Patent Document ID: 4797855
Application ID: 07000700

Base Claim:
1. In a word-processing system of the kind having operator input through a keyboard with a plurality of depressible keys, a spelling dictionary storing valid words within the system, a display, and an error-signal generator activated upon entry of an incorrect word as compared with the valid words of the dictionary; the combination of: (a) a special key included on said keyboard, (b) storage means holding correction information of at least two kinds, (c) statistical means for controlling the selection order of said at least two kinds of correction information, comprising an individual counter for a respective one of said at least two kinds of correction information, each said counter storing a count dependent upon the relative extent of prior successful usage of each said kind in amending incorrect words previously entered by said operator; (d) amending means operable to apply to said incorrect word the one of said kinds of correction information first selected by said statistical means, thereby producing therefrom a trial word for presentation on said display, said amending means being responsive to operator depression of said special key as a reaction to generation of an error-signal; (e) means for adjusting said statistical means to select a second, next-in-order kind of correction information; (f) a discrete key on said keyboard, depression of said discrete key rejecting said trial word presenting in said display and causing operation of said means for adjusting to supply said next-in-order kind of correction information to said amending means for application thereof to said incorrect word, thereby producing a new trial word for presentation on said display; (g) a particular key on said keyboard, operator depression of said particular key indicating a trial word currently presented on the display is accepted as a replacement for said incorrect word; and (h) incrementing means for unit incrementation of said individual counter for said next-in-order kind of correction information, said incrementing means responding to said operator depression of the particular key when said new trial word is presented in said display, whereby said statistical means is modified in accordance with the frequency of usage of each said kind of correction information.

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Claim 7:
7. The word-processing system of claim 1, wherein said statistical means comprises a plurality of weighting members, each uniquely associated with a respective one of said kinds of correction information and each member containing a numeric value derived from said count in said individual counter for said respective one kind of correction information; and further including: (i) means for comparing the magnitude of said numeric value contained in each weighting member and determining the maximum value therein, the kind of correction information associated with said weighting member having said maximum value being selected first for use in forming said trial word.