System and method for providing language localization for server-based applications

• US 7,461,123 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hauduc, Ludovic, Ertemalp, Tuna
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, WEN TAI
• Application Number:
  US11/007,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20050097526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

Using a server in a distributed computer network to provide an application to a client in the client'"'"'s preferred language through the use of software modules that translate the application. A client accesses an application on a server and provides a preferred language for the application. Software modules on the server take the content of the application and convert it into the language desired by the client. The translated application is then sent to the client. This approach eliminates the need to create separate applications for each language and allows the client to change languages instantaneously.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having a method performed by a computing system for receiving an application in a desired language from a server, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a client to access the application;

determining a language preference for the client;

converting content of the application to the client'"'"'s language preference by selecting and using a language pack software module corresponding to the determined language preference of the client wherein the converting further comprises;

assigning a unique identifier to each string of content in the application;

calling a local string object with an indication of strings of content to be converted based on the unique identifier for each string;

mapping each string to be converted to the selected language pack;

searching the selected language pack using the unique identifiers of the strings to be converted to locate corresponding localized strings;

retrieving the localized strings from the selected language pack; and

passing the localized strings to an active server page engine.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the converting of the method further comprises:

inserting the localized strings into a hypertext markup language with the active server page engine; and

sending the content of the application with the localized strings to the client.

3. A system for receiving an application in a desired language from a server, comprising:

a component that receives a request to access the application on the server;

a component that determines a language preference for the client; and

a component that converts the content of the application to the client'"'"'s language preference by selecting and using a language pack software module corresponding to the determined language preference, wherein the converting further comprises;

assigning a unique identifier to each string of content in the application;

calling a local string object with an indication of strings of content to be converted based on the unique identifier for each string;

mapping each string to be converted to the selected language pack;

searching the selected language pack using the unique identifiers of the strings to be converted to locate corresponding localized strings;

retrieving the localized strings from the selected language pack; and

passing the localized strings to an active server page engine.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the converting further comprises:

inserting the localized strings into a hypertext markup language with the active server page engine; and

sending the content of the application with the localized strings to the client.

5. A method performed by a computing system for providing localized application content from a server to a client, the method comprising:

determining a client'"'"'s language preference, the determining performed by a local string software module residing on the server, the local string software module operable for assigning unique identifier to each string of content in the application and for mapping localizable strings from the application to the selected language pack software module; and

converting content of the application into a different language, the converting performed by an active server page engine, the active server page engine operable for calling to the local string software module with strings of content to be converted based on a unique identifier assigned to each string, the active server page engine utilizing a plurality of language pack software modules residing on the server, each language pack software module corresponding to a different language and operable to convert content of the application into the different language, wherein the mapped language pack software module locates localized strings for the unique identifiers representing the localizable strings.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the local string software module is further operable for retrieving localized strings from the mapped language pack software module.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the local string software module is further operable for passing localized strings to the active server page engine.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the active server page engine is further operable for compiling a localized client application and forwarding it to the client.

9. A computer-readable medium having a method performed by a computing system for providing localized application content from a server to a client, the method comprising:

determining a client'"'"'s language preference, the determining performed by a local string software module residing on the server, the local string software module operable for assigning a unique identifier to each string of content in the application and for mapping localizable strings from the application to the selected language pack software module; and

converting content of the application into a different language, the converting performed by an active server page engine, the active server page engine operable for calling to the local string software module with strings of content to be converted based on a unique identifier assigned to each string, the active server page engine utilizing a plurality of language pack software modules residing on the server, each language pack software module corresponding to a different language and operable to convert content of the application into the different language, wherein the mapped language pack software module locates localized strings for the unique identifiers representing the localizable strings.

10. The method of the computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the local string software module is further operable for retrieving localized strings from the mapped language pack software module.

11. The method of the computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the local string software module is further operable for passing localized strings to the active server page engine.

12. The method of the computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the active server page engine is further operable for compiling a localized client application and forwarding it to the client.