Spell check function that applies a preference to a spell check algorithm based upon extensive user selection of spell check results generated by the algorithm, and associated handheld electronic device

• US 8,775,931 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Fux, Vadim, White, Shannon Ralph, Yach, David Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Mills, Frank D
• Application Number:
  US11/694,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20080244390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,657 Days
• Field of Search: 715/257
• US Class Current: 715/273
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/232 Orthographic correction, e.g. spell checking or vowelisation

Abstract

An improved spell check function and handheld electronic device provide a spell checking feature that includes provides a preference to a spell check algorithm that based upon extensive selection by the user of spell check results generated by the algorithm.

Claims

1. A method of enabling management of a spell check function on a handheld electronic device, the spell check function comprising a plurality of spell check algorithms stored on the handheld electronic device for execution thereon, the method comprising:

executing at least two of the spell check algorithms to generate proposed spell check interpretations of a text entry received from an input apparatus on the handheld device;

outputting at least two of the proposed spell check interpretations;

applying a preference to proposed spell check interpretations generated by a particular spell check algorithm, if a predetermined quantity of selection inputs of proposed spell check interpretations generated by the particular spell check algorithm meet a predetermined usage criteria, wherein the predetermined usage criteria reflects a determination that a rate at which spell check interpretations generated by the particular spell check algorithm are selected exceeds a threshold frequency; and

employing the preference in said outputting.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the handheld electronic device comprises a processor apparatus that comprises a processor and a memory having a plurality of language objects and a plurality of frequency objects stored therein, each language object being associated with a frequency object having a frequency value indicative of the relative frequency of the language object in a language, and further comprising employing as the preference a numerical multiplier applied to the frequency values of language objects identified as the proposed spell check interpretations generated by the particular spell check algorithm.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined usage criteria comprises a determination that a frequency of selection of the proposed spell check interpretation generated by the particular spell check algorithm exceeds a predetermined threshold.

4. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a processor apparatus comprising a processor and a memory having a plurality of language objects stored therein, the memory further having stored therein a number of routines comprising a spell check routine that provides a spell check function, the spell check function comprising a plurality of spell check algorithms stored in the memory for execution on the processor;

an input apparatus comprising a plurality of input members, the input apparatus being structured to provide input to the processor apparatus;

an output apparatus structured to receive output signals from the processor apparatus;

the routines having instructions which, when executed on the processor, cause the handheld electronic device to perform operations comprising;

executing at least two of the spell check algorithms to generate proposed spell check interpretations of a text entry received from an input apparatus on the handheld device;

outputting at least two of the proposed spell check interpretations;

applying a preference to proposed spell check interpretations generated by a particular spell check algorithm, if a predetermined quantity of selection inputs of proposed spell check interpretations generated by the particular spell check algorithm meet a predetermined usage criteria, wherein the predetermined usage criteria reflects a determination that a rate at which spell check interpretations generated by the particular spell check algorithm are selected exceeds a threshold frequency; and

employing the preference in said outputting.

5. The handheld electronic device of claim 4 wherein memory further has a plurality of frequency objects stored therein, each language object being associated with a frequency object having a frequency value indicative of the relative frequency of the language object in a language, and wherein the operations further comprise employing as the preference a numerical multiplier applied to the frequency values of language objects identified as the proposed spell check interpretations generated by the particular spell check algorithm.

6. A method of applying a preference to a series of spell check algorithms stored on a handheld electronic device, the method comprising:

executing a series of spell check algorithms in a predetermined sequence to generate proposed spell check interpretations of the text entry while receiving a text entry from an input apparatus on the handheld device;

applying a preference to a particular proposed spell check interpretation generated by a particular one of spell check algorithms executed at the end of execution of the series, wherein the preference is determined based on a predetermined quantity of selection inputs of proposed spell check interpretations generated by the particular spell check algorithm and wherein the preference is determined based on a multiplication factor specific to an algorithm according to its order in the series; and

outputting the particular proposed spell check interpretation at a higher priority than other proposed spell check interpretations generated by other spell check algorithms in the series.