(11) Patent No.
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`2000-56912
`(P2000-56912A)
`(43) Publication date: Feb 25, 2000
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`Theme Code (Reference)
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`(19) Japan Patent Office (JP)
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`(12) Japanese Unexamined Patent
`Application Publication (A)
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`3 1 0 L
`6 2 0 G 5B020
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`G 0 6 F 3/023
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`3/00
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`Identification code
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`620
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`(51) Int. Cl.7
`G 0 6 F 3/023
`H 0 3 M 11/04
`G 0 6 F 3/00
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`(21) Application number
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`(22) Date of application
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`Number of claims: 16 (Total of 14 pages)
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`000002185
`Sony Corporation
`6-7-35 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-Ku, Tokyo
`
`Masaaki SAKATA
`℅ Sony LSI Design, Inc.
`134 Gohdo-cho, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama-shi,
`Kanagawa-ken
`
`100096806
`Shintaro OKAZAKI, patent attorney (one other
`agent)
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`
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`5B020 BB02 CC06 DD30 FF06 FF53 GG05
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`(71) Applicant
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`(72) Inventor
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`(74) Agent
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` F
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` Terms (reference)
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`Japanese Patent Application
`H10-227000
`
`
`(August 11, 1998)
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`(54) [TITLE OF THE INVENTION] CHARACTER INPUT DEVICE, CHARACTER INPUT METHOD, AND INFORMATION RECORDING
`MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM HAVING CHARACTER INPUT FUNCTIONS
`
`(57) [Abstract]
`
`[PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED:] To provide a character input device
`which can easily and accurately input characters and has a small
`display area of a character list display means, to provide a character
`input method and also to provide an information recording medium
`which stores a program having character input functions.
`
`[SOLUTION:] Each character list display means 6 shows plural types
`of character information consisting of characters relevant to a specific
`character type and is shown on each display means. When the optional
`one of characters of the character list display means 6 is designated by
`a designating means 3, the character relevant to at least a character type
`applicable to the designated character is shown on a character type
`display means 18. Then a character applicable to an optional character
`type of the character type display means 18 is designated by the
`designating means 3 and a finger is removed from the designated
`character, the character information relevant to the type of the character
`shown at the position where the finger is removed is shown on the
`character list display means 6.
`
`
`
`Position A
`
`GOOGLE EX. 1003 pg. 1
`Google v. Philips
`
`

`
`2
`
`
`
`character type applicable to the instructed character is displayed on
`the display means, and
`
`when a character of any character type in the character type
`display means is instructed by the instruction means and detached
`from its position, character information applicable to the character
`type currently displayed at the detached position in the character
`type display means is displayed on the first character list display
`means.
`[Claim 6]
`
`A character input device for instructing and inputting a
`desired character by an instruction means for instructing any
`character of character information, in a state where a plurality of
`character information comprising characters applicable
`to a
`specific character type are displayed on a display means,
`characterized in that
`
`the character input device has
`
`a character information storing means for storing character
`information, and
`
`a character information display means for displaying a
`character list display means for displaying character information in
`a list and a character type display means for displaying a character
`applicable to at least one character type for any character of
`character information on the display means, wherein
`
`a character list display means for displaying a plurality of
`character information applicable to a specific character type is
`displayed on the display means,
`
`when any character in the character list display means
`displayed on the display means is continued to be instructed for a
`predetermined time by the instruction means, the character type
`display means for displaying a character applicable to at least one
`other character type applicable to the instructed character is
`displayed on a display means, and
`
`when any character in the character type display means is
`instructed by an instruction means so as to slide on the character
`type display means and detached from its position, the character
`information applicable to the character type of the character
`displayed at the detached position in the character type display
`means is displayed on the character list display means.
`[Claim 7]
`
`A character input method, characterized in that
`
`a character list display means for displaying a plurality of
`character information comprising characters applicable to a
`specific character type is displayed on a display means,
`
`when any character in the character list display means is
`instructed by an instruction means, a character type display means
`for displaying a character applicable to at least one other character
`type applicable to the instructed character is displayed on the
`display means, and
`
`when a character applicable to any character type in the
`character type display means is instructed to be detached by an
`instruction means,
`the character information applicable to the character type of the
`character displayed at the detached position is displayed on the
`character list display means.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1
`
`
`
`(57) [Scope of Patent Claims]
`[Claim 1]
`A character input device for instructing and inputting a
`
`desired character by means of an instruction means for instructing
`any character of character information, in a state where a plurality
`of character information comprising characters applicable to a
`specific character type is displayed on an applicable display means,
`characterized in that
`
`the character input device has
`
`a character information storage means for storing character
`information, and
`
`a character information display means for displaying on a
`display means a character list display means in order to display
`character information in a list or a character type display means for
`displaying characters applicable to at least one type of characters in
`respect of the character information of any type of character,
`
`wherein the character list display means for displaying a
`plurality of character information configured from characters
`applicable to specific character types is displayed on the respective
`display means, and
`
`
`when any character in the character list display means is
`instructed by the instruction means, a character applicable to at
`least one type of character applicable to the instructed character is
`displayed on the character type display means for the purpose of
`the display thereof, and
`
`when a character applicable to any of the character types in
`the character type display means is instructed and detached,
`the character information applicable to the character type of the
`character displayed on the detached position is displayed on the
`character list display means.
`[Claim 2]
`The character input device according to claim 1, wherein
`the character type is a combination of a resonant sound, a voiced
`sound, a p‐sound in the kana syllabary, a contracted sound or a
`geminate consonant, specific characters for conventional use, full-
`width hiragana, half-width hiragana, full-width katakana or half-
`width katakana, and the character type is upper and lower cases
`when inputting any other languages.
`[Claim 3]
`
`The character input device according to claim 1, wherein
`
`characters for each character type displayed on the character
`type display means are respectively arranged in a longitudinal
`direction, a transverse direction, or in the shape of a grid.
` [Claim 4]
`
`The character input device according to claim 1, wherein
`
`an instruction means is a pointing device or a mouse pointer
`for instructing on a tablet.
` [Claim 5]
`
`A character input device for instructing and inputting a
`desired character by an instruction means for instructing any
`character of character information, in a state where a plurality of
`character information comprising characters applicable
`to a
`specific character type are displayed on a display means,
`characterized in that
`
`the character input device has
`
`a character information storing means for storing character
`information, and
`
`a character information display means for displaying a first
`character
`list display means
`for displaying
`the character
`information in a list and a character type display means for
`displaying a character applicable to at least one character type for
`any character of the character information on the display means,
`wherein
`
`the first character list display means for displaying a plurality
`of character information comprising characters applicable to a
`specific character type is displayed on the display means,
`
`when any character in the first character list display means is
`instructed by the instruction means, a second character list display
`means showing character information more detailed than those in
`the first character list display means is displayed on the display
`means,
`
`when any character in the second character list display means
`is instructed by the instruction means, the character type display
`means for displaying the character applicable to at least one other
`
`GOOGLE EX. 1003 pg. 2
`Google v. Philips
`
`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`[Claim 8]
`
`The character input method according to claim 7, wherein
`
`the character type is the combination of a resonant sound, a
`voiced sound, a p‐sound in the kana syllabary, a contracted sound
`or a geminate consonant, specific characters for conventional use,
`and a full-width hiragana, a half-width hiragana, full-width
`katakana or half-width katakana when
`inputting Japanese
`characters, and a character type is upper and lower cases when
`inputting any other languages.
`[Claim 9]
`
`The character input method according to claim 7, wherein
`
`characters for each character type displayed on the character
`type display means are respectively arranged in a longitudinal
`direction, a transverse direction, or in the shape of a grid.
`[Claim 10]
`
`A character input method, characterized in that
`
`a first character list display means for displaying a plurality
`of character information comprising characters applicable to a
`specific character type is displayed on a display means,
`
`when any character in the first character list display means is
`instructed by an instruction means, a second character list display
`means showing character information more detailed than those in
`the first character list display means is displayed on the display
`means,
`
`when any character in the second character list display means
`is instructed by the instruction means, a character type display
`means for displaying a character applicable to at least one other
`character type applicable to the instructed character is displayed on
`the display means, and
`
`when a character of any character type in the character type
`display means is instructed by instruction means and detached from
`its position, the character information applicable to the character
`type currently displayed at the detached position in the character
`type display means is displayed on the first character list display
`means.
` [Claim 11]
`
`A character input method, characterized in that
`
`a character list display means for displaying a plurality of
`character information applicable to a specific character type is
`displayed on a display means,
`
`when any character in the character list display means
`displayed on the display means is continued to be instructed for a
`predetermined time by an instruction means, a character type
`display means for displaying a character applicable to at least one
`other character type applicable to the instructed character is
`displayed on the display means, and
`
`when any character in the character type display means is
`instructed by the instruction means so as to slide on a character
`type display means and detached from its position, the character
`information applicable to the character type of a character
`displayed at the detached position in the character type display
`means is displayed on the character list display means.
`[Claim 12]
`
`An information recording medium, characterized in that
`
`a program that has a character input function is recorded, in
`which
`
`
`a character list display means for displaying a plurality of
`character information comprising characters applicable to a
`specific character type is displayed on a display means,
`
`when any character in the character list display means is
`instructed by an instruction means, a character type display means
`for displaying a character applicable to at least one other character
`type applicable to the instructed character is displayed on the
`display means,
`
`when a character applicable to any character type in the
`character type display means is instructed to be detached by the
`instruction means, the character information applicable to the
`character type of the character displayed at the detached position is
`displayed on the character list display means.
`
`3
`
`
`
`4
`
`
`
`
`[Claim 13]
`
`The information recording medium according to claim 12,
`wherein
`
`a program that has a character input function is recorded, in
`which
`
`the character type is the combination of a resonant sound, a
`voiced sound, a p‐sound in the kana syllabary, a contracted sound
`or a geminate consonant, specific characters for conventional use,
`and a full-width hiragana, a half-width hiragana, full-width
`katakana or half-width katakana when
`inputting Japanese
`character, and a character type is upper and lower cases when
`inputting any other languages.
`[Claim 14]
`
`The information recording medium according to claim 12,
`wherein
`
`a program that has a character input function is recorded, in
`which
`
`characters for each character type displayed on a character
`type display means are respectively arranged in a longitudinal
`direction, a transverse direction, or in the shape of a grid.
`[Claim 15]
`
`An information recording medium, characterized in that
`
`a program that has a character input function is recorded, in
`which
`
`a first character list display means for displaying a plurality
`of character information comprising characters applicable to a
`specific character type is displayed on a display means,
`
`when any character in the first character list display means is
`instructed by an instruction means, a second character list display
`means showing character information more detailed than those in
`the first character list display means is displayed on a display
`means,
`
`when any character in the second character list display means
`is instructed by the instruction means, a character type display
`means for displaying a character applicable to at least one other
`character type applicable to the instructed character is displayed on
`the display means, and
`
`when a character of any character type in the character type
`display means is instructed by instruction means and detached from
`its position, the character information applicable to the character
`type currently displayed at the detached position in the character
`type display means is displayed on the first character list display
`means.
`[Claim 16]
`
`An information recording medium, characterized in that
`
`a program that has a character input function is recorded, in
`which
`
`a character list display means for displaying a plurality of
`character information applicable to a specific character type is
`displayed on a display means,
`
`when any character in the character list display means
`displayed on the display means is continued to be instructed for a
`predetermined time by an instruction means, a character type
`display means for displaying a character applicable to at least one
`other character type applicable to the instructed character is
`displayed on the display means, and
`
`when any character in the character type display means is
`instructed by the instruction means so as to slide on the character
`type display means and detached from its position, the character
`information applicable to the character type of a character
`displayed at the detached position in the character type display
`means is displayed on the character list display means.
`[Detailed Description of the Invention]
`[0001]
`[Field of the Invention]
`This invention relates to a character input device for inputting a
`character, a character input method, and an information recording
`medium in which a program that has a character input function is
`recorded.
`[0002]
`[Prior Art] In recent years, the development in the information
`industry triggered the active use of various information. For
`example, a personal computer, portable information terminal
`equipment (hereinafter will be called information equipment), and
`
`GOOGLE EX. 1003 pg. 3
`Google v. Philips
`
`

`
`
`
`
`
`6
`
`
`
`[0008]
`[Means for Solving the Problem] In the present invention, the
`objective described above is achieved by a character input device
`for instructing and inputting a desired character by an instruction
`means for instructing any character of the character information, in
`a state where a plurality of the character information comprising
`characters applicable to a specific character type are displayed on a
`display means, characterized in that the character input device has
`a character information storing means for storing the character
`information, and a character information display means for
`displaying a character list display means for displaying the
`character information in a list and a character type display means
`for displaying a character applicable to at least one character type
`for any character of the character information on a display means ;
`wherein the character list display means for displaying a plurality
`of character information comprising characters applicable to a
`specific character type is displayed on a display means; when any
`character in the character list display means is instructed by the
`instruction means, a character type display means for displaying a
`character applicable to at least one other character type applicable
`to the instructed character is displayed on a display means; and
`when a character applicable to any character type in the character
`type display means is instructed to be detached by the instruction
`means, the character information applicable to the character type of
`the character displayed at the detached position is displayed on a
`character list display means.
`[0009]
`In this invention, a character list display means for displaying a
`plurality of character information comprising characters applicable
`to a specific character type is displayed on a display means. A user
`instructs any character of the character list display means by an
`instruction means. Then, a character type display means for
`displaying the character applicable to at least one other character
`type applicable to the character instructed by the instruction means
`is displayed on a display means. A user instructs a desired
`character of the character type display means by the instruction
`means and detaches the instruction means. Thereby, the character
`information applicable to the character type of the character
`currently displayed at the detached position in the character type
`display means is displayed on the display means.
`[0010]
`[Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]
`Preferred embodiments of this invention will be described in detail
`below based on the accompanying drawings.
`The embodiments described below are the preferred examples of
`this invention with various technically preferred limitations;
`however, the scope of this invention is not limited to these
`embodiments as long as there is a specific statement to that effect.
`
`
`5
`
`
`
`
`the like, are used to manage business and individual information
`and to further use this information. For example, when the above-
`mentioned information equipment is used as an example, this
`information equipment is operated by a user using a predetermined
`pointing device, for example, to operate a screen displayed by a
`predetermined software installed in a display unit provided to the
`information equipment. Such screens employ a user interface
`usually called a GUI (Graphical User Interface) to allow easy
`operation by a user. There has been much competition to improve
`performance and to make such information equipment smaller and
`smaller to allow easy portability by a user.
`[0003] Thus, the smaller the information equipment is, the smaller
`the display surface area of a display unit naturally becomes.
`Therefore, the object to be displayed on a display unit by a
`predetermined
`software becomes
`small, deteriorating
`the
`operability of GUI, which is a drawback. For example, drawbacks
`in a software keyboard which is an object to be displayed on a
`display unit as an example will specifically be described below. A
`“software keyboard” refers to the software that has a keyboard
`function that can input a character into the information equipment.
`[0004]
`[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] FIG. 25-FIG. 27 are
`drawings
`respectively
`illustrating a conventional
`software
`keyboard in the display state displayed on a display unit. In FIG.
`25, a software keyboard 106 has a full-width hiragana display area
`107, a full-width katakana display area 108, and a half-width
`katakana display area 109, for example. Therefore, when the
`software keyboard 106 is displayed on a display unit having a
`small display area, each character becomes small and hard to see,
`so a large display area according to the character type such as
`hiragana and katakana, and full width and half width, becomes
`necessary.
`[0005] In FIGS. 26(A)-(C), the software keyboard 106 is devised
`so that the character information of a plurality of character types is
`displayed on one screen in order to eliminate the drawback shown
`in FIG. 25. Therefore, the software keyboard 106 has a full-width
`hiragana button 106a, a full-width katakana button 106b, and a
`half-width katakana button 106c, for example, in addition to the
`display area for displaying the character information. With the
`software keyboard 106 shown in FIGS. 26 (A)-(C), a user needs to
`operate each button to display the character information by
`distinguishing the full-width hiragana, the full-width katakana, and
`the half-width katakana as a character type.
`[0006] In FIG. 27, the software keyboard 106 is provided with
`input sections (a voiced sound key 106e and a p‐sound
`key 106f, or a small character button 106b [sic: d] shown in FIG.
`27) in order to reduce the size of display area of the character
`information as shown in FIGS. 26 (A)-(C); these input sections are
`used for adding a voiced sound mark or a P-sound consonant mark,
`or for converting an upper case display to a lower case display or
`vice versa in the software keyboard capable of inputting Roman
`alphabets. In such a software keyboard 106, a user must switch to
`the character information according to the desired character type
`every time.
`[0007] The objective of the present invention is to eliminate the
`problems described above and to provide a character input device
`that can perform a character input simply and correctly and has a
`small display area of a character list display means, as well as to
`provide a character input method, and an information recording
`medium for storing a program having a character input function.
`
`
`GOOGLE EX. 1003 pg. 4
`Google v. Philips
`
`

`
`8
`
`
`
`
`[0018] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating the
`functional example of the software keyboard of FIG. 1. The
`software keyboard 6 has a drag menu information table 17
`(character information storing means) and a character information
`display means 19. A “drag” in the description below refers to a
`state when a user contacts the tip 3a of the pointing device 3 to the
`software keyboard 6, or the like, displayed on the display unit 5,
`for example, and slides the top of the surface of the tablet 7.
`[0019] The drag menu information table 17 stores the characters
`for each character type, for example. The information (hereinafter
`will be called drag menu information) of the drag menu
`information table 17 for displaying the drag menu 18 when the
`drag menu 18 (character type display means) shown in FIG. 8 is
`displayed is read by the character information display means 19
`that will be described below. The form shown in FIG. 4 is an
`example of the drag menu information. That is, characters for each
`character type applicable to the key pressed in the software
`keyboard 6 when the tablet 7 is touched (hereinafter will be
`referred to the task when the software keyboard 6 is instructed with
`the pointing device 3) are stored.
`[0020] The character information display means 19 is a software
`that uses the storage unit 11 as a workspace by the control of the
`control unit 9 shown in FIG. 2, for example. The character
`information display means 19 searches the drag menu information
`table 17 when the software keyboard 6 is displayed on the display
`unit 5 shown in FIG. 1, displaying the character information for
`each character type as shown in FIGS. 6 (A)-(C), for example. The
`character information display means 19 searches the drag menu
`information table 17 and displays the drag menu information when
`the drag menu 18 shown in FIG. 8, for example, is displayed after a
`user touches the tablet 7 (this position is called the first position A),
`when the software keyboard 6 is displayed on the display unit 5
`(FIG. 7).
`[0021] The character information display means 19 displays a
`screen shown in FIG. 8 as the drag menu 18 on the display unit 5.
`This drag menu 18 searches the drag menu information table 17
`shown in FIG. 4 based on the character touched with the pointing
`device 3 and displays characters applicable to all character types.
`The drag menu 18 preferably searches the drag menu information
`table 17 of FIG. 4 to be classified into each character type
`(selection options of the drag menu shown in FIG. 4) by some
`character units as shown in FIG. 8. This is done so that a user can
`easily recognize the character for each character type when using
`the software keyboard 6.
`
`7
`
`
`
`
`[0011] In the following descriptions, a “character type” refers to
`the combination of a straight syllable, a voiced sound, a p‐sound
`in the kana syllabary, a contracted sound, a geminate consonant, a
`conventional special character, a hiragana, katakana, the full width
`and half width thereof in the case of Japanese character input, and
`refers to upper and lower cases in the case of other language input
`(for example, English). The “character information” refers to a
`plurality of characters for each character type. It is described below
`that a keyboard is displayed by a software in order to enter
`characters in an information equipment; however, a “key” shall
`refer to a key displayed by a software applicable to the key of
`typical keyboard key (softkey).
`[0012]
`First Embodiment
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the state of inputting a
`character to a character input device as a first embodiment of this
`invention.
`The character input device 1 is information equipment for
`managing portable information, for example. The character input
`device 1 has a main body 1a as a housing, a tablet 7 (instruction
`means) provided on one surface of the main body 1a, and a display
`unit 5 (display means) provided between the tablet 7 and the main
`body 1a so as to closely attached to the tablet 7. The display unit 5
`is a liquid crystal display, for example, and a software keyboard 6
`(character list display means as a part of program that has a
`character input function) as a character input software that will be
`described below is displayed. The main body 1a has a control
`circuit 8 as shown in FIG. 2 mentioned below in the inside.
`[0013] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration
`example of a simplified control circuit in the character input device
`of FIG. 1.The control circuit 8 has a control unit 9, a storage unit
`11, an external storage unit 13, the tablet 7 (instruction means), and
`the display unit 5 (display means). The control circuit 8 may be a
`configuration provided with a mouse as a pointing device of the
`display unit 5, or the like, in place of the tablet 7.
`[0014] The control unit 9 is a CPU (central processing unit), for
`example. The control unit 9 is connected to the storage unit 11, the
`external storage unit 13, the tablet 7, and the display unit 5. The
`control unit 9 controls the entire character input device 1 based on
`the information, and the like, recorded in the storage unit 11.
`[0015] The storage unit 11 is a RAM (Random Access Memory) or
`ROM (Read Only Memory), for example. The storage unit 11 is a
`workspace for the software keyboard 6 (and the operating system,
`or the like) to operate.
`[0016] The external storage unit 13 is a hard disk, for example. The
`external storage unit 13 stores the software keyboard 6 mentioned
`above. When the software keyboard 6 is launched, it operates on
`the storage unit 11 by the control unit 9, for example. The software
`keyboard 6 will be described below.
`[0017] The tablet 7 is a pen touch-type touch panel, for example.
`This tablet 7 is an input device in which a user touches a
`predetermined position of the tablet 7 with a pointing device 3
`(instruction means) of a pen type having a sharp point form, for
`example, a voltage generated at a predetermined electrode changes
`by the contact of an upper and lower two-layer resistance layer,
`and the control unit 9 shown in FIG. 2 mentioned below recognizes
`the position. The tablet 7 is a transparent component, and the
`display unit 5 is arranged at the lower layer thereof. Thereby, a
`user can visually recognize the display of the display unit 5 via the
`transparent tablet 7.
`
`GOOGLE EX. 1003 pg. 5
`Google v. Philips
`
`

`
`9
`
`
`[0022] The configuration example of the character input device has
`been explained above, and the operation thereof will be described
`next.
`FIG. 5 is a flow chart that shows a detailed operation example of
`the character information display means in the character input
`device of FIG. 1.
`In the following descriptions, a description will be given starting
`from the state where the software keyboard 6 has already been
`launched in the character input device 1 (the state where the
`software keyboard 6 of FIG. 7 is displayed on the display unit 5 of
`FIG.
`1).
`“=“
`in
`FIG.
`5
`does
`not mean
`an
`
`
`10
`
`equal sign but it refers to substituting the variable of the right-hand
`side with the variable of the left-hand side. “==“ refers to
`comparing the left-hand side with the right-hand side. The
`following variables are used as the variables used in the storage
`unit 11 of the FIG. 2 that appears in the description.
`[0023]
`
`input_key variable: Established input character
`pressed_key variable: Pressed key
`menu_done variable: Flag showing that a drag menu is displayed
`(that is, the information of the pressed key is assigned), the
`[0024] In a state when the software keyboard 6 is displayed (Step
`software keyboard 6 is redisplayed as shown in either one of FIGS.
`ST1), the input_key variable is left blank, the pressed_key variable
`6 (A)-(C) (step ST7) according to the character type (character
`is set to an indefinite state, and false is assigned to the menu_done
`type) of the character (for example, it corresponds to a character
`variable (means that the drag menu 18 is not displayed, and true
`code) stored in the pressed_key variable. And simultaneously, the
`means that the drag menu 18 is displayed) (step ST2).
`display of the drag menu 18 is cancelled (step ST8), and false is
`[0025] The control unit 9 of FIG. 2 detects the state of whether a
`assigned to the menu_done variable (step ST9). The pressed_key
`key has been touched by a user using the pointing device 3. It is
`variable is changed into an indefinite state (step ST10), and the
`checked whether the key has been touched by the user, and the
`process returns to step ST3.
`drag menu 18 has been displayed (step ST4).
`[0029] The internal processing, such as the character information
`[0026] When the drag menu 18 is not displayed, a determination is
`display means 19, has been explained above in detail, and next, the
`made as to whether a key (softkey) has been pressed (step ST14);
`operation