Method for inserting capitalized Latin characters in a non-Latin document

• US 5,966,719 A
• Filed: 11/20/1997
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Okumura, Kaoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kindred, Alford W.
• Application Number:
  US08/974,693
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 707/536, 707/535, 707/532, 707/516, 400/484, 400/110, 400/112, 345/171, 345/172, 345/116
• US Class Current: 715/273
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

Inserting capitalized Latin characters in a non-Latin document by changing the input mode of an input device, such as a keyboard, from a non-Latin input mode to a Latin input mode. The input mode is automatically switched from a non-Latin input mode to a Latin input mode when the combination of a shift key and an alphabet key on the input device is depressed. The input mode is automatically returned to the previous non-Latin input mode when the shift key is released and only an alphabet key on the input device is depressed.

Claims

1. A method for switching from a non-Latin input mode into a Latin input mode using an input device having a shift key and a plurality of alphabet keys, comprising the steps of:

in the non-Latin input mode, detecting a first shifted alphabet keystroke event comprising a combination of the shift key and one of the plurality of alphabet keys;

switching into the Latin input mode;

displaying a first capitalized Latin character corresponding to the first shifted keystroke event on a display device;

detecting a second shifted alphabet keystroke event comprising a combination of the shift key and one of the plurality of alphabet keys;

detecting an alphabet keystroke event comprising only one of the plurality of alphabet keys; and

switching into the non-Latin input mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

displaying a second capitalized Latin character corresponding to the second shifted alphabet keystroke event on the display device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

displaying a syllabic character corresponding to the alphabet keystroke event on a display device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the input device also has a plurality of non-alphabet keys, and wherein detecting a shifted non-alphabet keystroke event comprising a combination of the shift key and one of the plurality of non-alphabet keys does not cause an input mode switch.

5. A method for inserting a capitalized Latin character in a non-Latin document using an input device having a plurality of alphabet keys comprising the steps of:

entering a first plurality of non-Latin characters by;

selecting a non-Latin input mode; and

depressing successive ones of the alphabet keys;

inserting a capitalized Latin character by;

depressing a predefined key in combination with one of the plurality of alphabet keys to automatically switch to a Latin input mode;

entering a second plurality of non-Latin character by;

depressing one of the plurality of alphabet keys without depressing the predefined key to automatically return to the non-Latin input mode; and

depressing another one of the plurality of alphabet keys.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein another capitalized Latin character may be inserted in the Latin input mode by repeating the step of:

depressing the predefined key in combination with one of the plurality of alphabet keys.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the non-Latin input mode is an input mode for inputting kana characters.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first plurality of non-Latin characters and the second plurality of non-Latin characters are displayed as kana characters and the capitalized Latin character is displayed as a capitalized Latin character.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the input device includes a conversion key for initiating a conversion of the kana characters to kanji characters, and wherein depressing the conversion key converts the kana characters to kanji characters, but does not convert the capitalized Latin character.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the input device has a plurality of non-alphabet keys and depressing the predefined key in combination with one of the plurality of non-alphabet keys does not change the input mode.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions comprising the steps of:

in a non-Latin input mode, detecting a first keystroke event comprising a combination of a predefined key and one of a plurality of alphabet keys;

switching into a Latin input mode;

displaying a capitalized Latin character corresponding to the first keystroke event; and

detecting a subsequent keystroke event comprising only one of the plurality of alphabet keys; and

returning to the non-Latin input mode.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein a syllabic character corresponding to the subsequent keystroke event is displayed on a display device.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, having further computer executable instructions comprising:

detecting a second keystroke event comprising a combination of the predefined key and one of the plurality of alphabet keys before detecting the subsequent keystroke event.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, having further computer executable instructions comprising:

in the non-Latin input mode, detecting a non-alphabet keystroke event comprising a combination of the predefined key and one of a plurality of non-alphabet keys; and

remaining in the non-Latin input mode.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, having further computer executable instructions comprising:

in the Latin input mode, detecting a non-alphabet keystroke event comprising one of a plurality of non-alphabet keys; and

remaining in the Latin input mode.

16. A method for automatically switching from a non-Latin input mode into a Latin input mode using a keyboard having a shift key and a plurality of alphabet keys, comprising the steps of:

detecting a shifted alphabet keyboard event comprising a combination of a shift key and one of the alphabet keys, and

if in the Latin input mode, then remaining in the Latin input mode and inserting a capitalized Latin character corresponding to the shifted alphabet keyboard event;

otherwise, saving the non-Latin input mode, switching to the Latin input mode, and inserting a capitalized Latin character corresponding to the shifted alphabet keyboard event; and

detecting an alphabet keyboard event comprising only one of the alphabet keys, and if in a Latin input mode, then returning to the saved non-Latin input mode;

otherwise, remaining in the non-Latin input mode.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the shifted alphabet keyboard event comprises a combination of the shift key and a selected one of the alphabet keys.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the alphabet keyboard event comprises only a selected one of the alphabet keys, and wherein a syllabic character corresponding to the selected alphabet key is displayed in response to detecting the alphabet keyboard event.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the keyboard further comprises a plurality of non-alphabet keys, further comprising the steps of:

detecting a shifted non-alphabet keyboard event comprising a combination of the shift key and a selected one of the non-alphabet keys;

remaining in a current input mode; and

displaying a non-alphabet character corresponding to the shifted selected non-alphabet key.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the keyboard further comprises a plurality of non-alphabet keys, further comprising the steps of:

detecting a non-alphabet keyboard event comprising only a selected one of the non-alphabet keys;

remaining in a current input mode; and

displaying a non-alphabet character corresponding to the selected non-alphabet key.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein two shifted alphabet keyboard events occur before the alphabet keyboard event causes a return to the saved non-Latin input mode.