System, method and program product for portlet-based translation of web content

1. A system for portlet-based translation of web content, comprising a configuration system stored on a memory device, the configuration system for designating a set of specifications for translating web content within an individual portlet of a portal page directly from a first natural language to a second natural language, wherein the set of specifications includes a translation paradigm, and wherein the translation paradigm dictates whether translation of the web content will be viewer initiated, automatic or both viewer initiated and automatic, and wherein the set of specifications further includes:

an address of a translation system for translating the web content;

a set of target languages into which the web content can be translated;

a subject area indicating a type of informational content included in the web content;

an address of a user dictionary that supplements the translation system; and

a language style for translating the web content, and

wherein the configuration system is configured to translate the web content of a portlet of the portal page into a natural language and to translate the web content of a different portlet of the portal page into a different natural language, wherein the source language of the web content of the portlet is different from the source language of the web content of the different portlet.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the configuration system provides an interface for designating the set of specifications.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the portlet is rendered with a button if the translation paradigm dictates that translation of the web content is viewer initiated.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein selection of the button reveals a menu of target languages into which the web content can be translated.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the web content is automatically translated into a preferred language if the translation paradigm dictates that translation of the web content is automatic.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of specifications is designated for each of a group of portlets of the portal page having web content to be translated.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the configuration system is loaded on a portal server with a portal program.

8. An interface for portlet-based translation of web content, comprising:

a paradigm field for designating a translation paradigm for translating web content within an individual portlet of a portal page directly from a first natural language to a second natural language, wherein the translation paradigm dictates whether translation of the web content will be viewer initiated, automatic, or both viewer initiated and automatic;

a system address field for designating an address of a translation system for translating the web content;

a language field for designating a set of target languages into which the web content can be translated;

a subject field for designating a subject area indicating a type of informational content included in the web content;

a dictionary field for designating an address of a user dictionary that supplements the translation system; and

a style field for designating a language style for translating the web content,

wherein the interface is implemented by a configuration system stored on a memory device to translate the web content of a portlet of the portal page into a natural language and to translate the web content of a different portlet of the portal page into a different natural language, wherein the source language of the web content of the portlet is different from the source language of the web content of the different portlet.

9. The interface of claim 8 , wherein the portlet will be rendered with a button if the translation paradigm dictates that translation of the web content will be viewer initiated.

10. The interface of claim 9 , wherein selection of the button reveals a menu of target languages into which the web content can be translated.

11. The interface of claim 8 , wherein the web content is automatically translated into a preferred language if the translation paradigm dictates that translation of the web content will be automatic.

12. A method for portlet-based translation of web content, comprising:

providing an interface implemented by a configuration system stored on a memory device; and

designating a set of specifications for translating web content within an individual portlet of a portal page directly from a first natural language to a second natural language using the interface, wherein the set of specifications designated includes a translation paradigm, and wherein the translation paradigm dictates whether translation of the web content will be viewer initiated, automatic, or both viewer initiated and automatic, wherein the set of specifications designated further includes:

an address of a translation system for translating the web content;

a set of target languages into which the web content can be translated;

a subject area indicating a type of informational content included in the web content;

an address of a user dictionary that supplements the translation system; and

a language style for translating the web content; and

translating the web content of a portlet of the portal page into a natural language and translating the web content of a different portlet of the portal page into a different natural language, wherein the source language of the web content of the portlet is different from the source language of the web content of the different portlet.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising rendering the portlet with a button if the translation paradigm dictates that translation of the web content is viewer initiated.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising: selecting the button to reveal a menu of target languages into which the web content can be translated; selecting a particular target language from the menu; and translating the web content into the particular target language.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising automatically translating the web content into a preferred language if the translation paradigm dictates that translation of the web content is automatic.

16. A program product stored on a computer readable storage device for portlet-based translation of web content, which when executed comprises, program code for:

designating a set of specifications for translating web content within an individual portlet of a portal page directly from a first natural language to a second natural language, wherein the set of specifications includes a translation paradigm, and wherein the translation paradigm dictates whether translation of the web content will be viewer initiated, automatic, or both viewer initiated and automatic, wherein the set of specifications further comprises:

an address of a translation system for translating the web content;

a set of target languages into which the web content can be translated;

a subject area indicating a type of informational content included in the web content;

an address of a user dictionary that supplements the translation system; and

a language style for translating the web content, and

translating the web content of a portlet of the portal page into a natural language and translating the web content of a different portlet of the portal page into a different natural language, wherein the source language of the web content of the portlet is different from the source language of the web content of the different portlet.

17. The program product of claim 16 , wherein the program code for designating provides an interface for designating the set of specifications.

18. The program product of claim 16 , wherein the portlet is rendered with a button if the translation paradigm dictates that translation of the web content is viewer initiated.

19. The program product of claim 18 , wherein selection of the button reveals a menu of target languages into which the web content can be translated.

20. The program product of claim 16 , wherein the web content is automatically translated into a preferred language if the translation paradigm dictates that translation of the web content is automatic.

21. The program product of claim 16 , wherein the sets of specifications are designated for each of a group of portlets of the portal page having web content to be translated.

22. The program product of claim 16 , wherein the program code for designating is loaded on a portal server with a portal program.