Dictionary memory with visual scanning from a selectable starting point
First Claim
1. In a word-processing apparatus having an input keyboard with alphabetic keys, a multi-character display, a printer output, and a dictionary storage containing a word list for verifying the spelling order of character inputs;
- the combination of;
(a) first and second control key means included in said input keyboard,(b) template-forming means operable in response to entry of a string of alphabetic characters via said alphabetic keys,(c) first and second storage areas in said dictionary storage holding character information comprising said word list, successive words thereof being alphabetically arranged and demarked by word separators, said character information in said first storage area comprising a succession of root character sequences having at least two root characters therein;
character information in said second storage area being arranged in a tree structure with a plurality of branches, each branch stemming from a discrete one of said root character sequences and holding at least one word remnant associated with said discrete one sequence, each said word remnant being followed by one of said word separators;
(d) detection means signalling presence of each said word separators in a branch,(e) a counter incremented in response to a signalling by said detection means,(f) a register for storing values from said counter,(g) comparison means having an equality output,(h) listing means, including said comparison means, responsive to actuation of said first control key means and being operable to set said counter and said register to zero, clear said display of existing characters and replace same with a first word from said dictionary storage, said first word containing the template formed by said entry and ending in the one of said branches defined by a particular root character sequence corresponding to said entry, said ending occurring upon a signalling by said detection means of the presence of a first one of said word separators subsequent to said template, said counter being incremented once in response to said signalling and once more in response to said ending, the resultant count in said counter then being stored in said register, and(i) means, including said comparison means, responsive to actuation of said second control key means and being operable to replace, in turn, said first word discerned by said template with a succeeding word in said dictionary storage, said succeeding word containing at least the template formed by said entry and a minimum of one character between said first word separator and a next word separator in said branch said next word separator being identified by an equality output by said comparison means upon a comparison of the incremented value in said counter with said resultant count stored in the register.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable electronic typewriter having a memory incorporating a low-cost spelling-check dictionary and including a multi-character display. The typewriter is operable in a "List" mode according to which the operator can call up display of a portion of the dictionary, sequentially in alphabetical order and one word at a time. The display consists of each stored word sharing an initial set, or "string", of n characters (termed a "template") defined by the operator via the keyboard of the typewriter. In a preferred version, when the typist becomes aware of uncertainty as to spelling, the List Mode may be initiated either before or after partial entry of the desired word. In particular, if the characters entered include an erroneous one, (the typist being alerted of this by an audible alarm, for example), initiation of the List Mode thereafter causes the string to be truncated just before the erroneous character. The resultant template is appropriate for entry into the word listing of the Dictionary and display of successive words (under control of the typist), all of them beginning with the previously defined characters. When the desired word appears on the display the typist can cause that word to be added replacingly to Memory and to the printed text.
62 Citations
10 Claims
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1. In a word-processing apparatus having an input keyboard with alphabetic keys, a multi-character display, a printer output, and a dictionary storage containing a word list for verifying the spelling order of character inputs;
- the combination of;
(a) first and second control key means included in said input keyboard, (b) template-forming means operable in response to entry of a string of alphabetic characters via said alphabetic keys, (c) first and second storage areas in said dictionary storage holding character information comprising said word list, successive words thereof being alphabetically arranged and demarked by word separators, said character information in said first storage area comprising a succession of root character sequences having at least two root characters therein;
character information in said second storage area being arranged in a tree structure with a plurality of branches, each branch stemming from a discrete one of said root character sequences and holding at least one word remnant associated with said discrete one sequence, each said word remnant being followed by one of said word separators;(d) detection means signalling presence of each said word separators in a branch, (e) a counter incremented in response to a signalling by said detection means, (f) a register for storing values from said counter, (g) comparison means having an equality output, (h) listing means, including said comparison means, responsive to actuation of said first control key means and being operable to set said counter and said register to zero, clear said display of existing characters and replace same with a first word from said dictionary storage, said first word containing the template formed by said entry and ending in the one of said branches defined by a particular root character sequence corresponding to said entry, said ending occurring upon a signalling by said detection means of the presence of a first one of said word separators subsequent to said template, said counter being incremented once in response to said signalling and once more in response to said ending, the resultant count in said counter then being stored in said register, and (i) means, including said comparison means, responsive to actuation of said second control key means and being operable to replace, in turn, said first word discerned by said template with a succeeding word in said dictionary storage, said succeeding word containing at least the template formed by said entry and a minimum of one character between said first word separator and a next word separator in said branch said next word separator being identified by an equality output by said comparison means upon a comparison of the incremented value in said counter with said resultant count stored in the register. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- the combination of;
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7. A word-processing apparatus having an input keyboard with alphabetic keys, a multi-character display, a printer poutput, and a dictionary storage containing a word list for verifying the spelling order of character inputs;
- the combination of;
(a) control key means included in said input keyboard, (b) template-forming means including a storage register, (c) means storing a string of alphabetic characters in response to entry thereof via said alphabetic keys, said string containing a character non-verifiable in terms of said word list for verifying spelling order, and being preceded by a word terminator defining the end of a prior word, said non-verifiable character being located at a particular point in said string, (d) means detecting said non-verifiable character, (e) first means responsive to actuation of said control key means subsequent to entry of said string and being operable to clear said display of existing characters and initiate transfer of said string to said storage register, (f) truncating means responsive to said means detecting said non-verifiable character, said truncating means controlling said transfer at said particular point so as to exclude from said storage register said non-verifiable character and any characters subsequent thereto, thereby forming a truncated template therein, and (g) further means responsive to said control key means and being operable to place in said display a first word from said dictionary storage containing the truncated template formed in said register. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
- the combination of;
Specification