JPH0696284A - Method and device for processing information - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] In a handwritten character recognition device capable of registering a user dictionary, conventionally, each time the user is changed, it is necessary to change the user within the user registration application, etc., and multiple users use it alternately. In some cases, when a plurality of users use it at the same time, the changing work is performed every time the user changes, which is inconvenient. The present invention assigns a priority to a plurality of user dictionaries, enables a plurality of registrations / simultaneous use, and further updates the priority according to the change detection of the user.
Provide a comfortable operating environment.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing method and apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus capable of registering a handwriting unique to a user in a handwriting recognition dictionary.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when it is desired to reflect the user's own handwriting input by the user, which is not the intended recognition result in the original recognition means, to the recognition means, the characteristics of the user's own handwriting are stored in a user dictionary. The target recognition result is obtained by performing the character recognition process by using the user dictionary by registering by storing and storing. Therefore, even if the same handwriting is used, different users have different recognition results, and as a result, a plurality of user dictionaries corresponding to the plurality of users are required. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 25, when a specific user recognizes characters, the user dictionary holder list displayed in advance is displayed on the operation screen for executing the user dictionary switching unit. A method has been adopted in which a user dictionary is selected by selecting a user to use from among the user dictionaries, and the user dictionary of the specific user is set.

[0003]

However, in the above configuration, when a plurality of users who have registered user dictionaries alternately use the same character recognition device, each user may have some other application. It is necessary to call the operation screen for executing the user dictionary switching means to switch the user dictionaries even while performing the operation in step 1, and it is difficult to select the user dictionaries when the number of user dictionary holders is large. It was a laborious task. Furthermore, it was very inconvenient for the above-mentioned plurality of users to use it at the same time.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention stores a plurality of dictionaries, sets priorities of the stored dictionaries, and changes the user of the dictionary. (EN) An information processing method and apparatus for detecting and updating the set priority according to the change detection of the user.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 30 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a CPU that controls the entire apparatus, and performs various processes in accordance with programs stored in the ROM 2. Reference numeral 2 denotes a ROM that stores a control program, an error processing program, a program that operates according to a flowchart described later, and the like. A RAM 3 is used as a work area for various programs and a temporary save area for error processing. This RAM stores various databases such as a dictionary used for recognition described later, a user dictionary 106, a user name index file 107, a character type file 108, and a character standard stroke count database 109. Reference numeral 4 denotes a coordinate input unit including a transparent coordinate input plate (not shown) and a pen (not shown) that indicates the position of coordinate points with respect to the coordinate input plate.
A method using electromagnetic induction or ultrasonic vibration is used to detect the position of the coordinate point. Reference numeral 5 has a memory corresponding to the coordinate points of the coordinate input plate (not shown) in a one-to-one correspondence, and bit information of the coordinate points input by the coordinate input plate or bit information of dots calculated based on the coordinate points described later. Is a VIDEO RAM (hereinafter referred to as “VRAM”) that stores Reference numeral 6 denotes a display unit that displays a bit image based on the bit information stored in the VRAM 5. An LCD is used for the display unit 6, and a display system such as an EL element or a CRT may be used. . This display 6
Various windows to be described later are displayed on.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a user registration application configuration for implementing the present invention. 101-10
Each section 7 is a section in charge of a user registration function element in online character recognition, and includes a window application execution section by a GUI (graphical user interface) and a dictionary section. A list of registered users is displayed on the initial screen portion 101, and the owner of the currently set user dictionary can be confirmed. Other functions include both instruction functions for newly registering a user and for editing registered characters in the user dictionary. The new user registration unit 102 is a place for registering the new user. The user dictionary editing unit 103 can display a list of characters in the user dictionary, and can instruct each character to be deleted or handwritten. It also includes an instruction function for newly registering characters written by the user. Previous 1 in the new character registration section 104
This is a place for performing the character registration designated by 03. 10
The handwritten character reproduction unit 5 is a place where the registered characters designated in the previous 103 are reproduced and drawn in the order of handwriting. The user dictionary unit 106 is a place for storing registered character information in order to realize these functions. Here, a plurality of users own different user dictionaries. The user dictionary switching unit 107 switches the user dictionary set in 101 based on the information from the pen input unit and the screen output unit processed by the user application.

FIG. 2 is a window state transition diagram of the user registration application. Each part of 201 to 205 represents a window for executing the function described above, and the system of 206 is a place where control is returned when the user registration application is terminated. The arrows in the figure show the flow of control commands by button control in each window. The flow and transition of windows will be described below.

When the "new user registration" command is instructed on the initial screen section 201, the new user registration screen section 202 newly appears in the form of a pop-up window. When the "registration &end" command is instructed on the new user registration screen section 202, this pop-up window is erased and the control returns to the new screen section 201 again. When the "edit user dictionary" command is instructed on the initial screen section 201, the new screen section 201 is deleted and a new user dictionary edit section 203 appears. If the "new character registration" command is instructed here, the new character registration screen section 204 appears in the form of a pop-up window. The character registration operation in this window can be repeatedly executed unless the "end" command is instructed. After the characters have been registered, when "end" is instructed, the new character registration screen section 204 is erased, and the control shifts to the user dictionary edit screen section 203. The "delete character" command on the user dictionary edit screen section 203 can also be executed multiple times. When the "handwriting reproduction" command is further instructed, the handwritten character reproduction unit 205 appears in the form of a pop-up window. Reproduction is started at the same time as the window is displayed, and it is possible to repeatedly display it by the "refresh" command. The "end" command closes the handwritten character reproduction section window and returns control to the user dictionary edit screen section. When the "end" command is instructed on the user dictionary edit screen section 203, the window of its own is deleted and the initial screen 201 is displayed again. Therefore, the user registration application can be terminated only in the initial screen portion 201.
Only when the "end" command is instructed in.

As described above, the number of windows related to this user registration application is determined by the screen section 202/20.
When the 4.205 pop-up window is displayed, the number is two, and when the 201 or 203 window is displayed, the number is one.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing the operation of the user dictionary switching section of the user registration application. Two
Each unit of 601-2604 is a user dictionary switching unit 260.
1 shows the flow of information between 1 and each related unit. Here, from the initial screen section 2603 to the user dictionary switching section 260
1, the owner and main user information of the currently selected user dictionary, and the user dictionary switching unit 26
The updated main user information is sent from 01 to the initial screen section 2603. In addition, the user dictionary switching unit 260
The display unit state information is sent from the system 2604, which is the party to which 1 is called. Reference numeral 2602 denotes an arbitrary application that is accompanied by a recognition operation being executed by the user. From this application 2602 to the system 260
Display information of application to 4 or system 2
Display state information is sent from 604 to the application 2602.

Next, the details of the functions and the flow of processing in each screen will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the flow of processing in the initial screen section is shown in FIG.
7 and the flowchart of FIG. 17, 1701 is a message display area, 1702 is a user name list display and user dictionary owner display area, 170
Reference numeral 3 denotes a scroll bar used when the registered user cannot fit on one screen, and reference numerals 1704 to 1707 denote buttons that can call a function by a pen tap.

When the user registration application is activated, a window is created in 301, and at this time, the registered user name is read from the user name index file 107 of 309. The user name index file 107 is a disk file having the structure shown in FIG. 23 and is a readable / writable file. The created window is as shown in FIG. In 302, the owner of the user dictionary set in the system is determined. When the owner is discriminated, the registration mark is attached to the user who is the owner of the user dictionary in the 1701 user name display area for the dictionary of the selected owner discriminated in 303. In addition, at this time, a main user mark indicating that the user is the main user is also attached to a specific one user registered as the user who is the main user. For example, in FIG. 17, two users, a user with a user name “arai” and a user with a user user name “uzuki”, are registered as users, and a user with a user name “arai” is the main user. There is also a main user mark indicating that the user is a user. When the processing up to this point is completed, the state (304) of waiting for a command instruction from the user is entered.

When a user name is directly selected with a pointing device such as a pen, the system is requested to add an owner of the user dictionary at 308 and the setting is changed. Similarly, if you select the check button part indicating that you are the main user directly with a pointing device such as a pen,
At 309, the system is requested to register the main user of the user dictionary 107 and the setting is changed. For other button command operations, if the "Edit user dictionary" button 1704 is indicated (306), control is transferred to the user dictionary edit routine, and if the "New user registration" button 1705 is indicated (307) New user registration When the control shifts to the routine and the “Cancel” button 1706 is designated, the change of the user dictionary setting by the user name selection that has been performed so far is invalidated, and the user dictionary setting is returned to the state before the application is started. If the "end" button 1707 is pointed to (305), this user registration application is ended and control is returned to the system.

Next, the flow of processing in the new user registration screen section will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 18 and 4. In FIG. 18, reference numeral 1801 is a user name input area for inputting a user name, 1802 is a function button for canceling the input of the user name, and 1803 is a function button for registering the input user name and closing this window.

When a "new user registration" command 1704 is designated on the previous initial screen portion, a pop-up window shown in FIG. 18 is displayed (401). After that, the process waits for a command from the user. When an event signal due to pen down is detected in the user name input area 1801 (404), an existing recognition routine is called. Using this, online character recognition processing is performed on the character handwriting drawn in the user name input area, and character data is converted into a character code (407). When there is an instruction of the "registration &end" button command 1803, the user name converted and input in the user name input area is determined as a new user name, and additionally registered in the user name index file 107 of 409 (406). After that, it erases its own window and returns control to the initial screen section again. On the other hand, when there is an instruction of the "cancel" button command 1802, all the characters input in the user name input area are erased (408), and the state of waiting for the user name input command instruction is entered again.

Next, the flow of processing in the user dictionary editing section will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 21 and 5. In FIG. 21, 2101 is a message display area, 2102 is a registered character list display area, 2103 is a scroll bar capable of displaying a large number of registered characters, and 2104 to 2104.
Reference numeral 108 denotes a function call button by a pen tap.

When "Edit User Dictionary" 1705 is instructed on the previous initial screen portion, first, a designated user dictionary is copied and stored separately (512). This is so that the dictionary editing work can be canceled. Next, the user dictionary 106 is opened, and the character code in the user dictionary is read into the buffer area (50
2). Here, in order to make the characters in the user dictionary 106 correspond to the characters to be displayed in a one-to-one correspondence, a character code correspondence table is created (601 in FIG. 6). For example, when the registered characters are 6 characters, it becomes as shown in FIG. The meaning of creating this character code correspondence table is that if there are multiple dictionary character data with the same character code, editing the characters with the "Delete" and "Reproduce" commands will cause the dictionary data to be This is because the search cannot be performed uniquely. The user dictionary editing screen shown in FIG. 21 is displayed based on this character code correspondence table (503). The character code read at this time is 210
It is displayed in the registered character list display area of 1 (50
4). After that, a state for waiting for a command from the user is entered (505). When a signal due to pen down or the like is detected in the registered character list display area, the character at the pen down location is selected (506). The display number on the character code table is obtained from the position information of the selected character. The storage location of the dictionary character data actually stored in the user dictionary is determined from the display number, and the dictionary character data information to be edited is obtained. When the "character registration" button command of 2104 is designated (507), the control shifts to the new character registration routine (701 of FIG. 7). When the "delete character" button command of 2105 is instructed (509), it is judged whether or not the character in the registered character list display area is selected (801 in FIG. 8). If not selected, the command waiting of 505 is awaited. Return to the state. If already selected, the dictionary data storage location of the character to be deleted is searched for using the above-mentioned character code correspondence table. When it is found, the dictionary character data stored in the actual user dictionary 106 is deleted (802).

At the same time when the contents of the user dictionary are changed, the character code correspondence table is also changed, and the character display in the registered character list display area is updated (504). When the "reproduce handwriting" button of 2106 is designated (509), if a character is selected, control is transferred to the handwriting reproduction routine, and if not selected, a state is waited for the character to be selected again (901). ). When the "Cancel" button command 2107 is instructed (510), it is determined whether the character in the registered character list display area is selected (10 in FIG. 10).
01), if selected, that character is invalidated, and no character is selected even on the display (1
002) The contents of the registered dictionary are returned to the state before starting the dictionary edit window (1003). By this operation, editing work can be resumed again. The "end" button command 2108 erases this user dictionary editing window and returns control to the previous initial screen section.

Next, the flow of processing in the new character registration unit will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 19, 20 and 11. 1901 in FIG. 19 is a message display area, 1
902 is a handwritten character input area, 1903 is a printed character input area, 1904 is an input code list area, 190
Reference numeral 5 is a scroll bar capable of displaying a plurality of character codes, and reference numerals 1906 to 1908 are function call buttons by pen taps.

When the "character registration" 2104 is instructed in the previous user dictionary editing section, the skeleton of the screen shown in FIG. 19 is created and displayed in the popup window format (1101). The character registration referred to here is an operation of assigning character data by a user's own handwriting to a corresponding character code. Therefore, a character code input unit corresponding to the data input unit for acquiring the handwriting data of the user is required, but the "handwriting" column of 1902 in FIG. 19 is the handwriting data input unit, and the "printing" column of 1903 is the character code input. It is a division. Reference numeral 1904 in the lower center of FIG. 19 is an input code list for inputting this character code,
The method of inputting by selecting characters from these is adopted. Therefore, it is necessary to display the registerable character types in the input code list. This is the character type file 10 in which the registerable character types are stored in advance.
8 should be created (1109). The character types that can be registered are displayed by reading this file (1
102). When this display is completed, a command instruction from the user is waited for (1103). When the user's pen-down input signal is detected in the "handwriting" column, the handwriting data is stored in the buffer area as a set of two-dimensional coordinate points (Fig. 12).
No. 1201), and at the same time, draw in the “handwriting” section. FIG. 19
Is a state in which the user has finished writing a handwritten pattern corresponding to “job” as in 1902. The corresponding character code is input by selecting a character from the input code list as described above, the character code is once stored in the buffer area, and the character code is acquired (1301 in FIG. 13). ). The selected character is enlarged and displayed in the "print type" column each time (1302).
When the "Register" button command of 1906 is specified, it is confirmed whether the handwritten character in the "handwriting" column and the character in the "printing" column are both input (1401). Start creating (140
3). The recognition dictionary is created by creating a standard pattern from character data, which uses a known technique. As a result, this standard pattern is newly created or added to the user dictionary 106 (1404). If the handwriting data and the character code are insufficiently input, a warning is issued (1402), and the process is repeated so that the handwritten character data of the character to be registered and the character code are both input. When the "Cancel" button command of 1907 is designated, the character data and character code entered in the "handwriting" and "printing" fields are invalidated (1501 in FIG. 15),
Allow input again. In FIG. 20, the character “work” is selected from the character code list and input. 1908
The "end" button command deletes the new character registration window and returns control to the user dictionary editor.

Next, the flow of processing in the handwritten character reproduction unit will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 22 and 16.
Reference numeral 2201 in FIG. 22 denotes a handwritten character reproduction area 2202.
Is a type display area for handwritten characters, 2203 is a handwriting stroke count display area for handwritten characters, 2204 is a standard stroke count display area for target characters, and 2205 and 2206 are function call buttons by petap.

When the "handwriting reproduction" 2106 is instructed in the previous user dictionary editing unit, the skeleton of the screen shown in FIG. 22 is created and displayed in the form of a pop-up window (1602). Since it has been confirmed that the character code has been selected in the user dictionary editing unit, first, the character is displayed in an enlarged font in the type area (1603). The number of strokes of the character is displayed together with the font display (1603)
However, this is performed by preparing the character standard stroke number database 109 (1607) in which the standard stroke number is described for each character and searching for the corresponding character. In order to reproduce the character data in the user dictionary 106, first, the dictionary data corresponding to the selected character must be extracted uniquely.
This is possible by using the above-mentioned character code correspondence table. The dictionary data of the corresponding character contains coordinate points,
Further, since the pen-down and pen-up information is added to this, it is possible to determine which stroke number of handwriting (called a stroke) the coordinate point belongs to. Using this, a handwriting is drawn by sequentially connecting the coordinate points in the same stroke with a straight line (1604). In addition, the number of pen downs is counted as the number of strokes of handwriting data, and this is displayed (16
05). The button command operation (1606) is 2205
If it is "redisplay", erase the reproduced drawing data,
Start using the dictionary data again to reproduce the handwriting. 220
When "end" of 6 is instructed, this handwritten character reproduction window is erased and control is returned to the registered character editing unit. FIG. 22 is a diagram showing that the character "A" is selected and the character handwriting is reproduced halfway.

Finally, the flow of processing in the user dictionary switching section will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 26 and 27. An application 2602 in FIG. 26 is an arbitrary application, and here, a “loan calculation application” by handwriting input shown in FIGS. 28 and 29.
Suppose The system 2604 is a system that manages the user dictionary registration application according to the present invention and the above-described application 2602. In the system, there is a specification that when the screen inversion button 2803 in FIG. 28 is pressed, the up / down direction of the display screen portion 2802 is inverted by 180 degrees and switched to the inverted display mask 2901 as shown in FIG. This function is very convenient when a plurality of facing users alternately input data in an application premised on a presentation with many handwritten input items as shown in FIGS. 28 and 29. It is used in many machines. Now, suppose that the registration contents of the user registration application on the application screen in FIG. 28 are as shown in FIG. That is, in the registered user dictionaries, the user with the user name "arai" and the user name "uz"
The user dictionary of the user named “uki” is selected, and the user of the user name “arai” is selected as the main user. Therefore, in the initial use state of FIG. Has been preferentially used, resulting in very similar stroke information in the user registration application with user names "arai" and "uzu."
The main user "ar" is registered even when different type data is registered in the two user dictionaries "ki".
The registered content of “ai” can be made to appear as an early candidate, and a comfortable operation can be expected. At this point, the description of the display screen section 2802 advances, and the user facing the user, in this case, the user name is “uzuki”. When it becomes a scene described by the user, it is assumed that the system 2604 switches the display screen to the reverse display screen 2901 by pressing the screen reverse button 2803 by any user. As a result, the system 2604 is shown in FIG. First, in 2701, the system 260 is started.
4, the display state information sent from No. 4 is read, and subsequently the owner information and the main user information of the user dictionary selected from the initial screen portion 2603 are called (270).
2 and 2703). Next, the main user information is replaced based on the user dictionary information obtained in 2702 and 2703. Finally, at 2706, the initial screen portion 26
The main user dictionary information updated to 03 is sent, and the processing of the user dictionary switching unit ends. As a result, FIG.
In this state, the user with the user name “uzuki” is registered in the main user and the user registration application.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the system change is notified of the change of the user who performs clear handwriting recognition, that is, the display screen inversion, so that the priorities are registered in advance. The user dictionary of the main user of the plurality of users is automatically switched, and a comfortable handwriting input environment is continuously provided.

The method of creating a window, the method of detecting a signal, and the method of reversing a display screen described in the text can be reproduced by using a known technique. Moreover, although the pen is taken as the pointing device, it is obvious that selection and writing can be performed by operating the mouse.

An example of automatically switching user dictionaries by selecting two user dictionaries and changing the registration of the main user in correspondence with two patterns of normal display and reverse display of the display screen is performed. As mentioned above, more user dictionaries are registered at the same time, more screen display directions corresponding to the user dictionaries are made to correspond to each other in the internal storage table, and the user dictionaries corresponding at the same time by switching the screen display directions are used as the main user dictionary. By resetting, it is possible to enable the use of a user-registered recognition dictionary that is compatible with more complicated switching between users.

Although an example in which the user to be recognized is changed by changing the display direction of the screen has been described, a means for detecting the change of other users, not the change of the display direction, such as a plurality of stylus pens. By using a means for detecting using a pen device, such as a means for detecting a device by providing it with an identifiable individual ID and making it correspond to a plurality of users, it is possible to detect the change of more users. It can also be possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a user registration application configuration.

[Figure 2] User registration application window state transition diagram

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of processing of an initial screen section.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of processing of a new user registration screen section.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (1) of processing of a user dictionary editor.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart (2) of processing of a user dictionary editing unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart (3) of processing of a user dictionary editing unit.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart (4) of processing of a user dictionary editor.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart (5) of processing of the user dictionary editing unit.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart (6) of processing of a user dictionary editing unit.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart (1) of processing of a new character registration unit.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart (2) of processing of a new character registration unit.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart (3) of processing of a new character registration unit.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart (4) of processing of a new character registration unit.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart (5) of processing of a new character registration unit.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of processing of a handwritten character reproduction unit.

[Figure 17] Initial screen window

FIG. 18 New User Registration Screen Window

FIG. 19: New Character Registration Screen Window (1)

FIG. 20: New character registration screen window (2)

FIG. 21: User dictionary edit screen window

[Figure 22] Handwritten character reproduction screen window

FIG. 23: Username index file

FIG. 24: Character code correspondence table

FIG. 25 Prior Art

FIG. 26 is a block diagram of a user dictionary switching unit.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart of processing of a user dictionary switching unit.

FIG. 28 is a window (1) of a user dictionary switching unit.

FIG. 29 is a window (2) of the user dictionary switching unit.

FIG. 30 is a configuration block diagram of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Harada 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Matsubayashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Incorporated (72) Inventor Katsuhiko Sakaguchi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inhibitor Hiroto Yoshii 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of dictionaries are stored, priorities of the stored plurality of dictionaries are set, it is detected that the user of the dictionary is changed, and the set priority is detected according to the change detection of the user. An information processing method characterized by updating a ranking. 2. A dictionary storage unit that stores a plurality of dictionaries, a setting unit that sets the stored plurality of priorities, a detection unit that detects that the user of the dictionary has been changed, and An information processing apparatus, comprising: an updating unit that updates the set priority according to a change detection.