Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02284289 1999-09-20
DESCRIPTION
Portable Terminal Character Selectively In~uttina
Device and Character Selectively In~uttina Method
Technical Field
The invention relates to a portable terminal
apparatus which enables characters to be inputted and
to a character selection input apparatus and a
character selection input method which are suitable for
use in character input of the portable terminal
apparatus.
Background Art
There is a case where characters are inputted
to a portable terminal apparatus such as a pager. In
the portable terminal apparatus such as a pager, a
number of keys cannot be arranged in order to realize a
small size and a light weight and to improve operating
efficiency. In the pager in which a number of keys
cannot be arranged as mentioned above, hitherto, the
following character input methods have been considered.
First, there is considered a method such that
when a predetermined button is depressed, one character
candidate is displayed at an input position, when this
button is further depressed, the next character
candidate is displayed, and when the user continuously
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depresses the predetermined button until a desired
character is displayed, the desired character is
inputted. Such a method has an advantage that the
character input can be performed by one key.
According to the above method, however, since
the predetermined button is continuously depressed
until the desired character is displayed, ire the worst
case, the user needs to continuously depress the key
the number of times as many as the number of characters
(for example, in case of Japanese, 50 tones + numerals,
symbols, and the like) in order to input the desired
character, so 'that the operating efficiency is not
good.
As another method, there is considered an
input method such that about ten characters serving as
candidates are displayed in a partial area of a screen
and the user searches a desired character among the
character candidates and selects this character,
thereby performing a character input. According to
such a method, since the desired character can be
selected among the characters serving as candidates,
the number of operating times of the key is reduced and
the operating efficiency is improved as compared with
the foregoing method of displaying the next character
candidates one by one each time the button is
depressed.
In the method, however, a key to select a
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desired character among the displayed characters is
needed besides the key to display characters serving as
candidates, so that there is a problem that the number
of keys increases. Although it is considered to use
right/left keys or up/down keys as a key to select the
desired character, in case of using the right/left keys
and up/down keys, it is necessary to arrange at least
four or more keys. When the character is selected by
the right/left keys or up/down keys, an erroneous
operation easily occurs.
There is a pager having a rotary knob
constructed by a rotary encoder and a switch. It is
considered to performed the character input by using
the rotary knob.
That is, according to such a method,
characters in one character group are displayed in a
part of a display area. The user selects a desired
character among the characters in the character group
by using the rotary knob comprising the rotary encoder
and the switch. When the desired character does not
exist in the character group, the character group is
switched to the next one. When the character group is
switched, characters in the next character group are
displayed. The user selects the desired character
among the characters of the next character group by
using the rotary knob comprising the rotary encoder and
the switch. When the desired character does not exist
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in the character group, the character group is further
switched to the next one.
According to the above method, since the
character can be inputted without using any key, the
operating efficiency is improved.
When a plurality of character groups are
switched, however, the operation to switch the
character group is needed. Therefore, the character
input cannot be performed by only the rotary knob. It
is necessary to provide a key for switching the
r_haracter group and to switch the character group by
operating the key.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention
to provide a portable terminal apparatus which can
perform a character input without needing a key and a
button with good operating efficiency and a character
selection input apparatus and a character selection
input method which are suitable for use in character
input of the portable terminal apparatus.
Disclosure of Invention
According to the invention, there is provided
a portable terminal apparatus comprising: receiving
means for receiving a transmitted signal; demodulating
means for demodulating an output signal from the
receiving means; operating means which is operated by
the user; display means on which output data from the
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demodulating means is displayed; and control means for
allowing to display a character set comprising a
plurality of characters to be displayed on the display
means and allowing switching display marks to switch a
plurality of character sets displayed on the display
means by the operation of the operating means to be
displayed.
According to the invention, there is provided
a character selection input apparatus comprising: a
storing unit in which a plurality of character set data
each comprising a plurality of characters has been
stored; a display unit in which a display based on the
character set data read out from the storing unit is
displayed; an operating unit which is operated by the
user; and a control unit for allowing switching marks
to switch the plurality of character set data stored in
the storing unit to be displayed on the display unit,
reading out one of the plurality of character set data
stored in the storing unit on the basis of a result of
the operation by the operating unit with respect to the
switching marks, and allowing it to be displayed on the
display unit.
According to the invention, there is provided
a character selection input method comprising the steps
of: displaying one of character sets each comprising a
plurality of characters stored in a storing unit;
displaying switching marks to switch and display a
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plurality of character set data; selecting or
determining at least any one character in the character
set displayed by operating the operating unit; and,
when the switching mark is operated by the operating
unit, switching the displayed character set to another
character set and displaying it.
Character groups are displayed on 'a display.
In the character groups, marks to switch the character
groups are displayed as soft keys. The mark is
selected from the character group by a rotating
operation of a rotary knob constructed by a rotary
encoder and the character groups can be switched by a
depressing operation. Therefore, the character input
can be performed by only the rotary knob without
needing to increase buttons or keys, so that the
operating efficiency can be improved.
Brief Description of Drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an
external construction of a pager to which the invention
is applied; Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram for use in
explanation of a display; Figs. 3A and 3B are
perspective views for use in explanation of a rotary
knob; Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a construction
of the pager to which the invention is applied; Figs.
5A and 5B are schematic diagrams for used in
explanation of display picture planes of messages; Fig.
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6A to 6C are schematic diagrams for use in explanation
of display picture planes of received messages; Figs.
7A to 7E are schematic diagrams for use in explanation
of display picture planes having a memo function; and
Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram for use in explanation of
a character group.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
An embodiment of the invention will now be
described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings.
Fig. 1 shows an external construction of a pager 1 to
which the invention is applied. As shown in Fig. 1, a
display 2, a rotary knob 3 comprising a rotary encoder
and a switch, and an escape key 4 are provided for the
pager 1 to which the invention is applied.
The display 2 is used to display instruction
marks indicative of various setting states or operating
states or display characters of received messages or
characters of a memo.
Fig. 2 shows a display screen of the display
2. Various instruction marks 51 to 57 are displayed on
the display 2.
The instruction mark 51 indicates whether the
pager exists in a service area or not. The instruction
mark 52 shows that the received message is a locked
message. The instruction mark 53 indicates the
presence of a message which is not read yet. The
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instruction mark 54 indicates that a battery capacity
:is lacking. The instruction mark 55 shows that an
alarm clock has been set. The instruction marks 56 and
57 denote that the displayed message continues upward
or downward. An instruction mark 58 indicates that
when a reception sound is generated upon reception. An
instruction mark 59 shows that a vibration is generated
upon reception.
Display areas 60 to 62 are also provided for
the display 2. The display area 60 displays date and a
message number. Date is displayed in the area 60 in a
standby state. When the hour is displayed in a 12-hour
mode, "AM" or "PM" is displayed in the display area 61.
Characters of the message or memo are
displayed in the display area 62. As a display area 62
for character display, for example, an area of up to 80
characters of four lines in which one line is
constructed by 20 characters is assured.
In Fig. l, the rotary knob 3 is used to
scroll the display of the display 2 or select items.
As will be described hereinlater, a memo function to
store telephone numbers, names, and the like is
provided for the pager 1 to which the invention is
applied. The rotary knob 3 is used even for a
character input when the memo function is used.
The rotary knob 3 is constructed by the
rotary encoder and the switch. The depressing
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operation as shown by an arrow 5 in Fig. 3A and the
rotating operation as shown by arrows 6 in Fig. 3B can
be performed. When the display on the display 2 is
scrolled or the item is selected, the rotating
operation as shown in Fig. 3B is used. When the
selected item is set, the depressing operation as shown
in Fig. 3A is used.
The escape key 4 is used for the operation to
turn on the pager or return to the previous picture
plane.
Fig. 4 shows an internal construction of the
pager 1 to which the invention is applied.
In Fig. 4, radio waves which are transmitted
from a pager company are received by an antenna 11. A
reception signal of the antenna 11 is supplied to a
receiving unit 12. The reception signal of a
predetermined carrier frequency is selected by the
receiving unit 12.
An output of the receiving unit 12 is
supplied to a demodulating unit. l3. The demodulating
unit 13 performs, for example, a demodulating process
of an FSK (Frequency Shift Keying). Data of a message
is demodulated from the reception signal by the
demodulating unit 13. The demodulated message data is
transmitted to a microcomputer 14.
The microcomputer 14 controls the whole pager
1. An input is supplied to the microcomputer 14 from
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the rotary knob 3 comprising a rotary encoder 18 and a
switch 19 and an input is also supplied from the escape
key 4. An output from the microcomputer 14 is supplied
to the display 2 and to an output unit 17. The output
unit 17 is, for example, a buzzer or a speaker to
inform of a call reception or a vibrator which vibrates
upon call reception.
When the pager 1 is called, a message is
transmitted from the company of the pager to the pager
1. The message data is, for example, FSK modulated and
transmitted by using a radio wave of a frequency band
900 MHz. This signal is sent to the receiving unit 12
through the antenna 11 and message data is demodulated
from the signal by the demodulating unit 13. The
message data is sent to the microcomputer 14.
When the message data is received, the
microcomputer 14 allows the message data to be
displayed by the display 2 and sends a signal
indicative of the reception of the message data to the
output unit 17. Thus, a buzzer sound to notify of the
call reception is generated or a vibration to notify of
the call reception is generated. The transmitted
message is displayed on the display 2.
The transmitted message data can be stored in
a memory 15. The stored message data can be displayed
on the display 2 by operating the rotary knob 3 or
escape key 4 by the user.
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That is, Figs. 5A and 5B show a display
picture plane of the display 2 when the message is
z:eceived. When the message is received, as shown in
Fig. 5A, characters of the received message are
displayed in the display area 62 of the display 2. A
message number is displayed in the display area 60 of
the display 2. When the message further continues, the
instruction mark 57 is displayed. When the rotary knob
3 is rotated, the display is scrolled. As shown in
Fig. 5B, the subsequent message is displayed. A
message type and a time stamp are displayed at the end
of the message.
When the message stored in the memory 15 is
read out, as shown in Fig. 6A, the rotary knob 3 is
rotated during the standby mode and (PERSONAL MESSAGES)
or (INFORMATION SERVICE) is selected. The selected
:item is displayed in a highlight state. As a highlight
display, surrounded characters, emphasized characters,
underline, inverted characters, or the like is
considered. When (PERSONAL MESSAGES) or (INFORMATIOP~
SERVICE) is selected, the rotary knob 3 is depressed.
When (PERSONAL MESSAGES) or (INFORMATION
SERVICE) is selected by the rotary knob 3 and the
rotary knob 3 is depressed, as shown in Fig. 6B, 18
characters in each message are displayed as a list of
the messages. The list of those messages is arranged
so that the latest message is displayed at the top
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stage. Symbols 71 to 74 indicative of "not read",
"read", "lock", and the like are added to each message.
The rotary knob 3 is subsequently rotated,
thereby selecting a desired message from the list of
the messages. The selected message is displayed in the
highlight state. When the message is selected, the
rotary knob 3 is depressed. When the desired message
is selected and the rotary knob 3 is depressed, as
shown in Fig. 6C, characters of the selected message
are displayed.
When the instruction mark 57 of the downward
arrow indication is displayed during the display of the
message, the instruction mark 57 shows that messages
further continue downward. When the rotary knob 3 is
rotated, such a downward message is displayed. When
the instruction mark 56 of the upward arrow indication
is displayed during the display of the message, this
means that messages further continue upward. When the
rotary knob 3 is rotated upward, such an upward message
is displayed.
After the messages as shown in Fig. 6C were
displayed, when the escape key 4 is once depressed, the
screen is returned to the picture plane to display the
message list shown in Fig. 6B. Another message can be
selected on the message list selection picture plane.
When the escape key 4 is depressed twice, the screen is
returned to the main menu shown in Fig. 6A.
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The pager 1 to which the invention is applied
has a memo function. The memo function is a function
t=o store the telephone number, characters of the name,
and numerals as memos into the memory 15 in Fig. 4.
S The character data has been stored in an ROM 20 in Fig.
4. The character data stored in the ROM 20 comprises,
for example, four character groups.
When inputting characters, the characters in
one character group are displayed. The user selects a
desired character from the characters in the character
group by using the rotary knob 3. When the desired
character does not exist in the character group, the
character group is switched to the next character
group.
The switching of the character group can be
performed by selecting an arrow mark allocated as a
soft key in the character group. When the character
group is switched, the characters in the next character
group are displayed. The user selects a desired
character from the characters in this character group
by using the rotary knob 3. When the desired character
does not exist in the character group, the character
group is switched to the further next character group.
As mentioned above, the switching of the
character group can be also performed by selecting an
arrow mark allocated as a soft key in the character
group. Therefore, characters can be inputted by only
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the operation of the rotary knob 3 without needing to
expand keys and buttons to input characters.
That is, when the memo function is used, as
shown in Fig. 7A, the rotary knob 3 is rotated during
the standby mode, (FUNCTION MENU) is selected, and the
rotary knob 3 is depressed. When (FUNCTION MENU) is
selected and the rotary knob 3 is depressed; as shown
in Fig. 7B, a function menu is displayed. Further, on
the picture plane of the function menu, the rotary knob
3 is rotated, (MEMO) is selected, and the rotary knob 3
is depressed. When (MEMO) is selected and the rotary
knob 3 is depressed, a memo function picture plane as
shown in Fig. 7C is displayed.
The memo function picture plane shown in Fig.
'7C is a selection picture plane in case of newly
forming a memo and in case of searching the memo.
In case of newly forming a memo, the rotary
knob 3 is rotated, (NEW) is selected, and the rotary
knob 3 is depressed. When (NEW) is selected and the
rotary knob 3 is depressed, an input picture plane of a
memo as shown in Fig. 7D is displayed.
As shown in Fig. 7D, a character input area
'71 and a character group area 72 are provided in the
input picture plane of (MEMO). The character input
area 71 is an area to input and edit the memo. In this
example, an area of two lines is assured as a character
input area 71. A cursor 73 indicating a character
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input position is displayed in the character input area
71.
A character group comprising a plurality of
characters to select the character to be inputted is
displayed in the character group area 72. In this
example, as shown in Fig. 8, four character groups 21a
to 21d are prepared as a character group 21: The
character group 21a is a character group of capital
letters of alphabet. The character group 21b is a
character group of small letters of alphabet. The
character group 21c is a character group of numerals
and symbols. The character group 21d is a character
group of pictorial symbols.
As shown in Fig. 8, marks 23a and 23b, 24a to
24d, 25, 26, and 27 having special meanings are
included in the characters of the character groups 21a
to 21d which are displayed in the character group area
72.
The marks 23a and 23b function as soft keys
to switch the character group 21 and have shapes of
arrows. When the rotary knob 3 is rotated and the mark
23a is selected and the rotary knob 3 is depressed, the
character group 21 which is displayed in the character
group area 72 is switched in accordance with the order
of the character group 21a ~ 21d ~ 21c ~ 21b. When the
rotary knob 3 is rotated and the mark 23b is selected
and the rotary knob 3 is depressed, the character group
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21 is switched in accordance with the order of the
character group 21a ~ 21b ~ 21c ~ 21d.
The marks 24a to 24d function as soft keys to
move the cursor 73 and have a shape of arrows of front,
rear, left, and right. When the rotary knob 3 is
rotated and the marks 24a to 24d are selected and the
rotary knob 3 is depressed, the cursor 73 in the
character input area 71 is moved to the front, rear,
left, or right.
The mark 25 functions as a soft key showing a
space key. The mark 26 functions as a soft key showing
a delete key. The mark 27 functions as a soft key
showing an insert key. The mark 28 functions as a soft
key showing an enter key.
In case of inputting a character, the rotary
knob 3 is rotated and a desired character is selected
from the character group displayed in the character
group area 72. The selected character is displayed in
a highlight state.
That is, in Fig. 4, the rotary encoder 18 and
switch 19 are provided in association with the rotary
knob 3. The rotary knob 3 is rotated and the rotary
encoder 18 rotates in accordance with the rotation of
the rotary knob 3. An output of the rotary encoder 18
is supplied to the microcomputer 14. The microcomputer
14 controls an address in the ROM 20 in which the
character data has been stored in accordance with the
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output of the rotary encoder 18, thereby moving a
pointer 22 in the character group 21. In this
instance, the pointer 22 showing the selected character
is moved in accordance with the rotating direction of
the rotary knob 3.
For example, when the pointer 22 exists at
the position of "G" of the character group 21a, by
rotating the rotary knob 3 in a predetermined
direction, the pointer 22 is moved in accordance with
the order of "G" ~ "H" ~ "I" ~ .... When the rotary
knob 3 is rotated in the direction opposite to the
predetermined direction, the pointer 22 is moved in
accordance with the order of "G" ~ "F" ~ "E" ~ ....
When the character is selected from the
character group area 72 by the rotary knob 3 and the
rotary knob 3 is depressed, the character is inputted
to the position of the cursor 73 in the character input
area 71. The cursor 73 is advanced by one. As
mentioned above, by rotating the rotary knob 3 and
selecting the desired character from the characters in
the character group 21 displayed in the character group
area 72 and depressing the rotary knob 3, the character
is inputted into the character input area 71.
When the user wants to input a character
which does not exist in the character group, the mark
~?3a or 23b having the arrow shape is selected. Thus,
the character group 21 which is displayed in the
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character group area 72 can be switched in accordance
with the order of the character group 21a ~ 21d ~ 21c
21b or 21a ~ 21b ~ 21c ~ 21d. By switching the
character group and selecting the desired character
from the characters displayed in the character group
area 72 and depressing the rotary knob 3 in a manner
similar to the above, the character is inputted into
the character input area 71.
Although the character input has been
performed to use the memo function in the foregoing
example, it is also possible to leave the characters as
a memo and to enable the character data to be
transmitted as a message.
For example, in case of transmitting the
message recorded in the memory 15, each character of
the character data is converted into a code
corresponding to each numeral (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
#) which is used in the telephone and the character
data is generated as a dual tone from a speaker of the
output unit 16.
Specifically speaking, after dialing to the
transmission destination (partner destination), by
making the speaker approach a microphone of the
receiver of the telephone, a voice sound of the dual
tone generated from the speaker is transmitted to the
pager company through the telephone line. The pager
~~ompany multiplexes the transmitted audio signal to the
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radio wave and transmits it from a transmitting
station. Thus, it is received by the pager of the
transmission destination and the sent message is
displayed on the display.
Although the embodiment has been described
with respect to the example in which the invention is
applied to the pager, the invention is not limited to
:it but can be applied to a cellular phone or a
communication terminal having an access function or the
like of a network.
In the embodiment, although the character
group is switched to the previous or subsequent
character group by the marks 23a and 23b displayed in
the character group 21, one key to switch to only the
next character group can be also provided.
In the example, although capital letters and
small letters of alphabet, numerals, and special
symbols have been used as character groups, other
character groups of Katakana, Hiragana, and Kanji
(Chinese characters) can be prepared besides those
character groups.
According to the invention as described
above, the character group 21 is displayed in the
character group area 72 of the display 2 and the marks
23a and 23b to switch the character group are displayed
as soft keys in the character group 21. Therefore, the
marks 23a and 23b are selected from the characters of
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t=he character group 21 by the rotating operation of the
rotary knob comprising the rotary encoder 18 and the
character group 21 can be switched by the depressing
operation. Thus, the character can be inputted by only
the rotary knob 3 without needing to expand the buttons
or keys and the operability can be improved.
Industrial Applicability
As mentioned above, the portable terminal
apparatus according to the invention and the character
selection input apparatus and character selection input
method which are suitable for use in character input of
such a portable terminal apparatus are suitable when
they are used for character input of a pager.
