WO2009068325A2

WO2009068325A2 - Method for speeding up candidates selection in chinese input

Info

Publication number: WO2009068325A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/052126
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yingfei Liu
Original assignee: Nokia Corporation
Priority date: 2007-11-27
Filing date: 2008-02-21
Publication date: 2009-06-04
Also published as: CN101868772A; WO2009068325A3; CN104268131A; CN104268131B

Abstract

A method for character input comprising, providing a list of candidate characters based on a user input, wherein said list is cyclic and comprises candidate characters with decreasing probability towards a center of said list; providing an indicator on a candidate character in one end of said list; and enabling a user to move said indicator along said list to a candidate character for selection. A corresponding mechanism, apparatus, and computer program is also disclosed.

Description

METHOD FOR SPEEDING UP CANDIDATES SELECTION IN CHINESE INPUT

Technical field

The present invention relates to methods for facilitating and speeding up candidate selection when inputting Chinese characters using a keyboard with a limited number of keys, such as a numerical keypad of a mobile communication apparatus or a remote control.

Background of the invention

Communication between peopie using mobile handheld communication apparatuses have rapidly increased over the last decade. One of the most popular ways of communicating is by sending short text messages, aiso referred to as a SMS (Short Message Service), to each other. The characters forming the text message are usuafiy inputted by hand via the mobile handheld communication apparatuses keyboard. Unfortunately, most handheld communication apparatuses do only offer a keyboard with a reduced set of keys (0-9 and functional keys), e.g. phone keypad, and not a keyboard with a full set of keys. Entering characters via a phone keypad can be a very tedious work, ssnce it may often require several key presses to select the character which the user wants to enter. One way to reduce the number of key presses is to use some kind of predictive text application. During the character input the predictive text application displays character candidates from which the user can choose from, in this way the number of key presses may be reduced considerably.

However, in some languages, such as Chinese, the character candidate list may still be very long due to the large volume of characters in the language. For instance, in the input method Pinysn (formally Hanyu

Pinyin), which is the most common Standard Mandarin romanizatJcn system in use, the candidate list, displayed as a line of selectable candidates, may in some cases have to be divided into several pages due to the iarge number of character candidates found. Navigating and selecting among these pages containing lines with character candidates may still be very cumbersome and frustrating to the user. Summary of the invention

In view of the above, an objective of the invention Is to solve or at least reduce the problems discussed above, in particuSar, an objective is to decrease the number of key presses needed to navigate and select a character among severai candidates, thus increasing the input speed of for example Chinese words significantly.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for a portable apparatus comprising, providing of a list of candidate characters based on a user input, wherein the fist is cyclic and comprises candidate characters with decreasing probability towards a center of the list, providing an indicator on a candidate character in one end of the list, and enabling a user to move the indicator along the cyclic list to a candidate character for selection. In this way the most probable character candidates can be reached with a minimum of key presses, thus In most cases reducing the number of key presses significantly and thus tedious work is avoided

The method may comprise a user input which comprises a romanization of Chinese, wherein the romanization comprises of any of a group comprising: Hanyu Pinyin, EFEO. Gwoyeu Romatzyh Spelling conventions, Latinxua Sin Wenz, Mandarin Phonetic Symbols II. Chinese Postal fvlap Romanization, Tongyong Pinyin, Wade-Giles, Yale, Legge Romanization, Comparison Chart, Guangdong Romanization, Hong Kong Government, Jyutping, Meyer-Wempe, Sidney Lau, S. L. Wong romanization, Standard Cantonese Pinyin, Standard Romaniztion, the latin phonetic method of Shanghainese, Long-short romanization, Péh-oe-ji, Hainanhua Pinyin Fang'an, Peng'im, Bang-ua-ce, Kejiahua Pinyin Fang'an, Phak-fa-su, and Phagspa script, and the candidate characters comprises Chinese characters. Thus the method is applicable for a large number of different languages _: and in particular usefull for 'Chinese types' of characters as exemplified above. The method may comprise a user input which comprises a cyryilization of Chinese, and the candidate characters comprises Chinese characters. The cyryliization may comprise the Paliadius system. Thus the method is not limited to having latin characters as input characters.

The method may comprise the displaying of the list on a display. Presenting the list on a display increases the user experience of the method. The method may comprise an indicator which highlights corresponding character candidate in the displayed list.

The method may comprise further enabling of a user to navigate in another direction than along the cyclic list to access an alternative list of character candidates, and providing an alternative list of character candidates.

Thus if the number of character candidates exceeds the number of characters capable of being displayed at the same time on the mobile communication apparatuses display the character candidates may be divided into several pages. Each such page may contain a cyclic list of character candidates arranged according to their relative probability. Thus the method is applicable also to candidate lists wherein not all candidates of the list are allowed to be simultaneously displayed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a character Input mechanism comprising a list of candidate characters based on a user input, wherein the list is cyclic and comprises candidate characters with decreasing probability towards a center of the list, and an indicator on a candidate character initially positioned in one end of the list and enabled to be moved by a user along the cyclic list to a candidate character for selection. Hence such a mechanism may be used with the portable apparatus mentioned above.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a a display, and a character input mechanism comprising a list of candidate characters, presented on said display, the list being based on a user input through said text input interface, wherein said fist is cyclic and comprises candidate characters with decreasing probability towards a center of said list; and an indicator on a candidate character initially positioned in one end of the list and enabled to be moved by a user along the cyclic list to a candidate character for selection. Hence such a display and such a mechanism may be used with the portable apparatus mentioned above.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable medium having computer-executable components comprising instructions which are operable to control a data processor to perform the providing of a list of candidate characters based on a user input, wherein the list is cyclic and comprises candidate characters with decreasing probability towards a center of the list, the providing of an indicator on a candidate character in one end of the list and the enabling of a user to move the indicator along the cyclic list to a candidate character for selection.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for character input comprising, providing a list of candidate characters based on a user input, wherein the list comprises candidate characters with decreasing probability towards the two ends of the list; providing an indicator on a candidate character in the center of the list; and enabling a user to move tlie Indicator along the list to a candidate character for selection. In this way the most probable character candidates can be reached with a minimum of key presses, thus in most cases reducing the number of key presses significantly and thus tedious work is avoided.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a character input mechanism comprising a list of candidate characters based on a user input, wherein the list comprises candidate characters with decreasing probability towards the two ends of the list; and an indicator on a candidate character initially positioned in the center of the list and enabled io be moved by a user along the list to a candidate character for selection.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising a text input interface, a display, and a character input mechanism comprising a list of candidate characters, presented on the display, the list being based on a user input through the text input interface, wherein the list comprises candidate characters with decreasing probability towards the two ends of the list; and an indicator on a candidate character initially positioned in the center of the list and enabled to be moved by a user along the list to a candidate character for selection.

According to an eight aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable medium having computer-executable components comprising instructions which are operable to control a data processor to perform: providing a us! of candidate characters based on a user input, wherein the list comprises candidate characters with decreasing probability towards the two ends of the list; providing an indicator on a candidate character in the center of the list; and enabling a user to move said indicator along said cyclic list to a candidate character for selection.

The second, third and fourth aspects of the present invention may be combined In my way with the features of the first aspect of the present invention. The sixth, seventh and eight aspects of the present invention may be combined in any way with the features of the fiftht aspect of the present invention.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. Ail references to "a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, ete]" are to be inlerpretecl openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed_., unless explicitly stated. Other objectives, features and advantages of the present Invention will appear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached dependent claims as well as from the drawings.

Brief description of the drawings The above, as well as additional objects, features ana advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and αori-iimitsng detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, where the same reference numerate will be used for similar elements, wherein; Fig. 1 shows a display view of inputting of Chinese characters into a mobile communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 shows a display view of the navigation in a list comprised of Chinese characters in a mobile communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 3 shows two display views describing the navigation of a list containing Chinese characters in a mobile communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; snd Fig. 4 shows display view of the present invention, and FIg. 5 shows another display view of the present invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Fig. 1 illustrates a mobile communication apparatus 100 comprising a text input interface 102, e.g. a phone keypad, and a display 104. The mobite comrriunication apparatus can also comprise other elements normally present in such an apparatus, such as a speaker {not shown), a microphone (not shown), a processor (not shown), a memory (not shown), etc.

The communication apparatus 100 is arranged for messaging services, where a user is able to input a text message and send Ii to one or more communication apparatuses. The apparatus 100 comprises a character input mechanism arranged to facilitate the input of morpheme-based characters by enabling input of phoneme-based characters. The character input mechanism recognizes morpheme-based candidate characters, which are presented on the display 104, wherein the intended character can be selected using 3 navigation means 106, and thus be added to the message,

The apparatus further comprises navigation means 100, e.g. a four- way navigator key (up/down/right/left), a rotatabϊe input means, or a touch sensitive navigation input, which can be used for navigation among the displayed character candidates 108. To be able to navigate among the character candidates 108, one of the character candidates is provided with an indicator 110, The indicator can be in the form of highlighting the active candidate, placing a pointer or marker under/over/beside the active candidate, etc.

Fig. 1 shows an example where six character candidates are displayed in a list in the display view of the mobile communication apparatus, if for example the user wants to select the fifth character in the list 108, he or she presses the navigation means 106 (the right navigator key) four times. The character indicator (highlighter) moves correspondingly to the right and highlights the fifth character 204, as shown in Fig, 2. The indicator, now placed on the fifth character 204 in the list 202, is now indicating that that particular character candidate can be selected upon activation of a selection means, e.g. a dedicated selection key, a soft key assigned a select function, operation of the navigation means 206 for selection. The character candidates 202 can be arranged in a sequential list with, navigation wise, a first and a last character candidate, or preferably be arranged in a cyclic list, i.e. when navigation reaches the end of the list, further navigation continue in the other end of the list. For example, in the left screenshot of Fig 3, the character furthest to the left 303, the first character in the cyclic list 301 , is indicated. When the user navigates one step to the left, the rightmost character, the sixth character In the list 301 , is indicated 305, as shown in the right screenshot. In the same way it is also possible to navigate to the left in the cyclic hst and consequently when the left most character in the list is reached, a further navigations to the left will result in an indication of the right most character. Finding, navigating to, and selecting the wanted character candidate can in many instances require many key presses, especially when the list of character candidates is long. in the same way it is also possible to navigate to the right in the cyclic list, and consequently when the right most character in the list is reached, a further navigation to the right wii! result in an indication of the left most character.

The candidates 108. in Fig, 1 , are determined based on an input of phoneme-based characters 112, such as Latin, Arabic, or Cyrillic characters 401 , as illustrated in Fig.4, which input is performed by using the input interface 102, which can be a phone keypad, a handwriting input and recognition mechanism, or any other character input or navigation means 108. From the input characters 112, the feasible morpheme-bases character candidates 108 are determined and displayed. Upon selection, the selected character candidate is added to the message, and a new set of characters can be input to form basis of a new set of character candidates for navigation and selection.

To further facilitate creating a message based on morpheme-based characters, the character candidates can be ranked based on their probability to be used. The probability can be based on general probability in the language used, probability according to a personal dictionary, or by language analysis performed on the message itself.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 5. The display view shows six character candidates arranged in a cyciic list 501. and the relative order of the character candidates are as follows. The most probable character candidate 502 to be selected is placed in the left most position, position 1 (as indicated in Fig. 5). in the list. The second most probable character candidate 503 is placed in the right most position, position 8, in the list. The third most probable character candidate 504 is placed at the second most left position, position 2, in the list. The fourth most probable character candidate is placed at the second most right position, position 5, in the list. The fifth most probable character candidate is placed at the third most left positron, position 3, in the list, and the sixth most probabie character candidate is placed at the third most right position, position 4, in the list. This arrangement wii! produce a list, which have a decreasing probability towards a center of the list, where the least probabie character candidates are located in the middle of the list. white the most probable character candidates are located at the both "ends" (towards the right most end and towards the left most end) of the list. In other words, the probability increases towards the two (left and right sides) of the list, and decreases towards the middle or the center of the list, as indicated in Fig. 5. A longer list would be arranged in the same alternating manner as described above.

From the beginning the most probable character, located in position 1 , is highlighted for selection, if the user wants to navigate to and select the second most probable character candidate 503, only one key press (navigation one step left to position 6) is needed, and if the user wants to navigate to and select the third most probable character candidate 504, only one Iley press (navigation one step right to position 2) is needed. Sn this way the most probable character candidates can be reached with a minimum of key presses, thus in most cases reducing the number of key presses significantly. Long lists of character candidates can be arranged in the same manner, beginning with the most probable character candidate to the left, the second most probable to the right, the third most probabie to the second left, the fourth most probable to the second right, and so on.

As an alternative the list may be arranged in a manner which orders the candidates in decreasing probability from the center of the list. Le. a list in which the middle-most candidate character is associated with the highest probability and In which this middle-most candidate is initially highlighted (as described above). For such a list the candidate character immediately to the right of the middle-most candidate character is associated with the second highest probability; the candidate character immediately to the left o! the mitidte-most candidate character has the third highest probability, and so on. Thus instead of starting at one end and moving (from both ends) towards the center of the list as the probability of the candidate characters decrease, the list may be searched from the middle and outwards towards the two ends as the probability of the candidate characters decrease.

If the number of character candidates exceeds the number of characters capable of being displayed at the same time on the mobile communication apparatuses display, then the character candidates may be divided into several pages. Each page will contain a cyclic list of character candidates arranged according to their relative probability accordance with the scheme described above. For example, if ten character candidates is found during an input, and the display only are capable of displaying 5 character candidates at a time, the list of ten candidates are divided into two list containing 5 character candidates in each list. The first page will then contain the five most probable character candidates, arranged in a cyclic list according to the scheme above. The second page wii! then contain the remaining five second most probable character candidates, arranged in a cyclic list according to the scheme above. If the user doesn't find the character he or she is looking for in the list in the first page, the user may navigate by pressing the up/down key to the second page containing the list with the remaining character candidates. Several pages may be arranged in a sequential list, with a "first" and a "last" page, which may be navigated using the up/down key. They may also be arranged in a sequential but cyclic manner, so that when the user has navigated to the last" page, and presses the up/down key once more, the "first" page containing the list with the most probable character candidates will be displayed.

If several pages, Le. several lists, can be displayed at the same time in the display of apparatus, then they can be arranged according to the same scheme as the character candidates, as described above.

The invention has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patent claims.

Claims

1. A method for character input comprising, providing a list of candidate characters based on a user input, wherein said iist is cyciic and comprises candidate characters with decreasing probability towards a center of said list; providing an indicator on a candidate character in one end of said list; and enabling a user to move said indicator along said iist to a candidate character for selection.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said user input comprises a romanization of Chinese and said candidate characters comprises Chinese characters.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said romanization comprises of any of a group comprising: Hanyu Pinyin, EFEO, Gwoyeu Romatzyh Spelling conventions, Latinxua Sin Wenz. Mandarin Phonetic Symbols ii, Chinese Postal Map Romanization, Tongyong

Pinyin, Wade-Giles, Yale, Legge Romanization, Comparison Chart, Guangdong Romanization, Hong Kong Government, Jyutping, Meyer- Wempe, Sidney Lau, S. L. Wong romanization, Standard Cantonese Pinyin, Standard Romaniztion. the latin phonetic method of Shanghainese. Long-short romanization, Peh-oe-ji, Hainanhua Pinyin

Fang'an, Peng'im, Bang-ua-ce, Kejiahua Pinyin Fang'an, Phak-fa-su, and Phagspa script.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said user input comprises a cyryl]ization of Chinese and said candidate characters comprises

Chinese characters.

The method according to claim 4, wherein said cyryl]ization comprises Paliadius system.

6. The method according to any of claims 1-5, wherein providing said list comprises displaying said list on a display.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein providing said indicator comprises highlighting corresponding character candidate in said displayed list.

8. The method according to any of claims 1 to 7, further comprising enabling a user to navigate in another direction than along said cyclic list to access an alternative list of character candidates; and providing said alternative list of character candidates.

9. A character input mechanism comprising a list of candidate characters based on a user input, wherein said list is cyclic and comprises candidate characters with decreasing probability towards a center of said list; and an indicator on a candidate character initially positioned in one end of said list and enabled to be moved by a user along said cyclic list to a candidate character for selection.

10.The mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said user input comprises a romanization of Chinese and said candidate characters comprises Chinese characters.

11. The mechanism according to claim 10_, wherein said romanization comprises of any of a group comprising: Hanyu Pinyin, EFEO, Gwoyeu Romatzyh Spelling conventions, Latinxua Sin Wenz, Mandarin Phonetic Symbols I Chinese Postal Map Romanization, Tongyong Pinyin, Wade-Giles, Yale, Legge Romanization, Comparison Chart. Guangdong Romanization, Hong Kong Government. Jyuiping, Meyer-

Wempe, Sidney Lau, S. L. Wong romanization, Standard Cantonese Pinyin, Standard Romaniztion, the latin phonetic method of Shanghainese, Long-short romanization, Peh-oe-ji, Hainanhua Pinyin Fang'an, Peng'lm, Bang-ua-ce, Kejiahua Pinyin Fang'an, Phak-fa-su, and Phagspa script.

12. The mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said user input comprises a cyryl]ization of Chinese and said candidate characters comprises Chinese characters.

13. The mechanism according to ciaim 12, wherein said cyryl]ization comprises Paliadius system.

14. An apparatus comprising a text input interface, a display, and character input mechanism comprising a list of candidate characters, presented on said display, the list being based on a user input through said text input interface, wherein said list is cyclic and comprises candidate characters with decreasing probability towards a center of said list; and an indicator on a candidate character initially positioned in one end of said list and enabled to be moved by a user along said cyclic list to a candidate character for selection.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said user input comprises a romanjzation of Chinese and said candidate characters comprises Chinese characters.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said romanization comprises of any of a group comprising : Hanyu Pinyin, EFEO, Gwoyeu Romatzyh Spelling conventions, Latsnxua Sm VVenz, Mandarin Phonetic Symbols II, Chinese Postal Map Romanization, Tongyong Pinyin. Wade-Giles, Yale. Legge Romanization, Comparison Chart,

Guangdong Romanization, Hong Kong Government, Jyutping Meyer- Wempe, Sidney Lau, S. L. Wong romanization, Standard Cantonese Pinyin, Standard Romaniztion, the latin phonetic method of Shanghainese, Long-short romanization, Peh-oe-ji, Hainanhua Pinyin Fang'an, Peng'im. Bang-ya-ce Kejϊahua Pinyin Fang'an. Phak-fa-su. and Phagspa script,

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said user Input comprises a cyryilization of Chinese and said candidate characters comprises Chinese characters.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said cyryiiizatiori comprises Palladius system.

19. A computer readable medium having computer-executable components comprising instructions which are operable to control a data processor to perform providing a list of candidate characters based on a user input, wherein said list is cyclic and comprises candidate characters with decreasing probability towards a center of said fist; providing an indicator on a candidate character in one end of said list; and enabling a user to move said indicator along said cyclic list to a candidate character for selection.

20. The medium according to claim 19, wherein providing said list comprises displaying said list on a display.

21. The medium according to ciaim 20, wherein providing said indicator comprises highlighting corresponding character candidate in said displayed fist.

22. A method for character input comprising. providing a list of candidate characters based on a user input wherein said list comprises candidate characters with decreasing probability towards the two ends of said list; providing an indicator on a candidate character in the center of said list; and enabling a user to move said indicator along said list to a candidate character for selection.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein said user input comprises a romanization of Chinese and said candidate characters comprises

Chinese characters,

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said romanization comprises of any of a group comprising: Hanyu Pinyin, EFEO. Gwoyeu Rorrsatzyh Spelling conventions, Latinxua Sin Wenz, Mandarin Phonetic Symbols il, Chinese Postal Map Romanizalion. Tongyong Pinyin, Wade-Giles, Yale, Legge Romanizatiori, Comparison Chart, Guangdong Romanization, Hong Kong Government, Jyufping, Meyer- Wempe, Sidney Lau, S. L. Wong romanization, Standard Cantonese Pinyin, Standard Romaniztion, the latin phonetic method of

Sbanghaainese, long-short romanization, Péh-oe-ji, Hainanhua Pinyin Fang'ari. Peng'im, Bang-ua-ce, Kejiahua Pinyin Fang'an, Phak-fa-su, and Phagspa script,

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein said user input comprises a cyryllization of Chinese and said candidate characters comprises Chinese characters,

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein said cyryllization comprises Pailadius system,

27. The method according to any of claims 22-26, wherein providing said list comprises displaying said list on a display.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein providing said indicator comprises highlighting corresponding character candidate in said displayed list

29. The method according to any of claims 22 to 29, further comprising enabling a user to navigate in another direction than along said cyclic list to access an alternative list of character candidates; and providing said alternative list of character candidates.

30. A character input mechanism comprising a list of candidate characters based on a user input, wherein said list comprises candidate characters with decreasing probability towards the two ends of said list; and an indicator on a candidate character initially positioned in the center of said list and enabled to be moved by a user along said list to a candidate character for selection.

31.The mechanism according to claim 30, wherein said user input comprises a romanization of Chinese and said candidate characters comprises Chinese characters.

32. The mechanism according to claim 31 , wherein said romanization comprises of any of a group comprising; Hanyy Pinyin, EFEO, Gwoyeu Romatzyh Spelling conventions, Latinxua Sin Wenz, Mandarin Phonetic Symbols II. Chinese Postal Map Romanization, Tongyong Pinyin, Wade-Giles, Yale, Legge Romanization, Comparison Chart, Guangdong Romanization, Hong Kong Government, jyutping, Meyer-

Wempe, Sidney Lao, S. L. Wong romanization, Standard Cantonese Pinyin, Standard Romaniztion, the latin phonetic method of Sharighainese, Long-short romanization, Peh-oe-ji, Hainanhua Pinyin Fang'an, Peng'im, Bang-ua-ce, Kejiahua Pinyin Fang'an, Phak-fa-su, and Phagspa script.

33. The mechanism according to claim 30, wherein said user input comprises a cyryilization of Chinese and said candidate characters comprises Chinese characters.

34. The mechanism according to claim 33, wherein said cyryilization comprises Palladius system.

35. An apparatus comprising a text input interface, a display, and a character input mechanism comprising a list of candidate characters, presented on said display, the list being based on a user input through said text input interface, wherein said list comprises candidate characters with decreasing probability towards the two ends of said fist; and an indicator on a candidate character initially positioned in the center of sasd list and enabled to be moved by a user afong said list to a candidate character for selection.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said user input comprises a romanization of Chinese and said candidate characters comprises Chinese characters.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said romanization comprises of any of a group comprising: Hanyu Pinyin. EFEO, Gwoyeu Romatzyh Spelling conventions, Latinxua Sin VVenz, Mandarin Phonetic Symbols II, Chinese Postal Map Romanization, Tongyong Pinyin, Wade-Giles, YaIe, Legge Romanization, Comparison Chart,

Guangdong Romanization, Hong Kong Government, Jyutping, Meyer- Wempe, Sidney Lay, S. L. Wong romanization, Standard Cantonese Pinyin, Standard Romansztion, the latin phonetic method of Sharighainese, Long-short romanization, Péh-oe-ji, Hainanhua Pinyin Fang'an, Peng'im. Bang-ua-ce, Kejiahua Pinyin Fang'an, Phak-fa-su, and Phagspa script.

38. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said user input comprises a cyryllization of Chinese and said candidate characters comprises Chinese characters.

39. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said cyryllization comprises Palladius system,

40. A computer readable medium having computer-executable components comprising instructions which are operable to control a data processor to perform providing a list of candidate characters based on a user input, wherein said list comprises candidate characters with decreasing probability towards the two ends of said list; providing an indicator on a candidate character in the center of said list; and enabling a user to move said indicator along said cyclic list to a candidate character for selection.

41. The medium according to claim 40, wherein providing said list comprises displaying said list on a display.

42. The medium according to claim 41 , wherein providing said indicator comprises highlighting corresponding character candidate in said displayed fist.