃ, ゅ, ゎ, ゎ, etc.) and old letters (ゐ ゑ ve) used in Japanese description , And the first and second priority symbols, the third priority symbol excluding "+ ="% ", the fourth priority symbol excluding";',<> []}, and A syllabary arrangement / shift keyboard to which a part of the fifth priority symbol is attached, and a ninth keyboard image 302
And the same icons a to d.

When the user enters the tenth keyboard image 302
When any one of the icons a to d is pressed, the state transition shown in FIG. 9 occurs according to the pressed icon, and the display content is changed. When the icon a is pressed, the display changes from “Oh” to “Oh”. When the icon b is pressed, the display changes from "Kana" to "English". When the icon c is pressed, the display changes from "A" to "A", and the icon d is pressed. Then, the direction of the displayed arrow is reversed.

The ninth and tenth keyboard images 302 are created in consideration of the operability of the user, and in general, the user presses the clear sound and the voiced voice / semi-voiced voice to press the voiced voice / semi-voiced voice. Since the operation of inputting the voiced sound can be performed without any problem, the key of the kana character and the key of the voiced sound / half voiced sound are separated. On the other hand, it is difficult for the user to perform an operation of pressing a key for designating a lowercase letter and a key of a kana character and inputting a lowercase letter.
02 does not have a key to specify lowercase letters,
All lowercase keys are provided, and ",." Is arranged at the same position as ",.".

In consideration of the input of a horizontally written sentence, the kana characters are arranged in the order of the Japanese syllabary from the upper left, and the “v” of the tenth keyboard image 302 is At the position of “F”, each lowercase letter of the tenth keyboard image 302 is arranged at the position of the corresponding character of the ninth keyboard image 302. Also,
As shown by hatching in FIG. 14 (A), the ninth keyboard image 30
2 is color-coded.

The ninth and tenth keyboard images 302
As a whole, all of the 50 sounds of Kiyone, including the old letters, the voices and semi-voiced voices that are input by pressing the keys of voices and voiced voices / semi-voiced voices, lowercase letters, and symbols frequently used in Japanese descriptions wherein, the user enters a Japanese sentence that kana input, the kana character data in the input image 3 ₁ and kana working image 3 ₂ workspace 300 the user entered, according to an operation on an icon c This is used when displaying in hiragana or katakana.

FIG. 15A shows JIS as the first attribute.
An arrangement key, a kana character as a second attribute, a hiragana or katakana as a third attribute, and a first having a standard screen
1B shows a keyboard image 302 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3B shows a JIS array key as a first attribute, a kana character as a second attribute,
It is a figure which shows the hiragana or katakana as a 3rd attribute, and the 12th keyboard image 302 which has a shift screen.

As shown in FIG. 15A, the eleventh keyboard image 302 has 51 keys excluding the return key and the like, and uses JIS characters in consideration of the frequency of use of kana characters except for "". J arranged according to the standard and having the same symbol as in the ninth keyboard image 302 [FIG.
IS layout / standard keyboard and second attribute (Roman /
An icon a for designating a kana character, an icon b for designating an alphabetic character / a kana character, an icon c for designating a hiragana / katakana character, and a standard screen / shift screen among the third attributes. And an icon d for performing the specification.

When the user enters the eleventh keyboard image 302
When any one of the icons a to d is pressed, the state transition shown in FIG. 9 occurs according to the pressed icon, and the display content is changed. When the icon a is pressed, the display changes from “Oh” to “Oh”. When the icon b is pressed, the display changes from "Kana" to "English". When the icon c is pressed, the display changes from "A" to "A", and the icon d is pressed. Then, the direction of the displayed arrow is reversed.

The twelfth keyboard image 302 is
Like the eleventh keyboard image 302, it has 51 keys, and the tenth keyboard image 302 (FIG. 14B)
A JIS layout / shift keyboard in which “を” is added to the same kana character as in the above and a symbol obtained by removing “「 ”from the same symbol as in the tenth keyboard image 302, and the same icon a to the eleventh keyboard image 302 d.

The user enters the twelfth keyboard image 302
When any one of the icons a to d is pressed, the state transition shown in FIG. 9 occurs according to the pressed icon, and the display content is changed. When the icon a is pressed, the display changes from “Oh” to “Oh”. When the icon b is pressed, the display changes from "Kana" to "English". When the icon c is pressed, the display changes from "A" to "A", and the icon d is pressed. Then, the direction of the displayed arrow is reversed.

The eleventh and twelfth keyboard images 30
In the second, the key of “V ゎ,...” Of the twelfth keyboard image 302 is assigned to the eleventh keyboard image 302, similarly to the ninth and tenth keyboard images 302 (FIGS. 14A and 14B). Consideration has been given to operability, such as matching the key position of the key "" in the keyboard image 302.

The eleventh and twelfth keyboard images 30
2, the user by kana input from the keyboard image 302, the kana character data entered in the input image 3 ₁ and kana working image 3 ₂ workspace 300,
It is used when displaying in hiragana or katakana according to the operation on the icon c.

Note that FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 14
(A), (B) and FIGS. 15 (A), (B),
The icon d of the first, second, ninth to twelfth keyboard images 302 has an arrow graphic corresponding to the state of a shift key (whether pressed or not) of a normal keyboard having a key switch. And the icon d with an upward arrow is a normal image of the third attribute (unlocked state)
, And an icon d with a downward arrow indicates a shifted image (locked state) having the third attribute.

Here, with reference to FIG. 16, a process of the display screen control unit 202 concerning the icon d of the first, second, ninth to twelfth keyboard images 302 will be described. FIG.
6, the display screen control unit 202 (FIG. 2)
The ninth to twelfth keyboard images 302 [FIG.
(B), FIG. 14 (A), (B), FIG. 15 (A),
(B)] is a flowchart showing a process of controlling the direction of the arrow of the icon d.

As shown in FIG. 16, step 100 (S
In 100), when the user presses the liquid crystal display device 122 (touch panel 118), the display screen control unit 20
2 is the first, second, ninth to twelfth keyboard images 30
In 2, it is determined whether or not the icon d has been pressed. If the icon d has been pressed, the process proceeds to S102, and if not, the process ends.

In step 102 (S102), the display screen control unit 202 converts the keyboard image 302 currently displayed on the liquid crystal display device 122 into a standard keyboard [the first, ninth, and eleventh keyboard images 302]. 10 (A), FIG. 14 (A), FIG. 15 (A)}]. S10 for standard keyboard
Proceed to the process of step S4.
Proceed to step 6.

In step 104 (S104), the display screen control unit 202 controls the input screen management unit 212 to change the shift keyboard [second, fourth, and twelfth keyboard images 302 {FIG. 10B, FIG. 14 (B), FIG.
5 (B)}], the arrow of the icon d is changed downward.
In step 106 (S106), the display screen control unit 202 controls the input screen management unit 212 to change the arrow of the icon d of the standard keyboard upward.

In step 108 (S 108), the input screen management section 212 displays the image of the shift keyboard or the standard keyboard whose direction of the arrow of the icon d has been changed in the processing of S 104 or S 106 on the liquid crystal display device 1.
22.

FIG. 17 shows an initial setting screen displayed on the liquid crystal display device 122 (FIG. 1) by the display screen control unit 202 and the input screen managing unit 212 (FIG. 2) to designate the first attribute at the time of initial setting. It is a figure showing an image. When the user performs an operation of calling a screen for initial setting when starting up the portable computer 1, the display screen control unit 202 controls the input screen management unit 212 according to the operation of the user,
As shown in FIG.
First showing a multi-stage configuration (four-stage key) / 3-stage configuration (three-stage key)
Are displayed on the liquid crystal display device 122, and icons e and f for setting the attributes of "."

The user performs an operation of designating the first attribute of the keyboard image 302 in a menu format by, for example, pressing the arrows of the icons e and f. When the user's specification operation is completed and the initial setting screen is closed, the display screen control unit 202 specifies the first attribute.

The operation of the portable computer 1 according to the second embodiment will be described below. When the user performs an operation for changing the initial settings of the portable computer 1,
The display screen control unit 202 controls the input screen management unit 212 according to this operation, and displays the initial setting screen shown in FIG. When the user performs an initial setting operation on the initial setting screen, the display screen control unit 202 responds to the operation with a first attribute [four-step key (Romaji four-step key; FIG. 10) / 3 steps] Key (Latin 3
Column key; FIG. 12)] is specified.

For example, when the first attribute is designated as a four-step key (four-step Roman key) and the Japanese syllabary key, the display screen control unit 202
Is controlled as the initial screen (default screen) as shown in FIG.
0 a first keyboard image 302 shown in (A) is displayed on the input image 3 ₁ on the liquid crystal display device 122, further, by changing the designation of the attribute 2 and attribute 3 in response to the operation of the subsequent user , The keyboard images 302 of the ranges A and B shown in FIG. 9 [first to fourth, ninth, and tenth keyboard images 302; FIGS. 10A to 11B, FIG.
(B)] is displayed.

Further, for example, when the first attribute is designated as a four-stage key (Roman four-stage key) and a JIS arrangement kana key, the display screen control unit 202 controls the input screen management unit 212 to As the initial screen (default screen), the first keyboard image 302 shown in FIG.
Was displayed in the input image 3 ₁ on the liquid crystal display device 122, further, by changing the designation of the attribute 2 and attribute 3 in accordance with the operation of subsequent users, range A, D of the keyboard image shown in FIG. 9 302 [first to fourth, eleventh, and twelfth keyboard images 302; FIGS. 10A to 11B, FIG.
5 (A), (B)].

For example, when the first attribute is designated as a three-stage key (Roman alphabet three-stage key) and a JIS arrangement kana key, the display screen control unit 202 controls the input screen management unit 212 to As the default screen, FIG.
The fifth keyboard image 302 shown in (A) is displayed on the input image 3 ₁ on the liquid crystal display device 122, change the specified attributes 2 and attribute 3 in response to the operation of the subsequent user, FIG. 9 Keyboard images 302 in ranges C and D shown in FIG.
[Third to eighth, eleventh, and twelfth keyboard images 30
2; FIGS. 11 (A) to 13 (B), 15 (A),
(B)] is displayed.

For example, when the first attribute is designated as a three-step key (Romaji three-step key) and a Japanese syllabary key, the display screen control unit 202 controls the input screen management unit 212. As a default screen, FIG.
The fifth keyboard image 302 shown in (A) is displayed on the input image 3 ₁ on the liquid crystal display device 122, change the specified attributes 2 and attribute 3 in response to the operation of the subsequent user, FIG. 9 Keyboard image 302 in ranges C and B shown in FIG.
[Third to tenth keyboard images 302; FIG. 11A
To FIG. 14 (B)].

Hereinafter, the operation of designating the attribute 2 and the attribute 3 of the display screen control unit 202 and the operation of displaying the keyboard image 302 of the display screen control unit 202 and the input screen management unit 212 will be further described with specific examples.

Display Operation Example 1 In response to a user's operation, the display screen control unit 202 sets a four-step key (a four-step Roman key) and a five-step key as the first attribute.
Specify the zero-tone array kana key. In this case, the display screen control unit 202 controls the input screen management unit 2 in accordance with a user operation.
And controls the 12, keyboard image 30 of the input image 3 ₁
For example, the first screen image 3
02 [range A in FIG. 9, FIG. 10 (A)] is displayed, and the text management unit 208 sets the display of the input kana character data as hiragana.

When the user enters the first keyboard image 302
When the icon a is pressed, the display screen control unit 202
In response to this press, the designation of the second attribute is changed from Roman characters to kana characters, and the input screen management unit 212 is controlled to
Keyboard image 302 [range B in FIG. 9, FIG.
(A)] is displayed.

[0138] Further, when the user enters the ninth keyboard image 3
02 icon b, the display screen control unit 202
Changes the designation of the third attribute from Roman to English in response to this press, and changes the display of the icon b from “Roma” to “English”.
Change to Further, the display screen control unit 202 controls the input screen management unit 212 to display, for example, the third keyboard image 302 [range A in FIG. 9, FIG. 11A]. The display screen control unit 202 changes only the third attribute corresponding to the pressed icon in response to the pressing of the icons b to d, and does not change the other third attributes (the same applies hereinafter).

[0139] Further, when the user enters the first keyboard image 3
02 icon c, the display screen control unit 202
Changes the designation of the third attribute from hiragana to katakana in response to this press, and changes the display of the icon c from "a" to "a". In this case, the text management unit 208
The display of the input kana character data is assumed to be katakana.

When the user enters the first keyboard image 3
02 icon d, the display screen control unit 202
Changes the designation of the third attribute from the standard screen to the shift screen in response to this press, and controls the input screen management unit 212 to change the second keyboard image 302 [range A in FIG.
0 (B)], and the display of the icon d is changed from an upward arrow to a downward arrow.

Display Operation Example 2 The display screen control unit 202 responds to the user's operation by using a four-step key (Roman four-step key) and a five-step key as the first attribute.
Specify 0 tone sequence kana keys, and controls the input screen management unit 212, the first keyboard image 302 in the input image 3 ₁
When the user presses the icon “a” of the first keyboard image 302 while displaying [Range A in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 (A)], the ninth keyboard image 302 [Range B in FIG. )] Is displayed.

Further, when the user presses the icon b of the ninth keyboard image 302, the display screen control section 20
2 changes the designation of the third attribute from a kana character to an alphabetic character in response to this pressing, and changes the display of the icon b from "kana" to "english". Further, the display screen control unit 202
The input screen management unit 212 is controlled to display, for example, a third keyboard image 302 [range B in FIG. 9, FIG. 11A].

When the user enters the ninth keyboard image 3
02 icon c, the display screen control unit 202
Changes the designation of the third attribute from hiragana to katakana in response to this press, and changes the display of the icon c from "a" to "a". In this case, the text management unit 208
The display of the input kana character data is assumed to be katakana.

When the user enters the ninth keyboard image 3
02 icon d, the display screen control unit 202
Changes the designation of the third attribute from the standard screen to the shift screen in response to this press, and controls the input screen management unit 212 to change the tenth keyboard image 302 [range B in FIG. 9, FIG. )] Is displayed, and the display of the icon d is changed from an upward arrow to a downward arrow.

Display Operation Example 3 The display screen control unit 202 responds to a user's operation by using a three-step key (Romaji three-step key) and J
Specify the IS array kana key. In this case, the display screen control unit 202 controls the input screen management unit 2 in accordance with a user operation.
And controls the 12, keyboard image 30 of the input image 3 ₁
For example, the fifth keyboard image 3
02 [range C in FIG. 9, FIG. 12 (A)] is displayed, and the text management unit 208 sets the display of the input kana character data as hiragana.

When the user enters the fifth keyboard image 302
When the icon a is pressed, the display screen control unit 202
In response to this press, the designation of the second attribute is changed from Roman characters to kana characters, and the input screen management unit 212 is controlled to
1 keyboard image 302 [range D in FIG. 9, FIG.
(A)] is displayed.

When the user enters the fifth keyboard image 3
02 icon b, the display screen control unit 202
Changes the designation of the third attribute from Roman to English in response to this press, and changes the display of the icon b from “Roma” to “English”.
Change to Further, the display screen control unit 202 controls the input screen management unit 212 to display, for example, a seventh keyboard image 302 [range C in FIG. 9, FIG. 13A].

When the user enters the fifth keyboard image 3
02 icon c, the display screen control unit 202
Changes the designation of the third attribute from hiragana to katakana in response to this press, and changes the display of the icon c from "a" to "a". In this case, the text management unit 208
The display of the input kana character data is assumed to be katakana.

Further, when the user enters the fifth keyboard image 3
02 icon d, the display screen control unit 202
Changes the designation of the third attribute from the standard screen to the shift screen in response to this press, and controls the input screen management unit 212 to change the sixth keyboard image 302 [range C in FIG.
2 (B)], and the display of the icon d is changed from an upward arrow to a downward arrow.

Display Operation Example 4 In response to a user operation, the display screen control unit 202 determines that the first attribute is a three-stage key (Romaji three-stage key) and J
Specifies the IS sequence kana keys, and controls the input screen management unit 212, the fifth keyboard image 302 in the input image 3 ₁
[Range C in FIG. 9, FIG. 12 (A)] is displayed, and when the user presses the icon a of the fifth keyboard image 302, the eleventh keyboard image 302 [Range D, FIG.
FIG. 15 (A)] is displayed.

Further, when the user presses the icon b of the eleventh keyboard image 302, the display screen control unit 2
No. 02 changes the designation of the third attribute from a kana character to an alphabetic character in response to this pressing, and changes the display of the icon b from “kana” to “English”. Further, the display screen control unit 202
The input screen management unit 212 is controlled to display the seventh keyboard image 302 [range C in FIG. 9, FIG. 13A].

When the user presses the icon c of the eleventh keyboard image 302, the display screen controller 20
2 changes the designation of the third attribute from hiragana to katakana in response to this press, and changes the display of the icon c from "a" to "a".
Change to In this case, the text management unit 208
Indicates the display of the input kana character data as katakana.

When the user presses the icon d of the eleventh keyboard image 302, the display screen control unit 20
2 changes the designation of the third attribute from the standard screen to the shift screen in response to the pressing, controls the input screen management unit 212, and controls the twelfth keyboard image 302 [range D in FIG. B)], and the display of the icon d is changed from an upward arrow to a downward arrow.

Display Operation Example 5 In response to a user operation, the display screen control unit 202 displays a four-step key (Roman four-step key) and a five-step key as the first attribute.
Specify the zero-tone array kana key. In this case, the display screen control unit 202 controls the input screen management unit 2 in accordance with a user operation.
12 to display the first keyboard image 302 [range A in FIG. 9, FIG. 10 (A)].

Further, when the user presses the icon b of the first keyboard image 302, the display screen control unit 20
2 changes the designation of the third attribute from a kana character to an alphabetic character in response to this pressing, and changes the display of the icon b from "kana" to "english". Further, the display screen control unit 202
The input screen management unit 212 is controlled to display the third keyboard image 302 [range A in FIG. 9, FIG. 11A].
In this case, the text management unit 208 sets the display of the input English sentence data to full-width.

When the user enters the third keyboard image 3
02 icon c, the display screen control unit 202
Changes the designation of the third attribute from full-width to half-width in response to this pressing, and changes the display of the icon c from "full" to "half". In this case, the text management unit 208 sets the display of the input English sentence data to one-byte characters.

Further, when the user enters the third keyboard image 3
02 icon d, the display screen control unit 202
Changes the designation of the third attribute from the standard screen to the shift screen in response to this press, and controls the input screen management unit 212 to change the fourth keyboard image 302 [range A in FIG.
1 (B)] is displayed.

Display Operation Example 6 In response to a user operation, the display screen control unit 202 sets a three-step key (Romaji three-step key) and J
Specify the IS array kana key. In this case, the display screen control unit 202 controls the input screen management unit 2 in accordance with a user operation.
12 to display a fifth keyboard image 302 [range C in FIG. 9, FIG. 12 (A)]. Further, when the user presses the icon b of the fifth keyboard image 302, the display screen control unit 202 changes the designation of the third attribute from a kana character to an alphabetic character in response to the press, and changes the display of the icon b to “ "Kana" to "English". Further, the display screen control unit 202 controls the input screen management unit 212 to
The seventh keyboard image 302 [range C in FIG. 9, FIG.
(A)] is displayed. In this case, the text management unit 208 sets the display of the input English sentence data to full-width.

When the user enters the fifth keyboard image 3
02 icon c, the display screen control unit 202
Changes the designation of the third attribute from full-width to half-width in response to this pressing, and changes the display of the icon c from "full" to "half". In this case, the text management unit 208 sets the display of the input English sentence data to one-byte characters.

Further, when the user presses the icon d of the seventh keyboard image 302, the display screen controller 20
2 changes the designation of the third attribute from the standard screen to the shift screen in response to this press, and controls the input screen management unit 212 to change the eighth keyboard image 302 [range C in FIG.
3 (B)] is displayed. Note that, similarly to the display operation of the display screen control unit 202 described above with reference to the specific examples, the user can operate the liquid crystal display device 122 (the touch panel 118) to follow the branch shown in FIG. 302 can be displayed and data input can be performed.

As described above, according to the control of the data input screen shown in the second embodiment, a keyboard image can be selected hierarchically, and a relatively small number of icons can be used for many types. Any one of the keyboard images can be efficiently selected. In addition, in the initial setting, the number of keyboard images to be selected can be narrowed down, so that the user does not call a keyboard image that is unnecessary at all when inputting a sentence.

Further, by arranging the state transitions necessary for displaying the keyboard image based on a tree-like graph as shown in FIG. 9, all the keyboard images can be selected by using an alternative icon. Therefore, operability is good. The display contents of the icons a to d change depending on the attributes of the first to twelfth keyboard images 302, and the keyboard images 302 selectable by the operations on the icons a to d are changed by the state transition shown in FIG. Since the selection is limited to the alternative, the number of icons required for selecting a keyboard image can be reduced, and the display screen of a small portable computer can be effectively used.

The first to twelfth keyboard images 302 shown in FIGS. 10A to 15B are composed of characters and symbols of the most suitable type for Japanese kana input, Roman character input and English character input, respectively. Are arranged in consideration of operability, so that the input operation is easy for the user. 10 (A), (B), FIG. 14 (A),
(B), the icon d of the first, second, ninth to twelfth keyboard images 302 shown in FIGS. 15 (A) and (B) has an arrow graphic corresponding to the state of the shift key of the normal keyboard. Since the keyboard image 302 is attached, the user can intuitively grasp whether the keyboard image 302 is a standard image or a shift image, and operability is improved.

As the display of the icon d in the first, second, and ninth to twelfth keyboard images 302, for example, the directions of the arrows are reversed as shown in FIGS. Instead, a method in which the graphic displayed on the icon d is displayed in black and white inverted, as shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the keyboard image 302 currently displayed on the liquid crystal display device 122 (FIG. 1) is standard. A method of indicating whether the image is an image or a shift image by displaying the characters “standard” and “shift” on the icon d, respectively, or
As shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, when the icon d of the currently displayed keyboard image 302 is pressed, whether the newly displayed keyboard image 302 is a shift image or a standard image is displayed. Can be considered by displaying the characters "shift" and "standard" on the icon d, respectively.

However, according to the method of inverting the graphic displayed on the icon d shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B in black and white, the user perceives the correspondence between the displayed graphic and the standard image / shifted image. It is hard to grasp. Also, the change of the display contents such as the change of the direction of the arrow is indispensable for the realization of the software keyboard, but the black-and-white inversion processing is not limited to this. If the image is shown separately, the amount of software is small and the development cost is low.

The standard image / keyboard image 302 of the currently displayed keyboard image 302 shown in FIGS.
A method of indicating a different one of the shift images by characters, or FIG.
In response to the pressing of the icon d shown in (A) and (B),
If a method of indicating the standard image / shifted image of the keyboard image 302 to be displayed next by characters is adopted, for the user, the display content of the icon d is determined by the method shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B. Or (A), (B) of FIG.
There is a possibility that confusion may arise because it is not possible to distinguish between the two methods. Therefore, FIGS.
The method of displaying the standard image / shifted image of the keyboard image 302 in the direction of the arrow is superior to the method shown in FIG.

In the second embodiment, the first,
The second, ninth to twelfth keyboard images 302 [FIG.
(A), (B), FIG. 14 (A), (B), FIG.
(A), (B)], an arrow graphic corresponding to the state of the shift key of the normal keyboard is used only for the icon d, but this arrow graphic may be used for the icon d of another keyboard image. .

The keyboard images and the initial setting screen shown in FIGS. 10A to 15B and FIG. 17 are examples, and the contents of the screen can be changed as necessary.
You can increase or decrease the type. In the initial setting screen shown in FIG. 17, the first input image 3 after the initial setting is displayed.
_The display screen control unit 202 can be modified so that the type of the keyboard image 302 displayed in ₁ can be set.

[0000]

As described above, according to the input image display device and the method thereof according to the present invention, for example, data displayed on the display screen of a small portable computer and corresponding to the operation on the display content is displayed. When a plurality of keyboard images used for input constitute a pair having a relationship between a standard input and a shift input, these input images are used for a standard input or a shift input. It can be clearly shown to the user that there is. Further, according to the input image display device and the method thereof according to the present invention,
The user can switch and display the keyboard images constituting a set of two images having a relationship between the standard input and the shift input in a manner similar to a shift operation on a normal keyboard having a key switch.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a portable computer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of Japanese processing software stored in a ROM of the portable computer shown in FIG. 1 and executed by a microprocessor to realize a Japanese sentence creation function.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an input image displayed on a liquid crystal display device of the portable computer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a kana-kanji conversion work image displayed on the liquid crystal display device of the portable computer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the Japanese language processing software (FIG. 2) of the portable computer (FIG. 1).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the processing content of S110 shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing of the Japanese language processing software (FIG. 2) of the portable computer (FIG. 1) when the key switch shown in the fourth operation example is pressed to select the selection target area. .

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing of the Japanese language processing software of the portable computer (FIG. 1) shown as a third operation example.

9 is a diagram showing a state transition when the display screen control unit (FIG. 2) selects an image to be displayed on the keyboard image of the input image (FIG. 3) in accordance with a user operation.

FIG. 10A shows a first keyboard having a four-step key (a four-step Roman key) as a first attribute, a Roman character as a second attribute, a hiragana or katakana as a third attribute, and a standard screen. (B) shows a second keyboard having a four-step key (a four-step Roman key) as a first attribute, a Roman character as a second attribute, a hiragana or katakana as a third attribute, and a shift screen It is a figure showing an image.

FIG. 11A is a third keyboard having a four-step key (a four-step alphabetic key) as a first attribute, alphabetic characters as a second attribute, full-width or half-width as a third attribute, and a standard screen. FIG. 4B shows a fourth keyboard having a four-step key (a four-step alphabetic key) as a first attribute, alphabetic characters as a second attribute, full-width or half-width as a third attribute, and a shift screen. It is a figure showing an image.

FIG. 12A is a fifth keyboard having a three-step key (a three-step Roman key) as a first attribute, a Roman character as a second attribute, a hiragana or katakana as a third attribute, and a standard screen; (B) shows a sixth keyboard having a three-stage key (Romaji three-stage key) as a first attribute, a Roman character as a second attribute, a hiragana or katakana as a third attribute, and a shift screen It is a figure showing an image.

FIG. 13A is a seventh keyboard having a three-stage key (alphabetic three-stage key) as a first attribute, alphabetic characters as a second attribute, full-width or half-width as a third attribute, and a standard screen FIG. 8B shows an eighth image having a three-stage key (alphabetic three-stage key) as a first attribute, alphabetic characters as a second attribute, full-width or half-width as a third attribute, and a shift screen. It is a figure showing a keyboard image.

FIG. 14A shows a ninth keyboard image having a Japanese syllabary key as a first attribute, a kana character as a second attribute, hiragana or katakana as a third attribute, and a standard screen; (B) is a diagram showing a Japanese syllabary key as a first attribute, a kana character as a second attribute, a hiragana or katakana as a third attribute, and a tenth keyboard image having a shift screen.

FIG. 15A shows an eleventh keyboard image having a JIS array key as a first attribute, a kana character as a second attribute, a hiragana or katakana as a third attribute, and a standard screen, B) uses JI as the first attribute.
It is a figure which shows the 12th keyboard image which has an S arrangement key, a kana character as a 2nd attribute, a hiragana or katakana as a 3rd attribute, and a shift screen.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a display screen control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 [FIG. 10 (A), (B), FIG.
(A), (B), FIG. 15 (A), (B)] icon d
9 is a flowchart showing a process for controlling the direction of the arrow of FIG.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an image for initial setting displayed on the liquid crystal display device (FIG. 1) by the display screen control unit and the input screen managing unit (FIG. 2) to specify the first attribute at the time of initial setting. .

18A and 18B show keyboard images [FIG.
(A), (B), etc.] is a diagram showing a method of inverting and displaying the graphic displayed on the icon d in black and white instead of inverting the direction of the arrow of the icon d.

19 (A) and (B) are keyboard images currently displayed on the liquid crystal display device (FIG. 1) [FIG. 10 (A), FIG.
(B) etc.] is a standard image or a shifted image,
It is a figure which shows the method shown by displaying the character of "standard" and "shift" on the icon d, respectively.

FIGS. 20A and 20B are shift images when the icon d of the currently displayed keyboard image [FIGS. 10A and 10B] is pressed. It is a figure which shows the method which shows whether it is a standard image by displaying the character of "shift" and "standard" on the icon d, respectively.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Portable computer, 100 ... Microprocessor, 102 ... ROM, 104, 108 ... RAM, 106
... Real-time clock circuit, 110 ... IC card, 1
12: IC card slot, 114: main bus, 11
Reference numeral 6: analog / digital converter, 118: touch panel, 120: system controller, 122: liquid crystal display device, 124: key switch, 126: external input / output connector, 128: infrared communication unit, 130: modem, 1
32: line detection circuit, 134: telephone line, 136: analog / digital / digital / analog converter,
138 microphone, 140 speaker, 142
AC adapter, 144: battery, 146: lithium battery,
148: power supply circuit, 2: Japanese language processing software, 20
0: input analysis unit, 202: display screen control unit, 204: kana-kanji conversion control unit, 206: kana-kanji conversion processing unit, 20
8 text management unit, 210 converted text management unit, 2
12 ... input screen management unit, 3 ₁ ... input image, 300 ... work area, 302 ... keyboard image, 304 ... state display area, 306 ... icon area, 306 _{1 to 306 5} ... icon 308 ... conversion display unit, 310 ... Operation area, 312
_{1 to} 3123 ₃ ... Operation section image.

Claims (3)

[Claims] An input image display device for selecting and displaying one of a plurality of input images used for data input in accordance with an operation, wherein each of the plurality of input images has a unique attribute ( Each of the plurality of input images having a unique attribute) and a common attribute (common attribute) constitutes one set (input image set), and any one of the input image sets according to an operation. Common attribute designating means for designating the common attribute, input image display means for displaying any one of the plurality of input images constituting the input image set having the designated common attribute, A unique attribute display means for displaying, on an input image, a designation graphic indicating an operation of designating the unique attribute of the input image; and the input image set according to an operation on the displayed designation graphic. A unique attribute designating unit that designates any one of the unique attributes of the plurality of input images, and a plurality of the plurality of images forming the input image set having the designated unique attribute for displaying the input image. An input image display device comprising: a display change unit configured to change the image to one of the input images. 2. The input image set is composed of two input images switched by a shift operation, and each of the input image sets is included in each of the input image sets.
The input images have a standard image or a shift image as the unique attribute, and the unique attribute display unit displays a state in which a shift key is not pressed on the input image having the standard image as the unique attribute. And displaying the designation graphic indicating a state in which a shift key is pressed on the input image having a shift image as the unique attribute, wherein the unique attribute designation means comprises: In response to an operation on the designation image of the input image having a standard image, a shift image is designated as the unique attribute, and an operation on the designation image of the input image having the shift image as the unique attribute is performed. In response, a standard image is specified as the unique attribute, and the display change unit changes the display of the input image to the specified standard image or shift. Input image display apparatus according to claim 1 to change to the input image having an image as the specific attribute. 3. An input image display method for selecting and displaying any one of a plurality of input images used for data input in accordance with an operation, wherein two input images having a relationship between a standard image and a shift image are provided. Each of the input images constitutes one set (input image set), designates the input image set, and displays one of the two input images constituting the designated input image set In the displayed input image, whether the input image is a standard image or a shift image is displayed by a graphic corresponding to a state of a shift key, and the input image is displayed in accordance with an operation on the displayed graphic. An input image display method for switching and displaying any one of the two input images constituting a set.