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US5884247A
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Method and apparatus for automated language translation
Assignee: DAILECT Corp
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Filing: 1996-10-31
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Granted: 1999-03-16
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Expires: 2016-10-31
Abstract
Abstract Language translation is accomplished by representing natural-language sentences in accordance with a constrained grammar and vocabulary structured to permit direct substitution of linguistic units in one language for corresponding linguistic units in another language. Preferably, the vocabulary is represented in a series of physically or logically distinct databases, each containing entries representing a form class as defined in the grammar. Translation involves direct lookup between the entries of a reference sentence and the corresponding entries in one or more target languages.
Inventors
- 👤 Sam Christy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:31
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/40; G06F40/55
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of translating information from a first language into a second language, the method comprising: a. providing reference and target sets of nominal, connector, and descriptor databases in reference and target languages, each nominal database comprising a series of nominal entries, each connector database comprising a series of connector entries each specifying a relationship between at least two nominal terms, and each descriptor database comprising a series of descriptor entries describing nominal entries, the entries of the reference set of databases corresponding to the entries of the target set of databases; b. generating a sentence in the reference language from a plurality of entries from the reference set of databases according to rules defining a constrained grammar; c. addressing the target set of databases with the reference entries to retrieve target entries corresponding thereto; and d. translating the sentence by directly substituting the reference entries with the target entries.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of translating information from a first language into a second language, the method comprising: a. providing reference and target sets of nominal, connector, and descriptor databases in reference and target languages, each nominal database comprising a series of nominal entries, each connector database comprising a series of connector entries each specifying a relationship between at least two nominal terms, and each descriptor database comprising a series of descriptor entries describing nominal entries, the entries of the reference set of databases corresponding to the entries of the target set of databases; b. generating a sentence in the reference language from a plurality of entries from the reference set of databases according to rules defining a constrained grammar; c. addressing the target set of databases with the reference entries to retrieve target entries corresponding thereto; and d. translating the sentence by directly substituting the reference entries with the target entries.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing logical-connector databases in reference and target languages, each logical-connector database comprising a series of entries establishing sets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the sentence is generated by selecting an item from the nominal database and expanding the sentence by applying at least one of the rules: a. to a nominal entry, add a descriptor entry from the descriptor database; b. to a nominal entry, add a connector entry from the connector database and another nominal entry from the nominal database; c. to a nominal entry, add a logical connector from the logical-connector database and another nominal entry from the nominal database; and d. to a descriptor entry, add a logical-connector entry from the logical-connector database and another descriptor entry from the descriptor database.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the logical-connector database comprises the entries and, or.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the nominal entries name a person, place, thing, activity or idea.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the nominal entries include the terms set forth in Table 2.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the connector entries show action, being or state of being.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the connector entries include the terms set forth in Table 3.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the descriptor entries describe a quality, quantity, state or type of a nominal entry.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the descriptor entries include the entries set forth in Table 4.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for translating information from a first language into a second language, the apparatus comprising: a. first database means comprising a series of nominal entries in a reference and at least one target language; b. second database means comprising a series of connector entries in a reference and at least one target language, the connector entries each specifying a relationship between at least two nominal entries; c. third database means comprising a series of descriptor entries in a reference and at least one target language, the descriptor entries describing nominal entries; d. means for accepting an input in the reference language, the input comprising entries from the database means organized in accordance with rules defining a constrained grammar; and e. analysis means for (i) addressing the target set of databases with the input to retrieve target entries corresponding thereto and (ii) translating the sentence by directly substituting the target entries for the input.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for translating information from a first language into a second language, the apparatus comprising: a. first database means comprising a series of nominal entries in a reference and at least one target language; b. second database means comprising a series of connector entries in a reference and at least one target language, the connector entries each specifying a relationship between at least two nominal entries; c. third database means comprising a series of descriptor entries in a reference and at least one target language, the descriptor entries describing nominal entries; d. means for accepting an input in the reference language, the input comprising entries from the database means organized in accordance with rules defining a constrained grammar; and e. analysis means for (i) addressing the target set of databases with the input to retrieve target entries corresponding thereto and (ii) translating the sentence by directly substituting the target entries for the input.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising fourth database means comprising a series of entries establishing sets.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
106 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the analysis means is configured to ensure that the input conforms to a sentence constructed in accordance with expansion rules comprising: a. to a nominal entry, add a descriptor entry from the third database means; b. to a nominal entry, add a connector entry from the second database means and another nominal entry from the first database means; c. to a nominal entry, add an entry from the fourth database means and another nominal entry from the first database; and d. to a descriptor entry, add an entry from the fourth database and another descriptor entry from the third database.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the fourth database means comprises the entries and, or.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the nominal entries name a person, place, thing, activity or idea.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first database means includes the terms set forth in Table 2.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the connector entries show action, being or state of being.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the second database means includes the terms set forth in Table 3.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the descriptor entries describe a quality, quantity, state or type of a nominal entry.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the third database means includes the terms set forth in Table 4.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a thesaurus for identifying, for an input term not matching any of the database entries, a database entry closest in meaning to the input term.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising means for displaying the translation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-15 | 2002-09-14 | 2003-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-15 | 2006-09-14 | 2007-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-15 | 2010-09-14 | 2011-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |