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 2:
2. The word processing system of claim 1, where said new trial word is likewise unacceptable to said operator, and said selected next-in-order kind of correction information comprises a succession of word fragments, each fragment consisting of at least one character, and further including: (i) address means for locating the start position of said succession of word fragments in said storage means, (j) means responsive to each further depression of said discrete key for incrementing said address means to locate a next word fragment of said succession and for supplying said amending means with said next word fragment thereby to form a further trial word, each said further depression of the discrete key indicating the unacceptability of a previously-formed trial word.