Integrated cloud platform translation system

• US 9,405,532 B1
• Filed: 03/03/2014
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NetSuite Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NetSuite Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen, Wei
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Zhan
• Application Number:
  US14/195,157
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses and methods for use in the development of software applications or extensions to applications, user interfaces or similar products. Specifically, the invention is directed to an efficient process for developing software applications for markets in which different languages are spoken, typically as part of an internationalization strategy. The inventive systems and processes may also be used to produce software applications for a single geographic market in which multiple languages are spoken. The inventive process involves providing a development environment for software applications in which multiple users may generate customized applications based on access to a common set of applications, functional modules, translation elements, translated strings, etc. The inventive system, apparatus, and method for generating software applications in multiple languages is more efficient than presently known methods and ensures completeness and consistency of terminology in the translation into other languages.

Claims

1. A multi-tenant data processing system, comprising:

one or more business related data processing applications installed in the system and accessible by a plurality of tenants of the multi-tenant data processing system;

a data storage element accessible by a plurality of tenants of the multitenant data processing system;

a set of software development tools to enable a tenant to develop one or more of a new business related data processing application, an extension to one of the one or more business related data processing applications, a new user interface, an extension to an existing user interface, or content related to an application or user interface;

a plurality of language segments in one or more languages stored in the data storage element; and

a processor programmed with a set of instructions, wherein when executed by the processor the instructions cause the system to

receive a request from a first tenant for a language segment in a specified language;

determine if the request can be satisfied by a language segment contained in the data storage element;

provide the language segment contained in the data storage element if the request can be satisfied;

generate a request for translation services if the request cannot be satisfied by a language segment contained in the data storage element;

transfer the request to a provider of the translation services;

receive a response to the request from the provider of the translation services;

process the received response to validate the contents of the response;

provide the translated language segment to the first tenant;

determine if the translated language segment is to be stored suitable in the data storage element based on a likelihood of interest for use of content expressed in the translated language for a similar purpose by other tenants of the plurality of tenants;

store the translated language segment in the data storage element if the translated language segment meets a threshold for including in the data storage element;

receive a request from a second tenant for a language segment in a specified language; and

provide the translated language segment received in response to the request for translation services to the second tenant in response to the request from the second tenant.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more business related data processing applications installed in the system include an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) application.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of software development tools include a tool to enable a tenant to define a process or interface using a scripting language.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the language segment requested by the first tenant is one of a label, a user interface element, a comment, content for a help function, content for a user manual, or content for marketing information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein determining if the request can be satisfied by a language segment contained in the data storage element further comprises determining if the data storage element contains a language segment in the specified language that is a match for the requested language segment.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein determining if the data storage element contains a language segment in the specified language that is a match for the requested language segment further comprises using a matching or comparison process to determine how close a language segment contained in the data storage element is to the requested language segment.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein generating a request for translation services if the request cannot be satisfied by a language segment contained in the data storage element further comprises executing a process to generate a purchase order for the translation services and updating data contained in the Enterprise Resource Planning application.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein processing the received response to validate the contents of the response further comprises determining if the received response satisfies one or more conditions for acceptance by one or more of the multi-tenant data processing system or the first tenant.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more conditions for acceptance by one or more of the multi-tenant data processing system or the first tenant include determining one or more of the response provides the translated language segment in the correct language, if the response provides the translated language segment in the correct format, if the response provides all of the requested translations, or if the response provides the translated language segment in a format that is compatible with the data storage element.

10. A system for developing a software application, comprising:

a data storage element storing a plurality of language segments in one or more languages;

a processor programmed with a set of instructions, wherein when executed by the processor the instructions cause the system to

receive a request from a first user for a language segment in a specified language;

determine if the request can be satisfied by a language segment contained in the data storage element;

provide the language segment contained in the data storage element if the request can be satisfied;

generate a request for translation services if the request cannot be satisfied by a language segment contained in the data storage element;

transfer the request to a provider of the translation services;

receive a response to the request from the provider of the translation services;

process the received response to validate the contents of the response;

provide the translated language segment to the first user;

determine if the translated language segment is to be stored in the data storage element based on a likelihood of interest for use of content expressed in the translated language for a similar purpose by other tenants of the plurality of tenants;

store the translated language segment in the data storage element if the translated language segment meets a likelihood of interest threshold for including in the data storage element;

receive a request from a second user for a language segment in a specified language; and

provide the translated language segment received in response to the request for translation services to the second user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the language segment requested by the first user is one of a label, a user interface element, a comment, content for a help function, content for a user manual, or content for marketing information.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein determining if the request can be satisfied by a language segment contained in the data storage element further comprises determining if the data storage element contains a language segment in the specified language that is a match for the requested language segment.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein determining if the data storage element contains a language segment in the specified language that is a match for the requested language segment further comprises using a matching or comparison process to determine how close a language segment contained in the data storage element is to the requested language segment.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein generating a request for translation services if the request cannot be satisfied by a language segment contained in the data storage element further comprises generating at least part of the request in a specified format.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein generating the request further comprises executing a process to generate a purchase order for the translation services and updating data contained in an enterprise resource planning system.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein processing the received response to validate the contents of the response further comprises determining if the received response satisfies one or more conditions for acceptance by one or more of the system or the first user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more conditions for acceptance by one or more of the system or the first user include determining one or more of the response provides the translated language segment in the correct language, if the response provides the translated language segment in the correct format, if the response provides all of the requested translations, or if the response provides the translated language segment in a format that is compatible with the data storage element.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the system further comprises:

one or more business related data processing applications installed in the system and accessible by a plurality of tenants of the system; and

a set of software development tools to enable a tenant to develop one or more of a new business related data processing application, an extension to one of the one or more business related data processing applications, a new user interface, an extension to an existing user interface, or content related to an application or user interface.

19. A method for developing software, comprising:

providing one or more business related data processing applications

installed on a multi-tenant data processing platform and accessible by a plurality of tenants of the multi-tenant data processing platform;

providing a data storage element accessible by a plurality of tenants of the multi-tenant data processing platform;

providing a set of software development tools to enable a tenant to develop one or more of a new business related data processing application, an extension to one of the one or more business related data processing applications, a new user interface, an extension to an existing user interface, or content related to an application or user interface;

providing a plurality of language segments in one or more languages stored in the data storage element; and

providing a processor programmed with a set of instructions, wherein when executed by the processor the instructions cause the multi-tenant data processing platform to

receive a request from a first tenant for a language segment in a specified language;

determine if the request can be satisfied by a language segment contained in the data storage element;

provide the language segment contained in the data storage element if the request can be satisfied;

generate a request for translation services if the request cannot be satisfied by a language segment contained in the data storage element;

transfer the request to a provider of the translation services;

receive a response to the request from the provider of the translation services;

process the received response to validate the contents of the response;

provide the translated language segment to the first tenant;

determine if the translated language segment is to be stored in the data storage element based on a likelihood of interest for use of content expressed in the translated language for a similar purpose by other tenants of the plurality of tenants;

store the translated language segment in the data storage element if the translated language segment meets a likelihood of interest threshold for including in the data storage element;

receive a request from a second tenant for a language segment in a specified language; and

provide the translated language segment received in response to the request for translation services to the second tenant in response to the request from the second tenant.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more business related data processing applications installed in the system include an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) application.