US 4,383,307 A · Spelling error detector apparatus and methods

Abstract

A spelling error detector apparatus employs a memory which stores alphabetical words as those existing in the English language in three major memory sections which constitutes a most frequently used word list (MFU), a master word list (MWL) and a personal word list (PWL). Each word is uniquely coded and stored as a 24 bit binary number. The system then retrieves words which are stored or entered into a processor memory and which words are indicative of a document to be printed. Each word emanating from the processor memory is converted into the same code as the stored words and then a search is made to determine whether the processor word compares with a word as stored. If a favorable comparison is had, it is assumed that the spelling of the processor word is correct. If an unfavorable comparison is had, it is assumed that the spelling is incorrect and the misspelled word is stored in a separate memory which can be accessed by the operator in order to make the necessary corrections. Similarly each word which is correctly spelled is also stored in a memory which has the capacity to store a plurality of the last words checked by the system. Based on the system considerations the coding of the words assures a very low collision rate and hence the system is extremely reliable in detecting misspelled words according to the disclosed techniques.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A spelling error detector apparatus for use in detecting spelling errors in alphabetical words stored in a test memory associated with a word processor and indicative of a document to be printed from the stored words, comprising:

a code storage memory having stored therein a plurality of digital codes, each code derived from a separate alphabetical word by first translating all letters in said word to a first digital code, then forming an all zero digital word of a given number of fixed bits, then adding the first code of the first letter to said digital word and then rotating said added word a given number of bits and then adding the first code of the second letter to said rotated word and continuing said rotation and addition for all letters in said word to form said code as stored in said memory,
means for retrieving a word as stored in said text memory associated with said processor,
means for converting said retrieved word into a code according to said code as stored in said code storage memory including means for translating each letter of said stored word into a first digital code;
register means for forming an all zero digital word and adding means for adding said first digital code of said first letter of said retrieved word to said all zero word and means for rotating said added word said given number of bits and then adding said first digital code of said second letter to said rotated word and means for continuing said rotation and addition for all letters in said retrieved word to form a code indicative of said stored codes,
means for comparing said code formed as indicative of said retrieved word with said stored codes with a favorable comparison manifesting a correct spelling and with an unfavorable comparison manifesting an incorrect spelling.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Spelling error detector apparatus and methods

Life of this patent

Spelling error detector apparatus and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22