Method and apparatus for processing source information based on source placeable elements
View Patent ↗The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for translating a source language to a target language. The invention uses placeables (e.g., proper nouns, titles and names, dates, times, units and measurements, numbers, formatting information, such as tags or escape sequences, styles, graphics, hyperlinks) to assist a translator by not having to retype information that does not need to be translated and to provide conversions to the target locale if necessary like for speeds.
1. A method for processing input source information comprising the steps of:
parsing the input source information into elements;
identifying an element within said input source information as a source placeable element by predetermined criteria based on the content of the element;
designating the identified source placeable element by type;
identifying stored information that is substantially similar to said input source information;
comparing the type of the identified source placeable element to a type of a corresponding portion of the identified stored information for identifying a match of type of elements;
converting at least a portion of said source placeable element into a target placeable element;
replacing the portion of the identified stored information in a corresponding location in the identified stored information with the converted target placeable element if the match of type of elements is identified; and
outputting the identified stored information containing the converted target placeable element.
2. A method for processing source information according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
determining a source locale.
3. A method for processing source information according to claim 2 , further comprising the step of:
applying a source placeable identifier to determine a type of said source placeable element.
4. A method for processing source information according to claim 2 , further comprising the step of:
applying said source locale to determine said element by type.
5. A method for processing source information according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
determining a target locale.
6. A method for processing source information according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
designating a type of said source placeable element;
applying a target placeable converter to convert said type of said source placeable element.
7. A method for processing source information according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
converting said source placeable element into a language-independent format.
8. A method for processing source information according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
determining whether said source placeable element is a proper noun;
placing said source placeable element directly into a target output.
9. A method for processing source information according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
determining whether said source placeable element is a date;
converting said date into a target information according to a target locale information.
10. A method for processing source information according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
determining whether said source placeable element is a proper noun;
converting said source placeable element into a language independent format.
11. A method for processing source information according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
determining whether said source placeable element is a proper noun;
converting said source placeable element into a meta-representation.
12. A method for processing source information according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
determining whether said source placeable element is a date;
converting said source placeable element into a language independent format.
13. A method for processing source information according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
determining whether said source placeable element requires conversion.
14. A method for processing source information according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
determining output requirement for conversions.
15. A method for processing source information according to claim 1 , wherein converting at least a portion of said source placeable element requires a calculation for converting a source currency into a target currency, said calculation for converting is automatic.
16. A method for processing source information according to claim 1 , wherein converting at least a portion of said source placeable element requires a mathematical calculation, said mathematical calculation is automatic.
17. A computer driven language processing system for processing input source information comprising:
a parser for parsing the input source information into elements;
an element identifier, connected to an output of said parser, the element identifier for identifying an element as a source placeable element by predetermined criteria based on the content of the element;
a type designator, connected to an output of said element identifier, the type designator for designating the identified source placeable element by type
a processor for identifying stored information that is substantially similar to said input source information and comparing the type of the identified source placeable element to a type of a corresponding portion of the identified stored information for identifying a match of type of elements;
a placeable converter for converting at least a portion of said source placeable element into a target placeable element, wherein the portion of the identified stored information is replaced with the converted target placeable element in a corresponding location if the match of type of elements is identified; and
an output for outputting the identified stored information containing the converted target placeable element.
18. A computer driven language processing system for processing source information comprising:
a parser for parsing source information into elements;
an element identifier identifying placeable elements by a predetermined criteria based on the content of the elements;
a type designator for designating said placeable elements by type; and
a placeable converter,
wherein stored information that is substantially similar to said source information is identified, the type of said placeable element is compared to the type of a corresponding portion of the identified stored information for identifying a match of type of elements and the portion of the identified stored information in a corresponding location in the identified stored information is replaced with the converted target placeable element if the match of type of elements is identified.
19. A method for processing source information comprising the steps of:
parsing input source information into elements;
identifying a source placeable element by predetermined criteria based on the content of the source placeable element;
designating the identified source placeable element by type;
identifying stored information that is substantially similar to said input source information;
comparing the type of the identified source placeable element to a type of a corresponding portion of the identified stored information for identifying a match of type of elements;
calculating at least a portion of said source placeable element into a target placeable element, said calculating comprising converting said source placeable element from a first unit of measure into a second unit of measure; and
replacing the portion of the identified stored information with the converted target placeable element at a corresponding location in the identified stored information if the match of type of elements is identified.