System and method for real-time generation of software translation

• US 20050050526A1
• Filed: 09/23/2003
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ines Antje Dahne-Steuber, Marcos Garcia
• Original Assignee: Ines Antje Dahne-Steuber, Marcos Garcia
• Inventors: Dahne-Steuber, Ines Antje, Garcia, Marcos
• Granted Patent: US 7,437,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/136
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

A system and method for generating language-translated versions of software include a parsing engine to scan original-language versions of software, and detect textual string or other expressions which may require translation for other countries or markets. After testing for prior translation, those strings may be converted to appropriate expressions in other languages, and for instance stored in paired-memory or other format. Users may download the original version of the software, and then install run-time, language-specific resources to tailor the software to their market or country. The run-time, language-specific resources may be or include resource-only dynamic link libraries (dlls). In embodiments the target language into which translation may be made may be automatically detected using the regional settings of the user'"'"'s machine, or otherwise. Because translation resources for various sets of languages may be generated before the release of the original code, software products may be deployed in various markets and countries at the same time as the original code. Staggered release of localized versions of a software product in one country after the other is therefore not necessary, and software maintenance is made more efficient.

Claims

1. A method for generating a software translation, comprising:

receiving a source software component;

associating run-time translation resources from a group of language translation sets with the source software component; and

storing the run-time translation resources for selective installation in a software application associated with the source software component.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the source software component comprises application code.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the run-time translation resources comprise dynamic link libraries.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the dynamic link libraries comprise non-executable resources.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the non-executable resources comprise translated text strings.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the group of language translation sets comprises a list of translated text strings in a plurality of languages.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the group of language translation sets are accessible at least substantially simultaneously.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the selective installation is executed via a network connection.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising syntactically parsing the source component and the set of run-time translation resources.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the storing comprises storing run-time translation resources in a database.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the selective installation of the run-time translation resources comprises testing for regional settings on a client machine.

12. A system for generating a software translation, comprising:

an input interface receiving a source software component;

a parsing engine, communicating with the input interface, the parsing engine associating run-time translation resources from a group of language translation sets with the source software component; and

code storage, communicating with the parsing engine, the code storage storing the run-time translation resources for selective installation in a software application associated with the source software component.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the source software component comprises application code.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein the run-time translation resources comprise dynamic link libraries.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the dynamic link libraries comprise non-executable resources.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the non-executable resources comprise translated text strings.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the group of language translation sets comprises a list of translated text strings in a plurality of languages.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the group of language translation sets are accessible at least substantially simultaneously.

19. A system according to claim 12, wherein the selective installation is executed via a network connection.

20. A system according to claim 12, wherein the parsing engine syntactically parses the source component and the run-time translation resources.

21. A system according to claim 12, wherein the code storage comprises a database storing the run-time translation resources.

22. A system according to claim 12, wherein the selective installation of the run-time translation resources comprises testing for regional settings on a client machine.

23. A system for generating a software translation, comprising:

input means for receiving a source software component;

parsing means, communicating with the input means, the parsing means associating run-time translation resources from a group of language translation sets with the source software component; and

storage means, communicating with the parsing means, the storage means for storing the run-time translation resources for selective installation in a software application associated with the source software component.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein the source software component comprises application code.

25. A system according to claim 23, wherein the run-time translation resources comprise dynamic link libraries.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein the dynamic link libraries comprise non-executable resources.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein the non-executable resources comprise translated text strings.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the group of language translation sets comprises a list of translated text strings in a plurality of languages.

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein the group of language translation sets are accessible at least substantially simultaneously.

30. A computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium being readable to execute

a method for generating a software translation, the method comprising:

receiving a source software component;

associating run-time translation resources from a group of language translation sets with the source software component; and

storing the run-time translation resources for selective installation in a software application associated with the source software component.

31. A computer-readable medium according to claim 30, wherein the source software component comprises application code.

32. A computer-readable medium according to claim 30, wherein the run-time translation resources comprise dynamic link libraries.

33. A computer-readable medium according to claim 32, wherein the dynamic link libraries comprise non-executable resources.

34. A computer-readable medium according to claim 33, wherein the non-executable resources comprise translated text strings.

35. A computer-readable medium according to claim 34, wherein the group of language translation sets comprises a list of translated text strings in a plurality of languages.

36. A computer-readable medium according to claim 35, wherein the group of language translation sets are accessible at least substantially simultaneously.

37. Run-time translation resources for incorporation into a non-localized application to generate a language-translated version of the non-localized application, the run-time translation resources being generated according to a method comprising:

receiving a source software component;

parsing the source software component for language-dependent content;

associating the run-time translation resources with the source software component based on the parsing of the source software component; and

storing the run-time translation resources for selective installation in a software application associated with the source software component.

38. The run-time translation resources according to claim 37, wherein the source software component comprises application code.

39. The run-time translation resources according to claim 37, wherein the run-time translation resources comprise dynamic link libraries.

40. The run-time translation resources according to claim 39, wherein the dynamic link libraries comprise non-executable resources.

41. The run-time translation resources according to claim 40, wherein the non-executable resources comprise translated text strings.

42. The run-time translation resources according to claim 41, wherein the associating of the run-time translation resources comprises selecting from a list of translated text strings in a plurality of languages.

43. The run-time translation resources according to claim 42, wherein the run-time translation resources associated with the plurality of languages are accessible at least substantially simultaneously.

44. A localized application, the localized application being generated according to a method comprising:

selectively receiving run-time translation resources from a group of language translation sets, the group of language translation sets being at least substantially simultaneously accessible; and

incorporating the run-time translation resources in the localized application.

45. A localized application according to claim 44, wherein the run-time translation resources comprise dynamic link libraries.

46. A localized application according to claim 45, wherein the dynamic link libraries comprise non-executable resources.

47. A localized application according to claim 46, wherein the non-executable resources comprise translated text strings.