Browser-based spell checker

• US 20050223326A1
• Filed: 08/06/2004
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Singh, Sanjeev, Rakowski, Brian D., Chang, Bay-Wei W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,584,426 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/257
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads

Abstract

A system and method is provided for a spell checker that includes sending a document to a spelling server which returns the document with associated spelling information, though the document could also be provided to a spelling assistant on the local machine. The spelling information includes identification of potentially misspelled words and one or more replacements words. The document is displayed to identify the potentially misspelled words in a visually distinctive manner. The replacement words are displayed near the potentially misspelled word in response to a user activity, such as clicking on the identified words. The misspelled word is replaced with the word selected by the user from the replacement words. The user may extend the area of text to be modified by clicking on extension buttons to the left and right of the potentially misspelled word.

Claims

1. A method of providing a spell checker, comprising:

sending a document to be spell checked to a spelling server;

receiving the document with associated spelling information, the spelling information including identification of a potentially misspelled word and one or more replacement words;

while displaying the document on a display device, identifying the potentially misspelled word in a visually distinctive manner;

displaying the one or more replacement words in response to a user initiated activity associated with the potentially misspelled word; and

replacing the potentially misspelled word with a word selected by the user, the word selected from the one or more replacement words.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user initiated activity includes receiving a selection signal from an input device, the selection signal associated with the user selected potentially misspelled word.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying one or more replacement words includes displaying the one or more replacement words in an area of the display device adjacent the potentially misspelled word.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein displaying one or more replacement words includes displaying the one or more replacement words in a pop-down window below the potentially misspelled word.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more replacement words are displayed until the word is selected by the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the one or more replacement words is a word phrase.

7. A method of providing a spell checker, comprising:

sending a document to be spell checked to a spelling server;

receiving the document with associated spelling information, the spelling information including identification of a plurality of potentially misspelled words, and one or more replacement words for each identified potentially misspelled word;

while displaying the document on a display device, identifying the plurality of potentially misspelled words in a visually distinctive manner;

displaying the one or more replacement words for a user selected one of the potentially misspelled words in response to a user initiated activity associated with the user selected potentially misspelled word; and

replacing the potentially misspelled word with a word selected by the user, the word selected from the one or more replacement words.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the identifying identifies all of the potentially misspelled words in the document.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying one or more replacement words includes displaying the one or more replacement words in an area of the display device adjacent the potentially misspelled word.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying one or more replacement words includes displaying the one or more replacement words in a pop-down window adjacent and below the potentially misspelled word.

11. A method of providing a spell checker, comprising:

sending a document to be spell checked to a spelling server;

receiving the document with associated spelling information, the spelling information including identification of first text and one or more replacement text options;

displaying the document on a display device;

identifying the first text in a visually distinctive manner;

displaying the one or more replacement text options in response to a first user initiated activity associated with the first text; and

displaying an edit choice.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising replacing, in response to a selection of the edit choice by the user, the first text with a text input area, the text input area having a left expansion button and a right expansion button.

13. The method of claim 12, further including, in response to selection of the left expansion button, adding to the first text a second text, the second text to the left of the first text on the display device and, in response to selection of the right expansion button adding to the first text a third text, the third text to the right of the first text on the display device.

14. A method of providing a spell checker, comprising:

providing a document to be spell checked to a spelling assistant;

receiving the document with associated spelling information, the spelling information including identification of a plurality of potentially misspelled words, and one or more replacement words for each identified potentially misspelled word;

while displaying the document on a display device, identifying the plurality of potentially misspelled words in a visually distinctive manner;

displaying the one or more replacement words for a user selected one of the potentially misspelled words in response to a user initiated activity associated with the user selected potentially misspelled word; and

replacing the potentially misspelled word with a word selected by the user, the word selected from the one or more replacement words.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the identifying identifies all of the potentially misspelled words in the document.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein displaying one or more replacement words includes displaying the one or more replacement words in an area of the display device adjacent the potentially misspelled word.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein displaying one or more replacement words includes displaying the one or more replacement words in a pop-down window adjacent and below the potentially misspelled word.

18. A method of providing a spell checker, comprising:

providing a document to be spell checked to a spelling assistant;

receiving the document with associated spelling information, the spelling information including identification of first text and one or more replacement text options;

while displaying the document on a display device, identifying the first text in a visually distinctive manner;

displaying the one or more replacement text options in response to a first user initiated activity associated with the first text; and

displaying an edit choice.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising replacing, in response to a selection of the edit choice by the user, the first text with a text input area, the text input area having a left expansion button and a right expansion button.

20. The method of claim 19, further including, in response to selection of the left expansion button, adding to the first text a second text, the second text to the left of the first text on the display device and, in response to selection of the right expansion button adding to the first text a third text, the third text to the right of the first text on the display device.

21. A computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system, the computer program product, comprising:

instructions for sending a document to be spell checked to a spelling server;

instructions for receiving the document with associated spelling information, the spelling information including identification of a plurality of potentially misspelled words, and one or more replacement words for each identified potentially misspelled word;

instructions for displaying the document on a display device and for identifying the plurality of potentially misspelled words in a visually distinctive manner while displaying the document;

instructions for displaying the one or more replacement words for a user selected one of the potentially misspelled words in response to a user initiated activity associated with the user selected potentially misspelled word; and

instructions for replacing the potentially misspelled word with a word selected by the user, the word selected from the one or more replacement words.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the instructions for displaying one or more replacement words includes displaying the one or more replacement words in an area of the display device adjacent the potentially misspelled word.

23. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the instructions for displaying one or more replacement words includes displaying the one or more replacement words in a pop-down window adjacent and below the potentially misspelled word.

24. A computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system, the computer program product, comprising:

instructions for sending a document to be spell checked to a spelling server;

instructions for receiving the document with associated spelling information, the spelling information including identification of first text and one or more replacement text options;

instructions for displaying the document on a display device and for identifying the first text in a visually distinctive manner while displaying the document;

instructions for displaying the one or more replacement text options in response to a first user initiated activity associated with the first text; and

instructions for displaying an edit choice.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, further comprising instructions for replacing, in response to a selection of the edit choice by the user, the first text with a text input area, the text input area having a left expansion button and a right expansion button.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, further including instructions for, in response to selection of the left expansion button, adding to the first text a second text, the second text to the left of the first text on the display device and, in response to selection of the right expansion button adding to the first text a third text, the third text to the right of the first text on the display device.

28. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the instructions for displaying one or more replacement words includes displaying the one or more replacement words in an area of the display device adjacent the potentially misspelled word.

29. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the instructions for displaying one or more replacement words includes displaying the one or more replacement words in a pop-down window adjacent and below the potentially misspelled word.

31. The computer program product of claim 24, further comprising instructions for replacing, in response to a selection of the edit choice by the user, the first text with a text input area, the text input area having a left expansion button and a right expansion button.

32. The computer program product of claim 25, further including instructions for, in response to selection of the left expansion button, adding to the first text a second text, the second text to the left of the first text on the display device and, in response to selection of the right expansion button adding to the first text a third text, the third text to the right of the first text on the display device.

27. A computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system, the computer program product, comprising:

instructions for providing a document to be spell checked to a spelling assistant;

instructions for receiving the document with associated spelling information, the spelling information including identification of a plurality of potentially misspelled words, and one or more replacement words for each identified potentially misspelled word;

instructions for displaying the document on a display device and for identifying the plurality of potentially misspelled words in a visually distinctive manner while displaying the document;

instructions for displaying the one or more replacement words for a user selected one of the potentially misspelled words in response to a user initiated activity associated with the user selected potentially misspelled word; and

instructions for replacing the potentially misspelled word with a word selected by the user, the word selected from the one or more replacement words.

30. A computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system, the computer program product, comprising:

instructions for providing a document to be spell checked to a spelling assistant;

instructions for receiving the document with associated spelling information, the spelling information including identification of first text and one or more replacement text options;

instructions for displaying the document on a display device and for identifying the first text in a visually distinctive manner while displaying the document;

instructions for displaying the one or more replacement text options in response to a first user initiated activity associated with the first text; and

instructions for displaying an edit choice.

33. A system for providing a spell checker, comprising:

means for sending a document to be spell checked to a spelling server;

means for receiving the document with associated spelling information, the spelling information including identification of a potentially misspelled word and one or more replacement words;

means for displaying the document on a display device;

means for identifying the potentially misspelled word in a visually distinctive manner while the document is displayed;

means for displaying the one or more replacement words in response to a user initiated activity associated with the potentially misspelled word; and

means for replacing the potentially misspelled word with a word selected by the user, the word selected from the one or more replacement words.