Apparatus and method for reordering of multiple language databases for text disambiguation

• US 7,580,829 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerence Operating Company (Cerence Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tegic Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Kay, David, Brighton, Mark, Nathan, Lisa, James, Christina, Bradford, Ethan
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard; Patrick N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spooner; Lamont M
• Application Number:
  US11/056,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20050198023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 704/2, 704/8, 715/261, 715/264, 455/556.2, 345/171
• US Class Current: 704/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access

Abstract

The invention provides a process for selecting and ordering one or more sets of linguistic objects. The invention orders a current list of items for selection that comprises a first list of one or more items of a first language and a second list of one or more items of a second language, the current list of items being displayed in an order based on the first language having a priority over the second language. In response to a user selection of one item from the second list, the invention changes a priority for ordering a subsequent list of items to order the subsequent list of items based on the second language having a priority over the first language.

Claims

1. A process for displaying items to a user, comprising the steps of:

ordering a current list of items for selection, the current list of items comprising a first list of one or more items of a first language and a second list of one or more items of a second language, the current list of items being displayed in an order based on the first language having a priority over the second language; and

responsive to a user selection of one item from the second list, changing a priority for ordering a subsequent list of items to order the subsequent list of items based on the second language having a priority over the first language.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a first plurality of keyboard inputs; and

determining the current list of items according to the first plurality of keyboard inputs.

3. The process of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a second plurality of keyboard inputs; and

determining the subsequent list of items according to the second plurality of keyboard inputs, the subsequent list of items comprising a first plurality of items from the second language and a second plurality of items from the first language.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein the first list is displayed before the second list in displaying the current list of items;

and the first plurality of items is displayed before the second plurality of items in displaying the subsequent list of items.

5. The process of claim 4, wherein a third list of items in the first language is displayed after the second list in displaying the current list of items;

and one or more items of the second language is displayed after the second plurality of items in displaying the subsequent list of items.

6. The process of claim 4, wherein each of the first list and the first plurality of items is allowed up to a first predetermined number of items;

and each of the second list and the second plurality of items is allowed up to a second predetermined number of items.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein the first predetermined number is equal to the second predetermined number.

8. The process of claim 2, wherein each of the current items for selection is a linguistic object determined according to the first plurality of keyboard inputs in one of a plurality of languages including the first and second languages.

9. The process of claim 8, wherein one or more of the first plurality of keyboard inputs is interpretable as being corresponding to more than one character in determining the current list of items for selection.

10. The process of claim 8, wherein each of the first plurality of keyboard inputs is interpretable as being corresponding to a plurality of characters in determine the current list of items for selection.

11. The process of claim 8, wherein the plurality of languages consist of two languages.

12. The process of claim 1, wherein which of the first and second languages has a higher priority in ordering a subsequent list is implicitly selected according to a language of the item selected from a current list.

13. A data processing system for displaying items to a user, comprising:

means for ordering a current list of items for selection, the current list of items comprising a first number of first items of a first language and a second number of second items of a second language, the first items being ordered before the second items in the current list of items; and

means for, after a user selection of one item of the second language from the current list of items, ordering a subsequent list of items for selection, the subsequent list of items comprising the first number of third items of the second language and the second number of fourth items of the first language, the third items being ordered before the fourth items in the subsequent list of items.

14. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the current list of items correspond to a first plurality of inputs for a current word;

and the subsequent list of items correspond to a second plurality of keyboard inputs for a subsequent word.

15. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein each of the first and second pluralities of inputs is interpretable as being corresponding to more than one characters.