Japanese Input Method - Kana-to-Kanji Conversion

Since thousands of Kanji characters cannot be inputted efficiently with multi-shift keyboard, Kanji input requires an additional conversion mechanism called Kana-to-Kanji Conversions or Japanese Input Methods. This keyboard input mechanism are normally operated in a process like this:

• Press a key to get into the Input Method mode. In the input method mode, the keyboard mode can be any mode that the system supports. However, the Kana-to-Kanji Conversion can convert the Hiragana character to Kanji character, so the keyboard is set to Hiragana mode in default.

• Input a single character or a character string of Hiragana, called YOMI string. Note that, the YOMI is shown to the user but is not given to application yet.

• Press a key (called Convert Key) to convert the YOMI string into Kanji candidate string. The candidate string is also shown but not given to application.

• If the candidate string is what the user looking for, the user must press the enter key to confirm and get the candidate string. Then the string is passed to application. The enter key in this case is called fix key or confirm key.

• If the candidate string is not what the user looking for, the user can press the convert key again to look for the next candidate string. The user can also press an All Candidate Key to request the conversion logic to show all the candidate strings. These are shown by a pop-up windows, a list box or in the keyboard status line.

Like the keyboard modes, the input methods also show their status in the keyboard status line. Most system software products such as OS/2 and DOS/V provide the input methods, and also there are several popular input method programs separately that are provided by Independent Software Vendors.

The Japanese keyboard and input method shows an OS/2 J PM application program (System Editor), with the Japan keyboard status line and the input method (Kana-Kanji-Conversion) in processing. The On-The-Spot conversion, the YOMI buffer is displayed at the current cursor position and the All-Candidates panel is displayed beside it.

Japanese keyboard and input method