Abstract:
The present invention provides a text input method, which is integrated in a text input program or device supporting word input (e.g., software/hardware keyboard, input method, etc.) and assists a user in easily inputting a word or a phrase (e.g., various tense forms of a verb, etc.) relating to a certain word. The user may fast input a specific word relating to the certain word by a specific operation (e.g., clicking a software or hardware key, moving a screen contact point, etc.) or by a combination of a plurality of operations.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a text input method, and more specifically, to a text input method which is integrated in a text input program or device supporting word input and assists a user in easily inputting a word or a phrase relating to a certain word. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In many languages, it is common that some words are relating to other words. For example, in English, the verb “play” has related words such as “plays”, “playing”, “played”. The noun “element” has related words such as “elements”. The verb “entertain” is relating to its noun “entertainment” formed by adding a suffix “ment”. The verb “wonder” is relating to its adjective “wonderful” formed by adding a suffix “ful”. 
     Relevance means that there is some correlation between two words or phrases. For example, in English, the relevance of words may be as follows: 
     1. Various tense forms of a verb, e.g., past tense, continuous tense, perfect tense, third person singular form, etc. For example, for the verb “write”, the past tense is “wrote”, the continuous tense is “writing”, the perfect tense is “written”, and the third person singular form is “writes”, etc. 
     2. The plural form of a noun. For example, the plural form of “teacher” is “teachers”, and the plural form of “mouse” is “mice”, etc. 
     3. Different properties of a word. For example, the verb “entertain” is relevant to its noun form “entertainment”. The noun “wonder” is relevant to its adjective form “wonderful”. The adjective “similar” is relevant to its noun form “similarity”. 
     4. The comparative degree and the superlative degree of an adjective. For example, the comparative degree of the adjective “smart” is “smarter”, and the superlative degree is “smartest”. 
     5. The near-synonym and the antonym of a word. For example, the antonym of “advantage” is “disadvantage”, and the near-synonym of “same” is “similar”, etc. 
     6. The possessive form of noun. For example, the possessive form of “we” is “our”, the possessive form of “China” is “Chinese”, the possessive form of “company” is “company&#39;s”, etc. 
     Two or more words with relevance are related words for one another. The foregoing descriptions are merely some examples of the concept of related words. In practice, two words or phrases may be regarded as related words as long as there is relevance between them. In addition to English, such concept of related words also exists in other languages. For example, in Chinese, “I” is relevant to “my”. In German, “vollkommen” is relevant to “Verkollkommnung”. In French, “roman” is relevant to “romantique”. 
     After an initial word is input, a user may usually desire to input a related word with a fast method. However, the conventional input method fails to meet the requirement. The user has to spell a complete word, which is time-consuming and laborious. For example, after “consume” is inputted, the user cannot input its noun form “consumption” fast. 
     Some software keyboard and input method may provide a word prediction function. For example, when the user input a word “won”, the software keyboard and input method can predict that the user may desire to input the contents “won”, “wonder”, etc., and indicate the user by providing these predicted words as candidate inputs for user selection. In traditional input methods, the word “wonderful” relating to “wonder” may be the word that the user desires to input, however, the word “wonderful” cannot be displayed as a candidate word due to various condition restrictions. Thus, if the user desires to input “wonderful”, the user has to further input more information to help the text input program or device filter other candidate words, so that “wonderful” may meet the requirement for being displayed as a candidate word. Accordingly, the input efficiency is impaired. 
     SUMMARY 
     With respect to the above problems, a method for fast inputting a related word is proposed by the present invention, to thereby accelerate the input rate and efficiency, and reduce the key-press times for a user. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, a method for fast inputting a related word is provided. The method includes: a first step of displaying a user editing text; a second step of selecting a word in the editing text and invoking a related word selection mode of the selected word by a specific operation approach; a third step of displaying one or more related words of the selected word; and a fourth step of inputting a user desired related word. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method for fast inputting a related word is provided. The method includes: a first step of displaying a user inputting text, and one or more candidate words of an inputting word in said inputting text; a second step of selecting said candidate word based on a user input, and invoking a related word selection mode of the selected candidate word by a specific operation approach; and a third step of inputting a user desired related word. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method for fast inputting a related word is provided. The method includes: a first step of displaying a user inputting text and one or more predicted words of an inputting word in said inputting text; a second step of selecting said predicted word based on a user input and invoking a related word selection mode of the selected predicted word by a specific operation approach; and a third step of inputting a user desired related word. 
     According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a computer device is provided. The computer device includes: an input apparatus configured to receive a user input text and a user input command; a storage apparatus configured to store a computer program command; a control apparatus configured to accomplish, in the control of the computer program command, each step in the method of any above-mentioned aspect according to the user input command; and a display apparatus configured to display the text. 
     According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a device for fast inputting a related word is provided. The device includes: a first apparatus for displaying a user editing text; a second apparatus for selecting a word in the editing text, and invoking a related word selection mode of the selected word by a specific operation approach; a third apparatus for displaying a related word of the selected word; and a fourth apparatus for inputting a user desired related word. 
     According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a method for fast inputting a related word is provided. The method includes: a first apparatus for displaying a user inputting text, and one or more candidate words of an inputting word in said inputting text; a second apparatus for selecting the candidate word based on a user input, and invoking a related word selection mode of the selected candidate word by a specific operation approach; and a third apparatus for inputting a user desired related word. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a basic block diagram illustrating a computer device or portable terminal device  100  which is applicable to the text input method of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   a  is a schematic illustrating a text before editing according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   b  is a schematic illustrating a related word selection interface according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2   c  is a schematic illustrating a text after editing according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a related word input procedure according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustrating another related word selection interface according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic illustrating a candidate word list according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic illustrating a first software keyboard according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic illustrating a second software keyboard according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic illustrating a third software keyboard according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic illustrating an interface presented to a user in a related word selection mode according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic illustrating a device with a keyboard in a related word selection mode by entering a shortcut key according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating a related word input procedure according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12   a  is a schematic illustrating a predicted word display mode according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12   b  is a schematic illustrating a predicted word switching mode according to the third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12   c  is a schematic illustrating a related word display mode according to the third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13   a  is a schematic illustrating another predicted word display mode according to the third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13   b  is a schematic illustrating another predicted word switching mode according to the third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13   c  is a schematic illustrating another related word display mode according to the third embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart illustrating a related word input procedure according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  is a basic block diagram illustrating a computer device or portable terminal device  100  which is applicable to the text input method of the present invention. A user input apparatus  101  is configured to receive a user input command. The user input apparatus  101  includes a touch screen, or an electronic device screen equipped with a pointing system (e.g., a mouse, an induction plate, etc.). A storage apparatus  102  stores basic program commands that support routine work for the computer device or portable terminal device, e.g., operating system, common software, etc. In addition, the storage device  102  further stores computer program commands for implementing a text input method according to the following embodiments of the present invention. Moreover, the storage apparatus  102  further stores related information that connects each word with its related words, word frequency, and user configuration information, etc. A control apparatus  103  may be implemented by any kind of microprocessor, micro control and programmable logic element, dedicated integrated circuit or similar device in the conventional art. The control device  103  is configured to implement the below text input method according to the present invention. A display apparatus  104  is configured to provide the user with a visional interface illustrating a user input text, together with a word, a candidate word, a predicted word, a related word, and a control process thereof, which are to be mentioned below. The display apparatus may be separated from the user input apparatus  101 , or may be integrated with the user input apparatus  101 , e.g., a touch and display plate. 
     The following embodiments are specifically illustrated for a better understanding of the technical contents of the present invention. 
     Embodiment One 
       FIG. 2   a  illustrates a part of text in an edit status which is displayed in a screen  200 . The user desires to change a word  201  “favor” to its adjective form “favorite”. In the screen of the touch screen, the user may press the area where the word  201  locates with a finger or a stylus, and may enter a related word selection mode by a specific motion (e.g., sliding downward). 
       FIG. 2   b  illustrates an interface presented to the user in a related word selection mode. A related word list  202  is presented under the word  201  “favor”, and lists all the related words of the word  201 , e.g., favorite, favors, etc. The user may click a desired related word, “favorite” in this example. Then, the system may replace the word  201  “favor” by the word  203  “favorite”, as shown in  FIG. 2   c.    
     If the screen  200  is associated with a device having a keyboard, the user may also enter the related word selection mode as shown in  FIG. 2   b  by moving the cursor to the word  201  and then pressing a pre-specified key (e.g., an Enter key). Next, the user may select a desired related word by moving the cursor upward or downward via a direction key, and then press another pre-specified key (e.g., an Enter key), and input the related word into the text, as shown in  FIG. 2   c.    
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a related word input procedure  300  according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The procedure includes the following steps. Step  301 : Display a user editing text. Step S 302 : Select a word in the user editing text, and invoke a related word selection mode of said word by a specific operation approach. Step  303 : Display the related words of said word. Step  304 : Input a user desired related word. 
     In terms of step  301 , the specific operation approach for entering the related word selection mode may be implemented in various ways. For example, operations performed on a touch screen, or an electronic device screen equipped with a pointing system (e.g., a mouse, an induction plate, etc.) include: clicking the word, double-clicking the word, sliding a contact point along a certain direction after pressing the word, long pressing the word over a specified period, hovering a mouse over a candidate word over a specified period, right-clicking the word by the mouse, or any kind of predetermined motion or mouse action. For another example, operations performed on an electronic device screen equipped with a keyboard (including hardware keyboard and software keyboard) or equipped with a key-press include: pressing a specified key (e.g., Enter key, direction key, special function key) after moving the cursor to the word; pressing specified combined keys (e.g., simultaneously press CTRL+NUMBER, or first press key A and then press key B within a specified period) after moving the cursor to the word; moving the cursor to the word and then hovering over the word over a specified period. 
     In terms of step  302 , there are various ways for displaying a related word. For example, displaying a list of all related words horizontally in an area near the word or in a specified area on the screen; displaying a list of all related words vertically in an area near the word or in a specified area on the screen. 
     After the related word display mode is entered, a selected word is highlighted, and the selected word is switched among different related words via a specified key (e.g., direction key of up, down, left or right). As shown in  FIG. 4 , an original word is “favor”. After the user enters the related word mode via step  301  and step  302 , the present related word displayed at the screen is a word  401  “favorite”. 
     In terms of step  304 , there are various ways for inputting a user desired related word. For example, clicking the related word, or pressing a confirmation key after the cursor is moved to the specified related word, etc. 
     Although the related word input procedure  300  includes a series of steps performed in sequence, apparently, the procedure may include more or less steps, and the steps may be performed in series or in parallel (e.g., using a multithread processor), or several steps may be combined into one step. Moreover, in addition to the various ways for implementing each step mentioned above, it is readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that other ways (e.g., changing the key-press input into a voice input) may be adopted for implementing a certain step, while not compromising the essential of the related word input procedure according to present invention. 
     Embodiment Two 
     Some input methods may have the function of displaying a candidate word list based on a user input. 
     For example, when the user input “pro” via a hardware keyboard, a candidate word list is automatically predicted and displayed according to the input method, as shown in  FIG. 5 . The list may be arranged horizontally or vertically, and may be presented at a fixed position in the screen, or may be presented at an area near the current input word (e.g., below the cursor). 
     For another example, in a software/hardware keyboard  600  as shown in  FIG. 6 , two letters share one key. When the user presses key  601 , key  602  and key  601  in sequence, the candidate word list as shown in  FIG. 5  is automatically predicted and displayed according to the input method. 
     For another example, in a software/hardware keyboard  700  as shown in  FIG. 7 , three or more letters share one key. When the user presses key  701 , key  701  and key  702  in sequence, the candidate word list as shown in  FIG. 5  is automatically predicted and displayed according to the input method. 
     Yet for another example, in a software/hardware keyboard  800  as shown in  FIG. 8 , each letter occupies one key. When the user presses key  801  “p”, key  802  “r” and key  803  “o” in sequence, the candidate word list as shown in  FIG. 5  is automatically predicted and displayed according to the input method. 
     In general cases, the user may select a candidate word by clicking the candidate word or a specified key. However, in the cases that the user desired word is not a candidate word but a related word of a certain candidate word, the traditional text input methods fail to perform a fast input. 
     The present embodiment provides a text input method, with which the user may select a related word of the candidate word, and thereby accelerating the input. 
     For example, in the candidate word list as shown in  FIG. 5 , the user desires to input “productivity”, i.e., a related word of the candidate word “product”. In a touch screen, the user may press the candidate word “product” with a finger or a stylus, and may enter a related word selection mode by a specific motion (e.g., sliding downward). 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an interface presented to the user in a related word selection mode. All the related words of “Product” are presented in a list below “Product”. After the user clicks the related word “Productivity” that he desires to input, the word is then input to the current editing text. 
     Without the related word input method of the present invention, the user has to press twelve keys for inputting the word “productivity”. According to the present invention, the user may input the word by merely pressing three keys together with two selection actions. Thus, the input efficiency is significantly increased. 
     In many cases, the user needs a faster method for inputting some common related words, e.g., the plural form of a noun, various tense forms of a verb, etc. At this point, the steps of related word list may be bypassed via fast input, and thereby a user specified related word may be selected directly. For example, in the candidate area as shown in  FIG. 5 , the user may slide a contact point rightward from the position of the word “Product”, and directly input the word&#39;s plural form “Products”. 
     If the device has a keyboard, the user may also enter the related word selection mode as shown in  FIG. 9  by moving the cursor to the word “Product” and then pressing a pre-specified key (e.g., an Enter key). Next, the user may select a desired related word by moving the cursor upward or downward via a direction key, and then press another pre-specified key (e.g., a space key), and input the related word into the text. 
     If the device has a keyboard, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the user may directly enter the related word selection mode in  FIG. 10  via a key corresponding to each candidate word. For example, in  FIG. 10 , each candidate word corresponds to a shortcut key, K 1 , K 2 , K 3  and K 4 , respectively. After pressing K 2 , the user enters a related word selection mode of the word “Product”. 
       FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating a related word input procedure  1100  according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The procedure includes the following steps. Step  1101 : Display a user inputting text, and one or more candidate words of an inputting word in said inputting text. Step S 1102 : Select a candidate word based on the user input, and invoke a related word selection mode of the selected candidate word. Step  1103  (optional): Display one or more related words of the selected candidate word. Step  1104 : Input a user desired related word. 
     In terms of step  1102 , operation approaches for entering the related word selection mode may be implemented in various ways. For example, operations performed on a touch screen, or an electronic device screen equipped with a pointing system (e.g., a mouse, an induction plate, etc.) include: clicking the candidate word, double-clicking the candidate word, sliding a contact point along a certain direction after press the candidate word, long pressing the candidate word over a specified period, hovering a mouse over the candidate word over a specified period, right-clicking the candidate word by the mouse, or any kind of predetermined motion or mouse action. Still, for example, operations performed on an electronic device screen equipped with a keyboard (including hardware keyboard and software keyboard) or equipped with a key-press include: moving the cursor to the candidate word; pressing a specified key (e.g., Enter key, direction key, special function key, etc.) after moving the cursor to the candidate word; pressing specified combined keys (e.g., simultaneously press CTRL+NUMBER, or first press key A and then press key B within a specified period) after moving the cursor to the candidate word; moving the cursor to the candidate word and then hovering over the candidate word over a specified period; each candidate word corresponds to a key, e.g., four candidate words correspond to keys K 1 -K 4  respectively, where K 1 -K 4  may be shortcut keys of the device, or may be combination keys CTRL+1 to CTRL+5. 
     In terms of step  1103 , there are various ways for displaying a related word. For example, displaying a list of all related words horizontally in an area near the candidate word or in a specified area on the screen; displaying a list of all related words vertically in an area near the candidate word or in a specified area on the screen. 
     The step  1103  is optional. When the user inputs the related word in a shortcut way, the step  1103  for displaying the related word may be bypassed. For example, the plural form of the word may be selected by sliding a contact point rightward from the candidate word. 
     In terms of step  1104 , there are various ways for inputting a user desired related word. For example, click the listed related word; or press a confirmation key after the cursor is moved to the specified related word; slide on the candidate word for a direct selection with a mouse or contact point motion, e.g., the plural form of the word may be selected by sliding a contact point rightward from the candidate word; directly select the related word with a specified shortcut key, e.g., candidate words  1 - 4  correspond to shortcut keys K 1 -K 4  respectively. 
     Although the related word input procedure  1100  includes a series of steps performed in sequence, apparently, the procedure may include more or less steps, and the steps may be performed in series or in parallel (e.g., using a multithread processor), or several steps may be combined into one step. Moreover, in addition to the various ways for implementing each step mentioned above, it is readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that other ways (e.g., changing the key-press input into a voice input) may be adopted for implementing a certain step, while not compromising the essential of the related word input procedure according to present invention. 
     Embodiment Three 
     The present embodiment illustrates a method for predicting a subsequent input at the cursor position based on the user input and selecting a related word. 
     For example, in a text editing area  1200  shown in  FIG. 12   a , when the user inputs a text  1201  “pro”, the input method may look up words with the initial “pro” in a dictionary and automatically predict the input word as “profit”, and display a rest part of the text  1202  “fit” in another form. In this example, “pro” is the user input, and “profit” is the predicted word. The predicted word and the candidate word in the Embodiment Two differs in that, only one predicted word is display at the same time, whereas one or more candidate words are generally displayed at the same time. Usually, the predicted word is the candidate word with highest word frequency. 
     However, the user may actually desire to input a word “productivity”. The user may change the predicted word by a specified operation (e.g., pressing an upward or downward direction key). For example, the user may press a downward key and change the predicted word to a word  1203  “product”, as shown in  FIG. 12   b.    
     Next, the user finds that “productivity” is a related word of the predicted word “product”. Therefore, the user may switch among various related words (e.g., products, production, etc.) of “product” by another specified operation (e.g., pressing a leftward or rightward direction key), until “productivity” is reached, as shown in  FIG. 12   c . At this point, the user may press a space key or an Enter key for confirmation. 
     Still, for example, in a text editing area  1300  shown in  FIG. 13   a , when the user inputs a text  1301  “pro”, the input method may automatically predict that the input word is  1302  “profit”, and may display the predicted word  1302  in an area near the cursor (e.g., below the cursor). 
     However, the user may actually desire to input a word “productivity”. The user may then change the predicted word by a specified operation (e.g., pressing an upward or downward direction key). For example, the user may press a downward key and change the predicted word to a word “product”, as shown in  FIG. 13   b.    
     Finally, the user finds that “productivity” is a related word of the predicted word “product”. Therefore, the user may switch among various related words (e.g., products, production, etc.) of “product” by another specified operation (e.g., pressing a leftward or rightward direction key), until “productivity” is reached, as shown in  FIG. 13   c . At last, the user may press a space key or an Enter key for confirmation. 
       FIG. 14  is a flowchart illustrating a related word input procedure  1400  according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The procedure includes the following steps. Step  1401 : Display a user inputting text, and one or more predicted word of a certain inputting word in said inputting text. Step S 1402 : Select the predicted word based on the user input, and invoke a related word selection mode of the selected predicted word. Step  1403  (optional): Display one or more related words of the selected predicted word. Step  1404 : Input a user desired related word. 
     In terms of step  1401 , there are various ways for displaying a predicted word. For example, display a rest part of the predicted word following the user input, as shown in  FIG. 12   a ; display the predicted word in an area near (above or below) the user input, as shown in  FIG. 13   a ; display the predicted word at a fixed area in the screen. 
     In terms of step  1402 , there are various ways for selecting a predicted word based on the user input. For example, the user may click some keys (e.g., an upward or downward direction key) on a hardware keyboard or a software keyboard for switching the predicted word; the user may use a scroll wheel on the device (e.g., a scrolling key on some mobile phones) for switching the predicted word; use a specified motion or mouse action on a touch screen or a screen with the mouse system (e.g., sliding rightward within the screen area indicates switching to another predicted word). 
     In terms of step  1403 , there are various ways for displaying a related word. For example, displaying a list of all related words horizontally in an area near the predicted word or in a specified area on the screen; displaying a list of all related words vertically in an area near the predicted word or in a specified area on the screen; displaying a related word at the original position of the predicted word. 
     The step  1403  is optional. When the user inputs the related word in a shortcut way, the step  1403  may be bypassed. For example, the plural form of the word may be selected by sliding a contact point rightward from the predicted word. 
     In terms of step  1404 , the user may input a desired related word in various ways. For example, the user may click some keys (e.g., a leftward or rightward direction key) on a hardware keyboard or a software keyboard for switching the related word; the user may use a scroll wheel on the device (e.g., a scrolling key on some mobile phones) for switching the related word; use a specified motion or mouse action on a touch screen or a screen with the mouse system (e.g., sliding downward within the screen area indicates switching to another related word). 
     Although the related word input procedure  1400  includes a series of steps performed in sequence, apparently, the procedure may include more or less steps, and the steps may be performed in series or in parallel (e.g., using a multithread processor), or several steps may be combined into one step. Moreover, in addition to the various ways for implementing each step mentioned above, it is readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that other ways (e.g., changing the key-press input into a voice input) may be adopted for implementing a certain step, while not compromising the essential of the related word input procedure according to present invention. 
     All the foregoing embodiments are based English. It is apparent that the methods for inputting a related word described in the present invention are not limited to one language model. For example, in Chinese, “I” is relevant to “my”. In German, “vollkommen” is relevant to “Verkollkommnung”. In French, “roman” is relevant to “romantique”. Therefore, a person of ordinary skill in the art may implement the methods for inputting a related word in other languages. 
     It is appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications, combinations, recombinations or equivalents may be made to the embodiments of the present invention according to design requirements or other factors, as long as these modifications, combinations, recombinations or equivalents fall within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalent scope of the claims.