Kanji-to-Kana conversion in Japanese input systems

Abstract

To provide a kanji-kana conversion method for Japanese input systems that can display all readings of a kanji selected by a user in a simpler operation.SOLUTION: A conversion method displays all readings and part-of-speech abbreviations of a kanji which a user wants to look up among candidates, by pressing a conversion operation transition key for the required number of times, or by clicking directly on the kanji character with the mouse, and then just pressing a kanji / kana conversion key. When a "partial match retrieval key" is pressed before the "kanji-kana conversion key", a partial match such as a forward match or backward match is included.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] In a system incorporating components necessary for adding a kanji-kana conversion function to the "Kana-Kanji Conversion / KEARM Conversion Formula Japanese Input System" (the full-match search type sequential conversion formula Japanese input system in Non-Patent Document 2, hereinafter also referred to as the kana-kanji conversion / KEARM conversion system), after selecting a desired kanji from the list of conversion candidates obtained by kana-kanji conversion, simply pressing the kana-kanji conversion key can display all the "readings" including the on-reading and kun-reading of the kanji and abbreviations by word class. Furthermore, by changing the search method, it can also be used for the purpose of collecting related information on the kanji.

[0002] The kana-kanji conversion / KEARM conversion system includes not only kana-kanji conversion but also KEARM conversion and pronunciation functions. However, the kanji for which readings are to be examined in the present invention are the kanji obtained by kana-kanji conversion. Therefore, as described in claim 2, the present invention can be applied not only to the kana-kanji conversion / KEARM conversion system but also to other kana-kanji conversion formula Japanese input systems that comply with or are similar to the JIS X4064 standard and do not include KEARM conversion or pronunciation functions.

[0003] The present invention is also the item (2) "Kanji-Kana Conversion of Japanese Input System" in the multi-functional Japanese input system described in paragraph number 0025 of Non-Patent Document 2, and corresponds to the "Kanji-Kana Conversion" located in the central part and the "Kanji-Kana Conversion Key" in the left part (both with backgrounds shown as dot-pattern blocks) in the block diagram of the multi-functional Japanese input system shown in FIG. 10. The multi-functional Japanese input system in FIG. 10 is a system that adds 12 items of functions based on the kana-kanji conversion / KEARM conversion system (the part shown as a block with a gray background).

Background Art

[0004] The kanji-to-kana conversion described in Patent Document 1, devised by the present inventor, also has a function to look up the reading of a kanji. However, this function cannot be performed anywhere; it requires copying the kanji whose reading to be looked up from the screen beforehand and pasting it into a location where the system can read it. Displaying the reading of a kanji ultimately requires several operations. On the other hand, the kanji-to-kana conversion of the present invention allows users to select the desired kanji from the list of conversion candidates displayed in sequential conversion and simply press the kanji-to-kana conversion key to display the reading of that kanji and its abbreviation for its part of speech. Both methods perform a full search of the kanji in the kana-kanji conversion dictionary built into the Japanese input system, trace back to find matching kanji to extract the readings of the kanji, create conversion candidate string data consisting of the kanji and its reading, and display it as a list of conversion candidates for kanji-to-kana conversion.

[0005] Japanese dictionaries typically list kanji characters using the 50-sound kana as the index, thus classifying them as kana-kanji conversion dictionaries. It's easy to create digitized software that not only converts kana input to kanji, but also allows users to input kanji and look up their readings. However, this software itself doesn't seem to have much value. The reason is that it likely doesn't provide the necessary information to justify its use. However, if the software could provide kanji information comparable to an internet search, it would be quite useful. The dictionary that is considered to have significant value when used in conjunction with this software is the kana-kanji conversion dictionary built into Japanese input systems.

[0006] While commercially available electronic dictionaries and regularly published large-format electronic Japanese dictionaries contain a large amount of kanji information, these dictionaries have a fatal flaw: they cannot maintain their information. In other words, they cannot add new kanji terms. The same is true for Japanese input systems, especially those with ROM-based dictionaries, like those in older word processors. The Japanese language is constantly evolving. New words and neologisms are born as lifestyles change, and conversely, kanji that were previously used become obsolete. The number of new words and neologisms may be small, but they are used frequently. New words and neologisms can be easily added to kana-kanji conversion dictionaries. Japanese input system manufacturers are also eager to update their dictionaries. The reason is that if dictionaries do not contain the latest kanji information, it is impossible to write perfect sentences using Japanese input systems.

[0007] Currently, the only dictionary capable of maintaining information integrity, though unrelated to the kanji-kana conversion of this invention, might be a free online encyclopedia. This dictionary allows anyone to freely edit it as a means of maintaining information integrity. The drawback is that it may contain inaccurate or biased information, as it can be used to express the opinions of specific groups or for political propaganda. On the other hand, the kana-kanji conversion dictionary for Japanese input systems is considered a trade secret of the system manufacturer. While users can use the dictionary as part of their operation, its contents are not made public. It is likely that the dictionary contents are not made public because they are closely related to the conversion performance of the kana-kanji conversion, but this also has the advantage of preventing the inclusion of inaccurate information, unlike the aforementioned encyclopedia. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese input system with kanji lookup and kana conversion function, Patent No. 6319542 (paragraph numbers 0017-0019, Table 1, Figure 1) [Non-patent literature]

[0009] [Non-Patent Document 1] Basic functions of the Kana-Kanji conversion system JISX4064:2002

[0010] [Non-Patent Document 2] Kana-Kanji Conversion / KEARM Conversion Type Japanese Input System Patent Application No. 2022-017542 (Paragraphs 0233-0236, Figures 9 and 49) [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0011] The kanji-to-kana conversion function described in Patent Document 1 begins by finding the kanji whose reading you want to look up on the PC screen, copying it, and pasting it into a location where the system can read it. Although this function differs from the present invention, which requires input, as it only involves copying and reading, it still requires several operations to look up the reading of a kanji. It is believed that the scope of application of the invention would be broadened if all the readings of the kanji selected by the user could be displayed with simpler operations. Furthermore, since the purpose of Patent Document 1 is to look up the readings of kanji words, it basically only looks up the readings of kanji in noun forms, but the present invention targets the readings of kanji in verbs, adjectives, and other forms in addition to noun forms. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The Kana-Kanji conversion / KEARM conversion system is a sequential conversion system, so simply by entering a string of characters, a list of conversion candidates for Kana-Kanji conversion can be displayed on the sequential conversion screen. If there is a kanji character whose "reading" you want to look up among the conversion candidates, press the conversion operation transition key or use the mouse to select that character. The system then searches the entire Kana-Kanji conversion dictionary using that character as the conversion string (the string used for searching and conversion). If a matching character is found, it retraces the steps to extract the "reading" of the character, creates a conversion candidate string combining the character and its "reading," and displays these as conversion candidates in chronological order on the conversion candidate list screen. Because the characters have already been processed by Kana-Kanji conversion, it can handle not only noun forms but also verb forms and adjective forms of Kanji readings.

[0013] The kanji-to-kana conversion described in Patent Document 1 and the kanji-to-kana conversion of the present invention are almost identical in the latter half of the conversion process, namely the search, string conversion, and display of conversion candidates. In the present invention, the sequential conversion method used as a Japanese input system is utilized to simplify the method of selecting kanji in the first half of the conversion process. Furthermore, in addition to indicating the reading of the kanji, abbreviations for each part of speech are added so that it is clear what part of speech it is used in. In addition, differentiation from kanji-to-kana conversion is possible through distinctions in use between exact match search and partial match search. For this reason, the conversion name in the present invention is "kanji-to-kana conversion" rather than "kanji-to-kana conversion" as described in Patent Document 1. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] Comparing the method for selecting a kanji to look up the "reading" of in the kanji-to-kana conversion described in Patent Document 1 with the method for selecting a kanji to look up the "reading" of in the present invention, the present invention is overwhelmingly simpler. Although simpler, it does not simplify the conversion function; it searches all registered kanji in the kana-kanji conversion dictionary, so it can display all "readings" used in Japanese, including on'yomi and kun'yomi.

[0015] The kanji-to-kana conversion described in Patent Document 1 is for looking up the "reading" of kanji words, and basically looks up the reading of kanji in noun forms. The kanji-to-kana conversion of the present invention can display the readings of kanji not only in noun forms but also in verbs and adjectives. For this reason, the list of conversion candidates for kanji-to-kana conversion includes not only the readings of the kanji but also abbreviations for each part of speech.

[0016] In this invention, the search method is used for different purposes. Exact match search can display all "readings" of kanji, including on'yomi and kun'yomi, as well as abbreviations by part of speech. Partial match search can detect various terms included in the kana-kanji conversion dictionary, such as surnames, given names, place names, city / town names, station names, port names, and airport names, making it useful for collecting related information about selected kanji.

[0017] The Kanji-Kana conversion execution unit that executes the present invention uses the conventional Kana-Kanji conversion execution unit as it is and only changes the input / output processing and the conversion processing. Therefore, the Kanji-Kana conversion of the present invention can also be applied to most commercially available Kana-Kanji conversion type Japanese input systems.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] Operation Explanation Diagram of Kanji-Kana Conversion [Figure 2] Block Diagram of a System Incorporating Components (parts enclosed by dotted lines) Necessary for Adding a Kana-Kanji Conversion Function to the "Kana-Kanji Conversion / KEARM Conversion Type Japanese Input System" [Figure 3] Operation Explanation Diagram of the "Kanji-Kana Conversion Execution Unit" 52 in FIG. 2 [Figure 4] Operation Explanation Diagram of the "Kana-Kanji Conversion / KEARM Conversion Execution Unit" 4 to 33 in FIG. 3 [Figure 5] Operation Explanation Diagram of the "Conversion Unit" 9 in FIG. 4 [Figure 6] Dictionary for Kana-Kanji Conversion and User Dictionary [Figure 7] Screen Transition Diagram of Kanji-Kana Conversion in Example 1 (Exact Match Search) [Figure 8] Screen Transition Diagram of Kanji-Kana Conversion in Example 2 (Exact Match Search) [Figure 9] Screen Transition Diagram of Kanji-Kana Conversion in Example 3 (Partial Match Search) [Figure 10] Block Diagram of a Multifunctional Japanese Input System

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] (A) Summary of terms The terms are explained individually, not in any particular order. (a) Japanese input system This is a Japanese input system for personal computers that uses a kana-kanji conversion method (as defined in JISX4064 or a system equivalent thereto) and is used in combination with a computer keyboard and a sufficiently large monitor. There are two search methods: a "batch conversion method" using exact match search and a "predictive conversion method" using prefix match search. The kana-kanji conversion / KEARM conversion system is a batch conversion method, but it has a conversion activation unit and is a "sequential conversion method" that repeats batch conversion using exact match search after each character is entered. The "predictive conversion method" is also a sequential conversion method using prefix match search, but here, the sequential conversion method using exact match search is referred to as the "sequential conversion method". (a)(a) Batch conversion formula The JISX4064 standard kana-kanji conversion system works as follows: after the user enters a string and presses the conversion key, it divides the input string into segments based on their kanji readings and performs an exact match search and conversion from the beginning of the string. After conversion, users can edit the string by changing the segment division positions or selecting alternative candidates for each segment. Finally, the user presses the confirmation key to input the converted strings for each segment as confirmed strings into the application program. (a)(b) predictive text type When 1 to 3 characters are entered, the system automatically starts the conversion process, using the input string as the reading of the kanji characters. Based on a prefix match search, the system presents multiple predictive conversion candidates, and the user sequentially selects the desired candidate to create the final string. However, if the user continues to input without selecting a candidate, the number of predictive conversion candidates will gradually decrease, and eventually only one candidate will remain based on an exact match search, resulting in operation similar to (c) sequential conversion. (a)(c) Sequential transformation formula This is a sequential conversion system that follows the exact match search and batch conversion method of the JIS X 4064 standard, and adds a conversion activation unit that starts a new conversion after each character is entered. The characteristic of this method is that it can sequentially display conversion candidates that perfectly correspond to the input string. Editing after conversion is also possible, just like with batch conversion systems. (i) Input mode There are six input modes: hiragana, katakana, full-width alphanumeric characters, half-width katakana, half-width alphanumeric characters, and MP mode, as well as a direct input mode where the Japanese input system does not intervene. The first five modes are the same as those used in commercially available systems and are used for sequential conversion input. MP mode is not used in this invention. (c) Output language selection switch This is for KEARM conversion and will not be used in this invention. (e) dictionary Sequential conversion uses a kana-kanji conversion dictionary, a user dictionary, and an automatically generated dictionary. The kana-kanji conversion dictionary has standard content and cannot be changed. The user dictionary is a standard tool that allows users to add and delete registered words. The automatically generated dictionary is created and deleted automatically by the system as needed for processing alphanumeric characters, symbols, and codes during sequential conversion. (e)(a) Dictionary for converting kana to kanji The dictionary has the structure shown in Figure 6, and performs kana-to-kanji conversion by searching for the "reading" in kana and obtaining the corresponding kanji. In kanji-to-kana conversion, all registered kanji are searched for using the kanji whose reading is to be looked up. If a match is found, the reading of the kanji is extracted by tracing back, and a conversion candidate string is created by adding the kanji, the "reading," and abbreviations for each part of speech. These are then arranged in chronological order to create a list of conversion candidates. (e)(b) User dictionary This dictionary has the same structure as the kana-kanji conversion dictionary and is used as an auxiliary dictionary to the kana-kanji conversion dictionary. Words can be added and deleted using the tools included as standard with the system. (e)(c)Automatically generated dictionary To process alphanumeric characters, symbols, and other characters, the system automatically registers the string in question in a dedicated dictionary. This dictionary is used for sequential conversion and is not updated; it is overwritten and deleted after the conversion is complete. (O) Conversion mode While there are sequential conversion, new predictive conversion, KEARM-priority conversion, and MP modes, this invention uses only sequential conversion mode. (o)(a) Sequential conversion mode This mode performs conversion using exact match search for each character entered, including kana-to-kanji conversion, ANS conversion, KEARM conversion, and automatic dictionary generation conversion. KEARM conversion is not used in this invention. Kanji-to-kana conversion is also performed in this mode. (k) Operating mode There are ND, ADP, AD, and ARP modes. For single phrases such as words and phrases, only ND mode is used. For sentence conversion, the conversion is performed in the order of ND --> ADP --> AD mode. Kanji-kana conversion is performed in AD mode. ARP mode is not used in this invention. (ka)(a)ND(Non-Div) This is used for converting single phrases such as words and phrases. Even when converting strings that can be multiple phrases, it is necessary to first check whether they are single phrases or not, so the conversion starts in ND mode. (c)(b)ADP (AutoDivProcess) The string containing multiple segments is divided into segments sequentially, starting from the first segment, and then converted using kana-kanji conversion, ANS conversion, KEARM conversion, or an automatically generated dictionary conversion. The purpose of conversion in ADP mode is to select the most suitable conversion candidate for each segment. KEARM conversion is not used in this invention. (c)AD(AutoDiv) After conversion in ADP is complete, the system returns to the first phrase in AD mode and converts the input buffer ss11[0] again as the conversion string. Subsequently, when moving between phrases using the left and right arrow keys, the input buffer ss11[n] (where n is the phrase number from 0 to 49) is used as the conversion string and converted in the same way. Conversion in AD mode is called AD conversion. The purpose of AD conversion is to obtain the maximum number of conversion candidates. However, the standard sequential conversion screen limits it to 5 candidates. Kanji-kana conversion is performed in AD mode because it occurs after the conversion candidate list is displayed. Since the number of candidates increases in kanji-kana conversion, a screen that displays 9 conversion candidates per screen is used. (Ki) Input / Output Character Display This section displays input and output strings on the application program's screen. While this section lacks a screen frame, it has a display structure, and the displayed strings are underlined according to their display attributes. The input string becomes a display string of the same character type and is used to display the input characters. In sequential conversion mode, after transitioning to the conversion candidate list screen, the conversion results (selected candidates) are displayed instead of the display string. (Ki)(a) Input string The strings entered into this system from the keyboard are divided into display strings and conversion strings in the input processing unit, and the display strings of the same character type are actually used for input display. (Ki)(b) Display string The input string is displayed using the same character set as the input string in the input / output character display screen of the application program. (Ki)(c)Conversion string In sequential conversion mode, the string used as the search input during conversion is full-width katakana if the input string is kana. For alphanumeric characters, symbols, and codes, the input string is used as the conversion string. In kanji-kana conversion, the kanji selected from the list of conversion candidates is used as the conversion string. (Ki)(d) Display Attributes In sequential conversion mode, input and output characters are displayed with a specific underline for each string by specifying the display attribute. By default, the display attribute for the sequential conversion screen is "Input" (dotted line), and in the conversion candidate list screen, the segment the user is working on is displayed as "Converted Segment of Interest" (solid thick line), while other segments are distinguished as "Converted Segment" (solid thin line). (K)(e) Conversion result The string displayed in the input / output character display after the transition from the sequential conversion screen to the conversion candidate list screen is the selected candidate and is called the conversion result. In the initial operation using the conversion operation transition key, the first conversion candidate becomes the conversion result, but other candidates can also be directly selected with the mouse. In the case of a multi-clause sentence, the string is not only the clause itself but also the combined string of the output buffer ss12[n] from the first clause to the last clause (n is the clause number 0 to 49). When the confirmation key is pressed, the string of the conversion result becomes the confirmed string. Kanji-kana conversion is an operation after the transition to the conversion candidate list screen, but since it is performed in the sequential conversion mode, the post-conversion processing is almost the same as that of sequential conversion. (C) Sequential conversion screen This is a screen where only a character string is input in the sequential conversion mode. However, since the kana-kanji conversion / KEARM conversion system has a conversion start part, sequential conversion is performed for each character input. In the case of a single clause, a conversion candidate list is displayed, and in the case of a multi-clause sentence, the string combined with the first conversion candidate of each clause is displayed. The input / output character display displays the display string in the same character type as the input character string. Kana-kanji conversion is performed on the conversion candidate list screen, so no conversion is performed on this screen. (C)(a) Conversion output (for sequential conversion screen) The conversion output is the character string output obtained by conversion. For kana-kanji conversion and ANS conversion, the following processing is performed. The integrated output of one or more conversion outputs unified based on priority becomes the conversion information szBufz. (1) In kana-kanji conversion, the kana-kanji conversion dictionary and the user dictionary are used, and for each character input, the conversion string is used as the input for search and conversion. For example, when the conversion character is "シ" and the obtained conversion candidates are "し", "市", "氏", "死", ···, these conversion candidates are arranged in chronological order and saved in a character variable, and the string information "し 市 氏 シ 死 ···" is obtained. This string information becomes the conversion output. A control character \0 is placed at the end of each candidate of the conversion output. The conversion output is classified by the part of speech of the dictionary (called item number), and adverbs and nouns (item number 4) are saved in the character variable szBufa, nouns + particles (item number 5) are saved in the character variable szBufb, verbs (item number 8) are saved in the character variable szBufc, and the user dictionary (mainly item number 2) is saved in the character variable UserDic. (2) ANS conversion is the conversion of alphanumeric characters, symbols, and codes that cannot be converted using kana-kanji conversion, and in a broad sense, it is included in the function of kana-kanji conversion, similar to the JIS standard. ANS conversion uses a user dictionary, an automatically generated dictionary, or a dedicated program without a dictionary. Numbers and symbols are converted between full-width and half-width characters, and numbers are also converted to Chinese numerals, but symbols such as parentheses are converted to various similar symbols. The converted string information, which is a collection of the converted strings as candidates, becomes the conversion output. A control character \0 is placed at the end of each candidate in the conversion output. Nouns (item 4) are stored in the character variable szBufa, nouns + particles (item 5) in the character variable szBufb, the user dictionary (mainly item 2) in the character variable UserDic, and the conversion output by program conversion of single phrases (items 1 and 6) is stored in the character variable szSymbol. (k)(b) Sequential conversion confirmation key The first conversion candidate on the sequential conversion screen is the output that corresponds one-to-one with the input string (and display string) during conversion, and is the most suitable conversion candidate. Furthermore, since the first conversion candidate is the selected candidate, pressing this logical key (physical key: Shift+Enter) on the sequential conversion screen will output the first conversion candidate as the confirmed string. Commercially available predictive text input methods do not have a one-to-one correspondence between input and output, so the user must always select a candidate. (Ke) New predictive text This invention does not use this method. (C) Conversion candidate list screen (also called the conversion operation screen) Pressing the conversion operation transition key from the sequential conversion screen will take you to the conversion operation screen, which displays a list of conversion candidates. Kanji-to-kana conversion is performed on this screen. The processing after execution is almost the same as the processing on this screen. (c)(a) Output order (for the conversion candidate list screen) The output order of conversion candidates on the conversion candidate list screen (arrangement order with the first conversion candidate at the top) is the same as the output order on the sequential conversion screen when you navigate to the conversion candidate list screen by pressing the conversion operation transition key. (c)(b) Conversion output (for the conversion candidate list screen) On the conversion candidate list screen, when moving the clause left or right or clicking on an arbitrary clause with the mouse, AD conversion is performed using the string in the input buffer ss11[n] (n is 0 to 49) of each clause as the input. Similar to the conversion on the sequential conversion screen, the candidate strings obtained by AD conversion are arranged in chronological order and saved in a character variable as the conversion output. For example, in kana-to-kanji conversion, it is saved in the character variable like "し 市 氏 シ 死 ···" and used as the conversion output. In ANS conversion, the conversion output is obtained by full-width / half-width conversion, half-width / full-width conversion, Chinese numeral conversion, or various character type conversions. For any conversion output, a control character \0 is placed at the end of each candidate. In kana input, it is kana-to-kanji conversion, and in alphanumeric symbol input, it is ANS conversion or KEARM conversion, but KEARM conversion is not used in the present invention. The method of summarizing the conversion output is almost the same as (ク)(a) conversion output (for sequential conversion screen), and the final conversion output is saved in the character variable szBufz as the conversion information. (コ)(c) Conversion operation transition This is an operation to transition from the sequential conversion screen to the conversion candidate list screen. The conversion operation transition key is a logical key, and the physical key varies depending on the application. In the sequential conversion mode of kana-to-kanji conversion, keys such as the Space key are used. Clicking directly on the desired candidate with the mouse enables the same function and at the same time allows candidate selection. By default, the conversion candidates are the same as in sequential conversion, and a list of up to five conversion candidates is displayed. When displaying the maximum number of conversion candidates, the [Conversion] key is used as the physical key. (コ)(d) Selected candidate On the conversion candidate list screen, the desired candidate can be selected using the up and down arrow keys or the mouse. The selected candidate is called the selected candidate. In kana-to-kanji conversion, it becomes a single selected candidate and the background color becomes light blue. In the sequential conversion mode, the selected candidate becomes the conversion result. In kanji-to-kana conversion, the selected candidate becomes the conversion string. (サ) Kana-to-kanji conversion Input kana and convert it to a sentence containing kanji. In the kana-to-kanji conversion defined by JISX4064, it includes the conversion of alphanumeric symbols and symbols, so in the sequential conversion mode, the broad sense of kana-to-kanji conversion also includes (シ) ANS conversion. (シ) ANS conversion In sequential conversion, alphanumeric characters and symbols are referred to as ANS (AlphaNumeric and Symbol). Full-width alphanumeric characters and symbols in ANS are converted to half-width alphanumeric characters and symbols (full-width / half-width conversion), and half-width alphanumeric characters and symbols are converted to full-width alphanumeric characters and symbols (half-width / full-width conversion), and these are paired with their respective conversion strings to create two conversion candidates. Numbers are also converted to Chinese numerals. Symbols such as parentheses are converted to various similar symbols. (S) Kanji information conversion, (S) Conversation text conversion, (S) Re-conversion function, (T) Memo function None of these are used in this invention. (Chi) Kanji-to-Kana conversion This function allows you to select a desired kanji from the list of conversion candidates and press the logical kanji-kana conversion key. The system then searches the entire kanji dictionary for kana-kanji conversion, traces the readings of matching kanji in reverse, combines the kanji and their readings, and adds part-of-speech abbreviations to create a conversion candidate string, which is then displayed as a list of conversion candidates. In an exact match search, the list displays the reading and part-of-speech abbreviation of the kanji in question, but in a partial match search, there are more matching kanji, resulting in a list that shows related string information for the kanji rather than just the readings. (Chi)(a) Kanji-Kana conversion key The key that initiates kanji-kana conversion (a logical key; the physical equivalent is the Ctrl key). (Chi) (b) Partial match search key The standard search method for kanji-kana conversion is exact match search. However, if you press the partial match search key (a logical key, the physical key being the Shift key) before pressing the kanji-kana conversion key, the kanji-kana conversion will be performed using partial match search, which includes not only exact matches but also matches that start with or end with the character. (Tsu) Kanji lookup and kana conversion, (Te) Sentence segmentation and conversion, (To) KEARM conversion, (Na) Term attributes, (Ni) KEARM learning conversion, (Nu) KEARM standard conversion, (Ne) KEARM detailed conversion, (No) KEARM priority conversion None of these are used in this invention. (h) Terminology Information Alphanumeric characters and symbols are distinguished by ANS (Alpha-Numeric and Symbol) codes 1-4 as follows. Terms registered in the kana-kanji conversion dictionary and user dictionary are assigned a yougoCode from a to ? as element information, corresponding to numerical values ​​from 5 to 33. The combination of both 1-33 is used as static information, and 1-256, which is further combined with dynamic information obtained from the conversion output szBufa-szBufc (determination of nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.), is stored as term information in szBufzcode[n] (where n is a candidate number from 0 to 499) for each conversion candidate. prevCode is the term information for szBufzcode[0], which is the first conversion candidate, and is used as information when converting the next phrase. There is also prevCode1, which is used when a case particle is involved in the relationship with the next phrase. szBufzcode[n] is used to underline or change the background color when displaying conversion candidates on the screen. (h)(a) Assign ANS codes (Alpha-Numeric and Symbol) to numerical values ​​1-4. 1: Numbers 2: Letters 3: Symbols (#$ etc.) 4: Signs (" " etc.) (h)(b)yougoCode (not all of it is used, as it is used as needed) The following code (a ~ ?) should correspond to the numbers 5 to 33. a: Surname b: Given name c: Country name or place name in Tokyo d: Place name outside of Tokyo e: Surname / given name combined / neuter noun f: Person-related noun 1 (e.g., ~Director, ~Mr.) g: Person-related noun 2 (e.g., victim, carpenter) h: Parts of the human body i: Edible plant j: Vehicle k: Period (e.g., ~week) l: Animal m: Season (e.g., March) n: Natural phenomenon o: Topography / historical site p: Adjective / conjunction q: Chinese r: Onomatopoeia in katakana s: Memo function t: Chinese numeral v: Regular verb w: Verb with five conjugation and sound change 2 x: Adjective y: Adjectival noun z: Verb-related noun (e.g., surprise) - details omitted ?: Former city / town name (e.g., Yono City) The following codes (* and +) can be used in conjunction with the above codes (a ~ ?). *: Used in kanji information conversion; when added, it increases the numerical value by +120 and changes the background color of the conversion candidate to light yellow. +: This is added when you confirm a kana-kanji conversion twice. When added, the value increases by +80, and the corresponding term is used preferentially. (h)(c)prevCode (not all of it is used, as it is used as needed) 0: None 1: Numbers 2: Letters 3: Symbols ($ etc.) 4: Signs (「、{ etc.) 5: Surname 6: Given name 7: Country name or Tokyo place name 8: Other place name 9: Surname / Given name combined / Neuter noun 10: Personal noun 1 (~san, ~kun etc.) 11: Personal noun 2 (Victim, Carpenter etc.) 12: Parts of the human body 13: Carnivorous plants 14: Vehicles 15: Period (~weeks etc.) 16: Animals 17: Season (March etc.) 18: Natural phenomena 19: Topography / Historical sites 20: Adjectives / Conjunctions 21: Surnames other than the first choice 22: Memo function 39: Noun clause 40: Chinese numerals 60: Verbs (including imperfective form) 61: Verbs (conjunctive form) 62: Verbs (terminal / attributive form) 70: Adjective 1 (Next clause is a noun form) 71: Adjective 2 (Next clause is a verb or noun form) 80: Adverb equivalent 81: Verb form adverb (~te, ~de) and subsequent parts omitted 94: KEARM conversion implementation clause 97: AR conversion implementation clause 102~118: Processing of compound verbs (e.g., continuing to buy) 126: KEARM fixed conversion implementation clause 130: Kanji-kana conversion implementation clause (h)(d)prevCode1 (Used when a case particle is involved in relation to the next clause. Use only when necessary.) 0: None 1: Person-related noun + case particle (the victim goes there) 2: Quantity noun + case particle (there are three) 3: Human body parts + case particle (holding down the feet) 5: Edible plant + case particle (orange peel) 6: Vehicle + case particle (inside the bus) 7: Region + case particle (earthquake in Niigata) 8: Time / period + case particle (meet in March) 11: Not used 12: Topography / historical site + case particle (castle ruins) (H)(e)szBufzcode[n](n is candidate number 0-499) szBufzcode[n] contains term information for all converted candidates, and is used to change the background color or underline the nth candidate. (Hi) Conversion Information In sequential conversion, the final conversion output obtained from the strings szBufa~szBufc, UserDic, and szSymbol, which are the conversion outputs of kana-kanji conversion, ANS conversion, and KEARM conversion, becomes the conversion information szBufz. KEARM conversion is not used in this invention. Pressing a conversion operation transition key (such as the Space key or the down arrow key) from the sequential conversion screen of a complex phrase performs AD conversion. Pressing the left or right arrow keys moves between phrases and similarly performs AD conversion. In AD conversion as well, the final conversion output obtained from the string information of the conversion outputs szBufa~szBufc and UserDic becomes the conversion information szBufz. The conversion information is string information that shows a list of conversion candidates. (F) Output information The output information for sequential conversion differs depending on whether it is conversion information szBufz, which shows a list of conversion candidates for single phrases, or string information ss12[0]~ss12[n] (where n is the phrase number 0~49), which lists the first conversion candidates for each phrase in a complex phrase. The system determines whether it is single-phrase conversion information or complex-phrase string information and stores it in the character variable szBufCan as output information. By default, the number of conversion candidates in the conversion information is limited to a maximum of 5. The output information for AD conversion is conversion information szBufz, which shows a list of conversion candidates for each phrase. (H) Sentence information (excerpt only) Term information contains information for each phrase and has information for each candidate, while phrase information is representative of the phrase. The character variable that represents phrase information is ArrayAuto[n][m], where n is the phrase number from 0 to 49 and m is from 0 to 12. (He)(a)ArrayAuto[n][2]: Segment information Save the term information (yougoCode). (H)(b)ArrayAuto[n][5]: Sentence information Save the term information prevCode. (He)(c)ArrayAuto[n][6]: Segment information Save term information prevCode1. (e) Input buffer / Output buffer For complex phrase conversion, the conversion string for each phrase and the first or selected conversion candidate for the conversion information obtained after conversion must be saved for each phrase. This is a buffer for saving the string for each phrase. There are KER buffers for input, output, and assistance, and it is possible to divide the text into up to 50 phrases (n is the phrase number from 0 to 49). Up to 128 strings can be saved. Input buffer ss11[n]

[0128] : Stores the conversion string for each phrase. Output buffer ss12[n]

[0128] : Saves the first candidate or selected candidate for each phrase. KER buffer ss12k[n]

[0128] : For auxiliary use. (M) List of Functions (excerpt only, standard functions not included) Most of these were newly developed for this invention, while some are additions to existing functions. (a) AddCharN: Function for displaying output characters (b) ConvCandidate: Function for displaying conversion candidates (c)ConvPhrase: Function for executing kana-kanji conversion / ANS conversion / KEARM conversion / kanji-kana conversion / kanji information conversion (d) DicWrite: A function for registering user dictionaries, also used for registering automatically generated dictionaries. (e)GetKanjiWord: Function for retrieving kanji readings and information. (f)GetRefWord: Function for obtaining kana-kanji combination information (mi) Variables (excerpt only) (a) AD: Value is 1 when in AD mode. (b)ArrayStart: -1 when on the sequential conversion screen, the selected phrase number (0-49) when on the conversion operation screen. (c)ArraywAdd[n][m]: Ending length of the characters to display as conversion candidates (n is 0-49 for phrases, m is 0-511) (d)ChikujiHenkan: This value is 1 in sequential conversion mode. (e) KanjiKanaHenkan: Set to 1 when kanji-kana conversion is performed. (f)nArray: Integers of clause numbers 0 to 49 (g)nEnable: Integer for document analysis (h)nLength: Auxiliary integer for document analysis (i)n1: Character length of the character variable ss1 used for conversion in ND mode (j)n1Auto: Character length of ss1Auto (k)ShiftOnAD: Variable indicating partial match search (l)ss1: Used as a character variable for various purposes. (m)ss1Auto: Character variable for conversion in ADP and ARP modes (n)ss1Cand: Character variable for displaying output characters (o)ss5[n]: Character variable for displaying conversion candidates (n is candidate number 0-499) (p)szBuf: Character variable for collecting converted strings (for collecting individual information) (q)szBuf3: Character variable for conversion assistance information (r)szBufCan: Character variable for output information at the end of conversion (s)szBufa: Character variable for outputting the conversion of the noun (item number 4). (t)szBufb: Character variable for outputting conversion of noun + particle (item number 5) (u)szBufc: Character variable for outputting the conversion of the verb (item 8). (v)szBufz: Character variable for the final conversion output (centralized information for the conversion output) (w)szBufzcode[n]: Term information at the end of conversion, n is candidate number 0-499 (x)szSymbol: Character variable for program conversion output (y)UserDic: Character variable for user dictionary conversion output (z)yougotitle: Character variable 1 for assigning a string to be written (α)yougo: Character variable 2 for assigning the string to be written (β)yougomode: Integer for user dictionary writing mode (B) Operation Code and Examples

[0021] Figure 2 is a block diagram of a system incorporating the components (areas enclosed by dotted lines) necessary to add a kana-kanji conversion function to a kana-kanji conversion / KEARM conversion system. In this invention, the "KEARM conversion dictionary" 38, "output language selection switch" 39, and "KEARM conversion voice output unit" 40, which are used for functions other than kana-kanji conversion, are not used, so the kana-kanji conversion of this invention can be applied to most commercially available kana-kanji conversion systems.

[0022] Kanji-to-kana conversion is a method that uses a selected kanji from a list of conversion candidates as a conversion string, searches the entire registered words in the kana-kanji conversion dictionary, and then traces back to find matching kanji to display their readings and part-of-speech abbreviations. In the kanji-to-kana conversion described in Patent Document 1, kanji on the PC screen are read and used as the conversion string, but the difference in this invention is that kanji selected from the list of conversion candidates for kana-kanji conversion are used as the conversion string. Therefore, the part common to both is the latter part, which uses the conversion string to look up the reading of the kanji and displays it in the list of conversion candidates, and is described in paragraphs 0017 to 0019 of Patent Document 1, and corresponds to the explanation of reference numerals 6 to 7 in Table 1 and Figure 1.

[0023] However, since the systems that execute both are different, the screen displays will differ. Furthermore, this invention can display not only the readings of kanji noun forms but also those of kanji verb forms. For this reason, not only the readings of kanji but also abbreviations for each part of speech are displayed. In addition, this invention takes note that the results of kanji-kana conversion differ depending on the search method, and allows users to choose between exact match search and partial match search. In an exact match search, all readings of kanji (both on'yomi and kun'yomi) and abbreviations for each part of speech can be displayed, while in a partial match search, there will be more matching registered words, so it can be used to collect string information related to the kanji in question. First, as Example 1, we will show an example of operation that displays the reading of a kanji noun form when the search method is set to exact match search. [Examples]

[0024] Figures 7(1) sequential conversion screen and (2) conversion candidate list screen are the same screens as Figures 49(1) sequential conversion screen and (2) conversion candidate list screen in Non-Patent Literature 2, and the operation of both screens is explained in Example 31 in paragraphs 0233 to 0236 of Non-Patent Literature 2. Example 1 of the Kanji-Kana conversion of the present invention is an example of operation in which Kanji-Kana conversion is performed by pressing the Kana-Kanji conversion key from the conversion candidate list screen in Figure 7(2). Kanji-Kana conversion is performed by the "Kanji-Kana conversion execution unit" 52 in Figure 2. The conversion operation is explained in Figure 3.

[0025] In Figure 3, when you press the Kanji-Kana conversion key (a logical key, the physical key is the Ctrl key) instantaneously in "Kanji-Kana conversion key operation" 71a, you set various variables in "Setting variables for executing Kanji-Kana conversion" 71b. The operation of the conversion candidate list screen in Figure 7(2) is performed in sequential conversion mode, and Kanji-Kana conversion is also performed in sequential conversion mode, so the variable ChikujiHenkan, which indicates sequential conversion mode, remains at 1. The operation mode is also AD mode when transitioning from the sequential conversion screen in Figure 7(1) to the conversion candidate list screen in (2), so the variable AD = 1 remains, and the variable ArrayStart, which indicates the number of the phrase of interest, also remains at ArrayStart = 0 when transitioning to the conversion candidate list screen in Figure 7(2). Next, set the variable KanjiKanaHenkan to 1 in order to execute Kanji-Kana conversion. Finally, regarding the search method settings, the standard search method of the present invention is exact match search, and Example 1 also uses exact match search. The partial match search key (a logical key, the physical key being the Shift key) is not pressed, and the variable ShiftOnAD becomes 0.

[0026] Next, the "Kana-Kanji Conversion / KEARM Conversion Execution Unit" 4-33 is launched from AD input, starting from "Setting Variables for Executing Kanji-Kana Conversion" 71b in Figure 3. The string used for conversion at this time is not kana input from "Input Unit" 1-3 in Figure 2, as in the case of kana-kanji conversion, but the variable ss5[n] which is the output from "Conversion Candidate Display Execution Unit" 34a in Figure 3, and is "Kobe" as the first conversion candidate is ss5[0]. At this time, the stem of "Kobe" is obtained by referring to the variable ArraywAdd[nArray][m] (where m is the candidate number and 0), which indicates the length of the last character of the conversion candidate display. For example, if the conversion candidate was "Kobe no", the length of the "no" part can be detected as ArraywAdd[nArray][0] = 1, so only the stem part "Kobe" can be obtained. The reason is that all registered words in the dictionary are registered as stems, so the stem is necessary to search for kanji in kanji-kana conversion. In this embodiment, for "Kobe", ArraywAdd[nArray][0] = 0, so "Kobe" becomes the string to be converted. Next, the operation of the "Kana-Kanji Conversion / KEARM Conversion Execution Unit" 4-33 will be explained in Figures 4 and 5.

[0027] Starting from the "Conversion Start" in the AD specification input of FIG. 4, it enters the determination of "Operation Mode" 4, exits from AD, enters the "Conversion Unit" 9 through the OR input, and performs AD conversion. The input part is shown by two parallel lines, which is a simplified representation of an OR gate and will be used in the same way in all subsequent drawings. In the table of FIG. 5, which is the operation explanatory diagram of the "Conversion Unit" 9, at line number 1, when the operation mode is AD and item number 4, the functions GetCandidateStringsFromDictionary and GetKanjiWord are used to perform kanji-kana conversion. It is only item number 4 because the conversion string is only the stem and does not include the suffix. Since the variable ShiftOnAD is 0, the conversion is performed by exact match search. The method of kanji-kana conversion is basically the same as the method described in paragraph number 0017 of Patent Document 1 and explained in "Kanji-Kana Conversion and String Conversion" 6 of Table 1 and FIG. 1. In Patent Document 1, the function AlphaPhrase is used, but in the present invention, the function ConvPhrase is used for processing. The conversion method is to search for registered phrases in sequence for each "reading" in the kana-kanji conversion dictionary using the conversion string "Kobe". When a kanji phrase that exactly matches the conversion string (when ShiftOnAD = 0) is found, a conversion candidate string is created by combining that phrase, the "reading" corresponding to that phrase, and an abbreviation for each part of speech. The combination method is to put "( + kana reading + )" after the phrase, and since the registered phrases in the dictionary are arranged by part of speech, they are divided into noun (n), verb (v), adjective (a), adjectival verb (b), adverb / conjunction, etc. (p), and attach a small English letter, for example, in the form of Kobe (KANOTO) n. The conversion candidate strings are arranged in chronological order to create data for the conversion candidate list and saved in the variable szBufa as the conversion output. In principle, the dictionary to be searched is only the kana-kanji conversion dictionary standard-equipped in the system, but since the user dictionary that the user can register is also a dictionary with the same structure, the registered phrases in the user dictionary can also be included in the search target. When the search for all phrases is completed, the search ends.

[0028] As pointed out in paragraph 0018 of Patent Document 1, while kana-kanji conversion searches only the "readings" which serve as an index of kanji, kanji-kana conversion searches all kanji, which can prolong the computer's processing time, potentially disrupting normal message functions and leading to message errors. Therefore, it is necessary to multithread the program.

[0029] Once the conversion output for kanji-kana conversion is obtained, the process returns to Figure 4, terminates the "Conversion Unit" 9, exits the AD of the AD conversion, and enters the "Output Selection" 14b via OR input. Here, the conversion output szBufa is saved as conversion information in szBufz, the conversion string "Kobe" is saved in the input buffer ss11[0], and the first conversion candidate "Kobe (Kanoto)n" is saved in the output buffer ss12[0]. Furthermore, the conversion information szBufz is saved as output information in szBufCan via "Single / Multiple Output Selection" 21, exits from "Conversion Success" in Figure 4, and becomes the output information szBufCan of the "Kana-Kanji Conversion / KEARM Conversion Execution Unit" 4~33 in Figure 3. The subsequent display section of the kanji-kana conversion candidate list corresponds to the section described in paragraph 0019 of Patent Document 1, and the section explaining the "Conversion Candidate List Display" 7 in Table 1 and Figure 1.

[0030] The output information szBufCan from the "Kana-Kanji Conversion / KEARM Conversion Execution Section" 4 to 33 in FIG. 3 enters the "Conversion Candidate Display Section and Character Output Section" 34 to 35, which is the interface section with the application program, and enters the "Conversion Candidate Display Execution Section" 34a of the first department, the "Conversion Candidate Display Section" 34. The "Conversion Candidate Display Execution Section" 34a executes the function ConvCandidate and sends the output information to the structure for conversion candidates managed by the computer. Based on the conversion candidate display information ss5[0] to ss5[n] (n is the number of candidates - 1, which is 5 in this embodiment) obtained in the "Conversion Candidate Display Execution Section" 34a, the "Conversion Candidate Display Section" 34 sends a "Conversion Candidate List Display Request" 34c to the computer, and determines the size and position of the "Conversion Candidate List Display" 50 with various functions of the "Functions for Drawing Conversion Candidate List Display" 48. The screen with the candidate number added at the beginning and the conversion candidate list displayed becomes the "Conversion Candidate List" 82 in the Kana-Kanji Conversion Screen in FIG. 7(3). Next, it enters the "Character Output Selection" 35b of the "Character Output Section" 35 in FIG. 3. Since it is a single clause, ss5[n] (n is the candidate number) is selected as the output. Since the first conversion candidate is selected as the selected candidate, the character output is "Kobe (KANOTO)n" with the selected candidate number = 0. Here, "Kobe (KANOTO)n" is stored in the character variable ss1Cand. Next, the "Output Character Display Execution Section" 35c executes the function AddCharN for output character display and sends "Kobe (KANOTO)n" of ss1Cand to the structure for editing managed by the computer. Based on the above results, the "Character Output Section" 35 sends an "Output Character Display Request" 35d to the computer, determines the size and position of the "Input / Output Character Display" 49 on the application program screen with various functions of the "Functions for Drawing Input / Output Character Display" 47, and then displays the selected candidate on the screen as the conversion result with a thick underlined line like "Kobe (KANOTO)n" in the Kana-Kanji Conversion Screen in FIG. 7(3).

[0031] The Kanji-Kana conversion execution unit in FIG. 3 that executes Kanji-Kana conversion is composed of the "Kana-Kanji conversion / KEARM conversion execution unit" 4 to 33 and the "conversion candidate display unit · character output unit" 34 to 35 in FIG. 2. The Kanji-Kana conversion, excluding the "input unit" 1 to 3, has the same configuration as the Kana-Kanji conversion of a normal Japanese input system shown in FIG. 2. The Kanji-Kana conversion simply uses the components of the normal Kana-Kanji conversion as they are and only changes the input / output processing and the conversion method. Therefore, the Kanji-Kana conversion can be applied to any system as long as it is a normal Kana-Kanji conversion type system.

[0032] In Example 2, the search is performed by exact match search as in Example 1, and an example of Kanji-Kana conversion in the case where the conversion candidate is not a noun form of Chinese characters like "Kobe" but a verb form of Chinese characters "walk" is shown. In the case of the verb form, since the conjugation ending is included in the string of the conversion candidate, it is necessary to separate the stem and the conjugation ending. The reason is that all the registered phrases in the dictionary are registered with the stems even in the case of verb forms of Chinese characters.

Example

[0033] Since the successive conversion screen of Fig. 8(1) and the conversion candidate list screen of Fig. 8(2) are not described in Non-Patent Document 2 like the screens of Figs. 7(1) to 7(2) in Example 1, a simple operation explanation of the successive conversion screen of Fig. 8(1) and the conversion candidate list screen of Fig. 8(2) will be given here. In paragraph number 0234 of Non-Patent Document 2, an operation explanation is given for the case of the conversion string "KOUBE" corresponding to the noun conversion candidate "Kobe". In the case of the verb conversion candidate "walk", the conversion string becomes "ARUKU". When the conversion string is "KOUBE", the conversion is performed at the 5th line of the table (lines 1 to 10) in Fig. 9 of Non-Patent Document 2, and the conversion output szBufa of "Kobe head neck riverside riverbank..." is obtained. On the other hand, when the conversion string is "ARUKU", the conversion is also performed at the 10th line of the table (lines 1 to 10) in Fig. 9, and the conversion output szBufc of "walk ARUKU aruku" is obtained. In the case of "walk", what is listed in the dictionary is "walk (KU)" which combines the Chinese character stem "walk" and the terminative inflectional ending "KU". Even if the katakana "ARUKU" and the hiragana "aruku" are not listed in the dictionary, they are filled in as standard output. Either the conversion output szBufa or the conversion output szBufc is stored as conversion information in the character variable szBufz. Thereafter, although the screen displays are different for the conversion candidate "Kobe" in Example 1 and the conversion candidate "walk" in Example 2, the operations are the same.

[0034] Example 2 is an example of an operation of pressing the kana-Chinese character conversion key from the conversion candidate list screen of Fig. 8(2) to execute the Chinese character-kana conversion. The operation of the "Chinese character-kana conversion execution unit" 52 in Fig. 2 that executes the Chinese character-kana conversion will be described with reference to Fig. 3.

[0035] When the kana-to-Chinese character conversion key (a logical key, and the physical key is the Ctrl key) is instantaneously pressed in the "Kana-to-Chinese Character Conversion Key Operation" 71a of FIG. 3, various variables are set in the "Setting of Variables for Executing Kana-to-Chinese Character Conversion" 71b. The settings are the same as those in the first embodiment, with the variable ChikujiHenkan = 1 indicating the sequential conversion mode, the variable AD = 1 indicating the AD mode, the variable ArrayStart = 0 indicating the target clause number, and the variable KanjiKanaHenkan indicating kana-to-Chinese character conversion is set to 1. Finally, in the setting by the search method, the second embodiment is also a complete match search, and the variable ShiftOnAD becomes 0 without pressing the partial match search key (a logical key, and the physical key is the Shift key).

[0036] Next, the "Kana-to-Chinese Character Conversion / KEARM Conversion Execution Section" 4 to 33 of FIG. 3 is activated from the AD input in the "Setting of Variables for Executing Kana-to-Chinese Character Conversion" 71b. The conversion string at this time is the variable ss5[n], which is the output from the "Conversion Candidate Display Execution Section" 34a of FIG. 3, and it is "歩く" (walk) of the first conversion candidate ss5[0]. At this time, the stem of "歩く" is obtained by referring to the variable ArraywAdd[nArray][m] (m is the candidate number, which is 0 here) indicating the length of the ending of the conversion candidate display character. In this embodiment, since ArraywAdd[nArray][0] = 1, the stem is "歩". Next, the operation of the "Kana-to-Chinese Character Conversion / KEARM Conversion Execution Section" 4 to 33 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0037] Starting from the "Conversion Start" in the AD specification input of FIG. 4, it enters the determination of "Operation Mode" 4, exits from the AD, enters the "Conversion Unit" 9 through the OR input, and performs AD conversion. In the table of FIG. 5, which is the operation explanatory diagram of the "Conversion Unit" 9, at line number 1, with the operation mode being AD and item number 4, the functions GetCandidateStringsFromDictionary and GetKanjiWord are used to perform kanji-kana conversion. Since the variable ShiftOnAD is 0, the conversion is performed by exact match search. The method of kanji-kana conversion is the same as that in Embodiment 1. That is, for each "reading" in the kana-kanji conversion dictionary using the conversion string "歩" (step), a search for registered phrases is performed. When a kanji phrase that exactly matches the conversion string (when ShiftOnAD = 0) is found, a conversion candidate string is created by combining that phrase, the "reading" corresponding to that phrase, and further abbreviations by word type. The combination method is to use "( + kana reading + )" after the phrase. Furthermore, since the registered phrases in the dictionary are arranged by word type, they are divided into nouns (n), verbs (v), adjectives (a), adjectival nouns (b), adverbs / conjunctions, etc. (p), and attach small English letters, for example, in the form of 歩(アル)v. The conversion candidate strings are arranged in chronological order to create data for the conversion candidate list, and are saved as conversion output in the variable szBufa. When the search for all phrases is completed, the search ends.

[0038] When the conversion output of kanji-kana conversion is obtained, it returns to FIG. 4, ends the "Conversion Unit" 9, exits from the AD of the AD conversion, and enters the "Output Selection" 14b through the OR input. Here, the conversion output szBufa is saved as conversion information in szBufz, the conversion string "歩" (step) is saved in the input buffer ss11[0], and the first conversion candidate "歩(アル)v" is saved in the output buffer ss12[0]. Furthermore, in the "Single / Multiple Output Selection" 21, the conversion information szBufz is saved as output information in szBufCan, and it becomes the output information szBufCan of the "Kana-Kanji Conversion / KEARM Conversion Execution Unit" 4 to 33 in FIG. 3, starting from the "Conversion Success" in FIG. 4.

[0039] Next, the output information szBufCan output from the "Kana-Kanji Conversion / KEARM Conversion Execution Unit" 4 to 33 in FIG. 3 enters the "Conversion Candidate Display Unit and Character Output Unit" 34 to 35, which is the interface unit with the application program, and enters the "Conversion Candidate Display Execution Unit" 34a of the first department, the "Conversion Candidate Display Unit" 34. The "Conversion Candidate Display Execution Unit" 34a executes the function ConvCandidate and sends the output information to the conversion candidate structure for computer management. Based on the conversion candidate display information ss5[0] to ss5[n] (n is the number of candidates - 1, and in this embodiment, it is 9) obtained by the "Conversion Candidate Display Execution Unit" 34a, the "Conversion Candidate Display Unit" 34 sends a "Conversion Candidate List Display Request" 34c to the computer, and determines the size and position of the "Conversion Candidate List Display" 50 with various functions of the "Function for Drawing Conversion Candidate List Display, etc." 48, and adds a candidate number at the beginning and displays the first nine conversion candidates, and the screen becomes the "Conversion Candidate List" 82 in the Kana-Kanji conversion screen (page 1) of FIG. 8(3).[[ID=******]] [[ID=******]]

[0040] [[ID=******]] Next, it enters the "Character Output Selection" 35b of the "Character Output Unit" 35 in FIG. 3. Since it is a single morpheme, ss5[n] (n is the candidate number) is selected as the output. Since the first conversion candidate is selected as the selected candidate, the character output is "歩(アル)v" with the selected candidate number = 0. Here, "歩(アル)v" is stored in the character variable ss1Cand. Next, the "Output Character Display Execution Unit" 35c executes the function AddCharN for output character display and sends "歩(アル)v" of ss1Cand to the editing structure for computer management. Based on the above results, the "Character Output Unit" 35 sends an "Output Character Display Request" 35d to the computer, determines the size and position of the "Input / Output Character Display" 49 on the application program screen with various functions of the "Function for Drawing Input / Output Character Display, etc." 47, and then displays the selected candidate on the screen as the conversion result with a thick underlined line like "歩(アル)v" 83 in the Kana-Kanji conversion screen of FIG. 8(3).[[ID=******]] [[ID=******]]

[0041] [[ID=******]] Next, when the ↓ key is continuously pressed from the Kanji-Kana conversion screen (page 1) in Fig. 8(3), the candidate number of the output character string ss5[n] in the "conversion candidate display execution unit" 34a increases with the "up and down arrow key operation" 34b in Fig. 3, and the position of the selected candidate moves. When it reaches 10, the screen switches. The "conversion candidate display unit" 34 sends a "conversion candidate list display request" 34c to the computer, and determines the size and position of the "conversion candidate list display" 50 with various functions of the "function for drawing conversion candidate list display, etc." 48. The screen displaying the conversion candidates after 10 becomes the "conversion candidate list" 82 in the Kanji-Kana conversion screen (page 2) of Fig. 8(4). Next, enter the "character output selection" 35b of the "character output unit" 35 in Fig. 3. Since it is a single morpheme, select ss5[n] (n is the candidate number) as the output. When the selected candidate number = 10, the character output is "歩(ポ)n". Here, store "歩(ポ)n" in the character variable ss1Cand. Next, the "output character display execution unit" 35c executes the function AddCharN for output character display and sends "歩(ポ)n" of ss1Cand to the editing structure managed by the computer. Based on the above results, the "character output unit" 35 sends an "output character display request" 35d to the computer, determines the size and position of the "input / output character display" 49 on the application program screen with various functions of the "function for drawing input / output character display, etc." 47, and then displays the selected candidate on the screen as the conversion result with a thick underlined line like "歩(ポ)n" in the Kanji-Kana conversion screen (page 2) of Fig. 8(4).

[0042] In Example 3, not only registered phrases that exactly match the selected Chinese characters but also phrases with partial matches including forward and backward matches are targeted for Chinese character - kana conversion. Naturally, in partial match search, the number of matching Chinese characters increases, and it is closer to the purpose of collecting relevant information about the Chinese characters rather than simply examining their readings.

Example

[0043] Figure 9(1) Sequential Conversion Screen and (2) Conversion Candidate List Screen are the same screens as Figure 7(1) Sequential Conversion Screen and (2) Conversion Candidate List Screen in Example 1. Similar to Example 1, these are the same screens as Figure 49(1) Sequential Conversion Screen and (2) Conversion Candidate List Screen in Non-Patent Literature 2, and their operation has already been explained in Example 31 of Non-Patent Literature 2. Example 3 of the present invention shows an example of operation in which kanji-kana conversion is performed using partial match search as the search method from Figure 9(2) Conversion Candidate List Screen.

[0044] In Figure 3, under "Kanji-Kana Conversion Key Operation" 71a, if you press the partial match search key (logical key, physical key is Shift key) before pressing the Kanji-Kana conversion key (logical key, physical key is Ctrl key), the variable ShiftOnAD = 1, and the search becomes a partial match that includes not only exact matches but also prefix and suffix matches. Other settings are the same as those in Example 1 in paragraph 0025. Next, the "Kana-Kanji Conversion / KEARM Conversion Execution Unit" 4~33 is started from AD input. The string to be converted at this time is the same as in Example 1, the variable ss5[n] which is the output from the "Conversion Candidate Display Execution Unit" 34a in Figure 3, and the first conversion candidate is ss5[0], which is "Kobe". The operation of the "Kana-Kanji Conversion / KEARM Conversion Execution Unit" 4~33 is explained below with reference to Figures 4 and 5.

[0045] Entering from the specified input AD in Figure 4, the process begins with "Start Conversion," then proceeds to the "Operation Mode" 4 determination, exits AD, and enters the "Conversion Unit" 9 via OR input to perform AD conversion. In the table in Figure 5, which is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the "Conversion Unit" 9, row number 1, operation mode is AD, and item number 4 uses the functions GetCandidateStringsFromDictionary and GetKanjiWord to perform kanji-kana conversion. Since the variable ShiftOnAD is 1, conversion is performed using partial match search. The kanji-kana conversion is the same as in Example 1, but since the search method is partial match, naturally there will be many matching kanji words. The conversion candidate strings obtained are arranged chronologically to create data for the conversion candidate list, and saved as conversion output in the variable szBufa. The search ends when all words have been searched. Once the conversion information for kanji-kana conversion is obtained, the process returns to Figure 4, terminates the "Conversion Unit" 9, exits from the AD conversion AD, and enters "Output Selection" 14b via OR input. Here, the conversion output szBufa is saved as conversion information in szBufz, the conversion string "Kobe" is saved in the input buffer ss11[0], and the first conversion candidate "Azuma-cho-goudo n" is saved in the output buffer ss12[0]. Furthermore, the conversion information szBufz is saved as output information in szBufCan using the "Single / Multiple Output Selection" 21, and the process exits from "Conversion Successful" in Figure 4 to become the output information szBufCan in the "Kana-Kanji Conversion / KEARM Conversion Execution Unit" 4~33 in Figure 3.

[0046] The output information szBufCan from the "Kana-Kanji Conversion / KEARM Conversion Execution Unit" 4 to 33 in FIG. 3 enters the "Conversion Candidate Display Unit and Character Output Unit" 34 to 35, which is the interface part with the application program, and enters the "Conversion Candidate Display Execution Unit" 34a in the first department, the "Conversion Candidate Display Unit" 34. The "Conversion Candidate Display Execution Unit" 34a executes the function ConvCandidate and sends the output information to the structure for conversion candidates managed by the computer. Based on the conversion candidate display information ss5[0] to ss5[n] (n is the number of candidates - 1, and in this embodiment, it is 32) obtained in the "Conversion Candidate Display Execution Unit" 34a, the "Conversion Candidate Display Unit" 34 sends a "Conversion Candidate List Display Request" 34c to the computer, and determines the size and position of the "Conversion Candidate List Display" 50 with various functions of the "Functions for Drawing Conversion Candidate List Display" 48. The screen that adds the candidate number at the beginning and displays the first nine conversion candidates becomes the "Conversion Candidate List" 82 in FIG. 9(3) Kana-Kanji Conversion Screen (Page 1).

[0047] Next, it enters the "Character Output Selection" 35b in the "Character Output Unit" 35 of FIG. 3. Since it is a single morpheme, ss5[n] (n is the candidate number) is selected as the output. When the selected candidate number for the first conversion candidate = 0, the character output is "Azumacho Kobe (アズマチョウゴウド)n". Here, "Azumacho Kobe (アズマチョウゴウド)n" is stored in the character variable ss1Cand. Next, the "Output Character Display Execution Unit" 35c executes the function AddCharN for output character display and sends "Azumacho Kobe (アズマチョウゴウド)n" of ss1Cand to the structure for editing managed by the computer. Based on the above results, the "Character Output Unit" 35 sends an "Output Character Display Request" 35d to the computer, determines the size and position of the "Input / Output Character Display" 49 on the application program screen with various functions of the "Functions for Drawing Input / Output Character Display" 47, and then displays the selected candidate on the screen as the conversion result with a thick underlined line like "Azumacho Kobe (アズマチョウゴウド)n" 83 in FIG. 9(3) Kana-Kanji Conversion Screen (Page 1).

[0048] Next, if you continue to press the down arrow key from the Kanji-Kana conversion screen (page 1) in Figure 9(3), the candidate number of the output string ss5[n] in the "Conversion Candidate Display Execution Unit" 34a will increase in the "Up / Down Arrow Key Operation" 34b in Figure 3, and the position of the selected candidate will move. When it reaches 10, the screen will switch. The "Conversion Candidate Display Unit" 34 sends a "Conversion Candidate List Display Request" 34c to the computer, and various functions in the "Functions for Drawing the Conversion Candidate List Display" 48 determine the size and position of the "Conversion Candidate List Display" 50. The screen displaying conversion candidates from 10 onwards becomes the "Conversion Candidate List" 82 in the Kanji-Kana conversion screen (page 2) in Figure 9(4). Next, you enter the "String Output Selection" 35b in the "Character Output Unit" 35 in Figure 3, and since it is a single phrase, select ss5[n] (n is the candidate number) as the output. The conversion candidate number = 10, and the string output is "Kobe-cho (Kanbe-cho) n". Here, "Kanbe-cho (Kanbe-cho) n" is stored in the character variable ss1Cand. Next, the "output character display execution unit" 35c executes the output character display execution function AddCharN and sends "Kanbe-cho (Kanbe-cho) n" from ss1Cand to the computer-managed editing structure. Based on the above results, the "character output unit" 35 sends an "output character display request" 35d to the computer, and after the various functions of the "functions for drawing input / output character displays, etc." 47 determine the size and position of the application program's screen "input / output character display" 49, the selected candidate is displayed on the screen as the conversion result with a thick underline, as shown in Figure 9(4) Kanji-Kana conversion screen (page 2) "Kanbe-cho (Kanbe-cho) n" 83. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 1-62 are component numbers. 1-3 Input Section 4-33 Kana-Kanji Conversion / KEARM Conversion Execution Unit 4. Determining the operating mode 5 Input reading 5a Determining whether it is a new prediction or not 6. Determining the type of input characters 6a Full-width / half-width character detection (Kana-Kanji conversion and ANS conversion) 6b Full-width / half-width character detection (KEARM conversion) 7. Determining whether it exceeds 12 characters. 8. Attribute 1 (for information gathering) 9. Conversion Unit (for search and conversion execution) 10. Determining whether the conversion was successful or not. 11. Determining whether the conversion is complete or not. 12. Determining whether the conversion output consists only of katakana characters. 13. Acquire English combination information and perform KEARM conversion. 14a Selection of conversion output for each phrase 14b Obtaining conversion information by selecting the final conversion output. 15. PrevCode determination 16. Detection of the string to be converted for the following phrase 17. Determining the character type of the string to be converted. 17a Full-width / half-width character detection (Kana-Kanji conversion and ANS conversion) 17b Full-width / half-width character detection (KEARM conversion) 18. Move the kana characters forward by the specified number of times. 19 Kana input processing unit 20 Input / Output Buffers 21. Selection of output information based on whether the result of sequential conversion is a single phrase or a complex phrase. 22-33 Not used in this invention 34-35 Conversion candidate display section / Character output section 34 Conversion candidate display section 34a Conversion candidate display execution unit 34b Up / Down arrow key operation (selection of conversion candidates) 34c Request to display list of conversion candidates 35 Character Output Section 35a Not used in this invention 35b String output selection 35c Output character display execution unit 35d Output character display request 36 Kana-Kanji Conversion Dictionary 36a Reading (Headline) 36b Registered terms 37 User Dictionary 37a Reading (Headline) 37b Registered terms 38. KEARM conversion dictionary (not used in this invention) 39 Output language selection switch (not used in this invention) 40 KEARM conversion audio output section (not used in this invention) 41-46 Not used in this invention 47 Functions for displaying input / output characters, etc. 48 Functions for displaying a list of conversion candidates, etc. 49 Input / Output Character Display 50 Conversion Candidates List Display 51 Not used in this invention 52 Kanji-Kana Conversion Execution Unit 53-62 Not used in this invention Numbers 63-69 available Numbers 70-79 for operation instructions and function descriptions. 70a Computer 70b Japanese Input System 70c Select the desired kanji from the list of conversion candidates in the kana-kanji conversion screen. 70d Kanji-Kana Search and String Conversion 70e Display of conversion candidates for kanji-kana conversion 71a Kanji-Kana conversion key operation 71b Setting variables for performing kanji-kana conversion Numbers 72-79 available 80-91 Screen description numbers 80-83 Screen numbers for Kana-Kanji conversion and ANS conversion 80 Display string 81 Conversion Candidate List (for sequential conversion screen) 82 Conversion Candidate List (For the Conversion Candidate List Screen) 82a Selection Candidate (Conversion Candidate 1) 83 Conversion result 84-91 Not used in this invention

Claims

1. In a Japanese input system that incorporates a "Kanji-Kana Conversion / KEARM Conversion Type Japanese Input System" (hereinafter referred to as the Kana-Kanji Conversion / KEARM Conversion System) for inputting Japanese into application programs running on a computer, a "Kanji-Kana Conversion Execution Unit" is added to enhance the Kanji-Kana conversion function, and further, logical keys necessary for operation, such as the "Kanji-Kana Conversion Key" and the "Partial Match Search Key," are added. After entering a string, the user selects a desired kanji or mixed kanji character (hereinafter referred to as "kanji to look up the reading of") from the list of kana-kanji conversion candidates displayed on the application program screen via sequential conversion using the necessary operation keys or mouse, and then presses the "Kanji-Kana Conversion Key," which triggers the "Kanji-Kana Conversion Execution Unit" to execute the following steps: (1) The Kana-Kanji conversion system searches all registered words in its built-in Kana-Kanji conversion dictionary using the "Kanji to look up reading" keyword. If an exact match is found, the system combines the registered word and its corresponding "reading" in parentheses to indicate the "reading" of the Kanji. Furthermore, it adds an alphabetical abbreviation for the part of speech (n for nouns, v for verbs, or a for adjectives) to create a conversion candidate string. The system then creates a conversion candidate list data by arranging the multiple conversion candidate strings created in chronological order. (2) The steps include sending the data for the list of conversion candidates from (1) above to the application program, overwriting and displaying it on the application program screen as a list of conversion candidates for kanji-kana conversion, It consists of, The search for exact matches only, as described in (1) above, is the standard behavior. For example, if you press the "Partial Match Search Key" before pressing the "Kanji-Kana Conversion Key," the search may also include partial matches that include prefix and suffix matches. method.

2. In a system in which the "Kana-Kanji conversion / KEARM conversion type Japanese input system" described in claim 1 is replaced with another Kana-Kanji conversion type Japanese input system that conforms to or is similar to the JIS X 4064 standard, In systems where a list of conversion candidates for kana-kanji conversion is not displayed simply by entering a string, the system displays the desired list of conversion candidates using a method specific to each system, and thereafter, in the same manner as described in claim 1, step (1) creates data for the list of conversion candidates including the "reading" of the kanji and abbreviations for each part of speech, and step (2) overwrites and displays the data for the list of conversion candidates on the application program screen as a list of conversion candidates for kana-kanji conversion. Similar to claim 1, the standard operation is to perform a search for exact matches only in step (1). For example, if the "partial match search key" is pressed before the "kanji-kana conversion key," the search may also include partial matches that include prefix and suffix matches. method

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