JP5817602B2 - Character input device, function execution method by character input, and character input program - Google Patents

Description

  Some embodiments relate to a character input device, a function execution method by character input, and a character input program.

  In a general Japanese input system, a user inputs a character string such as a Roman character or a Kana character using an input device. For example, in a Japanese input system such as IME (Input Method Editor) installed in a personal computer or the like, a character string input by a user is transferred to the IME via an operating system (OS). When the IME receives the input character string, the IME searches the dictionary data with the input character string. Then, for example, a conversion candidate character string mixed with Chinese characters associated with the input character string is acquired, and the acquired conversion candidate character string is presented to the user via the OS, for example. The user can complete the input of a desired character string by selecting a character string from the presented conversion candidate character strings. A series of processes related to the character input is generally common to various applications using the character input application.

  On the other hand, individual applications are becoming multifunctional. For this reason, the application is devised to display various functions in groups or to provide a help function so that the user can find the target function. . However, even if these groups are displayed and the help function is provided, for example, if the user does not know how to call the function that he / she wants to use, he / she can search for each item on the menu bar or toolbar, or refer to the help function. Had to do. Therefore, the user spends a lot of time specifying how to call the function he wants to execute.

  There are also applications in which shortcut keys are assigned to execute functions. In order to execute a function using a shortcut key, it is necessary to remember the assigned shortcut key. However, there are many shortcut keys composed of combinations of meaningless symbols, and different shortcut keys may be assigned to the applications even if they have the same function. Therefore, it was difficult to learn shortcut keys.

As a conventional technique, a technique is known in which an input candidate character string corresponding to a scene where character input processing is executed can be presented to a user.
Further, a technique is known in which a request sentence requesting a help function from a user is narrowed down to function candidates according to the current operation or processing state, and display of unnecessary function candidates is suppressed.

JP 2008-186235 A JP-A-10-177443

  However, there has been no mechanism that can easily execute a function call assigned to, for example, a menu bar, a toolbar, or a shortcut key by inputting characters. Some embodiments according to the present invention have an object to provide a mechanism capable of easily executing a function call assigned to, for example, a menu bar, a toolbar, or a shortcut key by character input.

  The character input application program according to one aspect of the present invention acquires a conversion candidate character string, which is a conversion candidate of an input character string, from the conversion character string dictionary information, inquires the active system for an active application, and And the function information associated with the input character string in the function information associated with the active application is identified from the function dictionary information including the function information associated with the function for each application. The function specification character string included in the specified function information is acquired, the presentation information including the conversion candidate character string and the function specification character string included in the specified function information is generated, passed to the operating system, and presented. Specified information that specifies one of the character strings included in the information If the specified character string is a function-specified character string included in the specified function information, the execution of the function associated with the function information specified by the operating system is instructed. , Cause the computer to execute the process.

  According to the above-described aspect, for example, a function assigned to a menu bar, a toolbar, a shortcut key, or the like can be easily called by character input.

It is a figure which illustrates the hardware constitutions for implement | achieving the information processing apparatus which mounts the character input application which concerns on some embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the functional block structure of the information processing apparatus which concerns on some embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the conversion character string dictionary information which concerns on some embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the function dictionary information which concerns on some embodiment. It is an operation | movement flowchart which illustrates the character conversion by the character input application which concerns on some embodiment, and a function call process. It is a figure which illustrates the conversion candidate character string list which concerns on some embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the function designation | designated character string list which concerns on some embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates presentation information concerning some embodiments.

Hereinafter, some embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol was attached | subjected to the corresponding element in several drawing.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration for realizing an information processing apparatus 100 that implements a character input application 220 according to some embodiments. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional block configuration of the information processing apparatus 100 according to some embodiments.

  The information processing apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is an apparatus such as a personal computer, a tablet terminal, a mobile phone, and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) that includes the character input application 220. The information processing apparatus 100 includes a processor 101, a memory 102, a storage device 103, a reading device 104, a communication interface 106, and an input / output unit 107. The processor 101, the memory 102, the storage device 103, the reading device 104, the communication interface 106, and the input / output unit 107 are connected to each other via a bus 108, for example.

  The processor 101 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The memory 102 is a semiconductor memory, for example, and includes a RAM area and a ROM area. The storage device 103 is a semiconductor memory such as a hard disk or a flash memory.

  The reading device 104 accesses the removable recording medium 105 in accordance with an instruction from the processor 101. The detachable recording medium 105 is, for example, a semiconductor device (USB memory or the like), a medium (information such as a magnetic disk) to which information is input / output by electromagnetic action, or a medium (CD-ROM, etc.) to which information is input / output by optical action. For example, a DVD). The communication interface 106 transmits and receives data via the network 110 in accordance with instructions from the processor 101. The input / output unit 107 is connected to the input device 111 and the output device 112, for example, and functions as an interface between the input device 111 and the output device 112 user. The input device 111 is a device that receives an instruction from a user, for example, and includes, for example, a keyboard, a touch panel, a voice input device, a mouse, and the like. The output device 112 is a device that outputs information to a user, for example, and includes a display device such as a display and an audio device such as a speaker.

  For example, the character conversion and function call processing according to some embodiments is executed by the information processing apparatus 100 having the above configuration. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional block configuration of the information processing apparatus 100 according to some embodiments.

  The control unit 200 includes a processor 101, for example. The storage unit 201 includes, for example, a memory 102, a storage device 103, a removable recording medium 105 connected via the reading device 104, and the like. The control unit 200 reads out and executes the program 250 stored in the storage unit 201, thereby controlling each unit of the information processing apparatus 100 such as the reading device 104, the communication interface 106, and the input / output unit 107, for example. In addition, the control unit 200 reads and executes the program 250 stored in the storage unit 201 to provide functions of the operating system 210, the character input application 220, and various other applications 230, for example.

  The operating system 210 is software that provides functions commonly used by a plurality of application software such as the character input application 220 and the application 230 and manages the information processing apparatus 100 as a whole. The functions of the operating system 210 include, for example, control of the input / output unit 107 such as keyboard input and screen output, the input device 111 and the output device 112, and management of the storage unit 201 such as the memory 102 and the storage device 103. . The operating system 210 reads and executes the program 250 stored in the storage unit 201, thereby functioning as, for example, an input character string delivery unit 211, a presentation unit 212, and a designation information reception unit 213, which will be described later.

  The character input application 220 is, for example, an IME and operates according to an instruction from the operating system 210. The character input application 220 provides a function of converting an input character string input to the application 230 such as a text editor, a browser, or document creation software. The character input application 220 according to some embodiments functions as various functional units by reading and executing the program 250 stored in the storage unit 201. These function units include, for example, an input character string receiving unit 221, a conversion candidate acquiring unit 222, an input determining unit 223, an active application specifying unit 224, a function information specifying unit 225, a presentation information generating unit 226, and an execution instruction unit 227. Is included. Details of processing by these functional units will be described later.

  The storage unit 201 stores, for example, a program 250, converted character string dictionary information 300, function dictionary information 400, and the like. The storage unit 201 also includes, for example, a conversion candidate character string list 600, a function designation character string list 700, and presentation information generated by a conversion candidate acquisition unit 222, a function information specifying unit 225, and a presentation information generation unit 226, which will be described later. 800 may be stored. The program 250 includes a program 250 for causing the control unit 200 to function as, for example, the operating system 210, the character input application 220, and other applications 230.

  Note that the program 250 of the character input application 220 according to some embodiments described below may be implemented in the information processing apparatus 100 such as the server 109 on the cloud. In this case, the input character string may be input to the OS 210 of the information processing apparatus 100 via the network 110.

The program 250 of the character input application 220 according to the embodiment may be provided to the information processing apparatus 100 in the following form, for example.
(1) Installed in advance in the storage device 103.
(2) Provided by the removable recording medium 105.
(3) Provided from a server 109 such as a program server.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, character conversion and function call processing according to some embodiments executed by the control unit 200 will be briefly described. For example, in a certain application 230, when a character string is input via the input device 111 such as a keyboard, the input character string is transferred to the character input application 220 via the operating system 210. The character input application 220 searches the conversion character string dictionary information 300 using the input character string, and obtains a conversion candidate character string list 600 composed of conversion candidate character strings 303 corresponding to the input character string. The character input application 220 determines whether the input character string is a character string representing one word or a character string representing one or more phrases.

  When the input character string is not a word but a character string representing one or more clauses, the presentation information 800 is generated from the acquired conversion candidate character string 303 and transferred to the OS 210, and the OS 210 passes, for example, the output device 112. Presentation information 800 to the user. When the user designates a character string from the conversion candidate character string 303 included in the displayed presentation information 800, for example, via the input device 111, designation information for specifying the designated character string is input via the OS 210. The application 220 is notified. The character input application 220 determines whether or not the designated character string is the function designation character string 404 based on the notified designation information. Here, since the phrase is converted as described above, the specified character string is the conversion candidate character string 303 and not the function specifying character string 404. Therefore, the character input application 220 instructs the OS 210 to insert the designated character string at the cursor position or the like of the active application. In response to this instruction, the OS 210 inserts a character string designated at, for example, the cursor position of the active application.

  On the other hand, when the input determination unit 223 determines that the input character string is a word, the character input application 220 inquires of the operating system 210 about information about the current active application. Based on the result of this inquiry, the character input application 220 identifies the current active application. An active application is an application that is currently an active window. Subsequently, the character input application 220 searches the function dictionary information 400 using the input character string, and if the function of the active application corresponding to the input character string is registered in the function dictionary information 400, specifies the function. The function designation character string 404 is acquired. The character input application 220 generates presentation information 800 from the acquired conversion candidate character string 303 and the function designation character string 404 and passes it to the OS 210. The OS 210 presents the presentation information 800 to the user. When the user designates a character string from the presented information 800 presented, the designated information is input to the character input application 220 via the OS 210. The character input application 220 determines whether the character string designated by the designation information is the function designation character string 404. If the specified character string is not the function specifying character string 404, the character input application 220 instructs the operating system 210 to execute insertion of the specified character string. As a result, a character string designated at the cursor position or the like of the active application is inserted. On the other hand, when the character string designated by the user is the function designation character string 404, the character input application 220 acquires information for calling the function corresponding to the function designation character string 404 designated from the function dictionary information 400. To do. The character input application 220 instructs the OS 210 to execute the function using the information for calling the acquired function. The OS 210 executes a function such as execution of printing in accordance with the function execution instruction.

  As described above, according to the above embodiment, the user inputs a character string into the character input area or the like of the application 230, and the function designation character string 404 corresponding to the target function from the displayed presentation information 800. The function can be called by specifying. Hereinafter, character conversion and function call processing according to some embodiments will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating converted character string dictionary information 300 according to some embodiments. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating function dictionary information 400 according to some embodiments. FIG. 5 is an operational flow diagram illustrating character conversion and function call processing by the character input application 220 according to some embodiments. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a conversion candidate character string list 600 according to some embodiments. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a function designation character string list 700 according to some embodiments. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating presentation information 800 according to some embodiments.

  The conversion character string dictionary information 300 shown in FIG. 3 is information for associating the input character string with the conversion candidate character string 303. The conversion character string dictionary information 300 includes conversion candidate information 301. In the conversion candidate information 301 illustrated in FIG. 3, for example, an input candidate character string 302, a conversion candidate character string 303, and conversion auxiliary information 304 are associated with each other. The input candidate character string 302 stores character strings that are input candidates that may be input by the user. For example, in the input candidate character string 302, a character string before conversion processing that can be input by the user when inputting characters is registered. In the present embodiment, the input candidate character string 302 registers “reading kana” of words that can be input by the user. The words that can be input by the user when inputting characters include, for example, general nouns, proper nouns, adjectives and verbs, words registered by the user, and the like, and information on “reading kana” of those words Is registered in the input candidate character string 302.

  In the conversion candidate character string 303, a character string that is a conversion candidate for the character string registered in the input candidate character string 302 is registered. For example, in the example of FIG. 3, a kanji word having “reading kana” registered in the input candidate character string 302, a hiragana, katakana, and alphabet of “reading kana” registered in the input candidate character string 302. A written character string is registered as a conversion candidate character string 303.

  In the conversion auxiliary information 304, information that assists in identifying the conversion candidate character string 303 that is the conversion candidate from the input candidate character string 302 is registered. For example, in the example of FIG. 3, “part of speech” of the word associated with the conversion candidate information 301 is stored as the conversion candidate character string 303. The “part of speech” of the conversion candidate character string 303 may include, for example, information such as nouns, adjectives, and verbs. It may be included.

  For example, the conversion character string dictionary information 300 as described above is created and stored in the storage unit 201. Thereby, the character input application 220 searches the input candidate character string 302 of the conversion character string dictionary information 300 using the input character string input by the user, thereby converting the conversion candidate as a conversion candidate associated with the input character string. The character string 303 can be acquired.

  The conversion character string dictionary information 300 shown in FIG. 3 is an example, and the conversion character string dictionary information 300 according to the embodiment is not limited to this. In general, a character input application 220 such as IME is used for input character strings, conversion methods, and conversions according to the type of character input application 220 and the type of input language (for example, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean). Necessary information is different. The converted character string dictionary information 300 used in the character input application 220 also has various formats depending on the type of the character input application 220, the input language, and the like. The various conversion character string dictionary information 300 may be used as the conversion character string dictionary information 300 according to some embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the conversion auxiliary information 304 may not be included in the conversion character string dictionary information 300.

  Subsequently, an example of the functional dictionary information 400 according to some embodiments will be described with reference to FIG. The function dictionary information 400 includes function information 401. The function information 401 is information that associates a character string that can be input by a user to call a function with information necessary for calling a function included in the application 230 and the OS 210. Note that the functions are functions that can be called and executed by the application 230 and the OS 210 such as execution of printing, storage of files, and display of a help window. The function information 401 of the function dictionary information 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 is associated with each specific function, and includes information necessary for calling the function. The function information 401 includes, for example, information such as application information 402, an input candidate character string 403, a function designation character string 404, target information 405, and execution method information 407 and execution instruction information 407 as call information 406. The function information 401 associates the application information 402, the input candidate character string 403, the function designation character string 404, the target information 405, the execution method information 407 as the call information 406, and the execution instruction information 408.

  The application information 402 is information that identifies the application 230 associated with the function associated with the function information 401. In other words, the application information 402 stores information on the application 230 whose function is called by a function execution instruction based on the function information 401 described later. In other words, the function associated with the function information 401 can be called by the application 230 indicated in the application information 402. In the application information 402, for example, information related to the application 230 that can be acquired from the OS 210 is stored. The information regarding the application 230 that can be acquired from the OS 210 includes, for example, a class name (CLASS) of the application 230, a path (PATH) to an execution file of the application 230, a character string included in the title bar, and the like. If the function associated with the function information 401 is a function that does not depend on the specific application 230, the application information 402 includes information indicating that it is a common function (for example, “common” in FIG. ") Is stored. The function that does not depend on the specific application 230 is a function that can be executed by any application 230. Functions that do not depend on the specific application 230 are, for example, functions that the OS 210 has, and include, for example, functions such as maximization and minimization of windows, and shutdown and restart of the OS 210.

  In the input candidate character string 403, for example, a character string input by the user in order to call a function associated with the function information 401 is registered. The format of the character string registered in the input candidate character string 403 is, for example, the same format as the input candidate character string 302 of the converted character string dictionary information 300 (for example, “reading kana” of a word). That is, the input candidate character string 302 of the conversion character string dictionary information 300 and the input candidate character string 403 of the function dictionary information 400 can be searched using the character string input by the user. In addition, as a character string that can be registered in the input candidate character string 403, any character string can be used as long as it has the same format as the character string input by the user via the input device 111 such as a keyboard. However, for example, the character string stored in the input candidate character string 403 may be a character string such as “reading kana” of a word representing a function associated with the function information 401 so that the user can easily remember it. . Further, in the input candidate character string 403, a plurality of character strings may be registered in one function information 401. For example, in the function dictionary information 400 of FIG. An example of function information 401 in which two character strings “Printo” are registered is shown.

  The function designation character string 404 stores character string information to be displayed when presented to the user as presentation information 800 described later. As a character string that can be registered as the function specifying character string 404, an arbitrary character string can be used. However, for example, the function designation character string 404 includes a function associated with the function information 401 so that the user can easily specify the function associated with the function information 401 from the function designation character string 404. The character string to represent may be registered.

  The target information 405 stores information about a target on which a function associated with the function information 401 is executed. For example, in the case of a function executed by a specific application 230, information indicating the specific application 230 (for example, the class name of the application 230) is stored in the target information 405. For example, “Browser A” is stored in the target information 405 of the function information 401 in which the input candidate character string 403 in FIG. 4 is “kensaku”. In this example, the target for executing the function called by the character input application 220 is the browser A. Further, the current active application may be designated as the target information 405. In this case, information (for example, “active application”) indicating that the target on which the function is executed is an active application is stored in the target information 405. For example, “active application” is stored in the target information 405 of the function information 401 in which the input candidate character string 403 is “Saidai”. In this example, a target on which a function called by the character input application 220 is executed is an active application.

  The call information 406 is information for calling a function associated with the function information 401. The function information 401 of the function dictionary information 400 shown in FIG. 4 includes execution method information 407 and execution instruction information 408 as call information 406. The execution method information 407 is information indicating a method for instructing execution of a function associated with the function information 401. The methods registered in the execution method information 407 include, for example, execution methods such as shortcuts that can be used by the application 230 and the OS 210, API (Application Program Interface) execution programs, and commands.

  The execution instruction information 408 stores information instructing execution of a function associated with the function information 401. In the execution instruction information 408, information corresponding to the execution method information 407 of the function information 401 is stored. For example, when the execution method information 407 is a shortcut, information on a shortcut key assigned as an instruction to activate a function associated with the function information 401 is stored. If the execution method information 407 is an API, information for instructing execution of an API that activates a function associated with the function information 401 is stored. When the execution method information 407 is a command, information on a command instructing activation of a function associated with the function information 401 is stored.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, character conversion and function call processing executed by the character input application 220 according to some embodiments will be described. A user inputs a character string to the input character string delivery unit 211 of the OS 210 via the input device 111 such as a keyboard. Then, when the input character string is transferred from the input character string transfer unit 211 to the input character string receiving unit 221 of the character input application 220, the operation flow shown in FIG. In step S <b> 501, the conversion candidate acquisition unit 222 includes an input candidate character string 302 associated with the transferred input character string from the conversion candidate information 301 registered in the conversion character string dictionary information 300. The conversion candidate information 301 is searched. If there is corresponding conversion candidate information 301, the conversion candidate character string 303 included in the corresponding conversion candidate information 301 is acquired, and the conversion candidate character string list 600 is generated from the acquired conversion candidate character string 303. An example of the conversion candidate character string list 600 is shown in FIG. FIG. 6 illustrates a conversion candidate character string list 600 generated by the conversion candidate acquisition unit 222 when the conversion character string dictionary information 300 of FIG. 3 is searched for the input character string “insatsu”.

  In addition, when the input character string passed represents one or more clauses instead of words, the passed character string is divided into clauses using, for example, morphological analysis, and converted into clauses. The input character string is converted by performing processing such as determining a part to be converted and a word to be converted. Regarding the determination of whether or not this input character string represents one or more clauses, and the input character string conversion processing in the case of representing one or more clauses, the input used in the existing IME or the like This can be implemented by using a technique for converting a character string into phrases.

  Subsequently, in step S502, the input determination unit 223 determines whether or not the input character string transferred to the input character string receiving unit 221 is a word. As described above, if the input character string represents one or more phrases in step S501, conversion processing as a phrase is performed. Therefore, when conversion as a phrase is performed in step S501, the input determination unit 223 may determine No in step S502. Alternatively, whether or not the word is a word in step S502 is determined by searching the conversion character string dictionary information 300 with the entire length of the input character string, and determining that there is a corresponding conversion candidate information 301, and determining that there is no word. You may comprise so that it may determine with it being the character string showing the above phrase. If the input character string is not a word in step S502, the input determination unit 223 determines No and the flow proceeds to step S505. On the other hand, if the input character string is a word, the input determination unit 223 determines Yes, and the flow proceeds to step S503.

  In step S503, the active application specifying unit 224 inquires of the OS 210 about the active application and specifies the active application. As a result of the inquiry, the active application specifying unit 224 acquires the application information 402 of the active application from the OS 210. The application information 402 is information that can be used to specify which application 230 the active application is. As an example of acquiring the application information 402 of the active application from the OS 210, for example, when an API for the OS 210 is provided from the developer of the OS 210, it can be considered to use it. For example, the API for the OS 210 may include an API for acquiring the window handle of the active application, an API for acquiring the class name of the application 230 constituting the window, and the like. In some cases, an API for acquiring a path to an execution file of the application 230 constituting the window is included. The active application specifying unit 224 can acquire the window handle of the active window, the class name of the application 230 constituting the active window, and the like from the OS 210 by executing these APIs, for example. Then, the acquired class name of the application 230 constituting the active window, for example, can be used as the application information 402 for specifying the application 230. The acquisition of the application information 402 of the active application by the active application specifying unit 224 is not limited to the above example, and other methods may be used. In step S503, when the active application specifying unit 224 acquires the application information 402 of the active application and specifies the active application, the flow proceeds to step S504.

  In step S504, the function information specifying unit 225 searches the function dictionary information 400 using the input character string passed from the OS 210 and the application information 402 of the active application acquired in step S503. As a result of the search, when there is function information 401 associated with the input character string and the application information 402 of the active application, the function information specifying unit 225 displays the function designation character string 404 included in the corresponding function information 401. get. The function information specifying unit 225 generates a function specifying character string list 700 from the acquired function specifying character string 404. The search of the function dictionary information 400 by the function information specifying unit 225 may be performed as follows, for example.

  First, the function information specifying unit 225 searches the application information 402 of the function dictionary information 400 with the application information 402 of the active application, and specifies the function information 401 whose values match. By this processing, function information 401 associated with a function that can be executed in the active application is specified. Subsequently, the function information specifying unit 225 performs a search using the input character string for the function information 401 for the specified active application. Then, the function information specifying unit 225 specifies the function information 401 in which the input candidate character string 403 corresponds to the input character string as the function information 401 used for creating the function specifying character string list 700. Further, as described above, in the function dictionary information 400, the function information 401 in which the application information 402 is “common” is the function information 401 associated with a function that does not depend on the application. That is, the function associated with the function information 401 in which the application information 402 is “common” is a function that can be executed regardless of the active application. Therefore, the function information specifying unit 225 executes a search using the input character string for the function information 401 in which the application information 402 of the function dictionary information 400 is “common”. The function information specifying unit 225 sets the function information 401 in which the input candidate character string 403 corresponds to the input character string among the function information 401 in which the application information 402 is “common” in the function designation character string list 700. It is specified as function information 401 used for creation. The function information specifying unit 225 acquires the function specifying character string 404 from the function information 401 of the active application specified above and the function information 401 having the common application information 402, and generates the function specifying character string list 700.

  Note that the function dictionary information 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes function information 401 in which a plurality of character strings are registered in the input candidate character string 403. In one embodiment, if the input character string corresponds to one of the plurality of input candidate character strings 403, the function information specifying unit 225 specifies the function information 401 in step S504. For example, in the third row of the function dictionary information 400 of FIG. 4, two character strings “Insatsu” and “Printo” are registered for “print activation” which is one function designation character string. Such function information 401 is, for example, as function information 401 corresponding to the input character string by the function information specifying unit 225 in step S504, regardless of whether the input character string is “insatsu” or “purinto”. Identified.

  FIG. 7 is an example of the function designation character string list 700 generated by the function information specifying unit 225. The function specifying character string list 700 of FIG. 7 includes the function specifying character string 404 of the function information 401 specified by the function information specifying unit 225. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the function information specifying unit 225 specifies a plurality of function information 401 and a plurality of function specifying character strings 404 are acquired. However, if there is no function information 401 corresponding to the input character string and the application information 402 of the active application, the function designation character string 404 of the function information 401 for the active application is not acquired. Similarly, when there is no function information 401 common to the application information 402 corresponding to the input character string, the function designation character string 404 of the function information 401 common to the application information 402 is not acquired. Therefore, when the function information specifying unit 225 does not specify the function information 401, the function specifying character string 404 is not acquired and the function specifying character string list 700 is not generated.

  In step S505, the presentation information generation unit 226 generates the presentation information 800 from the conversion candidate character string list 600 generated in step S501 and the function designation character string list 700 generated in step S504. The presentation information 800 is presented to the user and is used for receiving a designation from the user. If it is determined No in step S502, or if the function information 401 is not specified as a result of the function information specifying unit 225 searching the function dictionary information 400 in step S504, the function specifying character string list 700 is generated. Not. In this case, the presentation information 800 is generated from the conversion candidate character string list 600.

  An example of the presentation information 800 is shown in FIG. In the presentation information 800 shown in FIG. 8, the conversion candidate character string list 600 and the function designation character string list 700 are combined. Further, regarding the function designation character string 404 derived from the function designation character string list 700, the display format of the presentation information 800 may be different from the display format in order to distinguish it from the conversion candidate character string 303. For example, in the example of FIG. 8, “⇒” is inserted at the beginning of the function specifying character string 404 so that it can be distinguished from the conversion candidate character string 303. Alternatively, the presentation information 800 can be distinguished from the function-designated character string 404 and the conversion candidate character string 303, for example, by highlighting the display format or changing the character color for any of the character strings. You may be comprised so that it can distinguish with another system.

  Further, the arrangement order of the conversion candidate character string 303 and the function specifying character string 404 in the presentation information 800 may be an arbitrary order. However, some existing IMEs, for example, have a function of rearranging conversion candidate character strings that are designated many times by the user so as to be arranged at the top. Alternatively, there is a function of rearranging so that conversion candidate character strings closely related to converted character strings before or after the input character string to be converted are arranged at the top. For example, the display rearrangement techniques of these known conversion candidate character strings may be used in rearranging the display order of the presentation information 800 by the presentation information generation unit 226 in some embodiments. Alternatively, the presentation information generation unit 226 always displays the function designation character string 404 on the first display page when presented to the user, such as controlling the display order so that the function designation character string 404 is displayed at the top of the presentation information 800. The display order may be controlled so that the function designation character string 404 is included.

  For example, the presentation information generation unit 226 delivers the presentation information 800 generated as described above to the presentation unit 212 of the OS 210, and the flow proceeds to step S506. In step S506, the execution instruction unit 227 accepts input of designation information from the OS 210. Here, the presentation unit 212 of the OS 210 that has received the presentation information 800 from the presentation information generation unit 226 in step S505 presents the received presentation information 800 via the output device 112 such as a display, for example, and is designated by the user. Accept. When the user designates any item of the conversion candidate character string 303 or the function designation character string 404 from the presentation information 800 via the input device 111 such as a keyboard, the designation information for notifying the designated item is designated by the OS 210. Input to the information receiving unit 213. The designation information receiving unit 213 of the OS 210 delivers the inputted designation information to the execution instruction unit 227 of the character input application 220. Returning to step S506 in FIG. 5, when the execution instruction unit 227 of the character input application 220 receives the designation information from the designation information reception unit 213 of the OS 210, the flow proceeds to step S507. In step S507, the execution instruction unit 227 determines whether the item designated by the designation information is the function designation character string 404. When the designated item is the function designation character string 404 (Yes in step S507), the flow proceeds to step S508. On the other hand, when the designated item is not the function designation character string 404 but the conversion candidate character string 303 (No in step S507), the flow proceeds to step S509.

  In step S508, the execution instruction unit 227 acquires execution method information 407 and execution instruction information 408, which are call information 406 for calling the corresponding function, from the function information 401 including the specified function specifying character string 404. The execution instruction unit 227 instructs the OS 210 to execute the function associated with the call target function information 401 including the specified function specifying character string 404 in accordance with the acquired execution method information 407 and execution instruction information 408. To do. For example, when the execution method information 407 of the function information 401 to be called is a shortcut, the execution instruction unit 227 causes the OS 210 to generate a function by generating a shortcut key input signal indicated by the execution instruction information 408 in a software manner. Is instructed to execute. Thereby, in the active application or the OS 210, a function corresponding to the input shortcut key is executed. When the execution method information 407 of the function information 401 to be called is an API, the execution instruction unit 227 instructs the OS 210 to execute the execution program of the API indicated by the execution instruction information 408. As a result, the function associated with the function information 401 in the active application or OS 210 is executed. When the execution method information 407 of the function information 401 to be called is a command, the execution instruction unit 227 instructs the OS 210 to execute the command indicated by the execution instruction information 408. Hereinafter, instructions for executing these functions will be further exemplified.

  For example, the function corresponding to the function information 401 whose input candidate character string 403 in FIG. 4 is “hedda” is instructed to be executed in the following cases. That is, when the active application is application A, the input character string is “head”, and the function designation character string “header activation” is designated from the presentation information 800, the execution instruction unit 227 responds. Instruct the execution of the function to be performed. In this case, the execution instruction unit 227 acquires the execution method information 407 “API” and the execution instruction information 408 “header activation API” from the function information 401. Since the execution method information 407 is “API”, the execution instruction unit 227 instructs the OS 210 to execute the execution program of the API corresponding to the execution instruction information 408 “header activation API”. By executing the API execution program instructed by the OS 210, the function associated with the function information 401 such as display of a header editing dialog is executed in the application A of the active application.

  Similarly, the function corresponding to the function information 401 with the application information 402 of FIG. 4 being “application B” and the input candidate character string 403 being “help, hojo” is instructed to be executed in the following cases. That is, when the active application is application B, the input character string is “help” or “hojo”, and the function designation character string “help activation” is designated from the presentation information 800, the execution instruction is given. The unit 227 instructs execution of the corresponding function. In this case, the execution instruction unit 227 acquires the execution method information 407 “shortcut” and the execution instruction information 408 “F1” from the function information 401. Since the execution method information 407 is “shortcut”, the execution instruction unit 227 generates an input signal such as a keyboard corresponding to the execution instruction information 408 “F1” in a pseudo manner, for example, in software. As a result, the OS 210 determines that the shortcut key “F1” has been input in the active application, and the function such as activation of the help window assigned to the shortcut key “F1” in the application B is executed.

  In addition, in the function designation character string 404 “search site G” in FIG. 4, execution of the function corresponding to the function information 401 whose input candidate character string 403 is “kensaku” is instructed in the following cases. That is, when the input character string is “kensaku” and the function designation character string “search site G” is designated from the presentation information 800, the execution instruction unit 227 instructs execution of the corresponding function. In this case, the execution instruction unit 227 executes the execution method information 407 “command” and the execution instruction information 408 “start“ ”“ C: \ Program Files \ Browser \ Browser.EXE ”www. **** from the function information 401. .com ". Since the execution method information 407 is “command”, the execution instruction information 408 “start“ ”“ C: \ Program Files \ Browser \ Browser.EXE ”www. ****. Com” is a command. The execution instruction unit 227 instructs the OS 210 to execute the execution instruction information 408 “start“ ”“ C: \ Program Files \ Browser \ Browser.EXE ”www. ****. Com”, for example. Accordingly, the function associated with the function information 401 is executed by the OS 210. In this case, the execution instruction information 408 stores a command defined for the OS 210, for example. For example, the above-described command “start“ ”“ C: \ Program Files \ Browser \ Browser.EXE ”www. ****. Com” will be described. This command is a command for instructing the OS 210 to execute the execution file of the browser A indicated by “C: \ Program Files \ Browser \ Browser.EXE”. In addition, the browser A activated by the execution includes information for instructing to open the URL: www. ****. Com. Therefore, when the OS 210 executes this command, the browser A is activated with the URL “www. ****. Com” opened.

  For example, as described above, in step S508, the execution instruction unit 227 instructs the OS 210 to execute the function associated with the function information 401 including the specified function specifying character string 404, and then the flow ends. To do. If it is determined in step S507 that the character string is a function designation character string 404 and the corresponding function is executed in step S508, the input character string input may be canceled. In this case, the input character string is not inserted at the cursor position of the active application, for example.

  If the execution instruction unit 227 determines in step S507 that the specified item is not the function specifying character string 404, the specified item is the conversion candidate character string 303. In this case, in step S509, the execution instruction unit 227 instructs the OS 210 to insert the designated conversion candidate character string 303, and this flow ends. When the execution instruction unit 227 instructs the OS 210 to insert the conversion candidate character string 303 in step S509 of FIG. 5, the OS 210 inserts the instructed conversion candidate character string 303, for example, at the cursor position of the active application.

  As described above, according to the character input application 220 according to some embodiments, the user can input a character string via the input device 111 such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and a voice input device. It becomes possible to call the function. Therefore, in order to execute the target function, the user does not need to read a manual such as a help function to search for the position in the menu for calling the target function, and execute the target function through character input. It becomes possible to do. Alternatively, in order to call the target function, the user can execute the target function via character input without having to search the menu item for a plurality of layers to find the target function. In addition, in order to call a target function, the user does not need to remember a shortcut key that is often composed of a combination of meaningless symbols, and the function is executed by inputting a character string that makes it easy to guess the function to be executed. It becomes possible. Furthermore, since the user can call the function without calling the operation of hitting the keyboard while creating the document, for example, the function can be called, so that the work efficiency is improved. Therefore, according to the character input application 220 of some embodiments, it is possible to easily call a function.

  The generation of the conversion candidate character string list 600 using the input character string by the conversion candidate acquisition unit 222 and the generation of the function designation character string list 700 using the input character string by the function information specifying unit 225 are performed by various methods. Is possible. For example, in one embodiment, the conversion candidate acquisition unit 222 may be configured to search the conversion character string dictionary information 300 for conversion candidate information 301 having the input candidate character string 302 that matches the input character string. . The function information specifying unit 225 may be configured to search the function dictionary information 400 for the function information 401 having the input candidate character string 403 that matches the input character string. In this case, the conversion candidate acquisition unit 222 generates the conversion candidate character string list 600 from the conversion candidate character strings 303 of the conversion candidate information 301 having the searched input candidate character strings 302 that match. Further, the function information specifying unit 225 generates the function specifying character string list 700 from the function specifying character string 404 of the function information 401 having the searched input candidate character string 403 that matches. For example, the conversion candidate character string list 600 and the function designation character string list 700 may be generated as described above.

  Alternatively, when searching the conversion character string dictionary information 300 using an input character string, for example, an existing IME is searched in consideration of fluctuation and ambiguity of a character string input as the input character string, for example. There is something to do (hereinafter referred to as fuzzy search). Furthermore, some existing IMEs have a function of performing an incremental search on the dictionary data using the character string being input and suggesting the character string that the user is trying to input. For example, the dictionary data search technique using these existing input character strings may be used for searching the converted character string dictionary information 300 and the function dictionary information 400 using the input character strings according to some embodiments. For example, in one embodiment in which the conversion character string dictionary information 300 is searched using an ambiguous search, the input candidate character string 302 is “hed” as the conversion candidate information 301 corresponding to the input character string “hello”. Conversion candidate information 301 having Further, for example, in one embodiment in which the functional dictionary information 400 is searched using fuzzy search, “hedda” is entered in the input candidate character string 403 as the function information 401 corresponding to the input character string “hed”. The function information 401 possessed may be specified.

  In the above-described embodiments, the operation of the character input application 220 has been described mainly using Japanese input as an example. However, the embodiment according to the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the function based on the input character string by the character input application 220 is also applied to the character input application 220 accompanied by conversion of the input character string for inputting a language other than Japanese such as Chinese or Korean. It will be appreciated that call processing can be introduced. Furthermore, some existing IMEs or the like insert a character input without conversion of the character string directly at the cursor position or the like. For example, in an English IME or the like, an input character such as an alphabet is directly inserted at a cursor position or the like. For example, even for such an IME, some shortcut keys for starting a search of the function dictionary information 400 using a character string are prepared as an alternative to an IME conversion key for Japanese input. The function can be called by inputting the character string according to the embodiment. For example, the user selects a character string in which “print” is input, and starts processing for searching the function dictionary information 400 of the character input application 220 using the selected range as the input character string. Then, even if the character input application 220 is configured to execute the printing process, for example, by transforming and executing the processes of steps S503 to S508 of FIG. 5 using the input “print” as an input character string. Good.

  Next, an example of registering the function information 401 in the function dictionary information 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 will be described. Registration of the function information 401 in the function dictionary information 400 may be executed by a user, for example. Any information necessary for registration of the function dictionary information 400 is information that can be obtained by the user if the vendor of the application 230 and the OS 210 is open to the public. Therefore, the user can register the function information 401 in the function dictionary information 400 by assigning favorite character strings as the input candidate character strings 403 and the function specifying character strings 404 to the functions of the application 230 to be used. Thereby, the user can call the corresponding function using the input candidate character string 403 and the function designation character string 404. Alternatively, the function information 401 of the functions available in the installed application 230 and OS 210 may be registered in the function dictionary information 400 when the application 230 and the OS 210 are installed. If the specification of the function dictionary information 400 of the character input application 220 is disclosed, the application 230 and the OS 210 vendor are configured to register the function information 401 corresponding to the function in the function dictionary information 400 at the time of installation. be able to. The storage unit 201 may store a plurality of function dictionary information 400. For example, function dictionary information 400 personally set by a user, function dictionary information 400 including function information 401 for a common function, and function dictionary information 400 for each application. It is conceivable to prepare 400. In this case, for example, the processing in step S504 in FIG. 5 may be configured to search all of the plurality of function dictionary information 400, or to search a part of the function dictionary information 400 according to the application. It may be configured.

  In the above, several embodiments have been described. However, the embodiments according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, but should be understood as including various modifications and alternative forms of the above-described embodiments. For example, it will be understood that various embodiments can be embodied by modifying the components without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Further, it will be understood that various embodiments according to the present invention can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above-described embodiments. Alternatively, various implementations according to the present invention may be made by deleting or replacing some components from all the components shown in the embodiment, or adding some components to the components shown in the embodiment. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the form may be implemented.

100 Information processing device 101 Control unit 102 Memory 103 Storage device 104 Reading device 105 Removable recording medium 106 Communication interface 107 Input / output unit 108 Bus 109 Server 110 Network 111 Input device 112 Output device 200 Storage unit 210 Operating system 211 Input character string reception Delivery unit 212 Presentation unit 213 Designated information reception unit 220 Character input application 221 Input character string reception unit 222 Conversion candidate acquisition unit 223 Input determination unit 224 Active application identification unit 225 Function information identification unit 226 Presentation information generation unit 227 Execution instruction unit 230 Application 250 Program 300 Conversion character string dictionary information 301 Conversion candidate information 302 Input candidate character string 303 Conversion candidate character string 304 Conversion auxiliary information 400 Function dictionary information 401 Function Broadcast 402 application information 403 input candidate character string 404 function string 405 target application information 406 call information 407 executes method information 408 starting command 600 conversion candidate character string list 700 functions specified text list 800 presents information

Claims (8)

A character input application program,
A conversion candidate character string that is a conversion candidate of the input character string that has been input is obtained from the conversion character string dictionary information,
Query the operating system for active applications, identify the active application,
From the function dictionary information including function information associated with the function for each application, the function information associated with the input character string is identified in the function information associated with the active application, Get the function specification string included in the specified function information,
Generate presentation information including the conversion candidate character string and a function designation character string included in the specified function information, and pass it to the operating system,
Receiving from the operating system input of designation information for designating any of the character strings included in the presentation information;
If the specified character string is a function specifying character string included in the specified function information, the operating system is instructed to execute the function associated with the specified function information;
A character input application program that causes a computer to execute processing. The function information includes application information for specifying an application associated with the function information, an input candidate character string, a function designation character string, and call information for calling a function associated with the function information. Including
The process of acquiring the function designation character string includes the input candidate associated with the input character string in the function information including the application information associated with the active application from the function dictionary information. Identifying the function information having a character string, and obtaining a function designation character string included in the identified function information,
The process of instructing execution of the function includes instructing the operating system to execute the function based on call information included in the specified function information.
The character input application program according to claim 1, wherein:   The character input application program according to claim 2, wherein the call information is shortcut key information, API execution program information, or command information for calling a function in an operating system or application. The function dictionary information further includes function information for calling a common function that is a function independent of an application,
The process of acquiring the function specifying character string is included in the function information for specifying the function information for calling the common function associated with the input character string and calling the specified common function. The character input application program according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising causing the computer to further execute a process of acquiring a function designation character string. The character input application program is:
And further causing a computer to execute a process of determining whether the input character string is a character string representing a word or a character string representing one or more phrases,
5. The character input application program according to claim 1, wherein the process of acquiring the function specifying character string is executed when the input character string is a word. 6.   The character input application program according to claim 2, wherein the function information includes a plurality of input candidate character strings for one function. A character input device comprising a character input application,
A conversion candidate acquisition unit that acquires a conversion candidate character string that is a conversion candidate of the input character string input from the conversion character string dictionary information;
An active application identification unit that inquires the active system for an active application and identifies the active application;
From the function dictionary information including function information associated with the function for each application, the function information associated with the input character string is identified in the function information associated with the active application, A function information specifying unit for acquiring a function specifying character string included in the specified function information;
A presentation information generation unit that generates presentation information including the conversion candidate character string and a function designation character string included in the specified function information and passes the information to the operating system;
When input of designation information designating any one of the character strings included in the presentation information is received from the operating system, and the designated character string is a function designation character string included in the identified function information And an execution instructing unit that instructs the operating system to execute the function associated with the specified function information,
Character input device including A function execution method by character input executed by a computer,
A conversion candidate character string that is a conversion candidate of the input character string that has been input is obtained from the conversion character string dictionary information,
Query the operating system for active applications, identify the active application,
From the function dictionary information including function information associated with the function for each application, the function information associated with the input character string is identified in the function information associated with the active application, Get the function specification string included in the specified function information,
Generate presentation information including the conversion candidate character string and a function designation character string included in the specified function information, and pass it to the operating system,
Receiving from the operating system input of designation information for designating any of the character strings included in the presentation information;
If the specified character string is a function specifying character string included in the specified function information, the operating system is instructed to execute the function associated with the specified function information;
Including the method.

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