Patent ID: 8659544

Claim:
A portable information terminal comprising: a first memory configured to store at least one of symbol information and pictogram information; a display configured to display a first list including a symbol or pictogram based on the information stored in the first memory; an key input device including a first key for moving a cursor and a second key; a storage control unit which stores the symbol information or the pictogram information corresponding to a symbol or a pictogram by copying the symbol information or the pictogram information stored in the first memory to a second memory, if the symbol or the pictogram is selected via the key input device from the displayed first list; a display control unit which, if a given operation is received via the key input device during entry of characters, displays a second list including a symbol or a pictogram corresponding to the information stored in the second memory, and which, if the given operation is received via the key input device while the second list is displayed, displays the first list based on the information stored in the first memory in place of the second list; and an input control unit configured to (i) accept a symbol or a pictogram as an input from the first list if the first list is displayed on the display and the symbol or the pictogram is selected from the first list by manipulating the first key and the second key, and (ii) accept a symbol or a pictogram as an input from the second list if the second list is displayed on the display and the symbol or the pictogram is selected from the second list by manipulating the first key and the second key, wherein the given operation is different from the process of accepting the symbol or pictogram as the input or selection from the first list or the second list using the first key and second key.