Character Input Device, and Method and Program for Inputting Character

Abstract

In order to facilitate selection of an intended character from among a plurality of characters, a mobile phone includes a designated-position detecting portion (S 01 ) for detecting a designated position, a moving direction detecting portion (S 07 ) for detecting a moving direction of the detected position, a group selecting portion (S 08 ), when the moving direction is detected, for selecting one of a plurality of character types into which the plurality of characters have been classified, on the basis of the moving direction, and a character selecting portion (S 10, S 15 ) for selecting one of at least one character classified in the selected character type.

1 . A character input device, comprising:
 position detecting portion to detect a designated position;   direction detecting portion to detect a moving direction of the position detected by said position detecting portion;   first selecting portion, when the moving direction is detected by said direction detecting portion, for selecting one group as a selecting group, from among a plurality of groups into which a plurality of characters have been classified, on the basis of the moving direction; and   second selecting portion to select one of at least one character classified in said selecting group selected.   
   
   
       2 . The character input device according to  claim 1 , further comprising distance detecting portion to detect a distance between a position detected at a first time by said position detecting portion and a position detected at a second time by said position detecting portion, wherein said second selecting portion selects one of the at least one character classified in said selecting group on the basis of said distance detected. 
   
   
       3 . The character input device according to  claim 1 , further comprising time measuring portion to measure an elapsed time since said moving direction was detected, wherein said second selecting portion selects one of the at least one character classified in said selecting group on the basis of said elapsed time measured. 
   
   
       4 . The character input device according to  claim 1 , further comprising determination portion, when said position detecting portion that had detected the designated position detects no more position, for determining the character that is being selected by said second selecting portion from among the at least one character classified in said selecting group to be an input character. 
   
   
       5 . A character input device, comprising:
 position detecting portion to detect a designated position;   direction detecting portion to detect a moving direction of the position detected by said position detecting portion;   first selecting portion to select, on the basis of the position detected at a predetermined time by said position detecting portion, one group as a first selecting group from among a plurality of first type groups into which a plurality of characters have been classified;   second selecting portion, when the moving direction is detected by said direction detecting portion, for selecting one group as a second selecting group, from among a plurality of second type groups into which said plurality of characters have been classified, on the basis of the moving direction; and   third selecting portion to select one of at least one character, among said plurality of characters, that has been classified in both said first selecting group and said second selecting group.   
   
   
       6 . The character input device according to  claim 5 , further comprising key input detecting portion having a plurality of keys arranged under a predetermined rule and for detecting that each one of said plurality of keys has been designated, wherein
 said position detecting portion means includes a plurality of areas which correspond respectively to the plurality of keys included in said key input detecting portion, and   said first selecting portion associates said plurality of first type groups with said plurality of areas, respectively, and selects one of said plurality of first type groups that corresponds to one of said plurality of areas in which the position detected at said predetermined time by said position detecting portion is included.   
   
   
       7 . The character input device according to  claim 5 , further comprising distance detecting portion to detect a distance between a position detected at a first time by said position detecting portion and a position detected at a second time by said position detecting portion, wherein
 said third selecting portion selects one of the at least one character among said plurality of characters that has been classified in both said first selecting group and said second selecting group, on the basis of said distance detected.   
   
   
       8 . The character input device according to  claim 5 , further comprising time measuring portion to measure an elapsed time since said moving direction was detected, wherein
 said third selecting portion selects one of the at least one character among said plurality of characters that has been classified in both said first selecting group and said second selecting group, on the basis of said elapsed time measured.   
   
   
       9 . The character input device according to  claim 6 , further comprising canceling portion to cancel said first selecting group and said second selecting group when said key input detecting portion detects that one of said plurality of keys has been designated, wherein
 said predetermined time is a time at which said key input detecting portion detects that one of said plurality of keys has been designated.   
   
   
       10 . A character input device, comprising:
 position detecting portion to detect a designated position; and   key input detecting portion having a plurality of keys arranged under a predetermined rule and for detecting that each one of said plurality of keys has been designated; wherein   said position detecting portion includes a plurality of areas which correspond respectively to the plurality of keys included in said key input detecting portion.   
   
   
       11 . A character input device, comprising:
 position detecting portion to detect a designated position;   character selecting portion to select a character which is associated in advance with a first position detected by said position detecting portion;   displaying means for displaying a related character which is classified in a same group as said selected character, at a second position around said first position;   direction detecting portion to detect a moving direction of the position detected by said position detecting portion; and   related character selecting portion to make selectable said related character that is being displayed at said second position in the case where said direction detecting portion detects a moving direction from said first position toward said second position.   
   
   
       12 . A method for inputting a character, comprising the steps of:
 detecting a designated position;   detecting a moving direction of the detected position;   when the moving direction is detected, selecting one group as a selecting group, from among a plurality of groups into which a plurality of characters have been classified, on the basis of the moving direction; and   selecting one of at least one character classified in said selecting group selected.   
   
   
       13 . A program embodied on a computer readable storage medium for inputting a character, causing a computer to perform the steps of:
 detecting a designated position;   detecting a moving direction of the detected position;   when the moving direction is detected, selecting one group as a selecting group, from among a plurality of groups into which a plurality of characters have been classified, on the basis of the moving direction; and   selecting one of at least one character classified in said selecting group selected.