ZhuYin symbol and tone mark input method, and electronic device

• US 20060066618A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Repka, Mikko
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/467
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/018 Input/output arrangements for oriental characters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/53 Processing of non-Latin text kana-to-kanji conversion G06F40/129; vowelisation G06F40/232

Abstract

A method for entering ZhuYin symbols and tone marks into electronic text is provided. The method comprises receiving an input symbol and providing a candidate list comprising the input symbol and the Chinese characters associated with the input symbol. After the selection of the input symbol from the candidate list, the selected input symbol is entered to the electronic text, and the tone marks of the ZhuYin symbol set are provided. After the selection of a tone mark, the selected tone mark is entered to the electronic text.

Claims

1. A method for entering ZhuYin symbols and tone marks into electronic text, the method comprising:

receiving a ZhuYin symbol input from the user interface of the electronic device;

providing in a display unit of the electronic device a candidate list comprising the input ZhuYin symbol along with a Chinese character candidate list associated with the ZhuYin symbol input from the user interface;

receiving an input from the user interface, the input being related to the selection of the ZhuYin symbol included in the candidate list;

entering into electronic text the ZhuYin symbol based on the ZhuYin symbol selection input from the user interface;

providing in the display unit of the electronic device the tone marks of the ZhuYin symbol set;

receiving the tone mark selection input from the user interface;

entering into electronic text, a tone mark associated with the selected ZhuYin symbol, based on the tone mark selection input from the user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tone marks of the ZhuYin symbol set are displayed in the candidate list.

3. An electronic device comprising:

an input device for inputting information;

a display unit for displaying information;

a control unit operationally connected to the input device and the display unit, the control unit being configured to;

receive a ZhuYin symbol input from the input device;

provide in the display unit a candidate list comprising the input ZhuYin symbol along with a Chinese character candidate list associated with the ZhuYin symbol;

receive an input from the input device, the input being related to the selection of the ZhuYin symbol included in the candidate list;

enter into electronic text the ZhuYin symbol based on the ZhuYin symbol selection input from the input device;

provide in the display unit the tone marks of the ZhuYin symbol set;

receive a tone mark selection input from the input device;

enter into electronic text a tone mark associated with the selected ZhuYin symbol, based on the tone mark selection input from the input device.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the electronic device is a mobile communication device.

5. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the control unit is configured to display the tone marks of the ZhuYin symbol set in the candidate list.

6. A user interface for entering ZhuYin symbols and tone marks into electronic text, the user interface comprising:

an input device for inputting information;

a display unit for displaying information;

a control unit operationally connected to the input device and the display unit, the control unit being configured to;

receive a ZhuYin symbol input from the input device;

provide in the display unit a candidate list comprising the input ZhuYin symbol along with a Chinese character candidate list associated with the ZhuYin symbol;

receive an input related to the selection of the ZhuYin symbol included in the candidate list;

provide in the display unit the tone marks of the ZhuYin symbol set;

receive a tone mark selection input from the input device.

7. An electronic device comprising:

input means for inputting information;

display means for displaying information;

means for receiving a ZhuYin symbol input from the input means;

means for providing in the display means a candidate list comprising the input ZhuYin symbol along with a Chinese character candidate list associated with the ZhuYin symbol input;

means for receiving an input from the input means, the input being related to the selection of the ZhuYin symbol included in the candidate list;

means for entering into electronic text the ZhuYin symbol based on the ZhuYin symbol selection input;

means for providing the tone marks of the ZhuYin symbol set in the display means;

means for receiving the tone mark selection input from the input means;

means for entering into electronic text a tone mark associated with the selected ZhuYin symbol, based on the tone mark selection input.

8. A computer program product encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for entering ZhuYin symbols and tone marks in electronic text, the process comprising:

receiving a ZhuYin symbol input from the user interface of the electronic device;

providing in a display unit of the electronic device a candidate list comprising the input ZhuYin symbol along with a Chinese character candidate list associated with the ZhuYin symbol input from the user interface;

receiving an input from the user interface, the input being related to the selection of the ZhuYin symbol included in the candidate list;

entering into electronic text the ZhuYin symbol based on the ZhuYin symbol selection input from the user interface;

providing in the display unit of the electronic device the tone marks of the ZhuYin symbol set;

receiving the tone mark selection input from the user interface;

entering into electronic text a tone mark associated with the selected ZhuYin symbol, based on the tone mark selection input from the user interface.

9. A computer program distribution medium readable by a computer and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process for entering ZhuYin symbols and tone marks into electronic text, the process comprising the following steps:

receiving a ZhuYin symbol input from the user interface of the electronic device;

providing in a display unit of the electronic device a candidate list comprising the input ZhuYin symbol along with a Chinese character candidate list associated with the ZhuYin symbol input from the user interface;

receiving an input from the user interface, the input being related to the selection of the ZhuYin symbol included in the candidate list;

entering into electronic text the ZhuYin symbol based on the ZhuYin symbol selection input from the user interface;

providing in the display unit of the electronic device the tone marks of the ZhuYin symbol set;

receiving the tone mark selection input from the user interface;

entering into electronic text a tone mark associated with the selected ZhuYin symbol, based on the tone mark selection input from the user interface.

10. The computer program distribution medium of claim 9, the distribution medium comprising a computer readable medium, a program storage medium, a record medium, a computer readable memory, a computer readable software distribution package, a computer readable signal, a computer readable telecommunications signal, and a computer readable compressed software package.