Data processing: speech signal processing – linguistics – language – Linguistics – Multilingual or national language support
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-15
2001-12-25
Edouard, Patrick N. (Department: 2644)
Data processing: speech signal processing, linguistics, language
Linguistics
Multilingual or national language support
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06334101
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to multilingual support for data processing system software and in particular to different human language translations of user interface text in multilingual software. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to delivering and installing a human language translation for user interface text within a software program separately from remaining functional components for that software program.
2. Description of the Related Art
Software products are frequently implemented for international distribution. In releasing and shipping software products worldwide, however, multiple human language versions of the software product are frequently required for distribution within different countries of regions. A considerable lag in delivery time is introduced by the fact that the human language translations of menus, dialog messages, control text, etc. is often not prepared until after the full functionality of the product is implemented.
Such human language translations of the software user interface text are typically the last step to be performed and results in the delay of product manufacture. Currently, translations introduced after the product has been shipped are typically delivered as a patch rather than a component of the product. Furthermore, all desired languages must either be selected during installation of the software product on a particular system and then updated or added by reinstallation, or all languages must be loaded onto a system, taking up storage space even if never needed. The conventional mechanism for distributing human language translations of a software product also does not lend itself to changes to the language files after delivery for fixes, corrections, or updates.
It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a mechanism for dynamic delivery of human language translations for a software product separate from distribution of the remaining functional components for the software product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved method, system and computer program product for multilingual support for data processing system software.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method, system and computer program product for distributing different human language translations of user interface text in multilingual software.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method, system and computer program product for delivering and installing a human language translation for user interface text within a software program separately from remaining functional components for that software program.
The foregoing objects are achieved as is now described. User interface text is implemented in identifiable software components separate from functional components containing human-language independent functionality for a software program. The software product may then be distributed and loaded into a user's system with only a basic set of human language translations for the user interface text. Different or additional human language translations may be provided to the user by downloading from an enterprise server associated with the system on which the software program is being executed, or from an Internet server operating for the software source. The additional human language translations may be downloaded, preferably automatically and invisibly to the user, to the user's system as necessary or requested. The human language translation process thus gains the “float” period normally associated with physical software distribution, speeding delivery times. Only required or desired human language translation need be stored on any given system, with additional translations consistently available if needed.
The above as well as additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5243519 (1993-09-01), Andrews et al.
patent: 5251130 (1993-10-01), Andrews et al.
patent: 5416903 (1995-05-01), Malcom
patent: 5583761 (1996-12-01), Chou
patent: 5652884 (1997-07-01), Palevich
patent: 5812964 (1998-09-01), Finger
patent: 5907326 (1999-05-01), Atkin et al.
patent: 5974372 (1999-10-01), Barnes et al.
Hetherington David James
Kumhyr David Bruce
Bracewell & Patterson L.L.P.
Dawkins Marilyn Smith
Edouard Patrick N.
International Business Machines - Corporation
LandOfFree
Method, system and computer program product for dynamic... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method, system and computer program product for dynamic..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method, system and computer program product for dynamic... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2596126