System and method for automatic natural language translation during information transfer

• US 20050155017A1
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Yen-Fu, Berstis, Viktors, Dunsmoir, John W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,475,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/58 Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation

Abstract

Information elements such as text, tables, graphics, and hyperlinks, are intercepted during their transfer from a computer source to a computer destination, such as during a cut-and-paste operation. It is determined if each intercepted information element is expressed in a natural language which matches a user-specified natural language intended for the destination, and if not, one or more natural language handling actions such as translation or isolation of the information elements is performed in order to match the desired destination language. Translated information elements are delivered to the destination, and isolated elements are placed in a data store for later review and/or exchange with other elements.

Claims

1. A method for transferring content from one computer resource to another computer resource, comprising the steps of:

intercepting the transfer of one or more information elements selected from a source to a destination;

determining if each intercepted information element is expressed in a natural language which matches a user-specified natural language;

performing one or more natural language handling actions on information elements which do not match said user specified natural language as defined by one or more natural language handling rules; and

transferring any information elements to said destination which have been translated to said user specified natural language as a result of said handling actions.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said handling actions comprise isolating certain information elements according to said handling rules, thereby blocking their transfer to said destination.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said handling actions comprise determining an original natural language in which each intercepted information elements is expressed, and subsequently invoking a computer translation process to translate each item from said original natural language to said user-specified natural language.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

invoking a rule management user interface responsive to finding no existing natural language handling rule for an information element to be transferred; and

allowing, via said rule management user interface, a user to define an action to be taken selected from the list of invoking a natural language translation process, allowing transfer without modification, and isolating said information element.

5. A computer readable medium encoded with software for transferring content from one computer resource to another computer resource, said software performing the steps of:

intercepting the transfer of one or more information elements selected from a source to a destination;

determining if each intercepted information element is expressed in a natural language which matches a user-specified natural language;

performing one or more natural language handling actions on information elements which do not match said user specified natural language as defined by one or more natural language handling rules; and

transferring any information elements to said destination which have been translated to said user specified natural language as a result of said handling actions.

6. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 5 wherein said software for performing natural language handling actions comprises software for isolating certain information elements according to said handling rules, thereby blocking their transfer to said destination.

7. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 5 wherein said software for performing natural language handling actions comprises software for determining an original natural language in which each intercepted information elements is expressed, and for subsequently invoking a computer translation process to translate each item from said original natural language to said user-specified natural language.

8. The computer readable medium as set forth in claim 5 further comprising software for performing the steps of:

invoking a rule management user interface responsive to finding no existing natural language handling rule for an information element to be transferred; and

allowing, via said rule management user interface, a user to define an action to be taken selected from the list of invoking a natural language translation process, allowing transfer without modification, and isolating said information element.

9. A cut-and-paste system for transferring content from one computer resource to another computer resource, comprising:

an information transfer interceptor configured to intercept one or more information elements in transit from a source to a destination via a transfer buffer;

a natural language comparator adapted to identify which intercepted information elements are not originally expressed in a natural language which matches a user-specified natural language;

a natural language handler which performs one or more natural handling actions on said identified information elements as defined by one or more handling rules; and

an information element deliverer configured to transfer information elements to said destination as defined by one or more handling rules.

10. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said handler is further adapted to isolate certain information elements according to said handling rules, thereby blocking their transfer to said destination, and where said cut-and-paste system further comprises an isolation data store for receiving and storing said isolated information elements.

11. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said handler is further configured to determine an original natural language in which each intercepted information elements is expressed, and to subsequently invoke a computer translation process to translate each item from said original natural language to said user-specified natural language.

12. The system as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a rule management user interface for allowing, a user to define an actions to be taken on designated types of information elements, including at least one action selected from the group of creation of new handling rule, deleting a handling rule, copying a handling rule, and modifying a handling rule.

13. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said rule management user interface is manually invoked by said user.

14. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said rule management user interface is automatically invoked responsive to finding no existing natural language handling rule for an intercepted information element.