Information processing device, information processing device control method, program, and information storage medium

Abstract

To provide an information processing device capable of facilitating input by a user of a symbol, such as, e.g., a character, a mark (a symbol in a narrow sense), a pictogram (a pictorial symbol), and so forth. An area setting unit ( 72 ) sets a plurality of areas corresponding to symbols or symbol groups in a screen image. A determination unit ( 76 ) determines whether or not a position pointed out by a user in the screen image is included in any of the plurality of areas. A symbol string obtaining unit ( 78 ) obtains a symbol string input by a user, based on the result of the determination by the determination unit ( 76 ). A process executing unit ( 80 ) carries out a process, based on the result of comparison between a reference symbol string and the symbol string input by a user. An area setting unit ( 72 ) sets the size of an area corresponding to a symbol included in the reference symbol string, or an area corresponding to a symbol group to which the symbol included in the reference symbol string belongs, larger than the size of an area corresponding to a symbol not included in the reference symbol string or an area corresponding to a symbol group to which the symbol included in the reference symbol string does not belong.

1 . An information processing device, comprising:
 reference symbol string storage means for storing a reference symbol string comprising one or more symbols;   area setting means for setting a plurality of areas corresponding to symbols or symbol groups in a screen image;   pointed position obtaining means for obtaining a position pointed out by a user in the screen image;   determination means for determining whether or not the position obtained by the pointed position obtaining means is included in any of the plurality of areas;   symbol string obtaining means for obtaining a symbol string input by the user, based on a result of determination by the determination means; and   process executing means for executing a process, based on a result of comparison between the reference symbol string and the symbol string obtained by the symbol string obtaining means, wherein   the area setting means sets a size of an area corresponding to a symbol included in the reference symbol string, or an area corresponding to a symbol group to which the symbol included in the reference symbol string belongs, larger than a size of an area corresponding to a symbol not included in the reference symbol string or an area corresponding to a symbol group to which the symbol included in the reference symbol string does not belong.   
     
     
         2 . The information processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the area setting means includes means for setting, in a case where the user inputs an n th  (n being an integer equal to or larger than one) symbol, a size of an area corresponding to the n th  symbol in the reference symbol string, or an area corresponding to a symbol group to which the n th  symbol in the reference symbol string belongs, larger than a size of an area corresponding to another symbol or an area corresponding to another symbol group.   
     
     
         3 . The information processing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 dominant arm storage means for storing information indicating a dominant art of the user, wherein   the area setting means includes means for setting a size of an area corresponding to a symbol included in the reference symbol string, or an area corresponding to a symbol group to which the symbol included in the reference symbol string belongs, larger than a size of an area corresponding to a symbol not included in the reference symbol string or an area corresponding to a symbol group to which the symbol included in the reference symbol string does not belong, based on the dominant arm of the user.   
     
     
         4 . The information processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the area setting means includes means for setting a size of an area corresponding to a symbol included in the reference symbol string, or an area corresponding to a symbol group to which the symbol included in the reference symbol string belongs, larger than a size of an area corresponding to a symbol not included in the reference symbol string or an area corresponding to a symbol group to which the symbol included in the reference symbol string does not belong, based on a relationship between the area corresponding to the symbol included in the reference symbol string, or the area corresponding to the symbol group to which the symbol included in the reference symbol string belongs, and a reference position in the screen image.   
     
     
         5 . The information processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the area setting means includes
 means for updating positions of the plurality of areas, and 
 means for setting a size of an area corresponding to a symbol included in the reference symbol string, or an area corresponding to a symbol group to which the symbol included in the reference symbol string belongs, larger than a size of an area corresponding to a symbol not included in the reference symbol string or an area corresponding to a symbol group to which the symbol included in the reference symbol string does not belong, based on a past or future position of the area corresponding to the symbol included in the reference symbol string or the area corresponding to the symbol group to which the symbol included in the reference symbol string belongs. 
   
     
     
         6 . The information processing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the symbol includes a character,   the reference symbol string is a reference character string comprising one or more characters,   the area setting means sets a plurality of areas corresponding to characters or character groups in the screen image, and   the symbol string obtaining means obtains a character string input by the user, based on a result of determination by the determination means.   
     
     
         7 . An information processing device control method, comprising:
 a step of reading content of reference symbol string storage means storing a reference symbol string comprising one or more symbols;   an area setting step of setting a plurality of areas corresponding to symbols or symbol groups in a screen image;   a pointed position obtaining step of obtaining a position pointed out by a user in the screen image;   a determination step of determining whether or not the position obtained at the pointed position obtaining step is included in any of the plurality of areas;   a symbol string obtaining step of obtaining a symbol string input by the user, based on a result of determination at the determination step; and   a process executing step of executing a process, based on a result of comparison between the reference symbol string and the symbol string obtained at the symbol string obtaining step, wherein   the area setting step includes a step of setting a size of an area corresponding to a symbol included in the reference symbol string, or an area corresponding to a symbol group to which the symbol included in the reference symbol string belongs, larger than a size of an area corresponding to a symbol not included in the reference symbol string or an area corresponding to a symbol group to which the symbol included in the reference symbol string does not belong.   
     
     
         8 . A program for causing a computer to function as:
 reference symbol string storage means for storing a reference symbol string comprising one or more symbols;   area setting means for setting a plurality of areas corresponding to symbols or symbol groups in a screen image;   pointed position obtaining means for obtaining a position pointed out by a user in the screen image;   determination means for determining whether or not the position obtained by the pointed position obtaining means is included in any of the plurality of areas;   symbol string obtaining means for obtaining a symbol string input by the user, based on a result of determination by the determination means; and   process executing means for executing a process, based on a result of comparison between the reference symbol string and the symbol string obtained by the symbol string obtaining means, wherein   the area setting means sets a size of an area corresponding to a symbol included in the reference symbol string, or an area corresponding to a symbol group to which the symbol included in the reference symbol string belongs larger, than a size of an area corresponding to a symbol not included in the reference symbol string or an area corresponding to a symbol group to which the symbol included in the reference symbol string does not belong.   
     
     
         9 . A computer readable information storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as:
 reference symbol string storage means for storing a reference symbol string comprising one or more symbols;   area setting means for setting a plurality of areas corresponding to symbols or symbol groups in a screen image;   pointed position obtaining means for obtaining a position pointed out by a user in the screen image;   determination means for determining whether or not the position obtained by the pointed position obtaining means is included in any of the plurality of areas;   symbol string obtaining means for obtaining a symbol string input by the user, based on a result of determination by the determination means; and   process executing means for executing a process, based on a result of comparison between the reference symbol string and the symbol string obtained by the symbol string obtaining means, wherein   the area setting means sets a size of an area corresponding to a symbol included in the reference symbol string, or an area corresponding to a symbol group to which the symbol included in the reference symbol string belongs, larger than a size of an area corresponding to a symbol not included in the reference symbol string or an area corresponding to a symbol group to which the symbol included in the reference symbol string does not belong.   
     
     
         10 . An information processing device, comprising:
 reference option storage means for storing a reference option;   area setting means for setting a plurality of areas corresponding to options or option groups in a screen image;   pointed position obtaining means for obtaining a position pointed out by a user in the screen image;   determination means for determining whether or not the position obtained by the pointed position obtaining means is included in any of the plurality of areas;   option determination means for determining an option selected by the user, based on a result of determination by the determination means; and   process executing means for executing a process, based on a result of comparison as to whether or not the reference option coincides with the option selected by the user, wherein   the area setting means sets a size of an area corresponding to an option which is the reference option, or an area corresponding to an option group to which the option which is the reference option belongs, larger than a size of an area corresponding to an option which is not the reference option or an area corresponding to an option group to which the option which is the reference option does not belong.   
     
     
         11 . The information processing device according to  claim 10 , further comprising
 dominant arm storage means for storing information indicating a dominant arm of the user, wherein   the area setting means includes means for setting a size of an area corresponding to an option which is the reference option, or an area corresponding to an option group to which the option which is the reference option belongs, larger than a size of an area corresponding to an option which is not the reference option or an area corresponding to an option group to which the option which is the reference option does not belong, based on the dominant arm of the user.   
     
     
         12 . The information processing device according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the area setting means includes means for setting a size of an area corresponding to an option which is the reference option, or an area corresponding to an option group to which the option which is the reference option belongs, larger than a size of an area corresponding to an option which is not the reference option or an area corresponding to an option group to which the option which is the reference option does not belong, based on a relationship between a position of the area corresponding to the option which is the reference option, or the area corresponding to the option group to which the option which is the reference option belongs, and a reference position in the screen image.   
     
     
         13 . The information processing device according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the area setting means includes
 means for updating positions of the plurality of areas; and 
 means for setting a size of an area corresponding to an option which is the reference option, or an area corresponding to an option group to which the option which is the reference option belongs, larger than a size of an area corresponding to an option which is not the reference option or an area corresponding to an option group to which the option which is the reference option does not belong, based on a past or future position of the area corresponding to the option which is the reference option or the area corresponding to the option group to which the option which is the reference option belongs. 
   
     
     
         14 . An information processing device control method, comprising:
 a step of reading content of reference option storage means storing a reference option;   an area setting step of setting a plurality of areas corresponding to options or option groups in a screen image;   a pointed position obtaining step of obtaining a position pointed out by a user in the screen image;   a determination step of determining whether or not the position obtained at the pointed position obtaining step is included in any of the plurality of areas;   an option determination step of determining an option selected by the user, based on a result of determination at the determination step; and   a process executing step of executing a process, based on a result of comparison as to whether or not the reference option coincides with the option selected by the user, wherein   the area setting step includes a step of setting a size of an area corresponding to an option which is the reference option, or an area corresponding to an option group to which the option which is the reference option belongs, larger than a size of an area corresponding to an option which is not the reference option or an area corresponding to an option group to which the option which is the reference option does not belong.   
     
     
         15 . A program for causing a computer to function as:
 reference option storage means for storing a reference option;   area setting means for setting a plurality of areas corresponding to options or option groups in a screen image;   pointed position obtaining means for obtaining a position pointed out by a user in the screen image;   determination means for determining whether or not the position obtained by the pointed position obtaining means is included in any of the plurality of areas;   option determination means for determining an option selected by the user, based on a result of determination by the determination means; and   process executing means for executing a process, based on a result of comparison as to whether or not the reference option coincides with the option selected by the user, wherein   the area setting means sets a size of an area corresponding to an option which is the reference option, or an area corresponding to an option group to which the option which is the reference option belongs, larger than a size of an area corresponding to an option which is not the reference option or an area corresponding to an option group to which the option which is the reference option does not belong.   
     
     
         16 . A computer readable information storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as:
 reference option storage means for storing a reference option;   area setting means for setting a plurality of areas corresponding to options or option groups in a screen image;   pointed position obtaining means for obtaining a position pointed out by a user in the screen image;   determination means for determining whether or not the position obtained by the pointed position obtaining means is included in any of the plurality of areas;   option determination means for determining an option selected by the user, based on a result of determination by the determination means; and   process executing means for executing a process, based on a result of comparison as to whether or not the reference option coincides with the option selected by the user, wherein   the area setting means sets a size of an area corresponding to an option which is the reference option, or an area corresponding to an option group to which the option which is the reference option belongs, larger than a size of an area corresponding to an option which is not the reference option or an area corresponding to an option group to which the option which is the reference option does not belong.