Apparatus and method for inputting mandarin phonetic symbols by using sixteen keys

• US 6,007,339 A
• Filed: 12/09/1996
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: E-TEN Information Systems Company Limited (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: E-TEN Information Systems Company Limited (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hwang, Simon, Zen, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US08/762,228
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/156, 434/157, 434/159, 434/162, 434/167, 434/169, 434/185, 434/307 R, 434/308, 434/227, 400/110, 400/102, 400/109, 341/28, 341/22, 341/20, 341/21, 345/171, 345/173, 707/535, 704/235, 704/200
• US Class Current: 434/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/018 Input/output arrangements for oriental characters

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mandarin phonetic inputting apparatus by using sixteen keys. It achieves the purpose of conveniently operating for those people are not skilled in typewriting, and provides a capability of detecting ambiguous tones in mandarin language for degrading reentering caused by misunderstanding the ambiguous tones, and furthermore, to serve as a user input interface in a handhold calculator with more economical efficiency.

Claims

1. An inputting apparatus of mandarin phonetic symbols by using sixteen keys, wherein said inputting apparatus comprises:

a first key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a second key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of ", , and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a third key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a fourth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of ", , and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a fifth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a sixth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of ", , and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a seventh key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

an eighth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a ninth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and first tone, and fifth tone" of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a tenth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

an eleventh key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of ", , , and second tone" of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a twelfth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of ", , , and third tone" of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a thirteenth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of ", , , and fourth tone" of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a fourteenth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a fifteenth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and " of mandarin phonetic symbols; and

a sixteenth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and " of mandarin phonetic symbols.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first tone is the first tone of mandarin.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second tone is the second tone of mandarin.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said third tone is the third tone of mandarin.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fourth tone is the fourth tone of mandarin.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fifth tone is the neutral tone of mandarin.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a method for said apparatus to receive said mandarin phonetic symbols, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

inputting a plurality pieces of phonetic symbol information representative of mandarin words by using said sixteen keys;

inputting a tone information representative of mandarin tones by using said sixteen keys;

generating a plurality of phonetic combinations by using said phonetic symbol information and said tone information, wherein each one of said phonetic combinations represents a candidate mandarin word;

removing non-existent combinations from said plurality of phonetic combinations; and

storing existent phonetic combinations.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said tone information is a tone chosen from the group consisting of aid first tone, said second tone, said third tone, said fourth tone, and a neutral tone of mandarin language.

9. An inputting apparatus of mandarin phonetic symbols said apparatus can be constructed in a computer or a handhold system for inputting phonetic symbols and tones of mandarin by using only sixteen keys, wherein said inputting apparatus comprises:

a first key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a second key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of ", , and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a third key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a fourth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of ", , and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a fifth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a sixth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of ", , and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a seventh key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

an eighth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a ninth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and first sound, and fifth sound" of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a tenth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

an eleventh key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of ",, , and second sound" of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a twelfth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of ", , , and third sound" of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a thirteenth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of ", , , and fourth sound" of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a fourteenth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and " of mandarin phonetic symbols;

a fifteenth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and " of mandarin phonetic symbols; and

a sixteenth key for receiving an input chosen from the group consisting of " and " of mandarin phonetic symbols.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first sound is the first tone of mandarin.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second sound is the second tone of mandarin.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said third sound is the third tone of mandarin.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said fourth sound is the fourth tone of mandarin.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said fifth sound is the neutral tone of mandarin.

15. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a method for said apparatus to receive aid mandarin phonetic symbols, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

inputting a plurality pieces of phonetic symbol information representative of mandarin words by using said sixteen keys;

inputting a tone information representative of mandarin tones by using said sixteen keys;

generating a plurality of phonetic combinations by using said phonetic symbol information and said tone information, wherein each one of said phonetic combinations represents a candidate mandarin word;

removing non-existent combinations from said plurality of phonetic combinations; and

storing existent phonetic combinations.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said tone information is a tone chosen from the group consisting of aid first tone, said second tone, said third tone, said fourth tone, and a neutral tone of mandarin language.