Polylingual simultaneous shipping of software

• US 20020162090A1
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Murphy, David A., Kaneko, Atsushi, Jorge, Giona Lorenzo, Salzer, Daniel, Parnell, Karen P., Hastings, Mark Curtis, Tsepalov, Nikolai, Kedefors, Hans Eric Emanuel, Kulkarni, Jayant
• Granted Patent: US 7,761,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/120
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

Systems and methods for software development in which the development of a base product proceeds concurrently with the internationalization and localization of the base product to produce multiple language versions of the product for polylingual simultaneous shipment to customers wherein one or more of the multiple languages can be uploaded by the customer in a single installation process.

Claims

1. A method of developing a computer-implemented application to permit the polylingual simultaneous shipment of the application, the method comprising:

implementing a development process for a base version of the application in a base language, wherein the development process includes differentiating between language dependant code and language independent code in the base version of the application;

concurrently implementing an internationalization process for the base version of the application, wherein the internationalization process includes pseudo localization of the base version of the application; and

concurrently implementing a localization process for the base version of the application, wherein the localization process includes translating the language dependent code into at least one language different from the base language.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein differentiating between language dependant code and language independent code comprises:

identifying all language-dependent user interface code; and

creating a source code structure for the application wherein the language-dependent user interface code is maintained separately from non user interface code.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the base version development process further includes a process of defining features of the application to be developed, the process of defining features of the application to be developed comprising selection of development milestones and a determination of which features are to be implemented at each of the development milestones.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the base version development process comprises a first base stage, a second base stage, and a third base stage, each base stage corresponding to development of a predetermined portion of the base version of the application.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the base language is English.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the first base stage corresponds to development of approximately sixty percent of the base version of the application.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the second base stage corresponds to development of approximately eighty percent of the base version of the application.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the third base stage corresponds to development of approximately one hundred percent of the base version of the application.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein pseudo localization includes adding a prefix to each translatable string in the application.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the internationalization process further includes an identification of defects in a previous version of the application, a feature review process, and a unit testing process.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the internationalization process comprises a first international stage, a second international stage, and a third international stage, each international stage corresponding to internationalization of a predetermined portion of the base version of the application developed in the development process.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein translating the language dependent code comprises:

translation of a base glossary and completion of at least one localization kit.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the localization kit comprises an existing translated base glossary and a build of the application including all currently existing features.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the localization process further includes generation of a base glossary, local partner training, translation of the base glossary, and completion of at least one localization kit.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the localization process comprises a first local stage, a second local stage, and a third local stage, each local stage corresponding to localization of a predetermined portion of the base version of the application developed in the development process.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one language different from the base language is selected from the group consisting of:

German, Spanish, French, Japanese, Danish, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Chinese, Korean, Czech, Finnish, Greek, and Hebrew.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein differentiating between language dependant code and language independent code comprises:

identifying all user interface code as language dependant code; and

creating a source code structure for the application wherein user interface code is maintained separately from non user interface code.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the base version development process further includes a process of defining features of the application to be developed, the process of defining features of the application to be developed comprising selection of development milestones and a determination of which features are to be implemented at each of the development milestones.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the base version development process comprises a first base stage, a second base stage, and a third base stage, each base stage corresponding to development of a predetermined portion of the base version of the application.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the base language is English.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the first base stage corresponds to development of approximately sixty percent of the base version of the application.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the second base stage corresponds to development of approximately eighty percent of the base version of the application.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the third base stage corresponds to development of approximately one hundred percent of the base version of the application.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein pseudo localization includes adding a prefix to each translatable string in the application.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the internationalization process further includes an identification of defects in a previous version of the application, a feature review process, and a unit testing process.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the internationalization process comprises a first international stage, a second international stage, and a third international stage, each international stage corresponding to internationalization of a predetermined portion of the base version of the application developed in the development process.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein translating the language dependent code comprises:

translation of a base glossary and completion of at least one localization kit.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the localization kit comprises an existing translated base glossary and a build of the application including all currently existing features.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the localization process further includes generation of a base glossary, local partner training, translation of the base glossary, and completion of at least one localization kit.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the localization process comprises a first local stage, a second local stage, and a third local stage, each local stage corresponding to localization of a predetermined portion of the base version of the application developed in the development process.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the at least one language different from the base language is selected from the group consisting of:

German, Spanish, French, Japanese, Danish, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Chinese, Korean, Czech, Finnish, Greek, and Hebrew.

35. The server of claim 34, wherein the microprocessor further implements a set of preprogrammed instructions to implement a release phase for the finalization of the development process, the internationalization process, and the localization process.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising, implementation of a release phase for the finalization of the development process, the internationalization process, and the localization process.

17. A method of developing a computer-implemented application to permit the polylingual simultaneous shipment of the application, the method comprising:

developing an application comprising a front end, a middle, and a data model, wherein the front end comprises user interface code developed in a base language and the middle comprises non user interface code developed in a programming language;

maintaining the user interface code separately from the non user interface code;

concurrently identifying any hard-coded strings existing in the application; and

concurrently translating the user interface code into at least one language different from the base language.

18. A computer-readable medium containing a set of preprogrammed instructions to:

implement a development process for a base version of the application in a base language, wherein the development process includes differentiating between language dependant code and language independent code in the base version of the application;

concurrently implement an internationalization process for the base version of the application, wherein the internationalization process includes pseudo localization of the base version of the application; and

concurrently implement a localization process for the base version of the application, wherein the localization process includes translating the language dependent code into at least one language different from the base language.

34. A server, including a microprocessor, a memory, and an input/output section, wherein the microprocessor implements a set of preprogrammed instructions to:

implement a development process for a base version of the application in a base language, wherein the development process includes differentiating between language dependant code and language independent code in the base version of the application;

concurrently implement an internationalization process for the base version of the application, wherein the internationalization process includes pseudo localization of the base version of the application; and

concurrently implement a localization process for the base version of the application, wherein the localization process includes translating the language dependent code into at least one language different from the base language.

36. A method of developing a computer-implemented application to permit the polylingual simultaneous shipment of the application, the method comprising:

implementing a development process for a base version of the application in a base language to produce a development process product, wherein the development process includes;

defining features of the application;

writing code for the application, wherein writing code includes distinguishing between user interface code and non user interface code;

testing the code; and

directing the development process product to an internationalization process and a localization process;

concurrently implementing the internationalization process for the base version of the application to produce an internationalization process product, wherein the internationalization process includes;

identifying defects in a previous version of the application;

creating a pseudo localization environment for the base version of the application;

implementing a feature review process;

unit testing the base version of the application directing the internationalization process product to the development process;

concurrently implementing the localization process for the base version of the application to produce a localization product, wherein the localization process includes;

generating a base glossary containing at least a portion of the user interface code;

training local partners to use translation tools and procedures;

translating the user interface code, including translating the base glossary and completing at least one localization kit; and

directing the localization product to the development process.