Tone mark based text suggestions for chinese or japanese characters or words

• US 9,946,704 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Qian, Ming, Li, Jian, Wang, Song, Zhang, Jianbang
• Primary Examiner(s): Mishra, Richa
• Application Number:
  US14/335,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20160019201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/018 Input/output arrangements for oriental characters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/129 Handling non-Latin characters, e.g. kana-to-kanji conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/171 by use of digital ink
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/232 Orthographic correction, e.g. spell checking or vowelisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/274 Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/53 Processing of non-Latin text kana-to-kanji conversion G06F40/129; vowelisation G06F40/232

Abstract

For suggesting input text based on tone mark information for Chinese or Japanese characters or words, an apparatus, system, method, and computer program product are disclosed. The apparatus may include a processor, a handwriting input unit operatively coupled to the processor, an input text module that receives input text comprising at least one character, a tone mark module that identifies a tone mark associated with the input text, and a suggestion module that proposes at least one next character based on the identified tone mark. The input text module may receive a user selection of the at least one next character. The input text may include characters selected from the group consisting of: Chinese characters and Japanese characters.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a handwriting input unit operatively coupled to the processor;

a display device operatively coupled to the processor; and

a memory that stores code executable by the processor to;

receive an input from a user via the handwriting input unit, the input corresponding to a single handwritten character being a Chinese character and not a pinyin word;

recognize the single handwritten character from the input;

identify a set of homonym characters for the single handwritten character, the set of homonym characters comprising the single handwritten character and at least one additional Chinese character having a same shape as the single handwritten character;

receive, via the handwriting input unit, a user input tone mark for the single handwritten character;

select a homonym character from the set of homonym characters using the user input tone mark; and

propose, to the user via the display device, at least one next character in a phrase including the selected homonym character, the at least one next character being adjacent to the selected homonym character in the phrase, each character of the at least one next character being a Chinese character logogram, wherein the at least one next character is selected based on the homonym character selected using the tone mark.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises code executable by the processor to:

determine a probable tone mark for the input text based on nearby characters and compares the probable tone mark to the identified tone mark, and

propose, via the display device, a correction to the identified tone mark in response to the identified tone mark not matching the probable tone mark.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor further selects the next character based on an additional handwritten character near the handwritten character.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises code executable by the processor to:

prompt a user to enable a pronunciation guide; and

display a tone mark in proximity to characters of the input text in response to the user enabling the pronunciation guide.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises code executable by the processor to store tone mark information in a tone library, the tone mark information based on the identified tone mark.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the memory further comprises code executable by the processor to create an audio representation of input words based on the tone library.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the memory further comprises code executable by the processor to:

display tone marks on the input text based on the tone library; and

display the input text without the tone mark in response to the user selecting a next character.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises code executable by the processor to:

display the identified tone mark in proximity to the input text;

determine whether a sentence has been completed; and

remove the tone mark from the input text in response to the sentence being completed.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises code executable by the processor to receive a user selection of the at least one next character.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, by use of a processor, an input from a user via the handwriting input unit, the input corresponding to a single handwritten character being a Chinese character and not a pinyin word;

recognizing the single handwritten character from the input;

identifying a set of homonym characters for the single handwritten character, the set of homonym characters comprising the single handwritten character and at least one additional character having a same shape as the single handwritten character;

receiving, from the user, a tone mark for the single handwritten character;

selecting a homonym character from the set of homonym characters using the user input tone mark; and

suggesting, to the user via a display device, a next character in a phrase including the selected homonym character, the next character being adjacent to the selected homonym character in the phrase, the next character being a Chinese logogram, wherein the next character is selected based on the homonym character selected using the tone mark.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining a probable tone mark for the input text based on nearby characters;

comparing the probable tone mark to the identified tone mark; and

suggesting a correction to the identified tone mark in response to the identified tone mark not matching the probable tone mark.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the next character is further selected based on a context of the handwritten character.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

prompting a user to enable a pronunciation guide; and

displaying a tone mark in proximity to characters of the input text in response to the user enabling the pronunciation guide.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing tone mark information in a tone library, the tone mark information based on the identified tone mark.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

displaying tone marks on the input text based on the tone library; and

displaying the input text without the tone mark in response to the user selecting a next character.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising creating an audio representation of input words based on the tone library.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

displaying the identified tone mark in proximity to the input text;

determining whether a sentence has been completed; and

removing the tone mark from the input text in response to the sentence being completed.

18. A program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium that stores code executable by a processor to perform:

receiving an input character from a user via a handwriting input unit, the input character being a single handwritten Chinese character and not a pinyin word;

identifying a set of homonym characters for the single handwritten Chinese character, the set of homonym characters comprising the single handwritten Chinese character and at least one additional character having a same shape as the single handwritten Chinese character;

receiving, from the user via the handwriting input unit, a tone mark for the single handwritten Chinese character;

selecting a homonym character from the set of homonym characters using the user input tone mark; and

suggesting a phrase hint to the user via a display device, the phrase hint containing a next character in a phrase including the selected homonym character, the next character being adjacent to the selected homonym character in the phrase, each character in the phrase hint being one of;

a traditional Chinese character and a simplified Chinese character, wherein the phrase hint is selected based on the homonym character selected using the tone mark.

19. The program product of claim 18, wherein the next character is further selected based on a context of the single handwritten Chinese character.