Method and apparatus for generating word skeletons utilizing alpha set replacement and omission

Claim 2

A process for generating a digital signal representative of a word skeleton, said process comprising the steps of A. accepting a digital signal representative of a designated word in conventional graphic representation, B. generating from said designated word a linguistically salient word skeleton, said generating step comprising the steps of (i) omitting from the linguistically salient word skeleton produced thereby a selected alpha set, if any, of the designated word which lacks isomorphy with a phonetic representation of that selected set, and (ii) replacing with a different linguistic symbol another selected alpha set, if any, of the designated word which lacks isomorphy with a phonetic representation of that other selected set, C. producing an output digital signal representative of said linguistically salient word skeleton.

Claim 3

A process according to claim 1 in which said generating step includes the steps of selectively providing a four-way vocalic distinction in the skeleton of a short word and selectively providing only a two-way vocalic distinction in the skeleton of a long word.

Claim 4

A process according to claim 2 in which said generating step includes the further step of classifying a designated word having only a single set of one or more contiguous vowels, other than a silent final vowels, as a short word.

Claim 5

A process according to claim 1 wherein said generating step further comprises the steps of (i) converting to an alpha set "s", an alpha set consisting of a character "c" followed immediately by any one of the characters "e", "i", and "y", (ii) converting to an alpha set "s", a non-word-initial alpha set "z", (iii) converting to an alpha set "kw", an alpha set "qu", and (iv) converting to an alpha set "r", a word-initial alpha set "wr".

Claim 6

A process according to claim 4 wherein said generating step further comprises sequential steps selected from the sequential steps of (i) converting to an alpha set "w", an alpha set "wh" which is followed immediately by any one of the characters "e", "i", "a", and "y", (ii) converting to an alpha set "kh", an alpha set "tch", (iii) converting to an alpha set "kh", an alpha set "tu" which (a) is followed by a single occurrence of any one of the characters "r", "n", "m", and "l" which, in turn, is followed by an y one of the characters "e", "a", "i", ",", and "y", and (b) does not begin in character position one or in character position two of the word, (iv) converting to an alpha set "kho", an alpha set which (a) consists of a character sequence "tu" followed by any one of the characters "o", "a", and "e", and (b) which does not begin in character position one or character position two of the word being converted, (v) converting to a first non-alpha symbol, a word-final alpha set "y" which does not form a portion of a word having a character length less than three, (vi) converting to said first symbol, a word-final alpha set "ie" which does not form a portion of a word having a character length less than four, (vii) converting to said first symbol, a word-final alpha set "i" which does not form a portion of a word having a character length less than three, (viii) converting to said first symbol, an alpha set which (a) consists of either of the characters "i" or "y", and (b) is both preceded and followed by any one of the characters "e", "i", "o", "a", and "u", (ix) converting to an alpha set "i", an alpha set "y" which is immediately preceded by a consonant, (x) converting to an alpha set "sh", an alpha set which (a) consists of either of the character sequences "si" or "ti", (b) is followed immediately by any one of the characters "a", "o", and "u", and (c) does not begin in character position one or character position two of the word, (xi) converting to an alpha set "ge", a word-final alpha set "gue" which does not begin in character position one or character position two of the word, (xii) converting to an alpha set "oo", an alpha set "ue", (xiii) converting to an alpha set "oo", an alpha set which consists of any one of the characters "e", "a", and "o" followed by either of the characters "u" or "w", and which (a) is followed by a consonant, or (b) is word-final, (xiv) converting to a trace symbol, a word-final alpha set which (a) consists of either of the character sequences "ea" or "ia", and (b) does not form a portion of a word having a character length less than four, (xv) converting to a trace symbol, a word-initial alpha set consisting of one or more occurrences any of the characters "a", "e", "i", "o", and "u", (xvi) converting to an alpha set "g", an alpha set "dg", (xvii) converting to an alpha set "k", an alpha set "c", (xviii) converting an alpha set consisting of either of a doubly-adjacent or triply-adjacent occurrence of a single consonant to an alpha set being said single consonant, (xix) converting to an alpha set "x", an alpha set "ks", (xx) converting to an alpha set "xhon", a non-word-initial alpha set "xion". (xxi) converting to an alpha set "s", a word-initial alpha set "ps", (xxii) converting to an alpha set "r", an alpha set "rh", (xxiii) converting to an alpha set "te", a non-word-initial alpha set "ght", (xxiv) converting to an alpha set "f", an alpha set "ph", (xxv) converting to an alpha set "n", an alpha set "gn", (xxvi) converting to an alpha set "n", a word-initial alpha set which consists of either of the character sequences "kn" or "pn", and (xxvii) converting to an alpha set "x", an alpha set "xs".

Claim 7

A process according to claim 5 wherein said generating step further comprises sequential steps selected from the sequential steps of (i) converting to a second non-alpha symbol, an alpha set which consists of any one of the characters "e", "i", and "a" and which is preceded by (a) exclusively consonants, or (b) a trace symbol, resulting from a prior-executed conversion step, which is followed exclusively by consonants, (ii) converting to a third non-alpha symbol, an alpha set which consists of either of the characters "o" or "u" and which is is preceded by (a) exclusively consonants, or (b) a trace symbol, resulting from a prior-executed conversion step, which is followed exclusively by consonants, (iii) converting to said third symbol, a non-word-initial second symbol which results from a prior conversion step, and which is followed by a singly-occurring character "r" which (1) is followed by a consonant not a character "r", or (2) is word-final, (iv) converting to said third symbol, a word-final alpha set "o" which forms a portion of a word having a character length of two or more, (v) converting to said third symbol, a word-final alpha set "oe" which forms a portion of a word having a character length of two or more, (vi) converting to a fourth non-alpha symbol, a second symbol which results from a prior conversion step, and which is followed exclusively by consonants, and (vii) converting to a fifth non-alpha symbol, a third symbol which results from a prior conversion step, which is followed exclusively by consonants, (viii) deleting a non-word-initial alpha set consisting of one or more occurrences of any of the characters "a", "e", "i", "o", "u", and "y".

Claim 8

A process according to claim 1 comprising the further step of converting said linguistically salient word skeleton to a modified form thereof, said converting step comprising at least one of the steps of (i) omitting from the skeleton being converted a first sequence, said first sequence including one or more elements selected from the set consisting of alpha characters and non-alpha symbols, and (ii) replacing a second sequence of the skelton being converted with a third sequence, said second and third sequences each including one or more elements selected from the set including alpha characters and non-alpha symbols, said second sequence differing from said third sequence.

Claim 9

A process according to claim 7 wherein said converting step includes the step of replacing any one of the vocalic symbols selected from the set consisting of "I", "E", "O", and "W" with any other element of that set.

Claim 10

A process according to claim 7 wherein said converting step includes the step of replacing a two-element sequence including the alpha character "r" and a vocalic symbol selected from the set consisting of "I", "E", "O", and "W", with a differing sequence including the alpha character "r" and a vocalic symbol selected from that same set.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said skelton means includes vocalic distinction means for selectively providing a four-way vocalic distinction in the skelton of a short word and selectively providing only a two-way vocalic distinction in the skeleton of a long word.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said vocalic distinction means includes means for classifying a designated word having only a single set of one or more contiguous vowels, other than a silent final vowels, as a short word.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said skelton means comprises means for executing the steps of (i) converting to an alpha set "s", an alpha set consisting of a character "c" followed immediately by any one of the chracters "e", "i", and "y", (ii) converting to an alpha set "s", a non-word-initial alpha set "z", (iii) converting to an alpha set "kw", an alpha set "qu", and (iv) converting to an alpha set "r", a word-initial alpha set "wr".

Claim 16

An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said executing means comprises means for executing sequential steps selected from the sequential steps of (i) converting to an alpha set "w", an alpha set "wh" which is followed immediately by any one of the characters "e", "i", "a", and "y", (ii) converting to an alpha set "kh", an alpha set "tch", (iii) converting to an alpha set "kh", an alpha set "tu" which (a) is followed by a single occurrence of any one of the characters "r", "n", "m", and "l" which, in turn, is followed by any one of the characters "e", "a", "i", "o", and "y", and (b) does not begin in character position one or in character position two of the word, (iv) converting to an alpha set "kho", an alpha set which (a) consists of a character sequence "tu" followed by any one of the characters "o", "a", and "e", and (b) which does not begin in character position one or character position two of the word being converted, (v) converting to a first non-alpha symbol, a word-final alpha set "y" which does not form a portion of a word having a character length less than three, (vi) converting to said first symbol, a word-final alpha set "ie" which does not form a portion of a word having a character length less than four, (vii) converting to said first symbol, a word-final alpha set "i" which does not form a portion of a word having a character length less than three, (viii) converting to said first symbol, an alpha set which (a) consists of either of the characters "i" or "y", and (b) is both preceded and followed by any one of the characters "e", "i", "o", "a", and "u", (ix) converting to an alpha set "i", an alpha set "y" which is immediately preceded by a consonant, (x) converting to an alpha set "sh", an alpha set which (a) consists of either of the character sequences "si" or "ti", (b) is followed immediately by any one of the characters "a", "o", and "u", and (c) does not begin in character position one or character position two of the word, (xi) converting to an alpha set "ge", a word-final alpha set "gue" which does not begin in character position one or character position two of the word, (xii) converting to an alpha set "oo", an alpha set "ue", (xiii) converting to an alpha set "oo", an alpha set which consists of any one of the characters "e", "a", and "o" followed by either of the characters "u" or "w", and which (a) is followed by a consonant, or (b) is word-final, (xiv) converting to a trace symbol, a word-final alpha set which (a) consists of either of the character sequences "ea" or "ia", and (b) does not form a portion of a word having a character length less than four, (xv) converting to a trace symbol, a word-initial alpha set consisting of one or more occurrences any of the characters "a", "e", "i", "o", and "u", (xvi) converting to an alpha set "g", an alpha set "dg", (xvii) converting to an alpha set "k", an alpha set "c", (xviii) converting an alpha set consisting of either of a doubly-adjacent or triply-adjacent occurrence of a single consonant to an alpha set being said single consonant, (xix) converting to an alpha set "x", an alpha set "ks", (xx) converting to an alpha set "xhon", a non-word-initial alpha set "xion", (xxi) converting to an alpha set "s", a word-initial alpha set "ps", (xxii) converting to an alpha set "r", an alpha set "rh", (xxiii) converting to an alpha set "te", a non-word-initial alpha set "ght", (xxiv) converting to an alpha set "f", an alpha set "ph", (xxv) converting to an alpha set "n", an alpha set "gn", (xxvi) converting to an alpha set "n", a word-initial alpha set which consists of either of the character sequences "kn" or "pn", and (xxvii) converting to an alpha set "x", an alpha set "xs".

Claim 17

An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said skeleton means comprises means for executing sequential steps selected from the sequential steps of (i) converting to a second non-alpha symbol, an alpha set which consists of any one of the characters "e", "i", and "a" and which is preceded by (a) exclusively consonants, or (b) a trace symbol, resulting from a prior-executed conversion step, which is followed exlusively by consonants, (ii) converting to a third non-alpha symbol, an alpha set which consists of either of the characters "o" or "u" and which is preceded by (a) exclusively consonants, or (b) a trace symbol, resulting from a prior-executed conversion step, which is followed exclusively by consonants, (iii) converting to said third symbol, a non-word-initial second symbol which results from a prior conversion step, and which is followed by a singly-occurring character "r" which (1) is followed by a consonant not a character "r", or (2) is word-final, (iv) converting to said third symbol, a word-final alpha set "o" which forms a portion of a word having a character length of two or more, (v) converting to said third symbol, a word-final alpha set "oe" which forms a portion of a word having a character length of two or more, (vi) converting to a fourth non-alpha symbol, a second symbol which results from a prior conversion step, and which is followed exclusively by consonants, and (vii) converting to a fifth non-alpha symbol, a third symbol which results from a prior conversion step, which is followed exclusively by consonants, (viii) Releting a non-word-initial alpha set consisting of one or more occurrences of any of the characters "a", "e", "i", "o", "u", and "y".

Claim 18

An apparatus according to claim 10 comprising target modification means for converting said linguistically salient word skeleton to a modified form thereof, said target modification means comprising means for executing at least one step selected from the steps of (i) omitting from the skeleton being converted a first sequence, said first sequence including one or more elements selected from the set consisting of alpha characters and non-alpha symbols, and (ii) replacing a second sequence of the skeleton being converted with a third sequence, said second and third sequences each including one or more elements selected from the set including alpha characters and non-alpha symbols, said second sequence differing from said third sequence.

Claim 19

An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said target modification means comprises means for replacing any one of the vocalic symbols selected from the set consisting of "I", "E", "O", and "W" with any other element of that set.

Claim 20

An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said target modification means comprises means for replacing a two-element sequence including the alpha character "r" and a vocalic symbol selected from the set consisting of "I", "E", "O", and "W", with a differing sequence including the alpha character "r" and a vocalic symbol selected from that same set.