SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY TRANSLATING AN IMAGED SURFACE OF AN OBJECT

• US 20140214398A1
• Filed: 01/29/2014
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Learning Sites, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Learning Sites, Inc.
• Inventors: Sanders, Donald H., Gay, Eben
• Granted Patent: US 9,710,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/53 Processing of non-Latin text kana-to-kanji conversion G06F40/129; vowelisation G06F40/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/021 Flattening

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving a graphical representation of an object surface having a number of inscriptions indicative of information encoded upon the object surface. The graphical representation of the object surface is transcribed by the system to determine markings from the inscriptions. A number of alternative corresponding symbols are determined by the system. The alternative corresponding cuneiform symbols are determined from a number of the markings. A number of alternative transliterations are determined by the system. The alternative transliterations are determined from of a symbol of the multiple alternative corresponding symbols. A number of alternative translations are also determined by the system of a transliteration of the multiple translations transliterations. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a system comprising a processor, a plurality of photographic images of an object obtained from different positions relative to the object;

processing, by the system, the plurality of photographic images to determine a three-dimensional model of the object;

determining, by the system, from the three-dimensional model of the object, a graphical representation of a surface of the object comprising a plurality of inscriptions indicative of a writing;

transcribing, by the system, the plurality of inscriptions of the graphical representation of the surface of the object to determine a plurality of markings;

determining, by the system, from at least one marking of the plurality of markings, a plurality of alternative corresponding symbols;

determining, by the system, a plurality of alternative transliterations of a symbol of the plurality of alternative corresponding symbols; and

determining, by the system, a plurality of alternative translations of a transliteration of the plurality of transliterations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical representation comprises a flattened surface representation of a three-dimensional object surface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the determining of the plurality of alternative corresponding symbols comprises:

identifying within the flattened surface representation a plurality of surface segments; and

associating a respective symbol estimate with each surface segment of the plurality of surface segments.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining of the plurality of alternative corresponding symbols comprising:

associating, by the system, at least one marking of the plurality of markings; and

matching, by the system, the at least one marking of the plurality of markings to symbols of a symbol dictionary.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating, by the system, at least one of a transcription graph responsive to the determining of the plurality of alternative transliterations and a translation graph responsive to the determining of the plurality of alternative translations.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of markings are cunes corresponding to a cuneiform inscription.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing, by the system, a translation of the plurality of alternative translations in a searchable data repository.

8. A mobile device, comprising:

a memory that stores executable instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor, responsive to executing the instructions, performs operations comprising;

receiving a graphical representation of an object surface comprising a plurality of inscriptions indicative of encoded information;

transcribing a selection of inscriptions of the plurality of inscriptions to determine a plurality of markings;

determining from at least one marking of the plurality of markings a plurality of alternative corresponding symbols;

rendering at least one symbol of the plurality of alternative corresponding symbols for presentation on a display;

determining a plurality of alternative transliterations of the at least one symbol of the alternative plurality of corresponding symbols,

rendering a transliteration of the plurality of alternative transliterations for presentation on the display;

determining a plurality of alternative translations of a transliteration of the plurality of alternative transliterations; and

rendering a translation of the plurality of alternative translations for presentation on the display.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, further comprising presenting the graphical representation of the object surface to a display, wherein transcribing the selection of inscriptions of the plurality of inscriptions comprises receiving an indication of an enclosed surface about the selection of inscriptions of the plurality of inscriptions presented to the display.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, further comprising receiving an input from a user interface of the mobile device to selectively display one of the graphical representation of the object surface, at least one marking of the plurality of markings, a symbol of the plurality of alternative corresponding symbols, a transliteration of the plurality of alternative transliterations, a translation of the plurality of alternative translations, or combinations thereof.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein one of the plurality of alternative corresponding symbols, the plurality of alternative transliterations or the plurality of translations are presented to a display.

12. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the one of the plurality of alternative corresponding symbols, the plurality of alternative transliterations or the plurality of translations are presented to a display according to a ranked order.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a selection of one of a symbol of the plurality of alternative corresponding symbols, a transliteration of the plurality of alternative transliterations, or a translation of the plurality of alternative translations.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, further comprising storing a translation of the plurality of alternative translations in a searchable data repository.

15. A machine-readable storage device, comprising executable instructions which, responsive to being executed by a processor, cause the processor to facilitate performance of operations comprising:

receiving a graphical representation of an object surface comprising a plurality of inscriptions indicative of encoded information;

transcribing a selection of inscriptions of the plurality of inscriptions to determine a plurality of markings;

determining from at least one marking of the plurality of markings a plurality of alternative corresponding symbols;

providing a symbol of the plurality of alternative corresponding symbols for presentation on a display;

determining a plurality of alternative transliterations of a symbol of the plurality of alternative corresponding symbols,

providing a transliteration of the plurality of alternative transliterations for presentation on the display;

determining a plurality of alternative translations of a transliteration of the plurality of transliterations resulting; and

providing a translation of the plurality of alternative translations for presentation on the display.

16. The machine-readable storage device of claim 15, further comprising presenting the graphical representation of the object surface to a display, wherein receiving the selection of inscriptions of the plurality of inscriptions comprises receiving an indication of an enclosed surface about the inscriptions of the plurality of inscriptions presented to the display.

17. The machine-readable storage device of claim 16, further comprising receiving an input from a user interface of a mobile device to selectively display one of the graphical representation of the object surface, a symbol of the plurality of alternative corresponding symbols, a transliteration of the plurality of alternative transliterations, a translation of the plurality of alternative translations, or combinations thereof.

18. The machine-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the one of the plurality of alternative corresponding symbols, the plurality of alternative transliterations, or the plurality of translations are presented to a display according to a ranked order.

19. The machine-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a selection one of a symbol of the plurality of alternative corresponding symbols, the transliteration of the plurality of alternative transliterations, or the translation of the plurality of alternative translations.

20. The machine-readable storage device of claim 19, further comprising storing a translation of the plurality of alternative translations in a searchable data repository.