Method and apparatus for automating the localization of a computer program
First Claim
1. A system for localizing a target computer program, said system comprising:
- a computer system having a central processing unit ("CPU"), a memory and an input and an output device;
an executable binary version of a target computer program loaded in said memory of said computer system; and
a localization kit loaded in said memory of said computer system, said localization kit comprising an integrated set of tools, said localization kit for use by a user of said computer system to localize a portion of said target computer program into a language different from said target computer program'"'"'s language, said portion of said target computer program comprising at least two of the following;
error messages, button labels, menu items, text in icons, locale specific data for formatting time, currency or sort order;
said localization kit also for use by said user to bind a binary version of said localized portion with said executable binary version of said target computer program to produce a localized version of said executable binary version of said target computer program.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a system and process which has the advantages of shortening the time and cost required to create a new localized version of a software product by automating much of the language translation process; by providing tools to automate the modifications to the program being localized, thereby reducing the probability of creating errors in the localization process and providing some measure of consistency between subsequently localized new releases of the product, and between different locales. The system disclosed includes an environment and tools to develop software modules to create methods to display, enter or print various single and multi-byte character sets. Moreover the system disclosed provides a mechanism for an independent software developer to localize a software product, using only a binary copy of the target program and the localization tool kit for that product. This will permit the Software manufacturer to contract with developers in various countries to perform the product localization for their respective countries, minimizing risks by not having to provide the developers with a source code version of the portions of the product which do not require localization, and assuring rapid and consistent versions of the localized product through the use of the tool kit provided for that product. The invention provides a method and apparatus for creating a localized version of a target computer program product by first creating a binary version of the localized materials using the localization kit, and then using the localization kit to overlay this binary version of the localized materials onto a binary version of the target computer program product. The localization of certain locale date in the target computer program binary image is also facilitated. The localization kit also provides tools to test and verify the localized version of the target computer program product. The system disclosed also provides a framework wherein new localization tools can be easily incorporated into the overall process.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A system for localizing a target computer program, said system comprising:
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a computer system having a central processing unit ("CPU"), a memory and an input and an output device; an executable binary version of a target computer program loaded in said memory of said computer system; and a localization kit loaded in said memory of said computer system, said localization kit comprising an integrated set of tools, said localization kit for use by a user of said computer system to localize a portion of said target computer program into a language different from said target computer program'"'"'s language, said portion of said target computer program comprising at least two of the following;
error messages, button labels, menu items, text in icons, locale specific data for formatting time, currency or sort order;
said localization kit also for use by said user to bind a binary version of said localized portion with said executable binary version of said target computer program to produce a localized version of said executable binary version of said target computer program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer program product comprising a computer usable storage media having computer readable code mechanisms embedded therein for for localizing an executable binary version of a target computer program, said localization being performed on a computer having a processor, a memory and various peripheral devices, said computer readable code mechanisms comprising a plurality of program tools and files, designated a localization kit, which are independent of said target computer program, said plurality of program tools and files for assisting a user of said computer to localize a portion of said executable binary version of a target computer program, said portion of said target computer program comprising at least two of the following:
- error messages, button labels, menu items, text in icons, locale specific data for formatting time, currency or sort order; and
for assisting a user to connect a binary version of said localized portion with said executable binary version of said target computer program to produce a localized version of said target computer program. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- error messages, button labels, menu items, text in icons, locale specific data for formatting time, currency or sort order; and
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20. A method for localizing a binary version of a target computer program into any desired language, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a computer system having a central processing unit ("CPU"), a memory and an input and an output device, said memory containing a binary version of a target computer program; installing a localization kit into said computer system, said localization kit comprising a plurality of program tools and files for assisting a user of said computer system in localizing a portion of said binary version of a target computer program; using said localization kit to localize a portion of said binary version of a target computer program into a language different from said target computer program'"'"'s language, said portion of said binary version of a target computer program comprising at least two of the following;
error messages, button labels, menu items, text in icons, locale specific data for formatting time, currency or sort order; andusing said localization kit to connect a binary version of said localized portion with said binary version of said target computer program to produce a localized version of said target computer program. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for a person in any country to use in localizing a target computer program into a language of the person'"'"'s choice, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a computer system having a central processing unit ("CPU"), a memory, a display and an input and an output device; loading a localization kit into said computer system, said localization kit comprising a portion of said target computer program which is localizable; invoking a computer aided localization tool ("CALtool") which comprises a plurality of computer display icons, said icons comprising symbols for use in guiding said person from one step to a next step in localizing said target computer program; using said CALtool in localizing said portion of said target computer program which is localizable, said portion of said target computer program which is localizable comprising at least two of the following;
error messages, button labels, menu items, text in icons, locale specific data for formatting time, currency or sort order;creating a binary version of said localized portion of said target computer program; and connecting said binary version of said localized portion of said target computer program with an executable binary version of said target computer program thereby producing a localized version of said target computer program.
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33. A system for use by a person in any country in localizing a target computer program to any language the person desires, without the necessity of having the source code of the target program available, said system comprising:
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a computer system having a central processing unit ("CPU"), a memory and an input and an output device; a binary version of a target computer program loaded into said memory of said computer system; and a localization kit loaded into said memory of said computer system, said localization kit for use to assist a user of said computer system in any country to localize a portion of said binary version of a target computer program into a language different from said binary version of a target computer program'"'"'s language, said portion of said binary version of a target computer program comprising at least two of the following;
error messages, button labels, menu items, text in icons, locale specific data for formatting time, currency or sort order; and
for use to produce a localized executable binary version of said target computer program.
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34. A method for localizing a target computer program, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a computer system having a central processing unit ("CPU"), a memory and an input and an output device; installing an executable target computer program into said computer system; installing a localization kit into said computer system; and using said localization kit to localize a portion of said target computer program into a language different from said target computer program'"'"'s previous language, said localization being performed by a developer in any country who wishes to localize the target program to his or her language, said portion of said target computer program comprising at least two of the following;
error messages, button labels, menu items, text in icons, locale specific data for formatting time, currency or sort order.
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35. A computer implemented system for localizing a target computer program comprising:
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a localization kit comprising a plurality of tools to guide a localization of said target computer program by a developer in any country who desires to localize the target program to his country'"'"'s language, and a file of data to be localized, said file of data to be localized comprising at least two of the following;
error messages, button labels, menu items, text in icons, locale specific data for formatting time, currency or sort order; anda name space object to provide a path name to said file of data to be localized, said path name being provided to one of said plurality of tools whenever said file is invoked by said one of said plurality of tools.
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Specification