System and method to facilitate translation of communications between entities over a network

• US 7,752,266 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2001
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Grove, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): England; David E
• Application Number:
  US09/976,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20030074462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,190 Days
• Field of Search: 704 1- 10, 704/4, 345/171, 717/137, 717/135, 709227-229, 709204-207, 715751-759
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/263 Language identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/40 Processing or translation of natural language natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30
• 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: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A system and method to facilitate translation of communications between entities over a network are described. Multiple predetermined language constructs are communicated to a first entity as a first transmission over the network. Responsive to selection by the first entity of a language construct from the predetermined language constructs, a translated language construct corresponding to the selected language construct is identified. Finally, the translated language construct is communicated to a second entity as a second transmission over the network.

Claims

1. A method to facilitate translation of communications between hardware entities over a network, said method comprising:

communicating a plurality of predetermined language constructs in a first language to a first entity as a first transmission over said network, the plurality of predetermined language constructs in the first language displayed to the first entity in a first set of one or more interactive fields, each predetermined language construct of the plurality of language constructs in the first language being associated with a predetermined numerical identifier;

receiving, from said first entity, an identifier of a second entity;

receiving, from said first entity, a first numerical identifier of a first language construct selected by the first entity from said plurality of predetermined language constructs in the first language, the first numerical identifier comprising a numerical indicator of the first language construct and not including the text of the first language construct;

responsive to receipt of said first numerical identifier, determining a translated language construct corresponding to said first numerical identifier, said determining further comprises;

retrieving entity information relating to said second entity based on the identifier of said second entity; and

retrieving said translated language construct from a table based on said entity information and said first numerical identifier of the first language construct;

communicating said translated language construct to said second entity as a second transmission over said network; and

communicating the plurality of predetermined language constructs in a second language to the second entity in a second set of one or more interactive fields, the second entity to respond to the first entity by selecting a second language construct from the plurality of predetermined language constructs in the second language, each predetermined language construct of the plurality of language constructs in the second language being associated with the predetermined numerical identifier.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said entity information further comprises a language preference of said second entity.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first language construct is a predetermined question that is asked by said first entity in an electronic commerce transaction over said network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said predetermined question is translated responsive to said selection of said first entity by retrieving said translated language construct from a table that includes a plurality translated language constructs of said predetermined question that are respectively translated into different languages.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second transmission includes a plurality of interactive fields to allow said second entity to respond to said predetermined question that is asked by said first entity.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said plurality of interactive fields includes a first interactive field, wherein said first interactive field includes a drop down list that contains a second plurality of predetermined language constructs that respectively respond to said predetermined question and are respectively translated into a second language based on a language preference of said second entity.

7. The method of claim 6, further including receiving a reply message from said second entity that includes a selection of the said second entity from said first interactive field, said selection of the second entity including a response from said second entity to said predetermined question that is asked by said first entity.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first transmission is a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTTP) message.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second transmission is an electronic mail message.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said identifier of said second entity is an electronic mail address of said second entity.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, at a network-based transaction facility, storing said plurality of predetermined language constructs in the first language and an associated plurality of translated language constructs so as to define a correspondence between each language construct of said plurality of predetermined language constructs in the first language and at least one associated translated language construct of said plurality of translated language constructs.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said storing is so as to define a correspondence between a set of said plurality of translated language constructs, each translated language construct of said set comprising a predetermined translation of a common underlying language construct.

13. A machine-readable medium storing executable instructions, which, when executed in a processing system, cause said processing system to perform a method to facilitate translation of communications between entities over a network, said method comprising:

communicating a plurality of predetermined language constructs in a first language to a first entity as a first transmission over said network, the plurality of predetermined language constructs in the first language displayed to the first entity in a first set of one or more interactive fields, each predetermined language construct of the plurality of language constructs in the first language being associated with a predetermined numerical identifier;

receiving, from said first entity, an identifier of a second entity;

receiving, from said first entity, a first numerical identifier of a first language construct selected by the first entity from said plurality of predetermined language constructs in the first language, the first numerical identifier comprising a numerical indicator of the first language construct and not including the text of the first language construct;

responsive to receipt of said first numerical identifier, determining a translated language construct corresponding to said first numerical identifier, said determining further comprises;

retrieving entity information relating to said second entity based on the identifier of said second entity; and

retrieving said translated language construct from a table based on said entity information and said first numerical identifier of the first language construct;

communicating said translated language construct to said second entity as a second transmission over said network; and

communicating the plurality of predetermined language constructs in a second language to the second entity in a second set of one or more interactive fields, the second entity to respond to the first entity by selecting a second language construct from the plurality of predetermined language constructs in the second language, each predetermined language construct of the plurality of language constructs in the second language being associated with the predetermined numerical identifier.

14. The machine readable medium according to claim 13, wherein said entity information further comprises a language preference of said second entity.

15. The machine readable medium according to claim 13, wherein said first language construct is a predetermined question that is asked by said first entity in an electronic commerce transaction over said network.

16. The machine readable medium according to claim 13, wherein said first transmission is a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTTP) message.

17. The machine readable medium according to claim 13, wherein said second transmission is an electronic mail message.

18. The machine readable medium according to claim 13, wherein said identifier of said second entity is an electronic mail address of said second entity.

19. The machine readable medium according to claim 13, wherein said method further comprises, at a network-based transaction facility, storing said plurality of predetermined language constructs in the first language and an associated plurality of translated language constructs so as to define a correspondence between each language construct of said plurality of predetermined language constructs in the first language and at least one associated translated language construct of said plurality of translated language constructs.

20. The machine readable medium according to claim 13, wherein said storing is so as to define a correspondence between a set of said plurality of translated language constructs, each translated language construct of said set comprising a predetermined translation of a common underlying language construct.

21. A hardware system to facilitate translation of communications between entities over a network, said system comprising:

means for communicating a plurality of predetermined language constructs in a first language to a first entity as a first transmission over said network, the plurality of predetermined language constructs in the first language displayed to the first entity in a first set of one or more interactive fields, each predetermined language construct of the plurality of language constructs in the first language being associated with a predetermined numerical identifier;

means for receiving, from said first entity, an identifier of a second entity;

means for receiving, from said first entity, a first numerical identifier of a first language construct selected by the first entity from said plurality of predetermined language constructs in the first language, the first numerical identifier comprising a numerical indicator of the first language construct and not including the text of the first language construct;

means for determining a translated language construct corresponding to said first numerical identifier, said determining responsive to receipt of said first numerical identifier, said determining further comprises;

retrieving entity information relating to said second entity based on the identifier of said second entity; and

retrieving said translated language construct from a table based on said entity information and said first numerical identifier of the first language construct;

means for communicating said translated language construct to said second entity as a second transmission over said network; and

means for communicating the plurality of predetermined language constructs in a second language to the second entity in a second set of one or more interactive fields, the second entity to respond to the first entity by selecting a second language construct from the plurality of predetermined language constructs in the second language, each predetermined language construct of the plurality of language constructs in the second language being associated with the predetermined numerical identifier.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said entity information further comprises a language preference of said second entity.

23. The system according to claim 21, wherein said first language construct is a predetermined question that is asked by said first entity in an electronic commerce transaction over said network.

24. The system according to claim 21, wherein said first transmission is a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTTP) message.

25. The system according to claim 21, wherein said second transmission is an electronic mail message.

26. The system according to claim 21, wherein said identifier of said second entity is an electronic mail address of said second entity.

27. The system according to claim 21, further comprising, at a network-based transaction facility, means for storing said plurality of predetermined language constructs in the first language and an associated plurality of translated language constructs so as to define a correspondence between each language construct of said plurality of predetermined language constructs in the first language and at least one associated translated language construct of said plurality of translated language constructs.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein said storing is so as to define a correspondence between a set of said plurality of translated language constructs, each translated language construct of said set comprising a predetermined translation of a common underlying language construct.

29. A system to facilitate translation of communications between entities over a network, said system comprising:

a communications server to

communicate a plurality of predetermined language constructs in a first language to a first entity as a first transmission over said network, the plurality of predetermined language constructs in the first language displayed to the first entity in a first set of one or more interactive fields, each predetermined language construct of the plurality of language constructs in the first language being associated with a predetermined numerical identifier, and

receive, from said first entity, an identifier of a second entity and a first numerical identifier of a first language construct selected by the first entity from said plurality of predetermined language constructs in the first language, the first numerical identifier comprising a numerical indicator of the first language construct and not including the text of the first language construct; and

a processing server to determine a translated language construct corresponding to said first numerical identifier, said processing server to determine responsive to a receipt of said first numerical identifier, said processing server to determine the translated language construct further comprises;

said processing server to retrieve entity information relating to said second entity based on the identifier of said second entity,

said processing server to retrieve said translated language construct from a table based on said entity information and said first numerical identifier of the first language construct;

said communication server further to communicate said translated language construct and the plurality of predetermined language constructs in a second language in a second set of one or more interactive fields to said second entity as a second transmission over said network, the second entity to respond to the first entity by selecting a second language construct from the plurality of predetermined language constructs in the second language, each predetermined language construct of the plurality of language constructs in the second language being associated with the predetermined numerical identifier.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein said entity information further comprises a language preference of said second entity.

31. The system according to claim 29, wherein said first language construct is a predetermined question that is asked by said first entity in an electronic commerce transaction over said network.

32. The system according to claim 29, wherein said first transmission is a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTTP) message.

33. The system according to claim 29, wherein said second transmission is an electronic mail message.

34. The system according to claim 29, wherein said identifier of said second entity is an electronic mail address of said second entity.

35. The system according to claim 29, wherein, at a network-based transaction facility, said processing server further stores said plurality of predetermined language constructs in the first language and an associated plurality of translated language constructs so as to define a correspondence between each language construct of said plurality of predetermined language constructs in the first language and at least one associated translated language construct of said plurality of translated language constructs.

36. The system according to claim 35, wherein said storing by said processing server is so as to define a correspondence between a set of said plurality of translated language constructs, each translated language construct of said set comprising a predetermined translation of a common underlying language construct.