Multiple pen stroke character set and handwriting recognition system with immediate response

• US 20020196978A1
• Filed: 08/13/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Hawkins, Jeffrey Charles, Sipher, Joseph Kahn, Marianetti, Ron II
• Granted Patent: US 6,839,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/189
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/262 using context analysis, e.g. lexical, syntactic or semantic context
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/373 using a special pattern or subpattern alphabet

Abstract

A pen-based computer text input system capable of interpreting a special pre-defined set of single stroke glyphs. Each input stroke is identified with one of three categories: (1) pre-character modifier strokes, (2) character or symbol strokes, or (3) post-character modifier strokes. Pre-character modifier strokes precede character strokes and inform the present recognition system that a subsequently entered character stroke is to be modified by the pre-character modifier stroke in a pre-defined manner. Character strokes cause a character or symbol to be displayed on the display device the moment it is input on the writing tablet, interpreted in accordance with any pre-character modifier stroke. A post-character modifier stroke causes the recognition system to modify, in a pre-defined manner, a character or symbol which was previously entered and displayed. An important advantage of the present invention is its ability to provide immediate recognition of multiple stroke characters without using boxed input.

Claims

1. An improved electronic handwriting recognition system for interpreting input strokes and displaying corresponding characters, the system being of the type having an input writing surface, a device for inputing strokes on the input writing surface, and a display for displaying characters, the improvement comprising:

(a) recognition logic for recognizing and classifying each individual input stroke after input as a member of one of a plurality of sets of glyphs, the sets comprising at least;

(1) a set of character glyphs;

(2) a set of post-character modifier glyphs;

(b) processing logic, coupled to the recognition logic, for outputing to the display a character corresponding to a character glyph, wherein the processing logic modifies the displayed character in a pre-defined manner in response to any immediately succeeding post-character modifier glyphs.

7. The invention of claims 1 or 2, wherein the recognition logic and processing logic are embodied in a pen-based portable computer.

9. The invention of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, wherein modification of the displayed character is accomplished by outputing a “

backspace”

character to delete the displayed character and then outputing a modified character to replace the deleted character.

10. The invention of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, wherein recognition of a stroke modifies the classification of at least one subsequent stroke.

2. An improved electronic handwriting recognition system for interpreting input strokes and displaying corresponding characters, the system being of the type having an input writing surface, a device for inputing strokes on the input writing surface, and a display for displaying characters, the improvement comprising:

(a) recognition logic for recognizing and classifying each individual input stroke after input as a member of one of a plurality of sets of glyphs, the sets comprising at least;

(1) a set of pre-character modifier glyphs;

(2) a set of character glyphs;

(3) a set of post-character modifier glyphs;

(b) processing logic, coupled to the recognition logic, for outputing to the display a character corresponding to a character glyph, wherein the processing logic modifies the character to be displayed in a pre-defined manner in response to any immediately preceding pre-character modifier glyphs, and wherein the processing logic modifies the displayed character in a pre-defined manner in response to any immediately succeeding post-character modifier glyphs.

8. The invention of claim 2, wherein the processing logic outputs an indicator to the display in response to recognition and classification of a pre-character modifier glyph, and removes the indicator in response to recognition and classification of a character glyph.

11. The invention of claims 2, 4, 5, or 6, wherein recognition of a pre-character modifier stroke modifies the definition of the character corresponding to at least one subsequently input character glyph.

3. An automated method for interpreting input strokes and displaying corresponding characters on an electronic handwriting recognition system, the system comprising an input writing surface, a device for inputing strokes on the input writing surface, and a display for displaying characters, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) recognizing and classifying each individual input stroke after input as a member of one of a plurality of sets of glyphs, the sets comprising at least;

(1) a set of character glyphs;

(2) a set of post-character modifier glyphs;

(b) outputing to the display a character corresponding to a character glyph, wherein the processing logic modifies the displayed character in a pre-defined manner in response to any immediately succeeding post-character modifier glyphs.

4. An automated method for interpreting input strokes and displaying corresponding characters on an electronic handwriting recognition system, the system comprising an input writing surface, a device for inputing strokes on the input writing surface, and a display for displaying characters, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) recognizing and classifying each individual input stroke after input as a member of one of a plurality of sets of glyphs, the sets comprising at least;

(1) a set of pre-character modifier glyphs;

(2) a set of character glyphs;

(3) a set of post-character modifier glyphs;

(b) outputing to the display a character corresponding to a character glyph, wherein the processing logic modifies the character to be displayed in a pre-defined manner in response to any immediately preceding pre-character modifier glyphs, and wherein the processing logic modifies the displayed character in a predefined manner in response to any immediately succeeding post-character modifier glyphs.

12. The invention of claim 4, further including the steps of:

(a) outputing an indicator to the display in response to recognition and classification of a pre-character modifier glyph; and

(b) removing the indicator in response to recognition and classification of a character glyph.

5. A storage media readable by a programmable computer when coupled to the storage media, the storage media containing a control program tangibly stored thereon, such that the computer is operated by the control program when the storage media is read by the computer, the computer being operated to determine, recognize, and classify handwritten strokes, the control program being configured to operate the computer to perform the functions of:

(a) recognizing and classifying each individual input stroke after input as a member of one of a plurality of sets of glyphs, the sets comprising a set of character glyphs and at least one of;

(1) a set of pre-character modifier glyphs;

(2) a set of post-character modifier glyphs;

(b) outputing to the display a character corresponding to a character glyph, wherein the processing logic modifies the character to be displayed in a pre-defined manner in response to any immediately preceding pre-character modifier glyphs, and wherein the processing logic modifies the displayed character in a predefined manner in response to any immediately succeeding post-character modifier glyphs.

13. The invention of claims 5 or 6, further including the functions of:

(a) outputing an indicator to the display in response to recognition and classification of a pre-character modifier glyph; and

(b) removing the indicator in response to recognition and classification of a character glyph.

6. A control program tangibly stored on a storage media readable by a programmable computer, such that the computer is operated by the control program when the storage media is read by the computer, the computer being operated to determine, recognize, and classify handwritten strokes, such functions being performed by the combination of the control program and the computer performing the functions of:

(a) recognizing and classifying each individual input stroke after input as a member of one of a plurality of sets of glyphs, the sets comprising a set of character glyphs and at least one of;

(1) a set of pre-character modifier glyphs;

(2) a set of post-character modifier glyphs;

(b) outputing to the display a character corresponding to a character glyph, wherein the processing logic modifies the character to be displayed in a pre-defined manner in response to any immediately preceding pre-character modifier glyphs, and wherein the processing logic modifies the displayed character in a predefined manner in response to any immediately succeeding post-character modifier glyphs.

14. A set of glyphs for use in conjunction with an electronic handwriting recognition system, the system comprising an input writing surface, a device for inputing strokes on the input writing surface, and a display for displaying characters, wherein each stroke glyph corresponds to a unique alphabetic character, the set of glyphs and corresponding characters being substantially as shown in FIG. 4a.

15. A set of glyphs for use in conjunction with an electronic handwriting recognition system, the system comprising an input writing surface, a device for inputing strokes on the input writing surface, and a display for displaying characters, wherein each stroke glyph corresponds to a unique alphabetic vowel character, the set of glyphs and corresponding vowel characters being substantially as shown in FIG. 4a.

16. A set of glyphs for use in conjunction with an electronic handwriting recognition system, the system comprising an input writing surface, a device for inputing strokes on the input writing surface, and a display for displaying characters, wherein each stroke glyph corresponds to a unique numeric character, the set of glyphs and corresponding characters being substantially as shown in FIG. 4b.

17. A set of glyphs for use in conjunction with an electronic handwriting recognition system, the system comprising an input writing surface, a device for inputing strokes on the input writing surface, and a display for displaying characters, wherein each stroke glyph corresponds to a unique non-printing character, the set of glyphs and corresponding characters being substantially as shown in FIG. 5a.

18. A set of glyphs for use in conjunction with an electronic handwriting recognition system, the system comprising an input writing surface, a device for inputing strokes on the input writing surface, and a display for displaying characters, wherein each stroke glyph corresponds to a unique pre-character modifier stroke, the set of glyphs and corresponding modifier strokes being substantially as shown in FIG. 5b.

19. A set of glyphs for use in conjunction with an electronic handwriting recognition system, the system comprising an input writing surface, a device for inputing strokes on the input writing surface, and a display for displaying characters, wherein each stroke glyph corresponds to a unique post-character modifier stroke, the set of glyphs and corresponding modifier strokes being substantially as shown in FIG. 7a.

20. An improved electronic handwriting recognition system for interpreting input strokes and displaying corresponding non-Roman characters, the system being of the type having an input writing surface, a device for inputing strokes on the input writing surface, and a display for displaying characters, the improvement comprising:

(a) recognition logic for recognizing and classifying each individual input stroke after input as a member of one of a plurality of sets of glyphs, the sets comprising at least;

(1) a set of pre-character modifier glyphs;

(2) a set of character glyphs;

(b) processing logic, coupled to the recognition logic, for outputing to the display a non-Roman character corresponding to a character glyph and from zero to two pre-character modifier glyphs.

21. An improved electronic handwriting recognition system for interpreting input strokes and displaying corresponding katakana characters, the system being of the type having an input writing surface, a device for inputing strokes on the input writing surface, and a display for displaying characters, the improvement comprising:

(a) recognition logic for recognizing and classifying each individual input stroke after input as a member of one of a plurality of sets of glyphs, the sets comprising at least;

(1) a set of pre-character modifier glyphs;

(2) a set of character glyphs;

(b) processing logic, coupled to the recognition logic, for outputing to the display a katakana character corresponding to a character glyph and from zero to two pre-character modifier glyphs.

22. An improved electronic handwriting recognition system for interpreting input strokes and displaying corresponding katakana characters, the system being of the type having an input writing surface, a device for inputing strokes on the input writing surface, and a display for displaying characters, the improvement comprising:

(a) recognition logic for recognizing and classifying each individual input stroke after input as a member of one of a plurality of sets of glyphs, the sets comprising at least;

(1) a set of pre-character modifier glyphs corresponding to Roman character consonants;

(2) a set of character glyphs corresponding to Roman character vowels;

(b) processing logic, coupled to the recognition logic, for outputing to the display a katakana character corresponding to a character glyph and from zero to two pre-character modifier glyphs.