Method for input characters, apparatus thereof, and mobile communication terminal

Abstract

The application ( 33 ) requests a basic processing part ( 31 ) to execute character input processing, depending on the character input request from the user during display of a graphics window managed by an application ( 33 ). The execution environment part ( 32 ), which received the character input processing request, notifies the basic processing part ( 31 ) of the character input processing request, and turns in a display blocked state. After that, characters are input under the control of the basic processing part ( 31 ). When character input is terminated, the basic processing part ( 31 ) closes the display of the character input screen to notify the execution environment part ( 32 ) of the termination of the character input and the character input result. The execution environment part ( 32 ), which received the notice, releases the display blocked state and notifies the application ( 33 ) of the termination of the character input and the character input result data.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A character input method comprising steps of:
 requesting a character input processing to a basic processing part, when a character input request is inputted from a user during display of a graphics screen managed by an application different from the basic processing part, the basic processing part managing character input processing in a mobile communication terminal;   prohibiting the application display for prohibiting display by the application;   displaying a character input screen, wherein the user executes a character input operation, displayed by the basic processing part immediately after the completion of the application display prohibition step; and   resuming application display by the application, wherein the display is immediately resumed by closing the display of the character input screen, after the user finishes the character input operation, referring the screen for the character input.   
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the application is notified of input character string data in the application display resumption step. 
     
     
       3. A mobile communication terminal comprising a basic processing part for managing character input processing and an execution environment part for providing an execution environment to execute a different application employed in the basic processing part:
 the basic processing part comprising:
 character input management means for terminating the display of a character input screen, wherein the character input screen for users to input characters is displayed immediately after receiving a character input processing request from the application, as well as the character input screen is closed immediately after the user finish to input characters referring the character input screen; and 
   the execution environment part comprising:
 application display control means for resuming display by the application, wherein the execution environment part prohibits the display by the application after receiving a character input request during displaying a screen derived from graphics managed by the application, as well as resumes the display by the application after inputting characters is finished. 
   
     
     
       4. An character input apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the basic processing part notifies the execution environment part of input character string data, and   the execution environment part notifies the application of the input character string data.   
     
     
       5. A mobile communication terminal comprising:
 wireless communication means for executing wireless communication with a base station; and   a character input apparatus according to  claim 3 .   
     
     
       6. A mobile communication terminal comprising:
 wireless communication means for executing wireless communication with a base station; and   a character input apparatus according to  claim 4 .   
     
     
       7. A method comprising:
 receiving a request for character input processing at a basic processing part of a mobile communication terminal, wherein the request is received from an application;   prohibiting the application from using a display of the mobile communication terminal;   displaying a character input screen on the display, wherein the character input screen is displayed immediately after prohibiting the application from using the display of the mobile communication terminal;   receiving a character input;   displaying the character input on the display;   closing the character input screen; and   allowing the application to use the display.   
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7, further comprising sending the application the character input. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 7, wherein the application is a graphics program. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 7, wherein a drawing request by the application is accepted while the application is prohibited from using the display. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 7, wherein the character input screen is closed when a terminating input character is received. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 7, further comprising changing the character input from a first character code to a second character code. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first character code is shift-JIS and the second character code is Unicode. 
     
     
       14. A device comprising:
 a display;   an input interface; and   a control unit operatively coupled to the display and the input interface and configured to:
 receive a request for character input processing at a basic processing part of a mobile communication terminal, wherein the request is received from an application, 
 prohibit the application from using the display, 
 display a character input screen on the display, wherein the character input screen is displayed immediately after the application is prohibited from using the display, 
 receive a character input from the user input interface, 
 display the character input on the display, 
 close the character input screen, and 
 allow the application to use the display. 
   
     
     
       15. The device of claim 14, further comprising sending the application the character input. 
     
     
       16. The device of claim 14, wherein the application is a graphics program. 
     
     
       17. The device of claim 14, wherein a drawing request by the application is accepted while the application is prohibited from using the display. 
     
     
       18. The device of claim 14, wherein the character input screen is closed when a terminating character is received from the user input interface. 
     
     
       19. The device of claim 14, further comprising changing the character input from a first character code to a second character code. 
     
     
       20. The device of claim 19, wherein the first character code is shift-JIS and the second character code is Unicode. 
     
     
       21. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions comprising:
 instructions for receiving a request for character input processing at a basic processing part of a mobile communication terminal, wherein the request is received from an application;   instructions for prohibiting the application from using a display of the mobile communication terminal;   instructions for displaying a character input screen on the display immediately after prohibiting the application from using the display of the mobile communication terminal;   instructions for receiving a character input from a user;   instructions for displaying the character input on the display;   instructions for closing the character input screen; and   instructions for allowing the application to use the display.   
     
     
       22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions for sending the application the character input. 
     
     
       23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the application is a graphics program. 
     
     
       24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein a drawing request by the application is accepted while the application is prohibited from using the display. 
     
     
       25. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the character input screen is closed when a terminating character is received from the user. 
     
     
       26. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions for changing the character input from a first character code to a second character code.