Electronic keyboard system and method for reproducing selected symbolic language characters

• US 4,679,951 A
• Filed: 09/26/1980
• Issued: 07/14/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation Incorporated (Cornell University)
• Inventors: King, Paul L., Cochran, Richard C., Grimes, Joseph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Application Number:
  US06/188,030
• Time in Patent Office: 2,482 Days
• Field of Search: 178/30, 400/83-85, 400/109, 400/110, 400/111, 400/484, 400/477-479.2, 340/706, 340/735, 340/751, 340/712, 340/799, 340/365 VL, 340/711, 340/790
• US Class Current: 400/110
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/01 for special character, e.g. for Chinese characters or barcodes

Abstract

A method and apparatus for electronic typing of symbolic language texts is disclosed. A twelve-key keyboard utilizing a modified four-corner identifier system permits construction of a first shape identifier code utilizing indicia which represent the shape of a character to be reproduced. Alternatively, a phonetic identifier code utilizing a phonetic alphabet can be constructed to represent the character. The identifier code is used to select one or more characters stored in a data processing system memory, each character selected by the shape identifier code having the same four-corner identifier indicia, and each character selected by the phonetic identifier code having the same phonetic spelling. Only a limited number of characters can be uniquely identified by either the four-corner system or the phonetic spelling system; for the remainder of the characters, a single set of indicia or a single phonetically spelled word can represent two or more characters, and thus ambiguities exist in the selection process. If the word to by typed comprises a single character, means are provided for manually disambiguating the characters selected by the indicia code. If the word consists of two syllables, means are provided automatically to disambiguate the word in accordance with known character pairings. If more than one such pairing exists for a given identifier code, additional means are provided for manually disambiguating the pairs. Means are provided for storing and/or displaying the unique character or character pair which results from the selection process.

Claims

1. A method of producing ideographic text material utilizing a keyboard having a plurality of keys, each key carrying a single indicium corresponding to a predetermined characteristic stroke configuration found in a graphic character to be produced, comprising:

storing in a memory a plurality of graphic characters having stroke configurations similar to those of characters to be produced, each stored character having an identifier code based on the stroke configuration of that character;

selecting one or more keys to construct for a desired character an identifier code corresponding to its characteristic stroke configurations, the step of selecting one or more keys for each desired character including selecting, for each quadrant of a graphic character wherein a characteristic stroke configuration appears, the single key carrying the indicium which most closely identifies the shape of that stroke configuration, the selection of between one and four single keys in sequence combining to produce a constructed identifier code for the desired character;

calling up from said memory all stored characters having identifier codes identical to the constructed identifier code for said desired character;

temporarily storing said called-up characters;

determining whether an ambiguity exists between the number of characters desired and the number of characters called up by said constructed identifier code and placed in temporary storage;

automatically directing the called-up character to a text storage means if no ambiguity exists; and

resolving any ambiguities caused by a difference between the number of characters desired and the number of characters called up to select a desired called-up character, and thereafter directing the desired called-up character to the text storage means.

2. A method of producing ideographic text material utilizing a keyboard having a plurality of keys each representing an indicium corresponding to graphic characters to be produced, comprising:

selecting one or more keys in sequence to produce a first identifier for a first desired character;

selecting one or more keys in sequence to produce a second identifier for a second desired character of a compound word;

calling up from a character memory all the characters which correspond to said first identifier;

calling up from said character memory a permissible pair list for each character corresponding to said first identifier;

calling up from said character memory all the characters which correspond to said second identifier;

matching each of the characters corresponding to said first identifier with each of the characters corresponding to said second identifier to produce a list of possible character pairs;

determining whether an ambiguity exists between said possible pair list and said permissible pair list; and

resolving any ambiguity.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of determining whether an ambiguity exists comprises comparing said permissible pair list with said possible pair list to determine whether more than one character pair appears in both of said lists.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of determing whether an ambiguity exists further comprises manually selecting a desired character pair when more than one pair appears in both of said lists.

5. A method of typing symbolic language text material utilizing a keyboard having indicia corresponding to configurations typical of graphic characters used in such symbolic language, comprising:

selecting up to four keyboard indicia approximating actual stroke configurations appearing sequentially around the peripheral quadrants of a character to be typed to produce a shape identifier code for the character;

calling up from a character memory all characters which correspond to the shape identifier code produced by said keyboard, and which have peripheral stroke configurations similar to or the same as, and in the same sequence as, the character to be typed;

storing in a selection buffer the characters called up by the identifier code;

transferring to a text storage means the character stored in the selection buffer when there is no ambiguity in the selection buffer;

resolving ambiguities which exist in the selection of the desired character, when multiple characters are called up from the character memory and stored in said selection buffer, by transferring to a display buffer one after another the characters stored in said selection buffer to determine in each instance if it is the desired character to be typed;

selecting from the displayed characters a desired character; and

transferring the selected character to the text storage means.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of selecting from the displayed characters a desired character includes manually producing by the use of the keyboard an indicator for the desired character, whereby the indicated character is transferred to the text storage means.

7. The method of claim 6, further including the step of printing the character stored in said text storage means to produce the symbolic language text selected by a typist.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the symbolic language is Chinese.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of selecting keyboard indicia includes selecting, for each quadrant of a graphic character where a characteristic stroke configuration appears, the single indicium which most closely identifies that stroke configuration, between one and four single indicia combining to provide the identifier code for the character.

10. A method of typing symbolic language text material utilizing a keyboard having a plurality of keys corresponding to a like number of stroke configurations typically used at the extremities of ideogrammatic language characters, comprising:

selecting up to four keyboard indicia corresponding to stroke configurations appearing at the periphery of a first character of a compound word to be typed to produce a first identifier for the word;

selecting up to four keyboard indicia corresponding to stroke configuration appearing at the periphery of a second character of said compound word to produce a second identifier for the word;

calling up from a character memory all the characters which correspond to said first identifier;

calling up from said character memory a permissible pair listing for each character corresponding to said first identifier;

storing said characters corresponding to said first identifier and said pair listings therefor in a first storage buffer;

calling up from said character memory all the characters which correspond to said second identifier;

storing said characters corresponding to said second identifier in a second storage buffer;

matching each of said characters in said first storage buffer with each of said characters in said second storage buffer to produce a list of possible character pairs;

storing said list of possible character pairs in a selection buffer;

comparing each of said possible pairs from said selection buffer with each of the permissible pairs listed in said first storage buffer;

storing in a significant pair storage means all pairs which are found in both said possible pair list and said permissible pair list;

determining the number of character pairs stored in said significant pair storage means to determine whether an ambiguity exists; and

resolving any ambiguities by manually selecting one of the pairs in said significant pair storage means.

11. The method of claim 10, further including transferring the character pair in said significant pair storage means directly to a text buffer means when no ambiguity exists in said significant pair storage means, whereby the desired compound word is automatically typed.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of resolving any ambiguities includes:

transferring to a display buffer a first character pair stored in said significant pair storage means to determine if it is the character pair to be typed;

thereafter transferring to the display buffer in sequence the remaining character pairs stored in said significant pair storage means;

selecting from the displayed character pairs a desired character pair; and

transferring the selected character pair to a text storage means.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of selecting a desired character pair from the displayed character pairs includes manually producing by use of the keyboard an indicator for the desired character pair.

14. The method of claim 13, further including the step of printing the character pair stored in said text storage means to produce the symbolic language text material selected by the typist.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of selecting, for each quadrant of each ideogrammatic character to be typed in which a characteristic stroke configuration appears, the single keyboard indicium which most closely identifies that stroke configuration, whereby between one and four indicia are combined to provide the identifier for each character.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the symbolic language is Chinese.

17. An electronic system for identifying and resolving ambiguities in the selection of single character or two-character symbolic language words, comprising:

a keyboard having a plurality of key indicia corresponding to selected features of graphic characters and adapted to produce an identifier representing a character to be typed;

file means containing a first list of characters and a second list of permitted character pairings, said characters and pairings being listed in said file by index codes selectable by specified identifiers, whereby a selected identifier will call up the index codes and pairings of all characters having that identifier;

first storage means for receiving the index codes and permitted pairings for the identifier of a first character to be typed;

second storage means for receiving the index codes for the identifier of a second character in a two-character word to be typed;

a matching network for matching the index codes stored in said first storage means with the index codes in said second storage means to produce a list of possible character pairs for a two-character word;

selection storage means;

means for connecting said selection storage means either to said first storage means to receive and store only the index codes in said first storage means for a single character or to said matching network to receive said list of possible pairs for a two-character word;

a comparator connected to said selection storage means for comparing said list of permitted character pairings with said list of possible pairs;

significant pair storage means to receive and store character pairs appearing in both said list of permitted pairings and said list of possible pairs; and

selector means connected either to said selection storage means to resolve single character ambiguities or to said significant pair storage means to resolve two-character word ambiguities.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further including means responsive to the number of characters in a symbolic language word to control the connection between said first and second storage means, said matching network, and said selection storage means.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said selection means includes means to selectively display the symbolic language characters corresponding to index codes stored in said selection storage means;

and

text file means to receive and store the single character word to be typed.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said selector means includes:

means to selectively display the graphic characters corresponding to the index code pairs stored in said significant pair storage means; and

text file means to receive and store the character pair representing the two-character word to be typed.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said graphic characters are ideographic characters.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said graphic characters are Chinese language characters.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said selected features of graphic characters are peripheral stroke configurations thereof.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said selected features of graphic characters are the phonetic spellings of said characters.

25. An electronic system for typing symbolic language text material through identification of selected features thereof, wherein different graphic characters for said language may have similar identifying features, comprising:

first storage means for receiving and storing a graphic character list and a permitted character pairing list for each graphic character, each said graphic character having an index code selectable by at least one specified identifier code;

manually operable selector means corresponding to selected identifying features of graphic characters, said selector means being operable to produce an identifier code representing identified features of the character to be typed;

means responsive to each said identifier code to call up the index codes and corresponding pairing lists of all graphic characters having the specified identifier code;

means for displaying the graphic character or characters selected by said identifier code; and

means for resolving ambiguities in the selection of said characters, whereby only the desired character or characters to be typed remains.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said manually operable selector means comprises a keyboard wherein each key carries a different graphic stroke configuration approximating actual stroke configurations appearing at the periphery of graphic characters to be typed.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein said identifying features are shape identifiers approximating peripheral stroke configurations of the character to by typed.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein said identifying features are the phonetic English language equivalent of the character to by typed.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said manually operable selector means comprises a keyboard having keys carrying alphabetical indicia for producing an identifier code corresponding to the phonetic spelling of the character to be typed.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein symbolic language incorporates single words represented by two characters, said system further including:

second storage means for receiving and storing the index codes and corresponding pairings list for first character of said two-character word; and

third storage means for receiving and storing the index codes of said second character of said two-character word, wherein said means for resolving ambiguities comprises matching means for comparing said index codes in said third storage means with said pairings list in said second storage means to produce a list of possible character pairs for a two-character word having the identifying features selected by said selector means, and wherein said display means displays said list of possible character pairs.

31. A method of typing symbolic language text material through identification of selected features thereof, wherein different graphic characters for said language may have similar identifying features, comprising:

storing a graphic character list and a permitted character pairing list for each graphic character to be used in said text material, each said graphic character having an index code selectable by at least one specified identifier code;

generating a first identifier code corresponding to selected identifying features of a first graphic character;

calling up from said first storage means all graphic characters and permitted pairing lists which correspond to said first identifier code;

generating a second identifier code corresponding to selected identifying features of a second graphic character when a second character is combined with said first character in said symbolic language to form a compound;

calling up from said first storage means all graphic characters which correspond to said second identifier code; and

disambiguating said called-up characters to identify the character or compound to be typed.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the steps.of generating identifier codes comprises selecting, by means of a keyboard, indicia corresponding to the phonetic spelling of a character to be typed.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said symbolic language is Chinese, and wherein said phonetic spelling comprises pinyin.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the steps of generating identifier codes comprises selecting, by means of a keyboard, indicia corresponding to graphic stroke configurations at the periphery of a character to be typed.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said keyboard-selected indicia comprise shape identifiers typifying actual stroke configurations found at the periphery of graphic characters to be typed.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the steps of generating identifier codes comprise selecting, by means of a keyboard, first indicia corresponding to graphic stroke configurations at the periphery of a character to be typed or second indicia corresponding to the phonetic spelling of a character to be typed.

37. The mcthod of claim 31, wherein the step of disambiguating said called-up characters comprises, for a single-character word in said symbolic language, sequentially displaying said called-up characters in a predetermined order, and selecting from said displayed characters the character to be typed.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of disambiguating said called-up characters comprises, for a compound word in said symbolic language, matching each of said called-up characters corresponding to said first identifier code with each of said called-up characters corresponding to said second identifier code to produce a list of possible character pairs;

and comparing each of said possible character pairs with said permitted pairing lists to identify significant character pairs which appear on both said possible character pairs list and said permitted pairing lists.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of disambiguating said called-up characters further comprises displaying said significant character pairs and selecting one of said significant pairs.