Educational spell checker

• US 6,889,361 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2000
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Day, Paul Reuben, Bates, Cary Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, CONG LAC T
• Application Number:
  US09/593,176
• Time in Patent Office: 1,785 Days
• Field of Search: 715/533, 715/530, 715/500
• US Class Current: 715/257
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/232 Orthographic correction, e.g. spell checking or vowelisation
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/04 Speaking with audible presentation of the material to be studied G09B5/04

Abstract

Method and apparatus for improving a user'"'"'s ability to spell words correctly are provided. The method comprises: displaying a word list for user selection of a correctly spelled word; and displaying assistance information associated with the correctly spelled word. In one embodiment, the assistance information is selected from: one or more root words, one or more related words, and one or more memorization clues. The apparatus may comprise a signal bearing medium containing instructions of a computer program which, when executed by one or more processors, performs the method of the invention. Another embodiment of the apparatus comprises a computer system comprising one or more processors and memory configured to execute a computer program which, when executed, performs the method of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for correcting a misspelled word, comprising:

displaying a word list for user selection of a correctly spelled word to replace the misspelled word;

upon user selection of the correctly spelled word, displaying one or more categories of assistance information associated with the user-selected correctly spelled word;

prompting a user to select from the one or more categories of assistance information associated with the user selected correctly spelled word; and

upon user-selection of a category of assistance information, displaying the assistance information corresponding to the user-selected category of assistance information associated with the user selected correctly spelled word.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more categories of assistance information is selected from:

one or more root words;

one or more spelling rules; and

one or more memorization clues.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

replacing the misspelled word with the correctly spelled word selected by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

replacing the misspelled word with a user input word; and

storing in memory an association of the user input word as the correctly spelled word for the misspelled word.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking a number of times the correctly spelled word has been misspelled; and

when the number exceeds a threshold number, displaying a spelling exercise for user practice.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a misspelling pattern associated with the misspelled word; and

displaying an explanation for correcting the misspelling pattern.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the misspelling pattern comprises a typing error pattern.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing a plurality of words in a document; and

displaying analysis results comprising at least one of a misspelled words count, a mistyped words count and a percentage of correctly spelled words.

9. A signal bearing medium containing instructions of a computer program which, when executed by one or more processors, performs a method comprising:

displaying a word list for user selection of a correctly spelled word to replace the misspelled word;

upon user selection of the correctly spelled word, displaying one or more categories of assistance information associated with the user-selected correctly spelled word;

prompting a user to select from the one or more categories of assistance information associated with the user selected correctly spelled word; and

upon user-selection of a category of assistance information, displaying the assistance information corresponding to the user-selected category of assistance information associated with the user selected correctly spelled word.

10. The signal bearing medium of claim 9, wherein the one or more categories of assistance information is selected from:

one or more root words;

one or more spelling rules; and

one or more memorization clues.

11. The signal bearing medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

replacing the misspelled word with the correctly spelled word selected by the user.

12. The signal bearing medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

replacing the misspelled word with a user input word; and

storing in memory an association of the user input word as the correctly spelled word for the misspelled word.

13. The signal bearing medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

tracking a number of times the correctly spelled word has been misspelled; and

when the number exceeds a threshold number, displaying a spelling exercise.

14. The signal bearing medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

identifying a misspelling pattern associated with the misspelled word; and

displaying an explanation for correcting the misspelling pattern.

15. The signal bearing medium of claim 14, wherein the misspelling pattern comprising a typing error pattern.

16. The signal bearing medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

analyzing a plurality of words in a document; and

displaying analysis results comprising at least one of a misspelled words count, a mistyped words count and a percentage of correctly spelled words.

17. A computer system comprising one or more processors and memory configured to execute a computer program which, when executed, performs a method comprising:

displaying a word list for user selection of a correctly spelled word to replace the misspelled word;

upon user selection of the correctly spelled word, displaying one or more categories of assistance information associated with the user-selected correctly spelled word;

prompting a user to select from the one or more categories of assistance information associated with the user selected correctly spelled word; and

upon user-selection of a category of assistance information, displaying the assistance information corresponding to the user-selected category of assistance information associated with the user selected correctly spelled word.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the one or more categories of assistance information is selected from:

one

or more root words;

one or more spelling rules; and

one or more memorization clues.

19. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

replacing the misspelled word with the correctly spelled word selected by the user.

20. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

replacing the misspelled word with a user input word; and

storing in memory an association of the user input word as the correctly spelled word for the misspelled word.

21. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

tracking a number of times the correctly spelled word has been misspelled; and

when the number exceeds a threshold number, displaying a spelling exercise.

22. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

identifying a misspelling pattern associated with the misspelled word; and

displaying an explanation for correcting the misspelling pattern.

23. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the misspelling pattern comprises a typing error pattern.

24. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

analyzing a plurality of words in a document; and

displaying analysis results comprising at least one of a misspelled words count, a mistyped words count and a percentage of correctly spelled words.