Data storage apparatus capable of searching and displaying character data according to corresponding pictorial symbol data

Claim 2

A data storage apparatus comprising: a display; a data memory; input means for inputting into said data memory character data and pictorial symbol data for graphically representing associated character data; data search command input means for causing the character data stored in said data memory to be searched; and a processor, responsive to said data search command input means, for performing the steps of: a) reading out all pictorial symbol data associated with the character data stored in said data memory; b) simultaneously displaying pictorial symbols on said display corresponding to the read out pictorial symbol data in order to prompt a user to select a displayed pictorial symbol; c) reading out character data associated with the selected pictorial symbol; and d) displaying the read out character data on said display.

Claim 3

The data storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said data memory includes a schedule data storage area; and said input means includes means for inputting as character data items of schedule data, date data, and schedule contents data, and means for inputting pictorial symbol data for graphically representing associated schedule data, date data, and schedule contents data.

Claim 4

The data storage apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a temporary storage memory; and wherein said processor performs the further steps of writing the read out pictorial symbol in said temporary storage memory and disabling the writing step when the read out pictorial symbol data is the same as pictorial symbol data that has already been written in said temporary storage memory.

Claim 5

A calendar display apparatus comprising: a schedule data memory for storing schedule data including date data, schedule contents data associated with the date data, and pictorial symbol data for graphically representing the schedule contents; display means having a first area for displaying a calendar and a second area for displaying pictorial symbols corresponding to the pictorial symbol data; a day indicator for indicating a specified date on the displayed calendar displayed on said first area of said display means, the day indicator being movable on the displayed calendar from one specified date to another date in response to an operation of a user; and control means for causing said second area of said display means to display pictorial symbols graphically representing the schedule contents data associated with the date data corresponding to the specified date indicated by said day indicator.

Claim 6

A calendar display apparatus comprising: a schedule data memory for storing schedule data including date data, schedule contents data associated with the date data, and pictorial symbol data for graphically representing the schedule contents; display means having a first area for displaying a calendar and a second area for displaying pictorial symbols corresponding to the pictorial symbol data; a day indicator for indicating a specified date on the displayed calendar displayed on said first area of said display means, the day indicator being movable on the displayed calendar from one specified date to another date in response to an operation of a user; and control means for causing said second area of said display means to display pictorial symbols graphically representing the schedule contents data associated with the date data corresponding to the specified date indicated by said day indicator.

Claim 7

The data storage apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a key operable by a user to operate said day indicator.

Claim 8

The data storage apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: an instruction key which is operable to instruct movement of said day indicator; and means for moving said day indicator in response to an instruction of said instruction key.

Claim 9

A data storage apparatus comprising: a display; a data memory; input means for inputting into said data memory character data and pictorial symbol data for graphically representing associated character data; data search command input means for causing the character data stored in said data memory to be searched; means, responsive to said data search command input means, for reading out all pictorial symbol data associated with the character data stored in said data memory; means for simultaneously displaying pictorial symbols on said display corresponding to the read out pictorial symbol data in order to prompt a user to select a displayed pictorial symbol; means for reading out character data associated with the selected pictorial symbol; and means for displaying the read out character data on said display.

Claim 10

A data storage apparatus comprising: a display; a data memory; input means for inputting into said data memory character data and pictorial symbol data for graphically representing associated character data; data search command input means for causing the character data stored in said data memory to be searched; means, responsive to said data search command input means, for reading out all pictorial symbol data associated with the character data stored in said data memory; means for simultaneously displaying pictorial symbols on said display corresponding to the read out pictorial symbol data in order to prompt a user to select a displayed pictorial symbol; means for reading out character data associated with the selected pictorial symbol; and means for displaying the read out character data on said display.

Claim 11

The data storage apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: said data memory includes a schedule data storage area; and said input means includes means for inputting as character data items of schedule data, date data, and schedule contents data, and means for inputting pictorial symbol data graphically representing associated schedule data, date data, and schedule contents data.

Claim 12

The data storage apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a temporary storage memory; writing means for writing the read out pictorial symbol in said temporary storage memory; and means for disabling the writing means when the read out pictorial symbol data is the same as pictorial symbol data that has already been written in said temporary storage memory.