METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPLETION OF KEYBOARD ENTRY

• US 20100285435A1
• Filed: 05/06/2009
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lexia Learning Systems LLC (Rosetta Stone Incorporated), Rosetta Stone Limited (Rosetta Stone Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lexia Learning Systems LLC (Rosetta Stone Incorporated), Rosetta Stone Limited (Rosetta Stone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pellom, Bryan, La Touche, James Digges, Keim, Gregory, Marmorstein, Jack August
• Application Number:
  US12/436,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20100285435A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/157
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/04 Speaking with audible presentation of the material to be studied G09B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/06 Foreign languages with audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04

Abstract

A teaching machine generates a list of likely completions of an incomplete typed word, based upon previous keyboard input. This may include not only the incompletely typed word, but a number of completely typed, preceding words, in order have the word completion based upon context. The incompletely typed word is then subjected to a phonetic transcription, or other tests based upon knowledge by the system of the user, to further narrow the prediction list.

Claims

1. A method for generating an estimated value of a word while it is being input into a machine, comprising the steps of:

based upon prior input, generating likely values for the word being input;

comparing an entered portion of the word being input with likely values for an intended full word; and

selecting from among the likely values, a subset of prediction values of the word, based upon the degree of comparison in the comparing step.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said likely values are determined based at least upon phonetic pronunciation.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

comparing the spelling of any entered portion of the word being input with the spelling of likely words; and

selecting from the subset of prediction values of the word a subset of final values of the word, based upon the degree of comparison in the spelling comparing step.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the generating step is performed with the aid of a statistical model determining the likelihood of the value of the word being entered to the values of a predetermined number of previously entered complete words, whereby, the value of the estimated value is related to the context of the word being input.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the statistical model is an n-gram model.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein said likely values are determined based at least upon lesson being executed.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein said likely values are determined based at least upon meaning of said intended full word.

6. In a method for generating an estimated value of a word while it is being input into a machine, the value of the word being estimated from among a plurality of likely values of the word, the step of comparing a phoneticized version of the any entered portion of the word being input with phoneticized versions of the likely values.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising selecting among likely values based upon the degree of the comparison.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of:

comparing the spelling of any entered portion of the word being input with the spelling of likely values; and

selecting from among likely values of the word a subset of final values of the word, based upon the degree of comparison in the spelling comparing step.

9. In a method for generating an estimated value of a word while it is being input into a machine, the value of the word to be estimated from among a plurality of likely values of the word, the step of generating a likely value of the word with the aid of a statistical model making use of the values of a predetermined number of previously entered complete words, whereby, the estimated value is related to the context of the word being input.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the statistical model is an n-gram model.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of:

comparing the spelling of any entered portion of the word being input with the spelling of likely values; and

selecting from among likely values of the word a subset of final values of the word, based upon the degree of comparison in the spelling comparing step.

12. Apparatus for generating an estimated value of a word while it is being input into a machine, comprising:

a word generator generating likely values for the word being input based upon prior input

a first comparator of phoneticized versions of the any entered portion of the word being input with phoneticized versions of the likely values; and

a first selector responsive to a result of the first comparator for selecting from among the likely values, a subset of prediction values of the word.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 provided in a computerized teaching machine.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a second comparator comparing the spelling of any entered portion of the word being input with the spelling of likely words; and

a second selector responsive to the result of the second comparator for selecting from the subset of prediction values of the word a subset of final values of the word.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the generator incorporates a statistical model determining the likelihood of the value of the word being entered to the values of a predetermined number of previously entered complete words, whereby, the value of the estimated value is related to the context of the word being input.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the statistical model is an n-gram model.

17. In an apparatus for generating an estimated value of a word while it is being input into a machine, the value of the word being estimated from among a plurality of likely values of the word, a comparator of a phoneticized version of the any entered portion of the word being input with phoneticized versions of the likely values.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a selector selecting among likely values based upon the comparator result.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

a second comparator comparing the spelling of any entered portion of the word being input with the spelling of likely values; and

a second selector selecting among likely values of the word a subset of final values of the word, based upon the result of the second comparator.

20. In an apparatus for generating an estimated value of a word while it is being input into a machine, the value of the word to be estimated from among a plurality of likely values of the word, a generator generating a likely value of the word with the aid of a statistical model making use of the values of a predetermined number of previously entered complete words, whereby, the estimated value is related to the context of the word being input.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the statistical model is an n-gram model.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

a second comparator comparing the spelling of any entered portion of the word being input with the spelling of likely values; and

a second selector selecting among likely values of the word a subset of final values of the word, based upon the result of the second comparator.

23. A method for improving keyboard communication between a skilled individual and a lesser skilled individual in a language, comprising the steps of:

providing the skilled individual with means estimating completion of a keyboard entry;

determining whether an estimated completion selected by the skilled individual is in a vocabulary known by the lesser skilled individual;

if the result of the determining step is in the affirmative, inserting the selected completion in a communication with the lesser skilled individual;

if the result of the determining step is negative, suggesting to the skilled individual alternative terminology that would be understood by the lesser skilled individual; and

upon the skilled individual'"'"'s selection from the alternative terminology, inserting the selected terminology in a communication with the lesser skilled individual.

24. A method of calculating a word intended to be typed by a user, said method comprising:

determining a portion of a user input;

comparing said portion with words that have a similar portion to generate a potential display list,

narrowing the display list based upon a model of words likely to be entered in response to a lesson being studied by said user at a time of said user input;

narrowing said display list based upon a set of words already studied by said user;

displaying a final display list.

25. A method a teaching language to a language learner, the method comprising:

maintaining information indicative of words already studied by said language learner;

accepting user input of a partial word;

comparing said partial word phonetically to a corresponding portion of partial words already learned by said language learner; and

suggesting one or more full words intended, said suggesting being based at least in part upon said partial word and said words already learned.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said suggesting is further based upon a present language lesson being executed.

29. A method of facilitating communications between two users comprising:

maintaining a record indicative of a level of skill associated with a first user;

monitoring communications from a second user in a first language;

if said communications from said second user are at or below a level of skill in said first language associated with said first user, passing said communications to said first user, and

if not, translating said communications to a level at or below said level of skill, but maintaining said communications in said first language.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said communications are verbal.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said communications are textual.

32. A method comprising analyzing a first message entered by a first user, determining whether said first message is understandable to a second user based at least in part upon said first message and a level of knowledge of said second user, if not, translating said first message into a second message, said first and second messaged being in the same language.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said first message is a single word.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein said first message is plural words.