(19) Japan Patent Office (JP)
`
`(12) Japanese Examined Patent
`Application Publication (B2)
`
`(45) Issued date: December 12, 2007
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`(51) Int. Cl.
`G 0 6 F 3/023
`H 0 3 M 11/04
`G 0 6 F 3/048
`G 0 6 F 3/041
`G 0 6 F 17/22
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`(2006.01)
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`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
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`FI
`G 0 6 F 3/023
`G 0 6 F 3/048
`G 0 6 F 3/041
`G 0 6 F 17/22
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`3 1 0 L
`6 2 0
`3 3 0 C
`5 0 2 A
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`(11) Patent No.
`
`4019512
`(P4019512)
`(24) Registration date: October 5, 2007
`
`
`
`
`Number of claims: 16 (Total of 18 pages)
`
`(71) Applicant
`
`
`
`(74) Agent
`
`
`
`(72) Inventor
`
`
`
`Examiner
`
`Reference
`(56)
`literature
`
`Japanese Patent Application
`H10-227000
`
`August 11, 1998
`
`2000-56912 (P2000-
`56912A)
`
`February 25, 2000
`February 28, 2005
`
`(21) Application number
`
`(22) Date of application
`
`(65) Publication No.
`
`
`
`(43) Publication date
`Examination request
`date
`
`
`
`
`
`
`000002185
`Sony Corporation
`1-7-1 Minato-Minami, Minato-ku, Tokyo
`
`100094053
`Takahisa SATO, patent attorney
`
`Masaaki SAKATA
`℅ Sony LSI Design, Inc.
`134 Gohdo-cho, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama-
`shi, Kanagawa-ken
`
`Takashi SHINOZUKA
`
`Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
`Publication No. H07-200123 (JP, A)
`Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
`Publication No. H09-081320 (JP, A)
`Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
`Publication No. H09-044285 (JP, A)
`Continued on the last page
`(54) [TITLE OF THE INVENTION] CHARACTER INPUT DEVICE, CHARACTER INPUT METHOD, AND
`INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM HAVING CHARACTER INPUT FUNCTION
`
`(57) [Scope of Patent Claims]
`[Claim 1]
`
`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 is 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 the character information on the 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 the 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 corresponding 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 a character displayed
`at the detached position is displayed on the character list display means.
`[Claim 2]
`
`GOOGLE EX. 1010 pg. 1
`Google v. Philips
`
`

`
`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, 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 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 is 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 a character applicable to at least one other character type corresponding
`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 is 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 corresponding 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.
`
`GOOGLE EX. 1010 pg. 2
`Google v. Philips
`
`

`
`the character type is the combination of a resonant sound, a voiced sound, a p‐sound in the kana syllabary, a
`
`[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 corresponding 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.
`[Claim 8]
`
`The character input method according to claim 7, wherein
`
`contracted sound or a geminate consonant, 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 corresponding 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 corresponding 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 corresponding 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.
`
`
`GOOGLE EX. 1010 pg. 3
`Google v. Philips
`
`

`
`the character type is the combination of a resonant sound, a voiced sound, a p‐sound in the kana syllabary, a
`
`
`[Claim 13]
`
`The information recording medium according to claim 12, wherein
`
`a program that has a character input function is recorded, in which
`
`contracted sound or a geminate consonant, 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 corresponding 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 corresponding 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 triggers a practical use of various information. For
`example, a personal computer, information portable terminal equipment (hereinafter will be called information
`equipment), and 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 screen employs a
`
`GOOGLE EX. 1010 pg. 4
`Google v. Philips
`
`

`
`user interface usually called GUI (Graphical User Interface) to allow easy operation by a user. There have been
`many competitions 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.
`[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 corresponding 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.
`
`GOOGLE EX. 1010 pg. 5
`Google v. Philips
`
`

`
`[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 corresponding 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; therefore, various limitations
`technically preferable are imposed; however, the scope of this invention is not limited to these embodiments as long
`as there is no description of the effect that this invention is limited to the following descriptions.
`[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 a character 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]
`
`GOOGLE EX. 1010 pg. 6
`Google v. Philips
`
`

`
`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.
`[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 corresponding 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.
`[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 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-
`
`GOOGLE EX. 1010 pg. 7
`Google v. Philips
`
`

`
`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
`[0024]
`In a state when the software keyboard 6 is displayed (Step ST1), the input_key variable is left blank, the
`pressed_key variable is set to an indefinite state, and false is assigned to the menu_done variable (means that the
`drag menu 18 is not displayed, and true means that the drag menu 18 is displayed) (step ST2).
`[0025]
`The control unit 9 of FIG. 2 detects the state of whether a key has been touched by a user using the pointing device 3.
`It is checked whether the key has been touched by the user, and the drag menu 18 has been displayed (step ST4).
`[0026]
`When the drag menu 18 is not displayed, a determination is made as to whether a key (softkey) has been pressed
`(step ST14); when no key is pressed, the process returns to step ST3, and when a key has been pressed, the key that
`has been pressed is assigned to the press_key variable (the code corresponding to [the key]) (step ST15), the drag
`menu information table 17 of FIG. 4 is searched based on this press_key variable, and the drag menu 18 showing the
`applicable character is displayed (step ST16). And true is assigned to the menu_done variable (step ST17), and the
`character instructed by the pointing device 3 is highlighted.
`[0027]
`When the drag menu 18 is displayed, whether a user moves the pointing device 3 away from the key is detected
`(step ST5).
`When the pointing device is not moved away from the key, whether the pointing device 3 is dragged is detected
`(step ST11); when it is not dragged, the process returns to step ST3; when dragged, the highlighted display of the
`key detached by dragging is stopped, and the key that shows a region entered by dragging with the pointing device 3
`is highlighted (step ST12). And the entered key (for example, character code) is assigned to the pressed_key variable
`(step ST13). And the process proceeds to step ST3.
`[0028]
`When the pointing device is moved away from the key, the pressed_key variable is assigned to the input_key
`variable (that is, the information of the pressed key is assigned), the software keyboard 6 is redisplayed as shown in
`either one of FIGS. 6 (A)-(C) (step ST7) according to the character type (character type) of the character (for
`example, it corresponds to a character code) stored in the pressed_key variable. And simultaneously, the display of
`the drag menu 18