Character input apparatus and method for automatically switching input mode in terminal having touch screen

A character input method for automatically switching an input mode in a terminal having a touch screen, the character input method comprising:

• in a text input mode for inputting a word including one of characters from character groups, each of which includes at least two characters, assigning the character groups to at least two key regions acquired by dividing a region of the touch screen and displaying the character groups in the corresponding key regions based on one-to-one correspondence;
• if a press event occurs in a first of the key regions, counting time from a point of time at which the press event occurs;
• if the counted time exceeds a previously stored threshold value, switching to a separate input mode for inputting one of characters from a corresponding character group;
• upon execution of the separate input mode, assigning each character of the character group associated with the first key region to a different one of the key regions other than the first key region key region and displaying the characters of the character group in the other key regions;
• determining whether a release event occurs in one of the other key regions assigned to the each character;
• and
• outputting a character in the key region where the release event occurs onto a predetermined input editor window of the touch screen.

A character input method for automatically switching an input mode in a terminal having a touch screen the character input method comprising:

• assigning character groups, each of which includes at least two characters, to at least two key regions acquired by dividing a region of the touch screen and displaying the character groups in the corresponding key regions based on one-to-one correspondence;
• if a press event occurs in one of the key regions, determining whether a drag event occurs prior to occurrence of a release event;
• if it is determined that the drag eve occurs, switching to a separate input mode for inputting one of characters of a corresponding character group;
• upon execution of the separate input mode, checking a distance and a direction of the drag event;
• displaying a character corresponding to the checked distance and direction of the drag event from among characters of the key region where the press event occurs;
• and
• if the release event occurs when the character is displayed, outputting the displayed character.

A character input apparatus for automatically switching an input mode in a terminal having a touch screen, the character input apparatus comprising:

• a memory configured to store character groups, each of which includes at least two characters, displayed in at least two key regions acquired by dividing a region of the touch screen based on one-to-one correspondence;
• a touch screen configured to display the character groups in the key regions based on one-to-one correspondence and generating a press event, a release event, and a drag event according to user input to each of the key regions;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• determine whether the drag event occurs prior to occurrence of the release event if the press event occurs in a first of the key regions of the touch screen;
• execute one of a separate input mode for inputting one of characters of a corresponding character group and a text input mode for inputting a word including one of the characters of the character group according to whether the drag event occurs;
• and
• upon execution of the separate input mode, assign each character of the character group associated with the first key region to a different one of the key regions other than the first key region and display the characters of the character group in the other key regions.

A character input method for switching an input mode in a mobile device having a touch screen, the character input method comprising:

• in a first input mode for inputting one of characters from a character group on a key region, each character group including at least two characters, assigning character groups to at least two key regions of the touch screen and displaying the character groups in the corresponding key regions based on one-to-one correspondence;
• based on a touch event occurring in a first key region of the key regions, counting time from a point of time at which the touch event occurs;
• based on the counted time exceeding a previously stored threshold value, switching to a second input mode, different from the first input mode, for inputting one character corresponding one key region from among at least two characters of a character group respectively displayed on a plurality of key regions;
• upon execution of the second input mode, assigning each character of the character group associated with the first key region to at least two key regions respectively, displaying the characters of the character group associated with the first key region in the assigned key regions, detecting changes in selection of the key regions associated with the displayed characters of the character group associated with the first key region based on drag inputs, and changing a visual characteristic of a selected key region;
• determining whether a release event occurs in one of the key regions assigned to the each character of the character group associated with the first key region;
• and
• outputting a character in the key region where the release event occurs, onto a predetermined input window of the touch screen.