Document processing support system using keywords to retrieve explanatory information linked together by correlative arcs

• US 5,280,573 A
• Filed: 03/12/1990
• Issued: 01/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wada, Masahiro, Onishi, Satoshi, Kanza, Hiroyuki, Morishita, Taro, Kuga, Shigeki
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jankus, Almis
• Application Number:
  US07/491,693
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 364/518-521, 364/409, 364/200, 364/900, 364/419, 395/145-147, 395/155-161, 395/144, 395/600
• US Class Current: 715/708
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/247 Thesauruses; Synonyms

Abstract

Method and apparatus are provided for editing input information. Input information is received from an input means (1) from which a keyword is selected for editing purposes. A low level record is located in a memory (5) which has the keyword of the input information stored therein. The low level record having the keyword stored therein is accessed to determine the location in the memory of higher level records and information types of the higher level records. The higher level records having stored therein explanatory information for the keyword in accordance with the information types of the higher level records. The higher level records are of a plurality of information types for presenting different types of explanatory information regarding the keyword, such as a definition of the keyword, a synonym for the keyword, an example usage of the keyword, etc. A display (55) is provided with an indication of the information types stored in the memory for the keyword so that a user can select a desired information type. The explanatory information associated with the desired information type is then displayed to the user, thereby facilitating the user'"'"'s decision whether the keyword is properly used in the input information.

Claims

1. A document-creating support apparatus, comprising:

input means for inputting a character string to be proofread;

editing means functionally connected to said input means for producing an edited sentence;

proofread information accumulating device functionally connected to said editing means and including a memory having retrievable information stored therein according to a multi-level hierarchical classification, said retrievable information being stored in records which are linked in the memory by arcs, each arc having both a pointer to a memory location, an indication of an information type stored at the memory location pointed to by the pointer, and an indication of a level in said multi-level hierarchical classification;

retrieving means functionally connected to said input means and said proofread information accumulating device for receiving said character string to proofread, for specifying a keyword to be proofread in said character string, for retrieving retrievable information related to said keyword from said proofread information accumulating device in accordance with an information type; and

proofreading means functionally connected to said retrieving means for selecting retrievable information to replace the keyword.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said proofreading information accumulating means is a random access memory to which said information type can be written.

3. A document-creating support apparatus, comprising:

input means for inputting a character string to be proofread;

editing means functionally connected to said input means for producing an edited sentence;

proofread information accumulating device functionally connected to said editing means and including a memory having retrievable information stored therein according to a hierarchical classification, said retrievable information being stored in records which are linked in the memory by arcs, each arc having both a pointer to a memory location and an indication of an information type stored at the memory location pointed to by the pointer;

retrieving means functionally connected to said input means and said proofread information accumulating device for receiving said character string to proofread, for specifying a keyword to be proofread in said character string, for retrieving retrievable information related to said keyword from said proofread information accumulating device in accordance with an information type;

proofreading means functionally connected to said retrieving means for selecting retrievable information to replace the keyword, and

figure input means for inputting figure information indicative of an inputted figure;

processing means for processing said inputted figure to obtain a processed figure; and

figure outputting means for outputting said processed figure.

4. A document-creating support apparatus, comprising:

input means for inputting a character string to be proofread;

editing means functionally connected to said input means for producing an edited sentence;

proofread information accumulating device functionally connected to said editing means and including a memory having retrievable information stored therein according to a hierarchical classification, said retrievable information being stored in records which are linked in the memory by arcs, each arc having both a pointer to a memory location and an indication of an information type stored at the memory location pointed to by the pointer;

retrieving means functionally connected to said input means and said proofread information accumulating device for receiving said character string to proofread, for specifying a keyword to be proofread in said character string, for retrieving retrievable information related to said keyword from said proofread information accumulating device in accordance with an information type;

proofreading means functionally connected to said retrieving means for selecting retrievable information to replace the keyword, and

sound inputting means for inputting sound information as inputted sound information;

processing means for converting said inputted sound information into a processed sentence; and

sound outputting means for outputting said processed sentence as a sound.

5. A document-creating support apparatus, comprising:

input means for inputting a character string to be proofread;

editing means functionally connected to said input means for producing an edited sentence;

proofread information accumulating device functionally connected to said editing means and including a memory having retrievable information stored therein according to a hierarchical classification, said retrievable information being stored in records which are linked in the memory by arcs, each arc having both a pointer to a memory location and an indication of an information type stored at the memory location pointed to by the pointer;

retrieving means functionally connected to said input means and said proofread information accumulating device for receiving said character string to proofread, for specifying a keyword to be proofread in said character string, for retrieving retrievable information related to said keyword from said proofread information accumulating device in accordance with an information type, wherein said retrievable information is classified in accordance with level information which represents how many arcs point to a desired record of retrievable information; and

proofreading means functionally connected to said retrieving means for selecting retrievable information to replace the keyword.

6. A document-creating support apparatus, comprising:

input means for inputting a character string to be proofread;

editing means functionally connected to said input means for producing an edited sentence;

proofread information accumulating device functionally connected to said editing means and including a memory having retrievable information stored therein according to a hierarchical classification, said retrievable information being stored in records which are linked in the memory by arcs, each arc having both a pointer to a memory location and an indication of an information type stored at the memory location pointed to by the pointer;

retrieving means functionally connected to said input means and said proofread information accumulating device for receiving said character string to proofread, for specifying a keyword to be proofread in said character string, for retrieving retrievable information related to said keyword from said proofread information accumulating device in accordance with an information type;

proofreading means functionally connected to said retrieving means for selecting retrievable information to replace the keyword, and

output means for displaying said character string, keyword and retrievable information, said output means including a visual display device.

7. A method for editing input information, the method comprising:

receiving input information and selecting therefrom a keyword for editing;

locating a record in a memory having the keyword of the input information stored therein and referencing such record as a first level record;

accessing the first level record having the keyword stored therein to determine the location in the memory of higher level records and information types of the higher level records, the higher level records having stored therein explanatory information for the keyword in accordance with the information types of the higher level records, the higher level records being of a plurality of information types for presenting different types of explanatory information regarding the keyword;

providing an indication of the information types stored in the memory for the keyword;

receiving an indication of a selected information type; and

providing the explanatory information stored in the higher level record of the selected information type thereby facilitating an editing decision whether the keyword is properly used in the input information.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

replacing the keyword in the input information with the explanatory information.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein one information type is an example of usage of the keyword.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein one information type is a synonym of the keyword.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein one information type is a definition of the keyword.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein one information type is a dictionary entry for the keyword.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving explanatory information pertaining to the keyword and storing the received explanatory information in the memory.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising storing in the first level record an indication of the media from which the input information was received.

15. An apparatus for editing input information, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving input information and selecting therefrom a keyword for editing;

a memory having records stored therein including first level records and higher level records;

means for locating in the memory the location of a first level record having the keyword stored therein;

means for accessing the first level record having the keyword stored therein to determine the location in the memory of higher level records and information types of such higher level records, the higher level records having stored therein explanatory information for the keyword in accordance with the information types of the higher level records, the higher level records being of a plurality of information types for presenting different types of explanatory information regarding the keyword;

means for providing an indication of the information types stored in the memory for the keyword;

means for receiving an indication of a selected one of the information types; and

means for providing the explanatory information stored in the higher level record of the selected information type thereby facilitating an editing decision whether the keyword is properly used in the input information.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein one information type is an example of usage of the keyword.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein one information type is a synonym of the keyword.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein one information type is a definition of the keyword.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein one information type is a dictionary entry for the keyword.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

means for receiving explanatory information pertaining to the keyword and for storing the received explanatory information in the memory.