Character Input System Using Order-Independent Stroke Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The entry of complex characters, such as Chinese characters, into communication and computing devices is laborious and error-prone due to the requirement of entering strokes or word shapes in a specific order, which limits user efficiency and accuracy, especially on devices with limited input space.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that generate a list of candidate words or characters containing entered components regardless of their order, allowing users to select desired characters by indicating included or excluded components, thereby facilitating entry without adherence to traditional ordering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional autocompletion systems are used to facilitate character entry, then the system can present candidate characters to users, but the system can only include characters that match the exact stroke sequence entered, which fails to help users who cannot recall the correct stroke order
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by not requiring users to enter strokes in the traditional correct order. Instead of validating against a fixed sequence, the system accepts any sequence of strokes and generates candidate characters based on the set of strokes entered, regardless of order. This inversion allows users who cannot recall proper stroke order to still successfully input characters by entering strokes in any sequence they remember.
2Ease of operation
If keyboards with individual stroke keys are provided to enable Chinese character entry, then users can input characters using basic strokes, but the entry process becomes extremely time-consuming due to the large number of strokes required per character
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by allowing users to enter only a subset of strokes or word shapes rather than requiring complete stroke sequences. The system generates candidate characters from partial input, enabling users to enter fewer strokes and select from candidates rather than typing every stroke in the correct order, significantly reducing entry time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the character input process into two distinct phases: (1) user enters selected strokes or word shapes in any order, and (2) the system presents a list of candidate characters containing those components. This segmentation separates the user's simple selection task from the complex character composition task, reducing cognitive load and entry time.
3Reliability
If systems require entry of word shapes in correct order to compose Chinese characters, then traditional character composition rules are maintained, but users must remember every stroke and its order, making successful entry extremely difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the complex task of determining correct stroke order and character composition automatically. Users simply select strokes or word shapes without needing to know the traditional ordering rules. The system's software automatically arranges the entered components in the correct sequence and generates valid candidate characters, transferring the complexity from the user to the machine.
4Ease of operation
If automated lists are provided to help users select Chinese characters, then users can choose from pre-defined character options, but the lists will not contain the desired character if the user cannot recall the first stroke or word shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of stroke sequence validation from 'exact match required' to 'set-based matching'. Instead of checking whether strokes are entered in the precise traditional order, the system checks whether the entered strokes form a subset of the character's components. This parameter change allows the automated list to include characters even when users enter strokes in incorrect or incomplete sequences.
Data Source
AI summary
The automatic completion of composite characters is supported by the generation of lists of candidate words or characters. Such lists may be generated by specifying letters or word shapes that are required to be included in candidate words or characters, independent of the order in which a specified letter or word shape is traditionally added to the completed word or character. In a subtractive mode, a user may exclude words or characters that include one or more letters or word shapes specified by the user.