CHARACTER INPUT DEVICE, CHARACTER INPUT METHOD, AND CHARACTER INPUT PROGRAM

• US 20170262069A1
• Filed: 12/12/2016
• Published: 09/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: YAMADA, Takahiro
• Granted Patent: US 10,488,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038

Abstract

A character input device using a D-pad for inputting a desired character string includes an operation receiving unit, a keyboard management unit, an input character string management unit, a predicted candidate management unit, and a character candidate detection unit. The input character string management unit manages an input character string. The predicted candidate management unit estimates predicted character string candidates based on the input character string, and manages the predicted character string candidates. The character candidate detection unit compares the input character string with the predicted character string candidates, and detects one or more character candidates that are to be selected next. The operation receiving unit receives an input direction that is input with the D-pad. The keyboard management unit executes refined input, in which a cursor is moved only to a character candidate present in the input direction with respect to the character on which the cursor is placed.

Claims

1. A character input device for selecting and inputting a desired character from a plurality of displayed characters, using a D-pad to place a cursor on the desired character, the character input device comprising:

an input character string management unit configured to manage an input character string that was input;

a predicted candidate management unit configured to estimate predicted character string candidates based on the input character string, and manage the predicted character string candidates;

a character candidate detection unit configured to compare the input character string with the predicted character string candidates, and detect one or more character candidates that are to be selected next;

an operation receiving unit configured to receive an input direction that is input with the D-pad; and

a keyboard management unit configured to execute refined input, in which the cursor is moved only to a character candidate that is present in the input direction with respect to the character on which the cursor is placed.

2. The character input device according to claim 1,

wherein the operation receiving unit is capable of receiving a cancellation of the refined input, and

if the cancellation of the refined input is input from the operation receiving unit, the keyboard management unit executes standard input, in which the cursor is moved to a character that is adjacent, in the input direction, to the character on which the cursor is placed.

3. The character input device according to claim 1,

wherein, if the keyboard management unit detects that there is no character candidate in the input direction, the keyboard management unit moves the cursor to a character candidate that is present in a region on the side in the input direction from the character on which the cursor is placed, and is closest to the character on which the cursor is placed.

4. The character input device according to claim 1,

wherein, if there is no predicted character string candidate, the keyboard management unit executes the standard input, in which the cursor is moved to a character that is adjacent, in the input direction, to the character on which the cursor is placed.

5. The character input device according to claim 1,

wherein the keyboard management unit highlights the character candidate.

6. The character input device according to claim 1,

wherein, if there are a plurality of predicted character string candidates, the predicted candidate management unit sets an order of priority for the plurality of predicted character string candidates, and

in execution of the refined input, if there is only one predicted character string candidate, the keyboard management unit automatically moves the cursor to the character candidate obtained from the predicted character string candidate, and if there are a plurality of predicted character string candidates, the keyboard management unit automatically moves the cursor to the character candidate obtained from the predicted character string candidate with the highest priority.

7. A character input method for selecting and inputting a desired character from a plurality of displayed characters, using a D-pad to place a cursor on the desired character, the method comprising the steps of:

managing an input character string that was input;

estimating predicted character string candidates based on the input character string, and managing the predicted character string candidates;

comparing the input character string with the predicted character string candidates, and detecting one or more character candidates that are to be selected next;

receiving an input direction that is input by using the D-pad; and

executing refined input, in which the cursor is moved only to a character candidate that is present in the input direction with respect to the character on which the cursor is placed.

8. A character input program for causing a computer to execute character input processing in which a character on which a cursor is placed using a D-pad is selected from a plurality of displayed characters, the computer executing the steps of:

managing an input character string that was input;

estimating predicted character string candidates based on the input character string, and managing the predicted character string candidates;

comparing the input character string with the predicted character string candidates, and detecting one or more character candidates that are to be selected next;

receiving an input direction that is input by using the D-pad; and

executing refined input, in which the cursor is moved only to a character candidate that is present in the input direction with respect to the character on which the cursor is placed.