Abstract: Apparatus for automatic hyphenation of input words from a word processing system. The apparatus includes a digital reference matrix memory containing a vector representation of all legal hyphenations for each dictionary word in the form of a calculated magnitude and associated unique vector angles. The vector magnitude constitutes the address data for accessing the memory. When an input word is received for hyphenation, a hyphen is added to the word and its magnitude is calculated. The memory is accessed for an address which equals the calculated magnitude. If the address is not found, a signal is generated indicating that the word cannot be legally hyphenated. If the address is found, then the corresponding angles, representing legal hyphenations of the input word, are compared with test words generated by sequentially inserting hyphens in the input word. All equal compares are flagged and the corresponding hyphenated input words are gated onto the output line.

Abstract: The print convention apparatus and method disclosed herein effects a decision making process with respect to a determination as to whether an alphabetic character field output from an optical character reader (OCR) is related to the OCR scan of an upper case or a lower case inscription on the document scanned. The alphabetic character field (e.g., a word) is comprised of one or a series of alphabetic characters which represent the OCR's interpretation of characters printed on the scanned document. Each word output by the OCR corresponds to a field (i.e., word) of characters imprinted on the scanned document.

Abstract: A digital reference matrix apparatus is disclosed for verifying input alpha words from a keyboard, character recognition machine, or voice analyzer as valid linguistic expressions. The organization of the digital reference matrix is based upon the character transfer function of the input apparatus. The digital reference matrix contains a vector representation for each dictionary word in the form of a calculated vector magnitude and unique vector angle. The set of magnitudes and angles is stored in the digital reference matrix using a form of run length coding by storing a single magnitude pointer followed by the chain of unique angles for words having the same magnitude. The vector magnitude so calculated constitutes the address data for accessing the digital reference matrix.

Abstract: A data processing system is disclosed for selecting the correct form of a garbled input word misread by an optical character reader so as to change the number of characters in the word by character splitting or concatenation. Dictionary words are stored in the system, having characters which are flagged for segmentation or concatenation OCR misread propensity. The OCR word and a dictionary word are loaded into a pair of associated shift registers, aligning their letters on one end. The dictionary word characters are inspected for error propensity flags. When a splitting propensity, for example, is found for a character, special conductional probability values are accessed from a storage and a calculation is performed of the probability that the first character of the dictionary word was split by the OCR into the first and second characters of the OCR word. This regional context probability is compared with the probability of a simple substitution error for the characters.

Abstract: A cluster storage apparatus is disclosed for outputting groups of valid alpha words as potential candidates for the correct form of an alpha word misrecognized by a character recognition machine. Groups of alpha words are arranged in the cluster storage apparatus such that adjacent locations contain alpha words having similar character recognition misread propensities. Alpha words which have been determined to be misrecognized, are input to the cluster storage apparatus. Numerical values assigned to the characters of which the input word is composed, are used to calculate the address of that group of valid alpha words having similar character recognition misread propensities. The cluster storage apparatus then outputs the accessed groups of alpha words for subsequent processing.