GB2220773A - Apparatus for preparing dictionary data for personal dictionary - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for preparing dictionary data, includes a dictionary memory 40, 42 for storing dictionary word data, a text memory 18 for storing text data, a word checking device for automatically and successively comparing the text words with the dictionary words, and a registering device for automatically storing into the dictionary memory, each word which is absent from the dictionary memory. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR PREPARING DICTIONARY DATA FOR PERSONAL DICTIONARY The present invention relates in general to an apparatus for preparing dictionary data stored in a dictionary memory Text processing systems which utilize a computer, such as a word processor or electronic typewriter, are generally equipped with a dictionary memory which stores sets of word data representative of a multiplicity of words. When these systems use Japanese language for processing a desired Japanese document, the dictionary memory is provided with sets of word data indicative of Japanese words, some of which consist solely of a Chinese character (ideographic character) or a plurality of Chinese characters, and some of which are a combination of at least one Chinese character and at least one "kana" character (phonetic symbol).The word data representative of each word are stored in the dictionary memory, together with corresponding phonetic data prepared by means of phonetic notation, which identifies the word by its pronunciation.

For example, the phonetic data is used for converting a phonetic word which is entered into the system by "kana" characters (phonetic symbols), into a corresponding word which includes a Chinese character or characters. When the text processing system operates to create and revise a document in English or other specific country language, by using alphabets or other generally used characters, a multiple sets of word data respresentative of English words, for example, are stored in the dictionary memory. An example of the text processing system is disclosed in U.S.

Patent Application No. 07/090,364 (filed on August 28, 1987), in which the dictionary memory is utilized for verifying the spelling of each word which is entered through input means. More specifically, the disclosed typewriter is adapted such that control means compares a set of code data corresponding to each word entered through a keyboard, with sets of word data stored in the dictionary memory, and judges the word which is not found in the dictionary memory as a misspelled word, so that an operator may correct or reflect or otherwise deal with the misspelled word.

The documents prepared by the text processing system having the dictionary memory as described above may be associated with various fields, and therefore may include special terms used in specific fields. Accordingly, the dictionary memory is required to store such special terms used in the specific fields of the documents to be created. However, the dictionary memory must have a considerably large capacity, for storing the special terms used in many fields, as well as the basic or standard words, which are necessary to create and revise a document.

Conventionally, the content of the dictionary memory is modified by an operator of the system, to meet a specific field to which a newly entered document belongs, when the special terms in the specific field are not in the dictionary memory.

More specifically stated, the operator enters through input means, necessary words or special terms used for creating a document which belongs to a specific field, while referring to words which have already been stored in the dictionary memory, so that the special terms unique to the field are stored into the dictionary memory, prior to entry of a new document. In the text processing system having a spell-checking function, a part of dictionary data stored in the dictionary memory is prepared by storing words which are judged as misspelled words.

The above methods in which the necessary words are stored in the dictionary memory require a considerable amount of time for preparing the dictionary data, and a cumbersome procedure on the part of the operator.

Especially, the text processing system having a spell checking function suffers from an increased data processing time in preparing dictionary data while effecting a spell checking operation, when the currently entered text includes a lot of special terms which are considered as misspelled words, and which cause alarming means to operate each time such a special term is found.

According to one -aspect the present invention, provides an apparatus for preparing dictionary data, comprising: (a) dictionary memory for storing the dictionary data which include sets of word data representative of a multiplicity of words; (b) a text memory for storing text data which include sets of word data; (c) word checking means for automatically and successively comparing words which are represented by the word data stored in the text memory, with the words stored in the dictionary memory, and thereby effecting a determination as to whether each word stored in the text memory is stored in the dictionary memory; and (d) registering means for automatically storing into the dictionary memory, any word not in the dictionary memory.

In the apparatus constructed according to the present invention as described above, the text memory is provided with text data including sets of word data representative of a group of special terms used in a specific field to which a document to be created belongs.

The text data is retrieved from the external memory means, for example, a magnetic floppy disk, and then stored into the text memory of the instant apparatus. The text data as described above may be stored into the text memory otherwise. For example, the text data may be entered through suitable input means by an operator, into the text memory. Thereafter, the instant apparatus operates to automatically and successively compare the words stored in the text memory, including the special terms as described above, with the words stored in the dictionary memory, to thereby determine whether each word stored in the text memory is in the dictionary memory or not. If the word is not found in the dictionary memory, the word is automatically stored in the dictionary memory.Thus, the present invention makes it possible to provide the dictionary memory with dictionary data which are suitably used for processing a desired document, with reduced time and efforts.

In one form of the present invention, the instant apparatus further comprises means for reading the text data from external memory means and storing the text data into the text memory. In this case, the word cheking means initiates checking upon completion of storage of the text data in the text memory by the storing means.

According to one arrangement of the above form of the invention, the instant apparatus further comprises means for designating a range of the text data, over which the determination is effected by the word cheking means for finding the each word which is absent in the dictionary memory.

In another form of the invention, the dictionary memory includes a basic dictionary memory area for storing basic word data representative of basic words, and a personal dictionary memory area into which the registering means stores word data representative of the each word which is absent in the dictionary memory. In this case, the instant apparatus may further include means for transferring the word data stored in the personal dictionary memory area, into external memory means.

The second object may be attained according to another aspect of the invention, which provides a text processing system incorporating the apparatus for preparing dictionary data as described above, which includes switching means for selectively placing the apparatus in an operative state and in an inoperative state.

The text processing means may further comprise input means including a keyboard having a plurality of keys, for storing sets of word data representative of a text. The switching means consists of one of the plurality of keys of the keyboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and optional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, when considered in conjunction with the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of a control system of a word processor, which is associated with preparing dictionary data stored in a dictionary memory, according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a control routine stored in a program memory of the control system of Fig. 1, for preparing the dictionary data stored in the dictionary memory; and Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a part of control routine according to a modified embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS To further clarify the concept of the present invention, there will be described in detail one embodiment of an apparatus for preparing dictionary data stored in a dictionary memory, which is incorporated in a text processing system in the form of a word processor for English documents.

Referring first to the block diagram of Fig. 1, reference numeral 10 designates a microcomputer which constitutes a major part of a control system of the word processor. The microcomputer 10 includes: a central processing unit (CPU) 12 for executing various control programs; a DICTIONARY memory 14 for storing dictionary data which include sets of word data representative of a multiplicity of words; a PROGRAM memory 16 as a read-only memory (ROM) for storing the various control programs executed by the CPU; a TEXT memory as a random-access memory (RAM) for storing text data which include sets of word data; a WORKING memory 20 as a RAM for temporarily storing various working data during a data processing operation by the CPU; and a data bus for connecting these memories and the CPU.To the data bus 24 are also connected a keyboard 26 which serves as input means for inputting data by an operator, a floppy disk reader 28, and a display 30. The keyboard 26 has a plurality of character keys 32 which include alphabet, numeral and symbol keys, and various function keys such as an ALL ADD key 34 for storing word data into the dictionary memory. The floppy disk reader 28 is adapted to read text data stored in a floppy disk 36 set in the reader 28, and the text data retrieved from the floppy disk 36 is stored in the TEXT memory 18.

The text data stored in the floppy disk 36 consist of sets of code data, each set consisting of 1 byte. The data entered through the keyboard 26 by the operator, and various messages and indications to the operator are indicated on the display 30.

The DICTIONARY memory 14 has a BASIC DICTIONARY memory area 40 which stores BASIC word data representative of frequently used basic words, and a PERSONAL DICTIONARY memory area 42 for #toring SPECIAL TERM data representative of special terms. More specifically, a multiplicity of basic words which are generally used for preparing a standard document are stored in predetermined order in the BASIC DICTIONARY memory area 40 serving as a ROM. The PERSONAL DICTIONARY memory area 42 serving as a backup RAM is adapted to store the special terms used for preparing documents in certain special fields, when the ALL ADD key 34 is operated, whereby the PERSONAL DICTIONARY memory area 42 is used as a personal dictionary.It is to be noted that the instant appratus for preparing dictionary data is concerned with storing the SPECIAL TERM data into the PERSONAL DICTIONARY memory area 42, and thus preparing the personal dictionary which is distinguished from a basic dictionary in the BASIC DICTIONARY memory area 40. The PROGRAM memory 16 as a ROM stores a personal dictionary preparation routine, as shown in a flow chart of Fig. 3.

The WORKING memory 20 includes a SEARCH ADDRESS register 46 for designating a range of the text data, over which a word checking operation which will be described is effected.

There will next be described an operation for preparing the personal dictionary according to the invention, by reference to the flow chart of Fig. 3.

Initially, the floppy disk 36 which stores a set of text data including sets of word data repre#sentative of special terms is placed in the floppy disk reader 28.

Namely, the floppy disk 36 stores text data representative of a sample document whose subject matter belongs to a specific field, which document includes the special terms used in the specific field, so that these special terms may be stored into the PERSONAL DICTIONARY memory area 42, for further use in processing a document in the same field. The sample document may include both the basic words and the special terms, or consist solely of the special terms. It is to be noted that all of the basic words and/or special terms included in the sample document are presupposed to be correctly spelled. After the entire content of the floppy disk 36 has been retrieved by the floppy disk reader 28 and stored in the TEXT memory 18, the ALL ADD key 34 is operated to carry out the following control routine for preparing a personal dictionary.

At first, the CPU executes step S1 in which the display 30 prompts the operator to enter a document name of the sample document which includes the special terms to be registered in the personal dictionary. If only a portion of the sample document is utilized for preparing the personal dictionary, a range of the document to be checked in the following steps should be also designated by the operator in step S1. Then, step S2 is implemented to determine whether the document name of the sample document has been entered, and whether the range of the document to be checked has been designated. Step S2 is repeatedly executed until the input of the name and the range is completed.If an affimative decision (YES) is obtained in step S2, that is, the necessary information has been inputted, the control flow goes to step S3 in which the SEARCH ADDRESS register 46 is provided with an address of the first code data in the text data stored in the TEXT memory 18.

Step S3 is followed by step S4 in which a set of word data representative of one word is retrieved from the TEXT memory 18. In this case, the one word is supposed to be a group of successive alphabet letters, which is separated from the next group of alphabet letters by word separation code. This word separation code may be a set of code data representative of a space, comma, period, parenthesis, bracket, and so forth. When sets of code data is successively retrieved from the TEXT memory, in the order starting with the one whose address is designated by the SEARCH ADRESS register 46, the CPU determines whether each set of the code data represents an alphabet letter, or the word separation code. If the word separation code is recognized by the CPU, a series of code data preceding the word separation code is considered to be word data representative of one word.In the case where two words are connected by a hyphen to constitute a compound word having a certain meaning, the hyphen is recognized as one of the letters constituting the word. The instant word processor is adapted such that the ends of all lines in a page are justified, by adjusting the spacings between the adjacent wards for each line, and such that one word is not be hyphenated at the end of a line by means of a hyphen.

Therefore, there arises no problem even if the hyphen is recognized as a letter included in a word. When one word is read out from the text memory 18 as described above, the WORKING memory 20 stores an address of the last code data of the set of word data representative of the one word.

Then, the control flow goes to step S5 in which the CPU compares the word data representative of the word retrieved from the TEXT memory 18, with sets of word data stored in the DICTIONARY memory 14. More specifically, the retrieved word data is first checked against the word data stored in the BASIC DICTIONARY memory area 40, and then checked against the word data stored in the PERSONAL DICTIONARY memory area 42, so as to determine whether the relevant word is recognized in the DICTIONARY memory 14.

While the words are stored at random in the PERSONAL DICTIONARY memory area 42, the area 42 has a pointer table which indicates the alphabetical order of the words, for use in the checking of the relevant word retrieved from the TEXT memory 18. Step S5 is followed by step S6 in which the CPU determines whether the word read out from the TEXT memory is found in the DICTIONARY memory 14, or not, based on the results of the comparison in step S5. If a negative decision (NO) is obtained in step S6, the relevant word is stored in the PERSONAL DICTIONARY memory area 42 in step S7, and the pointer table described above is rearranged in order. In the next step S8, the content of the SEARCH ADDRESS register 46 is incremented to a value which is larger by 1 than the address of the last code data of the retrieved word data.Step S8 is followed by step S9 in which the CPU retrieves code data whose address is currently designated by the SEARCH ADDRESS resister 46, to determine whether the retrieved code data are end data or not. Since this is the first control cycle of the routine, a negative decision (NO) is obtained in step S9, and the control flow returns to step S4 in which the next word is read out from the TEXT memory 18. If an affirmative decision (YES) is obtained in step S6, that is, the word retrieved from the TEXT memory 18 is found in the DICTIONARY memory 14, step S7 is skipped, and steps S8 and S9 are executed.

If all sets of word data of the text data stored in the TEXT memory 18 have been checked against the dictionary data stored in the DICTIONARY memory 14, an affirmative decision (YES) is obtained in step S9, and the control routine for preparing the personal dictionary is concluded. In the case where the PERSONAL DICTIONARY memory area 42 is full, any more words will not be stored in the area 42, and a message informing the operator of this fact is provided on the display 30.

As described above, the instant apparatus for preparing dictionary data makes it possible to automatically prepare a personal dictionary in a reduced time, based on a sample document including special terms necessary for creating a document of a specific field.

In the illustrated embodiment, the TEXT memory 18 is provided with the text data which have already been stored in the floppy disk 36. Accordingly, the preparation of the dictionary data may be easily accomplished, only by placing the floppy disk 36 in the floppy disk reader 28.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the portion of the PROGRAM memory 16 which stores the control programs for steps S1 through S6, S8 and step S9, the CPU 12 which executes these steps and the WORKING memory 20 constitute word checking means for checking word data stored in the TEXT memory 18 against the existing dictionary data. Further, the portion of the PROGRAM memory 16 which stores the control program for step S7 and the CPU 12 which executes this step constitute registering means for storing appropriate word data into the DICTIONARY memory 14.

In the illustrated embodiment, the text data is supplied from the floppy disk 36 to the TEXT memory 18.

However, the text data may be entered through the keyboard 26, and stored in the TEXT memory 18. In this case, the personal dictionary may be prepared, after the entire text data has been entered, or during the entry of the text data into the TEXT memory 18. In the former case, the personal dictionary is prepared based on the existing text data stored in the TEXT memory 18, as in the illustrated embodiment. In the latter case, each time word data representative of a word is entered through the keyboard 26 into the TEXT memory 18, the word checking means effects the determination as to whether the word data is in the dictionary memory or not, whereby the personal dictionary is produced.

When the PERSONAL DICTIONARY memory area 42 is full, the instant apparatus of the illustrated embodiment is adapted such that any more words will not be stored in the memory area 42. However, it is possible to erase some words which are stored in the memory area 42 but less frequently used, and enter new words into the memory area 42.

While the determination as to whether each word of the sample document is in the dictionary memory or not is effected with respect to the entire document stored in the floppy disk in the illustrated embodiment, the same determination may be effected with respect to only a portion of the sample document stored in the floppy disk.

In the illustrate embodiment, the words or special terms are stored at random in the PERSONAL DICTIONARY memory area 42. However, these words may be stored in the memory area 42 in the alphabetical order.

Further, a desired dictionary prepared as described above may be transferred into external memory means such as a floppy disk, for further use in document processing operations. When the personal dictionary is required for preparing a future document, the dictionary is transferred from the external memory means into the dictionary memory of the text processing system. In this case, step S10 is executed to transfer the SPECIAL TERM data from the PERSONAL DICTIONARY memory area 42 into a floppy disk, if end data is retrieved from the TEXT memory 18 in step S9, as shown in the flow chart of Fig. 3. Thus, the personal dictionary is obtained for further use in text processing operations by the system.

If a personal dictionary stored in the area 42 contains any misspelled words, the words may be deleted or replaced by correct words, for example in the manner as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 89,332 (filed on August 25, 1987). The typewriter disclosed in this application is capable of successively printing or displaying words stored in the personal dictionary memory in a predetermined order. In this case, a misspelled or undesirable word can be deleted only by operating a deletion key, while the words stored in the personal dictionary memory are printed or displayed. More specifically, when a misspelled word is found on the printed sheet, for example, a stop key is first operated to interrupt the printing operation.Then, the misspelled word which precedes the word at which the printing is interrupted is deleted from the personal dictionary memory by operating the deletion key. It is also possible to register a new word which may be substituted for the deleted word, into the personal dictionary memory, by operating a register key during the printing operation for example.

While the DICTIONARY memory 14 of the instant apparatus includes the BASIC DICTIONARY memory area 40 and the PERSONAL DICTIONARY memory area 42, which are independent of each other, it is possible to provide a dictionary memory having a single memory area. It is also possible to use a dictionary memory storing no word at the initial stage, so that desired words are stored into the dictionary memory by the instant apparatus, to thereby prepare a personal dictionary.

Although the illustrated embodiment is concerned with preparation of English dictionaries used for creating and processing an English document, the present invention may be applied to preparation of other types of dictionaries used for processing a document written in Japanese or other specific languages. In the case of Japanese language, a single word may include one or more Chinese characters. For preparing Japanese dictionaries, a set of word data representative of a single word is stored from the text memory into the dictionary memory, together with corresponding phonetic data representative of pronunciation of the single word.

While the present invention has been described in its presently preferred embodiments, with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied with other alterations, modifications and improvements, which may occur to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus for preparing dictionary data, comprising: a dictionary memory for storing said dictionary data which include sets of word data representative of a multiplicity of words; a text memory for storing text data which include sets of word data; word checking means for automatically and successively comparing words which are represented by said word data stored in said text memory, with said words stored in said dictionary memory, and thereby effecting a determination as to whether each word stored in said text memory is stored in said dictionary memory; and registering means for automatically storing into said dictionary memory, any word not in said dictionary memory.

2. An apparatus for preparing dictionary data according to claim 1, further comprising means for reading said text data from external memory means and storing said text data into said text memory, said word checking means initiating checking upon completion of storage of said text data in said text memory by said storing means.

3. An apparatus for preparing dictionary data according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising means for designating a range of said text data, over which said determination is effected by sa;fq word checking means for finding words which are not in said dictionary memory.

4. An apparatus for preparing dictionary data according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein said dictionary memory includes a basic dictionary memory area for storing basic word data representative of basic words, and a personal dictionary memory area into which said registering means stores word data representative of words not in said dictionary memory.

5. An apparatus for preparing dictionary data according to claim 4, further comprising means for transferring said word data stored in said personal dictionary memory area, into external memory means.

6. A text processing system incorporating apparatus for preparing dictionary data according to any one of claims 1-5, including switching means for selectively placing said apparatus in an operative state and in an inoperative state.

7. A text processing system according to claim 6, further including input means including a keyboard having a plurality of keys, for storing sets of word data representative of a text, said switching means consisting of one of said plurality of keys.

8. Apparatus for preparing dictionary data substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

9. A text processing system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.