Spelling correction based on input device geometry

1. A the method comprising:

receiving a term via a device having a keypad;

assigning weights to characters in a first spelling of the term using a weighted distance technique based on a geometry of the keypad, to change the first spelling of the term;

wherein in the weighted distance technique: a first weight is assigned to substitution of a character in the first spelling based on a physical distance on the keypad, between a key associated with a substitute character and a key associated with the character in the first spelling of the term;

wherein a second weight is assigned to an insertion or deletion of a character in the first spelling of the term;

identifying a second spelling for the term based on the weights assigned to the character in the weighted distance technique and;

wherein a third weight is assigned to substitutions of character associated with keys that are adjacent to a key associated with a character in the first spelling that is being replaced.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first spelling is an incorrect spelling of the term and the second spelling is a correct spelling of the term.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising, identifying the second spelling by

selecting the second spelling from a plurality of correctly spelled terms when the second spelling involves a substitution of a character in the first spelling of the term with another character that is associated with a same key on the keypad.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the term is received as part of a search query.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

performing a search using the term having the second spelling to obtain search results.

6. A device comprising:

a memory having stored therein instructions;

a processor to execute the instruction to:

assigning weights to characters in a first spelling of the term using a weighted distance technique based on a geometry of the keypad through which the term is input, to change the first spelling of the term;

wherein in the weighted distance technique:

a first weight is assigned to substitution of a character in the first spelling based on a physical distance on the keypad, between a key associated with a substitute character and a key associated with the character in the first spelling of the term;

wherein a second weight is assigned to an insertion or deletion of a character in the first spelling of the term;

identify a second spelling for the term based on the weights assigned to the character in the weighted distance technique and;

wherein a third weight is assigned to substitutions of character associated with keys that are adjacent to a key associated with a character in the first spelling that is being replaced.

7. The network device of claim 6 wherein the term is input via a cell phone.

8. The network device of claim 6 wherein the key associated with the substitute character is adjacent to the key associated with the character in the first spelling of the term being replaced.

9. The network device of claim 6 wherein the processor receives the term as part of a search query.

10. The network device of claim 6 wherein the processor is further configured to:

perform a search using the term with the second spelling to obtain search results.