Methods and systems for improved data input, compression, recognition, correction, and translation through frequency-based language analysis

• US 8,671,357 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2009
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abby L. Siegel
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey R. Spetalnick
• Inventors: Spetalnick, Jeffrey R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Alvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yi, Rinna
• Application Number:
  US12/624,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20100131900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 715/825, 715/259, 715/261, 715/273, 715/773, 715/863, 715/864, 345/156, 345/168, 345/173, 345/179, 382/309
• US Class Current: 715/773
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs

Abstract

System and method for improving data input by using word frequency to text predict input. Other systems and methods include analyzing words already contained in a document (e.g. spell checking and OCR) and using word frequency to create a proxy system to reduce the space required to store data, allowing for more efficient usage of storage and enhancing the embedded content of matrix codes. The system displays the most common words in a language based upon the previously entered or displayed word(s), or the previously entered or displayed character or characters. Words with the most common frequency of use with the prior word(s) are displayed in a table to enable the user to quickly select one of the displayed words for rapid data entry. The input device can be a touch-sensitive display or non-touch sensitive type device.

Claims

1. A method of improving data input in a portable device having an input device, a display device and a processor operatively coupled to the input device and the display device, the method comprising:

ascertaining, by the processor, a set of words for display to a user of the portable device based on an already displayed word by the display device immediately preceding a text insertion point, each of the words in the set being ascertained based on a respective frequency of usage of the respective word with the already displayed word in a predetermined language;

first displaying, by the display device, each word in the ascertained set in association with a respective selectable dynamic key;

receiving, by the input device, an input data entry representing selection by the user of one of the selectable dynamic keys; and

second displaying, by the display device, at the text insertion point the respective word in the ascertained set associated with the selected dynamic key as represented by the received input data entry; and

wherein the set of words includes nine words displayed in a table having three rows and three columns by the display device, and a second input device includes three buttons disposed on a left portion on the back of the portable device for selecting each of the three words displayed in a left-most column of the table, and the second input device includes three buttons disposed on a right portion on the back of the portable device for selecting each of the three words displayed in a right-most column of the table, and wherein simultaneous depression of respective left and right buttons on the back of the portable device selects each of the three words displayed in a middle column of the table.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving, by the input device, another input data entry representing selection by the user of a character in the language;

ascertaining, by the processor, a set of words associated with the character represented by the received another input data entry and also based on an already displayed word preceding the text insertion point; and

wherein the receiving of the input data entry and displaying steps are implemented after ascertaining, by the processor, the set of words associated with the character represented by the received another input data entry.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein words associated with a character correspond to a frequency of usage in the language of words beginning with the associated character.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving, by the input device, of said another input data entry represents selection by the user of a plurality of characters in the language.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the already displayed word is displayed in a text display portion of the display device, and the ascertained set of words are displayed in a word set display portion of the display device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the ascertained set of words are displayed at fixed locations by the display device, whereby word locations associated with each of the words in the set that are displayed are learned by the user in such a manner so as to facilitate more rapid entry by the user using the input device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, upon implementing the second displaying step, the ascertaining step is repeated to ascertain a set of words based on the word just displayed by the display device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the ascertaining step is carried out by ascertaining the set of words based on a frequency of usage of each of the words in the set with a plurality of words displayed by the display device immediately preceding the text insertion point.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the ascertaining step is carried out by ascertaining the set of words based on a frequency of usage of each of the words in the set with a plurality of words displayed by the display device immediately preceding the text insertion point and also based upon an analysis of grammar and usage rules.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising storing, in a memory, a plurality of sets of words, each of the stored sets of words identifying words having a relatively high frequency of usage with a respective associated word in the language;

and the ascertaining step is carried out by retrieving from the memory the set of words associated with the already displayed word or words.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising providing a current, updated frequency of usage of word combinations;

and the ascertaining step is carried out based on the current, updated frequency of usage of word combinations.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency of usage of words with the already displayed word is based upon frequency of usage by a general public.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency of usage of words with the already displayed word is based on frequency of usage by a general public in combination with frequency of usage by the user of the portable device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency of usage of words with the already displayed word is based on frequency of usage by a plurality of users.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency of usage of words with the already displayed word is based on a demographic of the user.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency of usage of words with the already displayed word is based on a frequency of usage statistics pertaining to a current geographic location of the user.

17. The method of claim 1, comprising enabling the user of portable device to change the text insertion point wherein the ascertaining step is carried out to ascertain the set of words for display to the user based on a displayed word or words immediately preceding the changed text insertion point.

18. The method of claim 1, comprising displaying, by the display device, a set of functional icons corresponding to different actions to be taken by the portable device upon subsequent selection by the user as represented by the input data entry received by the input device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein one of the functional icons in the set of functional icons corresponds to an action for changing each word in a prior displayed set from lower case to upper case.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein one of the functional icons in the set of functional icons corresponds to deleting an identified word or words displayed by the display device.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein one of the functional icons in the set of functional icons corresponds to displaying a user-predefined set of words in association with the selectable dynamic keys.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein one of the functional icons in the set of functional icons corresponds to displaying a user-predefined set of phrases, each of the phrases associated with a respective selectable dynamic key.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein one of the functional icons in the set of functional icons corresponds to an action for causing the display device to display synonyms of the word at the text insertion point.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein one of the functional icons in the set of functional icons corresponds to an action for causing the display device to change the lemma, add adjectives, or in another way modify the word at the text insertion point.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein one of the functional icons in the set of functional icons corresponds to an action for causing the display device to display a second set of words in association with the selectable dynamic keys, wherein the displayed second set of words are based on a respective frequency of usage of the respective word and integrating data from an address book of the user as stored by the portable device into the second set of words.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the input device of the portable device has at least keypad elements labeled 1 through 9, wherein selection by the user of one of the keypad elements labeled 1 through 9 represents the selection by the user of one of the selectable dynamic keys.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the input device of the portable device includes a set of additional selectable elements to enable the user to select a letter using the keypad elements normally representing a number or two or more letters.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the input device of the portable device includes a rocker button having multiple positions to enable the user to select one of at least four identified choices using one of the keypad elements normally representing a number or two or more letters.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the ascertaining step is carried out based on a T9 predictive text methodology that uses the frequency of words that could be created based upon any letters that appear on a selected key of a 9-key keypad to populate word keys, or in the case of phones that use two letters in each button, the frequency of words that can be created from either letter of that key.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the display device and the input device are incorporated within a touch-sensitive display.

31. The method of claim 30, comprising displaying by the touch-sensitive display each of the letters of the language as a separate input element in a circular format and displaying the set of words as the selectable dynamic keys within the circular format of the displayed input elements.

32. The method of claim 30, comprising displaying by the touch-sensitive display each of the letters of the language as a separate input element in three rows, consonant letters of the language displayed in upper and lower rows and vowel letters of the language displayed in a middle column between the upper and lower rows.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the input device and the display device are disposed on a front of the portable device.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the input device of the portable device including a depressable button on a side of the portable device, the method further comprising changing, upon depressing the button on the side of the portable device, a function of a key representing a letter or number to a function for selecting at least one of the selectable dynamic keys.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the input device of the portable device including a dual pressure key that, upon depressing the dual pressure key beyond a predetermined location, changes a function of another key representing a letter or number to a function for selecting the selectable dynamic keys.

36. The method of claim 1, comprising displaying, by the display device, word keys or functional icons corresponding to different actions to be taken by the portable device upon subsequent selection color coded to match and represent physical buttons either on a keyboard or cellular keypad.

37. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving, by the input device, a double tapping on a space bar;

controlling, by the processor, the display device to display a period key at the text insertion point and to display the selectable dynamic keys to show a most common punctuation that the user of the portable device might choose including a way to enter at least one of bullets and a new paragraph, and controlling the display device to replace a displayed period with a selected punctuation by the user.

38. The method of claim 1, comprising displaying word keys on a computer monitor and selecting one of the displayed word keys by one of an attached mouse and the portable device.

39. The method of claim 1, comprising ascertaining, by the processor, if a non-text entry immediately precedes the text insertion point, a set of words for display to the user of the portable device based upon the most likely starting words that follow the non-text entry immediately preceding the text insertion point;

and ascertaining, by the processor, if there is no text and entries immediately preceding the text insertion point, a set of words for display to the user of the portable device based upon the most common words used to begin a document.

40. A portable device for improving data input, comprising:

a display device for displaying one or more words to a user of the portable device, the display device including a text insertion point;

an input device operative to receive an input by the user and to produce an input data entry identifying the user input; and

a processor operatively coupled to the display device and the input device, and programmed to;

ascertain a set of words for display to a user based on an already displayed word by the display device immediately preceding the text insertion point, each of the words in the set being ascertained based on a respective frequency of usage of the respective word with the already displayed word in a predetermined language;

control the display device to display each word in the ascertained set in association with a respective selectable dynamic key;

receive from the input device an input data entry representing selection by the user of one of the selectable dynamic keys; and

control the display device to display at the text insertion point the respective word in the ascertained set associated with the selected dynamic key as represented by the received input data entry; and

wherein the set of words includes nine words displayed in a table having three rows and three columns by the display device, and a second input device includes three buttons disposed on a left portion on the back of the portable device for selecting each of the three words displayed in a left-most column of the table, and the second input device includes three buttons disposed on a right portion on the back of the portable device for selecting each of the three words displayed in a right-most column of the table, and wherein simultaneous depression of respective left and right buttons on the back of the portable device selects each of the three words displayed in a middle column of the table.

41. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the input device is operative to receive an input by the user representing selection by the user of a character in the language;

and

the processor is programmed to ascertain a set of words associated with the selected character and also based on an already displayed word preceding the text insertion point, and to control the display device to display the words in the ascertained set for subsequent selection by the user.

42. The portable device of claim 41, wherein words associated with a character correspond to a frequency of usage in the language of words beginning with the associated character.

43. The portable device of claim 41, wherein the input device is operative to receive input by the user representing a plurality of characters in the language.

44. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the already displayed word is displayed in a text display portion of the display device, and the ascertained set of words are displayed in a word set display portion of the display device.

45. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the ascertained set of words are displayed at fixed locations by the display device, whereby word locations associated with each of the words in the set that are displayed are learned by the user in such a manner so as to facilitate more rapid entry by the user using the input device.

46. The portable device of claim 40, wherein, upon displaying the respective word in the ascertained set at the text insertion point, the processor ascertains another set of words based on the word just displayed.

47. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the processor ascertains the set of words based on a frequency of usage of each of the words in the set with a plurality of words displayed immediately preceding the text insertion point.

48. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the processor ascertains the set of words based on a frequency of usage of each of the words in the set with a plurality of words displayed by the display device immediately preceding the text insertion point and also based upon an analysis of grammar and usage rules.

49. The portable device of claim 40, comprising a memory for storing a plurality of sets of words, each of the stored sets of words identifying words having a relatively high frequency of usage with a respective associated word in the language;

and the processor retrieves from the memory the set of words associated with the already displayed word or words.

50. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the processor receives a current, updated frequency of usage of word combinations, and ascertains the words based on the current, updated frequency of usage of word combinations.

51. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the frequency of usage of words with the already displayed word is based upon frequency of usage by a general public.

52. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the frequency of usage of words with the already displayed word is based on frequency of usage by a general public in combination with frequency of usage by the user of the portable device.

53. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the frequency of usage of words with the already displayed word is based on frequency of usage by a plurality of users.

54. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the frequency of usage of words with the already displayed word is based on a demographic of the user.

55. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the frequency of usage of words with the already displayed word is based on a frequency of usage statistics pertaining to a current geographic location of the user.

56. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the processor is programmed to enable the user to change the text insertion point, and ascertains the set of words for display to the user based on a displayed word immediately preceding the changed text insertion point.

57. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the processor is programmed to control the display device to display a set of functional icons corresponding to different actions to be taken by the processor upon subsequent selection by the user.

58. The portable device of claim 57, wherein one of the functional icons in the set of functional icons corresponds to an action for changing each word in a prior displayed set from lower case to upper case.

59. The portable device of claim 57, wherein one of the functional icons in the set of functional icons corresponds to deleting an identified word or words displayed by the display device.

60. The portable device of claim 57, wherein one of the functional icons in the set of functional icons corresponds to displaying a user-predefined set of words in association with the selectable dynamic keys.

61. The portable device of claim 57, wherein one of the functional icons in the set of functional icons corresponds to displaying a user-predefined set of phrases, each of the phrases associated with a respective selectable dynamic key.

62. The portable device of claim 57, wherein one of the functional icons in the set of functional icons corresponds to an action for causing the display device to display synonyms of the word at the text insertion point.

63. The portable device of claim 57, wherein one of the functional icons in the set of functional icons corresponds to an action for causing the display device to change the lemma, add adjectives, or in other ways modify the word at the text insertion point.

64. The portable device of claim 57, wherein one of the functional icons in the set of functional icons corresponds to an action for causing the display device to display a second set of words in association with the selectable dynamic keys, wherein the displayed second set of words are based on a respective frequency of usage of the respective word taking into account data from an address book of the user as stored by the portable device.

65. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the input device of the portable device has at least keypad elements labeled 1 through 9, wherein selection by the user of one of the keypad elements labeled 1 through 9 represents the selection by the user of one of the selectable dynamic keys.

66. The portable device of claim 65, wherein the input device of the portable device includes a set of additional selectable elements to enable the user to select a letter using the keypad elements normally representing a number or two or more letters.

67. The portable device of claim 65, wherein the input device includes a rocker button having multiple positions to enable the user to select one of at least four identified choices using one of the keypad elements normally representing a number or two or more letters.

68. The portable device of claim 65, wherein the processor ascertains the words based on a T9 predictive text methodology that uses the frequency of words that could be created based upon any letters that appear on a selected key of a 9-key keypad to populate word keys, or in the case of phones that use two letters in each button, the frequency of words that can be created from either letter of that key.

69. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the display device and the input device are incorporated within a touch-sensitive display.

70. The portable device of claim 69, wherein the processor is programmed to control the touch-sensitive display to display each of the letters of the language as a separate input element in a circular format and the set of words are displayed as the selectable dynamic keys within the circular format of the displayed input elements.

71. The portable device of claim 69, wherein the input device is operative to display within the touch-sensitive display each of the letters of the language as a separate input element in three rows, consonant letters of the language disposed in upper and lower rows and vowel letters of the of the language displayed in a middle column between the upper and lower rows.

72. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the first input device and the display device are disposed on a front of the portable device.

73. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the input device of the portable device including a depressable button on a side of the portable device, wherein the processor changes, upon depressing the button on the side of the portable device, a function of a key representing a letter or number to a function for selecting at least one of the selectable dynamic keys.

74. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the input device of the portable device including a dual pressure key that, upon depressing the dual pressure key beyond a predetermined location, changes a function of another key representing a letter or number to a function for selecting the selectable dynamic keys.

75. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the display device displays a set of word keys color coded to match and represent physical buttons on one of a keyboard and cellular keypad.

76. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the processor is programmed to control the display device to display a period key at the text insertion point upon receiving, by the input device, a double tapping on a space bar, to display the selectable dynamic keys to show a most common punctuation that the user of the portable device might choose including a way to enter at least one of bullets and a new paragraph, and to display a selected one of the displayed punctuation in place of a displayed period.

77. The portable device of claim 40, comprising a computer monitor displaying word keys;

and at least one of an attached mouse and the portable device adapted to select one of the displayed word keys.

78. The portable device of claim 40, wherein the processor is programmed to control the display device to display, if a non-text entry immediately precedes the text insertion point, a set of words based upon the most likely starting words that follow the non-text entry immediately preceding the text insertion point;

and to control the display device to display, if there is no text and entries immediately preceding the text insertion point, a set of words based upon the most common words used to begin a document.

79. A method of improving data input in a portable device having an input device, a display device and a processor operatively coupled to the input device and the display device, the method comprising:

ascertaining, by the processor, a set of words for display to a user of the portable device based on an already displayed word by the display device immediately preceding a text insertion point, each of the words in the set being ascertained based on a respective frequency of usage of the respective word with the already displayed word in a predetermined language;

first displaying, by the display device, each word in the ascertained set in association with a respective selectable dynamic key;

receiving, by the input device, an input data entry representing selection by the user of one of the selectable dynamic keys; and

second displaying, by the display device, at the text insertion point the respective word in the ascertained set associated with the selected dynamic key as represented by the received input data entry,

the input device of the portable device including a first and a second input devices, the first input device and the display device disposed on a front of the portable device, and the second input device disposed on a back of the portable device, the second input device including means for selecting the selectable dynamic keys associated with the displayed set of words, and

wherein the set of words includes nine words displayed in a table having three rows and three columns by the display device, and the second input device includes three buttons disposed on a left portion on the back of the portable device for selecting each of the three words displayed in a left-most column of the table, and the second input device includes three buttons disposed on a right portion on the back of the portable device for selecting each of the three words displayed in a right-most column of the table, and wherein simultaneous depression of respective left and right buttons on the back of the portable device selects each of the three words displayed in a middle column of the table.

80. A portable device for improving data input, comprising:

a display device for displaying one or more words to a user of the portable device, the display device including a text insertion point;

an input device operative to receive an input by the user and to produce an input data entry identifying the user input; and

a processor operatively coupled to the display device and the input device, and programmed to;

ascertain a set of words for display to a user based on an already displayed word by the display device immediately preceding the text insertion point, each of the words in the set being ascertained based on a respective frequency of usage of the respective word with the already displayed word in a predetermined language;

control the display device to display each word in the ascertained set in association with a respective selectable dynamic key;

receive from the input device an input data entry representing selection by the user of one of the selectable dynamic keys; and

control the display device to display at the text insertion point the respective word in the ascertained set associated with the selected dynamic key as represented by the received input data entry,

the input device of the portable device including a first and a second input devices, the first input device and the display device disposed on a front of the portable device, and the second input device disposed on a back of the portable device, the second input device including means for selecting the selectable dynamic keys associated with the displayed set of words, and

wherein the set of words includes nine words displayed in a table having three rows and three columns by the display device, and the second input device includes three buttons disposed on a left portion on the back of the portable device for selecting each of the three words displayed in a left-most column of the table, and the second input device includes three buttons disposed on a right portion on the back of the portable device for selecting each of the three words displayed in a right-most column of the table, and wherein simultaneous depression of respective left and right buttons on the back of the portable device selects each of the three words displayed in a middle column of the table.