Background technology
The handwritten Chinese character input is to have the computing machine of touch-screen or touch pad (board) and other electronic equipment input method commonly used.Along with the widespread use of notebook computer, mobile phone and personal digital assistant (PDA) etc., the identification of handwritten Chinese character input fast, efficiently and has accurately become many people's hope.
For writing Chinese characters, different people has different writing styles and writing style.A difficult problem of handwritten Chinese character input identification is exactly how to confirm whether the user has write a word.Therefore, an obstacle that hinders fast and accurately identification is exactly so-called overtime, i.e. stand-by period after the finishing touch because overtime be to detect the most effective the way whether user has write a word.For handwritten Chinese character input identification can actually be used, overtimely be actually very short,, generally can regulate between second at 0.2-2.0 between second at 0.2-0.8 usually by system or user.
Yet, utilize and overtimely confirm whether input is accomplished and have problem sometimes.At first, it is overtime be difficult to set a best, because overtime difference with the user is very different, that is to say that the interruption between writing speed and stroke and the word is depended on and the user to a great extent.Secondly, different overtime different with word.For some word, the user will move a very long segment distance between two strokes.When distance is long, just need be than common stroke to the longer time of required time of stroke.In this case, the user write occur before the word overtime, will occur in overtime before with overtime after the stroke write be identified as the situation of two words.
This owing to the overtime problem that causes in order to solve, common solution is that the form with person's handwriting is that the user provides visual feedback, so that it can be confirmed when identification.In addition, most handwritten Chinese character input identification software all allows the overtime length of the artificial setting of user.Some solution provides two or more handwriting inputs district to the user, only writes a word to force the user an input field.
In fact, the person's handwriting feedback must be arranged on the below of person's handwriting, otherwise the user can not notice ongoing identification.This way can not be used on the device that does not have touch-screen, and for example those have only on the device of handwriting pad.Let user oneself set and overtime can be provided stand-by period (overtime) more flexibly, but can not deal with problems.Because concerning all words, have only one identical overtime.In fact, require to obtain one and be fit to that the really overtime flexibly of different strokes is unpractical in each word and the word.For those portable electric appts that has only a relatively little screen, have only a relatively limited district of writing, therefore, a plurality of districts of writing can't be provided.
In addition and since handwriting recognition be not 100% accurately, the user may rewrite a word sometimes, can be correctly validated to guarantee word.Because Chinese character needs complicated writing process, concerning the user, no matter write a word repeatedly on muscle power or all be a burden psychologically.And, can hinder so fast and effective recognition.In addition, if having only part (for example, a part) correct in the primary candidate, and system provides the candidate word table, and the user also browses all candidate (normally 8-10 word) possibly, and this makes selection course more difficult.And if the user thinks identification error, he must rewrite whole word.
To rewrite and help input and identification in order to reduce, people have proposed various solutions, for example: according to radical etc. with the word classification or decompose (as: the Five-stroke Method and grey a word used in person's names sign indicating number etc.).United States Patent (USP) 5,923,778 disclose a kind of method of utilizing radicals by which characters are arranged in traditional Chinese dictionaries information to discern, and have proposed a kind of based on radicals by which characters are arranged in traditional Chinese dictionaries information grading structure word database of information.United States Patent (USP) 6,272,243 disclose a kind of method and apparatus of importing to hand-written memo pad of being used for, and it has a predefined sub-input field.Yet it only is suitable for importing Japanese.
Embodiment
Because handwritten Chinese character input identification can utilize variety of way well known in the art to realize, and can use conventional system or software to discern, and for the sake of simplicity, identifying itself is not done detailed description at this.
At first with reference to Fig. 1, wherein Figure 1A schematically illustrates the mistake identification that the hand-written Chinese character input recognition method that utilizes the overtime prior art of discerning possibly occur.Shown in Figure 1A, the user plans to write the bipartite word " bright " of a left right model.He writes " day " on the left side usually earlier, writes " moon " on the right again.Because " bright " is to be made up of the radical " day " that can independently become word and " moon " two parts; He need move long segment distance to the right half part the first stroke of " moon " (top is leaned in the centre of importing/write the district) from the left-half finishing touch of " day " (lower part is leaned in the centre of importing/write the district), and the time that this cost is long also of short duration pause possibly occur between two parts.If the overtime length that the time ratio that pauses is predetermined, system can be identified as the part on the left side " day " or " moon " word, and demonstration " day " and " moon " in candidate's word table.Then, system is identified as " moon " or " day " with the part on the right and in candidate's word table, shows " moon " and " day " discerned.In other words, because overtime, system is identified as two independently words with two parts.
Same problem also can appear at the identification of the word that two parts of mo(u)ld bottom half constitute.Shown in Figure 1B, Chinese character " fortunately " is to be made up of radicals by which characters are arranged in traditional Chinese dictionaries " soil " and the latter half of not constituting complete word.Owing to overtime, system may " fortunately " word recognition become two words, i.e. " soil " word and " sheep " word that looks like the latter half.
When practical application, adjustment stand-by period (overtime) does not have anything to help, because overtime different and different with the user's with Chinese character, stroke, writing style.Even same user, concerning him, fixing overtime also also inapplicable all word.
Fig. 2 shows an embodiment according to improved method of the present invention.This embodiment utilizes commonly used and vital candidate's word table concerning handwritten Chinese character input identification, makes it when comprising current word, also comprises the combination of a word that is identified before the current therewith word of this current word and shows.This candidate's word table may be displayed on (under the situation of board, needing independently usually, display screen is presented at the word of writing on the board) on touch-screen or the independent display screen.This embodiment has just increased the most probable combination of a word that is identified before the current therewith word of current word and shows in candidate's word table, do not require that increasing extra display unit takies display screen.
As shown in Figure 2, suppose that same user will write same bipartite word " bright ".Rules for writing according to stroke; He will at first write left-half " day " with the speed that is fit to its writing style; If owing to its writing style or other reason, beginning that a pause is arranged before writing right half part, and it is longer than predetermined time-out time to pause; System will think that input accomplishes, and left-half is identified as " day " word by known mode." day " is used as certain position that primary candidate is presented at a display screen, in the present embodiment, candidate be presented at write the district above.
The user continues to write remainder, i.e. right half part " moon ".System produces new candidate's word table after overtime, listed the combination of " moon " and " moon " that he has just write and " day " of before this identification and demonstration, i.e. his " bright " word that will write.Then, " bright " word can be used as one of primary candidate or candidate word be presented at write the district above.Can pass through system's setting, make " bright " word as primary candidate get into text area automatically or: click or otherwise, and choose this word by user by selecting, for example.After the selection, this word is moved to text area.
In this embodiment, the word that can be identified needs not to be complete Chinese character, and can be the ingredient of words such as radical.For example: if user writing " companion " word; After accomplishing left-half, occur overtime; And left-half is a radical but not complete Chinese character continues to write right half part " partly " before at him, and system will discern this radical and in candidate's word table, show this radical.After the user has write right half part, system will produce new candidate's word table, comprise current word of just having discerned " partly " and the word " companion " that is combined with the radical of discerning before this and show by " partly " in this table.The user can select this word, and system moves on to text area with this word.
In addition, described combination must constitute a complete word.According to the size and the layout of display screen, candidate's word table can comprise maximum 10 words, so that select.
Like this, through only in candidate's word table, increasing the most probable combination of a word that is identified before the current therewith word of current word and shows, word just can improve identification efficiency greatly usually, and need not increase display unit and occupy display screen.
Fig. 3 shows the process flow diagram of Fig. 2 embodiment.When the user begins on touch-screen or board, to write, detect beginning.Whether system's detection at any time has the interruption (overtime) (step 102) of being longer than the schedule time between stroke.If system detects overtime, then will discern by the word (step 201) that stroke constituted before overtime, then, in candidate's word table, show the word (step 202) of identification.Simultaneity factor continues to detect (step 103).If detect another overtime (step 104), then discern (step 105) and show (step 106).In step 106, system is presented at the word of step 105 identification and at the word of step 105 identification with in the combination of step 201 and 202 identifications and the word that shows.If do not detect overtimely, then continue to detect.After the demonstration of step 106, system is according to user's selection, and the word that the user is selected places the text editing district.
Fig. 4 is another embodiment according to the inventive method.Except utilizing above-mentioned candidate's word table,, can almost completely eliminate overtime influence to identification through the position of stroke on touch-screen or board of detected words.
Because Chinese-character writing follows from left to right and rule from top to bottom, for example: on touch-screen/board, write normally and begin from the upper left corner of writing the district; Finish in the lower right corner; Can promptly write the upper left quarter in district to the position of a word first stroke of a Chinese character, be defined as one " beginning the district ".The size that begins to distinguish cans be compared to most writes the 1/4th big slightly of district or writing frame, so that most of user can begin to write beginning the district.If a word comprises two or more parts, for example: about or two parts up and down, can begin to write another part from the place beyond beginning to distinguish.In the present embodiment, whether these characteristics of utilizing Chinese character to import detect a word and have write, and whether have begun writing of another word.
According to present embodiment, under scenario, a stroke will be considered to the beginning of a new word: 1) starting point of previous stroke or preceding several strokes or intermediate point are not beginning the district; 2) preceding several stroke constitutes a complete word; 3) intermediate point of the starting point of current stroke or current stroke is beginning the district.That is to say that only when above-mentioned three conditions satisfy simultaneously, think that just the word that is made up of preceding several strokes write, current stroke is the beginning of a new word.Therefore, needn't wait timeout, system will rather than overtimely confirm whether a word has been write according to above-mentioned condition.
As shown in Figure 4, begin to distinguish the upper left corner, and can mark with line or figure writing district or writing frame, begin to write in this zone with the prompting user.
Be example with " bright " word equally, this word is made up of left and right sides two parts and should begins to write from " day " word on the left side is other.The starting point of first three stroke that " day " word is other and intermediate point are all in beginning the district.Though the 4th starting point may begin beyond the district, first three does not constitute a complete word.Therefore, the 4th beginning is not considered to the beginning of a new word.Right half part " moon " generally begins to write from beginning to distinguish in addition.Though left-half " day " also can constitute a complete word as radical, the first stroke of right half part " moon " can not be considered to the beginning of a new word, because the first stroke of " moon " is to begin not satisfy above-mentioned the 3rd condition beyond the district.System can detect the starting point of each stroke, to determine whether to have write a word according to this rule.The intermediate point that makes system detect each stroke also can be set, and promptly whether the part of the centre of stroke drops on and begins the district.The word of having write can be identified and be presented at the candidate block.
Owing to the user may begin to distinguish " moon " that begins to write right half part owing to reasons such as ignorance; And this may cause system that " moon " mistake of right half part is identified as complete " moon " word; Therefore; Candidate's word table also should comprise current word and the combination that is close to this current word word before, as described with reference to Fig. 2 except comprising current word.In this example, " moon " and " bright " all is displayed in candidate's word table, therefore, and owing to the user fails beginning to begin to write beyond the district the correct identification that mistake that right half part " moon " causes can not influence system.
Fig. 5 shows the flow process of the said embodiment of Fig. 4.When the user begins on touch-screen or board, to write, detect beginning.System at first detects the starting point/intermediate point of previous stroke and whether distinguishes (step 301) in predetermined beginning.If not, whether several strokes constitute a complete Chinese character (step 302) before then detecting.If, then continue to detect, do not beginning district's (step 401) up to the starting point/intermediate point that detects a stroke.If preceding several stroke constitutes a complete Chinese character, then detect current stroke starting point/intermediate point and whether beginning district's (step 303).If the result who detects is sure, the word that then preceding several strokes is constituted is discerned (step 304), and shows that (step 305) is at the word of step 304 identification and the word that detects neutralization identification and show at this previous round.If the result of step 303 negates then to get back to step 401.At last, system produces selected word is placed the text editing district according to user's selection.
Fig. 6 A and 6B are another embodiment according to the inventive method, and it makes the user can partly revise a word.
According to Hanzi font directory system (SKIP), Chinese character can be divided into four kinds of fonts, left right model promptly as follows (for example: " bright " word), last mo(u)ld bottom half (for example: " Wu " word), the encirclement type (for example: " state " word) and solid type (for example: " greatly " word).Thereby, except preset one of the district of writing at display screen begins the district, can be by some way, for example: color or gray scale (under the situation of monochromatic display screen) prompting is with the font of the word of identification.
Mo(u)ld bottom half encirclement type solid type on the left right model
Each is with the part of color tips; For example: the left half of left right model and right half constitute an independently cog region respectively; At this, system can discern a complete word or a radical etc., is a complete word but should make the whole primary candidate of discerning in the district of writing.
Shown in Fig. 6 A, when the writing district input Chinese character and " mix " of touch-screen, beginning that the user (begins the district) from the upper left corner.System discerns user's input.Identification can be carried out with the described method of Fig. 2, also can carry out with the method for Fig. 4, even can discern in a known manner.Because for example: careless handwriting is that " companion " rather than he will write " mixing " writing primary candidate that the district shows, it is left right model that the background of writing the district is pointed out this word with different colors or gray scale.At this moment, the user needn't rewrite whole word, because primary candidate " almost being correct " looks promptly to look like the word that the user will write that just left-half is not right.At this moment, the user can only rewrite left-half.When the user rewrote left-half, the background color of left field (gray scale) changed, and only revise left-half with the affirmation user, and right half part remained unchanged.System produces a new primary candidate according to user's modification and " mixes ", and this is the word that will write of user just.
Candidate also can be simultaneously displayed in candidate's word table, for example: in the candidate's word table on write the district shown in Figure 4.
Another kind of mode is to make candidate's word table comprise that all (quantity according to the word that can show is decided) has the radical of user's selection or the word of radicals by which characters are arranged in traditional Chinese dictionaries.In this case, the user can write the correct part of district's selection, rather than revises wrong part.Shown in Fig. 6 B, when the user notice the primary candidate that is shown be not he in fact to write word the time, he can select correct part, for example: correct part is selected in the zone (right side area) that has correct part through click.Then, all words that have correct part " partly " all are displayed in candidate's word table, in this example, and " companion ", " mixing " stumbles " etc.The user can pass through from candidate's word table, for example: click the word (" mixing ") of selecting him to write and select " mixing " word.
Present embodiment is not suitable for the board that has independent display screen.
Fig. 7 is the process flow diagram of the said embodiment of Fig. 6.The user has write after the word; System is with the method for Fig. 2 or Fig. 4, or known mode is discerned the primary candidate (step 502) that demonstration subsequently is identified; And with the font (step 503) of this word of color/gray scale prompting, various colors/gray scale is represented the not same district of font.If the word that shows is exactly the word (step 504) that the user writes, then system produces selected word and is placed on text editing district (step 505) according to user's selection.If the character segment in that step 503 showed is correct, the user can select to confirm the part of correct part or direct modification mistake.If the user selects to confirm correct part (step 601), system will produce candidate's word table (step 602), and this table comprises all words that contain this correct part.If the user selects the part (step 603) of direct modification mistake, the user will point out, the part behind identification and the display update through changing color/gray scale of revising part in system.
Though with color/gray scale is the mode that example has been explained the prompting user, obviously also can adopt alternate manner well known to those skilled in the art.
More than invention has been described with the mode of embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to said embodiment, those skilled in the art can make various modifications to the present invention within the scope of the appended claims.