This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 93107735, filed on Mar. 23, 2004, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a voice-inputting method, and more particularly to a method and a system for voice-inputting Chinese character by combining the character spelling language (CSL) and the character description language (CDL).
2. Description of Related Art
As the modern technology and the computer-related technology advances, the communication between the computer and people are more and more important. The traditional communication device between the computer and people is, for example, a keyboard to input the command and the computer outputs the information via the screen or printer. Conventionally, while inputting Chinese character into the computer, the users have to be familiar with the rules for inputting the Chinese characters such as the existing Chinese character input methods. Without learning how to use those Chinese input methods, one cannot effectively input the Chinese characters into the computer. Therefore, the other Chinese character input methods such as handwriting input method or voice input method have been developed.
The database disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,163,767 (Inventors: Donald T. Tang et al.) is also impractical because there are too many variations of the Chinese characters. It is impossible to store all the variations of the Chinese characters in the database. Even if all variations of the Chinese characters were stored in the database, the huge database would not be suitable for the personal computers. In addition, this patent also fail to consider the system's error determination if the user speaks with a lisp. For example, the user may pronounce z- as zh-
or -ng
as -
The present invention is directed to a method and a system for inputting Chinese characters to output the accurate Chinese character without the screen for selection to output the target character.
The present invention is directed to a method and a system for inputting Chinese characters to output the accurate Chinese character even when the user speaks with a lisp.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method of voice-inputting a Chinese character comprises, first, a target character input via a voice. Next, a plurality of candidate characters including the target character based on a spelling of the target character is generated. Thereafter, the target character from the plurality of candidate characters is selected based on a description of the target character.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the step of generating the plurality of candidate characters further includes generating the plurality of candidate characters based on a syllable of the target character inputted by a user. Therefore, it is possible to significantly enhance the character accuracy of determining the voice input by the user. In addition, the present invention allows the user to use ZhuYin and PinYin methods to spell the target character.
Further, the present invention provides the following methods for the system to describe the target character:
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the system for voice-inputting a Chinese character comprises a database, a character spelling language analyzer, and a character description language generator. Wherein, the character spelling language analyzer is adapted for capturing a candidate character set stored in the database to the character description language generator based on a voice-inputted of a target character which is inputted by a user. The character description language generator is adapted for selecting the target character from the candidate character set based on a selection of the user.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the character spelling language analyzer allows the user use one of a ZhuYin method or a PinYin method. In order to promote the accuracy, the character spelling analyzer in addition to consideration of spelling of the target character inputted by the user, the candidate character set is further generated based on a syllable of the target character inputted by the user.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the character description language generator generates the verbalism having the identifiable description based on a description of one of a structure and a radical of the target character, or based on one of a phrase, a name, and an idiom having the target character for the user to select the target character from the candidate characters.
In light of the above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the CSL and CDL mechanisms are combined to generate the accurate character without the selection via screen to output the target character. In addition, the candidate character set is generated after the users voice-inputs the target character so that an accurate Chinese character is generated even when the user speaks with a lisp.
The above is a brief description of some deficiencies in the prior art and advantages of the present invention. Other features, advantages and embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.
In another embodiment, CSL analyzer 201, in addition to considering the spelling of the target character inputted by the user, generates the candidate character set 207 further based on a syllable of the target character inputted by the user. Then the CDL generator 209 generates a verbalism having an identifiable description for each candidate character in the candidate character set (S330) and then the user selects the target character from the candidate character set 207.
Referring to
A. ZhuYin phraseology: The user uses the syllable of the target character and the ZhuYin method as the voice input 205. For example, if the user is going to input the target character to the voice input system 200, the content of the voice input is
(te)
(ai)
or
(ai)
B. PinYin phraseology: The user uses the syllable of the target character and the PinYin method as the voice input 205. For example, if the user is going to input the target character to the voice input system 200, the content of the voice input is
T{grave over ()}A{grave over ()}I{grave over ()}
or
T{grave over ()}A{grave over ()}I{grave over ()}
In addition, in the PinYin phraseology method, the PinYin method can be the HanYu PinYin, TungYong PinYin or other PinYin methods.
In the above two CSL phraseologies, the system will compare the syllable and the spelling of the target character. Further, the syllable of each target character will be repeated twice when it is inputted so that the number of the sample will increase for comparison. Hence, it becomes more precise when the CSL analyzer 201 generates the candidate character set 207.
In addition, when the CSL analyzer 201 captures the candidate character set 207, it will capture some characters having the similar spelling. For example, when the user is going to input the target character (chao3)”, the CSL analyzer 201 will capture the characters having the similar spelling such as
(chao1)” (different stress) and
(cao3)” (the difference between “ch” and “c”) into the candidate character set 207 in order to prevent the user's lisp from the incorrect determination of the voice input system 200.
A. Structure description: The system can use the structure of the target character to describe the target character such as or
Hence, when the system describes the target character
it can use the structure of the target character such as
to describe the target character
B. Phrase description: The system can use the phrase, name, or idiom having the target character to describe the target character. For example, when the system describes the target character it can use
or
to describe the target character
C. Radical description: The system can use the radical of the target character to describe the target character such as or
Hence, when the system describes the target character
it can use the radical of the target character
to describe the target character
In light of the above, the present invention has the following advantages:
1. Accurate character via voice input.
2. Because the CSL analyzer and the CDL generator are adapted to compare the voice input of the target character, the screen is not required for selection to output the correct target character.
3. Because the characters having the similar spelling when generating the candidate character set are captured, the fault tolerance is enhanced.
The above description provides a full and complete description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Various modifications, alternate construction, and equivalent may be made by those skilled in the art without changing the scope or spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the above description and illustrations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention which is defined by the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
93107735 | Mar 2004 | TW | national |