WO2006088285A1

WO2006088285A1 - Apparatus for inputting chinese characters

Info

Publication number: WO2006088285A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/004476
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sang-Keun Kim
Original assignee: Daolsoft, Inc.
Priority date: 2005-02-21
Filing date: 2005-12-22
Publication date: 2006-08-24
Also published as: KR20060093264A; KR100750634B1

Abstract

An apparatus for inputting Chinese characters is provided, in which strokes of the Chinese characters are divided into directional symbols {,/, I, \, →, S } and curved symbols {D, ZJ, D} based on standardized stroke orders and the symbols are corresponded to buttons of an input unit mounted on a digital electronic device, so that a user can input the Chinese characters only with the user's sense of direction when inputting the Chinese characters, and with a minimized number of strokes.

Description

APPARATUS FOR INPUTTING CHINESE CHARACTERS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an apparatus for inputting Chinese characters which allows a user to input the strokes of Chinese characters by pressing buttons of a digital electronic device that correspond to specific symbols each representative of corresponding strokes.

Background Art

[2] While Hangeul or English is composed of consonants and vowels, Chinese characters are pictographic characters instead of being composed of consonants and vowels. Thus, Chinese characters encounter great difficulties when inputting on a computer keyboard. In a case where characters consist of consonants and vowels, a keyboard having buttons corresponding to the consonants and vowels can be used to input the characters according to a predetermined combination rule. However, since the Chinese characters are composed of a combination of the strokes of Chinese characters, the strokes have to be inputted to form the characters.

[3] There have been proposed two ways of inputting Chinese characters on a digital electronic device such as a computer.

[4] A first way of inputting the Chinese characters is as follows: When a user knows the sound of a Chinese character, the user inputs the sound of the Chinese character through the electronic device. When the user inputs the sound of the Chinese character, the electronic device retrieves and displays a plurality of Chinese characters corresponding to the sound. The user may press a number corresponding to his/her desired one of the Chinese characters, or select the desired Chinese character using a cursor. However, the above-mentioned first method has a disadvantage in that the user needs to know the sound of Chinese character.

[5] A second way of inputting the Chinese characters is as follows: When the user does not know the sound of a Chinese character, strokes of the Chinese character may be used to retrieve the Chinese character through the electronic device. Up until now, there have been proposed methods of minimizing the number of the strokes of Chinese characters that are to be input.

[6] As one of the methods, all the strokes of a Chinese character are input according to the stroke order. However, there is a disadvantage in this method in that there are too many strokes to be input.

[7] As another method, a radical of a Chinese character is first input and the remaining strokes of the Chinese character are subsequently input. [8] However, while this method has an advantage in that a total number of strokes to be input are reduced, it has a disadvantage in that it requires a complex process of inputting the radical and strokes of the Chinese character. In addition, since there are a great many radicals in Chinese characters, it is very difficult to know and input all the radicals of Chinese characters.

[9] The above-mentioned methods are disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No.

371741 (registered on January 28, 2003) and Korean Patent Registration No. 412572 (registered on December 12, 2003), respectively.

[10] The Korean Patent Registration No. 371741 discloses a method of inputting

Chinese characters using an octonary reference stroke. In this method, since codes for reference strokes are assigned to input the reference strokes, there is a problem in that a user needs to memorize the codes, and a correlation between the reference strokes and the codes.

[11] On the other hand, the Korean Patent Registration No. 412572 discloses a method of inputting Chinese characters using the eight principles of Yong. Since this method aims principally at a symmetry between elements to be input, there is a problem in that the strokes are excessively subdivided. For example, a stroke 'D' is subdivided into 'D + D', 'D' is subdivided into ¹D+ D', and 'Z_-1' is subdivided into 'D + J + D'. That is, since elements corresponding to a stroke consist of dots and lines, there are problems in that it is very difficult to visually identify the strokes and too many elements have to be input to form a character.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Solution

[12] The present invention provides an apparatus for inputting Chinese characters, in which strokes of the Chinese characters are divided into directional symbols { S , I, \, →, /*} and curved symbols {D, ZJ, D} based on standardized stroke orders and the symbols are corresponded to buttons of an input unit mounted on a digital electronic device, so that a user can input the Chinese characters only with the user's sense of direction when inputting the Chinese characters, and with a minimized number of strokes. Advantageous Effects

[13] The user can input the Chinese characters only with the user's sense of direction when inputting the Chinese characters, and with a minimized number of strokes. Brief Description of the Drawings

[14] The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: [15] FlG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus for inputting Chinese characters according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[16] FlG. 2 is a button layout of a digital device equipped with the apparatus for inputting Chinese characters according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[17] FlG. 3 is a table of fundamental strokes that correspond to directional symbols and curved symbols;

[18] FlG. 4 is a table of Chinese characters that correspond to directional symbols and curved symbols; and

[19] FlG. 5 is a table for showing a method of inputting buttons that correspond to

Chinese characters belonging to directional symbols and curved symbols. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[20] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for inputting Chinese characters, in which strokes of the Chinese characters are divided into directional symbols {/ , I, \, →, S} and curved symbols {D, ZJ, D} based on standardized stroke orders, the symbols are corresponded to buttons of an input unit mounted on a digital electronic device, the Chinese characters determined by combining the strokes inputted by a user are input or retrieved. Mode for the Invention

[21] Exemplary embodiments in accordance with the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[22] FlG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus for inputting Chinese characters according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[23] A Chinese character input apparatus 100 includes a storage unit 110, an input unit

120, a control unit 130, and a display unit 140.

[24] The storage unit 110 stores data concerning a plurality of fundamental strokes that correspond to directional symbols {/ , I, \, →, S} and curved symbols {D, ZJ, D}, which are divided based on standardized stroke orders, and data concerning Chinese characters that correspond to the respective code strings.

[25] Since the Chinese characters are originally pictographic characters, they are recognized as a combination of lines rather than strokes at an incipient stage of the Chinese characters. As the Chinese characters are increasingly widely used, the complex lines of the Chinese characters have been simplified into strokes.

[26] The Chinese character input apparatus allows a user to input the Chinese characters conveniently only with the user's sense of direction when inputting the Chinese characters. That is, the strokes of the Chinese characters are divided into the directional symbols {/ , I, \, →, S} and the curved symbols {D, ZJ, D } based on standardized stroke directions. In addition, as shown in FlG. 3, the fundamental strokes are defined to correspond to the respective directional symbols { S , I, \, →, S] and the respective curved symbols {D, Z_^, D} and stored in the storage unit 110. The storage unit 110 further stores Chinese characters corresponding to code strings that are generated by a combination of the directional symbols {/ , I, \, →, S] and the curved symbols {D, ZJ, D}, which are input through the input unit 120. [27] Referring to HG. 3, fundamental strokes '

L

^ belong to the symbol ^Λy that is representative of strokes which move from up-left to down-right in the stroke order (direction). [28] Fundamental strokes '

/

belong to the symbol 'I' that is representative of strokes which move from up to down. [29] Fundamental strokes '

J

) belong to the symbol '\' that is representative of strokes which move from up-right to down-left. [30] Fundamental strokes ' belong to the symbol '→' that is representative of strokes which move from left to right. [31] Fundamental strokes '

belong to the symbol '_/*' that is representative of strokes which move from down-left to up-right. [32] Fundamental strokes '

^~l

^~7

belong to the symbol 'D' that is representative of strokes which move from left to right and to down. [33] Fundamental strokes '

¹I

5

h

^"L

3 belong to the symbol 'ZΛ [34] Fundamental strokes '

L

I

< belong to the symbol 'D' that is representative of strokes which move from up to down and to right.

[35] The input unit 120 has 3x3 buttons that are arranged in 3-by-3 format to correspond to the directional symbols {,/, I, \, →, S] and the curved symbols {D, ZJ, D}.

[36] FIG. 2 is a layout of 3x3 format buttons used in a digital device equipped with the

Chinese character input apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the 3x3 button layout, a central button corresponds to a symbol 'D', a button left to the central button corresponds to a symbol '→', a button right to the central button corresponds to a symbol ¹Z/, a top-left button of the central button corresponds to a symbol ^ΛS\ an upper button of the central button corresponds to a symbol ¹J,', a top-right button of the central button corresponds to a symbol '\', a bottom-left of the central button corresponds to a symbol '_/*', and a lower button of the central button corresponds to a symbol 'D'.

[37] The input unit 120 may be but is not limited to an input means such as a phone keyboard including ten numeral keys (0-9) and two function keys (* and #), or a touch screen type interface. In addition, the Chinese character input apparatus can be employed in digital electronic devices equipped with an input means having the 3x3 button layout, such as phones, mobile terminals, information processing terminals, remote controls, and computers.

[38] When a user presses a button of the input unit 120 having the 3x3 button layout mounted on a digital electronic device, the Chinese character input apparatus determines that a directional symbol or a curved symbol corresponding to the button has been input.

[39] The control unit 130 retrieves the storage unit 110 to search for Chinese character data corresponding to a code string which is determined by the input order of fundamental strokes corresponding to the directional symbols {S, I, \, →, S] and the curved symbols {D, ZJ, D } which are input by the input unit 120. Next, the control unit 130 outputs the searched Chinese character.

[40] When the user operates the input unit 120 having the 3x3 button layout mounted on the digital electronic device to input the directional symbols {S, i, \, ^→, S ] and the curved symbols {D, ZJ, D}, the Chinese character input apparatus, by means of the control unit 130, generates a code string according to the input order of fundamental strokes corresponding to the directional symbols {/ , I, \, →, S] and the curved symbols {D, ZJ, D}, retrieves the storage unit 110 to search for Chinese character data corresponding to the generated code string, and outputs the Chinese data if searched. In this case, a confirmation button may be input to identify between the inputted Chinese characters after the directional symbols {/ , I, \, →, S] and the curved symbols {D, ZJ, D } corresponding to the inputted Chinese characters are input. A technology for combining key codes corresponding to the directional symbols {/ , I, \, →, S] and the curved symbols {D, ZJ, D } to generate the code strings is well known in the art and a detailed description thereof will thus be omitted herein.

[41] The display unit 140 displays the Chinese data outputted by the control unit 130.

[42] The display unit 140, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, displays characters or graphics. That is, the display unit 140 displays Chinese characters that are determined from the directional symbols {/ , I, \, →, S] and the curved symbols {D, ZJ, D } inputted by the user.

[43] Accordingly, the Chinese character input apparatus allows a user to input the

Chinese characters only with the user's sense of direction when inputting the Chinese characters, and with a minimized number of strokes.

[44] In one embodiment, the control unit 130 may be configured such that when a user inputs the directional symbols {S, I, \, →, S] and the curved symbols {D, ZJ, D} through the input unit 120, one of fundamental strokes corresponding to the inputted directional or curved symbols can be inputted by the user.

[45] The control unit 130 may be configured such that when the user inputs the directional symbols {S, I, \, →, S] and the curved symbols {D, ZJ, D}, one of the fundamental strokes corresponding to the inputted directional or curved symbols can be manually selected and inputted by the user, while it is preferred that the one of fundamental strokes is automatically selected by the control unit 130.

[46] That is, in this embodiment, since the fundamental strokes belong to the respective directional symbols {/ , I, \, →, S] or the respective curved symbols {D, ZJ, D}, one of the fundamental strokes belonging to the directional symbols {S, I, \, →, S] °^r the curved symbols {D, ZJ, D } is selected and inputted by the user when the user inputs the directional symbols {S, I, \, →, S] or the curved symbols {D, ZJ, D}. [47] For this purpose, when the user inputs the respective directional symbols { S , I, \,

→, /*} or the respective curved symbols {D, Z_^, D}, the control unit 130 provides a user interface (UI) to allow the user to select and input one of the fundamental strokes corresponding to the respective directional symbols {/ , I, \, →, S} or the respective curved symbols {D, ZJ, D}.

[48] Operation of inputting Chinese characters in the Chinese character input apparatus according to the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[49] FTG. 4 is a table of Chinese characters that correspond to directional symbols and curved symbols. FIG. 5 is a table for showing a method of inputting buttons that correspond to Chinese characters belonging to directional symbols and curved symbols.

[50]

[51] (Embodiment 1) Operation of inputting buttons that correspond to Chinese characters belonging to the directional symbol ^Λy

[52] For example, a second stroke of a Chinese character ¹X' can be represented by '

', which belongs to the directional symbol ^Λy\ Thus, in order to input the Chinese character '3£', a user first presses a button 'D' corresponding to a first stroke '

^~7 in the input unit 120, and then presses the button ',/' corresponding to the second stroke '

[53] The control unit 130 combines key codes assigned to the buttons 'D' and '

to generate a Chinese character code string, retrieves Chinese character data stored in the storage unit 110 to search for the Chinese character corresponding to the code string, and outputs the searched Chinese character ¹X' through the display unit 140.

[54] Accordingly, the user can conveniently input the Chinese characters with a minimized number of strokes by the use of the directional symbols and the curved symbols.

[55]

[56] (Embodiment 2) Operation of inputting buttons that correspond to Chinese characters belonging to the directional symbol 'J,'

[57] For example, a first stroke of a Chinese character ' tU' can be represented by ' ' which belongs to the directional symbol ¹J,¹. Thus, in order to input the Chinese character 'tU', a user first presses a button ¹J,' corresponding to the first stroke '

in the input unit 120, presses a button '→' corresponding to a second stroke '

', presses a button ',/' corresponding to a third stroke '

', presses a button '\' corresponding to a fourth stroke '

J

', and presses a button ',/' corresponding to a fifth stroke ' ^

[58] The control unit 130 combines key codes assigned to the buttons ¹J,¹, '→', ^ΛS\ '\', and ',/' to generate a Chinese character code string, retrieves Chinese character data stored in the storage unit 110 to search for the Chinese character corresponding to the code string, and outputs the searched Chinese character 'tU' through the display unit 140.

[59] Accordingly, the user can conveniently input the Chinese characters with a minimized number of strokes by the use of the directional symbols and the curved symbols.

[60]

[61] (Embodiment 3) Operation of inputting buttons that correspond to Chinese characters belonging to the directional symbol '\'

[62] For example, a first stroke of a Chinese character ' J I [ ' can be represented by '

J

', which belongs to the directional symbol '\'. Thus, in order to input the Chinese character 'JIf', a user first presses a button '\' corresponding to the first stroke '

J in the input unit 120, presses a button 'J,' corresponding to a second stroke '

', and presses a button 'J,' corresponding to a third stroke '

[63] The control unit 130 combines key codes assigned to the buttons '\', 'J,', and 'J,' to generate a Chinese character code string, retrieves Chinese character data stored in the storage unit 110 to search for the Chinese character corresponding to the code string, and outputs the searched Chinese character ¹JI [' through the display unit 140. [64] Accordingly, the user can conveniently input the Chinese characters with a minimized number of strokes by the use of the directional symbols and the curved symbols. [65] [66] (Embodiment 4) Operation of inputting buttons that correspond to Chinese characters belonging to the directional symbol '→' [67] For example, a first stroke of a Chinese character 'TfC' can be represented by '

', which belongs to the directional symbol '-»'. Thus, in order to input the Chinese character '7K', a user first presses a button '→' corresponding to the first stroke '

in the input unit 120, presses a button ¹J,' corresponding to a second stroke '

', presses a button '\' corresponding to a third stroke '

J ', and presses a button ^Λy corresponding to a fourth stroke '

[68] The control unit 130 combines key codes assigned to the buttons '→', ¹J,¹, '\', and

',/' to generate a Chinese character code string, retrieves Chinese character data stored in the storage unit 110 to search for a Chinese character corresponding to the code string, and outputs the searched Chinese character '7fc' through the display unit 140.

[69] Accordingly, the user can conveniently input the Chinese characters with a minimized number of strokes by the use of the directional symbols and the curved symbols.

[70]

[71] (Embodiment 5) Operation of inputting buttons that correspond to Chinese characters belonging to the directional symbol '/"

[72] For example, a third stroke of a Chinese character

can be represented by '

', which belongs to the directional symbol '_/*'. Thus, in order to input the Chinese character

a user first presses a button ',/' corresponding to a first stroke '

in the input unit 120, presses a button ^Λy corresponding to a second stroke ' ', presses a button '_/*' corresponding to a third stroke '

', presses a button '\' corresponding to a fourth stroke '

', presses a button '→' corresponding to a fifth stroke '

', presses a button '→' corresponding to a sixth stroke '

', presses a button ¹J,¹ corresponding to a seventh stroke '

', presses a button '\' corresponding to an eighth stroke '

J ', and presses a button ',/' corresponding to a ninth stroke '

[73] The control unit 130 combines key codes assigned to the buttons ^y/\ ^y/\ '/", '\',

'→', '→', ¹J,¹, 'W and ./' to generate a Chinese character code string, retrieves Chinese character data stored in the storage unit 110 to search for a Chinese character corresponding to the code string, and outputs the searched Chinese character 'ϊ^' through the display unit 140.

[74] Accordingly, the user can conveniently input the Chinese characters with a minimized number of strokes by the use of the directional symbols and the curved symbols.

[75]

[76] (Embodiment 6) Operation of inputting buttons that correspond to Chinese characters belonging to the curved symbol 'D'

[77] For example, a second stroke of a Chinese character ' P ' can be represented by '

', which belongs to the curved symbol 'D'. Thus, in order to input the Chinese character 'D', a user first presses a button 'I' corresponding to a first stroke '

in the input unit 120, presses a button 'D' corresponding to the second stroke ' ^~l ', and presses a button '→' corresponding to a third stroke ' [78] The control unit 130 combines key codes assigned to the buttons ¹J,', 'D', and '→' to generate a Chinese character code string, retrieves Chinese character data stored in the storage unit 110 to search for a Chinese character corresponding to the code string, and outputs the searched Chinese character 'D' through the display unit 140.

[79] Accordingly, the user can conveniently input the Chinese characters with a minimized number of strokes by the use of the directional symbols and the curved symbols.

[80]

[81] (Embodiment 7) Operation of inputting buttons that correspond to Chinese characters belonging to the curved symbol 'ZJ'

[82] For example, a third stroke of a Chinese character ¹^' can be represented by '

', which belongs to the curved symbol 'ZJ'. Thus, in order to input the Chinese character ¹^', a user first presses a button '\' corresponding to a first stroke '

in the input unit 120, presses a button '→' corresponding to a second stroke

', and presses a button 'ZJ' corresponding to a third stroke '

Z,

[83] The control unit 130 combines key codes assigned to the buttons '\', '→', and 'ZJ' to generate a Chinese character code string, retrieves Chinese character data stored in the storage unit 110 to search for a Chinese character corresponding to the code string, and outputs the searched Chinese character ¹^' through the display unit 140.

[84] Accordingly, the user can conveniently input the Chinese characters with a minimized number of strokes by the use of the directional symbols and the curved symbols.

[85]

[86] (Embodiment 8) Operation of inputting buttons that correspond to Chinese characters belonging to the curved symbol 'D'

[87] For example, a third stroke of a Chinese character 'S' can be represented by '

L

', which belongs to the curved symbol 'D'. Thus, in order to input the Chinese character 'S', a user first presses a button 'D' corresponding to a first stroke ' ^~l in the input unit 120, presses a button '→' corresponding to a second stroke '

', and presses a button 'D' corresponding to a third stroke '

L

[88] The control unit 130 combines key codes assigned to the buttons 'D', '-»', and 'D' to generate a Chinese character code string, retrieves Chinese character data stored in the storage unit 110 to search for a Chinese character corresponding to the code string, and outputs the searched Chinese character 'S' through the display unit 140.

[89] Accordingly, the user can conveniently input the Chinese characters with a minimized number of strokes by the use of the directional symbols and the curved symbols.

[90] As apparent from the above description, the apparatus for inputting Chinese characters according to the present invention allows a user to operate 3x3 buttons of an input unit mounted on the digital electronic device to input the strokes of Chinese characters according to the standardized stroke orders. Accordingly, the user can conveniently input the Chinese characters with a minimized number of strokes by the use of the directional symbols and the curved symbols.

[91] While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Industrial Applicability

[92] The present invention can be applied to an apparatus for inputting Chinese characters which allows a user to input the strokes of Chinese characters by pressing buttons of a digital electronic device that correspond to specific symbols each representative of corresponding strokes.

Claims

[1] An apparatus for inputting Chinese characters, comprising: a storage unit that stores data concerning a plurality of fundamental strokes corresponding to directional symbols {/ , I, \, →, S] and curved symbols {D, ZJ, D}, which are classified based on standardized stroke orders of the Chinese characters, and data concerning Chinese characters corresponding to code strings; an input unit that has buttons arranged in 3-by-3 format to correspond to the directional symbols {,/ ^', I, \, →, S ] and the curved symbols {D, ZJ, D}; a control unit that retrieves the storage unit to search for a Chinese character corresponding to a code string determined by the stroke order of the fundamental strokes corresponding to the directional symbols {,/ ^', I, \, →, S] and the curved symbols {D, ZJ, D } that are inputted by the input unit, and outputs the searched Chinese character; and a display unit that displays the Chinese character outputted by the control unit.

[2] The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the directional symbols {S, I, \, →,

S] or the curved symbols {D, ZJ, D } are input by a user through the input unit, the control unit receives from the user one of the fundamental strokes corresponding to the directional symbols {/ , I, \, →, S] or the curved symbols {D, ZJ, D}.

[3] The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the input unit having the buttons is configured such that a symbol 'D' is assigned to a central button; a symbol '→' is assigned to a left button of the central button; a symbol 'ZJ' is assigned to a right button of the central button; a symbol 'S' is assigned to a top-left button of the central button; a symbol 'J,' is assigned to an upper button of the central button; a symbol '\' is assigned to a top-right button of the central button; a symbol ¹S¹ is assigned to a bottom-left button of the central button; and a symbol 'D' is assigned to a lower button of the central button.

[4] The apparatus of claim 3, wherein fundamental strokes '

7

' correspond to the symbol 'D'. [5] The apparatus of claim 3, wherein fundamental strokes '

' correspond to the symbol '-»'. [6] The apparatus of claim 3, wherein fundamental strokes '

¹I

5

h

^"L

1

' correspond to the symbol 'ZJ'. [7] The apparatus of claim 3, wherein fundamental strokes '

L

^ ' correspond to the symbol '/'. [8] The apparatus of claim 3, wherein fundamental strokes '

/

' correspond to the symbol ¹J,'. [9] The apparatus of claim 3, wherein fundamental strokes '

J

)

' correspond to the symbol '\'. [10] The apparatus of claim 3, wherein fundamental strokes '

' correspond to the symbol '_/*'. [11] The apparatus of claim 3, wherein fundamental strokes '

L

I

<

' correspond to the symbol 'D'.