Patent Publication Number: US-2018032244-A1

Title: Input control device, input control method, character correction device, and character correction method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a U.S. continuation application filed under 35 USC 111(a) claiming benefit under 35 USC 120 and 365(c) of PCT Application PCT/JP2015/062609 filed on Apr. 24, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention is related to an input control program, an input control device, an input control method, a character correction program, a character correction device, and a character correction method. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There is known a tool that accepts handwriting input from a user, and processes recognized characters (letters) obtained by character recognition with respect to the handwriting input, as input characters.
     [PTL 1]   Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-235116   [PTL 2]   Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-337993   

     However, even when the user performs handwriting input and character recognition is normally performed, there are cases in which the user desires to correct the characters to characters having different contents. For example, although characters have been handwritten in the order of year, month, and date, there are cases where the user wants to change the input order into an order of month, year, and date. 
     In such a case, although the date part is the same, the user has to manually input the month, the year, and the date from the beginning, which is problematic in that the correction workload is high and inconvenient. 
     Also, in recognizing characters of handwriting input including a plurality of character types, the character type and the interval of the preceding and succeeding characters, the size, the height, the shape, and the aspect ratio, etc., of the characters affect the recognition accuracy. Therefore, in the case of correcting the input content by handwriting input, when recognizing and correcting a single character by input by handwriting, the character may be erroneously recognized as a character having a similar character shape of a different character type, etc. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an embodiment, a computer is caused to execute a process of displaying a stroke in association with an input item, the stroke being input by handwriting with respect to the input item and the stroke being saved in association with the input item; and a process of correcting an input result obtained from the stroke displayed in the input item, according to a correction made with respect to the displayed stroke. 
     The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram for describing the main program configuration according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram for describing correction by handwriting input in a character correction device; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the character correction device; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram for describing a functional configuration of the character correction device according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of stroke association information; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a handwriting input process according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a display text correction process according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram for describing a specific example of display text correction according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a handwriting correction process according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram for describing a specific example of handwriting correction according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram for describing the functional configuration of the character correction device according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a display stroke display process according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  indicates diagrams for describing a specific example of the display strokes according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram for describing the functional configuration of the character correction device according to a third embodiment; 
         FIG. 15  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a display text correction process according to the third embodiment; 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram for describing a specific example of display text correction according to the third embodiment; 
         FIG. 17  is a diagram for describing an example of the character correction system according to a fourth embodiment; and 
         FIG. 18  is a diagram illustrating an example of the character correction system according to a fifth embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment 
     A first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 1  is a diagram for describing the main program configuration according to the first embodiment. 
     The first embodiment includes, as main programs, a first application  10 , a character correction program  20 , and a recognition program  30 . 
     The first application  10  is a program for displaying an input character group (text) of, for example, a slip creation application or a mail creation application, etc. The text displayed by the first application  10  is hereinafter referred to as “display text”. Note that the display text is not limited to characters input by handwriting; for example, characters input by a keyboard, etc., may be included. 
     The character correction program  20  displays strokes that have been input by handwriting, when an instruction to correct a character (letter) with respect to a display text that has been input by handwriting, is given. Furthermore, when a correction is made to a character by handwriting input, with respect to the displayed strokes (display strokes), the character correction program  20  corrects the display strokes based on the input strokes. Note that the handwriting input is not limited to the case of inputting strokes with a finger; strokes may be input using a stylus, etc., for example. 
     The recognition program  30  recognizes characters from strokes input by handwriting and from corrected display strokes. That is, the recognition program  30  acquires, as a recognition result, a character or a character group corresponding to strokes input by handwriting or corrected display strokes. 
     The first application  10 , the character correction program  20 , and the recognition program  30  according to the first embodiment may be installed in separate devices, or may be installed in one device. In the following description of the first embodiment, a case where the first application  10 , the character correction program  20 , and the recognition program  30  are installed in one device, will be described. In the following description, the device in which the first application  10 , the character correction program  20 , and the recognition program  30  are installed, is referred to as a “character correction device”. 
     Next, a case where the display text is corrected by handwriting input in the character correction device according to the first embodiment, will be described.  FIG. 2  is a diagram for describing correction by handwriting input in the character correction device. 
     It is assumed that a screen  2  is displayed on a character correction device  1 . On the screen  2 , a display text “Taro Yamada” indicating the name and a display text “090-1234-XXX” indicating the telephone number, are displayed. Furthermore, on the screen  2 , a display text “yamada@sample.com” indicating a mail address and a display text “yamafa@sample.com” indicating a mail address (for confirmation), are displayed. A description will be given of a case of correcting a display text “yamafa@sample.com” that is a mail address (for confirmation), which has been erroneously input, to “yamada@sample.com”, by handwriting. Note that each display text on the screen  2  is displayed by the first application  10 . 
     In the correction by the handwriting input of the present embodiment, when the user specifies the display text to be corrected with a touch panel, etc., of the character correction device  1  as indicated on a screen  3 , the character correction program  20  displays display strokes  3   a  indicating strokes that have been input at the time when the specified display text has been input by handwriting. Here, in  FIG. 2 , the display strokes  3   a  are displayed at a different position from the display text. Furthermore, the display color of the display strokes  3   a  may be a different color from that of the display text. Accordingly, the display strokes  3   a  become easy to see, and the user can easily perform the handwriting input. 
     When the screen  3  is displayed, as indicated on a screen  4 , the user corrects display strokes  4   a  directly by handwriting input, with the touch panel, etc., of the character correction device  1 . That is, the user directly inputs “d” by handwriting at the position of “f” that had been input when the display stroke  4   a  had been input by handwriting, with the touch panel, etc., of the character correction device  1 . 
     Then, the character correction device  1  corrects the handwritten “f” to “d”, by the character correction program  20 . In this manner, the character correction device  1  corrects the display strokes “yamafa@sample.com” to “yamada@sample.com”, by the character correction program  20 . 
     Subsequently, the character correction program  20  transfers information indicating the strokes of the corrected display strokes “yamada@sample.com”, to the recognition program  30 . The recognition program  30  recognizes the character string “yamada@sample.com” from the information indicating the strokes, and transfers the character strings, to which the correction is applied, to the first application  10  as a recognition result. 
     As described above, when some of the strokes have been corrected in the display strokes corresponding to the display text to be corrected, the character correction device  1  once again causes the recognition program  30  to recognize all of the display strokes including the corrected strokes. 
     Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to cause the recognition program  30  to perform character recognition including the character type and the interval of characters before and after the corrected strokes, the size, the height, the shape, and the aspect ratio, etc., of characters, and it is possible to improve the recognition accuracy of the corrected strokes. 
     In the example of  FIG. 2 , all of the display strokes “yamada@sample.com” including the corrected display strokes “d”, are recognized by the recognition program  30 . Therefore, for example, since the character type of the character before and after the corrected display stroke “d”, is a lower case alphabetical letter, the recognition program  30  can recognize that the corrected display stroke “d” is a lower case alphabetical letter. 
     The first application displays the recognition result character group “yamada@sample.com”. In the example of  FIG. 2 , as indicated on a screen  5 , the display text “yamafa@sample.com” becomes the corrected display text “yamada@sample.com”. 
     In this manner, the character correction device  1  according to the first embodiment displays the display strokes of the display text to be corrected, among the display texts displayed by the first application  10 . Then, the user can correct the character or the character group by direct handwriting input to the display strokes, with the touch panel, etc., of the character correction device  1 . 
     In the correction by the handwriting input in  FIG. 2 , the correction of replacing the letter “f” included in the display text, with the letter “d”, has been described; however, it is also possible make a correction by inserting a letter “d” before or after the letter “f” included in the display text. 
     Also, in the example of  FIG. 2 , the display text to be corrected includes a plurality of characters; however, the present invention is not limited as such. Among the display texts displayed by the first application  10 , the display text to be corrected by handwriting input may include one character. 
     Furthermore, the number of characters to be corrected by handwriting correction may be two or more (that is, a character group may be replaced or inserted). Hereinafter, the handwriting correction will be described in detail. 
     First, a hardware configuration of the character correction device  1  will be described.  FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the character correction device. The character correction device  1  according to the present embodiment includes a display operation device  101 , a drive device  102 , an auxiliary storage device  103 , a memory device  104 , an arithmetic processing device  105 , and an interface device  106 , which are interconnected by a bus B. 
     The display operation device  101  is, for example, a touch panel, etc., and is used for inputting various signals and for displaying (outputting) various signals. The interface device  106  includes a modem and a LAN card, etc., and is used for connecting to a network. 
     The first application  10 , the character correction program  20 , and the recognition program  30  are at least a part of various programs for controlling the character correction device  1 . These programs are provided, for example, by being distributed in a recording medium  107  or by being downloaded from a network. The recording medium  107  in which the first application  10 , the character correction program  20 , and the recognition program  30  are recorded, may be various types of recording media such as a recording medium that records information optically, electrically, or magnetically, such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, and a semiconductor memory that electrically records information such as a ROM and a flash memory, etc. 
     Furthermore, when the recording medium  107  in which the first application  10 , the character correction program  20 , and the recognition program  30  are recorded, is set in the drive device  102 , each program is installed in the auxiliary storage device  103  from the recording medium  107  via the drive device  102 . Each program downloaded from the network is installed in the auxiliary storage device  103  via the interface device  106 . 
     The auxiliary storage device  103  stores the installed first application  10 , the character correction program  20 , and the recognition program  30 , and also stores an OS (Operating System) which is basic software, and files and data that are needed, etc. The memory device  104  reads and stores the respective programs in the auxiliary storage device  103  at the time of activating each program. Then, the arithmetic processing device  105  implements various processes as described later in accordance with each program stored in the memory device  104 . 
     Next, a functional configuration of the character correction device  1  will be described.  FIG. 4  is a diagram for describing a functional configuration of the character correction device according to the first embodiment. The character correction device  1  according to the present embodiment includes a first application execution unit  11 , a character correction processing unit  21 , a recognition unit  31 , and a storage unit  41 . 
     The first application execution unit  11  according to the present embodiment is implemented. by the arithmetic processing device  105  executing the first application  10 . The character correction processing unit  21  according to the present embodiment is implemented by the arithmetic processing device  105  executing the character correction program  20 . The recognition unit  31  according to the present embodiment is implemented by the arithmetic processing device  105  executing the recognition program  30 . The storage unit  41  according to the present embodiment is implemented by the auxiliary storage device  103  and the memory device  104 . 
     The storage unit  41  includes first coordinate information  42 , second coordinate information  43 , and stroke association information  44 . 
     The first coordinate information  42  is coordinate information for identifying the circumscribing frame of each character formed by the display strokes. Here, a circumscribing frame is a rectangular frame circumscribing a character. Therefore, the first coordinate information  42  includes first top coordinate information that identifies the upper side of the circumscribing frame, first bottom coordinate information that identifies the bottom side of the circumscribing frame, first left coordinate information that identifies the left side of the circumscribing frame, and first right coordinate information that identifies the right side of the circumscribing frame. 
     The second coordinate information  43  is coordinate information for identifying the circumscribing frame of the strokes input by the user&#39;s handwriting. Similar to the first coordinate information  42 , the second coordinate information  43  includes second top coordinate information, second bottom coordinate information, second left coordinate information, and second right coordinate information identifying the respective sides of the circumscribing frame. 
     Note that the circumscribing frame is not limited to a rectangle; the circumscribing frame may be a polygon. In the case of a polygon, the first coordinate information  42  and the second coordinate information  43  will include coordinate information for identifying each side of the polygon. 
     The stroke association information  44  is information for associating stroke information, which indicates a stroke input by handwriting, with a character that is a recognition result obtained by the recognition unit  31  described later. The stroke association information  44  according to the present embodiment includes a stroke information table  441 , a character information table  442 , and a recognition result information table  443 . Details of the stroke association information  44  will be described later. 
     Note that the stroke information is information indicating a stroke (penmanship) of one segment input by handwriting, and includes two or more pieces of coordinate information. That is, in the present embodiment, by connecting the coordinates indicated by two or more pieces of coordinate information included in the stroke information, a stroke for one segment is identified. Therefore, the recognition unit  31  recognizes a character formed by the strokes indicated by the stroke information. 
     Here, each piece of coordinate information included in the first coordinate information  42 , the second coordinate information  43 , and the stroke information indicates, for example, XY coordinate values, with respect to a reference point set in advance in a page image displayed by the character correction device  1 , as the origin. The reference point may be, for example, the position of the pixel at the upper left end of the page image displayed by the character correction device  1 . Here, for example, with the reference point as the origin, the x axis is positive to the right direction from the reference point, and the Y axis is positive to the downward direction from the reference point. 
     The first application execution unit  11  displays the characters acquired from the recognition unit  31 . 
     The character correction processing unit  21  associates the stroke information input by handwriting, with the character that is the recognition result obtained by the recognition unit  31 , and stores this information in the storage unit  41  as the stroke association information  44 . Furthermore, the character correction processing unit  21  displays the display strokes based on the stroke association information  44 , in response to an instruction to correct the display text displayed by the first application execution unit  11 . Furthermore, the character correction processing unit  21  corrects the display strokes according to handwriting input. Details of the character correction processing unit  21  will be described later. 
     The recognition unit  31  recognizes characters from stroke information input by handwriting and stroke information of display strokes corrected by the character correction processing unit  21 , and acquires characters as a recognition result. 
     Details of the character correction processing unit  21  will be described below. The character correction processing unit  21  according to the present embodiment includes a stroke information acquisition unit  22 , a storage determination unit  23 , a stroke information management unit  24 , a stroke display unit  25 , an area identifying unit  26 , an overlap determination unit  27 , and a character correction unit  28 . 
     The stroke information acquisition unit  22  acquires stroke information indicating a stroke input by handwriting by the user. 
     The storage determination unit  23  determines whether to store the stroke association information  44  based on the stroke information acquired by the stroke information acquisition unit  22 , in the storage unit  41 . 
     Specifically, the storage determination unit  23  according to the present embodiment determines whether to store the stroke association information  44 , in accordance with a parameter indicating an attribute of a character input field (text box, etc.) in which the display text is displayed by the first application  10 . For example, when the attribute of the character input field to which the character is input by handwriting, is a parameter indicating that the input field is a password input field, the storage determination unit  23  determines not to store the stroke association information  44 . 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, when information is handwritten into an input field, etc., where highly confidential information such as user&#39;s personal information is input, the stroke association information  44  is not stored. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent information leakage. 
     The stroke information management unit  24  associates the stroke information acquired by the stroke information acquisition unit  22  with the characters acquired as the recognition result by the recognition unit  31 , to generate the stroke association information  44 , and stores the stroke association information  44  in the storage unit  41 , in accordance with the determination result of the storage determination unit  23 . 
     The stroke display unit  25  displays the display stroke based on the stroke association information  44  stored by the stroke information management unit  24 . 
     The area identifying unit  26  acquires the first coordinate information  42  from the stroke association information  44  of the display strokes. Then, the area identifying unit  26  identifies an area (display stroke area) surrounded by the circumscribing frame identified by the first coordinate information  42 . 
     Furthermore, the area identifying unit  26  acquires the second coordinate information  43  from the stroke information indicating strokes input by handwriting in order to correct the display stroke. Then, the area identifying unit  26  identifies an area (input stroke area) surrounded by the circumscribing frame identified by the second coordinate information  43 . 
     The overlap determination unit  27  determines, with respect to a display stroke area and an input stroke area identified by the area identifying unit  26 , whether the proportion of an area of the input stroke area overlapping the display stroke area, is greater than or equal to a first threshold value set in advance. 
     In accordance with the determination result obtained by the overlap determination unit  27 , the character correction unit  28  corrects the display strokes by replacing the display strokes with strokes input by handwriting, or by inserting strokes input by handwriting. 
     Next, the details of the stroke association information  44  will be described.  FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the stroke association information. The stroke association information  44  includes a stroke information table  441 , a character information table  442 , and a recognition result information table  443 . 
     The stroke information table  441  stores stroke information indicating a stroke of one segment input by handwriting. The stroke information table  441  includes, as data items, “stroke information ID” for uniquely identifying stroke information, and “coordinate information” for forming a stroke of one segment. 
     For example, the stroke information identified by a stroke information ID “s 01 ” is formed by connecting the coordinates indicated by the coordinate information (x 11 , y 11 ), . . . , (x n1 , y n1 ). 
     The character information table  442  stores information relating to characters formed by strokes. The character information table  442  includes, as data items, “character” indicating a character formed by strokes, and “stroke information ID” for identifying strokes forming the character. 
     For example, in the character information table  442 , a letter “A” is formed with strokes indicated by stroke information identified by the stroke information IDs “s 01 ”, “s 02 ”, and “s 03 ”. Similarly, for example, a letter “B” is formed with strokes indicated by stroke information identified by the stroke information IDs “s 04 ” and “s 05 ”. 
     The recognition result information table  443  stores information relating to characters acquired as recognition results of the recognition unit  31 . The recognition result information table  443  includes, as data items, “recognition ID” for identifying a recognition result obtained by the recognition unit  31 , “character group” indicating characters obtained as a recognition result, and “input area” indicating coordinate information for identifying an input area in which characters acquired as a recognition result are displayed by the first application  10 . 
     For example, in the recognition result information table  443 , a character group acquired as a recognition result identified by a recognition ID “r 01 ” is “ABCDE”, and the character (letter) group “ABCDE” is displayed in an input area identified by coordinates indicated by the coordinate information (X 11 , Y 11 ), . . . , (X 41 , Y 41 ). 
     Here, the input area is an area in which a character group recognized by one recognition process by the recognition unit  31 , is input by handwriting. 
     For example, it is assumed that in the character input field displayed by the first application  10 , after a character group “abc” input by handwriting is recognized, a character group “def” is input by handwriting in the same character input field and recognized. In this case, the recognition unit  31  performs two recognition processes. Therefore, in the character input field, there are two areas, namely, an input area corresponding to the character group “abc”, and an input area corresponding to the character group “def”. 
     Note that in the example of  FIG. 5 , the input area is identified by four pieces of coordinate information indicating the vertices of the input area. However, the present embodiment is not limited as such; the input area may be identified by two pieces of coordinate information indicating the vertices located on the diagonal of the input area. 
     In the character correction device  1  according to the present embodiment, by saving the stroke association information  44  indicated in  FIG. 5 , when the display text to be corrected is specified by the user, the stroke display unit  25  can display the display strokes corresponding to the display text. 
     Next, operations by the character correction device  1  according to the present embodiment will be described. First, a process of inputting characters by handwriting in a character input field (for example, a text box), etc., displayed by the first application  10  will be described.  FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a handwriting input process according to the first embodiment. 
     In the character correction device  1  according to the present embodiment, the stroke information acquisition unit  22  of the character correction processing unit  21  acquires stroke information indicating strokes input by handwriting (step S 601 ). Next, in the character correction device  1 , the stroke information acquisition unit  22  of the character correction processing unit  21  determines whether the handwriting input has ended (step S 602 ). Here, when the stroke information acquisition unit  22  does not acquire the stroke information for a predetermined time, the stroke information acquisition unit  22  may determine that the handwriting input has ended. 
     In step S 602 , when the stroke information acquisition unit  22  determines that the handwriting input has not ended, the character correction device  1  returns to step S 601 . 
     In step S 602 , when the stroke information acquisition unit  22  determines that the handwriting input has ended, the character correction device  1  recognizes the acquired stroke information by the recognition unit  31  (step S 603 ). That is, the recognition unit  31  recognizes characters corresponding to the stroke information acquired by the stroke information acquisition unit  22 , and acquires characters as a recognition result. 
     Next, in the character correction device  1 , the storage determination unit  23  acquires a parameter indicating an attribute of a character input field to which characters are input by handwriting, and determines whether to store the stroke association information  44  based on the acquired parameter (step S 604 ). Note that the storage determination unit  23  acquires the parameter indicating the attribute of a character input field displayed by the first application  10 , via the first application execution unit  11 . 
     In step S 604 , when the storage determination unit  23  determines that the stroke association information  44  is not to be stored, the character correction device  1  proceeds to step S 606 . Accordingly, when the character input field displayed by the first application  10  is, for example, a password input field, etc., the character correction device  1  does not store the stroke association information  44 . Thus, in the password input field, etc., it is possible to prevent leakage of confidential information such as a password due to the display stroke being displayed. 
     In step S 604 , when the storage determination unit  23  determines that the stroke association information  44  is to be stored, in the character correction device  1 , the stroke information management unit  24  stores the stroke association information  44  in the storage unit  41  (step S 605 ). 
     Finally, in the character correction device  1 , the first application execution unit  11  displays the characters acquired as a recognition result in the character input field displayed by the first application  10  (step S 606 ). Thus, in the character correction device  1  according to the present embodiment, a display text of the handwriting input is displayed. 
     Here, the stroke association information.  44  stored in the storage unit  41  by the stroke information management unit  24  in step S 605  of  FIG. 6 , will be specifically described with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
     First, the stroke information management unit  24  stores the stroke information acquired by the stroke information acquisition unit  22  in the stroke information table  441 . That is, the stroke information management unit  24  allocates a stroke information ID for each piece of stroke information indicating a stroke of one segment, and stores the coordinate information included in the stroke information in association with the stroke information ID. In this manner, the stroke information management unit  24  stores the stroke information of all of the input strokes in the stroke information table  441 . 
     For example, when a letter “A” having three segments is input by handwriting, the stroke information management unit  24  allocates a stroke information ID “s 01 ” to the stroke information of the first segment, and stores the stroke information ID in association with the coordinate information (x 11 , y 11 ), . . . , (x, n1 , y n1 ) included in the stroke information, in the stroke information table  441 . Similarly, the stroke information management unit  24  allocates a stroke information ID “s 02 ” to the stroke information of the second segment and stores the stroke information ID in association with the coordinate information (x 12 , y 12 ), . . . , (x n2 , y n2 ) included in the stroke information, in the stroke information table  441 . The same applies to the stroke information of the third segment. 
     Next, the stroke information management unit  24  stores the recognition result recognized by the recognition unit  31  in the recognition result information table  443 . That is, the stroke information management unit  24  assigns a recognition. ID to the characters acquired as a recognition result obtained by the recognition unit  31 , and stores the recognition ID in association with coordinate information that identifies the input area. Note that the stroke information management unit  24  may acquire coordinate information for identifying the input area via the first application execution unit  11 . 
     For example, when the characters acquired as the recognition result are “ABCDE”, the stroke information management unit  24  allocates a recognition ID “r 01 ” to the letters “ABCDE”, and stores the recognition ID in association with the coordinate information (X 11 , Y 11 ) , . . . , (X n1 , Y n1 ) identifying the input area acquired via the first application execution unit  11 , in the recognition result information table  443 . 
     Subsequently, the stroke information management unit  24  stores the association between each character acquired as a recognition result and stroke information, in the character information table  442 . That is, the stroke information management unit  24  stores the stroke information ID of the stroke forming each character, in association with each character acquired as the recognition result by the recognition unit  31 . 
     For example, when the characters acquired as the recognition result are “ABCDE”, the stroke information management unit  24  stores the letter “A” included in the letters “ABCDE”, in association with the stroke information IDs “s 01 ”, “s 02 ”, and “s 03 ” of the strokes forming the letter “A”, in the character information table  442 . Similarly, the stroke information management unit  24  stores the letter “B” included in the letters “ABCDE”, in association with the stroke information IDs “s 04 ” and “s 05 ” of the strokes forming the letter “B”, in the character information table  442 . The same applies to the letters “C”, “D”, and “E” included in the letters “ABCDE”. 
     As described above in detail, the character correction device  1  according to the present embodiment stores the stroke association information  44  by the stroke information management unit  24 . In this way, in the character correction device  1  according to the present embodiment, the stroke information of strokes input by handwriting is stored in association with the display text. 
     Next, a process in the case where the display text displayed by the first application  10  is corrected by handwriting input in the character correction device  1  according to the present embodiment will be described.  FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a display text correction process according to the first embodiment. 
     In the character correction device  1  according to the present embodiment, a specification of a display text to be corrected is accepted via the display operation device  101  from the user (step S 701 ). For example, in the character correction device  1 , as the user selects a character input field in which a display text is displayed via the display operation device  101 , the specification of the display text to be corrected is accepted. 
     Next, in the character correction device  1 , the stroke information management unit  24  determines whether the stroke association information  44  of the specified display text is stored in the storage unit  41  (step S 702 ). Specifically, the stroke information management unit  24  is to determine whether coordinate information identifying the input area of the specified display text, is stored in the recognition result information table  443 . 
     In step S 702 , when the stroke information management unit  24  determines that the stroke association information  44  of the specified display text is not stored in the storage unit  41 , the character correction device  1  ends the process. In this case, the user corrects the display text by handwriting input or keyboard input, etc., as described with reference to  FIG. 6 , for example. Note that the case where the stroke association information  44  of the display text is not stored in the storage unit  41  includes, for example, a case where the character input field in which the display text is displayed is for password input, etc., or when the display text has been input by a method other than handwriting, such as input by a keyboard, etc. 
     In step S 702 , when the stroke information management unit  24  determines that the stroke association information  44  of the specified display text is stored in the storage unit  41 , the character correction device  1  acquires the stroke association information  44  by the stroke information management unit  24 . Then, the character correction device  1  displays, by the stroke display unit  25 , the display strokes based on the acquired stroke association information  44  (step S 703 ). 
     That is, the stroke information management unit  24  acquires the stroke association information  44  of the specified display text. Next, the stroke information management unit  24  acquires stroke information indicating strokes that have been input when the display text has been input by handwriting, from the stroke association information  4 I of the display text. Then, the stroke display unit  25  displays the display strokes based on the acquired stroke information. Thus, the character correction device  1  according to the present embodiment can display the strokes (display strokes) that have been input when the display text specified by the user has been input by handwriting. 
     Next, the character correction device  1  performs a handwriting correction process (step S 704 ). That is, upon accepting a correction of the display stroke by handwriting input by the user, the character correction device  1  recognizes the strokes indicated by the corrected display strokes, and acquires the characters as the recognition result. Details of this handwriting correction process will be described later. 
     Subsequently, the character correction device  1  updates the stroke association information  44  based on the corrected display stroke, by the stroke information management unit  24  (step S 705 ). That is, the stroke information management unit  24  stores, in the storage unit  41 , the characters acquired as the recognition result from the strokes indicated by the corrected display strokes, and the stroke information of the corrected display strokes, in association with each other, thereby updating the stroke association information  44 . 
     Finally, in the character correction device  1 , the recognition unit  31  displays the characters acquired as the recognition result from the strokes indicated by the corrected display strokes (step S 706 ). Accordingly, in the character correction device  1  according to the present embodiment, the display text specified by the user is corrected by handwriting input. 
     Next, with reference to  FIG. 8 , a case of correcting the display text, described with reference to  FIG. 7 , by handwriting input, will be specifically described.  FIG. 8  is a diagram for describing a specific example of display text correction according to the first embodiment. 
     First, it is assumed that a display text “ABCDE” is displayed in a character input field of the character correction device  1  (state S 11 ). 
     In the state S 11 , upon accepting a specification of a display text to be corrected from the user, the character correction device  1  displays display strokes indicating the strokes that have been input when the display text has been input by handwriting (state S 12 ). In the example of  FIG. 8 , the character correction device  1  displays the display strokes that have been input when the display text “ABCDE”, specified by the user, has been input by handwriting. 
     Next, the character correction device  1  accepts a correction with respect to the display strokes by handwriting input by the user (state S 13 ). 
     In the example of  FIG. 8 , the character correction device  1  accepts handwriting input for correcting the letter “C” of the display strokes, “ABCDE” to the letter “B”. 
     Subsequently, the character correction device  1  displays the characters acquired as a recognition result of recognizing the strokes indicated by the corrected display strokes, and corrects the display text (state S 14 ). In the example of  FIG. 8 , the character correction device  1  displays the display text in which the display text “ABCDE” has been corrected to “ABBDE”. 
     As described above, in the character correction device  1  according to the present embodiment, the display text is corrected by the user directly correcting the display strokes by handwriting input. 
     Next, the handwriting correction process in step S 704  of the display text correction process described with reference to  FIG. 7 , will be described.  FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a handwriting correction process according to the first embodiment. Note that as described above, the character correction device  1  is displaying strokes (display strokes) that have been input when the display text, specified by the user as the correction target, has been input by handwriting. 
     First, in the character correction device  1  according to the present embodiment, the area identifying unit  26  identifies a display stroke area (step S 901 ). That is, the area identifying unit  26  acquires the stroke information of the strokes forming each character, with respect to each of the characters in the display strokes, and acquires the first coordinate information  42  of each character from the acquired stroke information. Then, for each character in the display strokes, the area identifying unit  26  identifies an area surrounded by a circumscribing frame identified in the first coordinate information  42  as the display stroke area. 
     Next, in the character correction device  1 , the stroke information acquisition unit  22  acquires the stroke information of strokes input by handwriting by the user, with respect to the display strokes (step S 902 ). 
     Next, the character correction device  1  identifies an input stroke area by the area identifying unit  26  (step S 903 ). That is, the area identifying unit  26  acquires the second coordinate information  43  from the stroke information indicating the strokes input by handwriting by the user. Then, the area identifying unit  26  identifies an area surrounded by a circumscribing frame identified in the second coordinate information  43  as the input stroke area. 
     Subsequently, in the character correction device  1 , the overlap determination unit  27  determines whether the proportion of the area of the input stroke area overlapping the display stroke area, is greater than or equal to a first threshold (step S 904 ). Note that the first threshold value may be, for example, ½. In this case, the overlap determination unit  27  determines whether the input stroke area overlaps the display stroke area by one half or more (½) or more. 
     In step S 904 , when the overlap determination unit  27  determines that the proportion of the area of the input stroke area overlapping the display stroke area, is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, the character correction device  1  causes the character correction unit  28  to replace the strokes in the display stroke area with the strokes in the input stroke area (step S 905 ). 
     Note that at this time, the strokes in the display stroke area to be replaced, are the strokes in the display stroke area in which the proportion of the area overlapping the input stroke area is greater than or equal to the first threshold value. 
     In step S 904 , when the overlap determination unit  27  determines that the proportion of the area of the input stroke area overlapping the display stroke area is not greater than or equal to the first threshold, the character correction device  1  causes the character correction unit  28  to insert the strokes in the input stroke area, into positions where the strokes have been input by handwriting (step S 906 ). 
     Subsequently, in the character correction device  1 , the stroke information acquisition unit  22  determines whether the user&#39;s handwriting input to the display strokes has ended (step S 907 ). Here, when the stroke information acquisition unit  22  does not acquire the stroke information for a predetermined time, the stroke information acquisition unit  22  may determine that handwriting input has ended. 
     In step S 907 , when the stroke information acquisition unit  22  determines that the handwriting input has not ended, the character correction device  1  returns to step S 902 . 
     In step S 907 , when the stroke information acquisition unit  22  determines that the handwriting input has ended, the character correction device  1  recognizes, by the recognition unit  31 , the characters corresponding to the stroke information of the strokes indicated by the display strokes corrected by the user&#39;s handwriting input, and acquires the characters as the recognition result (step S 908 ). At this time, the recognition unit  31  recognizes the characters corresponding to the stroke information indicated by the display strokes including the correction portions corrected by handwriting input. Accordingly, the character correction device  1  according to the present embodiment can perform character recognition including the character type and the interval of characters before and after the corrected strokes, the size, the height, the shape, and the aspect ratio, etc., of characters, and it is possible to improve the recognition accuracy of the corrected strokes. 
     Next, with reference to  FIG. 10 , the case of correcting the display strokes by the handwriting input described with  FIG. 9 , will be specifically described.  FIG. 10  is a diagram for describing a specific example of handwriting correction according to the first embodiment. 
     First, it is assumed that the display strokes corresponding to the display text “ABCDE” are displayed at the character correction device  1 , and display stroke areas  201  to  205  are identified by the area identifying unit  26  (state S 21 ). 
     Specifically, the area identifying unit  26  identifies the display stroke areas  201  to  205  as follows. First, the area identifying unit  26  acquires the first coordinate information  42  from the stroke information indicating the strokes of one character of the display strokes. Specifically, the area identifying unit  26  is to acquire the first coordinate information  42  by acquiring, from among the coordinate information included in the stroke information forming strokes of one character, coordinate information having the minimum Y coordinate as the first top coordinate information, coordinate information having the maximum Y coordinate as the first bottom coordinate information, coordinate information having the minimum X coordinate as the first left coordinate information, and coordinate information having the maximum X coordinate as the first right coordinate information. In this way, first coordinate information  42   1  of the letter “A”, first coordinate information  42   2  of the letter “B”, . . . , first coordinate information  42   5  of the letter “E” in the display strokes, are acquired. 
     Then, the area identifying unit  26  identifies the display stroke area  201  from the acquired first coordinate information  42   1 . Similarly, the area identifying unit  26  identifies the display stroke areas  202  to  205  from the first coordinate information  42   2  to the first coordinate information  42   5 , respectively. 
     In state S 21 , the character correction device  1  accepts input of the stroke of the first segment of the letter “B”, that is input in order to correct the letter “C” of the display strokes to “B”. Then, the character correction device  1  identifies an input stroke area  301  by the area identifying unit  26  (state S 22 ). 
     Specifically, the area identifying unit  26  identifies the input stroke area  301  as follows. First, the area identifying unit  26  acquires the second coordinate information  43  from the stroke information of the input strokes. Specifically, the area identifying unit  26  is to acquire the second coordinate information  43  by acquiring, from among the coordinate information included in the stroke information of the input strokes, coordinate information having the minimum Y coordinate as the second top coordinate information, coordinate information having the maximum Y coordinate as the second bottom coordinate information, coordinate information having the minimum X coordinate as the second left coordinate information, and coordinate information having the maximum X coordinate as the second right coordinate information. 
     Then, the area identifying unit  26  identifies the input stroke area  301  from the acquired second coordinate information  43 . 
     Subsequently, the character correction device  1  determines, by the overlap determination unit  27 , whether the input stroke area  301  overlaps each of the display stroke areas  201  to  205 , by greater than or equal to a first threshold value. Then, the character correction device  1  replaces the strokes in the display stroke area with the strokes in the input stroke area  301 , or inserts the strokes in the input stroke area  301  into the display stroke area, according to the determination result by the character correction unit  28 . 
     In the state S 22  of  FIG. 10 , the input stroke area  301  overlaps a display stroke area  203 . Furthermore, in the state S 22  of  FIG. 10 , the proportion of the area in the input stroke area  301  overlapping the display stroke area  203 , is  1 / 2  or more. Therefore, the overlap determination unit  27  determines that the input stroke area  301  overlaps the display stroke area  203  by greater than or equal to a first threshold. 
     Based on the above determination result, the character correction unit  28  replaces the strokes indicating the letter “C” in the display stroke area  203 , with a stroke indicating the first segment of the letter “B” in the input stroke area  301  (state S 23 ). 
     In the state S 23 , the character correction device  1  accepts input of a stroke of the second segment of the letter “B”. Then, the character correction device  1  identifies an input stroke area  302  identified by a circumscribing frame of strokes combining the first segment and the second segment. 
     Then, the character correction device  1  determines, by the overlap determination unit  27 , whether the input stroke area  302  overlaps the display stroke areas  201 ,  202 ,  204 , and  205 , respectively, by greater than or equal to a first threshold value. Then, the character correction device  1  replaces the stroke in the display stroke area with the stroke in the input stroke area  301 , or inserts the strokes in the input stroke area  301  into the display stroke area, according to the determination result by the character correction unit  28  (state S 24 ). 
     In step  324  of  FIG. 10 , the input stroke area  302  does not overlap any of the display stroke areas  201 ,  202 ,  204 , or  205 . Therefore, the overlap determination unit  27  determines that the input stroke area  302  does not overlap any of the display stroke areas  201 ,  202 ,  204 , or  205  by greater than or equal to a first threshold. 
     Based on this determination result, the character correction unit  28  inserts the strokes indicating the first and second segments of the letter “B” in the input stroke area  302 , at the positions where these strokes have been input. 
     As described above, in the character correction device  1  according to the present embodiment, the user can directly correct the strokes by handwriting input with respect to the display strokes. Furthermore, as described above, the character correction device  1  according to the present embodiment recognizes characters corresponding to the stroke information indicated by all of the display strokes including the corrected strokes. Accordingly, the character correction device  1  according to the present embodiment can improve the recognition accuracy of the corrected strokes in the display strokes. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, a second embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description of the second embodiment, differences from the first embodiment are described, and elements having the same functional configuration as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference symbols as those used in the description of the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
     A character correction device  1 A according to the present embodiment displays display strokes in accordance with the display position of display text on the screen. 
       FIG. 11  is a diagram for describing the functional configuration of the character correction device according to the second embodiment. The character correction device  1 A according to the present embodiment includes a character correction processing unit  21 A. Furthermore, the character correction processing unit  21 A includes a display detection unit  29 . 
     The display detection unit  29  detects the display text at a predetermined position in a screen displayed on the display operation device  101 . Here, the predetermined position is, for example, coordinates indicating the center of the screen displayed on the display operation device  101 . Hereinafter, the predetermined position will be described as coordinates indicating the center of the screen displayed on the display operation device  101 . 
     Next, operations by the character correction device  1 A according to the present embodiment will be described.  FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a display stroke display process according to the second embodiment.  FIG. 12  illustrates a process of displaying the display strokes in accordance with the display position of the display text in the screen displayed on the display operation device  101 . 
     In the character correction device  1 A according to the present embodiment, the display detection unit  29  acquires coordinate information indicating the center position of the screen displayed on the display operation device  101  (step S 1201 ). Note that the display detection unit  29  acquires coordinate information indicating the position of the center of the screen, for example, when the screen displayed on the display operation device  101  is displayed, or when the display operation device  101  is scrolled, etc. 
     Note that the coordinates indicating the position of the center of the screen of the present embodiment are, for example, relative coordinates indicated by the X axis being positive to the right direction from a reference point, and the Y axis being positive to the downward direction from the reference point, by using the upper left end pixel in the page image displayed by the character correction device  1 A as the origin. Therefore, the coordinates indicating the center position of the screen according to the present embodiment change, for example, by a scroll operation. 
     Next, in the character correction device  1 A, the display detection unit  29  refers to the recognition result information table  443  in the stroke association information  44 , and determines whether there is an input area including the coordinates indicated by the acquired coordinate information (step S 1202 ). That is, the display detection unit  29  determines whether there is a display text input by handwriting at the center position of the screen. Here, the fact that the coordinate information indicating the center position of the screen is included in the input area, means that the coordinates at the center of the screen are included in the area identified as the input area. 
     In step S 1202 , when there is a corresponding input area, the character correction device  1 A acquires, by the stroke information management unit  24 , stroke information associated with the input area determined to include the coordinates of the center of the screen, in the stroke association information  44 . Then, the character correction device  1 A causes the stroke display unit  25  to display the display strokes based on the acquired stroke information (step S 1203 ). 
     In step S 1202 , when there is no corresponding input area, the character correction device  1 A returns to step S 1201 . 
     Note that in  FIG. 12 , when the size, etc., of the display area in which the page image is displayed, changes, the coordinate information indicating the coordinates at the center of the screen and the coordinate information identifying the input area, are to be converted in accordance with the change in the size, etc. For example, when the aspect ratio of the display area changes from 2:1 to 1:2, the value of the X coordinate and the value of the Y coordinate included in the coordinate information are to be converted to ½ times the value and 2 times the value, respectively. 
     Next, with reference to  FIG. 13 , the case of displaying the display strokes corresponding to the display text at the center position of the screen described in  FIG. 12 , will be specifically described in  FIG. 13  indicates diagrams for describing a specific example of the display strokes according to the second embodiment. 
     First, in the character correction device  1 A, display strokes  6   a  of a display text indicating “birth date” at the center position of a screen  6 , is displayed (state S 31 ). 
     In the state S 31 , when the screen  6  is scrolled upward, and a screen  7  is displayed, the character correction device  1 A determines, by the display detection unit  29 , whether there is an input area including the coordinates indicating the center position of the screen  7 . In the state S 31 , the display field in which the display text indicating “telephone number” is displayed, is the corresponding input area. 
     Therefore, the character correction device  1 A acquires, by the stroke display unit  25 , the stroke information corresponding to the display field (input area) in which the display text indicating “telephone number” is displayed, and displays display strokes  7   a  (state S 32 ). 
     As described above, the character correction device  1 A according to the present embodiment can display the display strokes corresponding to the display text at the predetermined position on the screen, without the user specifying the display text to be corrected. 
     Therefore, in the present embodiment, for example, when it is desired to confirm the penmanship of the handwritten input entered in the past, or to confirm what information has been input by handwriting, by simply scrolling the screen, a desired display scroll is sequentially displayed. 
     Third Embodiment 
     Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the description of the third embodiment, differences from the first embodiment are described, and elements having the same functional configuration as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference symbols as those used in the description of the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
     A character correction device  1 B according to the present embodiment is capable of deleting characters in the display text by correcting display strokes by handwriting input. 
       FIG. 14  is a diagram for describing the functional configuration of the character correction device according to the third embodiment. The character correction device  1 B according to the present embodiment includes a character correction processing unit  21 B, a recognition unit  31 A, and a storage unit  51 . Furthermore, the character correction processing unit  21 B includes a deletion determination unit  51 . Furthermore, the storage unit  41 A includes evaluation value information  45 . 
     The recognition unit  31 A recognizes characters from stroke information input by handwriting, and stroke information of display strokes corrected by the character correction processing unit  21 B, and acquires the evaluation value information  45  including the recognized characters and evaluation values of characters, as recognition result. 
     The evaluation value information  45  is information acquired as a recognition result by the recognition unit  31 A, and is information including characters recognized from the stroke information and evaluation values of characters. Here, the evaluation value is a value indicating the likelihood of the character recognized from the stroke information. Note that the evaluation value information  45  may include a plurality of characters and evaluation values of these characters. 
     Based on the evaluation value information  45  acquired as a recognition result by the recognition unit  31 A, the deletion determination unit  51  determines whether the content input by handwriting is deletion of a character. That is, when the evaluation value of the character indicating deletion in the evaluation value information  45  acquired as the recognition result by the recognition unit  31 A, is greater than or equal to a second threshold value set in advance, the deletion determination unit  51  determines that the input content is to delete a character. Here, a character indicating deletion is, for example, a deletion symbol that can be represented by “-”. 
     Next, operations by the character correction device  1 B according to the present embodiment will be described.  FIG. 15  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a display text correction process according to the third embodiment. In  FIG. 15 , a process of deleting the display text displayed on the character correction device  1 B by handwriting input, will be mainly described. Note that the case of replacing or inserting a character by handwriting input is the same as that described in  FIG. 9  of the first embodiment, and therefore the descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
     In step S 904 , when the overlap determination unit  27  determines that the proportion of the area of the input stroke area overlapping the display stroke area, is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, the character correction device  1 B recognizes, by the recognition unit  31 A, a character from the stroke information indicating the strokes input by handwriting, and acquires a recognition result (step S 1501 ). Here, the acquired recognition result includes the character recognized from the stroke information and the evaluation value information  45  including the evaluation value of the character. 
     Next, in the character correction device  1 B according to the present embodiment, the deletion determination unit  51  determines whether the evaluation value of the character indicating deletion in the evaluation value information  45 , is greater than or equal to the second threshold (step S 1502 ). 
     In step S 1502 , when the deletion determination unit  51  determines that the evaluation value of the character indicating deletion in the evaluation value information  45  is greater than or equal to the second threshold value, the character correction device  1 B causes the character correction unit  28  to delete the strokes in the corresponding display stroke area (step S 1503 ). That is, the character correction unit  28  deletes the strokes in the display stroke area in which the proportion of overlapping the input stroke area is determined to be greater than or equal to the first threshold in step S 904 . 
     In step S 1502 , when the deletion determination unit  51  does not determine that the evaluation value of the character indicating deletion in the evaluation value information  45  is greater than or equal to the second threshold value, the character correction device  1 B proceeds to step S 905 . That is, as described with reference to  FIG. 9 , the character correction device  1 B replaces the strokes in the display stroke area with the strokes in the input stroke area, by the character correction unit  28 . 
     Next, with reference to  FIG. 16 , the case of correcting the display text described with reference to  FIG. 15 , particularly, the case of deleting a character, will be specifically described.  FIG. 16  is a diagram for describing a specific example of display text correction according to the third embodiment. 
     First, it is assumed that the display strokes of the display text “ABCDE” are displayed on the display operation device  101  of the character correction device  1 B, and display stroke areas  401  to  405  are identified (state S 41 ). 
     It is assumed that the character correction device  1 B performs handwriting input for deleting the letter “C” in the display stroke area  403  in the state S 41 . Then, the character correction device  1 B identifies an input stroke area  501  of the stroke input by handwriting (state S 42 ). In the example of  FIG. 16 , the area identifying unit  26  identifies the input stroke area  501  of the character “-” indicating deletion. 
     In the state S 42  of  FIG. 12 , the proportion of the area of the input stroke area  501  overlapping the display stroke area  403 , which is among the display stroke areas  401  to  405 , is ½ or more. Therefore, the overlap determination unit  27  determines that the input stroke area  501  overlaps the display stroke area  403  by greater than or equal to a first threshold. 
     Furthermore, the deletion determination unit  51  determines whether the evaluation value of the character indicating deletion included in the evaluation value information  45 , is greater than or equal to a second threshold value. For example, the evaluation value information  45  includes characters and evaluation values such as the character “-” (Chinese numeral) and an evaluation value “ 50 ”, the character “-” (hyphen) and an evaluation value “ 40 ”, and the character “-” indicating deletion and an evaluation value “ 35 ”, etc., and it is assumed that the second threshold value is “ 30 ”. In this case, the deletion determination unit  51  determines that the evaluation value of the character indicating deletion included in the evaluation value information  45 , is greater than or equal to the second threshold value. 
     Based on the determination result, the character correction device  1 B deletes the strokes in the display stroke area  403 , by the character correction unit  28  (state S 43 ). 
     In this manner, the character correction device  1 B according to the present embodiment can further correct the display strokes by handwriting input. Then, the character correction device  1 B can recognize the strokes indicated by the corrected display strokes, and acquire a character as the recognition result, to delete a character from the display text. 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In the description of the fourth embodiment, differences from the first embodiment are described, and elements having the same functional configuration as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference symbols as those used in the description of the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
     In the present embodiment, the case where the character correction program  20  and the recognition program  30  are installed in a device different from the character correction device  1 , will be described.  FIG. 17  is a diagram for describing an example of the character correction system according to the fourth embodiment. 
     A character correction device  1 C according to the present embodiment includes the first application  10 . Furthermore, a server device  50  connected to the character correction device  1 C via a network N includes the character correction program  20  and the recognition program  30 . 
     In the present embodiment, in the handwriting input process, the character correction device  1 C causes the first application  10  to transmit, to the server device  50 , stroke information of strokes input by handwriting by the user, and the coordinate information identifying an input area where the strokes have been input by handwriting. In the server device  50 , the recognition program  30  recognizes characters from the stroke information, and transmits the characters acquired as the recognition result, to the character correction device  1 C. Furthermore, the server device  50  stores, in a storage area in the server device  50 , the stroke association information  44  in which the stroke information, the characters acquired as the recognition result, and the coordinate information identifying the input area are associated with each other. 
     Note that in the handwriting input process, the stroke association information  44  is stored in the server device  50 ; however, the present embodiment is not limited as such. The server device  50  may transmit the stroke association information  44  to the character correction device  1 C, and the stroke association information  44  may be stored in the character correction device  1 C. 
     In the present embodiment, in the handwriting correction process, the character correction device  1 C acquires the stroke association information  44  from the server device  50  by the first application  10 , and displays the display strokes based on the stroke information in the acquired stroke association information  44 . Furthermore, the character correction device  1 C transmits stroke information indicating the corrected display strokes corrected by handwriting input, to the server device  50 . The server device  50  recognizes characters from the stroke information indicating the corrected display strokes, and transmits the acquired characters as the recognition result to the character correction device  1 C. Furthermore, the server device  50  updates the stroke association information  44  based on the stroke information indicating the corrected display strokes. 
     As described above, in the character correction system according to the present embodiment, the display text displayed on the character correction device  1 C is corrected. According to the configuration of the present embodiment, if the first application  10  is installed, the character correction device  1 C can perform the correction by handwriting input, as described in the first to third embodiments. 
     Furthermore, by configuring the server device  50  to include the recognition program  30 , for example, it is possible for the server device  50  to manage information used by the recognition program  30  for recognizing characters. Accordingly, in the server device  50 , when the database, etc., referred to by the recognition program  30  is updated and the accuracy of character recognition by the recognition program  30  is improved, the recognition of the strokes input by handwriting for correction, can take advantage of the improved accuracy. 
     Fifth Embodiment 
     Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. In the description of the fifth embodiment, differences from the first embodiment are described, and elements having the same functional configuration as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference symbols as those used in the description of the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
     In the present embodiment, the case where the recognition program  30  is installed in a device different from the character correction device  1  will be described.  FIG. 18  is a diagram illustrating an example of the character correction system according to the fifth embodiment. 
     A character correction device  1 E) according to the present embodiment includes the first application  10  and the character correction program  20 . Furthermore, a server device  50 A connected to the character correction device  1 D via the network N, includes the recognition program  30 . 
     In the present embodiment, in the handwriting input process, the character correction device  1 D transmits the stroke information input by handwriting by the user, to the server device  50 A by the first application. In the server device  50 A, the recognition program  30  recognizes characters from the stroke information, and transmits the acquired characters as the recognition result, to the character correction device  1 D. Then, the character correction device  1 D stores the stroke association information  44  associating the stroke information with the characters acquired as the recognition result, in the storage unit  41 . 
     Note that in the handwriting input process, the stroke association information  44  is stored in the character correction device  1 D; however, the present embodiment is not limited as such. The character correction device  1 D may transmit the coordinate information for identifying the input area to which the handwritten input is made, to the server device  50 A, and the stroke association information  44  may be stored in the server device  50 A. 
     In the present embodiment, in the handwriting correction process, the character correction device  1 D acquires the stroke association information  44  from the storage unit  41  by the character correction program  20 , and displays the display strokes based on the stroke information of the acquired stroke association information  44 . Furthermore, the character correction device  1 D transmits stroke information indicating the corrected display strokes corrected by handwriting input, to the server device  50 . The server device  50 A recognizes characters from the stroke information indicating the corrected display strokes and transmits the acquired characters as the recognition result, to the character correction device  1 D. Then, the character correction device  1 D updates the stroke association information based on the stroke information indicating the corrected display strokes and the characters acquired as the recognition result. 
     As described above, in the character correction system according to the present embodiment, the display text displayed on the character correction device  1 D is corrected. With the configuration of the present embodiment, if the first application  10  and the character correction program  20  are installed, the character correction device  1 D can perform correction by handwriting input as described in the first to third embodiments. 
     According to one aspect, it is possible to correct the recognition result of handwriting input, by correcting strokes input by handwriting. 
     Furthermore, according to one aspect, it is possible to refer to handwritten strokes even after the input is validated, with respect to an item to which recognition characters of handwriting input have been input. 
     Embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above; however, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, and a variety of corrections and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventors to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.