Patent ID: 6956968

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for encoding a sequence of handwritten strokes representative of constituent strokes of an ideographic character to obtain an encoded input sequence, comprising: ascertaining a shape of a first stroke of said sequence of handwritten strokes; ascertaining a size of said first stroke; assigning a first code to said encoded input sequence responsive to a determination of said shape of said first stroke and a determination of said size of said first stroke, said first code being predefined to represent said shape of said first stroke and said size of said first stroke, said first code being sufficiently unique to distinguish said first code from other codes representing other permutations of shape and size of said first stroke; ascertaining a shape of a second stroke of said sequence of handwritten strokes, said second stroke being entered subsequent to an entry of said first stroke; ascertaining a size of said second stroke of said sequence of handwritten strokes; and assigning a second code to said encoded input sequence responsive to a determination of said shape of said second stroke and a determination of said size of said second stroke, said second code being predefined to represent said shape of said second stroke and said size of said second stroke, said second code being sufficiently unique to distinguish said second code from other codes representing other permutations of shape and size of said second stroke, wherein said second code follows said first code in said encoded input sequence to reflect the temporal entry sequence of said first stroke and said second stroke.