Mobile Electronic Device and Associated Method Providing Proposed Spelling Corrections Based Upon a Location of Cursor At or Adjacent a Character of a Text Entry

• US 20110179353A1
• Filed: 01/19/2010
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Wood, Christopher William
• Application Number:
  US12/689,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20110179353A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/257
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/232 Orthographic correction, e.g. spell checking or vowelisation

Abstract

An improved mobile electronic device and method enable the outputting of proposed spelling corrections that are based upon a location of a cursor at or adjacent a character of a text entry. Advantageously, therefore, the proposed spelling corrections that are output in a window on a display can be fewer in number and thus more readily reviewable since some valid spelling corrections may be suppressed from such a window if they do not additionally include a character difference from the potentially misspelled text entry that is relevant to the location of the cursor.

Claims

1. A method on a mobile electronic device of providing a number of proposed spelling corrections for a text entry having a plurality of characters, the method comprising:

detecting a location of a cursor at or adjacent at least one character of the text entry;

outputting a number of proposed spelling corrections each comprising a number of characters and comprising a character difference from the text entry that is at least one of;

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being absent from a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction,

the proposed spelling correction comprising a character additional to the text entry and disposed at a position in the proposed spelling correction that corresponds with being at or adjacent the cursor in the text entry,

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being replaced with a different character at a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction, and

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor and another character adjacent thereto in the text entry being at swapped positions in the proposed spelling correction.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising suppressing from the output any proposed spelling corrections that lack a character difference from the text entry that is at least one of:

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being absent from a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction;

the proposed spelling correction comprising a character additional to the text entry and disposed at a position in the proposed spelling correction that corresponds with being at or adjacent the cursor in the text entry;

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being replaced with a different character at a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction; and

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor and another character adjacent thereto in the text entry being at swapped positions in the proposed spelling correction.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

subjecting the text entry to a spell checking routine;

identifying with the spell checking routine a plurality of proposed spelling corrections comprising a first proposed spelling correction and a second proposed spelling correction;

performing the suppressing as to the first proposed spelling correction responsive to a determination that the first proposed spelling correction lacks a character difference from the text entry that is at least one of;

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being absent from a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction,

the proposed spelling correction comprising a character additional to the text entry and disposed at a position in the proposed spelling correction that corresponds with being at or adjacent the cursor in the text entry,

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being replaced with a different character at a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction, and

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor and another character adjacent thereto in the text entry being at swapped positions in the proposed spelling correction; and

performing the outputting of the second proposed spelling correction responsive to a determination that the second proposed spelling correction comprises a character difference from the text entry that is at least one of;

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being absent from a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction,

the proposed spelling correction comprising a character additional to the text entry and disposed at a position in the proposed spelling correction that corresponds with being at or adjacent the cursor in the text entry,

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being replaced with a different character at a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction, and

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor and another character adjacent thereto in the text entry being at swapped positions in the proposed spelling correction.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a movement input that moves the cursor to the location at or adjacent the at least one character of the text entry;

detecting a predetermined input subsequent to the detecting of the movement input; and

responsive to the detecting of the predetermined input, initiating the outputting of the number of proposed spelling corrections.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising detecting as the predetermined input one of:

an input from a predetermined input element of an input apparatus of the mobile electronic device, and

an expiration of a predetermined period of time without a detection of another input from the input apparatus.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subjecting the text entry to a spell checking routine;

identifying with the spell checking routine a plurality of proposed spelling corrections each having an edit distance of one from the text entry; and

outputting as the number of proposed spelling corrections fewer than all of the plurality of proposed spelling corrections.

7. A mobile electronic device structured to provide a number of proposed spelling corrections for a text entry having a plurality of characters, the mobile electronic device comprising:

a processor apparatus comprising a processor and a memory;

an input apparatus structured to provide input to the processor apparatus;

an output apparatus structured to receive output signals from the processor;

the memory having stored therein one or more routines which, when executed on the processor, cause the mobile electronic device to perform operations comprising;

detecting a location of a cursor at or adjacent at least one character of the text entry;

outputting a number of proposed spelling corrections each comprising a number of characters and comprising a character difference from the text entry that is at least one of;

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being absent from a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction,

the proposed spelling correction comprising a character additional to the text entry and disposed at a position in the proposed spelling correction that corresponds with being at or adjacent the cursor in the text entry,

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being replaced with a different character at a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction, and

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor and another character adjacent thereto in the text entry being at swapped positions in the proposed spelling correction.

8. The mobile electronic device of claim 7 wherein the operations further comprise suppressing from the output any proposed spelling corrections that lack a character difference from the text entry that is at least one of:

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being absent from a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction;

the proposed spelling correction comprising a character additional to the text entry and disposed at a position in the proposed spelling correction that corresponds with being at or adjacent the cursor in the text entry;

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being replaced with a different character at a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction; and

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor and another character adjacent thereto in the text entry being at swapped positions in the proposed spelling correction.

9. The mobile electronic device of claim 8 wherein the operations further comprise:

subjecting the text entry to a spell checking routine;

identifying with the spell checking routine a plurality of proposed spelling corrections comprising a first proposed spelling correction and a second proposed spelling correction;

performing the suppressing as to the first proposed spelling correction responsive to a determination that the first proposed spelling correction lacks a character difference from the text entry that is at least one of;

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being absent from a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction,

the proposed spelling correction comprising a character additional to the text entry and disposed at a position in the proposed spelling correction that corresponds with being at or adjacent the cursor in the text entry,

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being replaced with a different character at a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction, and

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor and another character adjacent thereto in the text entry being at swapped positions in the proposed spelling correction; and

performing the outputting of the second proposed spelling correction responsive to a determination that the second proposed spelling correction comprises a character difference from the text entry that is at least one of;

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being absent from a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction,

the proposed spelling correction comprising a character additional to the text entry and disposed at a position in the proposed spelling correction that corresponds with being at or adjacent the cursor in the text entry,

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being replaced with a different character at a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction, and

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor and another character adjacent thereto in the text entry being at swapped positions in the proposed spelling correction.

10. The mobile electronic device of claim 7 wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting a movement input that moves the cursor to the location at or adjacent the at least one character of the text entry;

detecting a predetermined input subsequent to the detecting of the movement input; and

responsive to the detecting of the predetermined input, initiating the outputting of the number of proposed spelling corrections.

11. The mobile electronic device of claim 10 wherein the operations further comprise detecting as the predetermined input one of:

an input from a predetermined input element of an input apparatus of the mobile electronic device, and

an expiration of a predetermined period of time without a detection of another input from the input apparatus.

12. The mobile electronic device of claim 7 wherein the operations further comprise:

subjecting the text entry to a spell checking routine;

identifying with the spell checking routine a plurality of proposed spelling corrections each having an edit distance of one from the text entry; and

outputting as the number of proposed spelling corrections fewer than all of the plurality of proposed spelling corrections.

13. A machine readable storage medium comprising one or more routines which, when executed on a processor of a mobile electronic device that is capable of providing a number of proposed spelling corrections for a text entry having a plurality of characters, causes the mobile electronic device to perform operations comprising:

detecting a location of a cursor at or adjacent at least one character of the text entry;

outputting a number of proposed spelling corrections each comprising a number of characters and comprising a character difference from the text entry that is at least one of;

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being absent from a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction,

the proposed spelling correction comprising a character additional to the text entry and disposed at a position in the proposed spelling correction that corresponds with being at or adjacent the cursor in the text entry,

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being replaced with a different character at a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction, and

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor and another character adjacent thereto in the text entry being at swapped positions in the proposed spelling correction.

14. The machine readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the operations further comprise suppressing from the output any proposed spelling corrections that lack a character difference from the text entry that is at least one of:

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being absent from a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction;

the proposed spelling correction comprising a character additional to the text entry and disposed at a position in the proposed spelling correction that corresponds with being at or adjacent the cursor in the text entry;

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being replaced with a different character at a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction; and

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor and another character adjacent thereto in the text entry being at swapped positions in the proposed spelling correction.

15. The machine readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the operations further comprise:

subjecting the text entry to a spell checking routine;

identifying with the spell checking routine a plurality of proposed spelling corrections comprising a first proposed spelling correction and a second proposed spelling correction;

performing the suppressing as to the first proposed spelling correction responsive to a determination that the first proposed spelling correction lacks a character difference from the text entry that is at least one of;

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being absent from a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction,

the proposed spelling correction comprising a character additional to the text entry and disposed at a position in the proposed spelling correction that corresponds with being at or adjacent the cursor in the text entry,

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being replaced with a different character at a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction, and

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor and another character adjacent thereto in the text entry being at swapped positions in the proposed spelling correction; and

performing the outputting of the second proposed spelling correction responsive to a determination that the second proposed spelling correction comprises a character difference from the text entry that is at least one of;

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being absent from a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction,

the proposed spelling correction comprising a character additional to the text entry and disposed at a position in the proposed spelling correction that corresponds with being at or adjacent the cursor in the text entry,

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor being replaced with a different character at a corresponding position in the proposed spelling correction, and

a character of the text entry at or adjacent the cursor and another character adjacent thereto in the text entry being at swapped positions in the proposed spelling correction.

16. The machine readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting a movement input that moves the cursor to the location at or adjacent the at least one character of the text entry;

detecting a predetermined input subsequent to the detecting of the movement input; and

responsive to the detecting of the predetermined input, initiating the outputting of the number of proposed spelling corrections.

17. The machine readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the operations further comprise detecting as the predetermined input one of:

an input from a predetermined input element of an input apparatus of the mobile electronic device, and

an expiration of a predetermined period of time without a detection of another input from the input apparatus.

18. The machine readable storage medium of claim 13 wherein the operations further comprise:

subjecting the text entry to a spell checking routine;

identifying with the spell checking routine a plurality of proposed spelling corrections each having an edit distance of one from the text entry; and

outputting as the number of proposed spelling corrections fewer than all of the plurality of proposed spelling corrections.