Method and apparatus for word prediction of text input by assigning different priorities to words on a candidate word list according to how many letters have been entered so far by a user

• US 20110060984A1
• Filed: 09/06/2009
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Yung-Chao
• Application Number:
  US12/554,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20110060984A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/261
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs

Abstract

A method for word prediction of text input on an electronic device includes receiving from a user interface a number of letters, performing word correction according to the received letters to thereby generate a set of first candidate words that have a number of letters being within a predetermined range, performing word completion according to the letters inputted to thereby generate a set of second candidate words that have more letters than the number of letters inputted so far, outputting a word candidate list via the user interface in an order according to a priority ranking. A higher priority is assigned to the first candidate words while the number of letters inputted so far is within the predetermined range; otherwise, a higher priority is assigned to the second candidate words.

Claims

1. A method for word prediction of text input on an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving from a user interface a number of letters including at least one letter as they are inputted by a user;

performing word correction according to the received letters to thereby generate a set of first candidate words that have a number of letters being within a predetermined range;

performing word completion according to the letters inputted by the user to thereby generate a set of second candidate words that have more letters than the number of letters inputted so far by the user;

outputting a word candidate list via the user interface to allow the user to select a desired word, wherein words on the word candidate list are outputted in an order according to a priority ranking; and

assigning a higher priority to the first candidate words and a lower priority to the second candidate words while the number of letters inputted by the user so far is within the predetermined range; and

, after the number of letters inputted by the user has exceeded a maximum value of the predetermined range, assigning a higher priority to the second candidate words and a lower priority to the first candidate words.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

counting the number of letters received by the user interface in a counter;

resetting the counter after a predetermined non-letter is received from the user interface; and

assigning the priority ranking of the first and second candidate words for outputting the word candidate list according to whether or not a value of the counter is within the predetermined range.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined non-letter is a space character, an enter character, a punctuation character, or a numerical digit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first candidate words have a same number of letters as the number of letters inputted so far by the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second candidate words have a number of letters exceeding the maximum value of the predetermined range.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein performing word correction comprises performing regional letter correction to correct errors made by the user hitting an incorrect letter being within a predetermined distance on the user interface from an intended letter.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein performing word correction comprises performing spelling correction to correct spelling of words that are commonly misspelled.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein performing word completion comprises predicting words that have a beginning portion corresponding to the letters inputted so far by the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined range is from one letter to a number of letters being less than or equal to five.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone, and the user interface is a soft input panel of the mobile phone.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the word candidate list further comprises displaying the word candidate list on a display portion of the user interface, candidate words having higher priority being displayed before candidate words having lower priority.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the word candidate list further comprises audibly broadcasting the word candidate list from a speaker of the user interface, candidate words having higher priority being broadcast before candidate words having lower priority.

13. A computer program for instructing a processor to perform the method of claim 1.

14. An electronic device allowing text input, comprising:

a user interface for receiving a number of letters including at least one letter as they are inputted by a user, and for outputting a word candidate list to allow the user to select a desired word, wherein words on the word candidate list are outputted in an order according to a priority ranking;

an error correction unit for performing word correction according to the received letters to thereby generate a set of first candidate words that have a number of letters being within a predetermined range;

a word completion unit for performing word completion according to the letters inputted by the user to thereby generate a set of second candidate words that have more letters than the number of letters inputted so far by the user; and

a processor for assigning a higher priority to the first candidate words and a lower priority to the second candidate words while the number of letters inputted by the user so far is within the predetermined range; and

, after the number of letters inputted by the user has exceeded a maximum value of the predetermined range, assigning a higher priority to the second candidate words and a lower priority to the first candidate words.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising:

a counter for counting the number of letters received by the user interface;

wherein the processor is further for resetting the counter after a predetermined non-letter is received from the user interface, and assigning the priority ranking of the first and second candidate words for outputting the word candidate list according to whether or not a value of the counter is within the predetermined range.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the predetermined non-letter is a space character, an enter character, a punctuation character, or a numerical digit.

17. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the first candidate words have a same number of letters as the number of letters inputted so far by the user.

18. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the second candidate words have a number of letters exceeding the maximum value of the predetermined range.

19. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the error correction unit is for performing regional letter correction to correct errors made by the user hitting an incorrect letter being within a predetermined distance on the user interface from an intended letter.

20. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the error correction unit is for performing spelling correction to correct spelling of words that are commonly misspelled.

21. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the word completion unit is for predicting words that have a beginning portion corresponding to the letters inputted so far by the user.

22. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the predetermined range is from one letter to a number of letters being less than or equal to five.

23. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone, and the user interface is a soft input panel of the mobile phone.

24. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the user interface is further for outputting the word candidate list by displaying the word candidate list on a display portion, candidate words having higher priority being displayed before candidate words having lower priority.

25. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the user interface is further for outputting the word candidate list by audibly broadcasting the word candidate list from a speaker, candidate words having higher priority being broadcast before candidate words having lower priority.

26. An electronic device allowing text input, comprising:

a first means for receiving a number of letters including at least one letter as they are inputted by a user, and for outputting a word candidate list to allow the user to select a desired word, wherein words on the word candidate list are outputted in an order according to a priority ranking;

a second means for performing word correction according to the received letters to thereby generate a set of first candidate words that have a number of letters being within a predetermined range;

a third means for performing word completion according to the letters inputted by the user to thereby generate a set of second candidate words that have more letters than the number of letters inputted so far by the user; and

a fourth means for assigning a higher priority to the first candidate words and a lower priority to the second candidate words while the number of letters inputted by the user so far is within the predetermined range; and

, after the number of letters inputted by the user has exceeded a maximum value of the predetermined range, assigning a higher priority to the second candidate words and a lower priority to the first candidate words.