Character input apparatus with character string extraction portion, and corresponding storage medium

• US 6,616,703 B1
• Filed: 04/08/1999
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nakagawa, Katsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, CONG LAC T
• Application Number:
  US09/269,976
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: 707/530, 707/531, 707/533, 707/534, 707/540, 707/500, 345/761, 345/784-786, 345/752, 345/758, 273/429-431, 434/176, 704/9, 704/10, 715/526, 715/530, 715/500
• US Class Current: 715/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/232 Orthographic correction, e.g. spell checking or vowelisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/242 Dictionaries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/53 Processing of non-Latin text kana-to-kanji conversion G06F40/129; vowelisation G06F40/232

Abstract

An operation such as changing the coordinates of a specified position is performed on a two-dimensional display screen 103 of a display unit 5 by using an input pen 102, a touch-panel, etc., as an operation input unit 103 to shift the list of candidate character strings which is displayed on the display screen at the initial screen. The contents of the list of the candidate character strings which are displayed on the display screen 103 are continuously changed until a desired candidate character string appears on the screen 103.

Claims

1. A character input apparatus, comprising:

a character string dictionary which stores a number of character strings each including at least one character and having a predetermined meaning, in a predetermined storage order; and

an operation input unit which generates various instructing signals in accordance with an operation of an operator, the apparatus selecting a character string from the character string dictionary based on the instructing signal and inputting the character string, the apparatus comprising;

display means having a display screen for displaying the selected character string and listing candidate character strings from which the character string is selected;

a candidate character string extracting portion including selection means for selecting a predetermined character string from a plurality of the listed candidate character strings, based on a selection instructing signal generated by an operation in the operation input unit, and extraction threshold value changing means for continuously changing an extraction threshold value of character strings, based on a threshold value change instructing signal generated by an operation in the operation input unit, the candidate character string extracting portion extracting character strings from all the character strings stored in the character string dictionary as the candidate character strings, based on comparison between extraction priorities of the character strings and the extraction threshold value(s); and

display control means for controlling the display means in such a manner that the candidate character strings extracted from the candidate character string extracting portion are listed and the character string selected by the selecting means is displayed on the display screen,

wherein the operation input unit has a position specifying number for specifying a position on the display screen, and is designed in such a manner that the threshold value changing signal is generated by an operation of the position specifying member, and

the display control means controls the display means in such a manner that, in regions on both sides of the position specified by the position specifying member on the display screen, the listed candidate character strings are shifted in an opposite direction to each other with respect to the specified position, when the number of the candidate character strings is increased or decreased in accordance with a change in the extraction threshold value.

2. A character input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the character string dictionary, the candidate character string extracting portion, the display means, and the display control means are provided in an information equipment body for displaying and processing communication information, the operation input unit is provided in a remote control device separated from the information equipment body, for remotely controlling the information equipment body,

a position specifying signal generated by an operation of the position specifying member in the operation input unit and the selection instructing signal generated by an operation in the operation input unit are transmitted from a transmitting portion of the remote control device to the information equipment body, a position is specified on the display screen of the display means provided in the information equipment body, based on the transmitted position specifying signal, and the candidate character strings are selected by the selecting means, based on the transmitted selection specifying signal.

3. A character input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display means includes, on the display screen, a selection character string display region for displaying the selected character string and a candidate character string display region for listing a predetermined number of candidate character strings from which the character string is selected,

the selecting means selects a predetermined character string from a plurality of the candidate character strings listed in the candidate character string display region, based on the selection instructing signal generated by an operation in the operation input unit,

the display control means controls the display means in such a manner that the candidate character strings extracted from the candidate character string extracting portion are listed in the candidate character string display region on the display screen and the character string selected by the selecting means is displayed in the selection character string display region on the display screen,

the position specifying member in the operation input unit specifies a position on a two-dimensional coordinate corresponding to the candidate character string display region on the display screen, and

the display control means controls the display means in such a manner that, in the candidate character string display region on the display screen, the listed candidate character strings are shifted so as to spread to upper and lower sides with respect to the position specified by the position specifying member, when the number of the candidate character strings is increased with a decrease in the extraction threshold value, and in the candidate character string display region on the display screen, the listed candidate character strings are shifted from both sides of the position specified by the position specifying member to the specified position, when the number of candidate character strings is decreased with an increase in the extraction threshold value.

4. A character input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the candidate character string extracting portion compares an extraction priority of each character string in the character string dictionary with the extraction threshold value, and repeats first processing of extracting character strings whose extraction priorities are larger than the extraction threshold value from the character string dictionary and second processing of changing the extraction threshold value based on the threshold value change instructing signal generated by an operation in the operation input unit.

5. A character input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selecting means selects a predetermined candidate character string from a plurality of candidate character strings listed on the display screen whose extraction priorities are larger than the set extraction threshold value, based on the selection instructing signal generated by an operation in the operation input unit.

6. A character input apparatus of claim 1, wherein a language of the character strings to be input is Japanese or Chinese, a plurality of character strings are stored in an order based on a pronunciation thereof in the character string dictionary, and homonymous character strings are stored in an order based on the number of strokes of a first Chinese or Japanese character included in each of the character strings.

8. A character input apparatus according to any of claim 1 or claim 7, wherein the candidate character string extracting portion includes appearance frequency updating means for updating an appearance frequency of each character string in the character string dictionary, based on a selection determining signal from the selecting means, and preferentially extracts character strings having large appearance frequencies as candidate character strings from the character string dictionary, considering that larger appearance frequencies correspond to higher extraction priorities.

9. A character input apparatus according to any of claim 1 or claim 7, wherein the character string dictionary and the candidate character string extracting portion are provided in a tabletop character input apparatus body, the operation input unit, the display means, and the display control means are provided in a portable terminal portion separated from the character input apparatus body, and the character input apparatus body and the portable terminal portion respectively have a transmitting/receiving portion for transmitting and receiving data through a wired channel or a radio channel,

an operation signal generated by an operation of the position specifying member of the operation input portion in the portable terminal portion is transmitted to the candidate character string extracting portion in the character input apparatus body through the wired channel or the radio channel as data representing the specified position on the display screen of the display means in the portable terminal portion, the selection instructing signal generated by an operation in the operation input unit is transmitted to the selecting means in the character input apparatus body through the wired channel or the radio channel,

extraction candidate character string data regarding the candidate character strings extracted by the candidate character string extracting portion is transmitted to the display control means in the portable terminal portion through the wired channel or the radio channel, and selection character string data regarding the character string selected by the selecting means is transmitted to the display control means in the portable terminal portion through the wired channel or the radio channel.

10. A character input apparatus according to any of claim 1 or claim 7, wherein the character string dictionary includes dictionary information as a language dictionary which stores information of a meaning of each character string, as well as each of the character strings,

the operation input unit generates a meaning display instructing signal with respect to any character string displayed on the display screen by a predetermined operation,

the display means forms a window for displaying a meaning on the display screen, based on the meaning display instructing signal from the operation input unit, and

the display control means displays information of a meaning of a corresponding character string in the window for displaying a meaning formed on the display screen, based on the meaning display instructing signal.

11. A character input apparatus according to any of claim 1 or claim 7, wherein a language of the character strings to be input is Japanese or Chinese, a plurality of character strings are stored in an order based on a pronunciation thereof in the character string dictionary, and homonymous character strings are stored in an order based on the number of strokes of a first character included in each of the character strings.

7. A character input apparatus, comprising:

a character string dictionary which stores a number of character strings each including at least one character and having a predetermined meaning, in a predetermined storage order; and

an operation input unit which generates various instructing signals in accordance with an operation of an operator, the apparatus selecting a character string from the character string dictionary based on the instructing signal and inputting the character string, the apparatus comprising;

display means having a display screen for displaying the selected character string and listing candidate character strings from which the character string is selected;

the character string dictionary being constituted to store each character string at least together with speech information based on the grammar of a language of the character strings to be input, and

a grammar dictionary which stores grammar information including a conjunction relationship between character strings disposed adjacent to each other, determined by the part of speech of the character strings in language of the character strings to be input, and

wherein the candidate character string extracting portion, regarding a latest character string among the character strings selected by the selecting means, extracts character strings, which may come next to the latest selected character string, as candidate character strings from the character string dictionary, based on the read part of speech information and the grammar information stored in the grammar dictionary.

12. A recording medium storing a character input program for a computer, comprising a character string dictionary which stores a number of character strings, each including at least one character and having a predetermined meaning, in a predetermined storage order, generating various instructing signals in accordance with an operation of an operator, selecting a character string from the character string dictionary based on the instructing signal and inputting the character string, the recording medium comprising:

a display procedure for displaying the selected character string and listing candidate character strings from which the character string is selected on a display screen;

a candidate character string extracting procedure including a selection procedure for selecting a predetermined character string from a plurality of the listed candidate character strings, based on a selection instructing signal generated by an operation of the operator, and an extraction threshold value changing procedure for continuously changing an extraction threshold value of character strings, based on a threshold value change instructing signal generated by the operation, the candidate character string extracting procedure extracting character strings from all the character strings stored in the character string dictionary as the candidate character strings, based on comparison between extraction priorities of the character strings and the extraction threshold value; and

a display control procedure for controlling the display procedure in such a manner that the candidate character strings extracted by the candidate character string extracting procedure are listed and the character string selected by the selecting procedure is displayed on the display screen,

wherein a position is specified on the display screen by the operation of the operator, and the threshold value changing signal is generated by the position specifying, and

the display control procedure controls the display procedure in such a manner that, in regions on both sides of the position specified by the operation of the operator on the display screen, the listed candidate character strings are shifted in an opposite direction to each other with respect to the specified position, when the number of the candidate character strings is increased or decreased in accordance with a change in the extraction threshold value.

13. A recording medium storing a character input program according to claim 12, wherein the character string dictionary, the candidate character string extracting procedure, the display procedure, and the display control procedure are conducted in an information equipment body for displaying and processing communication information, the operation of the operator is conducted by a remote control device separated from the information equipment body, for remotely controlling the information equipment body,

a position specifying signal and a selection instructing signal generated by the operation of the operator are transmitted from a transmitting portion of the remote control device to the information equipment body, a position is specified on the display screen provided in the information equipment body, based on the transmitted position specifying signal, and the candidate character strings are selected by the selecting procedure, based on the transmitted selection specifying signal.

14. A recording medium storing a character input program according to claim 12, wherein the display procedure includes, on the display screen, a selection character string display region for displaying the selected character string and a candidate character string display region for listing a predetermined number of candidate character strings from which the character string is selected,

the selecting procedure selects a predetermined character string from a plurality of the candidate character strings listed in the candidate character string display region, based on the selection instructing signal generated by the operation of the operator,

the display control procedure controls the display procedure in such a manner that the candidate character strings extracted by the candidate character string extracting procedure are listed in the candidate character string display region on the display screen and the character string selected by the selecting procedure is displayed in the selection character string display region on the display screen,

the operation of the operator specifies a position on a two-dimensional coordinate corresponding to the candidate character string display region on the display screen, and

the display control procedure controls the display procedure in such a manner that, in the candidate character string display region on the display screen, the listed candidate character strings are shifted so as to spread to upper and lower sides with respect to the specified position by the position specifying, when the number of the candidate character strings is increased with a decrease in the extraction threshold value, and in the candidate character string display region on the display screen, the listed candidate character strings are shifted from both sides of the specified position by the position specifying to the specified position, when the number of candidate character strings is decreased with an increase in the extraction threshold value.

15. A recording medium storing a character input program according to claim 12, wherein the candidate character string extracting procedure compares an extraction priority of each character string in the character string dictionary with the extraction threshold value, and repeats first processing of extracting character strings whose extraction priorities are larger than the extraction threshold value from the character string dictionary and second processing of changing the extraction threshold value based on the threshold value change instructing signal generated by the operation of the operator.

16. A recording medium storing a character input program according to claim 12, wherein the selecting procedure selects a predetermined candidate character string from a plurality of candidate character strings listed on the display screen whose extraction priorities are larger than the set extraction threshold value, based on the selection instructing signal generated by the operation of the operator.

17. A recording medium of claim 12, wherein a language of the character strings to be input is Japanese or Chinese, a plurality of character strings are stored in an order based on a pronunciation thereof in the character string dictionary, and homonymous character strings are stored in an order based on the number of strokes of a first Chinese or Japanese character included in each of the character strings.

19. A recording medium according to any of claim 12 or claim 18, wherein the candidate character string extracting procedure includes an appearance frequency updating procedure for updating an appearance frequency of each character string in the character string dictionary, based on a selection determining signal from the selecting procedure, and preferentially extracts character strings having large appearance frequencies as candidate character strings from the character string dictionary, considering that larger appearance frequencies correspond to higher extraction priorities.

20. A recording medium storing a character input program according to any of claim 12 or claim 18, wherein the character string dictionary and the candidate character string extracting procedure are executed in a tabletop character input apparatus body, the operation of the operator, the display procedure, and the display control procedure are executed in a portable terminal portion separated from the character input apparatus body, and the character input apparatus body and the portable terminal portion respectively have a transmitting/receiving portion for transmitting and receiving data through a wired channel or a radio channel,

an operation signal generated by the operation of the operator in the portable terminal portion is transmitted to the candidate character string extracting procedure in the character input apparatus body through the wired channel or the radio channel as data representing the specified position on the display screen in the portable terminal portion, the selection instructing signal generated by the operation of the operator is transmitted to the selecting procedure in the character input apparatus body through the wired channel or the radio channel,

extraction candidate character string data regarding the candidate character strings extracted by the candidate character string extracting procedure is transmitted to the display control procedure in the portable terminal portion through the wired channel or the radio channel, and selection character string data regarding the character string selected by the selecting procedure is transmitted to the display control procedure in the portable terminal portion through the wired channel or the radio channel.

21. A recording medium storing a character input program according to any of claim 12 or claim 18, wherein the character string dictionary includes dictionary information as a language dictionary which stores information of a meaning of each character string, as well as each of the character strings,

a meaning display instructing signal is generated by the operation of the operator with respect to any character string displayed on the display screen,

the display procedure forms a window for displaying a meaning on the display screen, based on the meaning display instructing signal, and

the display control procedure displays information of a meaning of a corresponding character string in the window for displaying a meaning formed on the display screen, based on the meaning display instructing signal.

22. A recording medium storing a character input program according to any of claim 12 or claim 18 wherein a language of the character strings to be input is Japanese or Chinese, a plurality of character strings are stored in an order based on a pronunciation thereof in the character string dictionary, and homonymous character strings are stored in an order based on the number of strokes of a first character included in each of the character strings.

18. A recording medium storing a character input program for a computer, comprising a character string dictionary which stores a number of character strings, each including at least one character and having a predetermined meaning, in a predetermined storage order, generating various instructing signals in accordance with an operation of an operator, selecting a character string from the character string dictionary based on the instructing signal and inputting the character string, the recording medium comprising:

a display procedure for displaying the selected character string and listing candidate character strings from which the character string is selected on a display screen;

the character string dictionary for storing each character string, at least together with an extraction priority based on an appearance frequency thereof, and part of speech information based on the grammar of a language of the character strings to be input,

a grammar dictionary which stores grammar information including conjunction relationship between character strings disposed adjacent to each other, determined by the part of speech of the character strings in language of the character strings to be input, and

wherein the candidate character string extracting procedure regarding a latest character string among the character strings selected by the selecting procedure, extracts character strings, which may come next to the latest selected character string, as candidate character strings from the character string dictionary, based on the read part of speech information and the grammar information stored in the grammar dictionary.

23. A character input apparatus, comprising:

a character string dictionary which stores a number of character strings each including at least one character and having a predetermined meaning, in a predetermined storage order; and

an operation input unit which generates various instructing signals in accordance with an operation of an operator, the apparatus selecting a character string from the character string dictionary based on the instructing signal and inputting the character string, the apparatus comprising;

a display for displaying the selected character string and listing candidate character strings from which the character string is selected;

a candidate character string extracting portion including a selection portion for selecting a predetermined character string from a plurality of the listed candidate character strings, based on a selection instructing signal generated by an operation in the operation input unit, and an extraction threshold value changing portion for changing an extraction threshold value of character strings, based on a threshold value change instructing signal generated by an operation in the operation input unit, the candidate character string extracting portion extracting character strings from character strings stored in the character string dictionary as the candidate character strings, based on extraction priorities of the character strings and the extraction threshold value; and

a display controller for controlling the display in such a manner that the candidate character strings extracted from the candidate character string extracting portion are listed and the character string selected by the selecting portion is displayed on the display,

wherein the operation input unit has a position specifying number for specifying a position on the display, and is designed in such a manner that the threshold value changing signal is generated by an operation of the position specifying member, and

the display controller controls the display in such a manner that, in regions on both sides of the position specified by the position specifying member on the display, the listed candidate character strings are shifted in an opposite direction to each other with respect to the specified position, when the number of the candidate character strings is increased or decreased in accordance with a change in the extraction threshold value.