A method to sequentially encode PINYIN of Chinese character with few symbols

• US 20060061491A1
• Filed: 11/03/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bin Qin
• Original Assignee: Bin Qin
• Inventors: Qin, Bin
• Granted Patent: US 7,861,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/129 Handling non-Latin characters, e.g. kana-to-kanji conversion

Abstract

A method of encoding Chinese character PINYIN into digital string and utilizing a key pad to input Chinese character to computer is described herein. The pronunciation of a Chinese character can be described by Romania form of 26 letters, and four tone indicators. In accordance with the present invention, a lookup table has been composed, allowing the 30 symbols to be grouped into ten sets. Each set is associated with group identification respectively. In operation, a key pad mapped with the lookup table allows individual symbol of PINYIN to be inputted directly using group identification as medium. Individual symbols are retrieved exclusively through the group identification and echoed step by step. A human-machine interface similar to an ASCII compatible keyboard has been established by the method for a small key pad compatible to phone set during the PINYIN inputting process. An inputted PINYIN is used to retrieve a Chinese character further.

Claims

1. A method of delineating a Chinese PINYIN form with few symbols, comprising steps of:

1) dividing elementary PINYIN symbols into sub groups;

     2) ordering elements within sub group;

     3) associating each sub group with a group identification;

     4) differentiating elements within sub group through a group identification or a string of group identifications;

     5) converting the elementary symbols within said Chinese PINYIN form sequentially into said group identification or said string of group identifications;

whereby said Chinese PINYIN form is delineated by few symbols of group identifications.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a lookup table contains PINYIN symbols in either Romania form or classic Chinese form of 20 elementary initial consonants, 6 elementary vowels and 4 tones;

and the elementary symbols have been divided into ten sets by means of;

     1) each set contains two consonants as item 1 and 2 and an additional vowel or tone symbol as item 3;

     2) each set is associated with a digit as group identification;

     3) an individual item is coded by its group identification, except for that

     4) either said item 1 or said item 2 is coded by double group identification when appearing as initial consonant in PINYIN;

     5) said item 3 is coded by group identification plus a different group identification when required;

whereby said Chinese PINYIN in either Romania form or classic form is converted to a string of digit.

3. Said lookup table of claim 2 wherein, comprising at least:

Set 1 contains “

g”

, “

z” and

“

a”

with digit identification 1;

Set 2 contains “

d”

, “

b” and

“

o”

with digit identification 2;

Set 3 contains “

y”

, “

j” and

“

e”

with digit identification 3;

Set 4 contains “

k”

, “

c” and

“

i”

with digit identification 4;

Set 5 contains “

t”

, “

p” and

“

u”

with digit identification 5;

Set 6 contains “

w”

, “

q” and

“

ü

”

with digit identification 6;

Set 7 contains “

h”

, “

s” and

“

{acute over ( )}”

with digit identification 7;

Set 8 contains “

n”

, “

m” and

“

{hacek over ( )}”

with digit identification 8;

Set 9 contains “

r”

, “

x” and

“

{grave over ( )}”

with digit identification 9;

Set 10 contains “

l”

, “

f” and

“

{overscore ( )}”

with digit identification 0.

4. Said lookup table of claim 2 wherein, comprising at least:

Set 1 contains “

”

, “

” and

“

”

with digit identification 1;

Set 2 contains “

”

, “

” and

“

”

with digit identification 2;

Set 3 contains “

”

, “

” and

“

”

with digit identification 3;

Set 4 contains “

”

, “

” and

“

”

with digit identification 4;

Set 5 contains “

”

, “

” and

“

”

with digit identification 5;

Set 6 contains “

”

, “

” and

“

”

with digit identification 6;

Set 7 contains “

”

, “

” and

“

{acute over ( )}”

with digit identification 7;

Set 8 contains “

”

, “

” and

“

{hacek over ( )}”

with digit identification 8;

Set 9 contains “

”

, “

” and

“

{grave over ( )}”

with digit identification 9;

Set 10 contains “

”

, “

” and

“

{overscore ( )}”

with digit identification 0.

5. An input device, comprising at least:

1) 10 keys;

     2) providing each key being mapped by contents of sets of said lookup table respectively;

whereby encoding PINYIN symbol with group identification electronically is achieved by direct key press.

6. The input device of claim 5 wherein 1) keys being part of key pad compatible to telephone set;

2) providing elements from conventional PINYIN groups, {g, k, h}, {j, q, x}, {z, c, s}, {b, p, m, f}, {d, t, n, l}, {y, w, r}, {a, o, e} and {i, u, ü

}, being in the same column or row, respectively;

whereby the layout of PINYIN symbols on said key pad is ordered by convention.

7. The input device of claim 5 wherein 1) keys being furnished by transparent cap;

2) providing each key being embedded with a display device;

whereby keys of said device is decorated by contents in displaying according to circumstances.

8. A Chinese pinyin input apparatus, comprising at least:

1) a numerical keypad compatible to a standard telephone set with PINYIN symbols associated with the keys;

     2) a look-up memory storing a plurality of legible PINYIN forms;

     3) a look-up memory storing a table to associate a digit to a group of PINYIN symbols;

     4) a processor that searches said look-up memory of table to convert a digit to a group of PINYIN symbols, to pack said symbols to previous input to form a plurality of combinations of PINYIN symbols, to match said combinations with said plurality of legible PINYIN forms and retrieve legible combinations;

     5) a display that echo said retrieved legible combinations of PINYIN symbols in accordance with inputted digital string;

whereby a target PINYIN form is inputted by inputting numerical string;

the inputting process is echoed by the PINYIN symbols in legible combinations; and

said target PINYIN is used to index Chinese character by PINYIN method.

9. A method of inputting symbols of Chinese character PINYIN, comprising steps of, 1) providing a keypad with keys associated with identifications and mapped by a group of PINYIN symbols respectively;

2) providing a memory storing key identification sequence;

     3) providing a lookup memory that links a variety of identification sequences to a legible PINYIN symbol string respectively;

     4) providing a processor;

     5) providing a display device;

     6) using said keypad to encode PINYIN symbols sequentially to key identification;

     7) packing said identification in said memory of identification sequence;

     8) using said processor searching said look-up memory to convert said identification sequence to PINYIN symbol string;

     9) echoing retrieved PINYIN symbol string by said display device to confirm input;

whereby a target PINYIN is inputted by PINYIN symbols sequentially using key identification as medium;

permissible input is echoed by PINYIN symbols in legible combinations; and

said target PINYIN can be used to index Chinese character further.