US 5,212,769 A · Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding Chinese characters

Abstract

An apparatus and method for encoding and decoding Chinese characters comprises converting the strokes of a Chinese character in a sequence conforming at least initially with the Chinese handwriting rules to a sequence of predefined basic stroke elements of three types and determining the initial order of occurrence and the total number of occurrence of each type of basic stroke element in the character. A multiple element character stroke code indicative of the initial order of occurrence and the total number of occurrence of each of the basic stroke element types in the character is then derived, and each character of a stored character set which corresponds to the character stroke code is displayed, along with a respective additional code element associated with each character being displayed if the character stroke code corresponds to more than one character in the character set. In the event that more than one character corresponding to the character stroke code are being displayed, the additional code element associated with the displayed character that is the same as the character being entered is appended to the character stroke code to obtain an extended character code which uniquely corresponds to the character being entered. The method and apparatus of this invention advantageously allow the user to encode and decode Chinese characters efficiently and rapidly without having to rigorously follow the Chinese handwriting rules to completion.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An apparatus for encoding and decoding Chinese characters comprising:

(a) entry means for entering a sequence of one or more basic stroke elements into which the stroke or strokes of a corresponding Chinese character being entered are decomposed in a sequence conforming at least initially to Chinese handwriting rules, the basic stroke elements being of only three types, namely, a horizontal stroke element --, a vertical stroke element .vertline. and a slant stroke element /;
(b) processing means responsive to the entry by the entry means of the sequence of one or more basic stroke elements corresponding to the character being entered for deriving a character stroke code indicative of the order of initial occurrence of different types of the basic stroke elements and the total number of occurrences of each basic stroke element type in the sequence of one or more basic stroke elements, the processing means including memory means for storing a character set comprising a multiplicity of Chinese characters each corresponding to a respective character stroke code;
(c) display means responsive to the processing means for displaying each character of the character set corresponding to the character stroke code derived by the processing means, wherein the entry means includes means for selecting one of the characters being displayed on the display means if the character stroke code derived by the processing means correspond to more than one character of the character set and the processing means is further responsive to the means for selecting one of the characters being displayed for deriving an extended character stroke code which uniquely corresponds to a selected one of the characters being displayed.

A method for encoding and decoding Chinese characters comprising the steps of:

(a) entering a sequence of one or more basic stroke elements representing a decomposition of the stroke or strokes of a Chinese character being encoded in a sequence conforming at least initially to Chinese handwriting rules, the basic stroke elements of the sequence being of only three types, namely, a horizontal stroke element --, a vertical stroke element .vertline. and a slant stroke element /;
(b) deriving from the entered sequence of one or more basic stroke elements a character stroke code indicative of the order of initial occurrence of each type of basic stroke element and the total number of occurrences of each one of the basic stroke element types in the entered sequence of basic stroke elements;
(c) retrieving from a stored character set one or more characters corresponding to the character stroke code, the stored character set comprising a multiplicity of Chinese characters each corresponding to a respective character stroke code;
(d) displaying each character corresponding to the character stroke code retrieved from the stored character set;
(e) selecting the character being entered from the characters being displayed if more than one character of the character set corresponds to the character stroke code;
and
(f) modifying the character stroke code to include an additional code element associated with the selected character to obtain an extended character stroke code uniquely corresponding to the selected character if more than one character of the character set corresponds to the character stroke code.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding Chinese characters

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding Chinese characters

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22