WO2002031639A1

WO2002031639A1 - Method for encoding and inputting chinese characters for the electronic apparatuses

Info

Publication number: WO2002031639A1
Application number: PCT/KR2000/001293
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yoon-Hyoung Eo; Jang-Sung Choi
Original assignee: Timespace System Co Ltd
Current assignee: Timespace System Co Ltd
Priority date: 2000-10-13
Filing date: 2000-11-11
Publication date: 2002-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 2003-04-13
Also published as: WO2002031638A1; CN1454342A; AU2001211784A1; AU2000279665A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of coding and inputting Chinese characters for electronic apparatuses, which is applicable to various mobile phones whose buttons (keys) are limited in number as various electronic equipments such as a personal computer become smaller. According to the method, minimal and sufficient basic figures are used to conveniently input Chinese characters with the same order as a handwriting order. As a result, countries using Chinese characters can enhance interchange of electronic information based on Chinese characters and Chinese characters can be inputted to small-sized and multi-functional electronic equipments such as a mobile phone.

Description

Title of Invention

METHOD FOR ENCODING AND INPUTTING CHINESE

CHARACTERS FOR THE ELECTRONIC APPARATUSES

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method of coding and inputting Chinese characters. More specifically, the invention is directed to a method of coding and inputting Chinese characters for electronic apparatuses, which is applicable to various mobile phones whose buttons (keys) are limited in number as various electronic equipments such as a personal computer become smaller.

Background Art Character systems of Korean, English, French, German, Japanese except Chinese characters are relatively simple and clearly definite. On the other hand, Chinese characters are substantially unlimited to their, shapes and the number of strokes. Therefore, it is very hard to digitalize the Chinese characters. For the last several decades, Chinese computer users have been wresting with the alphabetic keyboard, trying to squeeze the Chinese characters into a computer screen. Conventionally, several ways to input the Chinese characters using the computer keyboard have been used. Particularly, the "sound-borrowing way ( B IΓ SA ) " and "classification way (^Mfe)" are well known in the art. In the "sound-borrowing way", a sound of an input-desired Chinese character is inputted using the phonogram such as English, Korean or Japanese. A group of Chinese characters corresponding to the sound is displayed. Out of the displayed group, the input-desired Chinese character is pointed and inputted. In the "classification way", a classification number is given to each Chinese character depending upon its shape characteristic and root. An input-desired Chinese character is inputted by reference to a manual in which the classification numbers are entered.

In China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan, the "sound-borrowing way" is being used widely as a way to input sounds of Chinese characters by English or native language. However, although a user clearly knows input-desired Chinese character, he/she inputs a Chinese character sound by other language, and selects the input-desired Chinese character from a group of homophonous Chinese characters. This causes an inconvenience for the user. Further, a sound of even an isomorphic Chinese character may be pronounced differently in each country, so that a Chinese character input method using the "sound-borrowing way" adopts a different system in each country. In countries only using Chinese characters (e.g., China, Taiwan, etc.), their native languages must be inputted by a foreign language.

The "classification way" is disclosed in U. S . Patent No. 4,684,926, issued on August 4, 1978, U. S. Paten No. 5,970,926, issued on August 4, 1998, and Korean Publication Patent No. 00-6943, opened on February 7, 2000.

In U. S . Patent No. 4,684,926, the invention relates to a method of coding Chinese characters by giving each of them 8-digits based on five basic strokes and topological patterns of each Chinese character. The five basic strokes constitute basic roots that are frequently presented and used. In U. S . Patent No. 5,970,926, the invention relates to a method of coding Chinese characters by giving each of them 8- digits consisting of 4-digits "ID" code that are classified by four corner shapes out of Chinese character shapes. In Korean Publication Patent No. 00-6943 , the invention relates to a method of inputting Chinese characters by coding basic forms of first two strokes and last two strokes. The basic forms are extracted from strokes of Chinese characters.

Unfortunately, a Chinese character input method adopting the "classification way" is very inconvenient for a user in that a plurality of Chinese characters of the same code number must exceptionally be processed and Chinese characters cannot be inputted without memorizing their code numbers or without reference to a code number list. Particular, the Chinese character input method adopting the "classification way" is scarcely applied to, for example, mobile phones.

As an improved classification way, a so-called "T9 Text Input System" was developed and utilized by Tegic Communications, Inc. in United States of America. In the "T9 Text Input System", strokes constituting each Chinese character are divided into eight figures. If a user presses a stroke-printed key according to a sequence of strokes, a group of corresponding Chinese characters are displayed. Thereafter, the user presses a shift key to select a desired Chinese character from the group. However, the "T9 Text Input System" cannot fully reflect shapes of practical strokes in that each of the eight figures is representative of two to eleven practical strokes. Therefore, when a Chinese character is inputted using a key adopting the "T9 Text Input System", the user must undertake a step of deciding a figure corresponding to each stroke of a Chinese character. During this step, a gap between a perception (a shape of a thinking Chinese character) and a visual sensation (a shape of a figure printed on a key) may result in a confusion of the user. The present invention is complement and improvement for the content of "PCT/KROO/01 142" that was applied by inventors of the ' present invention.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for inputting Chinese characters, of smaller number of input keys, with the same manner as a handwriting manner without conscious memorization.

The present invention for achieving the object relates to a method of coding Chinese characters so as to input the coded Chinese characters to an electronic equipment.

In the Chinese character coding method, basically, at least eight basic figures are extracted by analyzing shapes of Chinese characters, each part of Chinese characters are arranged according to a sequence of strokes for a Chinese character, and a permutation made by corresponding to the extracted eight basic figures is decided as a code of the Chinese character.

Since there are many codes that do not correspond to a Chinese character when the Chinese character is coded by the Chinese character coding method of the invention, one Chinese character preferably has a plurality of codes within a redundancy-permissible arrange of the code. For example, in case that a Chinese character "A" is decided with a specific permutation by a 9-digit code and there is a Chinese character corresponding to from 6-digit code of the code, 7- and 8-digit codes of the specific permutation also become code numbers for coding the Chinese character "A".

The present invention provides different Chinese input methods according to cases that a physical key set exists (e.g., a mobile phone, a computer keyboard, a keypad, etc.; hereinafter referred to as "keying- type" electronic equipment) and various input keys of a touch screen type exist on a screen as icons (e.g., a kiosk, a PDA, etc.; hereinafter referred to as "touching-type" electronic equipment). A method of inputting Chinese characters to the keying-type electronic equipment comprises the steps of (A) receiving a key signal from a Chinese character stroke input key including at least eight basic stroke keys to which at least eight basic figures extracted by analyzing shapes of Chinese characters are respectively allocated, and one key to which one figure informing end of one Chinese character input is allocated; and (B) temporarily storing an inputted basic stroke key input signal permutation, searching database storing information coded by a Chinese character coding method of claim 1 through claim 3 to extract and display the lowest-stroked Chinese character among Chinese characters corresponding to a code including inputted signal permutation (code) at a fore position, selecting and adding the displayed Chinese character to a text when a completion key signal is inputted, and deleting the stored basic stroke key signal permutation ((I)-type method). Another method of inputting Chinese characters to the keying- type electronic equipment comprises the steps of (A) receiving a basic stroke key signal from a Chinese character input key including at least eight basic stroke keys to which at least eight basic figures extracted by analyzing shapes of Chinese characters are respectively allocated, and one key to which one figure informing end of one Chinese character input is allocated; (B) temporarily storing an inputted basic stroke key input signal permutation, searching database storing information coded by the Chinese character coding method to extract Chinese characters including the temporarily stored signal permutation and display the predetermined number of Chinese characters, and placing a cursor on the displayed Chinese character; and (C) returning to the step (B) when the basic stroke key signal is inputted, moving a cursor according to the direction key signal when a direction key signal is inputted, selecting and adding a cursor-placed Chinese character to a text when a completion key signal is inputted, and deleting the stored basic stroke key signal permutation and a group of the displayed Chinese characters ((IΙ)-type method). A method of inputting Chinese characters to the touching-type electronic equipment comprises the steps of (A) receiving a basic stroke key signal by touching eight basic stroke key icons to which at least eight basic figures extracted by analyzing shapes of Chinese characters are respectively allocated; (B) temporarily storing an inputted basic stroke key input signal permutation, searching database storing information coded by a Chinese character coding method of claim 1 through claim 3 to extract and display the lowest-stroked Chinese character among Chinese characters corresponding to a code including inputted signal permutation (code) at a fore position, selecting and adding the displayed Chinese character to a text when a touch signal for the displayed Chinese character is inputted, and deleting the stored basic stroke key signal permutation ((I)-type method).

Another method of inputting Chinese characters to the touching- type electronic equipment comprises the steps of (A) receiving a basic stroke key signal by touching eight basic stroke key icons to which at least eight basic figures extracted by analyzing shapes of Chinese characters are respectively allocated; (B) temporarily storing an inputted basic stroke key input signal permutation, searching database storing information coded by the Chinese character coding method to extract Chinese characters including the temporarily stored signal permutation and display the predetermined number of Chinese characters, and placing a cursor on the displayed Chinese character; and (C) returning to the step (B) when the basic stroke key signal is inputted, selecting and adding the touched Chinese character to a text when a touch signal of one of a group of the displayed Chinese characters is inputted, and deleting the stored basic stroke key signal permutation and a group of the displayed Chinese characters ((IΙ)-type method).

The expression "a Chinese character including the temporarily stored signal permutation at a fore position of the code" means a Chinese character that is perfectly in accord with the signal permutation and has a code to which successive numbers are attached following the signal permutation. Preferably, a displayed order is to dispose a lower- stroked (low-number of digits in a code) Chinese characters left. Further, the expression "to be added to a text" means that a Chinese character selected by handling a direction key and a completion key or touching a screen is written (inputted) in a user-desired word or phrase. Although the number of displayed Chinese characters may be determined at random, it is preferably five to ten in order to enhance a readability of a small-sized personal portable communication apparatus such as a liquid crystal.

In case that Chinese characters are inputted to the keying-type electronic equipment, the direction key may include one key that is continuously pressed to move the cursor along one direction and the last Chinese character returns to the first Chinese character. Alternatively, the direction key may include two key indicating opposite directions, which are suitably pressed to appoint a desired Chinese character.

Since the number of strokes for Chinese characters is not limited, there is needed a signal for deciding one Chinese character or one desired Chinese character from a group of displayed Chinese characters. Therefore, a completion key for informing the end of one Chinese character input is essential to the apparatus adopting the Chinese character input method of the present invention.

The cursor may initially be placed on a Chinese character corresponding to a code that is closest to the stored signal permutation or on a center of a group of the displayed Chinese characters.

The present invention provides two approaches (I) and (II) for inputting a desired Chinese character. In the approach (I), basic stroke keys are continuously pressed according to the number of strokes for a desired Chinese character. When the desired Chinese character is displayed, it is selected and inputted. In the approach (II), basic stroke keys are continuously pressed according to the number of strokes for a desired Chinese character. When a desired Chinese character exists in displayed Chinese characters, it is selected and inputted. Since key pressing times of the approach (I) are generally lower than those of the approach (II), the approach (I) is more effective.

Basic figures constituting Chinese characters may be variable with standpoints. Owing to in-depth study of Chinese characters, inventors of the present invention found out the fact that all Chinese characters can be expressed by eight basic figures ^""* , ^" - , , , , ' , or , and . Although basic figures consisting Chinese characters will be described hereinbelow by reference to only the eight basic figures, a few basic figures may be added to them.

The following "table 1 " illustrates topological characters and random numbers of the selected basic figures.

Topological Characteristics of Basic Figures

According to the present invention, at least eight basic figures are extracted by analyzing shapes of Chinese characters. Parts of a Chinese character are arranged according to the number of strokes for each Chinese character. A permutation is created by making the parts each correspond to the extracted basic figures. The permutation is decided as a code of the Chinese character. That is, a specific Chinese character is coded by the number of strokes for the Chinese character and a basic figure corresponding to each stroke thereof.

In the invention, the figure or represents a left or right hook of, for example, 7-k, , X) , M, and so forth. Since the number of hook-including Chinese characters is small, there are a lot of rooms for setting to be regarded as coding a Chinese character in spite of omission of a stroke rightly before the hook. The following "table 2" illustrates examples of Chinese characters coded by the eight basic figures and their order. If the number of digits in a code (i.e., the number of strokes for a Chinese character) is large, there are high possibility to share ^"" - with , and probability that one or two digits of the end of the code are sole for the Chinese character, and rooms for omitting a stroke rightly before a hook. Therefore, a specific Chinese character may correspond to a plurality of Chinese characters (redundancy of a code). Examples of this fact are also illustrated in the following "table 2". For additional information, code numbers converted into temporary numbers given in the "table 2" are also illustrated therein.

<TABLE 2> Relationship between Exemplary Chinese Characters and Input Code Decided by Coding Method according to the Present Invention

In the above table, figures in square brackets "[ ]" are omissible. In the above table, each of figures in round brackets "( )" is exchangeable with a figure rightly before the round bracket.

According to the present invention, if all Chinese characters are previously set as codes as the "table 2", a user can input all Chinese characters only by watching keys without memorizing the code or searching a code list. For example, because the Chinese character "il" is coded with "43322479234", "4332247923", and "433224792", if the user sequentially inputs " , ' , ' , ^"" -, ^*" -, ^"" , ' , , ^"" -, , and or - I I - and or * 1 - . - . - / and like a handwriting manner, the signal is converted into the above code number. Undoubtedly, when a desired Chinese character is displayed in any stage, a user can swiftly and conveniently input the desired Chinese character without inputting all the strokes.

For better understanding, the following "table 3" illustrates a procedure of inputting a Chinese character "it" and a group of Chinese characters displayed whenever a key is inputted. There are illustrated herein two cases that only one Chinese character including a stroke corresponding to an inputted basic stroke key at a fore position is displayed, and a group of ten or less Chinese characters are displayed.

As shown in the "table 3", a user presses basic stroke keys according to a. sequence of strokes for the Chinese character "ft". If a desired Chinese character is displayed when a seventh stroke is inputted, the user selects the displayed Chinese character. Alternatively, the user can select the desired Chinese character "ft" from a group of displayed Chinese characters by inputting a fourth stroke and handling a direction key.

Brief Description of Drawings FIG. 1 is an arrangement diagram of keys for applying a Chinese character input method according. to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a Chinese input apparatus adopting the Chinese character input method according to the present invention. FIG. 3 A is a flowchart showing the steps of inputting a Chinese character according to the Chinese character input method of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a flowchart showing the steps of inputting a Chinese character according to the Chinese character input method of the present invention (keying-type).

FIG. 3 C is a flowchart showing the steps of inputting a Chinese character according to the Chinese character input method of the present invention (touching-type).

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to accompanying drawings. For convenience of the description of the present invention, assuming that keys for applying the Chinese character input method are arranged the same as shown in FIG. 1 . In the key arrangement shown in FIG. 1 , there are direction keys. If the above-described (I) type method is applied, the direction keys are not needed. The key arrangement is made for a keying-type electronic equipment. On the other hand, in a touching-type electronic equipment, a completion key and direction keys may not be needed and a key arrangement may be made at random. Further, assuming that all Chinese characters are coded by a coding method according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic construction view of a key-type input apparatus adopting a Chinese character input method according to the present invention. The apparatus includes a Chinese character input unit consisting of eight basic stroke keys to which eight basic figures are allocated, one completion key, and one or two direction keys, a database unit storing information of each Chinese character coded by the eight basic figures, and a Chinese character decision unit extracting a Chinese character including a signal permutation by receiving a basic stroke key signal from the Chinese character input unit, temporarily storing a signal permutation, and searching the database, and deciding a specific Chinese character according to signals of the direction key and the completion key. The apparatus may further include a display device for displaying a Chinese character decision procedure.

The components of the alphabet input apparatus are merely divided in function, so that they may not be physically independent. For example, it will be understood that the database unit and the alphabet decision unit are fabricated by one monolithic program or part.

Further, a person skilled in the art will readily add input keys or add separate functions in order to input special characters such as a quotation mark, a rest, a period, etc., shift Korean-English-Number input, shift from alphabet upper-case letters to lower-case letters, make a space, and change to Deutsch umlaut.

Although not shown in the drawings, it will be understood that at least eight basic stroke keys are arranged on a screen in the touching- type input device.

An alarm system may be added for coping with an abnormal case that, for example, a Chinese character cannot be decided because a completion key signal is inputted when inputting a signal combination which does not correspond to a Chinese character. When the abnormal case occurs, the alarm system alarms a user to use the alphabet input apparatus correctly.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the steps of inputting a Chinese character according to the Chinese character input method of the present invention. FIG. 3A illustrates the foregoing (I) type method. Further, FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C illustrate keying-type and touching-type of the foregoing (II) type method, respectively. In FIG. 3 , a thick-lined box represents a signal inputted by a user and a thin-lined box represents a procedure of inputting a signal in the Chinese character input apparatus adopting a Chinese character input method. For convenience of description of the invention, assuming that there is no abnormal input and an initial input signal is generated from a basic stroke key. It is clear that the Chinese input apparatus is used for inputting only Chinese characters or its mode is changed to a Korean input mode in order to star inputting the Chinese character. Although the detailed description will be made only by reference

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, FIG. 3 may readily be understood from the detailed description and drawings of the present invention. FIG. 3A is described hereinbelow. When signals are generated from keys, the input signals are sequentially and temporarily stored and it is determined whether second- later signals are completion key signals. If not so, the input signals are sequentially and temporarily stored and database is searched to extract and display the lowest-stroked Chinese character among Chinese characters corresponding to a code that includes an inputted signal permutation (code) at a fore position. When a completion key signal is inputted, the displayed Chinese character is selected, decided, and inputted to the text and the temporarily stored input signal is deleted. Continuously, when the input key signals are generated, they are sequentially and temporarily stored for deciding an (N+l )th Chinese character.

The foregoing steps are repeated to make words and phrases of Chinese characters. FIG. 3B is described hereinbelow.

If signals are generated from a basic stroke key, the input signals are sequentially and temporarily stored. Further, a Chinese character including a permutation of the stored signals is searched and a predetermined Chinese character is extracted and displayed. Thereafter, a cursor is placed on the displayed Chinese character.

Continuously, when a basic stroke key is inputted, the foregoing step is repeated. When a direction key signal is inputted, a cursor is moved according to the inputted direction key signal. When a completion key signal is inputted, a cursor-placed Chinese character is selected and added to the text. Simultaneously, the temporarily stored basic stroke key signal permutation and a group of outputted Chinese characters are deleted to make a state where the next Chinese character can be inputted.

The foregoing steps are repeated to make words and phrases of Chinese characters. Industrial Usability

According to the method of inputting Chinese characters, minimal and sufficient basic figures are used to conveniently input Chinese characters with the same order as a handwriting order. As a result, countries using Chinese characters can enhance interchange of electronic information based on Chinese characters and Chinese characters can be inputted to small-sized and multi-functional electronic equipments such as a mobile phone.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of coding Chinese characters so as to input the coded Chinese characters to an electronic equipment, comprising the steps of: analyzing shapes of Chinese characters to extract at least eight basic figures; and deciding a Chinese character code based on a permutation made by arranging parts of each Chinese character according to a sequence of strokes to correspond to the extracted basic figures.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein one Chinese character of the Chinese character code has a plurality of codes within a redundancy-permissible range of a code.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the basic figures are , - , ' , , ^r , ' , or , and or similar πgures thereof which are in accord with respective parts of all Chinese characters.

4. A method of inputting Chinese characters to an electronic equipment, comprising:

(A) receiving a key signal from a Chinese character stroke input key including at least eight basic stroke keys to which at least eight basic figures extracted by analyzing shapes of Chinese characters are respectively allocated, and one key to which one figure informing end of one Chinese character input is allocated; and (B) temporarily storing an inputted basic stroke key input signal permutation, searching database storing information coded by a Chinese character coding method of claim 1 through claim 3 to extract and display the lowest-stroked Chinese character among Chinese characters corresponding to a code including inputted signal permutation (code) at a fore position, selecting and adding the displayed Chinese character to a text when a completion key signal is inputted, and deleting the stored basic stroke key signal permutation.

5. A method of inputting Chinese characters to an electronic equipment, comprising the step of:

(A) receiving a basic stroke key signal from a Chinese character input key including at least eight basic stroke keys to which at least eight basic figures extracted by analyzing shapes of Chinese characters are respectively allocated, and one key to which one figure informing end of one Chinese character input is allocated;

(B) temporarily storing an inputted basic stroke key input signal permutation, searching database storing information coded by the Chinese character coding method to extract Chinese characters including the temporarily stored signal permutation and display the predetermined number of Chinese characters, and placing a cursor on the displayed Chinese character; and

(C) returning to the step (B) when the basic stroke key signal is inputted, moving a cursor according to the direction key signal when a direction key signal is inputted, selecting and adding a cursor-placed

Chinese character to a text when a completion key signal is inputted, and deleting the stored basic stroke key signal permutation and a group of the displayed Chinese characters.

6. A method of inputting Chinese characters to an electronic equipment, comprising the step of:

(A) receiving a basic stroke key signal by touching eight basic stroke key icons to which at least eight basic figures extracted by analyzing shapes of Chinese characters are respectively allocated;

(B) temporarily storing an inputted basic stroke key input signal permutation, searching database storing information coded by a Chinese character coding method of claim 1 through claim 3 to extract and display the lowest-stroked Chinese character among Chinese characters corresponding to a code including inputted signal permutation (code) at a fore position, selecting and adding the displayed Chinese character to a text when a touch signal for the displayed Chinese character is inputted, and deleting the stored basic stroke key signal permutation.

7. A method of inputting Chinese characters to an electronic equipment, comprising the steps of:

(C) returning to the step (B) when the basic stroke key signal is inputted, selecting and adding the touched Chinese character to a text when a touch signal of one of a group of the displayed Chinese characters is inputted, and deleting the stored basic stroke key signal permutation and a group of the displayed Chinese characters.

8. The method as recited in claim 4 through claim 7, wherein the basic figures are ^"^ , "" -, * , , ^ ■ , ' , ^ , and or similar figures thereof which are in accord with respective parts of all Chinese characters.