GB2259386A

GB2259386A - Text processing

Info

Publication number: GB2259386A
Application number: GB9118803A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Hugh Longworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-09-03
Filing date: 1991-09-03
Publication date: 1993-03-10
Also published as: GB9118803D0

Abstract

A text processing system comprises an on-screen display from which selections are made using an on-screen pointer controlled by e.g. a "mouse". Character entry can take place by one or more of, for example, radical selection (2). stroke selection (4), phonetic selection. As such selections are made, a number (10) appears on the screen indicating the number of characters formed from the combination of radicals and/or strokes etc. selected. Selecting that number will cause a window to open on the screen displaying all such characters, from which the required character can be entered. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TEXT PROCESSING The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for text processing, and in particular, but not exclusively, to a text processing system used to process languages having a very large number of characters, such as Chinese.

A language such as Chinese has many thousands of characters. Each character is made up of different strokes such as those illustrated in Fig.14a. The simplest characters may only contain one stroke while the most complicated can contain over thirty. In most characters the strokes are grouped together into groups called "radicals" such as those illustrated in Fig.14b. Groups of radicals together can form characters, such as those shown in Fig.14c.

There are two hundred and thirteen common radicals, which are used for dictionary listings.

Often words that contain the same radicals have similar meanings.

So far it has been difficult to enter such characters on a computer. A Chinese character keyboard would contain thousands of keys making it somewhat difficult to use, especially for a beginner.

Various methods have been developed which allow character entry on a computer using a western style keyboard. One such method involves entering the characters phonetically in Roman letters or according to the number of strokes they contain. Another method involves allocating different radicals to the standard keyboard keys, in order to allow entry of the characters. Yet another method involves coding the characters according to the position of strokes within the characters.

The foregoing methods have the following drawbacks. Firstly, the user is forced to think in terms of a keyboard. The character usually cannot be entered directly but must be built-up in a series of operations. A user is forced to learn a system which is alien to him or her, such as the phonetic equivalents to the characters in Roman letters, or a coding system etc. Also, it is difficult to be accurate in coding each character so as to differentiate it from other similar characters. All in all, a considerable amount must be learnt about the system before entry of a character is possible. Use of such systems are not only time consuming but also require a lot of practice.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a text processing system which overcomes or alleviates the problems associated with the known systems.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a text processing apparatus is provided comprising memory means for storing a plurality of symbols, input means for specifying one or more visual features of a symbol to be selected, display means for displaying features to be selected and symbols stored in the memory means having the specified visual features, selection means for selecting one or more of the displayed symbols having the specified visual features, and processing means for manipulating a plurality of selected symbols to form a text.

Preferably the display means comprises a VDU screen, the input means being adapted to specify one or more of a plurality of visual features displayed on the VDU screen and the selection means being adapted to select from the screen one or more symbols having the or each specified visual feature.

In a preferred embodiment the symbols comprise characters of a character system of writing and the visual features comprise radicals and/or strokes from which the characters are constructed. The features of the input means is adapted to specify one or more phonetic components of a symbol and the selection means is adapted to select one or more symbols from the display means having the or each specified component.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a computer.

Preferably, means for inputting a number is provided and for displaying a selection of symbols or features associated with that number.

Preferably, a means for displacing a cursor on the display means is provided and means for specifying or selecting an item in the vicinity of the cursor.

More preferably, the input means are adapted to specify a plurality of different types of visual features of the symbols.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a method of text processing is provided comprising storing a plurality of symbols in a memory means, specifying one or more visual features of a symbol to be selected, displaying on a display means symbols stored in the memory means having the specified visual features, selecting one or more of the displayed symbols having the specified visual features, and manipulating a plurality of selected symbols to form a text.

Preferably, the display means comprises a VDU screen and visual features and symbols are displayed on the VDU screen.

In a preferred embodiment, the symbols comprise characters of a character system of writing and the visual features comprise radicals and/or strokes from which the characters are constructed.

Preferably the input means is adapted to specify one or more phonetic components of a symbol and the selection means is adapted to select one or more symbols from the display means having the or each specified component.

In a further preferred embodiment, the method comprises executing the steps on a computer.

Preferably, the method comprises assigning a number to a plurality of symbols or visual features and inputting a number in order to display a symbol or visual feature associated with that number.

More preferably, the method comprises specifying visual features or selecting symbols by moving a cursor on the display means and specifying or selecting an item in the vicinity of the cursor.

Preferably, the input means are adapted to specify a plurality of different types of visual features of the symbols.

This has the advantage that characters, such as Chinese characters can be input on the screen of the VDU without the need for a conventional keyboard. The symbols and features are pictures and are therefore simple to follow. It is possible to interchange between the various methods of selecting and inputting characters using the display on the screen.

By way of example only specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an on screen display used for a word processing system of traditional Chinese characters of one embodiment of the text processing system constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figs 2-9 are each schematic views of the onscreen display of Fig. 1 illustrating various ways of character entry and selection; Figs 10-13 are each schematic views of alternative screen displays of the word processing system of the Fig. 1 embodiment; and Figs. 14a to 14c are examples of Chinese character strokes, character radicals and characters, respectively.

Fig. 1 illustrates a basic on-screen display of a text processing system for Chinese characters. The display comprises a matrix of cells 2 for the two hundred and thirteen most common radicals, eight cells 4 that are used for stroke coding, icon cells 6 (small pictures) used for various methods of character selection, a display 8 of the page which is being written, an enlarged view 9 of the last few characters written on the page display, a key or box 10 which illustrates the numbers of characters matching a particular selection, and further icon cells 11 for carrying out other actions while entering characters.

Hereinafter, the cells 2,4,6,10 and other cells will be referred to as "keys", since in many ways their function is analogous to the function of a typewriter or computer keyboard keys.

In order to select and/or enter a character, a conventional "mouse", a small hand-operated device which is movable over a smooth surface, not illustrated, is used which allows a cursor or pointer on the screen to be moved to a desired position on the screen by movement of the mouse across the surface.

The mouse has at least two buttons, one of which, when depressed allows selection and/or entry of a particular feature from the screen and the second of which when depressed can enable other functions of the program. When the required function or character has been located by the pointer, a first button on the mouse is depressed and the function or character is thereby selected and/or entered.

In order to enter a character using the radical matrix 2, a desired radical is selected from the matrix 2 using the mouse pointer. In the example of Fig. 2, highlighted matrix keys 12, 13 represent the situation when the radicals displayed on the keys 12, 13 have been selected as above. In box 10 the number 8 is then displayed, which indicates that there are eight characters which contain the two selected radicals. By moving the mouse pointer to box 10 and selecting, the eight characters are displayed. This is achieved by a window 14 containing the eight characters opening on the screen.

The required character can be selected from the window 14 using the mouse pointer and is thereby entered into the memory. Other characters can then be entered in a similar fashion by simply selecting some of the radicals which make up that character.

The characters may be numerically listed, with each character identifiable by a particular number. A list of characters and the particular number that identifies each is provided. By finding out the number of a particular character, that character can be entered as follows: by selecting icon key 6a with the mouse pointer, a number window 15 opens on the screen, as illustrated in Fig.3, containing a matrix of numbers, from which the required number which specifically identifies that particular character can be selected. That character then appears on the screen in a highlighted area 16 of the number window 15 and can then be entered with the mouse pointer as before. In the example of Fig.3 the number twelve has been selected and in this instance that corresponds to the character displayed in the area 16.

The character may also be entered using phonetic selection, as shown in Fig. 4. By selecting icon key 6b with the mouse pointer a phonetic window 17 opens on the screen. The phonetic window 17 contains the standard Roman style keyboard from which the phonetic spelling of the character can be selected using the mouse pointer. The selected keys, i.e. the phonetic spelling of the character, are displayed in the highlighted area on a display 18. A further key or box 19, similar to box 10, displays the number of characters matching the phonetic rendering selected.

The characters having the specified phonetic component can be displayed by selecting box 19 with the mouse pointer. The characters are then displayed in a window 14 (as in Fig.2) from which they can be selected and entered as before. Alternatively, the required character may be entered by combining one of the other methods of selection, or by using the conventional keyboard to select the Roman-style letter.

Roman characters or punctuation can be incorporated into the Chinese text by selecting icon key 6c with the mouse pointer, as shown in Fig. 5. A keyboard window 20, containing a matrix of Roman characters and punctuation opens up on the screen.

From window 20 the required text is selected and thereby entered using the mouse pointer.

Alternatively, the text can be incorporated using the standard keyboard of the computer. Either way, the selected text is displayed on a highlighted portion 21 on the screen 20 as before for Fig.4.

The Chinese character may also be entered by the number of strokes it contains, as shown in Fig. 6. By selecting icon key 6d, a stroke window 22 containing a matrix of number keys opens on the screen. The number of strokes appearing in the required character is then selected with the mouse pointer as before. In the illustrated example 12 strokes have been selected and this is highlighted on the screen at 23 and the number of characters containing 12 strokes is 643 and this information is also illustrated at 23. This type of selection would normally be combined with one of the other types of selection described herein in order to obtain the required character.

Referring to Fig. 7, Chinese punctuation can be entered by selecting icon key 6e. A punctuation window 24 containing a matrix of punctuation keys opens on the screen. The desired punctuation can be selected and incorporated into the Chinese text from this window. Since the characters can be entered vertically or horizontally, some of the punctuation marks will change their orientation automatically as necessary to accommodate horizontal or vertical text.

Characters can also be entered using the stroke code method. Each stroke in a character can be listed under one of eight codes illustrated on the stroke keys 4, as shown in Fig. 8. The strokes in a character are then selected in a strict positional order. Fig.

8 illustrates the case where three strokes have been selected. As they are selected they appear at the bottom of the screen at position 25. The box 10 displays the number of characters containing those strokes. As the number of strokes selected increase, the display in box 10 is updated. A stroke window 26 can be opened on the screen as before which contains the characters formed from the selected strokes. A desired character can be selected and entered from the window 26 as before.

By selecting the icon lla out of the further icons 11 a help function is put into operation, as shown in Fig. 9. If the user has trouble finding a required radical, he presses the help icon lla and then selects a radical from radical matrix 2 and all similar or more complicated radicals are highlighted within the radical matrix 2. This makes it easier for the user to find the particular radical he is looking for.

The further icons could have many features. For instance, one icon could represent a repeat function which when selected would automatically enter the last character entered.

At any time the user may switch the screen to the page being written 8, as shown in Fig. 10. This enlarges the page 8. Across the bottom of the screen a number of icon keys 29 are displayed. These are used for all the various word processing functions.

Referring to Fig. 11, a menu screen is also available which can handle all file house-keeping, as well as word processing. The upper section of the screen has the icon keys 30 which are used for handling the different files. The lower section of the screen is split into two halves 31, 32. Screen half 31 showing the directories. Screen half 32 showing the files in the selected directory. Each directory and file can have Chinese and a Roman language name.

Referring to Fig. 12, a file parameter window can be opened for each file. This displays all the standard information for the file. The page layout and margins can be changed. Text can be entered into the file either horizontally or vertically. It is also possible to set up standard headers or footers to appear at the top of bottom of each page.

Referring to Fig. 13, a printing window can be opened. It is possible to select the range of page numbers to be printed. It is also possible (depending on the printer available) to chose to print the characters in varying sizes.

Other word processing functions are also available. Although a word processing system has been specifically described, the system could also be used for preparing spreadsheets, databases, desk-top publishing etc. Although traditional Chinese characters have been specifically described, other character based languages could be processed in this fashion, such as the now simplified Chinese characters which have been developed so as to reduce the number of strokes in each character. Also, selection and entry has been specifically described using a pointer controlled by a mouse, but the pointer could alternatively be controlled using the conventional computer keyboard or a specialised pen that can be pressed onto the desired key or feature on the screen in order to make the selection.

A Roman style keyboard has been described but a keyboard based on other alphabets such as, for example, Russian could be substituted. Also, for phonetic selection, Chinese phonetic symbols could be displayed within phonetic window 17. Also, methods of phonetic selection such as Wades Giles, Pin Yin, etc.

could be used.

Roman alphabet characters can be inserted within the character style writing via the conventional keyboard and it is easy to transfer between the various methods of character selection, or even combine various methods of selection, since the icons are on permanent display allowing rapid transfer from one system to another, depending on the wishes and/or abilities of the user.

Claims

1. A text processing apparatus comprising memory means for storing a plurality of symbols, input means for specifying one or more visual features of a symbol to be selected, display means for displaying visual features to be selected and symbols stored in the memory means having the specified visual features, selection means for selecting one or more of the displayed symbols having the specified visual features and processing means for manipulating a plurality of selected symbols to form a text.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display means comprises a VDU screen, the input means being adapted to specify one or more of a plurality of visual features displayed on the VDU screen and the selection means being adapted to select from the screen one or more symbols having the or each specified visual feature.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the symbols comprise characters of a character system of writing and the visual features comprise radicals and/or strokes from which the characters are constructed.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the input means is adapted to specify one or more phonetic components of a symbol and the selection means is adapted to select one or more symbols from the display means having the or each specified component.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus comprises a computer.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising means for inputting a number, and for displaying a selection of symbols or features associated with that number.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising means for displacing a cursor on the display means and means for specifying or selecting an item in the vicinity of the cursor.

8. An apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the input means are adapted to specify a plurality of different types of visual features of the symbols.

9. A method of text processing, comprising storing a plurality of symbols in a memory means, specifying one or more visual features of a symbol to be selected, displaying on a display means symbols stored in the memory means having the specified visual features, selecting one or more of the displayed symbols having the specified visual features, and manipulating a plurality of selected symbols to form a text.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the display means comprises a VDU screen and visual features and symbols are displayed on the VDU screen.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the symbols comprise characters of a character system of writing and the visual features comprise radicals and/or strokes from which the characters are constructed.

12. A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the input means is adapted to specify one or more phonetic components of a symbol and the selection means is adapted to select one or more symbols from the display means having the or each specified component.

13. A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 12, comprising executing the steps on a computer.

14. A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 13, comprising assigning a number to a plurality of symbols or visual features and inputting a number in order to display a symbol or visual feature associated with that number.

15. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the input means are adapted to specify a plurality of different types of visual features of the symbols.

16. A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 14, comprising specifying visual features or selecting symbols by moving a cursor on the display means and specifying or selecting an item in the vicinity of the cursor.

17. A text processing apparatus, constructed and adapted to operate substantially as herein described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

18. A method of text processing substantially as herein described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.