Interface and methods for collecting aligned editorial corrections into a database

• US 8,078,451 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Dolan, William B., Brockett, Christopher John, Gamon, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): YEN, ERIC L
• Application Number:
  US11/589,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20080103759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,873 Days
• Field of Search: 704/9, 715/256, 715/257
• US Class Current: 704/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/45 Example-based machine translation; Alignment

Abstract

A method for providing aligned editorial corrections to a database is discussed. The method includes receiving a first text in a language and organizing the first text into one or more sentences. The method further includes editing a copy of the first text to create a second text. The second text is in the language of the first text. The method further includes aligning the sentences of the first text with corresponding sentences of the second text storing the aligned sentences on a computer readable medium. A system for providing a data structure having aligned editorial corrections is also discussed. The system includes an alignment component for receiving a first text and organizing the first text into sentences. The system also includes a user interface configured to provide a second text, wherein the second text is an edited version of the first text in the language of the first text.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing aligned editorial corrections to a database, comprising:

receiving a first text in a language;

dividing the first text into a series of sentences;

making a copy of each sentence in the series of sentences;

indexing the copies of the sentences with the corresponding original sentences in the series of sentences;

utilizing a computer processor that is a component of a computer to edit the copies of the sentences to create a second text, wherein the second text is in the language of the first text;

utilizing the indexing to align each sentence in the series of sentences with its corresponding edited copy; and

storing the aligned sentences in the series of sentences and the edited copies on a computer readable medium.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein editing the copies of the sentences includes providing automated editorial input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein editing the copies of the sentences includes providing a user interface that displays the copies of the sentences to a human editor and provides an input device to receive input from the editor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of providing a user interface includes providing editorial reference tools to the editor through the user interface.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of providing the user interface includes providing an indication of suggested editorial corrections to the editor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein utilizing the indexing to align each sentence in the series of sentences with its corresponding edited copy includes aligning one sentence with more than one sentence.

7. A computer-implemented method for training a proofing tool for providing automated proofing of textual document, comprising:

receiving a first text in a language;

receiving editorial corrections to be made to the first text;

utilizing a computer processor that is a component of a computer to create a data structure that provides information indicative of the first text and the editorial corrections;

attaching author information about an author of the first text to the data structure, the author information identifying a native language of the author, the native language of the author being a language other than the language of the first text; and

providing the data structure to the proofing tool.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of creating a data structure comprises:

creating a second text, wherein the second text includes the first text with the editorial corrections made thereto; and

aligning the first text with the second text.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the author information includes information indicative of an educational level of the author.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of attaching information about an author of the editorial corrections to the data structure.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of creating a data structure includes creating a copy of the first text and providing editorial modifications to the copy.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing editorial modifications to the copy includes providing a user interface that displays the copy and receives editorial input from an editor.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing the user interface includes providing access to editorial reference tools through the user interface.

14. A computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the author information is attached to the data structure after receiving the first text and after receiving the editorial corrections.

15. A computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the author information attached to the data structure comprises information apart from the first text.

16. A system for providing a data structure having aligned editorial corrections stored on a computer readable medium, comprising:

an alignment component configured to receive a first text in a language and organize the first text into a series of sentences; and

a user interface configured to provide a second text comprising an edited version of the first text in the language of the first text, the second text being provided to the alignment component which generates a data structure including sentences of the first text in alignment with corresponding sentences of the second text,

wherein the user interface is configured to provide automated editorial modifications for one or more sentences of the first text utilizing previously aligned data, which provides one or more corresponding edited sentences in the second text that are aligned with one or more sentences of the first text by the alignment component, the previously collected aligned data including original text aligned with editorial corrections of the original text, that is looped back into the user interface through an automatic correction engine.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first text includes text created by a non-native language writer and wherein the data structure includes information about the writer.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the user interface is configured to receive editorial corrections from an editor and wherein the data structure includes information about the editor.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein one sentence of one of the first and second texts is aligned with more than one sentence of the other of the first and second texts.