Apparatus and method for entering logograms into an electronic device

Abstract

A text entry system for entering logograms of a logographic character set on an electronic device, the system comprises a user interface configured to generate an intermediate signal each time a user provides an input to the user interface, the value of the intermediate signal being dependent on the input. The system comprises a processing circuit operable in a first processing mode and a second processing mode. The processing circuit configured to, in a first processing mode: receive a temporal sequence of intermediate signals and, from the values of the intermediate signals in the sequence, generate a corresponding first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components in which each value of each intermediate signal is mapped to a fundamental stroke or component; and, based on the first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components, identify one or more selectable logograms and present one or more of the one or more selectable logograms to the user for selection. The processing circuit configured to, in a second processing mode: receive a temporal sequence of intermediate signals and, from the values of the intermediate signals in the sequence, generate a corresponding second temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components in which each value of each intermediate signal is mapped to a fundamental stroke or component, identify one or more selectable components and present one or more of the one or more selectable components to the user, each selectable component being based on the second temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components, and in response to selection of a selectable component by the user, add the selected component to the first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components.

Description

[0001] APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ENTERING LOGOGRAMS INTO AN ELECTRONIC

[0002] DEVICE

[0003] Field of invention

[0004] This invention relates to a system and method for entering logograms of a logographic writing system into an electronic device. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a system and method for entering Chinese logograms into a computer or smartphone.

[0005] Background

[0006] Logograms are written characters that represent a word or morpheme. Chinese is a widely used example of a language which is written as a sequence of logograms. Logograms differ from alphabetical characters in that each alphabetical character does not generally represent a word by itself. Rather than a sequence of alphabetical characters representing a word, a single logogram is used.

[0007] Most logographic character sets can be written using a relatively small set of fundamental strokes or stroke types. By placing the strokes in different places relative to each other within a logogram, many different overall shapes can be constructed. Each of the shapes made up of fundamental strokes or stroke types is a logogram.

[0008] There are also common components of logographic characters which appear in the composition of many different logograms. Like a complete logogram, components are written using a finite set of stroke types in a specific order and position. For the sake of clarity, components within the context of this invention are a combination of two or more strokes that appear in multiple logograms. ‘Radicals’ are examples of components which are generally more complex and have a meaning.

[0009] For example, I” is a component which consists of a horizontal and vertical stroke and appears in logograms “D” and “ft3”, but does not contribute to the meaning of the complete logograms. The component “ > ” is a radical for water and appears on the left side of both ‘ ” and “Qc”, where ‘ Qc” means swimming.

[0010] The stroke types in a logographic character set often fall within a finite set of stroke types. If a user can write every fundamental stroke, then by writing them in a correct location relative to other fundamental strokes they can write out any of the logograms of the logographic character set. Whilst there may be thousands of logographic characters in a set there are far fewer fundamental strokes. These include dots, horizontal and vertical lines and so on. Because each word is writen as a single unique character from a character set, a logographic writing system will include thousands of unique logograms. This presents a unique problem when there is a need to enter those logograms on an electronic device. Whereas an alphabet-based writing system can be implemented using one key for each leter, making entry trivial, it becomes impractical to have one key for each logogram of a large logographic character set. In Chinese, for example, there would need to be at least several thousand keys. A computer device may hold a Chinese logographic character set of many thousands of logograms, each of which may be assigned to a unique code in an encoding system recognised across multiple platforms. One of the most widely used encoding systems is the Unicode system, where the assigned Unicode tells the computer which character is to be displayed on a screen leaving the computer to render the appropriate logogram taking account of the screen resolution and so on. Unicode provides a common encoding system for the logograms that allows the writing to be reproduced across different computer devices that may use different software. Another universal encoding system is the CJK (Chinese Japanese Korean) encoding system.

[0011] Many atempts to provide ways to write in a language such as Chinese on a computer device have been made over the years. Each has its own disadvantages. There are several methods that are in use, with phonetic input being commonly used. This method relies on a user inputing ‘pinyin’, the phonetic Romanisation of logograms, and selecting the correct logogram from a list of options. For example, to get you would type ‘Ni Hao’ and select from a list of possible logograms with that sound. ‘Zhuyin’ is another phonetic notation used to input logograms, most commonly used in Taiwan. Both are inefficient because the Chinese language has a limited phonetic inventory with a significant number of homophonous syllables. Predictive text algorithms are therefore necessary to present logograms that are more likely to be correct in the context of a phrase. Many fluent Chinese speakers are forgeting how to write, because phonetic-based input enables them to enter logograms without knowing how to write them.

[0012] Aside from phonetic-based entry systems, other mainstream Chinese text input systems include Cangjie and Sucheng (keyboard input, using radicals), as well asWubi (keyboard input, shape-based) and handwriting recognition (the slowest). Pinyin is the easiest to learn, but is inefficient and inaccurate. Cangjie, Sucheng and Wubi are more efficient and accurate, but have learning curves. Cangjie, Wubi and Sucheng require additional knowledge about the system to use so that users presented with either keyboards will not intuitively know how to use them.

[0013] More recently, voice recognition has been proposed but this is not suitable for all people or situations. Voice dictation is difficult on the move in a noisy environment and can be slow when entering uncommon words. None of these systems help a user to learn or maintain competency of the orthographic knowledge of physically writing logograms and this is becoming a concern for many scholars who fear the ability to write by hand may be lost to a new generation of computer and smartphone users.

[0014] US2010302016 Al describes a method of entering data into an electronic device using a modified touchpad. The touch-pad is modified to include the addition of surface features, which provide distinguishable tactile feedback to the user allowing improved spatial resolution of the positioning of an object onto the surface of the touch-pad. In this manner the touch-pad allows the user to select from multiple positions across the surface of the touch-pad, the outcomes of each position being optionally different.

[0015] US2017131890 Al describes a method and system for inputting Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean (CJK) logograms into a touchscreen-enabled device. The touchscreen-enabled device receives a plurality of finger touch events. Each of the plurality of finger touch events is a CJK text input stroke associated with a comer of the touchscreen-enabled device. A finger touch movement direction on the touchscreen-enabled device is determined for each of the plurality of finger touch events. In response to determining the finger touch movement direction, the finger touch movement direction associated with each of the plurality of finger touch events is converted to a numeric index value . The comer that is activated by each of the plurality of finger touch events is determined and associated with the numeric index value.

[0016] US2012110518 Al describes a user device which includes a touch input and a keypad input. The user device is configured to operate in a gesture capture mode as well as a navigation mode. In the navigation mode, the user interfaces with the touch input to move a cursor or similar selection tool within the user output. In the gesture capture mode, the user interfaces with the touch input to provide gesture data that is translated into key code output having a similar or identical format to outputs of the keypad.

[0017] Summary of invention

[0018] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a text entry system for entering logograms of a logographic character set into an electronic device.

[0019] The text entry system comprises a user interface and a processing circuit.

[0020] The user interface may be configured to generate an intermediate signal each time a user provides an input to the user interface. The value of the intermediate signal may be dependent on the input.

[0021] The user interface may be a touchscreen. The user interface may be a touchscreen of a smartphone. An input may be a user’s interaction with the touchscreen. The input may be a gesture which is a path traced by the user on the touchscreen. The value of the intermediate signal may depend on the path traced by a user on the touchscreen. A specific path traced onto the touchscreen may generate a specific intermediate signal.

[0022] The user interface may be a device comprising one or more contact regions. Each contact region may be a touchscreen, a segment of a touchscreen, or a region embedded with sensors. The intermediate signal may depend on the input to a contact region, as well as the contact region into which the input is provided. Providing the same input into different contact regions may generate different intermediate signal values. The contact regions may be grouped into one or more elongate rows or columns of contact regions with each row or column providing an elongate “virtual string” that the user can interact with.

[0023] The intermediate signal generated may depend on the location of the input within the contact region itself.

[0024] The user interface may be a camera system. The camera system may capture the motion of the user and the user may perform specific motions to provide specific inputs. The camera system may monitor the fingers or hands of the user and a user may trace paths with their fingers or hands in order to provide an input.

[0025] The user interface may comprise one or more motion sensors to be worn by a user. The sensors may capture the motion of the user and the user may perform specific motions to provide specific inputs.

[0026] The user interface may be a trackpad.

[0027] The user interface may comprise one or more buttons. The buttons may be physical buttons on a physical keyboard. The buttons may be virtual buttons on a virtual keyboard.

[0028] The processing circuit may be the processor of a computer. The processing circuit may be the processor of a smartphone. The processing circuit may be operable in a first processing mode and a second processing mode. The processing circuit may be operable in a first processing mode and a second processing mode simultaneously. The user interface may enable the user to switch between the first and second processing modes.

[0029] The first processing mode may be herein referred to as a “default mode”. The second processing mode may be herein referred to as a “shift mode”. In a first processing mode, the processing circuit may be configured to receive a temporal sequence of intermediate signals and, from the values of the intermediate signals in the sequence, generate a corresponding first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components in which the value of each intermediate signal is mapped to a fundamental stroke or component, each stroke or component defining a visual part of a logogram of the logographic character set. The first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components may be referred to herein as a “default mode input history”. The default mode input history may be displayed to a user.

[0030] The mapping of the intermediate signals to fundamental strokes and / or components may map a gesture to a stroke with a shape most similar to the path traced by the gesture. The mapping may be based on the location within a contact region that the gesture is input. This may enable a user to input strokes and / or components according to the location they typically appear inside a logogram (e.g., top, bottom, left, right).

[0031] The mapping of the intermediate signals to fundamental strokes and / or components may map buttons (physical or virtual) to corresponding strokes. The stroke or strokes corresponding to a given button may be displayed on said button.

[0032] In a first processing mode, the processing circuit may be configured to identify one or more selectable logograms based on the first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components. The processing circuit may be configured to identify the one or more selectable logograms based on the first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components by identifying logograms comprising said fundamental strokes and / or components. The processing circuit may be configured to query stored data (e.g., from a database) in order to identify the one or more selectable logograms.

[0033] The processing circuit may present one or more selectable logograms to the user to enable the user to select a logogram for entry into the electronic device. The one or more selectable logograms presented to the user for selection may be the most commonly used logograms of the one or more identified logograms.

[0034] In a second processing mode, the processing circuit may be configured to receive a temporal sequence of intermediate signals and, from the values of the intermediate signals in the sequence, generate a corresponding second temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components in which the value of each intermediate signal is mapped to a fundamental stroke or component. The second temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components may be referred to herein as an “shift mode input history”. In a second processing mode, the processing circuit may be configured to identify one or more selectable components and present one or more of the one or more selectable components to the user, each component being based on the second temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components. The processing circuit may be configured to identify the one or more selectable components based on the second temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components by identifying components comprising said fundamental strokes and / or components. The processing circuit may be configured to query stored data (e.g., from a database) in order to identify the one or more selectable components. The one or more selectable components presented to the user for selection may be the most commonly used components of the one or more identified components.

[0035] In a second processing mode, the processing circuit may be configured to, in response to the selection of a selectable component by the user, add the selected component to the first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components. Following the addition of the selected component to the first temporal sequence, the processing circuit may return to the first processing mode and the second temporal sequence may be reset (i.e., cleared).

[0036] The text entry system may further comprise a display. The display may be configured to render a visual representation of each fundamental stroke and / or component in a temporal sequence to build up a logogram. The display may be the display of a smartphone or tablet.

[0037] The processing circuit may receive a single temporal sequence of intermediate signals which is used by both the first and second processing modes.

[0038] When no fundamental strokes or components have been added to the first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components, the processing circuit may be configured to present the most commonly used logograms to the user for selection.

[0039] When no fundamental strokes or components have been added to the second temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components, the processing circuit may be configured to present the most commonly used components to the user for selection.

[0040] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of entering a logogram of a logographic character set into an electronic device.

[0041] The method may comprise providing an input through a user interface. The method may comprise generating an intermediate signal each time a user provides an input, the value of the intermediate signal being dependent on the input.

[0042] The method may comprise, in a first processing mode, receiving a temporal sequence of intermediate signals and, from the values of the intermediate signals in the sequence, generate a corresponding first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components in which the value of each intermediate signal is mapped to a fundamental stroke and / or component, each stroke or component defining a visual part of a logogram of the logographic character set.

[0043] The method may comprise, in a first processing mode, based on the first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components, identifying one or more logograms.

[0044] The method may comprise, in a second processing mode, receiving a temporal sequence of intermediate signals and, from the values of the intermediate signals in the sequence, generating a corresponding second temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components in which the value of each intermediate signal is mapped to a fundamental stroke or component.

[0045] The method may comprise, in a second processing mode, identifying one or more selectable components and presenting the one or more selectable components to the user, each component being based on the second temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components.

[0046] The method may comprise, in a second processing mode, in response to selection of a selectable component by the user, adding the selected component to the first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components.

[0047] Optional features of any of the above aspects may be combined with the features of any other aspect, in any combination. For example, features described in connection with the system of the first aspect may have corresponding features definable with respect to the method of the second aspect, and vice versa, and these embodiments are specifically envisaged. Features which are described in the context or separate aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used together and / or be interchangeable wherever possible. Similarly, where features are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, those features may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0048] Brief description of the drawings

[0049] There will now be described by way of example several embodiments of the present invention with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which: Figures la and lb are schematics of complete text entry apparatus in accordance with an aspect of the invention;

[0050] Figures 2a and 2b are schematic representations of embodiments of an apparatus in accordance with a first aspect of the invention in which the interface has relatively little processing circuitry and some of the processing circuitry is provided by a connected electronic device;

[0051] Figures 2c and 2d are schematics of user interfaces which have enhanced processing circuitry compared with the interfaces of Figures 2a and 2b that can output an encoded text such as Unicode;

[0052] Figures 2e and 2f are schematics showing the key function components of all-in-one devices such as a smartphone;

[0053] Figure 3a is an illustration of a set of exemplary fundamental strokes a-k that can be used to write out logograms and components of logograms of the Chinese language and other similar logographic languages;

[0054] Figure 3b is a non-exhaustive table of 190 exemplary components that appear in multiple logograms, where each component is either a combination of fundamental strokes and / or other components;

[0055] Figure 3c is a table of exemplary gesture paths that can be used to input fundamental strokes or components;

[0056] Figure 4a shows an implementation of the invention on a smartphone device, with example gesture 45 interacting with gesture input region 41, input history 43, suggestion list 42, shift toggle button 44 and text display area 40;

[0057] Figure 4b shows another implementation of the invention on a smartphone device, with example gesture 45 interacting with gesture input region 41, input history 46, character suggestion list 47, component suggestion list 48 and text display area 40;

[0058] Figure 4c shows another implementation of the invention on a smartphone device, with button region 49, input history 43, suggestion list 42, shift toggle button 44 and text display area 40;

[0059] Figure 4d shows another implementation of the invention on a smartphone device, with button region 49, input history 46, character suggestion list 47, component suggestion list 48 and text display area 40; Figure 5a is a flowchart showing the method used by the exemplary apparatus shown in Figures 4a and 4c to generate logograms from the user gestures entered via the interface;

[0060] Figure 5b is a flowchart showing the method used by the exemplary apparatus shown in Figures 4b and 4d to generate logograms from the user gestures entered via the interface;

[0061] Figures 6a to 6d illustrate an example of entering the logogram ‘{ / JI’ (Ni) with the fundamental strokes “PIE” and “SHU” using their corresponding gesture paths in Figure 3c;

[0062] Figures 7a to 7f illustrate an example of entering the logogram ZX’ (Han) with the component “ > ” (entered via inputting the fundamental stroke “DIAN” in shift mode) and component using their corresponding gesture paths in Figure 3c;

[0063] Figures 8a to 8f illustrate an alternative example of entering the logogram ZX’ (Han) with the components “ > ” and ” Z" (entered via inputting component “Z7” in shift mode) using their corresponding gesture paths in Figure 3c;

[0064] Figures 9a to 9e illustrate an example of entering the logogram ZX’ (Han) with the component “ > ” (entered via inputting the fundamental stroke “DIAN” and selecting “ > ” from the component suggestion list) and component “ ” using their corresponding gesture paths in Figure 3c;

[0065] Figures 10a to lOe illustrate an example of entering the logogram ZX’ (Han) with the component “ > ” (entered via inputting the fundamental stroke “DIAN” and selecting “ > ” from the component suggestion list) and component “ ” using their corresponding buttons in Figure 4d;

[0066] Figure 11 shows the implementation of the invention on a smartphone device with two contact regions;

[0067] Figure 12 shows an alternative implementation of a user input in accordance with the invention;

[0068] Figure 13 shows how different input gestures can be input into a user interface; and Figures 14a and 14b show implementations of the invention on a smartphone device where the system can be customised to allow the user to switch between alternative methods of entering strokes and components.

[0069] Detailed description

[0070] A complete exemplary system 100 for entering logograms into an electronic device is shown in Figures la and lb. In this example, the written logograms form a Chinese logographic character set, but this should not be seen to limit the invention.

[0071] The system 100 comprises a user interface 110 which a user can physically interact with by making gestures, a processing circuit 120, and an optional display 130. The processing circuit 120 executes an executable code 150 stored in a memory 140. The memory also stores two sets of mappings - one mapping inputs to fundamental strokes and / or components, and the other mapping a sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components to a set of logograms.

[0072] The user interface 110 can replace a standard keyboard that would be used for alphabetical character entry to a personal computer. The user interface 110 could be a physical keyboard-like device comprising buttons, a touch screen integrated within a PC or smartphone, a trackpad, or any other interface which enables a user to provide inputs.

[0073] In Figure la the user interface 110 comprises contact regions. In Figure lb the user interface 110 comprises a plurality of buttons. In other embodiments, the user interface can comprise contact regions as well as a plurality of buttons.

[0074] As will be explained later, the processing circuit 120 may use the processor and memory of a personal computer, or a dedicated processing circuit and memory may be provided for the purpose of doing the mapping and generating sequences. In other embodiments, the processing circuit 120 may use the processor and memory of a smartphone.

[0075] The system 100 also includes a display 130, which could be a standard monitor that is connected to the personal computer. Other displays could be used, and the display could be a dedicated display of a user interface.

[0076] Figures 2a to 2f show different arrangements of these components which can be implemented. Figures 2a and 2b use a simple interface 200 which does not perform any mapping and outputs a sequence of intermediate signals to a device into which the user wants to enter that text that includes the processing circuit. In the system of Figures 2c and 2d, the interface 210 has more processing circuits and does the mapping of intermediate signals to fundamentals strokes and / or components and their mapping to logograms. This is output as a sequence of encoded characters to another device into which the user wants to enter the text. Finally, Figures 2e and 2f show how the whole system 220 can be implemented on a single device such as a smartphone.

[0077] To input logograms using the system of the present invention, a user interacts with the user interface to provide an input. For example, when the invention is in the form of a smartphone, a user interacts with the touchscreen of that smartphone to provide an input. In other embodiments, the user may provide an input by pressing keys / buttons on a keyboard-like device or dragging their finger or a pointing device across a trackpad.

[0078] In response to a user interacting with the user interface to provide an input, an intermediate output signal is generated. The value of the intermediate signal is dependent on the input provided by the user via the user interface.

[0079] For example, the user may input a “gesture”, which is a continuous trace formed by the user dragging a finger or pointing device across a touchscreen, and the intermediate signal generated is dependent on the length and / or shape of that trace. The intermediate signal provided by inputting a specific gesture is mapped to a fundamental stroke or component of a logogram.

[0080] Figure 3c shows an example of a mapping system for mapping specific gestures to specific fundamental strokes and components. In some embodiments, the mapping of gestures to specific fundamental strokes and components can be changed or customised by the user.

[0081] In some embodiments, the mapping of gestures to fundamental strokes and components can be performed using handwriting recognition software. For example, image recognition software can be used to identify a fundamental stroke or component which most closely resembles the gesture input by a user. In such embodiments, a user can draw each stroke or component with their finger or pointing device as if they were writing.

[0082] In other embodiments, a user does not need to input a “gesture”. Instead, they may press a physical or virtual button and the intermediate signal generated can depend on which button is pressed. Alternatively, any other user interaction with a user interface can be used to generate an intermediate signal.

[0083] The fundamental strokes can be grouped according to type as shown in Figure 3a: a) “Ti” - rise, jump b) “Heng” - horizontal stroke c) “Heng gon” - horizontal hook d) “Dian” - dot e) “Shu” - vertical stroke f) “Shu gou” - vertical hook g) “Pie” - left throw h) “Na” - right sweep i) “Wan gou” - left curve hook j) “Xie gou” - right curve hook k) “Shu wan gou” - vertical stroke, bend, hook;

[0084] Components for Chinese logograms can be listed as shown in Figure 3b. Figure 3b identifies an exemplary non-exhaustive list of 190 components that appear in multiple logograms, where each component is either a combination of fundamental strokes and / or other components, and some components may be radicals.

[0085] By interacting with a user interface, a user generates a temporal sequence of intermediate signals, wherein each intermediate signal maps to a fundamental stroke or component. The system then queries stored data containing logograms to identify logograms based on the temporal sequence of intermediate signals.

[0086] Querying the stored data may comprise identifying logograms containing the fundamental strokes and / or components corresponding to the intermediate signals. After querying the stored data to identify one or more logograms, the device can present the one or more logograms to the user. The user can select a desired logogram to input it into the device.

[0087] In some embodiments of the present invention, the text entry apparatus can operate in a “default mode” and a “shift mode”. In some embodiments, to switch from the “default mode” to the “shift mode”, a user selects a shift key. In other embodiments, the user can toggle on the “shift mode” by inputting a gesture that has not been assigned to a fundamental stroke or component, such as an upward swipe in the context of Figure 3c. In another embodiment, the user may introduce a “hold” at the end of a gesture to both toggle on “shift mode” and input the stroke or component corresponding to that gesture as if the device were already in shift mode.

[0088] When a “shift mode” is activated, as explained in the examples below, components can be identified the same way logograms are identified in the “default mode” - by interacting with a user interface to generate a temporal sequence of intermediate signals, wherein each intermediate signal maps to a fundamental stroke or component. The system then queries stored data containing components to identify components based on the temporal sequence of intermediate signals. Querying the stored data may comprise identifying components containing the fundamental strokes and / or components corresponding to the intermediate signals. After querying the stored data to identify one or more components, the device can present the one or more components to the user. The user can select a desired component to input it into the device.

[0089] In other embodiments, both processing modes run simultaneously. In some embodiments, the “shift mode” is always toggled on.

[0090] Once the temporal sequence of intermediate signals corresponding to the target component is displayed, the user can enter an end command through the user interface and the target component is then identified from the list of components. The component is then added to the input history and shift mode is deactivated. The components in Figure 3b can therefore be used either on their own or in combination with the strokes listed in Figure 3a to search for a target logogram.

[0091] Mobile Phone Embodiment of System

[0092] Figures 4a-d illustrate systems in accordance with the present invention that leverage the functionality of a smartphone for the hardware components, the phone being provided with a customised app stored within the phone’s memory that causes the processing circuit of the smartphone to implement the required functionality by which a user can enter characters and by which they are displayed on the screen of the device.

[0093] The screen of the phone is touch sensitive, whereby a user can touch any part of the screen and the processing circuit receives a data signal that indicates the location, direction, time, and pressure of a user’s touch. Touch screen technology is well known in the smartphone industry, and it is also well known to analyse the interactions of a user with a screen to detect when a contact is made. Any touch screen as known in the art can be suitable for use with the present invention.

[0094] In the embodiment of Figure 4a, the screen is divided up into several regions, as described in Table 1.

[0095] Table 1

[0096] The embodiment of Figure 4c is substantially similar to the embodiment of Figure 4a, but the gesture input region 41 is replaced with a button region 49. The button region 49 is located in the lower half of the screen and comprises a plurality of buttons which correspond to fundamental strokes.

[0097] In alternative embodiments, the input history 43 can also be directly displayed in character display area 40, and the backspace button in suggestion list 42 can delete either the last stroke entered when the user has already begun entering a logogram, or, if no logogram has been entered, the backspace button will delete the previous logogram in the text display area.

[0098] In the embodiments of Figures 4a and 4c, the backspace button displayed by the input history 43 deletes the last item entered in the input history. If there are no items (i.e., strokes / components) in the input history, the backspace button instead deletes the last logographic character entered. The backspace button by the character suggestion bar 42 deletes the last logographic character entered. In other embodiments, only one backspace button is required. For example, in some embodiments, there is a single backspace button which, when pressed, deletes the most recent logographic character added to the input history list or, when there are no items (i.e., strokes / components) in the input history, the most recently entered logographic character.

[0099] The input history 43 may display a default mode input history when the system is operating in the default mode and display a shift mode input history when the system is operating in the shift mode. In other embodiments, the input history 43 may always display the default mode input history. In Figures 4b and 4d, the character suggestion list 42 from Figures 4a and 4c is replaced with a character suggestion list 47 and a component suggestions list 48. The embodiments of Figures 4b and 4d use a gesture input region 41 and a button region 49, respectively.

[0100] The character suggestion list 47 is displayed as a bar above component suggestion list 48 in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the suggestion lists 47, 48 are displayed in alternative ways. The character suggestion list 47 updates as fundamental stroke s / components are added or removed from the input history.

[0101] The character suggestion list 47 provides a list of logogram query results, similar to the suggestion list 42 when operating in the default processing mode, and users can tap on a logogram to select it, the logogram will then display in the ‘character display’ region 40. In the embodiments of Figures 4b and 4d, the default mode input history 46 is displayed directly in the character display area 40, following on from previously entered logograms. The ‘Backspace’ button in character suggestion list 47 allows the user to delete the last item (i.e., stroke / component) in the default mode input history. If there are no items in the default mode input history, the backspace button deletes the most recently entered logogram. When the input history is empty, the character suggestion list 47 can display the most commonly used characters to enable faster entry.

[0102] The component suggestion list 48 provides a list of component query results, similar to the suggestion list 42 when operating in shift mode, and users can tap on a component to add it to the input history. When the input history is empty, the component suggestions list 48 can by default display the most common components for faster entry.

[0103] In the embodiments of Figures 4b and 4d, there is no need for a shift button, as the default and shift processing modes are operating simultaneously via character suggestions list 47 and component suggestion list 48.

[0104] The layout of the sub-sections of Figures 4a-d are provided by way of example only and, in other embodiments, the screen may be divided into different regions in different positions and having different sizes.

[0105] The user can input logograms into the mobile phone through the interface shown in any of Figures 4a- d using the following methods in any combination: a. Enter a fundamental stroke or component by tapping or moving their finger or pointing device across the input region. b. Enter a fundamental stroke or component by pressing a button on a physical or virtual keyboard. c. Enter a component of a logogram by activating a shift mode and then entering fundamental stroke s / components using the methods described in options “a” or “b” d. Enter a component of a logogram by entering fundamental strokes / components via the methods described in options “a”, “b” or “c”, and selecting a component from a component suggestion list.

[0106] The processing circuit of the smartphone, in addition to mapping user swipes or taps on the screen to fundamental strokes and components, includes a program which analyses the sequence of strokes and / or components and uses the information to query stored data of logograms in a memory of the device.

[0107] The procedure used to interrogate the stored data may consist of the following:

[0108] 1. Receive a sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components.

[0109] 2. Convert any components within the inputted sequence to a list of fundamental strokes, so that the input history consists only of fundamental strokes.

[0110] 3. Store any components entered in a separate list in the sequence they were entered.

[0111] 4. Query stored data using the input history and component list in item 3 and generate a list of logograms (suggestion list 42 in default mode and character suggestion list 47) whose stroke and component order is most like the input history and component list thus far.

[0112] 5. Query stored data using the input history and component list in item 3 and generate a list of components (suggestion list 42 in shift mode and component suggestion list 48) whose stroke and component order is most like the input history thus far.

[0113] 6. The stored data is queried each time a new entry is added to or removed from the input history, and the suggestion list 42, character suggestion list 47 and component suggestion list 48 are continuously updated and displayed.

[0114] 7. The last entry displayed in the input history 43 and default mode input history 46 can be manually deleted by the user, using a ‘backspace’ button.

[0115] 8. The input history 43 and default mode input history 46 are cleared when the user selects an item from suggestion list 42 or character suggestion list 47, or when the user has deleted all entries in the input history.

[0116] 9. The shift mode input history is cleared when the user selects an item from suggestion list 42 or character suggestion list 47 or component suggestion list 48, or when the user has deleted all the entries in the input history.

[0117] Figure 5a is a flow chart that illustrates the use of a ‘default’ mode and ‘shift’ mode in the system according to an embodiment, with both modes having an ‘input history’ list, where the user can manually delete the last entry. As shown in Figure 5a, a user provides an input to the device (e.g., by dragging their finger or pointing device across the touchscreen) to generate intermediate signals.

[0118] When in a “default mode” (i.e., when “shift mode” has not been activated), the device maps the intermediate signals to their corresponding fundamental strokes and / or components (e.g., using the mapping of Figure 3c). The fundamental strokes and / or components are added to an input history list. This input history list may be referred to as a default mode input history list. After each fundamental stroke and / or component is added to the input history list, the user is able to select a “back” / “delete” button to remove said stroke or component from the input history list.

[0119] Based on the input history list, the device queries stored data (which can be stored in memory, or accessed from an external device, for example, via the internet) to search for logograms comprising the strokes and / or components listed in the input history list. The identified logograms are displayed in a suggestion list for possible selection. The logograms can be in order of likelihood of selection - for example, more popular and more commonly used logograms in the context of the text that has already been entered may be displayed earlier than less popular logograms.

[0120] When presented with the possible logograms, the user can select the desired logogram if it is displayed in the suggestion list. For example, the suggestion list may be displayed on the user interface and a user can simply tap the desired logogram to enter it into the system. After entering a logogram into the system, the input history list is cleared and the process restarts to add the next logogram.

[0121] If the user’s desired logogram is not displayed in the suggestion list, the user provides further input to add additional strokes and / or components to the input history list. The suggestion list updates (i.e., shows new suggested logograms) each time the input history list is updated. The user can continually add strokes and / or components to the input history list until the desired logogram is displayed.

[0122] To speed up the process of entering logograms, the invention also includes a “shift mode”. A user can activate shift mode by toggling on a shift key. When in a “shift mode” (i.e., when “shift mode” has been activated), the device maps the intermediate signals to their corresponding fundamental strokes and / or components (e.g., using the mapping of Figure 3c), as in the “default mode”. However, the fundamental strokes and / or components are added to a shift mode input history list, rather than the default mode input history list. After each fundamental stroke and / or component is added to the shift mode input history list, the user is able to select a “back” / “delete” button to remove said stroke and / or component from the shift mode input history list. Based on the shift mode input history list, the device queries stored data (which can be stored in memory, or accessed from an external device, for example, via the internet) to search for components of logograms comprising the strokes and / or components listed in the input history list. The identified logogram components are displayed in a suggestion list for possible selection. The components can be in order of likelihood of selection - for example, more popular and commonly used components in the context of what has already been inputted may be displayed earlier than less likely or popular components. Where applicable, search results will, based on strokes and / or components that have already been entered, exclude components from selection that when added to the main input history, return no logogram matches.

[0123] When presented with the possible components, the user can select the desired component if it is displayed in the suggestion list. For example, the suggestion list may be displayed on the user interface and a user can simply tap the desired component. After selecting a component, it is added to the input history list (the main input history list used in default mode) and the device returns to default mode. The shift mode input history list is cleared following selection of a logogram.

[0124] The suggestion list updates (i.e., shows new suggested logograms) to show logograms comprising the entered component together with any other fundamental strokes and / or components in the input history list. The user can continually add strokes and / or components to the input history list until the desired logogram is displayed.

[0125] As such, “shift mode” enables a user to search for components in the same way “default mode” enables users to search for logograms. Components selected in “shift mode” are entered into the input history list as if a fundamental stroke and / or component had been directly input in “default mode”.

[0126] Given there are a limited number of gestures and / or buttons, there are only a limited number of components which can be input directly through a single gesture. Accordingly, the “shift mode” enables users to input more complex components.

[0127] Figure 5b is a flow chart that illustrates an alternative embodiment where the “default” and “shift” modes run simultaneously in the system, with both modes having an ‘input history’ list. Fundamental strokes / components provided by user input are added to both ‘input history’ lists. The user can manually delete the last item entered to the input history lists.

[0128] As shown in Figure 5b, a user provides an input to the device (e.g., by dragging their finger or pointing device across the touchscreen, or by pressing a button) to generate intermediate signals. The device maps the intermediate signals to their corresponding fundamental strokes and / or components (e.g., using the mapping of Figure 3c). The fundamental strokes and / or components are added to the shift mode input history list and the default mode input history list. A “back” / “delete” button (for example, see the backspace button in Figures 4b and 4d) allows the user to remove the last item (i.e., stroke / component) they input to the shift mode input history list and the default mode input history list. If the last item inputted was a complete logogram character, the “back” / “delete” button will delete the last logogram character.

[0129] Based on the default mode input history list, the device queries a database (which can be stored in memory, or accessed from an external device, for example, via the internet) to search for logograms comprising the strokes and / or components listed in the default mode input history list. The identified logograms are displayed in a character suggestion list for possible selection. The logograms can be in order of likelihood of selection - for example, more popular and more commonly used logograms in the context of the text that has already been entered may be displayed earlier than less popular logograms.

[0130] When presented with the possible logograms, the user can select the desired logogram if it is displayed in the character suggestion list. For example, the character suggestion list may be displayed on the user interface and a user can simply tap the desired logogram to enter it into the system. After entering a logogram into the system, both the shift mode input history list and the default mode input history list are cleared, and the process restarts to add the next logogram.

[0131] Based on the shift mode input history list, the device queries a database (which can be stored in memory, or accessed from an external device, for example, via the internet) to search for components comprising the strokes and / or components listed in the shift mode input history list. The identified components are displayed in a component suggestion list for possible selection. The components can be in order of likelihood of selection - for example, more popular and more commonly used components in the context of the input that has already been entered may be displayed earlier than less popular components. Where applicable, search results will, based on strokes and / or components that have already been entered, exclude components from selection that when added to the default mode input history list, return no logogram matches.

[0132] When presented with the possible components, the user can select the desired component if it is displayed in the component suggestion list. For example, the component suggestion list may be displayed on the user interface and a user can simply tap the desired component to enter it into the system. After entering a component into the system, the shift mode input history list is cleared, but the default mode input history list is not. The entered component is added to the default mode input history list.

[0133] If the user’s desired logogram is not displayed in the character suggestion list, the user provides further input to add additional strokes and / or components to the shift mode input history list and the default mode input history list. The shift mode input history list updates to show new suggested components each time the user inputs an item. The default mode input history list updates to show new suggested characters each time the user inputs an item. The user can continually add strokes and / or components to the input history lists until the desired logogram or component is displayed.

[0134] As such, this alternative embodiment allows the user to search for components without the extra step of toggling on or off shift mode. Components selected from the component suggestion list are added to the default mode input history list.

[0135] Examples for entering a logogram are set out below with reference to Figures 6-10.

[0136] Figures 6a to 6d illustrate an example of entering the logogram ‘{ / JV (Ni), where the fundamental strokes “PIE” and “SHU” are input using their corresponding gesture paths in Figure 3c. The example of Figures 6a-d uses the embodiment of Figure 4a.

[0137] In Figure 6a, the user starts by entering the “PIE” stroke by providing the corresponding gesture from the table in Figure 3c. The “PIE” stroke is then recorded and appears in the input history list 43, and suggestion list 42 updates, as shown in Figure 6b.

[0138] In Figure 6b, the user enters the “SHU” stroke by providing the corresponding gesture input from the table in Figure 3c. The “SHU” stroke is then recorded and appears in the input history list 43 alongside the “PIE” stroke, as shown in Figure 6c.

[0139] In response to having two strokes in the input history list 43, the suggestion list 42 updates, as shown in Figure 6c, to show the most common / popular logograms that begin with the fundamental strokes “PIE” and “SHU”.

[0140] The logogram ‘{ / JV (Ni) is displayed in the suggestion list 42, so the user simply taps on the logogram in Figure 6c in order to input that logogram. The inputted logogram is then displayed in Figure 6d in character display 40. Figures 7a to 7f illustrate an example of entering the logogram (Han) with the component “ > ” (entered via inputting the fundamental stroke “DIAN” in shift mode) and component “77 ” using their corresponding gesture paths in Figure 3c. This example uses a “shift mode”. The example of Figures 7a-f uses the embodiment of Figure 4a.

[0141] In Figure 7a, the user activates shift mode by tapping the shift button. In the shift mode, the character suggestion list 42 displays suggested components, rather than entire suggested logograms. This can be seen as the suggestions of the suggestion list 42 change between Figures 7a and 7b.

[0142] In Figure 7b, the user enters the “DIAN” stroke by inputting the corresponding gesture from Figure 3c. The “DIAN” stroke is added to the shift mode input history list (not displayed in this embodiment). In response, the suggestion list 42 updates to show components which begin with the “DIAN” stroke, as shown in Figure 7c.

[0143] The updated suggestion list 42 displays the component “ > ”, which the user wishes to input. The user taps on the target component “ > ” in Figure 7c in order to input the component. As a result, the component “ > ” is displayed in the input history list 43 in Figure 7d. After inputting a component, the device returns to default mode, rather than shift mode.

[0144] In Figure 7d, the user inputs the component “77 ” by providing the corresponding gesture from Figure 3c. The component “77 ” is recorded and then shown in the input history list 43 in Figure 7e. In Figure 7e, the suggestion list 42 is updated to show logograms containing component “ > ” followed by component “77 ”. The user then selects the target logogram (Han) from the suggestion list 42 in Figure 7e, and it is displayed on the character display 40 in Figure 7f.

[0145] Figures 8a to 8f illustrate an alternative example for entering the logogram (Han) with the components “ > ” and ” Z" (entered via inputting component “77 ” in shift mode) using their corresponding gesture paths in Figure 3c.

[0146] In Figure 8a, the user inputs component “ > ” by entering the corresponding gesture from Figure 3c.

[0147] The component is entered into the input history list 43, as shown in Figure 8b. The logogram suggestion list 42 is updated to show logograms beginning with the component “ > ” in Figure 8b, and the user taps the shift button to enter a “shift mode”.

[0148] In Figure 8c, the user enters the component ”Z" by inputting the corresponding gesture according to Figure 3c. The component “Z1” is added to the shift mode input history list (not displayed). In shift mode, the suggestion list 42 updates in Figure 8d to show components beginning with “Z7”, and the user selects the component ” Z" from the suggestion list 42.

[0149] In Figure 8e, component ” Z" is added to the input history list 43. The suggestion list 42 is updated to show logograms beginning with component “ > ” followed by component ” Z". The target logogram ‘ iX’ (Han) is displayed in the suggestion list 42, so the user selects the target logogram by tapping on it. The target logogram ZX’ (Han) is then displayed on the character display 40 in Figure 8f.

[0150] Figures 9 and 10 use the screens of embodiments 4b and 4d respectively.

[0151] Figures 9a to 9e illustrate an example of entering the logogram ZX’ (Han) with the component “ > ” (entered via inputting the fundamental stroke “DIAN” and selecting “ > ” from the component suggestion list) and component “Z7” using their corresponding gesture paths in Figure 3c. In this example, both processing modes are running simultaneously.

[0152] In Figure 9a, the user enters the “DIAN” stroke by inputting the corresponding gesture from Figure 3c. In response, as shown in Figure 9b, the character suggestion list 47 updates to show characters which begin with the “DIAN” stroke, and the component suggestion list 48 updates to show components which begin with the “DIAN” stroke. The “DIAN” stroke is displayed in character display 46.

[0153] The updated component suggestion list 48 displays the component “ > ”, which the user wishes to input. The user taps on the target component “ > ” in Figure 9b in order to input the component. As a result, the component “ > ” is displayed in the input history list 46 in Figure 9c. After inputting the component, the character suggestion list 47 updates to show characters which begin with the component “ > ”, and the component suggestion list 48 updates to show the components most likely to follow “ > ” to complete a character. In Figure 9c, the user inputs the component “ T? ” by providing the corresponding gesture from Figure

[0154] 3c. The component “ T? ” is recorded and then added to the input history list 46 in Figure 9d. In Figure 9d, the character suggestion list 47 updates to show logograms containing component “ > ” followed by component “ T? ”, and the component suggestion list 48 updates to show components which begin with

[0155] “ T? ”. The user then selects the target logogram (Han) from the character suggestion list 47, and it is displayed on the character display 40 in Figure 9e.

[0156] Figures 10a to lOe illustrate an example of entering the logogram (Han) with the component “ > ” (entered via inputting the fundamental stroke “DIAN” and selecting “ > ” from the component suggestion list) and component “ T? ” using their corresponding buttons in Figure 4d. In this example, both processing modes are running simultaneously.

[0157] In Figure 10a, the user enters the “DIAN” stroke by pressing the corresponding button. In response, as shown in Figure 10b, the character suggestion list 47 updates to show characters which begin with the “DIAN” stroke, the component suggestion list 48 updates to show components which begin with the “DIAN” stroke and the “DIAN” stroke is displayed in input history list 46.

[0158] The updated component suggestion list 48 displays the component “ > ”, which the user wishes to input. The user taps on the target component “ > ” in Figure 10b in order to input the component. As a result, the component “ > ” is displayed in the input history list 46 in Figure 10c. After inputting the component, the character suggestion list 47 updates to show characters which begin with the component “ > ”, and the component suggestion list 48 updates to show the components most likely to follow “ > ” to complete a character.

[0159] In Figure 10c, the user inputs the component “77 ” by pressing the corresponding button. The component “77 ” is recorded and then added to the input history list 46 in Figure lOd. In Figure lOd, the character suggestion list 47 updates to show logograms containing component “ > ” followed by component “77 ”, and the component suggestion list 48 updates to show components which begin with “77 ”. The user then selects the target logogram (Han) from the character suggestion list 47, and it is displayed on the character display 40 in Figure lOe. Although the examples above are described in relation to a smartphone with a touchscreen, alternative methods for inputting the fundamental strokes and / or components can be used, as explained below.

[0160] The system can comprise a user interface with two or more contact regions. For example, Figure 11 shows a system comprising a gesture input region 51 which is divided into a first contact region 51-1 and a second contact region 51-2.

[0161] In such embodiments, contacting the first region 51-1 can provide a different input to the second region 51-2. The intermediate signals generated when a user provides a gesture may depend on the contact region in which the gesture was made. For example, providing a gesture in the first contact region 51- 1 can input a fundamental stroke and providing a gesture in the second contact region 51-2 can input a component.

[0162] Alternatively, both regions 51-1, 2 may provide the same output (i.e., generate the same intermediate signal) for the same contact.

[0163] In other embodiments, the user interface is not limited to being a touchscreen of an electronic device. For example, Figure 12 shows a device 60 which could, for example, plug into a computer in a similar manner to a keyboard. The device 60 comprises four contact regions 61, but in other embodiments it can contain a single contact region or any plurality of contact regions.

[0164] The contact regions 61 are not limited to being capacitive touch screens. The contact regions 61 can be projections or recesses embedded with sensors. In other embodiments, the contact regions 61 can be strings embedded with sensors.

[0165] The contact regions 61 may be arranged to form rows or columns so that each row or column extends generally continuously transversely across an upper surface of the device 60.

[0166] Each contact region is sensitive to contact and motion of a user’s finger, a thumb, or a pointing device, or has an associated sensor that is sensitive to contact or can otherwise detect a contact (for instance a camera-based system) and produces an intermediate output signal.

[0167] In some embodiments, the output signal from each contact region 61 comprises a string of binary digits, encoding optionally a unique ID for the contact region 61 and / or a set of four properties of the gesture in the contact region made by a user. In this example these properties are the pressure (hard or light), direction (up / down, left / right, diagonal up / down / left / right), and a short / long component. The system may also recognise a tap of a contact region as an input. These can be encoded in four binary digits of a string and provide 66 possible output values for each region as shown in Figure 13: a. Tap, light pressure b. Tap, hard pressure c. Long, light pressure, up, fast gesture

[0168] Long, light pressure, up, slow gesture

[0169] Long, light pressure, down, fast gesture

[0170] Long, light pressure, down, slow gesture

[0171] Long, light pressure, left, fast gesture

[0172] Long, light pressure, left, slow gesture

[0173] Long, light pressure, right, fast gesture

[0174] Long, light pressure, right, slow gesture

[0175] Long, light pressure, diagonal up right, fast gesture

[0176] Long, light pressure, diagonal up right, slow gesture Long, light pressure, diagonal up left, fast gesture Long, light pressure, diagonal up left, slow gesture Long, light pressure, diagonal down right, fast gesture Long, light pressure, diagonal down right, slow gesture Long, light pressure, diagonal down left, fast gesture

[0177] Long, light pressure, diagonal down left, slow gesture d. Long, hard pressure, up, fast gesture

[0178] Long, hard pressure, up, slow gesture

[0179] Long, hard pressure, down, fast gesture

[0180] Long, hard pressure, down, slow gesture

[0181] Long, hard pressure, left, fast gesture

[0182] Long, hard pressure, left, slow gesture

[0183] Long, hard pressure, right, fast gesture

[0184] Long, hard pressure, right, slow gesture

[0185] Long, hard pressure, diagonal up right, fast gesture

[0186] Long, hard pressure, diagonal up right, slow gesture Long, hard pressure, diagonal up left, fast gesture Long, hard pressure, diagonal up left, slow gesture Long, hard pressure, diagonal down right, fast gesture Long, hard pressure, diagonal down right, slow gesture Long, hard pressure, diagonal down left, fast gesture

[0187] Long, hard pressure, diagonal down left, slow gesture e. Short, light pressure, up, fast gesture Short, light pressure, up, slow gesture Short, light pressure, down, fast gesture Short, light pressure, down, slow gesture Short, light pressure, left, fast gesture Short, light pressure, left, slow gesture Short, light pressure, right, fast gesture Short, light pressure, right, slow gesture Short, light pressure, diagonal up right, fast gesture Short, light pressure, diagonal up right, slow gesture Short, light pressure, diagonal up left, fast gesture Short, light pressure, diagonal up left, slow gesture Short, light pressure, diagonal down right, fast gesture Short, light pressure, diagonal down right, slow gesture Short, light pressure, diagonal down left, fast gesture Short, light pressure, diagonal down left, slow gesture f. Short, hard pressure, up, fast gesture Short, hard pressure, up, slow gesture Short, hard pressure, down, fast gesture Short, hard pressure, down, slow gesture Short, hard pressure, left, fast gesture Short, hard pressure, left, slow gesture Short, hard pressure, right, fast gesture Short, hard pressure, right, slow gesture Short, hard pressure, diagonal up right, fast gesture Short, hard pressure, diagonal up right, slow gesture Short, hard pressure, diagonal up left, fast gesture Short, hard pressure, diagonal up left, slow gesture Short, hard pressure, diagonal down right, fast gesture Short, hard pressure, diagonal down right, slow gesture Short, hard pressure, diagonal down left, fast gesture Short, hard pressure, diagonal down left, slow gesture

[0188] Whilst the embodiments described above use inputs which are “gestures” - a path traced by a user on the touchscreen, it should be noted that in other embodiments, a user may provide an input by tapping a virtual button, pressing an actual button, or any other known way for a user to provide an input. For example, rather than tracing a path which corresponds to a gesture in accordance with Figure 3c, the user may press a button (or tap a virtual button) to generate an intermediate signal which is subsequently mapped to a fundamental stroke or component.

[0189] Figures 14a and 14b show embodiments of the invention in which the system enables the user to switch between different methods of entering strokes and / or components.

[0190] Figures 14a and 14b show an input region 71 on a smartphone screen in portrait orientation, where toggle button 70 allows the user to change between input methods. In one embodiment, the alternative input methods are a “gesture mode” and a “button mode”.

[0191] In gesture mode, the user enters gesture 72 (e.g., by dragging their finger or pointing device across the screen) to enter the stroke ‘NA’, using the corresponding gesture from Figure 3c.

[0192] In button mode, the user can simply tap the button 73 to enter ‘NA’. The user can further customise the assignment of strokes to buttons (or in shift mode, components to keys), as well as the position of the keys in the input region.

[0193] Figure 14a illustrates an embodiment of the invention implementing the method of Figure 5a, where a user can select between a ‘default’ mode and a ‘shift’ mode. In Figure 14a, the system is shown in “default” mode, and so complete logograms are displayed for selection.

[0194] Figure 14b illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention implementing the method of Figure 5b, where the ‘default’ mode and ‘shift’ mode run simultaneously in the system, with both modes having an ‘input history’ list and user input is added to both ‘input history’ lists. As both the “default” and “shift” mode are active, both logograms and components are displayed for selection.

[0195] From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to the skilled person. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the art of text entry systems, and which may be used instead of, or in addition to, features already described herein.

[0196] Although the appended claims are directed to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalisation thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention. Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination. The applicant hereby gives notice that new claims may be formulated to such features and / or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present application or of any further application derived therefrom.

[0197] For the sake of completeness, it is also stated that the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, the term "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality, a single processor or other unit may fulfd the functions of several means recited in the claims and any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0198] Glossary of Terms

[0199] Logogram - a written or pictorial symbol that represents a word or morpheme.

[0200] Logographic character- typically logograms used in writing systems, including but not limited to Chinese. In computing, they could also be parts of logograms (such as radicals or CJK strokes) that can be displayed on a computer. These are assigned a unique code in an encoding system such as Unicode (the most common encoding system).

[0201] Fundamental stroke- the smallest component of a logogram. A unidirectional motion of continuous contact with a writing surface that produces a given part of a logogram. While there is no consensus on a single list of fundamental strokes, for the purposes and optimization of this invention, a set of 11 strokes were identified.

[0202] Component - a combination of two or more strokes that appears in multiple logograms. ‘Radicals’ are complex examples of components with a meaning. Like a complete character, components are written using a finite set of stroke types in a specific order and position. For example, the component I” consists of a horizontal and vertical stroke, and appears in “ D ” and “ft3” but does not contribute to the meaning of the complete logograms. The component “ > ” is a radical for water, and appears on the left side of both ‘ ” and “Qc”, where ‘ Qc” means swimming.

[0203] Stroke combination- any sequence of strokes used to write a logogram.

[0204] Stroke order- the total sequence of strokes needed to write a logogram. Radical- a stroke combination that forms a graphical component of a logogram, often an indicator of meaning or pronunciation. While some logograms can be visually broken down into more than one radical, they are officially listed under one radical in the Chinese dictionary. For example, the logogram ‘X’can be broken down into the two radicals ‘ but is listed under the radical ‘ ’ in the dictionary. Regardless of this, the algorithm treats radicals and groups of strokes as components, so it is possible to simply enter a logogram according to its graphical composition.

[0205] Orthographic knowledge- knowledge of stroke type, stroke order and stroke position needed to write a logogram by hand.

[0206] Pinyin- phonetic notation of Chinese logograms that uses the Roman alphabet, commonly used in China and amongst those who use simplified Chinese logograms.

[0207] Zhuyin- phonetic notation of Chinese logograms, commonly used in Taiwan amongst those who use traditional Chinese logograms.

[0208] Romanization- the notation of non-Roman writing systems using the Roman alphabet.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A text entry system for entering logograms of a logographic character set on an electronic device, the system comprising: a user interface, the interface being configured to generate an intermediate signal each time a user provides an input to the user interface, the value of the intermediate signal being dependent on the input; and a processing circuit operable in a first processing mode and a second processing mode, the processing circuit configured to: in a first processing mode, receive a temporal sequence of intermediate signals and, from the values of the intermediate signals in the sequence, generate a corresponding first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components in which each value of each intermediate signal is mapped to a fundamental stroke or component, each stroke or component defining a visual part of a logogram of the logographic character set; in a second processing mode, receive a temporal sequence of intermediate signals and, from the values of the intermediate signals in the sequence, generate a corresponding second temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components in which each value of each intermediate signal is mapped to a fundamental stroke or component, identify one or more selectable components and present one or more of the one or more selectable components to the user, each selectable component being based on the second temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components, and in response to selection of a selectable component by the user, add the selected component to the first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components; and based on the first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components, identify one or more selectable logograms and present one or more of the one or more selectable logograms to the user for selection.

2. The text entry system of claim 1, wherein the user interface enables the user to switch between the first and second processing modes.

3. The text entry system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to operate in the first and second processing modes simultaneously, and wherein the processing circuit receives a single temporal sequence of intermediate signals which is used by both the first and second processing modes.

4. The text entry system of any preceding claim, wherein(i) the one or more selectable logograms presented to the user for selection are the most commonly used logograms of the one or more identified logograms; and / or(ii) the one or more selectable components presented to the user for selection are the most commonly used components of the one or more identified components.

5. The text entry system of any preceding claim, wherein, when no fundamental strokes or components have been added to the first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components, the processing circuit is configured to present the most commonly used logograms to the user for selection.

6. The text entry system of any preceding claim, wherein, when no fundamental strokes or components have been added to the second temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components, the processing circuit is configured to present the most commonly used components to the user for selection.

7. The text entry system of any preceding claim, wherein the intermediate signals generated each time a user contacts the user interface are (i) dependent on the path traced by the user during the contact; or (ii) dependent on a button selected by the user.

8. The text entry apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the user interfaces is operable in a first input mode wherein a user inputs gestures to generate intermediate signals and a second input mode wherein a user presses a button to generate an intermediate signal; and wherein the user interface is operable such that the user can switch between the first and second input modes.

9. The text entry apparatus of any preceding claims, wherein the system is operable to enable a user to customise the intermediate signal generated when a user provides an input to the user interface.

10. The text entry system of any preceding claim, wherein the processing circuit is configured to identify the one or more logograms based on the first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components by identifying logograms comprising said fundamental strokes and / or components.

11. The text entry system of claim 10, wherein the processing circuit is configured to query stored data in order to identify the one or more logograms.

12. The text entry system of any preceding claim, wherein the processing circuit is configured to identify the one or more selectable components based on the second temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components by identifying logographic character components comprising said fundamental strokes and / or components.

13. The text entry system of any preceding claim, wherein the user interface comprises a touch sensitive surface.

14. The text entry system of any preceding claim, further comprising a display which is configured to render a visual representation of each fundamental stroke in a temporal sequence to build up a logogram.

15. The text entry system of claim 10, wherein the display comprises a display of a smartphone or tablet.

16. A method of entering a logogram of a logographic character set into an electronic device, the method comprising: providing an input through a user interface; generating an intermediate signal each time a user provides an input, the value of the intermediate signal being dependent on the input; in a first processing mode, receiving a temporal sequence of intermediate signals and, from the values of the intermediate signals in the sequence, generate a corresponding first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components in which each value of each intermediate signal is mapped to a fundamental stroke or component, each stroke or component defining a visual part of a logogram of the logographic character set; in a second processing mode, receiving a temporal sequence of intermediate signals and, from the values of the intermediate signals in the sequence, generating a corresponding second temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components in which each value of each intermediate signal is mapped to a fundamental stroke or component, identifying one or more selectable components and presenting one or more of the one or more selectable components to the user, each component being based on the second temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components, and in response to selection of a selectable component by the user, adding the selected component to the first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components; and based on the first temporal sequence of fundamental strokes and / or components, identifying one or more logograms and presenting one or more of the one or more selectable logograms to the user for selection.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising selecting between the first and second processing modes.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second processing modes operate simultaneously.

Images