Prior art of this kind are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laying-open No. 10-187339 and Japanese Patent Application Laying-open No. 2002-91676.
In the prior art of Japanese Patent Application Laying-open No. 10-187339, key patterns are preprinted on the surface of the touch panel, and the touch time during which the user touches the touch panel with a finger is detected. When the touch time is more than a threshold value, the cursor is moved. When the touch time is less than the threshold value, the touch position is detected, and a graphic, number, symbol or the like printed in the position is input.
Also, in the prior art of Japanese Patent Application Laying-open No. 2002-91676, when one key (of the character “” (Japanese syllabic character hiragana “tsu”), for example) is pointed at, the graphics related to that (“” (“zu”) and “”, for example) are adjacently displayed. By moving toward these related graphics while pointing at the key and then stopping the pointing, the graphic at the time of stopping the pointing is input.
According to the above mentioned two prior art references, the display position of a graphic, etc. input by touching the touch panel is fixedly decided, and the user cannot freely select the display position.
Therefore, it is a feature of certain exemplary embodiments to provide a novel information processing apparatus and information input program.
It is another feature of certain exemplary embodiments to provide an information processing apparatus and information input program which make it possible to freely select or set a display position of a graphic, etc. input by operating a touch panel.
In a first exemplary embodiment, an information processing apparatus that comprises a display, a touch panel provided in relation to the display, a displaying means for displaying a plurality of key patterns and an input area on the display, a touch detecting means that detects a touch-on to or a touch-off from the touch panel at predetermined time intervals, a coordinate position detecting means that detects a coordinate position at a time when the touch detecting means detects the touch-on, a key pattern designation determining means that, when the touch detecting means detects a change of state from touch-off to touch-on, determines whether or not the coordinate position detected by the coordinate position detecting means designates any of the plurality of key patterns, a first coordinate position determining means that, after the key pattern designation determining means determines that some of the key patterns is designated, in response to the detection of a change to touch-off by the touch detecting means, determines whether the coordinate position detected by the coordinate position detecting means immediately before the change to touch-off is a position corresponding to the key pattern or an arbitrary position within the input area, and a first graphic displaying means that, when the first coordinate position determining means determines that the coordinate position at a position corresponding to the key pattern, displays a graphic associated with the key pattern in a predetermined position in the input area, and that, when the first coordinate position determining means determines the coordinate position is an arbitrary position within the input area, displays the graphic associated with the key pattern at the arbitrary position.
In the first exemplary embodiment, the information processing apparatus (10: a reference numeral indicative of a corresponding element in the embodiments. The same applies to the following reference numerals.) includes the display (14) and the touch panel (22) provided on the display. A processor, i.e., a CPU core (42) and a step S1 performed thereby function as displaying means. The displaying means (42, S1) causes the display to display an input screen (image) having the plurality of key patterns (66) like a keyboard and the input area (68). The touch detecting means (42, S3, S15, S27) detects at predetermined time intervals that a user touches the touch panel (22) (touch-on) or cancels the touch (touch-off) with a stick (24) or the like. When the touch detecting means detects the touch-on, the coordinate position detecting means (62b, S5, S17) detects a coordinate position at that time in the touch panel. The key pattern designation determining means (S7) determines whether or not the coordinate position at the time of detection of a change of state from touch-off to touch-on by the touch detecting means designates any one of the plurality of key patterns. Then, after the key pattern designation determining means determines that some of the key patterns is designated, when the touch detecting means detects a change to touch-off, the first coordinate position determining means (S29, S39) determines whether the coordinate position detected by the coordinate position detecting means immediately before the change to touch-off is a position corresponding to the key pattern or an arbitrary position within the input area. That is, when some of the key patterns is touched and then touch-off is performed, the first coordinate position determining means determines whether the coordinates at the time of the touch-off is in the position of the key pattern or an arbitrary position not indicative of the key pattern in the input area. Also, when the first coordinate position determining means determines that the coordinate at the time of touch-off is in the position corresponding to the key pattern, the first graphic displaying means (S31, S41) displays a character graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in the input area (a position subsequent to the previous input position, for example). Conversely, when the coordinate position is an arbitrary position within the input area, the first graphic displaying means displays the character graphic associated with the key pattern at the arbitrary position.
According to the first exemplary embodiment, the coordinate positions at the start (touch-on) and end (touch-off) of an operational input to the touch panel are detected. When the coordinate positions at the time of start and the time of end are on the same key pattern, a character graphic associated with the key pattern is displayed at a predetermined position in the input area. When the coordinate position at the time of start is on the key pattern but it is moved to an arbitrary position within the input area at the time of touch-off, the character graphic associated with the key pattern is displayed at the arbitrary position within the input area. That is, by touching a key pattern through a touch-on operation and moving the stick (24) or the like to an arbitrary position within the input area while keeping it in the touch-on state, it is possible to drag the character graphic for the key pattern into the arbitrary position. Accordingly, by means of this dragging technique, the user can freely select an input position within the input area, i.e., the display position of the character graphic associated with the key pattern.
A second exemplary embodiment is an information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment, which further comprises a time measuring means that, when the key pattern designation determining means determines that some of the key patterns is designated, counts a time during which the touch-on state continues, a duration time determining means that determines whether or not duration of the time measured by the time measuring means is equal to or more than a predetermined time, a second coordinate position determining means that, when the duration time determining means determines that the duration time is equal to or more than the predetermined time, determines whether or not the coordinate position detected by the coordinate position detecting means corresponds to the designated key pattern, and a second graphic displaying means that, when the second coordinate position determining means determines that the coordinate position is a position corresponding to the key pattern, displays the graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in the input area.
In the second exemplary embodiment, when the key pattern designation determining means (S7) determines that some of the key patterns is designated at the time of a change to touch-on, the time measuring means (64f, S11) counts the time during which the touch-on state continues. The duration time determining means (S19) determines whether or not the continuing time is equal to or more than a predetermined time. If the duration time is equal to or more than the predetermined time, the second coordinate position determining means (S21) determines whether or not the coordinate position detected by the coordinate position detecting means corresponds to the designated key pattern. If the coordinate position corresponds to the key pattern, the second graphic displaying means (S23) displays the character graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in the input area.
According to the second exemplary embodiment, when an input of a key pattern is continuously performed for a predetermined time or more, an image associated with the key pattern can be displayed at a predetermined position in the input area. That is, by continuously touching the one and same key pattern, after lapse of a specific time, the character graphic for the same key pattern can be input and displayed at a predetermined position in the input area at each time of touch detection.
A third exemplary embodiment is an information processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment, which further comprises a valid key setting means that, when the touch detecting means detects a change of touch-off to touch-on, sets the designated key pattern determined by the key pattern designation determining means as a valid key, wherein when the first coordinate position determining means determines that the coordinate position is a position corresponding to the key pattern set as the valid key, the first graphic displaying means displays the graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in the input area, and when the first coordinate position determining means determines that the coordinate position is an arbitrary position within the input area, the first graphic displaying means displays the graphic associated with the key pattern at the arbitrary position, and the apparatus further comprises a canceling means that, when the touch detecting means detects a change of the touch-on to touch-off, cancels the setting of the valid key.
In the third exemplary embodiment, when a change takes place from touch-off to touch-on, the valid key setting means (S9) sets the designated key pattern determined by the key pattern designation determining means as a valid key. Also, when the second coordinate position determining means determines that the coordinate position is a position corresponding to the key pattern set as the valid key, the second graphic displaying means (S31) displays the character graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in the input area. However, when the second coordinate position determining means determines that the coordinate position is an arbitrary position within the input area, the second graphic displaying means displays the character graphic associated with the key pattern at the arbitrary position. Moreover, when the touch detecting means detects a change from touch-on to touch-off, the canceling means (S35) cancels the setting of the valid key.
According to the third exemplary embodiment, the key pattern indicated at the time of start of an operational input (touch-on) is set as a valid key, and the setting of the valid key is canceled at the end of the operational input (touch-off). Accordingly, even if the input coordinate position is changed by the above mentioned dragging operation, etc. from the key pattern designated at the time of start to another key pattern, it is possible to prevent the other key pattern from being input by mistake.
The present invention of a fourth exemplary embodiment is an information processing apparatus according to any one of the first through third exemplary embodiments, which further comprises a predetermined position setting means that, when the first graphic displaying means or the second graphic displaying means displays the graphic associated with the key pattern, sets a position related to the display position of the graphic as the predetermined position.
In the fourth exemplary embodiment, when the first graphic displaying means or the second graphic displaying means displays the character graphic associated with the key pattern, the predetermined position setting means (S25, S33) sets the position related to the display position of the character graphic as the predetermined position.
According to the fourth exemplary embodiment, the predetermined position as next character input position is set in the input area.
A fifth exemplary embodiment is a storage medium storing a program for information input in an information processing apparatus (10) comprising a display (14), a touch panel (22) provided in relation to the display, and a processor (42), the program causing the processor to perform the following steps of: a displaying step (S1) of causing the display to display a plurality of key patterns and an input area; a touch detecting step (S3, S15, S27) of detecting a touch-on to or a touch-off from the touch panel at predetermined time intervals; a coordinate position detecting step (S5, S17) of detecting a coordinate position at a time when the touch-on is detected in the touch detecting step; a key pattern designation determining step (S7) of, when a change of state from touch-off to touch-on is detected in the touch detecting step, determining whether or not the coordinate position detected in the coordinate position detecting step designates any of the plurality of key patterns; a first coordinate position determining step (S29, S39) of, after it is determined in the key pattern designation determining step that some of the key patterns is designated, in response to the detection of a change to touch-off in the touch detecting step, determining whether the coordinate position detected in the coordinate position detecting step immediately before the change to touch-off is a position corresponding to the key pattern or an arbitrary position within the input area; and a first graphic displaying step of, when it is determined in the first coordinate position determining step that the coordinate position is a position corresponding to the key pattern, displaying a graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in the input area, and, when it is determined in the first coordinate position determining step that the coordinate position is an arbitrary position within the input area, displaying the graphic associated with the key pattern at the arbitrary position.
In the fifth exemplary embodiment, the same advantages can be expected as those of claim 1.
A sixth exemplary embodiment is a storage medium according to the fifth exemplary embodiment, wherein the program further causes the processor to perform the following steps of: a time measuring step (S11) of, when it is determined in the key pattern designation determining step that some of the key patterns is indicated, counting a time during which the touch-on state continues; a duration time determining step (S19) of determining whether or not the duration time counted in the time measuring step is equal to or more than a predetermined time; a second coordinate position determining step (S21) of, when it is determined in the duration time determining step that that the duration time is equal to or more than the predetermined time, determining whether or not the coordinate position detected in the coordinate position detecting step is a position corresponding to the designated key pattern; and a second graphic displaying step (S23) of, when it is determined in the second coordinate position determining step that the coordinate position is a position corresponding to the key pattern, displaying the graphic associated with the key pattern at a predetermined position in the input area.
In the sixth exemplary embodiment, the same advantages can be expected as those of the second exemplary embodiment.
A seventh exemplary embodiment is a storage medium according to the fifth exemplary embodiment, wherein the program further causes the processor to perform a valid key setting step (S9) of, when a change of touch-off to touch-on is detected in the touch detecting step, setting the designated key pattern determined in the key pattern designation determining step as a valid key, wherein when it is determined in the first coordinate position determining step that the coordinate position corresponds to the key pattern set as the valid key, in the first graphic displaying step, the graphic associated with the key pattern is displayed at a predetermined position in the input area, and when it is determined in the first coordinate position determining step that the coordinate position is an arbitrary position within the input area, in the first graphic displaying step, the graphic associated with the key pattern is displayed at the arbitrary position, and the program causes the processor to further perform a canceling step (S35) of, when a change of the touch-on to touch-off is detected in the touch detecting step, canceling the setting of the valid key.
In the seventh exemplary embodiment, the same advantages can be expected as those of the third exemplary embodiment.
An eighth exemplary embodiment is a storage medium according to any one of the fifth through seventh exemplary embodiments, wherein the program further causes the processor to perform a predetermined position setting step (S25, S33) of, when the character graphic associated with the key pattern is displayed in the first graphic displaying step or the second graphic displaying step, setting the position related to the display position of the character graphic as the predetermined position.
In the eighth exemplary embodiment, the same advantages can be expected as those of the fourth exemplary embodiment.
A ninth exemplary embodiment is an information input method for an information processing apparatus (10) comprising a display (14), a touch panel (22) provided in relation to the display, and a processor (42), which includes the following steps of: a displaying step (S1) of causing the display to display a plurality of key patterns and an input area; a touch detecting step (S3, S15, S27) of detecting a touch-on to or a touch-off from to the touch panel at predetermined time intervals; a coordinate position detecting step (S5, S17) of detecting a coordinate position at a time when the touch-on is detected in the touch detecting step; a key pattern designation determining step (S7) of, when a change of state from touch-off to touch-on is detected in the touch detecting step, determining whether or not the coordinate position detected in the coordinate position detecting step designates any of the plurality of key patterns; a first coordinate position determining step (S29, S39) of, after it is determined in the key pattern designation determining step that some of the key patterns is designated, in response to the detection of a change to touch-off in the touch detecting step, determining whether the coordinate position detected in the coordinate position detecting step immediately before the change to touch-off is a position corresponding to the key pattern or an arbitrary position within the input area; and a first graphic displaying step of, when it is determined in the first coordinate position determining step that the coordinate position is a position corresponding to the key pattern, displaying a graphic associated with the key pattern at the predetermined position in the input area, and, when it is determined in the first coordinate position determining step that the coordinate position is an arbitrary position in the input area, displaying the graphic associated with the key pattern at the arbitrary position.
In the ninth exemplary embodiment, the same advantages can be expected as those of the first through the fifth exemplary embodiments.
According to certain exemplary embodiments, by touching a key pattern through a touch-on operation and moving the stick or the like to an arbitrary position in the input area while keeping it in the touch-on state, it is possible to drag the character graphic for the key pattern into the arbitrary position. Accordingly, the user can freely select the input position in the input area, i.e., the display position of the character graphic associated with the key pattern.
The above described objects and other objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.