(19) Japan Patent Office (JP)
`
`(12) Japanese Unexamined Patent
`Application Publication (A)
`
`(11) Japanese Unexamined Patent
`Application Publication
`2000-148366
`(P2000-148366A)
`(43) Publication date: May 26, 2000
`
`
`
`Identification codes
`
`
`370
`
`
`(51) Int. Cl.7
`G 0 6 F 3/023
`H 0 3 M 11/04
`G 0 6 F 3/02
`H 0 3 M 11/10
`
`11/12
`
`
`
`Theme code (reference)
`
`3 1 0 L 5 B 0 1 9
`3 7 0 A 5 B 0 2 0
`3 1 0 D
`3 1 0 J
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`
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`Request for examination: Not yet requested Number of claims: 10; OL (Total of 12 pages), continued on the last page
`
`FI
`G 0 6 F
`
`3/023
`3/02
`15/02
`3/023
`
`
`
`
`000002185
`Sony, Corp.
`6-7-35 Kita-shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku,
`Tokyo
`
`Masaaki SAKATA
`℅ Sony LSI Design, Inc.
`134 Gohdo-cho. Hodogaya-ku. Yokohama,
`Kanagawa
`
`100091546
`Masami SATOH, Patent Attorney
`
`
`(71) Applicant
`
`
`
`
`(72) Inventor
`
`
`
`
`(74) Agent
`
`
` term (reference)
`
` F
`
`Japanese Patent Application
`H10-315522
`
`November 6, 1998
`
`(21) Application number
`
`(22) Date of application
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(54) [TITLE OF THE INVENTION] CHARACTER AND SYMBOL INPUT DEVICE AND CHARACTER AND
`SYMBOL INPUTTING METHOD
`
`(57) [Abstract]
`[PURPOSE] A selective input of a special character or
`symbol can be done by a simple operation when a character
`or symbol is selected and entered by using a software
`keyboard shown on a display screen.
`[SOLUTION] A similar character or symbol group is
`allocated to one to plural preliminarily-defined specific
`positions in a table of a plurality of characters and symbols
`constituting a software keyboard 20. When any key position
`among the specific positions is selected and instructed, a list
`23 of the preliminarily allocated similar character and symbol
`group is shown corresponding to the position. A selective
`instruction is carried out in the list 23 of the similar character
`and symbol group by a selection instruction means 4 and one
`character or symbol in a similar character and symbol group
`is selected and entered.
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`MSFT EX. 1004
`Page 1 of 25
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`

`

`[Scope of Patent Claims]
`[Claim 1] A character and symbol input device, characterized
`by comprising
`for displaying a software keyboard
`a display means
`comprising a list display of a plurality of characters and
`symbols,
`a selection instruction means for carrying out a selective
`instruction of a key position corresponding to one character or
`symbol from the aforementioned software keyboard, and
`entering the character or symbol corresponding to the key
`position selected and instructed as the confirmed character or
`symbol, and
`a means for displaying a list of a plurality of characters and
`symbols contained
`in a preliminarily allocated similar
`character and symbol group corresponding to a key position
`when a key position from one to plural specified positions
`determined in advance of the aforementioned list display of
`the aforementioned software keyboard
`is selected and
`instructed by the aforementioned selection instruction means,
`and for receiving the selective instruction of one desired
`character or symbol by
`the aforementioned selection
`instruction means from the list of similar characters and
`symbols displayed.
`[Claim 2] The character and symbol input device according to
`claim 1,
`characterized in that a list of a plurality of characters and
`symbols contained in the aforementioned similar character and
`symbol groups is displayed when one key position among one
`to plural
`specified positions
`is
`instructed by
`the
`aforementioned selection instruction means for longer than a
`preset certain period of time.
`[Claim 3] The character and symbol input device according to
`claim 1,
`characterized in that the list of a plurality of characters and
`symbols contained in the aforementioned similar character and
`symbol groups is displayed within the range of one key
`position from among one to plural specified positions when an
`instruction position by
`the
`aforementioned
`selection
`instruction means is moved in slide motion.
`[Claim 4] The character and symbol input device according to
`claim 1,
`characterized in that a character or a symbol immediately
`selected and instructed by the aforementioned selection
`instruction means from a list of a plurality of characters and
`symbols contained in the aforementioned similar character and
`symbol groups is displayed as the character or symbol of the
`aforementioned specified position of the aforementioned
`software keyboard.
`[Claim 5] The character and symbol input device according to
`claim 4,
`characterized in that one side and the other side of a character
`or symbol used as a pair are separately allocated as a similar
`character and symbol group
`to
`two positions of
`the
`aforementioned specified positions of the aforementioned
`software keyboard as a similar character and symbol group,
`and
`by the aforementioned selection instruction means, when one
`side of the character or symbol from the similar character and
`symbol group at one of
`the
`two positions of
`the
`aforementioned specified position is selected and changed, the
`pair of the aforementioned selected character or symbol is
`displayed as the character or symbol of the other of the two
`
`positions of the aforementioned specified positions of the
`aforementioned software keyboard.
`[Claim 6] A character and symbol input method, characterized
`in that, in a method of entering characters and symbols using a
`software keyboard comprising a table of a plurality of
`characters and symbols displayed on a display screen,
`a similar character and symbol group is allocated to one to
`plural specified positions preliminary defined from
`the
`aforementioned list,
`when one key position of the aforementioned specified
`position is selected and instructed, a list of a plurality of
`characters and symbols contained
`in
`the preliminarily
`allocated similar character and symbol group corresponding to
`the position is displayed, and
`selective instruction is carried out by the aforementioned
`selection instruction means to the list of a plurality of
`characters and symbols contained in the aforementioned
`similar character and symbol group to select and enter one
`character or symbol from among the aforementioned similar
`character and symbol group.
`[Claim 7] The character and symbol input method according to
`claim 6, characterized in that
`when one character or symbol position from among one to
`plural specified positions is instructed by the aforementioned
`selection instruction means over longer than a preset certain
`period of time, a list of a plurality of characters and symbols
`contained in the aforementioned similar character and symbol
`group is displayed.
`[Claim 8] The character and symbol input method according to
`claim 6, characterized in that
`when an instructed position is moved in a sliding motion by
`the aforementioned selection instruction means within the
`range of one key position from among one to plural specified
`positions, a list of a plurality of characters and symbols
`contained in the aforementioned similar character and symbol
`group is displayed.
`[Claim 9] The character and symbol input method according to
`claim 6, characterized in that
`a character or a symbol immediately selected and instructed by
`the aforementioned selection instruction means from the list of
`a plurality of characters and symbols contained in the
`aforementioned similar character and symbol group
`is
`displayed as the character or symbol of the aforementioned
`specified position of the aforementioned software keyboard.
`[Claim 10] The character and symbol input method according
`to claim 9, characterized in that
`one side and the other side of a character or symbol used as a
`pair are separately allocated as a similar character and symbol
`group to two positions of the aforementioned specified
`positions of the aforementioned software keyboard, and
`when one side the character or symbol from the similar
`character and symbol group at one of the two positions of the
`aforementioned specific position is selected and changed by
`the aforementioned selection instruction means, the pair of the
`aforementioned selected character or symbol is displayed as
`the character or symbol of the other of the aforementioned two
`positions of the aforementioned specified positions of the
`aforementioned software keyboard.
`[Detailed Description of the Invention]
`[0001]
`[Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a
`character and symbol input device suitable as a graphic user
`
`
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`MSFT EX. 1004
`Page 2 of 25
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`

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`interface of portable information devices, such as the so-called
`electronic notebooks, for example, and to a character and
`symbol input method. The “character and symbol” refers to a
`character or a symbol in this Description.
`[0002]
`[Prior Art] Since there is no space to provide a keyboard with
`many keys to the equipment body in this type of small portable
`information devices, when a user wants to enter a character or
`a symbol, a software keyboard consisting of a list display of
`characters and symbols to be input is displayed on the screen
`of a display device, such as LCD (liquid crystal display), and
`the like, and this software keyboard is used to enter a character
`or a symbol on the screen.
`[0003] This software keyboard is configured so that each
`character or symbol position from the list of characters and
`symbols corresponds to the key of character or symbol thereof;
`a touch pen, a trackball, or the like, is used to select the
`display position (which becomes a key position of the
`character or symbol in question in the software keyboard) of
`the character or symbol to be input from the list that
`constitutes the software keyboard, thereby, the selected
`character or symbol can be entered as a confirmed character.
`[0004] By the way, many special characters and symbols exist
`in the Japanese character expression in a computer in addition
`to Japanese-syllabary Chinese characters. For example, there
`are
`- symbols whose expression is difficult to specified (“々 [used
`for repeating the preceding character]”, ““[used for repeating
`the preceding character]”, “
` [old-style character
`expressing the same]”, and the like)
`- mathematical symbols (“±”, “ד, “=“, “≤“, and the like)
`- graphic symbols (““, ““, and the like)
`- circled characters (““, ““, ““, and the like)
`- common special characters (“KK”, “Inc.” and the like), and
`- parentheses (“「”, “{“, “<“, and the like).
`[0005] The following methods are used conventionally as the
`methods of selecting and entering these special characters and
`symbols:
` a method of including all special characters and symbols in
`the list of the software keyboard;
` a method of pre-determining a special reading to a special
`character or symbol, for example, spelling out the word
`“repetition” will display character “々”, and selecting by the
`conversion of kana into kanji; and
` a method of entering a special character or symbol by the
`JIS code, and the like.
`[0006]
`[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] (1) However, the
`method of preparing the keys of the special characters and
`symbols other than the 50 sounds for a list display has a
`problem in that the area occupying the screen of the software
`keyboard becomes larger, so the display must be made larger.
`[0007] (2) The method of pre-determining a specific reading to
`a special character or symbol and selecting by the conversion
`of kana into kanji has a problem in that a user will need to
`memorize the reading, or he/she may need to find out what the
`specific reading is, imposing a heavy burden to the user.
`
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`[0008] (3) The method of entering a special character or
`symbol by the JIS code and the like requires a user to search
`the character code of the desired character from a substantially
`large character code list and to enter such code, which also
`imposes a heavy burden to the user.
`[0009] In view of the issues described above, the objective of
`the present invention is to enable a selective input of the
`special characters and symbols described above by an easy
`operation.
`[0010]
`[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to solve the
`problems described above, the character and symbol input
`device according to the present invention is provided with a
`display means for displaying a software keyboard comprising
`a list display of a plurality of characters and symbols; a
`selection instruction means for selecting and instructing a key
`position corresponding to one character or symbol from the
`software keyboard and entering the character or symbol
`corresponding to the key position selected and instructed as
`the confirmed character or symbol; and a means for displaying
`a list of a plurality of characters and symbols contained in a
`preliminarily allocated similar character and symbol group
`corresponding to a key position when the key position of one
`to plural specified positions determined in advance among the
`list displays of the software keyboard is selected and instructed
`by the selection instruction means, and for receiving the
`selective instruction of one character or symbol in request by
`the aforementioned selection instruction means from the list of
`a plurality of characters and symbols contained in the similar
`character and symbol groups displayed.
`[0011] In the present invention, special characters and symbols
`are divided into one to a plurality of similar character and
`symbol groups and allocated to the specific key positions from
`the list displays of a plurality of characters and symbols that
`constitute the software keyboard for every similar character
`and symbol group. And one character or symbol from the
`similar character and symbol group is displayed on the specific
`key position of the software keyboard, for example.
`[0012] When a user selects and instructs this specific key
`position, a list of a plurality of characters and symbols
`contained in the similar character and symbol group allocated
`to that key position is displayed overlapping on top of the
`software keyboard, for example. When a user selects and
`instructs a desired character or symbol from the list of this
`similar character and symbol group, the selected and instructed
`character or symbol is confirmed and entered.
`[0013] Therefore, only one character or symbol in each similar
`character and symbol group is displayed in the list display that
`constitutes the software keyboard, so the area that occupies the
`display screen of the software keyboard is not that large.
`[0014] In addition, a selective input of a special character or
`symbol can be carried out simply by selecting and instructing
`a character or symbol using a pointing device, for example, a
`touch pen, and the like, which results in a dramatic reduction
`of a user’s burdens.
`[0015]
`
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`MSFT EX. 1004
`Page 3 of 25
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`

`

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`[Mode for Carrying Out the Invention] Embodiments of the
`character and symbol input device according to the present
`invention applied to a portable information device will be
`described below with reference to the drawings.
`[0016] FIG. 3 shows the appearance of a portable information
`device of this embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram
`showing the internal configuration thereof.
`[0017] This portable information device 1 is provided with a
`display 2 consisting of LCD. A tablet 3 consisting of a touch
`panel is provided to the display screen of this display 2, and
`when the top of the display screen of the display 2 is touched
`with a touch pen 4, the tablet 3 reads the coordinate position
`on the touched display screen and outputs that coordinate data.
`[0018] As shown in FIG. 4, a microcomputer is built inside the
`portable information device 1. Namely, CPU 11, ROM 12, and
`work RAM 13 are connected to a system bus 10; the display 2
`is connected to the system bus 10 via a display interface 14;
`and the tablet 3 is connected to the system bus 10 via an
`interface 15.
`[0019] And when a power key 6 is turned on, and a
`predetermined position is touched with the touch pen 4, for
`example,
`the software keyboard
`(hereinafter will be
`abbreviated to a soft keyboard for the sake of convenience) 20
`as shown in FIG. 1 is displayed on the display 2. A program
`and data for the software keyboard are stored in ROM12.
`[0020] As will be described below, when a key position is
`selected with the touch pen 4 from the soft keyboard 20, the
`selected position is transmitted to CPU 11 via work RAM 13
`through the tablet 3, and the character or symbol of the
`selected key position is determined and confirmed so that
`character input can be performed.
`[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, in the case of this embodiment, the
`soft keyboard 20 comprises a table consisting of hiragana of
`50 sounds, and ten special characters and symbols in two
`columns at the right end side of FIG. 1. That is, the soft
`keyboard 20 is provided with keys 21 for selecting and
`instructing each hiragana of 50 sounds and keys 22 for
`selecting ten special characters and symbols.
`[0022] Only the hiragana being displayed corresponds to each
`key 21 for selecting hiragana of 50 sounds, and is stored in
`ROM 12, and the corresponding hiragana can be selected and
`entered by selecting and instructing each key 21 with the touch
`pen 4.
`[0023] On the other hand, each of special character and
`symbol groups that have been grouped to each similar attribute
`corresponds to each of the ten keys 22 for selecting a special
`character or symbol, and stored in ROM 12, and when each
`key 22 is selected and instructed with the touch pen 4, a list of
`
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`special characters and symbols of the corresponding group is
`displayed as will be described below, and from this list, a
`desired special character or symbol can be selected and
`entered.
`[0024] FIG. 2 shows an example of ten special character and
`symbol groups allocated to each key 22 for selecting ten
`special characters and symbols. The first group is a group of
`symbols in which specification of reading is difficult. The
`second group is a group of mathematical symbols. The third
`group is a group of graphic symbols. The fourth group is a
`group of circled numbers. The fifth group is a group of
`common special characters. The sixth group is a group of one
`side of pairs of parenthesis. The seventh group is a group of
`the other side of the pairs of parenthesis. The eighth group is a
`group of unit symbols. The ninth group is a group of graphic
`symbols, such as a zip code and a telephone mark. The tenth
`group is a group of arrows with different directions.
`[0025] FIG. 1 shows a default state (initial state) of the soft
`keyboard 20, and the first special character or symbol in each
`group in FIG. 2 is displayed on each display field of keys 22
`for selecting special characters and symbols. As will be
`described below, soft keyboard 20 is configured so that the
`special character or the symbol displayed in the field of keys
`22 for selecting special characters and symbols of this soft
`keyboard 20 may be changed into the special character or
`symbol selected immediately before.
`[0026] [First embodiment of a character and symbol input
`method] The first embodiment of the character and symbol
`input method in a portable information device provided with
`the configuration described above will be described.
`[0027] FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, which is the continuation of FIG. 5,
`are flow charts describing
`the operation of
`this first
`embodiment. FIG. 7 is a collection of drawings showing the
`changes of the screen in the vicinity of the soft keyboard 20 on
`the display 2 when a character or symbol is entered.
`[0028] When a user operates a power button 6 and then sets to
`a mode of entering a character, the processing routines of FIG.
`5 and FIG. 6 start. Once this processing routine begins, first,
`initialization is performed in Step S101, and the input key
`variable, the pressed key variable, and the menu done variable
`are set to be the default values on RAM 13.
`[0029] The meanings of these variables are as follows.
`Input key variable: A confirmed input character or symbol
`Pressed key variable: Pressed key
`Menu done variable: Whether a list display of special
`characters and symbols are being displayed or not. And the
`default values are as follows.
`Input key variable = blank
`Pressed key variable = undefined state
`Menu done variable = false (non-display).
`[0030] As will be described below, in this example, when a
`desired special character or symbol is selected from the list of
`each similar group unit of special characters and symbols, the
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`[0037] As described above, when the drag menu 23 is
`displayed overlapping on top of the soft keyboard 20, in Step
`S104, a determination is made that menu done variable = true,
`so the process goes to Step S105, and a determination is made
`as to whether the touch pen 4 is separated from the tablet 3.
`[0038] When a determination is made that the touch pen 4 is
`not separated from the tablet 3 in Step S105, the process goes
`to Step S111, and a determination is made as to whether the
`touch pen 4 is moved inside the drag menu 23 without being
`lifted off the tablet 3; i.e. the key is dragged. In this step S111,
`when a determination is made that the key is not dragged, the
`process returns to Step S103. When a determination is made
`that the key has been dragged, the process goes to Step S112.
`[0039] In Step S112, when the instruction position of the pen 4
`shifts to the key area of the adjacent character or symbol from
`the key area of the character or symbol being highlighted by
`the dragging movement of the touch pen 4, the key area of the
`character or symbol from which the pen 4 has moved away is
`no longer highlighted, and the key area of the character or
`symbol onto which the pen 4 hovers is highlighted (refer to the
`drag menu 23 in FIG. 7(C)). And in the following step S113,
`the value of the pressed key variable is set to be the key on
`which the pen 4 hovers by dragging. And the process returns
`to Step S103.
`[0040] In Step S105, when a determination is made that the
`pen 4 hovering on top of the drag menu 23 is lifted off from
`the tablet 3, the process goes to Step S106, and the input key
`variable = pressed key variable. That is, the confirmed input
`character is the character chosen from the drag menu 23.
`[0041] Next, the process goes to Step S107, where the order of
`the characters and symbols are replaced, so that the first
`character or symbol in the drag menu 23 becomes the selected
`character or symbol, and the drag menu 23 is redisplayed.
`Next, the process goes to Step S108, where the display of the
`drag menu 23 is cancelled. The display of the character or
`symbol of the key 22 selected and instructed with the pen 4
`when the drag menu 23 of the soft keyboard 20 has been
`displayed is changed into the display of the selected character
`or symbol (refer to FIG. 7(D)).
`[0042] Then, the process goes to Step S109, menu done
`variable = false, and the menu done variable is returned to the
`state where the drag menu 23 is not displayed. The process
`further goes to Step S110, and after the pressed key variable
`returns to an undefined state, the process returns to Step S103.
`[0043] A character and symbol input operation such as above
`is further described using concrete examples with reference to
`FIG. 7.
`[0044] In order to select and enter “A”, for example, from
`hiragana of 50 sounds, on the screen of the display 2, a user
`specifies the position of the key 21 of “A” of the soft keyboard
`20 with the touch pen 4 and lifts the touch pen 4 off the screen.
`
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`touch pen 4 is operated without being lifted-up from the tablet
`3 (dragged), so that the list of this similar group unit displayed
`when selecting and instructing the key 22 with the touch pen 4
`is called a drag menu.
`[0031] Once the initialization in Step S101 is completed, the
`process goes to Step S102, where the soft keyboard 20
`consisting of the list of characters and symbols is displayed on
`a portion of the screen of the display 2 (refer to FIG. 7(A)),
`and the process then goes to the following step S103. In this
`step S103, the key input state of the soft keyboard 20 is
`detected by checking the state of the three variables described
`above.
`[0032] In the following step S104, a determination is made as
`to whether the menu done variable is “true”; i.e. a drag menu
`has been opened or not. When a drag menu is not opened and
`the menu done variable has become “false”, the process goes
`to Step S121 of FIG. 6, and a determination is made as to
`whether the key 21 or the key 22 from the soft keyboard has
`been pressed. When a determination is made that no key is
`pressed, the process returns to Step S103.
`[0033] In Step S121, when a determination is made that the
`key 21 or the key 22 has been pressed, the process goes to
`Step S122, the pressed key variable is changed from an
`undefined state into “the pressed key”, and then the process
`goes to the following step S123. In Step S123, the pressed key
`is determined whether it is the key 21 for selecting 50 sounds,
`or the key 22 for selecting a special character or symbol.
`[0034] As the result of determination in Step S123, when a
`determination is made that the pressed key is the key 21 for
`selecting 50 sounds, the process goes to Step S124 and waits
`for the touch pen 4 to be released from the key 21 (that is, to
`be separated from the tablet 3); once the touch pen 4 is
`released from the key 21, the process goes to Step S125, and
`as the input key variable = pressed key, the character of the
`pressed key 21 is set to be a confirmed input character. And
`after proceeding to Step S126 and returning the pressed key
`variable to an undefined state, the process returns to Step S103.
`[0035] In Step S123, when the pressed key is determined to be
`the key 22 for selecting a special character or symbol, the
`process goes to Step S128, and as shown in FIG. 7(B), the
`drag menu 23, which is a list of groups of the similar character
`and symbol group allocated to the pressed key 22 is selected,
`and the drag menu 23 is displayed overlapping on top of the
`soft keyboard 20. The process then goes to Step S129, menu
`done variable = true, and the fact that the drag menu 23 is in
`overlapping display is memorized. Next, the process returns to
`Step S103.
`[0036] In the drag menu 23, the character or symbol position
`currently being chosen by the touch pen 4 is shown
`highlighted, for example, as shown in FIG. 7(B).
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`also be displayed only when key 22 for selecting a special
`character or symbol is touched for longer than a preset certain
`period of time.
`[0053] FIG. 8 is a figure for describing the operating
`procedure in that case. In the case of this embodiment,
`provided between Step S123 and Step S128 of FIG. 6 is a step
`to determine whether the time for touching the key is the
`preset threshold time, for example, longer than two seconds.
`And in that step, when the time for touching the key is longer
`than the preset threshold time, the process goes to Step S128;
`when the time for touching the key is shorter than the preset
`threshold time, the process goes to Step S124.
`[0054] Therefore, even when it is the key 22 for selecting a
`special character or symbol from the soft keyboard 20 of FIG.
`8(A), as shown in FIG. 8(B), when a user touches the key with
`the touch pen 4 and then lifts it off immediately, the special
`character or symbol being displayed is selected and entered as
`a confirmed input character or symbol.
`[0055] And when a user wants to select and enter a special
`character or symbol that is not displayed on the soft keyboard
`20, a user touches the key position of the group of similar
`characters and symbols with the touch pen 4 for longer than
`the threshold time. By doing so, the drag menu 23 is displayed
`as shown in FIG. 8(B’). And as shown in FIGS. 8(C) and (D),
`the desired character or symbol can be selected by a dragging
`operation within the drag menu 23, and the desired special
`character or symbol can be selected and entered in the same
`manner as described above.
`[0056] As described above, in the case of this embodiment,
`when a character or symbol is selected and entered using only
`the character or symbol shown on the soft keyboard 20, a drag
`menu is not displayed; therefore, a user’s selection operation
`becomes simple.
`[0057] Setting the time of touching the key is not the only
`method of displaying the drag menu 23 only when the user so
`desired, instead of displaying the drag menu 23 by touching
`with the pen 4. For example, the display of the drag menu 23
`may be determined by the existence of sliding motion to a pen
`touch position by more than a certain distance within the
`region of one key 22.
`[0058] Namely, in such embodiment, provided between Step
`S123 and Step S128 of FIG. 6 is a step of determining whether
`the touch position of the pen 4 has been moved in sliding
`motion by more than a preset certain distance within the
`region of the key 22, and when a determination is made that it
`has been moved by sliding motion in this step, the process
`goes to Step 128; when a determination is made that it has not
`been moved by sliding motion, the process goes to Step 124.
`[0059] Also in this embodiment, even when it is the key 22 a
`special character or symbol from the soft keyboard 20 of FIG.
`9(A), as shown in FIG. 9(B), when a user touches
`
`
`
`Then, “A” becomes a confirmed input character and is entered.
`[0045] When a special character “(Inc.)” is selected and
`entered, from the soft keyboard 20 on the screen of the display
`2, a user touches using the touch pen 4, and selects and
`instructs the position of the key 22 of special character “(K.K.)”
`that has been allocated with the group of the similar characters
`and symbols of “(Inc.)”.
`[0046] Then, the drag menu 23 as shown in FIG. 7(B) is
`displayed overlapping on top of the soft keyboard 20. When
`this drag menu 23 is opened, the position of the pen 4 is the
`position of the key of the special character “(K.K.)” located at
`the beginning, so that special character “(K.K.)” is highlighted.
`[0047] From this state, a user drags the pen 4, and as shown
`FIG. 7(C), the key area of special character “(Inc.)” is
`highlighted. And then the pen 4 is lifted-off from the screen.
`Thus, the special character “(Inc.)” is established as a
`confirmed input character, and the character is entered. When
`the pen 4 is released, the special character “(Inc.)” that has
`been selected and entered moves to the first position of the
`drag menu 23 on display, and the display of the drag menu 23
`is cancelled thereafter, and as shown in FIG. 7(D), the screen
`returns to the state where the soft keyboard 20 is displayed. At
`this point, the selected special character “(Inc.)” is displayed in
`the soft keyboard 20.
`[0048] As described above, when one special character or
`symbol from the similar character and symbol groups that
`have been divided in group is displayed as a key on the soft
`keyboard 20, and that key is selected and instructed, a drag
`menu appears, and the desired special character or symbol can
`be selected from the drag menu and entered.
`[0049] Therefore, it is unnecessary to prepare all special
`characters and symbols on the soft keyboard 20, and the area
`that the soft keyboard 20 occupies does not become large.
`[0050] The drag menu, which is a list including the special
`character or symbol to be entered, appears by choosing a
`similar character or symbol, and the desired character or
`symbol can be selected from the menu to be entered; therefore,
`there is no need to remember the reading of the special
`character or symbol and no hassle of searching the JIS code
`for the special character or symbol and entering that code.
`[0051] Once a similar character or symbol is selected from the
`group, the selected character or symbol is displayed as the key
`for selecting special character or symbol on the soft keyboard
`20; therefore, when the same special character or symbol is
`selected again, selective input can be carried out quickly
`without having to perform dragging operation.
`[0052] [Another Embodiments] In the above embodiment,
`when key 22 for selecting a special character or symbol is
`selected and instructed wit