JPH11272376A - Input method, information processing device, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] An input method and a user-friendly input method that enable character input and position specification with a single keyboard, eliminating the need for the user to properly use an input device according to the input target, and improving the convenience. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus that has been used. A storage means (5) for storing a correspondence between a key and a small area obtained by dividing a display screen in accordance with an arrangement of keys on a keyboard, and on a display screen based on the arrangement of keys on the keyboard. Storage means (7) for storing a correspondence relationship between the moving direction of the key and the key, and coordinates of a small area of the display screen corresponding to the arrangement position of the pressed key based on the correspondence relation stored in the storage means. Enter the position or moving direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input method for inputting a coordinate position on a screen used for a small portable terminal such as a portable telephone and a portable personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional input devices for computing systems are largely divided into: a keyboard device for inputting characters such as characters; and a coordinate position input device such as a mouse and a pen for moving a cursor on a screen and specifying a position. I was Therefore, the user has to use these input devices properly according to the input.
At present, a mouse that is the mainstream of coordinate position input devices requires a flat area with a certain area to perform work, so this is necessary when using a mouse with a portable terminal such as a notebook computer. It was difficult to secure the area.

[0003] From such a background, in a portable terminal such as a notebook type personal computer, a pen, an accu point and the like have been used as a coordinate position input device. The pen has the advantage that it is easy to carry and easy to handle because the operation method is intuitive and easy to understand. However, there is a trouble that the input device has to be changed when moving from the keyboard device to the pen input. Since the AccuPoint is located in the center of the keyboard device, there is no need to switch the device. However, since the position is specified only in the relative direction from the current cursor position, there is a problem that the operation method is not intuitive.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has been made in consideration of the above circumstances. mode"
It is an object of the present invention to provide an input method capable of inputting a character and specifying a position on a display screen with a single keyboard by switching input modes with a switching button or key input.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of inputting a character and specifying a position on a display screen with one keyboard.

[0006]

(1) In the input method of the present invention, the correspondence between a small area obtained by dividing a display screen in accordance with the arrangement of keys on a keyboard and the keys is recorded in a storage means. By inputting the coordinate position of the small area of the display screen corresponding to the arrangement position of the pressed key based on the stored correspondence, the character input and the position designation can be performed with one keyboard. Therefore, it is not necessary to properly use the input device according to the input object, and the convenience can be improved.

(2) In the input method according to the present invention, the correspondence between the moving direction on the display screen based on the arrangement of the keys on the keyboard and the keys is stored in the storage means, and based on the stored correspondence, the key is pressed. By inputting the moving direction corresponding to the key arrangement, the character input and the position designation can be performed with one keyboard, and the user does not need to use the input device according to the input object, thereby improving the convenience. I can do it.

(3) In the input method of the present invention, the correspondence between the key and a small area obtained by dividing a preselected range of the display screen in accordance with the arrangement of keys on the keyboard is stored in the storage means. Memorize and based on this memorized correspondence,
By inputting the coordinate position of the small area of the display screen corresponding to the arrangement position of the pressed key, character input and position designation can be performed with a single keyboard. There is no need to use them properly, and convenience can be improved.

(4) According to the input method of the present invention, the correspondence between the moving direction and the amount of movement on the display screen based on the arrangement of the keys on the keyboard and the keys is stored in the storage means. Based on this, by inputting the moving direction and the moving amount corresponding to the arrangement of the pressed key, character input and position designation can be performed with one keyboard, and it is not necessary for the user to properly use the input device according to the input target. And convenience can be improved.

(5) In the input method according to the present invention, it is preferable that the key arrangement of the keyboard is a key arrangement within a range selected in advance.

(6) An information processing apparatus according to the present invention has at least a keyboard and a display unit, and performs predetermined information processing based on information input via the keyboard. Storage means for storing the correspondence between the small area obtained by dividing the display screen in accordance with the arrangement of the keys and the keys, and, based on the correspondence stored in the storage means, Input means for inputting the coordinate position of the corresponding small area of the display screen.

According to the present invention, character input and position designation can be performed with a single keyboard.
It is not necessary to properly use the input device according to the input target, and the convenience can be improved. Also, unlike the mouse, the work space other than the keyboard is not required when specifying the position, so that it can be effectively used for a portable terminal such as a notebook computer.

(7) An information processing apparatus according to the present invention has at least a keyboard and a display unit, and performs predetermined information processing based on information input through the keyboard. Storage means for storing the correspondence between the movement direction on the display screen based on the arrangement of the keys and the keys; and inputting the movement direction corresponding to the arrangement of the pressed key based on the correspondence relation stored in the storage means. And input means.

According to the present invention, character input and position designation can be performed with a single keyboard.
It is not necessary to properly use the input device according to the input target, and the convenience can be improved. Also, unlike the mouse, the work space other than the keyboard is not required when specifying the position, so that it can be effectively used for a portable terminal such as a notebook computer.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) In the first embodiment,
`` Typing mode '' for normal character input is associated with an arbitrary area on the display screen and an arbitrary key on the keyboard, and pressing the key moves the mouse cursor to the corresponding position on the display screen "Absolute position specification mode", "Relative position specification mode" in which the movement direction is assigned to any key on the keyboard, and the mouse cursor is moved in the corresponding movement direction on the display screen by pressing a key, and "Absolute position specification" An input device having a “parameter setting mode” for setting each parameter used in the mode or the relative position designation mode and an “input mode switching mode” for switching the four input modes will be described.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of the configuration of an input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. For example, a personal computer, a portable terminal, or the like is used as a main body, and a keyboard 1 provided in the main body is provided. A key code input unit 13 for reading a key code predetermined for each key arranged on the keyboard 1 from a table stored in a predetermined memory and inputting the key code to the main body;
A cursor position on the display screen of the display unit 11 is input in correspondence with a key input from the keyboard 1 by using the display unit 11 including an apical user interface and a predetermined display device.

In the following description, it is assumed that an arbitrary key on the keyboard 1 is depressed and a corresponding key code is input to the input device 100 via the key code input unit 13 for the sake of simplicity. In some cases, a key code is input from a user.

The key code input from the keyboard 1 is sent to the input mode determination section 2.

The input mode determination unit 2 determines the input mode at the time when the key code is input from the flag information NM stored in the input mode storage unit 3, and determines an absolute mode according to the determined input mode. The processing branches to the position reading unit 4, the relative position reading unit 6, the parameter setting unit 9, and the input mode switching unit 10.

The input mode storage section 3 stores flag information NM for identifying the current input mode.

When the input mode is the absolute position designation mode, the absolute position reading section 4 refers to the table stored in the key code / absolute position correspondence storage section 5 and displays a display corresponding to the input key code. The position information on the screen is read and sent to the output code generation unit 8.

The key code / absolute position correspondence storage unit 5 includes:
A table is stored which shows the correspondence between key codes predetermined for each key on the keyboard 1 and positional information corresponding to the key codes.

When the input mode is the relative position designation mode, the relative position reading unit 6 refers to the table stored in the key code / relative movement correspondence storage unit 7 and responds to the key code input by the user. The direction information to be read is sent to the output code generator 8.

The key code / relative movement correspondence storage unit 7
A table is stored which shows the correspondence between key codes predetermined for each key on the keyboard 1 and direction information corresponding to the key codes.

The output code generation unit 8 determines the coordinate position of the movement destination (or, according to the received position information and direction information).
(The deviation from the current cursor coordinate position). The output code is sent to the display unit 11 of the main body, and the position of the cursor on the display screen is specified.

When the input mode is the parameter setting mode, the parameter setting section 9 performs a parameter setting process used in the absolute position designation mode and the relative position designation mode in accordance with the key code inputted by the user, and executes the key code / absolute. The position correspondence storage unit 5 or the key code / relative movement correspondence storage unit 7 is rewritten. At this time, parameter information relating to the display unit 11 and the keyboard 1 such as the screen size, screen resolution, keyboard type, and key arrangement notified from the main body CPU via the main body interface unit 12 is referred to.

When the input mode is the input mode switching mode, the input mode switching unit 10 determines the input mode according to the key code input by the user.
Information indicating the determined input mode (flag information N
M) is written in the input mode storage unit 3.

Next, the absolute position designation mode will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the absolute position designation mode, a key arrangement on the keyboard 1 is associated with a small area on the display screen, and when a key is input, a coordinate position in the small area on the display screen corresponding to the key is entered. Move the cursor to.

In the absolute position designation mode, for example, FIG.
A selection area 22 in the display screen selected by the user as shown in FIG. 2B is replaced with, for example, a key arranged in the selection area 21 of the keyboard 1 selected by the user as shown in FIG. Divide into equal parts according to the number and location.

It is assumed that the size of the selection area 22 on the display screen is (x1-x0) dots in the x direction and (y1-y0) dots in the y direction. The number of keys arranged in the selection area 21 of the keyboard 1 is nx in the x direction,
It is assumed that the number is ny in the y direction.

The selection area 22 of the display screen is equally divided according to the number and arrangement positions of the keys arranged in the selection area 21 of the keyboard 1 in each of the x direction and the y direction. The size of one small area of the selection area 22 on the display screen is (x1-x
0) / nx dots, and (y1-y0) / ny dots in the y direction.

The coordinates of the X-th small area on the selection area 22 on the display screen and the Y-th small area from the top are (X, Y), and these area coordinates (X, Y) are selected on the keyboard. 2
The key is associated with the X-th key from the left and the Y-th key from the top in 1.

For example, X from the left in the keyboard area 22
When the user presses the key located at the Y-th position from the top, the cursor is moved to the small area corresponding to the area coordinates (X, Y) on the display screen.

The width of the small area of the display screen in the x direction is x_wid
Assuming that the th dot and the height in the y direction are y_height dots and the cursor moves to the center of the small area corresponding to the area coordinates (X, Y), the coordinate position of the cursor destination is actually (x0 + (X-1) × (x_wid
th) + (x_width) / 2, y0 + (Y−1) ×
(Y_height) + (y_height / 2)).

In FIG. 2A, since four keys are arranged in the y direction and ten keys are arranged in the x direction in the selection area 21 of the keyboard, the selection area 22 of the display screen has four keys in the y direction. , X in the x direction.

A key code determined in advance for each key in the selection area 21 of the keyboard 1 and the coordinates of the small area of the display screen are stored in a table as shown in FIG. It is stored in the key code / absolute position correspondence storage unit 5.

The absolute position reading section 4 refers to a table as shown in FIG. 3 and, for example, X = fourth from the left and Y = third from the top in the keyboard area 22 of FIG. When the key 25 (the key code “F” is predetermined) is pressed, the cursor 26 moves to the area coordinates (4, 3) on the display screen as shown in FIG. To move into a small area.

Here, it is assumed that the cursor is moved to the center of the small area of the area coordinates (4, 3) by pressing the key 25, but the destination may be anywhere within the small area. For example, any one of the four vertices of the small area may be set as the destination coordinate position.

Next, the relative position designation mode will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the relative position designation mode, the key arrangement on the keyboard 1 is associated with the moving direction on the display screen.
By inputting a key, the cursor is moved by a predetermined amount in a corresponding direction on the display screen.

In the relative position designation mode, for example, FIG.
A key K0 serving as a base point is selected in a selection area 31 using a relative position designation mode of the keyboard 1 selected by the user as shown in FIG. The key K0 serving as the base point is
The user may make a selection, or a key at the center of the selection area 31 may be automatically set as a starting point.

With respect to all keys other than the base point in the selection area 31, the moving direction of the cursor is associated with the positional relationship between the center point of each key and the center point of the key K0 serving as the base point.

For example, as shown in FIG.
1 corresponds to the direction from the center of the key K0 as the base point toward the center point of the key K1. When the user presses the key K1, the cursor moves in a vector direction connecting the center point of the key K0 to the center point of the key K1 in units of one dot or a predetermined number of dots. If the key is kept depressed, the cursor continues to move in a predetermined direction, so that the key may be kept depressed until the cursor reaches a target location.

As described above, for all the keys in the selection area 31 on the keyboard 1 using the relative position designation mode, the movement direction determined from the arrangement position of each key with respect to the arrangement position of the base key is set. The key code predetermined for each key in the selection area 31 of the keyboard 1 and the moving direction associated with the key are stored in the key code / relative direction correspondence storage unit 7 as a table as shown in FIG. 5, for example. Is stored.

When an arbitrary key in the selection area 31 on the keyboard 1 is pressed, the relative position reading section 6 refers to a table as shown in FIG. The cursor on the display screen can be moved from its original position by, for example, a predetermined number of dots.

FIG. 6 schematically shows an example of the configuration of the parameter setting unit 9. The setting operation control unit 9a, the key code / setting operation correspondence storage unit 9b, the setting information generation unit 9c, and the setting information temporary storage unit 9d and a setting updating unit 9e.

The parameter setting section 9 is started when the input mode determination section 2 determines that the mode is the parameter setting mode, and sets parameters for updating a table used in the absolute position specification mode and the relative position specification mode. Has become. That is, when an area in the absolute position designation mode or the relative position designation mode is selected from the keyboard 1 or the display screen, the table is updated according to the selected area. At that time, a display screen for parameter setting is presented on the display unit 11.

The setting operation control section 9a receives a key code of an operation key on the parameter setting display screen input by the user via the parameter setting display screen, and performs a setting operation corresponding to the key code. , Read from the key code / setting operation correspondence storage unit 9b.

The key code / setting operation correspondence storage section 9b stores a table showing the correspondence between key codes and corresponding setting operations.

If the setting operation read from the key code / setting operation correspondence storage section 9b does not indicate "update", for example, if it indicates "determination", the processing is shifted to the setting information generating section 9c. The setting information is generated based on the data input to the parameter setting display screen, and the generated setting information is stored in the setting information temporary storage 9d.

If the setting operation read from the key code / setting operation correspondence storage section 9b is to instruct "update", the processing is shifted to the setting information updating section 9e and stored in the setting information temporary storage section 9d. Based on the setting information, the tables stored in the key code / absolute position correspondence storage unit 5 and the key code / relative movement correspondence storage unit 7 are rewritten.

Next, the setting procedure will be described by taking as an example a case where the parameter setting section 9 sets a parameter in the absolute position designation mode.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a parameter setting display screen presented on the display unit 11 when parameters are set in the absolute position designation mode. As shown in FIG. 7, the display screen includes a setting procedure display unit 44 for presenting the procedure of the setting operation in, for example, a text, and a display unit 11.
A screen image display unit 41 that reduces the display screen of
A keyboard image display unit 43 in which an image of the keyboard 1 is displayed in a reduced size; an operation key display unit 42 which displays a list of operation keys on a parameter setting display screen for determining, updating, ending, canceling, and undoing an operation; In order to move the cursor to an arbitrary position on the screen, a cursor movement key display section 45 displaying keys that can move the cursor for each moving direction is displayed.

Procedure A1: The screen image display section 41
One point (for example, a point at the upper left of the selected area) that specifies the range of the selected area to be used in the absolute position specification mode is selected with the cursor (see FIG. 8A). The cursor is moved by inputting a key corresponding to the direction indicated on the cursor movement key display section 45.

After the position is selected, by pressing the "OK" key displayed on the operation key display section 42, the setting information of the position on the selected display screen generated by the setting information generating section 9c is obtained. Is stored in the setting information temporary storage unit 9d. As shown in FIG. 8A, the determined position 51 is
The image is displayed on the screen image display unit 41 using, for example, a special symbol or the like.

Procedure A2: Keyboard image display section 4
In step 3, the cursor corresponding to the upper left point of the selection area on the display screen determined in step A1 is selected by moving the cursor in the same manner as described above. The selected key is displayed in the keyboard image display 4
3 is displayed by changing or inverting the color of the corresponding key.

After the key is selected, by pressing the "OK" key displayed on the operation key display section 42, the setting information of the position of the selected key generated by the setting information generating section 9c is set. It is stored in the information temporary storage unit 9d. FIG.
As shown in (b), the determined key 52 is displayed by changing or inverting the color of the corresponding key on the keyboard image display unit 43.

Procedure A3: The screen image display section 41
Another point (for example, the lower right point of the selected area) that specifies the range of the selected area in which the absolute position specification mode is to be used is selected with the cursor (see FIG. 9A).

After the position is selected, by pressing the "OK" key displayed on the operation key display section 42, the setting information of the position on the selected display screen generated by the setting information generating section 9c is obtained. Is stored in the setting information temporary storage unit 9d. As shown in FIG. 9A, the determined position 53 is
For example, a special symbol or the like is displayed on the screen image display unit 41, and the upper left position 51 determined in the procedure A1 is displayed.
In addition, the range of the selection area 54 on the display screen is displayed.

Procedure A4: Keyboard image display section 4
In step 3, the cursor corresponding to the lower right point of the selection area on the display screen determined in step A3 is selected by moving the cursor in the same manner as described above. The selected key is displayed in the keyboard image display 4
3 is displayed by changing or inverting the color of the corresponding key.

After the key is selected, by pressing the "OK" key displayed on the operation key display section 42, the setting information of the position of the selected key generated by the setting information generating section 9c is set. It is stored in the information temporary storage unit 9d. FIG.
As shown in (b), the determined key 55 is displayed by changing or inverting the color of the corresponding key on the keyboard image display section 43, and is further combined with the upper left key 52 determined in step A2. The range of the upper selection area 56 is displayed.

Procedure A5: By pressing the “update” key displayed on the operation key display section 42, the procedures A1 to A
4, the setting information updating unit 9e updates the table stored in the key code / absolute position correspondence storing unit 5 based on the setting contents (setting information temporarily stored in the setting information generating unit 9c in FIG. 6). rewrite. That is, FIGS.
As described with reference to, the selected area on the display screen is equally divided to obtain a small area based on the arrangement of the keys in the selected area on the keyboard 1, and each key in the selected area of the keyboard 1 A correspondence table with the area coordinates of the area is generated and stored in the key code / absolute position correspondence storage unit 5.

When the setting process is stopped,
What is necessary is just to input the key corresponding to it displayed on the operation key display part 42.

Next, the setting procedure will be described by taking as an example a case where the parameter setting section 9 sets a parameter in the relative position designation mode.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a parameter setting display screen presented on the display unit 11 when parameters are set in the relative position designation mode. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the display screen includes a setting procedure display unit 63 for presenting the procedure of the setting operation in, for example, a text sentence, a keyboard image display unit 61 in which the image of the keyboard 1 is displayed in a reduced size, operation determination, update, An operation key display unit 64 that displays a list of operation keys used on a display screen for setting parameters such as stop and undo is displayed.

Procedure R1: Keyboard image display section 6
First, one key (for example, an upper left key in the selection area) for specifying a range of a selection area to be used in the relative position specification mode is selected with a cursor. The selected key is displayed by changing or inverting the color of the corresponding key on the keyboard image display section 61.

After the key is selected, by pressing the "OK" key displayed on the operation key display section 64, the setting information of the position of the selected key generated by the setting information generating section 9c is set. It is stored in the information temporary storage unit 9d. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1A, the determined key 65 is displayed by changing or inverting the color of the corresponding key on the keyboard image display unit 61.

Step R2: Keyboard image display section 6
First, another key (for example, a lower right key in the selection area) for specifying the range of the selection area to be used in the relative position specification mode is selected by moving the cursor in the same manner as described above.
The selected key is displayed by changing or inverting the color of the corresponding key on the keyboard image display unit 61 as shown in FIG.

After the key is selected, by pressing the "OK" key displayed on the operation key display section 64, the setting information of the position of the selected key generated by the setting information generating section 9c is set. It is stored in the information temporary storage unit 9d. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1 (b), the determined key 66 is displayed by changing or inverting the color of the corresponding key on the keyboard image display section 61, and further combined with the upper left position 65 determined in step R1. The range of the selection area 67 on the top is displayed.

Step R3: By pressing the “update” key displayed on the operation key display section 64, the settings made in steps 1 and 2 (settings temporarily stored in the setting information generation section 9c in FIG. 6) Information), the setting information updating unit 9e
The table stored in the key code / relative position correspondence storage unit 7 is rewritten. That is, as described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the direction of each key is determined from the arrangement relationship of the keys within the selection range on the keyboard 1, and each key within the selection range on the keyboard 1 is displayed on the display screen. Is generated and stored in the key code / relative position correspondence storage unit 7.

When the setting process is stopped,
What is necessary is just to input the key corresponding to it displayed on the operation key display part 42.

FIG. 12 schematically shows an example of the configuration of the input mode switching unit 10.
a, a key code / switching operation correspondence storage unit 10b, and an input mode switching unit 10c.

For example, when the input mode corresponding to the key code input from the keyboard 1 is different from the mode indicated by the flag information already stored in the input mode storage unit 3, the input mode determination unit 2 switches the input mode. Mode, the input mode switching unit 10 is activated, and the flag information NM of the input mode storage unit 3 (information indicating the current input mode, such as typing mode, absolute position specification mode, relative position specification mode, and parameter setting mode) And one of them).

The switching operation control section 10a reads the flag information corresponding to the key code input from the keyboard from the key code / switching operation correspondence storage section 10b.

Key code / switching operation correspondence storage unit 10
In b, a list of flag information corresponding to the key code is stored.

The input mode switching section 10c rewrites the input mode storage section 3 with new flag information.

Next, a specific example of a method of activating the input mode determination unit 2 and instructing the input mode to be switched will be described.
As a method of instructing the switching of the input mode, a key dedicated to the input mode switching operation is prepared on the keyboard 1 in addition to the standard key layout of the keyboard 1.

K2: A key combination for switching the input mode is determined for the keys in the standard key layout of the keyboard 1.

K3: A switching instruction operation can be performed on the GUI display screen.

FIG. 13 shows a specific example when the method shown in the above (K1) is adopted. As shown in FIG. 13, an input mode switching button 7 is provided at a substantially central portion of the keyboard 1.
Each time the button 71 is pressed once, the input mode determination unit 2 determines the input mode switching mode, and the flag information stored in the input mode storage unit 3 is sequentially rewritten in a predetermined order. (Switch the mode).

The switched input mode is presented to the user on the display screen currently displayed on the display unit 11 as shown in FIG. 14, so that the user can use the switch button 71 until the desired input mode is selected. Can be pressed.

A specific example of a key code combination for switching the input mode when the method shown in (k2) is adopted will be described.

For example, switching to the typing mode is “Ctrl + T”, switching to the absolute position designation mode is “Ctrl + A”, switching to the relative position designation mode is “Ctrl + R”, and switching to the parameter setting mode is “Ctrl + R”. By inputting “Ctrl + R”, the input mode determination unit 2 is instructed to switch. The switched input mode is presented to the user on the display screen currently displayed on the display unit 11, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a GUI display screen displayed on the display unit 11 when the method shown in the above (k3) is adopted.
It is shown in FIG. The input determination unit 2 is started, and G shown in FIG.
To display the UI display screen, for example, “Ctrl
A specific key code such as "+ M" is input.
When such a key code is input, the input mode determination unit 2 may operate to display a GUI display screen as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 15, the input mode switching GUI display screen displays an input mode list display section 75 displaying a correspondence list of input modes and corresponding numbers.
And an input mode setting section 76 for inputting a desired input mode number selected from the input mode list display section 75
And an operation key display unit 77 that displays a list of operation keys for determining and canceling an operation on the display screen.

The operation procedure of the input mode switching GUI display screen shown in FIG. 15 will be described.

Procedure M1: A desired input mode is selected from the input mode list display section 75, a number corresponding to the selected input mode is input to the input mode setting section 76, and after confirming the number, it is displayed on the operation key display section 77. When the "enter" key is input, the selected input mode is input to the input determination unit 2.

Procedure M2: Update to the input mode determined in the input procedure M1 at the timing when the instruction "update" key displayed on the operation key display section 77 is input. Alternatively, when the user wants to cancel the process, he or she can input an instruction “Cancel” key displayed on the operation key display unit 77.

Next, the processing operation of the input device of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the user gives an instruction to switch the desired input mode by, for example, pressing the mode switching button 71 of FIG. 13 several times, the input mode determination unit 2 has already been stored in the input mode storage unit 3. The flag information NM is read and compared with the designated input mode. If the input mode is different (in the input mode switching mode), the input mode storage unit 3
Then, the flag information NM of the designated input mode is written into (step S1 to step S2). Thereafter, the input mode determination unit 2 performs processing based on the flag information NM newly written in the input mode storage unit 3.

That is, when the input mode flag information NM indicates the typing mode, the process proceeds to step S3.
After that, the entered key code is directly displayed on the display unit 11 of the main body.
Etc.

If the flag information NM in the input mode is in the absolute position designation mode, the process proceeds to step S4, where the absolute position reading section 4 is started, and the position information corresponding to the key code inputted thereafter is changed to the key code / absolute value. Location correspondence storage unit 5
And outputs the read position information to the output code generation unit 8, generates an output code for instructing movement to the coordinate position specified by the position information, and sends it to the display unit 11 (steps S4 to S6). ). As a result, the display unit 1
The cursor on the display screen 1 moves to a coordinate position corresponding to the output code (that is, corresponding to the key code input by the user).

If the input mode flag information NM indicates the relative position designation mode, the process proceeds to step S7, where the relative position reading section 6 is started, and the direction information corresponding to the subsequently input key code is converted to the key code / relative. Movement storage unit 7
, And sends the read direction information to the output code generation unit 8, generates an output code for moving in the direction specified by the direction information, and sends it to the display unit 11 (steps S7 to S9). As a result, the curdle on the display screen of the display unit 11 moves by a predetermined moving amount (several dots) in a direction corresponding to the output code (that is, corresponding to the key code input by the user).

When the flag information NM of the input mode indicates the parameter setting mode, the process proceeds to step S10, where the parameter setting section 9 is started, and a parameter setting screen as shown in FIGS. Prompt the user for input. The settings entered by the user
By pressing an operation key instructing “update” on the setting screens of FIGS. 7 and 8 (the setting operation control unit 9 of the parameter setting unit 9)
“a” refers to a table stored in the key code / setting operation correspondence storage unit 9b to determine whether the setting operation corresponding to the key code of the operation key is “update”,
The setting information updating unit 9e updates the table of the key code / absolute position correspondence storage unit 5 or the key code / relative movement correspondence storage unit 7 based on the setting information stored in the setting information temporary storage unit 9d (step S10). ~ Step S1
1).

The processing operation of the input device 100 as shown in FIG. 16 is stored in a recording medium such as a floppy disk, hard disk, CD-ROM, DVD, or semiconductor memory as a program that can be executed by a computer. Can be distributed.

(Second Embodiment) In the second embodiment,
A case where the cursor on the display screen is moved by combining the absolute position designation mode and the relative position designation mode described in the first embodiment will be described. The input device according to the second embodiment is the same as that in FIG.

First, the correspondence between the position coordinates on the display screen and the keys of the keyboard 1 in the absolute position designation mode will be described with reference to FIG.

Here, as shown in FIG. 17 (a), a selection area 81 of the display screen is used for the entire display screen, and as shown in FIG. 17 (b), a selection area 82 of the keyboard 1 is used for keys for performing character input. It is assumed that the entire area is arranged.
Further, in this case, it is preferable that the selection areas of the display screens in the absolute position designation mode and the relative position designation mode are the same.

As shown in FIG. 17A, the display screen is
According to the arrangement of each key in the selection area of the keyboard 1,
As in the first embodiment, a key code / absolute position correspondence table as shown in FIG. 18 is generated by dividing into ten equal parts in the x direction and four equal parts in the y direction. To be stored. When the key code of an arbitrary key in the selection area 82 of the keyboard 1 is input, the cursor moves to the center of the small area on the display screen corresponding to the key code with reference to the table shown in FIG.

The correspondence between the movement direction on the display screen in the relative position designation mode and the keys in the selection area on the keyboard 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 19A, it is assumed that the user has selected a selection area 91 using the relative position designation mode of the keyboard 1. Next, a key serving as a base point is selected from the keys arranged in the selection area 91. Here, the key 92 to which the key code “H” is assigned is set as a base point. As shown in FIG.
For all keys other than the base point in the selection area 91,
A movement direction on the display screen is assigned based on the relative position of the base point with respect to the key 92, and a key code / relative direction correspondence table as shown in FIG. 20 is generated as in the first embodiment.
It is stored in the key code / relative direction correspondence storage unit 7. In other words, the moving direction of the cursor is associated with the center of all keys other than the base point in the selection area 91 based on the positional relationship between the center point of each key and the center point of the key 92 serving as the base point. For example, in FIG. 19A, the moving direction associated with the key 93 to which the key code “O” is assigned is a direction from the center of the key 92 serving as the base point to the center of the key 93.

The input mode is switched by keyboard input. For example, switching to the absolute position designation mode is “Ctrl + A”, switching to the relative position designation mode is “Ctrl + R”, switching to the typing mode is “Ctrl + T”, switching to the parameter setting mode is “Ctrl + P”, and input mode switching. Switching to the mode is performed by "Ctrl + M", but other key combinations may be used.

Next, a procedure for moving the cursor on the display screen of the display unit 11 by combining the absolute position designation mode and the relative position designation mode will be described.

As shown in FIG. 21, a case where the cursor at the current position 101 (area coordinates (8, 3)) on the display screen is moved to the target position 102 indicated by “x” will be described as an example.

First, in order to roughly perform positioning in the absolute position designation mode, "Ctrl + A" is input to enter the absolute position designation mode. When entering the absolute position specification mode,
For example, an image of the keyboard 1 indicating the moving direction associated with the key of the keyboard 1 as shown in FIG. 19B may be displayed on the display screen of the display unit 11.

Since the small area closest to the target position 102 on the display screen is the second small area from the left and the first area coordinate (2, 2) from the top, as shown in FIG.
Key 11 on keyboard 1 associated with this small area
Press 1. Then, the cursor moves to the center point of the small area at the area coordinates (2, 2) on the display screen.

Next, in order to perform fine positioning in the relative position designation mode, "Ctrl + R" is input to enter the relative position designation mode. Since the movement destination 102 is located slightly upper right from the center point of the small area, as shown in FIG. 23, the key 112 assigned to the direction closest to the direction on the keyboard 1 is moved once until reaching the target position 102. Or press several times. If the target position 102 is shifted,
By pressing a key on the keyboard 1 assigned in a direction closer to the target position 102 until the target position 102 is reached.

(Third Embodiment) In the third embodiment,
In the relative position designation mode described in the first embodiment, a case where a movement speed (a movement amount that can be moved by one key press) is also assigned to an arbitrary key in the selection area on the keyboard 1 in addition to the movement direction. Will be described. The third
The input device according to the embodiment is the same as that of FIG. 1, and the table stored in the key code / relative direction correspondence storage unit 7 includes:
As shown in FIG. 25, the difference is that the direction and the moving speed are described in association with the key code.

The correspondence between the moving direction and the moving speed on the display screen in the relative position designation mode and the keys in the selection area on the keyboard 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 24, the selection area 12 using the relative position designation mode of the keyboard 1 is designated by the user.
It is assumed that 0 is selected. Next, among the keys arranged in the selection area 120, a key serving as a base point is selected.
Here, the key 121 to which the key code “H” is assigned is used as a base point. As shown in FIG. 24B, for all keys other than the base point in the selection area 120,
The moving direction and the moving speed on the display screen are assigned based on the relative position of the base point with respect to the key 121, and a key code / relative position correspondence table as shown in FIG. It is stored in the relative direction correspondence storage unit 7. In other words, for all keys other than the base point in the selection area 120, the moving direction and the moving speed of the cursor are associated with each other based on the positional relationship between the center point of each key and the center point of the key 92 serving as the base point. For example, in FIG. 24A, the moving direction associated with the key 122 is a direction from the center point of the key 121 serving as the base point to the center point of the key 122.

The moving speed associated with keys other than the base point is proportional to the length between the center point of the key serving as the base point and the center point of each key other than the base point. The speed is increased, and the shorter the distance between the centers is, the lower the moving speed is.

In FIG. 24B, the moving direction and the moving speed corresponding to each key in the selection area 120 of the keyboard 1 are indicated by the direction and length of the arrow.

The input mode is switched by keyboard input. For example, switching to the absolute position designation mode is “Ctrl + A”, switching to the relative position designation mode is “Ctrl + R”, switching to the typing mode is “Ctrl + T”, switching to the parameter setting mode is “Ctrl + P”, and input mode switching. Switching to the mode is performed by "Ctrl + M".

Next, a procedure for actually moving the cursor on the display screen of the display unit 11 (ie, inputting the coordinate position) using the input device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 26A, a case where the cursor at the current position 131 is moved to a target position 133 indicated by "x" on the display screen will be described as an example.

"Ctrl + R" is input to enter the relative position designation mode.

The current position 131 and the target position 1 are displayed on the display screen.
33, the direction closest to the direction from the current position 131 to the target position 133 is assigned, and the key 141 with the fast moving speed (farthest from the key 121 serving as the base point) is pressed. Press and hold until position 132 is reached.

Next, the position is finely adjusted with a key having a slow moving speed. In this case, among the keys moving right above, the key 142 having a slow moving speed may be pressed down and kept pressed until the target position 133 is reached.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 27 is a functional block diagram of an information processing apparatus (main body) such as a personal computer, a notebook computer, or another portable terminal using the input method of the present invention. .

The information processing section 101 includes a CPU, ROM, R
Using a memory such as an AM and other peripheral devices, execute a program stored in the memory, and, for example, based on information input via the keyboard 1, the key code input unit 13, and the input control unit 102. Perform predetermined information processing,
The processing result and the like are displayed on the display unit 11.

The input control unit 102 includes a CPU, a ROM,
Using a memory such as an AM, a key code input via the keyboard 1 and the key code input unit 13 is used as an input, and a processing program as shown in FIG. 16 stored in the memory is executed. Is displayed on the display unit 11 and input to the information processing unit 101.

[0124]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Character input and position designation can be performed with one keyboard, and it is not necessary for the user to properly use an input device according to an input target, thereby improving convenience. Also, unlike the mouse, the work space other than the keyboard is not required when specifying the position, so that it can be effectively used for a portable terminal such as a notebook computer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration example of an input device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the correspondence between keys on a keyboard and a display screen in an absolute position designation mode.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a table stored in a key code / absolute position correspondence storage unit.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining correspondence between keys on a keyboard and directions on a display screen in a relative position designation mode.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a table stored in a key code / relative direction correspondence storage unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a parameter setting unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for setting parameters in an absolute position designation mode.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a parameter setting procedure in an absolute position designation mode.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining a parameter setting procedure in an absolute position designation mode.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a parameter setting leaf in a relative position designation mode.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a parameter setting procedure in a relative position designation mode.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an input mode switching unit.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a specific example of a case in which an input mode switching operation dedicated key is provided in addition to the standard key layout of the keyboard, and switching of the input mode is instructed.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a display example when a switched input mode is presented to a user on a display screen.

FIG. 15 is a view showing a specific example of a display screen when a switching instruction operation is performed on a GUI display screen.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of the input device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 17 shows the position coordinates on the display screen and the keys of the keyboard in the absolute position designation mode when the cursor on the display screen is moved by combining the absolute position designation mode and the relative position designation mode with the input device of FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the association with the information.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing another specific example of the table stored in the key code / absolute position correspondence storage unit.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a movement direction on the display screen and a key on the keyboard in the relative position designation mode when the cursor on the display screen is moved by combining the absolute position designation mode and the relative position designation mode with the input device of FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the association with the information.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing another specific example of the table stored in the key code / relative direction correspondence storage unit.

FIG. 21 is a view for specifically explaining a procedure for moving a cursor on the display screen of the display unit by combining the absolute position designation mode and the relative position designation mode.

FIG. 22 is a diagram for specifically explaining a procedure for moving a cursor on the display screen of the display unit by combining the absolute position designation mode and the relative position designation mode. Is shown.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for specifically explaining a procedure for moving the cursor on the display screen by combining the absolute position designation mode and the relative position designation mode, and shows key input in the relative position designation mode. .

FIG. 24 is a view for explaining the correspondence between the moving direction and the moving amount on the display screen in the relative position designation mode and the keys in the selection area on the keyboard 1;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing another specific example of the table stored in the key code / relative direction correspondence storage unit.

FIG. 26 shows a procedure for moving a cursor on a display screen using a key in which a moving direction on the display screen and an amount of movement (movement speed) in a single key press are associated in the position designation mode. The figure for specifically explaining.

FIG. 27 is a functional block diagram of an information processing apparatus (main body) using the input method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Keyboard 2 ... Input mode judgment part 3 ... Input mode storage part 4 ... Absolute position reading part 5 ... Key code / absolute position correspondence storage part 6 ... Relative position reading part 7 ... Key code / relative direction correspondence storage part 8 ... Output Code generation unit 9 Parameter setting unit 10 Input mode switching unit 11 Display unit 12 Body interface unit 13 Key code input unit 100 Input device

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A correspondence between small keys obtained by dividing a display screen in accordance with an arrangement of keys on a keyboard and said keys is recorded in a storage means, and based on the stored correspondences,
An input method, comprising inputting a coordinate position of a small area of the display screen corresponding to an arrangement position of a pressed key. 2. A storage means for storing a correspondence between a moving direction on a display screen based on the arrangement of keys on a keyboard and said keys, and based on the stored correspondence, corresponds to an arrangement of a pressed key. An input method characterized by inputting a moving direction. 3. A storage unit stores a correspondence between the key and a small area obtained by dividing a preselected range of the display screen in accordance with the arrangement of keys on a keyboard. An input method, comprising: inputting a coordinate position of a small area of the display screen corresponding to an arrangement position of a pressed key based on the relationship. 4. A storage unit stores a correspondence between a moving direction and a moving amount on a display screen based on an arrangement of keys on a keyboard and the keys, and based on the stored correspondence,
An input method characterized by inputting a moving direction and a moving amount corresponding to an arrangement of a pressed key. 5. The input method according to claim 1, wherein the key layout of the keyboard is a key layout within a range selected in advance. 6. An information processing apparatus having at least a keyboard and a display unit and performing predetermined information processing based on information input via the keyboard, comprising: a display screen corresponding to an arrangement of keys on the keyboard; Storage means for storing the correspondence between the small area obtained by dividing and the key; and, based on the correspondence stored in the storage means, the small area of the display screen corresponding to the position of the pressed key. An information processing apparatus comprising: input means for inputting a coordinate position. 7. An information processing apparatus having at least a keyboard and a display unit and performing predetermined information processing based on information input via the keyboard, wherein movement on a display screen based on a key arrangement of the keyboard is performed. Storage means for storing a correspondence between a direction and the key; and input means for inputting a movement direction corresponding to the arrangement of the pressed key based on the correspondence stored in the storage means. Characteristic information processing device. 8. A storage means for storing a correspondence between a small area obtained by dividing a display screen in accordance with an arrangement of keys on a keyboard and the key, and based on the correspondence stored in the storage means. Input means for inputting a coordinate position of a small area of the display screen corresponding to an arrangement position of a pressed key; and a machine-readable recording medium storing a program for executing the following. 9. A storage means for storing a correspondence between a moving direction on a display screen based on a key arrangement of a keyboard and said key, and an arrangement of a pressed key based on the correspondence stored in said storage means. Input means for inputting a moving direction corresponding to, and a machine-readable recording medium recording a program for executing the input.