Device And Method Of Conveying Meaning

• US 20070276814A1
• Filed: 05/23/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerence Operating Company (Cerence Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ZI Corporation of Canada Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Williams, Roland E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,166,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/977 Dynamic icon, e.g. animated or live action

Abstract

Methods of and devices for inserting a pictorial artifact into a text document are described. A relational database is used to link possible text-entries with pictorial artifacts. A pictorial artifact has a meaning that corresponds to its linked possible text-entry. When text is entered, the database is searched to determine whether a match exists between the entered text and one of the possible text-entries in the database. If a match is found, the linked pictorial artifact is provided to the user for selection and entry into the text document. The pictorial artifacts may be modified, and modified artifacts may be used in a search of the database to locate linked text-entries, in order to permit the user to select alternate text.

Claims

1. A method of inserting a pictorial artifact into a text document, comprising:

providing a database having at least one possible text-entry that is linked to a pictorial artifact;

receiving text from an input device;

searching the database to determine whether the received text matches the possible text-entry that is linked;

if the received text matches the possible text entry that is linked, then providing the linked pictorial artifact;

selecting the provided pictorial artifact;

inserting the selected pictorial artifact into a text document.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected pictorial artifact is inserted into the text document at an end of a sentence in which the received text resides.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing modification options that may be used to modify the selected pictorial artifact;

selecting a modification option; and

modifying the selected pictorial artifact according to the selected modification option.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the modification options correspond to the appearance of lines comprising the pictorial artifact.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the modification options changes a color of the pictorial artifact.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the modification options changes a fill-pattern of the pictorial artifact.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the modification options is a density parameter.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one of the modification options includes sound.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein a first set of the modification options may be selected by moving a controller in a first manner, and a second set of the modification options may be selected by moving the controller in a second manner.

10. The method of claim 3, searching the database for alternate text corresponding to the modified pictorial artifact, and providing the alternate text corresponding to the modified pictorial artifact.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the alternate text includes text from a language different from that of the received text.

12. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing an alternate pictorial artifact corresponding to the modified pictorial artifact.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising highlighting the received text until the linked pictorial artifact is selected.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the provided pictorial artifact is accomplished by touching a portion of a monitor where the pictorial artifact is displayed.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the pictorial artifact is a sprite.

16. An electronic appliance comprising:

a database having at least one possible text-entry that is linked to a pictorial artifact;

an input device which is capable of receiving text from a user;

a microprocessor programmed to (a) search the database to determine whether text received by the input device matches the possible text entry that is linked, and (b) if the received text matches the possible text entry that is linked, then provide the linked pictorial artifact;

a selection device which allows the user to select the provided pictorial artifact; and

a display device which is able to display the selected pictorial artifact in conjunction with the received text.

17. The appliance of claim 16, wherein the display device displays the selected pictorial artifact at an end of a sentence in which the received text resides.

18. The appliance of claim 16, wherein the display device is able to provide modification options that may be used to modify the selected pictorial artifact.

19. The appliance of claim 18, wherein at least one of the modification options changes a color of the pictorial artifact.

20. The appliance of claim 18, wherein at least one of the modification options changes a fill-pattern of the pictorial artifact.

21. The appliance of claim 18, wherein at least one of the modification options changes a density parameter of the pictorial artifact.

22. The appliance of claim 18, further comprising a speaker, and wherein at least one of the modification options includes sound that may be made audible using the speaker.

23. The appliance of claim 18, wherein the selection device includes a controller, and a first set of the modification options may be selected by moving the controller in a first manner, and a second set of the modification options may be selected by moving the controller in a second manner.

24. The appliance of claim 18, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to search the database for alternate text corresponding to a modified pictorial artifact, and causing the display to provide the alternate text corresponding to the modified pictorial artifact.

25. The appliance of claim 16, wherein the selection device and the display device use a single monitor.