WO2020104753A1

WO2020104753A1 - System and method for collaborative text input

Info

Publication number: WO2020104753A1
Application number: PCT/FR2019/052763
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jérôme MONCEAUX
Original assignee: Spoon
Priority date: 2018-11-20
Filing date: 2019-11-20
Publication date: 2020-05-28
Also published as: FR3088746A1; FR3088746B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a method and a system for producing texts by inputting a series of characters from a keyboard of at least one client device and an autocomplete processing operation for producing words belonging to a dictionary stored in a database characterised in that it is executed by a system comprising a server and a plurality of client devices each provided with a keyboard and a module for communicating with the server, the method comprising the following steps: a) Selection, by the server, of a character, consisting in: - saving, on the server, for each of the client devices, the input character - selecting the character corresponding to a selection law during a predetermined period TS and compatible with the words determined by the auto-correlation processing operation b) Displaying, on each of the client devices, of the sequence of characters selected by the server, including the new selected character c) Initiation of a new character-selection step.

Description

COLLABORATIVE TEXT INPUT SYSTEM AND METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a system and method for entering text and more generally to solutions for the collaborative creation of literary works.

Text entry is usually carried out using a peripheral such as an electromechanical keyboard or a touch screen, where each key, organized according to an AZERTY or QWERTY type matrix, controls a numerical sequence. There are also known solutions for entering alphabetic characters using a 9-digit keyboard, each key generally representing three or four characters, for example of the T9 type. These data entry solutions are sometimes combined with predictive processing modules to avoid inconsistent data entry. eZiType from Zi Technology (trade names) offers for example a solution where candidate characters are classified on the basis of frequency of use statistics. This solution is also capable of predicting candidates for completion of multiple words using the appropriate entry, by scanning the user's previous entry to identify high frequency phrases.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The European patent EP2414915B1 describing a method for processing user text input and generating text predictions for user selection is known in the prior art, consisting of receiving text in a user interface; generate simultaneously, using a text prediction engine comprising a plurality of models language, text predictions from multiple language models; and providing text predictions to the user interface for user selection.

Also known is patent application WO2012159066 describing a method for objectively evaluating the users of a collaborative writing system. It provides for the creation of an online group comprising a plurality of members and assigns one or more roles to each member of the group. One or more group members produce at least one digital writing in the group online. The method then consists in monitoring the online activity of each member of the group with respect to other users of the system and with regard to the digital writing (s) produced by the member (s), then in calculating, for each member, a numerical influence score corresponding to each role assigned, according to the online activity under surveillance. Said influence score indicates the influence of the member in each role assigned within the group.

American patent application US20110202851A1 describes a method of using the system for a collaborative online creative writing process based on the creation of collaborative additions and modifications of texts.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The solutions of the prior art do not allow real collaboration in real time but rather an alternation of phases of individual creation and modifications by the other contributors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to remedy these drawbacks, the present invention relates, in its most general sense, to a method for produce texts by entering a succession of characters from a keyboard of at least one client device and an auto-completion process for the production of words belonging to a dictionary stored in a database characterized in that it is executed by a system comprising a server and a plurality of client devices each provided with a keyboard and a communication module with said server, the method comprising the following steps:

a) Selection by the server of a character, consisting of:

- to record on the server, for each of said client equipment, the character entered

to select the character corresponding to a selection law during a predetermined period Ts and compatible with the words determined by said autocorrelation processing b) Display on each client equipment the sequence of characters selected by the server including the new character selected

c) Initiate a new character selection step.

According to other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of the invention, taken alone or in any technically feasible combination:

said selection law is a function of the highest occurrence of characters transmitted by client equipment during the period Ts

- said selection law is a consensus function

- the selection step also includes the display on each of the client devices of the characters entered on any of the client devices during the period Ts

- the selection step also includes replacing the character previously recorded in the event of entering a new character on the same customer equipment and refreshing the displays on each of the customer equipment with each new entry on any of the equipment clients - entry on client equipment is carried out by selection on a virtual keyboard on a display screen associated with a selection pointer

- the input on a client equipment is carried out by a keyboard displayed on a touch screen

- the input on a client equipment is carried out by a physical keyboard comprising luminous keys whose luminous state is controlled by said server.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description of a nonlimiting example of the invention which follows, referring to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a system for implementing the invention.

• Figure 2 shows a view of the display screen of a client terminal.

• Figure 3 shows another view of the display screen of a client terminal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Of course the invention is not limited to the mode (s) of implementation described (s) and it is possible to make variant embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

The implementation of the collaborative writing solution is carried out by a system consisting of a server (1) associated with a database (2), and a set of connected equipment (10 to 13). The server (1) allows the downloading to each of the connected devices (10 to 13) of a software application which is then executed on the connected device.

This application opens a session shared between all the contributors of a common text, and the processing of digital data exchanges between the server (1) and each of the connected devices (10 to 13).

Functional architecture

The collective writing process breaks down into several stages.

Step to create a new session

The first step is to create a workspace and a shared session.

One of the users creates a new session by connecting to the server (1) and the main application, to identify themselves, save the names of the other contributors and create a directory specific to the new session, for recording the digital data exchanged. The server (1) notifies the registered users of the opening of a new session when the session is created by sending a digital message including, for example, a session access link.

Text content production stage

When the users (10 to 13) are connected and associated with the session, the server application (1) controls the display on each of the connected devices of a digital page (20) presents an area (21) for the display of collaborative text, and a keyboard display area (22). The screen can be passive, and associated with a peripheral or tactile keyboard, in which case the zone (22) is also used for entering a character. A third area (23) displays the number of contributors who have selected a character for the current sequence. The keys of the keyboard displayed in the zone (22) change state according to the number of contributors having selected the same key during the current sequence. For example, the key corresponding to the character selected by the largest number of contributors appears with a different color.

Start new text

As an example, the process is as follows:

The contributor who initiated the session enters a character of their choice on their physical or tactile keyboard. The application loaded on its equipment transmits to the server (1) a numerical sequence comprising the character code and the user identifier. This information is saved in a memory space (2) by the server. The server controls the start of a timeout for the sequence of input of the first character and sends to the other equipment a digital message commanding a change of state of the display, for example the highlighting of the display area (21 ).

When another user selects a character on his own keyboard, the application loaded on his equipment transmits to the server (1) a numerical sequence comprising the character code and the user identifier. This information is saved in the same memory space (2) by the server (1). When a predetermined part of the registered users for a session has transmitted a selected character, for example 10% of the registered users or at least 3 users, the server computer (1) associates with each recorded character a value corresponding to the number of occurrences , and transmits to all the equipment (10 to 13) of the registered users a digital sequence controlling the change of state of the display of the character (24) associated with the greatest occurrence. Optionally, it can command a different state for the characters having a lower occurrence, depending on the value of said value. For example, if the character selected by the largest number of users is "K", the server will command the highlighting of the graphic area (24) corresponding to the character "K" on the display area (22) , and if the second most selected character is the question mark, the server will command the highlighting of less intensity of the graphic area (25) corresponding to the character "? On the display area (22).

The server (1) also transmits to all the devices (10 to 13) of the registered users a digital sequence controlling the display in the area (23) of the number or the percentage of users having made a selection.

Until the time allocated to the sequence has elapsed, each of the users (10 to 13) can select a character if they have not already done so, or modify their choice by selecting a character other than the one initially entered. The server computer (1) records in real time the information received from any of the equipment (10 to 13) and recalculates the table of characters and occurrences and transmits to each of the equipment (10 to 13) the data to refresh display.

At the end of the time fixed for the current sequence, the server (1) orders the display on the zone (21) of each of the devices (10 to 13) of the first character of the text corresponding to the character associated with the largest occurrence value in memory (2).

Development of collaborative text

The input sequence is then renewed for the second character, and so on.

Optionally, for these characters, the server can execute a consistency processing, consisting in calculating the sub- set of characters compatible with a word from a dictionary stored in memory (2).

This treatment can consist of:

- Transmit to each device (10 to 13) a command to limit the characters that can be selected and transmitted to the server

And or

- Modify the state of each of the keys displayed in the zone (22), for example, by obscuring the keys corresponding to characters incompatible with the words saved in the memory (2)

And or

- Modify the state of each of the keys displayed in the zone (22), for example, by highlighting the keys corresponding to characters compatible with the words saved in the memory (2)

And or

- Transmit the additional characters to all the equipment (10 to 13) when a single word is compatible with the sequence of characters already entered (in the manner of T9 predictive entry or autocompletion solutions, for example according to the process described in patent FR2997591A1).

The user can select the display mode on his own equipment, for example in QWERTY or QWERTY mode, or in a technical display mode, an example of which is shown in FIG. 3, with functions for deleting words (28) or phrase deletion (29). The selection by a user of this display mode controls the transmission by the server (1) of an instruction to all the other devices of the display of this same mode.

Claims

1 - Method for producing texts by entering a succession of characters from a keyboard of at least one client device and an auto-completion processing for the production of words belonging to a dictionary stored in a database characterized in that it is executed by a system comprising a server and a plurality

client equipment each provided with a keyboard and a communication module with said server, the method comprising the following steps:

a) Selection by the server of a character, consisting of:

- to save on the server, for each of said

customer equipment, character entered

- to select the character corresponding to a selection law during a predetermined period Ts and compatible with the words determined by said auto processing

correlation

b) Display on each client device the sequence of characters selected by the server including the new character selected

c) Initiate a new character selection step.

2 - Method for producing texts according to claim 1 characterized in that said selection law is a function of the highest occurrence of the characters transmitted by the client equipment during the period Ts.

3 - Process for producing texts according to claim 1 characterized in that said selection law is a consensus function.

4 - Process for producing texts according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step of selection further includes the display on each of the client devices of the characters entered on any of the client devices during the period Ts.

5 - Method for producing texts according to the preceding claim characterized in that the selection step further comprises replacing the character previously recorded in the event of entering a new character on the same client equipment and refreshing the displays on each customer equipment with each new entry on any of the customer equipment.

6 - Method for producing texts according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entry on a client equipment is carried out by selection on a virtual keyboard on a display screen associated with a selection pointer.

7 - Method for producing texts according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the input on a client equipment is carried out by a keyboard displayed on a touch screen.

8 - Method for producing texts according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the input on a client equipment is carried out by a physical keyboard comprising luminous keys whose luminous state is controlled by said server.