Character input equipment and methods

Abstract: Character input control equipment enables a decrease of moving distance of a cursor between key positions, and also enables efficient key input. The character input control equipment includes a character input display field display controller for displaying a plurality of character input display fields (DEF etc.) in a display part, a cursor movement controller for specifying one character input display field (e.g. DEF) out of the plurality of character input display fields displayed in the display part by moving the cursor, and an input character selector for selecting one character (D or E or F) out of a plurality of characters corresponding to the one character input display field (e.g. DEF) specified by the cursor movement controller when a plurality of characters (D and E and F) correspond to each one of the plurality of character input display fields (e.g. DEF).

Description: The present invention relates to character input control equipment and methods. More particularly, the present invention relates to character input control equipment and methods for inputting characters which are displayed on a display screen by using "soft" keys. Fig. 6 shows an example of an array of a plurality of keys (hereafter called character input display field) which is displayed on a display in direct input mode for conventional character input control. All alphabetical characters (A - Z) are arranged. Also a key to select lower case characters (small key) and an alphanumeric switching key (Ch/N) and other keys are also arranged. Using such key arrays, a player of a game machine inputs the name of a player, nickname of the operation target character of a match game, and other data according to the type of game. When "DREAM" is input, for example, the cursor is moved to a plurality of key positions corresponding to "D", "R", "E", "A" and "M" so as to be positioned at a predetermined position, and the enter key is instructed to complete the input of "DREAM". In recent game machines, on the other hand, program control enabling a match game with an opponent at a remote location or to enable conversations (chat) based on characters via communication lines is becoming possible. In such a case, it is necessary for both players to input predetermined information prior to the start of the match game in order to communicate with the remote equipment. In the case of a chat via communication lines, characters must be input corresponding to the conversation. Therefore when the above mentioned key array shown in Fig. 6 is used, the distance of cursor movement from a key position to be input to the next key position is large. For example, in order to input "A" after inputting "P", it is necessary to move the character cursor from the character "P" position to the character "A" position by passing 13 character positions. However, in the case of a match game or chat via communication lines, quick character input is desirable to minimize an unnecessary increase in connect charges. US-A-5,543,818 discloses a character input control system and method which attempts to simplify the situation as previously described herein with reference to Figure 6, and discloses a controller operable for controlling the display of a plurality of character input display fields on a display unit, with the controller also being operable for controlling cursor movement for specifying one character input display field out of the plurality thereof, and for selecting one character out of a specified display field. Similar disclosures are made in WO 99/46563 A and JP-A-08-161097. It is an object of the present invention to provide a character input control system and method which enables efficient key input while decreasing the moving distance of the cursor between specified key positions. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a character input control system comprising: a controller operable for controlling the display of a plurality of character input display fields on a display unit, said controller also being operable for controlling cursor movement for specifying one character input display field out of the plurality of character input display fields displayed on said display unit, and the controller comprising an input character selector for selecting one character out of a plurality of characters corresponding to a character input display field specified in dependence on said cursor movement; characterised in that: one of said plurality of character input display fields is positioned in a central location position relative to the other ones of said plurality of character input display fields; and the cursor is initially located at said central location position of said one character input display field and is moveable by said controller from that central location position to another one of said plurality of character input display fields, and the system controls cursor movement such that the cursor returns to said central location position when cursor movement from said central location position ends. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a character input control system comprising: a controller operable for controlling the display of a plurality of character input display fields on a display unit, said controller also being operable for controlling cursor movement for specifying one character input display field out of the plurality of character input display fields displayed on said display unit by moving a cursor according to control by an operator, characterised in that: one of said plurality of character input display fields is positioned in a central location position relative to the other ones of said plurality of character input display fields; the cursor is initially located at said central location position of said one character input display field and is moveable by said controller from the central location position to another one of said plurality of character input fields, and the system controls the cursor to return to said central location position when cursor movement from said central location position ends; and wherein said controller is operable to control the selection of a first code, and one second code out of a plurality of second codes corresponding to said first code, each of said first code and said second codes corresponding to a respective character input display field on said display unit as specified by the cursor; and the system is operable to convert the combination of said selected first code and said selected second code to a corresponding character. In embodiments of the invention the cursor movement and the selection of character input display fields, including codes according to the second aspect of the invention, can be carried out by an operator who may be a game player. In a development of the invention, a character type change means may be provided for changing the character type corresponding to the aforementioned plurality of character input display fields. Further aspects of the present invention are defined by the character input control method of attached claim 11, and the recording medium of attached claim 14. Characteristics and developments of the present invention will be clarified by embodiments, of the present invention, which will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a block diagram depicting a configuration of an embodiment of a video game machine which the present invention is applied to; Fig. 2 is a drawing depicting a rough configuration of an embodiment of an input pad 3; Fig. 3 is an operation flow to explain an input operation of an embodiment of a game machine which the character input control equipment of the present invention is applied to; Figs. 4A and 4B are drawings depicting an example of the input key array in alphabet input mode; Fig. 5 is a drawing depicting an example of the input key array in numeric input mode; and Fig. 6 is an example of the key array to be displayed on the display in direct input mode which is used for the conventional character input control method. Fig. 1 is a block diagram depicting a configuration of an embodiment of a video game machine which the character input control equipment of the present invention is applied to. In Fig. 1, the game machine main unit 1 has a CPU 10, a ROM 11 where the game program to be executed by the CPU 10 is stored, a RAM 12 to store data for operation and a video RAM 13 where one frame of image data to be displayed on the display 2 is stored. The game machine main unit 1 also has an interface 14 to be connected to an input pad 3. Alphabet input to be controlled by the present invention is executed by the input pad 3 to be connected to the game machine main unit 1. The program to implement the functions of the character input control equipment of the present invention is, for example, included in the game program to be stored in the ROM 11. Fig. 2 is a drawing depicting a rough configuration of an embodiment of the input pad 3. The shape of the input pad 3 varies, but has a cursor movement control switch 30 to instruct the movement and direction of the cursor, a character type select switch 31L, a character input display field group select switch 31R, and a character select or code element select switch 32 as the character input control equipment of the present embodiment. In the following embodiment, the cursor movement function and select function are implemented by the CPU 10 which processes the switch signals output by each switch pressing operation, using the game program stored in the ROM 11 in the character input control equipment of the present embodiment. Therefore in the following description, the present embodiment is described primarily in terms of each switch operation and display change on the display 2 based on the switch operation, assuming that CPU 10 executes processing based on the switch signals which are output by each switch pressing operation. The cursor movement control switch 30 controls the movement of the cursor vertically or horizontally. The character type select switch 31L switches the input character type, that is, alphabetic characters and numeric characters, each time it is pressed. The character input display field group select switch 31R, on the other hand, is used to select the character input display field group, as described later, and the alphabetic character select or code element select switch 32 is used to select one alphabetic character of a plurality of alphabetic character groups belonging to a same character input display field position. Fig. 3 is an operation flow chart depicting the alphabetic character input in a game machine to which the character input control equipment of the present invention is applied. When the game machine starts (Step S1), input mode select processing (Step S2) is executed. In other words, the input mode select screen is displayed on the screen of the display, which is not illustrated. The player can now select an input mode from direct input mode (Step S3), simple character input mode (Step S4) and code input mode (Step S5). In the direct input mode (Step S3), the conventional input method described in Fig. 6 is used. Therefore if the player selects the direct input mode, the input key array shown in Fig. 6 is displayed. In this case, the player can move the cursor to the key position of the desired character to be input, and can define the input by controlling the cursor movement control switch 30 and the character type select switch 31L. When the cursor movement switch 30 is set to non-pressed status next, the input of the alphabetic character corresponding to the key position where the cursor is placed is defined. Input of an alphabetic character may be defined when input is executed next, not when the cursor movement control switch 30 is set to non-pressed status. This is the same for the following embodiments. When a player selects the simple character input mode (Step S4) in Fig. 3, the CPU 10 displays the input key array shown in Figs. 4A and 4B as a control part. This input key array constitutes a first character input display field group 40 where alphabetic character keys, which are a plurality of character input display fields, are arranged. Outside this first character input display field group 40, the second character input display field group 41 is arranged. Selection of the first character input display field group 40 and the second character input display field group 41 are switched by pressing the character input display field group select switch 31R shown in Fig. 2. In the example in Figs. 4A and 4B, each key corresponds to one alphabetic character group, which includes three alphabetic characters, and the alphabetic character group "MNO" is displayed at the center of the array as the reference character input display field group. Also in initial status, as shown in Fig. 4A, the cursor is on the character input display field group of the alphabetic character group "MNO". Here the character input display field 42, belonging to the second character input display group 41 is a key to switch the input character type from alphabetic to numeric characters. Now an embodiment when "F", "@", "N", "K" and "P" are input in the character input control equipment of the present embodiment in the key array shown in Fig. 4A will be explained. In the initial status, the character input display field 42 selects the alphabetic input. The alphabetic character "F" belongs to the alphabetic character group "DEF". Therefore the player selects the first character input display field group 40 by pressing the character input display field group select switch 31R. Then the player shifts the cursor upward by pressing the cursor movement control switch 30. By this, the cursor can be positioned at the character input display field position for the alphabetic character group "DEF". At this time, CPU 10 displays the alphabetic character "D" on the screen of the display 2, which is not illustrated. Then in order to select the alphabetic character "F" out of the plurality of alphabetic characters "D", "E" and "F" belonging to the character input display field group "DEF", the player presses the character select or code element select switch 32 two times in the sequence of "D", "E" and "F". By this, the alphabetic characters are shifted from "D" and "E" to "F" and are displayed on the screen of the display 2. When the alphabetic character "F" is displayed, the cursor movement control switch 30 is set to non-pressed status. By this, the selection of the alphabet "F" is defined and input of the corresponding character code is defined. A characteristic of the present embodiment here is that the CPU 10 simultaneously controls such that the cursor is returned to the home key position of the alphabetic characters "MNO", which is the reference character input display field group. When the symbol "@" is input, the player switches to the second character input display field group 41 by pressing the character input display field group select switch 31R. Then when the cursor movement control switch 30 is pressed in the right direction, the cursor is shifted to the display field position to input symbols "* - @". At this time the symbol "*" is displayed. "*", "-" and "@" are the symbols belonging to the display field to input symbols "* - @". Therefore the player presses the character select or code element select switch 32 twice in the group of the symbols "* - @", to shift the display on the screen of the display 2 from "*", "-" to "@". Then the cursor movement control switch 30 is set to non-pressed status when the symbol "@" is displayed. By this, input of the symbol "@" is defined. At the same time, the CPU 10 controls the cursor to return to the character input display field position for the alphabetic character group "MNO", which is the center position of the matrix. When the alphabetic character "N" is input, the cursor does not have to be moved from the reference character input display field position, since the alphabetic character group "MNO" is the group where the alphabetic character "N" belongs in the display status shown in Fig. 4A. So the player presses the character select or code element select switch 32 once, to shift the alphabetic character from "M" to "N". By this, the alphabetic character "N" is input. To input the alphabetic character "K", the cursor is shifted to the left by the cursor movement control switch 30 to select the character input display field position for the alphabetic character group "JKL". Then the character select or code element select switch 32 is pressed to shift the alphabetic character from "J" to "K". When the cursor movement control switch 30 is set to non-pressed status, the cursor is returned to the character input display field position for the alphabetic character group "MNO". To input the alphabetic character "P" next, the cursor is shifted to the right to select the character input display field position for the alphabetic character group "PRS". When the cursor movement control switch 30 is set to non-pressed status, the alphabetic character "P" is input, and the cursor is returned to the character input display field position of the alphabetic character group "MNO". In this way, input of "F@NKP" is defined (Step S6). Then the following processing is executed according to the game program stored in the ROM 11 (Step S7). Fig. 5 is another embodiment of the present invention depicting a key array displayed on the display 2 when the numeric character input mode (Step S5) is selected in Fig. 3. This numeric character input mode is selected by pressing the character type select switch 31L in Fig. 2. In the input key array in Fig. 5, numeric keys are arranged. as a plurality of character input display fields in odd number columns and odd number rows, and the numeric "5" is displayed in the character input display field position at the center of the array. In the initial status, the cursor is on the numeric "5". Now the operation to input "F", "@", "N", "K" and "P" by the character input control equipment of the present embodiment in the array of the character input display field shown in Fig. 5 is explained. In the input during numeric character input mode, the alphabetic characters "A" - "Z" are represented by one of the numeric character codes "00" - "99" respectively. Therefore 100 types of characters can be input by 10 keys, that is, by character input display fields. "F", for example, of the alphabetic characters "F", "@", "N", "K" and "P", is represented by the code "25", where the first code element is "2" and the second code element is "5". In the same way, the symbol "@" is represented by the code "02", where the first code element is "0" and the second code element is "2", "N" is represented by the code "52" where the first code element is "5" and the second code element is "2", "K" is represented by the code "42" where the first code element is "4" and the second code element is "2", and "P" is represented by the code "61" where the first code element is "6" and the second code element is "1". Therefore to input the alphabetic character "F", the player shifts the cursor upward by the input character display field group select switch 31R and the cursor movement control switch 31. By this, the cursor can be positioned at the character input display field position for the numeric character "2". At this time, the numeric character code "21", which is comprised of the first code element "2" and the second code element "1" corresponding to the alphabetic character "D", is output from the input pad 3, and the CPU 10 displays the alphabetic character "D" on the screen of the display 2, which is not illustrated. So when the player presses the character select or code element select switch 32 twice to select the second code element, the numeric character codes "22" and "23" are sequentially output from the input pad 3. Corresponding to this, the CPU 10 shifts the display on the screen of the display 2 sequentially from "D" and "E" to "F". When the alphabetic character "F" is displayed, the cursor movement control switch 30 is set to non-pressed status. By this, the alphabetic character "F" is defined and input. At the same time, the CPU 10 controls the cursor to return to the key position of the numeric character "5", which is the reference character input display field at the center position of the matrix. When the symbol "@" is input, the cursor is shifted to the input character display field position of the numeric character "0" by the cursor movement control switch 30 and the character type select switch 31L. At this time, the numeric code "01" corresponding to the symbol "@" is output, and the corresponding symbol "@" is displayed. Therefore the player presses the character select or code element select switch 32 twice in the group of the numeric character key "0", that is, the group where the first code element "0" belongs, to output the numeric character codes "01" and "02", and shifts the display of the screen of the display 2 from the symbol "*" and "-" to "@". Then the cursor movement control switch 30 is set to non-pressed status. By this, the alphabetic character "@" is input. At the same time, the CPU 10 controls the cursor to return to the character input display field position for the numeric character "5" at the center position of the matrix. To input the alphabetic character "N" next, the cursor does not have to be moved since the group where the alphabetic character "N", represented by the numeric character code "51", is the alphabetic character group "MNO" in the display status shown in Fig. 5. So the player presses the character select or code element select switch 32 once to shift the numeric character code from "51" to "52". By this, the alphabetic character is shifted from "M" to "N" and the alphabetic character "N" is input. To input the alphabetic character "K", the cursor is shifted to the left to select the alphabetic character group "JKL", represented by the numeric character code "41". Then the numeric character code is shifted from "41" to "42" by the character select or code element select switch 32 to select the corresponding alphabetic character "K". When the cursor movement control switch 30 is set to non-pressed status, the cursor is returned to the character input display field position for the numeric character "5". To input the next alphabetic character "P", the cursor is shifted to the right to select the alphabetic character group "PRS", represented by the numeric character code "61". When the cursor movement control switch 30 is set to non-pressed status, the alphabetic character "P" is input, and the cursor is returned to the reference character input display field position for the numeric character "5". In this way, the input of "F@NKP" is defined. Then, the following processing is executed according to the game program stored in the ROM 11. In the code input mode according to the above embodiment of Fig. 5, it is possible to control such that only the code numeric character corresponding to the first code element is displayed in the process before selecting the second code element from the group belonging to the first code element. This means that if the alphabetic character "B" is allocated to the code "12", the numeric character "1" is displayed when the first code element "1" is selected, and the alphabetic character "B" is displayed when the second code element "2" is selected and defined. At this time, an accurate character input can easily be confirmed by changing the display colors of the numeric character "1" and the alphabetic character "B". In the present example, as explained according to the above embodiment, the cursor is returned to the reference input character display field position at the center of the key array when the input of one character is defined. This makes it possible to minimize the cursor movement distance to input the next character, no matter which alphabetic character is input next. Therefore, it becomes possible to efficiently execute a match game and chat with remote equipment at a distant location via communication lines. In the description of the above embodiment, the input of alphabetic characters was used as an example, but the application of the present invention is not restricted by this. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to the input of characters and symbols of other languages, such as Kanji, Hangul and Russian. The present invention can also be applied to data processing other than the execution of games, and to a computer program, and a recording medium storing the same, for executing aspects and developments of the present invention.

Claims: A character input control system comprising: a controller (3) operable for controlling the display of a plurality of character input display fields (42) on a display unit, said controller (3) also being operable for controlling cursor movement for specifying one character input display field out of the plurality of character input display fields (42) displayed on said display unit, and the controller (3) comprising an input character selector (32) for selecting one character out of a plurality of characters corresponding to a character input display field specified in dependence on said cursor movement; characterised in that : one (MNO) of said plurality of character input display fields (42) is positioned in a central location position relative to the other ones of said plurality of character input display fields (42); and the cursor is initially located at said central location position of said one character input display field (MNO) and is moveable by said controller (3) from that central location position to another one of said plurality of character input display fields (42), and the system controls cursor movement such that the cursor returns to said central location position when cursor movement from said central location position ends. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a character type select switch (31L) for changing a character type of characters corresponding to said plurality of character input display fields (42). The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said controller (3) controls cursor movement in response to receiving commands from an operator. The system according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of character input display fields (42) displayed on said display unit includes a first character input display field group (40) which includes said one character input display field (MNO) positioned in said central location, and a second character input display field group (41) having at least one character input display field which is arranged outside said first character input display field group (40). The system according to claim 4, further comprising a display field group selector (31R) for selecting either said first character input display field group (40) or said second character input display field group (41), and wherein the cursor is moved to the second character input display field group (41) from said one character input display field (MNO) positioned at said central location when said second character input display field group (41) is selected. A character input control system comprising: a controller (3) operable for controlling the display of a plurality of character input display fields on a display unit, said controller (3) also being operable for controlling cursor movement for specifying one character input display field out of the plurality of character input display fields displayed on said display unit by moving a cursor according to control by an operator, characterised in that : one (5) of said plurality of character input display fields is positioned in a central location position relative to the other ones of said plurality of character input display fields; the cursor is initially located at said central location position of said one character input display field (5) and is moveable by said controller (3) from the central location position to another one of said plurality of character input fields, and the system controls the cursor to return to said central location position when cursor movement from said central location position ends; said controller (3) is operable to control the selection of a first code, and one second code out of a plurality of second codes corresponding to said first code, each of said first code and said second codes corresponding to a respective character input display field on said display unit as specified by the cursor; and the system is operable to convert the combination of said selected first code and said selected second code to a corresponding character. The system according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of character input display fields displayed on said display unit includes a first character input display field group (1-9) which includes said one character input display field (5) positioned in said central location, and a second character input display field group having at least one character input display field which is arranged outside said first character input display field group (1-9). The system according to claim 7, further comprising a display field group select means (31R) for selecting either said first character input display field group (1-9) or said second character input display field group, wherein the cursor is moved to the second character input display field group from said one character input display field (5) positioned at said central location when said second character input display field group is selected. A game machine comprising a character input control system according to any one of the preceding claims. A game machine according to claim 9, which is operable such that a character is inputted when a cursor movement control switch is set to non-pressed status after movement of the cursor to define a specified character input display field. A character input control method, the method comprising: displaying a plurality of character input display fields (42, 1-9), moving a cursor from an initial location to specify a character input display field selected from said plurality of character input display fields (42, 1-9); and defining an input of a character corresponding to the specified character input display field; characterised in that : one (MNO,5) of said plurality of character input display fields (42, 1-9) is positioned in a central location relative to the other ones of said plurality of character input display fields (42, 1-9); said initial location of the cursor is at the centrally located character input display field (MNO,5); and after the specified character has been inputted, the cursor is returned to its initial location at said centrally located character input display field (MNO,5). The method according to claim 11, wherein said act of moving further comprises specifying one character of a plurality of characters belonging to the specified character input display field, by sequentially shifting the cursor onto said plurality of characters until a desired character is specified. The method of claim 11, wherein said act of defining comprises converting a combination of a first code and a second code corresponding to the first code, to a character, wherein the combination is associated with the specified character input display field. A recording medium storing a game program to be executed by a video game machine, wherein said game program will operate said video game machine to: display a plurality of character input display fields (42, 1-9); move a cursor in response to a user's pressing a cursor movement control switch (30) to specify one character input display field out of said plurality of character input display fields(42, 1-9); and define an input of a character corresponding to said specified character input display field when said cursor movement control switch (30) is set to non-pressed status; characterised in that : one (MNO,5) of said plurality of character input display fields will be positioned in a central location relative to the others of said plurality of character input display fields; and the cursor will be returned to the one centrally located character input display field (MNO,5) after a character corresponding to another character input display field has been specified.

Inventors: KOZU AKIRA, KOZU, AKIRA, Kozu, Akira, c/o Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Applicants: SEGA CORP, SEGA CORPORATION
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G06F3
IPC codes: H03M11, G06F3