Translation method and system for communication between speakers of different languages

• US 5,268,839 A
• Filed: 03/21/1991
• Issued: 12/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kaji, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Envall, Jr., Roy N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAI, ARI
• Application Number:
  US07/673,023
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 364/419
• US Class Current: 704/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/211 Syntactic parsing, e.g. based on context-free grammar [CFG] or unification grammars
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/268 Morphological analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/289 Phrasal analysis, e.g. finite state techniques or chunking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/30 Semantic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/45 Example-based machine translation; Alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/55 Rule-based translation
• 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: H04M 2203/2061 Language aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00

Abstract

In a communication system in which translation is achieved in a bidirectional manner between a first language terminal and a second language terminal, words appearing in sentences inputted from the first-language terminal are memorized so that the memorized words are preferentially selected when determining equivalents in later translations of sentences inputted from the second-language terminal, and vice versa. As means for memorizing an occurring word, a sentence number assigned to an input sentence containing the word may be stored in a word dictionary as activation degree information of the word or an occurring word file may be disposed for sequentially storing therein the occurring word. These items may be stored in combination with terminal user IDs. Various types of function allocation methods are possible. For instance, an input sentence can be analyzed by an input terminal so as to send the analyzed information to a destination terminal, which then generates a translated sentence from the received information a translated sentence obtained by a terminal of an input side can be sent to a terminal of a destination side.

Claims

1. A translation method for communication between speakers of different languages in which a first terminal of a first speaker of a first language is connected to a second terminal of a second speaker of a second language for a communication therebetween, the method comprising:

a first step of inputting a first-language sentence to the first terminal of the first speaker;

a second step of translating the first-language sentence into the second language;

a third step of outputting the translated first-language sentence from the second terminal of the second speaker of the second language;

a fourth step of inputting a second-language sentence to the second terminal of the second speaker;

a fifth step of translating the second-language sentence into the first language; and

a sixth step of outputting the translated second-language sentence from the first terminal of the first speaker of the first language, wherein

the second step includes a substep of determining second-language equivalents for first-language words by preferentially selecting second-language words appearing in the second-language sentence input in the fourth step, and,

the fifth step includes a substep of determining first-language equivalents for second-language words by preferentially selecting first-language words appearing in the first-language sentence input in the first step.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the system further includes a second-language dictionary containing, for each of the second-language words, in addition to grammatical information and semantic information, activation degree information inversely proportional to a period of time measured from when the second-language word last appeared, wherein:

said fifth step includes a substep of updating the activation degree information of the second-language words appearing in the second-language sentence input in said fourth step; and

said second step includes a substep of selecting one of a plurality of candidates which has a highest value of an activation degree designated by the activation degree information when the plurality of second language equivalent candidates exist for a first language word.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein:

said fifth step includes a substep of registering second-language words appearing in the second-language sentence input in said fourth step to a second occurring word file disposed to store therein the second-language words appearing in the second-language sentences; and

said second step includes a substep of selecting one second-language word stored in the second occurring word file when a plurality of second language candidates exist for a first language word.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the second language dictionary is provided to describe therein activation degree information for each pair of user identifications (Ids);

said first and fourth steps include processing for respectively adding a sender ID and a receiver ID to the first- or second-language sentence inputted thereto;

said fifth step includes processing for updating the activation degree information associated with a pair of the receiver ID and the sender ID of the first-language sentence containing the first-language word; and

said second step includes processing for selecting a second-language equivalent by referencing the pair of the sender ID and the receiver ID of the second-language sentence.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

a second occurring word file is disposed for each pair of user Ids;

said first and fourth steps include processing for respectively adding a sender ID and a receiver ID to the first or second-language sentence inputted thereto;

said fifth step includes processing for registering the first-language word to the second occurring word file associated with the pair of the receiver ID and the sender ID of the first-language sentence containing the first-language word; and

said second step includes processing for selecting second-language equivalent by referencing the second occurring word file associated with the pair of the receiver ID and the sender ID of the second-language sentence.

2. A translation method for communication between speakers of different languages in which a first terminal of first speaker of a first language is connected to a second terminal of a second speaker of a second language for a communication therebetween, the method comprising:

a first step of inputting a first-language sentence to the first terminal of the first speaker;

a second step of translating the first-language sentence into the second language;

a third step of outputting the translated first-language sentence from the second terminal of the second speaker of the second language;

a fourth step of inputting a second-language sentence to the second terminal of the second speaker;

a fifth step of translating the second-language sentence into the first language; and

a sixth step of outputting the translated second-language sentence from the first terminal of the first speaker of the first language, wherein

the second step includes a substep of determining second-language equivalents for first-language words by preferentially selecting second-language words appearing in the second-language sentence input in the fourth step.

22. The method according to claim 2 wherein the system further includes a second-language dictionary containing, for each of the second-language words, in addition to grammatical information and semantic information, activation degree information inversely proportional to a period of time measured from when the second-language word last appeared, wherein:

said fifth step includes a substep of updating the activation degree information of the second-language words appearing in the second-language sentence input in said fourth step; and

said second step includes a substep of selecting one of a plurality of candidates which has a highest value of an activation degree designated by the activation degree information when the plurality of second language equivalent candidates exist for a first language word.

23. The method according to claim 2, wherein:

said fifth step includes a substep of registering second-language words appearing in the second-language sentence input in said fourth step to a second occurring word file disposed to store therein the second-language words appearing in the second-language sentences of the second language; and

said second step includes a substep of selecting one second-language word stored in the second occurring word file when a plurality of second language candidates exist for a first language word.

3. A translation method for communication between speakers of different languages in which a first terminal of first speaker of a first language is connected to a second terminal of a second speaker of a second language for a communication therebetween, the method comprising:

a first step of inputting a first-language sentence to the first terminal of the first speaker;

a second step of translating the first-language sentence into the second language;

a third step of outputting the translated first-language sentence from the second terminal of the second speaker of the second language;

a fourth step of inputting a second-language sentence to the second terminal of the second speaker;

a fifth step of outputting the second-language sentence from the first terminal of the first speaker of the first language, wherein

the second step includes a substep of determining second-language equivalents for first-language words by preferentially selecting second-language words appearing in the second sentence input in the fourth step.

8. A communication system with a translating function wherein when communicating language information between a first terminal for inputting and for outputting first-language information and a second terminal for inputting and for outputting second-language information, first- and second-language input sentences of said first and second terminals are respectively translated into the second and first languages of associated communicating partners respectively associated with said second and first terminals so as to be respectively transmitted thereto, the system comprising:

first-language information input means disposed in said first terminal for inputting therein first-language information;

second-language information input means disposed in said second terminal for inputting therein second-language information;

first translation means for translating a first-language input sentence into the second-language information;

second translation means for translating a second-language input sentence into the first-language information;

first equivalent selection means for determining a second-language equivalent for a first language word in a first translation by said first translation means by preferentially selecting a second-language word supplied from said second-language information input means;

transmission means for communicating the first- and second-language information between said first and second terminals;

second-language information output means disposed in said second terminal for outputting the first translation result achieved by said first translation means; and

first-language information output means disposed in said first terminal for outputting a second translation result accomplished by said second translation means.

9. The system according to claim 8 further including a second equivalent selection means for determining a first-language equivalent for a second language word in the second translation by said second translation means by preferentially selecting a second-language word supplied from said first-language input means.

10. A communication system with a transmitting function comprising:

at least a first terminal of a first speaker of a first language and a second terminal of a second speaker of a second language connected to each other, wherein

the first terminal of the first speaker of the first language includes;

a first-language dictionary storing therein first grammatical information and first semantic information of the first language;

a first-language input module for reading therein a first-language sentence;

a first-language analysis module for analyzing the first-language sentence thus read;

a first-language generation module for creating a translated first-language sentence based on a result of analysis conducted on a second-language sentence;

a first-language output module for outputting the translated first-language sentence produced by said first-language generation module, and

the second terminal of the second speaker of the second language includes;

a second-language dictionary storing therein second grammatical information and second semantic information of the second language;

a second-language input module for reading therein the second-language sentence;

a second-language analysis module for analyzing the second-language sentence thus read;

a second-language generation module for creating a translated second-language sentence based on a result of analysis conducted by said first-language analysis module on the first-language sentence; and

a second-language output module for outputting the translated second-language sentence produced by said second-language generation module, wherein

said first terminal of the first-language speaker includes means for transmitting a result of the analysis conducted on the first-language sentence to said second terminal of the second-language speaker, and

said second terminal of the second-language speaker includes means for transmitting a result of the analysis conducted on the second-language sentence to said first terminal of the first-language speaker.

11. The system according to claim 10 further comprising:

occurring first language word store means for being used by said first-language generation module for determining a first language equivalent for a second language word during the creation of the translated second-language sentence, thereby enabling said first-language generation module to preferentially select the first-language word already having appeared in the first-language sentence read by said first-language input module; and

occurring second-language word store means for being used by said second-language generation module for determining a second equivalent in the second language for a first language word during the creation of the translated first language sentence, thereby enabling said second-language generation module to preferentially select the second language word already having appeared in the second-language sentence read by said second-language input module.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein

said second-language dictionary contains for each second-language word, in addition to the second grammatical information and the second semantic information, activation degree information inversely proportional to a period of time measured from when the second-language word last appeared or activation degree information described for each pair of sender and receiver terminal identifications Ids;

said second-language analysis module includes means for updating the activation degree information of the second-language word which appears in the second-language sentence thus read or which corresponds to a pair of the receiver ID and the sender ID of the second-language sentence containing the second-language word;

said second-language generation module includes, when a plurality of second-language equivalent candidates exist for a first-language word, means for selecting a candidate therefrom which has a highest activation degree or for referencing activation degree information associated with a pair of the sender ID and the receiver ID of a sentence under a translation, thereby selecting an equivalent for the first-language word; and

said first-language and second-language input modules respectively include steps for respectively adding sender IDs and receiver IDs to any sentence inputted thereto.

13. A communication system with a translating function comprising at least one first terminal of a first speaker of a first language and at least one second terminal of a second speaker of a second language, the system comprising:

said first terminal including;

a first-language input module for reading a first language sentence;

a second-language translation module for translating second-language sentences into the first language; and

,

a first-language output module for outputting the first language;

said second terminal including;

a second-language input module for reading a second language sentence;

a first-language translation module for translating first-language sentences into the second language; and

a second-language output module for outputting the second language;

arbitrary first terminals of said at least one first terminal including means for selectively transmitting the first-language sentences to arbitrary second terminals of the at least one second terminal;

arbitrary second terminals of said at least one second terminal including means for selectively transmitting the second-language sentences to arbitrary first terminals of said at least one first terminal; and

,

a second language dictionary containing, for each second language word, in addition to grammatical information and semantic information, respective activation degree information inversely proportional to a period of time measured from when the each second language-word last occurred; and

,

wherein said second-language translation module includes means for updating the respective activation degree information in response to every second language word occurring in the second language sentence read by said second language input module; and

,

wherein said first-language translation module includes means for selecting, among a plurality of second language equivalent candidates possibly stored for a first language word, one of said plurality of candidates which has a highest value of an activation degree designated by the activation degree information.

15. The communication system according to claim 13

wherein said first-languages input module and said second-language input module includes respective processing means for adding a sender ID and a receiver ID to the first- and second-language sentences read respectively;

wherein said second language dictionary includes means for writing therein the activation degree information for each different pair of the sender and the receiver IDs;

wherein said second-language translation module includes means for updating the activation degree information associated with the pair of the sender and receiver IDs of the second-language sentence containing the respective second-language word; and

wherein said first-language translation module includes means for selecting a second-language equivalent by referring to the pair of the receiver and the sender IDs of the first language sentence.

14. A communication system with a translating function comprising at least one first terminal of a first speaker of a first language and at least one second terminal of a second speaker of a second language, the system comprising:

said first terminal including;

a first-language input module for reading a first-language sentence;

a first occurring word file for storing therein first-language words appearing in the first-language sentence;

a first occurring word registration module for registering occurring first-language words to said first occurring word file;

a second-language translation module for translating second-language sentences into the first language; and

,

a first-language output module for outputting the first language;

said second terminal including;

a second-language input module for reading a second-language sentence;

a second occurring word file for storing therein second-language words appearing in the second-language sentence;

a second occurring word registration module for registering occurring second-language words to said second occurring word file;

a first-language translation module for translating first-language sentences into the second language; and

a second-language output module for outputting the second language;

arbitrary first terminals of said at least one first terminal including means for selectively transmitting the first-language sentences to arbitrary second terminals of said at least one second terminal; and

,

arbitrary second terminals of said at least one second terminal including means for selectively transmitting the second-language sentences to arbitrary first terminals of said at least one first terminal;

wherein said first-language translation module includes means for selecting one second-language word stored in the second occurring word file when a plurality of second languages candidates exist for one first language word.

16. A communication system with a translating function comprising at least one first terminal of a first speaker of a first language and at least one second terminal of a second speaker of a second language, the system comprising:

said first terminal including;

a first-language input module for reading a first-language sentence;

a first occurring word file for storing therein first-language words appearing in the first-language sentence;

a first occurring word registration module for registering occurring first-language words to said first occurring word file;

a second-language translation module for translating second-language sentences into the first language; and

,

a first-language output module for outputting the first language;

said second terminal including;

a second-language input module for reading a second-language sentence;

a second occurring word file for storing therein second-language words appearing in the second-language sentence;

a second occurring word registration module for registering occurring second-language words to said second occurring word file;

a first-language translation module for translating first-language sentences into the second language; and

,

a second-language output module for outputting the second language;

arbitrary first terminals of said at least one first terminal including means for selectively transmitting the first-language sentences to arbitrary second terminals of said at least one second terminal; and

,

arbitrary second terminals of said at least one second terminal including means for selectively transmitting the second-language sentences to arbitrary second terminals of said at least one first terminal;

wherein said first-language input module and said second-language input module include respective processing means for adding a sender ID and a receiver ID to the first- and the second-language sentences read respectively;

wherein said second occurring file includes file portions each for storing the respective occurring words for each different pair of the sender and receiver IDs;

wherein said second-language translation module includes means for registering the second-language words to the second occurring file portion associated with the pair of the sender and receiver IDs of the second language sentence containing the second-language words; and

wherein said first-language translation module includes means for selecting a second-language equivalent by referring to the second occurring word file portion associated with the pair of the receiver and sender ID of the first-language sentence.

17. A communication system with a translating function comprising at least one first terminal of a first speaker of a first language and at least one second terminal of a second speaker of a second language, the system comprising:

said first terminal including;

a first-language input module for reading a first language sentence;

a first translation module for translating first-language sentences into the second language; and

,

a first-language output module for outputting the first language;

said second terminal including;

a second-language input module for reading a second language sentence;

a second translation module for translating second-language sentences into the first language; and

,

a second-language output module for outputting the second language;

arbitrary first terminals of said at least one first terminal including means for selectively transmitting the first-language sentences and translated sentences thereof in the second language to arbitrary second terminals of the at least one second terminal;

arbitrary second terminals of said at least one second terminal including means for selectively transmitting the second-language sentences and translated sentences thereof in the first language to arbitrary first terminals of said at least one first terminal; and

,

a second language dictionary containing, for each the second language word, in addition to grammatical information and semantic information, respective activation degree information inversely proportional to a period of time measured from when each second language-word last occurred;

wherein said second translation module includes means for updating the respective activation degree information in response to every second language word occurring in the second language sentence read by said second language input module;

wherein said first translation module includes means for selecting, among a plurality of second language equivalent candidates possibly stored for a first language word, one of said plurality of candidates which has a highest value of an activation degree designated by the activation degree information.

19. The communication system according to claim 17

wherein said first-language input module and said second-language input module includes respective processing means for adding a sender ID and a receiver ID to the first- and second-language sentences read respectively;

wherein said second language dictionary includes means for writing therein the activation degree information for each different pair of the sender and the receiver IDs;

wherein said second translation module includes means for updating the activation degree information associated with the pair of the sender and receiver IDs of the second-language sentence containing the respective second-language word; and

,

wherein said first translation module includes means for selecting a second-language equivalent by referring to the pair of the receiver and the sender IDs of the first language sentence.

18. A communication system with a translating function comprising at least one first terminal of a first speaker of a first language and at least one second terminal of a speaker of a second language, the system comprising:

said first terminal including;

a first-language input module for reading a first-language sentence;

a second-language occurring word file for storing therein second-language words appearing in a second language sentence read by and transmitted from the second terminal;

a second-language occurring word registration module for registering occurring second-language words to said second-language occurring word file;

a first translation module for translating first language sentences into the second language; and

,

a first-language output module for outputting the first language;

said second terminal including;

a second-language input module for reading the second language sentence;

a first-language occurring word file for storing therein first-language words appearing in the first language sentence read by and transmitted from the first terminal;

a first-language occurring word registration module for registering occurring first-language words to said first language occurring word file;

a second translation module for translating second-language sentences into the first language; and

a second-language output module for outputting the second language;

arbitrary first terminals of said at least one first terminal including means for selectively transmitting the first-language sentences and translated sentences thereof in the second language to arbitrary second terminals of said at least one second terminal; and

,

arbitrary second terminals of said at least one second terminal including means for selectively transmitting the second-language sentences and translated sentences thereof in the first language to arbitrary first terminals of said at least one first terminal;

wherein said first translation module includes means for selecting one second-language word stored in the second-language occurring word file when a plurality of second language candidates exist for one first language word.

20. A communication system with a translating function comprising at least one first terminal of a first speaker of a first language and at least one second terminal of a second speaker of a second language, the system comprising:

said first terminal including;

a first-language input module for reading a first language sentence;

a second-language occurring word file for storing therein second-language words appearing in a second language sentence read by and transmitted from the second terminal;

a second-language occurring word registration module for registering occurring second-language words to said second-language occurring word file;

a first translation module for translating first-language sentences into the second language; and

,

a first-language output module for outputting the first language;

said second terminal including;

a second-language input module for reading the second language sentence;

a first occurring word file for storing therein first-language words appearing in the first language sentence read by and transmitted from the first terminal;

a first-language occurring word registration module for registering occurring first-language words to said second-language occurring word file;

a second translation module for translating second-language sentences into the first language; and

,

a second-language output module for outputting the second language;

arbitrary first terminals of said at least one first terminal including means for selectively transmitting the first-language sentences and translated sentences thereof in the second language to arbitrary second terminals of said at least one second terminal; and

,

arbitrary second terminals of said at least one second terminal including means for selectively transmitting the second-language sentences and translated sentences thereof in the first language to arbitrary first terminals of said at least one first terminal wherein said first-language input module and said second-language input module include respective processing means for adding a sender ID and a receiver ID to the first- and second-language sentences read respectively;

wherein said second-language occurring file includes file portions each for storing the respective occurring words for each different pair of the sender and receiver IDs;

wherein said second translation module includes means for registering the second-language words to the second-language occurring file portion associated with the pair of the sender and receiver IDs of the second language sentence containing the second-language words; and

,

wherein said first translation module includes means for selecting second-language equivalent by referring to the second-language occurring word file portion associated with the pair of the receiver an sender ID of the first language sentence.

21. An information retrieval method between different languages comprising:

a first translation step of translating a first-language enquiry into a second-language enquiry;

a retrieval step of achieving a retrieval through a second-language text file for attaining texts relevant to second-language enquiry; and

a second translation step of translating the retrieved second-language texts into the first language, wherein

said second translation step includes a substep of determining a first-language equivalent for a second language word by preferentially selecting a first-language word used in the first-language enquiry.