Speed typing apparatus and method

• US 4,650,349 A
• Filed: 02/17/1984
• Issued: 03/17/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CPT Corporation
• Original Assignee: CPT Corporation
• Inventors: Westreich, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Application Number:
  US06/581,135
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 400/95, 400/98-100, 400/485
• US Class Current: 400/98
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 7/90 Syllable, line, or like type selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs

Abstract

A speed typing method and apparatus for use in association with a word processor (5) are disclosed. An encoded Key (40) of alphanumeric characters and its associated Replacement Text (41) are pre-stored (50-67) in Memory (12). Operator entries to the processor are divided into segments of character entries bordered at their opposite ends by "space" or "carriage return" entries. Each segment is compared (70-97) with the pre-stored Key entries, and whenever identity is found (98), that segment of characters is replaced by the pre-stored Replacement Text associated with the identified Key (99-101). The initiation of the comparison process requires no special function Keys or steps to be performed.

Claims

1. A speed typing method for word processing apparatus of the type having an input keyboard, a central processor and memory, comprising the steps:

(a) storing at least one encoded Key in a first lexicon of the memory, said Key comprising one or more alphanumeric keyboard entered characters represented on those input pads of the keyboard comprising a standard typewriter keyboard;

(b) storing in said first lexicon of said memory a Replacement Text uniquely identifiably associated with each of said stored Keys, said Replacement Text comprising one or more alphanumeric characters;

(c) storing a probabilistic representation of each of said Keys in a second memory lexicon;

(d) monitoring operator entries typed on said standard typewriter keyboard;

(e) automatically comparing said monitored operator entries with said stored Keys, said comparison step being automatically initiated by the operator entries typed on said standard typewriter keyboard without operator initiation of special function pads outside of said standard keyboard being required;

said comparison step further comprising;

(i) converting said operator entry into a probabilistic representation according to the same technique used to store the probabilistic representation of said Keys in said second memory lexicon;

(ii) comparing the probabilistic representation of said monitored operator entry with those of said Keys stored in said second memory lexicon; and

(iii) subsequently comparing said monitored operator entry with said Keys stored in said second memory lexicon only when said first performed probabilistic comparison indicates a high likelihood that said second memory lexicon includes a Key corresponding to said monitored operator entry;

(f) identifying that said stored Key that is the same as said compared operator entry; and

(g) replacing said compared operator entry with that stored Replacement Text identifiably associated with said identified Key.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the steps of converting said operator entry and said Keys into probabilistic representations, use hash-coding techniques.