US4891775A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic word game machine
Assignee: Franklin Electronic Publishers Inc
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Filing: 1988-05-27
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Granted: 1990-01-02
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Expires: 2008-05-27
Abstract
Abstract A hand held electronic spelling dictionary to facilitate the selection of a random word. A random word may be selected for purposes of playing games. An input word size is selected by the user through a keyboard. A random number generator generates a random number for each position in the word selected. The random number selects a letter from a predetermined letter table which table has a distribution of letters approximately equal to the frequency with which letters occur in the English language. The result is a selected letter sequence having a size equal to the input size from the keyboard. This is treated as an input word which is alphabetically traversed against the memory to find valid words of equal size. To minimize biasing the valid words selected, a second random number generator generates a second random number N to select as the output word, the Nth valid word found on an alphabetical traverse.
Inventors
- 👤 David McWherter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:37
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F3/00; A63F3/00643; A63F3/04; A63F3/0421; A63F3/0423
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A word selection device for use in a word game machine having a memory containing a word list arranged in a tree format and a tree search control module to compare an input word against the tree memory to provide a valid output word, the word selection device comprising: input means to provide a word size command; a first random number generator responsive to said word size command to provide a random number for each letter position commanded by said word size command; and a predetermined letter table having a set of letters in a predetermined relative frequency; said letter table being responsive to the output of said first random number generator to provide a selected letter sequence having a size Q equal to the word size command; said three search control module responsive to said selected letter sequence to continue the search through words in the tree adjacent to said selected letter sequence to provide, as a valid output word, an Nth valid word having the size Q.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A word selection device for use in a word game machine having a memory containing a word list arranged in a tree format and a tree search control module to compare an input word against the tree memory to provide a valid output word, the word selection device comprising: input means to provide a word size command; a first random number generator responsive to said word size command to provide a random number for each letter position commanded by said word size command; and a predetermined letter table having a set of letters in a predetermined relative frequency; said letter table being responsive to the output of said first random number generator to provide a selected letter sequence having a size Q equal to the word size command; said three search control module responsive to said selected letter sequence to continue the search through words in the tree adjacent to said selected letter sequence to provide, as a valid output word, an Nth valid word having the size Q.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said relative frequency of said set of letters in said letter table is a function of the frequency with which letters occur in the English language.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 2 wherein N is a random positive number 19 or less.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 2 wherein N is set equal to "one" when said selected letter sequence begins with any one of the letters J, K, Q, X, Y and Z.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 2 wherein N is a random positive number 19 or less.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 5 wherein N is set equal to "one" when said selected letter sequence begins with any one of the letters J, K, Q, X, Y and Z.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 5 wherein N is generated by a second random number generator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 2 wherein N is generated by a second random number generator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1 wherein N is generated by a second random number generator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-01 | 1993-07-03 | 1994-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-01 | 1997-07-03 | 1998-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-01 | 2001-07-03 | 2002-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |