Summary of the invention
The invention provides a kind of user interface that utilizes phonetic or phonetic notation method input Chinese character, wherein according to different input phases, punctuation mark and circumflex/syllable-dividing mark by Alternation Display in keyboard layout.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a kind of user interface is provided, which comprises at least input media and display device, wherein said input media has such layout, which comprises at least the key of the expression phonetic or the Chinese phonetic script, represent the key of each punctuation mark and circumflex or syllable-dividing mark, and the key of convenient input, described display device shows the layout of described input media at least and passes through the input results of described input media, it is characterized in that, when the layout of display input device, except the key of phonetic or the Chinese phonetic script and convenient input, Alternation Display punctuation mark and circumflex/syllable-dividing mark, wherein, during the phonetic input, the input media layout that described display device shows comprises described phonetic alphabet key, the key of described circumflex/syllable-dividing mark key and described convenient input; After the phonetic end of input, the input media layout that described display device shows comprises described phonetic alphabet key, the key of described punctuation mark key and described convenient input.The key that only is shown works.
According to a further aspect in the invention, a kind of equipment that utilizes phonetic or inputting Chinese characters by phonetic notation is provided, this equipment comprises at least: input media, be used to utilize phonetic or inputting Chinese characters by phonetic notation, described input media comprises the key of a plurality of expression phonetics or the Chinese phonetic script at least, the key of a plurality of expression punctuation marks and circumflex/syllable-dividing mark, each key table show a punctuation mark and circumflex or syllable-dividing mark, and the key of a plurality of convenient inputs; Display device shows the layout of described input media and the result of input at least; Treating apparatus links to each other with described display device with described input media, and being used to handle from the input of described input media and to described display device provides relevant process information; Memory storage, be used for storing at least dependent instruction that described treating apparatus will carry out and with the relevant data of Chinese character input; This equipment is characterised in that: in the process by described input media input Chinese character, described display device is except the key that shows the described phonetic or the Chinese phonetic script and described convenient input, the described punctuation mark of Alternation Display and described circumflex/syllable-dividing mark, wherein, during passing through described input media input Pinyin letter, the described keyboard layout that described display device shows comprises described phonetic alphabet key, the key of described circumflex/syllable-dividing mark key and described convenient input; After passing through described input media input Pinyin, the described keyboard layout that described display device shows comprises described phonetic alphabet key, the key of described punctuation mark key and described convenient input.
In the input process of phonetic or Chinese phonetic script string, described display device shows the phonetic or the Chinese phonetic script, circumflex/syllable-dividing mark, and the key of convenient input.After phonetic or Chinese phonetic script string end of input, described display device shows the phonetic or the Chinese phonetic script, the key of punctuation mark and convenient input.
The present invention also provides a kind of method of importing Chinese character on Chinese character input device, and described equipment comprises input media at least, display device, and treating apparatus and memory storage, wherein said input media comprise the key of a plurality of expression phonetics or the Chinese phonetic script at least; The key of a plurality of expression punctuation marks and circumflex/syllable-dividing mark, each key table show a described punctuation mark and a described circumflex/syllable-dividing mark; And the key of a plurality of convenient inputs; Described display device shows the layout of described input media and the result who imports by input media at least; Described method comprises the following steps: to start phonetic or phonetic notation input; Make described display device show the layout of described input media, this layout comprises the phonetic or the Chinese phonetic script, the key of described punctuation mark and described convenient input; When at least one the described phonetic of input or the Chinese phonetic script, making the shown input media layout change of described display device is the described phonetic or the Chinese phonetic script, the key of described circumflex/syllable-dividing mark and described convenient input; When selecting a described input results, make the shown input media layout of described display device become the described phonetic or the Chinese phonetic script, the key of described punctuation mark and described convenient input.
Embodiment
Portable or hand-held electronic equipment generally includes display device and is used to import the input media of data.Input media can be a keyboard, keypad or dummy keyboard etc.For example: small handheld electronic devices such as phone and mobile phone have a display screen usually, as LCD display, and keyboard.In addition, portable or hand-held electronic equipment also comprises a processor and a storer usually.According to the difference of equipment, processor and storer can be processor and the storeies with different disposal ability and storage capacity.In addition, processor and storer also can integrate.Except that other function, in Chinese character input process, (for example: input keyboard) also offers display device with result and is used for showing processor processing from input media.
Keyboard can be the ASCII keyboard of standard, the keyboard that notebook computer is used, or can input digit, the keyboard used of the electronic dictionary of letter or phonetic.Keyboard also can be the keypad of hand-hold electronic equipments such as mobile phone, and this keyboard has the data entry key (being no more than 12 usually) and the function key (being no more than 12 usually) of lesser amt.
And at other in the portable or hand-held electronic equipment, as PDA etc., do not have physical keyboard usually, but utilize touch-screen as showing and input media.That is to say that in electronic equipments such as PDA, keyboard is a dummy keyboard, it does not have actual (machinery) key, but replaces the virtual key that is presented on the touch-screen.
Figure 1A-1C shows an embodiment according to user interface of the present invention, wherein be presented at keyboard layout on the screen with the difference of Chinese character input phase difference, and wherein do not show punctuation mark and circumflex/syllable-dividing mark simultaneously on the screen.
Figure 1A shows the conventional form of the screen 100 of display device when utilizing spell Chinese character input.Shown in Figure 1A, screen comprises two parts, viewing area 110 and keyboard layout 120.Viewing area 110 comprises three parts, be used to show the phonetic district 111 of institute's input Pinyin, with the 111 candidate blocks 112 of going together and being used for the show candidate word, and on phonetic district 111 and candidate block 112, be used for showing the go forward side by side text area 113 of edlin of the word of selecting from candidate.Keyboard layout 120 comprises function key, punctuation mark, and data entry key.
Keyboard comprises data entry key, and function key etc. are so that input.In an illustrated embodiment, data entry key comprises 26 English alphabets, and they also represent phonetic alphabet.The accurate ASCII keyboard of image scale is such, and these keys are aligned to three rows.Keyboard can also comprise numerical key, and promptly digital 0-9 is to make things convenient for input digit.Numerical key can be arranged in the # shape and be disposed in the right side of keyboard layout; Also can be aligned to a row, be arranged on the top of letter key as the keyboard of notebook computer.Be conserve space, numeral also can be represented by some letter key, just as in mobile phone, also can be hidden in certain key (123 key) back shown in Figure 1A like that.By starting 123 keys, can demonstrate numeral and input digit (not shown).
In the embodiment shown in Figure 1A-1C, comprise six punctuation marks "? ", "! ", ".", ", ", ", " and " ... ".They are arranged at the lower right of keyboard.Certainly, according to different keyboard arrangements, also other punctuation mark can be arranged, for example: ": ".Therefore, for saving keyboard layout space and convenient input, in the present embodiment, in keyboard layout, only show six the most frequently used punctuation marks.
Except that letter key etc., for example also need " enter " " backspace " and function keys such as " space ".The value volume and range of product of function key can be with equipment and purposes different and different.
The total arrangement that should be noted that keyboard be not limited to shown in Figure 1A like that, according to the difference of purposes, different equipment can have different keyboard layouts.
For example: shown in Fig. 2 A-2C, the viewing area can be divided into two parts like this, and wherein candidate block 112 and text area 113 are in the bottom of screen, are positioned on the function key.Candidate block 112 and text area 113 also can be positioned at the bottom (not shown) of keyboard layout.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 1A, comprise six punctuation marks.In general, punctuation mark should be the most frequently used, so that convenient input.Usually, punctuation mark should comprise at least "." and ", " and some other punctuate commonly used.In the present embodiment, six punctuation marks are respectively: "? ", "! ", ".", ", ", ", " and " ... ".The quantity of punctuation mark is not limited to six, and six shown in being not limited to.Since have the four tones of standard Chinese pronunciation, one softly with a syllable-dividing mark, can select six punctuation marks to represent these circumflexs and syllable-dividing mark.
Specifically, "? ", "! ", ".", ", ", ", " and " ... " also represent circumflex and syllable-dividing mark respectively.For example: "? " also representative " ' ", "! " also representative ". " softly, "." also represent "-", ", " also represent two "
", ", " also represent " ˇ " three, " ... " also represents the four tones of standard Chinese pronunciation " ` ".If desired, these can be labeled on the key of reality (machinery).Promptly under the situation of physics (machinery) keyboard, can or be printed on the actual key face punctuation mark and circumflex/syllable-dividing mark mark.For example: the expression "." the key face on, also mark is gone up "-", on the key face of expression ", ", also mark go up "
" etc.In other words, on actual key face, express punctuate and circumflex simultaneously, with convenient input.Yet, in keyboard layout that shows or dummy keyboard, do not show punctuation mark and circumflex/syllable-dividing mark simultaneously.That is to say, in keyboard layout or dummy keyboard, Alternation Display punctuation mark and circumflex/syllable-dividing mark, when showing punctuation mark, circumflex/syllable-dividing mark does not appear at the position of punctuation mark, and vice versa.
According to the present invention, when demonstration utilized the keyboard layout of spell Chinese character input, shown in Figure 1A, appearing on the screen was phonetic alphabet, punctuation mark and function key.At this moment, circumflex and syllable-dividing mark do not appear on the screen, or more particularly, circumflex and syllable-dividing mark do not appear at the position of punctuation mark.What saw this moment just shows phonetic alphabet, the conventional keyboard layout of punctuation mark and function key.
In fact, according to different particular devices, when connecting display screen or being transformed into Chinese character input mode, except other key, have only punctuation mark rather than circumflex and syllable-dividing mark to appear in the initial keyboard layout demonstration.At the equipment of saying Chinese language users, the data input after the start shows it can is different input methods, selects it to want the input method of using for the user for special.For example, the input of the data after start demonstration can comprise phonetic, stroke or other input method.When the user selects to utilize the phonetic input, show to transfer Figure 1A to.For miscellaneous equipment, when the user entered the input in Chinese pattern, what at first occur on screen can be the demonstration of Figure 1A.
If the user begins to utilize spell Chinese character input, screen be converted to shown in Figure 1B like that.In other words, have only as the user to begin to import Chinese character, screen just be transformed into shown in Figure 1B like that, that is to say that punctuation mark changes circumflex and syllable-dividing mark into.When the user finished input Pinyin, circumflex and syllable-dividing mark were replaced by punctuation mark again.
Illustrate the present invention below.When the user determined to use spell Chinese character input, screen display was the basic status of virtual keyboard layout, shown in Figure 1A.
Under the situation of dummy keyboard, when the user begins the input Pinyin alphabetic string, for example: when the user utilizes corresponding letters on recording pointer or its finger touch screen and during input Pinyin, the phonetic input is activated.In the letter, screen display changes into shown in Figure 1B, that is to say on user's touch screen, and punctuation mark is replaced by circumflex and syllable-dividing mark.Meanwhile, phonetic district 111 is activated, and the phonetic alphabet of being imported are displayed on wherein.Simultaneously, the candidate's word table in candidate block 112 also is activated.That is to say that when beginning during input Pinyin, the user can not increase special character in the phonetic alphabet of input, as punctuation mark etc.In other words, in the phonetic alphabet input process, can only the input Pinyin letter, screen does not show punctuation mark, therefore, can not inputting punctuation mark.
On the other hand because in this stage, the position display of punctuation mark be circumflex and syllable-dividing mark, the user can select a suitable tone shortening the length of candidate's word table behind the input vowel, thus and the scope of dwindling selection.For example; When user's input Pinyin alphabetic string " zhong ", the Chinese character with pronunciation " zhong " appears at the candidate block with the order that uses frequency.The quantity of candidate depends on for example length of candidate display part 112 and the size of font in candidate's word table.In fact, have and surpass 15 Chinese characters, thereby user's page turning up and down of having to is sometimes sought and wanted the word imported with " zhong " pronunciation.Yet if selected certain tone, for example: one "-", the word that only has first is presented in candidate's word table.This will significantly reduce the quantity of candidate, thereby effectively utilize the space in valuable candidate block 112, particularly under the situation of the hand-hold electronic equipments with limited display screen.In addition, this also will accelerate the speed of input.
The user also can utilize the syllable-dividing mark that is presented in the keyboard layout to separate with the phonetic alphabet grouping and with Chinese character.For example: if user's input Pinyin " xian ", engine the combination of phonetic alphabet can be identified as " elder generation, line, county, existing, show, lift ... " etc., may have and surpass the pronunciation that 45 Chinese characters have " xian ".But, what the user really wanted to import is phrase " Xi'an ", promptly " xi " adds " an ", there is not syllable-dividing mark, user's input " xi " earlier, and from candidate, choose " west " with pronunciation " xi ", input " an " then, and from candidate, choose " peace " with pronunciation " an ".This expends time in.Utilize syllable-dividing mark, the user can be at an easy rate adds syllable-dividing mark by input " xi " and adds " an " and import Xi'an, and at this moment " Xi'an " will appear in the candidate.
In case the user has finished the Chinese character input, keyboard layout will transform to Fig. 1 C, and promptly circumflex and syllable-dividing mark return conversion to punctuation mark.Phonetic viewing area 111 is cleared, and waits for receiving new phonetic input.At this moment, the user does not need to import circumflex and syllable-dividing mark.For example: when the user utilizes Chinese character on recording pointer or its finger touch screen or speech and selected a Chinese character or phrase from candidate's word table, just mean that the user has finished the situation that phonetic input and keyboard layout become Fig. 1 C, promptly circumflex and syllable-dividing mark are replaced by punctuation mark once more.Circumflex and syllable-dividing mark disappear from screen, have only punctuation mark to be displayed on their position.
After the user selected, selected word or phrase were moved to text area 113 and are displayed on wherein.The user can add punctuation mark the Chinese character in the text area is edited.In this stage, the user can not choose circumflex and syllable-dividing mark, because they do not appear in the keyboard layout, and also there is no need to add circumflex in the Chinese character of text area usually.
When the user restarts input Pinyin, keyboard layout will change once more.That is to say that after the user selects a word or a phrase and adds suitable punctuation mark and when beginning to re-enter phonetic alphabet, keyboard layout is got back to the situation of Figure 1B.For example: when phonetic alphabet on the user touches key dish layout, punctuation mark is replaced by circumflex and syllable-dividing mark immediately.Above-mentioned input process repeats again.
For continuous phonetic input, keyboard layout will remain unchanged.For example: if the user does not select Chinese character or phrase from candidate's word table after the input Pinyin alphabetic string, but continue other phonetic alphabet of input, keyboard layout will remain unchanged.Circumflex and syllable-dividing mark will be apparent in the keyboard layout, and punctuation mark does not appear in the keyboard layout.
Under the situation that the keyboard layout on keyboard and the screen is arranged, when the user begins input Pinyin when letter, with regard to function, the punctuation mark on the keyboard can convert circumflex and syllable-dividing mark to, and this conversion will be reflected in the keyboard layout on the screen.That is to say that on screen, keyboard layout will be transformed into punctuation mark and be replaced by circumflex and syllable-dividing mark.
Under the situation of the handheld device with keypad, the keyboard layout that is presented on the screen needn't be consistent with the general layout of keypad.That is to say that the keyboard layout of demonstration can be the form of Figure 1A, and can utilize the touch-screen that shows dummy keyboard to import.
In addition, because in most of the cases, the four tones of standard Chinese pronunciation, i.e. first " high and level tone ", the second sound " rising tone ", the 3rd " going up sound " and the fourth sound " falling tone " are enough to represent the tone of Chinese character, keyboard layout can only show that these four tones of standard Chinese pronunciation add syllable-dividing mark, can omit softly.In this case, when input Pinyin, only need five in six punctuation marks are changed, remaining one can be the most frequently used punctuation mark or special character.
Fig. 3 A-3C shows another distortion of the embodiment of the invention.In this embodiment, keyboard layout and Figure 1A-1C are basic identical.Difference is that both punctuation marks are slightly different with function key.
In this embodiment, the sum of key is different with Figure 1A-1C embodiment.For example: do not have the display digit key, even do not have image pattern 1A-1C such, numerical key directly is hidden in the back of some function keys.In addition, " enter ", " backspace " is also different with function key outside " space ".Yet with regard to circumflex and syllable-dividing mark, keyboard layout is identical.This difference does not influence and utilizes phonetic input.Certainly, the position of circumflex and syllable-dividing mark with arrange also needn't with described in the embodiment and shown in identical.
Utilize the present invention, can save the expensive real estate of keyboard layout, and do not influence the function and the convenience of user interface.The user can utilize spell Chinese character input easily.
Owing to choose circumflex is not the precondition of phonetic input, and in the present invention, although circumflex is provided, the user is input Pinyin letter and needn't utilize circumflex input only still.The present invention can use together with any spelling input method, and shows that the keyboard layout of circumflex will improve the availability of spelling input method greatly.
Should be understood that though the phonetic input is distinguished to some extent with the keyboard layout of phonetic notation input, the present invention can be used for phonetic input method fully because phonetic input method also utilizes circumflex to realize the Chinese character input.
Although described the present invention in conjunction with example above, should be noted that the present invention is not limited in example as described herein, those skilled in the art can modify the present invention under the situation that does not break away from the present invention's spirit and principle and change.