Arrangement and method for inputting non-alphabetic language

• US 6,562,078 B1
• Filed: 06/29/1999
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Yang, Yongqi, Li, Dong
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BIENEMAN, CHARLES A
• Application Number:
  US09/342,979
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• Field of Search: 707/535, 341/28, 341/23, 345/171, 345/703, 345/168, 345/172, 382/85, 715/535
• US Class Current: 715/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/018 Input/output arrangements for oriental characters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A double-spelling soft keyboard is used to input characters in a non-alphabetic language, such as Chinese. These characters are represented by a combination of one or more of an initial sound, a final sound, and a tone. An initial soft keyboard allows the user to select the initial sound, if present. Based on which initial sound is selected, a final soft keyboard offers the user a choice of final sounds that combine to form valid characters with the initial sound. Tone information may also be supplied by the user. Based on the initial sound, the final sound, and/or the tone, the desired character is predicted. This prediction can also be informed by contextual information, linguistic patterns, and the user'"'"'s previous input.

Claims

1. A method for inputting a desired character in a non-alphabetic language, comprising:

presenting a user with a graphical representation of an initial soft keyboard having a plurality of first keys, at least some of the first keys representing initial sounds;

presenting the user with a graphical representation of a final soft keyboard having a plurality of second keys, at least some of the second keys representing final sounds, wherein each of the initial and final sounds can be represented by a single key, respectively, on the initial soft keyboard and final soft keyboard; and

determining the desired character at least in part as a function of a user selection of one of the first keys and one of the second keys.

2. A method, according to claim 1, wherein the graphical representations are displayed on a touch-sensitive screen, and wherein the user selections are received using the touch-sensitive screen.

3. A method, according to claim 1, wherein the graphical representations are displayed on a monitor, and wherein the user selections are received using at least one of a keyboard and a pointing device.

4. A method, according to claim 1, wherein one of the first keys is a shortcut key for inputting characters lacking an initial sound.

5. A method, according to claim 1, further comprising selectively enabling a second key if the final sound represented by the second key forms a valid combination with the initial sound represented by the selected first key.

6. A method, according to claim 5, further comprising referencing a table to determine which final sounds form valid combinations with the initial sound represented by the selected first key.

7. A method, according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user selection of a tone; and

determining the desired character in part as a function of the selected tone.

8. A method, according to claim 7, further comprising presenting the user with a graphical representation of a tonal keyboard for selecting the tone.

9. A method, according to claim 7, wherein the user selects the tone using numeric keys of the final soft keyboard.

10. A method, according to claim 1, further comprising consulting a dictionary to determine the desired character.

11. A method, according to claim 1, further comprising determining the desired character in part as a function of at least one of contextual information and linguistic patterns.

12. A method, according to claim 1, further comprising determining the desired character using a statistical language model.

13. A method, according to claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the user with a plurality of candidates determined as a function of the initial sound corresponding to the selected first key and the final sound corresponding to the selected second key; and

receiving a user selection of one of the candidates as the desired character.

14. A method, according to claim 13, further comprising:

storing a history of user selections of desired characters; and

using the history in future determinations of desired characters.

15. A method, according to claim 1, further comprising:

constructing a string at least in part as a function of the user selection of the first and second keys; and

determining the desired character as a function of the string.

16. A method, according to claim 15, further comprising constructing the string in part as a function of a user selection of a tone.

17. A method, according to claim 1, wherein the non-alphabetic language is Chinese.

18. A method, according to claim 1, wherein each of the second keys assumes one of an enabled state and a disabled state, the assumed state being selected as a function of a user selection of one of the first keys.

19. A method for inputting a desired character in a non-alphabetic language, comprising:

presenting a user with a graphical representation of an initial soft keyboard having a plurality of first keys, at least some of the first keys representing initial sounds;

presenting the user with a graphical representation of a final soft keyboard having a plurality of second keys, at least some of the second keys representing final sounds, wherein each of the initial and final sounds can be represented by a single key, respectively, on the initial soft keyboard and final soft keyboard;

constructing a string at least in part as a function of a user selection of the first and second keys; and

using a statistical language model to determine the desired character at least in part as a function of the string.

20. A method, according to claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a user selection of a tone; and

determining the desired character in part as a function of the selected tone.

21. A method, according to claim 19, wherein the graphical representations are displayed on a touch-sensitive screen, and wherein the user selections are received using the touch-sensitive screen.

22. A method, according to claim 19, wherein the graphical representations are displayed on a monitor, and wherein the user selections are received using at least one of a keyboard and a pointing device.

23. A method, according to claim 19, wherein each of the second keys assumes one of an enabled state and a disabled state, the assumed state being selected as a function of a user selection of one of the first keys.

24. A handheld computing device comprising a touch-sensitive screen and configured to receive input of a desired character in a non-alphabetic language by:

displaying on the touch-sensitive screen a graphical representation of an initial soft keyboard having a plurality of first keys, at least some of the first keys representing initial sounds;

receiving a user selection of one of the first keys using the touch-sensitive screen;

displaying on the touch-sensitive screen a graphical representation of a final soft keyboard having a plurality of second keys, at least some of the second keys representing final sounds, wherein each of the initial and final sounds can be represented by a single key, respectively, on the initial soft keyboard and final soft keyboard;

receiving a user selection of one of the second keys using the touch-sensitive screen; and

determining the desired character at least in part as a function of a user selection of one of the first keys and one of the second keys.

25. A handheld computing device, according to claim 24, wherein one of the first keys is a shortcut key for inputting characters lacking an initial sound.

26. A handheld computing device, according to claim 24, further configured to selectively enable a second key if the final sound represented by the second key forms a valid combination with the initial sound represented by the selected first key.

27. A handheld computing device, according to claim 26, further configured to reference a table to determine which final sounds form valid combinations with the initial sound represented by the selected first key.

28. A handheld computing device, according to claim 24, further configured to:

receive a user selection of a tone; and

determine the desired character in part as a function of the selected tone.

29. A handheld computing device, according to claim 28, further configured to display on the touch-sensitive screen a graphical representation of a tonal keyboard for selecting the tone.

30. A handheld computing device, according to claim 28, wherein the user selects the tone using numeric keys of the final soft keyboard.

31. A handheld computing device, according to claim 24, further configured to consult a dictionary to determine the desired character.

32. A handheld computing device, according to claim 24, further configured to determine the desired character in part as a function of at least one of contextual information and linguistic patterns.

33. A handheld computing device, according to claim 24, further configured to determine the desired character using a statistical language model.

34. A handheld computing device, according to claim 24, further configured to:

display on the touch-sensitive screen a plurality of candidates determined as a function of the initial sound corresponding to the selected first key and the final sound corresponding to the selected second key; and

receive, using the touch-sensitive screen, a user selection of one of the candidates as the desired character.

35. A handheld computing device, according to claim 34, further configured to:

store a history of user selections of desired characters; and

use the history in future determinations of desired characters.

36. A handheld computing device, according to claim 24, further configured to:

construct a string at least in part as a function of the user selection of the first and second keys; and

determine the desired character as a function of the string.

37. A handheld computing device, according to claim 36, further configured to construct the string in part as a function of a user selection of a tone.

38. A handheld computing device, according to claim 24, wherein the non-alphabetic language is Chinese.

39. A handheld computing device, according to claim 24, wherein each of the second keys assumes one of an enabled state and a disabled state, the assumed state being selected as a function of a user selection of one of the first keys.

40. A handheld computing device comprising a touch-sensitive screen and configured to receive input of a desired character in a non-alphabetic language by:

displaying on the touch-sensitive screen a graphical representation of an initial soft keyboard having a plurality of first keys, at least some of the first keys representing initial sounds;

receiving a user selection of one of the first keys using the touch-sensitive screen;

displaying on the touch-sensitive screen a graphical representation of a final soft keyboard having a plurality of second keys, at least some of the second keys representing final sounds, wherein each of the initial and final sounds can be represented by a single key, respectively, on the initial soft keyboard and final soft keyboard;

receiving a user selection of one of the second keys using the touch-sensitive screen;

constructing a string at least in part as a function of a user selection of the first and second keys; and

using a statistical language model to determine the desired character at least in part as a function of the string.

41. A handheld computing device, according to claim 40, further configured to:

receive a user selection of a tone; and

determine the desired character in part as a function of the selected tone.

42. A handheld computing device, according to claim 40, wherein each of the second keys assumes one of an enabled state and a disabled state, the assumed state being selected as a function of a user selection of one of the first keys.

43. For use in receiving input of a desired character in a non-alphabetic language, a computer arrangement configured to perform steps comprising:

displaying a graphical representation of an initial soft keyboard having a plurality of first keys, at least some of the first keys representing initial sounds;

displaying a graphical representation of a final soft keyboard having a plurality of second keys, at least some of the second keys representing final sounds, wherein each of the initial and final sounds can be represented by a single key, respectively, on the initial soft keyboard and final soft keyboard; and

determining the desired character at least in part as a function of a user selection of one of the first keys and one of the second keys.

44. A computer arrangement, according to claim 43, wherein one of the first keys is a shortcut key for inputting characters lacking an initial sound.

45. A computer arrangement, according to claim 43, further configured to selectively enable a second key if the final sound represented by the second key forms a valid combination with the initial sound represented by the selected first key.

46. A computer arrangement, according to claim 45, further configured to reference a table to determine which final sounds form valid combinations with the initial sound represented by the selected first key.

47. A computer arrangement, according to claim 43, further configured to:

receive a user selection of a tone; and

determine the desired character in part as a function of the selected tone.

48. A computer arrangement, according to claim 47, further configured to display a graphical representation of a tonal keyboard for selecting the tone.

49. A computer arrangement, according to claim 47, wherein the user selects the tone using numeric keys of the final soft keyboard.

50. A computer arrangement, according to claim 43, further configured to consult a dictionary to determine the desired character.

51. A computer arrangement, according to claim 43, further configured to determine the desired character in part as a function of at least one of contextual information and linguistic patterns.

52. A computer arrangement, according to claim 43, further configured to determine the desired character using a statistical language model.

53. A computer arrangement, according to claim 43, further configured to:

display on the touch-sensitive screen a plurality of candidates determined as a function of the initial sound corresponding to the selected first key and the final sound corresponding to the selected second key; and

receive, using the touch-sensitive screen, a user selection of one of the candidates as the desired character.

54. A computer arrangement, according to claim 53, further configured to:

store a history of user selections of desired characters; and

use the history in future determinations of desired characters.

55. A computer arrangement, according to claim 43, further configured to:

construct a string at least in part as a function of the user selection of the first and second keys; and

determine the desired character as a function of the string.

56. A computer arrangement, according to claim 55, further configured to construct the string in part as a function of a user selection of a tone.

57. A computer arrangement, according to claim 43, wherein the non-alphabetic language is Chinese.

58. A computer arrangement, according to claim 43, wherein each of the second keys assumes one of an enabled state and a disabled state, the assumed state being selected as a function of a user selection of one of the first keys.

59. For use in receiving input of a desired character in a non-alphabetic language, a computer arrangement configured to perform steps comprising:

presenting a user with a graphical representation of an initial soft keyboard having a plurality of first keys, at least some of the first keys representing initial sounds;

presenting the user with a graphical representation of a final soft keyboard having a plurality of second keys, at least some of the second keys representing final sounds, wherein each of the initial and final sounds can be represented by a single key, respectively, on the initial soft keyboard and final soft keyboard;

constructing a string at least in part as a function of a user selection of the first and second keys; and

using a statistical language model to determine the desired character at least in part as a function of the string.

60. A computer arrangement, according to claim 59, further configured to:

receive a user selection of a tone; and

determine the desired character in part as a function of the selected tone.

61. A computer arrangement, according to claim 59, wherein each of the second keys assumes one of an enabled state and a disabled state, the assumed state being selected as a function of a user selection of one of the first keys.

62. For use in receiving input of a desired character in a non-alphabetic language, a computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

displaying a graphical representation of an initial soft keyboard having a plurality of first keys, at least some of the first keys representing initial sounds;

displaying a graphical representation of a final soft keyboard having a plurality of second keys, at least some of the second keys representing final sounds, wherein each of the initial and final sounds can be represented by a single key, respectively, on the initial soft keyboard and final soft keyboard; and

determining the desired character at least in part as a function of a user selection of one of the first keys and one of the second keys.

63. A computer readable medium, according to claim 62, wherein one of the first keys is a shortcut key for inputting characters lacking an initial sound.

64. A computer readable medium, according to claim 62, having further computer-executable instructions for selectively enabling a second key if the final sound represented by the second key forms a valid combination with the initial sound represented by the selected first key.

65. A computer readable medium, according to claim 64, having further computer-executable instructions for referencing a table to determine which final sounds form valid combinations with the initial sound represented by the selected first key.

66. A computer readable medium, according to claim 62, having further computer-executable instructions for:

receiving a user selection of a tone; and

determining the desired character in part as a function of the selected tone.

67. A computer readable medium, according to claim 66, having further computer-executable instructions for displaying a graphical representation of a tonal keyboard for selecting the tone.

68. A computer readable medium, according to claim 66, wherein the user selects the tone using numeric keys of the final soft keyboard.

69. A computer readable medium, according to claim 62, having further computer-executable instructions for consulting a dictionary to determine the desired character.

70. A computer readable medium, according to claim 62, having further computer-executable instructions for determining the desired character in part as a function of at least one of contextual information and linguistic patterns.

71. A computer readable medium, according to claim 62, having further computer-executable instructions for determining the desired character using a statistical language model.

72. A computer readable medium, according to claim 62, having further computer-executable instructions for:

displaying on a touch-sensitive screen a plurality of candidates determined as a function of the initial sound corresponding to the selected first key and the final sound corresponding to the selected second key; and

receiving, using the touch-sensitive screen, a user selection of one of the candidates as the desired character.

73. A computer readable medium, according to claim 72, having further computer-executable instructions for:

storing a history of user selections of desired characters; and

using the history in future determinations of desired characters.

74. A computer readable medium, according to claim 62, having further computer-executable instructions for:

constructing a string at least in part as a function of the user selection of the first and second keys; and

determining the desired character as a function of the string.

75. A computer readable medium, according to claim 74, having further computer-executable instructions for constructing the string in part as a function of a user selection of a tone.

76. A computer readable medium, according to claim 62, wherein the non-alphabetic language is Chinese.

77. A computer readable medium, according to claim 62, wherein each of the second keys assumes one of an enabled state and a disabled state, the assumed state being selected as a function of a user selection of one of the first keys.

78. For use in receiving input of a desired character in a non-alphabetic language, a computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

presenting a user with a graphical representation of an initial soft keyboard having a plurality of first keys, at least some of the first keys representing initial sounds;

presenting the user with a graphical representation of a final soft keyboard having a plurality of second keys, at least some of the second keys representing final sounds, wherein each of the initial and final sounds can be represented by a single key, respectively, on the initial soft keyboard and final soft keyboard;

constructing a string at least in part as a function of a user selection of the first and second keys; and

using a statistical language model to determine the desired character at least in part as a function of the string.

79. A computer readable medium, according to claim 78, having further computer-readable instructions for:

receiving a user selection of a tone; and

determining the desired character in part as a function of the selected tone.

80. A computer readable medium, according to claim 78, having further computer-executable instructions for:

displaying the graphical representations on a touch-sensitive screen; and

receiving the user selections using the touch-sensitive screen.

81. A computer readable medium, according to claim 78, having further computer-executable instructions for:

displaying the graphical representations on a monitor; and

receiving the user selections using at least one of a keyboard and a pointing device.

82. A computer readable medium, according to claim 78, wherein each of the second keys assumes one of an enabled state and a disabled state, the assumed state being selected as a function of a user selection of one of the first keys.