Ligature Decomposition for Accurate Character String Sorting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing list display technologies face difficulties in properly sorting character string data that includes ligatures, such as Arabic letters, leading to challenges in finding and displaying these data sets in intended order.
Innovation Solution
A list display apparatus and method that decomposes ligatures into their original letters for sorting, using a ligature decomposing unit and sorting control unit to ensure proper character code order sorting, and optionally replacing ligatures with all or part of the original letters for efficient memory use and flexible display modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ligatures are processed as separate Unicode characters (U+FExx) for sorting, then the sorting can be performed according to standard Unicode order, but the ligature cannot be found properly in the sorted list
Solution Approach 1:
The ligature is segmented into its constituent base characters through the ligature decomposing unit. This allows the sorting unit to process individual characters correctly while maintaining the ability to identify and display the original ligature form in the list.
Solution Approach 2:
The ligature decomposing unit acts as an intermediary between the ligature detection and sorting processes. It converts ligatures into base characters for sorting purposes while preserving the original ligature information for display, resolving the contradiction between sorting accuracy and detection capability.
2Ease of operation
If ligatures are converted to single forms for sorting, then the sorting order can be determined, but the original ligature structure is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The ligature decomposing unit performs preliminary decomposition of ligatures into base characters before sorting. This preliminary action enables proper sorting operation while the original ligature information is preserved and can be restored for display, preventing information loss.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple pieces of character string data are sorted in Unicode order, then consistent sorting can be achieved, but ligatures appear in incorrect positions
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting system applies different processing quality to different character types. Ligatures are specifically identified and decomposed into base characters for sorting, while other characters remain unchanged. This local differentiation ensures accurate sorting order while maintaining overall sorting consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
A list display apparatus that displays multiple pieces of character string data in a list on a display unit includes a storage unit that stores the multiple pieces of character string data; a sorting unit that sorts the multiple pieces of character string data stored in the storage unit in a character code order; a ligature decomposing unit that decomposes a ligature included in the multiple pieces of character string data into multiple original letters on which the ligature is based in the sorting by the sorting unit; and a sorting control unit that controls the sorting unit so that the multiple letters resulting from the decomposition by the ligature decomposing unit is used in the sorting, instead of the ligature.