KR101688943B1 - Mobile terminal and method for inputting character thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a character input method thereof, and in the mobile terminal according to the present invention, when a desired character is selected from a character list displayed in a character selection window when a search word is input, And the character list is filtered based on the searched data and displayed on the character selection window, so that the user can perform character input by operating the minimum input means.

Description

[0001] MOBILE TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR INPUTING CHARACTER THEREOF [0002]

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a method of inputting a character of the mobile terminal, in which characters can be input by a minimum operation in a terminal lacking an input button.

A terminal such as a personal computer, a notebook computer, a mobile phone, or the like can be configured to perform various functions. Examples of such various functions include a data and voice communication function, a function of photographing a video or a moving image through a camera, a voice storage function, a music file playback function through a speaker system, and an image or video display function. Some terminals include additional functions to execute games, and some other terminals are also implemented as multimedia devices. Moreover, recent terminals can receive a broadcast or multicast signal to view a video or television program.

In general, a terminal can be divided into a mobile terminal and a stationary terminal according to whether it can be moved or not, and the mobile terminal can be divided into a handheld terminal (or a handheld terminal) And a vehicle mount terminal.

Efforts are continuing to support and enhance the functions of terminals. The foregoing efforts include not only changes and improvements in structural components that form the terminal, but also improvements in software or hardware.

Such terminals are classified into a bar shape, a flip shape, a folder shape, a rhombus shape, and a wristwatch shape. Here, a wristwatch-type micro mobile terminal, for example, a watch phone can not have a keypad used as an input device of a general mobile terminal because the size of the watch phone is limited due to mechanism mounting restrictions. Accordingly, in the case of a very small terminal such as a watch phone, since a character is input using a limited input button (key), a lot of key operations are provided to the user to inconvenience the user.

The present invention provides a mobile terminal and a method of inputting characters by filtering a character list having a next input possibility when inputting characters.

The present invention also provides a mobile terminal and a method of inputting characters thereof, which performs character input by moving a character list provided in a character selection window at one time in one direction.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of inputting characters in a mobile terminal, the method comprising: entering a search mode; selecting a character from a list of characters displayed in the character selection window in the search mode; The method comprising the steps of: inputting the selected character in a search word input window; searching for data including characters input in the search word input window; filtering the character list based on the retrieved data; And displays the character list on the character selection window.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a character input method of a mobile terminal, including the steps of: displaying a character selection window when entering a search mode; scrolling a character list displayed in the character selection window in one direction, And inputting the selected at least one character into a search word input window.

A mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a memory for storing various data, a display unit for displaying a character selection window on a display screen upon entering the search mode, selecting a character from a character list displayed in the character selection window, A control unit for searching the memory for data including characters entered in the window and inputting the search word input window and displaying the character list on the character selection window for filtering the character list based on the retrieved data; And a display unit for displaying a character list, a selected character, and a search result.

The mobile terminal according to at least one embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, when a character is selected in the character list displayed in the character selection window at the time of inputting characters, searches the data including the selected character A list can be displayed.

In addition, the present invention moves the character list displayed in the character selection window in one direction at the time of inputting characters and selects the characters included in the search word to be input in the order of the characters arranged in the character list, Without scrolling the list in both directions, you can enter the search terms one by one only in one direction.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a front perspective view illustrating a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of inputting characters of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
A flow chart.
Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for performing character input in a mobile terminal associated with the embodiment of Figure 3
Star screen.
5 is a diagram illustrating a character input method of a mobile terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Time flow chart.
6 is an example of a character input in a mobile terminal according to the embodiment of FIG.

Hereinafter, a mobile terminal related to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The suffix "module" and " part "for the components used in the following description are given or mixed in consideration of ease of specification, and do not have their own meaning or role.

The mobile terminal described in this specification may include a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a PMP (Portable Multimedia Player), navigation and the like. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the configuration according to the embodiments described herein may be applied to a fixed terminal such as a digital TV, a desktop computer, and the like, unless the configuration is applicable only to a mobile terminal.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The mobile terminal 100 includes a wireless communication unit 110, an audio / video input unit 120, a user input unit 130, a sensing unit 140, an output unit 150, a memory 160, A controller 170, a controller 180, a power supply 190, and the like. The components shown in FIG. 1 are not essential, and a mobile terminal having more or fewer components may be implemented.

Hereinafter, the components will be described in order.

The wireless communication unit 110 may include one or more modules for enabling wireless communication between the mobile terminal 100 and the wireless communication system or between the mobile terminal 100 and the network in which the mobile terminal 100 is located. For example, the wireless communication unit 110 may include a broadcast receiving module 111, a mobile communication module 112, a wireless Internet module 113, a short range communication module 114, and a location information module 115 .

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives broadcast signals and / or broadcast-related information from an external broadcast management server through a broadcast channel.

The broadcast channel may include a satellite channel and a terrestrial channel. The broadcast management server may refer to a server for generating and transmitting broadcast signals and / or broadcast related information, or a server for receiving broadcast signals and / or broadcast related information generated by the broadcast management server and transmitting the generated broadcast signals and / or broadcast related information. The broadcast signal may include a TV broadcast signal, a radio broadcast signal, a data broadcast signal, and a broadcast signal in which a data broadcast signal is combined with a TV broadcast signal or a radio broadcast signal.

The broadcast-related information may refer to a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, or information related to a broadcast service provider. The broadcast-related information may also be provided through a mobile communication network. In this case, it may be received by the mobile communication module 112.

The broadcast-related information may exist in various forms. For example, an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) of DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) or an ESG (Electronic Service Guide) of Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H).

For example, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DMB-T), a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Satellite (DMB-S), a Media Forward Link Only (DVF-H) And a Digital Broadcasting System (ISDB-T) (Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial). Of course, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be adapted to other broadcasting systems as well as the digital broadcasting system described above.

The broadcast signal and / or broadcast related information received through the broadcast receiving module 111 may be stored in the memory 160.

The mobile communication module 112 transmits and receives radio signals to at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server on a mobile communication network. The wireless signal may include various types of data depending on a voice call signal, a video call signal or a text / multimedia message transmission / reception.

The wireless Internet module 113 is a module for wireless Internet access, and may be built in or externally attached to the mobile terminal 100. WLAN (Wi-Fi), Wibro (Wireless broadband), Wimax (World Interoperability for Microwave Access), HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) and the like can be used as wireless Internet technologies.

The short-range communication module 114 refers to a module for short-range communication. Bluetooth, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), infrared data association (IrDA), Ultra Wideband (UWB), ZigBee, and the like can be used as a short range communication technology.

The position information module 115 is a module for obtaining the position of the mobile terminal, and a representative example thereof is a Global Position System (GPS) module.

Referring to FIG. 1, an A / V (Audio / Video) input unit 120 is for inputting an audio signal or a video signal, and may include a camera 121 and a microphone 122. The camera 121 processes an image frame such as a still image or moving image obtained by the image sensor in the video communication mode or the photographing mode. The processed image frame can be displayed on the display unit 151. [

The image frame processed by the camera 121 may be stored in the memory 160 or transmitted to the outside through the wireless communication unit 110. [ Two or more cameras 121 may be provided depending on the use environment.

The microphone 122 receives an external sound signal through a microphone in a communication mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, or the like, and processes it as electrical voice data. The processed voice data can be converted into a form that can be transmitted to the mobile communication base station through the mobile communication module 112 when the voice data is in the call mode, and output. Various noise reduction algorithms may be implemented in the microphone 122 to remove noise generated in receiving an external sound signal.

The user input unit 130 generates input data for a user to control the operation of the terminal. The user input unit 130 may include a key pad dome switch, a touch pad (static / static), a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like.

The sensing unit 140 senses the current state of the mobile terminal 100 such as the open / close state of the mobile terminal 100, the position of the mobile terminal 100, the presence or absence of user contact, the orientation of the mobile terminal, And generates a sensing signal for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal 100 is in the form of a slide phone, it is possible to sense whether the slide phone is opened or closed. It is also possible to sense whether the power supply unit 190 is powered on, whether the interface unit 170 is connected to an external device, and the like. Meanwhile, the sensing unit 140 may include a proximity sensor 141.

The output unit 150 is for generating output related to the visual, auditory or tactile sense and includes a display unit 151, an audio output module 152, an alarm unit 153, and a haptic module 154 .

The display unit 151 displays (outputs) information processed by the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal is in the call mode, a UI (User Interface) or a GUI (Graphic User Interface) associated with a call is displayed. When the mobile terminal 100 is in the video communication mode or the photographing mode, the photographed and / or received video or UI and GUI are displayed.

The display unit 151 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a flexible display display, and a 3D display.

Some of these displays may be transparent or light transmissive so that they can be seen through. This can be referred to as a transparent display, and a typical example of the transparent display is TOLED (Transparent OLED) and the like. The rear structure of the display unit 151 may also be of a light transmission type. With this structure, the user can see an object located behind the terminal body through the area occupied by the display unit 151 of the terminal body.

There may be two or more display units 151 according to the embodiment of the mobile terminal 100. For example, in the mobile terminal 100, a plurality of display portions may be spaced apart from one another or may be disposed integrally with each other, or may be disposed on different surfaces.

(Hereinafter, referred to as a 'touch screen') in which a display unit 151 and a sensor for sensing a touch operation (hereinafter, referred to as 'touch sensor') form a mutual layer structure, It can also be used as an input device. The touch sensor may have the form of, for example, a touch film, a touch sheet, a touch pad, or the like.

The touch sensor may be configured to convert a change in a pressure applied to a specific portion of the display unit 151 or a capacitance generated in a specific portion of the display unit 151 into an electrical input signal. The touch sensor can be configured to detect not only the position and area to be touched but also the pressure at the time of touch.

If there is a touch input to the touch sensor, the corresponding signal (s) is sent to the touch controller. The touch controller processes the signal (s) and transmits the corresponding data to the controller 180. Thus, the control unit 180 can know which area of the display unit 151 is touched or the like.

Referring to FIG. 1, a proximity sensor 141 may be disposed in an inner region of the mobile terminal or in the vicinity of the touch screen, which is surrounded by the touch screen. The proximity sensor refers to a sensor that detects the presence or absence of an object approaching a predetermined detection surface or a nearby object without mechanical contact using the force of an electromagnetic field or infrared rays. The proximity sensor has a longer life span than the contact sensor and its utilization is also high.

Examples of the proximity sensor include a transmission type photoelectric sensor, a direct reflection type photoelectric sensor, a mirror reflection type photoelectric sensor, a high frequency oscillation type proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, and an infrared proximity sensor. And to detect the proximity of the pointer by the change of the electric field along the proximity of the pointer when the touch screen is electrostatic. In this case, the touch screen (touch sensor) may be classified as a proximity sensor.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the act of recognizing that the pointer is positioned on the touch screen while the pointer is not in contact with the touch screen is referred to as "proximity touch & The act of actually touching the pointer on the screen is called "contact touch. &Quot; The position where the pointer is proximately touched on the touch screen means a position where the pointer is vertically corresponding to the touch screen when the pointer is touched.

The proximity sensor detects a proximity touch and a proximity touch pattern (e.g., a proximity touch distance, a proximity touch direction, a proximity touch speed, a proximity touch time, a proximity touch position, a proximity touch movement state, and the like). Information corresponding to the detected proximity touch operation and the proximity touch pattern may be output on the touch screen.

The audio output module 152 may output audio data received from the wireless communication unit 110 or stored in the memory 160 in a call signal reception mode, a call mode or a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, a broadcast reception mode, The sound output module 152 also outputs sound signals related to functions (e.g., call signal reception sound, message reception sound, etc.) performed in the mobile terminal 100. [ The audio output module 152 may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.

The alarm unit 153 outputs a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event of the mobile terminal 100. Examples of events that occur in the mobile terminal include call signal reception, message reception, key signal input, touch input, and the like. The alarm unit 153 may output a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event in a form other than the video signal or the audio signal, for example, vibration. The video signal or the audio signal may be output through the display unit 151 or the audio output module 152 so that they may be classified as a part of the alarm unit 153.

The haptic module 154 generates various tactile effects that the user can feel. A typical example of the haptic effect generated by the haptic module 154 is vibration. The intensity and pattern of the vibration generated by the hit module 154 can be controlled. For example, different vibrations may be synthesized and output or sequentially output.

In addition to the vibration, the haptic module 154 may include a pin arrangement vertically moving with respect to the contact skin surface, a spraying force or a suction force of the air through the injection port or the suction port, a touch on the skin surface, contact with an electrode, And various tactile effects such as an effect of reproducing a cold sensation using an endothermic or exothermic element can be generated.

The haptic module 154 can be implemented not only to transmit the tactile effect through the direct contact but also to allow the user to feel the tactile effect through the muscular sensation of the finger or arm. At least two haptic modules 154 may be provided according to the configuration of the mobile terminal 100.

The memory 160 may store a program for the operation of the controller 180 and may store the data input / output (e.g., a phonebook, a message, a still image, (Apps), etc.) may be temporarily stored. The memory 160 may store data on vibration and sound of various patterns outputted when a touch is input on the touch screen.

The memory 160 may be a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (for example, SD or XD memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), PROM A disk, and / or an optical disk. The mobile terminal 100 may operate in association with a web storage that performs a storage function of the memory 160 on the Internet.

The interface unit 170 serves as a path for communication with all external devices connected to the mobile terminal 100. The interface unit 170 receives data from an external device or supplies power to each component in the mobile terminal 100 or transmits data to the external device. For example, a wired / wireless headset port, an external charger port, a wired / wireless data port, a memory card port, a port for connecting a device having an identification module, an audio I / O port, A video input / output (I / O) port, an earphone port, and the like may be included in the interface unit 170.

The identification module is a chip for storing various information for authenticating the use right of the mobile terminal 100 and includes a user identification module (UIM), a subscriber identity module (SIM), a general user authentication module A Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM), and the like. Devices with identification modules (hereinafter referred to as "identification devices") can be manufactured in a smart card format. Accordingly, the identification device can be connected to the terminal 100 through the port.

When the mobile terminal 100 is connected to an external cradle, the interface unit 170 may be a path through which power from the cradle is supplied to the mobile terminal 100, or various commands A signal may be a path through which the signal is transmitted to the mobile terminal. The various command signals or the power source input from the cradle may be operated as a signal for recognizing that the mobile terminal is correctly mounted on the cradle.

The controller 180 typically controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal. For example, voice communication, data communication, video communication, and the like. The control unit 180 may include a multimedia module 181 for multimedia playback. The multimedia module 181 may be implemented in the control unit 180 or may be implemented separately from the control unit 180. [

The controller 180 may perform a pattern recognition process for recognizing handwriting input or drawing input performed on the touch screen as characters and images, respectively.

The control unit 180 enters a search mode according to a control command input through the user input unit 130. [ For example, when a search menu such as a telephone number search is selected, the control unit 180 enters a search mode and outputs a search screen to the display unit 151. After entering the search mode, the controller 180 receives a search word from the user and inserts the search word into the search word input window of the search screen.

The search screen includes a search word input window into which a search word is input, a search result display window in which a search result is displayed, and a character selection window that displays a list of characters (hereinafter, character list) likely to be input in the search word input window.

If a predetermined character is selected from the character list displayed on the character selection window, the control unit 180 inserts the selected character into the search word input window. Then, the control unit 180 searches the memory 160 for data including the characters inserted in the search word input window. In addition, the controller 180 filters the character list displayed in the character selection window based on the searched data, and displays only the character list having the possibility of inputting the next character. For example, the control unit 180 searches for characters (columns) input in the search word input window from the searched data, confirms the characters positioned after the characters (columns), and displays a list of the confirmed characters.

Alternatively, the controller 180 scrolls the character list in one direction according to a user's input, and inserts the selected characters into the search word input window when at least one or more characters are selected. Accordingly, the user scrolls the character list only once in one direction and selects the characters to be input, so that the user can scroll the character list in two directions to search for the desired character and reduce the trouble of searching for the desired character. For example, if you search for "sophia" in the phone book, the user scrolls through the list of characters in one direction and alphabetizes the characters included in the search term. That is, 'a', 'h', 'i', 'o', 'p', 's'

The controller 180 searches the memory 160 for data including the selected characters and displays a list of the retrieved data on the search result display window. At this time, the control unit 180 searches for data including the character string input in the search word input window or data including all the characters input in the search word input window. For example, if the "ana" entered in the search query input window control unit 180 is data that begins with "ana" as "ana lysis", or data that ends in "ana" as in "ban ana ', or' p ana da 'and' ana 'as the middle word. Alternatively, when 'dopr' is input in the search word input window, the control unit 180 searches for data such as ' drop ' and ' pro vi d e'.

The power supply unit 190 receives external power and internal power under the control of the controller 180 and supplies power necessary for operation of the respective components.

The various embodiments described herein may be embodied in a recording medium readable by a computer or similar device using, for example, software, hardware, or a combination thereof.

According to a hardware implementation, the embodiments described herein may be implemented as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays May be implemented using at least one of a processor, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, and other electronic units for performing other functions. In some cases, The embodiments described may be implemented by the control unit 180 itself.

According to a software implementation, embodiments such as the procedures and functions described herein may be implemented with separate software modules. Each of the software modules may perform one or more of the functions and operations described herein. Software code can be implemented in a software application written in a suitable programming language. The software code is stored in the memory 160 and can be executed by the control unit 180. [

2 is a front perspective view illustrating a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mobile terminal 100 disclosed in this embodiment includes a wristwatch-type terminal.

The terminal includes a front case (101) and a rear case (102) forming an outer appearance of the body, and a band (103) connecting both side ends of the body and worn on the wrist.

The front case 101 may include a display unit 151, an acoustic output unit 152, a side key 131, a microphone 122, and the like.

The display unit 151 occupies most of the main surface of the front case 101. The display unit 151 may be implemented as a touch screen. When the display unit 151 is implemented as a touch screen, the display unit 151 may be used as an input unit. The sound output section 152 is disposed in an area adjacent to one end of both ends of the display section 151 and the microphone 122 is disposed in an area adjacent to the other end. Side keys 131 may be disposed on the side surfaces of the front case 101 and the rear case 102. [

A power supply unit 190 for supplying power to the mobile terminal 100 is mounted on the terminal body. The power supply unit 190 may be built in the terminal body or may be detachable from the outside of the terminal body.

Hereinafter, a method of inputting characters by a minimum operation in a mobile terminal having a limited input means (button) such as the watch phone shown in FIG. 2 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a character input method of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the controller 180 enters a search mode according to a user input (S101). For example, when the user desires to search for the telephone number of the other party in the telephone directory, the control unit 180 enters the search mode and displays the search screen on the display unit 151 by selecting the search menu through the menu operation. The search screen includes a search word input window for inputting a search word, a character selection window for displaying a list of characters (hereinafter referred to as a character list) likely to be input in the search word input window, and a search result display window for displaying a search result list do.

After entering the search mode, the controller 180 selects any character from the character list displayed in the character selection window (S102). Then, the control unit 180 inserts the selected character into the search word input window (S103). For example, when the user operates the direction key to move the selection cursor to a desired character in the character list, and then inputs an OK button, the control unit 180 inserts the corresponding character selected by the user into the search word input window.

Then, the control unit 180 searches the memory 160 for data including the character (s) inserted in the search word input window (S104). Here, the data includes contact persons, contents, photographs, moving pictures, music, memos, schedules, applications (apps), and the like. For example, if the search word input in the search word input window is 'app', the control unit 180 searches for data including the search word 'app'. At this time, the controller 180 can search for data including the search word in the name, detailed description, and contents of the data. In the present exemplary embodiment, the controller 180 searches the memory 160 provided in the terminal for data including the search word input in the search word input window. However, it is also possible to search for data on the Internet through a web browser have.

When the data search is completed, the controller 180 displays a list of the searched data on the search result display window and filters the character list based on the searched data (S105). Then, the controller 180 displays the filtered character list on the character selection window (S106). For example, the control unit 180 generates a character list only with characters that can be input next to the character (column) inserted in the search word input window, and displays the character list on the character selection window. For example, if 'a' is inserted in the search word input window and the retrieved data is ' a pple', ' a my', 'p a yp a l', or 'hex a ' Check the characters located after 'a' in the data and display the confirmed character list 'p', 'm', 'y', 'l' in the character selection window. Here, if there is no next inputable character list, the control unit 180 may output a message to the character selection window or display it as a blank space.

After displaying the filtered character list on the character selection window, the controller 180 checks whether there is any additional character input (S107). That is, the control unit 180 confirms whether the inputting of a search word (character input) is completed.

The controller 180 inserts the selected character into the search word input window when one of the characters is selected from the filtered character list, and re-searches data including the selected character among the previously searched data. Then, the control unit 180 filters the character list based on the re-searched data and displays it on the character selection window.

Meanwhile, when the filtered character list is displayed, if the user selects one of the searched data without performing additional character selection, the control unit 180 displays detailed information of the corresponding data on a display screen or executes corresponding data do.

FIG. 4 shows a step-by-step screen for performing character input in the mobile terminal according to the embodiment of FIG. The present embodiment will be described taking as an example the case of searching for a contact party in the telephone directory.

First, when the user selects a contact search menu in the phonebook (phonebook) through a menu operation, the controller 180 enters a search mode and displays a search screen as shown in FIG. The search screen includes a search word input window 201 to which a search word is input, a character selection window 202 to display a list of characters or characters likely to be input in the search word input window 201, And a search result display window 203. In the character selection window 202, a selection cursor '□' (C) for selecting a desired predetermined character in the character list is displayed. The control unit 180 moves the selection cursor C on the character list according to the operation of the direction key of the user. In the present embodiment, selection of a desired character is performed by moving the selection cursor, but it is also possible to select a desired character through touch input. For example, when the display unit 151 is implemented as a touch screen, if the flicking is detected on the character list displayed on the character selection window 202, the control unit 180 moves the character list, If any one of the characters in the list is touched, it is recognized that the corresponding character is selected and the corresponding character can be input in the search word input window.

When one of the characters 'A' in the character list displayed on the character selection window 202 is selected, the controller 180 inputs the corresponding character into the search word input window as shown in (b). In addition, the control unit 180 searches the phone book for a contact party including the characters input in the search word input window. For example, the control unit 180 searches for a contact party including the input character in the name of the contact party. In the present embodiment, an example is described in which a contact party whose search word is included in the name of the contact party is searched for, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a contact party including a contact word address, an e-mail address, It can also be implemented.

The control unit 180 displays a list of the searched data on the search result display window 203. In addition, the control unit 180 filters and displays the character list based on the retrieved data. In other words, the control unit 180 displays a list of character (s) that can be input next. For example, the control unit 180 searches for data including the character 'A' input as a search word, and confirms the characters following the search word 'A' in the retrieved data. Then, the controller 180 displays the confirmed characters ('B', 'L', 'N') on the character selection window 202.

Then, if the user moves the selection cursor C to the next input character 'N' in the filtered character list displayed in the character selection window 202 and selects the 'OK' button as shown in (b) Inserts the corresponding character 'N' into the search word input window 201 as shown in (c).

The control unit 180 re-searches the contact list including the next character 'N' in the searched data list. In other words, the control unit 180 re-searches the telephone number stored in the memory 160 for a contact party including the character string 'AN' input in the search word input window 201. [ The control unit 180 displays the re-searched data on the search result display window 203, and displays the filtered character list on the character selection window 202 based on the re-searched data.

When the user selects any one of the data displayed on the search result display window 203 after completing the input of the search word, the controller 180 displays detailed information of the selected data. For example, when one of the contacted parties is selected, the control unit 180 displays information such as a telephone number, address, e-mail address, birthday, memo, and photograph of the contactee. After the information is displayed, if the user inputs a call command, the control unit 180 calls the telephone number of the contact party. The call command is generated by inputting the call key or when a touch input is detected on the telephone number.

In the above-described embodiment, data retrieval is performed in the phone book. However, it is possible to retrieve data including a search word among various data stored in the terminal such as an application (app), a memo, a schedule, and a message. Accordingly, when an application (app) is selected from the retrieved data, the control unit 180 can execute the corresponding application.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a character input method of a mobile terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention.

First, the control unit 180 enters a search mode according to a user input (S201). For example, if a search menu is selected by the user's menu operation, the controller 180 enters a search mode and displays a search screen on the display unit 151. [

After entering the search mode, the controller 180 moves the character list displayed in the character selection window in one direction according to user input and selects at least one character from the character list (S202).

If the character is selected, the controller 180 searches the memory 160 for data including the selected characters (S203).

When the data search is completed, the controller 180 displays the searched data on the display screen (S204).

Fig. 6 shows an example of character entry in a mobile terminal associated with the embodiment of Fig. The present embodiment explains the case of searching 'andy' in the telephone directory as an example.

As shown in (a) of FIG. 6, the controller 180 enters a search mode according to a user input and displays a search screen on a display screen. The search screen includes a character selection window 301 for displaying a character list, a search word input window 302 for inputting characters selected from the character list, and a search result display window 303 for displaying search results.

The character list displayed in the character selection window 301 is scrolled in one direction and a desired character is selected. Alternatively, the cursor of the character selection window 301 can be moved in one direction to select a desired character.

For example, when searching 'andy', the user first selects 'a' and 'd' from the character list displayed in the character selection window 301 ((a) - (c) Scrolls in one direction and selects 'n' (d). Then, the character list is scrolled in the same direction to select 'y'. That is, letters are selected in the order of 'a', 'd', 'n', and 'y'. At this time, when a character is input, the control unit 180 searches for data including the input character and displays the data on the search result display window 303. If the next character is input, the controller 180 searches for data including the next character in the retrieved data, and displays the retrieved data on the search result display window 303.

6D, when the 'ADN' is inputted into the search word input window 302, the controller 180 outputs data 'ANDy', 'D', 'N' ANDrew 'and AlDiNa', and displays them on the search result display window 303. At this time, the control unit 180 searches the search data for a character corresponding to the character input in the search word input window 302, and displays the corresponding character in upper case, and the non-matching character in lower case. In addition, a visual effect can be given by varying thickness, underline, color, and the like so as to distinguish characters matched with characters input in the search word input window 302. [

Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the above-described method can be implemented as computer-readable code on a medium on which a program is recorded. The computer readable medium includes all kinds of recording devices in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of the computer-readable medium include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage, and the like, and also implemented in the form of a carrier wave (for example, transmission over the Internet) . In addition, the computer may include a control unit 180 of the terminal.

The above-described terminal may be configured such that the configuration and method of the embodiments described above are not limitedly applied, but the embodiments may be configured such that all or some of the embodiments are selectively combined so that various modifications may be made. have.

100: mobile terminal 110: wireless communication unit
120: A / V input unit 130: user input unit
140: sensing unit 150: output unit
160: memory 170: interface section
180: control unit 190: power supply unit

Claims (10)

Entering a search mode,
Selecting a plurality of characters from the character list displayed in the character selection window in the search mode,
Inputting the selected plurality of characters into a search word input window;
Searching for data including a plurality of characters input in the search word input window,
The retrieved data may include,
And the selected plurality of characters are data in a random order. delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the character selection, the character input, and the data search process are repeated until the input of the search word is completed in the search word input window. 2. The method of claim 1,
A contact, a content, a memo, a schedule, a picture, music, and a moving picture stored in a memory of the terminal. delete The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting of the plurality of characters comprises:
Displaying a character selection window upon entering the search mode,
And scrolling the character list displayed in the character selection window in one direction and selecting at least one or more characters. A memory for storing various data,
A character selection window is displayed on the display screen upon entering the search mode, a plurality of characters are selected from the character list displayed in the character selection window, the characters are inputted to the search word input window, A controller for retrieving data from the memory;
And a display unit for displaying a character list, a selected character, and a search result under the control of the control unit,
The retrieved data may include,
And the selected plurality of characters are data included in a random order. 8. The apparatus of claim 7,
Wherein the mobile terminal scrolls the character list in one direction, selects at least one character, and inputs the selected character to the search word input window. 8. The apparatus of claim 7,
And repeating the character selection, the character input, and the data search until the input of the search word is completed in the search word input window. delete

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