Character input device, character input method, and character input program

Abstract

The conversion candidate acquisition unit acquires conversion candidates retrieved using the dictionary with respect to an input character string that has been input. The adjustment unit adjusts the arrangement of the conversion candidates. The determination operation reception unit displays the conversion candidates acquired by the conversion candidate acquisition unit in the arrangement adjusted by the adjustment unit, and outputs the selected determination character string to the target application. The adjustment unit estimates the priority of each of the conversion candidates on the basis of the type of the dictionary from which the conversion candidates have been retrieved, and adjusts the arrangement of the conversion candidates acquired by the conversion candidate acquisition unit on the basis of the estimated priority.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for inputting a character string. Background Art

[0002] Traditionally, character input devices have been used in various electronic devices, such as mobile terminals (smartphones, tablets, etc.) and personal computers (PCs). These devices extract conversion candidates for an input string entered by a user. For example, a Japanese character input device accepts a kana character string as input and extracts a character string that is a kana-kanji conversion of the input string as a conversion candidate. These conversion candidates also include predicted conversion candidates. The character input device then determines the conversion candidate selected by the user as the final character string for the input string.

[0003] The user selects a desired conversion candidate from the displayed conversion candidates as the finalized character string. Therefore, the character input device can improve user operability by displaying the character string that the user wants to input (finalized character string) at the top of the displayed conversion candidates.

[0004] Some character input devices are configured to adjust the order in which conversion candidates are displayed (the arrangement of conversion candidates) based on a learning result based on a history of determined character strings inputted (character string input history) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0005] Prior art literature

[0006] Patent Literature

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-310589 Summary of the Invention

[0008] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0009] However, there are various types of applications (hereinafter referred to as applications) that users input character strings into. For example, there are messaging applications used for business-related communications, social networking services (SNS) applications used for chatting and communicating with friends, and map applications used for searching travel routes.

[0010] Users use a variety of applications depending on their situation. Furthermore, the words (specific character strings) users want to input vary depending on the application. For example, in a map application, users may want to input place names (addresses), station names, and landmark names. In an SNS application, users may want to input trending words and buzzwords.

[0011] Therefore, conventional character input devices may sometimes display the desired word above the conversion candidates in certain types of applications, but fail to do so in other types of applications. In other words, conventional character input devices have the problem of improving user operability only in certain types of applications, while decreasing user operability in other types of applications.

[0012] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of improving user operability related to character input regardless of the type of target application.

[0013] Technical means to solve the problem

[0014] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the character input device of the present invention is constructed as follows.

[0015] The conversion candidate acquisition unit acquires conversion candidates for the input character string, retrieved using a dictionary. For example, in a dictionary used in a Japanese character input device, kunyomi and vocabulary are registered in association. A vocabulary is, for example, a character string obtained by converting the associated kunyomi into kana-kanji. The conversion candidates acquired by the conversion candidate acquisition unit may, for example, include only vocabulary for which the input character string and kunyomi completely match, but may also include vocabulary for which the input character string and kunyomi do not completely match, but for which the input character string is front-matched with the kunyomi (so-called predictive conversion candidates).

[0016] The adjustment unit adjusts the arrangement of the conversion candidates acquired by the conversion candidate acquisition unit. The confirmation operation reception unit displays the conversion candidates acquired by the conversion candidate acquisition unit in the arrangement adjusted by the adjustment unit and outputs the selected confirmed character string to the target application.

[0017] Furthermore, the storage unit stores classification data for classifying the applications by type. Furthermore, the dictionary is also provided corresponding to the different types of applications.

[0018] Furthermore, the adjustment unit estimates the priority of each conversion candidate according to the type of the dictionary from which the conversion candidate was retrieved, and adjusts the arrangement of the conversion candidates acquired by the conversion candidate acquisition unit based on the estimated priority.

[0019] With this configuration, the order of the conversion candidates acquired by the conversion candidate acquisition unit is adjusted according to the type of application to which the finalized character string is output. This improves user operability related to character input regardless of the type of target application (the application to which the finalized character string is output).

[0020] Furthermore, the character input device of the present invention may also be configured as follows, for example, including:

[0021] a conversion candidate acquisition unit that acquires conversion candidates retrieved from a dictionary for an input character string; a confirmation operation receiving unit that displays the conversion candidates acquired by the conversion candidate acquisition unit and outputs the selected confirmation character string to a target application; and a storage unit that stores classification data for classifying applications by type.

[0022] The dictionary is designed to correspond to different types of applications.

[0023] The conversion candidate acquisition unit acquires conversion candidates searched using a dictionary corresponding to the type of application to which the specific character string is output.

[0024] According to this structure, conversion candidates are searched using a dictionary corresponding to the type of application to which the confirmed character string is output. Therefore, even with this structure, user operability related to character input can be improved regardless of the type of the target application (the application to which the confirmed character string is output).

[0025] Furthermore, the character input device may have a configuration including, for example, a category acquisition unit that acquires the category of the application together with the application from a host device.

[0026] Furthermore, the character input device may be configured to include, for example, a type determination unit that counts, for each application, the types of specific character strings output to the application by searching a dictionary, and determines the type of the application based on the counted results.

[0027] Furthermore, the character input device may be configured to include, for example, a setting operation accepting unit that accepts, for each application, a setting operation for setting the type of the application.

[0028] Effects of the Invention

[0029] According to the present invention, user operability related to character input can be improved regardless of the type of target application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] [ Figure 1 ] is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of an electronic device to which the character input device of this example is applicable.

[0031] [ Figure 2 ] is a block diagram showing the structure of the main parts of the smart phone in this example.

[0032] [ Figure 3 ] is a diagram showing the structure of a dictionary DB.

[0033] [ Figure 4 ] is a flowchart showing the character input processing in the smart phone of this example.

[0034] [ Figure 5 ] is a flowchart showing the character input processing in the smart phone of variant example 1.

[0035] [ Figure 6 ] is a flowchart showing the processing related to application downloading in a smart phone of variant example 2.

[0036] [ Figure 7 ] is a block diagram showing the structure of the main parts of the smart phone of variant example 4.

[0037] [ Figure 8 ] is a diagram illustrating statistical data generated by the Statistics Department.

[0038] [ Figure 9 ] is a flowchart showing the character input processing in a smart phone of variant example 4.

[0039] [ Figure 10 ] is a flowchart showing the type update processing of the smart phone of modification example 4 to update the type of application stored in the application storage unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

[0041] <1. Application Examples>

[0042] Here, the case where the character string input device is applied to a smartphone is described as an example, but the character string input device can also be applied to other electronic devices such as tablet terminals and personal computers (desktop PCs).

[0043] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of a smartphone that uses the character input device of this example. In this example, smartphone 1 (hereinafter referred to as smartphone 1 ) has a touch screen 52 attached to the screen of display 51. Smartphone 1 detects user input operations by detecting the pressed position on touch screen 52 (the pressed position on the screen of display 51).

[0044] Smart phone 1 accepts input of a character string for an application program (hereinafter referred to as application) started at this time and selected. In this example, Japanese character input is used as an example for explanation. Figure 1 As shown, on the screen of the smart phone 1 , when accepting a character string input operation by the user, a key display area 60 , a character string display area 61 , and a conversion candidate display area 62 are displayed.

[0045] The key display area 60 displays a plurality of key images that are operated (pressed) by the user when inputting a character string. The character string display area 61 displays the undetermined character string and the confirmed character string input by the user into the smartphone 1. The conversion candidate display area 62 displays conversion candidates for the undetermined character string displayed in the character string display area 61. An undetermined character string is a character string input by the user by operating a key image displayed in the key display area 60. A confirmed character string is a character string for which the user has confirmed the undetermined character string. Confirmation includes selecting a conversion candidate displayed in the conversion candidate display area 62.

[0046] Furthermore, a configuration may be adopted in which, when a confirmation operation is performed, related candidates following the confirmed character string confirmed by the current confirmation operation are displayed in the conversion candidate display area 62 .

[0047] Furthermore, the smartphone 1 of this example stores classification data indicating the type (category) of each downloaded application. That is, the smartphone 1 stores classification data associating applications with their types. Examples of application types include map applications, SNS applications, and business applications. Furthermore, the smartphone 1 of this example has a dictionary corresponding to each type of application (e.g., a dictionary for map applications, a dictionary for SNS applications, and a dictionary for business applications). In the dictionary, kunyin and vocabulary are registered in association. The conversion candidates displayed in the conversion candidate display area 62 may be only character strings of vocabulary whose kunyin registered in the dictionary completely matches the input character string (undetermined character string), but may also include character strings of vocabulary whose kunyin registered in the dictionary does not completely match the input character string but is previously consistent (so-called predicted conversion candidates).

[0048] In addition, regarding the smart phone 1, from the perspective of user visibility of the screen, it is more preferable to have a structure in which the key display area 60, the string display area 61, and the conversion candidate display area 62 are displayed only when accepting the user's string input operation rather than a structure in which they are always displayed.

[0049] In the smartphone 1 of this example, conversion candidates retrieved using a dictionary corresponding to the type of application in which the user inputs a character string are prioritized over conversion candidates retrieved using dictionaries of other types. For example, if the application in which the user inputs a character string is a map application, conversion candidates retrieved using a dictionary for the map application are prioritized over conversion candidates retrieved using dictionaries of other types (such as SNS application dictionaries or business application dictionaries). In this example, conversion candidates with higher priorities are displayed higher in the order in which they are displayed in the conversion candidate display area 62. The application in which the user inputs a character string is referred to as the target application program in the present invention.

[0050] Therefore, the smartphone 1 of this example can adjust the arrangement of the conversion candidates displayed in the conversion candidate display area 62 according to the type of application in which the user is inputting a character string. In other words, the smartphone 1 of this example displays the words that the user intends to input in that type of application as conversion candidates at the top of the conversion candidate display area 62, depending on the type of application in which the user is inputting a character string. This improves user operability related to character input, regardless of the type of application in which the user is inputting a character string.

[0051] <2. Example of structure>

[0052] Figure 2 This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main components of the smartphone of this example. The smartphone 1 of this example includes a control unit 11 , a screen display unit 12 , an operation position detection unit 13 , a communication unit 14 , a dictionary database 15 (dictionary DB 15 ), an application storage unit 16 , a display 51 , and a touch screen 52 .

[0053] The control unit 11 controls the operation of various components of the smartphone 1. Furthermore, the control unit 11 includes a conversion candidate acquisition unit 21, an adjustment unit 22, a finalized string acquisition unit 23, and an application execution unit 24. The conversion candidate acquisition unit 21, the adjustment unit 22, the finalized string acquisition unit 23, and the application execution unit 24 included in the control unit 11 will be described later.

[0054] The screen display unit 12 controls screen display on the display 51 according to an instruction from the control unit 11 .

[0055] The operation position detection unit 13 detects the user's operation position (pressed position) on the touch screen 52 attached to the screen of the display 51 , and outputs the detected position to the control unit 11 .

[0056] The communication unit 14 communicates data with servers connected via a network such as the Internet. For example, the communication unit 14 also facilitates downloading applications executed on the smartphone 1, accessing web pages, voice communication with other mobile terminals, sending and receiving emails, and communications related to social networking services (SNS).

[0057] like Figure 3 As shown, the dictionary DB 15 includes a general dictionary 15a, a map application dictionary 15b, an SNS application dictionary 15c, a business application dictionary 15d, and the like. The general dictionary 15a is a dictionary used in common regardless of the type of application. The map application dictionary 15b is a dictionary that has registered vocabulary suitable for inputting character strings in map applications. For example, the map application dictionary 15b is a dictionary that has registered vocabulary such as addresses, station names, and landmark names. The SNS application dictionary 15c is a dictionary that has registered vocabulary suitable for inputting character strings in SNS applications. For example, the SNS application dictionary 15c is a dictionary that has registered vocabulary such as buzzwords, abbreviations, and young people's terms. The business application dictionary 15d is a dictionary that has registered vocabulary suitable for inputting character strings in business applications. For example, the business application dictionary 15d is a dictionary that has registered vocabulary such as business terms. In each dictionary, character strings, reading character strings, parts of speech, etc. of each word are registered in association with the word.

[0058] in addition, Figure 3 In the example, only the map application dictionary 15b, the SNS application dictionary 15c, and the business application dictionary 15d are shown. This does not mean that applications are classified into three categories. Applications can be classified into any category as long as there are two or more. Furthermore, for each application category, a dictionary containing vocabulary suitable for inputting character strings in that category of application is registered in the dictionary DB 15.

[0059] The application storage unit 16 stores applications downloaded from a website server, etc. The smartphone 1 can execute the applications stored in the application storage unit 16. The application storage unit 16 stores the type of each stored application.

[0060] Next, the conversion candidate acquisition unit 21 , the adjustment unit 22 , the confirmed character string acquisition unit 23 , and the application execution unit 24 included in the control unit 11 will be described.

[0061] The application execution unit 24 executes an application designated by a user.

[0062] The conversion candidate acquisition unit 21 uses various dictionaries registered in the dictionary DB 15 (such as the general dictionary 15a, the map application dictionary 15b, the SNS application dictionary 15c, and the business application dictionary 15d) to acquire conversion candidates for an input character string (undetermined character string) entered by the user. The conversion candidates acquired by the conversion candidate acquisition unit 21 may include only character strings whose phonics registered in each dictionary exactly match the input character string (undetermined character string). However, the conversion candidates may also include character strings whose phonics registered in the dictionary do not exactly match the input character string but are somewhat similar (so-called predictive conversion candidates).

[0063] The adjustment unit 22 adjusts the arrangement of the conversion candidates acquired by the conversion candidate acquisition unit 21 according to the type of the target application.

[0064] The finalized character string acquisition unit 23 outputs the finalized character string determined by the user to the target application.

[0065] The target application referred to here is the application for which the specific character string acquisition unit 23 outputs the specific character string, and is the application being executed by the application execution unit 24 at this point in time.

[0066] The control unit 11 of the smart phone 1 includes a hardware central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and other electronic circuits. When executing the character input program involved in the present invention, the hardware CPU functions as a conversion candidate acquisition unit 21, an adjustment unit 22, a determined character string acquisition unit 23, and an application execution unit 24. In addition, the memory has an area for expanding the character input program involved in the present invention, or an area for temporarily storing data generated during the execution of the character input program. The control unit 11 can also be a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) that integrates the hardware CPU, memory, etc. In addition, the hardware CPU is a computer that executes the character input method involved in the present invention.

[0067] <3. Action Example>

[0068] Figure 4This is a flowchart showing the character input processing in the smart phone of this example. The smart phone 1 executes an application (the target application) in which the user performs character input in the application execution unit 24. On the screen of the display 51, a key display area 60, a character string display area 61, and a conversion candidate display area 62 are displayed. When the smart phone 1 accepts a character input operation performed by the user (s1), it appends the characters input this time to the undetermined character string at that time (s3). For example, when the smart phone 1 has not yet input an undetermined character string, if the characters input in this character input operation are "き", then "き" is set as an undetermined character string in s3. Moreover, when the undetermined character string is "き", if the characters input in this character input operation are "ょ", then "きょ" is set as an undetermined character string in s3.

[0069] The conversion candidate acquisition unit 21 acquires conversion candidates (s4) for the undetermined character string acquired in s3 by searching various dictionaries registered in the dictionary DB 15. In this example, the conversion candidates acquired in s4 include predicted conversion candidates.

[0070] The adjustment unit 22 adjusts the arrangement of the conversion candidates obtained in s4 (s5). In s5, the priority of the conversion candidates retrieved using the dictionary corresponding to the type of application as the character input target is higher than the priority of the conversion candidates retrieved using other dictionaries. For example, if the type of the target application is a map application, the priority of the conversion candidates retrieved using the map application dictionary 15b is higher than the priority of the conversion candidates retrieved using the general dictionary 15a, the SNS application dictionary 15c, and the business application dictionary 15d. Similarly, if the type of the target application is an SNS application, the priority of the conversion candidates retrieved using the SNS application dictionary 15c is higher than the priority of the conversion candidates retrieved using the general dictionary 15a, the map application dictionary 15b, and the business application dictionary 15d. Furthermore, if the target application is a business application, the conversion candidates retrieved using the business application dictionary 15d are prioritized over the conversion candidates retrieved using the general dictionary 15a, the map application dictionary 15b, and the SNS application dictionary 15c. The adjustment unit 22 determines the order of the conversion candidates from highest to lowest priority. The smartphone 1 displays the conversion candidates retrieved in step 4 in the order determined by the adjustment unit 22 in the conversion candidate display area 62 (step 6), and then returns to step 1.

[0071] In this example, the adjustment unit 22 may also prioritize conversion candidates retrieved using the general dictionary 15a lower than those retrieved using a dictionary corresponding to the type of application for character input, and higher than those retrieved using other dictionaries. Furthermore, the adjustment unit 22 may associate the priority with the type of dictionary based on the type of application for character input, thereby increasing the priority of conversion candidates retrieved using dictionaries with higher priorities.

[0072] Furthermore, for a plurality of conversion candidates retrieved from the same type of dictionary, priority may be determined based on input history or the like.

[0073] When the smartphone 1 receives a confirmation operation from the user (s2), it outputs the conversion candidate selected in the confirmation operation as the confirmed string (s7), and then returns to s1. In s7, the undetermined string displayed in the string display area 61 is replaced with the confirmed string, and the confirmed string is output to the target application.

[0074] Thus, according to the smartphone 1 of this embodiment, the arrangement of the conversion candidates displayed in the conversion candidate display area 62 can be adjusted according to the type of application in which the user is inputting characters. Therefore, user operability related to character input can be improved regardless of the type of application in which the user is inputting characters.

[0075] <4. Modifications>

[0076] Modification 1

[0077] The main parts of the smart phone 1 of this modification 1 are also Figure 2 The character input process in the smart phone 1 according to the first modification will be described. Figure 5 This is a flowchart showing the character input processing in the smart phone according to Modification Example 1.

[0078] When the smartphone 1 of Modification 1 receives a character input operation from the user ( s11 ), it adds the input character to the undetermined character string at that time ( s13 ). s11 is the same process as s1 , and s13 is the same process as s3 .

[0079] The smartphone 1 of this first modification searches for conversion candidates for the undetermined string using a dictionary of a type corresponding to the type of application in which the user inputs characters ( s14 ) and a general dictionary 15 a ( s15 ).

[0080] The adjustment unit 22 adjusts the order of the conversion candidates retrieved in steps 14 and 15 (step 16). In step 16, the priority of the conversion candidates retrieved in step 14 is increased over the priority of the conversion candidates retrieved in step 15. The adjustment unit 22 determines the order of the conversion candidates from highest priority to lowest priority. The smartphone 1 displays the conversion candidates retrieved in steps 14 and 15 in the order determined by the adjustment unit 22 in the conversion candidate display area 62 (step 17), and then returns to step 11.

[0081] Furthermore, when the smartphone 1 of this first variation receives a confirmation operation from the user (s12), it outputs the conversion candidate selected in the confirmation operation as the confirmed string (s18), and then returns to s11. In s18, the undetermined string displayed in the string display area 61 is replaced with the confirmed string, and the confirmed string is output to the target application.

[0082] Thus, the smartphone 1 of this first variation uses dictionaries of the type corresponding to the type of application performing character input and the general dictionary 15a to search for conversion candidates. For example, if the type of application performing character input is a map application, the map application dictionary 15b and the general dictionary 15a are used to search for conversion candidates. In other words, if the type of application performing character input is a map application, dictionaries of types not corresponding to the type of application performing character input, such as the SNS application dictionary 15c or the business application dictionary 15d, are not used to search for conversion candidates.

[0083] In this example, the general dictionary 15 a is a dictionary corresponding to all types of applications.

[0084] In this manner, the smartphone 1 of this first modification can also adjust the arrangement of the conversion candidates displayed in the conversion candidate display area 62 according to the type of application in which the user is inputting characters. Therefore, user operability related to character input can be improved regardless of the type of application in which the user is inputting characters.

[0085] Furthermore, since the processing load associated with searching for conversion candidates can be suppressed, an increase in the time from accepting a character input operation in s11 to displaying the conversion candidates in the conversion candidate display area 62 in s17 is also suppressed.

[0086] Modification 2

[0087] The main part of the smart phone 1 of this modification example 2 is also the structure shown in the figure. Figure 4 or Figure 5 Character input processing shown.

[0088] When the communication unit 14 of the smartphone 1 according to the second modification accesses a web server (not shown) and downloads an application, the smartphone 1 acquires the type of the application from the web server.

[0089] Figure 6 This is a flowchart showing the process related to application downloading in the smartphone according to Modification 2. The user operates the smartphone 1 to access a website server for downloading applications.

[0090] When the communication unit 14 of the smart phone 1 is connected to the website server via the network, the smart phone 1 requests downloading of an application ( s21 , s22 ).

[0091] The website server transmits the type of application to the smartphone 1 together with the application whose downloading has been requested by the smartphone 1 .

[0092] When the smart phone 1 acquires the download information of the application and the type of the application from the website server, it stores the downloaded application in the application storage unit 16 in association with the type of the application ( s23 , s24 ).

[0093] As described above, when the smartphone 1 according to the second modification downloads an application from the web server, it also obtains the type of the downloaded application from the web server.

[0094] The website server in this modification 2 corresponds to the host device in the present invention. Furthermore, the communication unit 14 corresponds to the classification acquisition unit in the present invention.

[0095] Modification 3

[0096] Furthermore, the smartphone 1 may be configured such that the user can freely set or change the category (application type) associated with each application stored in the application storage unit 16. In this case, the smartphone 1 may be configured such that the application type is not acquired when the application is downloaded, or such that the application type is acquired when the application is downloaded.

[0097] Modification 4

[0098] Furthermore, the smartphone 1A may be configured to count, for each application stored in the application storage unit 16 , the types of dictionaries that retrieved vocabulary for specific character strings identified in character input for the application, and determine the type of the application based on the counted results.

[0099] Figure 7 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main parts of a smartphone according to Modification 4. A smartphone 1A according to Modification 4 differs from the aforementioned example in that a statistics unit 25 is additionally included in the control unit 11a. Figure 7 In the Figure 2 In the structures shown, the same structures are denoted by the same symbols.

[0100] The statistics unit 25 counts the number of times a word corresponding to a specific character string is retrieved from different dictionaries during character input for each application stored in the application storage unit 16. The statistics unit 25 generates, for example, Figure 8 For example, when the statistical unit 25 finds that the dictionary type for the word of the confirmed character string confirmed by the confirm operation in the character input for application A is the map application dictionary 15b, the statistical unit 25 increases the count value of the map application dictionary 15b of application A by 1.

[0101] Furthermore, the statistics unit 25 updates the category of the application associated with each application stored in the application storage unit 16 at a predetermined timing. The timing for updating the application category may be, for example, midnight on the first day of each month, or when a predetermined period (e.g., one or two months) has passed since the previous update, or other timings.

[0102] Figure 9 4 is a flowchart showing the character input processing of the smart phone of this modification example 4. Figure 9 As shown, after performing the processing related to the output of the determined character string related to s7, the smart phone 1A of this variant example 4 increases the count value of the dictionary that retrieves the type of vocabulary of the determined character string determined in this determination operation by 1 (s31) for the application that performed the character input this time, and returns to s1.

[0103] Figure 10 This is a flowchart showing a category update process for updating the category of applications stored in the application storage unit in the smartphone according to the fourth modification.

[0104] The statistical unit 25 determines an application as a target of the update type (s41). The statistical unit 25 obtains statistical data generated for the application determined as a target in s41 (see Figure 8 ) (s42). The statistics unit 25 determines the type of the dictionary with the largest count value in the statistical data obtained in s42 as the type of the target application, and updates the type associated with the application stored in the application storage unit 16 to the type determined here (s43). The statistics unit 25 determines whether there are any unprocessed applications (s44). If there are any unprocessed applications, the statistics unit 25 returns to s41. If there are no unprocessed applications, the statistics unit 25 ends this processing.

[0105] In this manner, in the smart phone according to the fourth modification, the type of application can be updated based on the statistical results of character input for the application.

[0106] Furthermore, in the above-described example, the present invention is described by taking a character input device for Japanese input as an example, but the present invention is also applicable to character input devices for other languages ​​such as English.

[0107] Furthermore, the character input device may be configured to transmit an input character string to a server device and receive conversion candidates from the server device.

[0108] In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein. During the implementation phase, the constituent elements may be deformed and concretized within the scope of the main purpose. Moreover, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining the multiple constituent elements disclosed in the embodiments. For example, several constituent elements may be deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiments. Furthermore, constituent elements across different embodiments may also be appropriately combined. Moreover, the order of the steps in the flowcharts shown in the description of all the examples described is only an example and may be appropriately replaced within the possible scope.

[0109] Furthermore, the correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the configuration of the above-described embodiment can be described as in the following notes.

[0110] Notes

[0111] Note 1

[0112] A character input device (1), comprising:

[0113] A conversion candidate acquisition unit (21) acquires conversion candidates retrieved using a dictionary (15a to 15d) for an input character string;

[0114] An adjusting unit (22) for adjusting the arrangement of the conversion candidates acquired by the conversion candidate acquiring unit (21);

[0115] a determination operation receiving unit (23) that displays the conversion candidates acquired by the conversion candidate acquiring unit (21) in the arrangement adjusted by the adjusting unit (22), and outputs the selected determination character string to the target application; and

[0116] A storage unit (16) stores classification data indicating the type of the application program.

[0117] The dictionaries (15a-15d) are provided corresponding to different types of the application programs.

[0118] The adjustment unit (22) estimates the priority of each conversion candidate according to the type of the dictionary (15a-15d) from which the conversion candidate is retrieved, and adjusts the arrangement of the conversion candidates acquired by the conversion candidate acquisition unit (21) based on the estimated priority.

[0119] Note 2

[0120] A character input device (1), comprising:

[0121] A conversion candidate acquisition unit (21) acquires conversion candidates retrieved using a dictionary (15a to 15d) for an input character string;

[0122] a confirmation operation receiving unit (23) that displays the conversion candidates acquired by the conversion candidate acquiring unit (21) and outputs the selected confirmation character string to a target application; and

[0123] A storage unit (16) stores classification data indicating the type of the application program.

[0124] The dictionaries (15a-15d) are provided corresponding to different types of the application programs.

[0125] The conversion candidate acquisition unit (21) acquires the conversion candidates retrieved using a dictionary corresponding to the type of the application to which the specific character string is output.

[0126] Explanation of Figure Numbers

[0127] 1.1A: Smartphone (smartphone)

[0128] 11, 11a: Control unit

[0129] 12: Screen display

[0130] 13: Operation position detection unit

[0131] 14: Ministry of Communications

[0132] 15: Dictionary database (Dictionary DB)

[0133] 15a: General Dictionary

[0134] 15b: Dictionary for map applications

[0135] 15c: SNS application dictionary

[0136] 15d: Business Application Dictionary

[0137] 16: Application Storage Department

[0138] 21: Conversion candidate acquisition unit

[0139] 22: Adjustment Department

[0140] 23: Determine the string acquisition part

[0141] 24: Application Execution Department

[0142] 25: Ministry of Statistics

[0143] 51: Display

[0144] 52: Touch screen

[0145] 60: Key display area

[0146] 61: String display area

[0147] 62: Convert candidate display area

Claims

1. A character input device, comprising: a conversion candidate acquisition unit that acquires conversion candidates retrieved using a dictionary for an input character string; an adjusting unit configured to adjust the arrangement of the conversion candidates acquired by the conversion candidate acquiring unit; a confirmation operation accepting unit that displays the conversion candidates acquired by the conversion candidate acquiring unit in the arrangement adjusted by the adjusting unit and outputs the selected confirmed character string to a target application; as well as a storage unit storing classification data indicating the type of the application program; The dictionary is set up corresponding to the different types of the application. The adjustment unit estimates a priority of each conversion candidate according to a type of a dictionary from which the conversion candidates are retrieved, and adjusts the arrangement of the conversion candidates acquired by the conversion candidate acquisition unit based on the estimated priority.

2. A character input device comprising: a conversion candidate acquisition unit that acquires conversion candidates retrieved using a dictionary for an input character string; a confirmation operation accepting unit that displays the conversion candidates acquired by the conversion candidate acquiring unit and outputs the selected confirmed character string to a target application; as well as a storage unit storing classification data indicating the type of the application program; The dictionary is set up corresponding to the different types of the application. The conversion candidate acquisition unit acquires the conversion candidates searched using a dictionary corresponding to the type of the application to which the specific character string is output.

3. The character input device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: The category acquisition unit acquires the category of the application program together with the application program from a host device.

4. The character input device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: The category determination unit counts, for each application, the categories of the dictionary retrieved to obtain the specific character string output to the application, and determines the category of the application based on the counted result.

5. The character input device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: The setting operation accepting unit accepts a setting operation for setting a type of the application for each of the application programs.

6. A character input method, The following steps are executed by a computer of a character input device that stores classification data indicating types of application programs in a storage unit and is provided with a dictionary corresponding to different types of application programs: a conversion candidate acquisition step of acquiring conversion candidates retrieved from the dictionary for the input character string; an adjusting step of adjusting the arrangement of the conversion candidates acquired in the conversion candidate acquiring step; and a determination operation accepting step of displaying the conversion candidates acquired in the conversion candidate acquiring step in the arrangement adjusted in the adjusting step and outputting the selected determined character string to a target application; The adjusting step is a step of estimating a priority of each conversion candidate according to the type of the dictionary from which the conversion candidates are retrieved, and adjusting the arrangement of the conversion candidates acquired in the conversion candidate acquiring step based on the estimated priority.

7. A character input method, The following steps are executed by a computer of a character input device that stores classification data indicating types of application programs in a storage unit and is provided with a dictionary corresponding to different types of application programs: a conversion candidate acquisition step of acquiring conversion candidates retrieved using the dictionary for the input character string; and a confirmation operation accepting step of displaying the conversion candidates acquired in the conversion candidate acquiring step and outputting the selected confirmation character string to a target application, The conversion candidate acquisition step is a step of acquiring the conversion candidates searched using a dictionary corresponding to the type of the application to which the specific character string is output.

8. A character input program, A computer is configured to cause a character input device that stores classification data indicating types of application programs in a storage unit and includes a dictionary corresponding to different types of application programs to execute the following steps: a conversion candidate acquisition step of acquiring conversion candidates retrieved from the dictionary for the input character string; an adjusting step of adjusting the arrangement of the conversion candidates acquired in the conversion candidate acquiring step; and a determination operation accepting step of displaying the conversion candidates acquired in the conversion candidate acquiring step in the arrangement adjusted in the adjusting step and outputting the selected determined character string to a target application; The adjusting step is a step of estimating a priority of each conversion candidate according to the type of the dictionary from which the conversion candidates are retrieved, and adjusting the arrangement of the conversion candidates acquired in the conversion candidate acquiring step based on the estimated priority.

9. A character input program, A computer is configured to cause a character input device that stores classification data indicating types of application programs in a storage unit and includes a dictionary corresponding to different types of application programs to execute the following steps: a conversion candidate acquisition step of acquiring conversion candidates retrieved using the dictionary for the input character string; and a confirmation operation accepting step of displaying the conversion candidates acquired in the conversion candidate acquiring step and outputting the selected confirmation character string to a target application, The conversion candidate acquisition step is a step of acquiring the conversion candidates searched using a dictionary corresponding to the type of the application to which the specific character string is output.

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