Character data input apparatus and method thereof

• US 6,275,612 B1
• Filed: 06/06/1998
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Imoto, Noriko
• Primary Examiner(s): Au, Amelia M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dastouri, Mehrdad
• Application Number:
  US09/092,700
• Time in Patent Office: 1,165 Days
• Field of Search: 382/187, 382/188, 382/189, 382/186, 382/185, 382/278, 345/116, 345/141
• US Class Current: 382/189
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/387 using human interaction, e.g. selection of the best displayed recognition candidate

Abstract

When a user points a hot spot 322-i, a selection frame 38 is displayed in correlation to input frames 320-i (hot spot 322-i). The selection frame 38 includes within a same window a list of candidate characters of a handwritten character inputted to the input frame 320-i and a symbol (x,{circumflex over ( )}) indicating editing process such as deletion and insertion with respect to the prime candidate character displayed in the prime candidate frame 34. When the user selects a candidate character within the selection frame 38, the prime candidate character in the prime candidate frame 34 is replaced with a newly selected candidate character. When the user selects a symbol indicating deletion and insertion, etc., an editing process is performed with respect to the character string displayed in the prime candidate frame 34 and the input frame 320-i.

Claims

1. A data input apparatus comprising;

input frame display means for displaying a plurality of separate written character input frames each input frame for use for the input by a user of a single handwritten character,

handwritten character receiving means for receiving a single handwritten character inputted to each of said displayed input frames to display each handwritten character in the input frame a in which it was inputted,

character recognition means for recognizing each received handwritten character to correlate it with a known character for display of that known character into the same input frame in which the handwritten character was entered,

selection frame display means for displaying a selection frame containing, in a single window, candidates of known characters for a handwritten character in any one of the plurality of input frames selected by the user and graphic images indicating predetermined editing processes for said candidates of known characters, said selection frame display means being used for selecting one of said candidate characters and one or more of said predetermined editing processes,

a different selection/editing means for each input frame for selecting for that input frame with the selection display means for selection of one of said candidates of known characters or for performing a selected editing process in the selection frame means,

candidate character display means for displaying either a known character correlated with the handwritten character or a known character which is selected or edit processed, and

character data accepting means for accepting as character data a known character correlated with the handwritten character or a known character which is selected or edit processed.

2. A data input apparatus of claim 1 in which;

said selection frame display means displays a graphic image in said selection frame for selection of a character insertion process,

said input frame display means displays a new input frame at a position preceding to or following said input frame corresponding to the displayed selection frame when said character insertion process is selected, and

said handwritten character receiving means receives a handwritten character inputted to said new input frame.

3. A data input apparatus of claim 1 in which;

said selection frame display means displays a graphic image in said selection frame for selection of a character deletion process,

said input frame display means deletes the display of said input frame corresponding to said selection frame operated on when said character deletion process is selected, and

said handwritten character receiving means deletes a known character corresponding to said selection frame operated on from said received character data when said character deletion process is selected.

4. A data input apparatus of claim 1 in which;

said candidate character display means displays in an input frame either one of said candidate characters correlated to the handwritten character in that input frame or a character selected or edit processed in place of the handwritten character.

5. A data input apparatus of claim 1 further comprising;

range indicating graphic image display means for displaying a range indicating graphic image used for indicating the range of said input frame to be displayed, in which;

said input frame display means displays said input frame in the indicated range among a plurality of said input frames in response to the operation on said range indicating graphic image.

6. A data input method comprising the steps of;

displaying a plurality of separate written character input frames used for input by a user of a single handwritten character to each one of input frames,

receiving a separate handwritten character inputted by the user into each of said displayed input frames to display it in that input frame,

correlating each received handwritten character to features of known characters for entry of that known character into the same single character input frame which received the corresponding handwritten character,

displaying a selection frame containing a display of candidates of known characters for a handwritten character in any selected input frame and a graphic image indicating a predetermined editing process for the selected input frame which selection frame is used for selecting one of the known characters and for performing said predetermined editing process,

selecting one of said input frames for displaying the selection frame for selection for that input frame of a candidate of known characters or performing said selected editing process on said candidate of known characters,

displaying in the input frame either a known character correlated with the handwritten character or a known character which is selected or edit processed from the candidates of known characters, and

accepting as character data the known character correlated with the handwritten character or said known character which is selected or edit processed.

7. A computing program product, on a computer readable medium, for identifying handwritten characters entered onto a screen of a computer product, the computer program product comprising:

frame software for displaying a plurality of input frames used for input by a user of a string of handwritten characters each handwritten character to be inputted in a different one of the input frames,

receiving software for receiving a handwritten character inputted by the user to any one of said displayed input frames to display it in said input frame,

recognition software for correlating characteristics of the received handwritten character with characteristics of known characters for generating a set of candidates of known characters,

selection frame software for displaying separate from the input frames a selection frame containing candidates of known characters for any handwritten character entered into any one of the displayed input frames and graphic images indicating predetermined editing process which selection frame is used for selecting one of said candidates of known characters and said predetermined editing process,

character selection software for selecting one of said selection frames for selection one of the characters in the set of candidates of known characters for the handwritten characters entered into that input frame or for performing said selected editing process on a known character in the selection frame, displaying software for displaying in the selected input frame either a known character correlated with the handwritten character or a known character which is selected or edit processed from the candidates of known characters, and

accepting software for accepting as character data the known character correlated with the handwritten character or the known character which is selected or edit processed.

8. The computing program product of claim 7 including message software for a message area separate from the input frames and the selection frame for displaying a message generated using the input frames and the selection frames.

9. The computing program product of claim 8 including action software for displaying actions to be taken with respect to data displayed in the message frame.

10. The computing program product of claim 9 including stepping software for selecting any set of contiguous positions within the message frame and displaying them in the input frame for modification of the message using the input frames and the selection frame.

11. The computing program product of claim 10 where the actions to be taken using the action software includes sending messages on the internet.

12. A computer system comprising:

a computer screen responsive to handwritten entries;

frame software for displaying a plurality of input frames on the computer screen used for input by a user of a string of handwritten characters each handwritten character inputted in a different one of the input frames,

receiving software for receiving a handwritten character inputted by the user to any one of said displayed input frames to display it in said input frame,

recognition software for correlating characteristics of the received handwritten character with characteristics of known characters for generating a set of candidates of known characters,

selection frame software for displaying separate from the input frames a selection frame containing candidates of known characters for any handwritten character entered into any one of the displayed input frames and graphic images indicating predetermined editing process which selection frame is used for selecting one of said candidates of known characters and said predetermined editing process,

character selection software for selecting one of said selection frames for selection one of the characters in the set of candidates of known characters for the handwritten characters entered into that input frame or for performing said selected editing process on a known character in the selection frame,

displaying software for displaying in the selected input frame either a known character correlated with the handwritten character or a known character which is selected or edit processed from the candidates of known characters, and

accepting software for accepting as character data the known character correlated with the handwritten character or the known character which is selected or edit processed.

13. The computer system off claim 12 including message software for a message in an area separate from the input frames and the selection frame for displaying a message generated using the input frames and the selection frames.

14. The computer system of claim 13 including action software for displaying touch response action areas displaying actions to be taken with respect to data displayed in the message frame.

15. The computer system of claim 14 including stepping software for selecting any set of contiguous positions within the message frame and displaying them in the input frame for modification of the message using the input frames and the selection frame.

16. The computer system of claim 15 where the actions to be taken using the action software includes sending messages on the internet.