Abstract:
There is provided a mobile apparatus including: an input module including operating keys; a storage module configured to store a correspondence between a combination of a first operation and a second operation and a corresponding character, the second operation being an operation subsequent to the first operation, the first operation being an operation at a first operating key from among the operating keys, the second operation being an operation at a second operating key from among the operating keys; an extraction module configured to extract the character based on the first and the second operating keys referring to the correspondence; and a display module including a first display area; wherein the display module is configured to display the character extracted by the extraction module in the first display area.

Description:
[0001]    The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-161947 filed on Jun. 20, 2008, including specification, claims, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    One aspect of the present invention relates to a mobile apparatus, in particular, to a mobile apparatus equipped with operating keys used for inputting characters or symbols. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In recent years, a mobile apparatus, such as a mobile phone, has various functions including: an address book function, a mail function through a network, such as Internet, a browser function for reading Web pages, and the like, besides a simple communication function by telephone call. 
         [0006]    In particular, a composition function for writing provided in the mobile apparatus is increasingly used to write relatively long composition including symbols, such as phrases from diaries on Internet, called blogs. Accordingly, in order to improve operationality in writing such compositions including symbols, there is suggested a mobile apparatus in which toggle input can be performed by using operating keys provided in the mobile apparatus, or a mobile apparatus in which a user can operate two slide-type input units by both hands to perform matrix input. 
         [0007]    Hitherto, many efforts have been made to achieve fast character input on the mobile apparatus and to allow the user to input characters and symbols with the number of presses of keys as small as possible. Although a character can be input fast to some extent, in order to input a character string including a plurality of components, such as characters or symbols, it is necessary to select a prescribed fixed phrase on a submenu screen. In addition, in order to input a character string, a large number of presses of keys are needed. For this reason, it is difficult to achieve fast character input. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobile apparatus including: an input module including a plurality of operating keys; a storage module configured to store a correspondence between a combination of a first operation and a second operation and a corresponding character, the second operation being an operation subsequent to the first operation, the first operation being an operation at a first operating key from among the plurality of operating keys, the second operation being an operation at a second operating key from among the plurality of operating keys; an extraction module configured to extract the character to be input, based on operations at the input module referring to the correspondence; and a display module including a first display area; wherein the display module is configured to display the character extracted by the extraction module in the first display area. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Embodiment may be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are exemplary diagrams showing the appearance configuration of a mobile phone that can be applied as a mobile apparatus according to the embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are exemplary diagrams showing another appearance configuration of a mobile phone that can be applied as a mobile apparatus according to the embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary block diagram showing the internal configuration of a mobile phone that can be applied as a mobile apparatus according to the embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a character input processing in the mobile phone shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an exemplary diagram showing a configuration of a character/symbol/character string correspondence table stored in a storage unit shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an exemplary diagram showing user-defined phrases that are registered in the character/symbol/character string correspondence table stored in a storage unit shown in  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  shows exemplary transition diagrams of a display screen of a main display in the character input processing shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.  FIGS. 1A and 1B  show the appearance configuration of a mobile phone  1  that can be applied as a mobile apparatus according to the invention.  FIG. 1A  shows the appearance configuration of the mobile phone  1  in a state where it is unfolded at 180 degrees as viewed from the front face.  FIG. 1B  shows the appearance configuration of the mobile phone  1  in a state where it is unfolded as viewed from the side face. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , in the mobile phone  1 , a first casing  12  and a second casing  13  are hinged by a hinge  11  at its central portion. The mobile phone  1  is formed to be foldable in a direction of an arrow X through the hinge  11 . An antenna (an antenna  31  in  FIG. 3  described below) for transmission/reception is provided at a position in the mobile phone  1 . With the internal antenna, the mobile phone  1  transmits and receives an electric wave to and from a base station (not shown). 
         [0019]    On a surface of the first casing  12 , operating keys  14 , such as numeric keys of “0” to “9”, a call key, a redial key, an end/power key, a clear key, an electronic mail key, and the like are provided. Various instructions can be input by using the operating keys  14 . 
         [0020]    At an upper portion of the first casing  12 , a directional key and an enter key are also provided as operating keys  14 . A user operates the directional key in a vertical or horizontal direction, thereby moving a cursor in the vertical or horizontal direction. Specifically, various operations, such as a scroll operation of a directory or an electronic mail displayed on a main display  17  provided in a second casing  13 , a page rolling operation of a simplified homepage, and a forward operation of an image, are performed. 
         [0021]    Various functions can be determined by pressing the enter key. For example, according to the operation of the directional key in the first casing  12  by the user, a desired telephone number is selected from among a plurality of telephone numbers of the directory displayed on the main display  17 . Then, if the enter key is pressed in an inner direction of the first casing  12 , the selected telephone number is determined, and a call request processing of the telephone number is performed. 
         [0022]    In the first casing  12 , an electronic mail key is provided on a left side of the directional key and the enter key. If the electronic mail key is pressed in the inner direction of the first casing  12 , a mail transmission/reception function can be called. On a right side of the directional key and the enter key, a browser key is provided. If the browser key is pressed in the inner direction of the first casing  12 , data of Web pages can be read. 
         [0023]    In the first casing  12 , a microphone  15  is also provided below the operating keys  14 . With the microphone  15 , a user&#39;s voice during calling is collected. In the first casing  12 , a side key  16  is also provided to operate the mobile phone  1 . 
         [0024]    A battery pack (not shown) is provided at a rear face of the first casing  12 . If the end/power key is put in an ON state, power is supplied to the individual circuits from the battery pack, such that the mobile phone  1  starts to operate. 
         [0025]    Meanwhile, the main display  17  is provided at a front face of the second casing  13 . On the main display  17 , in addition to a reception state of an electric wave, a residual battery charge, the name or telephone number of a person to call or a telephone number registered in the directory, and a transmission history, the content of an electronic mail, a simplified homepage, an image captured by a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) camera (a CCD camera  20  of  FIG. 2  described below), content data received from an external contents server (not shown), and content data stored in a memory card (a memory card  46  of  FIG. 3  described below) can be displayed. A receiver  18  is provided at a position above the main display  17 . With the receiver  18 , the user can perform a voice call. A speaker (speaker  50  shown in  FIG. 3 ), other than the receiver  18 , serving as a voice output unit is provided at a predetermined position of the mobile phone  1 . 
         [0026]    Magnetic sensors  19   a ,  19   b ,  19   c , and  19   d  are provided at positions of the first casing  12  and the second casing  13  so as to detect the state of the mobile phone  1 . The main display  17  may be an organic EL display or a liquid crystal display. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show the appearance configuration of the mobile phone  1  that can be applied as a mobile apparatus according to the invention. In  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the mobile phone  1  is rotated in the direction of the arrow X from the state of the mobile phone  1  shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B .  FIG. 2A  shows the appearance configuration of the mobile phone  1  in a state where it is folded as viewed from the front face.  FIG. 2B  shows the appearance configuration of the mobile phone  1  in a state it is folded as viewed from the side face. 
         [0028]    At an upper portion of the second casing  13 , a CCD camera  20  is provided. With the CCD camera  20 , a desired subject can be captured. A sub display  21  is provided below the CCD camera  20 . On the sub display  21 , an antenna pictograph indicating a current sensitivity level of the antenna, a battery pictograph indicating a current residual battery charge of the mobile phone  1 , and a current time are displayed. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  shows the internal configuration of the mobile phone  1  that can be applied as a mobile apparatus according to the invention. A radio signal transmitted from the base station (not shown) is received by an antenna  31  and is then input to a receiving circuit (RX)  33  through an antenna duplexer (DUP)  32 . The receiving circuit  33  mixes the received radio signal with a local oscillation signal output from a frequency synthesizer (SYN)  34 , and frequency-converts (down-converts) the radio signal into an intermediate frequency signal. Then, the receiving circuit  33  quadrature-demodulates the down-converted intermediate frequency signal and output a received baseband signal. The frequency of the local oscillation signal generated by the frequency synthesizer  34  is indicated by a control signal SYC output from a controller  41 . 
         [0030]    The received baseband signal from the receiving circuit  33  is input to a CDMA signal processor  36 . The CDMA signal processor  36  has a RAKE receiver (not shown). The RAKE receiver despreads a plurality of paths included in the received baseband signal by using spread codes (that is, the same spread signal as a spread signal of a spread received signal). The signals of the despread paths are subject coherent Rake combination after their phases are adjusted. A sequence of data after Rake combination is subject to deinterleaving and channel decoding (error correction decoding), and binary data determination is then performed. In this way, received packet data having a predetermined transmission format is obtained. Received packet data is input to a compression/expansion processor  37 . 
         [0031]    The compression/expansion processor  37  is formed by a Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The compression/expansion processor  37  demultiplexes received packet data output from the CDMA signal processor  36  into media data by a multiplexer/demultiplexer (not shown), and decodes the demultiplexed media data. For example, in a voice call mode, audio data corresponding to a voice included in received packet data is decoded by a speech codec. Like a video phone mode, if motion image data is included in received packet data, motion image data is decoded by a video codec. If received packet data is downloaded content data, the downloaded content data is expanded and then output to the controller  41 . 
         [0032]    A digital audio signal obtained by decoding is supplied to a PCM codec  38 . The PCM codec  38  PCM-decodes the digital audio signal output from the compression/expansion processor  37 , and outputs an analog audio data signal after being PCM decoded to an incoming speech amplifier  39 . The analog audio signal is amplified by the incoming speech amplifier  39  and then output by the receiver  18 . 
         [0033]    A digital motion image data decoded in the video codec by the compression/expansion processor  37  is input to the controller  41 . The controller  41  controls the main display  17  to display a motion image based on the digital motion image signal output from the compression/expansion processor  37  through a video RAM (for example, VRAM) (not shown). The controller  41  may control the main display  17  to display motion image data captured by the CCD camera  20  through the video RAM (not shown), as well as received motion image data. 
         [0034]    When received packet data is data of an electronic mail, the compression/expansion processor  37  supplies the electronic mail to the controller  41 . The controller  41  stores the electronic mail from the compression/expansion processor  37  in a storage unit  42 . Then, according to the operation of the operating keys  14  serving as an input module by the user, the controller  41  reads out the electronic mail stored in the storage unit  42 , and controls the main display  17  to display the read electronic mail. 
         [0035]    Meanwhile, in the voice call mode, a speech signal (analog audio signal) of a speaker (user) input to the microphone  15  is amplified to an appropriate level by an outgoing speech amplifier  40 , and is then subject to PCM coding by the PCM codec  38 . A digital audio signal after PCM coding is input to the compression/expansion processor  37 . A motion image signal output from the CCD camera  20  is digitized by the controller  41  and is then input to the compression/expansion processor  37 . An electronic mail created by the controller  41  in the form of text data is also input to the compression/expansion processor  37 . 
         [0036]    The compression/expansion processor  37  compresses and encodes the digital audio signal output from the PCM codec  38  to a signal of a format according to a predetermined transmission data rate. Accordingly, audio data is generated. In addition, the compression/expansion processor  37  compresses and encodes the digital motion image signal output from the controller  41  to generate motion image data. Then, the compression/expansion processor  37  multiplexes and packetizes audio data or motion image data by the multiplexer/demultiplexer (not shown) in accordance with a predetermined transmission format, and outputs transmission packet data after being packetized to the CDMA signal processor  36 . When an electronic mail is output from the controller  41 , the compression/expansion processor  37  also multiplexes the electronic mail to transmission packet data. 
         [0037]    The CDMA signal processor  36  performs a spread spectrum processing on transmission packet data output from the compression/expansion processor  37  by using spread codes assigned to a transmission channel, and outputs an output signal after the spread spectrum processing to a transmitting circuit (TX)  35 . The transmitting circuit  35  modulates the signal after the spread spectrum processing by using a digital modulation scheme, such as a Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) scheme. The transmitting circuit  35  mixes a transmission signal after digital modulation with the local oscillation signal generated by the frequency synthesizer  34 , and frequency-converts (up-converts) the transmission signal into a radio signal. Next, the transmitting circuit  35  high-frequency-amplifies the up-converted radio signal to a transmission power level designated by the controller  41 . The high-frequency-amplified radio signal is supplied to the antenna  31  through the antenna duplexer  32 , and is then transmitted from the antenna  31  to the base station (not shown). 
         [0038]    The mobile phone  1  also has an external memory interface  45 . The external memory interface  45  has a slot into which a memory card  46  is detachably inserted. The memory card  46  is a kind of a flash memory card, such as a NAND flash memory card or a NOR flash memory card. In the memory card  46 , various kinds of data, such as image, sound, and music, can be rewritten and read out through a ten-pin terminal. The mobile phone  1  also has a clock circuit (timer)  47  that measures an accurate current time. 
         [0039]    The controller  41  has a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), and the like. The CPU performs various kinds of processing according to programs stored in the ROM or various application programs loaded on the ROM from the storage unit  42 , generates various control signals, and supplies the control signals to the individual parts so as to perform overall control of the mobile phone  1 . The RAM appropriately stores data required when the CPU performs various kinds of processing. If necessary, the CPU  41  may have one or a plurality of CPUs. 
         [0040]    The storage unit  42  has, for example, an electrically rewritable or erasable flash memory or a Hard Disc Drive (HDD). The storage unit  42  stores various application programs, which are performed by the CPU of the controller  41 , or various groups of data. 
         [0041]    A power supply circuit  44  generates an operation power supply voltage Vcc based on the output of the battery  43  and outputs the operation power supply voltage Vcc to the individual circuits. A terrestrial digital one-segment broadcasting receiver  48  receives terrestrial digital one-segment broadcasting or terrestrial digital broadcasting from a broadcasting station (not shown), and supplies Transport Stream (TS) signals based on the received terrestrial digital one-segment broadcasting or terrestrial digital broadcasting to a terrestrial digital broadcasting processor  49 . When the terrestrial digital one-segment broadcasting receiver  48  receives terrestrial digital one-segment broadcasting, the terrestrial digital broadcasting processor  49  separates Elementary Stream (ES) on sound data and video data from the TS signals based on the terrestrial digital one-segment broadcasting from the terrestrial digital one-segment broadcasting receiver  48 . The terrestrial digital broadcasting processor  49  decodes separated sound data by a sound decoder (not shown) in the terrestrial digital broadcasting processor  49  according to a predetermined decoding scheme, and decodes separated video data by a video decoder (not shown) in the terrestrial digital broadcasting processor  49  according to a predetermined decoding scheme. The decoded digital sound signals and digital motion image signals are supplied to the control unit  41 . 
         [0042]    A character input processing in the mobile phone  1  of  FIG. 3  will be described with reference to a flowchart of  FIG. 4 . In the character input processing, for example, it is assumed that a mail application is run to compose a mail. However, the invention is not limited thereto, the invention may be applied to other cases in which character input is performed (for example, a memo pad). Prior to describing the character input processing of the invention, the concept of the embodiment will be described. For example, two-touch input is performed by pressing a first key pressed at first and a second key pressed subsequent to the first key. Special characters (characters other than alphabets) or symbols are uniquely allocated to one of combinations of the first key and the second key. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , when the first press key is “1” and the second press key is “1”, “α” is allocated as a character for two-touch input. When the first press key is “1” and the second press key is “2”, “β” is allocated as a character for two-touch input. The same is applied to the following description. 
         [0043]    The number of combinations of the first press key and the second press key using the numeric keys of “0” to “9” is 10×10=100. Even though 50 combinations (for example, combinations of the first press key “0” to “9” and the second press key “1” to “5”) from among the 100 combinations are allocated to the special characters or symbols, other 50 combinations are not used. In order to achieve fast input of a character string having a plurality of components, such as characters or symbols, the unused areas (for example, combinations of the first press key “0” to “9” and the second press key “0” and “6” to “9”) are set as a fixed phrase allocation area. For example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , when the first press key is “1” and the second press key is “6”, “Have a nice day” is allocated as a character string for two-touch input, that is, a fixed phrase. When the first press key is “1” and the second press key is “7”, “Good morning” is allocated as a fixed phrase for two-touch input. The same is applied to the following description. To the combinations of the first press key “2” to “9” and the second press key “0” and “6” to “9”, user-defined phrases (user-defined phrases  1  to  40 ), which are registered by the user, are allocated. Of course, various fixed phrases may be allocated beforehand as the default. In addition, characters or character strings may be associated with combinations of symbols other than the numeric keys. 
         [0044]    The correspondence shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  is stored in advance in a storage area of the storage unit  42  as a character/symbol/character string correspondence table. 
         [0045]    In Step S 1 , the control unit  41  controls the main display  17  to display a mail composition screen for compositing a mail. The main display  17  displays the mail composition screen, as shown in  FIG. 7 , section (A), under the control of the control unit  41 . In  FIG. 7 , sections (A) to (F) are transition diagrams of a display screen displayed on the main display  17 . 
         [0046]    In Step S 2 , the control unit  41  determines whether or not the user presses a numeric key from among the operating keys  14 , and waits for until a numeric key is pressed. If in Step S 2  the control unit  41  determines that a numeric key is pressed, in Step S 3 , the control unit  41  controls the main display  17  to focus and display (highlight) the pressed numeric key. For example, when the user presses the numeric key “1” from among the operating keys  14 , the display screen displayed on the main display  17  is changed from the display screen shown in  FIG. 7 , section (A) to the display screen shown in  FIG. 7 , section (B), and as shown in  FIG. 7 , section (B), the numeral “1” is highlighted on the main display  17 . 
         [0047]    In Step S 4 , the control unit  41  determines whether or not the user presses a lower numeric key (“0” and “6” to “9”) from among the operating keys  14 . In Step S 4 , if the control unit  41  determines that a lower numeric key is pressed, the control unit  41  reads out the character/symbol/character string correspondence table stored in the storage unit  42 , and extracts a fixed phrase allocated to a combination of the pressed numeric keys in reference to the character/symbol/character string correspondence table. For example, if the numeric key “1” is pressed and subsequently the numeric key “7” is pressed, “Good morning” is extracted as a fixed phrase allocated to a combination of the pressed numeric keys (a combination of the numeric keys “1” and “7”). 
         [0048]    In Step S 6 , the control unit  41  controls the main display  17  to display the extracted fixed phrase in a first display area from among display areas of the main display  17 . For example, when “Good morning” is extracted as a fixed phrase, the display screen displayed on the main display  17  is changed from the display screen shown in  FIG. 7 , section (B), to the display screen shown in  FIG. 7 , section (C), and as shown in  FIG. 7 , section (C), the fixed phrase “Good morning” is displayed on the main display  17  while being underlined. The fixed phrases displayed in the first display area may be highlighted (or grayed out). 
         [0049]    In addition, in Step S 7 , the control unit  41  controls the main display  17  to display a list of fixed phrases described in the character/symbol/character string correspondence table, and focuses (highlights) the extracted fixed phrase. Of course, the extracted fixed phrase may be grayed out. For example, when the fixed phrase “Good morning” is extracted, as shown in  FIG. 7 , section (C), a list of fixed phrases (“Have a nice day”, “Good morning”, “Good afternoon”, “Good evening”, and “Good night”) allocated to the pressed numeric key “ 1 ” (first press key) is displayed in a second display area from among the display areas of the main display  17  according to a predetermined sequence. At this time, a portion corresponding to the extracted fixed phrase “Good morning” is highlighted. Therefore, the user can see a list of selectable fixed phrases even if he/she cannot remember how the fixed phrases are allocated to the combinations of the numeric keys. As a result of that, this prevents us from incorrectly inputting character strings in the two-touch input mode. 
         [0050]    In Step S 8 , the control unit  41  determines whether or not the user presses the up/down key from among the operating keys  14 . If in Step S 8 , the control unit  41  determines that the up/down key is pressed, in Step S 9 , the control unit  41  controls the main display  17  to move the focus position of a fixed phrase from a list of fixed phrases displayed in the second display area according to an instruction by the press operation of the up/down key. 
         [0051]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , when the display screen shown in  FIG. 7 , section (C), is displayed on the main display  17 , if the user presses the down key from among the operating keys  14 , the display screen is changed from the display screen shown in  FIG. 7 , section (C), to the display screen shown in  FIG. 7 , section (D). The focus position (position of highlight display) of a fixed phrase from a list of fixed phrases displayed in the second display area is changed from “Good morning” to “Good afternoon”. Simultaneously, the fixed phrase displayed in the first display area is changed from “Good morning” to “Good afternoon”. 
         [0052]    Thereafter, if the user repeatedly presses the up/down key from among the operating keys  14 , the focus position of the fixed phrase in the second display area is changed depending on the presses of the up/down key, and the fixed phrase displayed in the first display area is also changed. 
         [0053]    If in Step S 8 , the control unit  41  determines that the up/down key is not pressed, Step S 9  is skipped. In Step S 10 , the control unit  41  determines whether or not the user presses the enter key from among the operating keys  14 . If in Step S 10 , the control unit  41  determines that the user presses the enter key from among the operating keys  14 , the control unit  41  recognizes that the user inputs an instruction to determine an undetermined fixed phrase currently displayed in the first display area, and controls the main display  17  to determine the underlined fixed phrase displayed in the first display area. For example, when the enter key is pressed on the display screen shown in  FIG. 7 , section (D), an undetermined fixed phrase “Good afternoon” displayed in the first display area is determined, and the display screen is changed from the display screen shown in  FIG. 7 , section (D), to the display screen shown in  FIG. 7 , section (E). Thereafter, the process returns to Step S 2 , and Step S 2  and later are repeatedly performed. 
         [0054]    Meanwhile, if in Step S 10 , the control unit  41  determines that the user does not press the enter key from among the operating keys  14 , in Step S 12 , the control unit  41  determines whether or not the user presses the clear key from among the operating keys  14 . If in Step S 12 , the control unit  41  determines that the user does not presses the clear key from among the operating keys  14 , the process returns to Step S 8 , and Step S 8  and later are repeatedly performed, such that the undetermined fixed phrase displayed in the first display area of main display  17  is determined or cleared. 
         [0055]    Meanwhile, if in Step S 12 , the control unit  41  determines that the user presses the clear key from among the operating keys  14 , in Step S 13 , the control unit  41  controls the main display  17  to delete the fixed phrase (undetermined fixed phrase) displayed in the first display area of the main display  17 . Then, the display screen displayed on the main display  17  is changed from the display screen shown in  FIG. 7 , section (E), to the display screen shown in  FIG. 7 , section (A). Thereafter, the process returns to Step S 2 , and Step S 2  and later are repeatedly performed. 
         [0056]    If in Step S 4 , the control unit  41  determines that a lower numeric key is not pressed, in Step S 14 , the control unit  41  determines whether or not the user presses an upper numeric key (“1” to “5”) from among the operating keys  14 . If in Step S 14 , the control unit  41  determines that an upper numeric key is not pressed, the process returns to Step S 4 , and Step S 4  and later are performed again. 
         [0057]    Meanwhile, if in Step S 14 , the control unit  41  determines that an upper numeric key is pressed, in Step S 15 , the control unit  41  reads out the character/symbol/character string correspondence table stored in the storage unit  42 , and extracts a character allocated to a combination of the pressed numeric keys with reference to the character/symbol/character string correspondence table. For example, when the numeric key “1” is pressed and subsequently the numeric key “1” is pressed, “α” is extracted as a character allocated to a combination of the pressed numeric keys (a combination of the numeric keys “1” and “1”). 
         [0058]    In Step S 16 , the control unit  41  controls the main display  17  to focus and display the extracted character in the first display area from among the display areas of the main display  17 . For example, when “α” is extracted as a character, the display screen displayed on the main display  17  is changed from the display screen shown in  FIG. 7 , section (B), to the display screen shown in  FIG. 7 , section (F), and as shown in  FIG. 7 , section (F), the character “α” is focused and displayed on the main display  17 . 
         [0059]    According to the embodiment the invention, a plurality of operating keys  14  for input in a two-touch input mode are provided, and a character/symbol/character string correspondence table, in which a character, a symbol or a character string as a fixed phrase is allocated in advance to each of combinations of numerals or symbols corresponding to the operating keys  14  to be pressed, is stored. An input character, symbol or character string can be extracted based on numerals or symbols by a first press and a second press in the two-touch input mode with reference to the character/symbol/character string correspondence table, and the extracted character or character string can be displayed in a first display area. Therefore, when a character string is input in the two-touch input mode, unlike the toggle input, a large number of presses of keys are not needed, and thus fast input of a character string having a plurality of components, such as characters or symbols. As a result, operationality and convenience for the character input can be improved. 
         [0060]    Although in the embodiment of the invention, fast input of a character string as a fixed phrase has been described, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, if a mail address is registered as a user-defined phrase, fast input of a mail address can be achieved. In addition, a copied and pasted character string on an editor screen may be automatically registered as a user-defined phrase. 
         [0061]    The invention may be applied to, in addition to the mobile phone  1 , other information processing apparatuses, such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a personal computer, a portable game machine, a portable music player, and a portable motion image player. 
         [0062]    A series of processing described in the embodiment of the invention may be performed by software or may be performed by hardware. 
         [0063]    Although in the embodiment of the invention, an example where the steps in the flowchart are performed in time series according to the described sequence has been described, the steps may be not necessarily performed in time series. For example, the steps maybe performed in parallel or individually.