KR100650124B1 - Soft keypad display apparatus of portable device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A soft keypad display device and a method therefor are provided to reduce an input error of a character in a portable terminal and to enable a user to quickly search the character which a user wants to input. A user interface unit(110) receives an operating signal of a user for performing a Hangul estimation input mode. A soft keypad information storing unit(130) stores key arrangement information of each consonant soft keypad and each vowel soft keypad of Hangul. A Hangul estimation input mode performing unit(140) detects a soft keypad according to a Hangul input order from the soft keypad information storing unit(130) in response to the operating signal of the user, generates a picture display information, and generates text information on the basis of selection information of the soft keypad. A display unit(150) receives the picture display information from the Hangul estimation input mode performing unit(140), and displays the received picture display information.

Description

SOFT KEYPAD DISPLAY APPARATUS OF PORTABLE DEVICE AND METHOD}

1 is a schematic block diagram of a soft keypad display device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a flowchart illustrating a soft keypad display method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3A to 3E are diagrams for explaining a soft keypad display order for Korean input in a mobile phone to which a soft keypad display method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

The present invention relates to a soft keypad display device and a method thereof, and more particularly, to a soft keypad display device and a method for facilitating text input and reducing text input errors in a portable terminal.

Recently, due to the development of communication technology, portable terminals (eg, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellular phones, etc.) are widely used. As a result, various types of portable terminals have been developed. In particular, various types of user interfaces, such as soft keypads using touch screens, have been applied to portable terminals, in addition to keypads having hardware buttons in the user interface.

In the latter case, the user touches a keypad (aka soft keypad) displayed on the LCD window of the portable terminal using a finger or a stylus pen to input characters. However, due to the limitation of the screen size, the mobile terminal is too small to identify buttons among the soft keypads, and there is a high probability of an error (eg, a typo) inadvertently touching a nearby button. That is, in the case of a mobile terminal which performs a user input through a soft keypad, there are many disadvantages of character input.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is to provide a soft keypad display device and method for reducing a character input error in a portable terminal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a soft keypad display device and a method for allowing a user to quickly find a character to be input.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a soft keypad display device and method for reducing the error of Hangul input in a portable terminal.

In order to achieve the above object, the soft keypad display device provided by the present invention comprises: a user interface unit for receiving an operation signal of a user for performing a Hangul prediction mode; A soft keypad information storage unit for storing key arrangement information of each of the Korean consonant soft keypad and the Korean vowel soft keypad; In response to a user's operation signal for performing the Hangul prediction input mode, a soft keypad according to a Hangul input order is detected from the soft keypad information storage unit to generate screen display information, and text is generated based on selection information of the soft keypad. Hangul predictive input mode performing unit for generating input information; And a display unit receiving and displaying screen display information from the Hangul prediction input mode execution unit.

The soft keypad information storage unit may include soft keypad information for consonants including key buttons corresponding to Korean consonants; And soft keypad information for vowels including key buttons corresponding to the vowels in Korean.

The consonant soft keypad information and the vowel soft keypad information may further include conversion keys for mutually converting the consonant soft keypad and the vowel soft keypad.

In addition, the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit generates screen display information by sequentially detecting a soft keypad for consonants and a soft keypad for vowels from the soft keypad information storage unit when the Hangul prediction input mode is selected based on a non-supported character. It is preferable to.

In addition, when the Hangul prediction input mode is selected based on a character with a supporting character, the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit repeats the sequence of the soft keypad for consonants, the soft keypad for vowels, and the soft keypad for consonants from the soft keypad information storage unit. It is preferable to generate the screen display information based on the result after the detected soft keypad is detected.

On the other hand, the soft keypad display method provided by the present invention in order to achieve the above object comprises an initialization step of storing the key arrangement information of each of the Korean consonant soft keypad and Korean vowel soft keypad; A soft keypad order determining step of determining a soft keypad detection order according to the Hangul input order in response to a user's manipulation signal for performing the Hangul predictive input mode; A soft keypad display step of selecting and displaying one of a soft keypad for consonants and a soft keypad for vowels based on the soft keypad order; And a character input step of inputting a character based on the key selection information of the displayed soft keypad.

In this case, the initializing step may include soft keypad information for consonants including key buttons corresponding to Korean consonants; And soft keypad information for vowels including key buttons corresponding to the vowels in Korean.

The consonant soft keypad information and the vowel soft keypad information may further include conversion keys for mutually converting the consonant soft keypad and the vowel soft keypad.

In addition, the step of determining the soft keypad order is to determine the soft keypad sequence to repeat the sequence of the soft keypad for consonants, the vowel soft keypad when the Hangul predictive input mode is selected based on the non-supported characters, When the Hangul prediction input mode is selected as a reference, it is preferable to determine the order of the soft keypad to repeat the order of the soft keypad for consonants, the soft keypad for vowels, and the soft keypad for consonants.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. At this time, it should be noted that the same elements in the accompanying drawings are represented by the same reference numerals wherever possible. In addition, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and configurations that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention will be omitted.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a soft keypad display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration example of a soft keypad display device included in a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the mobile terminal 100 may include a user interface unit (I / F) 110, a memory 120, a soft keypad information storage unit 130, a Hangul prediction input mode execution unit 140, a display unit ( 150, a speaker 160, a microphone 170, a wireless communication unit 180, and a controller 190.

The user interface unit I / F 110 performs an interfacing function with a user. For example, the user interface unit (I / F) 110 inputs a user's manipulation signal for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100. In particular, the user interface unit (I / F) 110 receives a user's operation signal for changing the operation mode of the mobile terminal 100 to the Korean input mode and transmits it to the controller 190. In addition, the user interface unit (I / F) 110 receives a user's manipulation signal for performing the Hangul prediction input mode in the Hangul input mode and transmits it to the controller 190.

The memory 120 stores information related to the operation of the mobile terminal 100 (eg, a driving program for controlling the driving of the mobile terminal, data related to the program, a phone book, an address book and a short message).

The soft keypad information storage unit 130 stores soft keypad information (eg, key array information) to be displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 100. For example, the soft keypad information storage unit 130 may include a soft keypad for displaying Korean consonants (hereinafter, referred to as a 'consonant keypad') and a soft keypad for displaying Korean vowels (hereinafter, referred to as a 'vowel keypad'). Each key array information is stored. In this case, it is preferable that each of the keypad for consonants and the keypad for vowels includes a key and a conversion key corresponding to the consonants and vowels of Korean. In addition, the 'Conversion Key' is a key for switching between the consonant keypad and the vowel keypad. When the 'Conversion Key' is input while the consonant keypad is displayed, the vowel keypad is displayed, and the vowel keypad is displayed. When the 'Conversion Key' is input, it displays the keypad for consonants. The conversion key may be included as a soft key button in each of the consonant keypad and the vowel keypad as well as a specific key button preset on one side or a hard keypad of the portable terminal.

The Hangul prediction input mode performing unit 140 performs the Hangul prediction input mode under the control of the controller 190. At this time, the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit 140 receives the consonant keypad and the vowel keypad information through the control unit 190, and selects one of the keypad for the consonant and the vowel using the Hangul prediction function. It is preferable to control the display unit 150 to display. That is, the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit 140 determines the type of the keypad to be displayed next according to the type (eg, consonant or vowel) currently selected in the Hangul input mode, and corresponds to the corresponding keypad (consonant keypad or vowel keypad). It is preferable to generate the screen display information including a) and to transmit it to the display unit 150.

On the other hand, Hangul is largely divided into 'unsupported letters' and 'supported letters', and 'supported letters' are again referred to as 'supported letters consisting of single consonants' and 'supported letters composed of double consonants'. Are distinguished. Therefore, the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit 140 determines the display order of the consonant keypad and the vowel keypad according to each of these cases, and then selects and displays the consonant keypad or the vowel keypad according to the order. To this end, the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit 140 receives information on which type of the character type to perform the Hangul prediction input mode based on the type of the character, and displays the display order of the keypad according to the selected letter type. It is desirable to decide.

For example, when the Hangul prediction input mode is selected based on the character without the support, the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit 140 displays the display unit 150 to alternately display the keypad for consonants and the keypad for vowels. To control. That is, the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit 140 first displays a keypad for consonants, and when the specific consonant (consonant 1) is selected from the keypad for consonants, controls the display unit 150 to display the keypad for vowels. . In addition, when a specific vowel (vowel 1) is selected from the vowel keypad, a keypad for consonants is displayed, and when a specific consonant (consonant 2) is selected, the keypad for vowels is displayed according to a preset order. In this case, when the 'conversion key' is input while the second vowel keypad is displayed, the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit 140 controls the display unit 150 to display the consonant keypad without inputting the vowel. As such, when the 'conversion key' is input and the vowel keypad is converted to the consonant keypad, the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit 140 selects the 'consonant (consonant 2)' selected in the previous step before selecting the 'consonant'. Enter as the 'support' of the letters ('consonant 1' and 'vowel 1').

On the other hand, when the Hangul prediction input mode is selected based on the 'supported letter', the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit 140 repeats the sequence of the consonant keypad, the vowel keypad, and the consonant keypad to display the keypad. The display unit 150 is controlled. That is, the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit 140 first displays the keypad for consonants, and when the specific consonant (consonant 3) is selected from the keypad for consonants, controls the display unit 150 to display the vowel keypad. In addition, if a specific vowel (vowel 3) is selected from the vowel keypad, the consonant keypad is displayed. If the consonant (consonant 4) is selected, the consonant (consonant 4) is input as 'support' and then the keypad for consonant is displayed again. do. In this case, when the consonant keypad is displayed after the letters with the supporting characters are input, the conversion key is input, the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit 140 displays the keypad for collecting the vowel without inputting the consonant. ). As such, when the 'conversion key' is input and the keypad for consonants is switched to the vowel keypad, the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit 140 converts the consonants (consonants 4) selected in the previous step for the initial consonants of new letters. Enter consonants.

The display unit 150 displays corresponding image information based on the screen display information transmitted from the controller 190 or the Hangul prediction input mode performer 140. For example, when the mobile terminal 100 is operating in the Hangul prediction input mode, the display unit 150 displays corresponding image information based on the screen display information transmitted from the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit 140, and In other cases, the corresponding image information is displayed based on the screen display information transmitted from the controller 190.

The speaker 160 outputs a sound signal under the control of the controller 190, and the microphone 170 collects a surrounding sound signal (eg, a user's voice) and transmits the sound signal to the controller 190.

The wireless communication unit 180 provides a communication interface through a wireless network. For example, it controls data communication through a wireless network.

The controller 190 controls the mobile terminal 100 based on a signal input through the user interface unit (I / F) 110 or an operation program previously stored in the memory 120. For example, when the Hangul prediction input mode is selected by the user interface unit (I / F) 110, the controller 190 detects the keypad for consonant and the keypad for vowel from the soft keypad information storage unit 130. The keypad information and a signal indicating the selection of the Hangul prediction input mode are transmitted to the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit 140.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a soft keypad display method according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a soft keypad display method when a Hangul prediction input mode is selected based on a 'letter without support'.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, when the Hangul prediction input mode is selected based on the character without the support, the controller 190 first checks whether the operation mode of the portable terminal is the Hangul input mode (S205). If the mobile terminal is operating in the Hangul input mode as a result of the checking (S205), the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit 140 displays the consonant keypad transmitted through the controller 190 (S210) and waits for the selection of the consonant. When the user selects a consonant (consonant 1) from the keypad for consonants (S215), the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit 140 inputs the selected consonants (S220) and then displays a vowel keypad (S225). When the user selects a vowel (vowel 1) from the vowel keypad (S230), after inputting the selected vowel (S235), the keypad for consonant is displayed again (S210) and the subsequent process is repeated.

If the user inputs the conversion key without selecting the consonant in the state of displaying the consonant keypad (S210) (S240), the portable terminal closes the displayed consonant keypad and displays the vowel keypad (S225). When you select consonants (consonants 1) and vowels (vowel 1) in this way and display the keypad for vowels to select vowels (vowel 2) again without selecting other consonants (consonants 2) while the keypad for consonants is displayed. Is a case where a letter consisting of consonants 1 and vowel 1 is input, and then a letter consisting of only a vowel (vowel 2) (eg, 'a', 'er', 'yi', etc.) is input.

In addition, when a user inputs a conversion key without selecting a vowel (S250) while displaying a vowel keypad (S225), the mobile terminal closes the vowel keypad being displayed and displays a consonant keypad (S210). In this way, after selecting consonants (consonants 1), vowels (vowels 1), consonants (consonants 2), the consonants for selecting consonants (consonants 3) directly without selecting another vowel (vowel 2) while the vowel keypad is displayed. If you want to display the keypad for entering the consonant 1, the vowel 1 and the consonant letters consisting of two consonants and then you want to enter the first letter of the new letter.

Meanwhile, when the user inputs a signal for ending the Hangul input mode in the state of displaying the consonant keypad (S210) or the vowel keypad (S225), the portable terminal ends the Hangul prediction input mode.

3A to 3E are diagrams for describing a soft keypad display order for Korean input in a mobile phone to which a soft keypad display method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In particular, FIGS. 3A to 3E show the message input result display window 210 and the soft keypad display window 220 on the display unit 200 of the mobile phone, and the user uses the keypad displayed on the soft keypad display window 220. In the case of inputting the word "bur", the screen display order of the mobile terminal is illustrated.

3A illustrates an initial screen of a Hangul prediction input mode. Referring to FIG. 3A, the keypad for consonants 221 is displayed on the soft keypad display window 220 in the initial screen of the Hangul prediction input mode.

3B is a screen example of a case where the user touches 'ㅂ' of the consonant keypad 221 on the screen of FIG. 3A.

3C illustrates an example of a screen when a user selects 'ㅂ' by touching 'ㅂ' of the consonant keypad 221 as illustrated in the screen of FIG. 3B. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, the mobile terminal displays 'ㅂ' on the input result display window 210 according to the user's selection result and then displays the vowel keypad 223 on the soft keypad display window 220. This is the result of predicting that the vowel will be input after the consonant input.

3D is a screen example of a case where the user touches 'ㅓ' of the collection keypad 223 on the screen of FIG. 3C.

FIG. 3E illustrates an example of a screen when the user selects '터치' by touching 'ㅓ' of the collection keypad 223 as illustrated on the screen of FIG. 3D. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 3E, the mobile terminal displays a 'burr' on the input result display window 210 according to the user's selection result, and then displays the consonant keypad 221 on the soft keypad display window 220.

If the mobile terminal is operating in the Hangul predictive input mode based on the 'unsupported letter', the consonant selected through the consonant keypad 221 shown in FIG. Will be. On the other hand, when the mobile terminal is operating in the Hangul predictive input mode based on the 'supported letters', the consonants selected through the consonant keypad 221 shown in FIG. 3E will be supported by the 'burr'.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the soft keypad is displayed as one consonant keypad and a vowel keypad, respectively, according to a user's selection, the consonant keypad and the vowel keypad are divided into a plurality of regions, and each region is a preset order. Can be displayed according to. That is, when the consonant keypad and the vowel keypad are divided into two areas, the consonant keypad with priority is displayed first, and when the user does not want to input the consonant on the keypad, the user inputs a 'conversion key'. Another consonant keypad is displayed. When a specific consonant is input from the keypad for the consonant, a vowel keypad having a priority is displayed. As described above, when the consonant keypad and the vowel keypad are divided into plural numbers, the vowel keypad or the vowel keypad are displayed through Hangul prediction when consonants or vowels are input.

In the above, specific preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention attached to the claims. .

The soft keypad display device and method of the present invention as described above can display the consonants and vowels separately when entering Korean characters, thereby reducing the number of characters displayed in the limited display area, thereby obtaining an enlarged display effect of the soft keypad. . This can reduce the error of character input, and also has the effect that the user can quickly find the character you want to enter. In addition, the Hangul prediction function automatically selects and displays the keypad for consonants and the vowel for displaying Korean characters more conveniently.

Claims (17)

A user interface unit receiving a user's manipulation signal for performing the Hangul prediction input mode; A soft keypad information storage unit for storing key arrangement information of each of the Korean consonant soft keypad and the Korean vowel soft keypad; In response to a user's operation signal for performing the Hangul prediction input mode, a soft keypad according to a Hangul input order is detected from the soft keypad information storage unit to generate screen display information, and text is generated based on selection information of the soft keypad. Hangul predictive input mode performing unit for generating input information; And And a display unit for receiving and displaying screen display information from the Hangul prediction input mode execution unit. The method of claim 1, wherein the soft keypad information storage unit Soft keypad information for consonants including key buttons corresponding to Korean consonants; And A soft keypad display for storing vowel soft keypad information including key buttons corresponding to Korean vowels. The method of claim 1, wherein the soft keypad information for consonants and the soft keypad information for vowels are respectively included. And a conversion key for converting between the soft keypad for consonants and the soft keypad for vowels. The method of claim 1, wherein the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit When the Hangul prediction input mode is selected based on a character without a backing, the soft keypad display is generated by sequentially detecting the soft keypad for consonants and the soft keypad for vowels from the soft keypad information storage unit. Device. The method of claim 4, wherein the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit From the vowel soft keypad displayed with the first consonant consisting of a first consonant and a first vowel being input and a second consonant selected from the soft keypad for consonant, the second consonant when the conversion key is inputted Soft keypad display, characterized in that the input by the one-character support. The method of claim 4, wherein the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit When the conversion key is input while the second consonant is selected from the soft keypad for consonants and the second consonant is not selected from the soft keypad for consonants composed of the first consonant and the first vowel, the soft vowel for the vowel is displayed. And when the second vowel is selected, input letters composed of only the second vowel. The method of claim 1, wherein the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit When the Hangul predictive input mode is selected based on the supported letters, the soft keypad information storage unit repeats the order of the consonant soft keypad, the vowel soft keypad, and the consonant soft keypad. Soft keypad display device, characterized in that to generate on-screen display information based on the result. The method of claim 7, wherein the Hangul prediction input mode performing unit From the soft keypad for consonants displayed while a second character including a first consonant, a first vowel and a second consonant and a second consonant is input, the second character is converted to the first consonant when a conversion key is input. And reconstructing the first consonant into third letters and inputting the second consonants into consonants corresponding to the first consonants of the fourth letters. An initialization step of storing key array information of each of the Korean consonant soft keypad and the Korean vowel soft keypad; A soft keypad order determining step of determining a soft keypad detection order according to the Hangul input order in response to a user's manipulation signal for performing the Hangul predictive input mode; And And a soft keypad display step of selecting and displaying one of a soft keypad for consonants and a soft keypad for vowels based on the soft keypad order. The method of claim 9, And a character input step of inputting a character based on key selection information of the displayed soft keypad. The method of claim 9 or 10, wherein the initialization step Soft keypad information for consonants including key buttons corresponding to Korean consonants; And A soft keypad display method comprising storing soft keypad information for a vowel including key buttons corresponding to a vowel in Korean. The method of claim 11, wherein the soft keypad information for consonants and the soft keypad information for vowels, respectively. And a conversion key for mutually converting the soft keypad for consonants and the soft keypad for vowels. The method of claim 9 or 10, wherein the soft keypad ordering step If the Hangul prediction input mode is selected based on the non-supported characters, the soft keypad sequence is determined to repeat the sequence of the soft keypad for consonants and the soft keypad for vowels. The method of claim 13, wherein the character input step From the vowel soft keypad displayed with the first consonant consisting of a first consonant and a first vowel being input and a second consonant selected from the soft keypad for consonant, the second consonant when the conversion key is inputted Soft keypad display method characterized in that the input by the support of one letter. The method of claim 13, wherein the character input step When the conversion key is input while the second consonant is selected from the soft keypad for consonants and the second consonant is not selected from the soft keypad for consonants composed of the first consonant and the first vowel, the soft vowel for the vowel is displayed. And when the second vowel is selected, input letters consisting of only the second vowel. The method of claim 9 or 10, wherein the soft keypad ordering step A method for displaying a soft keypad, characterized in that the soft keypad sequence is determined to repeat the order of the consonant soft keypad, the vowel soft keypad, and the consonant soft keypad when the Hangul predictive input mode is selected based on the backed letters. The method of claim 16, wherein the character input step From the soft keypad for consonants displayed while a second character including a first consonant, a first vowel and a second consonant and a second consonant is input, the second character is converted to the first consonant when a conversion key is input. And reconstructing the first consonant into third letters and inputting the second consonants into consonants corresponding to the first consonants of the fourth letters.

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