Abstract:
A method for configurable character variant unification is provided in the illustrative embodiments. A determination is made that a unification profile is applicable to a circumstance in which a character variant has been selected. The character variant is a variation of a character in a set of variations of the character such that each variation of the character in the set is represented by a unique Unicode code point. A unification repository is identified according to the profile. A determination is made whether the character variant satisfies a unification rule. Responsive to the character variant not satisfying the unification rule, a different variation of the character is selected from the unification repository, the different variation forming a replacement character variant. The replacement character variant is used in place of the character variant.

Description:
[0001]    The present application is a continuation application of, and claims priority to, a U.S. Patent Application of the same title, Ser. No. 14/453,050, Attorney Docket No. AUS920140262US1, which was filed on Aug. 6, 2014, assigned to the same assignee, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a method for providing consistent computer input in multiple languages. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for configurable unification of character variants received from data input. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    There are alphabet and non-alphabet languages in the world. For example, Chinese, Japanese and Korean borrowed alphabetic elements to represent their own phonetic symbols or strokes. 
         [0004]    A computer keyboard is a common device for providing a computer input. A keyboard is language-specific such that the alphabet or non-alphabet keys available on the keyboard can be pressed to directly input only those characters or symbols in the keyboard&#39;s language that are assigned to those keys. For inputting other characters or symbols in the language, a user may need to press a combination of keys on the keyboard to invoke a specific input method application for the language. 
         [0005]    Many languages have sets of characters or symbols (e.g., character alphabet in English, or phonetic or stroke alphabet in other languages) that are too large to accommodate on a keyboard. Many languages need other ways of mapping the keyboard keys to the characters or symbols in the language&#39;s set of characters or symbols. Using the keyboard keys according to the mapping produces the mapped characters or symbols in the language. Furthermore, the phonetic or stroke alphabets of many languages do not use characters to form words in the manner of the English language, but have a single character or collection of characters that represent words. Thus, providing computer input in many languages is not as simple as pressing the letter-keys on the keyboard but an indirect process of pressing a combination of keys to generate characters not available as keys on the keyboard. 
         [0006]    Unicode is a method of coding characters of multiple languages. A Unicode table comprises unique codes called code points assigned to characters of one or more languages. A code point comprises an alphanumeric representation that can be generated on commonly used keyboard configurations, such as an English language QWERTY keyboard. 
         [0007]    To enter a code point, the user generally supplies an indication that the alphanumeric string following the indication is a Unicode code point as is to be translated using a Unicode table to generate a character. For example, using a QWERTY keyboard, the user presses the ALT key, keeps the ALT key depressed while entering the code point, and releases the ALT key when the code point entry is complete. 
         [0008]    An application called a Unicode input method application (hereinafter, “input method”, or “UIM”) intercepts the Unicode code point that the user enters. A Unicode editor is an example UIM. The UIM looks up a Unicode table to find the character that matches the code point that the user entered. The UIM supplies the character to a target application to which the user is supplying the input. 
         [0009]    Different sections in a Unicode table comprise different unique sets of unique code points to represent different sets of characters in different languages. In other words, a code point in all of Unicode is unique to a specific character in a specific language. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    The illustrative embodiments provide a method, for configurable character variant unification. An embodiment includes a method for configurable character variant unification. The embodiment determines that a unification profile is applicable to a circumstance in which a character variant has been selected, wherein the character variant is a variation of a character in a set of variations of the character such that each variation of the character in the set is represented by a unique Unicode code point. The embodiment identifies a unification repository according to the profile. The embodiment determines whether the character variant satisfies a unification rule. The embodiment selects, responsive to the character variant not satisfying the unification rule, a different variation of the character from the unification repository, the different variation forming a replacement character variant. The embodiment uses the replacement character variant in place of the character variant. 
         [0011]    Another embodiment includes a computer usable program product comprising a computer readable storage device including computer usable code for configurable character variant unification. The embodiment further includes computer usable code for determining that a unification profile is applicable to a circumstance in which a character variant has been selected, wherein the character variant is a variation of a character in a set of variations of the character such that each variation of the character in the set is represented by a unique Unicode code point. The embodiment further includes computer usable code for identifying a unification repository according to the profile. The embodiment further includes computer usable code for determining whether the character variant satisfies a unification rule. The embodiment further includes computer usable code for selecting, responsive to the character variant not satisfying the unification rule, a different variation of the character from the unification repository, the different variation forming a replacement character variant. The embodiment further includes computer usable code for using the replacement character variant in place of the character variant. 
         [0012]    Another embodiment includes a data processing system for configurable character variant unification. The embodiment further includes a storage device including a storage medium, wherein the storage device stores computer usable program code. The embodiment further includes a processor, wherein the processor executes the computer usable program code. The embodiment further includes computer usable code for determining that a unification profile is applicable to a circumstance in which a character variant has been selected, wherein the character variant is a variation of a character in a set of variations of the character such that each variation of the character in the set is represented by a unique Unicode code point. The embodiment further includes computer usable code for identifying a unification repository according to the profile. The embodiment further includes computer usable code for determining whether the character variant satisfies a unification rule. The embodiment further includes computer usable code for selecting, responsive to the character variant not satisfying the unification rule, a different variation of the character from the unification repository, the different variation forming a replacement character variant. The embodiment further includes computer usable code for using the replacement character variant in place of the character variant. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  depicts a block diagram of a network of data processing systems in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram of a data processing system in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  depicts a table of example resemblance variants of an example character that can be configurably unified in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  depicts a block diagram of a configuration for configurable character variant unification in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  depicts a flowchart of an example process for configurable character variant unification in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  depicts a flowchart of an example process for configuring character variant unification in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    A character variant is a variation of a character within a language or across different languages. For example, a first type of character variants involves different characters in a given language or across different languages, where the different characters look different but are pronounced in a similar manner, convey similar meanings, or both. This type of variants is referred to hereinafter as ‘distinct variants’. For example, in the Chinese language, this type of character variants can be found between simplified Chinese and traditional Chinese. The simplified character is visually different from the traditional character, but the simplified and the traditional characters are pronounced approximately the same and convey approximately the same meanings. 
         [0021]    A second type of character variants is called ‘resemblance variants’. Resemblance variants are different characters in a given language or across different languages, where the different characters look similar, but may be pronounced in a similar manner or different manners, may convey similar meanings or different meanings, or some combination thereof. Often, resemblance variants have their origin in a character in one language, e.g., Chinese, where the character was adopted by other languages, e.g., Japanese or Korean, and gradually became a part of those languages without a change of the written expression of the character. 
         [0022]    As a result, the original character and their resemblance variants were all added in the Unicode tables that contain characters from different languages, each character and its resemblance variants having a distinct code point and being treated as a unique character by computers although they visually look alike. A user can generally input all the character variants by using a UIM or other input methods. 
         [0023]    The illustrative embodiments recognize a particular problem with resemblance variants. For example, if a user searches for a character, and if the character has resemblance variants, the user is presented with the resemblance variants. For example, if the user is searching for character  302  in  FIG. 3 , the user may be presented with characters  302 ,  304 , and  306 , where characters  304 , and  306  are resemblance variants of the a common character, e.g., of character  302 . 
         [0024]    The illustrative embodiments recognize that when faced with resemblance variants, a user may unintentionally, unknowingly, or even maliciously select a different resemblance variant than the variant that was intended. The illustrative embodiments recognize that selecting or entering a different resemblance variant of a character than an intended resemblance variant of the character can pose a variety of problems in data management. 
         [0025]    For example, a particular variant may not be allowed in information processing in certain languages or certain regions. Entering a prohibited variant can therefore cause errors, costs, and delays in processing of the information in which the prohibited variant is included. 
         [0026]    As another example, a user may be looking for the character to enter as a user ID, password, filename, or other phrases during the information processing. Selecting the incorrect variant can cause login error, login lockout, security flagging, existing file not being found, new file being created with a name that will not be found by others, and generally data being created or manipulated in an inconsistent or erroneous fashion. 
         [0027]    As another example, suppose the user is engaged in a record manipulation operation in a database. Using wrong, inconsistent, or different variants can result in ghost records being created in the database. Using wrong, inconsistent, or different variants can also increase the data processing time and resource usage due to the extra effort needed to process the different variants, e.g., by employing different language processing tools for processing the variants. 
         [0028]    The illustrative embodiments further recognize that not only do resemblance variants have to potential to cause data processing complications, they also have the potential to cause social and cross-cultural issues and insensitivities. Thus, the illustrative embodiments recognize that unintended, accidental, or malicious misuse of resemblance variants can adversely affect the quality of data where used, and also have social, geographical, political, and economic consequences. 
         [0029]    The illustrative embodiments used to describe the invention generally address and solve the above-described problems and other problems related to using character variants. The illustrative embodiments provide a method for configurable character variant unification. 
         [0030]    Unification is the process of unifying one or more character variants back to a common character. A unification database (database, databases) according to an embodiment is a repository of variants that can be unified to a character in a given language. For example, a unification database for simplified Chinese language includes a list of characters, their corresponding code points in simplified Chinese, and their respective distinct variants, resemblance variants, or both. Any number of unification databases can be created for any number of languages without limitation within the scope of the illustrative embodiments. 
         [0031]    Furthermore, more than one unification databases may exist for a given language. A custom unification database that includes entries for characters in multiple languages and their variants from a combination of languages is also contemplated within the scope of the illustrative embodiments. The unification database can take any suitable form, including but not limited to a relational database, a flat-file, an XML file, an index file, a spreadsheet, a table, and the like. 
         [0032]    A unification rule (rule, rules) is logic in any suitable form to resolve a variant to an intended character or a different variant using one or more unification databases. For example, given a character variant selected by a user, an embodiment uses a unification rule to select a suitable changed variant of the character from a unification database. 
         [0033]    Any number of unification rules is permissible without departing the scope of the illustrative embodiments. A set of unification rules according to the illustrative embodiments can include unification rules for any combination of different languages, different geographical regions, different locales, and different contexts of usage. Furthermore, different unification rules may produce different changed variants depending on various considerations. For example, if the user selects a variant at login time, for use in a user ID, an embodiment uses a different unification rule according to the login context as compared to the unification rule used when the user selects a variant to embed in a document. The different unification rules may use the same or different one or more unification databases, and produce same or different changed variants under the different contexts. 
         [0034]    A unification profile (profile, profiles) comprises one or more unification levels (level, levels). A unification level defines how and which unification databases are to be combined for a particular unification exercise. A unification profile applies to a user, a group of users, a document, an application, a data storage, a locale, a geographical region, or some combination thereof. 
         [0035]    For example, a user can define four example levels—Simplified Chinese only (level 1); Traditional Chinese only (level 2); Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese (level 3); and Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese Kanji (level 4). The user can further define, for example, that different levels apply to different users, groups, applications, or storage, in a manner that further narrow or define the application of the profile. 
         [0036]    For example, a profile might apply to a group and a level therein might apply to a specific user in that group. As another example, a profile might apply to a geographical region and a level therein might apply to a specific group operating in that region. These example ways of constructing profiles and levels, and example applications of the profiles and levels are not intended to be limiting on the illustrative embodiments. From this disclosure, those of ordinary skill in the art will be able to conceive many other ways of constructing and using profiles and levels, and the same are contemplated within the scope of the illustrative embodiments. 
         [0037]    In operation, when a user is going to be using character variants, an embodiment selects a profile and a level in the profile according to which the embodiment will unify the variants to produce an output variant for the user-select variant. In one embodiment, the user selects the profile and the level. In another embodiment, the profile and level are selected on behalf of the user, such as by an administrator. In another embodiment, a policy determines the profile and level that the embodiment should use. 
         [0038]    Once the profile and the level are selected, an embodiment performs the variant unification on a character variant selected by the user to produce an output character variant. The embodiment uses the one or more unification database(s) corresponding to the selected profile and level, according to one or more unification rules governing the circumstances of the selection of the character variant by the user. 
         [0039]    An embodiment allows a user, an administrator, or both to create, modify, or manipulate a unification profile, a unification level within a unification profile, a unification rule, a unification database, or some combination thereof. For example, one embodiment allows a user, whose variant selections are to be unified, to manipulate a level but not the profile itself, and allows an administrator to manipulate the profile. Another example embodiment allows the user create or manipulate entries in a unification database but only allows an administrator to manipulate unification rules. Another example embodiment allows different users to manipulate different profiles, levels, rules, databases, or a combination thereof. 
         [0040]    A method of an embodiment described herein, when implemented to execute on a data processing system, comprises substantial advancement of the functionality of that data processing system. For example, an embodiment enables the data processing system to identify and unify particular variants that may not be allowed in information processing in certain languages or certain regions, prior to such variants entering such information processing. Such identification and unification ability is unavailable in presently operating data processing systems. Thus, a substantial advancement of such data processing systems by executing a method of an embodiment comprises the prevention or mitigation of the errors, costs, and delays in processing of the information caused by the prior art data processing systems allowing the entry and storing of undesirable character variants. 
         [0041]    The illustrative embodiments are described with respect to certain languages, characters, character variants, documents, identifiers, contexts, profiles, levels, databases, repositories, policies, logic, rules, data processing systems, environments, components, and applications only as examples. Any specific manifestations of such artifacts are not intended to be limiting to the invention. Any suitable manifestation of these and other similar artifacts can be selected within the scope of the illustrative embodiments. 
         [0042]    Furthermore, the illustrative embodiments may be implemented with respect to any type of data, data source, or access to a data source over a data network. Any type of data storage device may provide the data to an embodiment of the invention, either locally at a data processing system or over a data network, within the scope of the invention. 
         [0043]    The illustrative embodiments are described using specific code, designs, architectures, protocols, layouts, schematics, and tools only as examples and are not limiting to the illustrative embodiments. Furthermore, the illustrative embodiments are described in some instances using particular software, tools, and data processing environments only as an example for the clarity of the description. The illustrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with other comparable or similarly purposed structures, systems, applications, or architectures. An illustrative embodiment may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. 
         [0044]    The examples in this disclosure are used only for the clarity of the description and are not limiting to the illustrative embodiments. Additional data, operations, actions, tasks, activities, and manipulations will be conceivable from this disclosure and the same are contemplated within the scope of the illustrative embodiments. 
         [0045]    Any advantages listed herein are only examples and are not intended to be limiting to the illustrative embodiments. Additional or different advantages may be realized by specific illustrative embodiments. Furthermore, a particular illustrative embodiment may have some, all, or none of the advantages listed above. 
         [0046]    With reference to the figures and in particular with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , these figures are example diagrams of data processing environments in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented.  FIGS. 1 and 2  are only examples and are not intended to assert or imply any limitation with regard to the environments in which different embodiments may be implemented. A particular implementation may make many modifications to the depicted environments based on the following description. 
         [0047]      FIG. 1  depicts a block diagram of a network of data processing systems in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. Data processing environment  100  is a network of computers in which the illustrative embodiments may be implemented. Data processing environment  100  includes network  102 . Network  102  is the medium used to provide communications links between various devices and computers connected together within data processing environment  100 . Network  102  may include connections, such as wire, wireless communication links, or fiber optic cables. Server  104  and server  106  couple to network  102  along with storage unit  108 . Software applications may execute on any computer in data processing environment  100 . 
         [0048]    In addition, clients  110 ,  112 , and  114  couple to network  102 . A data processing system, such as server  104  or  106 , or client  110 ,  112 , or  114  may contain data and may have software applications or software tools executing thereon. 
         [0049]    Only as an example, and without implying any limitation to such architecture,  FIG. 1  depicts certain components that are usable in an example implementation of an embodiment. For example, servers  104  and  106 , and clients  110 ,  112 ,  114 , are depicted as servers and clients only as example and not to imply a limitation to a client-server architecture. As another example, an embodiment can be distributed across several data processing systems and a data network as shown, whereas another embodiment can be implemented on a single data processing system within the scope of the illustrative embodiments. 
         [0050]    Input method application  103  is any suitable UIM as described herein. Application  105  implements an embodiment described herein. Unification rules  107  are a set of one or more unification rules usable in an embodiment. Unification databases  109  are a set of one or more unification repositories of any suitable types as described herein. Unification profiles  111  are a set of one or more unification profiles usable in an embodiment. 
         [0051]    Servers  104  and  106 , storage unit  108 , and clients  110 ,  112 , and  114  may couple to network  102  using wired connections, wireless communication protocols, or other suitable data connectivity. Clients  110 ,  112 , and  114  may be, for example, personal computers or network computers. 
         [0052]    In the depicted example, server  104  may provide data, such as boot files, operating system images, and applications to clients  110 ,  112 , and  114 . Clients  110 ,  112 , and  114  may be clients to server  104  in this example. Clients  110 ,  112 ,  114 , or some combination thereof, may include their own data, boot files, operating system images, and applications. Data processing environment  100  may include additional servers, clients, and other devices that are not shown. 
         [0053]    In the depicted example, data processing environment  100  may be the Internet. Network  102  may represent a collection of networks and gateways that use the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and other protocols to communicate with one another. At the heart of the Internet is a backbone of data communication links between major nodes or host computers, including thousands of commercial, governmental, educational, and other computer systems that route data and messages. Of course, data processing environment  100  also may be implemented as a number of different types of networks, such as for example, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).  FIG. 1  is intended as an example, and not as an architectural limitation for the different illustrative embodiments. 
         [0054]    Among other uses, data processing environment  100  may be used for implementing a client-server environment in which the illustrative embodiments may be implemented. A client-server environment enables software applications and data to be distributed across a network such that an application functions by using the interactivity between a client data processing system and a server data processing system. Data processing environment  100  may also employ a service oriented architecture where interoperable software components distributed across a network may be packaged together as coherent business applications. 
         [0055]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , this figure depicts a block diagram of a data processing system in which illustrative embodiments may be implemented. Data processing system  200  is an example of a computer, such as servers  104  and  106 , or clients  110 ,  112 , and  114  in  FIG. 1 , or another type of device in which computer usable program code or instructions implementing the processes may be located for the illustrative embodiments. Data processing system  200  is also representative of other devices in which computer usable program code or instructions implementing the processes of the illustrative embodiments may be located. Data processing system  200  is described as a computer only as an example, without being limited thereto. Implementations in the form of other devices may modify data processing system  200  and even eliminate certain depicted components there from without departing from the general description of the operations and functions of data processing system  200  described herein. 
         [0056]    In the depicted example, data processing system  200  employs a hub architecture including North Bridge and memory controller hub (NB/MCH)  202  and South Bridge and input/output (I/O) controller hub (SB/ICH)  204 . Processing unit  206 , main memory  208 , and graphics processor  210  are coupled to North Bridge and memory controller hub (NB/MCH) 202. Processing unit  206  may contain one or more processors and may be implemented using one or more heterogeneous processor systems. Processing unit  206  may be a multi-core processor. Graphics processor  210  may be coupled to NB/MCH  202  through an accelerated graphics port (AGP) in certain implementations. 
         [0057]    In the depicted example, local area network (LAN) adapter  212  is coupled to South Bridge and I/O controller hub (SB/ICH)  204 . Audio adapter  216 , keyboard and mouse adapter  220 , modem  222 , read only memory (ROM)  224 , universal serial bus (USB) and other ports  232 , and PCI/PCIe devices  234  are coupled to South Bridge and I/O controller hub  204  through bus  238 . Hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD)  226  and CD-ROM  230  are coupled to South Bridge and I/O controller hub  204  through bus  240 . PCI/PCIe devices  234  may include, for example, Ethernet adapters, add-in cards, and PC cards for notebook computers. PCI uses a card bus controller, while PCIe does not. ROM  224  may be, for example, a flash binary input/output system (BIOS). Hard disk drive  226  and CD-ROM  230  may use, for example, an integrated drive electronics (IDE), serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) interface, or variants such as external-SATA (eSATA) and micro-SATA (mSATA). A super I/O (SIO) device  236  may be coupled to South Bridge and I/O controller hub (SB/ICH)  204  through bus  238 . 
         [0058]    Memories, such as main memory  208 , ROM  224 , or flash memory (not shown), are some examples of computer usable storage devices. Hard disk drive or solid state drive  226 , CD-ROM  230 , and other similarly usable devices are some examples of computer usable storage devices including a computer usable storage medium. 
         [0059]    An operating system runs on processing unit  206 . The operating system coordinates and provides control of various components within data processing system  200  in  FIG. 2 . The operating system may be a commercially available operating system such as AIX® (AIX is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States and other countries), Microsoft® Windows® (Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries), or Linux® (Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States and other countries). An object oriented programming system, such as the Java™ programming system, may run in conjunction with the operating system and provides calls to the operating system from Java™ programs or applications executing on data processing system  200  (Java and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates). 
         [0060]    Instructions for the operating system, the object-oriented programming system, and applications or programs, such as input method application  103 , application  105 , and unification rules  107  in  FIG. 1 , are located on storage devices, such as hard disk drive  226 , and may be loaded into at least one of one or more memories, such as main memory  208 , for execution by processing unit  206 . The processes of the illustrative embodiments may be performed by processing unit  206  using computer implemented instructions, which may be located in a memory, such as, for example, main memory  208 , read only memory  224 , or in one or more peripheral devices. 
         [0061]    The hardware in  FIGS. 1-2  may vary depending on the implementation. Other internal hardware or peripheral devices, such as flash memory, equivalent non-volatile memory, or optical disk drives and the like, may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted in  FIGS. 1-2 . In addition, the processes of the illustrative embodiments may be applied to a multiprocessor data processing system. 
         [0062]    In some illustrative examples, data processing system  200  may be a personal digital assistant (PDA), which is generally configured with flash memory to provide non-volatile memory for storing operating system files and/or user-generated data. A bus system may comprise one or more buses, such as a system bus, an I/O bus, and a PCI bus. Of course, the bus system may be implemented using any type of communications fabric or architecture that provides for a transfer of data between different components or devices attached to the fabric or architecture. 
         [0063]    A communications unit may include one or more devices used to transmit and receive data, such as a modem or a network adapter. A memory may be, for example, main memory  208  or a cache, such as the cache found in North Bridge and memory controller hub  202 . A processing unit may include one or more processors or CPUs. 
         [0064]    The depicted examples in  FIGS. 1-2  and above-described examples are not meant to imply architectural limitations. For example, data processing system  200  also may be a tablet computer, laptop computer, or telephone device in addition to taking the form of a PDA. 
         [0065]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , this figure depicts a table of example resemblance variants of an example character that can be configurably unified in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. Application  105  in  FIG. 1  can be used to unify variants  302 ,  304 , and  306  into the variant  302 . 
         [0066]    Table 300 shows that Han character  302  is an original variant that corresponds to Unicode code point U+5317, and has at least two other resemblance variants  304  and  306 , which correspond to code points U+F963 and U+2f82b, respectively. For example, if a user uses a PINYIN, a commonly used Chinese phonetic input method editor, and enters “bei” using a keyboard, the user is likely to be presented with all three variants from which the user selects one variant to use. 
         [0067]    Suppose a given usage context or circumstance requires Han characters but the user selects variant  304  corresponding to code point U+F963, thereby selecting a Chinese-Japanese-Korean (CJK) compatibility ideograph instead. Such a selection would ordinarily cause an error or other complication in the processing of the data including the selected variant. If character variant unification feature is enabled, such as by using an application implementing an embodiment, e.g., application  105  in  FIG. 1 , the unification feature unifies selected variant  304  to produce variant  302  as the output. 
         [0068]    An entry in a unification database in databases  109  of  FIG. 1  establishes the correspondence between variants  302 ,  304 , and  306 . A unification rule in rules  107  of  FIG. 1  allows the application to determine that under the circumstances of the selection, variant  304  should be changed to variant  302 . Only as an example to illustrate the operation of unification rules, and not to imply any limitation on the illustrative embodiments, another unification rule in rules  107  of  FIG. 1  may allow the application to determine that under different circumstances of the selection, variant  304  should be changed to variant  306 , or variant  304  should be accepted as the correct variant. 
         [0069]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , this figure depicts a block diagram of a configuration for configurable character variant unification in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. Application  402  can be implemented using application  105  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0070]    User  404  uses input device  406  to enter a search for a character. UIM  408  presents a set of characters from which the user selects character  410 . UIM  408  produces code point  412  of selected character  410 . Code point  412  serves as an input to application  402 . 
         [0071]    Component  414  allows a user or administrator to define one or more unification profiles, one or more unification levels within a unification profile, one or more unification rules, one or more unification databases, or a combination thereof. Component  416  selects a unification profile, e.g., unification profile  418  and a level therein, and one or more unification databases according to profile  418 , e.g., unification database  420 . 
         [0072]    Component  422  applies one or more unification rules  424  to code point  412  according to the selected level in profile  418 . Component  412  produces output character variant  426 , or a Unicode code point corresponding thereto. 
         [0073]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , this figure depicts a flowchart of an example process for configurable character variant unification in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. Process  500  can be implemented in application  402  in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0074]    The application receives a Unicode code point value of a selected character variant from a UIM (block  502 ). The application determines a unification profile that is active or applicable for unifying the selected character variant and a unification level in that profile (block  504 ). 
         [0075]    For example, according to one embodiment, the profile and level are selected by a user or administrator and the application uses the selected profile and level in block  504 . According to another embodiment, the application determines a circumstance of the selected character variant, e.g., the user&#39;s identification, the user&#39;s membership in a group, the document where the selected character variant is going to be used, a context in which the variant has been selected, an application that is to receive the character from the user, other circumstances, or a combination thereof. Based on the circumstance of usage, the application selects a suitable profile and a level therein for use in block  504 . 
         [0076]    The application selects one or more unification databases according to the selected profile and level (block  506 ). The application applies one or more unification rules on the selected character variant using the selected unification databases of block  506  (block  508 ). 
         [0077]    From applying a unification rule, the application determines whether the selected character variant complies with the rule (block  510 ). If the selected character variant is the correct variant (Yes” path of block  510 ), the application sends the selected character variant to the target application that was to receive the character (block  512 ). The application ends process  500  thereafter. 
         [0078]    If the selected character variant is the correct variant (Yes” path of block  510 ), the application replaces the Unicode code point received in block  502  with a Unicode code point of another character variant identified in a unification database according to a unification rule (block  514 ). The application sends the replaced character variant to the target application in block  514  and ends process  500  thereafter. 
         [0079]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , this figure depicts a flowchart of an example process for configuring character variant unification in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. Process  600  can be implemented in application  402  in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0080]    The application causes to be created, or creates, a unification profile that is applicable to a circumstance in which a character variant might be selected (block  602 ). The application causes to be defined, or defines, a unification level in the unification profile of block  602  (block  604 ). 
         [0081]    For a level in the profile, the application associates one or more unification databases with the profile level (block  606 ). The application enables the profile and/or level to be used with a set of unification rules (block  608 ). For example, an administrator may desire to create some profiles and/or levels in reserve without enabling them for use. Similarly, an administrator may enable or disable a profile or a level within the profile according to changing needs for character variant unification. 
         [0082]    The application repeats blocks  604 - 608  for as many levels as may be desired in a profile. The application repeats blocks  602 - 608  for as many profiles with as many levels as may be desired in a given implementation. The application ends process  600  thereafter. 
         [0083]    Thus, a computer implemented method is provided in the illustrative embodiments for configurable character variant unification. 
         [0084]    The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention. 
         [0085]    The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire. 
         [0086]    Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device. 
         [0087]    Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention. 
         [0088]    Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions. 
         [0089]    These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
         [0090]    The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
         [0091]    The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.