Method, system and computer program product for dynamic delivery of human language translations during software operation

• US 6,334,101 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1998
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kumhyr, David Bruce, Hetherington, David James
• Primary Examiner(s): EDOUARD, PATRICK NESTOR
• Application Number:
  US09/211,814
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 704/1, 704/8, 707/530, 707/536, 345/333, 345/334, 345/340, 345/171, 345/763, 345/764, 717/1, 717/2, 717/7, 709/250
• US Class Current: 704/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/40 Processing or translation of natural language natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/47 Machine-assisted translation, e.g. using translation memory

Abstract

User interface text is implemented in identifiable software components separate from functional components containing human-language independent functionality for a software program. The software product may then be distributed and loaded into a user'"'"'s system with only a basic set of human language translations for the user interface text. Different or additional human language translations may be provided to the user by downloading from an enterprise server associated with the system on which the software program is being executed, or from an Internet server operating for the software source. The additional human language translations may be downloaded, preferably automatically and invisibly to the user, to the user'"'"'s system as necessary or requested. The human language translation process thus gains the “float” period normally associated with physical software distribution, speeding delivery times. Only required or desired human language translation need be stored on any given system, with additional translations consistently available if needed.

Claims

1. A method of delivering language translations for a software program, comprising:

segregating user interface text for a software program from one or more operational components containing a human language-independent functionality for the software program;

distributing the operational components with at least one set of user interface text components containing all required user interface text in at least one human language translation for the software program; and

delivering, to a system on which the software program is being installed or executed, a set of user interface text components for a human language translation not included in the user interface text components distributed with the operational components.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of segregating user interface text for a software program from one or more operational components containing a human language-independent functionality for the software program further comprises:

defining menu labels, button labels, dialog messages and help text in software components separate from functional components for forming menu items, buttons, dialogs, and help displays within a user interface for the software program.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of distributing the operational components with at least one set of user interface text components containing all required user interface text in at least one human language for the software program further comprises:

distributing a plurality of sets of user interface text components for a basic set of human language translations of the software program with the operational components.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of delivering a set of user interface text components for a human language translation not included in the user interface text components distributed with the operational components further comprises:

responsive to a request for a specific human language translation during installation of the software program, retrieving a set of user interface text components for the requested human language translation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of delivering a set of user interface text components for a human language translation not included in the user interface text components distributed with the operational components further comprises:

responsive to a request for changing a user interface to a specific human language translation during execution of the software program, retrieving a set of user interface text components for the requested human language translation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of delivering a set of user interface text components for a human language translation not included in the user interface text components distributed with the operational components further comprises:

retrieving the set of user interface text components for the human language translation from an enterprise server coupled to the system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of delivering a set of user interface text components for a human language translation not included in the user interface text components distributed with the operational components further comprises:

retrieving the set of user interface text components for the human language translation from an Internet server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of delivering a set of user interface text components for a human language translation not included in the user interface text components distributed with the operational components further comprises:

automatically retrieving the set of user interface text components for the human language translation from a server in response to a user request for the human language translation without requiring user initiation of the retrieval.

9. A system for delivering language translations for a software program, comprising:

means for segregating user interface text for a software program from one or more operational components containing a human language-independent functionality for the software program;

means for distributing the operational components with at least one set of user interface text components containing all required user interface text in at least one human language translation for the software program; and

means for delivering, to a system on which the software program is being installed or executed, a set of user interface text components for a human language translation not included in the user interface text components distributed with the operational components.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for segregating user interface text for a software program from one or more operational components containing a human language-independent functionality for the software program further comprises:

means for defining menu labels, button labels, dialog messages and help text in software components separate from functional components for forming menu items, buttons, dialogs, and help displays within a user interface for the software program.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for distributing the operational components with at least one set of user interface text components containing all required user interface text in at least one human language for the software program further comprises:

means for distributing a plurality of sets of user interface text components for a basic set of human language translations of the software program with the operational components.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for delivering a set of user interface text components for a human language translation not included in the user interface text components distributed with the operational components further comprises:

means, responsive to a request for a specific human language translation during installation of the software program, for retrieving a set of user interface text components for the requested human language translation.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for delivering a set of user interface text components for a human language translation not included in the user interface text components distributed with the operational components further comprises:

means, responsive to a request for changing a user interface to a specific human language translation during execution of the software program, for retrieving a set of user interface text components for the requested human language translation.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for delivering a set of user interface text components for a human language translation not included in the user interface text components distributed with the operational components further comprises:

means for retrieving the set of user interface text components for the human language translation from an enterprise server coupled to the system.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for delivering a set of user interface text components for a human language translation not included in the user interface text components distributed with the operational components further comprises:

means for retrieving the set of user interface text components for the human language translation from an Internet server.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for delivering a set of user interface text components for a human language translation not included in the user interface text components distributed with the operational components further comprises:

means for automatically retrieving the set of user interface text components for the human language translation from a server in response to a user request for the human language translation without requiring user initiation of the retrieval.

17. A computer program product within a computer usable medium for delivering language translations for a software program, comprising:

instructions for segregating user interface text for a software program from one or more operational components containing a human language-independent functionality for the software program;

instructions for distributing the operational components with at least one set of user interface text components containing all required user interface text in at least one human language translation for the software program; and

instructions for delivering, to a system on which the software program is being installed or executed, a set of user interface text components for a human language translation not included in the user interface text components distributed with the operational components.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the instructions for segregating user interface text for a software program from one or more operational components containing a human language-independent functionality for the software program further comprises:

instructions for defining menu labels, button labels, dialog messages and help text in software components separate from functional components for forming menu items, buttons, dialogs, and help displays within a user interface for the software program.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the instructions for distributing the operational components with at least one set of user interface text components containing all required user interface text in at least one human language for the software program further comprises:

instructions for distributing a plurality of sets of user interface text components for a basic set of human language translations of the software program with the operational components.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the instructions for delivering a set of user interface text components for a human language translation not included in the user interface text components distributed with the operational components further comprises:

instructions, responsive to a request for a specific human language translation during installation of the software program, for retrieving a set of user interface text components for the requested human language translation.

21. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the instructions for delivering a set of user interface text components for a human language translation not included in the user interface text components distributed with the operational components further comprises:

instructions, responsive to a request for changing a user interface to a specific human language translation during execution of the software program, for retrieving a set of user interface text components for the requested human language translation.

22. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the instructions for delivering a set of user interface text components for a human language translation not included in the user interface text components distributed with the operational components further comprises:

instructions for retrieving the set of user interface text components for the human language translation from an enterprise server coupled to the system.

23. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the instructions for delivering a set of user interface text components for a human language translation not included in the user interface text components distributed with the operational components further comprises:

instructions for retrieving the set of user interface text components for the human language translation from an Internet server.

24. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the instructions for delivering a set of user interface text components for a human language translation not included in the user interface text components distributed with the operational components further comprises:

instructions for automatically retrieving the set of user interface text components for the human language translation from a server in response to a user request for the human language translation without requiring user initiation of the retrieval.