Method and system for facilitating language translation using string-formatting libraries

• US 5,644,775 A
• Filed: 08/11/1994
• Issued: 07/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bertram, Randal Lee, Thompson, Suzanne Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Gail O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KALIDINDI, KRISHNA V
• Application Number:
  US08/289,153
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 395/456, 395/440, 395/474, 395/480, 395/497.06, 395/163, 395/164, 395/600, 364/419
• US Class Current: 704/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/40 Processing or translation of natural language natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30

Abstract

Methods and systems that facilitate translation of text associated with application programs (such as word processors, spreadsheets, and design software) into languages other than English are disclosed. At least the key textual terms of the application are isolated from executable program code and stored in separate character-string library files. Independent libraries are maintained for each foreign language into which the program is to be translated. Library entries are accessed by means of a string reader and formatter, which, in response to commands embedded in the application text, loads the appropriate libraries and retrieves the designated terms. The invention replaces text entries, which would otherwise appear alongside program code and require compilation, with commands designating character strings and, if desired, their manner of display as well.

Claims

1. A data processing system that facilitates translation of text associated with an application program executed by the data processing system, the data processing system comprising:

a. a system memory having first and second memory partitions, the first memory partition to define a first memory region for storing a global string file comprising character strings representing text associated with a plurality of application programs and the second memory partition to define a second memory region for storing at least one private string file comprising character strings representing text associated with at least one specific application program;

b. a mass-storage device having stored therein a set of global string files and at least one set of private string files, each member of each set containing character strings representing a different text translation;

c. a processor for loading a selected global string file from said mass-storage device into the first memory and for loading at least one selected private string file from said mass-storage device into the second memory region of said system memory; and

d. a string processor responsive to commands embedded in the application program, said string processor for retrieving designated ones of the character strings from the first and second memory regions.

2. The data processing system of claim 1 further comprising a display and wherein said string processor further comprises means for causing the designated ones of the character strings to be displayed on said display.

3. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein said string processor is responsive to commands issued by a plurality of application programs.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said string-processor includes means responsive to commands wherein the commands instruct said string processor to load global and private string files appropriate to a designated country from said mass storage device to respective ones of the first and second regions of said system memory.

5. A data processing system that facilitates translation of text associated with application programs executed by the data processing system, the data processing system comprising:

a. a mass-storage device having stored thereon (i) a plurality of global string files that include character strings representing text associated with a plurality of application programs, each global string file containing character strings representing different text translations, and (ii) at least one private string file comprising character strings representing text associated with at least one specific application program; and

b. a string processor for selecting a global string file and at least one private string file in response to one or more commands embedded in the application program and for retrieving from the selected files designated ones of the character strings and causing display thereof.

6. The data processing system of claim 5 wherein said string processor is responsive to commands issued by a plurality of application programs.

7. The data processing system of claim 6 wherein the string-processor commands include instructions to retrieve at least one of the plurality global string files and the at least one private string file from said mass storage device and to store the at least one of the plurality of global string files and the at least one private string file appropriate to a designated country in said system memory.

8. A method of facilitating translation of text associated with application programs executed on a computer system, the method comprising:

a. establishing a global string file comprising character strings representing text associated with a plurality of application programs;

b. establishing at least one private string file comprising character strings representing text associated with at least one specific application program;

c. providing a stored set of global string files and at least one set of private string files, each member of each set containing character strings representing a different text translation;

d. providing a string processor, responsive to commands embedded in the application programs, said string processor for retrieving and causing display of designated ones of the character strings from private and global string files loaded into computer memory;

e. embedding string retrieval and display commands in the application program; and

f. loading from a mass storage device a selected stored global string file and at least one selected stored private string file into first and second regions of a computer memory.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of compiling the application program containing the embedded commands.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the selected stored global string file and the at least one selected stored private string file are identified by reference to a selected destination country.

11. A method of translating a predetermined application program containing text, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a global string library, the global string file including character strings representing text associated with a plurality of application programs including the predetermine application program;

(b) establishing a private string library, the private string file including character strings representing text associated with the predetermined application program;

(c) identifying repeated items of text in the predetermined application program;

(d) translating the repeated items of text into a selected language;

(e) storing each translated repeated item of text once as a separate character string in the private string library;

(f) translating the remaining items of text from the predetermined application program;

(g) storing the remaining translated items as separate character strings in the private string library;

(h) embedding commands within the predetermined application program, wherein the commands control a string processor;

(i) executing the predetermined application program;

(j) retrieving, via the string processor, designated ones of the character strings from the private string library wherein the string processor retrieves the designated ones of the character strings in response to the commands embedded in the predetermined application program; and

(k) displaying, via the string processor, the designated ones of the character strings retrieved from the private string library in said retrieving step.