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

Abstract

To provide a character input device, method, and program for allowing a user to easily perform input operation of a character string of a term presented and selected by a suggestion function in the past.SOLUTION: A character input device includes: an output unit for outputting a first character string to an application program having a suggestion function; a detection unit for detecting selection of a second character string presented by an application program according to the first character string; and a registration unit for registering the second character string whose selection is detected by the detection unit in a dictionary database.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for assisting character input. [Background technology]

[0002] Electronic devices such as smartphones are installed with application programs (hereinafter simply referred to as apps), such as email and memo pads, into which users input character strings. A character input device is used by users to input character strings. As described in Patent Document 1, for example, the character input device has a dictionary database in which reading character strings (hiragana) and conversion character strings are registered in association with each other. The character input device extracts a conversion character string corresponding to the reading character string input by the user from the dictionary database, presents it to the user, and outputs the conversion character string selected by the user to the app. Depending on the type of app, the character input device outputs the reading character string input by the user to the app. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-152818 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, electronic devices such as smartphones also have installed applications (for example, web browsers) with suggestion functions. Applications with suggestion functions present strings of terms related to a string entered by a user (reading string or conversion string) and allow the user to select one.

[0005] The character strings presented by the suggestion function include terms that are not registered in the dictionary database. Therefore, if a term that was previously presented in an app with a suggestion function and selected by the user is not registered in the dictionary database, the user will have to go through the trouble of inputting the term in another app (especially an app without a suggestion function (e.g., email or memo pad)).

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that allows a user to easily perform an input operation of a character string of a term that has been previously presented by a suggestion function and selected by the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] First, the terms used in this invention are defined. The suggestion function is a function that presents strings of terms related to a string entered by a user (a reading string or a converted string) and allows the user to select one. For example, when "home" is entered, the suggestion function presents "home time," "home festival," "lazy," etc. as related terms. In this case, "home time" and "home festival" are coined words and are not usually registered in a dictionary database. An example of an application program with a suggestion function is a web browser.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the character input device of the present invention is configured as follows.

[0009] This character input device includes an output unit, a detection unit, and a registration unit. The output unit outputs a first character string to an application program having a suggestion function. The detection unit detects selection of a second character string presented by the application program in response to the first character string. The registration unit registers the second character string detected as selected by the detection unit in a dictionary database.

[0010] In this configuration, character strings presented (suggested) by the suggestion function can be registered in the dictionary database.

[0011] Also, for example, in this character input device, the registration unit associates the first character string with the second character string and registers them in the dictionary database.

[0012] Also, for example, in this character input device, if the second character string has already been registered in the dictionary database as a vocabulary, the registration unit does not register the second character string in the dictionary database. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique that allows a user to easily perform an input operation for a character string of a term that has been previously presented by a suggestion function and selected by the user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an image diagram of character input using the character input device of the first configuration example. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the character input device of the first configuration example. [Figure 3] 3A, 3B, and 3C are conceptual diagrams showing character input using the character input device of the first configuration example. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the character input device in the operational example. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the character input device in the operational example. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an image diagram showing character input using the character input device of the second configuration example. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a character input device according to the first modification. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the character input device of the first modified example. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the character input device of the first modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to several drawings.

[0016] <1. Application Examples> 1 is an image diagram of character input using the character input device 10 of Configuration Example 1. A user uses the character input device 10 to perform an operation to search for a web page using a search word (character string) input.

[0017] The character input device 10 is mounted on an electronic device such as a smartphone, etc. Note that the electronic device is not limited to a smartphone, and may be any device that allows character input, such as a tablet or a personal computer.

[0018] A specific example will be described in which a user inputs characters. The smartphone 80 is equipped with a touch panel. The user starts an app installed on the smartphone 80. The user inputs characters using this app.

[0019] The character input device 10 includes a display unit 20, a detection unit 30, a display control unit 35, a control unit 40, a dictionary database 50, and an output unit 60. The detection unit 30 receives the result of a user operating the touch panel of the smartphone 80. For example, the detection unit 30 outputs to the display control unit 35 that the user has started an app to input characters and has started character input (tapping the character input field).

[0020] The display control unit 35 activates the display unit 20. The display unit 20 includes a character input unit 21 and a candidate display unit 22. The detection unit 30 accepts a character string input by the user using the character input unit 21, and outputs the character string to the output unit 60. The output unit 60 outputs the character string to an app on the smartphone 80.

[0021] A user searches for a web page using a search word (character string) using, for example, a web browser (hereinafter referred to as a browser), such as Google (registered trademark). At this time, the user inputs the character string into the search field 200 of the browser. The browser may be any browser that has a suggestion function. Furthermore, the type of app is not limited as long as it has the suggestion function.

[0022] The user taps the search field 200 of the browser. This causes the detection unit 30 to make the display control unit 35 display the character input unit 21 and the candidate display unit 22.

[0023] The user operates the character input unit 21 to input characters. More specifically, the detection unit 30 detects the character string input by the user using the character input unit 21. The detection unit 30 outputs the character string to the output unit 60. The output unit 60 outputs the characters input by the user to the search field 200 of the browser. This inputs a search word (character string) into the browser. The browser uses this search word (character string) to search for web pages. Hereinafter, the series of processes for inputting this character string will be referred to as "inputting characters."

[0024] Below is an example of a user entering the search term "home time telework." The user enters the string "home time" followed by a space. The user then enters the string "telework" after the space.

[0025] First, the user launches the browser and enters the first string "home." The browser uses its suggestion function to present candidates such as "home time," "home festival," "lazy," "how to spend time at home," "home time presents," and "home time goods." The user then selects the second string "home time."

[0026] Next, the user taps the browser's search field 200 again to input the third character string "telework." The user inputs a space and the third character string "telework" into the search field 200. This causes the browser to display search results according to the string "home time telework."

[0027] At this time, the character input device 10 registers that the user has input the first character string "home" in order to input the second character string "home time." More specifically, the character input device 10 associates the first character string "home" with the second character string "home time" and registers them in the dictionary database 50. That is, when inputting characters, the user can obtain the second character string "home time" by inputting the first character string "home." In the following example, the first character string will be described as "home." Note that the first character string may be a character string such as "home-ji" or "home-jika."

[0028] This configuration allows the user to register a character string selected using the suggestion function. More specifically, the user can register a character string presented by the suggestion function while searching for a web page using a search word using a browser or the like. In other words, the user can easily input characters, improving user convenience.

[0029] <2.Configuration example> Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the character input device 10 of Configuration Example 1. Figs. 3(A), 3(B), and 3(C) are conceptual diagrams showing character input using a smartphone 80 to which the character input device 10 of Configuration Example 1 is applied. Note that the application of the character input device 10 is not limited to smartphones, and may be any other electronic device capable of character input.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the character input device 10 includes a display unit 20, a detection unit 30, a display control unit 35, a control unit 40, a dictionary database 50, and an output unit 60.

[0031] As described above, the display unit 20 includes the character input unit 21 and the candidate display unit 22. For example, the character input unit 21 and the candidate display unit 22 are arranged on the screen of the smartphone 80 as shown in FIGS. 3(A) to 3(C). The character input unit 21 displays various keys for character input. The candidate display unit 22 displays conversion candidates acquired by a method described below and narrowed-down conversion candidates. Note that the character input unit 21 is, for example, a software keyboard.

[0032] As described above, the smartphone 80 is equipped with a touch panel. This touch panel detects user operations. More specifically, the touch panel detects operations on the browser search field 200, and the character input unit 21 and candidate display unit 22 provided on the display unit 20. The detection of an operation includes, for example, the operation position, the length of time the operation is being performed, and changes in the operation position over time. The detection results of these operations are output to the detection unit 30. Depending on the result input from the touch panel, the detection unit 30 outputs the result to the display control unit 35, the control unit 40, and the output unit 60.

[0033] The control unit 40 includes a character string acquisition unit 41, a character string comparison unit 42, an application determination unit 43, and a registration unit 44. The control unit 40 is configured with a hardware CPU, a memory, and other electronic circuits. When the hardware CPU executes the character input program according to the present invention, it operates as the character string acquisition unit 41, the character string comparison unit 42, the application determination unit 43, and the registration unit 44. The memory has an area for expanding the character input program according to the present invention and an area for temporarily storing data generated when the character input program is executed. The control unit 40 may be an LSI that integrates the hardware CPU, memory, and the like. The hardware CPU is a computer that executes the character input method according to the present invention.

[0034] In the dictionary database 50, the character string, reading, part of speech, etc. of each word are registered in association with each other. The dictionary database 50 is used to convert and predict input characters (readings) into the associated character strings (converted character strings). In the first configuration example, the dictionary database 50 is configured to be built into the character input device 10, but it may also be located on a cloud. The dictionary database 50 may also be divided into two: a system dictionary and a user dictionary.

[0035] The character string acquisition unit 41 acquires a character string that has been input and selected in the search field 200. The character string comparison unit 42 searches to see if the character string is registered in the dictionary database 50. The application determination unit 43 determines whether the applications started by the user on the character input device 10 are the same or different. The registration unit 44 registers the character string in the dictionary database 50 according to the determination result.

[0036] Next, a specific configuration of the character input device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3(A) to FIG. 3(C).

[0037] As shown in Figure 3(A), a user launches a browser. The following example shows a user searching for a web page using the search word (character string) "home time telework." In this case, the user uses the browser to input multiple search words. For example, the user inputs multiple conditions by separating the character string "home time telework" with a space between the character string "home time" and the character string "telework."

[0038] The user launches a browser and displays a search page. This search page displays a search field 200. When the user taps on the search field 200, a character input section 21 and a candidate display section 22 are displayed. The user uses the character input section 21 to input the first character string "home", which is part of the character string "home time".

[0039] At this time, the detection unit 30 outputs a message that the browser has been started to the application determination unit 43. The application determination unit 43 temporarily stores this browser as the first application.

[0040] When the first character string "home" is entered into the search field 200, the browser's suggestion function displays the character strings "home time," "home festival," "lazy," "how to spend home time," "home time presents," "home time goods," etc. as candidates. At this time, the character string "home time" is not registered in the dictionary database 50. Therefore, the candidate display unit 22 displays candidates such as "home," "your house," and "house."

[0041] Next, the user selects the character string "Home Time" (hereinafter, "Home Time" will be referred to as the second character string) displayed by the browser's suggestion function. The detection unit 30 detects that the second character string "Home Time" has been selected. The browser recognizes that the second character string "Home Time" has been confirmed, and outputs to the detection unit 30 a command to close the character input unit 21 and the candidate display unit 22. The detection unit 30 outputs to the display unit 20 a command to close the character input unit 21 and the candidate display unit 22. As shown in FIG. 3(B), the browser displays a link to a web page as a result of a search for the second character string "Home Time".

[0042] The detection unit 30 outputs the first character string "house" input into the search field 200 to the character string acquisition unit 41. The character string acquisition unit 41 temporarily stores the first character string "house" in a cache or the like. Note that the storage destination of the first character string "house" is not limited to a cache or the like, and it may also be configured to temporarily store it in the dictionary database 50.

[0043] Next, as shown in Fig. 3(C), the user taps the search field 200 to input the third character string "telework." As described above, by tapping the search field 200, the character input section 21 and the candidate display section 22 are displayed on the display section 20.

[0044] At this time, the detection unit 30 detects that the search field 200 has been selected (tapped). First, the character string acquisition unit 41 acquires the second character string "home time" displayed in the search field 200. The character string acquisition unit 41 links the first character string "home" stored in the cache with the second character string "home time". In other words, the character string acquisition unit 41 infers that the user wants to input the second character string "home time" by inputting the first character string "home", and links the first character string "home" with the second character string "home time".

[0045] The character string acquisition unit 41 outputs the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" to the character string comparison unit 42. The character string comparison unit 42 searches whether the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" are linked and registered in the dictionary database 50. If the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" are not linked and registered in the dictionary database 50, the character string comparison unit 42 outputs the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" to the registration unit 44.

[0046] In addition, if the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" are linked and registered in the dictionary database, the configuration may be such that by entering the first character string "home", the priority of displaying the second character string "home time" is increased.

[0047] Next, the detection unit 30 outputs to the application determination unit 43 a notification that the search field 200 of the browser has been tapped (selected) again. The application determination unit 43 temporarily stores the browser as a second application. The application determination unit 43 determines whether the first application and the second application are the same application. In this case, it determines that the first application and the second application launched by the user are the same browser. The application determination unit 43 outputs the result to the registration unit 44.

[0048] The registration unit 44 uses the result input from the string comparison unit 42 (the first string "home" and the second string "home time") and the result input from the application determination unit 43 (the result that the first app and the second app are the same), and links the first string "home" with the second string "home time" and registers them in the dictionary database 50.

[0049] This allows the user to, for example, start up an email or the like and input the first character string "home" to display the second character string "home time" in the candidate display unit 22 as a candidate.

[0050] The user then enters a space and the third character string "telework" after the second character string "home time" displayed in search field 200. By entering this information, the user can obtain the desired search results. In other words, the user can link and register the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" as they search on their browser, improving user convenience.

[0051] <3. Example of operation> Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the character input device 10 in the operation example. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the character input device 10 in the operation example. The processing flow is to execute the flowchart in Fig. 4 and then execute the flowchart in Fig. 5.

[0052] First, the processing flow of the character input device 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 3(A) to Fig. 3(C) and Fig. 4. The user starts up a browser installed on the smartphone 80 (S101). At this time, the application determination unit 43 temporarily stores this browser as a first application.

[0053] The user taps the search field 200. The detection unit 30 outputs to the display control unit 35 to activate the display unit 20. The display unit 20 displays the character input unit 21 and the candidate display unit 22 (S102).

[0054] The search field 200 accepts the input of a character string by the user. The user uses the character input unit 21 to input, for example, the first character string "house" (S103).

[0055] The browser's suggestion function displays the following as candidates: "Home time," "Home festival," "Be lazy," "How to spend time at home," "Home time presents," "Home time goods," etc. The user selects the second character string "Home time" (S104).

[0056] The browser recognizes that the second character string "home time" has been confirmed (S105). First, as the second character string "home time" has been confirmed, the browser executes a web page search using the second character string "home time" as a search word. The detection unit 30 outputs the first character string "home" entered in the search field 200 to the character string acquisition unit 41. The character string acquisition unit 41 temporarily stores the first character string "home" in a cache or the like (S106).

[0057] The detection unit 30 outputs a command to the display control unit 35 to shut down the display unit 20. The display control unit 35 shuts down the character input unit 21 and the candidate display unit 22 of the display unit 20 (S107).

[0058] Next, the processing subsequent to that of Figure 4 will be described using the flowchart of Figure 5. The user taps the search field 200 again (S111). At this time, the detection unit 30 outputs to the application determination unit 43 that the user is using the browser. The application determination unit 43 temporarily stores the browser as a second application.

[0059] Next, the character string obtaining unit 41 obtains the second character string "stay at home" displayed in the search field 200 (S112).

[0060] The character string obtaining unit 41 outputs the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" to the character string comparing unit 42. The character string comparing unit 42 searches the dictionary database 50 to determine whether the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" are linked and registered (S113). If the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" are linked and registered in the dictionary database 50 (S113: Yes), the first character string "home" is not registered, and the third character string "telework" is entered into the search field 200, and the subsequent processing continues (S116).

[0061] Furthermore, if the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" are not associated and registered in the dictionary database 50 (S113: No), the character string comparison unit 42 checks whether the first application and the second application are the same (S114). If the first application and the second application are not the same (S114: No), the registration unit 44 does not register the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time". The user then inputs the third character string "telework" into the search field 200. The user then continues the search (S116).

[0062] Note that the first and second apps are not the same when, for example, the user launches an email app without tapping (selecting) the search field 200 in the browser after the user has performed a search for the first string using the browser.

[0063] If the first application and the second application are the same (S114: Yes), the registration unit 44 uses the result input from the character string comparison unit 42 (the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time") and the result input from the application determination unit 43 (the first application and the second application are the same) to link the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" and register them in the dictionary database 50 (S115). As a result, the second character string "home time" is registered so that it can be searched for in the dictionary database 50 by inputting the first character string "home".

[0064] The user then enters a space and the third character string "telework" after the second character string "home time" displayed in the search field 200. By entering this information, the user can obtain the desired search results.

[0065] In the above configuration, if the desired candidate is not present among the candidates presented by the suggestion function corresponding to the first character string "home," the user explicitly deletes the first character string. In this case, it is preferable to delete the first character string stored in a cache or the like. In this case, it is possible to prevent unnecessary character strings from being registered.

[0066] By using the above configuration, it is possible to register a character string entered in an application that has a suggestion function. In other words, the user can easily use the registered character string using the suggestion function even in an application that does not have a suggestion function (e.g., email, memo pad, etc.).

[0067] Furthermore, the dictionary database 50 is searched to see if the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" are registered, and if they are not found, they are registered, so there is no need to register them twice. This allows the user to be provided with appropriate search results (predicted candidates). Furthermore, the amount of data in the dictionary database 50 is not increased.

[0068] If there is another second character string linked to the first character string "home" (for example, "home festival"), the priority of displaying the second character string as a candidate for "home time" may be increased. This priority may be determined based on input frequency and usage history.

[0069] Furthermore, as in configuration example 1, the user does not need to explicitly register dictionary data (in this case, the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time") in the dictionary database 50. In other words, the user can register the first character string and the second character string in the dictionary database 50 while performing a search using a browser. This improves user convenience.

[0070] <4.Configuration Example 2> Next, a character input device according to Configuration Example 2 will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 6 is an image diagram showing character input to a character input device 10A according to Configuration Example 2.

[0071] As shown in Fig. 6, the character input device 10A according to configuration example 2 differs in that the character input unit 21 in the character input device 10 according to configuration example 1 is in a kana input mode, whereas the character input unit 21 in configuration example 2 is in an alphabet input mode. Other configurations of the character input device 10A are the same as those of the character input device 10, and a description of similar parts will be omitted. Note that the character input unit 21 in Fig. 6 uses a 12-key keyboard (ten-key), but may have a QWERTY keyboard layout.

[0072] The following description will be given taking an example in which the character input unit 21 is in the English character input mode. However, the type of language input as a character string is not limited to the English character input mode, and other types of languages ​​may be used. The type of language may be, for example, Chinese, which is a system in which the user inputs the phonetic notation of a word to be input as a character string (a desired character string), or German, which is a system in which the user inputs the spelling of a word to be input as a character string.

[0073] The user taps the search field 200 of the browser. This causes the display unit 20 of the character input device 10 to display the character input unit 21 and the candidate display unit 22. The user operates the character input unit 21 to input a search word.

[0074] For example, a user enters "chill" into the search field 200 as part of the first string "chillax." The browser uses a suggestion function to present candidates such as the string "chillax," "chill meaning," and "chill out." The user selects the first string "chillax." This allows the first string "chill" and the second string "chillax" to be linked and registered in the dictionary database 50.

[0075] In this way, it is possible to register a selected character string using the suggestion function, not only in the kana input mode but also in the alphabet input mode, which makes it easier for users to input characters, improving user convenience.

[0076] <5. Variation 1> Next, a character input device according to Modification 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a character input device 10B according to Modification 1. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the character input device 10B according to Modification 1. Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the character input device 10B according to Modification 1.

[0077] 7, the character input device 10B according to Modification 1 differs from the character input device 10 according to Configuration Example 1 in that it includes a clock unit 45. Other configurations of the character input device 10B are the same as those of the character input device 10, and a description of similar parts will be omitted.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 40 includes a character string acquisition unit 41, a character string comparison unit 42, an application determination unit 43, a registration unit 44, and a timer unit 45.

[0079] The timer 45 measures the time interval between launches of an application (for example, a browser). A more specific configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0080] The user taps the search field 200 of the browser. This causes the detection unit 30 of the character input device to cause the display control unit 35 to display the character input unit 21 and the candidate display unit 22. The user operates the character input unit 21 to input a search word. For example, the user inputs the first character string "house."

[0081] Detection unit 30 outputs a notification that the browser has been launched to application determination unit 43. Application determination unit 43 temporarily stores this browser as a first application. Timekeeping unit 45 stores the time when the first application is launched as a first time.

[0082] Next, the user selects the second character string "stay at home" displayed by the suggestion function of the browser. The detection unit 30 detects that the second character string "stay at home" has been selected.

[0083] The detection unit 30 outputs the first character string "house" input into the search field 200 to the character string acquisition unit 41. The character string acquisition unit 41 temporarily stores the first character string "house" in a cache or the like.

[0084] Next, the user taps the search field 200 to input the third character string "telework." The detection unit 30 detects that the search field 200 has been selected (tapped). The character string acquisition unit 41 acquires the second character string "home time" displayed in the search field 200. The character string acquisition unit 41 links the first character string "home" stored in the cache with the second character string "home time."

[0085] The character string acquisition unit 41 outputs the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" to the character string comparison unit 42. The character string comparison unit 42 searches the dictionary database 50, and outputs the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" to the registration unit 44 according to the search results.

[0086] Next, the detection unit 30 outputs a signal indicating that the search field 200 of the browser has been tapped (selected) to the application determination unit 43. The application determination unit 43 temporarily stores the browser as a second application. The application determination unit 43 stores the time when the second application is started as a second time.

[0087] The application determination unit 43 determines whether the first application and the second application are the same application.

[0088] The timing unit 45 compares the first time with the second time. More specifically, it calculates the time interval between the first time and the second time. The timing unit 45 determines whether this time interval is within a predetermined time. For example, the timing unit 45 determines whether this time interval is within 10 seconds. The timing unit 45 outputs the result to the application determination unit 43.

[0089] If this time interval is within 10 seconds, the registration unit 44 links the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" and registers them in the dictionary database 50. On the other hand, if this time interval is longer than 10 seconds, the registration unit 44 does not output the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time".

[0090] Next, the processing flow of the character input device 10B will be shown with reference to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the character input device 10B of Modification 1. Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the character input device 10B of Modification 1. The processing flow is to execute the flowchart of Fig. 8 and then execute the flowchart of Fig. 9.

[0091] First, the flow of processing of the character input device 10B will be described with reference to Fig. 8. The user starts up a browser (application) (S201). At this time, the application determination unit 43 temporarily stores this browser as a first application.

[0092] The timekeeping unit 45 stores the time when the first application is started as the first time (S202).

[0093] The user taps the search field 200. The detection unit 30 outputs to the display control unit 35 to activate the display unit 20. The display unit 20 displays the character input unit 21 and the candidate display unit 22 (S203).

[0094] The search field 200 accepts a character string input by the user. The user uses the character input unit 21 to input, for example, the first character string "house" (S204).

[0095] The browser's suggestion function displays the following as candidates: "Home time," "Home festival," "Lazy," "How to spend time at home," "Home time presents," "Home time goods," etc. The user selects the second character string "Home time" (S205).

[0096] The browser recognizes that the second character string "home time" has been confirmed (S206). The detection unit 30 outputs the first character string "home" entered in the search field 200 to the character string acquisition unit 41. The character string acquisition unit 41 temporarily registers the first character string "home" in a cache or the like (S207).

[0097] The detection unit 30 outputs to the display control unit 35 a command to shut down the display unit 20. The display control unit shuts down the character input unit 21 and the candidate display unit 22 of the display unit 20 (S208).

[0098] Next, the processing subsequent to that of FIG. 8 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 9. The user taps on the search field 200 (S211). At this time, the detection unit 30 outputs to the application determination unit 43 the fact that the user is using a browser. The application determination unit 43 temporarily stores the launched browser as a second application.

[0099] The timekeeping unit 45 stores the time when the second application is started as the second time (S212).

[0100] Next, the character string obtaining unit 41 obtains the second character string "stay at home" displayed in the search field 200 (S213).

[0101] The character string acquisition unit 41 outputs the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" to the character string comparison unit 42. The character string comparison unit 42 searches the dictionary database 50 to determine whether the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" are registered in association with each other (S214). If the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" are registered in association with each other in the dictionary database 50 (S214: Yes), the registration unit 44 does not register the first character string "home". The user inputs the third character string "telework" into the search field 200. The user then continues the search (S218).

[0102] Furthermore, if the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" are not associated and registered in the dictionary database 50 (S214: No), the application determination unit 43 checks whether the first application and the second application are the same (S215). If the first application and the second application are not the same (S215: No), the registration unit 44 does not register the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time". The user then inputs the third character string "telework" into the search field 200. The user then continues the search (S218).

[0103] If the first application and the second application are the same (S215: Yes), the timing unit 45 compares the first time with the second time (S216). More specifically, the time interval between the first time and the second time is calculated. The timing unit 45 determines whether this time interval is within a predetermined time. For example, the timing unit 45 determines whether this time interval is within 10 seconds. The timing unit 45 outputs the result to the application determination unit 43.

[0104] If this time interval is within 10 seconds (S216: Yes), the registration unit 44 links the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" and registers them in the dictionary database 50 (S217). On the other hand, if this time interval is longer than 10 seconds (S216: No), the registration unit 44 does not output the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time". In addition, the user inputs a third character string "telework" into the search field 200. The user then continues the search (S218).

[0105] This makes it possible to link the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" and register them in the dictionary database 50 when the first and second applications are the same and the time interval is within 10 seconds.

[0106] That is, the user can appropriately register the first character string and the second character string in the dictionary database 50. In other words, it is possible to create a dictionary database 50 that reflects the user's intention to associate and register the first character string and the second character string.

[0107] In the above example, the time interval is described as 10 seconds. However, this time interval is not limited to 10 seconds. It is also possible to define the time interval taking into consideration the type of application, the speed at which the user operates the character input device 10B, and the timeout time of the application. In this case, the character input device 10B may be configured to have a setting file (not shown) or the like, and the time interval may be stored in this setting file.

[0108] <6. Variation 2> In the above example, the first character string "home" and the second character string "home time" are linked and registered in the dictionary database 50. However, a configuration may be adopted in which the first character string is linked to the second character string and registered by performing a morphological analysis of the second character string "home time." In this case, the dictionary database 50 can configure predictive conversion candidates more flexibly.

[0109] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and that the components can be modified and embodied in the implementation stage without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in the above examples. For example, some components may be omitted from all of the components shown in the above examples. Furthermore, components from different examples may be appropriately combined.

[0110] Furthermore, the correspondence between the configuration according to the present invention and the above-described configuration can be described as follows: <Additional Notes> The character input device (10) includes an output unit (60) that outputs a first character string to an application program having a suggestion function, a detection unit (30) that detects selection of a second character string presented by the application program in response to the first character string, and a registration unit (44) that registers the second character string detected as selected by the detection unit in a dictionary database (50). [Explanation of symbols]

[0111] 10, 10A, 10B...Character input device 20...Display section 21...Character input section 22...Candidate display area 30...Detection unit 35...Display control unit 40...Control unit 41…Character string acquisition part 42...String comparison section 43...Application Judgment Unit 44...Registration Department 45...Timekeeping section 50...Dictionary database 60...Output section 80...Smartphone 200...Search field

Claims

1. an output unit that has a suggestion function and outputs the first character string to an application program that displays a candidate selected from one or more candidates presented in response to an input first character string as a second character string in an input field; a detection unit that detects a start of acceptance of an input operation of the first character string to be output to the application program and an end of acceptance of the input operation of the first character string to be output to the application program; a character string acquisition unit that acquires the second character string displayed in the input field when the detection unit detects a start of acceptance of an input operation of the first character string to be output to the application program; a registration unit that registers the second character string acquired by the character string acquisition unit in a dictionary database.

2. a storage unit that stores the first character string output by the output unit to the application program; The character input device according to claim 1 , wherein the registration unit associates the first character string stored in the storage unit with the second character string acquired by the character string acquisition unit and registers them in the dictionary database.

3. 3. The character input device according to claim 1, wherein the registration unit does not register the second character string acquired by the character string acquisition unit in the dictionary database if the second character string acquired by the character string acquisition unit has already been registered in the dictionary database as a vocabulary.

4. A character input device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the registration unit does not register the second character string acquired by the character string acquisition unit in a dictionary database unless the application program in which the detection unit has detected the start of acceptance of an input operation of the first character string this time and the application program in which the detection unit has detected the start of acceptance of an input operation of the first character string last time are the same application program.

5. A character input device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the registration unit does not register the second character string acquired by the character string acquisition unit in a dictionary database unless the time difference between the time at which the detection unit detects the start of acceptance of an input operation of the first character string this time and the time at which the detection unit detected the start of acceptance of an input operation of the first character string last time is within a predetermined time.

6. an output step of outputting the first character string to an application program having a suggestion function, which displays a candidate selected from one or more candidates presented in response to an input first character string as a second character string in an input field; a detection step of detecting a start of acceptance of an input operation of the first character string to be output to the application program and an end of acceptance of the input operation of the first character string to be output to the application program; a character string acquiring step of acquiring the second character string displayed in the input field when the detection step detects a start of acceptance of an input operation of the first character string to be output to the application program; a registration unit step of registering the second character string acquired in the character string acquisition step in a dictionary database.

7. an output step of outputting the first character string to an application program having a suggestion function, which displays a candidate selected from one or more candidates presented in response to an input first character string as a second character string in an input field; a detection step of detecting a start of acceptance of an input operation of the first character string to be output to the application program and an end of acceptance of the input operation of the first character string to be output to the application program; a character string acquiring step of acquiring the second character string displayed in the input field when the detection step detects a start of acceptance of an input operation of the first character string to be output to the application program; a registration unit step of registering the second character string acquired in the character string acquisition step in a dictionary database.

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