Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-26
2001-01-30
Feild, Joseph H. (Department: 2771)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182099
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multiple language input system which can be applied to a document preparation apparatus using a personal computer and the like and, more particularly, to a multiple language input system capable of inputting a plurality of different languages.
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 9-153582, filed on Jun. 11, 1997, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In a document preparation apparatus implemented by electronic equipment such as a personal computer, a document is created by using a language input system. The language input system is software having functions required for language input processing and used together with a document preparation application (wordprocessor software).
Conventionally, such a language input system is provided for each language. For example, a Japanese input system is provided for the input of Japanese characters; an English input system, for the input of English characters; and a Chinese input system, for the input of Chinese characters. That is, a dedicated input system for each language is provided. When, therefore, a plurality of different languages are to be input, a plurality of types of language input systems must be prepared (installed in a hard disk unit) and properly switched and used every time each language is input.
Such language input systems may have functions unique to the respective languages. For example, the Japanese input system has a kana/kanji conversion function of converting kana characters into kanji characters. The English input system has a spelling check function of checking whether input words are correctly spelled. The Chinese input system has a pin yin conversion function. Pin yin conversion corresponds to Japanese kana/kanji conversion. In pin yin conversion, Chinese characters are input phonetically with the English alphabet. Such functions unique to the respective languages may be required occasionally or essentially.
Conventionally, therefore, when a plurality of different languages are to be input, a plurality of types of language input systems respectively having unique functions are required, and must be switched and used to input each language. A heavy load is therefore imposed on an unskilled user. When a document is to be created using a plurality of languages, in particular, the input systems for the respective languages must be frequently switched, resulting in difficulty in efficiently writing a document.
The above spelling check function has been implemented as a function of an English document preparation application (European Language wordprocessor). For this reason, when the application is changed (from, e.g., the European Language wordprocessor to the Japanese wordprocessor), spelling check cannot be performed even though English words can be input on the changed application in the alphanumeric shift mode.
A technique of automatically switching a plurality of language input systems prepared in a document preparation apparatus is disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 5-282360. According to this reference, however, the respective language dictionaries (the Japanese dictionary, the Korean dictionary, and the Chinese dictionary) are searched on the basis of an input character string, and the input language is determined from the search result (the number of unknown words). If, therefore, many languages are input, all the dictionaries corresponding to the number of languages must be searched. For this reason, it takes much time to execute functions unique to the respective languages such as conversion.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a multiple language input system which can input a plurality of languages and can efficiently create a document by automatically switching input system in accordance with a target language.
The second embodiment of the present invention to provides a multiple language input system which can use a spelling check function regardless of the application in use.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provides a multiple language input system comprising: an input portion for inputting character data; a plurality of language dictionaries each storing word information about a corresponding one of different languages; a plurality of language processing portion provided for the respective languages, each of the language processing portion processing the input character data in accordance with the word information in a corresponding one of the plurality of language dictionaries; and control portion for enabling one of the plurality of language processing portion in accordance with an input target language.
In the system, the control portion includes recognition portion for recognizing the input target language as one of the plurality of languages, and enables one of the language processing portions in accordance with the recognition result obtained by the recognition portion.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is a multiple language input method applied to a computer system, comprising provides: inputting character data; recognizing an input target language as one of a plurality of languages; enabling one of a plurality of language processing sections, each having word information provided for a corresponding one of the plurality of languages, in accordance with the recognition result obtained in provides recognizing the input target language; and processing the input character data by using the word information in the enabled language processing section.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is a memory storing computer-executable program code for performing input processing for a plurality of languages, the program code comprising: a first portion for causing a computer to input character data; a second portion for causing a computer to recognize an input target language as one of a plurality of languages; a third portion for causing a computer to enable one of a plurality of language processing sections, each having word information provided for a corresponding one of the plurality of languages, in accordance with the recognition result; and a fourth portion for causing a computer to process the input character data by using the word information in the enabled language processing section.
According to the present invention, input systems for a plurality of languages are prepared and can be properly switched and used. A document using a plurality of languages can therefore be efficiently created without preparing dedicated input systems for the respective languages as in the prior art.
In addition, according to the present invention, an input target language is recognized on the basis of, for example, the font or format information or the like set on the application side or the switching information set on the input system side, and the respective language input systems are automatically switched in accordance with the input target language. Input processing corresponding to each language can therefore be performed without requiring the user to perform a switching operation for input processing in each language. In this case, since the respective language input systems can be automatically switched without requiring any complicated processing such as searching each language dictionary, the input system corresponding to the input target language can be quickly driven.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, a spelling check function may be implemented as a function of the input system. With this arrangement, the spelling check function can be used regardless of the type of application in use.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by portion of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended
Feild Joseph H.
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
Kindred Alford W.
Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
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