EP0788062A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Internet-based spelling checker dictionary system with automatic updating
Assignee: Sun Microsystems Inc
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Filing: 1997-01-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-01-24
Abstract
Abstract A dictionary system has a vendor computer and a plurality of client computers that communicate through the Internet. Each client computer has a word processor program with a spelling checker that utilizes a local main dictionary provided by the vendor and a local customized dictionary containing words added by the user. The vendor computer contains a dictionary of approved words, a database of misspelled words, and a database of requested words. When a user adds a new word to the local customized dictionary, an Internet request is sent to the vendor computer to add the new word to the dictionary of approved words. The user is notified by an Internet message from the vendor computer if the requested word is misspelled. The database of requested words from all users is reviewed periodically and utilized to update the approved dictionary. The updated dictionary is periodically released to the users as an upgrade to the local main dictionary. Users are compensated for the words that they contribute to the approved dictionary.
Inventors
- 👤 Jakob Nielsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/20; G06F40/237; G06F40/242; G06F40/232; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99932
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
A dictionary system for spelling checkers and word processing applications, said dictionary system comprising: a first computer comprising: a first display mechanism; a first input mechanism; a first port mechanism for exchanging information between said first computer and other computers; and a first memory containing a spelling checking program for checking the spelling in computer text being processed by said first computer, and further containing a first database of words for use with said spelling checking program, such that said spelling checking program causes said first computer to compare a word in computer text with words in said first database, and enables a user to add said word to said first database by means of said first display mechanism and first input mechanism, and further causes said first computer to transmit said word through said communication mechanism to said second computer; a second computer comprising: a second port mechanism for exchanging information between said second computer and other computers; and a second memory containing a second database of words, and further containing a dictionary program which causes said second computer to receive said word transmitted from said first computer, and to compare said word with words in said second database, and enables said user to request the addition of said word to said second database by means of said first display mechanism and first input mechanism; and a communication mechanism communicative with said first port mechanism and said second port mechanism, for exchanging information between said first computer and said second computer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A dictionary system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first database comprises a main dictionary and a supplemental dictionary, such that, following said comparison of said word in computer text with words in said main dictionary and said supplemental dictionary, if said word is not contained in said dictionaries, said spelling checking program causes said first computer to exhibit said word by means of said first display mechanism and enables said user to add said word to said supplemental dictionary by means of said first input mechanism, and to transmit said added word to said second computer,
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A dictionary system as recited in claim 2, wherein said second database comprises a first dictionary of correctly spelled words and a second dictionary of misspelled words, such that, said dictionary program causes said second computer to compare said transmitted added word with words in said first dictionary and determine if said word is contained in said first dictionary.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
A dictionary system as recited in claim 3, such that if said word is not contained in said first dictionary, said dictionary program causes said second computer to compare said word with words in said second dictionary, and if said word is contained in said second dictionary, said dictionary program further causes said second computer to send information to said first computer indicating that said word is misspelled.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A dictionary system as recited in claim 3, wherein said second database further comprises a third dictionary of words that are requested for addition to said first dictionary, such that, following said second computer receiving said added word, if said word is not contained in said first and second dictionaries, said dictionary program causes said second computer to add said word to said third dictionary.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
A dictionary system as recited in claim 5, wherein said third dictionary further contains, for each of said requested words, a variable indicating the number of requests for said word, and wherein said dictionary program, upon each addition of a word which is already contained in said third dictionary, changes the value of said variable, and upon each addition of a word which is not already contained in said third dictionary, sets said variable to the value corresponding to one request.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
A dictionary system as recited in claim 5, wherein said second computer further comprises: a second display mechanism; and a second input mechanism; and wherein said dictionary program further causes said second computer to exhibit each of said words in said third dictionary by means of said second display mechanism and enables a second user of said second computer to transfer any of said words to said first dictionary or second dictionary from said third dictionary by means of said second input mechanism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
A dictionary system as recited in claim 7, wherein said third dictionary further contains, for each of said requested words, a variable indicating the number of requests for said word, and wherein said dictionary program further enables a second user of said second computer to retain said word in said third dictionary, and upon such retention sets said variable to the value corresponding to one request.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
A dictionary system as recited in claim 5, wherein prior to adding said word to said third dictionary, said dictionary program causes said second computer to transmit to said first computer information that said word is not in said first and second dictionaries, and further, wherein said spelling checking program displays said information by means of said first display and enables said user to request the addition to said third dictionary of said word by means of said first input mechanism, and transmits said request to said second computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A dictionary system as recited in claim 3, such that upon said comparison, if said word is contained in said first dictionary, said dictionary program causes said second computer to transmit to said first computer information regarding said first dictionary.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
A dictionary system as recited in claim 1, wherein said second computer further comprises: a second display mechanism; and a second input mechanism; and wherein said dictionary program further causes said second computer to exhibit on said second display mechanism each of said words requested by said user for addition to said second database, and enables a second user of said second computer to transfer any of said words to said second database by means of said second input mechanism.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A dictionary system as recited in claim 1, wherein said communication mechanism comprises a wide area network communication mechanism.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
159 words
A dictionary system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of additional computers, each of said additional computers comprising: an additional memory; an additional display mechanism; an additional input mechanism; and an additional port mechanism for exchanging information between said additional computer and other computers; wherein said communication mechanism communicative with said first port mechanism and said second port mechanism is also communicative with said additional port mechanism, for exchanging information between said additional computer and said second computer; and wherein said additional memory contains the spelling checking program that is contained in said first computer for checking the spelling in computer text being processed by said additional computer, and further contains an additional database of words for use with said spelling checking program, such that said spelling checking program causes said additional computer to perform the same functions using said additional database as the spelling checking program functions in said first computer with said first database.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
A dictionary system as recited in claim 13, wherein said second memory further contains a database of information regarding users of said first computer and said additional computers, and wherein said dictionary program causes said second computer to transmit to said first computer and said additional computers information regarding changes of said first dictionary in said second computer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
A dictionary system as recited in claim 13, wherein said second memory further contains a database of information regarding users of said first computer and said additional computers, said database comprising, for each of said users, the number of times that such user has requested the addition of a word to said first dictionary that was added to said first dictionary.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A dictionary system as recited in claim 15, wherein said dictionary program includes a method to compensate each user according to said number of times that such user has requested the addition of a word to said first dictionary that was added to said first dictionary.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a dictionary system for spelling checkers and word processing applications, said dictionary-system having a first computer including a first memory containing a first database of words, said dictionary system also having a second computer including a second memory containing a second database of words, and said dictionary system further having a communication mechanism for exchanging information between said first computer and said second computer; a method for checking the spelling of a word in computer text being processed by said first computer, said method including the step of adding said word to said first database, said method further comprising, after said step of adding said word to said first database, the steps of: (a) enabling a user of said first computer to request addition of said word to said second database; and (b) upon such request, transmitting said word through said communication mechanism to said second computer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
171 words
A computer readable storage medium containing encoded data for use in a dictionary system for spelling checkers and word processing applications, said dictionary system having a first computer including a first memory containing a first database of words, said dictionary system also having a second computer including a second memory containing a second database of words, and said dictionary system further having a communication mechanism for exchanging information between said first computer and said second computer, said data comprising a program for causing said first computer to perform a method for checking the spelling of a word in computer text being processed by said first computer, said method including the step of adding said word to said first database, said method further comprising, after said step of adding said word to said first database, the steps of: (a) enabling a user of said first computer to request addition of said word to said second database; and (b) upon such request, transmitting siad word through said communication mechanism to said second computer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
160 words
A signal for causing first and second computers in a dictionary system for spelling checkers and word processing applications to implement a method for checking the spelling of a word in computer text being processed by said first computer, said dictionary system having a first computer including a first memory containing a first database of words, said dictionary system also having a second computer including a second memory containing a second database of words, and said dictionary system further having a communication mechanism for exchanging information between said first computer and said second computer, and said method including the step of adding said word to said first database, said method further comprising, after said step of adding said word to said first database, the steps of: (a) enabling a user of said first computer to request addition of said word to said second database; and (b) upon such request, transmitting said word through said communication mechanism to said second computer.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of storing data on a recording medium, the method comprising storing data representative of a signal, which signal causes first and second computers in a dictionary system for spelling checkers and word processing applications to implement a checking method for checking the spelling of a word in computer text being processed by said first computer, said dictionary system having said first computer including a first memory containing a first database of words, said dictionary system also having said second computer including a second memory containing a second database of words, and said dictionary system further having a communication mechanism for exchanging information between said first computer and said second computer, and said checking method including the step of adding said word to said first database, said checking method further comprising, after said step of adding said word to said first database, the steps of: (a) enabling a user of said first computer to request addition of said word to said second database; and (b) upon such request, transmitting said word through said communication mechanism to said second computer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
127 words
A method according to claim 17 or 20, a computer readable storage medium according to claim 18, or a signal according to claim 19, said second database having a first dictionary of approved words, a second dictionary of misspelled words, and a third dictionary of words requested for addition to said first dictionary, following said transmission of said word to said second computer, said method further comprising the steps of: (a) receiving said word in said second computer; (b) determining whether said word is already in said first dictionary; (c) if said word is not in said first dictionary, determining whether said word is already in said second dictionary; and (d) if said word is not in said second dictionary, adding said word to said third dictionary.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
104 words
A method, computer readable storage medium,. or a signal as recited in claim 21, said method further comprising, following the step (b) of determining that said word is already in said first dictionary, the steps of: (b1) transmitting to said first computer upgrade information regarding said first dictionary; (b2) enabling a user of said first computer to request an upgraded copy of said first dictionary and transmit said request to said second computer through said communication mechanism; and (b3) following receipt of said request by said second computer, transmitting said upgraded copy of said first dictionary to said first computer through said communication mechanism.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method, computer readable storage medium, or a signal as recited in claim 21 or 22, said method further comprising, following the step (c) of determining that said word is already in said second dictionary, the steps of: (c1) transmitting to said first computer information regarding misspelling of said word and suggested correct spellings of said word; and (c2) enabling a user of said first computer to correct the spelling of said word in said first database.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
129 words
A method, computer readable storage medium, or signal as recited in claim 21, 22 or 23, wherein said third dictionary further contains, for each of said requested words, a variable indicating the number of requests for said word, said methods further comprising the steps of: prior to the step (d) of adding said word to said third dictionary, the step (1d) of determining whether said word is already included in said third dictionary, and if so, modifying the value of said variable to corrrespond to the number of requests for said word increased by one; and following the step (d) of adding said word to said third dictionary, the step of modifying the value of said variable to corrrespond to one request for said word in said third dictionary.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
A signal according to claim 19, wherein the signal is recorded on a recording medium.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
A signal according to claim 25, wherein the recording medium comprises a magnetic disc, a magnetic tape, an optical disc or an electronic memory device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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