阅读说明：本技术 拉丁字符转换装置、拉丁字符转换方法以及拉丁字符转换程序 (Latin character conversion device, Latin character conversion method, and Latin character conversion program ) 是由 丁尘辰 内山将夫 于 2020-02-04 设计创作，主要内容包括：拉丁字符转换装置具备：代码关联部,其将键盘所具有的多个键中的被分配了拉丁字符的多个字符键分别与以UNICODE标准的字符编码方式决定的多个字符代码中的某一个字符代码建立关联；字符关联部,其将字符代码与作为其它的字符代码的关联代码建立关联；代码转换部,其根据由用户指示多个字符键中的任一个字符键这一情况,来将与所指示的字符键建立了关联的字符代码决定为转换候选；以及字符转换部,其根据在决定了转换候选的状态下由用户指示多个字符键中的兼作转换键的字符键这一情况,来将转换候选转换为与转换候选建立了关联的关联代码。(The Latin character conversion device is provided with: a code association unit that associates each of a plurality of character keys to which a Latin character is assigned among a plurality of keys included in a keyboard with one of a plurality of character codes determined by a character encoding method of the UNICODE standard; a character association unit that associates a character code with an association code that is another character code; a code conversion unit that determines, as a conversion candidate, a character code associated with a character key indicated by a user, based on a case where the user indicates any of a plurality of character keys; and a character conversion unit that converts the conversion candidate into an association code associated with the conversion candidate, based on a case where a character key doubling as a conversion key is instructed by a user from among the plurality of character keys in a state where the conversion candidate is determined.)

1. A Latin character conversion device is provided with:

code association means for associating each of a plurality of character keys to which a latin character is assigned among a plurality of keys included in a keyboard, with one of a plurality of character codes determined in accordance with a UNICODE-standard character encoding method for a character different from the latin character;

a character associating unit that associates the character code with an association code that is another character code;

a code conversion unit that determines, as a conversion candidate, the character code associated with the character key indicated by the code association unit, in accordance with a case where any one of the character keys is indicated by a user; and

a character conversion unit that converts the conversion candidate into the association code associated with the conversion candidate by the code association unit, in accordance with a case where the character key doubling as a conversion key is indicated by a user among the plurality of character keys in a state where the conversion candidate is decided.

2. The Latin character conversion device of claim 1,

in a state where the conversion candidate is decided, the character conversion unit decides the conversion key based on the conversion candidate.

3. The Latin character conversion apparatus of claim 1 or 2,

the character conversion device is further provided with a determination unit that sets the conversion candidate to a determination state in which the conversion by the character conversion unit is impossible.

4. A Latin character conversion device according to claim 3,

the determination unit sets the transition candidate to the determination state according to a case where the character key doubling as a determination key among the plurality of character keys is indicated by a user.

5. A Latin character conversion method is used for enabling a Latin character conversion device to execute the following steps:

a code conversion step of, in response to a user indicating any one of a plurality of character keys to which a latin character is assigned among a plurality of keys included in a keyboard, determining a character code associated with the indicated character key through a code association table by associating each of the plurality of character keys with one of a plurality of character codes determined by a UNICODE-standard character encoding method for a character different from the latin character as a conversion candidate; and

and a character conversion step of converting the conversion candidate into the related code associated with the conversion candidate by using a character association table in which the character code is associated with a related code which is another character code, in response to the character key which doubles as a conversion key among the plurality of character keys being accepted in a state in which the conversion candidate is determined.

6. A latin character conversion program for causing a computer to execute the steps of:

a code conversion step of, in response to a user indicating any one of a plurality of character keys to which a latin character is assigned among a plurality of keys included in a keyboard, determining a character code associated with the indicated character key through a code association table by associating each of the plurality of character keys with one of a plurality of character codes determined by a UNICODE-standard character encoding method for a character different from the latin character as a conversion candidate; and

and a character conversion step of converting the conversion candidate into the related code associated with the conversion candidate by using a character association table in which the character code is associated with a related code which is another character code, in response to the character key which doubles as a conversion key among the plurality of character keys being accepted in a state in which the conversion candidate is determined.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a latin character conversion device, a latin character conversion method, and a latin character conversion program, and more particularly to a latin character conversion device that converts a latin character into a character different from the latin character, a latin character conversion method executed by the latin character conversion device, and a latin character conversion program that causes a computer to execute the latin character conversion method.

Background

Burmese (Myanmar) characters are one of the Abjida characters, and are the characters mainly used for recording Burmese. As a method for inputting a burmar character into a computer, a combination arrangement method based on a letter shape, which is a method of continuing an old typewriter, is widely used.

As a method for inputting a Burma character into a computer, for example, japanese patent No. 3088476 discloses a Burma input device for inputting a reading of Burma having syllables including four parts of an initial consonant, a middle consonant, a vowel, and a tone, and having a first middle consonant y as a middle consonant of a jawed sound and a second middle consonant w as a middle consonant of a lipped sound by a keystroke and converting the reading into a Burma character string, the Burma input device including: a keyboard having a plurality of keys and having at least an alternate key and a shift key; a reading code output unit having input mode information indicating whether a current input mode is a consonant input mode or a vowel input mode, the consonant input mode being a mode in which a consonant-bound portion, which is a combination of the first type of the intermediate consonant y and an initial consonant, of syllables constituting Burmese is input, and the mode in which a vowel-bound portion, which is a combination of the second type of the intermediate consonant w, a vowel, and a tone, is input, the reading code output unit outputting a reading code of a corresponding consonant-bound portion or a reading code of a vowel-bound portion to a buffer and changing the input mode information to another input mode, based on the input mode information and a key code input by tapping only one of the plurality of keys or simultaneously tapping one of the plurality of keys and an alternate key; and a Burmese character conversion unit for converting the combination of the pronunciation code of the consonant combination part and the pronunciation code of the vowel combination part output to the buffer memory by the pronunciation code output unit into a corresponding Burmese character by inputting a conversion key.

However, the Burma input device described in Japanese patent No. 3088476 has the following problems: since the consonant combined part and the vowel combined part are input separately, the number of keys assigned to the consonant combined part and the vowel combined part becomes large, and it is difficult to perform a task of finding keys assigned to the consonant combined part and the vowel combined part, respectively, of the syllable which is an input target.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent No. 3088476

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a latin character converting device that facilitates the operation of converting a latin character into a character code determined by the UNICODE-based character encoding method.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for converting a latin character to a character code determined by the UNICODE character encoding method, which facilitates the operation of converting the latin character to the character code determined by the UNICODE standard.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a latin character conversion program that facilitates the operation of converting a latin character into a character code determined by the UNICODE character encoding method.

Means for solving the problems

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a latin character conversion device comprises: code association means for associating each of a plurality of character keys to which a latin character is assigned among a plurality of keys included in a keyboard, with one of a plurality of character codes determined in accordance with a UNICODE-standard character encoding method for a character different from the latin character; a character association unit that associates a character code with an association code that is another character code; a code conversion unit that determines, as a conversion candidate, a character code associated with the designated character key by the code association unit, in accordance with a case where any one of the plurality of character keys is designated by a user; and a character conversion unit that converts the conversion candidate into an association code associated with the conversion candidate by the code association unit, in accordance with a case where a character key doubling as a conversion key is instructed by a user among the plurality of character keys in a state where the conversion candidate is determined.

According to this aspect, the character code associated with the character key indicated by the user is determined as the conversion candidate in accordance with the fact that any one of the character keys is indicated by the user, and the conversion candidate is converted into the associated code associated with the conversion candidate in accordance with the fact that the character key which doubles as the conversion key among the character keys is indicated by the user in a state where the conversion candidate is determined. Therefore, since the character key doubles as a conversion key in a state where the conversion candidate is determined, the number of keys to be instructed by the user is reduced. As a result, it is possible to provide a latin character conversion device that facilitates the operation of converting a latin character into a character code determined by the UNICODE-based character encoding method.

Preferably, in a state where the conversion candidate is decided, the character conversion unit decides the conversion key based on the conversion candidate.

According to this aspect, in the state where the transition candidate is decided, the transition key is decided based on the transition candidate, and therefore it is possible to distinguish whether the key instructed by the user is a character key or a transition key.

Preferably, the character conversion device further includes a determination unit that sets the conversion candidate to a determination state in which the conversion by the character conversion unit is impossible.

According to this aspect, the conversion candidate is set in the determination state in which the conversion into the related code is not possible, so that the character code of the conversion candidate can be determined and the next character code can be accepted.

Preferably, the determination unit sets the transition candidate to the determination state in accordance with a case where a character key doubling as the determination key among the plurality of character keys is indicated by the user.

According to this aspect, since the character key doubles as the determination key, the user can set the transition candidate to the determination state by indicating the character key. As a result, the number of keys to be instructed by the user is reduced, and thus the input of latin characters is facilitated.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a latin character conversion method is used to make a latin character conversion device perform the following steps: a code conversion step of, in response to a user's instruction of any one of a plurality of character keys to which a latin character is assigned, among a plurality of keys provided on a keyboard, using a code association table in which each of the plurality of character keys is associated with one of a plurality of character codes determined in accordance with a UNICODE-standard character encoding method for characters different from the latin character, determining a character code associated with the indicated character key by the code association table as a conversion candidate; and a character conversion step of converting the conversion candidate into a related code associated with the conversion candidate by using a character association table in which the character code is associated with a related code which is another character code, in response to the reception of the character key which doubles as the conversion key among the plurality of character keys in the state in which the conversion candidate is determined.

According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a latin character conversion method that facilitates the operation of converting a latin character into a character code determined by the UNICODE-standard character encoding method.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a Latin character conversion program causes a computer to execute the steps of: a code conversion step of, in response to a user's instruction of any one of a plurality of character keys to which a latin character is assigned, among a plurality of keys provided on a keyboard, using a code association table in which each of the plurality of character keys is associated with one of a plurality of character codes determined in accordance with a UNICODE-standard character encoding method for characters different from the latin character, determining a character code associated with the indicated character key by the code association table as a conversion candidate; and a character conversion step of converting the conversion candidate into a related code associated with the conversion candidate by using a character association table in which the character code is associated with a related code which is another character code, in response to the reception of the character key which doubles as the conversion key among the plurality of character keys in the state in which the conversion candidate is determined.

According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a latin character conversion program that facilitates the operation of converting a latin character into a character code determined by the UNICODE-based character encoding method.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a latin character conversion device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of functions of a CPU provided in the latin character conversion device.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the code association table.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the character association table.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the latin character conversion process.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the transcoding process.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the character conversion process.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the display control process.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a specific example of the latin character conversion process.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the frequency of keystrokes using a corpus of written languages.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the frequency of keystrokes using a spoken language corpus.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a capital letter correspondence table.

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the frequency of keystrokes when a written language corpus is used in the case where a capital letter correspondence table is used.

Fig. 14 is a diagram showing the frequency of keystrokes including capital letters using a spoken language corpus in the case of using a capital letter correspondence table.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

The latin character conversion device according to the present embodiment can be realized by installing a latin character conversion program in a general computer. In the present embodiment, a Personal Computer (PC) is used as an example of the latin character conversion device 100, but the latin character conversion device 100 may be any device that can install a program and execute the program, and may be a portable information device such as a smartphone.

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a latin character conversion device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 1, the latin character conversion device 100 includes: a Central Processing Unit (CPU)101 for controlling the entire latin character conversion device 100; a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102 that stores programs for execution by the CPU 101; a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103 used as a work area of the CPU 101; a Hard Disk Drive (HDD)104 that stores data in a nonvolatile manner; a communication unit 105 that connects the CPU 101 to a network; a display unit 106 for displaying information; an operation unit 107 that accepts an operation by a user; and an external storage device 108.

The display unit 106 is, for example, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and displays an image. In addition, as long as the device displays an image, for example, an organic EL (electroluminescence) display may be used instead of the LCD.

The operation section 107 includes a keyboard. The keyboard has a plurality of keys to which a plurality of characters of a latin character are assigned, respectively. The plurality of keys are arranged in a QWERTY layout. When a user instructs any one of a plurality of keys included in a keyboard, the operation unit 107 outputs key identification information for identifying the key instructed by the user to the CPU 101. The operation unit 107 may be a touch panel disposed on the display unit 106 so as to overlap with the keyboard. In this case, the CPU 101 displays an image of the keyboard in the display section 106, and the touch panel detects a position indicated by the user in the image of the keyboard. The keyboard image is an image in which a plurality of keys each assigned with a plurality of characters of latin characters are arranged in a QWERTY layout. The CPU 101 determines keys arranged at positions indicated in an image of the keyboard displayed on the display section 106 by the user, and determines key identification information for identifying the determined keys.

The communication unit 105 is connected to a network. The network includes a local area network and the internet. Thus, the CPU 101 can communicate with other computers via a network.

A CD-ROM 109 is mounted in the external storage device 108. The CPU 101 can access the CD-ROM 109 via the external storage device 108. The CPU 101 loads a program recorded in a CD-ROM 109 installed in the external storage device 108 into the RAM 103 and executes the program. The medium storing the program executed by the CPU 101 is not limited to the CD-ROM 109, and may be a semiconductor memory such as an optical disk, an IC card, an optical card, a mask ROM, and an EPROM.

In addition, the program executed by the CPU 101 is not limited to the program recorded in the CD-ROM 109, and the program stored in the HDD 104 may be loaded into the RAM 103 and executed. In this case, another computer connected to the internet may rewrite the program stored in the HDD 104 of the latin character conversion device 100 or additionally write a new program. Furthermore, latin character conversion device 100 may download a program from another computer connected to the internet and store the program in HDD 104. The program referred to herein includes not only a program directly executable by the CPU 101 but also a source program, a program subjected to compression processing, an encrypted program, and the like.

The medium storing the program executed by the CPU 101 is not limited to the CD-ROM 109, and may be a semiconductor memory such as an Optical disk (MO (Magnetic Optical disk)/MD (Mini disk)/DVD (Digital Versatile disk)), an IC card, an Optical card, a mask ROM, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM).

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of functions of a CPU provided in the latin character conversion device. The function shown in fig. 2 is a function formed in the CPU 101 by the CPU 101 of the latin character conversion device 100 executing a latin character conversion program stored in the ROM 102, HDD 104, and CD-ROM 109. Referring to fig. 2, the CPU 101 includes an operation receiving unit 51, a code associating unit 53, a code converting unit 55, a character converting unit 57, a character associating unit 59, a display control unit 61, and a specifying unit 63.

The operation receiving unit 51 receives an operation input by a user. Specifically, the operation receiving unit 51 receives the key identification information output from the operation unit 107 as an operation for instructing any one of a plurality of keys included in the keyboard of the operation unit 107 by the user.

The code associating unit 53 associates each of a plurality of character keys in a plurality of keys included in a keyboard with one of a plurality of character codes determined by a character encoding method of the UNICODE standard. The character key is a key to which any one of a plurality of characters of latin characters is assigned. Thus, the key identification information of the character key is associated with one character of the latin character.

The code association section 53 stores the code association table in the HDD 104. The code association table associates a character code with each character key of the plurality of character keys. Specifically, the code association table associates the key identification information with the character code. Here, the key identification information of a character key is a character of a latin character assigned to the character key. The character code assigned to the character key is a character code assigned to a character different from the latin character. In the present embodiment, the character code of a character different from the latin character is the character code of any of the burmese characters. Thus, the code association table associates, for each of the plurality of character keys, the character of the latin character assigned to the character key with the character code of the burmese character assigned to the character key.

The character associating section 59 associates the character code with the association code. The character code and the related code are any one of a plurality of character codes determined by a character encoding method of the UNICODE standard. The association code is other character code than the character code. The character association section 59 stores the character association table in the HDD 104. The character association table associates, for each of a plurality of character codes, the character code with an association code associated with the character code.

When the character key is specified based on the key identification information received by the operation receiving unit 51, the code conversion unit 55 determines the character code associated with the character key as a conversion candidate by using the code association table. The code conversion unit 55 stores the character codes determined as conversion candidates in the cache. The cache memory is a predetermined storage area of the RAM 103.

When a character key is specified based on the key identification information received by the operation receiving unit 51, the character conversion unit 57 converts the character code as a conversion candidate into a related code related to the character code as a conversion candidate by the character related table on the condition that the specified character key is a predetermined conversion key. The conversion key is determined based on the character codes stored in the cache as conversion candidates. The character conversion unit 57 rewrites the character codes stored in the cache as conversion candidates with the association codes associated with the character codes as conversion candidates by the character association table.

When the character codes of the conversion candidates stored in the cache memory satisfy a predetermined condition, the determination unit 63 sets the character codes as the conversion candidates to the determination state. The determined state is a state in which the conversion by the character conversion section 57 is impossible, and the character code is no longer a conversion candidate. The specification unit 63 outputs a specification instruction to the display control unit 61 when the character code as the conversion candidate is set to the specification state. The determination indication contains a character code set to the determination state.

The predetermined condition includes a first condition that the character key specified by the key identification information received by the operation receiving unit 51 is a predetermined fixed key, a second condition that the character key specified by the key identification information received by the operation receiving unit 51 is not a conversion key, and a third condition that no related code related to the conversion candidate by the code relation table exists.

When the character key is specified based on the key identification information received by the operation receiving unit 51 and the conversion candidate is not set to the specified state, the character conversion unit 57 converts the conversion candidate into the related code. When the character key is specified based on the key identification information received by the operation receiving unit 51 and the conversion candidate is set to the specified state, the character conversion unit 57 does not convert the conversion candidate into the related code, but the code conversion unit 55 determines a new conversion candidate, and therefore the new conversion candidate is stored in the cache.

The display control unit 61 causes the display unit 106 to display an image of a character determined by the character encoding method of the UNICODE standard for one or more character codes stored in the buffer. More than one character code is stored in the cache. There are the following situations: the case where one or more character codes include one character code as a conversion candidate, the case where one or more character codes include one or more character codes in a definite state, and the case where one or more character codes include one character code as a conversion candidate following one or more character codes in a definite state. The display control unit 61 displays the images of the one or more characters corresponding to the one or more character codes in a manner such that the display modes of the images are different between the case of the determination state and the case of the conversion candidate. The display mode is, for example, the thickness of a line, the brightness, and the presence or absence of a modifier character. The modifier character is, for example, underline or hatched. For example, an image of a character corresponding to the character code in the determined state is displayed in bold, and an image of a character corresponding to the character code as the conversion candidate is displayed in thin line.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the code association table. Referring to fig. 3, the code association table has a code conversion record for each of a plurality of character keys. The code conversion record includes an item of character keys and an item of character codes, and associates the character keys with the character codes. Key identification information for identifying the character key is set in the item of the character key. In the present embodiment, the key identification information is a latin character assigned to the character key. The character code is set in the item of the character code. The character code is any one of a plurality of character codes determined by the character encoding method of the UNICODE standard. The character code is expressed in hexadecimal.

Regarding characters other than a, o, x, and q of the latin character, a character code is associated with one latin character. A combination of two character codes is associated with each character of Latin characters a, o and x. There is no association made to the latin character q. The character key to which the latin character q is assigned is used as the determination key. For example, a character code "1017" is assigned to the character key to which the latin character "b" is assigned. Therefore, when the character key to which the latin character "b" is assigned is instructed by the user, the character of the character code "1017" is determined as a conversion candidate and displayed on the display unit 106.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the character association table. The character association table associates a character code with an association code for each of a plurality of conversion keys. Specifically, the character association table includes a plurality of character conversion records. The character conversion record includes an item of a conversion key, an item of a character code, and an item of an associated code. Key identification information assigned to a character key determined as a conversion key is set in an item of the conversion key. The key identification information is latin characters. The character code before conversion is set in the item of the character code. The item of the association code is set with a character code as an association code associated with the character code before conversion.

In the present embodiment, the conversion keys are character keys to which latin characters e, f, g, h, i, j, r, u, v, w, y, and a are assigned, respectively. For example, the association code 100F is associated with a group of character keys and character codes 1004 to which latin characters g are assigned. Thus, in the case where the character key to which the latin character g is assigned is instructed by the user, if the character code 1004 as a conversion candidate is stored in the cache, the character code 1004 is rewritten with the character code 100F as an associated code. In this case, the display of the characters of the character code 1004 is switched to the display of the characters of the character code 100F.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the latin character conversion process. The latin character conversion process is a process executed by the CPU 101 of the latin character conversion device 100 by executing the latin character conversion program stored in the ROM 102, HDD 104, and CD-ROM 109. Referring to fig. 5, CPU 101 determines whether or not a key instructed by the user is accepted (step S01). Since the keyboard outputs the key identification information when the user instructs any one of the plurality of keys included in the keyboard of the operation unit 107, the user instructs the user to accept the key when the key identification information output from the keyboard is accepted. The standby state is established until the key is accepted (no in step S01), and if the key is accepted (yes in step S01), the process proceeds to step S02.

In step S02, it is determined whether or not the accepted key is a character key. The character key is a key to which any one of a plurality of characters of latin characters is assigned. If the character key is accepted, the process proceeds to step S03, otherwise, the process proceeds to step S10. In step S10, the process of assigning the processed key is executed, and the process proceeds to step S11. In step S11, it is determined whether or not the process of assigning the managed key is a process of ending the program. If it is the process of ending the program, the process ends, otherwise, the process returns to step S01.

In step S03, it is determined whether the character key is an ok key. The determination key is a character key to which a predetermined one of a plurality of characters of latin characters is assigned. In the present embodiment, the determination key is a character key to which a latin character q is assigned. If the character key is the determination key, the process proceeds to step S04, otherwise, the process proceeds to step S05. In step S05, it is determined whether or not character codes as conversion candidates are stored in the buffer. If the character codes as conversion candidates are stored in the buffer, the process proceeds to step S07, otherwise, the process proceeds to step S06. If nothing is stored in the cache, or if all of the one or more character codes stored in the cache are set to the definite state, the process proceeds to step S06.

In step S06, the code conversion process is executed, and the process returns to step S01. The details of the code conversion process for determining the character code associated with the character of the latin character assigned to the character key received in step S01 will be described later.

If it is determined in step S03 that the character key instructed by the user is the enter key, the process proceeds to step S04. In step S04, the character codes stored in the buffer are set to the definite state, and the process returns to step S01.

The case where the process advances to step S07 is the following case: a case where the character key indicated by the user is not the determination key and the character code as the conversion candidate is stored in the cache. In step S07, it is determined whether or not the character key doubles as a conversion key. The conversion key is a character key to which a predetermined character is assigned from among a plurality of characters of the latin character. The conversion key is a character key to which any one of characters e, f, g, h, i, j, r, u, v, w, y, and a is assigned. The conversion key is determined based on the character codes stored as conversion candidates in the cache. Specifically, it is determined whether the character key indicated by the user corresponds to the conversion key based on the character code stored in the cache. More specifically, in the case where an associated code is associated with a combination of a character code stored in the cache as a conversion candidate and key identification information of a character key instructed by the user, the character key may be a conversion key. More specifically, if a character conversion record in which the key identification information of the character key instructed by the user is set in the item of the character key and the character code stored in the cache is set in the item of the character code exists in the character association table, the character key instructed by the user is determined as the conversion key, but if such a character conversion record does not exist in the character association table, the character key instructed by the user is not determined as the conversion key. If the character key instructed by the user becomes a conversion key, a character conversion record in which the key identification information of the character key instructed by the user is set in the item of the character key and the character code stored in the cache as a conversion candidate is set in the item of the character code is set as a processing target, and the process proceeds to step S09, whereas if the character key instructed by the user does not become a conversion key, the process proceeds to step S08. In step S09, a character conversion process is performed, and the process returns to step S01. The details of the character conversion process for converting the character code stored in the cache memory into the associated code will be described later.

In step S08, the character codes stored in the buffer as conversion candidates are set to a definite state, and the process advances to step S06. In the case where the character codes as conversion candidates are stored in the cache and the character key instructed by the user is unlikely to become a conversion key, step S06 is executed to process the character key instructed by the user not as a conversion key but as a character key. In addition, at a stage before the code conversion processing is executed in step S06, the character codes stored in the buffer are set to a definite state, and therefore the image of the character code stored in the buffer is fixedly displayed in the display portion 106.

The case where the code conversion processing is executed is a case where no character code is stored in the cache, a case where the character code stored in the cache has been set to a definite state, or a case where a character code as a conversion candidate is stored in the cache and a character key instructed by the user is unlikely to become a conversion key.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the transcoding process. The code conversion process is a process executed in step S06 of the latin character conversion process. At a stage before the execution of the transcoding process, the character key indicated by the user has been decided. Referring to fig. 6, the CPU 101 determines a character code as a processing target in step S21, and advances the process to step S22. Specifically, the CPU 101 refers to the code association table, and determines a character code associated with a latin character as key identification information of a character key instructed by the user as a processing target.

In step S22, the character code determined as the processing target is stored in the cache, and the process proceeds to step S23. In step S23, it is determined whether the character code stored in the cache memory can be converted into an association code. Specifically, if a character conversion record in which a character code stored in the cache is set in an entry of the character code exists in the character association table, it is determined that the character code can be converted into an association code, but if such a character conversion record does not exist in the character association table, it is determined that the character code cannot be converted into an association code. If the character codes stored in the cache can be converted into the association codes, the process returns to the latin character conversion process, otherwise, the process advances to step S24. In step S24, the character code stored in the cache is set to the definite state, and the process returns to the latin character conversion process.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the character conversion process. The character conversion process is a process executed in step S09 of the latin character conversion process. At a stage before the character conversion process is performed, the character conversion record is determined as a processing object. Referring to fig. 7, the CPU 101 determines the association code as the processing target in step S31, and advances the process to step S32. Specifically, the CPU 101 determines a character code set in an item of a related code of a character conversion record determined as a processing target as the related code and as the processing target.

In step S32, the character codes stored in the cache as conversion candidates are rewritten with the associated code determined as the processing target, and the process proceeds to step S33. In step S33, it is determined whether or not the related code determined as the processing target is set so as to be convertible to another character code. Specifically, if a character conversion record in which the same character code as the association code determined as the processing target is set in the item of the character code exists in the character association table, the CPU 101 determines that the association code is set to be convertible to another character code, but if such a character conversion record does not exist in the character association table, the CPU 101 determines that the association code is not set to be convertible to another character code. If the association code as the processing target is set to be convertible to another character code, the process returns to the latin character conversion process, otherwise, the process proceeds to step S34.

In step S34, the character code stored in the cache is set to the definite state, and the process returns to the latin character conversion process. Since the character codes stored in the buffer memory as conversion candidates are not converted, such character codes are set to a definite state, whereby the image of the character code stored in the buffer memory is fixedly displayed in the display portion 106.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the display control process. The display control processing is processing executed by the CPU 101 of the latin character conversion device 100 by executing the display control program stored in the ROM 102, HDD 104, and CD-ROM 109. The display control program is part of the latin character conversion program.

Referring to fig. 8, CPU 101 determines whether or not the character code stored in the cache has been changed. When a character code is newly added to the cache or when a character code stored in the cache as a conversion candidate is changed to a related code, it is determined that the character code stored in the cache has been changed. The CPU 101 enters a standby state until the character code stored in the cache is changed (no in step S41), and if the character code stored in the cache has been changed, the process proceeds to step S42. In step S42, one or more character codes stored in the buffer are sequentially read out, and the process advances to step S43. In step S43, it is determined whether or not the read character code is set to the definite state. If it is set to the determination state, the process proceeds to step S44, otherwise, the process proceeds to step S45. In step S44, the characters of the character code are displayed in bold, and the process advances to step S46. In step S45, the characters of the character code are displayed with thin lines, and the process advances to step S46. In step S46, it is determined whether or not the character code that has not been read in step S42 exists in the one or more character codes stored in the cache. If there is a character code that has not been read out, the process returns to step S42, otherwise, the process returns to step S41.

< example >

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a specific example of the latin character conversion process. In the figure, each time a plurality of character keys are sequentially instructed by a user, the character codes stored in the buffer and the characters displayed in the display portion 106 are shown. The character codes stored in the cache have a case of conversion candidates and a case of determination of a state. Character codes as conversion candidates are represented by reversed characters, and character codes that determine the state are represented by underlining. Regarding the image of the character displayed on the display section, the image of the character code of the determination state is represented by a thick line, and the image of the character code of the conversion candidate is represented by a thin line.

First, when a character key to which a latin character k is assigned is instructed by a user, a character code 1000 associated with the latin character k is stored in a cache, and the character of the character code 1000 is displayed on the display unit 106. At this stage, since the character code 1000 can be converted into the character code 1001, the character code 1000 is set as a conversion candidate, and the characters of the character code 1000 are displayed on the display unit 106 with thin lines.

Second, in the case where a character key to which a latin character n is assigned is instructed by the user, the character key to which the latin character n is assigned is not a conversion key. Therefore, the character code 1000 stored in the buffer as a conversion candidate is set to the definite state, and the characters of the character code 1000 are displayed in the display section 106 with thick lines. Further, since the character code 1014 associated with the latin character n can be converted into the character code 1004 in the cache, the character code 1014 is stored in the cache as a new conversion candidate, and the character of the character code 1014 as a conversion candidate is displayed on the display unit 106 with a thin line. Specifically, the characters of the character code 1000 that were once displayed with thin lines on the display unit 106 are displayed with thick lines, and the characters of the character code 1014 are displayed with thin lines on the right side thereof.

Third, in the case where a character key to which the latin character g is assigned is instructed by the user, since the character code 1014 as a conversion candidate is stored in the cache, the character key is a conversion key. Therefore, the character code 1014 stored in the cache as a conversion candidate is rewritten with the character code 1004 associated with the set of the character code 1014 and the latin character g. In addition, since the character code 1004 can be converted into the character code 100F, the character code 1004 is stored in the cache as a conversion candidate. The characters of the character code 1014 that have been displayed with thin lines on the display unit 106 are changed to the characters of the thin lines of the character code 1004.

Fourth, in the case where a character key to which a latin character g is assigned is instructed by the user, since the character code 1004 as a conversion candidate is stored in the cache, the character key is a conversion key. Therefore, the character code 1004 of the conversion candidate stored in the cache is rewritten with the character code 100F associated with the set of the character code 1004 and the latin character g. In addition, since the character code 100F can be converted into the character code 104C, the character code 100F is stored in the cache as a conversion candidate. The characters of the character code 1004 displayed once in thin lines on the display unit 106 are changed to the characters of the thin lines of the character code 100F and displayed.

Fifth, in the case where a character key to which the latin character f is assigned is indicated by the user, since neither of the character codes 1039 and 103A is stored in the buffer memory, the character key is not a conversion key. Therefore, the character code 100F stored in the buffer memory as a conversion candidate is set to the definite state, and the character code 100F is displayed in the display section 106 with a thick line. Further, since the character code 103A associated with the latin character f can be converted into the character code 1039, the character code 103A is stored in the cache memory as a new conversion candidate, and the character of the character code 103A of the conversion candidate is displayed with a thin line in the display portion 106. Specifically, the characters of the character code 100F, which were once displayed by thin lines, are displayed by thick lines in the display section 106, and the characters of the character code 103A are displayed by thin lines on the upper side thereof.

Sixthly, in the case where a character key to which a latin character f is assigned is instructed by the user, since the character code 103A as a conversion candidate is stored in the cache, the character key is a conversion key. Therefore, the character code 103A of the conversion candidate stored in the cache memory is rewritten with the character code 1039 associated with the group of the character code 103A and the latin character f. In addition, since the character code 1039 can be converted into the character code 103A, the character code 1039 is stored in the cache as a conversion candidate. The characters of the character code 103A that were displayed in thin lines on the display unit 106 are changed to the characters of the thin lines of the character code 1039 and displayed.

Seventh, in a case where a character key to which a latin character t is assigned is instructed by the user, the character key to which the latin character t is assigned is not a conversion key. Therefore, the character codes 1039 of the conversion candidates stored in the cache memory are set to the determination state. Further, since the character code 1010 associated with the latin character t can be converted into the character code 101B or 1011, the character code 1010 is stored in the cache as a new conversion candidate, and the character of the character code 1010 as a conversion candidate is displayed on the display unit 106 with a thin line. Specifically, the character of the character code 1039 temporarily displayed in the display section 106 is specified, and the character of the character code 1010 is displayed with a thin line at the same position as that. The character code 1039 is assigned with characters representing characters displayed on the lower side, and thus the characters of the character code 1039 are replaced with the characters of the character code 1010.

Eighth, in the case where a character key to which the latin character h is assigned is instructed by the user, since the character code 1010 is stored in the cache, the character key is a conversion key. Therefore, the character code 1010 of the conversion candidate stored in the cache is rewritten with the character code 1011 associated with the group of the character code 1010 and the latin character h. In addition, since the character code 1011 can be converted into the character code 100C, the character code 1011 is stored in the cache as a conversion candidate. The characters of the character code 1010 that were displayed in thin lines on the display unit 106 are changed to the characters of the thin lines of the character code 1011 and displayed.

Ninth, in the case where a character key to which the latin character g is assigned is instructed by the user, since the character code 1011 is stored in the buffer, the character key is a conversion key. Therefore, the character code 1011 of the conversion candidate stored in the cache is rewritten with the character code 100C associated with the group of the character code 1011 and g of the latin character. Further, since the character code 100C cannot be converted into another character code, it is set to the definite state. Therefore, the characters of the character code 1011 that were displayed on the display unit 106 by thin lines are changed to the characters of the thick lines of the character code 100C and displayed.

Next, an example of calculating the frequency of keystrokes on the keyboard in the latin character conversion device 100 of the present embodiment will be described.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the frequency of keystrokes using a corpus of written languages. The frequency of keystrokes shown in FIG. 10 indicates the frequency of keystrokes when the Burma data contained in the Asian Language Treebank (ALT: Asian Language Tree Bank) expressed in written Language is used as the written Language corpus. The ALT data consisted of 2 thousand sentences of news stories. Referring to fig. 10, the frequency of keystrokes on the central key of the keyboard is higher than the frequency of the peripheral keys. Therefore, since the keys with a high frequency of keystrokes are concentrated in the central portion, the user can easily perform an operation when inputting a plurality of latin characters for a language of Burma which is converted into written language.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the frequency of keystrokes using a spoken language corpus. The frequency of key strokes shown in FIG. 11 indicates the frequency of key strokes in the case where Basic Travel Expression Corpus (BTEC: Basic Travel Expression Corpus) data expressed in spoken language is used as the Corpus for written language. The BTEC data consists of 40-thousand sentences of travel conversations. Referring to fig. 11, the frequency of keystrokes on the central key of the keyboard is higher than the frequency of the peripheral keys. Thus, since the keys having a high frequency of keystrokes are concentrated in the central portion, the user can easily perform an operation when inputting a plurality of latin characters in order to convert the language into a spoken macadam language sentence.

< first modification >

In the above embodiment, only the lower case letters of the latin characters are used, but in addition to the lower case letters of the latin characters, upper case letters may be used.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a capital letter correspondence table. Referring to fig. 12, the capital-letter correspondence table includes capital-letter correspondence records for each of a plurality of capital letters of the latin character. The capital letter corresponding records include items of capital letter keys and items of character strings of small letter keys. The capital letter key entries represent capital letters of the latin characters. The items of the character string of the lower case letter key represent character strings composed of two or more lower case letters of latin characters corresponding to upper case letters. For example, a capital letter a for a latin character is associated with a string qeg of lower case letters. Thus, the operation of indicating an upper case letter a is the same as the operation of indicating a lower case letter q, a second lower case letter e, a third lower case letter g, and a fourth lower case letter g for the first.

The operation indicating the capital letters of latin characters is an operation indicating both the key to which the lower case letters are assigned and the alternate key. By associating one upper case with a character string of lower case, the number of keystrokes can be reduced, and therefore the user's operation can be made easier than in the case of using only lower case letters.

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the frequency of keystrokes when a written language corpus is used in the case where a capital letter correspondence table is used. Referring to fig. 13, as in the case shown in fig. 10, the frequency of keystrokes on the key in the center of the keyboard is higher than the frequency of the keys in the periphery. Thus, since the keys having a high frequency of keystrokes are concentrated in the central portion, the user can easily perform an operation when inputting a plurality of latin characters for a language of a Burma which is converted into written language.

Fig. 14 is a diagram showing the frequency of keystrokes including capital letters using a spoken language corpus in the case of using a capital letter correspondence table. Referring to fig. 14, as in the case shown in fig. 11, the frequency of keystrokes on the key in the center of the keyboard is higher than the frequency of the keys in the periphery. Thus, since the keys having a high frequency of keystrokes are concentrated in the central portion, the user can easily perform an operation when inputting a plurality of latin characters for conversion into a sentence in the oral burma language.

< second modification >

A conversion table combining a code association table and a character association table may also be used.

Table 1 is a diagram showing an example of the conversion table. The conversion table associates a character string of a lower case letter of a latin character with a character code. A character string is an arrangement of more than one character, including one character.

For example, the character code 1000 is associated with a character string k of one character, the character code 1001 is associated with a character string kh of two characters, and the character code 1009 is associated with a character string nyg of three characters.

The latin character conversion device 100 according to the second modification determines a character or a character string instructed by a user as any one of a plurality of character codes, using the conversion table shown in table 1.

TABLE 1

Conversion table

Also, a conversion table obtained by combining the capital-letter correspondence table shown in fig. 12 with the conversion table shown in table 1 may be used.

The embodiments disclosed herein are considered to be illustrative in all respects, rather than restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined not by the above description but by the claims, and includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

Supplementary note

(1) Preferably, the determination unit sets the transition candidate to the determination state when the character key indicated by the user in the state in which the transition candidate is decided is not the transition key. According to this aspect, the conversion candidate is determined without being converted, and therefore the operation for determining the conversion candidate can be omitted.

(2) Preferably, the determination unit sets the conversion candidate to the determination state in a case where there is no association code associated with the conversion candidate by the code association unit. According to this aspect, the conversion candidate is determined without being converted, and therefore the operation for determining the conversion candidate can be omitted.

(3) Preferably, the character conversion apparatus further comprises a cache for storing the conversion candidates, wherein the code conversion unit stores the character code associated with the indicated character key by the code association unit in the cache in accordance with a case where any one of the character keys is indicated by a user in a state where the conversion candidates are not stored in the cache, and the character conversion unit stores the associated code in the cache in place of the conversion candidates stored in the cache in accordance with a case where the conversion key is indicated by a user in a state where the conversion candidates are stored in the cache. According to this aspect, since the cache for storing the conversion candidates is provided, it is easy to change the character codes as the conversion candidates.

(4) Preferably, the character conversion apparatus further comprises a cache memory for temporarily storing the character code determined by the code conversion means or the related code converted by the character conversion means, wherein the code conversion means stores the character code associated with the indicated character key by the code association means in the cache memory in accordance with a case where the user indicates any one of the character keys in a state where the conversion candidate is not stored in the cache memory, the character conversion means stores the related code in the cache memory in place of the conversion candidate stored in the cache memory in accordance with a case where the user indicates the conversion key in a state where the conversion candidate is stored in the cache memory, and the determination means determines that the determination key is accepted, setting the transition candidate to a certain state indicating not being the transition candidate. According to this aspect, since the cache for storing the conversion candidates is provided, it is easy to change the character codes as the conversion candidates.

(5) Preferably, the latin character conversion device further comprises a receiving unit for receiving an operation by a user to instruct any one of the plurality of keys arranged in the QWERTY layout. According to this aspect, since the latin characters are arranged in the QWERTY layout, the latin characters can be efficiently converted into character codes determined by the character encoding method of the UNICODE standard.

(6) According to another aspect, a latin character conversion device includes: a reception unit that receives a user operation on any one of a plurality of character keys to which latin characters are assigned, among a plurality of keys included in a keyboard for instructing a QWERTY layout; and a code conversion unit which determines the character or the character string instructed by the user as one of the plurality of character codes by using a code association table which associates a character or a character string of the latin character with one of the plurality of character codes determined by the UNICODE-standard character encoding method shown in table 1. According to this aspect, it is possible to provide a latin character conversion device that facilitates the operation of converting a latin character into a character code determined by the UNICODE-based character encoding method.