Method of constructing crossword puzzles by computer

Details Method of constructing crossword puzzles by computer Method of constructing crossword puzzles by computer

1994-12-19

1997-09-16

Harrison, Jessica

Amusement devices: games

Including means for processing electronic data

In a game requiring strategy or problem solving by a...

A63F 924

Patent

active

056674384

ABSTRACT:
A software crossword puzzle design tool is provided. It provides a menu-driven user interface with various editing functions allowing the user to specify details of the crossword puzzle desired, such as the size, pattern, and inclusion of certain theme words. The unsolved puzzle is constructed automatically by a computer assigning letters to cells one cell at a time. After each assignment, the affected wordslots are compared to a lexicon of words to determine what letters of the alphabet may potentially be assigned to each of the remaining unassigned cells. If any unassigned cell becomes unassignable, some assignments must be reversed and others tried. Special data structures for the lexicon and fast methods of accessing the lexicon are disclosed. Clues can be assigned to the puzzle automatically or manually, and then the unsolved puzzle can be printed.

REFERENCES:
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