Method and apparatus for inputting chinese characters

An electronic apparatus for inputting Chinese characters comprising:

• a plurality of numeric input keys configured to be pressed by a user to create a candidate list of character candidates;
• and
• a plurality of control keys for navigation, selection, and editing, at least one of the control keys being configured to navigate the user within the candidate list, at least one of the control keys being configured for the user to select the wanted candidate, at least one of the control keys being configured to correct any error made by the user;
• wherein:
• the numeric input keys respectively correspond to a plurality of Chinese number characters based on a first mapping;
• each of the Chinese number characters corresponds to a plurality of character elements based on a second mapping;
• a combination of the character elements corresponding to the pressed numeric input keys constitutes at least a portion of any character candidate in the candidate list;
• the first mapping is based on the similarity in the shapes between the character elements and the Chinese number characters;
• and
• the second mapping is essentially based on the meaning of the Chinese number characters.

A Chinese input method used for an electronic device, the electronic device comprising a plurality of numeric input keys for inputting numeric numbers, the method comprising:

• decomposing a Chinese character into a plurality of character elements based on the structure of the character;
• identifying a plurality of Chinese number characters respectively corresponding to the character elements based on a first mapping;
• identifying a plurality of numeric input keys respectively corresponding to the Chinese number characters based on a second mapping;
• pressing the identified numeric input keys in a predetermined order to generate a list of character candidates;
• and
• selecting a wanted candidate from the list of character candidates;
• wherein:
• the first mapping is based on the similarity in the shapes between the character elements and the Chinese number characters;
• and
• the second mapping is essentially based on the meaning of the Chinese number characters.