Character Input System Including Application Device and Input Server

• US 20070294618A1
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Yoshio, Muikaichi, Masahiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,992,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/210
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

Since a editing character string is managed by an input server, an application device cannot know whether scroll is necessary. Accordingly, there has been a problem that it is impossible to realize the scroll function. A receiving unit (221) receives an instruction from a user operation or an application device (210). A character string editing unit (223) edits a character string according to the instruction received. An output management unit (224) manages output. A state notifying unit (225) notifies a change of the internal state to the application device (210). When the output area (243) does not have enough empty space to display an editing character, the state notifying unit (225) instructs the application device (210) to shift the confirmed character string. The application device (210), upon receiving the instruction, scrolls the confirmed character string upward.

Claims

1. A character string processing system comprising an application device for displaying and processing an edited and confirmed character string in a display area, and an input server for editing an input character string,

the application device including:

a first controlling unit operable to display a confirmed character string in the display area, and send display information to the input server; and

a second controlling unit operable, upon being notified of a character display state from the input server, to shift the confirmed character string partially or entirely in the display area, and

the input server including;

a receiving unit operable to receive the display information from the application device, and receive a character which is input by a user;

a judging unit operable to judge whether or not an output area, which is provided in the display area for displaying input characters, has enough empty space to display the input character;

a notifying unit operable, if a result of the judgment is negative, to notify the application device of the character display state; and

a display controlling unit operable to display the input character in a space created by the shift of the confirmed character string, in accordance with the display information received by the receiving unit.

2. An input server for editing an input character string and outputting a confirmed character string to an application device for displaying and processing an edited and confirmed character string in a display area, the input server comprising:

a receiving unit operable to receive display information from the application device, and receive a character which is input by a user;

a judging unit operable to judge whether or not an output area, which is provided in the display area for displaying input characters, has enough empty space to display the input character;

a notifying unit operable, if a result of the judgment is negative, to notify the application device of a character display state; and

a display controlling unit operable to display the input character in a space created by the application device by shifting a confirmed character string in the display area, in accordance with the display information received by the receiving unit.

3. The input server of claim 2 further comprising:

a converting unit operable to convert a character or a character string displayed by the display controlling unit; and

an output unit operable to output a character string that was converted by the converting unit and was then confirmed.

4. The input server of claim 2 further comprising

a temporary storing unit operable to temporarily store one or more input characters, wherein

the display information includes information indicating how many characters can be displayed in the output area, and position information indicating a position in the display area from which a next confirmed character string is to be displayed by the application device,

the judging unit judges, in accordance with the position information, whether or not the output area has enough empty space to display the one or more characters stored in the temporary storing unit, and

the display controlling unit displays the one or more characters in a space that was created by the application device by scrolling a confirmed character string in the display area.

5. The input server of claim 2 further comprising:

a temporary storing unit operable to temporarily store one or more input characters, wherein

the display information includes information indicating how many characters can be displayed in the output area, and position information indicating a position in the display area from which a next confirmed character string is to be displayed by the application device,

the judging unit judges, in accordance with the position information, whether or not the output area has enough empty space to display the one or more characters stored in the temporary storing unit, and

the display controlling unit displays the one or more characters in a space that was created by the application device between characters of a confirmed character string by shifting forward a part of the confirmed character string that starts at the position indicated by the position information.

6. The input server of claim 5, wherein

the receiving unit further receives from the user an instruction to delete a character that is displayed in a space between characters of a confirmed character string,

the input server further comprises

a delete unit operable to delete the character displayed in the space between characters, from the temporary storing unit, wherein

after the character is deleted from the temporary storing unit, the notifying unit notifies the application device of the deletion, and

the display controlling unit deletes display of the character.

7. A character string display method for an input server which edits an input character string and outputs a confirmed character string to an application device which displays and processes an edited and confirmed character string in a display area, the character string display method comprising the steps of:

receiving display information from the application device, and receiving a character which is input by a user;

judging whether or not an output area, which is provided in the display area for displaying input characters, has enough empty space to display the input character;

notifying, if a result of the judgment is negative, the application device of a character display state; and

displaying the input character in a space created by the application device by shifting a confirmed character string in the display area, in accordance with the display information received in the receiving step.

8. A control method for an application device which displays and processes confirmed character string that were edited by an input server for editing input character string, the control method comprising the steps of:

displaying a confirmed character string in the display area, and sending display information to the input server; and

shifting, upon being notified of a character display state from the input server, the confirmed character string partially or entirely in the display area.

9. The control method of claim 8, wherein

the display information includes information indicating how many characters can be displayed in an output area that is provided in the display area for displaying characters, and position information indicating a position in the display area from which a next confirmed character string is to be displayed by the application device,

the shifting step includes sub-steps of:

judging whether or not the position information indicates a position in the confirmed character string; and

shifting forward a part of the confirmed character string that starts at the position indicated by the position information, if a result of the judgment is positive.

10. The control method of claim 8, wherein

the application device stores, in a storing area, a guidance to be displayed according to the character display state notified from the input server, and

the shifting step includes a sub-step of:

selecting a guidance and displaying the selected guidance.

11. The control method of claim 8, wherein

the display information includes information indicating how many characters can be displayed in an output area that is provided in the display area for displaying characters, and position information indicating a position in the display area from which a next confirmed character string is to be displayed by the application device,

the shifting step includes a sub-step of:

scrolling the confirmed character string when an input character cannot be displayed in the output area.