Automated word substitution using numerical rankings of structural disparity between misspelled words & candidate substitution words
First Claim
1. In apparatus for automated linguistic expression substitution, the improvement comprisingA. first input means for inputting, into said apparatus, a suspect expression signal representative of a linguistic expression consisting of characters,B. second input means for inputting, into said apparatus, an alternate expression signal representative of a permissible linguistic expression consisting of characters,C. comparison means, connected to said first and second input means, for comparing said suspect expression signal with said alternate expression signal and for producing a disparity signal numerically representative of differences between a spelling of the linguistic expression represented by said suspect expression signal and a spelling of the linguistic expression represented by said alternate expression signal, said comparison means including means for detecting disparity types representative of(i) transposition of character order,(ii) deletion of a character,(iii) an unmatched character, and(iv) differences in expression character length, occurring between said compared expression signals, said comparison means further including means responsive to the detection of said disparity type for producing a signal indicative of the numerically-weighted structural significance of that type, andD. selection means, connected to said comparison means and responsive to a numerical value represented by said disparity signal, for selectively determining said alternate expression to be substitutable for said suspect expression and for producing an output signal indicative thereof.
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Abstract
A spelling correction system compares a correctly spelled word with an incorrectly spelled word to determine the degree of substitutability. If the system determines that the words are highly similar, the system flags the correct word as exclusively substitutable for the incorrect word. If the system determines the words are of moderate similarity, the correct word is flagged as a possible substitute for the incorrect word.
88 Citations
31 Claims
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1. In apparatus for automated linguistic expression substitution, the improvement comprising
A. first input means for inputting, into said apparatus, a suspect expression signal representative of a linguistic expression consisting of characters, B. second input means for inputting, into said apparatus, an alternate expression signal representative of a permissible linguistic expression consisting of characters, C. comparison means, connected to said first and second input means, for comparing said suspect expression signal with said alternate expression signal and for producing a disparity signal numerically representative of differences between a spelling of the linguistic expression represented by said suspect expression signal and a spelling of the linguistic expression represented by said alternate expression signal, said comparison means including means for detecting disparity types representative of (i) transposition of character order, (ii) deletion of a character, (iii) an unmatched character, and (iv) differences in expression character length, occurring between said compared expression signals, said comparison means further including means responsive to the detection of said disparity type for producing a signal indicative of the numerically-weighted structural significance of that type, and D. selection means, connected to said comparison means and responsive to a numerical value represented by said disparity signal, for selectively determining said alternate expression to be substitutable for said suspect expression and for producing an output signal indicative thereof.
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9. Apparatus for automated linguistic expression substitution having a keyboard for accepting expressions and converting them into signals representative thereof, a monitor for graphic display of signals representative of symbols and linguistic expressions, a processing unit for processing signals representative of lingiuistic expressions, and a storage unit for storing signals representative of linguistic expressions, and further having the improvement comprising
A. first input means for inputting from at least one of said keyboard, said processing unit, and said storge unit, a suspect expression signal representative of a linguistic expression, B. second input means for inputting, from at least one of said processing unit or said storage unit, alternate expression signals representative of one or more permissible linguistic expressions, C. comparison means, connected to said first and second input means, for comparing said suspect expression signal with each said alternate expression signal and for producing a disparity signal numerically representative of differences between a spelling of the linguistic expression represented by said suspect expression signal and a spelling of the linguistic expression represented by each said alternate expression signal, said comparison means including means for detecting disparity types representative of (i) transposition of character order, (ii) deletion of a character, (iii) an unmatched character, and (iv) differences in expression character length, occurring between said compared expression signals, and further includes means responsive to the detection of said disparity type for producing a signal indicative of the numerically-weighted structural significance of that type, and D. selection means, connected to said comparison means and responsive to a numerical value represented by said disparity signals, for selecting the alternate expression signal, if any, to replace said suspect expression and for producing an output signal indicative thereof.
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22. In a method for automated linguistic expression substitution on a digital data processor, the improvement wherein said digital data processor executes steps comprising
A. accepting into said digital data processor a suspect expression signal representative of a linguistic expression consisting of characters, B. accepting into said digital data processor an alternate expression signal representative of a permissible linguistic expression consisting of characters, C. comparing within said digital data processor said suspect expression signal with said alternate expression signal and producing a disparity signal numerically representative of differences between a spelling of the linguistic expression represented by said suspect expression signals and a spelling of the linguistic expression represented by said alternate expression signal, said comparing step including the step of producing said disparity signal to be numerically representative of the type and magnitude of differences between said suspect expression signal and said alternate expression signal, said comparing step further including the steps of responding to the detection of transposition, character deletion, unmatched character, and character length disparity types for producing a signal indicative of the numerically-weighted structural significance of that detected type, and D. evaluating within said digital data processor a numerical value represented by said disparity signal for determining whether said alternate expression signal is substitutable for said suspect expression signal and for producing an output signal indicative thereof.
Specification