Electronic typewriter or word processor with detection and/or correction of selected phrases

• US 5,060,154 A
• Filed: 05/31/1990
• Issued: 10/22/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smith Corona Corporation (Pubco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Smith Corona Corporation (Pubco Corporation)
• Inventors: Duncan, Howard C. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiecking, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KELLEY, STEVEN SHAUN
• Application Number:
  US07/531,198
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 400/63, 400/14, 364/419, 364/900
• US Class Current: 715/236
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/247 Thesauruses; Synonyms

Abstract

A word processing system or memory typewriter having a list of misused phrases together with alternative phrases for each misused phrase in the list and all stored in the memory. The memory includes a spelling Dictionary part and a phrase alert part which is responsive to the spelling dictionary part and including therein a list of alternative phrases both being available for comparison with the words and phrases being introduced into the system; a detection element for sensing entry of any phrase on the phrase alert list, a selectively enabled generator of a warning signal for the operator being activated in response to sensing entry of any of said phrases by said detection element; a first control responsive to pressing a discrete one of a depressible keys. The first control is operable to present in the display any phrase so detected along with alternative phrases therefore.

Claims

1. A word-processing system having a memory, character and control input to the system through a keyboard with a plurality of alphanumeric and function keys depressible by an operator, and a display, in combination wherein said memory includes:

a. a spelling dictionary part;

b. a phrase alert part which is responsive to said spelling dictionary part;

c. a list of correctly spelled words in said spelling dictionary part such that each of said correctly spelled words is assigned a specific location in said list of correctly spelled words and those correctly spelled words that are also included in said phrase alert part include a special code;

d. decoding tree means in said phrase alert part for providing a list of plural sets of series of specific locations of words in said list of correctly spelled words in said spelling dictionary part that include a special code, such that each of said sets correspond to a series of words in a potentially misused phrase;

e. table look up means in said phrase alert part for providing a list of alternative phrases corresponding to each of said potentially misused phrases which corresponds to said sets of series of specific locations of words in said list of correctly spelled words in said spelling dictionary part that include a special code, said list of alternative phrases being identified by said decoding tree means in said phrase alert part;

f. means for registering said locations of words in said list of correctly spelled words;

g. means for comparison of the characters being entered into the system with said list of correctly spelled words in said dictionary part, such that said dictionary part recognizes when a word has been entered and compares the entered word with said list of correctly spelled words and upon entry of a word that is included in said list of correctly spelled words and contains said special code, said assigned specific location of said word is provided as input into said means for registering said specific locations of words;

h. detection means for comparison of said specific locations in said means for registering with said list of plural sets of series of specific locations of words that correspond to a series of words in a potentially misused phrase;

i. a selectively enabled generator of a warning signal for the operator that is activated in response to sensing entry of any of said potentially misused phrases by said detection means; and

j. a first control responsive to pressing a discrete one of said depressible keys, said first control being operable to present in the display any potentially misused phrase so detected along with said list of alternative phrases corresponding to said potentially misused phrase.

2. The Word processing system of claim 1 including a second control being interposed between said detection means and said warning signal generator, said second control being actuatable by said operator for selectively disabling the responsiveness of said generator to entry of at least one category of said potentially misused phrase on said list of said decoding tree means and said table look up means.

3. The word processing system of claim 2, wherein said disabling is responsive to the operator'"'"'s pressing of an other one of said depressible keys subsequent to pressing said discrete one of the depressible keys.

4. The work processing system of claim 3, wherein said disabling relates to said category of alternative phrases and is responsive to the operator'"'"'s pressing of said other one of said depressible keys subsequent to pressing a second discrete one of the depressible keys to display said alternative phrases.

5. The word processing system of claim 1, further including program controls for inserting and removing data from text entered in said display, means responsive to pressing a second discrete one of said depressible keys and effective for causing display of said at least one alternative phrase to the alerting phrase, and a third control responsive to the operator'"'"'s pressing of a further one of said depressible keys when the displayed alternate phrase more nearly matches the desired phrase, said third control being operable to replace said any word in said text by the alternative word.

6. The word-processing system of claim 5, further including a printer and a document held in the printer, together with a correction ribbon for removing undesired text from said document, said document having any phrase and one or more subsequent characters printed thereon, and wherein said third control comprises means, including said correction ribbon, operable to amend said any phrase on said document into conformity with said alternative phrase in response to pressing said further one of said depressible keys.

8. The word-processing system of claim 5, wherein said display includes a cursor movable relative to character therein and has a capacity less in number than the totality of characters in said alternative phrase and the definition thereof, such that a terminal portion of said totality of characters is displayable only by exclusion of said alternative word from said display upon scrolling of said terminal portion relative to said cursor to bring about display of said terminal portion, and means operating said third control independently of display of said alternative phrase.

9. The word-processing system of claim 8, wherein said means operating said third control comprises a register storing an address relating to said alternative phrase.

7. The work-processing system of claim 7, wherein there is a length disparity between said any phrase and said alternative phrase, and further including:

a) means sensing existence of said length disparity, and

b) means responsive to sensed existence of said length disparity and automatically operable to amend said document to present said alternative phrase and said one or more subsequent characters in proper alignment on said document.