Patent Application
20160110346
As enterprises accumulate ever-greater amounts of data on their transactions, processes, products, and operations, online analytical processing has become an important part of doing business. The number of tools and techniques addressing analytical processing has grown, enabling data analysts to quickly analyze and navigate through vast and complex collections of data using processing software and platforms. In a computing environment with many computing devices, such as a network environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment or other network environments) with many server computers, the use of computing resources can provide a number of advantages including cost advantages and/or the ability to adapt rapidly to changing computing resource needs.
With the increased use of computing resources, reliability and usability of software deployment in a multilingual environment is essential. For example, content or software that is created/authored in one human language (i.e., original language) for one locale (e.g. the French-speaking part of Canada) often needs to be made available in additional human languages or adapted with regard to other cultural aspects. However, multilingual content production faces various challenges in quality-cost-delivery (QCD) dimensions. Examples of such challenges include lack of quality of original language content, linguistic and consistency issues where quality dimensions include correctness related to spelling, terminology, grammar/syntax and style, efforts and delays related to review of original language content and translation(s), as well as late availability of translations which can have a negative impact on in-country testing opportunities, or early market entry.
The Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. The Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In an example aspect of the disclosure, a method, implemented at least in part by a computing device, for provisioning multilingual content, may include receiving by the computing device, a selection of a language-agnostic artefact, which may include programming code for displaying a user interface with a text field. An input string designating at least a portion of a text label associated with the text field may be received. A multilingual artefact may be retrieved based on the received input string, from a plurality of available multilingual artefacts. The retrieved multilingual artefact may include a plurality of translations of the input string into a plurality of human languages. An association record identifying an association between the language-agnostic artefact and the multilingual artefact may be created.
In another aspect of the disclosure, a computer-readable storage is disclosed and may include instructions for provisioning multilingual content. The method may include generating a language-agnostic artefact, which may include programming code for displaying a user interface with a text field. A query may be received. The query may include an input string for completing the text field, and metadata information designating a desired text type associated with the text field. A list of multilingual artefacts may be retrieved based on at least a portion of the received input string and the metadata information. Each multilingual artefact may include a plurality of translations of the at least a portion of the input string into a plurality of human languages. A selection of a multilingual artefact from the list of a plurality of multilingual artefacts may be received. An association record identifying an association between the language-agnostic artefact and the selected multilingual artefact may be created.
In yet another aspect of the disclosure, a computing device is disclosed which includes a processor and a memory. The computing device may be adapted to perform a method for provisioning multilingual content. The method may include receiving a selection of a language-agnostic artefact, which may include programming code for displaying a user interface (or another type of data structure) with a text field. An input designating at least a portion of a text label associated with the text field may be received. A plurality of suggested text labels for the text field may be retrieved. The retrieving may be based on the received input. Each suggested text label may include a main label for the text field, which label may be in a first human language, and at least one additional label representing a translation of the main label in at least a second human language. The suggested text label may also include (or be associated with) an identifier designating a label type for the main label. In response to receiving a selection of one of the plurality of suggested text labels, a multilingual artefact may be generated. The multilingual artefact includes a plurality of multilingual resource files identifying the main label and the at least one additional label. An association record identifying an association between the language-agnostic artefact and the multilingual artefact may be created. The association record may be stored in network storage. The stored association record may be accessed by at least one of: information identifying the language-agnostic artefact, information identifying the main label, or information identifying the at least one additional label within the multilingual artefact.
As described herein, a variety of other features and advantages can be incorporated into the technologies as desired.
The technologies described herein can be used in an application code development and testing environment as well as in multilingual content production environment where content or software is authored in one (human) language but needs to be adapted in one or more additional (human) languages. In some instances, multilingual content production can be based on one or more “core” activities, such as: a separation between language-agnostic artefacts (e.g., a user interface control such as a software button), and language-/locale-sensitive artefacts or multilingual artefacts (e.g., a text label in French attached to a software button); unassisted, original content creation (e.g., allowing software developers to create arbitrary strings/texts as labels for user interface controls such as software buttons); a dedicated phase (which may include human language translation) to create multilingual artefacts; language-related reviews (e.g., performed in-country by subject-matter experts); and correction cycles (to implement observations from the language-related reviews). In addition to these “core” activities, “context” activities such as recruiting translators, setting up translation workflows, organizing billing and the like may be needed. As used herein, the term “multilingual artefact” includes language-sensitive and locale-sensitive artefacts.
In other instances, a “straight-through” delivery and deployment of multilingual artefacts may be used to perform multilingual content production (or provisioning), without the need for reviews or any correction cycles. More specifically, after a language-agnostic artefact is created (or selected), a multilingual artefact may be created (e.g., by merging frequently-used terms in one or more human languages, or selected from a plurality of existing multilingual artefacts), the multilingual artefact can be automatically externalized (e.g., by generating a unique resource identifier and inserting it in the code for the language-agnostic artefact), and can also provide language-specific resources (e.g., translation of a text label used in the language-agnostic artefact).
In this document, various methods, processes and procedures are detailed. Although particular steps may be described in a certain sequence, such sequence is mainly for convenience and clarity. A particular step may be repeated more than once, may occur before or after other steps (even if those steps are otherwise described in another sequence), and may occur in parallel with other steps. A second step is required to follow a first step only when the first step must be completed before the second step is begun. Such a situation will be specifically pointed out when not clear from the context. A particular step may be omitted; a particular step is required only when its omission would materially impact another step.
In this document, the terms “and”, “or” and “and/or” are used. Such terms are to be read as having the same meaning; that is, inclusively. For example, “A and B” may mean at least the following: “both A and B”, “only A”, “only B”, “at least both A and B”. As another example, “A or B” may mean at least the following: “only A”, “only B”, “both A and B”, “at least both A and B”. When an exclusive-or is intended, such will be specifically noted (e.g., “either A or B”, “at most one of A and B”).
In this document, various computer-implemented methods, processes and procedures are described. It is to be understood that the various actions (receiving, storing, sending, communicating, displaying, etc.) are performed by a hardware device, even if the action may be authorized, initiated or triggered by a user, or even if the hardware device is controlled by a computer program, software, firmware, etc. Further, it is to be understood that the hardware device is operating on data, even if the data may represent concepts or real-world objects, thus the explicit labeling as “data” as such is omitted. For example, when the hardware device is described as “storing a record”, it is to be understood that the hardware device is storing data that represents the record.
As used herein, the term “application program” (sometimes shortened to application) can refer to any program designed to perform a specific function directly for the user or, in some cases, for another application program. Examples of application programs include word processors; database programs; Web browsers; network administration tools; development tools; drawing, paint, and image editing programs; and communication programs. Application programs use the services of the computer's operating system and other supporting programs.
As used herein, the term “artefact” can include a data structure or other types of data, and can be classified as, for example, a language-agnostic artefact (LAA) and a language-/locale-sensitive artefact (also referred to as a “polyglot” artefact or a multilingual artefact (MLA)). The LAA may include one or more coded assets, such as programming code for a user interface, e.g. a software button, or another type of coded asset. The LAA may also include code for displaying a text input box (field). The MLA may include a data capsule (or structure) for equivalent strings/translations in multiple human languages. The MLA may include a resource identifier, which may be used to link to (or otherwise identify) one or more files (or other resources) that include the multilingual translations of a text string. In some instances the MLA may link back to the LAA, for which it has been created. One or more of the figures may use the terms language-/locale-sensitive artefacts (LSAs) (or polyglot artefacts), which terms are equivalent to multilingual artefacts (or MLAs).
The MCPS 106 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and/or code and may be operable to provide services associated with generating (or retrieving) multilingual artefacts and other multilingual artefacts-related services. The MCPS 106 may include an information retrieval application 110, which may be used to retrieve various types of artefacts as well as to generate and store associations between LAAs and MLAs. The information retrieval application 110 may be coupled with storage 112 for multilingual artefacts (MLA), storage 114 for language-agnostic artefacts (LAA), and storage 116 for associations. The information retrieval application 110 may be used to perform the core functionalities of the multilingual content provisioning service 106, which may be exposed (e.g., to applications 103) via the API 108. Additionally, in some instances, the application 110 may have direct access to the storage 112, and indirect access to storages 114 and 116 (e.g., application 110 may access storages 114, 116 via one or more of the applications 103).
The computing device 105 can be a smart phone or other wireless phone, a laptop or netbook computer, a tablet or notepad computer, a wearable computer, a mobile station, an entertainment appliance, an audio and/or video playback device, a game console, an automotive computer, and so forth. The computing device 105 can also be referred to as being a mobile device because the device 105 may be designed or intended to be moved to multiple different locations (e.g., taken by a user with him or her as the user goes to different locations).
The computing device 104 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and/or code and may be operable to implement the MCPS 106 penning the functionalities described herein. The MCPS 106 may be implemented as a separate application or as part of an operating system for the device 105. Additionally, even though the MCPS 106 is illustrated separately from the applications 103, in some instances MCPS 106 may be part of the applications 103 within the server 102. Alternatively, one or more of the applications 103 as well as the MCPS 106 may be implemented as part of (or running on) the computing device 105.
One or more of the figures may use the terms language-/locale-sensitive artefacts (LSAs) (or polyglot artefacts), which terms are equivalent to multilingual artefacts (or MLAs). The MLA 204 may include a data capsule (or structure) for equivalent strings/translations in multiple human languages. For example, the MLA 204 may include a main text string 206 in English (e.g., indicated as E1), and corresponding translations 210 of the string E1 into one or more additional human languages (e.g., G1 in German, B1 in Bulgarian, F1 in French and C1 in Chinese). The MLA 204 may also include metadata information 208. The metadata 208 may include domain information indicating subject area of usage of the MLA, as well as a text type indicating the type of text for the string 206 (and 210) (in the example of
XACT Accessibility
XALT Alternative text
XBCB Breadcrumb step
XBLI Bullet list item text
XBUT Button text
XCAP Caption
XCEL Cell
XCKL Checkbox
XCOL Column header
XCRD Tabstrip
XDAT Data navigation text
XFLD Label
XFRM Frame
XGLS Term
XGRP Group title
XHED Heading
XLGD Legend text
XLNK Hyperlink text
XLOG Log entry
XLST List box item
XMEN Menu header
XMIT Menu item
XMSG Message text
XRBL Radiobutton
XRMP Roadmap step
XROW Table Row Heading
XSEL Selection text
XTBS Tab strip text
XTIT Table Title
XTND Tree node text
XTOL Quick info text
XTXT General text
The storage for associations 116 may be used to store one or more associations between LAAs and MLAs. More specifically, each association may be stored as an LAA-MLA pair indicating that a specific MLA is associated with a LAA. The storage for associations 116 may be used in instances when, for example, the LAA is known (e.g., a design engineer or production process is using LAA1), then the storage 116 may indicate that previously LAA1 was associated with LSA1 (which is the same as MLA1), and multilingual content associated with MLA1 may be presented to the design engineer for consideration and used in production processes that relate to LAA1.
The secondary index table 404 may include additional linguistic information associated with the string in the primary index table 402. For example, the secondary index table may be accessed based on the concept ID associated with the entry. The secondary index table 404 may also include one or more additional synonyms of the word associated with the main string (e.g., the English language translation). Additionally, the secondary index table may include a category metadata, which may indicate, for example, whether the string in the secondary index table is a valid (or invalid) synonym of the string in the primary index table 402 (e.g., the verb “book” is a valid synonym of “post”, but the German verb “verbuchen” is not).
Referring to
A user interface 700 may be displayed (
After the MLA 802 is selected, an automatic resource externalization (e.g., 508) may be performed (e.g., by the information retrieval application 110 or another component of the MCPS 106). More specifically, upon selection of the MLA 802, a resource identifier 902 may be automatically generated and inserted in the text label/field 604 of the LAA 602. A language specific resource may then be created (or retrieved) at 510, which may be associated with the MLA 802. More specifically, the language-specific resources of MLA 802 may include a collection of multilingual resource files 1002 (e.g., “.properties” files) associated with the selected multilingual artefact 802. Each multilingual resource file from the files 1002 may include metadata information 1004. The metadata information 1004 may include a corresponding translation of an input string into at least one human language. In some instances, 1004 may include core content/payload data instead of metadata. Such core content may include source human language or additional translations. As seen in
Referring to
Referring to
A computing system may have additional features. For example, the computing system 1400 includes storage 1440, one or more input devices 1450, one or more output devices 1460, and one or more communication connections 1470. An interconnection mechanism (not shown) such as a bus, controller, or network interconnects the components of the computing system 1400. Typically, operating system software (not shown) provides an operating environment for other software executing in the computing system 1400, and coordinates activities of the components of the computing system 1400.
The tangible storage 1440 may be removable or non-removable, and includes magnetic disks, magnetic tapes or cassettes, CD-ROMs, DVDs, or any other medium which can be used to store information in a non-transitory way and which can be accessed within the computing system 1400. The storage 1440 stores instructions for the software 1480 implementing one or more innovations described herein.
The input device(s) 1450 may be a touch input device such as a keyboard, mouse, pen, or trackball, a voice input device, a scanning device, or another device that provides input to the computing system 1400. For video encoding, the input device(s) 1450 may be a camera, video card, TV tuner card, or similar device that accepts video input in analog or digital form, or a CD-ROM or CD-RW that reads video samples into the computing system 1400. The output device(s) 1460 may be a display, printer, speaker, CD-writer, or another device that provides output from the computing system 1400.
The communication connection(s) 1470 enable communication over a communication medium to another computing entity. The communication medium conveys information such as computer-executable instructions, audio or video input or output, or other data in a modulated data signal. A modulated data signal is a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media can use an electrical, optical, RF, or other carrier.
The innovations can be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a computing system on a target real or virtual processor. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Computer-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed computing system.
The terms “system” and “device” are used interchangeably herein. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, neither term implies any limitation on a type of computing system or computing device. In general, a computing system or computing device can be local or distributed, and can include any combination of special-purpose hardware and/or general-purpose hardware with software implementing the functionality described herein.
For the sake of presentation, the detailed description uses terms like “determine” and “use” to describe computer operations in a computing system. These terms are high-level abstractions for operations performed by a computer, and should not be confused with acts performed by a human being. The actual computer operations corresponding to these terms vary depending on implementation.
The cloud computing services 1510 are utilized by various types of computing devices (e.g., client computing devices), such as computing devices 1520, 1522, and 1524. For example, the computing devices (e.g., 1520, 1522, and 1524) can be computers (e.g., desktop or laptop computers), mobile devices (e.g., tablet computers or smart phones), or other types of computing devices. For example, the computing devices (e.g., 1520, 1522, and 1524) can utilize the cloud computing services 1510 to perform computing operators (e.g., data processing, data storage, and the like).
Although the operations of some of the disclosed methods are described in a particular, sequential order for convenient presentation, it should be understood that this manner of description encompasses rearrangement, unless a particular ordering is required by specific language set forth below. For example, operations described sequentially may in some cases be rearranged or performed concurrently. Moreover, for the sake of simplicity, the attached figures may not show the various ways in which the disclosed methods can be used in conjunction with other methods.
Any of the computer-readable media herein can be non-transitory (e.g., volatile memory such as DRAM or SRAM, nonvolatile memory such as magnetic storage, optical storage, or the like) and/or tangible. Any of the storing actions described herein can be implemented by storing in one or more computer-readable media (e.g., computer-readable storage media or other tangible media). Any of the things (e.g., data created and used during implementation) described as stored can be stored in one or more computer-readable media (e.g., computer-readable storage media or other tangible media). Computer-readable media can be limited to implementations not consisting of a signal.
Any of the disclosed methods can be implemented as computer-executable instructions or a computer program product stored on one or more computer-readable storage media and executed on a computing device (e.g., any available computing device, including smart phones or other mobile devices that include computing hardware). Computer-readable storage media are any available tangible media that can be accessed within a computing environment (e.g., non-transitory computer-readable media, such as one or more optical media discs such as DVD or CD, volatile memory components (such as DRAM or SRAM), or nonvolatile memory components (such as flash memory or hard drives)). By way of example and with reference to
Any of the computer-executable instructions for implementing the disclosed techniques as well as any data created and used during implementation of the disclosed embodiments can be stored on one or more computer-readable storage media (e.g., non-transitory computer-readable media). The computer-executable instructions can be part of, for example, a dedicated software application or a software application that is accessed or downloaded via a web browser or other software application (such as a remote computing application). Such software can be executed, for example, on a single local computer (e.g., any suitable commercially available computer) or in a network environment (e.g., via the Internet, a wide-area network, a local-area network, a client-server network (such as a cloud computing network), or other such network) using one or more network computers.
For clarity, only certain selected aspects of the software-based implementations are described. Other details that are well known in the art are omitted. For example, it should be understood that the disclosed technology is not limited to any specific computer language or program. For instance, the disclosed technology can be implemented by software written in C++, Java, Pert, JavaScript, Adobe Flash, or any other suitable programming language. Likewise, the disclosed technology is not limited to any particular computer or type of hardware. Certain details of suitable computers and hardware are well known and need not be set forth in detail in this disclosure.
Furthermore, any of the software-based embodiments (comprising, for example, computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform any of the disclosed methods) can be uploaded, downloaded, or remotely accessed through a suitable communication means. Such suitable communication means include, for example, the Internet, the World Wide Web, an intranet, software applications, cable (including fiber optic cable), magnetic communications, electromagnetic communications (including RF, microwave, and infrared communications), electronic communications, or other such communication means.
As utilized herein the terms “circuits” and “circuitry” refer to physical electronic components (i.e. hardware) and any software and/or firmware (“code”) which may configure the hardware, be executed by the hardware, and or otherwise be associated with the hardware. As utilized herein, “and/or” means any one or more of the items in the list joined by “and/or”. As an example, “x and/or y” means any element of the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. As another example, “x, y, and/or z” means any element of the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. As utilized herein, the term “e.g.,” introduces a list of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations. As utilized herein, the term “processor” may be used to refer to one or more of a central processing unit, a processor of a symmetric or asymmetric multiprocessor system, a digital signal processor, a micro-controller, a graphics/video processor, or another type of processor.
The disclosed methods, apparatus, and systems should not be construed as limiting in any way. Instead, the present disclosure is directed toward all novel and nonobvious features and aspects of the various disclosed embodiments, alone and in various combinations and sub combinations with one another. The disclosed methods, apparatus, and systems are not limited to any specific aspect or feature or combination thereof, nor do the disclosed embodiments require that any one or more specific advantages be present or problems be solved.
The technologies from any example can be combined with the technologies described in any one or more of the other examples. In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of the disclosed technology may be applied, it should be recognized that the illustrated embodiments are examples of the disclosed technology and should not be taken as a limitation on the scope of the disclosed technology. Rather, the scope of the disclosed technology includes what is covered by the following claims. We therefore claim as our invention all that comes within the scope and spirit of the claims.
