TRANSLATING PROMPT AND USER INPUT

• US 20130103384A1
• Filed: 04/15/2012
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hunter, Graham, McCloy, Ian
• Granted Patent: US 9,015,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/3
• 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 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: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

A method for intercepting an application prompt before it reaches the user interface, wherein the application prompt has been transmitted from the computer application and intended to reach the user interface. The method also includes translating the intercepted application prompt from a source language to a target user language, and in response to translating the intercepted application prompt, transmitting the translated application prompt to the user interface. The method also includes intercepting, in response to the application prompt, user input from the user interface, wherein the user input is intended to reach the computer application. The method also includes translating the user input from the target language to the source language, and in response to translating the intercepted application prompt, transmitting the translated user input to the computer application.

Claims

1. A method for handling computer interactions between a computer application and a user interface, the method comprising:

intercepting, by a processor, an application prompt before it reaches the user interface, wherein the application prompt has been transmitted from the computer application and intended to reach the user interface;

translating the intercepted application prompt from a source language to a target user language;

in response to translating the intercepted application prompt, transmitting the translated application prompt to the user interface;

intercepting, in response to the application prompt, user input from the user interface, wherein the user input is intended to reach the computer application;

translating the user input from the target language to the source language; and

in response to translating the intercepted application prompt, transmitting the translated user input to the computer application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a source language interface comprising the application prompts and user input in the source language.

generating a target language interface comprising the application prompts and user input in the target language; and

concurrently displaying, on a display device, the source language interface and the target language interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein translating the user input comprises:

parsing the intercepted user input into a plurality smaller data chunks;

separately translating each of the plurality of smaller data chunks; and

combining the separately translated data chunks into a complete translation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein translating the user input comprises:

transmitting the user input to a first translation service;

determining that the first translation service has failed to translate the user input; and

in response to determining that the first translation service has failed to translate the user input, transmitting the user input to a second translation service.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein translating the user input comprises:

transmitting the user input to a first translation service and a second translation service;

receiving a first proposed translated user input from the first translation service;

receiving a second proposed translated user input from the second translation service;

comparing the first proposed translated user input and the second proposed translated user input determine a best translation; and

selecting the best translation as the translated user input.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein comparing the first proposed translated user input and the second proposed translated user input comprises performing a reverse translation on each of the proposed translated user inputs, wherein the best translation is determined by comparing the reverse translations to the original user input.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the source language is determined by comparing the application prompt with a set of language references.

8. A system for handling computer interactions between a computer application and a user interface, the system comprising:

a computer processor; and

an interface translation controller executable by the computer processor to;

intercept an application prompt before it reaches the user interface, wherein the application prompt has been transmitted from the computer application and intended to reach the user interface;

translate the intercepted application prompt from a source language to a target user language;

in response to translating the intercepted application prompt, transmit the translated application prompt to the user interface;

intercept, in response to the application prompt, user input from the user interface, wherein the user input is intended to reach the computer application;

translate the user input from the target language to the source language; and

in response to translating the intercepted application prompt, transmit the translated user input to the computer application.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the interface translation controller is further executable by the computer processor to:

generate a source language interface comprising the application prompts and user input in the source language.

generate a target language interface comprising the application prompts and user input in the target language; and

concurrently display, on a display device, the source language interface and the target language interface.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein translating the user input comprises:

parsing the intercepted user input into a plurality smaller data chunks;

separately translating each of the plurality of smaller data chunks; and

combining the separately translated data chunks into a complete translation.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein translating the user input comprises:

transmitting the user input to a first translation service;

determining that the first translation service has failed to translate the user input; and

in response to determining that the first translation service has failed to translate the user input, transmitting the user input to a second translation service.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein translating the user input comprises:

transmitting the user input to a first translation service and a second translation service;

receiving a first proposed translated user input from the first translation service;

receiving a second proposed translated user input from the second translation service;

comparing the first proposed translated user input and the second proposed translated user input determine a best translation; and

selecting the best translation as the translated user input.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein comparing the first proposed translated user input and the second proposed translated user input comprises performing a reverse translation on each of the proposed translated user inputs, wherein the best translation is determined by comparing the reverse translations to the original user input.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the source language is determined by comparing the application prompt with a set of language references.

15. A computer program product for handling computer interactions between a computer application and a user interface, the computer program product comprising:

a physical computer readable storage device; and

an interface translation controller, stored on the computer readable storage device, to;

intercept an application prompt before it reaches the user interface, wherein the application prompt has been transmitted from the computer application and intended to reach the user interface;

translate the intercepted application prompt from a source language to a target user language;

in response to translating the intercepted application prompt, transmit the translated application prompt to the user interface;

intercept, in response to the application prompt, user input from the user interface, wherein the user input is intended to reach the computer application;

translate the user input from the target language to the source language; and

in response to translating the intercepted application prompt, transmit the translated user input to the computer application.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein translating the user input comprises:

parsing the intercepted user input into a plurality smaller data chunks;

separately translating each of the plurality of smaller data chunks; and

combining the separately translated data chunks into a complete translation.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein translating the user input comprises:

transmitting the user input to a first translation service;

determining that the first translation service has failed to translate the user input; and

in response to determining that the first translation service has failed to translate the user input, transmitting the user input to a second translation service.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein translating the user input comprises:

transmitting the user input to a first translation service and a second translation service;

receiving a first proposed translated user input from the first translation service;

receiving a second proposed translated user input from the second translation service;

comparing the first proposed translated user input and the second proposed translated user input determine a best translation; and

selecting the best translation as the translated user input.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein comparing the first proposed translated user input and the second proposed translated user input comprises performing a reverse translation on each of the proposed translated user inputs, wherein the best translation is determined by comparing the reverse translations to the original user input.

16. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the interface translation controller is further configured to:

generate a source language interface comprising the application prompts and user input in the source language.

generate a target language interface comprising the application prompts and user input in the target language; and

concurrently display, on a display device, the source language interface and the target language interface.