Dynamic screentip language translation

• US 8,612,893 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2012
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fitzpatrick, Colin, Whelan, John Patrick, Doyle, Robert Patrick, Lane, John Gerard, McHugh, Barry, Farrell, Terry, Barnes, Paul, McQuaid, Andre Michael, Mowatt, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao Kevin
• Application Number:
  US13/674,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20130073955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 715/700, 715/761, 715763-765, 715851-853, 715/740, 715/856, 715/762
• US Class Current: 715/856
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

When a user interface cursor hovers over a user interface item, a determination is made as to whether the user interface item has an associated screentip. If the user interface item has an associated screentip, text associated with the screentip is identified, a translated text string is located for the text string, and the translated text string is displayed in the screentip. If the user interface item does not have an associated screentip, a determination is made as to whether the user interface item contains a text string. If so, a determination is made as to whether a translated text string is available that corresponds to the text in the user interface item. If so, the translated text string is displayed in a screentip for the user interface item.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising performing computer-implemented operations for:

detecting, by a computing device, a user interface cursor hovering over a user interface item;

in response to detecting the user interface cursor hovering over the user interface item, determining, by the computing device, whether the user interface item has an associated screentip comprising a text string in a first language;

if the user interface item has an associated screentip, determining, by the computing device, whether the associated screentip has a translated text string corresponding to the text string, the translated text string comprising the text string translated from the first language into a second language;

if the associated screentip has a translated text string, replacing, by the computing device, the text string in the associated screentip with the translated text string and displaying the translated text string in the associated screentip;

if the user interface item does not have an associated screentip, determining, by the computing device, whether the user interface item contains a text string;

if the user interface item contains a text string, determining, by the computing device, whether a translated text string is available that corresponds to the text string contained in the user interface item, the translated text string comprising the text string translated from a first language into a second language; and

if a translated text string is available that corresponds to the text string contained in the user interface item, creating, by the computing device, a screentip containing the translated text string and displaying the screentip for the user interface item.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the associated screentip further comprises a graphic.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein:

the first language is a language selected from a group of languages comprising English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, Portuguese, Bengali, Russian, Japanese, French, and German; and

the second language is a different language selected from the group of languages comprising English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, Portuguese, Bengali, Russian, Japanese, French, and German.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first language is English and the second language is a language different from English.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second language is English and the first language is a language different from English.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising detecting, by the computing device, the user interface cursor no longer hovering over the user interface item, and in response to detecting the user interface no longer hovering over the user interface item, ceasing to display the associated screentip or the screentip, as applicable.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing a timer to trigger a frequency of determination as to whether the user interface cursor is hovering over the user interface item.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

detect a user interface cursor hovering over a user interface item;

in response to detecting the user interface cursor hovering over the user interface item, determine whether the user interface item has an associated screentip comprising a text string in a first language;

if the user interface item has an associated screentip, determine whether the associated screentip has a translated text string corresponding to the text string, the translated text string comprising the text string translated from the first language into a second language;

if the associated screentip has a translated text string, replace the text string in the associated screentip with the translated text string and displaying the translated text string in the associated screentip;

if the user interface item does not have an associated screentip, determine whether the user interface item contains a text string;

if the user interface item contains a text string, determine whether a translated text string is available that corresponds to the text string contained in the user interface item, the translated text string comprising the text string translated from a first language into a second language; and

if a translated text string is available that corresponds to the text string contained in the user interface item, create a screentip containing the translated text string and displaying the screentip for the user interface item.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the associated screentip further comprises a graphic.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein:

the first language is a language selected from a group of languages comprising English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, Portuguese, Bengali, Russian, Japanese, French, and German; and

the second language is a different language selected from the group of languages comprising English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, Portuguese, Bengali, Russian, Japanese, French, and German.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first language is English and the second language is a language different from English.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the second language is English and the first language is a language different from English.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, having further computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to detect the user interface cursor no longer hovering over the user interface item, and in response to detecting the user interface no longer hovering over the user interface item, cease to display the associated screentip or the screentip, as applicable.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, having further computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to utilize a timer to trigger a frequency of determination as to whether the user interface cursor is hovering over the user interface item.

20. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the memory further comprises computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to detect the user interface cursor no longer hovering over the user interface item, and in response to detecting the user interface no longer hovering over the user interface item, cease to display the associated screentip or the screentip, as applicable.

15. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to

detect a user interface cursor hovering over a user interface item;

in response to detecting the user interface cursor hovering over the user interface item, determine whether the user interface item has an associated screentip comprising a text string in a first language;

if the user interface item has an associated screentip, determine whether the associated screentip has a translated text string corresponding to the text string, the translated text string comprising the text string translated from the first language into a second language;

if the associated screentip has a translated text string, replace the text string in the associated screentip with the translated text string and displaying the translated text string in the associated screentip;

if the user interface item does not have an associated screentip, determine whether the user interface item contains a text string;

if the user interface item contains a text string, determine whether a translated text string is available that corresponds to the text string contained in the user interface item, the translated text string comprising the text string translated from a first language into a second language; and

if a translated text string is available that corresponds to the text string contained in the user interface item, create a screentip containing the translated text string and displaying the screentip for the user interface item.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the associated screentip further comprises a graphic.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein:

the first language is a language selected from a group of languages comprising English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, Portuguese, Bengali, Russian, Japanese, French, and German; and

the second language is a different language selected from the group of languages comprising English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, Portuguese, Bengali, Russian, Japanese, French, and German.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the first language is English and the second language is a language different from English.

19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the second language is English and the first language is a language different from English.