Methods and systems for providing real-time online language services

1 . A method for enabling a user device to interact with a user to receive an real-time interpretation service from a language service provider, wherein the user device includes a computing device or a mobile communication device such as a smartphone, the method comprising:

detecting, by the user device, an audio input comprising a live conversation between the user and a converser in a language type,

wherein the user and the converser are in person and the language service provider is remote, and wherein the user and the converser are conversing in the language type and an additional language type different from the language type;

detecting, by the user device, a video input comprising the live conversation;

making a first determination, by the user device, of the language type based on the live conversation;

making a second determination, by the user device based on the live conversation, that a proficiency level of the user in the language type is below a minimum proficiency level needed to communicate effectively,

wherein the second determination is based on (a) at least one of either the user or the converser using faulty grammar in the language type, either the user or the converser dominating the live conversation, or either the user or the converser frequently using indicators of communication difficulty, and (b) at least one of hand gestures made by the user or the converser, nodding by the user or the converser, or head shaking by the user or the converser, each indicating communication difficulty;

automatically sending, from the user device based on the first determination and the second determination, a request of the user for the real-time interpretation service, the request including information comprising:

the language type of the real-time interpretation service designated as a selected language type by the user;

the proficiency level of the selected language type designated as a selected proficiency level by the user; and

a start time and an end time of the real-time interpretation service designated as a specified start time and a specified end time, respectively, by the user, wherein the start time is specified as immediately;

receiving, at the user device, provider information on a plurality of language service provider candidates who are available to provide the real-time interpretation service of the selected language type, and of the selected proficiency level, and between the specified start time and the specified end time;

selecting, at the user device, a language service provider candidate based on profiles of the plurality of language service provider candidates from the provider information on the plurality of language service provider candidates, thereby designating a selected language service provider candidate;

generating, at the user device and to the user, a preview of a charge for the real-time interpretation service based on the selected language type and the proficiency level of the selected language service provider candidate, and a time interval between the specified start time and the specified end time;

sending, from the user device, a connection request to connect remotely with the selected language service provider candidate;

receiving, at the user device, a notification that the selected language service provider candidate has accepted the connection request as a selected language service provider;

immediately initiating, at the user device, a connection with the selected language service provider to begin the real-time interpretation service provided remotely by the selected language service provider; and

terminating, at the user device, the connection with the selected language service provider when the real-time interpretation service is completed or otherwise terminated.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the request further comprises information regarding a specialization of the real-time interpretation service selected by the user, and wherein the specialization comprises a legal specialization or a medical specialization.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the provider information on the plurality of language service provider candidates comprises information on an artificial intelligence (AI)-based real-time interpretation service.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the provider information on the plurality of language service provider candidates comprises an indication that the plurality of language service provider candidates are online.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the provider information on the plurality of language service provider candidates comprises location information of the plurality of language service provider candidates, and an indication of whether the plurality of language service provider candidates are in a same time zone with the user or in different time zones.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the provider information on the plurality of language service provider candidates comprises a rating of each language service provider candidate of the plurality of language service provider candidates, and wherein selecting the language service provider candidate is based on the rating.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the preview of the charge for the real-time interpretation service is further based on a total number of available language service provider candidates and a demand for the real-time interpretation service at the specified start time.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating, at the user device, a preview of an adjusted charge based on a duration of an actual connection with the selected language service provider; and

making, from the user device, a payment in an amount of the adjusted charge.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising submitting, from the user device, a rating of the selected language service provider based on a quality of the real-time interpretation service received.

10 . A method for enabling a service provider device for an online language service provider to provide a real-time interpretation service, wherein the service provider device includes a computing device or a mobile communication device such as a smartphone, the method comprising:

sending, from the service provider device, an input of the real-time interpretation service from the online language service provider, the input including information comprising:

a language type of the real-time interpretation service that the online language service provider can provide;

a proficiency level of the language type of the online language service provider; and

an availability during which the online language service provider can provide the real-time interpretation service;

receiving, at the service provider device, requestor information on a plurality of connection requests, wherein the requestor information on each connection request comprises a start time, an end time, and a preview of a service fee payable to the online language service provider, wherein the start time is specified as immediately, and wherein the preview of the service fee is based on the language type, the proficiency level of the online language service provider, and a time interval between the start time and the end time;

selecting, at the service provider device and based on the requestor information on the plurality of connection requests, a connection request, thereby designating a selected connection request,

wherein the selected connection request was automatically transmitted by a service requester device, associated with a language service requester, upon (a) detecting an audio input comprising a live conversation between the language service requester and a converser in the language type, (b) detecting a video input comprising the live conversation, (c) analyzing the video input, (d) making a first determination, based on the live conversation, of the language type, and (e) making a second determination, based on the live conversation that a proficiency level of the language service requester in the language type is below a minimum proficiency level needed to communicate effectively,

wherein the second determination is based on (a) at least one of either the language service requester or the converser using faulty grammar in the language type, either the language service requester or the converser dominating the live conversation, or either the language service requester or the converser frequently using indicators of communication difficulty, and (b) at least one of hand gestures made by the language service requester or the converser, nodding by the language service requester or the converser, or head shaking by the language service requester or the converser, each indicating communication difficulty;

sending, from the service provider device, a confirmation to the language service requester associated with the selected connection request that the online language service provider has accepted the connection request as a confirmed language service provider;

immediately establishing, at the service provider device, a connection with the language service requester to begin the real-time interpretation service,

wherein a third party is added to the connection such that there is a three-way audio or video conference among the language service requester, the converser, and the confirmed language service provider, and wherein the language service requester and the converser are in person and the confirmed language service provider is remote; and

terminating, at the service provider device, the connection with the language service requester when the real-time interpretation service is completed or otherwise terminated.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising sending, from the service provider device, an audio recording or a video recording of the online language service provider speaking in the language type to a verification center or initiating, at the service provider device, a second connection with the verification center such that the verification center can verify the language type and the proficiency level of the real-time interpretation service that the online language service provider can provide.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the input further includes information comprising a proof of specialization of the online language service provider, which is verified by a verification center, indicating that the online language service provider can provide a specialized real-time interpretation service including a legal specialization or a medical specialization.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

setting the service provider device to an online status when the online language service provider is active on the service provider device; and

setting the service provider device to an offline status when the online language service provider is inactive on the service provider device, wherein receiving the information on the plurality of connection requests is based on the service provider device being set to the online status.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

selecting, at the service provider device and based on the requestor information on the plurality of connection requests, a second connection request from a second language service requester; and

sending, from the service provider device, a confirmation to the second language service requester associated with the second connection request that the online language service provider has accepted the second connection request as a backup language service provider.

15 . A method for sorting language service provider candidates, comprising:

receiving, by one or more computing devices in a communication network, a request for a real-time interpretation service from a user device, the request including information comprising a language type, a proficiency level requirement, a start time, and an end time,

wherein the start time is specified as immediately,

wherein the request was automatically transmitted by the user device, associated with a user, upon (a) detecting an audio input comprising a live conversation between the user and a converser in the language type, (b) detecting a video input comprising the live conversation, (c) analyzing the video input, (d) making a first determination, based on the live conversation, of the language type, and (e) making a second determination, based on the live conversation that a proficiency level of the user in the language type is below a minimum proficiency level needed to communicate effectively,

wherein the second determination is based on (a) at least one of either the user or the converser using faulty grammar in the language type, either the user or the converser dominating the live conversation, or either the user or the converser frequently using indicators of communication difficulty, and (b) at least one of hand gestures made by the user or the converser, nodding by the user or the converser, or head shaking by the user or the converser, each indicating communication difficulty;

searching, in response to the request, in a database of the language service provider candidates stored on the one or more computing devices, for a first group of language service provider candidates, whose database entries indicate that each candidate in the first group is capable of providing language service in the language type;

identifying, from the first group of language service provider candidates, a second group of language service provider candidates, whose database entries indicate that each candidate in the second group meets the proficiency level requirement;

identifying, from the first group of language service provider candidates, a third group of language service provider candidates, whose database entries indicate that each candidate in the third group is indicated to be available at the start time;

identifying, from the first group of language service provider candidates, a fourth group of language service provider candidates, whose database entries indicate that each candidate in the fourth group is indicated to be available at the end time; and

sending, in response to the request for the real-time interpretation service, information comprising a list of profiles of the language service provider candidates that are in all of the second, third, and fourth groups of the language service provider candidates,

wherein each language service provider candidate on the list of profiles has been verified by a verification center, wherein verification comprises at least one of: (i) receiving, at the verification center, an audio recording or a video recording of a language service provider candidate speaking in the language type, or (ii) conducting, by the verification center, an audio or video conference with the language service provider candidate, to verify that the language service provider candidate can provide language service at a proficiency level indicated in provider information,

wherein the user and the converser are in person and a selected language service provider is remote.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the request further includes information comprising a specialization of the real-time interpretation service, further comprising identifying, from the first group of language service provider candidates, a fifth group of language service provider candidates, whose database entries indicate that each candidate in the fifth group has a corresponding specialization including a legal specialization or a medical specialization.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the request further includes information comprising a preference for a time zone of the language service provider candidates, further comprising identifying, from the first group of language service provider candidates, a fifth group of language service provider candidates, whose database entries indicate that each candidate in the fifth group is in a time zone corresponding to the preference.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the request further includes information comprising a preference for a minimum rating of the language service provider candidates, further comprising identifying, from the first group of language service provider candidates, a fifth group of language service provider candidates, whose database records indicate that each candidate in the fifth group meets a minimum rating requirement.

19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

identifying, from the first group of language service provider candidates, a fifth group of language service provider candidates who are online.