Method and system for generalized localization of electronic documents

• US 20040205118A1
• Filed: 09/13/2001
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Yu, Allen
• Application Number:
  US09/952,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20040205118A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/131 Fragmentation of text files, e.g. creating reusable text-blocks; Linking to fragments, e.g. using XInclude; Namespaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/58 Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A system and method for programmatic localization of an electronic document sent to a user across a network. The method includes the step of determining a localization context for the user. Another step is retrieving the electronic document for the user to view. A further step is assembling the electronic document'"'"'s design based on the localization context for the user.

Claims

1. A method for programmatic localization of an electronic document for a user, comprising the steps of:

determining a localization context for the user;

retrieving the electronic document for the user to view;

constructing the electronic document based on the localization context for the user.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the determining step further comprises the step of detecting the localization context automatically using an electronic request for the document from the user.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of constructing the electronic document further comprises the step of formatting the electronic document based on the localization context with which the user is affiliated.

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein the formatting step further includes the step of formatting an object style based on the localization context with which the user is affiliated.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of constructing the electronic document further comprises the step of arranging the electronic document'"'"'s layout based on the localization context with which the user is affiliated.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein the step of arranging the electronic document'"'"'s layout further comprises arranging a location of navigational controls of the electronic document based on the localization context with which the user is affiliated.

7. A method for localization as in claim 1, wherein the step of constructing the electronic document further comprises the step of preparing an electronic document using a localization context that includes a plurality of nested localization contexts.

8. A method for localization as in claim 1, wherein the step of constructing the electronic document further comprises the step of preparing an electronic document using a localization context derived from the plurality of localization contexts nested within each other when the actual localization context does not exist.

9. A method for localization as in claim 1, wherein the step of constructing the electronic document further comprises the step of preparing an electronic document using a localization context derived from the plurality of localization contexts nested within each other when only an approximate localization is available.

10. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying the assembled electronic document for the user.

11. A method for localization of an electronic document for a user, comprising the steps of:

determining a localization context with which the user is affiliated;

selecting a localized version of at least a portion of the electronic document to be

displayed to the user based on the localization context with which the user is affiliated; and

retrieving the electronic document for the user to view.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein the determining step further comprises the step of detecting the localization context automatically using an electronic request for the document from the user.

13. A method as in claim 12, further comprising the step of using the user'"'"'s Internet Service Provider or Internet Protocol address to determine the user'"'"'s localization context.

14. A method as in claim 11 wherein the step of retrieving the electronic document further comprises the step of retrieving the entire electronic document to provide a localized electronic document.

15. A method for localization of electronic documents and web pages over an electronic network, comprising the steps of:

identifying a localization context for a user;

preparing an electronic document to be displayed to a user based on the localization context, wherein the localization context is contained within a hierarchy of nested localization contexts; and

transmitting an electronic document for the user to view.

16. A method for localization as in claim 15, wherein the step of preparing an electronic document further comprises the step of preparing an electronic document using the localization context that includes cultural region information.

17. A method for localization as in claim 15, wherein the step of preparing an electronic document further comprises the step of preparing an electronic document using a localization context derived from the plurality of localization contexts nested within each other when the actual localization context does not exist.

18. A method for localization as in claim 15, wherein the step of preparing an electronic document further comprises the step of preparing an electronic document using an approximate localization context derived from the plurality of localization contexts nested within each other when only an approximate localization is available.

19. A method as in claim 15, wherein the step of identifying a localization context for a user further comprises the step of detecting the localization context automatically using an electronic request for the electronic document from the user.