Asian language input using keyboard

• US 7,616,190 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2004
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hao, Wen-Hui, Kong, Yuan, Li, Dong, Li, Qian Xun
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIMNHUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/860,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20060007157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,985 Days
• Field of Search: 345168-172, 341 20- 23
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/018 Input/output arrangements for oriental characters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods

Abstract

A system and process for helping users enter information in an Asian language is described. In some aspects, pinyin input for Chinese is described with respect to dedicated keys of a keyboard.

Claims

1. A process for inputting characters comprising the steps of:

receiving a first input from a user, the first input including operation of a first single key on a QWERTY keyboard, wherein the operation of the first single key toggles a selection between a character-based language mode and a symbol-based language mode;

in response to selection of the symbol-based language mode, presenting a composition window for entry of a second input using the QWERTY keyboard, for displaying completed symbols in response to entry of the second input and for displaying a candidate window for candidate symbols associated with the second input;

receiving the second input from the user, wherein the second input includes entry of characters by operation of distinct keys once for each character on the QWERTY keyboard to spell a phonetic syllable representing a symbol and to generate a list of candidate symbols in the composition window based on the entry of characters using the QWERTY keyboard to spell the phonetic syllable; and

selecting a symbol from the candidate list for placement in the display of completed symbols.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the first single key toggles a selection between a character-based language mode and a symbol-based language mode further comprises switching between an English input mode and a Chinese input mode.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the first single key toggles a selection between a character-based language mode and a symbol-based language mode further comprises launching an end user defined phrase tool and loading context.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the first single key toggles a selection between a character-based language mode and a symbol-based language mode further comprises launching a property setting dialog.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the first single key toggles a selection between a character-based language mode and a symbol-based language mode further comprises switching between an English punctuation mode and a Chinese punctuation mode.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the first single key is located at bottom portion of the qwerty keyboard.

7. A system for inputting characters comprising:

means for receiving first input from a user, said first input including operation of a first single key on a QWERTY keyboard, wherein the operation of the first single key toggles a selection between a character-based language mode and a symbol-based language mode;

means for presenting, in response to selection of the symbol-based language mode, a composition window for entry of a second input using the QWERTY keyboard, for displaying completed symbols in response to entry of the second input and for displaying a candidate window for candidate symbols associated with the second input;

means for receiving the second input from the user, wherein the second input includes entry of characters by operation of distinct keys once for each character on the QWERTY keyboard to spell a phonetic syllable representing a symbol and to generate a list of candidate symbols in the composition window based on the entry of characters using the QWERTY keyboard to spell the phonetic syllable; and

means for processing the second input from the user to select a symbol from the candidate list for placement in the display of completed symbols.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the means for receiving first input from a user further includes means for switching between an English input mode and a Chinese input mode.

9. The system according to claim 7, further comprises means for launching an end user defined phrase tool and loading context.

10. The system according to claim 7, further comprises means for launching a property setting dialog.

11. The system according to claim 7, further comprising means for switching between an English punctuation mode and a Chinese punctuation mode.

12. A computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, perform a method for inputting characters comprising the steps of:

receiving a first input from a user, the first input including operation of a first single key on a QWERTY keyboard, wherein the operation of the first single key toggles a selection between a character-based language mode and a symbol-based language mode;

in response to selection of the symbol-based language mode, presenting a composition window for entry of a second input using the QWERTY keyboard, for displaying completed symbols in response to entry of the second input and for displaying a candidate window for candidate symbols associated with the second input;

receiving the second input from the user, wherein the second input includes entry of characters by operation of distinct keys once for each character on the QWERTY keyboard to spell a phonetic syllable representing a symbol and to generate a list of candidate symbols in the composition window based on the entry of characters using the QWERTY keyboard to spell the phonetic syllable; and

responsive to operation of the first single key, processing the operation of the first single key as a function supporting the input of characters of the first character set, wherein the processing step includes turning on a pinyin mode to select the first character set to be pinyin characters selecting a symbol from the candidate list for placement in the display of completed symbols.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the operation of the first single key toggles a selection between a character-based language mode and a symbol-based language mode further comprises switching between an English input mode and a Chinese input mode.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the operation of the first single key toggles a selection between a character-based language mode and a symbol-based language mode further comprises switching between an English punctuation mode and a Chinese punctuation mode.