Computer assisted text system

• US 5,621,641 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 04/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alfred B. Freeman
• Original Assignee: Alfred B. Freeman
• Inventors: Freeman, Alfred B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): HILL, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US08/476,640
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/22, 341/23, 341/26, 364/419.1, 364/419.4, 364/419.15, 364/419.16, 364/419.17, 364/709.01, 364/709.11, 364/709.12, 364/709.13, 364/709.14, 364/709.15 , 364/709.16, 400/98, 400/100
• US Class Current: 715/212
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0235 using chord techniques G06F3/0234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques

Abstract

On word starts, the system displays sets of very frequent words and attributes in locations which associate them with input actions. Possible attributes include letters, phonetic sounds, character strokes or parameters as appropriate for the language. Attributes inputted select word sets from a vocabulary which has N sets of a plurality of word sets in which the words of each set share a unique set of one to N attributes. The display presents accessed word sets which the user may search for wanted words. Vocabulary words include codes to select inflection sets when they are selected. For alphabetic languages, spelling rules and a store of modified word ends and inflection starts are used in the application of inflections. Selected words, with or without inflections, are outputted by input actions which may append `Space` or punctuation endings. User actions on keyboard and/or stroke sensing apparatus input attributes and select, inflect, and output words with endings. Some keyboard apparatus responds to key combinations and others to single keys. Stroke apparatus senses motion of a mouse in each of a plurality of directions and patterns and inputs data items associated with the respective motions.

Claims

1. A method for outputting words to an applications program performed by a computer apparatus which runs said applications program and includes a data processing means and an input means in which the data processing means normally processes the signals from said input means for input to said applications program;

and by a word producing program run by said computer apparatus and including a control means having an Off state and an On state;

the method comprising the steps of;

a) setting said control means to the On state responsive to On signals from said input means;

b) resetting said control means to the Off state responsive to Off signals from said input means;

c) intercepting the signals from said input means while said control means is in the On state;

d) selecting words responsive to the signals intercepted; and

e) outputting the words selected to said data processing means responsive to signals intercepted;

wherein said word producing program includes a vocabulary of a plurality of sets of words stems assigned to letter strings from 1 to N letters long;

wherein some of the signals of said input means represent letters and wherein step d) includes;

d1) storing the letters inputted;

d2) accessing the set of word stems assigned to the letters stored;

d3) selecting a word from the accessed set of word stems responsive to some of said signals or selecting the stored letter string as a word responsive to another of said signals.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the input means includes a keyboard.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein step e) outputs the stored letter string as a word responsive to the signal produced by the operation of the Space Bar of said keyboard.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the input means includes a mouse type device.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the input means includes a set of prescribed minimum movement patterns and means for producing signals responsive to movement of the mouse type device in any one of the prescribed patterns.

6. A method for outputting words to an applications program performed by a computer apparatus running said application program and including a data processing means, a memory, a display, and an input means;

and by a word producing program running on said computer apparatus and having a vocabulary consisting of a plurality of words arranged into first through Nth pluralities of word sets wherein each of the sets of said first plurality are assigned to single letters and each of the sets of said Nth plurality are assigned to a string of N letters;

said method comprising the steps of;

a) starting a word by accessing a first word set;

b) inputting letters responsive to operation of said input means;

c) storing the letters inputted as a letter string in said memory;

d) selecting a word of the accessed set responsive to each letter inputted;

e) accessing the word set assigned to the letter string stored;

f) changing the selected word to a different word of the accessed set responsive to another input from said input means; and

g) outputting the selected word or the stored letter string responsive to a signal from said input means.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said input device includes a keyboard and including the step of outputting the stored letter string responsive to the operation of the Space Bar of said keyboard.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein step f) is enabled by holding the last letter key operated.

9. The method according to claim 6 wherein said input device includes a mouse type device and said word producing program has a set of prescribed patterns of minimum movement and wherein step b) is responsive to movement of said mouse type device in prescribed patterns.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the mouse type device includes a key and step f) is enabled by operation of the key of the mouse type device to respond to movement of said mouse type device in prescribed patterns.

11. The method according to claim 9 wherein one of the actions selected by movement of said mouse type device in a prescribed pattern is the enabling of step f).

12. The method according to claim 9 wherein movement of said mouse type device in prescribed patterns provides the signals for step g).