Character input reception apparatus and method for receiving character inputs

A character input reception apparatus, comprising:

• a key display control portion configured to display in a first display portion a plurality of character input keys, each character input key being assigned with a character group including a plurality of characters;
• and
• an input character display control portion configured to, when the user appoints one of the character input keys using an operation section,
• (i) select, among the plurality of characters assigned to the appointed one of the character input keys, a character corresponding to a number of times in successively appointing the one of the character input keys and
• (ii) display the selected character as an input character in a second display portion,
• the key display control portion being further configured to designate, as a display character for each of the plurality of character input keys, one of the plurality of characters included in the character group assigned to the each of the plurality of character input keys,
• the key display control portion being further configured to, in case that the user appoints a first character input key among the plurality of character input keys using the operation section,
• (i) designate a next input candidate character assigned to a second character input key included in the plurality of character input keys, the next input candidate character being to be designated as a next input character by the input character display control portion if the user subsequently appoints the second character input key once, and
• (ii) switch a display character for the second character input key into the designated next input candidate character.

A method for receiving character inputs using an image display device, the method comprising:

• displaying a plurality of character input keys in a first display portion of the image display device, the plurality of character input keys at least including a first character input key and a second character input key, each of the plurality of character input keys being assigned with an individual character group including a plurality of individual characters;
• designating one of the plurality of individual characters assigned to each character input key;
• displaying a display character for representing the each character input key by using the designated one of the plurality of individual characters;
• displaying, when the first character input key is appointed, an input character in a second display portion of the image display device by using a display character, which is displayed for representing the first character input key just before the first character input key is appointed;
• and
• switching a display character for representing the second character input key from a first character to a second character based on a content of the input character displayed in the second display portion in response to appointing the first character input key, each of the first character and the second character being included in a character group with which the second character input key is assigned.

A method for receiving character inputs using an image display device, the method comprising:

• displaying in a first display portion a plurality of character input keys, the plurality of character input keys at least including a first character input key and a second character input key, each of the plurality of character input keys being assigned with an individual character group including a plurality of individual characters;
• designating one of a plurality of characters assigned to the second character input key;
• displaying a display character for representing the second character input key by using the designated one of the plurality of characters assigned to the second character input key;
• selecting, when the first character input key is appointed, a character corresponding to a number of times in successively appointing the first character input key from among a plurality of characters assigned to the first character input key;
• displaying the selected character as an input character in a second display portion of the image display device;
• designating, among a plurality of characters assigned to the second character input key, a next input candidate character, which is estimated to be designated as a next input character following the input character in the second display portion if the second character input key is subsequently appointed once after the first character input key is appointed;
• and
• switching a display character for representing the second character input key into the designated next input candidate character in response to appointing the first character input key.