Word processing

• US 5,784,008 A
• Filed: 05/09/1997
• Issued: 07/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Raguseo, Domenico
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US08/853,844
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/22, 341/23, 345/168, 400/485, 707/534, 707/531, 707/532, 707/533
• US Class Current: 341/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

A method and system for inputting text in a word processing system. A set of words is assigned to predetermined specific keys for later quick input. The set of words is dynamically changed during the input of the text, taking into account variable parameters such as the frequency of the words within the text and the difficulty of typing of the words.

Claims

1. A method of dynamically creating a most frequently used word set for outputting text in an electronic word processing system comprising input means having a plurality of keys k_i for inputting the text, the text being in the form of a sequence of words w_j =(c₁, c₂, . . . , c_n), the method comprising the steps of:

inputting text;

dynamically defining according to at least one variable parameter a limited set of words found in said text as said text is being inputted;

associating each word of the limited set of words to a specific key; and

dynamically changing said associating as said limited set of words changes in accordance with said at least one variable parameter, whereas one of the specfic keys is used to output the word associated therewith.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying the set of words associated to specific keys.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one parameter comprises the frequency of the words in the text.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the definition of the set of words and the association of each word to a specific key are dynamically changed during the input of the text, further according to a second parameter, the second parameter being dependent by the length of the words.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein each one of the plurality of keys k_i is mapped on a Cartesian reference system and is associated to a pair of coordinates (x_i,y_i) of the Cartesian reference system, the plurality of keys being ideally divided into a first and a second set of keys, the first set of keys having the x-coordinates less than a predetermined threshold h and the second set of keys having the x-coordinate greater than the predetermined threshold h, each word W_j having a difficulty value D(W_j) defined as:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">D(W.sub.j)=SUM(move(c.sub.i,c.sub.i+1)) with i=1 to n

where the function move(k₁, k₂) is;

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ = sqrt((x.sub.2 - x.sub.1).sup.2 + (y.sub.2 - y.sub.1).sup.2) if (x.sub.2 - h)*(x.sub.1 - h) >

0 = 1 if (x.sub.2 - h)*(x.sub.1 - h) <

0 ______________________________________

said second parameter being dependent from said difficulty value.

6. A word processing system for dynamically creating a most frequently used word list for outputting text, comprising:

input means having a plurality of keys k_i for inputting text, the text being in a form of a sequence of words w_j =(c₁, c₂, . . . , c_n);

means for dynamically defining, according to at least one variable parameter, a limited set of words in said text as said text is being inputted;

means for associating each word of the limited set of words to a specific key; and

means for dynamically changing said associating as said limited set of words changes in accordance with said at least one variable whereas one of the specfic keys is used to output the word associated therewith.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising display means for displaying the set of words associated to specific keys.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the at least one parameter comprises the frequency of the words in the text.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the definition of the set of words and the association of each word to a specific key are dynamically changed during the input of the text, further according to a second parameter, the second parameter being dependent by the length of the words.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein each one of the plurality of keys k_i is mapped on a Cartesian reference system and is associated to a pair of coordinates (x_i,y_i) of the Cartesian reference system, the plurality of keys being ideally divided into a first and a second set of keys, the first set of keys having the x-coordinates less than a predetermined threshold h and the second set of keys having the x-coordinate greater than the predetermined threshold h,each word W_j having a difficulty value D(W_j) defined as:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">D(W.sub.j)=SUM(move(c.sub.i,c.sub.i+1)) with i=1 to n

where the function move(k₁,k₂) is;

##EQU1## said second parameter being dependent from said difficulty value.