Method of learning character segments during text input, and associated handheld electronic device

• US 9,286,288 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2011
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Fux, Vadim, Kolomiets, Sergey
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, THANH T
• Application Number:
  US13/108,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20110219337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,765 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/279 Recognition of textual entities

Abstract

An improved method of learning character segments during text input enables facilitated text input on an improved handheld electronic device. In response to a series of inputs, segments and other objects are analyzed to generate a proposed character interpretation of the series of inputs. Responsive to detecting a replacement of a character of the character interpretation with another character, a character learning string comprising the another character and a number of additional characters of the character interpretation are stored as a candidate. In response to another series of inputs, another proposed character interpretation is generated. Responsive to detecting another replacement of a character of the another character interpretation with a different character, another character learning string comprising the different character and a number of characters of the another character interpretation are compared with the stored candidate. If a set of characters in the another character learning string match characters in the candidate, the set of characters are stored as a segment.

Claims

1. A method of enabling input on a handheld electronic device comprising a memory having stored therein a plurality of characters and a plurality of segments, the segments each comprising ones of the characters, the method comprising:

receiving as a first entry a plurality of first inputs, one or more of the first inputs each corresponding with a number of the characters;

comparing at least a portion of the first entry with one or more of the segments to identify proposed first characters with which the first inputs correspond, respectively;

outputting the proposed first characters;

for at least one of the first inputs, detecting as an editing input a replacement of the proposed first character with another first character with which the at least one of the first inputs corresponds;

responsive to the detecting, storing as a candidate character string a string of characters comprising the another first character and a number of the proposed first characters adjacent to the another first character;

receiving as a second entry a plurality of second inputs, one or more of the second inputs each corresponding with a number of the characters;

comparing at least a portion of the second entry with one or more of the segments to identify proposed second characters with which the second inputs correspond, respectively;

outputting the proposed second characters;

for at least one of the second inputs, detecting as an editing input a replacement of the proposed second character with another second character with which the at least one of the second inputs corresponds;

making a determination that a series of characters comprising the another second character and a number of proposed second characters adjacent to the another second character match at least a portion of the candidate character string; and

responsive to the making a determination, storing the series of characters as a segment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein making the determination comprises making a determination that the series of characters sequentially match the another first character and a quantity of the proposed first characters disposed adjacent to the another first character.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld electronic device comprises an input apparatus comprising a plurality of input members, the method further comprising detecting as the first entry a plurality of input member actuations, at least some of the first inputs each comprising a plurality of the input member actuations.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing as the candidate character string the another first character, a quantity of the proposed first characters preceding the another first character, and a quantity of the proposed first characters following the another first character.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein making the determination comprises:

making a determination that the another second character matches the another first character;

followed by a number of determinations that one or more of the proposed second characters which alternately precede and follow the another second character in a fashion progressively moving outwardly from the another second character match one or more of the proposed first characters which similarly alternately precede and follow the another first character in a fashion progressively moving outwardly from the another first character; and

followed by a determination that a particular proposed second character at a particular position in the series of characters with respect to the another second character differs from a proposed first character similarly positioned in the candidate character string with respect to the another first character.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

responsive to the determination that the proposed second character differs, making a determination that a quantity of additional proposed second characters positioned in the series at a side of the another second character opposite that of the particular proposed second character match a quantity of proposed first characters positioned in the candidate character string with respect to the another first character at a position similar to that of the quantity of additional proposed second characters with respect to the another second character; and

storing the quantity of additional proposed second characters as a portion of the number of proposed second characters of the series of characters.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising, responsive to the determination that the proposed second character differs, initiating the storing of the series of characters.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising deleting the candidate character string.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining that the series of characters comprises more than a predetermined quantity of characters and, responsive thereto:

determining that another segment matches a portion of the series of characters; and

storing as the segment the portion of the series of characters not matched by the another segment.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing as a combination object at least a representation of the segment and at least a representation of the another segment.

11. A handheld electronic device comprising an input apparatus, an output apparatus, a processor, and a memory having stored therein a plurality of characters and a plurality of segments, the segments each comprising one or more of the characters, the memory having stored therein a number of routines which, when executed by the processor, cause the handheld electronic device to be adapted to perform operations comprising:

receiving as a first entry a plurality of first inputs, one or more of the first inputs each corresponding with a number of the characters;

comparing at least a portion of the first entry with one or more of the segments to identify proposed first characters with which the first inputs correspond, respectively;

outputting the proposed first characters;

for at least one of the first inputs, detecting as an editing input a replacement of the proposed first character with another first character with which the at least one of the first inputs corresponds;

responsive to the detecting, storing as a candidate character string a string of characters comprising the another first character and a number of the proposed first characters adjacent to the another first character;

receiving as a second entry a plurality of second inputs, one or more of the second inputs each corresponding with a number of the characters;

comparing at least a portion of the second entry with one or more of the segments to identify proposed second characters with which the second inputs correspond, respectively;

outputting the proposed second characters;

for at least one of the second inputs, detecting as an editing input a replacement of the proposed second character with another second character with which the at least one of the second inputs corresponds;

making a determination that a series of characters comprising the another second character and a number of proposed second characters adjacent to the another second character match at least a portion of the candidate character string; and

responsive to the making a determination, storing the series of characters as a segment.

12. The handheld electronic device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise making as at least a portion of the determination a determination that the series of characters sequentially match the another first character and a quantity of the proposed first characters disposed adjacent the another first character.

13. The handheld electronic device of claim 11, wherein the input apparatus comprises a plurality of input members, and wherein the operations further comprise detecting as the first entry a plurality of input member actuations, at least some of the first inputs each comprising a plurality of the input member actuations.

14. The handheld electronic device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise storing as the candidate character string the another first character, a quantity of the proposed first characters preceding the another first character, and a quantity of the proposed first characters following the another first character.

15. The handheld electronic device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise making as at least a portion of the determination:

a determination that the another second character matches the another first character;

followed by a number of determinations that one or more of the proposed second characters which alternately precede and follow the another second character in a fashion progressively moving outwardly from the another second character match one or more of the proposed first characters which similarly alternately precede and follow the another first character in a fashion progressively moving outwardly from the another first character; and

followed by a determination that a particular proposed second character at a particular position in the series of characters with respect to the another second character differs from a proposed first character similarly positioned in the candidate character string with respect to the another first character.

16. The handheld electronic device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

responsive to the determination that the proposed second character differs, making a determination that a quantity of additional proposed second characters positioned in the series at a side of the another second character opposite that of the particular proposed second character match a quantity of proposed first characters positioned in the candidate character string with respect to the another first character at a position similar to that of the quantity of additional proposed second characters with respect to the another second character; and

storing the quantity of additional proposed second characters as a portion of the number of proposed second characters of the series of characters.

17. The handheld electronic device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise, responsive to the determination that the proposed second character differs, initiating the storing of the series of characters.

18. The handheld electronic device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise deleting the candidate character string.

19. The handheld electronic device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise determining that the series of characters comprises more than a predetermined quantity of characters and, responsive thereto:

determining that another segment matches a portion of the series of characters; and

storing as the segment the portion of the series of characters not matched by the another segment.

20. The handheld electronic device of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise storing as a combination object at least a representation of the segment and at least a representation of the another segment.