Patent ID: 6279018
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for abbreviating text to cope with display or print space constraint in computer software such that loss of word recognizability is minimized, wherein said text includes a plurality of words, said space constraint is defined in terms of a predetermined abbreviated text length limit and said method comprises the steps of:a) selecting one or more words from the text as being abbreviatable words;b) shortening only those abbreviatable words whose length exceeds a predetermined minimum word length limit while the length of the text is in excess of the predetermined abbreviated text length limit, said shortening comprising at least one of:(i) replacing a sequence of alphabets in any abbreviatable word with a shorter sequence, wherein said sequence of alphabets does not include the initial of the abbreviatable word; and(ii) deleting one or more alphabets from any abbreviatable word, but excluding from deletion the initial of the abbreviatable word; andc) truncating only those abbreviatable words whose length exceeds a predetermined minimum truncated word length limit while the length of the text is in excess of the predetermined abbreviated text length limit.