Multiple pen stroke character set and handwriting recognition system with immediate response

• US 6,839,464 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2002
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Sipher, Joseph Kahn, Marianetti, Ron II, Hawkins, Jeffrey Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, JON CARLTON
• Application Number:
  US10/218,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20020196978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 382/189, 382/311, 382/187, 382/182, 382/229, 382/185, 382/188, 382/227, 382/315
• US Class Current: 382/187
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/262 using context analysis, e.g. lexical, syntactic or semantic context
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/373 using a special pattern or subpattern alphabet

Abstract

A pen-based computer text input system capable of interpreting a special pre-defined set of single stroke glyphs. Each input stroke is identified with one of three categories: (1) pre-character modifier strokes, (2) character or symbol strokes, or (3) post-character modifier strokes. Pre-character modifier strokes precede character strokes and inform the present recognition system that a subsequently entered character stroke is to be modified by the pre-character modifier stroke in a pre-defined manner. Character strokes cause a character or symbol to be displayed on the display device the moment it is input on the writing tablet, interpreted in accordance with any pre-character modifier stroke. A post-character modifier stroke causes the recognition system to modify, in a pre-defined manner, a character or symbol which was previously entered and displayed. An important advantage of the present invention is its ability to provide immediate recognition of multiple stroke characters without using boxed input.

Claims

1. A method used for interpreting a plurality of input strokes entered on an electronic input writing device and displaying corresponding characters, comprising:

storing data that defines sets of glyphs, the sets of glyphs including a first set of glyphs and a second set of glyphs;

wherein the data associates each member of the first set of glyphs with at least one character to display;

wherein each member of a majority of said first set of glyphs has a graphical appearance that substantially resembles a Roman alphabet character;

receiving a first stroke of a plurality of strokes;

wherein each stroke of said plurality of strokes is a single continuous movement of a pen device while in contact with said electronic input writing surface;

in response to detecting the completion of said first stroke, immediately;

determining based on said data that said first stroke corresponds to;

a first glyph in the first set of glyphs, and

a first character corresponding to the first glyph, and

causing the display of said first character;

receiving a second stroke of said plurality of strokes;

in response to detecting the completion of said second stroke, immediately determining, based on said data, that said second stroke corresponds to a second glyph in the second set of glyphs;

receiving a third stroke of said plurality of strokes; and

in response to detecting the completion of said third stroke, immediately determining, based on said data and the determination that said second stroke corresponds to said second glyph, that said third stroke corresponds to;

the first glyph in the first set of glyphs, and

another character different than said first character.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data associates each member of said first set of glyphs with a Roman alphabet character.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first character is a lower case version of a letter in the Roman alphabet and the other character is a capital version of the letter.

4. The method claim 1, wherein the step of storing data includes storing data on a handheld computer which incorporate said electronic input writing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to determining that said third stroke corresponds to a first glyph in the first set of glyphs, immediately causing display of the other character before interpreting any subsequently detected stroke of said plurality of strokes.

11. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 1.

12. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 2.

13. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 3.

14. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 4.

15. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 5.

6. A method used for interpreting a plurality of input strokes entered on an electronic input writing device and displaying corresponding characters, comprising:

storing data that defines sets of glyphs, the sets of glyphs including a first set of glyphs and a second set of glyphs;

wherein the data associates each member of the first set of glyphs with at least one character;

receiving a first stroke of a plurality of strokes;

wherein each stroke of said plurality of strokes is a single continuous movement of a pen device while in contact with said electronic input writing surface;

in response to detecting the completion of said first stroke, immediately determining based on said data that said first stroke corresponds to;

a first glyph in the first set of glyphs, and

a first character corresponding to the first glyph;

in response to determining that said first stroke corresponds to the first glyph, causing a display of the first character;

receiving a second stroke of said plurality of strokes;

in response to detecting the completion of said second stroke, immediately determining, based on said data, that said second stroke corresponds to a second glyph in the second set of glyphs; and

in response to determining that said second stroke corresponds to a second glyph in the second set of glyphs, immediately causing the replacement of the display of the first character with a display of another character different than said first character.

7. The method of claim 6,

wherein before receiving said first stroke said second glyph is a member of said first set of glyphs;

and

wherein determining that said first stroke corresponds to the first glyph causes said second glyph to be treated as a member of the second set of glyphs to perform the step of determining that said second stroke corresponds to a second glyph in the second set of glyphs.

8. The method claim 6, wherein the step of storing data includes storing data on a handheld computer which incorporates said electronic input writing device.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the data associates each member of said first set of glyphs with a Roman alphabet character.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the other character is an accented version of said first character.

16. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 6.

17. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 7.

18. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 8.

19. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 9.

20. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 10.