Information processing device, information processing metho and program

Abstract

To allow a user to easily check a status of corresponding notes attached to each entry word (presence or absence of notes, note type, note content, etc.).SOLUTION: In response to a user selecting a comment function from a content list, for example, an electronic dictionary 10 displays a list of entry words in which icons registered in comment data (22e) have been added to entry words of explanatory information including a specified character string in which the comment data (22e) is registered, as a comment display screen GCL sorted in order of the registration date and time of the comment data (22e). Then, when selecting a type of icon that the user recognizes as the type of comment the user wishes to check, the electronic dictionary 10 displays a list of entry words in which the comment data (22e), narrowed down by the selected type of icon, is registered, sorted in order of the registration date and time of the comment data (22e), as a comment display screen GCL.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] In a conventional electronic device equipped with a dictionary function, a technology has been devised in which text corresponding to a specified headword is displayed, and markers and icons of a color specified by the user are added to character strings arbitrarily specified by the user within the displayed text, and notes (comments) entered by the user are added and stored. When this text is redisplayed, it is displayed together with the added markers and icons, and when the displayed marker portion or icon is touched, the memo content corresponding to the touched marker portion or icon is displayed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-197983 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the electronic device described in Patent Document 1, when text corresponding to a specified headword is displayed, the user can confirm that notes have been added to character strings within the displayed text, but the user cannot easily confirm that notes corresponding to each headword have been added.

[0005] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program that allow a user to easily check the status of notes that correspond to each headword (whether or not a note is present, the type of note, the content of the note, etc.). [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The information processing device according to the present invention comprises: a text display control for displaying text corresponding to a specified entry word among a plurality of texts stored corresponding to each of a plurality of entry words; a comment storage control that, when a comment is input and a type of icon is selected while a character string in the text displayed by the text display control is designated, stores comment information that associates the input comment with the selected type of icon, in association with a designated character string that is the designated character string and a designated headword that is the designated headword; a first icon display control that, when displaying the designated headword that is stored in association with the comment information, displays an icon of a type indicated by the comment information corresponding to the designated headword at a position corresponding to the designated headword; The control unit executes the above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the information processing device of the present invention, the user can easily check the status of notes that correspond to each headword (whether or not a note is present, the type of note, the content of the note, etc.). [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing the external configuration of an electronic dictionary 10 according to an embodiment of an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic circuit of an electronic dictionary 10. FIG. [Figure 3] 10 is a diagram showing the structure of comment data (22e) stored in the electronic dictionary 10. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing a comment registration and editing process (part 1) of the electronic dictionary 10. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing a comment registration and editing process (part 2) of the electronic dictionary 10. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing a comment display process of the electronic dictionary 10. [Figure 7] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing display operations accompanying comment registration in accordance with the comment registration and editing process of the electronic dictionary 10. [Figure 8] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing display operations accompanying comment editing in accordance with the comment registration and editing process of the electronic dictionary 10. [Figure 9] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing display operations according to the comment display process of the electronic dictionary 10. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1, the information processing device may be configured as a dedicated electronic dictionary 10, or may be configured as a tablet-type PDA (personal digital assistant), PC (personal computer), mobile phone, e-book, portable game console, or the like equipped with a dictionary function.

[0010] The electronic dictionary 10 comprises a folding case in which the main case 11 and the cover case 12 can be opened and closed via a hinge 13. When the folding case is opened, the surface of the main case 11 is provided with a key input section (keyboard) 14 including a [Home] key 14a, function designation keys 14b, character input keys 14c, [Enter] key 14d, [Back] key 14e, cursor keys 14f, etc., a voice output section 15, and a voice input section 16. The surface of the cover case 12 is also provided with a touch panel display section (display) 17. The touch panel display section 17 is an integrated structure of a touch position detection device that detects the position touched by the user with a touch pen P or a finger, and a display device, and is composed of a transparent touch panel overlaid on a backlit color liquid crystal display screen. The touch pen P is inserted into the main case 11 through an opening on the right side thereof, as indicated by the arrow x.

[0011] The function specification keys 14b of the key input unit 14 are keys for directly specifying the dictionary content (such as [Encyclopedia] or [Encyclopedia]), the dictionary content category (such as [Japanese], [Old Japanese], [English-Japanese], or [Japanese-English]), [Content List], or one of the tool categories, [Study Notebook], displayed on the respective keys. The multiple types of content displayed in a list in response to the operation of the [Content List] include various dictionary content such as a Japanese dictionary, an English-Japanese dictionary, and an old Japanese dictionary, various study content such as Japanese, mathematics, English, and science, as well as various functional content such as a multiple dictionary search function, a calculator function, and a game function. In the embodiment, the functional content includes, for example, a comment function for displaying comments registered in association with user-selected text portions included in the dictionary content on the comment display screen GCL.

[0012] The electronic dictionary 10 of the embodiment has at least the following functions (a) to (l). (a) A function that searches for a headword of the user's choice in dictionary content of the user's choice, and displays the searched headword (word) and explanatory information including its meaning and usage examples on the touch panel display unit 17 as an explanatory information screen GE (see Figure 7(A)). (b) When a user specifies a character string on the explanatory information screen GE, a marker mk is added to the specified character string and the string is displayed. (c) A function for displaying a comment input window Wci (see FIG. 7(B)) for the user to input any comment on a specified character string. (d) When a user enters a comment Cm in the comment input window Wci, a function to display an icon menu MI (see Figure 7(C)) for registering an icon of a type selected by the user (Ia, Ib, Ic, ...) in association with the entered comment Cm. (e) A function (comment storage control) that associates a specified character string (specified character string) (first character string), an input comment, and a selected type of icon with the dictionary name (dictionary identification information) and its headword (word) that were searched for explanatory information containing the specified character string, adds the date and time of registration, and registers (stores) them as comment data (comment information) of one record (22e: see Figure 3). (f) When comment data (22e) associated with a headword (word) is registered on the explanatory information screen GE for the headword (word), a function (icon display control) is performed to display an underline UL (see FIG. 8(A)) on the specified character string registered as the comment data (22e) and to display an icon (here, Ia) registered as the comment data (22e) at the beginning of the target line including the specified character string. Note that when the target line includes multiple specified character strings, an underline UL is displayed on each character string and multiple icons associated with each character string are displayed side by side at the beginning of the target line (icon display control). (g) When a displayed icon (here, Ia) or underline UL is designated, a function (comment display control) is provided to display a comment window Wc (see Figure 8(B)) for displaying a comment Cm associated with the designated icon or underline UL, and to display the comment Cm in the comment window Wc. (h) A function to change the comment Cm displayed in the comment window Wc to a comment Cm of the user's choice, and to associate the changed comment Cm with an icon of the user's choice and re-register it (overwriting the comment and icon before the change with the changed comment and icon and re-storing it). (i) A function for deleting the registration (storage) of comment data (22e) corresponding to a comment Cm displayed in the comment window Wc in response to a user operation. (j) A function to acquire the registration date and time of each registered comment data (22e), sort the comment data (22e) in order of most recent (or oldest) registration date and time, and display the comment display screen GCL in the sorted order by adding registered icons to the entry words registered in each comment data (22e) in the entry word list. Note that if multiple character strings are specified in the explanatory information of the same entry word and multiple comment data (22e) are registered, the comment data (22e) with the latest (or earliest) registration date and time may be sorted. (k) When a user selects an icon of any type (Ia, Ib, Ic, ...) on the comment display screen GCL, comment data (22e) in which an icon of the selected type is registered is given first priority and sorted in order of most recent (or oldest) registration date and time (sorted by narrowing down by icon type), and comment data (22e) in which an icon other than the selected type is registered is given second or subsequent priority and sorted in order of most recent (or oldest) registration date and time. Then, a function (priority display control) is displayed on the comment display screen GCL after narrowing down the icons (see FIGS. 1 and 9(A)), in which each entry word registered in each comment data (22e) of the first priority, which has been narrowed down and sorted by icon type, is followed by each entry word registered in each comment data (22e) of second or subsequent priorities, which has been sorted based on the other icons, in a list of entry words. Note that when multiple comment data (22e) associated with the selected type of icon are registered in the explanatory information of the same entry word, the comment data (22e) with the latest (or earliest) registration date and time may be sorted. (l) A function for displaying an explanatory information screen GE (see Figure 9(B)) for a selected headword (word) when the user selects any headword from the list of headwords on the comment display screen GCL.

[0013] The electronic dictionary 10 shown in Figure 1 shows a comment display screen GCL after narrowing down the icons when the type of icon arbitrarily selected by the user is a memo icon Ic, and shows a case where the explanatory information for the headword ``front'', to which comment data (22e) associated with the latest (or frontmost) memo icon Ic is registered, also has another comment data (22e) associated with a check icon Ia registered.

[0014] 2, the electronic circuit of the electronic dictionary 10 includes a control unit (CPU: Central Processing Unit) 21, which is a computer. The control unit 21 controls the operation of each part of the circuit in accordance with a dictionary control program 22a pre-stored in a memory unit (storage) 22 such as a flash ROM, or a dictionary control program 22a read from an external recording medium 23 such as a memory card by a recording medium reading unit 24 and stored in the memory unit 22, or a dictionary control program 22a downloaded from a Web server (here, a program server) 30 on a communication network N via a communication unit 25 and stored in the memory unit 22. The control unit 21 is connected to the memory unit 22, recording medium reading unit 24, and communication unit 25 via data and control buses, as well as to the key input unit 14, audio output unit 15, audio input unit 16, and touch panel display unit 17.

[0015] The storage unit 22 includes a program storage area for storing a dictionary control program 22a, a dictionary data storage area 22b, a search entry word data storage area 22c, an icon data storage area 22d, a comment data storage area 22e, a working data storage area 22f, and the like.

[0016] The dictionary control program 22a includes a system program that controls the overall operation of the electronic dictionary 10, a program for establishing a communication connection with external electronic devices via the communication unit 25, a program for performing a headword search based on the dictionary data of various dictionary contents stored in the dictionary data storage area 22b, and programs for executing the above-mentioned functions (a) to (l).

[0017] The dictionary data storage area 22b stores various dictionary data (dictionary content), such as a Japanese dictionary, a Japanese dictionary, an English-Japanese dictionary, an English-Japanese dictionary, a Japanese-English dictionary, etc. The search entry word data storage area 22c stores entry words to be searched (search entry words) input in response to a user operation when a user searches for an entry word in the dictionary data of dictionary content arbitrarily specified by the user.

[0018] The icon data storage area 22d stores data of various icons Ia, Ib, Ic, ... for selectively registering a type of icon of the user's choosing in association with a user's chosen comment Cm for a character string designated by the user on the headword explanation information screen GE (see FIG. 7) displayed on the touch panel display unit 17 in response to the headword search. The comment data storage area 22e, as shown in FIG. 3, stores (registers) the character string designated on the headword explanation information screen GE (see FIG. 7) in association with the searched headword (word) and the entered comment, along with the date and time of registration, as one record of comment data (22e).

[0019] The working data memory area 22f temporarily stores (holds) various data as needed, such as data input in response to user operations and data acquired or generated by the control unit 21, in accordance with the control of the operation of each part of the circuit in accordance with the dictionary control program 22a by the control unit 21.

[0020] In the electronic dictionary 10 configured in this manner, the control unit 21 controls the operation of each part of the circuit in accordance with the instructions written in the dictionary control program 22a, and the software and hardware work together to realize various functions including the dictionary search and display function, comment registration and editing function, and comment display function, as described in the operation explanation below.

[0021] Next, the operation of the electronic dictionary 10 (information processing device) of the embodiment will be described. For example, when dictionary content (dictionary data) to be searched is designated in response to a user's operation of the function designation key 14b (step S1 (Yes) in FIG. 4), the control unit 21 displays an entry word input screen (not shown) on the touch panel display unit 17 to prompt the user to input the entry word to be searched for (step S2). When the entry word to be searched for is input on the entry word input screen in response to a user's operation of the character input key 14c and the [Enter] key 14d (step S3 (Yes)), the control unit 21 searches the specified dictionary data for the entry word to be searched for (step S4), and displays explanatory information for the searched entry word (here, "calculate") as an explanatory information screen GE on the touch panel display unit 17, as shown in FIG. 7(A), for example (step S5).

[0022] The control unit 21 checks whether the comment data (comment information) (22e) associated with the dictionary name and entry word of the searched dictionary data is registered (stored) in the comment data storage area 22e (see FIG. 3) (step S6), and if it is registered (step S6 (Yes)), it displays an underline UL on the registered specified character string on the currently displayed explanation information screen GE, and displays an icon of the registered type at the beginning of the target line including the specified character string (step 7). Here, it is assumed that the comment data (22e) associated with the entry word "calculate" of the dictionary data shown in FIG. 7(A) is not registered.

[0023] The control unit 21 determines whether a character string (which may be a single character) in the explanatory information has been designated on the currently displayed explanatory information screen GE in response to a touch operation using, for example, the touch pen P (step S8). If it is determined that the character string "calculate" in the explanatory information has been designated (step S8 (Yes)), the control unit 21 displays a marker mk superimposed on the designated character string (step S9). The control unit 21 also displays a function menu MN in which various function items are arranged along the bottom edge of the explanatory information screen GE (step S10).

[0024] Here, when the comment function Mc of the function menu MN is selected (step S11 (Yes)), the control unit 21 displays a comment input window Wci along the bottom edge of the explanatory information screen GE as shown in Fig. 7(B) (step S12). In the comment input window Wci, the user inputs and displays a comment Cm (here, "For the word test...") to be registered in association with the specified character string "calculate" by key operation of the character input keys 14c enabled by the [Keyboard] button Bk or by touch operation of the touch pen P enabled by the [Pen] button Bp (step S13). When the user presses the [Enter] button Be to enter an instruction to enter the comment (step S14 (Yes)), the control unit 21 displays an icon menu MI along the bottom edge of the explanatory information screen GE as shown in Fig. 7(C) (step S15).

[0025] In the icon menu MI, when the user selects the type of icon (here, "check icon Ia") that he / she wants to register in association with the specified character string "calculate" and its comment "For word tests..." Cm, and presses the [Register] button Br to input a registration instruction (step S16 (Yes)), the control unit 21 associates the specified character string "calculate", the entered comment "For word tests..." Cm, and the selected type of icon Ia with the name of the dictionary currently being searched, "English-Japanese Dictionary," and the headword "calculate," and registers (stores) the specified character string "calculate," the entered comment "For word tests..." Cm, and the selected type of icon Ia in the comment data storage area 22e as one record of comment data (22e) with the date and time of registration added (step S17), as shown in FIG.

[0026] As shown in Figure 8 (A), the control unit 21 returns the explanatory information screen GE for the search headword "calculate" to the state where it is displayed on the touch panel display unit 17 (step S5), and determines that comment data (22e) associated with the corresponding dictionary name "English-Japanese Dictionary" and the headword "calculate" has been registered (step S6 (Yes)), and displays an underline UL on the registered specified string "calculate" on the explanatory information screen GE, and displays the registered icon Ia at the beginning of the target line containing the specified string (step S7).

[0027] Here, in order to confirm what comment the user has registered together with the check icon Ia in association with the character string "calculate" identified by the underline UL, when the user designates the icon Ia or the underline UL, for example, with the touch pen P (step S18 (Yes)), as shown in Figure 8 (B), the control unit 21 displays a comment window Wc along the bottom edge of the explanatory information screen GE (step S19 in Figure 5), and displays in the comment window Wc the comment "For the word test..." Cm that has been registered in association with the designated icon Ia or the character string of the underline UL (step S20).

[0028] On the explanatory information screen GE displayed after searching for a headword, the user can check the previously registered comments along with the type of icon selected by the user, which are associated with the character string that is identified and displayed with an underline UL, and can use the user's own observations, cautions, impressions, etc. registered regarding the corresponding character string to help with future learning.

[0029] When the user presses the [Change] button Bx in the comment window Wc shown in Fig. 8(B) to input a change instruction (step S21 (Yes)), the control unit 21 displays a comment input window Wci (see Fig. 7(B)) in place of the comment window Wc (step S12). The control unit 21 accepts the input of a new comment (changed comment) Cm for the specified character string "calculate" and the selection of a new icon (changed icon) in accordance with the processes of steps S13 to S17 described above, and changes (re-registers) the comment Cm and icon before the change by overwriting them with the changed comment Cm and icon registered (stored) in the comment data storage area 22e.

[0030] Furthermore, in the comment window Wc shown in Figure 8 (B), when the user presses the [Delete] button Bd to input a deletion instruction (step S22 (Yes)), the control unit 21 deletes one record of comment data (22e) (here, the specified character string "calculate", the comment "For the word test...", the icon Ia, and the date and time of registration) corresponding to the currently displayed comment "For the word test..." Cm, which is registered (stored) in the comment data storage area 22e (step S24).

[0031] The user can arbitrarily edit designated character strings in the explanatory information of search headings previously registered in association with comments and icons by changing or deleting the types of registered comments and icons according to, for example, changes in the user's own awareness, attention, impressions, etc.

[0032] When the user wants to select and check comment data (22e) (including entry words, specified character strings, and comments) that have been registered (stored) in the comment data storage area 22e from the list, the user, for example, presses [Contents List] of the function designation key 14b to display a contents list screen (not shown) (step T1 in FIG. 6), and selects the comment function from the displayed contents list (step T2 (Yes)), and the control unit 21 acquires the registration date and time of each comment data (22e) stored in the comment data storage area 22e (step T3). Note that here, the registration date and time of the latest comment data (22e) is acquired for each entry word stored in the comment data storage area 22e.

[0033] The control unit 21 sorts the registration dates and times acquired for each entry word in order of registration date and time (here, in order of "newest first") (step T4), and displays a comment display screen GCL (see FIG. 9(A)) on the touch panel display unit 17, in which the entry words corresponding to the sorted registration dates and times are listed in the sorted order (step T5). At this time, an icon of the comment data (22e) associated with the entry word is added to each entry word on the comment display screen GCL and displayed.

[0034] Next, when the user wants to select an icon of his / her choice from among the comment data (22e) stored in the comment data storage area 22e and display a list of comments, the user presses the [Icon] button BI provided along the top edge of the comment display screen GCL (see FIG. 9(A)) to input (step T6 (Yes)). The control unit 21 displays an icon menu MI (see FIG. 7(C)) on the comment display screen GCL (step T7). When an icon of the user's choice (e.g., a "memo icon Ic") is selected in the icon menu MI (step T8 (Yes)), the control unit 21 erases the icon menu MI, displays the selected memo icon Ic as a selected icon SI next to the [Icon] button BI, extracts the entry words of the first-priority comment data (22e) in which the memo icon Ic is registered (step T9), and sorts the extracted entry words in order of the registration date and time of the comment data (22c) (here, "newest first") (sort (1): step T10).

[0035] The control unit 21 also extracts entry words from the comment data (22e) of second or later priority in which an icon other than the selected type (memo icon Ic) is registered (step T11), and sorts the extracted entry words in order of the registration date and time of the comment data (22c) (here, "newest first") (sort (2): step T12). As shown in FIG. 9(A), the control unit 21 causes the touch panel display unit 17 to display a comment display screen GCL in which the entry words of each comment data (22e) of second or later priority sorted (sort (2)) based on icons other than the memo icon Ic (Ia, Ib, Id, ...) are listed next to the entry words of each comment data (22e) of first priority sorted (sort (1)) based on the memo icon Ic selected by the user (step T13). At this time, an icon of the comment data (22e) associated with the entry word is added to each entry word on the comment display screen GCL.

[0036] 9(A) shows that the latest comment data (22e) registered in association with the memo icon Ic is associated with the English-Japanese dictionary headword "front," that the previously registered comment data (22e) registered in association with the same memo icon Ic is associated with the English-Japanese dictionary headword "contribute," and that the even earlier comment data (22e) registered in association with the same memo icon Ic is associated with the encyclopedia headword "calculator." It also shows that another comment data (22e) associated with the check icon Ia is registered with the English-Japanese dictionary headword "front" before the comment data (22e) registered in association with the memo icon Ic, and that another comment data (22e) associated with the question icon Ib is registered with the English-Japanese dictionary headword "contribute" after the comment data (22e) registered in association with the memo icon Ic.

[0037] The user can register comments corresponding to the user's own findings, cautions, impressions, etc. as comment data (22e) by associating them with icons of the type corresponding to the user's findings, cautions, impressions, etc. for any character string (specified character string) of the user's choice in the explanatory information searched for by a headword. Then, by selecting the type of icon on the comment display screen GCL, the registered comment data (22e) can be displayed as a list of registered headwords, with the comment data (22e) narrowed down by the selected type of icon and sorted in newest first (or oldest first). Furthermore, the icon and the type of icon added to each headword displayed in the list on the comment display screen GCL allow the user to easily check the status of notes added corresponding to each headword, and the addition status of comments corresponding to each headword can be checked by displaying the icons without displaying the comments themselves.

[0038] On the comment display screen GCL, part of the explanatory information corresponding to the headword selected by the cursor Cr is displayed in a preview area PV secured along the bottom edge of the comment display screen GCL. For example, as shown in Fig. 9(A), when the headword "front" on the comment display screen GCL is selected with the cursor Cr, and the [Enter] key 14d is pressed to input or the preview area PV is touched to instruct the entry (step T14 (Yes)), the control unit 21 causes the touch panel display unit 17 to display the explanatory information of the selected headword "front" as an explanatory information screen GE (step S5 in Fig. 4), as shown in Fig. 9(B). The control unit 21 determines that comment data (22e) associated with the dictionary name "English-Japanese Dictionary" and the headword "front" has been registered (step S6 (Yes)), and displays an underline UL on the registered specified character strings "front" and "-[name](...)" on the explanatory information screen GE, and displays the registered memo icon Ic and check icon Ia at the beginning of the target line containing the specified character string (step S7).

[0039] Here, in order to confirm what comment the user has registered together with the memo icon Ic in association with the character string "front" that is identified by the underline UL, when the user designates the memo icon Ic or the underline UL, for example, with the touch pen P (step S18 (Yes)), as shown in Figure 9 (C), the control unit 21 displays a comment window Wc along the bottom edge of the explanatory information screen GE (step S19 in Figure 5), and displays in the comment window Wc the comment "Weather Front" Cm that is registered in association with the designated memo icon Ic or the character string of the underline UL (step S20).

[0040] The user can easily find and check the designated character string registered in association with the type of comment the user wants to check and the comment by selecting the type of icon to narrow down the search, and can use the information efficiently for subsequent learning.

[0041] According to the electronic dictionary 10 (information processing device) of the embodiment, when the user, on the explanatory information screen GE of the searched entry word for which an entry word search has been performed by specifying, for example, any dictionary content of the user, specifies, for example, a character string "calculate" that is expected to appear in a vocabulary test, inputs a comment Cm to be confirmed "will appear in a vocabulary test" from the comment input window Wci, and selects a check icon Ia of the type determined by the user as a confirmation marker from the icon menu MI, the electronic dictionary 10 registers (stores) one record of comment data (22e) in the comment data storage area 22e, in which the dictionary name and searched entry word are associated with the specified character string (specified character string), the comment Cm "will appear in a vocabulary test" and the check icon Ia. Furthermore, when the user designates, for example, the character string "front" about which he wants to leave a memo as a reminder, inputs the comment to be memorized "Weather Front" Cm from the comment input window Wci, and selects from the icon menu MI a memo icon Ic of the type that the user has determined as a marker for the memo, one record of comment data (22e) that associates the specified character string (specified character string), the comment "Weather Front" Cm, and the memo icon Ic with the dictionary name and search headword is registered (stored) in the comment data storage area 22e.

[0042] When the electronic dictionary 10 displays the explanatory information screen GE of an entry word including a specified character string in which comment data (22e) is registered, the electronic dictionary 10 adds an underline UL to the specified character string to distinguish it from other characters, and also displays an icon corresponding to the type of comment defined by the user and registered in the comment data (22e) at the beginning of the target line containing the specified character string. When the underline UL of the specified character string or the icon at the beginning of the line is specified, the electronic dictionary 10 displays the comment Cm registered in association with the specified character string in the comment window Wc.

[0043] The user can easily know that a comment Cm of a type recognized by an icon displayed at the beginning of a line in a specified character string distinguishably displayed by an underline UL is registered, and can easily display and confirm the registered comment Cm.

[0044] Furthermore, in response to a user selecting a comment function from, for example, a content list, the electronic dictionary 10 displays a list of entry words in which the entry words of explanatory information including a specified character string in which the comment data (22e) is registered are added with icons registered in the comment data (22e) as a comment display screen GCL sorted in order of the registration date and time of the comment data (22e). Then, when the user selects a type of icon recognized as the type of comment he or she wants to check, the electronic dictionary 10 sorts a list of entry words in which the comment data (22e) narrowed down by the selected type of icon in order of the registration date and time of the comment data (22e) and displays it as a comment display screen GCL. When the user selects an entry word to which an icon corresponding to the type of comment he or she wants to check is added from the comment display screen GCL, the electronic dictionary 10 displays an explanatory information screen GE for the selected entry word, and distinguishes the specified character string in which the comment data (22e) is registered by adding an underline UL, and displays an icon corresponding to the type of comment at the beginning of the target line containing the specified character string. The user can easily narrow down and check the character string in which the type of comment he or she wants to check and the comment.

[0045] Therefore, according to the electronic dictionary 10 (information processing device) of the embodiment, it is possible to easily manage comments attached to character strings based on the relationship between the comments and the objects (icons) attached to the character strings specified by the user in the displayed text. Also, the icons and icon types attached to each entry word displayed in a list on the comment display screen GCL allow the user to easily check the status of notes attached to each entry word (presence or absence of notes, note type, note content, etc.), and the icons displayed allow the user to check the status of comments attached to each entry word without displaying the comments themselves.

[0046] In the above-described embodiment, the comment display screen GCL is configured to display a list (list display information) of the headwords in which each comment data (22e) sorted in order of registration date and time is registered, but it is also possible to display a list (list display information) of the specified character strings or the comments themselves registered in each sorted comment data (22e).

[0047] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, comments were registered (stored) in association with a user-selected text portion (specified character string) contained in the dictionary content, but the user-selected text portion (specified character string) to which a comment is associated is not limited to text contained in the dictionary content, and may be text contained in various other contents.

[0048] In the above-described embodiment, one comment and one type of icon are associated with one text portion (designated character string) selected by the user and then registered (stored), but this is not limiting, and multiple comments and multiple types of icons corresponding to each of the multiple comments may be associated with one text portion (designated character string) and then registered (stored). In this case, multiple types of icons may be displayed side by side at the beginning of a target line of text that includes the designated character string.

[0049] In the above-described embodiment, the dictionary data (22b), search entry word data (22c), icon data (22d), and comment data (22e) are stored in the electronic dictionary 10 or an electronic device (information processing device) such as a tablet-type PDA, PC, mobile phone, e-book, or portable game machine equipped with a dictionary function, and the electronic device (10) alone is configured to realize various functions including a dictionary search and display function, a comment registration and editing function, and a comment display function. Alternatively, the dictionary data (22b), search entry word data (22c), icon data (22d), and comment data (22e) may be stored in a database of a server device (information processing device) provided on a communication network N, and a communication terminal (user terminal) such as a tablet terminal or PC connectable to the communication network N may be connected to the server device for communication, thereby realizing various functions similar to those of the above-described embodiment.

[0050] The processing methods performed by the electronic dictionary 10 (information processing device) described in each of the above embodiments, i.e., the dictionary search and display process and comment registration and editing process shown in the flowcharts of Figures 4 and 5, and the comment display process shown in the flowchart of Figure 6, can all be stored in an external storage medium such as a memory card (ROM card, RAM card, etc.), a magnetic disk (floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.), or a semiconductor memory and distributed as a program that can be executed by a computer. The control unit (CPU) of the information processing device (electronic device) then loads the program stored in the external storage medium into the storage device, and, by having its operation controlled by the loaded program, realizes the various functions described in each of the above embodiments and can execute similar processing using the above-mentioned methods.

[0051] In addition, the program data for realizing each method can be transmitted over a communication network (N) in the form of program code, and the program data can be imported from a computer device (program server) connected to this communication network (N) into an information processing device (electronic device) and stored in a storage device, thereby realizing the various functions described above.

[0052] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and various modifications can be made in the implementation stage without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments may be implemented in appropriate combinations, in which case the combined effects can be obtained. Furthermore, the embodiments include various inventions, and various inventions can be extracted by combining selected elements from the disclosed elements. For example, if the problem can be solved and the desired effect can be obtained even if some elements are deleted from all elements shown in the embodiments, the configuration from which these elements are deleted can be extracted as an invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 10...electronic dictionary (information processing device), 14...key input unit, 17...touch panel display unit, 21...control unit (CPU), 22...memory unit, 22a...dictionary control program, 22b...dictionary data storage area, 22c...search entry word data storage area, 22d...icon data storage area, 22e...comment data storage area, 25...communication unit, 30...web server, N...communication network, GE...explanatory information screen, P...touch pen, mk...marker, MN...function menu, Mc...comment function, Wci...comment input window, Cm...comment, MI...icon menu, Ia, Ib, Ic, ...icon, UL...underline, Wc...comment window.

Claims

1. a text display control for displaying text corresponding to a specified entry word among a plurality of texts stored corresponding to each of a plurality of entry words; a comment storage control that, when a comment is input and a type of icon is selected while a character string in the text displayed by the text display control is designated, stores comment information that associates the input comment with the selected type of icon, in association with a designated character string that is the designated character string and a designated headword that is the designated headword; a first icon display control that, when displaying the designated headword that is stored in association with the comment information, displays an icon of a type indicated by the comment information corresponding to the designated headword at a position corresponding to the designated headword; An information processing device comprising a control unit that executes the above.

2. In the first icon display control, the control unit: When a plurality of pieces of comment information are stored in association with the designated entry word, a plurality of icons indicated by the plurality of pieces of comment information corresponding to the designated entry word are displayed at positions corresponding to the designated entry word. The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. In the first icon display control, the control unit: When a list of the specified entry words is displayed, an icon of a type indicated by the comment information corresponding to each of the specified entry words is displayed at a position corresponding to each of the specified entry words displayed in the list.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1.

4. The control unit a second icon display control that, when displaying text corresponding to the specified headword, displays an icon of a type indicated by the comment information corresponding to the specified character string at a position in the displayed text corresponding to the specified character string; a comment display control that displays a comment indicated by the comment information corresponding to the specified character string in response to an operation on an icon displayed at a position corresponding to the specified character string; The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2, which executes the above.

5. The control unit When the comment information and the specified character strings are stored in association with each of a plurality of entry words, and when list display information of any of the entry words, the specified character strings, and the comments indicated by each comment information is to be displayed, priority display control is executed to narrow down or sort the list display information to be displayed in accordance with a priority determined by the type of icon associated with each comment information.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1.

6. The control unit In the comment storage control, a type of icon corresponding to the input comment is selected from a plurality of icon types, and comment information in which the input comment and the selected icon type are associated with each other is stored in association with the specified character string and the specified headword; In the priority display control, the specified headwords of the plurality of texts each including a plurality of specified character strings associated with a plurality of pieces of comment information are displayed in a list, and one or more types of icons indicated by each piece of comment information are displayed at positions corresponding to the listed specified headwords, and the listed specified headwords are narrowed down or sorted according to the designation of the type of icon. The information processing device according to claim 5 .

7. The control unit Identifying and displaying the specified character string within the displayed text; displaying an icon of a type associated with the specified character string that is displayed with distinction at the beginning of a line that includes the specified character string that is displayed with distinction; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

8. The control unit In the priority display control, priority display control is executed to narrow down or sort the list display information to be displayed in accordance with a priority determined by the type of icon associated with each comment information and date and time information. The information processing device according to claim 5 .

9. The control unit In the comment storage control, a plurality of pieces of comment information having different icon types and comment contents are stored in association with the specified character string; In the second icon display control, a plurality of types of icons indicated by a plurality of pieces of comment information associated with the specified character string are displayed side by side at positions corresponding to the specified character string; In the comment display control, when any one of the types of icons among the plurality of types of icons displayed side by side is operated, a comment associated with the type of the operated icon among the plurality of comments included in the plurality of comment information corresponding to the specified character string is displayed. The information processing device according to claim 4 .

10. The control unit of the information processing device a text display control for displaying text corresponding to a specified entry word among a plurality of texts stored corresponding to each of a plurality of entry words; a comment storage control that, when a comment is input and a type of icon is selected while a character string in the text displayed by the text display control is designated, stores comment information that associates the input comment with the selected type of icon, in association with a designated character string that is the designated character string and a designated headword that is the designated headword; a first icon display control that, when displaying the designated headword that is stored in association with the comment information, displays an icon of a type indicated by the comment information corresponding to the designated headword at a position corresponding to the designated headword; An information processing method for executing the above.

11. A control unit of the information processing device a text display control for displaying text corresponding to a specified entry word among a plurality of texts stored corresponding to each of a plurality of entry words; a comment storage control that, when a comment is input and a type of icon is selected while a character string in the text displayed by the text display control is designated, stores comment information that associates the input comment with the selected type of icon, in association with a designated character string that is the designated character string and a designated headword that is the designated headword; a first icon display control that, when displaying the designated headword that is stored in association with the comment information, displays an icon of a type indicated by the comment information corresponding to the designated headword at a position corresponding to the designated headword; A program to execute.

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