FR2570536A1 - Device allowing selective use of Arabic characters and Roman characters in an electronic machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device permitting selective use of Arabic characters and of Roman characters in an electronic machine. It comprises: - a keyboard 2 comprising means for selection of Arabic or Roman mode; - a display apparatus 4 able to display Arabic characters and Roman characters; - a memory 10 for the characters in which the shape of each character of the Arabic and Roman character sets is stored, and - a processing assembly 2 comprising: . transmission means 5 for the codes originating from the keyboard, . function code interpretation means 6, . means of determining the shape 7 of the characters to be displayed, . means of mode changing 8; . control means 9.

Description

 The present invention relates to a device for the selective use of Arabic characters and Latin characters in an electronic machine such as a computer.

 The use of the Arabic language in an electronic machine poses problems which have not yet been resolved.

 We know first of all that, unlike the Latin script, the Arabic script is written from right to left. However, like the Latin numbers, the Arabic numbers are written with the least significant figures on the right and the most significant figures on the left.

In addition, each character of the Arabic alphabet can change shape depending on its position. So a given letter can have four forms
- An isolated form when it is alone,
- an initial form when it is at the start of a word,
- a medial form when it is in the middle of a word,
- a final form when it is at the end of the word.

 Furthermore, there are in the Arabic alphabet a certain number of diacritical marks which can be combined with each other as well as with the different letters of the alphabet.

 There is also the letter "hamza"; can be written either above or below a letter, or alone on the line.

 An Arabic word is composed of these letters linked to each other with the exception of the letters "alif" t, "dal" "9," thal "j," ra "), '#zay" ~) and "ouaou" 9, which are never linked on the left side, that is to say that the letter which follows them always has the initial form whatever its position in the word.

 The invention aims to provide, given these particularities of Arabic writing, a device allowing the user of an electronic machine to communicate with it either in Arabic or Latin characters, or with the two types of characters in same time.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a device allowing the selective use of Arabic characters in ARAB mode, and of Latin characters in LATIN mode, in an electronic machine, characterized in that it comprises
a keyboard comprising in particular mode selection means
ARAB or LATIN;
- a display device capable of displaying Arabic characters and Latin characters;
- a character memory in which is stored, in a manner usable by the display device, the shape of each character of the Arabic and Latin character sets and;
- a treatment package including
transmission means for transmitting, depending on the key pressed on the keyboard and the ARAB or LATIN mode in which the device is located, the Arabic or Latin code, respectively, of this key;
interpretation means for receiving the function codes addressed to the display device either by the keyboard via the transmission means, or by said electronic machine, for interpreting them according to the ARAB or LATIN mode in which is the device, and to transmit them to the display device;
form determination means for supplying, depending on the ARAB or LATIN mode in which the device is located, the code of a displayable character, and the location where this character must be displayed, the address in memory of the form of this character ;;
mode change means for changing the mode of the device as a function of the codes which are sent to it either by the keyboard via the transmission means, or by said electronic machine and,
control means for determining the process to be executed and causing it to be executed as a function of the rollback codes, either from the keyboard via the transmission means, or from said electronic machine.

It will first be noted that the device according to the invention can use a keyboard comprising keys of conventional characters. Indeed, the same keys can be used each for an Arabic character and a Latin character since the transmission means transmit, depending on the mode in which the device is located, either the corresponding Arabic code, for example the "ASMO" code ( Arab Organization for
Standardization and Metrology), or the Latin code, for example the "ASCII" code (American Standard Code for Information Interchange). In particular, in the case of the use of a standard "ASCII" keyboard, the transmission means transmit the code as they receive it in LATIN mode, and operate the translation code "ASCII" code "ASMO" in mode ARAB.

 It will also be noted that the shape determination means take into account, when displaying an Arabic character, its location, so as to select the shape adapted to its isolated, initial, medial, or terminal position.

 With regard to the means of interpretation, these also take into account the mode in which the device is located, since a given function will generally result on the display device by two distinct actions depending on whether the device is in ARAB or LATIN mode. As an example, we can quote the line break which, in LATINS mode causes the positioning of the first character displayed on the left of the new line, while in ARAB mode, it positions this character on the right of this new line .

 The means of interpretation, like the means of control, can receive codes both from the keyboard and from the electronic machine to which the device is adapted, which makes it possible to obtain on the display means either Arabic characters or Latin characters.

 It is however essential to note that the mode change means can also be actuated as well by codes revised from the keyboard as by codes received from the electronic machine. As a result, it can work either in Arabic characters or in Latin characters or in a mixture of two characters, and this in a completely transparent manner vis-à-vis the user.

 In a particular embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a character set selection switch for selecting, in the memory of the characters, the character set used, and a keyboard memory whose content has a first value when the keyboard is in ARABIC mode and a second value when the keyboard is in LATIN mode, the mode change means being arranged to modify the connection of the character set selection switch and change the value of the content of the control memory keyboard during each mode change.

 The keypad indicator essentially serves to allow the transmission means to address either the "ASMO" code or the "ASCII" code of the key just pressed to the control means, depending on the mode in which the device is located. .

 To this end, the transmission means are arranged to test the content of the keyboard memory, and to transmit the Arabic code or the Latin code of the key pressed on the keyboard depending on the result of this test.

 Likewise, to make the choice of an Arabic character or a Latin character when displaying a determined code, the form determination means are arranged to find the address in memory of the character that can be displayed in depending on the position of the character set select switch.

 In the case where the device is in ARABIC mode, the switch selects the memory area where the shape of the Arabic characters is stored, so that the shape determining means select this type of characters.

 In the case where the device is in LATIN mode, the shape determination means similarly select a Latin character.

 In addition, the processing assembly is arranged to, when the device is in ARABIC mode, display on the display device Arabic characters from right to left, and for, when the device is in LATIN mode display on the display device for Latin characters from left to right.

 To this end, the processing assembly can be arranged to store in the memory of the electronic machine, in the same order the Arabic characters and the Latin characters when entering data, and to reverse the display order. Arabic characters with respect to the display order of the Latin characters on said display apparatus when displaying characters.

 This arrangement offers the advantage over the reverse arrangement of not having to modify the electronic machine to which the device is adapted, in which the lowest value traditionally occupies the lowest memory word.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the device according to the invention comprises an INVERSION mode capable of being called up either while the device is in ARAB mode or while the device is in LATIN mode, the processing unit being arranged to, when the device is in ARABIC + INVERSION mode, display on the display device Latin characters by causing, when displaying each character, the movement to the left of all the Latin characters already displayed since the device is in ARAB + INVERSION mode, and for, when the device is in LATIN + INVERSION mode, display on the display device Arabic characters by causing, when displaying each character, the movement towards the right of all the Arabic characters already displayed since the device is in mode
LATIN + INVERSION.

Consequently, when the device is in REVERSE mode, the writing of a new character on the display device is always done in the same place, the characters previously entered moving either to the left when it acts of Latin characters in ARABIC + mode
INVERSION either to the right when dealing with Arabic characters in mode
LATIN + INVERSION.

 The INVERSION mode therefore allows Latin characters to be immediately followed by Arabic characters or vice versa.

 It is also provided, according to the invention, that the form determination means are arranged to modify, when the device is in ARABIC mode, the shape of the characters preceding and / or following that which is displayed.

 We have seen above that the shape of a character depends on the position of the one preceding it and the one following it. We therefore modify, when displaying an Arabic character at a given location, the shape of the characters that follow and precede it in accordance with the rules of Arabic writing.

A particular embodiment of the device according to the invention will now be described by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
FIG. 1 is an overall diagram representing the device,
FIG. 2 represents a keyboard capable of being used in the device according to the invention,
FIG. 3 is a functional diagram of the transmission means,
FIG. 4 is a functional diagram of the control means,
FIG. 5 is a functional diagram of the mode change means,
- Figure 5a and 5b show the operation of the mode
INVERSION, and,
- Figure 6 is a block diagram of the shape determination means.

 FIG. 1 represents a computer 1 connected to a device according to the invention in order to allow it to selectively use Arabic characters or Latin characters.

 The computer 1 is connected via a processing assembly generally designated by 2 to a data entry keyboard 3 and to a display screen 4.

 The processing unit 2 is composed of a transmission unit 5, an interpretation unit 6, a form determination unit 7, a mode change unit 8, and a unit 9.

 Finally, a memory 10 contains in a memory area li the shape of the Latin characters and in a memory area 12 the shape of the Arabic characters.

 A switch 13 determines the memory area 11 or 12 in which the shape determination unit 7 must select the shape of a character to be displayed, and a memory 14, or keyboard indicator, indicates according to its content that the keyboard has be considered a Latin keyboard or an Arabic keyboard.

 This keyboard is shown in detail in Figure 2.

 I1 firstly comprises, in a known manner, function keys 15. Keys 16 are furthermore particularly provided for effecting the mode changes. Finally, it can be seen that each character key 17 corresponds simultaneously to a Latin character and to an Arabic character.

 The transmission unit 5 receives the signals from the keyboard 3, and transmits the "ASMO" code or the "ASCII" code depending on the content of the keyboard indicator 14 to the control unit 9. The operation of this unit transmission will be described in more detail with reference to Figure 3.

 The interpretation unit 6 receives the codes coming either from the keyboard 3 via the transmission unit 5 and the control unit 9, or from the computer 1 and, depending on the code received, executes on screen 4 the required editing function. The operation of this interpretation unit will not be described in more detail, being within the skill of the art.

 The form determination unit 7 supplies the control unit 9 with the shape of a character to be displayed as a function of the code of this character supplied by the control unit and the position of the character set switch 13. The operation of this control unit will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 6.

 Finally, the mode change unit 8 receives the mode change codes either from the keyboard 3 via the transmission unit 5 and the control unit 9, or from the computer 1 through the intermediary of the control unit 9 and, according to the code received, modifies the content of the memory 14, that is to say the keyboard indicator, to transform the Arabic keyboard into a Latin keyboard or vice versa, and modify the position of the switch 13 to designate the set of Arabic characters or the set of Latin characters as appropriate. The operation of this mode change unit will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 5.

 The operation of the transmission unit 5 will now be described with reference to FIG. 3.

 This unit first tests at 18 if the code received from the keyboard 3 is a mode change code, that is to say if it corresponds to the pressing of one of the keys 16. In this case, this code is transmitted in 19 directly to the control unit 9.

 Otherwise, the unit 5 then tests at 20 the keyboard indicator 14 and> if the keyboard is Latin, the code 'tASCIIi' is transmitted at 21 to the control unit 9 whereas, if the keyboard is Arabic , it is the code "ASMO" which is transmitted at 22 to the control unit.

 This control unit, the operation of which is shown in detail in FIG. 4, first tests at 23, upon reception of a code either from the keyboard 3 via the transmission unit 5 or from the computer 1, if this code is that of a displayable character. In this case, the control unit determines at 24 the position of the character to be displayed and then causes the address of this character to be determined at 25 by the shape determination means in the memory 10. When the control unit has this address, it then causes in 26 the display of the character and, in 27S the repositioning of the cursor on the screen 4.

 In the case where the code received is not that of a displayable character, the control unit 9 tests at 28 whether it is a function code and, in this case, calls at 29 to the interpretation unit for executing on the screen 4 the desired editing function.

 Finally, in the case where the code received is neither that of a displayable character nor that of a function, it is a mode change code which is transmitted at 30 to the unit for changing the mode 8 so that it modifies the keyboard indicator 14 and the position of the switch 13 accordingly.

 If the mode change code is a CANCEL code (which will be described below), no more action is taken by the control unit 9, whereas if it is another change code mode, the cursor is repositioned at 31 on screen 4.

 A description will now be given, with reference to FIG. 5, of the mode of operation of the mode change unit 8.

 First of all, the various possibilities offered to the user will be specified for this purpose.

When the device is in ARAB mode, writing on the screen is normally done from right to left. On the other hand, when the device is in LATIN mode, this writing is done from left to right. Mode selection
ARAB or LATIN is done on the keyboard respectively by the keys 16a and 16b and, when the mode change must be controlled by the computer 1, by a suitable instruction;
When the ARAB mode is selected, the cursor is positioned to the right of the line, and, when the LATIN mode is selected, the cursor is positioned to the left of the line.

 Another operating mode is also provided, which is the inversion mode mentioned above, selected by the key 16c.

 When you are in ARABIC mode and the 16c key is pressed, any symbol, for example two adjacent points, is displayed on the screen, for reasons of clarity, n the place of the cursor which moves by one position towards the left. This is shown at 32 in Figure 5a.

 From this moment, any character entered is displayed in the Latin alphabet as shown in 33, at the position immediately to the left of the colon. Simultaneously, all the Latin characters previously entered since the start of the INVERSION mode are moved one position to the left to make room for the new Latin character, as shown for example in 34.

When the INVERSION key is pressed again or the corresponding instruction is encountered in computer 1, the mode
INVERSION ends, two new adjacent points are displayed as in 35, and ARAB mode resumes as before in 36.

 FIG. 5b likewise represents the case where the INVERSION mode is called while the device is in LATIN mode. In this case, the two points are displayed as shown at 37 in place of the cursor which moves from one position to the right. From this moment, all the characters entered are displayed in the Arabic alphabet at the position immediately to the right of the colon as in 38. Simultaneously, all the Arabic characters entered since the start of the INVERSION mode are moved from one position to the right. as in 39 so as to leave room for the new Arab character.

 When the INVERSION key is pressed again, two other points are displayed in place of the cursor, which then moves from one position to the right as shown in 40. The device then finds itself in LATIN mode and the characters are again normally displayed from left to right as shown in 41.

Finally, there is a CANCELLATION mode which can, for example, be called by pressing a particular function key at the same time as one of the keys 16. In this case, one passes purely and simply from the mode
ARAB in LATIN mode or vice versa, without anything happening on the screen, the cursor remaining in the same place. If we go into mode
ARABIC, the new characters which are inscribed on the screen are Arabic characters inscribed to the left from the position of the cursor and, if we thus pass in LATIN mode they are Latin characters which are displayed to the right from the cursor position.

 Finally, before returning to FIG. 5, it will be assumed that the keyboard 3 transmits a code N1 when the key 16b is pressed, a code N2 when the key 16a is pressed, and a code N3 when the key 16c is pressed.

When receiving a mode change code, the mode change unit begins by testing at 42 if this code is a code
CANCELLATION. In this case, if the device is in LATIN mode, the code
CANCELLATION is replaced by the code N2 as in 43, if the device is in ARAB mode, the CANCELLATION code is replaced by the code N1 as in 44, and if the device is in INVERSION mode (with the main ARAB or LATIN mode either) the CANCELLATION code is replaced by the N3 code as in 45.

 The mode change unit then tests at 46 if the device is in ARAB mode. If this is the case, and it is the INVERSION mode which has been selected, that is to say the code N3, the mode change unit selects at 47 the set of Latin characters and the Latin keyboard . In other words, the switch 13 is arranged so as to select the set of Latin characters in the memory 10, and the keyboard indicator 14 takes the value designating that the keyboard 3 is a Latin keyboard.

 If the device is in ARABIC mode and the N1 code is received (key 16b pressed), the mode change unit also selects the Latin character set and keyboard at 48.

 In the case where the device is in ARABIC mode and the N2 code is received, i.e. the ARABIC key 16a is pressed, the order is ignored as in 49.

 If the device is in ARABIC + INVERSION mode, as detected at 50, and the code N3 is received, the mode change unit cancels the INVERSION mode, i.e. it selects the game of Arabic characters and keyboard in 51.

 Finally, if the device is in ARABIC + INVERSION mode and the code N1 or N2 is received, this command is neglected as in 52, that is to say that one can only exit from INVERSION mode by actuating the INVERSION key (or by asking to cancel the mode).

Finally, if the device is either in LATIN mode or in
LATIN + INVERSION as in 53, a process analogous to that which is followed when it is in ARAB mode or in ARAB + INVERSION mode respectively, is followed, that is to say that the Arabic character set and keyboard are selected if you are in LATIN mode, and the Latin character: and the sqnt keyboard selected if you are in node
LATIN + INVERSION
Figure 6 shows the operation of the shape determination unit.

If you are in LATIN mode or in
ARAB + INVERSION, then the shape determination unit transmits at 54 the address of the Latin character corresponding to the control unit 9.

In the case where gold is in ARAB mode or in
LATIN + INVERSION, we begin by determining, at 55, the number I of characters located to the right of the character to be displayed, the form of which must be modified. We then select in 56 the form of the character to display and then we go to 57 in the previous column (column = column + 1 because the Arabic writing is done from right to left) in order to modify the form of the previous character if necessary .

 This passage from one column to the previous column takes place as many times as the characters to the right of the character to be displayed, have their form which must be changed.

 The set of operations 55, 56 and 57 generally designated by A, is carried out according to the rules of the Arabic script recalled above and is not part of the present invention. These operations will not be described in more detail. We can nevertheless mention the fact that they will preferably be carried out by electronic program means.

 When all the characters to the right of the character to be displayed have had their form modified in accordance with the rules set out above, the form determining unit changes to 58 at the first character to the left of the one which is to be displayed, ie> - say to the next character. Unit 7 then tests at 59 if the form of this character requires a change. In this case, the set of operations A is again performed for this next character, and the unit 7 then passes through the loop 60 to the next second character, and so on until the shape of the character on the left does not no more changes required.

 The embodiment of the transmission, interpretation, form determination, mode change, and control units will not be described in more detail, the person skilled in the art being able to produce these units from of the functional description which was made with reference to Figures 3 to 6, for example by electronic means which can be either wired or programmed.

 Of course, various variants and modifications can be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the scope or the spirit of the invention.

Claims (7)

 1. Device allowing the selective use of Arabic characters in ARAB mode and of Latin characters in LATIN mode in an electronic machine (1), characterized in that it comprises  a keyboard (2) comprising in particular selection means (16) of ARAB or LATIN mode,  - a display device (4) capable of displaying Arabic characters and Latin characters,  - a character memory (10) in which is stored, in a manner usable by the display device, the shape of each character of the Arabic and Latin character sets, and  - a processing unit (2) comprising  transmission means (5) for transmitting, depending on the key pressed on the keyboard and the ARAB or LATIN mode in which the device is located, the Arabic or Latin code of this key respectively,  interpretation means (6) for receiving the function codes addressed to the display device either by the keyboard via the transmission means, or by said electronic machine, for interpreting them according to the ARAB mode or LATIN in which the device is located, and to transmit them to the display device,  form determination means (7) for supplying 2, depending on the ARAB or LATIN mode in which the device is located, the code of a displayable character, and the location where this character is to be displayed, the address in memory the shape of this character,  mode change means (8) for changing the mode of the device as a function of the codes addressed to it either by the keyboard via transmission means, or by said electronic machine, and  control means (9) for determining the process to be executed and causing it to be executed as a function of the codes received either from the keyboard via the transmission means, or from said electronic machine.  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a selection switch (13) of j-eu characters to select, in the character memory, the character set uses and a memory (14) witness of the keyboard whose content has a first value when the keyboard is in ARABIC mode and a second value when the keyboard is in LATIN mode, and the mode change means are arranged to modify the connection of the character set selection switch and change the value of the content of the keypad indicator memory each time the mode is changed.  ,. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the transmission means are arranged to test the content of the keyboard indicator memory, and to transmit the Arabic code or the Latin code of the key pressed on the keyboard according to the result of this is.  4. Device according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the shape determination means are arranged to find the address in memory of the displayable character according to 1V state of the character set selection switch .  5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the processing assembly is arranged for, when the device is in ARABIC mode, display on the display device Arabic characters from right to left, and for, when the device is in LATIN mode, display on the display device Latin characters from left to right.  6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the processing assembly is arranged to store in the memory of the computer machine, in the same order the Arabic characters and the Latin characters during 1V data entry, and to reverse the display order of the Arabic characters with respect to the display order of the Latin characters on said display apparatus when displaying characters.  7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises an INVERSION mode capable of being called either while the device is in ARABIC mode or while the device is in LATIN mode, l the processing unit being arranged for, when the device is in ARABIC + INVERSION mode, display on the display device of the Latin characters, causing, when the display of each character, the movement towards the left of the set of Latin characters already displayed since the device is in ARABIC + INVERSION mode, and for, when the device is in LATIN + INVERSION mode, display on the display device Arabic characters by provoking, during the display of each character, moving to the right all the Arabic characters already displayed since the device is in mode LATIN + INVERSION.  8. Device according to any one of claims I to 7, characterized in that the shape determination means are arranged to modify, when the device is in ARABIC mode, the shape of the characters preceding and / or following that which is displayed.