Real-time data localization

• US 20060059424A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Petri, Jonah W., Wilson, Andrew M., Kateley, James F., Hansten, Christopher E.
• Application Number:
  US10/941,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20060059424A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/255
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/40 Processing or translation of natural language natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system are provided for performing a real-time or a near real-time localization of data. The method comprises monitoring an input string and comparing a semantic associated with the input string to a semantic associated with at least one stored string. The method further comprises providing the stored string as an alternative to the input string.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

monitoring an input string;

comparing a semantic associated with said input string to a semantic associated with at least one stored string; and

providing said stored string as an alternative to said input string.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said monitoring said input string, comparing said semantic associated with said input string to said semantic associated with said stored string, and providing said stored string as an alternative further comprises performing said monitoring, comparing, and providing in a substantially real-time manner.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring said input string further comprises deciphering the content associated with said input string to determine said semantic associated with said input string.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein monitoring said input string further comprises:

determining a file type relating to said input string; and

determining a context associated with said input string based upon said file type.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein comparing said semantic associated with said input string to said semantic associated with said stored string further comprises using at least one of said content and said context associated with said input string to compare said semantic associated with said input string with said semantic associated with said stored string.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing said stored string as an alternative to said input string further comprises allowing a user to select said alternative string as a substitute for said input string.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein providing said stored string as an alternative to said input string further comprises allowing a user to select said alternative string to create a localization file, said alternative string being included in said localization file to generate a localized version of a product associated with said input string.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein providing said stored string as an alternative to said input string further comprises providing a plurality of alternatives to said input string.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein providing said stored string as an alternative to said input string further comprises providing previously localized stored string.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein providing said stored string as an alternative to said input string further comprises providing said stored string corresponding to a previously localized string.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring an input graphics portion;

comparing said input graphics portion with at least one stored graphics portion; and

providing said stored graphics portion as an alternative to said input graphics portion.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein providing said stored graphics portion as an alternative to said input graphics portion further comprises providing said stored graphics portion associated with a previously localized graphics portion.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein providing said stored string as an alternative to said input string further comprises providing a controlled vocabulary usage.

13. A method for performing a localization function, comprising:

monitoring an input string, said input string being used to develop a product; and

performing a substantially real-time localization of said product, performing said substantially real-time localization comprising performing a lookup of said input string to provide an alternative string based upon a previous localization associated with said alternative string.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein performing said substantially real-time localization of said product further comprises:

deciphering a content associated with said input string to determine a semantic associated with said input string;

determining a file type relating to said input string; and

determining a context associated with said input string based upon said file type.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein performing said lookup of said input string to provide an alternative string further comprises using at least one of said content and said context associated with said input string to compare said semantic associated with said input string with said semantic associated with said stored string.

16. The method of claim 13, performing said substantially real-time localization further comprises allowing a user to select said alternative string to create a localization file, said alternative string being included in said localization file to generate a localized version of a product associated with said input string.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein performing a substantially real-time localization of said product further comprises providing previously localized stored string.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein performing said substantially real-time localization of said product further comprises providing said stored string corresponding to a previously localized string.

20. A method, comprising:

monitoring an input graphic image;

comparing a characteristic associated with said input string to a corresponding characteristic associated with at least one graphic image; and

providing said stored graphic image as an alternative to said input graphic image.

21. A system, comprising:

a peripheral device adapted to provide an input string; and

a computer device to monitor said input string and compare a semantic associated with said input string to a semantic associated with at least one stored string, said computer device to also provide an alternative to said input string.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said computer system is coupled to a network system.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said network system is a server/client system.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said computer device comprising:

an operating system to control an operation of said computer device;

a lookup file comprising a plurality of localized strings; and

a localization unit to select at least one of said localized strings from said lookup file based upon comparing said semantic associated with said input string to said semantic associated with said stored string.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said localization unit further comprising:

a file type detection unit to detect a file type associated with said input string;

a text/string/graphic comparison unit to compare said semantic associated with said input string to said semantic associated with said stored string; and

an alternative text/string/graphic collection unit to provide said alternative to said input string.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said localization unit further comprising a fuzzy logic unit to control an operation of at least one of said file type detection unit, said text/string/graphic comparison unit, and said alternative text/string/graphic collection unit.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein at least one of said fuzzy logic unit, said file type detection unit, said text/string/graphic comparison unit, and said alternative text/string/graphic collection unit is a software unit.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein at least one of said fuzzy logic unit, said file type detection unit, said text/string/graphic comparison unit, and said alternative text/string/graphic collection unit is a hardware unit.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein at least one of said fuzzy logic unit, said file type detection unit, said text/string/graphic comparison unit, and said alternative text/string/graphic collection unit is a firmware unit.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein said lookup file is a database that comprises at least one localization file comprising a plurality of localized strings.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein said localization unit is capable of deciphering the content associated with said input string to determine said semantic associated with said input string, determining said file type relating to said input string, and determining a context associated with said input string based upon said file type.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said localization unit is capable of using at least one of said content and said context associated with said input string to compare said semantic associated with said input string with said semantic associated with said stored string.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein said localization unit is capable of allowing a user to select said alternative string to create a localization file, said alternative string being included in said localization file to generate a localized version of a product associated with said input string.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein said localization unit is capable of performing a substantially real-time localization of said product further comprises providing a previously localized stored string.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein said localization unit is capable of performing said substantially real-time localization of said product further comprises providing said stored string corresponding to a previously localized string.

36. An apparatus, comprising:

means for monitoring an input string;

means for comparing a semantic associated with said input string to a semantic associated with at least one stored string; and

means for providing said stored string as an alternative to said input string.

37. A computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs a method, comprising:

monitoring an input string;

comparing a semantic associated with said input string to a semantic associated with at least one stored string; and

providing said stored string as an alternative to said input string.

38. The computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 37, wherein at least one of said monitoring said input string, comparing said semantic associated with said input string to said semantic associated with said stored string, and providing said stored string as an alternative further comprises performing said monitoring, comparing, and providing in a substantially real-time manner.

39. The computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 37, wherein monitoring said input string further comprises deciphering a content associated with said input string to determine said semantic associated with said input string.

40. The computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 39, wherein monitoring said input string further comprises:

determining a file type relating to said input string; and

determining a context associated with said input string based upon said file type;

41. The computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 40, wherein comparing said semantic associated with said input string to said semantic associated with said stored string further comprises using at least one of said content and said context associated with said input string to compare said semantic associated with said input string with said semantic associated with said stored string.

42. The computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 37, wherein providing said stored string as an alternative to said input string further comprises allowing a user to select said alternative string as a substitute for said input string.

43. The computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 42, wherein providing said stored string as an alternative to said input string further comprises allowing a user to select said alternative string to create a localization file, said alternative string being included in said localization file to generate a localized version of a product associated with said input string.

44. The computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 43, wherein providing said stored string as an alternative to said input string further comprises providing a plurality of alternatives to said input string.

45. The computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 37, wherein providing said stored string as an alternative to said input string further comprises providing a previously localized stored string.

46. The computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 37, wherein providing said stored string as an alternative to said input string further comprises providing said stored string corresponding to a previously localized string.

47. The computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 37, further comprising:

monitoring an input graphics portion;

comparing said input graphics portion with at least one stored graphics portion; and

providing said stored graphics portion as an alternative to said input graphics portion.

48. The computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 37, wherein providing said stored graphics portion as an alternative to said input graphics portion further comprises providing said stored graphics portion associated with a previously localized graphics portion.