JPH04347894A - Character input system by multi-window system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To minimize the movement of the sight of an operator in character input operation and to handle characters which are inputted to a wrong window as input characters to another window as they are. CONSTITUTION:When characters are inputted from an input device 2 while a window 12 on the screen of a display device 9 is active, an input control part 4 displays the inputted character string on the display device 9 in an input window 13a placed at a text cursor position in the window 12. When the active window is switched to a window 11 through the operation of a pointing device 8, the input control part 4 moves the input window 13a to a test cursor position of the window 11 with an indication from a window control part 10. When the carriage return key on the input device 7 is pressed, the character string displayed in the input window 13a is passed from the input control part 4 to a selector 5, which sends it to the program 1 corresponding to the window 11 as the current active window.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention allows text strings to be sent to a program such as an editor, mail processing program, document creation program, etc. corresponding to each window by operating a keyboard or mouse through a plurality of windows displayed on a display device. Concerning a character input method in a multi-window for inputting .

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, on a screen for inputting and outputting characters, there is a concept of the position where the next character will be input or the position where the next character will be output, that is, the text cursor position. When windows corresponding to individual programs such as an editor, a mail processing program, a document creation program, etc. are displayed on the screen of a display device, a text cursor position exists for each window.

By the way, by operating an input device such as a keyboard through a window displayed on a display device, a character string (a character string typed from a keyboard, etc.) is input to a program corresponding to the window in response to instructions from the input device. (Character strings edited by the input front-end section, or candidate kanji characters converted from kana-kanji by the kana-kanji conversion section, etc.)
When inputting , the following two methods have been conventionally adopted as methods for displaying and inputting the character string being input.

(1) First method A single input window common to all windows is placed in a certain fixed area on the screen (for example, at the bottom of the screen), the character string being input is displayed there, and the line feed key is pressed. A method that sends the character string being input at the time when a predetermined key operation, such as the Enter key or the Confirm key, is performed to the program corresponding to the active window indicated by the pointer of a pointing device such as a mouse.

(2) Second method An input management section is provided for each window, that is, for each program, and when a character string is input from a keyboard, etc., it corresponds to the currently active window indicated by the pointer of the pointing device. Enter the character string into the input management section to display the character string at the text cursor position in the active window, and when a specified key operation such as the line feed key or enter key is performed, the input management section displays the string at the text cursor position in the active window. A method in which the input management section sends character strings to the program that corresponds to its own input management section.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventionally, the two methods described above have been employed, but each method has the following problems.

[0007] In the first method, the character string being input is displayed in an input window located away from the text cursor position of the input target window.
The operator has to move his/her line of sight from the text cursor position in the window to the input window and vice versa many times, which poses a problem in operability.

On the other hand, in the second method described above, the character string being input is displayed at the text cursor position, so movement of the line of sight can be minimized. However, since input is managed independently between each window, if you accidentally enter characters without realizing that the window pointed to by your pointing device is different from the window you originally wanted to input, Even if you notice this, the problem is that the characters you have already input cannot be treated as input characters to the window you originally wanted to input, and you have to restart the operation from the beginning.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to minimize the movement of the operator's viewpoint during character input by displaying the character string being input at the text cursor position. To do this, and to allow characters being input into an erroneous window to be treated as input to another window.

0010

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the multi-window character input method of the present invention employs the following configurations (A) and (B).

(A) A front end that recognizes an active window among a plurality of program-compatible windows displayed on a display device, and inputs a character string input from an input device and the character string according to an instruction from the input device. an input management section that always places an input window that displays a character string edited by the input device at the text cursor position of the active window; , a selection section that sends the character string displayed in the input window to a program corresponding to the active window.

(B) Recognizes the active window among a plurality of program-compatible windows displayed on the display device, and generates a kana character string input from the input device and a character string converted from kana to kanji by the kana-kanji converter. an input management unit that always places a conversion window that displays at the text cursor position of the active window; and an input management unit that recognizes the active window among the plurality of windows and, triggered by a predetermined operation on the input device, displays the conversion window at the text cursor position of the active window; The configuration includes a select section that sends the displayed character string to the program corresponding to the active window.

[0013]

[Operation] In the multi-window character input method configured in (A) above, when the operator selects the window in which he wants to input using the pointer of a pointing device such as a mouse, and inputs characters using an input device such as a keyboard. , the input management unit recognizes the window pointed to by the pointer as the active window, and places the input window that displays the input character string at the text cursor position of the active window. Also,
When an editing instruction such as deleting the character being input is input from the input device, the input front end edits the character string being input based on the instruction, but the edited character string is also the text in the active window. Displayed in the input window placed at the cursor position.

[0014] While inputting characters, when the operator notices that the selected window is different from the originally intended window and selects the intended window with the pointer of the pointing device, the input management section This window is recognized as the active window, and the input window that displays the string being input is moved from the original active window to the text cursor position of the new active window.

[0015] After that, when the operator performs a predetermined operation such as pressing the line feed key, the selection unit recognizes the active window and converts the character string displayed in the input window placed at the text cursor position to that character string. Send to the program corresponding to the active window.

[0016] In the multi-window character input method configured as described in (B) above, the operator selects the window to input using the pointer of a pointing device such as a mouse, and inputs kana characters from an input device such as a keyboard. Then, the input management section recognizes the window indicated by the pointer as the active window, and places the input window for displaying the input kana character string at the text cursor position of the active window. Furthermore, when a conversion instruction is input from the input device, the kana-kanji converter converts the currently input kana character string into kana-kanji and generates candidate kanji, etc., but the generated candidate kanji, etc. are also included in the text in the active window. Displayed in the input window placed at the cursor position.

[0017] While inputting characters, when the operator notices that the selected window is different from the originally intended window and selects the intended window with the pointer of the pointing device, the input management section The input window that displays the kana character string or candidate kanji character that was being input is moved from the original active window to the text cursor position of the new active window.

After that, when the operator performs a predetermined operation such as pressing the enter key, the selection section recognizes the active window and selects the character string displayed in the input window placed at the text cursor position. Send to the program corresponding to the active window.

[0019]

Embodiments Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the present invention includes:
Compatible with an input device 7 such as a keyboard, a pointing device 8 such as a mouse, a display device 9 such as a CRT, programs 1 and 2 such as an editor, a mail processing program, a document creation program, and the program 1. A window resource 15 such as memory for displaying the window 11 corresponding to the program 2 on the display device 9, a window resource 16 such as memory for displaying the window 12 corresponding to the program 2 on the display device 9, and a window resource 16 such as memory for displaying the window 11 corresponding to the program 2 on the display device 9; 9, and a window system management unit 6 that manages the entire window system and provides an input interface with the input device 7 and pointing device 8 and an output interface with the display device 9. , a window control unit 10 that controls each of the above-mentioned resources 15, 16, and 17a, and buffers the character string input from the input device 7 and stores the buffered character string in accordance with instructions from the input device 7. An input front end section 3a for editing, a plurality of windows 11 displayed on the display device 9 according to notifications from the window control section 10,
In addition to recognizing the active window among the 12 windows, each window 11,
12 text cursor positions, and recognizes the character string input from the input device 7 and the input front end section 3.
Input window 13a that displays the character string edited in step a
The input management unit 4 performs processing such as always placing the text at the text cursor position of the active window, and the active window is recognized by notifications from the window control unit 10, and the input is performed when the line feed key is pressed on the input device 7. Input window 1 passed from management section 4
3a, and a selector 5 for sending the character string being displayed to the program 1 or 2 corresponding to the active window.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a display screen of the display device 9, and the operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Window 1 currently displayed on display device 9
When window 12 is the active window among windows 1 and 12, the window control unit 10 controls each window with window 12 partially overlapping window 11, as shown in the upper display screen example of FIG. is displayed on the display device 9, and the input management unit 4 and selector 5 are notified that the window 12 is the active window. Note that 14 in FIG. 2 is a pointer controlled by the pointing device 8.

On the other hand, the input management section 4 manages each program 1,
2 of the current text cursor position of its own program, and when it receives a notification from the window control unit 10 that window 12 is the active window, the text cursor position notified from program 2 corresponding to window 12 Based on this, the input window display position control information in the input window resource 17a is set to a position corresponding to the notified text cursor position.

In addition to the input window display position control information, the input window resource 17a holds the character string being input, and the window control unit 10 controls the input window to display the held character string. 13a
is displayed at the location indicated by the input window display position control information. As a result, the input window 13a that displays the character string being input is placed at the text cursor position of the window 12, which is the active window, as shown in the upper display screen example of FIG.

When the operator inputs the character "S" from the input device 7 in the above state, this is transmitted to the input management section 4 through the input interface of the window system management section 6, and the input management section 4 inputs the character "S". is input to the input front end section 3a and set as the input character in the input window resource 17a. As a result, under the control of the window control section 10, the letter "S" is displayed at the input window 13a on the display screen. On the other hand, the input front end section 3a stores the input "S" internally.

[0026] Hereinafter, "O", "M", "
E”, “Space”, “I”, “N”, “P”, “U”
, "T" are input in sequence, the same operation as described above is performed, and the character string "SOMEINPUT" is displayed in the input window 13a as shown in the upper display screen example of FIG. 2, and the input front end is Similar character strings are stored in section 3a.

Note that the input window 13 from the input device 7
When an editing instruction such as deletion is input for the character string displayed in a, the input management section 4 transmits the instruction to the input front end section 3a, and the input front end section 3a inputs the string according to the editing instruction. Edit the string inside. Then, the input front end section 3a stores the edited character string internally, and the input management section 4 replaces the character string being input in the input window resource 17a with the edited character string. As a result, the display in the input window 13a is also switched to the edited character string.

Now, when the character strings shown in the upper display screen example of FIG. 2 are displayed in the input window 13a placed at the text cursor position of the window 12, the operator Suppose that the user realizes that he should have entered the input into window 11 instead of 12, and uses the pointing device 8 to move the pointer 14 onto window 11 and performs a click operation to make window 11 the active window.

In response to this click operation, the window control section 10 inverts the vertical relationship between the windows 11 and 12, as shown in the lower display screen example of FIG.
Each window is displayed on a display device 9 with the window 11 superimposed on the window 12. Furthermore, the input management unit 4 and selector 5 are notified that the window 11 is the active window.

In response, the input management section 4 updates the input window display position control information in the input window resource 17a based on the text cursor position notified from the program 1 corresponding to the window 11. As a result, the input window 13a that displays the character string being input moves to the text cursor position of the window 11, as shown in the lower display screen example of FIG. 2, and is displayed at the original text cursor position of the window 12. The character string that was being input disappears.

Next, when the operator presses the line feed key on the input device 7 in this state, this is transmitted to the input management section 4 through the input interface of the window system management section 6, and the input management section 4 The character string stored in 3a, that is, the character string currently displayed in input window 13a, is passed to selector 5.

The selector 5 sends the character string passed from the input management section 4 to the program 1 corresponding to the window 11 which is the active window notified by the window control section 10.

Referring to FIG. 3, another embodiment of the present invention includes an input device 7 such as a keyboard, a pointing device 8 such as a mouse, and a display device 9 such as a CRT.
, a program 1 and a program 2 such as an editor, a mail processing program, a document creation program, etc., a window resource 15 such as a memory for displaying a window 11 corresponding to the program 1 on the display device 9, and a window resource 15 corresponding to the program 2. A window resource 16 such as memory for displaying the window 12 on the display device 9, a conversion window resource 17b such as memory for displaying the conversion window 13b on the display device 9, and an input device 7 that manages the entire window system. , a window system management unit 6 that provides an input interface with the pointing device 8 and an output interface with the display device 9.
, a window control unit 10 that controls each of the above-mentioned resources 15, 16, and 17b, and a kana-kanji conversion unit 3b that converts a kana character string input from the input device 7 into kana-kanji to generate candidate kanji and the like. , a plurality of windows 11 displayed on the display device 9 based on notifications from the window control unit 10.
, 12 and recognizes the active window of each window 11 by notification from programs 1 and 2.
, 12 text cursor positions, and the kana character string input from the input device 7 and the kana-kanji converter 3.
Conversion window 1 that displays candidate kanji etc. generated in step b
3b is always placed at the text cursor position of the active window, and the input management unit 4 recognizes the active window based on notifications from the window control unit 10, and upon pressing the enter key on the input device 7, It includes a selector 5 that sends the candidate kanji etc. that are being displayed in the conversion window 13a passed from the input management section 4 to the program 1 or 2 corresponding to the active window.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the display screen of the display device 9, and the operation of this embodiment will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

Window 1 currently displayed on display device 9
When window 12 is the active window among windows 1 and 12, the window control unit 10 controls each window with window 12 partially overlapping window 11, as shown in the upper display screen example of FIG. is displayed on the display device 9, and the input management unit 4 and selector 5 are notified that the window 12 is the active window.

The input management unit 4 receives notification from each program 1 and 2 of the current text cursor position of its own program, and when it receives notification from the window control unit 10 that the window 12 is the active window, the input management unit 4 Based on the text cursor position notified from the program 2 corresponding to 12, the conversion window display position control information in the conversion window resource 17b is set to a position corresponding to the notified text cursor position.

In addition to the conversion window display position control information, the conversion window resource 17b stores the character string being input, and the window control unit 10 controls the conversion window to display the stored character string. 13b
is displayed at the location indicated by the conversion window display position control information. As a result, the conversion window 13b that displays the character string being input is placed at the text cursor position of the active window 12, as shown in the upper display screen example of FIG.

When the operator inputs the kana character "hi" from the input device 7 in the above state, this is transmitted to the input management section 4 through the input interface of the window system management section 6, and the input management section 4 inputs the kana character "hi". The characters are input to the kana-kanji converter 3b and set as characters being input to the conversion window resource 17b. As a result, the kana character "hi" is displayed in the conversion window 13b on the display screen under the control of the window control unit 10. On the other hand, the kana-kanji converter 3b stores the input "hi" internally.

[0039] Hereafter, from the input device 7, "yo", "u", "
When ``ji'', ``wo'', ``o'', ``ko'', ``na'', ``tsu'', ``ta'', ``to'', and ``ki'' are input in sequence, the same operation as described above is performed. , a kana character string ``when you perform a hyōji'' is displayed in the conversion window 13b, and similar character strings are accumulated in the kana-kanji converter 3b.

In this state, when a kana-kanji conversion instruction is input from the input device 7 for the kana character string displayed in the conversion window 13b by pressing the conversion key, the input management section 4 converts the instruction into kana-kanji conversion. The kana-kanji conversion section 3b performs kana-kanji conversion on the character string being input according to the instruction. Then, the kana-kanji conversion unit 3b stores the obtained candidate kanji characters, etc., and the input management unit 4 replaces the character string being input in the conversion window resource 17b with the candidate kanji characters, etc. This allows the conversion window 13
The display of b also changes to the edited character string, and for example, the character string after kana-kanji conversion "when displayed" as shown in the upper display screen example of FIG. 4 is displayed.

At this point, the operator realizes that those character strings should have been entered into window 11 instead of window 12, and moves the pointer 14 onto window 11 by operating the pointing device 8 to close window 11. Assuming that a click operation is performed to make the window the active window, the window control unit 10 operates as shown in FIG.
As shown in the lower display screen example, each window is displayed on the display device 9 with the window 11 partially overlapping the window 12, and the input management unit 4 and selector 5 have the window 11 as the active window. We will notify you that this is the case.

In response, the input management unit 4 updates the conversion window display position control information in the conversion window resource 17b based on the text cursor position notified from the program 1 corresponding to the window 11. As a result, the conversion window 13b that displays the character string being input moves to the text cursor position of window 11, as shown in the lower display screen example of FIG. 4, and is displayed at the original text cursor position of window 11. The character string that was being input disappears.

Next, in this state, when the operator presses the enter key on the input device 7, this is transmitted to the input management section 4 through the input interface of the window system management section 6, and the input management section 4 converts the kana-kanji conversion section. 3b, that is, the character string currently displayed in the conversion window 13b, is passed to the selector 5.

The selector 5 sends the character string passed from the input management section 4 to the program 1 corresponding to the window 11 which is the active window notified by the window control section 10.

[0045]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention,
Input windows such as input windows and conversion windows that display the character string being input, the character string being edited, candidate kanji after kana-kanji conversion, etc. are placed at the text cursor position of the active window, so it is easier to input characters. It is possible to minimize the movement of the operator's viewpoint at the time.

In addition, input windows such as input windows and conversion windows are always placed at the text cursor position of the active window.
That is, when the active window is changed using a pointing device such as a mouse, the input window is moved to the text cursor position of the active window after the change, and certain actions such as pressing the new line key or enter key are By using the operation as a trigger, the character string displayed in the input window at that time is sent to the program corresponding to the active window. Characters entered into one window can be treated as input into another window.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in the embodiment of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols] 1, 2...Program 3a...Input front end unit 3b...Kana-kanji conversion unit 4...Input management unit 5...Selector 6...Window system management unit 7...Input device 8...Pointing device 9...Display device 10... Window control units 11, 12...Window 1 corresponding to programs 1 and 2
3a...Input window 13b...Conversion window 14...Pointers 15, 16...Window resource 17a...Input window resource 17b...Conversion window resource

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An input front-end unit that recognizes an active window among a plurality of program-compatible windows displayed on a display device, and inputs a character string input from an input device and the character string according to an instruction from the input device. an input management unit that always places an input window that displays the edited character string at the text cursor position of the active window; and an input management unit that recognizes the active window among the plurality of windows and is triggered by a predetermined operation on the input device; A character input method in a multi-window including a select section that sends a character string displayed in the input window to a program corresponding to an active window. [Claim 2] Recognizes the active window among the plurality of program-compatible windows displayed on the display device, and converts the kana character string input from the input device and the character string converted into kana-kanji by the kana-kanji converter. an input management unit that always places a conversion window to be displayed at the text cursor position of the active window; and an input management unit that recognizes the active window among the plurality of windows and displays the conversion window in the conversion window triggered by a predetermined operation on the input device. A multi-window character input method that includes a select section that sends the currently displayed character string to the program corresponding to the active window.