Dictionary management apparatus and a dictionary server

• US 6,282,508 B1
• Filed: 03/06/1998
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Hirakawa, Hideki, Kimura, Kazuhiro, Kumano, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): EDOUARD, PATRICK NESTOR
• Application Number:
  US09/035,767
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 704/1, 704/2, 704/7, 704/8, 704/9-10, 707/530, 707/531, 707/532, 707/536, 707/511, 707/500, 707/513, 707/540, 707/100, 707/104, 709/203, 709/201, 709/217-218
• US Class Current: 704/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/242 Dictionaries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/53 Processing of non-Latin text kana-to-kanji conversion G06F40/129; vowelisation G06F40/232

Abstract

The dictionary management apparatus of the present invention updates each dictionary included in a plurality of language processing system. A request section requests download of dictionary data for a dictionary server according to a user'"'"'s request or a predetermined condition. The dictionary server stores the dictionary data to be supplied to the language processing system. An update section updates the dictionary of the plurality of language processing system according to the dictionary data downloaded from the dictionary server. A collection section collects a user dictionary data updated in the dictionary of at least one language processing system. An upload section sends the user dictionary data collected by the collection section to the dictionary server as upload data.

Claims

1. A dictionary management apparatus which updates a dictionary included in a language processing system, the dictionary management apparatus communicating between a dictionary server and the language processing system for download and upload, the dictionary server storing dictionary data to be supplied to the language processing system, comprising:

request means for requesting download of the dictionary data according to a user'"'"'s request or a predetermined timing;

update means for updating the dictionary of the language processing system according to the dictionary data downloaded from the dictionary server;

collection means, if the upload from the language processing system to the dictionary server is previously permissible, for obtaining the dictionary data in the dictionary of the language processing system, and for deciding whether the obtained dictionary data includes new dictionary data registered by the user; and

upload means, if the obtained dictionary data includes new dictionary data, for sending the new dictionary data to the dictionary server as upload data.

2. The dictionary management apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said request means receives a user presentation document and a dictionary set information sent by the dictionary server in response to the download request, the user presentation document relates to the dictionary data downloaded by the dictionary server and the dictionary set information represents a present status of the dictionary data in the dictionary server.

3. The dictionary management apparatus according to claim 2,

further comprising an output means for outputting the user presentation document, and for outputting the dictionary set information for the user to indicate the condition of download and upload.

4. The dictionary management apparatus according to claim 3,

further comprising an input means for inputting the condition of download including an update mode, dictionary selection, number of words, charge, and for inputting the condition of upload as for permission.

5. The dictionary management apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein said update means updates the dictionary of the language processing system when a present time coincides with an update timing in case of an automatic update mode.

6. The dictionary management apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein said update means updates the dictionary of the language processing system when update indication is inputted through said input means in case of a manual update mode.

7. The dictionary management apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein said request means requests the download of the dictionary data to the dictionary server within the limits of the condition of download.

8. The dictionary management apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein said collection means collects the user dictionary data from the dictionary of the language processing system if the upload is indicated as permission through said input means.

9. A dictionary management method for updating a dictionary included in a language processing system and for communicating between a dictionary server and the language processing system for download and upload, the dictionary server storing dictionary data to be supplied to the language processing system, comprising the steps of:

requesting download of the dictionary data for the dictionary server according to a user'"'"'s request or a predetermined timing;

updating the dictionary of the language processing system according to the dictionary data downloaded from the dictionary server;

obtaining the dictionary data in the dictionary of the language processing system if the upload from the language processing system to the dictionary server is previously permissible;

deciding whether the obtained dictionary data includes new dictionary data registered by the user; and

sending the new dictionary data to the dictionary server as update data if the obtained dictionary data includes the new dictionary data.

10. A computer readable memory containing computer readable instructions to update a dictionary included in a language processing system and to communicate between a dictionary server and the language processing system for download and upload, the dictionary server storing dictionary data to be supplied to the language processing system, comprising:

instruction means for causing a computer to request download of the dictionary data for the dictionary server according to a user'"'"'s request or a predetermined timing;

instruction means for causing a computer to update the dictionary of the language processing system according to the dictionary data downloaded from the dictionary server;

instruction means for causing a computer to obtain the dictionary data in the dictionary of the language processing system if the upload from the language processing system to the dictionary server is previously permissible;

instruction means for causing a computer to decide whether the obtained dictionary data includes new dictionary data registered by the user; and

instruction means for causing a computer to send the new dictionary data to the dictionary server as update data if the obtained dictionary data includes the new dictionary data.

11. A dictionary server system having at least two hierarchical levels, the dictionary server system including a plurality of low level dictionary servers associated with a high level dictionary server, each low level dictionary server communicating with a plurality of dictionary management systems,

each low level dictionary server comprising:

low level receiving means for receiving dictionary data updated in each dictionary of the plurality of dictionary management systems as upload data; and

low level sending means for sending the upload data whose frequency is above a predetermined value to the high level dictionary server as updated low level dictionary data;

said high level dictionary server comprising;

high level receiving means for receiving the updated low level dictionary data from the plurality of low level dictionary servers; and

high level sending means for sending received dictionary data whose frequency is above the predetermined value to the plurality of low level dictionary servers as updated high level dictionary data;

wherein, in each low level dictionary server,

said low level receiving means receives the updated high level dictionary data from the high level dictionary server; and

said low level sending means selectively sends the updated low level dictionary data and the updated high level dictionary data to at least one dictionary management system in response to a download request from the at least one dictionary management system.

12. The dictionary server system according to claim 11,

wherein each low level dictionary server further comprises a memory means for storing the updated low level dictionary data and the updated high level dictionary data.

13. The dictionary server system according to claim 12,

wherein said memory means stores dictionary set information including a dictionary name of each level representing the stored updated dictionary data.

14. The dictionary server system according to claim 13,

wherein said low level sending means sends the dictionary set information to the plurality of dictionary management systems to generate a download setting menu for a user.

15. The dictionary server system according to claim 14,

wherein said low level sending means selects updated dictionary data corresponding to a user'"'"'s selected level included in the download request, and sends the updated dictionary data to the at least one dictionary management system.

16. The dictionary server system according to claim 11,

wherein said low level sending means and said high level sending means extract updated dictionary data whose frequency is above the predetermined value from received dictionary data whenever a present time coincides with an update timing.

17. The dictionary server system according to claim 11,

further including a plurality of middle level dictionary servers associated with the high level dictionary server, a plurality of the low level dictionary servers associated with each of the plurality of middle level dictionary servers,

each middle level dictionary server comprising:

middle level receiving means for receiving the updated low level dictionary data from the plurality of the low level dictionary servers associated with the middle level dictionary server; and

middle level sending means for sending received dictionary data whose frequency is above the predetermined value to the high level dictionary server as updated middle level dictionary data.

18. The dictionary server system according to claim 17,

wherein in each middle level dictionary server,

said middle level receiving means receives the updated high level dictionary data from the high level dictionary server, and

said middle level sending means sends the updated middle level dictionary data and the updated high level dictionary data to the plurality of the low level dictionary servers associated with the middle level dictionary server.

19. The dictionary server system according to claim 18,

wherein said memory means stores the updated low level dictionary data, the updated middle level dictionary data, and the updated high level dictionary data.

20. A method for controlling a dictionary server system having at least two hierarchical levels, the dictionary server system including a plurality of low level dictionary servers associated with a high level dictionary server, each low level dictionary server communicating with a plurality of dictionary management systems, comprising the steps of:

in each low level dictionary server,

receiving dictionary data updated in each dictionary of the plurality of dictionary management systems as upload data; and

sending the upload data whose frequency is above a predetermined value to the high level dictionary server as updated low level dictionary data;

in the high level dictionary server,

receiving the updated low level dictionary data from the plurality of low level dictionary servers; and

sending received dictionary data whose frequency is above the predetermined value to the plurality of low level dictionary servers as updated high level dictionary data; and

in each low level dictionary server,

receiving the updated high level dictionary data from the high level dictionary server; and

selectively sending the updated low level dictionary data and the updated high level dictionary data to at least one dictionary management system in response to a download request from the at least one dictionary management system.

21. A computer readable memory containing computer readable instructions to control a dictionary server system having at least two hierarchical levels, the dictionary server system including a plurality of low level dictionary servers associated with a high level dictionary server, each low level dictionary server communicating with a plurality of dictionary management systems, comprising:

each low level dictionary server comprising;

instruction means for causing a computer to receive dictionary data updated in each dictionary of the plurality of dictionary management systems as upload data; and

instruction means for causing a computer to send upload data whose frequency is above a predetermined value to the high level dictionary server as updated low level dictionary data;

the high level dictionary server comprising;

instruction means for causing a computer to receive the updated low level dictionary data from the plurality of low level dictionary servers; and

instruction means for causing a computer to send received dictionary data whose frequency is above the predetermined value to the plurality of low level dictionary servers as updated high level dictionary data;

wherein each low level dictionary server further comprises;

instruction means for causing a computer to receive the updated high level dictionary data from the high level dictionary server; and

instruction means for causing a computer to selectively send the updated low level dictionary data and the updated high level dictionary data to at least one dictionary management system in response to a download request from the at least one dictionary management system.