METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR PROVIDING INPUT ORDER INDEPENDENT CHARACTER INPUT MECHANISM

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a character input method.SOLUTION: The apparatus comprises: means for forming a key pad having a plurality of keys allocated to radicals or strokes different from one another, on a touch panel; means for detecting the fact that any key which is allocated to a radical is selected among the plurality of keys; means for searching for a plurality of candidate characters independently of the stroke order of characters on the basis of the radical corresponding to the selected key; means for displaying the plurality of candidate characters side by side on the basis of the frequency of use; means for detecting the fact that any key which is allocated to a stroke is selected among the plurality of keys; means for narrowing the plurality of candidate characters independently of the stroke order of characters on the basis of the stroke corresponding to the selected key; and means for displaying, according to the fact that selection for any of the candidate characters is performed, a word or a phrase associated with the selected candidate characters on the touch panel.