Compact spelling-check dictionary
First Claim
1. An electronic dictionary storage apparatus for use in an electronic typewriter or handheld dictionary, the apparatus containing an electronic processor and a memory storing a list of correctly spelled words for verifying the spelling order of character inputs comprising:
- (a) input means for receiving characters from a keyboard;
(b) a first storage means for storing character information structured to sequentially check the spelling order of a first predetermined series of characters received from said input means, wherein said character information comprises a plurality of character sequences, each said sequence having a predetermined series N of characters therein and being combinable with a first character to form a sequence as a preliminary portion of one word in said list and wherein said characters are stored in ordered sets consisting of groups so that each group of set is located by a respective address associated with a particular one of said first characters;
(c) a second storage means extending from said first storage means and containing further character information structured to check the spelling order of a variable string of character inputs stemming from said predetermined series to validate spelling of words, wherein character information in said second storage comprises a tree structure with a plurality of branches, each branch having a unique address in said second storage means and each branch holding a least one word remnant associated with said character sequence;
(d) processing comparison means connected to said input means and to said first and second storage means, and being operative in response to receipt of a character from said keyboard to ascertain occurrence of a match upon comparing the received character and a corresponding stored character in proper spelling order according to said character information stored in the first and second storage means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A low-cost spelling-check dictionary apparatus for incorportation in a portable electronic typewriter. Semiconductor ROM is used for storage of the dictionary'"'"'s word listing and for program control of the spelling check. Text compression methods are utilized to permit storage of large vocabularies (about 35,000 words) while minimizing the ROM capacity required (about 3 IC'"'"'s of 256K bits each). In particular, the words are alphabetically arranged in a set of three interconnected tables together with extensions of the third table in highly compressed fashion. The tables verify the spelling order of the first three character inputs, while the extensions verify the fourth and subsequent inputs, if any. The tables have a first "look-up structure" format, whereas the extensions are arranged in a different "tree structure" type of format utilizing a "Huffman code" for the characters.
56 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An electronic dictionary storage apparatus for use in an electronic typewriter or handheld dictionary, the apparatus containing an electronic processor and a memory storing a list of correctly spelled words for verifying the spelling order of character inputs comprising:
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(a) input means for receiving characters from a keyboard; (b) a first storage means for storing character information structured to sequentially check the spelling order of a first predetermined series of characters received from said input means, wherein said character information comprises a plurality of character sequences, each said sequence having a predetermined series N of characters therein and being combinable with a first character to form a sequence as a preliminary portion of one word in said list and wherein said characters are stored in ordered sets consisting of groups so that each group of set is located by a respective address associated with a particular one of said first characters; (c) a second storage means extending from said first storage means and containing further character information structured to check the spelling order of a variable string of character inputs stemming from said predetermined series to validate spelling of words, wherein character information in said second storage comprises a tree structure with a plurality of branches, each branch having a unique address in said second storage means and each branch holding a least one word remnant associated with said character sequence; (d) processing comparison means connected to said input means and to said first and second storage means, and being operative in response to receipt of a character from said keyboard to ascertain occurrence of a match upon comparing the received character and a corresponding stored character in proper spelling order according to said character information stored in the first and second storage means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification