Method to dynamically determine a user's language for a network

• US 7,412,374 B1
• Filed: 01/30/2002
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Novell Incorporated (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Brooks, Matthew Gerrit, Seiler, Christopher Jean, Schmanski, Timothy Paul, Timothy, Boyd "H", Norman, James Mark, Atkinson, Olin Sayre
• Primary Examiner(s): Smits, Talivaldis Ivars
• Application Number:
  US10/066,368
• Time in Patent Office: 2,386 Days
• Field of Search: 704/1, 704/8, 704/9, 704/7
• US Class Current: 704/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/263 Language identification

Abstract

A portal system identifies a language in which content can be displayed to the user. Possible languages can be determined from one or more of identity information for the user, a container for the user'"'"'s directory entry, and the user'"'"'s location. The determined languages can be ranked, and the highest-ranked available language can be selected for content display to the user.

Claims

1. An apparatus for determining a language for a user, comprising:

a first computer;

a directory entry for the user, the directory entry stored in the first computer and including identity information for the user;

location information for a location of a second computer from which the first computer can be accessed;

means for determining browser information for a browser stored on the second computer;

a ranker for ranking a plurality of languages based on at least the directory entry, the location information, and the browser information; and

a selector for selecting one of the plurality of languages with a highest rank.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identity information includes at least one of the plurality of languages.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the identity information further includes a second language.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a container hierarchy, the container hierarchy including at least a first container, the first container including a second container, the second container including the directory entry; and

the second container including a default language.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the directory entry can inherit the default language from the second container.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

the first container includes a second default language; and

the directory entry can inherit the second default language from the first container.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of languages includes:

a first language included in the identity information;

a second language associated with the location information; and

a third language included in the browser information.

8. A method for determining a preferred language for a user, comprising:

logging the user into a first computer from a second computer with login information;

using the login information to identify a directory entry for the user;

determining a first language from the directory entry for the user;

determining a second language based on a location of the user at the second computer;

determining a third language from a browser;

ranking the first, second, and third languages; and

selecting a highest ranked language as the preferred language.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein determining the first language includes determining the language from an identity information stored in the directory entry for the user.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein logging the user into a first computer includes:

accessing the directory entry for the user from the first computer; and

locating the identity information in the directory entry.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein:

determining the first language includes determining that no language is specified in the identity information in the directory entry; and

the method further comprises inheriting the first language from a container of the directory entry.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein determining the second language includes:

determining the location of the user at the second computer; and

identifying a default language for the location of the user at the second computer as the second language.

13. A method according to claim 8, further comprising using only the preferred language to display content to the user.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein using only the preferred language includes sending the preferred language in a packet header from the first computer to a content provider.

15. A method according to claim 8, wherein determining a first language from the directory entry for the user includes determining the first language and a fourth language from the directory entry for the user.

16. A computer-readable media containing a computer program to determine a preferred language for a user, the computer program comprising:

logging software to log the user into a first computer from a second computer with login information;

using software to use the login information to identify a directory entry for the user;

identification software to identify a first language from the directory entry for the user;

identification software to identify a second language based on a location of the user at the second computer;

identification software to identify a third language from a browser;

ranking software to rank the first, second, and third languages; and

selection software to select a highest ranked language as the preferred language.

17. A computer program according to claim 16, wherein the identification software to identify a first language includes determination software to determine the first language from an identity information stored in the directory entry for the user.

18. A computer program according to claim 17, wherein the logging software includes:

accessing software to access the directory entry for the user from the first computer; and

location software to locate the identity information in the directory entry.

19. A computer program according to claim 17, wherein:

the identification software to identify a first language includes determination software to determine that no language is specified in the identity information in the directory entry; and

the computer program further comprises inheritance software to inherit the first language from a container of the directory entry.

20. A computer program according to claim 16, wherein the identification software to identify a second language includes:

determination software to determine the location of the user at the second computer; and

identification software to identify a default language for the location of the user at the second computer as the second language.

21. A computer program according to claim 16, further comprising using software to use only the preferred language to display content to the user.

22. A computer program according to claim 21, wherein the using software includes sending software to send the preferred language in a packet header from the browser to a content provider.

23. A computer program according to claim 16, wherein the identification software includes identification software to identify a first language and a fourth language from the directory entry for the user.

24. A computer program according to claim 16, wherein the computer-readable media is drawn from a set consisting of floppy disks, optical disks, and fixed disks.