Numeric key-based chinese address inputting method

• US 6,636,163 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hsieh, Hsien-Fen
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dang, Hung
• Application Number:
  US09/603,357
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 341/28, 341/23, 400/109, 400/110, 400/484, 345/171
• US Class Current: 341/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/018 Input/output arrangements for oriental characters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods

Abstract

A numeric key-based Chinese-language inputting method, which enables the rapid inputting of a Chinese-language address in accordance with using numeric keys includes determining as to a numerical inputting mode, or a single Chinese character inputting mode, or an address inputting mode, and for a numerical inputting mode, processing in accordance with a numerical processing step, and for a single Chinese character inputting mode, processing in accordance with a single Chinese character processing step, and for an address inputting mode, and processing in accordance with an address data processing step. Thereafter, a Chinese-language address, made up of characters and numerals detected in accordance with each step, is outputted to a display portion for visual representation.

Claims

1. A Chinese-language address inputting method for inputting a Chinese-language address in accordance with numeric keys utilizing a device comprising a memory, a display, and a numeric keypad, said Chinese-language address inputting method comprising:

one of inputting, one of a Chinese-language address, a single Chinese character, and a numeral, and controlling the input mode, in accordance with an input convention that comprises assigning all Chinese-language vocalization symbols to numeric keys, with the exception of designating a predetermined key as a control key, assigning consonants to six keys, assigning vowels to one key, assigning rhythm to two keys, and assigning five tonal symbols to five consonant keys, respectively;

determining, in accordance with a user inputted signal, one of a numerical inputting mode, a single Chinese character inputting mode, and an address inputting mode, and controlling processing such that for the numerical inputting mode, processing is performed in accordance with numerical processing, for the single Chinese character inputting mode, processing is performed in accordance with single Chinese character processing, and for the address inputting mode, processing is performed in accordance with address data processing;

the numerical processing comprising outputting the display as a single numeral in response to a numeric key signal that is inputted two times in succession;

the single Chinese character processing comprising storing, in the memory, a key signal/vocalization symbol lookup table created in accordance with the input convention, referencing the key signal/vocalization symbol lookup table each time two numeric keys are inputted in succession, detecting a vocalization symbol corresponding to the inputted numeric key, and then outputting, to the display, the corresponding vocalization symbol, and when a tonal symbol is detected, referencing a character dictionary stored in the memory, and detecting, and then outputting to the display, a Chinese-language character which corresponds to the inputted vocalization symbol;

the address data processing comprising referencing, in accordance with successive user inputted key signals and a predetermined hierarchical relationship, an address database stored in the memory, detecting, and then outputting to the display, a corresponding address character string; and

outputting and displaying on the display, a Chinese-language address comprising the characters and numerals detected in accordance with each said processing.

2. The Chinese-language address inputting method according to claim 1, wherein the character dictionary referenced in the single Chinese character processing comprises a vocalization symbol code and a Chinese-language character, and for the vocalization symbol code thereof, the vocalization symbol of a corresponding Chinese-language character comprises two numerals in accordance with the input convention.

3. The Chinese-language address inputting method according to claim 1, wherein the hierarchical relationship of the address data processing divides a Chinese-language address into a superior-subordinate relationship, and a desired Chinese-language address is detected in accordance with the relationship thereof.

4. The Chinese-language address inputting method according to claim 1, wherein the structure of the address database referenced in the address data processing comprises an address code, address character, and subsequent search range, the address code constituting two numeric codes, each two numeric codes representing the first vocalization symbol of each Chinese-language character in a Chinese-language character string of a desired address, the address character comprising a Chinese-language character string of a desired address, and the subsequent search range defines a hierarchical relationship.

5. The Chinese-language address inputting method according to claim 2, wherein the hierarchical relationship of the address data processing divides a Chinese-language address into a superior-subordinate relationship, and a desired Chinese-language address is detected in accordance with the relationship thereof.

6. The Chinese-language address inputting method according to claim 2, wherein the structure of the address database referenced in the address data processing comprises an address code, address character, and subsequent search range, the address code constituting two numeric codes, each two numeric codes representing the first vocalization symbol of each Chinese-language character in a Chinese-language character string of a desired address, the address character comprising a Chinese-language character string of a desired address, and the subsequent search range defining a hierarchical relationship.

7. The Chinese-language address inputting method according to claim 3, wherein the structure of the address database referenced in the address data processing comprises an address code, address character, and subsequent search range, the address code constituting two numeric codes, each two numeric codes representing the first vocalization symbol of each Chinese-language character in a Chinese-language character string of a desired address, the address character comprising a Chinese-language character string of a desired address, and the subsequent search range defining a hierarchical relationship.