KR20100024563A - System and method for inputting characters in terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A character input device for a portable terminal and a method thereof are provided to enable exact input of a character among characters allocated to an input key through one drag operation. CONSTITUTION: A touch screen(101) displays a character input keypad with multiple input keys in which multiple characters are respectively allocated. A touch signal reception unit(104) receives an analog signal outputted from the touch screen. By analyzing coordinate data of points touched in a screen, a control unit(105) recognizes a character which a user inputs. The control unit recognizes/inputs a character corresponding to a dragging direction of a drag operation among characters allocated to an input key of a starting point of the drag operation. The touch screen includes a liquid crystal display(102) and a touch panel(103).

Description

Character input device and method for a portable terminal {System and method for inputting characters in terminal}

The present invention relates to a character input device and method for a portable terminal, and more particularly, to a character input device and method for quickly and accurately inputting characters using a keypad of a touch screen in a personal portable terminal such as a mobile phone or a PDA. It is about.

Since many devices have been used for a long time since the input device for inputting characters, basically, as many phonetic alphabets or alphabets are needed in the case of using phonetic characters.

In particular, in the days of manual typewriters, when the speed at which the keyboard was typed was high, there were many cases in which the next letter moved and tangled with each other before the letter of the first letter returned.

As a solution to this problem, even though the efficiency of the keyboard was decreased, mechanical problems were solved by scattering frequently used letters around the keyboard, and the QWERTY keyboard used at this time is widely used worldwide than the DVORAK keyboard, which has higher efficiency. .

This is an example to show that users become accustomed to customary use, but they rarely change even if the convenience or efficiency is improved, and it is not easy to change the character input method habitually learned by users for a long time even in the information communication device where text input is possible. .

Recently, with the remarkable developments in the field of information and communication, the use of small information communication devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, web pads, etc. has become popular, and news, stocks, weather, securities, traffic information, and the Internet provided through such small information communication devices. Various communication services focused on providing information are becoming more common.

In order to use the above information and to input and store various new information or data, a word or sentence has been frequently inputted through the device. As the use of the text transmission service to transmit to the public has become popular, text input on small devices has become commonplace.

1 is a view illustrating an example of a keypad for text input provided in a conventional small electronic device, including a mechanical button of a push operation method in a terminal 1 such as a mobile phone or a PDA, or a keypad 10 of a touch screen. Is a diagram illustrating a character input unit implemented by).

Character input keypad 10 as shown should be provided with a plurality of input buttons (input key) 11 to which each character is assigned, there are many limitations when applying this to a small electronic device.

That is, since a plurality of input buttons 11 must be provided, the size of each input button is inevitably reduced, and in particular, there is a problem of occupying a lot of space in the device.

In a small electronic device, a method of allocating a plurality of characters to each input button is also applied, which is also inconvenient in use because there is a limit in the number and size due to the characteristics of the small device.

In particular, since the number of input buttons is limited and a plurality of characters or symbols are displayed together on a small size input button, there are many problems in input speed, accuracy, readability, and the like.

In addition, if alphabets, Korean letters, numbers, symbols, etc. are displayed on a single input button on the keypad, it is very disadvantageous in terms of input speed and the user's fatigue is further increased without considering the effective keyboard layout.

In general, in order to enter a character in a mobile phone or a PDA, the user checks the input buttons on the keypad in order in order to find a character to enter. It is necessary to press the input button continuously a certain number of times.

For example, in the case of alphabetic characters, the mobile phone must be entered using a limited input button called a numeric key, and thus, 26 alphabetic characters are assigned to each input button in 2-4 bundles, and correspond to the order indicated for inputting specific characters. Press the input button as many times as you want.

However, the order of characters in the string for each button uses a customary order, especially the customary order, which is often followed by the alphabet that is used a lot in real life. If you press the same button 3 ~ 4 times, it takes a lot of input time.

In addition, if you want to enter two characters displayed on the same button consecutively or if you want to enter one character twice in succession, wait for the preset waiting time after entering the previous character or move the cursor to the side using the direction keys. There is a limit to shorten the input time because it has to go through several stages of input, such as the latter character.

Recently, the use of touch screens is becoming more common in information communication devices / portable terminals such as mobile phones and PDAs. Conventional touch screens include a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a touch panel installed thereon.

Therefore, the user touches a keypad (keyboard) displayed on a predetermined area of the touch screen with a finger or a stylus pen to input characters and the like. The character input method using the touch screen is also not much different from the case of the mechanical button of the conventional push operation method.

In other words, the button area corresponding to the mechanical buttons, that is, the various input keys (such as half Qwerty type) is set on the keypad screen of the touch screen, and a plurality of characters or symbols are assigned to each input key. After that, if the input key is repeatedly clicked a predetermined number of times, the method of selecting the characters or symbols in the order corresponding to the number of times and outputting them on the screen is applied in the same way (sequential click input method).

Alternatively, when the corresponding keypad is pressed for a set time (for example, 1.5 to 2 seconds), such as a number input in a mobile phone, a method of inputting assigned characters is applied in the same way [long press input method].

However, in the case of using the touch screen as described above, like a conventional mechanical button operated by pressing, a plurality of characters or symbols must be assigned to one input key, and thus the input key is repeated a predetermined number of times to select a specific character or symbol. There is an inconvenience to press or press for a set time, there are many problems in the input speed, accuracy, readability and the like.

In particular, in small electronic devices such as PDAs, the size of each input key is inevitably small due to the limitation of the screen size. In this case, a large number of touch errors occur in the process of repeatedly clicking an input key. It is happening. There is a problem that inconvenience and unnecessary time is required due to small modifications.

Accordingly, the present invention has been invented to solve the above problems, the user can accurately input the desired character among the characters assigned to the input key with only one drag operation, the input key repeatedly a predetermined number of times Compared to the conventional sequential click method that must be clicked, there is an advantage of reducing the number of operations, input speed and accuracy, and also to provide a character input device and method of a portable terminal that can input characters more conveniently and simply. .

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention displays a character input keypad including input keys each of which is assigned a plurality of characters, and at the same time by varying the position and direction of the characters assigned thereto within the respective input keys. A touch screen for displaying and outputting an electric analog signal according to a screen touch of the input keys;

A touch signal receiver for receiving an electrical analog signal output from the touch screen and converting the signal into a signal that can be processed and analyzed by the following controller;

A control unit which receives a signal output from the touch signal receiver and analyzes coordinate data of points touched on the screen based on the received signal, recognizes a character input by the user, and displays it on the screen on the touch screen;

When the user finds an input key to which a character to be input on the keypad on the touch screen is assigned and performs a drag operation by using a random coordinate within the input key as a starting point, the control unit controls the coordinate data of the touched points on the screen. The present invention provides a character input device of a portable terminal, characterized in that a character corresponding to a drag direction of the drag operation is recognized, input, and displayed on a screen among characters assigned to the input key to which the starting point of the drag operation belongs.

In addition, the present invention provides a character input keypad including input keys each having a plurality of characters assigned on a touch screen of a portable terminal;

Finding a input key to which a character to be input on the keypad on the touch screen is assigned and performing a drag operation using an arbitrary coordinate in the input key as a starting point;

Receiving, by the touch signal receiver, an electrical analog signal according to the drag operation from the touch screen, converting the signal into a signal that can be processed and analyzed by the controller;

The controller receives the signal output from the touch signal receiver and analyzes coordinate data of the points touched on the screen based on the received signal, and selects a character selected by the user from among the letters assigned to the input key to which the drag start point belongs according to the drag direction of the drag operation. Recognizing and displaying the image on a screen on the touch screen;

It provides a character input method of a portable terminal comprising a.

Accordingly, in the character input device and method of the present invention, the user can accurately input a desired character among the characters assigned to the input key using only one drag operation, and the user needs to repeatedly click the corresponding input key a predetermined number of times. Compared with the sequential click method, there is an advantage of reducing the number of operations, input speed and accuracy, and also has the advantage of more convenient and simple character input.

In addition, the number of input keys can be reduced by assigning a plurality of characters to a single input key, and the space occupied by the entire keypad can be reduced by reducing the number of input keys. Accordingly, the space utilization of the terminal can be improved. In addition, since the number of input keys can be reduced, the size of each input key can be made larger, and thus has an excellent advantage in terms of readability, input speed, and accuracy of the input keys.

In particular, if the character array and the keyboard layout within each input key are optimized in consideration of the character input efficiency while increasing the number of characters assigned to one input key, input speed and accuracy, input efficiency, input count, input time, etc. The side can be improved dramatically. In the case of vowels, a conventional input method can be applied.

In general, the touch screen uses a small size of the input key, so a lot of errors occur. However, since the size of the input key can be increased in the constant voltage type touch screen, the input error can be greatly reduced and the input efficiency can be improved. The present invention is particularly advantageous in the constant voltage mode.

Hereinafter, the features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description based on the accompanying drawings. The terms or words used in the present specification and claims are consistent with the technical spirit of the present invention on the basis of the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the term in order to explain his invention in the best way. It should be interpreted as meaning and concept.

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a method for quickly and accurately entering text using a keypad of a touch screen in various portable terminals such as a mobile phone, PDA, navigation, and PMP.

In the present specification, a portable terminal should be understood to include all terminals having a touch screen and requiring text input, such as a mobile communication terminal, a personal information terminal, and the like, without any limitation on the use purpose, function, or configuration.

2 to 7 are views illustrating a keypad display state of a character input mode according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a keypad display state of a Korean input mode in a terminal 100. Considering the characteristics of a small electronic device is shown an example of applying a half Qwerty keypad. 3 and 4 illustrate an alphabet input mode, FIG. 5 illustrates a numeric input mode, and FIG. 6 illustrates a Japanese input mode.

In general, a touch screen of a portable terminal includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a touch panel installed on the liquid crystal display, and the touch screen is configured to display various state information and various state information generated during operation of the portable terminal through the main screen 120. It displays a moving image, a still image, a character input by the user, and outputs an electric analog signal, that is, a touch signal according to the touch of the screen.

In the present invention, the touch screen displays a keypad 110 including input keys, each of which is assigned a plurality of characters for text input, and at the same time, the characters assigned to them in each of the input keys 111 may be different in position and direction. Display and output an electrical analog signal according to the touch of the screen of the input keys.

The main components of the terminal to which the character input process of the present invention can be applied including the touch screen are shown in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 7, a control unit (MPU: Micro-processor unit) 105 controls the overall operation of the portable terminal. For example, it performs control for data processing and communication (in the case of a mobile communication terminal), and touches the keypad displayed on the touch screen 101 in accordance with the present invention in addition to the usual functions (drag operation described later). If you enter, it handles the function to input characters without error.

The memory 106 may include, for example, a program memory, a data memory, a nonvolatile memory, and the like. Here, the program memory may use a flash memory, and stores a program for controlling the overall operation of the portable terminal and in addition to implementing a character input function (character input in a drag manipulation method) according to the present invention. In addition, the data memory may use RAM (RAM Access Memory), and temporarily stores data generated during the operation of the portable terminal. In addition, the nonvolatile memory stores various data and system parameters, and may use an EEPROM.

In addition, a touch screen 101 including a liquid crystal display (LCD) 102 and a touch panel 103 is provided, and the touch screen 101 is configured to receive an electrical analog signal according to a screen touch by a touch signal receiver 103. ), And the touch signal receiver 103 converts an electrical analog signal from the touch screen 101 into a digital signal usable by the controller 105 and outputs the converted digital signal.

The digital signal is input to the controller 105, wherein the digital signal is a signal including position data of the point of contact on the keypad screen, that is, coordinate data. The signal is analyzed by the controller 105 to recognize a character. A function of displaying on the main screen of the touch screen (reference numeral 120 of FIGS. 2 to 6) is performed.

In the portable terminal having the above-described configuration, in the present invention, a drag input method is applied for text input. In the text input mode, the keypad 110 of FIGS. 2 to 6 may be displayed on the touch screen, and the user is displayed. When a predetermined input key is touched on the keypad 110 of FIGS. 2 to 6, mutual switching between the illustrated input modes is possible (eg, Hangul ↔ alphabet, alphabet ↔ number, etc.).

Referring to the keypad 110 of FIGS. 2 to 6, a plurality of predetermined characters (including numbers and symbols) are assigned to each input key 111, and a user easily recognizes the assigned characters of each input key. In order to do this, the characters assigned to each input key are displayed in different positions and directions. As an example, as shown in each drawing, four characters are displayed at each position of up / down / left / right in one input key 111.

After the keypad of any one of FIGS. 2 to 6 is displayed on the touch screen as described above, the user inputs letters by dragging the keypad with a pen.

At this time, the user finds one input key to which a character to be input is assigned and then uses a pen or a finger, which is a dedicated input means, to drag in a specific direction using a pixel coordinate in the input key as a starting point. In this case, any one of the characters assigned to the input key can be input. That is, according to the direction in which the character to be input is dragged from a point in the assigned input key, one of the assigned characters of the input key is selected and input.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a character input method according to the present invention, and FIGS. 9 to 11 are diagrams illustrating examples in which a character is selected at the time of a drag input in the present invention.

First, in a state in which a keypad (Korean, English, numbers, Japanese, etc.) is displayed on the touch screen (S10), and then a specific input key 111a to which a user wants to input a character on the keypad 110 is assigned. When dragging with any coordinate in the input key as a starting point, the touch panel 103 of the touch screen (reference numeral 101 of FIG. 7) touches an electric analog signal (touch signal) according to the touch of the screen. The touch signal receiver 104 converts the electrical analog signal from the touch panel 103 into a touch signal usable by the controller 105.

In this case, the touch signal input from the touch panel 103 to the controller 105 via the touch signal receiving unit 104 becomes position data, that is, coordinate data of points being touched on the touch panel.

Then, the controller 105 analyzes the touch signal input from the touch signal receiver to determine whether it is a valid drag input signal (S20, S30). At this time, the coordinate movement is continuously performed by analyzing the coordinate data of the touch signal. Only when the input is recognized as a drag input (S40).

When the user drags the keypad, the control unit receives continuous coordinate data. If the continuous coordinate data is input, the controller recognizes it as a drag input. If there is no coordinate data input for a set time after recognition, the controller recognizes that the drag is over. do. If the drag data is finished after the setting time elapses and the coordinate data is input, it is recognized as a simple touch.

In addition, the present invention recognizes as a valid drag input only when there is a drag input having a coordinate outside the specific input key as an end point with an arbitrary coordinate in a specific input key to which a character to be input is assigned (S50). ).

If the drag operation is terminated within the specific input key in which the drag operation is started within one specific input key and started dragging without deviating from the specific input key (if there is a drag operation only in one input key), it is invalid. It is recognized as one drag input signal (recognized by a simple touch). That is, the input pen must be dragged within one input key and terminated within another input key adjacent to the input pen to recognize it as a valid drag. Otherwise, it is recognized as a simple touch.

In addition, if the character to be input by the user on the keypad is assigned to the outermost input key, there may be no other input keys adjacent to the outermost input key. An area in which the pen recognition is possible may be set in advance to the outside of the keypad, and the coordinates in the area set outside the keypad, which are external coordinates of the input key of the outermost side, are set as starting points of the coordinates of the outermost input key. Drag operation to the end point must be performed (in the case where numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 must be entered in FIG. 2).

If it is determined as a valid drag input as described above, the control unit recognizes the drag direction based on the coordinate data of the start point (drag start point) and the end point (drag end point) of the user drag operation, and the input key belongs to the start point according to the drag direction. It will recognize one of the assigned characters of. When the character is selected and recognized, the recognized character is displayed on the main screen of the touch screen.

In the process of recognizing the drag direction, the controller recognizes the direction in which the peripheral input key or the setting area to which the end point of the drag operation belongs is located as the drag direction from the input key to which the start point of the user drag operation belongs.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, when dragging from the starting point in the input key to which the character to be input is located to the upper input key, the drag direction becomes the upper direction. Characters positioned in the upward direction of the are recognized and displayed on the main screen.

In addition, when the drag operation is terminated by the lower input key, the drag direction becomes the lower direction, so that a character positioned in the lower direction of the input key to which the starting point belongs is recognized and displayed on the main screen.

In addition, when the drag operation is terminated in the left or right input key, since the drag direction becomes the left or rear direction, a character designated in the left or right direction of the input key to which the starting point belongs is recognized and displayed.

As described above, the controller analyzes the touch signal input from the touch signal receiver to determine whether the drag operation is performed, and when it is determined that the drag operation is performed, the controller determines whether the input signal according to the drag operation is a valid drag input signal capable of character recognition (valid drag). In this process, the coordinate data of the drag operation start point, the coordinate data of the points on the path of the drag operation, and the coordinate data of the drag operation end point are analyzed.

In a preferred embodiment, it is determined that the drag operation is valid only when the drag operation is performed from the input key to which the starting point belongs to another input key that is adjacent, but is determined to be a valid drag operation only when the input key movement is performed within the set number during the drag operation. do.

That is, in the case where the input key is moved once from the input key 111a to which the starting point belongs in FIG. 10, if the input key is moved twice, all of the input keys are determined to be valid drag operations, but if the input key is moved three times, it is invalid. Judging by one drag operation.

In addition, if a character is assigned to four positions of up / down / left / right for each input key, and dragging to the diagonal input key, no character is specified in the diagonal direction from the corresponding input key. Judging by the drag operation.

In addition, if the character to be input by the user on the keypad is assigned to the outermost input key, there may be no other input keys adjacent to the outermost input key. A pen-recognized area must be set in advance to the outside of the non-keypad, and it is invalid when the drag operation ends outside the predetermined area even within the area outside of the keypad by using the coordinates in the outermost input key as a starting point. Judging by one drag operation (in this case, numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 should be entered). That is, when the controller detects a drag movement moving out of a predetermined area toward the side without the input key, the controller determines that the drag operation is invalid.

In the embodiment of Fig. 10, four characters arranged up, down, left, and right are displayed in each input key, and are positioned upwards, downwards, lefts, or rightwards from any coordinates within the input keys as a starting point. In the case of dragging with a peripheral input key, any one character corresponding to the drag direction among the four characters of the input key to which the starting point belongs is recognized by the controller.

In addition, in the embodiment of Fig. 11, four letters arranged up, down, left, and right in each of the input keys and another four letters in a diagonal direction between these letters are displayed, and any coordinate in the input key is a starting point. When the drag operation is terminated from any one of the four peripheral input keys on the upper side, the lower side, the left side and the right side, and the other four peripheral input keys diagonally therebetween, the input key to which the start point belongs. According to an embodiment of the present invention, any one character corresponding to the drag direction is recognized by the controller.

Here, the controller can recognize a drag operation in a total of eight directions by adding four diagonal directions between these directions to four directions of up / down / left / right, and according to the user's dragging direction among eight characters of the corresponding input key. Recognize any one character

That is, when a drag operation is performed using the arbitrary coordinates of the input key to be input by the user as the starting point and the eight input keys around the end point, any one of the eight characters is recognized according to each drag direction. To display on the screen.

In each case of ① ~ ~, the controller analyzes the coordinate data of the start point, the drag path, and the end point to determine a valid drag operation, and then determines the drag direction. Effective drag recognition is possible, and at this time, any one of eight characters can be displayed on the main screen according to the recognized drag direction.

In this way, in the drag input method according to the present invention, the user can accurately input a desired character among the characters assigned to the input key with only one drag operation, and the user needs to repeatedly click the corresponding input key a predetermined number of times. Compared to the sequential click method, the number of operations can be reduced, the input speed and accuracy can be improved, and characters can be entered more simply and conveniently.

In addition, the number of input keys can be reduced by assigning a plurality of characters to a single input key, and the space occupied by the entire keypad can be reduced by reducing the number of input keys. Accordingly, the space utilization of the terminal can be improved. In addition, since the number of input keys can be reduced, the size of each input key can be made larger, and thus has an excellent advantage in terms of readability, input speed, and accuracy of the input keys.

In particular, if the character array and the keyboard layout within each input key are optimized in consideration of the character input efficiency while increasing the number of characters assigned to one input key, input speed and accuracy, input efficiency, input count, input time, etc. The side can be improved dramatically. In the case of vowels, a conventional input method can be applied.

In general, the touch screen uses a small size of the input key, so a lot of errors occur. However, since the size of the input key can be increased in the constant voltage type touch screen, the input error can be greatly reduced and the input efficiency can be improved. The present invention is particularly advantageous in the constant voltage mode.

In the above, a specific preferred embodiment according to the present invention has been described. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the above-described embodiments merely represent a part of various embodiments to which the principles of the present invention are applied. Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make various changes without departing from the spirit of the technical idea of the present invention described in the claims below.

1 is a view showing an example of a keypad for character input provided in a conventional small electronic device,

2 to 7 are views illustrating a keypad display state of a character input mode according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a character input method according to the present invention;

9 to 11 are diagrams illustrating an example in which a character is selected during drag input in the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

101: touch screen 102: display window

103: touch panel 104: touch signal receiving unit

105: control unit 106: memory

110: keypad 111: input key

111a: input key (the input key to which the drag operation starts)

Claims (14)

Display a character input keypad including input keys each of which is assigned a plurality of characters, and at the same time to display the characters assigned to them within the respective input keys in a different position and direction, and according to the screen touch of the input keys A touch screen for outputting an analog signal; A touch signal receiver for receiving an electrical analog signal output from the touch screen and converting the signal into a signal that can be processed and analyzed by the following controller; A control unit which receives a signal output from the touch signal receiver and analyzes coordinate data of points touched on the screen based on the received signal, recognizes a character input by the user, and displays it on the screen on the touch screen; When the user finds an input key to which a character to be input on the keypad on the touch screen is assigned and performs a drag operation by using a random coordinate within the input key as a starting point, the control unit controls the coordinate data of the touched points on the screen. And a character corresponding to a drag direction of the drag operation among the characters assigned to the input key to which the starting point of the drag operation belongs, is inputted and displayed on the screen. The method according to claim 1, The control unit detects a continuous coordinate movement from a certain coordinate in a specific input key touched by the user as a starting point, and determines that it is a valid drag operation only when the drag operation is terminated at a coordinate outside the specific input key. Character input device of the portable terminal. The method according to claim 2, And the control unit recognizes, as a drag direction, a direction in which a surrounding input key or a setting area of the end point of the drag operation belongs, from the input key to which the start point of the user drag operation belongs. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Characters assigned thereto are displayed in the same position and direction as the drag direction so that the user can identify any specific character corresponding to the drag direction among the letters assigned to each input key. Character input device of the portable terminal. The method according to claim 4, Four characters arranged up, down, left, and right are displayed in each of the input keys, and any drag in the input key is used as a starting point, and then dragged from the input keys to peripheral input keys positioned up, down, left, or right. And a character corresponding to a drag direction among the four characters of the input key to which the starting point belongs is recognized by the controller. The method according to claim 4, Four characters arranged up, down, left, and right in each of the input keys and another four characters in a diagonal direction between the characters are displayed, and any coordinates in the input keys are used as starting points, and the upper, lower, When the drag operation is terminated by any of the four peripheral input keys on the left and right sides and four other peripheral input keys in the diagonal direction therebetween, Character input apparatus of a portable terminal, characterized in that any one character is recognized by the control unit. The method according to claim 1, The controller analyzes coordinate data of the start point of the user drag operation, the points on the drag operation path, and the end point of the drag operation, and detects a movement between the input keys more than a preset number of times from the input key to which the start point belongs during the drag operation. Character input device of a portable terminal, characterized in that to invalidate the drag operation. The method according to claim 1, The control unit analyzes the coordinate data of the start point of the user drag operation, the points on the drag operation path, and the end point of the drag operation, and when there is no starting input point when the coordinates in the outermost input key of the keypad are used as starting points. Character input device of a portable terminal, characterized in that to invalidate the drag operation when detecting a drag movement moving out of a predetermined predetermined area. Providing a keypad for inputting characters including input keys each of which has been assigned a plurality of characters on a touch screen of the portable terminal; Finding a input key to which a character to be input on the keypad on the touch screen is assigned and performing a drag operation using an arbitrary coordinate in the input key as a starting point; Receiving, by the touch signal receiver, an electrical analog signal according to the drag operation from the touch screen, converting the signal into a signal that can be processed and analyzed by the controller; The controller receives the signal output from the touch signal receiver and analyzes coordinate data of the points touched on the screen based on the received signal, and selects a character selected by the user from among the letters assigned to the input key to which the drag start point belongs according to the drag direction of the drag operation. Recognizing and displaying the image on a screen on the touch screen; Character input method of a portable terminal comprising a. The method according to claim 9, The control unit detects a continuous coordinate movement from a certain coordinate in a specific input key touched by the user as a starting point, and determines that it is a valid drag operation only when the drag operation is terminated at a coordinate outside the specific input key. Character input method of the portable terminal. The method according to claim 10, And the control unit recognizes, as a drag direction, a direction in which a surrounding input key or a setting area of the end point of the drag operation belongs from the input key to which the start point of the user drag operation belongs. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, Characters assigned thereto are displayed in the same position and direction as the drag direction so that the user can identify any specific character corresponding to the drag direction among the letters assigned to each input key. Character input method of the portable terminal. The method according to claim 9, The controller analyzes coordinate data of the start point of the user drag operation, the points on the drag operation path, and the end point of the drag operation, and detects a movement between the input keys more than a preset number of times from the input key to which the start point belongs during the drag operation. Character input method of a portable terminal, characterized in that to invalidate the drag operation. The method according to claim 9, The control unit analyzes the coordinate data of the start point of the user drag operation, the points on the drag operation path, and the end point of the drag operation. Character input device of a portable terminal, characterized in that to invalidate the drag operation when detecting a drag movement moving out of a predetermined predetermined area.

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