Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Utility Patent
1998-12-31
2001-01-02
Feild, Joseph H. (Department: 2776)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C345S171000, C345S172000, C704S003000
Utility Patent
active
06170000
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates generally to a user interface for an electronic device, such as a mobile station operable in a radio communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a user interface permitting user-entry of Hangul sound symbols which, alone or in combination, form Korean characters to be processed, or acted upon, by the electronic device. Advantage is made of the syntax structure of the Korean language in which sound symbols are of defined types and are of defined combinations of sound symbols.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many types of electronic devices provide for user control of the operation thereof. To permit such user control, many electronic devices include, as portions thereof, user interfaces to permit user-entry of inputs. Many of such user interfaces also include display elements upon which output displays generated during operation of the electronic devices can be displayed, or otherwise generated, in human-perceptible form.
A mobile station operable in a radio communication system, such as a cellular communications system, is exemplary of an electronic device which includes a user interface as a portion thereof. The user interface permits a user not only to enter commands to control operation of the mobile station, but permits the user also to enter data to be used during operation of the mobile station. And, the user interface of a conventional mobile station also includes a display element for the display of information generated during operation of the mobile station.
A conventional mobile station typically includes actuation keys, including a telephonic keypad. The telephonic keypad, in conventional manner, includes keys associated with the digits zero-nine, a “#” key and a “*” key. The user of the mobile station actuates selected ones of the keys of the telephonic keypad when, for instance, a call is to be originated at the mobile station. The keys of the telephonic keypad are also sometimes associated with alphabetical symbols. A user of the mobile station is also able to enter alphabetical information to the mobile station through appropriate actuation of selected keys of the telephonic keypad. Such alphabetical information forms informational inputs which are to be used during operation of the mobile station or to form control commands to control operation of the mobile station.
Markets for electronic devices, in many instances, cross national boundaries and are global in nature. Because of the extra-national nature of the markets for such electronic devices, a user interface appropriate for the market of one nation or area might not be appropriate for another nation or area. For instance, the symbols forming a Roman alphabet are markedly dissimilar to the symbols forming other types of alphabets. The symbols of the Korean language, for instance, are markedly dissimilar with the symbols of the Roman alphabet. Such symbols are sometimes also dissimilar with the characters used in other Asiatic languages. A user interface permitting a user to enter Roman alphabetical symbols would be of little practical benefit to many consumers of the electronic device in, for instance, Korea. Instead, a user interface permitting a user to input Hangul sound symbols, of which the characters of the Korean language are formed, would be of significant benefit to a user in Korea.
Therefore, a user interface for an electronic device which permits a user to enter Hangul sound symbols would advantageously facilitate the use of, and marketplace acceptance of, the electronic device by a user conversant with the Korean language. A mobile station, for instance, exemplary of an electronic device which uses a user interface as a portion thereof, almost by necessity must be operable when marketed in Korea, to permit a user to input Hangul sound symbols.
While user interfaces are available which permit a user to input Hangul sound symbols, the manner by which such existing user interfaces permit such symbols to be entered are somewhat cumbersome. Because of the relatively large number of Hangul sound symbols, mere association of a number of sound symbols with a single telephonic key of a telephonic keypad requires repeated actuation of the actuation key to select many of the sound symbols. And, use of a memory device in which a large number of characters formed of such sound symbols are stored is disadvantageous for the reason that the text that can be entered is dependent upon the contents of the memory at which the dictionary contents are stored.
Korean characters formed of Hangul sound symbols are, however, governed by fairly rigid syntax rules. If advantage could be taken of these rules and a specially designed keypad layout, a user interface could be created which facilitates convenient entry of the sound symbols, while also providing input flexibility, not otherwise permitted with dictionary-based systems.
It is in light of this background information related to user interfaces that the significant improvement of the present invention has evolved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, accordingly, advantageously provides a user interface and an associated method, which permits a user to enter Hangul sound symbols therethrough.
The syntax rules of the formation of Korean characters of the Korean language are utilized in the operation of the user interface. The syntax rules permit only certain Hangul sound symbols, which alone or in combination, form the Korean characters to follow other symbols. Advantage is made of a combination of such rules and keypad layout to reduce the number of keystrokes by which actuation keys must be actuated in order to input the Hangul sound symbols.
The user interface, and its associated method of operation, can be used in conjunction with any text processing device to provide the input of Korean characters. Symbols are entered through actuation of actuation keys of an actuation keypad, such as a telephonic keypad. More than one symbol may be associated with a key of the telephonic keypad. If the symbol is an initially-entered symbol, the syntax rules of the Korean language are utilized to determine which of the more than one symbols associated with the actuation key is intended by the user to be entered. And, if the entered symbol has been preceded by a previously-entered symbol, determination of which of the more than one symbol associated with the actuation key is intended by the user to be entered is also determined by reference to the syntax rules of the Korean language.
In an exemplary implementation, the user interface is used in conjunction with a mobile station, such as a mobile station operable in a cellular communication system. A user forms characters by actuating the keys on a keypad associated with individual ones of the Hangul sound symbols of which the characters are formed. Responsive to the actuation of selected ones of the actuation keys, a determination is made as to which symbol is intended to be entered by the user by reference to the syntax rules of the Korean language. As a result, key actuations may be reduced. Determination of which one of more than one symbol associated with a particular actuation key is intended to be selected by a user is determined by reference to the syntax rules.
In these and other aspects, therefore, a user interface, and an associated method, is provided for entering Hangul sound symbols to be provided to a text processing device. The user interface includes a memory device having memory locations for storing data representative of each of the Hangul sound symbols. A user actuator permits user actuation thereof to select initiation of entry of selected ones of the Hangul sound symbols. A control device is coupled to receive indications of the actuation of the user actuator and to the memory device. Responsive to actuation of the user actuator, entry of the selected symbol is selectively permitted, dependent upon selected syntax rules.
A more complete appreciation of the present invention and to the scope thereof can be obtained from the accompanying
Bories Jolie
Panichkul Mateera
Park Ju
Feild Joseph H.
Hayes Brooke
Holland & Hart LLP
Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd.
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