Network based language translation system

• US 6,161,082 A
• Filed: 11/18/1997
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goldberg, Randy G., Rosen, Kenneth H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US08/972,727
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 704/2, 704/3, 704/7, 704/8, 709/277, 709/204, 709/205, 709/206, 709/200, 709/201, 709/227, 709/228, 709/229, 379/88.05, 379/88.06, 379/88.22, 707/531, 707/532, 707/535, 707/536
• US Class Current: 704/3
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content

Abstract

A network based language translation system is provided. A network is provided that has language translation software installed on the network. A user communication device that is interconnected to the network is utilized to communicate with the network. The user communication device both inputs text and/or spoken communications into the network and receives text and/or spoken communications from the network. The network is able to receive communication inputs from multiple users in multiple languages and translate and transmit output communications to those users in languages designated by the users.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting a communication comprising:

receiving a communication in a first language at a network from a sending party, the communication intended for transmission to a receiving party;

notifying the receiving party of receipt of the communication at the network by the network;

requesting the receiving party'"'"'s instructions for translation of the communication into a second language by the network;

receiving the receiving party'"'"'s instructions for translation of the communication at the network in response to the network'"'"'s request;

translating the communication into the second language by the network in response to the received instructions from the receiving party;

transmitting the translated communication in the second language to the receiving party by the network;

receiving an instruction from the sending party for translation of said received communication at the network sent by the sending party into a third language;

translating said received communication sent by the sending party into said third language by the network in response to the received instructions from the sending party; and

transmitting said translation of said received communication sent by the sending party in said third language only back to the sending party by the network.

2. The method for transmitting a communication of claim 1 wherein the network is a telecommunications network.

3. The method for transmitting a communication of claim 1 wherein the network is an integrated services network.

4. The method for transmitting a communication of claim 1 further comprising the step of identifying the first language to the network by the sending party.

5. The method for transmitting a communication of claim 1 wherein the step of translating the communication into the second language by the network in response to the received instructions from the receiving party comprises the steps of:

determining if a translated sentence in the second language is stored in a database in the network that corresponds to a sentence of the received communication at the network in the first language;

if a translated sentence in the second language is not stored in the database that corresponds to a sentence of the received communication at the network in the first language;

performing a word for word translation of the sentence of the received communication in the first language into the second language to create a translated sentence in the second language;

transmitting the translated sentence to the sending party;

receiving and editing the translated sentence by the sending party;

transmitting an edited translated sentence by the sending party to the network;

receiving the edited translated sentence at the network;

storing the edited translated sentence in the database; and

transmitting the edited translated sentence to the receiving party; and

if a translated sentence in the second language is stored in the database that corresponds to the sentence of the received communication at the network in the first language;

transmitting the translated sentence to the receiving party.

6. A language translation system comprising:

a network, said network including language translation software wherein said network receives a communication in a first language from a sending party intended for transmission to a receiving party and wherein said network notifies the receiving party of receipt of said communication at said network and requests instructions from the receiving party for translation of said communication into a second language and wherein said network translates said communication into said second language by said language translation software in response to a received instruction from the receiving party and transmits said communication in said second language to the receiving party and further wherein said network receives an instruction from the sending party for translation of said received communication at the network sent by the sending party into a third language and said network translates said received communication sent by the sending party into said third language by the network in response to the received instruction from the sending party and transmits said translation of said received communication sent by the sending parts in said third language only back to the sending party; and

a user communication device connected to said network.

7. The language translation system of claim 6 wherein said user communication device is a personal computer.

8. The language translation system of claim 6 wherein said user communication device is a telephone.

9. The language translation system of claim 6 wherein said network is a telecommunications network.

10. The language translation system of claim 6 wherein said network is an integrated services network.

11. The language translation system of claim 6 further comprising a second user communication device connected to said network.