Updating hint list based on number of strokes

1. An apparatus comprising:

a touch-sensitive input panel for receiving a handwritten sub-character, the handwritten sub-character comprising one or more character strokes;

a processor;

a memory that stores code executable by the processor to:

determine a hint list based on the handwritten sub-character, the hint list comprising at least one entry, each entry being a character that comprises the handwritten sub-character;

identify a number of post-character strokes corresponding to each entry in the hint list, a post-character stroke being a stroke added to the sub-character to form the entry;

receive at least one indication of an additional stroke relating to the handwritten sub-character, wherein the indication of an additional stroke is a different input than a character stroke, said indication selected from the group consisting of: a tap that represents an additional character stroke and does not indicate a specific character stroke at a location of the touch-sensitive input panel adjacent to a location of the handwritten sub-character and a button press that represents an additional character stroke and does not indicate a specific character stroke; and

update the hint list based on a number of additional strokes determined using the at least one indication of an additional stroke, wherein updating the hint list based on the number of additional strokes comprises removing each entry in the hint list whose number of post-character strokes is less than the number of additional strokes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein receiving the at least one indication of an additional stroke comprises receiving input at a separate field of the touch-sensitive input panel than that used to input the handwritten sub-character.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein determining a hint list based on the handwritten sub-character comprises:

retrieving a list of candidate characters that include the handwritten sub-character;

identifying a writing order of each candidate character in the list of candidate characters; and

determining, for each candidate character in the list of candidate characters, whether the candidate character begins with the handwritten sub-character based on the writing order for that candidate character.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein receiving the at least one indication of an additional stroke relating to the handwritten sub-character comprises receiving at least one tap that represents an additional character stroke and does not indicate a specific character stroke, said at least one tap received at a location of the touch-sensitive input panel adjacent to an input location of the sub-character, wherein updating the hint list based on the number of additional strokes comprises updating the hint list based on a received number of taps.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein receiving at least one tap that is not a character stroke comprises receiving input at a separate field of the touch-sensitive input panel than that used to input the handwritten sub-character.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a button that represents an additional character stroke and does not indicate a specific character stroke, wherein receiving the at least one indication of an additional stroke relating to the handwritten sub-character comprises receiving button input corresponding to a press of the button, wherein updating the hint list based on the number of additional strokes comprises updating the hint list based on a received number of button presses.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the button is separate from the touch-sensitive input panel.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the handwritten sub-character is a Chinese radical.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, by use of a processor, a handwritten sub-character, the handwritten sub-character comprising one or more character strokes;

determining a hint list based on the handwritten sub-character, the hint list comprising at least one entry, each entry being a character that comprises the handwritten sub-character;

identifying a number of post-character strokes corresponding to each entry in the hint list, a post-character stroke being a stroke added to the sub-character to form the entry;

receiving the at least one indication of an additional stroke relating to the handwritten sub-character, wherein the at least one indication of an additional stroke is a different input than a character stroke, said indication selected from the group consisting of: a tap that represents an additional character stroke and does not indicate a specific character stroke at a location of the touch-sensitive input panel adjacent to a location of the handwritten sub-character, a button press that represents an additional character stroke and does not indicate a specific character stroke; and

updating the hint list based on a number of additional strokes determined using the at least one indication of an additional stroke, wherein updating the hint list based on the number of additional strokes comprises removing each entry in the hint list whose number of post-character strokes is less than the number of additional strokes.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the at least one indication of an additional stroke comprises receiving input at a separate field of the touch-sensitive input panel than that used to input the handwritten sub-character.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining a hint list based on the handwritten sub-character comprises:

retrieving a list of candidate characters that include the handwritten sub-character;

identifying a writing order of each candidate character; and

determining, for each candidate character in the list of candidate characters, whether the candidate character begins with the handwritten sub-character based on the writing order for that candidate character.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the at least one indication of an additional stroke relating to the handwritten sub-character comprises receiving at least one tap that represents an additional character stroke and does not indicate a specific character stroke, said at least one tap received at a location of the touch-sensitive input panel adjacent to an input location of the sub-character, wherein updating the hint list based on the number of additional strokes comprises updating the hint list based on a received number of taps.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein receiving a handwritten sub-character comprises receiving handwriting input at a touch-sensitive input panel and wherein receiving at least one tap comprises receiving input at a separate field of the touch-sensitive input panel than that used to input the handwritten sub-character.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving a handwritten sub-character comprises:

receiving handwriting input;

determining whether the handwriting input forms a handwritten sub-character;

identifying a character radical corresponding to the handwritten sub-character in response to the handwriting input forming a handwritten sub-character; and

monitoring for another stroke of handwriting input in response to handwriting input not forming a handwritten sub-character.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the wherein the handwritten sub-character comprises a Chinese radical.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the at least one indication of an additional stroke relating to the handwritten sub-character comprises receiving at least one press of a button that represents an additional character stroke and does not indicate a specific character stroke, wherein updating the hint list based on the number of additional strokes comprises updating the hint list based on a received number of button presses.

17. A program product comprising a computer readable storage medium that is not a transitory signal and that stores code executable by a processor, the executable code comprising code to perform:

receiving a handwritten sub-character at a touch-sensitive input panel, the handwritten sub-character comprising one or more character strokes;

determining a hint list based on the handwritten sub-character, the hint list comprising at least one entry, each entry being a character that comprises the handwritten sub-character;

identifying a number of post-character strokes corresponding to each entry in the hint list, a post-character stroke being a stroke added to the sub-character to form the entry;

receiving one or more taps at the touch-sensitive input panel indicating at least one additional stroke relating to the handwritten character, the one or more taps being a different input than a character stroke, each tap representing an additional character stroke without indicating a specific character stroke; and

updating the hint list based on a number of additional strokes determined from the one or more taps, wherein updating the hint list based on the number of additional strokes comprises removing each entry in the hint list whose number of post-character strokes is less than the number of additional strokes.

18. The program product of claim 17 , wherein determining a hint list based on the handwritten character comprises:

retrieving a list of candidate characters that include the handwritten character;

identifying a writing order of each candidate character; and

determining, for each candidate character in the list of candidate characters, whether the candidate character begins with the handwritten character based on the writing order for that candidate character.

19. The program product of claim 17 , wherein receiving one or more taps at the touch-sensitive input panel indicating at least one additional stroke relating to the handwritten character comprises receiving input at a separate field of the touch-sensitive input panel than that used to input the handwritten sub-character.