Abstract: Unique identifiers for each of a plurality of Chinese Pinyin syllables are generated and stored in an array of identifiers. A plurality of Hanzi character candidate lists is also generated, each list including Hanzi character candidates associated with a Pinyin syllable. Each identifier in the array has an array index, and each Hanzi character candidate in each list has a candidate index in the list. For each of a plurality of words having multiple Pinyin syllables, a data record including a key and a value is then generated. In a data record for a word, the key is an array index of the identifier in the array of identifiers and tone information for each of the multiple Pinyin syllables of the word, and the value is a candidate index, in the list of candidates associated with each of the Pinyin syllables, of the candidate that represents each of the Pinyin syllables.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device enables editing during text entry and also provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user. The disambiguation function can be selectively disabled and an alternate keystroke interpretation system provided.