JP4409851B2 - Character conversion device and character conversion method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a character conversion device and a character conversion method. The present invention particularly relates to a technique for improving the efficiency of character conversion.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When inputting Japanese on a computer, unlike Western languages with few character types, it is essential to use a Japanese input program that converts kana characters into kanji. This Japanese input program was originally premised on inputting characters from a keyboard connected to a computer. However, in recent years, character input is frequently performed on a terminal having a small number of keys such as a mobile phone or a mobile terminal, and a technique for simplifying an input operation in a Japanese input program has attracted much attention. It was. As one of such techniques, there is known a saving input function that presents a converted character string as a conversion candidate only by inputting the first few characters of the character string to be originally input (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-63158 (full text, FIGS. 1 to 5)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to the above technique, conversion candidates are extracted by referring to past input histories and conversion confirmation histories. However, depending on the character strings of these histories, words that cannot be partially reused may be included. Especially in the case of sentences with relatively long history character strings, it is complicated for the user to identify the possibility of reuse or to re-edit the part that cannot be reused. There is a possibility of going against the idea of making it happen.
[0005]
The inventor has made the present invention based on the above recognition, and an object thereof is to increase the efficiency of character input or character conversion.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
One embodiment of the present invention is a character conversion device. The apparatus includes a character input unit that receives an input of a character that is a character conversion target from a user, an instruction reception unit that receives a character conversion instruction from the user, and an input character string formed by the input characters. A conversion section for converting to a different conversion character string, a display processing section for displaying at least one of the input character string and the conversion character string on the screen, and storing the input character string and the conversion character string as a conversion history A history storage unit. When the instruction receiving unit receives an instruction for reduced input conversion from the user before the input character is converted, the conversion unit determines that the first character of the stored converted character string is the input character. Extract the matching conversion string. The display processing unit displays the extracted converted character string on the screen as a converted character string corresponding to the input character, and displays the proper noun part included in the converted character string in a format different from other parts. .
[0007]
The “character” is assumed to be a hiragana character corresponding to “reading” of a sentence to be input by a user regardless of an input method such as a so-called Roman character input. “Character conversion” mainly targets Japanese conversion in which hiragana is converted into kanji, but is not limited to this, and includes conversion between character types such as hiragana, katakana, kanji, and alphabet. “Conversion-saving conversion” is a conversion candidate that converts a character string in the conversion history where the first character matches the first character when a predetermined key operation is performed when the first few characters of the converted character string are read. It may be a function presented as “Proper noun” includes proper nouns in general meaning such as name, place name, region name, product name, organization name, e-mail address, etc. It may contain words that are likely to be edited when the column is reused.
[0008]
According to this aspect, it is possible to convert a relatively long sentence by simply inputting a few characters of an input character string whose head matches the conversion history, and input efficiency or conversion efficiency can be improved. In addition, when a character string that cannot be reused as it is or an unnecessary character string is included in a relatively long sentence, these are automatically extracted and clearly shown to the user. Thereby, the reusability about the text converted in the past and the operation efficiency when reusing can be improved.
[0009]
Another aspect of the present invention is a character conversion method. This method includes a step of acquiring a character input by a user as a character conversion target, a step of displaying the input character on a screen, a step of acquiring an instruction for a reduced input conversion from the user, and a conversion accumulated in advance. A step of extracting one or more converted character strings that match the input character of the first character, a step of detecting a proper noun from the extracted converted character string, and the extracted converted character string Displaying on the screen in different formats for the part of the proper noun and the part other than the proper noun.
[0010]
Also according to this aspect, it is possible to improve the reusability of the text converted in the past and the operation efficiency when reusing.
[0011]
It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements, or the constituent elements and expressions of the present invention are mutually replaced between methods, apparatuses, systems, computer programs, recording media storing computer programs, data structures, and the like. This is effective as an embodiment of the present invention.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1
The character conversion apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is realized as a combination of a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) and a Japanese language conversion program installed on the PC. The function provided by this device is a further development of the saving input function installed in the Japanese language conversion program, and is included in the sentence when the previously input and converted sentences are presented as saving input conversion candidates. This makes it easier to edit the proper noun part. Thereby, the reusability can be improved and the operation can be facilitated with respect to a portion requiring attention in reuse.
[0013]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a character conversion apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The character conversion device 10 can be realized in hardware by an element such as a CPU of a computer, and is realized in software by a program that provides functions such as a data input function, a data conversion function, and a data display function. However, in FIG. 1 described below, functional blocks realized by their cooperation are depicted. Therefore, these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by a combination of hardware and software.
[0014]
The character conversion device 10 includes an input unit 12, an instruction receiving unit 14, a character input unit 16, a dictionary storage unit 18, a history storage unit 20, a phrase detection unit 22, a conversion unit 24, a display processing unit 26, and a display output unit 28. . The input unit 12 is an input interface that accepts user operations, and includes, for example, a combination of peripheral devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a microphone and a program that recognizes input characters and instruction contents. The display output unit 28 is an interface that displays the signal output by the display processing unit 26 on the screen as an image, and may be a monitor such as an LCD.
[0015]
The character input unit 16 receives an input of a character to be converted from the user via the input unit 12 and forms an input character string based on the acquired plurality of input characters. The instruction receiving unit 14 receives instructions necessary for character conversion operations, such as a character conversion instruction, a reduced input conversion instruction, and a candidate selection instruction, from the user via the input unit 12. The input character string acquired by the character input unit 16 and the instruction content acquired by the instruction receiving unit 14 are sent to the conversion unit 24 and the display processing unit 26.
[0016]
The dictionary storage unit 18 stores a conversion dictionary that is referred to in character conversion. In the conversion dictionary, the converted words, their readings and parts of speech are stored in association with each other. In normal character conversion, the conversion unit 24 extracts one or more words / phrases whose readings match the input character string from the conversion dictionary, and sends it to the display processing unit 26 as a conversion candidate character string. For example, when a hiragana character string “I” is input, the conversion unit 24 extracts a conversion candidate corresponding to the reading “I” from the conversion dictionary. Corresponding conversion candidates are character strings of “I”, “I”, “I”, “Pass”, and “Watashi”, which are presented to the user.
[0017]
The display processing unit 26 displays the input character string on the screen of the display output unit 28 in a state before conversion, and presents conversion candidates below the input character when a conversion instruction is received. The conversion unit 24 receives an instruction to select one of the conversion candidates from the user via the input unit 12 and the instruction reception unit 14, and sends the selected character string to the display processing unit 26 as a conversion result. The display processing unit 26 replaces the received character string as the conversion result with the input character string that has been displayed so far, and displays it on the screen of the display output unit 28. When receiving an instruction to confirm the conversion result from the user, the display processing unit 26 displays the converted character string in a confirmed state. The converted character string for which conversion is confirmed is stored in the history storage unit 20 as a conversion history corresponding to the input character string corresponding to the reading. The history accumulating unit 20 further accumulates pre-registered fixed phrases as converted character strings in addition to the converted character string as the conversion history. This fixed sentence is also stored together with the input character string that is the reading.
[0018]
Here, when the instruction receiving unit 14 receives an instruction for saving input conversion at a stage before normal conversion is performed, the conversion unit 24 selects the conversion character string stored in the conversion history of the history storage unit 20. Then, one or more conversion character strings whose first character of the reading matches the input character string are extracted. This is a so-called input-saving function, and a relatively long converted character string can be presented to the user as a conversion candidate by inputting the first few characters. The phrase detection unit 22 detects a proper noun from a converted character string presented as a conversion candidate in the saving input function. The proper noun is stored in the conversion dictionary of the dictionary storage unit 18, and the phrase detection unit 22 refers to this. Note that the phrase detection unit 22 may detect a predetermined phrase that is not suitable for reuse, such as the date and time, and the amount of money, from the converted character string, in addition to the proper noun.
[0019]
The display processing unit 26 causes the conversion character string extracted as the conversion candidate to be displayed on the screen as a conversion character string corresponding to the input character string, and the proper noun part included in the conversion character string is different from the other parts. To display. In the present embodiment, the proper noun part is replaced with a blank and displayed, and the cursor is moved to the proper noun part. Thereby, the user can easily grasp the part to be re-edited and can start the input operation of a new proper noun as it is, so that an efficient operation is possible. Note that the display processing unit 26 displays words and phrases that are not suitable for reuse, such as date and time, and monetary amounts in the same format as proper names.
[0020]
FIG. 2 shows an example of a screen displaying the input character string and the reduced input conversion candidate in the first embodiment of the present invention. In the screen 50 of this figure, the user inputs “Hei” as the input character string 52. At this time, the position of the cursor 54 is after the input character string 52 “Hei”. When the user presses a saving input conversion key such as a tab key, one or more conversion character strings starting with “Hei” reading are extracted from the conversion history, and the one or more conversion character strings are input as saving input conversion candidates 56. It is displayed below the character string 52 “Hei”. Initially, a conversion character string “To Mr. XXX who has inquired about our product XXX” positioned at the top of the reduced input conversion candidate 56 is displayed as the selection candidate 58. Here, the conversion history of the history storage unit 20 is stored in a state including proper nouns, such as “To Yoshida Shokai Co., Ltd., who made an inquiry about our product ABC”. When the display processing unit 26 displays this, the phrase detection unit 22 detects the proper nouns “ABC” and “Yoshida Shokai”, and replaces the location with a symbol indicating a blank such as “XX”. . In this figure, a symbol such as “XX” is used, but a blank may be shown in another form such as simply displaying one space. Thereafter, when the user further presses a key for switching candidates, for example, a tab key, another conversion character string is switched to the selection candidate 58 and displayed.
[0021]
FIG. 3 shows an example of a screen that displays a state in which the input character string is replaced with the converted character string by the reduced input conversion. When the user confirms the selection of the saving input conversion candidate 56 on the screen 50 of FIG. 2, the conversion character string 60 selected as shown in the screen 50 of FIG. 3 is displayed at the position where the input character string 52 “Hei” is displayed. "Please send the latest version to XXXXX who has received an inquiry about our product XXX" is displayed. Here, in the case of normal character conversion, the position of the cursor 66 after conversion is displayed before or after the conversion character string 60 according to the setting. In the reduced input conversion of this embodiment, a proper noun is input. The cursor 66 moves in front of the blank 62 indicating the place to be done. In this figure, the symbol “XXX” is used as the blank 62, but a single space may be displayed as the blank 62 and the cursor 66 may be moved before that. In this case, since the user can delete the proper noun part only by pressing the delete key once more, the reusability of the converted character string based on a simple operation is enhanced. Further, regardless of whether or not the proper noun part is displayed in the blank 62, the part may be highlighted in a state in which the range is designated as an erasure target. Also in this case, since the user can delete it by pressing the delete key once, the reusability of the converted character string based on a simple operation is enhanced. When the user presses a predetermined key after inputting a new proper noun in the blank 62 or a portion where it has been erased, the cursor 66 moves to the front of the next blank 64. In this way, the user can efficiently input a character string at a place where a proper noun needs to be input.
[0022]
FIG. 4 shows a conversion history table in which input character strings and conversion character strings are stored in association with each other. The conversion history table 70 includes an input character string field 72 and a converted character string field 74. The input character string field 72 stores an input character string as a reading, such as “Meeting your friends” ... The conversion character string field 74 corresponds to the input character string. A converted character string such as “Contact us for our product ABC” is stored as the converted character string.
[0023]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a normal character conversion process and a conversion history accumulation process. When a character is input by the user (S10) and a normal conversion instruction for the input character string is acquired (S12), the conversion unit 24 extracts a conversion candidate corresponding to the input character string from the conversion dictionary, The display processing unit 26 presents it on the screen (S14). When one of the conversion candidates is selected by the user (S16), the conversion unit 24 determines the selected character string as a conversion character string, and accumulates a set of the input character string and the conversion character string in the conversion history (S18). .
[0024]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process of input-saving conversion according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. When one to several characters are input by the user (S30) and an instruction for saving input conversion for the input character string is acquired (S32), the conversion unit 24 calculates the input character string and the conversion character string in the conversion history. Comparison is made (S34), and a converted character string in which the first character of the reading matches the input character string is extracted (S36). The phrase detection unit 22 detects a proper noun from the extracted converted character string, and the conversion unit 24 replaces the detected proper noun with a symbol indicating a blank (S38). The display processing unit 26 presents the extracted conversion character string on the screen as a conversion candidate (S40). When one of the conversion candidates is selected by the user (S42), the conversion unit 24 converts the selected conversion candidate. The character string is confirmed and the display processing unit 26 displays the converted character string by replacing it with the input character string that has been displayed so far (S44). If the displayed conversion character string includes a symbol indicating a blank, the display processing unit 26 moves the cursor 66 to that location (S46).
[0025]
Embodiment 2
The character conversion device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is different from the first embodiment of the present invention in that the proper noun included in the converted character string is displayed as it is without being replaced with a symbol indicating a blank. Further, when the conversion candidate selection is confirmed by the user and the converted character string is displayed, the proper noun part is displayed in an unconfirmed state. Further, the cursor 66 is moved to that location, and a converted character string previously input as a proper noun is presented as a new proper noun input candidate at that position. Thus, a new proper noun can be input with a simple operation such as replacing the proper noun part with another proper noun.
[0026]
FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen displaying the input character string and the reduced input conversion candidate in the second embodiment of the present invention. On the screen 50 in this figure, as in FIG. 2 in the first embodiment, an input character string 52 and a corresponding input-saving conversion candidate 56 are displayed. At this time, the proper noun is not detected by the phrase detection unit 22, and proper nouns such as “ABC” and “Yoshida Shokai” included in the saving input conversion candidate 56 are also displayed as they are. When the user selects one of the saving input conversion candidates 56, the candidate is determined as a converted character string, and the screen shifts to the screen shown in the next figure.
[0027]
FIG. 8 shows an example of a screen that displays a converted character string for which conversion has been confirmed and saving input candidates for proper nouns for which conversion has not been confirmed. On the screen 50 in this figure, the conversion character string 60 selected by the user is displayed as in FIG. 3 in the first embodiment. At this time, the proper noun is detected by the phrase detection unit 22 prior to display of the converted character string 60. As shown in the figure, the detected proper noun 68 and proper noun 69 are displayed in an unconfirmed state of conversion, and only other character strings are displayed in a form in which conversion has been confirmed. The cursor 66 is moved to the position of the proper noun 68 that first appears among the plurality of proper nouns 68 that have not yet been converted. The proper noun 68 is displayed in a selected state, and below that, character strings of other proper nouns such as “ABC”, “123 calc”, and “Let's draw” converted as proper nouns in the past are saved as input candidates. 56. The displayed reduced input conversion candidate 56 becomes a replacement candidate for the proper noun originally included in the converted character string, and one selected by the user is color-coded and displayed as a selection candidate 58. When the selection is confirmed, the converted character string as the selection candidate 58 is replaced with the character string that has been displayed so far at the proper noun 68 position. Thereafter, the cursor 66 moves to the position of the proper noun 69, and a conversion character string to be replaced with the proper noun 69 is determined based on the user's selection in the same procedure as the proper noun 68.
[0028]
FIG. 9 shows a conversion history table in which input character strings and conversion character strings are stored in association with portions where proper nouns are to be input. The proper noun conversion history table 80 includes an input character string field 82 and a converted character string field 84. The conversion unit 24 extracts, from the proper noun conversion history table 80, other proper nouns having the same type as the proper nouns included in the converted character string as replacement candidates. The input character string field 82 stores input character strings previously input as proper nouns, and the conversion character string field 84 stores corresponding conversion character strings as conversion results of the input character strings. For example, the input character string field 82 stores the input character strings “Ebisu-shi” and “Kabuyoshida Shokai”, and the conversion character string field 84 corresponds to the corresponding conversion character strings “ABC” “Yoshida Shokai”. Is stored. The proper noun conversion history table 80 may further store information indicating the type of each converted character string as a proper noun.
[0029]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the process of input-saving conversion according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. S60 to S66 in this figure are the same processes as S30 to S36 in FIG. The display processing unit 26 presents the converted character string extracted in S66 on the screen as a candidate for input saving conversion (S68). When one of the candidate input conversion candidates is selected by the user (S70), the phrase detection unit 22 A proper noun is detected from the selected saving input candidate (S72). The display processing unit 26 displays the character strings of the proper nouns in an undetermined state and other character strings in a confirmed state, replacing the input character strings that have been displayed so far (S74). The display processing unit 26 moves the cursor 66 to the proper noun location (S76), and presents the converted character string previously input as the proper noun as a saving input candidate below the proper noun location (S78). When one of the proper noun input candidates is selected by the user (S80), the display processing unit 26 replaces the selected save input candidate with the proper noun part and displays it as a confirmed converted character string (S82).
[0030]
The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it is understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to each component and combination of processing processes, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. Hereinafter, modifications will be described.
[0031]
In each embodiment of the present invention, the tab key is exemplified as a key for instructing the input-saving conversion. In a modified example, for example, after assigning a tab key to normal saving input conversion, a function that detects a proper noun after preferentially presenting a long sentence as a saving input candidate is positioned as an extended function, and another key is assigned. It is good also as a structure to allocate.
[0032]
In the second embodiment of the present invention, the proper noun part is displayed in a state where conversion is not yet confirmed. In the modified example, the converted character string including all proper nouns is displayed in a confirmed state, the proper noun is detected only when a predetermined key is pressed by the user, and this is returned to the unconfirmed state. Good.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the efficiency of character input or character conversion can be increased.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a character conversion device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displaying an input character string and a reduced input conversion candidate in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen that displays a state in which an input character string is replaced with a converted character string by reduced input conversion.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a conversion history table in which an input character string and a conversion character string are stored in association with each other.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a normal character conversion process and a process of accumulating conversion history.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process of input-saving conversion according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displaying an input character string and a reduced input conversion candidate in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen that displays a conversion character string for which conversion is confirmed and a saving input candidate of a proper noun for which conversion is unconfirmed.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conversion history table in which an input character string and a conversion character string are stored in association with each other where a proper noun is to be input.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process of input saving conversion according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 character conversion device, 14 instruction receiving unit, 16 character input unit, 18 dictionary storage unit, 20 history storage unit, 22 phrase detection unit, 24 conversion unit, 26 display processing unit, 52 input character string, 60 conversion character string, 66 cursor.

Claims (7)

A character input unit that receives input of characters to be converted from the user;
An instruction receiving unit for receiving an instruction for character conversion from the user;
A conversion unit that converts an input character string formed by the input characters into a conversion character string different from the character string;
A display processing unit for displaying at least one of the input character string and the converted character string on a screen;
A history storage unit for storing the input character string and the conversion character string in correspondence with each other and storing the conversion history;
A dictionary storage for holding a dictionary storing proper nouns;
A phrase detection unit that detects a proper noun from the converted character string converted by the conversion unit according to the input character by referring to the dictionary in which the proper noun is stored, and
The history accumulation unit extracts a proper noun character string from the converted character string by the processing of the phrase detection unit, and further accumulates as a proper noun conversion history,
The conversion unit includes the input character among the input character string stored when the instruction receiving unit receives an instruction for saving input conversion from a user before the input character is converted. It means for extracting the input string from the matching character starts, part of proper nouns said Upon displaying the converted character string as a conversion result, included in the stored converted string corresponding input character string and that the extracted And a means for extracting proper nouns from the conversion history of proper nouns stored in the history storage unit, as replacement candidates,
The display processing unit displays a converted character string corresponding to the extracted input character string on the screen as a converted character string corresponding to the input character, and a part of the proper noun included in the converted character string means for displaying in a selected state, as a replacement candidate for part of the proper name, look contains and means for presenting the proper names extracted from the conversion history,
The phrase detection unit displays a conversion character string candidate corresponding to the extracted input character string on the screen as a conversion character string corresponding to the input character, and the display processing unit displays the conversion character string candidate. After the user selects one of the character strings, the display processing unit detects the proper noun from the selected converted character string before displaying the selected converted character string on the screen. apparatus.   2. The character conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the display processing unit moves a cursor to a proper noun included in the converted character string when displaying the extracted converted character string as a conversion result. .   When the display processing unit displays the conversion character string as a conversion result in a state in which the proper character is included in the conversion character string, the part of the proper noun included in the displayed conversion character string is unconfirmed. Displaying the proper noun extracted from the conversion history as the replacement candidate for any proper noun among the displayed proper nouns after being displayed in the state, and displaying the portion other than the proper noun in the conversion confirmed state The character conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the character conversion device is a character conversion device. The history accumulating unit accumulates the conversion history of the proper noun in association with the conversion character string of the proper noun and its input character string, and the type as the proper noun,
4. The conversion unit according to claim 1, wherein the conversion unit extracts, from the conversion history of the proper nouns, other proper nouns having the same type as the proper nouns included in the conversion character string as the replacement candidates. The character conversion device described in 1.   5. The history storage unit further stores, in addition to the conversion character string as the conversion history, a pre-registered standard sentence as the conversion character string in association with the input character string. The character conversion apparatus in any one of. A step in which a computer acquires a character input by a user as a character conversion target via a predetermined input interface;
A computer displaying the entered characters on a screen;
A computer obtaining an instruction for conversion from a user through a predetermined input interface;
A step in which the computer extracts one or more input character strings starting from a character that matches the input character among the input character strings stored in advance in correspondence with the converted character string;
Upon displaying the converted character string as a conversion result, the steps of the proper nouns computer detects from the stored converted string correspondence between the extracted input character string,
Accumulating the detected proper noun as a proper noun conversion history;
When a proper noun is detected from the converted character string, the computer extracts the proper noun from the conversion history of the proper noun stored in advance as a replacement candidate for the proper noun part; and
A step in which the computer displays the proper noun part in the selected state in the converted character string corresponding to the extracted input character string on the screen;
The computer presenting on the screen the proper noun extracted from the conversion history of the proper noun as a replacement candidate for any proper noun among the proper nouns to be displayed;
A character conversion method characterized by comprising: A function that accepts input of characters to be converted from the user;
A function to accept a character conversion instruction from the user;
A function of converting an input character string formed by the input characters into a conversion character string different from the character string;
A function of displaying at least one of the input character string and the converted character string on a screen;
A function of storing the input character string and the conversion character string in association with each other as a conversion history;
The ability to maintain a dictionary of proper nouns;
By referring to the dictionary in which the proper noun is stored, the computer realizes the function of detecting the proper noun from the converted character string converted by the function to convert according to the input character,
The function of accumulating is further accumulated as a conversion history of proper nouns by extracting a proper noun character string from the converted character string by processing of the function for detecting the proper noun,
The function for converting is the input of the input character string stored when the function for receiving the instruction before the input character is converted is received from the user when the instruction for saving input conversion is received. a function of extracting the input string starting from the character matching the character, when displaying the converted character string as a conversion result, proper nouns included in conversion character string stored in the corresponding input character string and that the extracted And a function for extracting proper nouns from the accumulated proper noun conversion history,
The display function includes a function for displaying a converted character string corresponding to the extracted input character string on the screen as a converted character string corresponding to the input character, and a part of the proper noun included in the converted character string. And a function for presenting proper nouns extracted from the conversion history as replacement candidates for the proper noun part.

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