TONE MARK BASED TEXT SUGGESTIONS FOR CHINESE OR JAPANESE CHARACTERS OR WORDS

• US 20160019201A1
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Qian, Ming, Li, Jian, Wang, Song, Zhang, Jianbang
• Granted Patent: US 9,946,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/129 Handling non-Latin characters, e.g. kana-to-kanji conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/171 by use of digital ink
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/232 Orthographic correction, e.g. spell checking or vowelisation
• 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

For suggesting input text based on tone mark information for Chinese or Japanese characters or words, an apparatus, system, method, and computer program product are disclosed. The apparatus may include a processor, a handwriting input unit operatively coupled to the processor, an input text module that receives input text comprising at least one character, a tone mark module that identifies a tone mark associated with the input text, and a suggestion module that proposes at least one next character based on the identified tone mark. The input text module may receive a user selection of the at least one next character. The input text may include characters selected from the group consisting of: Chinese characters and Japanese characters.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a handwriting input unit operatively coupled to the processor;

an input text module that receives input text comprising at least one character;

a tone mark module that identifies a tone mark associated with the input text; and

a suggestion module that proposes at least one next character based on the identified tone mark.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a correction module that determines a probable tone mark for the input text based on nearby characters and compares the probable tone mark to the identified tone mark, wherein the suggestion module proposes a correction to the identified tone mark in response to the identified tone mark not matching the probable tone mark.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a homonym module that identifies a list of homonyms based on the input text and the identified tone mark, wherein the suggestion module proposes at least one homonym from the list of homonyms.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pronunciation module that prompts a user to enable a pronunciation guide and displays a tone mark in proximity to characters of the input text in response to the user enabling the pronunciation guide.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tone library module that stores tone mark information in a tone library, the tone mark information based on the identified tone mark.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising an audio module that creates an audio representation of input words based on the tone library.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the tone library module is further configured to displays tone marks on the input text based on the tone library and display the input text without the tone mark in response to the user selecting a next character.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a marking module that:

displays the identified tone mark in proximity to the input text;

determines whether a sentence has been completed; and

removes the tone mark from the input text in response to the sentence being completed.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input text module is further configured to receive a user selection of the at least one next character.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input text comprises characters selected from the group consisting of:

Chinese characters and Japanese characters.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, by use of a processor, input text;

identifying a tone mark associated with the input text; and

suggesting a next character based on the tone mark.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a probable tone mark for the input text based on nearby characters;

comparing the probable tone mark to the identified tone mark; and

suggesting a correction to the identified tone mark in response to the identified tone mark not matching the probable tone mark.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

presenting a list of homonyms based on the identified tone mark; and

receiving a user selection of a homonym from the list of homonyms.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

prompting a user to enable a pronunciation guide; and

displaying a tone mark in proximity to characters of the input text in response to the user enabling the pronunciation guide.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing tone mark information in a tone library, the tone mark information based on the identified tone mark.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

displaying tone marks on the input text based on the tone library; and

displaying the input text without the tone mark in response to the user selecting a next character.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising creating an audio representation of input words based on the tone library.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying the identified tone mark in proximity to the input text;

determining whether a sentence has been completed; and

removing the tone mark from the input text in response to the sentence being completed.

19. A program product comprising a computer readable storage medium that stores code executable by a processor to perform:

receiving input text;

identifying a tone mark associated with the input text; and

suggesting a next character based on the tone mark.

20. The program product of claim 19, the code further comprising:

presenting a list of homonyms based on the identified tone mark; and

receiving a user selection of a homonym from the list of homonyms.